Top SharePoint Website Types to Elevate Your Business Collaboration

SharePoint, a highly versatile platform from Microsoft, is widely used for collaboration, document management, and creating custom websites that streamline business operations. SharePoint’s flexibility allows organizations to develop different types of websites tailored to their specific needs, whether it’s for internal team collaboration or customer-facing purposes. Below is an exploration of the key types of SharePoint websites that can be developed, along with their features and use cases.

1. Intranet Websites

Intranet sites built on SharePoint are designed to connect employees and centralize important resources. These sites provide a platform for news sharing, departmental collaboration, document management, and employee engagement.

Features:

• Newsfeeds and announcements
• Document libraries for policies, procedures, and internal documents
• Employee directories and contact lists
• Team collaboration areas
• Personalized dashboards for different roles or departments

Use Case: A manufacturing company can develop a SharePoint intranet site where different departments, like production, HR, and finance, can collaborate, share files, and stay updated with the latest company news.

2. Team Sites

A team site in SharePoint is designed for group collaboration, allowing teams to store documents, manage tasks, and communicate within the context of a specific project or department. These sites typically feature task management tools, shared calendars, and collaborative editing of documents.

Features:

• Document libraries for file sharing and version control
• Task management lists and workflows
• Shared calendars and project timelines
• Discussion boards for team communication
• Permissions-based access control for security

Use Case: A marketing team developing a campaign can use a SharePoint team site to upload marketing materials, track project milestones, and share feedback on ongoing projects.

3. Document Management Sites

Document management sites are a core feature of SharePoint, offering a centralized repository for important business documents. These sites allow for secure document sharing, version control, and compliance management, ensuring that documents are accessible and properly managed throughout their lifecycle.

Features:

• Document versioning and check-in/check-out functionality
• Metadata and tagging for easy search and retrieval
• Automated workflows for approval processes
• Role-based permissions for document access
• Integration with Microsoft Office apps for seamless document editing

Use Case: A legal department can use a SharePoint document management site to store contracts, track document revisions, and manage permissions for sensitive legal files.

4. Communication Sites

SharePoint communication sites are designed to broadcast information across an organization. These sites are typically used for company-wide updates, events, and announcements. They can be customized with visually rich layouts, including web parts for news, documents, events, and more.

Features:

• Visually appealing layouts with customizable web parts
• News articles and announcements
• Embedded videos, documents, and images
• Site analytics to track engagement
• Responsive design for mobile devices

Use Case: A global corporation might develop a communication site for company announcements, highlighting upcoming events, leadership messages, and success stories from different regions.

5. External Sharing and Extranet Sites

Extranet sites allow organizations to extend collaboration capabilities beyond internal teams, providing a secure environment for sharing documents and collaborating with external stakeholders. These sites typically require custom permission settings to ensure security while enabling external access.

Features:

• Secure login access for external users
• Document libraries and shared workspaces
• Customizable permissions and user roles
• Integration with other Microsoft 365 services
• Collaboration tools like chat, task lists, and file sharing

Use Case: A consulting firm can develop an extranet site to collaborate with clients on ongoing projects, share confidential reports, and streamline communication.

6. Publishing Sites

Publishing sites are SharePoint websites designed for content-heavy use cases. These sites offer content management and publishing capabilities that help deliver engaging information to a large audience, often used for corporate websites, product catalogs, or blogs.

Features:

• Advanced content management and approval workflows
• Custom page layouts and templates
• Integrated publishing tools for articles, blogs, and multimedia
• SEO-friendly features for external websites
• Responsive design for mobile and tablet users

Use Case: A company can develop a SharePoint publishing site to showcase its product catalog, blogs, and news updates on an external-facing corporate website.

7. E-commerce Websites

While SharePoint is not typically thought of as an e-commerce platform, it can be customized to serve as an e-commerce site with the help of third-party integrations. SharePoint’s capabilities for product catalogs, content management, and workflows make it a suitable choice for certain types of e-commerce applications.

Features:

• Product catalogs and detailed product pages
• Shopping cart integration
• Secure payment gateways (via third-party tools)
• Inventory management and order tracking
• Role-based permissions for administrative users

Use Case: A B2B company might develop an e-commerce site on SharePoint to sell industrial products to its distributors, complete with order tracking and integration with its ERP system.

8. Learning Management Sites

SharePoint can be used to build learning management systems (LMS) that help employees or external users access educational content, track learning progress, and complete training modules. These sites often integrate with third-party tools for quizzes, certifications, and course management.

Features:

• Course catalogs and training material repositories
• Progress tracking and reporting
• Certification and exam management
• Discussion boards and forums for learners
• Integration with video hosting and webinar tools

Use Case: An enterprise might develop an internal LMS on SharePoint to provide employees with onboarding, compliance, and skill development training.

Conclusion

With its flexibility, integration capabilities, and wide range of built-in features, SharePoint enables organizations to develop websites tailored to a variety of use cases. From internal collaboration and document management to external client collaboration and even e-commerce, SharePoint is a powerful platform that can be customized to fit the needs of any business. The key to success is understanding the specific requirements of your organization and leveraging the appropriate type of SharePoint website to meet those needs.

Contact us today to discover how we can develop the perfect SharePoint website tailored to your unique business needs. Let’s transform the way you work!