How to Establish Efficient Workflows Using SharePoint?

SharePoint, as one of the most popular and preferred web application development platforms, is used by enterprises for a number of purposes. The latest version of this platform, that is, SharePoint2013 has a lot of benefits, out of which, establishing efficient workflows is definitely one.

Before we go into the discussion about how SharePoint portal development helps in accomplishment of tasks or in faster production of outcome, it is necessary to understand the concept in the very first place.

What Do Workflows Mean?

With respect to the SharePoint products and technologies, workflow comes up as an automated movement of items as well as documents through a sequence of tasks related to the business processes. Now, the movement can be employed to manage the business processes well within an organization by allowing the organizations to logically treat the items or documents in a SP list or library. Business logic, on the other hand, comprises instructions that denote the actions while also controlling those actions that happen to a document or item.

Establishing Efficient System with SharePoint 2013

It is quite understandable by now that workflows have got a lot to do with the smooth flow of information. Organizations increasingly feel the need to communicate the right message to the right people at the right time. The establishment of efficient workflows with SharePoint 2013 begins with an automation along with management of the human workflow by means of using SP workflow tools. These tools automate the process to improve both individual as well as enterprise productivity.

Workflow Structure and Features

Workflow consists of the following components:

• Events, more specifically, initiating events, as essential components, enable the movement to do something. Once the workflow is initiated, users can be given a form to gather data while eventually carrying out the workflow.

• Then we have the steps, which consist of one or more actions and conditions and are considered the primary means of organization and structure within workflow.

• Conditions form another essential part of the particular manner in which the automated movement carries out the processing of information.

• After steps and conditions come the Actions, which can actually signify anything starting from working with items associated with the workflow to updating a data repository or sending email to some participant.

Steps Involved in Establishing Efficient Workflows

Using and establishing workflows with effectiveness must go through certain steps. Here is an overview of the process:

Addition to a Library, List or Content Type

Adding the automated movement to a list, library or content type ensures that it is made available for the items or documents in a specified location. One must have the permission to manage lists for the desired addition. In most instances, it is the site administrators that perform the task.

Beginning Workflows on Documents

Following an addition of the automated movement, it needs to be started on an item or document. The type of the automated movement needs to be selected and a form has to be filled out with the information that is required by the same. Customization of the same is also facilitated depending upon the way it was configured and designed.

Modification of Workflow in Progress

Changes to the automated movement can be made to alter the way it behaves. Modification is facilitated and this further paves the way for the efficient establishment of the movement.

Completing the Tasks

Any event that necessitates human interaction is represented by a certain task and in SharePoint, this task can be completed by the participants directly or by means of a client program, which is a part of the 2007 Office release.

Tracking the Workflow Status

The owners as well as the participants of the movement can track the progress of the same. This can be done by means of checking the status page, associated with the workflow.

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3 business problems solved with SharePoint

With rapid globalization, businesses are required to cope up with the trend to operate from locations outside the office; hence the need for efficient communication becomes all the more evident. Dynamism and agility are the ultimate necessities for businesses to have a competitive edge, but paper-based processes or poorly structured documentation storage are becoming a hindrance, given the time as well as the effort needed in searching for information.

So far as paper documents are concerned, it is inconvenient to track them. Very often, there is the probability to lose them and moreover, manual processes can result in errors. Since the process state is not visible, considerable time has to be spent in completion of actions or monitoring the process. Poor visibility may also be caused by storage of documents in inadequately structured shared drives, wherein manifold versions often lead to duplication and loss of visibility for the most recent version. All these issues combined together lead to lower productivity and higher cost, with dire consequences such as litigation in case processes fail.

Across the years, SharePoint has emerged successful in solving these common business problems. With the passage of time, this product by Microsoft has become the standardized means for storage as well as sharing within an organization. Every client has a different manner of SP utilization for solving problems. Let us discuss three common business problems that SharePoint has solved.

Document Management : It is a fact that a number of businesses make use of sub-folder structure for storage of documents and emails are being used to distribute them. In this case, locating documents within a deep set of sub-folders or going through loads of emails might be a great hassle. Being a central location for the complete set of documents, SP is able to solve these problems to a great extent, enabling rapid access of documents.

A powerful feature of SharePoint document management is that the storage of “meta-data” or information is possible against the documents within columns. A much more robust solution is provided by SP, which brings together the data as well as documents. Moreover, document control features such as the capability of viewing track changes or version history have great potential especially in cases where using the latest version is extremely essential. Again, a document's major and minor versions enable a department or an individual to make alterations to a document without publishing the alterations before they are entirely ready. Version conflicts are prevented by the check-in and check-out features, and documents are also made available for out-of-office use.

Workflow Issues : Since SP empowers non-technical users with the capability of fixing efficiency issues, it is indeed a great tool for solving business issues as well as making room for rapid development. So, now employees who are well-versed with the issues can leverage SP to solve them without involving the IT department. This is where the beneficial uses of SharePoint workflows come in, which help in accelerating the process, reducing errors, doing away with unnecessary steps, providing better documentation along with enhancing communication.

SharePoint solutions also enable convenient document movement through approval process, updating information from other databases or software programs, and so on.

Collaboration : SharePoint goes a long way in doing away with the problems of disparate systems, unstructured data and decisions, thereby resulting in increased collaboration. Considering the collaborative aspect, the major areas wherein SharePoint comes in handy are HR Management, Compliance and Business Intelligence. As an efficient collaboration portal, SharePoint empowers investors, clients, partners, coworkers, stakeholders to share ideas and information on dedicated SP pages which store information pertaining to that particular project. Moreover, with the help of SP, a team environment can even be promoted amongst employees who work remotely, irrespective of the frequency at which employees meet each other.

Thus, it is clear that SharePoint, with its powerful features have been able to solve critical business problems thereby leading to immense benefits. Proper implementation and management can indeed lead to great business improvements. Sharepoint 2013 mobile development teams can help you build products within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide SharePoint portal development services. If you would like to hire sharepoint developer from our certified team of SharePoint developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

SharePoint Migration Using 3rd Party Tools

Currently in SharePoint, content migration is achieved using third party tools. Leveraging third party solutions simplifies the procedure along with reducing the effort or time needed for the process. It also cuts down on the cases of failed migrations arising out of issues such as file corruption. Analysis has revealed that clients spend good amount of time preparing data for migration, and these efforts may not yield fruit in case the policies and procedures are not adhered to. Owing to such risks, clients prefer using third-party ISVs or independent software vendors for migrating content from on-premises SP into the hosted service. Let us check out the following third party tools that facilitate migration or consolidation of content.

AvePoint: A recognized leader in rendering infrastructure management solutions for Microsoft SP, AvePoint is a cost-effective and efficient solution for migrating business-critical content from diverse electronic repositories to Microsoft SP. The following are a few of the different DocAve Migrator modules:

• Content can be automatically moved from source SharePoint 2003 or 2007 into the mapped elements within SP 2007 or 2010 by SharePoint Migrator.

• Website Migrator provides an efficient, reliable and affordable solution for the organized transfer of web content to MS SharePoint 2007/2010.

• Content sprawl is reduced along with IT productivity enhancement by eRoom Migrator through centralization of eRoom project databases as well as other collaborative assets across a single SharePoint 2010 and 2007 repository.

• Consolidation of manifold EMC Documentum content sources over SP can be automatically achieved by Documentum Migrator, thus maximizing ROI for legacy content present within EMC Documentum.

Clockwork Software: This software offers reliable document migration from old ECMS to SharePoint 2013 or SharePoint 2010. Successful migration can also be achieved from any SQL Server based ECMS (CMS, DMS, EDRMS) with files stored over a network drive or share. ECMSs such as Hummingbird DM6, Worksite, FileNet, DOCs Open and so on. With this, various version and metadata can be migrated to SharePoint libraries as well as folders. It is also good for small migrations.

Idera SharePoint migration suite: It is by far the most comprehensive solution available. This tools empowers you to visually architect as well as organize content and metadata during the migration process, thereby improving usability, eDiscovery, search and manageability. This suite can be used again and again, without any services, in a variety of scenarios that include SP site reorganization, SP platform upgrade, as well as rolling out new applications and sites. The following are the components of the migration suite:

• SP information architect which facilitates rapid and convenient development, deployment as well as maintenance of SP taxonomies and metadata.
• SP content organizer allows for the application of metadata and relocation of files anywhere within SharePoint with simply a few clicks.
• With the help of SharePoint migration manager, content can be deployed, migrated or compared within different versions of SP or from file systems.

Metalogix: Data can be migrated into SharePoint from any source system by using Metalogix. It is possible to migrate from one version of SharePoint to another, from diverse Enterprise Content Management systems as well as from Exchange public folders, websites, blogs or file systems. For simplifying the process, there are different kinds of modules like SharePoint Site Migration Manager,Website Migration Manager for SharePoint, Metalogix Migration Manager for Blogs, etc.

Axceler-Davinci Migrator: It reduces the risk, brings down the cost as well as reduces the time required for the procedure. With the help of the Davinci Migrator, you would be able to identify possible problems prior to their occurrence. Migration estimates aid the creation of realistic schedules. Moreover, Davinci allows migration in a single big wave or a series of continuous smaller waves. Hence you have the freedom to operate as per your own schedule.

Apart from the above-mentioned ones, there are a number of other tools such as Vital-Path, Vyapin, Tzunami, Proventeq and so on. By using these third-party tools, many obstacles that cause hindrance to the overall migration process, can be overcome. If you need an experienced hand with your sharepoint migration, you can hire developers from top companies in sharepoint. That will surely release a lot of stress associated. However please do ensure that the vendors you choose at least possess the awareness of tools available.

We provide sharepoint portal development services. If you would like to speak to one of our certified SharePoint developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

SharePoint 2013 Top 10 intranet success factors

Did you ever find any difficulty while trying to explain SharePoint basics to a novice completely unaware of the technology? Probably, Yes! Chances are also high that you faced difficulty in terms of user training for facilitating a smooth migration process. What you need to remember while taking up the task of explaining SP to novice or new users is that the migration is just not all about branding, hardware, Web Parts, as well as customization. The document management system application has more to it and it is important to gather the basic knowledge of the same for better understanding.

Now, when it comes to determining the top intranet success factors, users and enterprises need to consider a number of other factors for evaluating alongside implementing the latest of intranet offerings by Microsoft. If, being an enterprise, you are planning to grow as well as evolve with SharePoint 2013, following the tricks of the trade is imperative for you.

 
Top Success Factors with Intranet
Here is a look at the 10 success factors that effectively blends best practices of intranet and the specifics as well as basics of SP 2013:

1. Understanding SharePoint at Best
SharePoint uses a number of terminology carrying specific meaning in respect to enterprise application. Terms like, list, site, as well as library features specific meaning and it is important for the users to understand the terms properly. Maintaining a glossary always helps even a novice understand the technicalities.

2. Analyze and Determine the Business Requirements
It is important to take up the process of defining the existing along with expected business needs, requirements, and interests, even if the decision of integrating SharePoint has been already embraced at corporate level.

3. SharePoint is a Platform of Managing Information
The advantages of SharePoint cannot be fully realized without a proper strategy of information management. Now, the strategy must ensure relating all application of information asset mutually. If this is not done properly, the weaknesses will become evident and irreversible.

4. Combine the IT and Business Development Teams
It is essential to closely integrate the IT and business development teams so that they get to work together on the methodology as well as management of an Agile project. Always remember to take special care if there is the involvement of a third-party implementation team.

5. Governance is Necessary
It is difficult to execute the completion of a project successfully, if there is no governance. To make things easier, it is advisable to have a governance guide highlighting individual responsibilities of users involved in implementing SP and using it to the core ready. Enterprises must ensure updating the guidebook with best practice instances.
 
6. Migration must be planned carefully
Usually, SharePoint features an upgrade cycle of three years as well as the specific versions come with a five year support. If a clear along with predefined business case is underlined for a project, then you must always make sure to migrate to SP 2013.

7. Quantify the Costs of Professional Services
Always keep in mind that fruitful and effective functioning of SharePoint is entirely dependent on skilled as well as knowledgeable developers alongside business analysts. Now, whether the need is sufficed by internal IT professionals or external developers, the cost can end up becoming more than what is actually expected.

8. Develop a Risk Register
Similar to all other enterprise applications, SharePoint development too is likely to feature some standard practices, some non-standard practices, as well as risks. Now, what gets difficult is establishing all the risks alongside administering progress in managing the process effectively as well as avoiding the risks efficiently. It is also important to find out an effective approach of maintaining a schedule and budget of the projects.

9. Avoid Taking Case Studies at Face Value
The main focus of case studies always remain on the positive attributes of a project. It is therefore essential to decipher alongside determine things that did not go well and why it went all wrong alongside finding out the ways of overcoming the problems.

10. Careful Management of My Sites and Team Sites must be Executed
It is essential to come into an agreement regarding the process of establishing a Team Site as well as closing it down when no longer in use. Developing hundreds and thousands of information silos is easy indeed.

Implementing the above-mentioned Intranet success factors in your SharePoint application development project can pave the road to success for your enterprise without any hitch.

We provide custom SharePoint development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

SharePoint 2013 – Comparison of Features with previous versions

SharePoint 2013 comes with powerful features which incorporate considerably upgraded search abilities along with new provisions for intranet-oriented searches, enhanced digital content management, web content usability as well as cross-site publishing. Let us have a brief overview of the new functionality and features of this new version of SP and compare it with older versions. 

  

New Licensing Model

Owing to the licensing changes in Sharepoint 2013, an “external connector” is not required by “external users”, as was the case for previous versions. This ensures substantial reduction of cost for clients because it facilitates access to SP solutions like external project collaboration sites, customer portals or websites by vendors, partners, customers or other outside users. 

 

Fresh Search Features

The FAST search technology has been integrated into the 2013 version of SP. As a result, the search functionality has been enhanced ensuring the following benefits:

• Continuous Crawl: The indexing and crawling components have undergone a major upgrade in SharePoint Search. A great deal of content could not be frequently crawled in SharePoint 2010 but currently it is possible to index content frequently. This is of great significance because files added within SP can be located instantly by the users.
• Query Conditions or Rules Engine: This feature facilitates the dynamic display of content by the web pages. Search has been incorporated with a new query engine which makes room for application of rules and display of results depending upon particular conditions. SharePoint 2010 did not possess this feature. As this feature has been incorporated in the latest SP version, it enables better control over sorting and displaying of results as per user attributes.
• Service-Oriented Page Design: This allows web pages to dynamically come up with content that is most relevant to the user, while facilitating storage of the content within a central repository. This was also available in SharePoint 2010, but in the latest version, this feature is more practical and efficient as it is loaded with new enhancements and web parts.
• Query Actions: These help to manage the presentation of the search results. Currently it is possible to specify the categories of records that will be displayed in search results using custom HTML. This could not be done in an efficient manner in SharePoint 2010.

Intranet-Oriented Search Advantages

Along with the search enhancements made through the introduction of fresh search features, there are certain improvements that have proved to be of immense significance to Intranet users.

• File Preview: It is possible for users to preview Microsoft Office files from the search results page. Optimization and sorting of search results can be done on the basis of users clicks. Because it is possible to preview files prior to opening, increasingly accurate search results can be obtained for the end users, a feature which was not available in SharePoint 2010.
• Deep Links: In case of SharePoint 2013, major sections and chapters from a file are displayed with the results. One can conveniently jump to particular sections without downloading the file and searching for the required content.

Enhanced Web Content Usability

• WYSIWYG Improvements: Content can be copied directly from Word and pasted within the SP text editor. The text gets displayed in the website's defined style, which implies that much editing is not required. Compared to the earlier versions, SharePoint 2013 allows more convenient editing of content and web pages.
• Friendly URLs: This features renders user-friendly URLs for all SharePoint pages as against the long URLs characteristic of SharePoint 2010.
• Flexible Branding: Non-SharePoint tools such as Adobe Dreamweaver can now be utilized for branding as well as page design.
• Video Embedding: With the help of this feature, SharePoint 2013 enables convenient embedding of videos from third-party hosting solutions. Hence the user can efficiently add videos to the sites.

Digital Asset Management

Companies which have great volume of videos, images or other content can now efficiently leverage SharePoint for organizing their assets. Images can be effectively stored in a central repository and can also be reused on pages across the site.

Cross-site Publishing

This aspect helps in storage and maintenance of content in a single or more than one authoring site collections. Again, this content can be displayed in one or more than one publishing site collections. This feature in the 2013 version of SP ensures consistency of content shared throughout diverse areas and sites. 

 

The above-mentioned features indeed make SharePoint 2013 more advanced and convenient to use than the previous versions. It also comes with other significant enhancements such as SkyDrive, increasingly robust work-flow platforms and improved site performance. You can hire developers from top SharePoint application development services companies in India who can help you build products within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide custom SharePoint development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Should Microsoft kill SharePoint?

As per a statement made by Gartner analyst Jeffrey Mann, organizations which are heavily dependent on SharePoint need to start preparations for a cloud-driven future. He also suggests that SharePoint is a thing of the past, hence it is good for Microsoft to think about doing away with this document management system.

Expressing his thoughts at the Gartner Symposium of 2013, Mann stated that SP is used throughout the entire workforce by 28% of the organizations. The number becomes 70% when we take into consideration the organizations wherein minimum of 50% of the staff are utilizing it once in seven days or more. However, according to Mann, nobody likes the SharePoint development platform. With respect to user experience, SharePoint registers a low score on convenience of use, the quantity of ongoing management required, and it is a fact that migration of content between systems is not easy.

by its own success. It has become very hard, complex as well as big which makes management or up-gradation difficult, all the more so because in a large number of organizations, it is immensely customized. Developing and testing a new version takes around three to five years, and then couple of years pass before businesses actually initiate the process of installation. Consequently, a number of people are making use of versions of SP which are a minimum four years old. In the meantime, increasingly nimble cloud-based products derive benefit from much shorter cycles of up-gradation, and interestingly, the difference has been noticed by a number of users.

Moving to the cloud for the competitive edge

Mann is of the opinion that in order to survive the competition, the only way for Microsoft is to transfer SP to the cloud, meaning that it should be killed in its present form. Going by what Mann says, killing on-premises version of this platform is good for Microsoft and eventually its clients also. It will render a better user experience, at a potentially lesser cost for the customer, and will also make room for a steady revenue for Microsoft.

However, there is indeed hope for Microsoft, and this hope lies in Yammer, the platform for enterprise social networking. Both SP and Yammer overlap as well as complement each other in a number of ways. There are powerful signs which reveal that any evolution that SP undergoes while becoming increasingly cloud-based would be highly influenced by Yammer.

But the core of the issue revolves around the fact that SharePoint on-premises is gradually moving out and is currently reduced to the status of an evolutionary dead end. Due to the huge installation base, it is true that Microsoft will continue to render support to it, while upgrades will come at a slower pace. Thus, users should not expect the greatest or the newest functionality. The prime focus of development would be shifting to the cloud.

When a solution is cloud-based, it would indeed be more advantageous for Microsoft. Moreover, according to Mann's argument, SharePoint Online would be developed at a much quicker pace, to the point where it will be more beneficial to consider them as two distinct products. Hence, the gap would continue to increase.

Jeffrey Mann advises organization technologists to currently come up with long-term plans for a post-SharePoint world. Keeping in mind the present scenario, it is good to hold back on upgrades as well as new development and go for the cloud option whenever there is any requirement for addition of new functionality. Microsoft might or might not offer a convenient way forward, but for an individual or entity who has invested a lot in customization, the process would never be painless.

We provide custom SharePoint development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Migration Service for Office 365 SharePoint

SharePoint Online is best referred to as a group of web-based technologies and tools that enables your organization to manage, store, as well as share digital information. Developed on the 2013 server of SharePoint, this particular hosted service makes it easy to work on projects, store documents alongside data in a prime location, as well as share information. Now, migrating to this particular document management system web application is not easy. Prior to beginning with the process, it is important for you to involve in careful planning as you need to handle a huge volume of data that is very much valuable. Moreover, your organization or management will hardly tolerate any sort of downtime in this regard.

Therefore, the next big question that emerges in this respect is how to avoid the risks of losing data and ensure moving just the documents along with the data required during the time. In addition, the aspect of doing it quickly thereby, minimizing the impact upon the users as well as systems also needs to be determined.

With several migration tools available in the market, it can actually get easier than you can ever imagine. These unparalleled tools not only accelerate the entire process, but also simplify the same ensuring accuracy and rapid migration. Additionally, it also ensures that your migration ends up being cost effective catering to your uniqueand distinct needs. With the help of the migrating tool, you will be able to migrate Windows files, permissions, meta-data, work flows and content to Office 365 alongside Exchanging Public Folders while retaining the settings & customization. In addition, it also paves the road to smoother transition without affecting the business continuity. You can forever say goodbyes to time-consuming as well as complex processes.

How does it Help- The Unique Features of the Migration Tool

Here is a quick look at the unique features that make the tool stand apart in the market as against the manual process:

Effortless consolidation of data to save money and time – The software available in the market that enables an easy transition to Office 365 SharePoint Online allows you to group together all the important data scattered all over multiple source to a single source. This particular approach ensures lower maintenance costs as well as reduced complexity. You can move and transit data from the following sources:

• On-premises Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Windows File Systems
• Microsoft Exchange Public Folders
• Microsoft Outlook

Fast Transition with Few Resources – You can easily and quickly take up the process of migrating several SharePoint libraries along with the lists at the same time making use of a multi-threaded engine to lessen project timelines alongside the costs.

Suits Distinct Business Needs and Interests Effortlessly – Office 365 SharePoint migration through the software available in the market also enables conducting bulk migration to speed up the projects as well as streamline the same. You can also take up granular or phased migration, which distinctly allows transiting just your need of the hour. The exclusive drag-and drop function allows you to make a selection of either individual items or the entire list with just a click of the mouse.

Controls Project Making your Way top Migration – The software also extracts the chaos and disturbances out of the project management task featuring real-time controls for scheduling alongside status reporting. You are actually equipped with skills required to successfully manage as well as execute the job of migration at a time that best suits your enterprise ensuring that its completely on schedule.

Complete Management of Metadata for Enhancing your Content – The migration software also allows you to maintain the metadata that is already assigned or assign new values to content during the process. This particular feature allows you to make complete use of your intellectual assets alongside improving the search accuracy.

Office 365 development tools offer a suite of cloud communication, productivity, as well as collaboration solutions that can be assembled together to execute distinct needs and interests of each organization.

We provide SharePoint development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified sharepoint developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Is SharePoint integration, Windows Phone 8's biggest Enterprise Advantage

Windows Phone 8 that has been specifically designed to cater to the needs of both small and medium alongside large businesses efficiently closes the gap between the needs of an enterprise and the employees interest from a smart-phone. The device that is intelligently manufacture boasts of a huge software catalog along with a powerful and persuasive choice of standard functionality. While other phones might need to rely upon applications pertaining to social networking for additional software, Windows 8 goes on to present a feasibly functional device.

So, the potential question that emerges in this respect is that whether Windows 8 stands as a compelling choice for an enterprise phone?

The Application Question – Is SharePoint the Rescue Channel?

Be it for better or worse, the application counts for ecosystem have become the standard for smartphone reviews. It is in fact true that there actually are few applications pertaining to Windows Phone 8 featuring some blazing neglects. For instance, the omission of a native application of Dropbox stands to be a major one for a number of enterprise workflows. Moreover, the range of niche applications that are otherwise easily available on Android or iOS are simply isn't present in this particular device. Having said this, the device does feature some of the top players in the market like Facebook as well as Foursquare.

While, a number of top players are missing, Microsoft offers a powerful feature to the device that matches few platforms i.e. SharePoint along with native Office integration. Windows 8 can easily connect to the service of hosted SharePoint as a prime aspect of the email setup. Following the connection, the company account appears in a different location in a manner similar to desktop Windows. You can store and recover the files easily from the specific location. Additionally, the integration is also extended towards message boards and group calenders for a frequent user of SharePoint, which is available through SharePoint mobile.

Moreover, a mobile variation of Office also appears in Windows phone, which is actually incorporated in its basic stage. However, enterprises are less likely to face any major problems when it comes to simply viewing the documents and incorporating basic edits into the same. Additionally, the feature of adding comments to the document is also available. Though the use of the application on the phone might not be overwhelming, it certainly does not disappoint when it comes to reviewing and making basic edits to documents on the go.

The exclusive blend of the basic document reviewing and viewing along with SharePoint integration stands as the biggest enterprise advantage of the Windows Phone 8. The rapid spread of Smartphone and its adoption across the globe introduces a number of challenges pertaining to enterprise applications; however, the fundamental enterprise applications based on SharePoint are working quite nicely on the device. While there is always a room for more customized and advanced work spaces, the development is quite promising.

A small business enjoying the support of Office 365 could easily be able to distribute service manuals quickly to small consultancy firms, mobile support staff, along side offering invoice templates that can be filled up by the client. What appeals more is that all this can be done at ease without any dependency on development tools or requirement of writing code. Additionally, you also need not worry about the ecosystem of the mobile.

Is a Switch to Windows Recommended?
Well, it can be guaranteed that the Windows Phone is sure to offer a pleasant experience than might be actually imagined. The interface is astonishingly creative, once you get acquainted to the fundamental paradigm of horizontal scrolling. Additionally, enterprises relying heavily upon SharePoint can also benefit from the particular device. The hardware is quite matching to the market leaders, the OS is quite pleasing and user friendly. Furthermore, the integration does present interesting enterprise feature.

What delights the enterprise more is the fact that a Windows Phone usually starts from a range of $100, which comes around to be $200-$300 less than the Android and iOS competitors. Therefore, an enterprise looking forward to integrating a service group empowered by mobile capacity or field sales, this indeed comes up as a potential combination. Even, general users looking forward to investing in an Android or iOS can also consider to rely upon the device. The out-of-the-box and interface functionality of the device is indeed offering wonderful social networking, calling, and emailing options without the need of installing a list of applications for the support. You can hire developers from top companies providing SharePoint application development services in India who can help you build Windows phone applications in SharePoint within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide SharePoint 2013 mobile development services. If you would like to talk to one of our SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

SharePoint 2013 and the Mobile SharePoint Explosion

When SharePoint was first launched, it did not have strong functionality backing up mobile access for its content and features. However, as this software platform gradually gained ground, organizations began to feel the need for tapping this product to operate efficiently on cellular devices. As a result, companies began to look for alternatives for enhancing as well as expanding mobile access to this platform. The outcome of these efforts is that SP 2013 comes with a range of new, enhanced mobile features to make SharePoint 2013 mobile development easier and quicker.

• The mobile browsing experience has become much better owing to the newly incorporated contemporary view which enables site rendering in HTML5 and operates with the latest mobile Safari, IE as well as Android browsers. Designed to ensure touch-screen interaction, it is optimized for activities such as accessing wikis, lists, web parts and document libraries. The classic view belonging to the older mobile browsers is still intact, delivering HTML based sites along with the option for displaying a complete desktop view of the website.
  
  
• Another new feature is the back-end cellular channels which render a SharePoint site for diverse cell phone devices automatically, enhancing the single default view for mobile devices as present in the 2010 edition which was difficult to customize. 
   
• With the 2013 version, SharePoint sites come with the capability of pushing notifications towards mobile devices, making users alert regarding the changes, such as modification or addition of content.
  
  
• With SharePoint 2013, we have a couple of new native mobile applications. One is the SharePoint Newsfeed application which enables users to get access to the documents and people they are following. This feature is available for Windows Phone and iOS as well as Windows 8. The second is the SkyDrive Pro app which empowers users to access the file sharing along with cloud storage service on iOS as well as Windows 8.

Some of the other mobile features new to 2013 edition of this software platform include the ability of incorporating geolocation tags within a list, the capability of viewing specific categories of business intelligence content as well as enhanced viewing of PowerPoint, Excel and Word documents with Office Web Apps.

Using Cellular Devices for SharePoint Online Sites

Your site can be accessed with a Windows phone once the web browser of the phone is opened and the URL or Uniform Resource Locator of the SharePoint site is typed. In case you are making use of a non-Windows phone, the URL can be entered within the browser or to get an optimized mobile view, /?Mobile=1 can be just appended to the URL.

Using Windows Phone 7 for accessing SharePoint Online site

A site can be opened on a Windows Phone 7 in almost the similar manner as it is opened from a PC, simply by entering the URL in the browser. Whatever is seen on the phone is not the cellular version but the site's actual view. The site can be operated in the same manner as it is done from the PC. Most of the tasks such as creation and editing of items within a list, changing the site theme, uploading documents, creation and edition of site pages, along with addition of images, hyperlinks or web parts can be conveniently carried out. 

 

Utilizing non-Windows phone for SharePoint Online site

When the mobile version of a site is opened, only some of the elements seen in a desktop version are visible, such as search feature, libraries, lists and so on. While you are making use of the cellular version of SharePoint, you can easily perform the tasks of viewing items in libraries and lists or operating Open Office documents from the website.

We provide SharePoint application development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified sharepoint programmers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.