Integrating Outlook and SharePoint – The Dynamic Duo

For meeting the objective of making things less complicated for the users, one of the best options is to integrate Outlook (OL) and SharePoint (SP) with each other. The main reason behind such an integration is completion of certain tasks along with access to bit information from within the SP and from any other office applications, where they are actively in operation.

It is possible to sync any library or list in a simple way, by accessing the Calendar, List Setting or Library on a ribbon and then click the “Connect to Outlook” option. This will allow in accessing the SharePoint information within the OL, without having to open SP at all.

Since most of the users spend a lion's share of time dealing with OL, naturally it is imperative that users have all the relevant information at their fingertips. This will ostensibly minimize or limit the use of other windows, making the task much simpler. The most pertinent uses of this phenomenon include:

Sync Calendars

This method can be used with the Outlook Connector in Outlook 2003/07/10/EAS of Outlook 2013 for syncing the calendar along with the contacts of other smartphones or computers when using an IMAP or a POP3 email account. All that is needed is a MS Account, for obtaining a valid email address. Hotmail, Outlook.com address or Live are not needed.

Sync Team Discussion

This will help in saving a considerable amount of time, by reducing the extent of email traffic as well as providing some astounding updates to people, irrespective of their time as well as location.

Sync Document Libraries

This is again an extremely handy property, that helps users to take a preview of any document or presentation in the OL Reading Pane. However, it is not without limitations.

Capture emails along with attachments or the attachments independently and separately

OnePlaceMail (which helps in connecting MS Outlook, MS Office as well as Windows Explorer to MS SharePoint 2007/10/13 along with Office 365) comes up with an obvious as well as common filing experience of saving mails from the MS OL to the SharePoint. OnePlaceMail provides the users the option of:

• Transferring emails from Outlook to SharePoint with drag and drop facility of attachments, and the option to drag and drop mails to the SP without any prompts whatsoever. This helps in capturing various attributes of the emails automatically like Attachment Names, To, From, Date, Subject, conversion ID, etc. This makes it far easier as well as efficient for the users, when it comes to sharing information.

A plausible way of synchronizing the documents of a library for using them offline, is to click on the SYNC option that is available on the site header adjacent to the user's name.

Let us discuss another classical way of integrating SharePoint with Outlook:

In case a user spends too much of time in MS OL but stores documents along with other stuffs in SharePoint, connecting SP with Outlook does make a sense. Connecting SharePoint, library, list of contacts along with other documents with Outlook will bring the contents in the SharePoint into Outlook and one can view the contents along with various other personal information in the Outlook itself. This also helps in searching as well as editing the contents of SP offline, even when the computer is not connected to the internet and then integrate the contents back to SP once the user goes online.

The option “Sync a Library To Your Computer” will help with additional information.

1) Go to calendar, list or library that is to be connected to Outlook

2) Click on “Calendar/Library/List, depending upon the kind of library or list connected to Outlook.

3) Click “Connect to Outlook”.

4) Once the dialog box appears, click on “Allow” and then “Yes” as deemed appropriate. If the site comes with Office365, the user name along with password are needed.

Once done, the calendar will appear in the Outlook that comes under “Other Calendars”. Contacts will appear in the “Other Contacts” option. Libraries, including document libraries, picture libraries, come under “SharePoint Lists”. The files of the library behave in the same way as the e-mail messages. In case of office files, clicking on the preview file option that appears in the Reading Pane will open it. Right clicking on the file will give more options. You can hire developers from top companies in SharePoint development who can help you build products within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide SharePoint development services. If you would like to hire developers from custom SharePoint development company like Mindfire Solutions, please contact us.

Detailed Feature Reviews of Design Manager in SharePoint 2013

SharePoint Server 2013 comes with several innovative features including the Design Manager. The feature enables enterprises to manage the styling and branding of SharePoint sites and pages in a more structured way. It can also be used in Office 365 as an advanced site design tool to design custom websites for an organization or business. The developers also have option to create custom website designs by using HTML editors or web design tools they are familiar with. At the same time, the advanced features of Design Manager allow developers to build a completely new website within a shorter span of time.

Key Feature Reviews of Design Manager in SharePoint 2013

Mange Device Channels

The option allows you to optimize areas of the website content by targeting different devices. SharePoint uses the user agent to find out the device being used by the user, and use the information to perform specific tasks. For instance, the user agent helps SharePoint to find out if a specific device supports Flash content or not. So the target areas of content can be rendered based on the device used by the user. Also, the Manage Device Channels option can be used to create new channels and edit existing channels.

Upload Design Files

You can use the feature to upload the HTML version of your master file along with JavaScript and CSS files, and similar design resources. Also, the feature allows you to access and edit the design files in a straightforward way. At the same time, you can further check if a network drive can be mapped to the master page gallery or need to be accessed through the Windows Explorer.

Edit Master Pages

Your will use the feature frequently to convert the uploaded HTML files into SharePoint master page by using conversion wizards. After clicking on the link, you will be allowed to choose the HTML file to be converted, and follow a series of screen to create a new master file. The feature can also be used to publish a major version of the file from the list. Also, you can view an error message if there are any problems during the conversion process.

Edit Page Template

The latest version of SharePoint also comes with innovative display templates. These display templates are used to format search results and other web parts related to search. The Edit Page Template feature of Design Manager allows you to copy an existing template, and customize it according to your specific requirements.

Edit Page Layout

The page layouts in SharePoint enable you to use an HTML page like a master file, and render the output by adding SharePoint specific lines of code. As the name indicates, the option can be used to create new page layouts by naming the page layout and associate it with a master file. Once the page layout is created, you can download it to your computer. The file will include the SharePoint specific lines of code required to render the output correctly. The feature further allows you to upload your existing page layouts or save the layout directly to the master gallery.

Publish and Apply Design

Once you create the custom design according to a brand, it needs to be published and shared with others. The publish and apply design page allows you to apply the brand by clicking on a given link. It is also the most straightforward way to share and publish the brand created by you with others.

Create Design Packages

The page facilitates movement of your designs between multiple environments. Once you choose the design package name, the page will allow you to include search configuration. During the process, the page will gather all the files and packages, and bundle those neatly into a WSP file. After creating the WSP file, it will show you a link to download the file. At the same time, the file will also be stored to the solutions store at the site collection level. So you can easily move the design packages to Office 365.

As an innovative tool, Design Manager allows users to brand SharePoint in an innovative yet easy way. They can avail the feature to make the look and feel of a SharePoint site both fresh and distinct. So it becomes easier to make an organization’s website represent its brand, instead of looking like a SharePoint site. You can hire a top companies in sharepoint development who can help you build products within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide Sharepoint application development services. If you would like to speak to one of our expert SharePoint developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

15 free SharePoint tools to make IT admins smile

SharePoint is a rich tool and offers extensive features for a better, customized and organized work flow. It enables to make processes easier and swift that enables organizations to make the best out of their employees. It is the best CMS that enables to manage huge amount of content effectively.

We live in a competitive world and latest technologies emerge to enable to deliver the best results possible. SharePoint is Microsoft's tool that enables to build richer attractive websites. It is considered to be the most popular collaborative tool that provides all the necessary tools to manage people and content effectively. This platform makes it easy for employees of an organization to share ideas and engage smoothly in knowledge sharing activities.

Some of the free tools which helps admins while customizing their websites are as follows:

1.Microsoft's SharePoint development Administration Toolkit 2.0 (for 2010 and 2007 versions)

Microsoft bakes a bunch of nice things into this little add-on, including a kit that generates test loads to check how well any SharePoint deployment runs. It includes another important addon for the Security Configuration Wizard so one can harden the profile of deployment through Windows Server 2008. The SPDiag 3.0 utility is most useful. It grabs a heap of statistics from all the servers in a SharePoint farm, interprets them and presents them in a very neat and customized report.

2.ManageEngine's Free SharePoint Health Monitor Tool

For smaller SharePoint deployment, this lightweight tool gives just an overall rollup of SharePoint farm's health status at a glance. The ManageEngine Free SharePoint Health Monitor fits this bill nicely, giving a conveniently efficient dashboard view where one can see the details about the memory, CPU and disk space usage for each server running SharePoint.

It can be drilled down into the SharePoint workload itself to see the response time, service status, Web server (Internet Information Services) process details and even SQL Server details such as buffer cache hit ratio, cache memory and free pages.

3.IntLock's CardioLog Analytics Free Edition

If systems have a quarter of a million page views or fewer per month, one can use this free tool to help which finds out the sites employees are using, how long they are typically engrosed with those websites and what areas of those websites are most used. It installs quickly and is compatible with all kinds of versions of SharePoint, even the latest new SharePoint 2013. One can easily upgrade to the paid version where the free edition has all of the same features, with the only differences being the page view tracking limit and allowing for web-based support.

4.Microsoft's SharePoint Designer (for 2007, 2010 and 2013)

Designer is like the FrontPage web design tool of the SharePoint world. One can use it to customize the look and feel of SharePoint websites, create and modify simple workflows and personalize a SharePoint deployment at ease.

If one have a large SharePoint deployment with multiple versions running at the same time, one must use the Designer version specific to the particular SharePoint edition.

5.Idera's Free SharePoint Admin Toolset

This is a combination of seven tools in one, a site monitor is present to check up on any SharePoint sites one manages, a space trends report to track using disk space on deployment for folders, libraries and websites, a handy accelerator that essentially rebuilds the database indexes on the SQL Server instance managing SharePoint deployment, a clean report to show how much SQL database space deployment is consuming, a permissions analyzer to show what users can access which specific websites and libraries, a smart tool to compare the configurations of site collections to see where they are different and a quick admin tool that brings together most frequently used links to SharePoint Central Administration. A very smart tool set to make tasks easier and smart way to deal with.

6.Idera's Free SharePoint Performance Monitor

To have a detailed information at what is happening under the hood of any SharePoint farm, this great tool Idera's Free SharePoint Performance Monitor is used. This tool gives a holistic overview of the performance statistics and metrics for SharePoint itself, the SQL Server instance on any given server and information about the host's operating system and memory configuration.

The tool also can be configured to send simple e-mail alerts when one of the performance indicators does not work. One can also monitor multiple websites at a time for their deployments and one can generate nifty graphs and charts about connections, requests, response time, pages, disk usage and many more.

7.McAfee's Network Discovery for Microsoft SharePoint

It is a good SharePoint-specific inventory tool. If one has overall responsibility for a network, one might not even know if one of departments has deployed a SharePoint server. The McAfee Network Discovery Tool for Microsoft SharePoint will scan the network to find SharePoint 2003, 2007 and 2010 environments and then display the results of its scan in a nice neat HTML report that shows in detail which servers have been deployed and what version they're running.

8.Axceler's ViewPoint for SharePoint

This is a great tool for visualizing in a convenient table form exactly which users have what permissions on any given site. This could be very useful in an auditing scenario or any environment where permissions can tighten without granting full access to users needlessly. One can choose to work from the graphical dashboard, to run and print reports to provide to management or to work through with any administrative tools. It works with both SharePoint 2010 as well as SharePoint 2013 deployments. It even requires full SharePoint administrator permissions to do its job properly.

9.Quest's Server Administrator for SharePoint

This great tool is suitable on SharePoint 2007 and 2010. It lets to see which parts of farm configuration are affecting the security, performance and availability of deployment.

It helps to build PowerShell scripts to maintain environment. It also helps with a migration to SharePoint 2010 from 2007, required to get to SharePoint 2013 as well, by showing which parts of deployment are ready for the upgrade and which are not. And it provides an intelligent rating to show what is most important to upgrade before one begin against what would simply be "nice to have."

10.SharePoint SUSHI

SharePoint SUSHI is an open source project hosted on CodePlex that essentially takes the most common administrative tasks and puts them in one convenient tool. SUSHI, which bills itself as a "Swiss army knife for SharePoint," stands for SharePoint Utilities with a smart and useful interface.

One can view the lists and sites of any given user can access, which is really helpful for looking at effective permissions, upload user photos as profile images, back up and restore sites; apply a theme to a group of sites with one click and much more.

11.Clockwork Software

It is SharePoint Migration Tool, reliable migration of documents from old ECMS to SharePoint 2010 or SharePoint 2013. From any SQL Server based ECMS (EDRMS, DMS, CMS) with files stored on a network drive or share. ECMSs such as Hummingbird DM6, DOCs Open, Worksite, FileNet etc.

- Migrate all versions and metadata (including managed metadata)

- Migrate to SharePoint libraries and folders

- Apply document level security if desired

- Currently in use on migration projects totalling about 2 million documents

- Good for small migrations with a cost effective pricing scheme.

12.Metalogix

It can migrate content into SharePoint from just about any source system. From one SharePoint version to another (2003, 2007, 2010, WSSv2 or WSSv3), from various Enterprise Content Management systems (eRoom, Stellent, Livelink) and from file systems, exchange public folders, blogs and websites.

13.PCVITA Express Migrator

It is SharePoint comprehensive too designed for enterprise to migrate content to SharePoint as part of SharePoint migration strategy that goes above and beyond other traditional SharePoint migration software, thereby allowing to have visually architected migration. It provides an effective and simple solution for enterprise to migrate their business-critical data from different repositories (Lotus Notes, File Share, File System, Public Folder and SharePoint etc) to Microsoft SharePoint Server. The SharePoint migration product granularly migrates content while keeping all the associated metadata & permission intact.

14.Vyapin

A powerful tool for developing SharePoint application for migrating documents, NTFS permissions, data and their associated metadata properties from network file shares, file servers and local hard drives to Microsoft SharePoint 2013, Office 365 (SharePoint Online), SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint 2007.

Here are the list of functions it provides such as migrate folders and files into SharePoint libraries from various file servers and network shares. Carry forward default file properties, including custom Office document properties to the respective documents in SharePoint. Automate entire migration process, with the ability to correct and rectify migration errors using the pre-migration validation tool. Migrate content from file shares to on-premise SharePoint servers and SharePoint Online in Office 365 (Standard) environment using a single application.

15.Tzunami

This Deployer tool offers a cost-effective solution for migrating and consolidating multiple content sources into SharePoint. It supports almost all versions of SharePoint, from SPS 2001 to SharePoint 2013. Automating the entire process of migrating unstructured content.

SharePoint offers multiple benefits for enterprises big and small. It is for this reason that enterprises are stressing on this particular technology for enabling them to function optimally. It enables to increase employee productivity and enables them to remain more focused with their work. It can function as an effective content management system, document management tool and collaborative platform. Businesses have profited much more with this awesome tool and it has enabled to enhance business initiatives. SharePoint development services are frequently used to reap maximum benefits.

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

Need for Change Management in a Hybrid SharePoint Environment

Microsoft does recognize that Hybrid SharePoint environments are here to stay for some time. Most of the companies have earnestly started exploring the implications of the cloud. Organizations are realizing that they need adequate amount of time to figure out whether they are required to transfer their assets to the cloud, and if so, how they would be moving their digital assets within the cloud. It is a fact that software delivery is moving towards the cloud and maximum number of organizations across the globe are considering their own strategy for the cloud. However, the rate of adoption of the cloud varies as per the industry, geopolitical as well as regulatory openness. As organizations gradually make this shift, they will continue to transfer certain digital assets along with prime work loads to the cloud. Hence solutions will definitely be required for management of the new hybrid world.

The dilemma with this hybrid world coupled with the associated requirement for change management solutions are not completely new. However, the velocity with which companies are shifting key work loads towards the cloud is creating an awareness of these requisites. Around ten years ago, collaboration platforms as well as hosted supply chains appeared online, a majority within the high-tech manufacturing space, experiencing the pains of a shift to the cloud: huge file transfer protocols, WAN optimization, edge devices, single sign-on along with other means of communication enhancements across private networks. Years later, we happen to be dealing with a number of similar issues, and this time, it's on a much higher scale. A lot of improvements have taken place in the collaboration technologies but there is still the need for tools to assist in managing between cloud platforms and on premises.

Hybrid environments would continue to remain a prime factor for a minimum of three to five years. This recognition by Microsoft showcases the requirement for robust change management abilities across the cloud and on premises environments. Change management does not simply imply migration, it also takes structural mobility into consideration. Moving content, lists, metadata, forms, workflows as well as other components within diverse SharePoint environments along with maintenance of their integrity, has turned into a business imperative.

Change management within the hybrid SharePoint development environment implies the following:

• Enhanced movement between the development, staging as well as production environments.
• Development of solutions once, followed by going for replication of the same across environments.
• Restructuring of topology and content as workloads are migrated into the cloud.
• Creating and managing governance standards which are consistent, throughout these environments.
• Introducing bulk changes to the environments instead of site-by-site.
• Creation of dashboards as well as federated reports across all the environments.

There are a number of efficient vendors for rendering support to the hybrid SharePoint world, thereby offering administrators with flexible as well as powerful tools for the purpose of reporting, permissions management, information architecture management or re-design, compliance and auditing, along with distributed management which offers farm admins to power users increased hold over their environments. There are suites which offer great assistance within the change management category, providing potent functionality for helping organizations manage and gain control over their hybrid SP environments.

As organizations begin to explore Office 365 and how to reap adequate benefits from the large investments made in the transition from SharePoint on premises to a cloud-oriented model, it is advisable to begin thinking about the ways in which the various assets can be managed during the transition, whatever time the transition might involve. Proper solutions that cater to the needs of administration, governance and change management with respect to SharePoint must be adopted for business effectiveness.

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

Top 10 Content Migration Tools to SharePoint Platform

With rapid advancement of technology dominating the enterprise scenario, more and more organizations are looking forward to migrating from an older version of SharePoint to a more advanced version and also from an altogether different Enterprise Content Management (EMC). Well, when it comes to taking up content migration to SharePoint platform, it is always wiser to rely upon effective migration tool for best results.

 Here is a look at the third-party solutions that features a number of tools that help easy as well as successful content migration from a range of sources to SharePoint 2007.

AvePoint enables data transferring from a range of sources to SP 2007 platform through various tools.

• AvePoint Website Migrator – For web data transfer
• DocAve Public Folder Migrator – Allows data transportation from Exchange folders to designated SP Libraries and List in MOSS 2007 and SPS2003 platform
• DocAve SharePoint Migrator – Facilitates transfer of data to MOSS 2007 from SPS 2003
• DocAve Documentum eRoom Migrator – For document libraries as well as collective workspaces transfer from Documentun eRoom EMC
• DocAve File System Migrator – Enables documents transfer from the conventional network file shares or file systems that are based on Windows to online document libraries
• DocAve LiveLink Migrator – Allows Open Text LiveLink migration to WSS v3.0 and MOSS 2007

Tzunami facilitates transportation of information to SP 2007 from different sources with the help of several tools.

• TD File Shares Migration – Files as well as folder structure transfer from any network or local file share to the particular platform
• TD SPS 2001 Migration: Transfer to SharePoint 2007 from SharePoint 2001
• TD SPS 3003 Migration: Data transfer from SPS 2003 platform to SP 2007
• TD Exchange Migration: Exchange Public Folders migration to SharePoint 2007 Libraries and Lists
• TD DocuShare Migration: Data transfer of Xerox DocuShare
• TD eRoom Migration: EMC eRoom transfer of data into SP 2007 products
• TD LiveLink Migration: LiveLink content migration into the specific platform
• TD Documentum Migration: EMC Documentum content migration
• TD Hyperwave Migration: Hyperwave data transfer
• TD Hummingbird Migration: Data transfer of Hummingbird Document Management
• TD Lotus Notes Migration: Lotus Notes applications as well as database transportation
• TD Aqualogic Migration – Aqualogic Interaction data transfer

MetaLogix featuring a number of tools allow easy transfer of content to SP 2007 from a range of sources

Migration Manger for FileShare – Enables transportation from the following platforms:

• Personal drives
• Network file shares
• Web-based extranet and intranet document storehouse
• Document Management Systems and Enterprise File Sharing including Documentum, eRoom, and Lotus Notes

Migration Manger of Web Content – Allows transportation of information from the following platforms:

• Microsoft Content Management Server 2002.
• WCM Third-Party Enterprise Systems like Stellent, RedDot, Interwoven, Vignette, Percussion, and Tridion.
• All home-grown HTTP – accessible dynamic and static websites.
• Databases, documentum eRoom calendars, version files, and files.

eRoom Migration Manager – Allows migrating information to SharePoint 2007 from Documentum eRoom

SharePoint Site Migration Manager – Enables content migration from SPS 2003 to 2007

Quest has several tools that make it easy to transfer data from Lotus Notes, file share, SharePoint 2003 to the specific SP 2007 platform.

• File Migrator – Data transfer from file shares
• SharePoint Migration Manger – SPS 2003 information transportation to SP 2007
• Notes Migrator – Information transportation from QuickPlace, Domino.Doc application, and Notes
• Public Folder Migrator – Bulk transferring of data from Exchange Public Folders

VitalPath facilitates transportation of information from a range of repository consolidation along with migration from a different sources.

• Path Builder for SharePoint – Facilitates an integration of above 40 content storehouse with SharePoint.
• Path Builder – This solution i.e. vendor-neutral communicates at the API level consolidating all aspects of diverse content management systems providing Repository consolidation services.

Vamosa has several tools that allow both SP 2007 transfer as well as data transfer from a range of source systems to targeted platforms of CMS.

• Vamosa Content Migrator – Facilitates transportation of information to any target system from source system
• Vamosa Solutions for SharePoint 2007 – Enables transfer of data from several sites including all previous SharePoint, several other content management systems as well as Microsoft Content Management

Xavor primarily enables data transfer between MOSS and WSS 3.0 platforms.

Xavor SharePoint Migrator (XSPM)- Data transfer to MOSS 2007 from WSS 3.0 and between MOSS and WSS 3.0 respectively.

Proventeq offers a support to data transferring to the platforms of Oracle Stellent and SP

Content Migration Accelerator – Provides complete and comprehensive solution that enables a migration of documents, web content, and digital assets from an extensive source range to a number of targeted systems of Enterprise Content Management (ECM).

Metavis facilitates content migration between SP as well as other platforms like LiveLink, eRoom to SP.

ECM Migrator

• SharePoint to SharePoint
• Livelink to SharePoint
• eRoom to SharePoint

Kapow Technologies feature tools that are ideal for taking up migration of web data to a range of different CMS platforms.

This particular module functions like an ETL tool, but conducts the extraction and transformation of the data at the GUI level. Kapow features the ability of directly loading the contents into a standard XML file or a destination application to enable an import through standard tools of content importing. Therefore, any data can be easily synchronized or migrated between web based CRM, SMS, ERP, or Project Management System. Most Content Management Systems feature standard adopters like Interwoven, Oracle Stellent, Vignette, SDL Tridion, FatWire, EMC/Documentum, CoreMedia, Joomla, and IBM FileNet. CRM systems support include Oracle CRM, Siebel, NetSuite, as well as salesforce.com.

Content migration to custom SharePoint development platform gets easier with the above-mentioned tools offers by various third – party solutions providers.

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

Introducing Nintex Workflow for Office 365

Nintex workflow for office 365 allows organizations as well as enterprises to extend the automation of business process to more and more people along with devices and places delivering workflow catering to the interest of every individual. It integrates a drag-and-drop workflow designer, rich features, as well as advanced connectivity to provide the customers with more flexibility along with power.

Wondering what it can do for you (the users)?

Well, here is a quick look at the at what Nintex workflow can do for you

Develop Workflows for a superior cloud platform

By extracting complete benefit of the new model of cloud app, Nintex has paved the road to effortless integration with office 365. This has indeed enabled the users to scale as well as develop advanced workflows on a strong as well as steady platform.

Automate the Process of Business

IT professionals and business users likewise will be empowered towards taking up a quick alongside an easy path to automate the process of business. The range is quite extensive, which includes everything from simple reviews as well as approvals to complicated integration across cloud services, external applications, data sources as well as social media. You can now leverage a range of actions offering a support to everyday processes across diverse industrial sectors as well as company departments like help desk, provisioning, travel requests, maintenance forms, expense claims, and leave requests, etc.

Strike a connection with an extensive cloud service range

This particular aspect allows the users to be at their productive best anywhere by connecting as well as integrating to a range of cloud services. This real-time service includes Twitter, Yammer, Box, as well as virtual machines along with several other applications. Users can also go ahead and quickly integrate web services with workflows without the hassle of writing codes. It also allows you to publish forms for collaborating with external partners, vendors along with the customers.

Add Enterprise Activities to Out-of-Box Actions

With the service introduction of the workflow for office 365, a one-stop has also been introduced catering to the diverse workflow needs of the users. This particular store comes loaded with multiple actions, which allow the users to develop document-centric alongside integrated workflows that are strictly SharePoint centric that further enables them to drive business. All you need to do is effortlessly integrate the workflow with external systems like web services, Microsft Dynamics CRM, as well as applications that are very much business relevant.

Get started in no time

If you have been wondering about its usability then, you will be delighted to know that Nintex workflow for Office 365 is not only easy to use, but also to install and manage. Additionally, you can also activate the application in reduced time possible and start working immediately. The new application model implies improved flexibility, productivity as well as scalability for a range of documents along with applications integrated within Office 365.

The Advantages

Let us have a look at the advantages it can bring for the users along with the enterprises:

• Its quick and easy – Empowers as well as allows the users to go for business process automation in no time through innovative browser based work flow designer that is easy to use.

• Smart investment - with this particular application, you can get to work in office 365 in real-time. You can also defend your investment through simple and easy deployment management thereby, avoiding the risks of additional costs of client software or infrastructure development.

• Easy Connection – you can easily connect Nintex workflow to Office 365, Lync server, Exchange server, web services, external systems as well as databases along with a range of other cloud services effortlessly.

What makes this particular application integration more delightful is the fact that its completely done in the application model that wonderfully syncs with SharePoint. Custom SharePoint development teams can leverage Nintex workflow and help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide SharePoint application development services. If you would like to talk to one of our SharePoint developers, please get in touch with 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.