Microsoft SharePoint is basically Microsoft’s content management system – a browser-based collaboration and document management platform. It allows groups to set up a centralized, password protected space for document sharing.
Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) function the basic functionality that Gartner calls Basic Content Services. It offers the user access to Versioning and Check-in/Checkout functionality. WSS can then be extended through the use of the applets to add additional collaborative functions like email alerts, shared calendars, etc.
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) sits on top of WSS and adds additional features, both to the underlying WSS layer as well as additional ways for the end-user to interact with the repository. The data resides in a SQL Database. Using Webparts it can then present this information to the user using a wide range of different modules and for interaction in different business scenarios. These include such diverse applications as Collaboration, Document management, Records Management (including DOD 5015.2 certified components), Workflow, Personalization, more complex metadata models as well as Blogs and Wikis from the Web 2.0 side.
Finally there is the Microsoft Search Server, an Enterprise Search engine that provides advanced indexing and searching capabilities that can be integrated into a MOSS Web-based interface. Microsoft itself describes SharePoint as Collaboration, Portal, Search, Enterprise Content Management (ECM) , Business process management (BPM) and Business intelligence (BI), so again a lot to chose from.
SharePoint development takes more than just setting up a server. It requires knowledge of implementing business requirements and workflows, as well as being able to preserve and leverage the value of prior IT investment while planning ahead for future upgrades and enhancements. There are even more skill sets required to carry out a successful SharePoint development project – which includes categorization, metadata, search ranking and optimization, and workflow optimization and automation. Within a large enterprise, SharePoint is often one of several coexisting information management environments. All these need to be integrated – and FutureGroup has deep experience integrating SharePoint with other platforms including Documentum, Vignette and OpenText. In addition, our exceptional QA team is skilled in testing complex enterprise-wide deployments.
Our services include:
- Information Architecture
- Application Conversion, Migration, Enhancement and Modernization
- Systems Integration Services
- BPM and Workflow
- Branding, Forms
- Work Center Design