Getting users to adopt SharePoint

People generally find the easiest way to accomplish their tasks at work and the route they take is not necessarily the best way. Two conditions must be met if you want them to use a better approach. Number one, the new method should be easier and show clear advantages over the old routine, and number two, the new approach should include training so they can fully appreciate how easy it is.

However what happens quite often, is a new model is brought in with impressive features and tools but along with a lack of planning and training.  Users will seldom take the time to learn this new functionality and in many cases, might not even be aware it exists.

This article will help explain some of the pitfalls of SharePoint implementations and the steps you can take to avoid them to encourage great SharePoint user adoption.

Reasons for Using SharePoint

SharePoint at its core is an application that helps improve productivity and decision-making power of the users.  Well developed SharePoint Intranet and Portals can give invaluable help to your employees, boasting the bottom line for your business.

An Intranet should be a place where employees do most of their work such as

• View company specific news and content (Published content)
• Collaborate within their team and other teams
• Manage documents
• Manage Projects
• View all essential content related to their jobs
• Submit and manage requests through forms such as PTO, expense claims, open enrollment etc.
• Search for relevant content – both internal and external to SharePoint

Our Core Services

SharePoint User Engagement

This area is critical for a successful SharePoint implementation.  Time spent focusing on the following areas will help you achieve a successful SharePoint Intranet that will bring many benefits to your company and avoid an implementation that gets deemed a failure.

• Implement SharePoint in Phases
• Market the Solution
• Education/Training
• Branding
• Functionality
• Ownership
• Sponsorship
• New Features
• Show the potentials to teams/departments

Implement SharePoint in Phases

• Break it down into manageable phases, use “think big, start small” approach, create a plan (road-map) and implement phase by phase
• Make it easy for your users. Too much too soon can cause adoption issues
• Prioritize phases and roll out one by one for better SharePoint user adoption.

Market the Solution

• Intranet Champion: Staff communications should be led by an executive at the organization – engagement by leaders is critical in achieving broad SharePoint user adoption.
• It is beneficial to communicate and market each phase so users know whats coming.
• By engaging the business user community early and actively focusing on the benefits to them and their role the stage will be set for broad based users adoption.
• Encourage early adoption with prizes etc.
• Before your implementation start with demos. Show users how it all works and increase your changes of successful SharePoint user adoption.

Education/Training

Training is very helpful for a successful implementation. Training does not have to be expensive. Depending on how your organization is setup you can do

• Lunch & learns.
• Quick 30-min workshops during the week.
• Online training.

Also, remember, it is not just a technology change, it is a business process change as well. Make sure when you do training, you align it within the context of the users’ work scenarios/use cases for user adoption.

Training can follow different paths for different users

• Training on the new SharePoint Intranet site and subsequent site updates/enhancements for regular users.
• More advanced training for power users so they learn more about the product itself.

Branding

• The main advantage of branding your intranet is to create a sense of connection and ownership among employees. It can be hard for staff to get behind the out-of-the-box look and feel of a SharePoint intranet.
• If employees develop a strong association with your intranet, or feel a personal attachment to it, they are much more likely to use it and help you achieve great SharePoint user adoption.

About Us – New Peak Solutions

Delivering great customer experience

Our team of experts have knowledge in SharePoint 2007, 2010, 2013 and SharePoint Online. Our highly experienced SharePoint team will help your company leverage the power of Microsoft’s leading sharing and collaboration tool. We will help your business achieve future growth and work with you to put a plan in place to drive SharePoint user adoption and continued success.

Contact Us

SharePoint specialists serving clients throughout the US including

New York – Chicago – Dallas – Houston – Los Angeles – Philadelphia – Phoenix – San Antonio – San Diego – Seattle – Austin – Milwaukee – San Francisco – Boston – Columbus – Denver – San Jose – Charlotte – Detroit – Indianapolis