Do you know that in today’s world businesses can beat their rivals if support and maintenance are given? SharePoint execution is no exception! While you ignore advanced maintenance consulting, your competitors will stay ahead of the curve with it! Surely, the benefits or advantages of SharePoint are many! But it won’t be fruitful without support and maintenance!
Maintaining SharePoint is the key to success! Being a flagship product of Microsoft, it is a go-to solution for many businesses. How? SharePoint acts as a centralized hub. With this, you can manage content, teams and communication.
However, SharePoint platforms have costs related to their support and maintenance. As quickly as these costs add up, many businesses look for ways to reduce their expenses.
SharePoint Maintenance – A Valuable Thing For Your Business
SharePoint offers great value to the business. But it becomes difficult to manage and maintain it efficiently. This is when SharePoint support and maintenance comes in! If you feel overwhelmed because of ongoing costs, organizational SharePoint can be set up right with a service provider!
In this post, we’ll explore many ways that will help you save money on technical SharePoint support and maintenance. The goal is to adapt to SharePoint to deliver value to your business!
Understanding SharePoint Support and Maintenance Costs
Before you get to know the cost-saving ways, it is vital to know the key features of SharePoint support and maintenance.
What are SharePoint Support and Maintenance?
- SharePoint Support: Every now and then, different SharePoint interfaces need support and maintenance. You can simply put it as ‘’technical help’’ needed to keep the SharePoint platforms free of bugs! It includes user help, troubleshooting issues and offering solutions to pain points.
- SharePoint Maintenance: Regular upkeep of SharePoint environments is vital. The main processes are updating, installing patches, monitoring system working and performing health checks.
Why Do These Costs Add Up?
There are many factors which account for the high costs of technical SharePoint support and maintenance:
- Internal Resources: Companies mostly need expert IT teams to handle SharePoint installation automatically. So, this acts as a great resource investment.
- Licensing Fees: SharePoint license expenses can be even complex. Also, it depends on the different SharePoint versions or subscription model.
- Third-Party Services: Some businesses want to hire SharePoint support and maintenance services. It is possible that only certain aspects can be outsourced but ultimately result in even more expenses.
- Specialized Skills: SharePoint needs specialized knowledge. So, hiring or training the right people for this role can be costly.
Typical Benefits of Maintaining SharePoint for the Business and Organization
- A) Useful and safe management of documents with many access protocols.
- B) Focused and multi-level collaboration for more outputs.
- C) Organizational SharePoint offers improved and smooth workflows across departments.
- D) Business intelligence with on the go analysis and process integration.
Ongoing Maintenance Costs
Maintaining SharePoint is an ongoing expense. Here’s what a typical year might cost:
| Category | Estimated Yearly Costs | Details |
| IT Staff | $70,000 to $150,000 | To manage updates, permissions and troubleshooting. |
| Training | $5,000 to $20,000 | Onboarding of new staff and keeping workers updated on new features. |
| Storage Costs | $2/month | Extra storage available in case of need. |
| Customization | $20,000 to $50,000 | Fixing or upgrading workflows and integrations as SharePoint evolves. |
Example: Annual Maintenance for a 250-Person Company
- IT Staff – $100,000/year for an in-house SharePoint admin.
- Training – $10,000/year for ongoing employee training.
- Storage – 5TB over the free limit at $2/GB/month = $10,000/year.
- Customizations – $30,000/year for regular updates and fixes.
Total Ongoing Maintenance: $150,000/year
If you are planning to implement SharePoint platforms for your business, it’s natural to ask, ‘’What’s this really going to cost?’’ The reality is, SharePoint is not just paying subscription – it is an investment for your business!
Time-to-Value: How Long Until You See ROI?
With SharePoint, ROI often depends on:
- Customization Complexity – SharePoint installation automatically may give rise to difficulty in execution in terms of customization. Moreover, highly-tailored solutions can take 6-12 months to implement fully.
- Adoption Rates – Learning SharePoint interfaces and the overall platform can be difficult. So, it is important to train employees. However, they need time to learn which can delay the efficiency gains.
- Integration Needs – There are many benefits or advantages of SharePoint but it has its integration needs. Also, connecting SharePoint to enterprise tools can extend time-to-value.
Top Tips To Save Money On SharePoint Support and Maintenance
Tip 1: Leverage Existing In-House Resources
Assessing In-House Skills
When it comes to completely relying on costly third-party consultants, you face high SharePoint expenses. So, it is better to upgrade your current IT staff. You can offer training and certificates to the developers who can learn basic SharePoint tasks and technical SharePoint support and maintenance.
SharePoint integration experts can provide your team with the skills. The basic tasks are to troubleshoot and maintain your SharePoint environments.
Internal vs. External Support
If you handle regular support on your own or with your team, you can reduce the need for expensive external support. Why not empower your in-house team? Organizational SharePoint works well if your in-house team is trained to manage tasks. The outcome is that you can reduce your overall support costs.
Tip 2: Optimize SharePoint Licenses and Subscriptions
Understand Your Licensing Needs
SharePoint offers many licensing options. As per different business needs, SharePoint Online and SharePoint server can be utilized accordingly. Many businesses are overpaying SharePoint license expenses for something which is not needed!
If you regularly review your SharePoint licenses, it is most likely that you won’t have to pay for extra features. For example, if your business only needs basic document management and communication tools, pick a reasonable licensing plan!
Use SharePoint Online for Reduced Overheads
SharePoint is not a scary story when it comes to costs! There are many ways to reduce costs. One of the promising ways is to adopt SharePoint Online instead of a SharePoint server. It is because SharePoint Online has the ability to reduce overhead costs.
As SharePoint Online is a cloud platform, it automates updates. So, your system is always up to date without any need of extra human help! As you migrate to SharePoint Online, you will save hardware and server maintenance costs!
Does it end here? No! The other benefit is that there are built-in safety features and protocols for regular updates!
Tip 3: Automate Routine Maintenance Tasks
What Tasks Can Be Automated?
Technical SharePoint maintenance and support may have a few repeated tasks! These tasks include backing up data, applying updates and managing permissions. By automating these tasks, you can save time, resources and money!
Usually, workflows of SharePoint can be automated by Power Automate and SharePoint designer. This will certainly keep SharePoint interfaces free from manual involvements!
Benefits of Automation
Automation reduces the need for constant human management. You can cut down on downtime, human errors and the time needed to handle routine upkeep. For example, automating backups make sure that your data is protected. Hence, there is no need to protect data with the help of manual scheduling! At the end of the day, you can divert the attention of your team on other important jobs!
Maintaining SharePoint is one thing. But with automation, your business can greatly reduce problems! Such problems need quick troubleshooting. This will ultimately cost you emergency support and faster resolution times!
Tip 4: Prioritize Proactive Maintenance and Monitoring
What Is Proactive Maintenance?
Proactive maintenance is the need of today! It involves identifying and addressing potential issues before becoming a nuisance! Apply proactive maintenance so you beat the problems which can be costly! The organization SharePoint platforms that you have need it religiously!
Thanks to SharePoint Health Analyzer and System Center Operations Manager! Your IT teams are equipped to look after the health of the SharePoint environment. Also, it is a benefit to receive alerts in case performance drops!
Scheduled Health Checks and Regular Audits
We cannot deny the fact that businesses greatly benefit from SharePoint support and maintenance services! The experts do regular audits and health checks! These are excellent ways to identify problems beforehand.
For instance, recognizing outdated workflows can let you save valuable resources. You don’t have to spend much!
Setting up automated alerts for performance issues makes sure that any downtime is discovered quickly. So, with advanced maintenance consulting you can reduce the need for costly emergency interventions!
Tip 5: Consider Managed Services or Outsourcing
What Are Managed SharePoint Services?
Managed SharePoint services include outsourcing the daily management of your SharePoint environment. By trusting a third-party provider, businesses get many benefits. The common advantages are expert support, proactive maintenance and minimized overhead costs! You can simply let go training a large in-house team!
How Outsourcing Can Lower Costs?
The logic is here:
Outsourcing is more reasonable than hiring a full-time internal team! Small or mid-sized businesses lack enough resources! So, maintaining a dedicated SharePoint team is not wisdom!
Managed services typically come with fixed costs. This makes budgeting easier and reduces out of the blue service fees! Therefore, SharePoint installation automatically goes well with managed services!
Harness the full potential of SharePoint without breaking your bank! Get in touch with us for a smart and sustainable strategy for your organization!
Our experts offer you both cost control and seamless collaboration.
Tip 6: Invest in Training and User Support
User Training: A Small Investment for Long-Term Savings
Here, we are talking about providing user training to save for long-term success. It is one of the effective ways. When users know how to go about SharePoint interfaces, they won’t have to face problems.
Businesses can always plan and invest in internal training programs. Creating SharePoint knowledge bases, and offering online resources can let users and reduce the number of support requests.
End-User Support: Tools for Self-Help
Empowering users with self-help tools is useful for your business. The common tools are SharePoint FAQs, guide for troubleshooting and internal forums. Surely, self-help tools greatly reduce the number of support tickets and requests.
Your business will spend less on SharePoint support and maintenance because of fewer calls. This certainly calls for saving your precious time and money!
Tip 7: Plan for Future SharePoint Upgrades Strategically
Upgrade Cycles and Timing
Organization SharePoint platform requires staying updated with the latest features. You can plan upgrades smartly! Ignoring important updates can cause safety problems, performance lags and ultimately higher costs.
Once you align SharePoint upgrades with your organization’s needs, you can manage related costs. For SharePoint platforms, planning ahead is the key to success! This way you can have smooth changeover and avoid the need for quick upgrades.
Cloud Adoption and Version Updates
Businesses that use SharePoint online remain aware of Microsoft’s update cycle. The updates are automatically executed which reduce the risk of extra costs. So, version updates of SharePoint are necessary!
Tip 8: Consolidate and Optimize SharePoint Sites
How Site Sprawl Contributes to Higher Costs?
When an organization has many SharePoint sites, site sprawl takes place! Many times these sites remain unused. This not only increases storage costs but also adds up administrative overheads!
Steps to Optimize and Consolidate Sites
Keep aside the benefits or advantages of SharePoint and understand the need to audit SharePoint sites regularly! Sites which are no longer useful can be identified. It is easy to refine the environment, reduce storage costs and make underway maintenance suitable!
Tip 9: Utilize Third-Party Tools for SharePoint Support
Third-Party Tools for Enhanced Functionality
There are many third-party tools available to smooth out many tasks. These include SharePoint maintenance, improving safety and automating tasks as well.
Common third-party tools are SharePoint safety tools, backup solutions and document management systems. Surely, these tools can add functionality and reduce the burden on your team!
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Are you thinking about the costs brought by the third-party tools? The answer is that they often pay for themselves!
For SharePoint interfaces, reduced manual work, increased safety and more efficient workflows matter! Many tools also offer scalable pricing models, ensuring that you only pay for the features you need!
Tip 10: Adopt a Cloud-First Strategy
Migrating to the Cloud for Cost Efficiency
Migrating SharePoint to the cloud has many financial benefits. With SharePoint Online or MS 365, there is no need to have costly infrastructure! Moreover, such organizational SharePoint platforms reduce the IT staff needs for upkeep.
Cloud Security and Compliance Considerations
Although moving to the cloud minimizes costs, it is important to take care of safety and compliance problems. Businesses should execute strong safety practices, data encryption and regular updates!
Significance Of Hiring A Cost-conscious SharePoint Developer
SharePoint is a powerful communication tool. But it can become costly over time. Many costs usually arise because of bad management. By working with a developer who focuses on value of money, you can make sure SharePoint environments perform well!
A developer who keeps in mind less costly technical SharePoint support and maintenance, is your go-to resource! He will try his best to design tailored solutions. Such solutions should ideally not need regular troubleshooting and upkeep.
A reliable team of SharePoint developers from NGS Solution optimize processes so that your SharePoint operates smoothly! They also reduce the need for costly emergency fixes!
Looking for expert SharePoint support and maintenance? We’ve got you covered for maintaining SharePoint! Our team of experienced professionals is here to ensure your SharePoint environment runs smoothly, securely, and efficiently.
Whether it’s troubleshooting, updates, or ongoing enhancements, we offer comprehensive solutions tailored to your needs.
Contact us today to learn how we can help optimize and maintain your SharePoint environment!
Wrapping Up
For many businesses, SharePoint support and maintenance can turn out to be a cost centre! Such tragedies come up because of improper management of the platform. Businesses can reduce the extra costs by training in-house teams, outsourcing an expert if needed and automating tasks!
Looking for expert SharePoint support and maintenance? We’ve got you covered for maintaining SharePoint! Our team of experienced professionals is here to ensure your SharePoint environment runs smoothly, securely, and efficiently.
Whether it’s troubleshooting, updates, or ongoing enhancements, we offer comprehensive solutions tailored to your needs.
FAQs
- How can I reduce SharePoint support costs?
You can reduce support and maintenance costs by hiring a professional. A skilled SharePoint developer can design efficient and smooth solutions. They will focus on creating a system which is easy to maintain. Surely, there will be no need for regular and complex troubleshooting. Hence, a proactive monitoring system works in such a case!
- What role does regular system optimization play in saving money?
For SharePoint environments, regular optimization is the solution. Businesses need to keep in mind regular performance audits, clearing unwanted data and improving processes. As you optimize your system, you will not depend on emergency support!
- Why is minimizing custom development important for saving on SharePoint maintenance?
Custom development for SharePoint support and maintenance is not a good idea. The flip side is that it needs constant upkeep. After all, your business needs a simple and flexible platform. So without custom development, you can apply updates and also minimize the chances of integration problems.
