SharePoint Consulting vs. In-House Solutions: What’s the Best Option for Your Business

In today’s fast-paced business world, companies are constantly seeking efficient ways to manage and share information. SharePoint has become a leading solution for organizing, storing, and collaborating on documents, projects, and data within organizations. However, when deciding how best to implement and manage SharePoint, many businesses face a critical decision: should they turn to SharePoint consulting services or rely on an in-house team to handle the deployment and management?

This is an important decision for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small startup or a large corporation, the approach you choose will have a lasting impact on how effectively you use SharePoint to drive productivity and collaboration. In this blog post, we will explore the advantages and challenges of SharePoint consulting versus in-house solutions, and provide you with the insights needed to determine which option is the best fit for your business.

What is SharePoint Consulting?

Before diving into the decision-making process, let’s first define what Share Point consulting involves. SharePoint consulting refers to hiring external experts or consultants to help you with the implementation, customization, and ongoing management of your SharePoint environment. These consultants typically bring specialized knowledge and experience to the table, helping businesses maximize the functionality and performance of SharePoint.

Consultants can assist in various aspects, such as:

• SharePoint Setup and Configuration: Ensuring your SharePoint environment is properly configured to meet your needs.
  
• Customization: Tailoring SharePoint to match your specific workflows, processes, and user needs.
  
• Training and Support: Offering training for employees and ongoing support for troubleshooting and updates.
  
• Strategy Development: Helping you plan long-term strategies for using SharePoint effectively.
  

The In-House Solution: Building Your Own SharePoint Team

On the other hand, an in-house solution means creating a dedicated internal team responsible for implementing, customizing, and managing SharePoint within your organization. This approach involves hiring or designating existing employees with the necessary technical skills, such as SharePoint developers, administrators, and support staff, to handle the platform’s needs.

In-house teams offer businesses more control over their SharePoint environment. However, managing SharePoint internally also brings a set of unique challenges and responsibilities that organizations need to carefully evaluate.

SharePoint Consulting: Advantages and Disadvantages

When considering how to implement and manage SharePoint, many businesses choose to hire external consultants for their expertise. SharePoint consulting can provide tailored solutions that align with your company’s needs and objectives. However, like any approach, it comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore both sides of SharePoint consulting to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your business.

Advantages of SharePoint Consulting

1. Expertise and Experience

One of the biggest advantages of SharePoint consulting is the level of expertise that external consultants bring. SharePoint consultants are highly specialized professionals who have worked with a wide variety of businesses, industries, and SharePoint environments. This depth of experience allows them to provide valuable insights into best practices and advanced solutions that an in-house team might not have access to.

For example, if you’re an oil and gas marketing agency that needs to manage vast amounts of data and documentation securely, a SharePoint consultant can provide custom solutions designed for your unique requirements, something an internal team may struggle to implement effectively.

2. Time and Cost Efficiency

Implementing SharePoint can be a time-consuming process, especially if your in-house team lacks experience with the platform. By leveraging a SharePoint consultant, your company can significantly reduce the time spent on configuration, troubleshooting, and customizations. Moreover, consultants typically offer flexible pricing models, which can be more cost-effective than hiring and training a full-time in-house team.

3. Scalability and Flexibility

SharePoint consultants offer scalability to match your business needs. As your business grows, your SharePoint consultant can help expand your environment without the need to constantly train or hire additional staff. The flexibility that consultants provide is particularly beneficial if your company faces frequent changes in technology or business needs.

4. Reduced Risk

Consultants are seasoned professionals, which means they can help mitigate risks related to SharePoint implementation and management. This includes addressing security vulnerabilities, ensuring proper configuration, and troubleshooting technical issues before they escalate into larger problems.

Disadvantages of SharePoint Consulting

1. Higher Initial Costs

While consultants can save time and reduce the risk of errors, the upfront costs of hiring a SharePoint consulting firm can be relatively high. This might be a challenge for smaller businesses with tight budgets. However, it’s important to remember that the long-term value and reduced risk often outweigh the initial investment.

2. Dependency on External Partners

When you rely on consultants, there’s always the risk of being dependent on external parties for ongoing support and troubleshooting. Some businesses prefer the control that comes with managing their SharePoint environment entirely in-house, avoiding any reliance on outside consultants.

The In-House Solution: Advantages and Disadvantages

Managing SharePoint in-house is another viable option for businesses. By building an internal team, companies gain full control over their SharePoint environment. However, this approach comes with its own set of benefits and challenges. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of an in-house SharePoint solution to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your organization.

Advantages of In-House Solutions

1. Complete Control

One of the most significant advantages of an in-house SharePoint solution is the full control it gives you over the platform. Your internal team is always available to address issues, implement changes, and monitor the SharePoint environment in real-time. This can be a considerable benefit if your business requires constant adjustments or personalized support.

2. Deep Understanding of Business Needs

An in-house team is more familiar with the company’s internal processes, workflows, and goals. This understanding can translate into more customized and efficient solutions, as your internal team can develop SharePoint features that are tightly aligned with your unique needs. This is especially important for industries like oil and gas marketing agencies, where custom document management, security protocols, and collaboration tools may be crucial.

3. Long-Term Cost Efficiency

While the upfront cost of setting up an in-house team may be high, over time, it can be more cost-effective than relying on external consultants. With a dedicated internal team, ongoing costs may be lower, especially when it comes to routine maintenance, updates, and minor troubleshooting.

4. Cultural Fit

Your internal team is already embedded in the company culture, making it easier for them to understand the nuances of the organization’s needs. Additionally, in-house teams are better equipped to communicate directly with other departments, ensuring that SharePoint is configured in a way that supports cross-departmental collaboration.

Disadvantages of In-House Solutions

1. Resource Intensive

Building and maintaining an in-house SharePoint team requires significant resources. This includes recruiting skilled professionals, providing ongoing training, and managing team turnover. If your organization lacks the necessary technical expertise, building an in-house team could be a lengthy and costly process.

2. Potential Skill Gaps

SharePoint is a complex platform, and not all internal teams may have the necessary expertise to fully harness its potential. While internal employees may be familiar with general IT practices, SharePoint requires specialized knowledge in areas such as development, administration, and integration with other systems. Without this expertise, your organization risks underutilizing SharePoint or facing operational inefficiencies.

3. Limited Flexibility

Unlike consultants who offer scalable services, an in-house team may be limited in its ability to quickly adapt to business changes. If your business needs to expand or modify its SharePoint environment, an internal team may struggle to accommodate the changes without significant time and investment.

Making the Right Decision for Your Business

Choosing between SharePoint consulting and an in-house solution ultimately depends on several factors, including your company’s size, resources, and long-term goals. Here are a few questions to consider when making your decision:

• What is your budget? If you’re a small business or have limited resources, SharePoint consulting may be a more cost-effective option in the short term. Larger organizations with deeper pockets might benefit from investing in an in-house team for long-term management.
  
• How complex are your needs? If your business needs highly customized SharePoint solutions or has unique security requirements (as in the case of industries like oil and gas), SharePoint consulting can provide specialized expertise that might be difficult to replicate in-house.
  
• What is your timeline? If you need to get up and running quickly, a consultant’s experience can accelerate the process. On the other hand, if you have the time and resources to train an internal team, an in-house solution may be a better fit.
  
• How do you want to scale? Consider whether your company will need ongoing customization and upgrades. If scalability is important, consultants can provide a level of flexibility that in-house teams might lack.

Conclusion

When deciding between SharePoint consulting and an in-house solution, it’s essential to carefully weigh your company’s unique needs, resources, and goals. Both options offer distinct advantages, and the best choice for your business will depend on factors such as expertise, budget, and long-term scalability. If you’re looking for specialized knowledge and efficiency, SharePoint consulting may be the way to go. However, if you value complete control and long-term cost savings, an in-house team could be the better choice. Regardless of the approach you choose, taking the time to evaluate your options will ensure that your SharePoint environment is set up for success.