TL;DR: Ratings reflect experience, case studies, services breadth, industries, and global reach. Details below. 

What Is SharePoint Consulting And Why It Matters In 2026

Quick Definition 

SharePoint is Microsoft’s platform for content management, collaboration, intranet portals, and workflow automation across Microsoft 365. 

 This cloud & web solution forms the base for digital transformation in many businesses. 

What is the benefit of SharePoint Consulting

SharePoint helps with productivity, collaboration, compliance, and cost control. SMB users save about 1.5 hours each week with better content collaboration and cloud file sharing, according to Forrester SMB analysis. 

 See the TEI overview for Microsoft 365 Business at this Forrester page: The Total Economic Impact. 

Surveys show 85% of users see better team collaboration after adoption. SharePoint Online reduces document management time by around 15%. 

Compliance costs fall by about 18%, and eDiscovery is about 15% faster thanks to built-in security and retention in Microsoft 365 and SharePoint, per Forrester TEI. 

 See The Total Economic Impact. 

Why Expert SharePoint Consultants Matter  in 2026

Immediate Value 

Expertise from SharePoint consultants helps match SharePoint Online with your business goals. Email attachments become easier to manage, and intranet portal launches move more quickly. 

 These digital solutions consulting & services gains are in line with the productivity data in the Forrester SMB TEI. 

Measurable Impact 

Consulting companies help with workflow automation using Power Automate and Power Apps applications. This means knowledge workers spend less time searching for information. 

Reduced Risk 

Certified partners in SharePoint governance help with information architecture, DLP, retention, and audit, as part of business and technology consulting. 

 Independent advice supports these practices. 

Evaluation Criteria (Used For This List) 

What We Measured 

• Experience and case studies from SharePoint development companies with 10+ years when possible. “Track record” is important for top consulting providers. 

• Services breadth: Intranet portal design, migration, integration, Business Process Automation, analytics, and governance. 

• Industries served: Healthcare, Education, Fintech, Manufacturing, NPO, and Government. Specialized markets matter. 

• Global presence and delivery capacity in North America, Europe, India, Australia, and markets like Dallas, Austin, Mumbai, Warsaw, Kraków, and Singapore. 

• Outcomes that matter. Adoption KPIs and ROI logic, with TEI and Nucleus research. Find content management ROI.

The 10 Best SharePoint Consulting Companies (2026) 

1)  Beyond Intranet 

 Location: USA (Indiana, Illinois) and India, a division of Beyond Key 

 Services: SharePoint Consulting, Intranet Design and Development, Custom Development, Branding, Integration, Migration, Business Intelligence, Support and Maintenance, plus Teams, Power Platform, and SPFx products 

 Key Clients: NFPs, construction, consulting, and enterprises 

 Strengths: 

 This team has 50+ M365 specialists with 15+ years as Microsoft Partners. 

 They deliver quick intranet portal projects, SPFx web parts, and packaged workplace solutions for HR, procurement, and knowledge. 

 Support covers the full lifecycle, with a focus on user adoption and outcomes. 

 This SaaS-focused provider is strong in UX design. 

 Review the offer on SharePoint Consulting. 

 See Microsoft 365 solutions for more. 

 Case studies show intranet portal restructuring and better search for NFPs and construction businesses. 

 Outcomes match productivity, content collaboration, and governance gains from Forrester and APQC. 

Website: Beyond Intranet 

2) ScienceSoft 

Location: Global delivery presence with HQ operations 

 Services: Strategy, custom development, migration, integration, analytics 

 Key Clients: Enterprise and mid-market leaders 

 Strengths: 

 ScienceSoft provides enterprise ECM modernization and Microsoft 365 execution. 

 Their team of software developers and architects delivers SharePoint Online intranet portals, enterprise search tuning, and Power Automate workflows for approval cycles. 

 Information architecture and SharePoint governance are strong here, helping user adoption. 

 ScienceSoft works as a SharePoint services provider for multi-region rollouts and complex content management transformations. 

 Security and retention are priorities, connecting with compliance in Forrester TEI at The Total Economic Impact.

3) ITC Infotech 

Location: Global with presence in North America, Europe, India, and Australia 

 Services: SharePoint and Microsoft 365 transformation, migration, integration 

 Key Clients: Regulated industries and global enterprises 

 Strengths: 

 Large-scale collaboration programs come with strong governance at this consulting company. 

 Their architects and software developers move legacy portals to SharePoint Online, integrate ERP and CRM applications, and build Power Apps and Power Automate workflows. 

 Organizations needing compliance benefits highlighted by TEI find a good fit here. 

 Digital transformation expertise spans Healthcare, Fintech, and Education. 

 See The Total Economic Impact. 

4) Future Processing 

Location: Europe (Poland, Ukraine) with global clients 

 Services: SharePoint development, integrations, analytics, UX design 

 Key Clients: Mid-market to enterprise 

 Strengths: 

 Engineering rigor and clear delivery guide intranet portal and content management work. 

 User adoption programs follow best practices for change management and training. 

 The company’s software development covers mobile application development and artificial intelligence. 

5) Nous Infosystems 

Location: North America, Europe, APAC with offices in Dallas, Mumbai, Singapore, and Sydney 

 Services: Microsoft 365, SharePoint modernization, applications, integrations 

 Key Clients: Financial services, Healthcare, retail, ISVs 

 Strengths: 

 Broad skills in the Microsoft ecosystem, focusing on SharePoint governance, security, and managed services. 

 The team uses Power Platform and analytics for high ROI, as discussed at DOCUMENT Strategy ROI. 

 Multi-region rollouts and cloud & web collaboration are core, especially for Fintech and Healthcare. 

6) AllianceTek Inc. 

Location: North America and India 

 Services: SharePoint consulting, integration, custom applications, cloud migration 

 Key Clients: SMBs to enterprise 

 Strengths: 

 Outcome-first delivery improves content management and intranet portal usability. 

 Microsoft 365, Teams, and Power Platform help cut down on email-based file sharing. 

 AllianceTek is a reliable SharePoint services provider with clear communication. 

 Digital solutions consulting here supports business transformation and software quality. 

7) Algoworks Inc. 

Location: Global with presence in North America, India, and Australia 

 Services: SharePoint development, migration, mobile and cloud integration 

 Key Clients: Product companies and enterprises 

 Strengths: 

 SharePoint Online connects with mobile experiences and UX at this mobile application development agency. 

 Native and Hybrid iOS works with Microsoft 365, SPFx, and Teams applications. 

 Content collaboration and user adoption improve for businesses. 

 Expertise covers artificial intelligence and DevOps. 

 Productivity impact is shown in the APQC survey. 

8) Belitsoft 

Location: Europe with global clientele 

 Services: Custom SharePoint solutions, ECM, integrations 

 Key Clients: Healthcare, eLearning, enterprise 

 Strengths: 

 Healthcare domain expertise comes with privacy and security awareness. 

 Compliance advantages are explained in TEI at The Total Economic Impact. 

 Software developers tailor workflows and knowledge hubs on Microsoft 365, using Power Automate and Power Apps. 

 Custom development supports digital transformation in Education and Healthcare. 

9) Leobit 

Location: Europe (Ukraine, Poland) and US reach 

 Services: SharePoint and product engineering, UX and UI design, QA 

 Key Clients: Growth and mid-market 

 Strengths: 

 A product-minded approach leads to solid QA for SPFx and modern front ends. 

 Focus stays on user adoption and measurable results with UX design. 

 DevOps and artificial intelligence skills help define success metrics. 

 References are encouraged. 

 Provider excels in custom applications and SaaS solution development. 

10) INOXOFT 

Location: Europe (Ukraine) with projects worldwide 

 Services: SharePoint customization, migration, cloud enablement 

 Key Clients: SMBs and mid-market 

 Strengths: 

 Phased moves to SharePoint Online use agile execution and value delivery. 

 Specialists here focus on information architecture and governance with digital solutions consulting. 

About Author

Taha Siddiqui

Taha Siddiqui writes and plans technical and engaging content for Beyond Intranet as a senior content developer. He holds an engineering degree from Mumbai University and brings 6+ years of professional experience to his work. Over the last three years he has been central to Beyond Intranet’s Microsoft 365 content efforts, focusing on SharePoint, Power Platform and Copilot.

When Gartner research revealed that 83% of data migration projects either fail or go over budget or schedule, it became clear that picking a SharePoint migration partner is a career-defining decision. The choice can be the difference between a project that works and one that creates more problems. 

What is SharePoint Migration? 

SharePoint migration is the process of moving your data, documents, and sites from an old system or version of SharePoint to a newer version or to SharePoint Online, so you can work in a more modern and efficient environment. 

Why SharePoint Migration Needs the Right Partner 

When you move from old SharePoint versions or other platforms to SharePoint Online, you face more than just moving files. Permission structures, custom workflows, and important integrations are all connected. If a provider misses these details, things can go wrong. 

Companies do not have time for delays. Every extra day means lost productivity, higher costs, and more stress for teams. Good SharePoint migration partners can turn a risky project into something that helps your business. 

What Good Migration Partners Share 

The best SharePoint migration services use migration tools that protect your data and keep version history migration. They know how to handle complex migrations with multiple sources and detailed permission mapping. 

A smart partner uses incremental migrations. This way, your business keeps running, and you do not risk everything on one big move. 

The 10 Best SharePoint Migration Partners for 2025 

1. Beyond Intranet 

Beyond Intranet looks at customized migration planning for your business. They do not just follow a standard process. They ask about your real challenges and goals. 

One thing that stands out is how they focus on seamless migrations that help your business keep running. They see that a successful migration is not just about the tech. Team collaboration is just as important as moving your data to SharePoint Online. 

What makes Beyond Intranet different

• Uses proven methods for complex migrations 

• Over 20 years of experience with all kinds of data 

• Microsoft-certified team with a strong track record 

• Offers end-to-end migration services from start to finish 

Many clients say Beyond Intranet delivers smooth moves with zero data loss. Their approach solves the real problems IT leaders worry about in SharePoint migration projects. 

2. AvePoint

AvePoint is known for SharePoint Online migration and uses their Cloud Migration tool. It is good at handling larger migrations and provides detailed reporting for every step. AvePoint is strong at content mapping and keeping user permissions in place. 

They focus on minimal disruption and offer selective migration features. Many organizations like how AvePoint handles complex process needs while protecting digital assets. Client testimonials mention their reliable work in tough situations. 

3. Metalogix (Quest)

Metalogix Content Matrix is respected for handling different SharePoint versions. Their migration tool keeps content structure and metadata in place. It is strong at supporting large-scale migrations. 

Companies like their detailed reporting and user mapping. The cloud-based migration tool makes it easy to track your migration process and spot issues early. 

4. ScienceSoft

ScienceSoft has deep consulting services for SharePoint migration. They offer a comprehensive range of solutions for both technical steps and higher-level migration planning. Their team builds custom solutions to meet unique business goals. 

They spend time understanding business requirements before making a migration plan. ScienceSoft has worked with notable clients in many industries. 

5. Tzunami

Tzunami is good for complex migrations that involve many platforms and data sources. Their innovative solutions help with tough migration requirements that others may miss. They can handle legacy systems and custom integrations. 

Their migration process keeps business growth in mind while upgrading your systems. Tzunami’s strength is working through migrations with lots of customization and integration work. 

6. Microsoft FastTrack

Microsoft FastTrack helps with Office 365 migrations, including SharePoint Online. Their support comes directly from Microsoft’s own teams, which is helpful for large projects. 

The real benefit is strong platform knowledge and seamless integration with the rest of the Microsoft ecosystem. Companies get access to migration tools and best practices from the SharePoint team. 

7. Sharegate (by GSoft)

Sharegate is known for migration tools that are simple to use. Their platform is built for people who want an easy migration process, but who also need to handle complex migrations when they come up. The interface is easy for IT teams to learn. 

Sharegate’s online migration tool can move both content and site structure. Organizations that want a clear, direct approach like what Sharegate offers. 

8. Avepoint Fly

Avepoint Fly focuses on cloud-based migration solutions that work quickly. Their platform is made for bulk migration and keeps data safe during the move. It is good at moving a lot of content at once. 

Organizations appreciate Fly’s direct approach to planning and running migration projects. The design helps move content fast while keeping metadata and permissions. 

9. DocKit Migrator

Dockit SharePoint solutions are for companies that need to move specific types of content. Their Dockit Migrator tool is good for document-heavy migrations with complex folder setups. 

The focus on content management is useful for companies with strict compliance needs. Their detailed approach to content analysis and mapping keeps important documents where they belong. 

10. BitTitan MigrationWiz

BitTitan’s MigrationWiz is a cloud-based solution for more than just SharePoint. It covers many types of Office 365 migration needs. They offer pricing models that work for different sizes of business. 

The platform is simple to use, but still covers migration capability and security. BitTitan is a solid choice for companies looking for a unified migration solution. 

Key Considerations in Choosing Your Migration Partner 

Total Cost and Return on Investment 

A Forrester Total Economic Impact study found that moving to Microsoft cloud, including SharePoint Online, can bring a 225% ROI. For a billion-dollar business, that is about $2.2 million over three years. There are real cost savings, like 12% lower Microsoft license fees and 10% less IT support spending. 

To get these benefits, expert migration planning is needed. The right migration partner thinks about both your technical needs and your long-term plans. Companies that work with experienced partners avoid the cost overruns seen in 83% of migration projects, according to Gartner. 

Budget and Schedule Risk 

The high rate of migration project failures shows why you need an experienced partner. Gartner says 83% of projects go over budget or schedule. Proven providers use clear methods and have a track record of finishing on time. 

Forrester found that Microsoft’s Unified support helped companies avoid extra costs by automating manual work. This led to a 35% drop in IT support tickets and 30% faster solutions. Partners with a proven methodology can finish projects up to 60% faster and avoid common issues. 

The Role of Intuitive Interfaces in Migration Success 

Faster Rollout and User Adoption 

Easy-to-use interfaces and step-by-step guidance help people start using the new tools quickly. Forrester found that unified, user-friendly platforms cut the time to roll out new tools by up to 60% in three years. End users can start working in SharePoint Online sooner, which helps productivity. 

What intuitive migration interfaces help with 

• Shorter time before users are productive 

• Less time for IT teams to learn new systems 

• Fewer complaints during the switch 

• Higher user satisfaction during change 

Lower Training Requirements 

A simple design means less training and lower costs. The TEI study found that replacing old training with in-app help saved $2,000 per user, which adds up to $846,000 in a 10,000-user company. That is about $34 per user each month. Fewer help desk tickets and faster learning happen when interfaces feel familiar. 

Companies that use seamless integration strategies see a big drop in training needs. When migration tools and the new environment have familiar workflows, employees adjust quickly and need less help. 

Fewer Errors 

Research shows that an easy interface can cut the learning curve in half. Forrester found that better usability, with guided migrations and a consistent interface, led to 50% fewer downtime events. This means people made fewer mistakes in daily use. 

A better interface can make users 75% more productive and reduce support tickets. Fewer errors mean business runs more smoothly after migration. 

Importance of Data Security and Zero Loss Guarantees 

Avoiding Data Loss 

A secure migration process is a must. Industry data shows that big IT failures now cost $100,000 or more for 60% of cases. Human error caused almost 40% of major outages over three years. 

Using data validation and backup prevents these problems. Losing even one piece of data can mean breaking compliance rules or paying large fines. So prevention is a priority. 

Using Cloud Security Features 

SharePoint Online has built-in protection, like encryption and threat analytics. Forrester found customers saw fewer downtime events and better security after moving to the cloud. 

Security improvements often include 

• 40% fewer outages 

• Half as much impact from each incident 

• Better compliance 

• More proactive monitoring 

Providers that use validated migration tools and processes help make these results possible. 

Meeting Compliance Standards 

SharePoint Online covers more than 90 compliance standards. Moving with Microsoft’s security baseline makes compliance much easier. Unified support helps companies follow data privacy rules around the world. 

Zero data loss and end-to-end encryption mean fewer risks of audit problems or security issues after migration. 

Evaluating Post-Migration Support and Technical Assistance 

Keeping Downtime Low 

The quality of support after migration matters. Forrester’s TEI study showed that organizations using Microsoft’s support saw 40% fewer downtime events and lost half the time per incident. Leaders said that having global support led to fewer problems and smoother operations. 

This added up to $205,000 in annual revenue at risk for billion-dollar firms, which is much less than without good support. Ongoing migration support is important for keeping the benefits that justified your migration. 

Faster Solutions 

Quick support means problems are solved quickly. Forrester found organizations had 35% fewer IT help tickets and 30% quicker solutions. Over three years, this saved 15,750 hours, or about $567,000. 

Good support means 

• Fast response 

• Clear steps for escalation 

• Deep technical skills 

• Proactive monitoring 

After migration, common problems like permission issues or sync errors are solved much faster with dedicated help. 

Higher User Satisfaction 

Better support leads to happier users. Executives said quick help and guidance stopped major revenue loss from customer complaints and kept Net Promoter Scores steady. The 225% ROI over three years shows both cost savings and other benefits, like user confidence and ongoing business. 

Companies that focus on full migration support keep productivity up and avoid building up technical debt. 

Frequently Asked Questions About SharePoint Migration Partners 

What is the best SharePoint migration tool? 

 The best SharePoint migration tool depends on your needs. Leading options include AvePoint Cloud Migration, Metalogix Content Matrix, and specialized solutions from providers like Beyond Intranet that offer customized approaches. 

What is the best way to transfer data to SharePoint? 

 Incremental migrations work best. Start with a pilot group and expand. Professional migration services make sure content mapping, permissions, and business continuity are handled well. 

How much does SharePoint consulting service cost? 

 Costs depend on how complex your project is. Forrester found that expert guidance can bring a 225% ROI by avoiding overruns and finishing faster. 

What questions should I ask SharePoint consultants before hiring? 

 Ask about their process for complex migrations, experience in your industry, training for users, and what kind of support they provide after migration. 

The partner you choose will decide if your project succeeds or joins the 83% that fail. The providers on this list have the experience, methods, and commitment to deliver a successful migration and help your business run better. 

Speaking to fellow employees at work shouldn’t feel like you’re tossing a note into the wind and hoping someone finds it. But that’s what happens when organizations rely on outdated ways to share information. So many teams are still left digging through emails, old folders, or even different software applications just to find a simple policy, piece of news, or digital content. There’s a better way, and we want to talk about it: the modern CMS intranet (intranet content management system). This isn’t just tech for tech’s sake—it’s about enabling a consistent user experience, increasing employee engagement, and making things easier for everyone, every day. 

Here’s what it really means, how it fits into your organization, and what you need to think about if you’re considering a modern solution or intranet portal that supports your digital workplace. 

What Is a CMS Intranet  

Someone once told me, “Clear is kind.” That’s what a CMS intranet is supposed to bring—clarity. If you’re not already familiar, a CMS intranet is basically your company’s internal site, powered by a content management system (CMS). It’s more than just a corporate intranet or a dumping ground for files, links, or outdated content that nobody checks. With a CMS intranet platform, trusted employees—content editors, content creators, or even non-technical users—can easily update, organize, or share internal communication, digital content, and company news. No more waiting weeks for IT to publish content or make a change. It’s a space that keeps up with you and your team, supporting frictionless content and front-end content creation. 

A regular intranet? That’s just storage and links. A modern CMS intranet offers a centralized repository for all kinds of content types—news feeds, policy updates, digital forms, native video content, knowledge base articles, and more. It empowers collaboration among employees, streamlines communication, and serves as your single source of truth. 

What are the Benefits of CMS Intranet for Organizations 

Centralized Content Management and Easy Publishing 

Everything you and your team need is in a single centralized platform. You can find policies, company updates, or onboarding checklists without wading through old emails or scattered files. Publishing content is simple, enabling content with changelogs, approval workflows, content scheduling, and content at scale. With a robust content plan, you ensure content accuracy and relevance for every department. 

Boost Internal Communication 

Internal communication thrives on two-way communication, social interaction, and instant messaging. With a modern employee intranet, announcements and news actually land where you want them, leveraging omnichannel content delivery—across web, mobile app, and integrated platforms like Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, or Slack. Employees can leave feedback forms, ask questions, and participate in employee polls right away. 

Enhanced Collaboration Tools 

All those scattered conversations, files, and routine tasks? Now, they’re just together. One login, and you’re caught up on projects, chats, or shared docs, using collaboration tools with advanced features. You’re not bouncing between platforms, losing info, or missing out on activity feeds and project tracking. 

Personalization and Targeted Content Delivery 

Not every message should go to everyone. HR can send personalized content and onboarding details to new hires, while IT sends security reminders only to those who need them. AI-driven personalized feeds and machine learning can tailor content relevant to individual user preferences, supporting levels of engagement across the company ecosystem. 

Better Knowledge Management and Document Control 

With a CMS intranet, you’ve got a single source for knowledge management, document management, and efficient content management. Search and tagging, version control, and permissions keep sensitive material secure. Advanced security measures, regular security audits, and compliance features ensure intranet security and protect against cyber attacks. 

What are the Key Features of a CMS Intranet 

• User-Friendly Interface: Essential for non-technical users and content creators alike. 
• Permissions and Access Control: Highly granular user permissions protect sensitive content. 
• Workflow Automation: Automated reminders, approval workflows, and publishing tasks streamline daily tasks. 
• Integration Capabilities: Connects with Office 365, Google Workspace, Slack, and other popular collaboration tools, ensuring your intranet software fits with existing business apps. 
• Mobile Responsiveness and Accessibility: Mobile app support keeps employees connected on any device, anywhere. 
• Document Management: Version history, document storage, and easy search keep company knowledge organized. 
• Task Management: Assign and track tasks, set project milestones, and monitor task completion rates. 
• Employee Directory: Easy access to profiles, roles, and locations. 
• Chat and Communication: Instant messaging, group forums, and social features support effective internal communication. 
• News Feeds and Activity Feed: Keep everyone informed with company news, corporate news, and updates. 

What are the Types of CMS Intranets 

• Traditional CMS Intranets: On-site, total control, more IT support required. 
• Headless CMS Intranets: Manage content in one spot, display it anywhere—web, mobile, lobby screens. 
• Cloud-Based CMS Intranets: Cloud-based platform with automatic updates, accessible anywhere, ideal for remote teams. 
• Open-Source CMS Intranets: Flexible and customizable, open-source software for organizations with technical expertise. 

Evaluating Organizational Needs 

• Security Requirements: Intranet security, advanced security measures, and compliance are non-negotiable. 
• Customization Needs: Your intranet portal should reflect your brand, company culture, and workflow nuances. 
• Compatibility with Existing Tools: Integration with tools like Office Suite and design tools matters for seamless workflows. 
• Scalability: Will your intranet solutions as you grow, supporting active users and high content volumes? 
• Support: Choose a vendor with strong support, training, and a peer community (e.g., Gartner Peer Insights). 
• Cost and ROI: Consider licensing, training, support, and the long-term business impact metrics, not just the sticker price. 

Future Trends in CMS Intranets 

• AI-Powered Solutions: Artificial intelligence and machine learning help with content discovery, personalized feeds, and content scheduling. 
• Mobile-Friendly Capabilities: A responsive mobile app is essential for a positive employee experience in the modern workplace. 
• Advanced Analytics: Real-time analytics, insights into intranet usage, and key metrics drive data-driven decision making. 
• Social Networks and Social Features: Internal social collaboration, peer recognition programs, and employee sentiment tools boost employee satisfaction. 

Use Cases & Real-World Applications 

• Onboarding and Training: Employee onboarding is faster with digital content, onboarding checklists, and training videos. 
• HR Policy Sharing: Keep your knowledge base, company wiki, and policies up to date and easily accessible. 
• Department News and Updates: Each team shares relevant news, supporting informed decisions and communication tools. 
• Employee Recognition: Peer recognition programs and award-winning employee apps increase engagement and well-being. 
• Knowledge Base and Self-Service: Employees can answer user queries themselves, reducing email usage and support tickets. 
• Social Collaboration: Forums, idea boards, and social networks facilitate collaboration among employees and a positive workplace culture. 

Key Features to Look For 

• Simple editing and content creation 
• Good search and content tagging 
• Dashboards and reports for each role 
• Alerts, notifications, and news feeds 
• Approval workflows for publishing (content lifecycle, workflows for content approval) 
• Version control, document control, and document storage 
• Insights into intranet usage (usage levels, content popularity) 
• Integration with business apps and collaboration tools 
• Multiple language options 
• Accessibility for everyone 
• Advanced analytics and reporting 
• Employee self-service and HR capabilities 
• Social features and instant messaging 
• Native video integration and high-quality images 

How to Choose the Right CMS Intranet Platform 

• Scalability: Support content at scale and a growing number of active users. 
• Security: Look for certifications, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits. 
• Support: Evaluate training, help resources, and peer reviews. 
• Customization: Must fit your brand, workflows, and employee intranet needs. 
• Cost and ROI: Weigh software application costs, support, and efficiency of workflows. 
• Vendor Credibility: Check references, reviews, and case studies (Gartner Peer Insights, etc.). 

Schema & Structured Data 

A well-implemented intranet CMS software supports schema and structured data, helping AI and search systems understand your content, user engagement, and the lifecycle of content within your internal company ecosystem. 

Frequently Asked Questions

About Author

Taha Siddiqui

Taha Siddiqui writes and plans technical and engaging content for Beyond Intranet as a senior content developer. He holds an engineering degree from Mumbai University and brings 6+ years of professional experience to his work. Over the last three years he has been central to Beyond Intranet’s Microsoft 365 content efforts, focusing on SharePoint, Power Platform and Copilot.

Would your organization save millions if every document, idea, and project update was always at everyone’s fingertips, securely, anywhere? The answer is no longer hypothetical. This is what Microsoft SharePoint brings to many of the world’s largest enterprises—now used by over 85% of Fortune 500 companies (Microsoft, 2024). 

What SharePoint Solves Right Away 

Most people who ask, “What is SharePoint?” are trying to fix problems with lost files, compliance issues, or slow teamwork. Usually, this question comes up after a document goes missing or when leaders notice that siloed information slows down decisions and innovation. 

Microsoft SharePoint brings documents, communication, and business processes together in one place. It’s a single platform that connects to Microsoft 365 and is trusted for content management around the world. The SharePoint benefits for companies are clear from the moment you use it. 

A Short Look at SharePoint’s History 

SharePoint has been around since 2001 as a Microsoft web-based application. It helps organizations store and organize all sorts of content—documents, images, videos, news, links, lists, web pages, and tasks. Over time, Microsoft SharePoint evolved through versions like SharePoint 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019. Most organizations now use SharePoint Online, which is always up to date and part of Microsoft 365. 

Since 2012, SharePoint Online has meant that companies no longer need to manage servers. Instead, SharePoint is available as a subscription (you just sign in and use it, like you use your email). This makes Microsoft SharePoint accessible to more businesses, including those with small IT teams or limited budgets. 

Classic SharePoint and Modern SharePoint 

SharePoint’s look and structure have changed. In 2017, Microsoft redesigned it, creating what is now called Modern SharePoint. It moved from the old “subsite” model to a “flat architecture” (each site stands alone). This makes it easier to manage permissions and connect sites. Classic SharePoint to Modern SharePoint also looks and feels more current, and it’s simpler for everyone to use. 

Classic SharePoint sites still exist, but new projects benefit from the improved navigation, editing, and page-building of Modern SharePoint. 

Types of SharePoint Sites: What They Are and When to Use Them 

When you create a site in SharePoint, you have several options. Each type serves a different business need. Choosing the right one matters for permissions, design, and which Microsoft 365 tools you can use. 

Team Site 

A Team Site is for two-way collaboration—think of a workgroup, project team, or department. When you create a Team Site, you also get a Microsoft 365 Group and connected apps (Group Calendar, Teams, Planner, and a Distribution List). 

You can also get a Team Site when you create a Team in Microsoft Teams or a Plan in Planner—these are all connected in the background. 

Examples of Team Sites: 

• A project team site for planning a product launch, storing files, sharing notes, and tracking tasks. 
• A department site for HR to manage policies, vacation schedules, and onboarding resources. 
• A site for a regional sales team to store presentations, track leads, and share updates. 

Communication Site

A Communication Site is for one-way sharing of information—think of an intranet, a hub for announcements, or resources for the whole company. 

When you create a Communication Site, you get a wide layout, navigation at the top, and no Microsoft 365 Group or extra apps. It’s good for sharing news or resources, not for team collaboration. 

Examples of Communication Sites: 

• A company-wide intranet with news, CEO messages, and links to HR forms. 
• An IT department site for software updates, help desk contacts, and FAQs. 
• An employee resource portal with training guides and benefit information. 

Team Site Without a Group 

There’s also a Team Site without a Group. This is like a regular Team Site but doesn’t create a Microsoft 365 Group. IT creates these from the SharePoint Admin Center. If you want the layout of a Team Site but don’t need connected apps, this is a good fit. 

 If you change your mind later, you can “upgrade” it to include a Group. 

Examples:

• A document storage site for a special project, where only a few people need access. 
• An archive site for old legal documents, with strict permissions and no need for chat or shared calendars. 

Channel Sites 

When you create a private or shared channel in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint automatically creates a new site just for that channel. These sites are focused on document storage and have different permissions from regular Team Sites. You can’t manage these like normal sites—they’re tightly linked to Teams. 

Examples: 

• A private channel for a leadership group within a larger Team, storing confidential files. 
• A shared channel for a cross-company project, with its own document library. 

SharePoint Document Libraries

Every SharePoint site (team or communication) usually has at least one document library. This is where you store, organize, and share files. 

You can create folders, add metadata (like project names or due dates), and set permissions at the folder or document level. 

Examples of Document Libraries: 

• A library in a project team site for all project files, grouped by phase or deliverable. 
• A policy document library in the HR communication site, tagged by document type and review date. 
• A marketing asset library, storing images, presentations, and brand guidelines. 

SharePoint Features: Four Core Capabilities 

Document Storage and Management 

• Microsoft SharePoint is trusted for secure, organized document storage. 
• Files are easy to find, thanks to metadata, version history, and smart search. 
• Tools like check-in/check-out, co-authoring, and access control keep files safe and up to date. 
• SharePoint Document Management System lets you automate document workflows, so approvals and reviews happen faster. 
•  Encryption, permissions, and compliance tools help you protect sensitive data. 

SharePoint benefits here include always knowing where your files are and never worrying about lost versions. 

Team Collaboration Capabilities 

SharePoint is a real SharePoint collaboration tool. 

• Team Sites connect people for joint editing, shared calendars, task tracking, and discussion. 
• You can tag files, create custom lists (for projects, contacts, or issues), and work together in real time—even from different locations. 
• Integration with Teams and Outlook links conversations and documents. 
• With custom SharePoint development, you can build dashboards, automate processes, and connect SharePoint to your CRM or HR systems. 

SharePoint features here give teams everything in one place, removing barriers to working together. 

Intranet and Communication Tools 

• Communication Sites and document libraries are core SharePoint features for company-wide sharing. 
•  Build intranet portals for news, events, and resources with easy navigation and clear permissions. 
•  Use SharePoint as a knowledge base or wiki—employees can find policies, guides, or procedures quickly. 
•  Every Team in Microsoft Teams gets its own SharePoint site, storing meeting notes, shared files, and OneNote notebooks. 

SharePoint benefits for internal communication include making sure everyone knows where to find important information—no more hunting through emails. 

Workflow Automation and Integration with Microsoft 365 

Microsoft SharePoint works deeply with the rest of Microsoft 365. 

• Use Power Automate to automate approvals, notifications, and document routing. 
•  Connect SharePoint with major business systems—like Salesforce, SAP, or custom apps—using SharePoint integration. 
•  You can move to SharePoint Online with SharePoint migration services, which handle planning, data transfer, and user training. 

SharePoint features here let you automate manual tasks and keep all your business data connected. 

SharePoint Benefits: Security, Flexibility, and Growth 

• Secure document management with encryption and permissions 
• Easy collaboration across teams and locations 
• Flexible site types for every use case 
• Powerful integration with Microsoft 365 and third-party tools 
• Ongoing updates and support with SharePoint support and maintenance 

Best Practices for Success 

• Set up clear site structures and permissions 
• Use metadata and tags for easy search 
• Train users and keep them updated 
• Regularly review your setup with SharePoint consulting 

Why SharePoint Remains Indispensable 

Microsoft SharePoint is more than just a document storage tool. 

It’s a SharePoint collaboration tool, an intranet, a workflow engine, and a platform for secure, connected work. 

With the right setup, SharePoint features and SharePoint benefits can help any organization work smarter, move faster, and stay secure. 

Conclusion 

SharePoint is the practical answer to today’s content chaos. It gives you secure, easy, and scalable collaboration for any size business. Every SharePoint feature, every SharePoint benefit, and every solution—always within reach. 

Google Drive to OneDrive Migration Pre-Migration Prep: Don’t Skip This 

(Skip this, and you’ll spend 3x longer fixing errors. Seriously.) 

Step 1: Audit Your Google Drive Data 

Why: 30% of migrated data is redundant or obsolete (IDC). Migrating junk happens with wasted time and cluttered OneDrive. 

How:

1. Please open Google Drive Storage Manager (https://drive.google.com/drive/quota).
2. Then you can sort files by size:
3. Either delete or archive files >5GB (because they will fail during transfer).
4. Identify files without an owner:
5. Click “Shared with me” → Filter by “No owner”.
6. Why: files without owner mean compliance risks. Please delete or reassign ownership.
7. List shared folders:
8. Go to “Shared drives” → Note collaborators for each folder.

Pro Tip: Use Google Takeout (https://takeout.google.com/) to download a full backup before deleting anything. 

Step 2: Clean Up 

Why: Migrating duplicates result in 22% longer migration time (Gartner). 

How: 

1. Time to delete duplicates:  

• You can use Duplicate Cleaner for Google Drive (its a free tool). 
• Scan → Review duplicates → Delete extras. 

2.Archive outdated files:  

• Create a folder “/Archive_PreMigration_2024”. 
• Drag old files (e.g., “/Project_2020”) here. 

1. Do NOT delete yet – wait until post-migration. 

And if you are deleting files pre-migration, then please ensure no active workflows depend on them even remotely. 

Step 3: Check File Compatibility 

Why: Google Docs is not equal to Microsoft Office. This means formatting breaks, resulting in annoyed users. 

How: 

• You can start by testing critical files:  
• Please pick 10 Google Docs, Sheets, Slides. 
• Then please download as Word/Excel/PPT (File → Download → [Format]). 
• Open in Microsoft Office → Check for:  
• Broken formulas in Sheets → Excel. 
• Font changes (Google’s Arial → OneDrive’s Calibri). 
• Missing images (common in Slides → PPT). 
• Fix issues:  
• Rebuild complex Sheets formulas in Excel. 
• Replace Google Fonts with Microsoft defaults. 

Pro Tip: Use Google’s “Convert to Microsoft Office” add-on for bulk fixes. 

Method 1: Manual Migration (For <100 Files) 

(Do this only if you have 1 hour and a strong coffee. Not for the impatient.) 

Step 1: Download from Google Drive 

How: 

• Select files/folders → Click ⋮ (More actions) → Download. 

• For folders:  

• Google zips them (max 2GB per zip). 

• If >2GB, split into subfolders (e.g., “/Q1_Reports_Part1”). 

• For shared files:  

• Warning: You can only download files you own. Shared files from others won’t transfer. 

Gotcha: Zipped files lose “last modified” dates. Use Google Takeout to preserve metadata. 

Step 2: Upload to OneDrive 

How: 

• Go to OneDrive (https://onedrive.live.com/). 
• Click Upload → Select the .zip file(s). 
• Wait for extraction:  
• A 1GB zip takes ~5 minutes on 50Mbps internet. 
• Check progress: Look for the “Processing” status. 
• Organize files:  
• Drag folders into your desired OneDrive structure. 
• Rename confusing files (e.g., “Presentation (1).pptx” → “Q4_Report_Final.pptx”). 

Pro Tip: Use OneDrive’s “Files On-Demand” to avoid hogging local disk space. 

Step 3: Verify & Fix Permissions 

Why: Manual transfers break all shared links. Prepare for “I can’t access this!” emails. 

How: 

• Re-share files:  

• Right-click a file → Share → Enter collaborator emails. 

• For bulk sharing: Use PowerShell (see script below). 

• Check version history:  

• Right-click a file → Version history → If empty, upload original Google Drive versions manually. 

• Test access:  

• Log in as a test user → Try opening a shared file. 

PowerShell Script for Bulk Sharing: 

(Replace URLs and emails. Requires SharePoint admin rights.) 

Step 4: Google Drive To OneDrive Migration Post-Migration Validation Steps

How: 

• Checksum check:  

• Use HashMyFiles (free tool) to compare source (Google) and destination (OneDrive) file hashes. 

• Spot-check 10 files:  

• Open PDFs (check for blank pages). 

• Test Excel macros (if any). 

• Update bookmarks:  

• Replace old Google Drive links in company docs with OneDrive URLs. 

Gotcha: OneDrive URLs are case-sensitive. Test them in Incognito mode. 

What’s Next? 

If you survived this manual hell, congrats! For >100 files, jump to Method 2: Free Tools – or save 8 hours with Method 3: Enterprise Migration. 

Need a pre-built checklist? Or stuck somewhere?  

Book 15-minute migration audit – we’ll spot risks you missed. 

4. Method 2: Free Tools (For 100–10,000 Files)

(For teams with basic tech skills but no budget. Warning: Free tools lack error recovery – one mistake will lead to hours of cleanup.) 

Step 1: Choose Your Tool for Google Drive To OneDrive Migration

Option 1: Microsoft Mover.io (Free for Google Workspace Admins) 

• Best for: Simple folder structures, minimal permissions. 

• Limits: Skips files >15GB, no version history transfer. 

Option 2: MultCloud (Free Tier: 30GB/month) 

• Best for: Merging multiple Google Drives into one OneDrive. 

• Limits: Free tier throttles speeds to 2MB/s. 

Step 2: Migrate with Mover.io (Step-by-Step) 

1. Set Up Mover.io:

• Go to Mover.io → Log in with your Google Workspace admin account. 

• Click “Connectors” → Authorize Google Drive (source) and OneDrive (destination). 

2. Map Permissions:

• Under “Transfer Settings”:  

• Enable “Migrate permissions” → Match Google emails to Microsoft 365 accounts. 

• Gotcha: Mover.io can’t transfer permissions for external users (e.g., client@agency.com). 

3. Select Files:

• Choose folders to migrate (avoid “Shared Drives” – Mover.io doesn’t support them). 

• Filter files: Exclude file types like .exe or .zip (right-click → Exclude). 

4. Run the Migration:

• Click “Start” → Monitor progress via email alerts. 

• Speed: ~50GB/hour on a stable 100Mbps connection. 

5. Fix Errors:

• Download the CSV error report → Common issues:  

• “Permission Denied”: Reassign ownership in Google Drive pre-migration. 

• “File Too Large”: Split files >15GB with 7-Zip or exclude them. 

Step 3: Validate the Migration 

1. Spot-Check Permissions:

• Log in as a test user → Verify shared files appear in OneDrive’s “Shared” tab. 

2. Test File Integrity:

• Use FreeFileSync (free tool) to compare file counts/sizes between Google Drive and OneDrive. 

3. Update Shared Links:

• Use OneDrive’s “Replace Links” feature (Admin Center → OneDrive → Sharing) to auto-update old Google Drive URLs in company docs. 

Pro Tip: Schedule migrations during off-hours – Mover.io lacks pause/resume functionality. 

Method 3: Enterprise Migration (10,000+ Files) 

(For IT teams with PowerShell chops or budgets for enterprise tools. No room for error.) 

Step 1: Choose Your Weapon 

Option 1: rclone (Free/Open-Source) 

• Best for: Developers who love CLI. 

• Limits: No GUI, minimal support. 

Option 2: Cloudsfer ($0.10/GB) 

• Best for: GUI lovers with compliance needs (GDPR, HIPAA logging). 

Step 2: Migrate with rclone (Command-Line) 

1. Install rclone:

• Download from rclone.org → Run rclone config. 

2. Link Google Drive & OneDrive:

• Follow prompts to authenticate both clouds → Name connectors “google” and “onedrive”. 

3. Run the Sync:

• Flags Explained:  

• –transfers 20: 20 concurrent file transfers. 

• –drive-acknowledge-abuse: Bypass Google’s abusive file scans (e.g., encrypted archives). 

4. Handle Errors:

• Check rclone.log → Common fixes:  

• “403 Quota Exceeded”: Add –drive-stop-on-upload-limit to pause when Google caps uploads. 

• “Failed to copy: file not found”: Retry with –retries 10. 

Pro Tip: Use rclone mount to create a virtual drive for drag-and-drop validation. 

Step 3: Migrate with Cloudsfer (GUI) 

1. Set Up Cloudsfer:

• Sign up → Add Google Drive (source) and OneDrive (destination). 

2. Map Users & Permissions:

• Upload a CSV mapping Google emails to Microsoft 365 accounts. 

• Advanced: Preserve “Editor” vs. “Viewer” roles (extra $0.02/GB). 

3. Filter & Transform Data:

• Exclude files modified before 2020 (cut migration time by 40%). 

• Convert Google Docs to Word/Excel (Settings → File Conversion). 

4. Run & Monitor:

• Start migration → Track progress via live dashboard. 

• Pause/Resume: Critical for multi-day migrations. 

5. Post-Migration Report:

• Export audit logs for compliance (e.g., “User X accessed File Y at 2:34 AM”). 

Step 4: Enterprise Validation 

1. Checksum Verification:

• Use Teracopy (paid) to compare source/destination file hashes. 

2. Test Edge Cases:

• Open 100+ page PDFs (common failure point). 

• Validate Excel macros (recreate if broken). 

3. User Communication:

• Send a company-wide email with:  

• New OneDrive URLs. 

• A 2-minute Loom video on accessing files. 

• Support contact for “Where’s my data?!” panics. 

When to Call Beyond Intranet 

         If:  

• You’re migrating >50TB with zero downtime. 

• SharePoint/Teams integration is required. 

• Compliance auditors are breathing down your neck. 

• What We Do:  

• Full metadata preservation (version history, “last modified by”). 

• Pre-migration cleanup (identify 60% redundant files). 

• Post-migration training (cut user tickets by 80%). 

Final Checklist 

• Tested 50+ files for formatting breaks. 

• Backed up Google Drive to AWS S3 (avoid “oops” scenarios). 

• Updated internal Wikis with OneDrive links. 

• Ran rclone check or Cloudsfer’s integrity report. 

Need a ready-to-use rclone script? Or maybe stuck at “403 Forbidden”? Book a 30-minute emergency fix – our engineers will remote in and unblock you. 

To successfully migrate Google Workspace to Office 365, you need a strategy that addresses collaboration, permissions, and hidden costs—not just data transfer. 

The 3 Truths When You Migrate Google Workspace to Office 365 

Truth 1: Your Collaboration Workflow Will Break

A designer updates a Google Doc (version 12). You migrate it to Word. The team keeps editing the Google Doc (now version 15). Post-migration, the Word file is outdated. The team overwrites changes. The client receives conflicting drafts. The contract is voided. The deal collapses. All because you ignored version control. This is why migrating from Google Workspace to Office 365 demands more than just moving files—it requires rethinking how teams collaborate in real time. 

Why It Matters: 

• Google’s Real-Time Edits ≠ Office 365’s Co-Authoring:
• Google Docs auto-saves every keystroke. Office 365 requires manual saves (Ctrl+S) during co-authoring. 
• Impact: 22% more version conflicts during migration (Forrester). 
• Fix: Use Simultrans to lock Google Docs during migration and force Office 365 adoption. 

Collaboration chaos is just the start. Wait until permissions explode. 

Truth 2: Permissions ≠ Permissions 

Slippery Slope: 

 A Google Drive folder shared with “Anyone with the link” migrates to SharePoint. By default, SharePoint inherits permissions from the parent folder. The folder becomes public. A competitor finds it via Google Search. Trade secrets leak. Stock drops 8%. Permission mismatches are a silent killer when you migrate Google Workspace to Office 365, turning shared links into compliance nightmares. 

Why It Matters: 

• Google’s Model: Link-based sharing (no Active Directory integration). 
• Office 365’s Model: Azure AD-driven access (users must be in your tenant).  
• Risk: 40% of externally shared files break post-migration (Gartner). 
• Fix: Pre-migration audit with Varonis to map “Anyone with the link” to specific AD groups. 

Permissions are a minefield. But the financial bleed from redundant tools is worse. 

Truth 3: You’re Paying for Two Ecosystems (But Using Half) 

You keep Google Workspace for Docs and Microsoft 365 for Teams. Employees use both. A sales rep attaches a Google Doc to a Teams chat. The client can’t open it (no Google account). The deal stalls. The rep quits. Revenue misses target by 12%. Hybrid tool stacks drain budgets, which is why a full migration from Google Workspace to Office 365 often pays for itself in 18 months or less. 

Why It Matters: 

• Cost: $12/user for Google Workspace + $20/user for Microsoft 365 = $32/user. 
• Savings: Full migration to Microsoft 365 E5 ($38/user) lets you cut Slack ($8/user) and Zoom ($15/user).  
• ROI: 19% cost reduction over 3 years (Flexera). 

Now that we’ve exposed the landmines, let’s talk about the 4 decisions that make or break your migration. 

The 4-Decision Framework (What Consultants Charge $50k to Share) 

Your survival kit when you migrate from google workspace to office 365 

Decision 1: How to Handle Google Drive 

Migrate Drive to OneDrive. Shared folders break inheritance. Employees can’t access Q4 reports. The CFO panics. Auditors flag “inaccessible financial records.” The SEC fines you $500k. This is why migrating Google Workspace to Office 365 requires meticulous planning for Drive-to-SharePoint mapping—not just drag-and-drop transfers. 

Options: 

• Option A: OneDrive (simple, but loses folder structures).  
• Use Case: Small teams (<50 users). 
• Option B: SharePoint (complex, but enables metadata tagging for compliance).  
• Use Case: Enterprises needing audit trails. 
• Data: 68% of enterprises choose SharePoint (Microsoft). 

Drive is just the beginning. What about 500 hours of Google Meet recordings? 

Decision 2: What to Do with Google Meet Recordings 

Migrate Meet recordings to Teams. Internal training links pointing to Drive break. New hires can’t access onboarding videos. Ramp-up time doubles. HR misses hiring goals. 

Options: 

• Option A: Manual download/upload (time: 1 hour per recording). 
• Option B: Use Microsoft’s Data Import Service (bulk migration, but requires Azure Blob Storage). 
• Pro Tip: Update internal links post-migration with Redirector to avoid broken URLs. 

Recordings are tedious. But rebuilding workflows? That’s where blood is shed. 

Decision 3: How to Convert Google Workspace Scripts 

A logistics firm’s AppScript auto-generates invoices from Sheets. Post-migration, the script breaks. Invoices stall. Vendors halt shipments. Production stops. Loss: $1.2M/week. 

Options: 

• Option A: Rebuild in Power Automate (time: 3x longer, but scalable). 
• Option B: Keep Google Workspace for scripts (cost: $12/user/month for unused licenses). 
• Data: 70% of AppScripts require full rewrites (Nucleus Research). 

Scripts are a migraine. But licensing? That’s a heart attack. 

Decision 4: When to Kill Google Workspace Licenses 

You cancel Google licenses Day 1. A critical third-party app (e.g., Salesforce) still uses Google Auth. Logins fail. Sales can’t access CRM for 48 hours. Pipeline visibility drops to zero. 

Options: 

• Option A: Phase out licenses over 90 days (monitor app dependencies). 
• Option B: Cut licenses immediately (save $12/user, risk outages). 
• Pro Tip: Use Okta to migrate auth to Azure AD seamlessly. 

Decisions made? Good. Now let’s dodge the hidden traps. 

The Hidden Traps When You Migrate From Google Workspace to Office 365 

Trap 1: Google Sites Become Orphaned 

Your Modern intranet (Google Sites) isn’t migrated. Employees bookmark dead links. IT rebuilds it in SharePoint… in 6 months. Productivity drops 30%. Legacy Google Sites are often overlooked when teams migrate from Google Workspace to Office 365, creating intranet black holes that frustrate employees.  

Solution: 

• Use ShareGate to auto-convert Sites → SharePoint. 
• Cost: $3,000 (tool) vs. $50,000 (manual rebuild). 

Sites are obvious. But Shared Drives? That’s a ambush. 

Trap 2: Shared Drives ≠ SharePoint Libraries 

Shared Drives migrate as flat folders. Permissions reset. The legal team loses access to case files. A deposition is missed. The lawsuit is lost. Legal fees: $2M. 

Solution: 

• Pre-tag files with metadata (e.g., “CaseID=2024-05”) pre-migration. 
• Rebuild permissions via SharePoint’s column-based filtering. 

Shared Drives hurt. But compliance gaps? That’s extinction-level. 

Trap 3: Google Vault ≠ Microsoft Purview 

Legal places a hold on a departed employee’s emails in Vault. Post-migration, the hold isn’t replicated in Purview. The employee sues for wrongful termination. Their emails are purged. You lose. Settlement: $1.5M. 

Solution: 

• Manually recreate holds in Purview (time: 20 hours per hold). 
• Tool: Use AvePoint for automated policy migration.

Playbook When You Migrate from Google Workspace to Office 365 

A tactical 90-day roadmap to avoid becoming a cautionary tale when you migrate Google Workspace to Office 365

Phase 1: Pre-Migration (Days 1–15) 

Skip auditing Google Sites. Post-migration, the HR intranet breaks. New hires can’t access onboarding docs. Ramp time doubles. Talent acquisition misses Q2 hiring goals by 40%. 

Actions: 

1. Run Microsoft’s Cloud Readiness Checker (free tool) to flag:  
2. Google Forms (rebuild in Power Apps). 
3. Jamboard files (export as PDFs). 
4. Create a “Kill List”: Sunset redundant apps (e.g., Google Keep, Chat). 
5. Lock Google Docs: Use Simultrans to freeze edits during migration. 

Pre-migration prep is your armor. Now, let’s talk about the battle plan. 

Phase 2: Execution (Days 16–45) 

Migrate emails first. Shared calendars break. The CEO’s keynote timezone shifts from PST to UTC. Investors miss the live stream. Stock dips 5% overnight. Execution is where most migrations from Google Workspace to Office 365 unravel—prioritize emails first to avoid calendar chaos. 

Actions: 

Migration Order:  

1. Priority 1: Emails/Calendars (least disruption). 
2. Priority 2: Drive → OneDrive/SharePoint (use BitTitan for metadata retention). 
3. Priority 3: Meet recordings → Teams/Stream (update links with Redirector). 
4. Comms Plan: Send daily Slack/Teams updates to avoid “Where’s my data?” panic. 

Execution is chaos managed. But the real test begins post when you migrate Google Workspace to Office 365 

Phase 3: Post-Migration (Days 46–90) 

Ignore Teams training. Employees default to emailing Word docs. A client receives 12 versions of a proposal. They choose a competitor. Revenue drops 8% that quarter. Post-migration training is non-negotiable after you migrate Google Workspace to Office 365—assume employees will default to old habits without guidance. 

Actions: 

1. Deploy Copilot: Automate repetitive tasks (e.g., “Summarize migrated Docs”). 
2. Adopt Metrics: Target 70% Teams adoption within 60 days (use Viva Insights). 
3. Conduct “Fix-It” Sprints: Address top 10 user complaints weekly (e.g., “I can’t find shared folders”). 

Even flawless execution has cracks. Here’s when to call reinforcements. 

When to Call Beyond Intranet 

Scenario 1: You Have 500+ Google Sites 

Your intranet (500+ Sites) isn’t migrated. Employees use Slack for docs. A compliance audit finds sensitive data in 120 unprotected channels. GDPR fine: €2.4M. 

Our Move: 

• Automated Site → SharePoint conversion (retains permissions, updates links). 
• Post-migration training: “How to use SharePoint News vs. Teams Wikis.” 

Scenario 2: Your CFO Demands a TCO Analysis 

You present a gut-feeling ROI. The CFO rejects it. Migration stalls. You pay $32/user for dual tools for 12 more months. Overspend: $230k. 

Our Move: 

• Audit + TCO model (includes hard costs + productivity loss). 
• Example: A 500-user org saved $19/user/month post-migration (19% ROI). 

Scenario 3: File Access Tickets Spike 300% 

Employees submit 50+ “Where’s my file?” tickets daily. IT burns 20 hours/week fixing permissions. Projects stall. Attrition hits 25%. 

Our Move: 

• Permission remapping (rebuild inheritance in SharePoint). 
• Self-service portal: “How to request access in 2 clicks.” 

Before you begin to migrate from Google Workspace to Office 365, ensure you’re bulletproof. 

The Consultant’s Checklist 

• Pre-converted Google Docs to .docx/.xlsx (prevents Teams co-authoring errors). 
• Mapped Google Groups → Azure AD security groups (e.g., “sales@company.com” → “SG-Sales-RW”). 
• Tested “Edit in Teams” with power users (validate SharePoint integration). 
• Scheduled license termination (Google Workspace → Day 45 post-migration). 
• Trained legal team on Purview’s eDiscovery (non-negotiable for compliance audits). 

Forget to test “Edit in Teams.” A manager edits a budget sheet in desktop Excel. Changes don’t sync to SharePoint. Finance approves outdated numbers. Overspend: $120k. 

Conclusion 

Migrations aren’t about technology—they’re about people. Whether you migrate from Google Workspace to Office 365 for cost, compliance, or collaboration, success hinges on aligning tools with human workflows. book a migration session. Your ecosystem’s survival depends on it.  

 Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 migration is a big decision. Over 78.4 million people have already made the move. Here’s what you need to know to make the transition as easy as possible.

Why Make the Switch? 

Microsoft 365 has some clear advantages over Google Workspace:

• Stronger Security: Microsoft 365 comes with tools like Microsoft Defender, which helps detect threats, block phishing, and respond to issues automatically. If your business deals with strict regulations (like HIPAA for healthcare or FINRA for finance), Microsoft’s Compliance Manager has built-in templates to help you stay on track. It also has better tools for keeping sensitive data safe, which Google lacks at the same level. 
• Better Collaboration: Microsoft’s tools work together smoothly. Teams, for example, combines chat, video calls, and file sharing in one place—so you’re not jumping between apps like Google Meet and Chat. And unlike Google’s web-only apps, Microsoft offers desktop versions of Word, Excel, and Outlook (there’s tons of advantage when you move data from google to outlook), so you can work offline if needed (and much more).
• More Room to Grow: Microsoft 365 is built to scale with your business. Every user gets at least 1TB of storage and AI features (like Copilot) can help with tasks like writing emails or summarizing meetings. It’s a good fit if your business is growing and needs tools that keep up.

Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365: What’s Different? 

• User Experience: Google Workspace is simple and works best in a browser. The apps (Docs, Sheets) are great for working together in real time but don’t have advanced features like pivot tables in Excel or mail merge in Word.  

Microsoft 365 on the other hand, gives you full desktop apps like Word and Excel, plus cloud tools. It’s so much better if you need to handle complex tasks or work offline. 

• Security and Compliance: Google has basic threat detection, and Google Vault mainly handles retention. 

Herem, Microsoft 365 is quite advanced, with Conditional Access to block risky logins and tools like eDiscovery for detailed compliance tracking. 

• Cost and Storage: Google’s shared storage (30GB–5TB for the whole org) can be really tricky for teams with a lot of data (maybe you?) 

Microsoft gives 1TB per user (with OneDrive), and you can expand that if needed. You also get selective file sync web-based document editing and so much more with OneDrive

Google’s plans might look cheaper upfront, but Microsoft’s higher-tier plans give better value over time, especially for bigger companies. 

• Collaboration: Microsoft Teams is stronger, with features like threaded chats, breakout rooms, and app integrations (Planner, Power BI).  

While Google’s tools (Spaces, Meet, Chat) don’t work as smoothly together, which can make collaboration harder. 

When Should You Migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365? 

So, when’s the right time to make the switch? It depends on where your business is at. 

For startups, the answer is usually “when you start hitting limits.” 

• Google Workspace works fine when you’re small, but as your team grows, things get tricky. You’ll outgrow its s
• Implicity and start needing tools like Power BI dashboards or Teams channels to keep everyone on the same page. That’s when Microsoft 365 starts to make more sense. 

For companies going through mergers or acquisitions, the timing is pretty clear. 

• Merging two companies almost always creates IT chaos. 
• Microsoft 365 helps by centralizing data in SharePoint hubs, syncing team calendars, and connecting everyone through shared Teams workspaces. It turns a messy situation into something manageable. 

For regulated industries, the decision is even simpler. 

• If you’re in healthcare, finance, or defense, compliance isn’t optional. 
• Microsoft 365 helps you meet these requirements with tools like Azure Information Protection, which encrypts sensitive data. Google can’t match Microsoft’s level of compliance certifications and security features. 

And if you’re a global company, Microsoft offers something Google doesn’t: multi-geo capabilities. 

• You can store data in specific regions to comply with laws like GDPR or CCPA. 
• If data protection across borders is critical for your business, this feature alone can be a dealbreaker. 

Challenges and How to Handle Them

When you migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 can be tricky. But it’s manageable if you’re prepared. 

1.Skill Gaps 

Problem: Your IT team might not know how to use Microsoft 365’s admin tools or PowerShell. 

Solution: Use assistance from Beyond Intranet. We simplify tasks like setting up users, mapping permissions, and moving data.  

2.User Pushback 

Problem: Some people might prefer Google tools and won’t want to change. 

Solution: Offer training. Beyond Intranet has easy guides and videos to help people learn the new system. 

3. Losing Data 

Problem: Permissions or file history could get lost during the move. 

Solution: Beyond Intranet keeps everything intact—permissions, timestamps, version history, and file authors. 

4.Work Disruptions 

Problem: Moving everything at once could disrupt work. 

Solution: Migrate in smaller phases. For example: 

• Move finance data after the quarter ends. 
• Then move other teams, like HR or marketing, later. 

5.Messy SharePoint 

Problem: SharePoint can get messy without a plan. 

Solution: Beyond Intranet can help by enforcing naming rules, archiving old sites, and tracking storage. 

Steps to Prepare for Your Migration 

Moving from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 doesn’t have to be a mess. If you prepare the right way, it will go much smoother. 

1. Review Your Data and Prioritize

Go through all your stuff in Google Workspace, like: 

• Gmail emails 
• Files in Google Drive (including Shared Drives) 
• Calendar events 

Decide what’s important (e.g., financial data, customer info) and what’s not (old files you can archive or delete). 

Consulting Partners like Beyond Intranet can make this easier. They can: 

• Show you how storage is being used 
• Flag files that are shared publicly or with people who shouldn’t have access 
• Help you clean up permissions 

Once that’s done, focus on what to move first. Start with important stuff like finance or HR. Then handle the less critical data. 

2. Use the Right Tool

Don’t bother with manual methods like Google Takeout or scripts—they’re slow and error-prone. Use migration assistance from Beyond Intranet. It can: 

• Move large amounts of data at once. 
• Keep your folder structure the same. 
• Convert Google file formats (like .gdoc to .docx) automatically. 

It also lets you: 

• Schedule transfers during off-hours. 
• Sync last-minute changes. 
• Combine data from multiple Google accounts into one Microsoft 365 system. 

3. Test It First

Before you move everything, run a test with a small group (maybe IT or HR). Make sure: 

• Permissions in SharePoint match what you had in Google Drive 
• Gmail rules and labels work as expected in Outlook 
• File versions from Google Docs or Slides carry over correctly to Word or PowerPoint 

Beyond Intranet can find issues ahead of time, like permission mismatches or unsupported file types. Fix those during the test so they don’t become bigger problems later. 

4. Help Your Team Adjust

Switching systems can be irritating. Make it easier by: 

• Running workshops: Show people how to use Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive. Walk them through things like how Google Meet links convert to Teams meetings. 
• Creating simple guides: Provide videos or quick tips for people coming from Google. 
• Getting feedback: Ask your team what’s confusing or not working after the switch. 

If you take the time to plan and test, your migration will go much smoother. Start small, fix any issues early, and make sure your team knows how to use the new tools. Simple as that. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Staying Organized After Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 Migration

Keep things tidy: 

• Use clear names for SharePoint sites (e.g., Department-Project-Year). 
• Archive sites that haven’t been used in 90 days with Microsoft 365’s retention policies. 
• Check permissions regularly and clean up old access. Beyond Intranet has tools to help with this. 

Make the most of Microsoft 365: 

• Use AI tools like Copilot to write emails, summarize meetings, or analyze data. 
• Connect Teams to Power BI for dashboards or Planner to manage tasks. 
• Use Microsoft Purview to classify sensitive files and add security rules. 

Help your team: 

• Check usage trends with Beyond Intranet to know tools people are using and where they need training. 

Ask for feedback that can help you fix issues and make workflows better. 

The better organized you are, and the more comfortable your team is with the tools, the more you’ll get out of Microsoft 365.  

P.S: Beyond Intranet can help you stay on track. 

Summary 

Switching to Microsoft 365 makes sense. It’s more secure and easier to manage. Beyond Intranet can make the move smoother, whether you’re growing, merging systems, or just upgrading your tools. 

What’s Next 

Try Beyond Intranet free trial or talk to an expert on their migration page. It’ll save you time and help you get set up. 

Because of this, new intranet platforms are becoming popular. These tools are not just for solving problems. They are for creating a better way to work together. In this blog, we will look at some of the best Valo Intranet alternatives. We will keep it simple so you can decide what is best for your company. 

Why Old Intranets Are Not Enough Anymore 

Before we look at other platforms, we need to understand one thing. Old intranets, like Valo, often have some big problems. 

1. They cannot change quickly when companies need new things.
2. Employees do not enjoy using them, so adoption is low.
3. They do not work well with other tools, which slows people down.
4. Many of them are hard to grow as the company grows.

These problems have made companies look for better intranet platforms. Let us now explore some of the best options available.

   1.SharePoint: A Tool That Adapts to Your Needs

Why SharePoint Is Special 

SharePoint is very flexible. It is not just a tool; it is a platform. It is used by over 250,000 companies worldwide, including the biggest ones.  

– You can customize it easily: SharePoint lets you create something unique. You can adjust it to fit your company’s work style and branding.  

– It organizes files perfectly: With SharePoint, you can manage documents in a smart way. It uses tags and libraries to make everything easy to find. 

– It works with Microsoft tools: SharePoint connects with Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive. This makes work faster and more efficient. 

How People Use SharePoint Differently 

– AI-powered search: SharePoint can predict what you are searching for. This saves time and effort.  

– Team-specific hubs: You can create different sections for different teams. Each section can have tools and resources specific to that department. 

When SharePoint Is a Good Choice 

If your company needs something highly customizable, SharePoint is perfect. It also works best for companies already using Microsoft tools. But you need experts to set it up properly.  

  2. Microsoft Teams: A Hub to Bring Everyone Together

Why Teams Is Becoming an Valo Intranet Alternative 

Microsoft Teams does more than just chats and video calls. It is now a central place for work. You can use it like an intranet. 

What Makes Teams Useful 

– It keeps everyone connected: Teams makes chatting, calling, and sharing files very easy.  

– You can customize it: Teams lets you add apps, tabs, and documents. This way, each team can create a space that works for them. 

– It can store knowledge: Teams can act like a library for your company’s information. You can integrate tools like SharePoint to do this. 

Creative Ways to Use Teams 

– AI assistants: ChatGPT can be added to Teams. It can summarize meetings or answer employee questions.  

– Company events: Use Teams for virtual town halls. Employees can ask questions live or discuss ideas in smaller groups. 

When Teams Is a Good Option 

If you already use Microsoft tools, Teams is easy to start with. But without proper planning, it can get messy with too many channels.

3.Workplace by Meta: A Social Way to Work

Why Workplace Is Different 

Workplace by Meta is like Facebook for work. It is built to make employees feel connected and engaged. 

What Makes Workplace Fun 

– It feels familiar: People know how to use it because it looks like Facebook.  

– It allows real-time updates: You can send messages, stream live videos, or make announcements quickly.  

– It builds communities: Create groups for projects, interests, or teams. This helps people share knowledge and collaborate better. 

Creative Ways to Use Workplace 

Workplace can help your team feel closer. It is good for sharing happy news. For example, when your company reaches a goal, you can post about it. This makes everyone proud and happy. 

You can also ask for ideas from your team. Run a small campaign where people share their thoughts. Let others vote for the best ideas. It’s simple, but it works well. 

When Workplace Is a Good Fit 

Workplace is good for companies where people like to connect. It feels natural in places where teamwork is important. But it might not suit very formal workplaces. Think about how your team works before choosing it.

  4. Notion: A Tool for Everything

Notion is a tool that many people love. It is very flexible and easy to use. Startups and creative teams especially like it. 

Why Notion Is Popular 

Notion helps you organize everything in one place. You can create special spaces for tasks, projects, or knowledge. It saves time because everything connects. 

Another good thing is how teams can edit together. When working on something, people can comment or change things quickly. This makes teamwork smooth. 

The best part? It’s simple to learn. You don’t need a lot of training to start using Notion. 

Creative Ways to Use Notion 

One way to use Notion is for a knowledge base. You can create a space where anyone can share or find information. This helps your team save time. 

Another way is for project planning. Use the timelines and boards in Notion to manage work. It’s easy to track progress this way. 

When Notion Is a Good Choice 

Notion works best for small teams. If you want something simple but powerful, it is a great choice. But for very large companies, it might not be the best option. 

  5. Zoho Workplace: A Suite with Many Tools

Zoho Workplace is not just one tool. It is many tools together. And they all work very well with each other. 

Why Zoho Workplace Stands Out 

Zoho is special because it brings everything to one place. You don’t need to jump between apps anymore. Email, chat, and project tools all connect here. 

If your company already uses Zoho apps, this is even better. It will connect easily with tools like Zoho CRM. No effort is wasted. 

Another good thing is, Zoho can be customized. You can make it look like your company’s style. This is important for many teams. 

Creative Uses for Zoho 

Zoho can help teams work better together. For example, it can connect sales and HR. This breaks barriers and improves how teams talk. 

Zoho Analytics is also a good feature. You can create dashboards to track data. This helps teams make decisions faster and smarter. 

When Zoho Is a Good Fit 

Zoho is a great choice if you already use their apps. Everything feels connected. It works like one big system. 

But if your team uses Microsoft tools more, Zoho may not work as well. Before you decide, think about what your team uses daily. 

How to Choose the Right Intranet 

So, you now know some tools. But how do you pick the right one? 

First, think about your company’s future. Will this tool grow with you? 

Then, check how well it connects to what you already use. Does it work with your daily tools? 

Another thing to ask is, is it easy for your team? If it feels hard to use, people won’t like it. 

Also, can it match your company’s style? And finally, what about support? If something goes wrong, will someone help you fast? 

Think about these points. They will guide you to the right choice. 

The Future of Intranets 

SharePoint Intranets are no longer just for storing information. They can do so much more now. 

Modern intranets like SharePoint, Teams, and Notion are very advanced. They make daily work faster and easier. 

Even now, with more people working from home, intranets are still important. The key is to find one that is simple, fun, and flexible. 

Final Thoughts 

Valo Intranet was good in the past. But now, there are better choices. 

Platforms like SharePoint, Teams, Workplace, Notion, and Zoho all offer something unique. Each one has its own strengths. 

The best tool for you depends on your company’s needs. If you choose carefully, your team will feel happier. And they will work better together. 

The future of teamwork is here now. Make the right decision today. 

Then they made a pivotal move in 2015—Office 365 integration. 

The result? Tight integration of their entire workforce. They saw a massive improvement in productivity, operational efficiency, and collaboration. This was more than just an adoption of tools. It was a full-scale transformation. 

Why does this matter to you? Because what Nestlé achieved is absolutely possible for your organization too—whether you’re a multinational giant or a growing business. 

Let’s talk about what happens when Office 365 Integrates into your existing systems. 

The Office Integration: What Happens? 

When  Office 365 Integrates, you’re not just getting a bunch of apps like Word or Excel. You’re embedding an entire ecosystem into your organization’s DNA. It’s about making your workflows smarter, your communication seamless, and your data more secure. 

It’s about transformation.

1. Seamless Collaboration

Imagine this: no more juggling different platforms for email, messaging, and file sharing. No more “which version of the document are we working on?” nightmares. 

Here’s what happens technically: 

• Unified Communication: Office 365 combines Outlook (email), Teams (chat and meetings), and SharePoint/OneDrive (file sharing). All of these flow together under a single sign-on (SSO). 

• Real-Time Document Co-Authoring: Multiple people can work on the same document at the same time. Yes, from different locations. No version control issues. Everyone sees changes in real-time. 

• Third-Party App Integration: Office 365 integrates with hundreds of apps—CRMs, project management tools, and more—using Microsoft Graph API. This lets your existing tools talk to Office 365. 

Organizational impact? 

• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Silos break down. Teams across departments—marketing, sales, engineering—can work together easily. Whether it’s a product launch or a client proposal, everyone’s in sync. 
• Remote Work, Simplified: Office 365’s cloud-based tools mean your team can work from anywhere, on any device. This isn’t just for convenience. It’s about ensuring business continuity, no matter where your employees are.       

  2. Security That Thinks Ahead

Data breaches can cripple a business. But Office 365’s security features are designed to prevent that from happening. Security is no longer an afterthought. It’s built into the core. 

Technically, here’s how it works: 

• Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): This isn’t just basic virus protection. ATP uses machine learning to spot and neutralize threats like phishing and ransomware before they hit your inbox. 

• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): DLP policies help prevent sensitive data from being shared accidentally. Whether it’s credit card numbers or customer info, you can set rules to block risky behavior. 

• Global Compliance: Office 365 is compliant with GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and more. It doesn’t matter if you’re in finance, healthcare, or retail. You can meet industry-specific regulations without extra effort. 

For your organization? 

• Risk Reduction: You’re not just protecting your data. You’re reducing the risk of fines, lawsuits, and reputational damage. A single breach can cost millions—Office 365 helps prevent that. 

• Simplified Compliance: Compliance reporting can be a nightmare. Office 365 automates much of it, making it easier to meet regulatory requirements without tying up your IT team for months. 

      3. Scalable Cloud Infrastructure

Growth is good. But growth can strain your IT infrastructure. Luckily, Office 365 is built to scale with your business. 

Technically, what happens? 

• Global Data Centers: Office 365 runs on Microsoft’s Azure cloud, which spans data centers worldwide. This ensures low latency access, high uptime, and geographical data redundancy. 

• Scalability: You can add or remove users as needed. Whether you’re onboarding 10 people or 10,000, Office 365 scales up (or down) with ease. 

• Automatic Updates: No more manual patches. Office 365 automatically applies updates and fixes, ensuring that you’re always running the latest software versions. 

Organizationally? 

• Cost Efficiency: Instead of buying servers or worrying about hardware, you’re moving to a subscription model. Pay only for what you need. This turns what used to be large capital expenses (CAPEX) into manageable operational expenses (OPEX). 

• Less IT Overhead: Your IT team won’t need to spend hours managing servers or pushing updates. Microsoft handles all that. Your team can focus on strategic work instead of daily maintenance. 

 4. Centralized Data Management

Data is your organization’s lifeblood. However managing it across different platforms, devices, and locations can be chaotic. Office 365 centralizes it. 

On the technical side: 

• Unified Data Management: OneDrive and SharePoint store all your files in one place, easily accessible from any device. No more scattered documents across local drives or different cloud services. 

• AI-Powered Search: Office 365’s AI-driven search tools (like Microsoft Search and Delve) help employees find documents, people, or projects faster. No more wasted time looking for that one file buried in someone’s inbox. 

• Data Residency Controls: For global organizations, Office 365 allows you to manage where your data resides (e.g., within specific geographic regions). This is crucial for compliance with local data regulations, like GDPR. 

Organizational benefits? 

• Better Decision-Making: With all your data centralized and easily accessible, decision-makers can access the information they need—instantly. This leads to faster, better-informed decisions. 

• Efficient Knowledge Sharing: Whether it’s a project file, a presentation, or a company-wide policy, information is shared seamlessly. It’s easy to ensure that everyone is on the same page, reducing duplication of work and improving alignment. 

    5. Business Intelligence at Your Fingertips

Data is one thing. Turning it into actionable insights is another. Office 365 integrates with Power BI, giving you powerful analytics and reporting tools. 

Technically, here’s what you get: 

• Power Platform Integration: You can pull data from multiple sources—Excel, SQL databases, even third-party apps—into interactive dashboards and reports—no more waiting weeks for reports from IT. 

• AI Insights: Office 365 tools like Excel and PowerPoint now use AI to offer insights, forecast trends, and even suggest data visualizations. It’s like having an in-house data analyst available 24/7. 

For your business? 

• Faster Insights: You don’t have to wait for monthly reports to make decisions. Power BI provides real-time dashboards, helping leadership respond quickly to market changes or internal challenges. 

• Data-Driven Decisions: Whether you’re forecasting sales or analyzing customer behavior, having detailed, real-time insights allows you to move beyond gut feelings. You can make decisions backed by hard data.

   6. Legacy Systems Play Nice

You’re probably not starting from scratch. Most businesses have legacy systems they can’t just throw away. The good news? Office 365 integrates with those too. 

Technically, this is how it works: 

• Hybrid Cloud: Office 365 supports hybrid environments, meaning you can keep some data on-premises while moving other workloads to the cloud. This gives you flexibility without abandoning critical legacy infrastructure. 

• Microsoft Graph API: With this API, you can create deep integrations between Office 365 and your existing ERP, CRM, or custom-built systems. Data flows smoothly between platforms, reducing the need for costly migrations. 

What does this mean for you? 

• Minimal Disruption: You don’t have to rip and replace everything. Office 365 allows for a phased approach to gradually migrate workloads without disrupting day-to-day operations. 

• Maximize Existing Investments: By integrating with legacy systems, you can extend the life of your existing infrastructure. This saves money and reduces the risk of downtime or data loss during migration. 

Beyond Intranet’s Office 365 Integration Solutions 

At Beyond Intranet, we help businesses maximize the benefits of Office 365 integration. Our team designs custom solutions that streamline workflows, enhance security, and ensure seamless adoption. From legacy system integration to advanced security configurations, we provide end-to-end support that drives real business impact. 

Conclusion 

Office 365 Integration is more than adopting new tools. It’s a full-scale transformation of how your organization collaborates, secures data, and scales operations. The benefits are clear: better collaboration, enhanced security, and the power to make data-driven decisions. 

Ready for your organization to leap? Office 365 is the key to unlocking your future success. 

Introducing Microsoft Copilot Studio – a low-code platform that allows you to build, train and deploy virtual assistants called copilots for your specific needs. With Copilot Studio, subject matter experts can create copilots customized for their organization’s scenarios, without requiring data science expertise. 

But why build a custom copilot in the first place? While general digital assistants can be helpful for basic queries, they lack the specificity that a tailored copilot can provide. A custom copilot designed for your business can understand industry-specific terminology, interact with your systems and data, and provide intelligent recommendations relevant to your users. 

Today we will explore what Copilot Studio is, how you can use it to build your own copilots, and the benefits this can bring to augment human capabilities in an organization. 

What is Copilot Studio? 

Copilot Studio is a low-code platform from Microsoft that empowers anyone to create custom AI-powered copilots for their business needs. It enables subject matter experts with no prior AI experience to build virtual assistants tailored to their organization’s unique requirements. 

At its core, Copilot Studio provides an easy-to-use visual interface to design copilots with custom skills, intents, and responses. It leverages large language models like GPT-3, GPT-4 and GPT-4 to understand natural language requests and generate human-like responses.  

Microsoft brings together its strengths in conversational AI and no-code/low-code development to make copilot creation accessible. 

Key features and capabilities of Copilot Studio include: 

• Visual copilot designer: Create copilots via a drag-and-drop interface without coding. 

• Pre-built skills and templates: Start with templates for common scenarios like customer service and sales. 

• Custom skill creation: Build skills with custom intents and responses for your specific needs. 

• Integration with Microsoft 365 and Teams: Embed copilots into your collaboration platforms. 

• Training capabilities: Train copilots with your organization’s data for greater accuracy. 

• Analytics: Monitor copilot usage and performance to improve over time. 

It’s important to note that Copilot Studio focuses on building copilots, not just chatbots. The difference lies in the intelligence and usefulness of the assistant. Chatbots provide scripted responses, while copilots utilize AI to understand context and provide recommendations to help users accomplish goals. 

Some examples of custom copilots you can create with Copilot Studio include: 

• A customer service copilot who can answer questions about your products/services and pull data from your systems. 

• A sales copilot who understands your offerings and helps guide potential leads through the sales funnel. 

• An IT copilot who can troubleshoot issues, pull up help desk tickets and documentation to assist employees. 

• A research copilot who can synthesize insights from various reports and data sources to highlight key findings. 

The possibilities are endless! Copilot Studio makes it possible for any expert to build an AI assistant tailored to their unique business domain. 

How Does Copilot Studio Work? 

Copilot Studio simplifies the process of creating conversational AI assistants by abstracting away the complex machine learning. But how does it actually work under the hood? 

The platform utilizes natural language processing (NLP) and large language models like GPT-3 and GPT-4 to understand text-based conversations and generate natural responses. 

Here are the key steps to building a custom copilot: 

• Design skills and intents – Subject matter experts can visually map out skills (capabilities) and intents (user goals) for the copilot. This gives the AI an understanding of the types of conversations it needs to support. 
• Define responses – SMEs provide examples of how the copilot should respond for different intents. Copilot Studio offers pre-built responses to choose from. 
• Train the model – The copilot model is trained on your organization’s unique data for more accurate responses. The training suite provides analysis of model performance. 
• Test conversations – Copilots can be tested via chat interfaces and test panels. Debugging tools provide insights to improve the model. 
• Monitor analytics – Usage analytics help track how well the copilot handles queries and where it needs improvement. 
• Integrate – Once finalized, copilots can be embedded into Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or your own applications using webhooks and APIs. 

As Charles Lamanna, CVP of AI at Microsoft stated: “Copilot Studio lowers barriers for subject matter experts to create AI-powered assistants tailored to their domain.” The no-code experience allows anyone to leverage the power of large language models for conversational AI. 

Now let’s explore how you can start building custom copilots for your organization with Copilot Studio. 

How to Get Started with Copilot Studio 

Ready to create your own AI assistant to boost productivity? Here are the simple steps to get started with Microsoft Copilot Studio: 

Prerequisites 

• Access to Microsoft’s Power Platform (included with Microsoft 365 license) 

Pricing 

• Copilot Studio is currently in private preview. It will be free in preview, with paid tiers later for production use cases. 

Accessing Copilot Studio 

• Copilot Studio can be accessed from the Microsoft 365 admin center during the preview. 

Once you meet the prerequisites, request access to the private preview and you’ll get credentials to access Copilot Studio. 

Steps to Create Your First Copilot 

The visual copilot designer makes it easy to bring your first AI assistant to life in just a few steps: 

• Define your scenario – What is the copilot being used for? Common scenarios include customer service, sales, HR, IT support. Start with the pre-built templates for the scenario you want. 
• Customize skills – Tailor the skills and intents to your needs. For example, for an IT copilot, skills could include troubleshooting, documentation search, ticket management. 
• Build responses – Create responses to address the intents you defined. Utilize the preset responses or craft your own. 
• Train with data – Upload relevant data like support documents, sales materials, FAQs etc. Copilot Studio will analyze the data to train your copilot. 
• Test conversations – Verify how the copilot handles sample queries through test conversations across different intents. The analytics identify gaps. 
• Refine and deploy – Improve the model based on testing insights. When ready, embed your copilot into Teams or your website with the integration tools. 

With these steps, subject matter experts can build capable, customized copilot integrations adapted to their organization’s unique needs, without coding. 

Benefits of Building Custom Copilots 

Conversational AI is transforming how we interface with technology. Building copilots tailored to your business with Copilot Studio offers many benefits: 

• Increased productivity – Copilots act as digital assistants to help employees work faster and focus on higher-value work. 

• Cost savings – Automating routine tasks with copilots can save on labor costs. An Accenture study found $128 billion could be saved with AI assistants. 

• Consistency – Copilots provide standardized, evidence-based answers, unaffected by human emotions or biases. 

• Improved CX – Customers get quick, accurate responses with human-like interactions when chatting with a copilot. 

• New insights – Copilots can synthesize data and reports to uncover new insights humans may miss. 

As Emre Baran, General Manager of Microsoft AI Builders states: “With Copilot Studio, we’re making it easier for every organization to create custom AI copilots that augment human capabilities and lead to better business outcomes.” 

Some examples of custom copilots transforming different functions include: 

• An IT copilot at Dentsu improved technician productivity by 20% with automated ticket classification and triaging. 

• The sales copilot at SoftServe increased lead conversion rate by 10% with personalized sales guidance. 

• PwC’s accounting copilot scans documents and answers advisor questions 2X faster than human assistants. 

The opportunities are endless when you empower your workforce with AI copilots purpose-built for their needs with Copilot Studio! 

Conclusion 

As AI capabilities continue to advance, virtual assistants provide transformative ways to boost productivity and efficiency across every business function. Microsoft Copilot Studio puts the power of creating AI copilots tailored to your needs directly in the hands of subject matter experts. 

With its visual designer and pre-built templates, any expert can build a custom copilot that understands industry terminology, integrates with your systems, and assists employees, customers, and partners like a human teammate. Organizations that embrace copilots created with Copilot Studio will reap the benefits of increased productivity, cost savings, and improved experiences. 

To learn more and get started with building AI assistants that give your workforce superpowers, visit the Copilot Studio page or contact our team at Beyond Intranet. Our experts can advise you on use cases and help you maximize value from AI copilots in your business. The future of work is assisted – let’s build it! 

We hope this post provided a helpful overview of Microsoft Copilot Studio’s capabilities for building AI-powered assistants tailored to your business needs. Contact our team to make copilots a reality for your organization!