10 SharePoint | M365 Features Your Clients Are Probably Still Not Using.

SharePoint is a monster. It does it all. And this is very overwhelming to non-geeks who do not spend every day using it. As such there are many powerful features your clients are not using because they don't fully understand how to use them or the value they offer.

SharePoint does not have to be just a fancy document repository. Take the time to teach your clients, and if you are a consulting firm teach your salespeople, the basics of what they can do when the time is right.

1) Power Automate

Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) is a cloud-based platform that helps users automate workflows and tasks across various applications and services. Some benefits of using Power Automate include:

• Increased productivity: Power Automate can help users automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, freeing up time to focus on more important work.
• Improved collaboration: Power Automate can be used to automate the sharing of information and documents between team members, improving collaboration and communication.
• Enhanced security: Power Automate can be used to implement security measures such as automatic notifications when a file is shared outside the organization or when a user's account is deactivated.
• Greater flexibility: Power Automate supports a wide range of connectors to different applications and services, so users can automate workflows across different systems and platforms.

2) Microsoft Forms

Microsoft Forms is a tool that allows users to create surveys, quizzes, and other forms to gather information from others. Some benefits of using Microsoft Forms include:

• Easy to use: Microsoft Forms is easy to use, with a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create and customize forms.
• Collaborative: Microsoft Forms is part of the Office 365 suite of tools, so it integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Excel and PowerPoint. This makes it easy to collaborate with others on creating and analyzing forms.
• Versatile: Microsoft Forms can be used to create a wide range of forms, including surveys, quizzes, polls, and more. It also supports multiple question types, such as multiple choice, rating scales, and open-ended questions.
• Time-saving: Microsoft Forms allows users to automate the collection and analysis of form responses, saving time and effort.

3) Document Sets

Document Sets are a feature that allows users to group related documents together and manage them as a single entity. Some benefits of using Document Sets include:

• Improved organization: Document Sets allow users to group related documents together, making it easier to find and manage them. This can be especially useful for large projects with many documents.
• Enhanced collaboration: Document Sets allow users to collaborate on a set of related documents as a team. For example, users can create a Document Set for a project and add all the related documents to it, so everyone on the team can see and work on the same set of documents.
• Customized metadata: Document Sets allow users to create and apply customized metadata to a group of related documents. This can be useful for organizing and classifying documents in a specific way.
• Streamlined workflows: Document Sets can be used to automate and streamline workflows in SharePoint. For example, users can create a workflow that is triggered when a document is added to a Document Set and that automatically sends a notification to the relevant team members.

4) Metadata

Metadata is data that is used to describe and classify documents, sites, and other items in SharePoint. It can be used to organize, find, and manage content more effectively. Some benefits of using metadata in SharePoint include:

• Improved organization: Metadata can be used to categorize and classify content, making it easier to find and manage. For example, you could use metadata to tag documents with keywords or to assign them to specific categories.
• Enhanced search: Metadata can be used to improve search results by providing more context for the content. For example, you could use metadata to specify the author of a document, the date it was created, or the department it belongs to. This can make it easier for users to find what they are looking for.
• Customized views: Metadata can be used to create customized views of content in SharePoint. For example, you could use metadata to create a view that shows all documents that were created in the last month and are tagged with a specific keyword.
• Streamlined workflows: Metadata can be used to automate and streamline workflows in SharePoint. For example, you could use metadata to trigger a workflow when a document is added to a library or when a document is changed to a specific status.

5) SharePoint Views

SharePoint Views are a way to display and organize the items in a list or library. Some benefits of using views in SharePoint include:

• Improved organization: Views allow users to filter, sort, and group items in a list or library in different ways, making it easier to find and manage the content.
• Customized display: Views allow users to customize the way items are displayed in a list or library. For example, users can choose which columns to show, specify a custom view layout, and apply filters to narrow down the list of items.
• Enhanced search: Views can be used to create saved searches that users can refer to later. This can make it easier for users to find specific items in a list or library.
• Greater flexibility: Users can create multiple views for a list or library, each with its own unique set of filters, columns, and layout. This allows users to view the same content in different ways, depending on their needs.

6) Calculated Columns

Calculated Columns are a feature that allows users to create a new column in a list or library that is calculated based on other columns in the list. Some benefits of using Calculated Columns in SharePoint include:

• Increased efficiency: Calculated Columns can save users time and effort by automatically calculating values based on other columns. This can be especially useful for complex calculations that would be time-consuming to do manually.
• Improved data integrity: Calculated Columns can help ensure the accuracy and consistency of data by automatically updating the calculated values whenever the values in the other columns change.
• Enhanced reporting: Calculated Columns can be used to create summary reports and pivot tables, making it easier to analyze and understand the data in a list or library.
• Greater flexibility: Calculated Columns support a wide range of functions, so users can create calculations that meet their specific needs.

7) Sensitivity Labels

Sensitivity Labels are a feature that allows users to classify and label content in SharePoint based on its sensitivity level. Some benefits of using Sensitivity Labels in SharePoint include:

• Improved security: Sensitivity Labels can help users protect sensitive content by allowing them to classify and label it according to its sensitivity level. This can help prevent accidental sharing of sensitive content with unauthorized users.
• Enhanced compliance: Sensitivity Labels can help users meet compliance requirements by allowing them to classify and label content according to industry or company standards.
• Improved data governance: Sensitivity Labels can help users manage and track the handling of sensitive content, improving data governance and accountability.
• Greater flexibility: Sensitivity Labels can be customized to meet the specific needs of an organization, so users can classify and label content in a way that makes sense for their business.

8) Custom Lists

Custom Lists are lists that users can create to store and track information in SharePoint. Some benefits of using Custom Lists in SharePoint include:

• Improved organization: Custom Lists allow users to create and customize lists to store and track information in a way that makes sense for their needs. This can help users organize and manage their data more effectively.
• Enhanced collaboration: Custom Lists can be shared with others, so users can collaborate on the same set of data. This can improve communication and coordination within a team.
• Greater flexibility: Custom Lists allow users to create and customize columns to store different types of information. This can give users greater control over how they store and track their data.
• Improved reporting: Custom Lists can be used to create reports and pivot tables, making it easier to analyze and understand the data.

9) Alerts

Alerts are notifications that users can set up to be notified when certain events occur in a list or library. Some benefits of using Alerts in SharePoint include:

• Improved collaboration: Alerts can help users stay informed about changes to a list or library, so they can stay up-to-date on what is happening and collaborate more effectively with others.
• Enhanced efficiency: Alerts can help users avoid the need to constantly check lists and libraries for updates, saving time and effort.
• Greater flexibility: Users can set up Alerts for a variety of events, such as when a new item is added to a list, when an item is modified, or when a specific item is changed. This allows users to choose the types of notifications they want to receive.
• Improved productivity: Alerts can help users stay focused on their work by reducing the need to constantly check lists and libraries for updates.

10) SharePoint Library Syncing

SharePoint Library Syncing is a feature that allows users to sync a SharePoint library to their computer, so they can access and edit the library's documents offline. Some benefits of using Library Syncing in SharePoint include:

• Enhanced accessibility: Library Syncing allows users to access and edit documents from a library even when they are offline. This can be especially useful for users who are frequently on the go or have limited internet access.
• Improved collaboration: Library Syncing allows users to make changes to documents offline and have those changes synced back to the library when they are online again. This can help users collaborate more effectively with others, even when they are not connected to the internet.
• Enhanced efficiency: Library Syncing allows users to work on documents from a library without having to wait for them to download each time. This can save time and improve productivity.

You may be surprised to learn that many of your end users do not understand how to use these features or are afraid to try. Or they think they will be too expensive. IT knows about them, but is IT your actual client? An intro workshop is a great way to add value and educate.