Microsoft’s latest SharePoint (2013) has faced incredible improvements for the end user. Not only have improvements been made in the general look and feel of SharePoint along with a lot of new and exciting functional elements.
Look and Feel
Microsoft has decided to adapt the SharePoints look and feel to the “Windows 8 Style” helping to implement a consistent user experience with Windows 8, Office, mobile applications etc.
When a user feels comfortable with one of the applications, they will be able to use the other applications in the same way without having to feel confused at any point. The overall user interface of SharePoint is now much cleaner as the standard previous gradients of the 2010 layout have been replaced with flat colours and blocks.
Microsoft has also decided to change the size of its default font. This has helped to improve the user experience. Due to the consistency that it provides throughout the various interfaces, users now feel more comfortable using the different platforms, which in turn helps them to become more productive within the interface.
Some people may argue that small changes in the visual aspects of websites and user interfaces have no big effect on their experience with it. However subtle changes can help a user to feel much more at ease and to feel more comfortable when looking at a webpage.
Microsoft has also decided to change the message SharePoint presents to its users when an error occurs. Rather than receiving an image with ‘error’ on it, users now receive a more personable “Sorry, something went wrong” or “Working on it” message instead.
The Ribbon on SharePoint 2013 is much less cluttered than it was on the SharePoint site from 2010. The introduction of the “Focus on content button” is a major step forward; the left navigation then becomes hidden, global navigation, search, site logo and site title, allows users full use of the screen and full focus on the content.
The context menus and drop down menus from SharePoint 2010 have been replaced with simple fly-outs showing the information you need. Microsoft now uses “…” consistently across SharePoint 2013 to allow the user to view more.
It is now much easier to customise an add links to navigate within and around SharePoint 2013, this can all be done without having to go into the ‘Site Settings’ on SharePoint. New simple and intuitive features have been integrated; users now have the ability to “drag and drop” documents (from the desktop straight into a SharePoint library) and emails (from outlook straight into a SharePoint library).
The search button has now also been improved; it is now standard in SharePoint 2013 helping to bring thumbnail previews, search type results (office docs etc.), result blocks (search results grouped by relationship) and previous search results.
These features coupled with improved search processes help users to find the right search results in much less time.
Overall, the look and feel have changed, Microsoft has made sure to make complex tasks simpler, together with the extra features and functionalities, this helps to provide much more consistent approach to the interface elements creating a more pleasant user experience. Due to this, the end result is that they can be more productive and collaborative, which is essential for intranets, websites, applications and any other context to which SharePoint could be applied.
This month only: Simple on-site SharePoint Development
This month we are doing a special on-site development of SharePoint. If you haven’t got SharePoint but you want to get it, we will set up a simple SharePoint site for just £500.
What does this give you?
- All your collaboration in the Cloud
- An intranet for your company
Give us a call on 0800 148 8001 or email us at tellmemore@techquarters.com if you would like to know more.
