Microsoft SharePoint Comparison with Instant Business Network Project Management

Next Steps

The Instant Business Network Software™ (IBN) takes the best and most important features that are commonly found in 2 to 4 DIFFERENT Microsoft server products and makes them available in a fully integrated solution that can be rapidly installed. Plus, it has other features not even found in any of these products.

Comparison of Deployment Time, Costs and Complexity

In addition to the combined features and integrated IBN platform, our customers know that both the costs of licensing and the time/process to actually get a "working" solution into production is unparalleled. Finally, all of the data, information, relationships and ability to measure and report on this data is all in the same system versus several different systems.

• Multiple Server/Product Installs, Multiple User Training, Do it Yourself Integration, Increased Costs, and an extended period of time before you gain any business value
• Purchase several server products (3 if you want messaging), and then find another set of vendors to handle issues, time tracking, and db/record management
• Purchase separate client access licenses for EACH user and EACH server and EACH Product and watch your costs and complexity go up
• Make sure you have access to expensive specialists or in-house experts and have their time to install configure and setup as each server will need to be installed and configured separately (complex)
• Be prepared to work hard on defining requirements, process, end-user training processes, and a whole litany of other types of "integration/process planning"
• Now, if you want to "connect everything up, add reporting functionality, actually have these systems integrate and collate project, issues, file relationships, and integrated business communications its time to bring in the development staff to perform Integration and testing of integration.
• Finally, if you have made it through all of this, its time to coordinate your rollout, training, operational procedures, and everything else.

Microsoft SharePoint Comparison with Instant Business Network Project Management

Microsoft SharePoint Server and the Mediachase Instant Business Network Project Management and Collaboration Server Software both offer web based collaboration, document sharing and other similar functionality.   The IBN offers a multitude of features—team calendar, support and help desk, and audio/video capture--that offer extensive end to end workflow management in one overall package.

Microsoft SharePoint, in a nutshell, offers project collaboration, personalized portals, Enterprise search, content management (documents, records, and files), custom workflows, and general business intelligence such as reporting.  SharePoint also offers hosting capabilities for blogs and wikis.  With MAPI (Messaging Application Programming Interface), you can interface with Microsoft Exchange or Outlook.  Like the IBN, it is an online centralized portal for users to collaborate without having to rely on more cumbersome methods (such as email back and forth).  Unlike the IBN, you get these SharePoint features depending on the version you purchase.  They are: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 Standard Edition, Office SharePoint Server 2007 Enterprise Edition, Office SharePoint Server for Internet Sites, and Microsoft SharePoint Designer.  The IBN, thus, becomes an attractive option for those who need more robust collaboration capabilities with less complex licensing and competitive pricing.  Furthermore, to include all the functionality of the IBN into SharePoint would require extra investment into third-party software components that only serve to increase IT maintenance costs.

One attractive feature of the IBN is secure instant messaging.  Rather than share data and exchange information within the project collaboration server, you can communicate in real-time with clients, customers, and fellow employees in your intranet.  Easily share files and documents by dragging and dropping them onto the name or window of the user you want to collaborate with.  You can also access common tasks and tools from within the client without accessing the portal directly.  Even better, you can use the audio/video recording and screen capture tools to create files that you can send back and forth to other users for training purposes.  The secure messaging client is a major advantage for quick feedback and support.

More importantly, the IBN is scalable to your business.  For instance, rather than purchasing separate small business server software or Windows server software, we offer an On-Demand option for companies who aren’t willing to invest in their own IT infrastructure.  With IBN On-Demand, you get full-on project management and help desk/issues support without the extra investment in technical support and maintenance.

The IBN is a cost-effective, yet powerful office collaboration server that makes it a viable alternative to Microsoft SharePoint server.  You get major benefits and features of SharePoint and much more with proven support, mature development, and flexibility.  Download a free trial by visiting http://www.mediachase.com/ibn/tourtrial.aspx or by emailing sales@mediachase.com or contacting our Los Angeles, CA office at US +1 323-988-1071

See also:

• IBN Project Management Software Features
• IBN Help Desk Software Features