Resources Blogs How to Collaborate with SharePoint, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams

How to Collaborate with SharePoint, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams

Post Date: 02/26/2020

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This is an Ignite the Tour session recap. You can read our other recaps below:

Microsoft 365 already has a great reputation as an intelligent business solution, but what about collaboration specifically? MVP Adam Levithan gave a strong overview of how some of Microsoft’s most powerful applications can work in harmony in his session “Content Collaboration and Protection with SharePoint, OneDrive and Microsoft Teams.” Here are some of the highlights.

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Before getting into the thick of things, Adam highlighted how the three apps works in unison when it comes to collaborating on content.

OneDrive works with all your files and helps you to:

Create, view and edit files on any device
Organize and share your files
Sync files to PC and Mac and work offline
Scan documents, receipts and whiteboards

Microsoft Teams works with your team and allows you to:

Collaborate with integrated Office apps
Facilitate chat, calls and meetings
Create, view and edit Team files
Customize a hub for teamwork

SharePoint works across your organization and empowers you to:

Publish content to board audiences
Capture and distribute knowledge
Integrate SharePoint sites with other apps like Microsoft Teams
Leverage intelligent control management

They’re all optimized for different collaboration situations, so Adam then went more in-depth about the role each plays as a part of Microsoft 365.

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OneDrive

OneDrive is the intelligent files app for Microsoft 365. It lets users view and capture all files and photos from any device, and then lets them share and work through those files with people in real-time. OneDrive also keeps files backed up and secured, which is integral to a solid collaboration strategy. Its straightforward use cases make it an ideal introduction to the world of Microsoft 365 when you’re first trying to get your users started on their digital transformation journey.

Some of the most interesting new and upcoming OneDrive features include:

The ability to invite someone to upload a document without allowing them to see the rest of the folder
Being able to scan a document with your phone, sign it, and then send it to someone via a secure link
The ability to block people from downloading files that you share with them

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is called the hub of teamwork for a reason. It makes calls and meetings easier much more streamlined, and gives users the power to put documents directly into a conversation for better context when collaborating. Compared to email, which is much more of an awkward dance, working in Teams is easier to track and quicker to execute.

On top of that, Adam pointed out that there are currently over 150 apps that can be embedded into tabs in Microsoft Teams. If you need extra functionality for the work your organization does, there’s likely an third-party app that can get you there. This degree of customization is easily one of Microsoft Teams’ best qualities (along with the enterprise-level security and compliance that’s surrounded by Azure).

SharePoint Team Sites

SharePoint team sites provide a convenient place where you can store and collaborate on files with your team. They can be built quickly, leverage integrated apps like OneNote and Planner, and can be shared externally so outside collaborators can more easily contribute.

Thankfully, SharePoint sites can also be turned into a Microsoft Teams tab for easy access. This natural integration between the two platforms is another way Microsoft is working to unify its Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Closing Thoughts

It’s clear that OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint each have a role to play in a strong collaboration strategy. With the slew of new features planned for each app in the coming years, it’ll be interesting to see how they continue to push organizational teamwork forward.