SharePoint: From Concept, To creation, To Impact Highlights

In today’s busy workplaces, teams need tools that are easy to use, save time, and help everyone work together. SharePoint—Microsoft’s tool for SharePoint content management—now has new AI and automation features to make work simpler. With 2 billion files added daily and 2 million sites made every day, SharePoint is where teams organize, share, and get work done.

Microsoft recently shared new updates for SharePoint in a recent AMA this week. These updates include smart AI helpers, easy design tools, and time-saving automation. They help teams work faster, find information easily, and get better results. Let’s dive into the key highlights and explore how these new features can transform the way you work.

1. SharePoint Agents: Your New Helpers

SharePoint Agents are now generally available, revolutionizing how teams interact with content. These smart tools act as virtual collaborators, grounded in your organization’s data to deliver secure, context-aware support.

How they help:

• Quick Answers: Ask, “What’s our safety guide?” The agent finds it fast.
• Works on Phones: No laptop? Workers use agents on phones to get safety tips or training docs.
• Speaks Many Languages: With SharePoint document translation, agents reply in any language, even if the file is in English.

Real-World Impact

• Amy, a leader at a UK infrastructure firm, shared how SharePoint Agents reduced manual searches for safety data by 75%, ensuring employees work safely and efficiently.

2. AI-Powered Authoring: Make Pages Easily

Creating visually engaging SharePoint sites is now effortless with AI-powered authoring tools. These features blend creativity with simplicity, empowering users to focus on their message, not design mechanics.

What’s new:

• SharePoint Copilot: Type “Make a project update page,” and Copilot builds it with text, photos, and charts.
• SharePoint Design Ideas: Not sure how to style a page? SharePoint suggests layouts and colors.
• Stay On-Brand: The SharePoint Brand Center keeps your company’s colors and fonts on every page.

New for 2024: SharePoint flexible sections let you drag and drop text, images, or videos anywhere on a page. No coding!

Example: A school uses SharePoint Copilot to make event pages for parents in minutes.

3. SharePoint Automation: Save Time on Repetitive Work

Automation is key to scaling workflows, and SharePoint’s new AI-driven tools eliminate manual effort:

Top tools:

• SharePoint Metadata Autofill: AI scans files and adds tags (like dates or project names) automatically.
• SharePoint Approval Workflows: Send a file for review with one click. Approvers get alerts in Teams or email.
• Translate Files Fast: Use SharePoint document translation to turn English files into Spanish, French, or 10+ other languages.

Real Impact: A sales team uses SharePoint metadata autofill to tag 500 files in minutes—work that used to take hours.

Another Use Case: HR teams use SharePoint approval workflows to speed up employee onboarding.

4. What’s Coming Soon?

Microsoft is adding more features:

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• Flexible Sections: Coming soon, Flexible Sections will allow users to create more dynamic and customizable page layouts. This feature will unlock new possibilities for creativity, enabling users to design pages that truly stand out.
• Enhanced Analytics: SharePoint is also working on new analytics tools to help organizations track the usage and impact of their Agents and content. These insights will enable businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize their workflows.

Why Teams Love SharePoint

With 2 billion files added daily, SharePoint isn’t just a platform—it’s the foundation of modern work. Its integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot and focus on SharePoint collaboration tools make it essential for teams aiming to:

• Automate workflows with SharePoint automation.
• Simplify content creation via AI-powered authoring.
• Secure knowledge sharing with SharePoint Agents.

Start Using SharePoint in 4 Steps

1. Start Using SharePoint Agents: Open SharePoint, click the Copilot icon, and ask a question.
2. Build a Page: Use SharePoint Copilot to make a page in 5 minutes.
3. Automate One Task: Set up SharePoint metadata autofill for a folder.
4. Join the Community: Learn tips from the SharePoint community.

Visit the SharePoint blog for guides.

Answers to Common Questions

Q: Are SharePoint Agents safe?

A: Yes! They only see files you’re allowed to access.

Q: How do approval workflows work?

A: SharePoint approval workflows let you pick who approves files and set deadlines.

Q: What’s the total cost?

A: SharePoint is part of Microsoft 365. Some AI tools need a Copilot license.

Q: Can I change page layouts?

A: Yes! Use SharePoint flexible sections to move content freely.

Before vs. After SharePoint AI Tools

Before:

• Workers wasted time searching for files.
• Designing pages took hours.
• Manual tagging and approvals slowed teams.

After:

• SharePoint Agents find files in seconds.
• AI-powered authoring makes pages in minutes.
• SharePoint automation handles tagging and approvals.

Final Thoughts

SharePoint’s new tools—like SharePoint Agents, AI-powered authoring, and SharePoint automation—are built for real people. They make it easy to create pages, translate files, or automate tasks. With 2 billion files added daily, SharePoint helps teams work smarter, not harder