Custom Business Systems Development using SharePoint

SharePoint is now considered a cost-effective alternative platform for building business applications.  Together with the Quest Web Parts for SharePoint, developers are able to turn around business requirements in record time.  Because the fundamental premise of SharePoint is the ability to generate highly configurable, template-based applications, customers are able to readily incorporate additional ideas, changes to look & feel and extra features, without disrupting underlying designs.

Some providers will prefer to develop custom components from scratch and will claim this is the only way to achieve exactly what the customer wants. Although academically correct, it is worth remembering that the development of custom web parts means the generation of bespoke code.  This code must be managed and adapted as SharePoint is upgraded and must change to accommodate new platform features that emerge. There are hidden costs to the "from scratch" route, therefore.  This is not our approach.

InfoStrata Solutions builds business applications using a component-based construction approach.  Using market leading components, such as the Quest Web Parts for SharePoint, Nintex Workflow and Coveo Search, we build and configure enterprise class applications fast and cost-effectively.

Examples of recent systems we have built include:

• A dashboard presentation system for engineers submitting energy statements on-line
• A recruitment system underpinning and international recruitment organisation
• A pensions management system
• An accounting system for SMEs
• A project management system

Building on our SharePoint and consulting project experience, we provide vertical market expertise in the following areas:

• legal
• engineering & manufacturing
• retail
• membership bodies
• the health sector
• not-for-profit organisations
• financial services sectors.

Our preference is to work from a complete User Requirements Specification in accordance with our implementation methodology, in which we provide end-to-end services from initial requirements capture to commissioning. 

However, if you don't have a specification ready, perhaps we can write one for you.   Sometimes, customers do not have a very clear view of the precise system they wish to create, so they cannot write a specification yet. In these cases, it is often better to take an iterative approach using a proof-of-concept project, as a way of testing initial ideas and teasing-out new requirements.  We are happy to accommodate both approaches.

To summarise, the services we can offer customers for building custom applications are as follows:

• A Proof-of-Concept project - typically a 5 or 10-day consulting project to demonstrate core functionality
• Assistance developing a User Requirements Specification
• Training in the use of the Quest Web Parts for SharePoint and other tools, such as Skelta or Nintex Workflow
• Custom Development Services.  Fixed-Price to an agreed specification, or Time & Materials if a partnered development approach is preferred.

We are pleased to provide references upon request.  Engage us today to discuss your requirements and get started.