I'm reviewing how to improve the current process using Microsoft 365 around SharePoint and would be interested in hearing how other have approached this.
Context: I work in the construction sector where projects start as tenders. Currently, Estimating, Commercial and Operations all work from separate SharePoint areas. When a project is awarded, information is handed over between departments, documents get duplicated, and SharePoint is often used like a traditional file server rather than a collaboration platform.
Current process: an opportunity it's identified, a tender is created priced and estimated , and then submitted. IF awarded it is handed over to the Commercial and Operations teams. each department/team maintain its own SharePoint area, and every new site is awarded with a new SharePoint site. This results in duplicating documents and information, storage issues as SharePoint it's used as a 'Shared Drive' on premise server. ( Company moved from on premise server to Cloud recently but people are stuck with that architecture in mind and transferred it to SharePoint/OneDrive ).
What I am trying to achieve is to move to a project-centric model where each project get it's own M365 workspace (Teams, SharePoint) rather than storing information on SharePoint and communicate solely on Emails.
Solution I'm trialling: One Team per project with private Libraries for every Team (Pre-Construction, Commercial, Operations) Permissions managed through security groups and breaking inheritance of the Site Permissions. Private Channels for every team to collaborate. Project it's archived (Team with its SharePoint) on project completion. Reviewed after certain years for retention or moved to cold archive.
Problems encountered: Users find difficult to search for the SharePoint as they are not members of the Main Site but only to its private libraries ( alternative solution would be to have the Teams Channels SharePoint saved in the main SharePoint site navigation pane ). Users are barely using Teams and relying on old fashion way of accessing SharePoint via the home page. Some users are using it via Online OneDrive.
I have the feeling I am overthinking and overengineering it with difficulties of pleasing everybody and not disrupting their habits. I feel SharePoint it's not used at its full capacity but with limited knowledge and too much scattered information online I don't know which direction to go. I am the only tech person in the business and the lack of brainstorming ideas always finds me into a dead end road.
If you were designing this from scratch today:
Would you structure workspaces around projects or departments?
Would you use Teams channels, SharePoint libraries, or separate SharePoint sites?
What governance or adoption challenges should I be watching out for?
Open to any suggestions to explore even to leave it as it is but start educating in SharePoint usage rather than changing the process flow.
Many thanks