DMC’s priority is to address pain points for customers. We started this project with a discovery phase to fully understand the functionality of the current solution and generate complete documentation of requirements. Then, we were able to create an architecture for a solution that addressed pain points while leveraging familiar tools and entry patterns by building within the SharePoint framework. A selection of custom forms was built using React Typescript in an SPFx webpart. These covered data entry needs for project initiation, budget entry and amendment, and tracking payment commitments and status. Budget information became easily available in a familiar table format on the landing page for each project. 

The approval process leverages Microsoft’s built-in solution for approvals for notification in Teams and Outlook. It uses Power Automate to pull in additional information from SharePoint Lists and the .NET backend. The approval status is displayed on the main project page within the custom webpart. This improved visibility for the team and allowed project managers to effectively delegate budget tracking tasks to others while still being able to track and approve overall project status. 

Additionally, DMC built automatic coversheet generation, which streamlined the processes for providing billing information to vendors and invoicing end clients. Generation is performed in the .NET backend, and documents are saved to the project SharePoint folders for easy re-access. Automated emails, including the relevant data and coversheets, are automatically set based on user-entered contact information.  

Learn more about DMC’s Custom Application expertise and contact us for your next project. 

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DMC’s client needed an efficient and seamless transition from File Explorer to SharePoint Online to improve their security and modernize their user experience while leveraging SharePoint’s enhanced file storage capabilities.

Design and Development

To assist the client, DMC held initial sessions to determine the ideal SharePoint Online structure and identify all files to be migrated. DMC also gathered employee information that would be required for the migration of personal folders to OneDrive. After these sessions, DMC methodically planned the site creation and migration timeline, which they then presented to the client team for approval.

Testing and Deployment

Once approved, DMC designed and implemented a custom SharePoint home page based on the customer’s branding. DMC ensured that all sites were locked down before making site changes. They implemented 49 site collections and the corresponding document libraries.

For enhanced security, DMC led the creation of a permissions structure with the client IT team, which was implemented site-wide. With permissions in place and confirmation from the client IT team that the Shared Drives were locked down, DMC migrated 1.3 TB worth of content to SharePoint Online and performed 750+ user migrations to individual OneDrive accounts.

If DMC can assist with any SharePoint Online transition, whether from an existing cloud setup or from a file server like this one, please feel free to reach out, and we’d be happy to help out!

Learn more about DMC’s Digital Workplace Solutions expertise and contact us for your next project.

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To begin designing a solution for the client, DMC met with key stakeholders to learn about the various departments and their functions. After understanding the client’s business model, DMC worked with each department head to determine what combination of Microsoft solutions was needed. This holistic approach allowed DMC to leverage Microsoft technology across departments and minimize information silos. 

Design and Development 

After gathering requirements, DMC began implementation. This included a custom SharePoint navigation header to easily navigate between site collections, creation of each site collection, and implementation of the SharePoint content managers such as document libraries, lists, pages, and news posts. 

DMC also created Power Automate workflows to minimize redundant tasks. For example, a Microsoft Form was created to allow external users to submit survey responses. When new responses were received, they were automatically added to a SharePoint list. This minimized the number of application touch points needed for day-to-day work. 

Additionally, DMC organized all the client’s SharePoint content into a spreadsheet to document permissions. DMC collaborated with the client’s IT department to create the necessary Active Directory and Microsoft 365 groups to efficiently manage permissions. 

Testing and Deployment 

DMC took an iterative approach to development, testing, and deployment. During the creation of features, the SharePoint site was locked down to those involved with development. Once larger features were implemented, the department heads were granted access to provide feedback. After all department heads were satisfied with their site and permissions were checked, the site was ready for the go live! 

Training and Support 

Prior to go live, DMC conducted both end user training and administrative training. During end user training, users received training on how to navigate the contents of the site and utilize other basic features such as adding files to a document library, adding and removing items from lists, and how to filter and sort lists to quickly find information. 

Administrative training was more in-depth and included tasks like updating list views and columns, updating pages, managing webparts, and managing permissions. 

Both training courses were vital in giving the client the confidence they needed to manage the site. Additionally, DMC continues to support the client by providing ongoing consultation on features and performing complex configuration as needed. 

Conclusion 

DMC’s detailed approach to implementing SharePoint sites gives clients a reliable framework to manage their business content. To learn more about how DMC can customize a Microsoft solution for your organization, contact us for your next project.

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DMC digitized this process by creating SharePoint lists for each sample the client received. For every sample the client received for testing, a new SharePoint project was created to store the data digitally. Once the new sample was logged and a project folder created, technical sheets about the product, the material, and the required tests could be stored inside. 

DMC added additional metadata fields where upper management could add test types, notes, work orders, agreements, and additional details. Lab managers would then view work orders and assign them to the appropriate staff online instead of having to manually input it into a scheduling system or do so on paper. Staff was then able to access this schedule and easily see their tasks for that day. 

This system eliminated the need for a hard copy system of logging samples and scheduling follow up tasks, creating a faster, and more efficient scheduling workflow. 

Learn how DMC’s SharePoint solutions can help you and contact us for your next project.

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DMC built an intranet on SharePoint Online that stored all the documents specific to the client. The internal site helped the client’s employees easily access information for documents pertaining to a specific customer. 

We worked to ensure that the intranet was based on the specific person logging in and built a Web Part that grants clients access to their specific intranet using two-factor authentication with Microsoft Authenticator. DMC also built an extranet for the client’s customers to be able to log in and access their documents with ease.

Our expertise in SharePoint Online, React, and .Net allowed us to provide the client with a cleaner interface and an easier navigable, more organized method of file tracking. Our clients now have better visibility of their documents, and they can provide their clients with a branded user interface.

Learn more about DMC’s Digital Workplace Solutions and contact us today for your next project!

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First, DMC engineers retrieved exports from the third-party system. Our engineers then developed the architecture for document storage. They worked with the client to determine which metadata tags were useful for each employee to have. Once they established a structure for the site, our engineers imported the client’s data to the new system. A confidential document set for each employee was then auto created.

The new SharePoint implementation was programmed to tag document sets with useful information about employees such as their date of employment, office location, and title. Managers, HR, and other required personnel could access files and documents based on the user’s tagged information.

All new documentation moving forward was handled by the system that DMC created to automatically make document sets for each new employee. These sets provided the client with a place to sort, file, and apply custom permissions to all documents.

This solution provided the client with confidentiality protection while utilizing the document management capability offered out of the box by Microsoft 365.

Learn more about DMC’s Microsoft Consulting Services and contact us for your next project.

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DMC consultants began by migrating the client’s existing content from SharePoint to the cloud. This migration included many custom features DMC had created throughout the years. Due to differences between the on-premises and online versions of SharePoint, engineers were required to recreate several tools and custom web parts for use in the new online environment.

Additionally, the SharePoint implementation was heavily integrated with third-party systems. DMC updated the integration so that the online tools were still able to integrate with the on-premises third-party systems. Integration included the retrieval of the client’s budget and project info from QuickBooks and a Homegrown ERP System.

Finally, DMC modernized the interface using SharePoint Modern to create modern widgets and web parts. Afterwards, the solution was thoroughly tested, and the cutover was remigrated to go live.

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As a Microsoft Gold Partner with extensive experience and knowledge of SharePoint, DMC decided it would be the most appropriate platform for this solution given its vast capabilities with document handling. Additionally, we were able to save the client tens of thousands of dollars by utilizing SharePoint because it was already included in their Office 365 license—as opposed to paying exorbitant licensing fees for a third-party software to achieve the same functionalities.

Power Automate and SharePoint Framework

SharePoint not only has built-in document management, but allows for far greater customizations through Power Automate flows and SharePoint Framework (SPfX). Power Automate flows automate business processes and even local computer tasks, while SharePoint Framework can utilize custom code to create new list ribbon buttons, web parts, and more. Both tools save time in development and practice without sacrificing customization.

To merge our client’s files in SharePoint, DMC used an SPfX command set extension. This type of SPfX extension allows for custom buttons to be created for list views, so your specific code runs when this button is clicked. Typescript/javascript code is used for SPfX extensions, but external calls to APIs can be made as well.

When users upload and select documents to merge in SharePoint, our custom button shows up, which initiates the document-merging process when clicked. Users are first presented with a pop-up, in which they can specify various metadata fields on the newly merged document. 

Merging Process

Once the user clicks merge, a request is sent to a .NET API created by DMC and hosted on an Azure app service. This API makes use of the Spire.Office .NET library, which can merge many different Microsoft file types. This Spire.Office library required an initial license purchase, but ultimately saved a great deal of development time—therefore saving money in the long run. Once this file is merged and populated with the metadata selected by the user, it is saved back onto SharePoint.

Once merged, a team member processes the document by filling out more metadata on that SharePoint item, and a Power Automate flow runs when those changes are made. When the document is fully processed, it is marked “completed” and moved to a final library based on its categorization.

Due to the sheer number of documents needed to be processed, DMC decided to store them in separate libraries, but all within the same site. Since these documents are located in various libraries, we created a custom SPfX web part to make searching and sorting these completed documents seamless and intuitive.

Pictured below is the custom web part, which allows users to search based on various column values of the documents, as well apply filters to easily see similar and specific documents. DMC created this web part with React and utilized Microsoft’s Fluent UI library to maintain SharePoint’s look and feel. DMC’s extensive experience with React development, as well as the need for Fluent UI components and complex filtering/sorting logic made React an easy choice for this solution. Additionally, when making search queries, we used SharePoint’s search API.

DMC’s extensive technical knowledge of current Microsoft product capabilities and our vast experience implementing these solutions not only saved the client money, but provided them with a comprehensive solution that met all their needs.

Read more about DMC’s Microsoft consulting services and contact us to get started on your next project.

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First, DMC provisioned Office 365 and Teams audio conferencing licenses for the client. DMC then trained the client’s power users in a 90-minute virtual Microsoft Teams session on a multitude of Teams features including: 

• Persistent chat and teams vs. channels 
• Conference calls and managing calendars
• Features in a call
• Outlook plugin
• Teams settings
• Notifications
• File sharing & interaction with SharePoint

DMC demonstrated several short cuts and other Teams best practices. We also instructed the client on how to train their users and provided documentation to do so. 
Lastly, DMC trained the client’s IT team on the administrative settings within Teams. This helped plan and create governance for the client’s Teams application to establish best practices for using Teams efficiently and maintaining a clean and consistent interface. 

In today’s environment, the need to work remotely makes Microsoft Teams an essential tool for collaboration and project management. DMC’s experts offer planning, guidance, and technical solutions to achieve the most effective work from home environment.

Learn more about DMC’s Digital Workplace Solutions and Microsoft Teams expertise. Contact us to get started today.

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The client wanted a central location to direct employees for the company’s updated pandemic response. Within hours, DMC had delivered a Crisis Management Portal linked to the company’s Sharepoint homepage. This portal ensured that their employees were able to find the most up-to-date crisis information in one place, rather than searching emails or other communication forums. This portal comprised of the latest update from the CEO, resources from their HR department such as team building ideas, and forums to share pictures to stay connected to their fellow employees.

DMC provided a place of organization in a time of chaos. We have proven ways to keep companies’ communications organized when there are answers to share.

Learn more about DMC’s Digital Workplace Solutions and contact us with any project inquiries. 

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