The SharePoint Trap: Why Banks Struggle (and How to Fix It Without Starting Over)

SharePoint is everywhere - especially in financial institutions. If your bank or credit union has Microsoft 365, odds are you've been told, "You already have an intranet tool."

But here's the reality: most institutions struggle to make SharePoint usable - and even more abandon it quietly while continuing to pay for it.

The Problem Isn't SharePoint. It's Complexity.

SharePoint is a flexible platform - but it was never designed for front-line bank staff, compliance teams, or non-technical users. It assumes you have time, resources, and developers to build your own structure from scratch.

In practice, this leads to:

• Departments creating their own "mini sites" with no consistency
• Documents scattered across personal OneDrive and shared libraries
• Important policies lost in folders named "NEW - FINAL - v3 - use this one"
• Zero search adoption outside of IT

But What If You Can't Just Rip It Out?

You already have years of documents in SharePoint. You're using Teams. Your Microsoft 365 subscription is tied to it. Maybe starting over isn't realistic - and migrating everything is risky, expensive, and unnecessary.

The Solution: A Hybrid Intranet

Instead of replacing SharePoint, integrate it. SimplifyIT offers a hybrid model: staff use a modern intranet that feels clean and intuitive, while your existing SharePoint libraries stay right where they are - searchable, permission-respecting, and accessible when needed.

This approach means:

• No need to migrate old files
• No disruption to Teams or OneDrive users
• No training required for front-line staff
• One place to search - whether content lives in SimplifyIT or SharePoint

Here's how to set it up in Azure in under 15 minutes.

What "Search" Should Really Mean

Bank employees shouldn't have to know what tool holds what file. They should just be able to search for "dress code," "wire policy," or "new account checklist" - and find the right document, whether it's in your document system or SharePoint.

That's the difference a hybrid intranet makes.

You're Already Paying for Microsoft 365 - Let's Make It Useful

If your institution is struggling with SharePoint, you're not alone. You don't have to start over - but you do need a simpler layer on top that ties it all together.

SimplifyIT is that layer.

Next Steps

• See SharePoint Integration in Action
• Follow the App Registration Guide
• Learn How Our Search Works