SharePoint vs Yammer: What are the differences?

Introduction

This Markdown code provides a comparison between SharePoint and Yammer, highlighting the key differences between the two platforms.

1. Integration with Microsoft Office Suite: SharePoint is tightly integrated with the Microsoft Office Suite, allowing users to collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations within the platform itself. On the other hand, Yammer provides limited integration with Office Suite, primarily focusing on real-time collaboration and communication.

2. Content Organization: SharePoint is structured as a document management system, providing a hierarchical structure to organize files and folders. It allows for version control, workflows, and metadata management. Meanwhile, Yammer is designed for social collaboration, emphasizing conversations and discussions rather than document management. It offers a more flat organizational structure with tags and groups.

3. User Interface: SharePoint follows a traditional intranet-like interface, with a focus on document libraries, lists, and site collections. It provides a more structured and formal environment for collaboration. Conversely, Yammer offers a social media-like interface with a newsfeed, groups, and profiles. It promotes informal and spontaneous collaboration, encouraging user engagement and networking.

4. Security and Permissions: SharePoint offers robust security and permission controls, allowing administrators to define granular permissions for different users and groups. It enables access restrictions, version control restrictions, and audit capabilities. In contrast, Yammer provides limited security controls and is typically open to all users in an organization. It primarily relies on moderation and user self-regulation to maintain security.

5. Deployment Options: SharePoint offers both on-premise and cloud-based deployment options, providing flexibility for organizations to choose the best approach based on their needs and preferences. Yammer, on the other hand, is a cloud-based platform and does not have an on-premise deployment option. It leverages the infrastructure provided by Microsoft 365.

6. Collaboration Scope: SharePoint is mainly focused on internal collaboration within an organization, providing tools for team collaboration, document management, and intranet functionalities. Yammer, on the other hand, is more inclined towards external collaboration, enabling communication and collaboration with external partners, clients, or communities beyond the organizational boundaries.

In summary, SharePoint and Yammer differ in terms of integration with Office Suite, content organization, user interface, security, deployment options, and collaboration scope. SharePoint offers a more structured and formal environment for internal collaboration, while Yammer provides a social and open communication platform for both internal and external collaboration.