When SharePoint Online first started all the way back in 2013, there wasn’t much of an ecosystem around add-ons. But over the years this has changed as the default SharePoint option is now seen to be the one on Microsoft 365.
Related: Is your SharePoint search in need of some TLC? Fix it with this 5-step guide.
So whether you’re migrating to M365, are new to SharePoint or just generally want to improve your employee experience, in this guide we have collected some of the most interesting add-ons that transform your Microsoft 365 SharePoint intranet into a digital workplace.
While some of the ones on the list are free, even the paid ones are a very reasonably priced. Without further ado, here we go:
Bamboo Calendar
Source: Microsoft
Aggregating multiple calendars into one central view, say to show them on the corporate homepage, is a great idea to make sure users don’t miss anything. For example you could have the HR and Marketing department present individual calendars on their respective SharePoint pages, but then push events to a larger corporate calendar. Well, this app does just that.
The price of just under $4K seems reasonable for organizations that can divide the cost over a larger user base.
Ivero Approval Manager
Companies that find SharePoint lists aren’t formal enough to consider using them for their approvals, might like this add-on. It offers the ability to make your own forms, approvals flows and send emails at any point throughout the workflow process.
There is a free trial, but even at just $499 as a one-time fee this seems very reasonable and worth a try.
Adaptive Cards maker (also for: Viva)
This web part lets you generate lists from 3rd party apps, like Salesforce or ServiceNow, or submit forms to them. Simply connect the app and then use the built-in Adaptive Cards designer (similar to the adaptivecards.io version that it’s based on) to tweak the layout. An easy way to spruce up your SharePoint’s (or Viva Connections dashboard) visual appeal.
The web part itself is free to use, but there is a limitation to how many apps can be connected simultaneously. Once exceeded, a monthly plan with larger limits can cost $4 per user.
DocuSign
Signing paperwork online is the norm for most organizations. If you don’t already have a platform of choice for this purpose, consider DocuSign as they offer a neat SharePoint Online add-in that lets you send off contracts straight from the SharePoint UI, saving you those essential minutes having to upload the document manually.
If you’re using DocuSign, which in itself isn’t free, the companion app for SharePoint won’t cost you any extra.
LT Apps Leave Request
Source: Microsoft
There is a group of organizations that fall in-between approaches to manage leave requests. They may find simple SharePoint lists too simple, but don’t have the need for big-guy portals like Workday. If this is you, this add-in might hit just the spot. It has all the bells and whistles you expect, e.g. creating your own forms, approval/rejection email notifications, etc.
Pricing information was unavailable at the time of writing.
Kaboodle Word to Wiki Online
Source: YouTube
Many organizations still use Word as the go-to product to write up policies, manuals or training material. An easier approach would be to start using SharePoint’s wiki feature, which is searchable by users and can be directly linked to. Migrating Word docs to a Wiki would be cumbersome, if it weren’t for Kaboodle’s tool.
There is a free version, or an enhanced version with more features for power users that can cost as little as $20 per author and month.
Beyond Metro Tiles
Source: Beyond Intranet
Nothing loses a user’s interest in your intranet faster than a bookmark list. They’re boring, drab and visually not appealing. Change this with this add-in, which can dress up your bookmarks to look like Windows Start menu tiles with bold colors and icons.
At $150 annually, or less than a round of pizzas for the office, this seems a no-brainer to add a splash of color to your users’ lives.
Envoqon Event Timeline
Source: Microsoft
Timelines are a popular way in web design to show significant milestones, e.g. company history, product updates or developments. With this add-on you can import any calendar from a site collection and display its events as this cool timeline.
At just $90 this is an absolute bargain.
Answer Cards
Ever dreamt of getting those informative Google “answer boxes” but for your SharePoint search? Well, with Answer Cards you get just that. Enter a search term and the web part will show you matching Cards that can contain answers, forms, images, and more. The web part works as standalone or fits into the “PnP Modern Search” plugin if your instance has that installed.
Both the web part as well as PnP Modern Search are free.
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That’s it, our most favorite SharePoint add-ins to transform your intranet into a cool and appealing Digital Workplace. Have you used any of these products? Are you using something else other readers should try out? Let us know in the comments below.
