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Microsoft Launches SharePoint Success Site Learning Tool
Microsoft announced a new SharePoint Success Site template for SharePoint Online intranet users on Tuesday, adding another tool to better steer site creators.
The SharePoint Success Site template creates a Communication Site (a type of SharePoint intranet page) that serves as a portal to educate new site creators in organizations. End users with Microsoft 365 permissions can access this portal after initial setup by IT departments. The SharePoint Success Site includes content at launch and can be customized to show an organization's branding, if wanted.
Here's what's available in a SharePoint Success Site, per the announcement:
The SharePoint Success Site is a SharePoint communication site that includes pre-populated pages, pre-configured training, web parts, and site navigation. The site can be customized to incorporate your organization's existing branding, support, and training content.
IT pros need Global Admin privileges to provision a SharePoint Success Site. Other requirements include having installed the App Catalog and Microsoft 365 Learning Pathways version 4.0 or higher.
Microsoft 365 Learning Pathways is also a Communication Site that's aimed at educating SharePoint Online end users. It's possible to install Microsoft 365 Learning Pathways from the SharePoint Look Book service, which is another utility for SharePoint users, providing customizable SharePoint site templates.
Exactly why Microsoft has provided another Communication Site page to help end users create SharePoint sites wasn't explained in the announcement. An intro document stated that the SharePoint Success Site "builds on the power of Microsoft 365 Learning Pathways."
The SharePoint Success Site and Microsoft 365 Learning Pathways both can be customized by IT departments. They can use that customization to help site creators follow company guidelines or best practices when creating sites. To inspire end users, the SharePoint Success Site will show examples of successful content, as well as internal sites deemed to be intranet successes.
One advantage of using SharePoint Success Site and Microsoft 365 Learning Pathways is that Microsoft promises to update the content of those tools as the SharePoint Online product evolves.
Custom content in the SharePoint Success Site can only be created by the tenant administrator, according to Microsoft's intro document. For Microsoft 365 Learning Pathways, custom content can be created by the "Site collection administrator and Site owner."
More on Microsoft's SharePoint developments can be found with an upcoming three-day Microsoft 365 Collaboration Conference, starting Dec. 9. Keynote talks by SharePoint luminaries during the virtual event are free with conference sign-up.
About the Author
Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.