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Anyone using a filesharing tool to collaborate with clients?

4/17/15       
Dan Stanford

We use a shared drive on our server to capture pdfs of all drawings and paperwork related to a client file. We then send a flurry of e-mails back and forth with the client and some members of our team.
What we want is to have a shared folder where the client can log on and review and approve drawings so that everyone knows what is most recent including our own staff and any other sub-trades.
Anyone doing this? We are thinking Dropbox for Business and Sharepoint but I cannot find anyone to tell us what Sharepoint can do at this point!
Dan

4/17/15       #2: Anyone using a filesharing tool to ...
Tim Schultz

For what it is worth I am typing this response on an iPad running AT&T LTE because Comcast is inexplicably offline at my house. All of my documents live on Dropbox and are presently inaccessible.

If I would have had the presence of mind to email myself current documents at least I could open some of them.

4/18/15       #3: Anyone using a filesharing tool to ...
David Waldmann  Member

Website: vermonthardwoods.com

Tim,

The only scenario I can think of is that Comcast was out at home when the files were created, and has been out since. Or, you shut your home computer down when you're not there. Because one of the beauties of DropBox is that a copy of the files live on every device that has it installed. So when I bring my laptop on a plane, I can work on my DropBox files even if GoGo Inflight is not available.

BTW, if your home computer/laptop has wifi or BT, you should be able to use your cellular device as a wireless hotspot when your cable is down.

4/20/15       #4: Anyone using a filesharing tool to ...
Caleb Scarbrough Member

Website: http://Www.mesquitevalleywoodcrafts.com

Yes, we use Dropbox and Google Drive primarily. Google Drive is neck/neck with Dropbox in all your basic functions, and you get more free space. Dropbox though is more recognizable to most people we have found. When we have a client we need to collaborate designs and concepts with we will create a folder for them and share it to them. Then within seconds of uploading anything they can see exactly what I see, often simultaneously while I am on a phone call with them. It is a very integrated feature of our workflow, and is pretty well foolproof.

4/20/15       #5: Anyone using a filesharing tool to ...
danstanford Member

Thanks Caleb, that is basically what we want to do. I now have an appointment to see a SharePoint Expert to see if they can offer an alternative that has other strengths.
Dan

4/20/15       #6: Anyone using a filesharing tool to ...
Caleb Scarbrough Member

Website: http://www.mesquitevalleywoodcrafts.com

Great. One thing you may want to keep in mind is that Dropbox is a well known product with a super reputation which means millions of people already have an account. Potentially your shared folder(s) will drop in on the same page as the ones your customer already accesses on a daily basis. Sharepoint, on the other hand, is virtually unknown to the average population, but depending on your client type that may not be a problem. I would be interested to know what you find are SharePoint's strengths beyond the Dropbox/GDrive realm for the average business class user.


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