SharePoint does a lot out of the box—document libraries, team sites, basic intranet capabilities. But most organizations eventually need more. A branded intranet that reflects company identity. Custom web parts that display data from external systems. Integrations that connect SharePoint to line-of-business applications. Migrations from older SharePoint versions or competing platforms.
This is where SharePoint developers come in. They extend SharePoint beyond its default capabilities, building solutions tailored to specific organizational needs. Whether you need a full intranet implementation, custom functionality, or help migrating to modern SharePoint, understanding what SharePoint developers do helps you engage the right expertise for your project.
What SharePoint Developers Do
SharePoint development spans a range of activities:
Intranet and site development. Building SharePoint-based intranets, team sites, and departmental portals. This includes information architecture, navigation design, page layouts, and the overall structure employees use daily.
Branding and customization. Making SharePoint look like your organization—custom themes, headers, footers, and visual elements that align with brand standards.
Custom web part development. Building components that add functionality to SharePoint pages—data visualizations, interactive tools, integration displays, or specialized content types.
Integration development. Connecting SharePoint to other systems—ERP, CRM, HR systems, or custom databases—so information flows between platforms.
Workflow and process automation. Building automated processes that route documents, manage approvals, and handle business logic, often using Power Automate alongside custom development.
Migration services. Moving content and structure from older SharePoint versions (2013, 2016, 2019), on-premises installations, or other platforms like Google Drive or file servers.
Administration and optimization. Configuring SharePoint for performance, security, and usability—search optimization, permission structures, storage management.
Modern SharePoint Development (SPFx)
SharePoint has evolved significantly. Modern SharePoint development centers on the SharePoint Framework (SPFx)—Microsoft’s recommended approach for customizations.
SPFx uses modern web technologies—TypeScript, React, and Node.js—to build client-side solutions that run in SharePoint Online and modern SharePoint Server. SPFx web parts and extensions integrate seamlessly with modern SharePoint pages, respecting themes and working across devices.
This differs from older development approaches that relied on server-side code or “classic” SharePoint customizations. If you’re working with SharePoint Online, SPFx is the development platform your developers should be using.
When evaluating SharePoint developers, confirm they have current SPFx skills—not just experience with legacy SharePoint development approaches that don’t translate to modern SharePoint.
Common SharePoint Development Projects
SharePoint developers handle diverse project types:
Intranet implementation. Building a modern intranet on SharePoint—home sites, hub structures, department sites, news publishing, employee directories, and all the components that make an intranet useful.
Document management systems. Structuring libraries, metadata, retention policies, and workflows for managing organizational documents. This often supports specific use cases like contract management, policy management, or project documentation.
Custom business applications. Building SharePoint-based solutions for specific business functions—help desk systems, asset tracking, project management, or any process that benefits from SharePoint’s platform capabilities.
Dashboard and reporting. Creating pages that aggregate and display key information—KPIs, project status, team metrics—pulling data from SharePoint and connected systems.
External sharing and extranet. Configuring SharePoint for secure collaboration with external partners, vendors, or customers.
Migration from legacy systems. Moving from SharePoint 2013/2016/2019, Google Workspace, network drives, or other platforms to SharePoint Online while preserving content, metadata, and permissions.
For organizations managing complex projects, developers can build solutions that support project information management with custom tracking, reporting, and document organization.
In-House vs. Outsourced Development
Organizations face a common decision: build internal SharePoint development capability or engage external developers?
In-house development works well when:
- You have ongoing development needs justifying dedicated staff
- SharePoint expertise aligns with other IT responsibilities
- Institutional knowledge and availability are priorities
- You’re building capabilities for long-term platform ownership
Outsourced development makes sense when:
- Development needs are project-based rather than continuous
- You need specialized skills not worth maintaining full-time
- Projects require more capacity than internal staff can provide
- You want to move faster than internal hiring allows
Many organizations use a hybrid model—internal staff handle administration and minor customizations while external developers tackle major projects and specialized work.
Skills to Look For
When evaluating SharePoint developers, consider these skill areas:
SharePoint Framework (SPFx). For modern SharePoint development, SPFx expertise is essential. Developers should be comfortable with TypeScript, React, and modern web development practices.
SharePoint architecture. Understanding site collections, hub sites, content types, metadata, search configuration, and permission models—the structural knowledge that makes solutions sustainable.
Power Platform familiarity. Modern SharePoint development often involves Power Automate for workflows and Power Apps for custom forms. Developers should understand how these tools integrate.
Microsoft 365 ecosystem knowledge. SharePoint doesn’t exist in isolation. Developers should understand Teams integration, OneDrive relationships, Microsoft Graph API, and how SharePoint fits the broader platform.
Migration experience. If migration is part of your project, look for specific experience with migration tools and methodologies. Migrations are complex enough to warrant specialized expertise.
User experience sensibility. Technical skills matter, but so does the ability to create solutions that work well for end users. Developers who think about usability produce better results.
Project Examples
Understanding typical project scope helps set expectations:
Simple branding project. Applying custom colors, logo, and basic styling across SharePoint sites. Typically 20-40 hours, depending on complexity and number of sites.
Custom web part. Building a single web part that displays data from an external system or provides specialized functionality. Typically 40-80 hours, depending on complexity and integration requirements.
Department intranet site. Creating a team or department site with custom structure, branding, and basic functionality. Typically 60-120 hours.
Full intranet implementation. Building an organization-wide intranet with home site, hub structure, multiple department sites, news system, and custom components. Typically 200-500+ hours depending on scope.
Migration project. Moving content from legacy SharePoint or other platforms. Scope varies dramatically based on content volume, complexity, and cleanup requirements. Small migrations might take 40-80 hours; enterprise migrations can require hundreds of hours.
Evaluating SharePoint Development Companies
When choosing a development partner, investigate:
Portfolio and references. Have they built solutions similar to what you need? Can you speak with previous clients about their experience?
Technical approach. Do they use modern development practices (SPFx, CI/CD, source control)? How do they ensure quality?
Microsoft partnership. Partners with Microsoft certifications and solution designations have demonstrated SharePoint expertise.
Team composition. Who specifically will work on your project? What’s their experience level?
Project methodology. How do they manage projects, communicate progress, and handle changes?
Post-launch support. What happens after initial development? How are bugs handled? What about future enhancements?
Knowledge transfer. Will your team be able to maintain and modify the solution, or will you depend on the developer indefinitely?
Making SharePoint Development Projects Successful
Based on common project experiences:
Start with clear requirements. Vague goals produce disappointing solutions. Document what you need the solution to accomplish, who will use it, and how you’ll measure success.
Plan information architecture first. For intranet and site projects, nail down structure before development begins. Restructuring after launch is expensive and disruptive.
Involve stakeholders early. People affected by the solution should provide input during design, not first see it at launch.
Budget for adoption. Development is half the equation. Training, communication, and change management determine whether people actually use what’s built.
Plan for ongoing maintenance. Solutions need care after launch—bug fixes, enhancements, updates as SharePoint evolves. Budget and plan for this.
Document everything. Ensure solutions are documented well enough that other developers (or your internal team) can maintain them.
Nexinite’s SharePoint Development Services
At Nexinite, we build SharePoint solutions that serve real business needs, not just demonstrate technical capabilities. Our approach includes:
Business-driven design. Understanding your organizational context before designing solutions. SharePoint should serve how your organization actually works.
Modern development practices. Using SPFx and current best practices to build solutions that integrate cleanly with modern SharePoint and remain maintainable.
Focus on adoption. Creating solutions people actually use through thoughtful design, proper training, and attention to user experience.
Sustainable solutions. Building with long-term maintainability in mind, including documentation and knowledge transfer to your team.
Whether you need a new intranet, custom functionality, or help modernizing legacy SharePoint investments, we bring the expertise to deliver practical results.
Ready to discuss your SharePoint project? Get in touch to explore how we can help.