Comparison
ARC-Files vs standard SharePoint
SharePoint Online is a strong foundation for document storage. ARC-Files adds the governance, metadata, and compliance layer that enterprise real estate teams need on top of it — without replacing anything.
What SharePoint provides vs. what ARC-Files adds
| Dimension | Standard SharePoint | + ARC-Files |
|---|---|---|
| Document storage & permissions | Included natively — libraries, versioning, and the SharePoint permission model. | Uses SharePoint's native storage and permissions as-is; adds visibility and revocation tooling on top. |
| AI content processing | Microsoft Syntex adds AI-based content understanding and classification. | Complements Syntex-style processing with governed metadata structure, bulk tagging, and audit visibility. |
| Cross-library metadata governance | Metadata is managed per site/library by default; consistency across many libraries takes manual effort. | Bulk Tagger and Metadata Report standardize metadata across every library and market from one place. |
| Retention & expiration monitoring | Retention labels and policies are available through Microsoft Purview but require separate configuration. | Retention Manager and Expiration Alerts automate this specifically for real estate document lifecycles. |
| Multi-market provisioning | New sites and libraries are typically provisioned manually per market or region. | Market Provisioner and Theme Deployer standardize new-market rollout across the tenant. |
See the full ARC-Files differentiation breakdown for the complete capability matrix, including audit trails and permissions review.
Frequently asked questions
Is ARC-Files a replacement for SharePoint?
No. ARC-Files runs on top of SharePoint Online as SPFx web parts — it is not a replacement or a separate system. It adds governance, search, and compliance automation to the SharePoint environment you already have.
How is ARC-Files different from Microsoft Syntex?
Microsoft Syntex focuses on AI-based content processing and classification. ARC-Files focuses on a different layer: governed metadata structures, bulk tagging, expiration monitoring, retention automation, multi-market provisioning, and audit visibility, purpose-built for real estate document operations. The two are complementary rather than competing.
Do we need Syntex to use ARC-Files?
No. ARC-Files works with standard SharePoint Online and does not require Microsoft Syntex to be enabled.
SharePoint and Microsoft Syntex are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. ARC-Files is an independent product built by Al-Rafay Consultancy on the Microsoft 365 platform and is not made by Microsoft.