Regure vs SharePoint: Purpose-built insurance platform vs general document store
SharePoint is a capable enterprise document management system that insurance teams have jury-rigged into a claims platform. Regure is purpose-built for insurance — with native document AI, workflow automation, compliance audit trails, and team collaboration designed specifically for claims operations.
Understanding the difference: generic file storage vs insurance operations platform
SharePoint is a powerful enterprise content management system designed for general business document storage, collaboration, and intranet sites. It handles file versioning, permissions, workflows, and integrates with Microsoft 365. Millions of organizations use SharePoint because it's included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions and provides broad document management capabilities across all business functions.
Insurance teams have adapted SharePoint for claims operations by creating folder structures (Claim ID > Document Type > Files), manually uploading documents, and using email or Teams for communication. This approach works — until document volume scales, compliance requirements intensify, or teams need to find specific information quickly. SharePoint doesn't understand what a medical bill is, can't automatically route documents to the right adjuster, and provides no insurance-specific compliance features.
Regure is purpose-built for insurance claims operations. It understands ACORD forms, medical bills, police reports, and repair estimates. It routes documents automatically based on content and urgency. It provides immutable audit trails designed for regulatory compliance and E&O defense. The fundamental difference: SharePoint is a general tool adapted for insurance. Regure is an insurance tool from the ground up.
Feature-by-feature: general tools vs insurance-specific automation
SharePoint provides broad enterprise functionality. Regure provides focused insurance operations capabilities. The difference is depth vs breadth.
| Capability | SharePoint | Regure |
|---|---|---|
| Document Storage | Unlimited storage (subject to Microsoft 365 tenant limits) with folder hierarchies, metadata tagging, version control | Unlimited claim-linked storage with automatic organization by claim and document type — no manual folder management |
| Document Classification | Manual: users create folders (Medical Records, Police Reports) and manually file documents into correct locations | AI-powered: 99%+ automatic classification on 20+ insurance document types — medical bills, ACORD forms, police reports, repair estimates |
| OCR & Text Extraction | Basic OCR for search indexing — cannot extract structured data from insurance forms (policy numbers, dates of loss, coverage amounts) | Advanced OCR plus AI extraction: recognizes ACORD form fields, extracts policy data, identifies claimants, captures dates/amounts — structured data queryable |
| Insurance-Specific Features | None — SharePoint is industry-agnostic. Insurance teams manually build folder templates and naming conventions. | Native: ACORD form recognition, claim-linked document association, coverage verification, loss-specific document checklists, regulatory retention rules |
| Workflow Automation | Power Automate available — requires technical setup, scripting knowledge, and ongoing maintenance. Workflows break when folder structures change. | Visual drag-and-drop workflow builder designed for claims managers. Conditional routing, SLA timers, escalations — no IT involvement required. |
| Document Routing | Manual: users receive email notifications and manually review/route documents. Power Automate can trigger emails but doesn't understand document content. | Automatic: AI classifies document, workflow engine routes to assigned adjuster based on claim type, document urgency, and workload balancing rules |
| Team Collaboration | Separate tools required: Teams for messaging, Outlook for email, SharePoint comments limited to files — context scattered across systems | Built-in claim-linked messaging with @mentions, video conferencing, mobile app — all communication stays attached to claim for compliance documentation |
| Audit Trails for Compliance | Basic version history and user activity logging — stored in same database as documents, editable by administrators, not cryptographically tamper-evident | Immutable Merkle tree logging with cryptographic verification — tamper-evident audit trail designed for regulatory examination and E&O defense |
| Search Capabilities | Full-text search across document contents — results not insurance-specific (searching "medical bill" returns any document containing those words) | Insurance-aware semantic search: query by claim number, policy number, claimant name, document type, date ranges — AI understands insurance context |
| Duplicate Detection | None native — users manually identify and remove duplicate uploads or use third-party tools | Automatic: AI identifies duplicate documents via content hashing, alerts users before storage, prevents redundant processing |
| Mobile Experience | SharePoint mobile app provides document viewing and basic upload — not optimized for field adjusters conducting claim investigations | Purpose-built field adjuster mobile app: offline capability, photo capture with GPS/timestamp, signature collection, claim investigation forms, automatic sync |
| Integration with Core Systems | Generic APIs available — integration requires custom development to connect with Applied Epic, Guidewire, Duck Creek, carrier portals | Pre-built connectors for major insurance systems: Applied Epic, Guidewire, Duck Creek, carrier portals — bi-directional sync with minimal configuration |
| Permissions & Security | Robust Active Directory integration with role-based permissions — complex to configure for claim-specific access (adjuster sees only their assigned claims) | Claim-based permissions built-in: adjusters automatically see assigned claims, managers see team claims, executives see department aggregates — no manual configuration |
| Implementation Timeline | 1-3 months to design folder structures, configure permissions, build Power Automate workflows, train users on manual processes | 14 days for operational deployment with AI classification trained on your document types and workflows configured to your processes |
| Ongoing Maintenance | High: folder structure reorganization breaks links, Power Automate workflows require updates when processes change, user training ongoing for manual classification | Low: AI classification improves with use, workflow changes via visual builder without breaking existing claims, automatic updates deployed without customer involvement |
| Cost Model | Included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium ($22/user/month) or E3/E5 plans — but hidden costs in IT setup, Power Automate premium connectors, ongoing maintenance | $75-225/user/month based on features — includes AI classification, workflow automation, compliance audit trails, integrations, support, all updates |
| Best For | General enterprise document management across all departments — HR, finance, legal, marketing, operations — where insurance-specific features aren't required | Insurance claims operations requiring AI document classification, automated workflow, compliance-grade audit trails, claim-linked collaboration — purpose-built for insurance |
Who should choose what — an honest assessment
The right choice depends on document volume, complexity, compliance requirements, and whether you need general storage or insurance-specific automation.
Choose SharePoint if:
- You already use Microsoft 365 and need basic document storage across multiple departments (not just claims)
- Your claims volume is low (under 50 claims/month) and document complexity is minimal
- You have dedicated IT staff to build folder structures, configure Power Automate workflows, and maintain the system
- Your team can manually classify and route documents without significant time burden (under 5 hours/week total)
- Your compliance requirements are minimal — basic version history and user activity logs suffice for audits
- You don't need insurance-specific features like ACORD form extraction or claim-linked communication
- Cost is the primary decision factor and you prefer leveraging existing Microsoft investment over specialized tools
SharePoint works for basic document storage when manual processes are sustainable. If claims volume is low and your team has time for manual classification and routing, SharePoint's included cost makes it attractive.
Choose Regure if:
- Your claims volume justifies automation (100+ claims/month or 50+ with high document volume per claim)
- Adjusters spend 14+ hours/week manually classifying and filing documents into SharePoint folders
- You need AI document classification that understands insurance forms — not generic file storage
- You require automated workflow routing based on document content and claim characteristics
- Your compliance requirements demand tamper-evident audit trails for regulatory defense and E&O protection
- You need claim-linked team collaboration where communication stays attached to claims for compliance
- You want claims managers to configure workflows without IT tickets and 6-week development cycles
- You need mobile field tools for adjusters conducting investigations with offline capability
Regure is purpose-built for insurance claims. If your operations are claims-heavy and compliance-critical, insurance-specific automation delivers measurable ROI. Calculate your savings.
Moving from SharePoint to Regure
Many insurance teams migrate from SharePoint to Regure after realizing manual classification doesn't scale and compliance requirements exceed SharePoint's audit capabilities.
The migration process takes 2-4 weeks depending on document volume. Regure's migration team extracts documents from SharePoint folder structures, automatically classifies them using AI (correcting misfilings from manual processes), and links them to corresponding claims in your core system. Historical audit trails are preserved as attachments. Active claims migrate first for immediate operational value — closed claims migrate in background batches.
Teams typically run parallel systems for 1-2 weeks during transition: new claims go to Regure, existing claims remain in SharePoint until naturally closed or migrated. This approach minimizes disruption while ensuring no claims fall through gaps. After migration, SharePoint remains available for non-claims documents (HR files, corporate policies, marketing materials) — Regure doesn't need to replace SharePoint for general business use, just for insurance claims operations.
Common migration triggers: (1) Adjuster time spent on manual filing exceeds 10+ hours/week, (2) Compliance audit reveals audit trail deficiencies requiring remediation, (3) Document volume growth makes folder-based organization unsustainable, (4) Executive mandate to reduce claims cycle times reveals document retrieval as primary bottleneck.
What insurance teams ask when comparing SharePoint and Regure
Can we keep using SharePoint for some documents and use Regure for claims?
Yes. Many organizations keep SharePoint for general business documents (HR policies, marketing materials, corporate governance) while using Regure specifically for claims operations. Regure focuses on insurance claims — SharePoint remains valuable for non-claims enterprise content management. No need to abandon existing SharePoint investment for functions it handles well.
How much time does AI classification really save vs manual SharePoint folders?
Measurable difference: Manual SharePoint classification averages 45-90 seconds per document (open file, determine type, navigate folder structure, upload, verify location). AI classification is instant — documents automatically routed in under 2 seconds. At 500 documents/week, that's 6-12 hours saved weekly on classification alone. Add time saved on retrieval (instant AI search vs manual folder navigation) and the difference compounds to 14+ hours/week per adjuster.
Why aren't SharePoint's audit trails sufficient for insurance compliance?
Three limitations: (1) SharePoint audit logs are stored in the same database as documents — administrators can modify them, (2) No cryptographic tamper-evidence — regulators can't verify log integrity during examination, (3) Not designed for insurance-specific compliance requirements (E&O defense, state regulatory examination, litigation holds). Regure's immutable Merkle tree provides cryptographic proof that audit logs haven't been altered — critical for regulatory defense and E&O claims. See technical details.
What's the real total cost of using SharePoint for claims vs Regure?
SharePoint appears cheaper ($22/user/month for Microsoft 365) but hidden costs accumulate: (1) IT time building and maintaining folder structures and Power Automate workflows ($20K-50K annually), (2) Adjuster time on manual classification and retrieval (14+ hours/week = $100K+ annually in lost productivity for 5 adjusters), (3) Compliance risk from inadequate audit trails (potential $50K+ penalties or E&O claim defense costs). Regure's all-in cost ($75-225/user/month) includes automation that eliminates these hidden expenses. Calculate your specific ROI.
Can SharePoint's Power Automate replicate Regure's workflow automation?
Partially, but with significant limitations. Power Automate can trigger workflows based on folder uploads or metadata changes, but it doesn't understand document content — it can't distinguish a medical bill from a police report without manual user input. Regure's AI reads document content and routes based on what's inside (urgency, claim type, document completeness). Power Automate also requires ongoing IT maintenance when folder structures change. Regure workflows are configured visually by claims managers without IT involvement.
See how Regure compares using your actual claims documents
Upload a sample of your SharePoint claims documents during a 20-minute demo. We'll show you AI classification accuracy, automated routing in action, and compliance-grade audit trails — then discuss migration timelines and ROI for your specific operation.