Comind.work vs SharePoint, Excel & paper
Many regulated companies start with SharePoint, Excel, and paper. They work - until an audit, a scaling team, or a regulatory requirement exposes the gaps. Here is where a dedicated eQMS is different.
Many regulated companies start with SharePoint, Excel, and paper. They work - until an audit, a scaling team, or a regulatory requirement exposes the gaps. Here is where a dedicated eQMS is different.
| Dimension | Comind.work | SharePoint, Excel & paper |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Built for regulated quality management | General-purpose document storage and collaboration |
| Compliance | 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 13485, EU MDR built in | Must be custom-configured and re-validated for every change |
| Audit trail | Automatic, tamper-proof, regulatory-grade | Manual or absent; paper trails are reconstructable at best |
| Validation | Validation documentation included with implementation | Customer must validate every configuration; no vendor support |
| Cost | Subscription includes compliance features | "Free" upfront but hidden cost in consultant time, failed audits, manual processes |
Purpose
Comind.work
Built for regulated quality management
SharePoint, Excel & paper
General-purpose document storage and collaboration
Compliance
Comind.work
21 CFR Part 11, ISO 13485, EU MDR built in
SharePoint, Excel & paper
Must be custom-configured and re-validated for every change
Audit trail
Comind.work
Automatic, tamper-proof, regulatory-grade
SharePoint, Excel & paper
Manual or absent; paper trails are reconstructable at best
Validation
Comind.work
Validation documentation included with implementation
SharePoint, Excel & paper
Customer must validate every configuration; no vendor support
Cost
Comind.work
Subscription includes compliance features
SharePoint, Excel & paper
"Free" upfront but hidden cost in consultant time, failed audits, manual processes
| Feature | Comind.work | SharePoint, Excel & paper |
|---|---|---|
| Document and storage | ||
| Document storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated version control SharePoint has basic versioning; Excel and paper are manual | ✓ | Basic |
| Electronic signatures (Part 11) Requires add-ons or manual process with generic tools | ✓ | - |
| Regulatory-grade audit trail SharePoint version history is limited; paper has none | ✓ | - |
| Quality management modules | ||
| Training management | ✓ | - |
| CAPA management | ✓ | - |
| Change control | ✓ | - |
| Quality event management | ✓ | - |
| Supplier management | ✓ | - |
| Design controls | ✓ | - |
| Risk management | ✓ | - |
| Audit management | ✓ | - |
| Compliance and deployment | ||
| Regulatory compliance built in | ✓ | - |
| Pre-validated (GAMP 5) Customer must build and validate everything with generic tools | Validation docs included | - |
| Cloud-based access SharePoint and Google Drive yes; paper no | ✓ | Partially |
| Cost | ||
| Upfront cost | Subscription | Free / included with Office 365 |
| Compliance configuration cost | Included | Significant consultant time |
Document and storage
Document storage
Automated version control SharePoint has basic versioning; Excel and paper are manual
Electronic signatures (Part 11) Requires add-ons or manual process with generic tools
Regulatory-grade audit trail SharePoint version history is limited; paper has none
Quality management modules
Training management
CAPA management
Change control
Quality event management
Supplier management
Design controls
Risk management
Audit management
Compliance and deployment
Regulatory compliance built in
Pre-validated (GAMP 5) Customer must build and validate everything with generic tools
Cloud-based access SharePoint and Google Drive yes; paper no
Cost
Upfront cost
Compliance configuration cost
Where Comind.work is different
SharePoint, Excel, and paper were not built for regulated industries. Every compliance feature must be custom-configured, validated, and maintained. Comind.work has 21 CFR Part 11, audit trails, and e-signatures built in.
Companies using generic tools spend weeks preparing for audits - gathering documents from folders, reconstructing training records, and manually proving traceability. Comind.work provides audit-ready dashboards and reports at the click of a button.
SharePoint is free with Office 365, but the real cost is consultant time to configure compliance features, failed audit remediation, manual quality event tracking, and the risk of regulatory action. Most companies spend more making SharePoint compliant than they would on a purpose-built eQMS.
Quality events, documents, training, suppliers, and CAPAs are siloed across separate spreadsheets and folders. Comind.work connects everything with traceability across all quality processes.
Being honest
SharePoint comes free with Microsoft 365. Google Drive is free with Workspace. There is no new vendor to evaluate or onboard - the tools are already there.
Every employee already knows how to use Excel, Word, and SharePoint. Zero learning curve for basic document management.
A spreadsheet can track anything. No pre-defined workflows or modules to learn. You design the system exactly how you want it.
Comind.work replaces your SharePoint folders, Excel trackers, and paper forms with a complete eQMS - configured for your processes in 21 days.