Often I get the question when you save a file in OneDrive or in SharePoint, this is a common question from customers and colleagues when doing a migration. This is mainly because you can use both platforms to store files and collaborate. Yet there are major differences in the platforms which may affect the way you work significantly.

Save files to OneDrive for business

OneDrive for Business is an application that allows to save files locally and in the Cloud. From OneDrive for Business it is possible to synchronize files across multiple devices and share those files with others.
But when do I put the files in OneDrive for business and when do I store it in SharePoint Online.
Below you find a number of reasons when you use OneDrive:

• If you do not plan to share them with others.
• A small group of people working on files.

When you work on files that are not directly related to a project and are only important for you but you want the ease to share with others. Then you can make the best use of OneDrive.

Save files to a SharePoint team or project site library

A SharePoint site is a place where users can collaborate on files and ideas. The team site is set up so that users of the team site can communicate with each other. In addition, a team site is more like workflows wiki’s and the task functionality so that the team can work better together.

• You want to place a file on the team site when it is important for the team.
• If you want to have more influence on the rights which are distributed.
• If you want to use Workflows for approving documents and other files
• If you expect that all related files of the project are in the team site.
• If you want to use extended metadata and this will trigger a checkin and check out

A Project site is designed so here are the key components to run a project.
• You want to place a file on the project as it is important for the project.
• If you want to have more influence on the rights which are distributed.
• If you want to create tasks for team members which have linked a document.
• If you expect that all related files of the project are in the team site.
• If you want to use extended metadata and this will trigger a check in and check out
• If you want a place where you can run your basic project management and have features like tasks and timeline at your disposal.

In some cases, you can make the best use of Office Groups. The Groups functionality includes a OneDrive for business that focuses on a small set of people. Groups is actually a SharePoint team site with the functionality of OneDrive for Business and SharePoint library. Where you have a calendar, email address and OneDrive will also now added Yammer. In the modern teamsite the Group functions are also offered in a team site.