Case Study - Optimizing Corporate Communication through Customized SharePoint Solutions

Challenge

At the County of Riverside Department of Public Social Services, it became evident that the organization's existing communication methods were not sufficient. Although SharePoint was already in use, its out-of-the-box features could not meet the specific requirements for streamlined and effective internal communication. Teams were using a mix of email, instant messaging, and even physical memos to fill the gaps, leading to inefficiencies and lapses in critical communication.

Decision to Customize SharePoint

Recognizing the limitations, the leadership decided that a more tailored SharePoint experience was the solution. Since SharePoint was already familiar to employees and integrated with other enterprise systems, it made sense to build upon it rather than start anew with another platform.

Customizing SharePoint for Communication

We set out to reconfigure and customize SharePoint to create a unified and efficient communication platform. This included the introduction of custom news boards for organization-wide announcements, an integrated calendar for transparent scheduling, and personalized dashboards that displayed critical metrics and updates at a glance. SharePoint lists were optimized to manage tasks and priorities, and document libraries were structured for better file management and sharing.

Seamless Transition

One of our key considerations was ensuring the custom changes integrated seamlessly with the existing SharePoint environment. This required rigorous testing and a phased rollout, but it meant that employees did not have to relearn an entirely new system or change their daily workflows dramatically.

The Impact

With the upgraded SharePoint system, teams found it much easier to communicate and collaborate. The custom news boards became a go-to for essential updates, and the integrated calendar eliminated scheduling conflicts. The personalized dashboards helped employees stay focused and aware of critical updates.

What we did