SharePoint Intranet Redesign Focused on Functionality, Performance, and Usability Improvement

Client

The Client is a leading Gulf perfume manufacturer.

Challenge

The Client’s legacy intranet, based on SharePoint Server 2013, didn’t meet the Client’s needs in terms of performance, functionality, and usability. In particular:

• It took around 5 seconds for a page to load.
• Document management functionality, including real-time collaboration on documents, was missing.
• Only the homepage was in Arabic and English, while the Client needed all the intranet pages to be available in both languages.
• There was no mobile-responsive design.

Solution

ScienceSoft, an experienced SharePoint intranet developer, was commissioned to redesign the intranet. Our SharePoint team enhanced the intranet’s functionality, performance, and usability by implementing the following:

Functionality

• Document management features, including document approval workflows.
• Office Online Server that enables the Client’s employees view and edit SharePoint intranet documents on desktops and mobile devices using a web browser.
• A company knowledge base consisting of an employee handbook and a labor culture handbook.
• 25 intranet pages for each company department with relevant permissions.
• Bilingualism (Arabic and English) throughout the intranet.
• Custom web parts, including quick links that provided easy access to other corporate software (e.g., HR, help desk, employee time tracking) and social networks.

Performance

• Changes in the search topology.
• Division of the current database into two parts – the first part contained user profiles and the second one – the rest of the intranet’s content.

Usability

• Intranet UI revamp to make it look similar to the SharePoint modern experience.
• A custom master page, custom templates for the home page, department pages, and user profile pages.
• Two color themes (light and dark).
• Full mobile responsiveness that enabled the intranet’s web parts to automatically adjust to different screen sizes of mobile devices.

Results

The Client received a feature-rich, high-performing (the page loading time is less than a second), and user-friendly intranet. The intranet helped streamline document management and improve employee productivity and engagement.

Technologies and Tools

SharePoint, Office Online Server.