5000
Desktop users
1500
Frontline workers
After 40+ years of building their business acquiring and developing real estate assets, Legacy Partners Commercial Inc. changed its name to ‘SteelWave’ in April 2015. While the new name marked a welcome change for the real estate development and management firm based out of San Mateo, CA, the Legacy team, procedures, disciplines, and values that had built the company from the ground up remained in place. To improve the company infrastructure and to reflect the forward-thinking, progressive mindset that Steelwave had developed, Powell and partner 2toLead were brought in to implement a Powell Intranet solution.
2toLead is one of a kind consulting services company with a unique blend of left and rightbrain thinking. They focus on Business Strategy, User Experience, and Technology expertise to help transform organizations. Their approach is centered on working in partnership with you to deliver results.
With offices located around the country and most of their employees out in the field, SteelWave needed to move away from a file server/shared folders system to a cloud network allowing for more convenient connectivity and access.
A digital workplace that kept employees informed and current on company news and updates was something sorely needed, and providing a tool where employees would be motivated to remain engaged and responsive to the organizations initiatives was highly sought after.
Building out an intranet portal that was also visually aesthetic and appealing became a priority for the company as they went through a name change and organizational rebrand.
Aside from improving the social aspects of their company intranet, having a search function to increase efficiency as well as offering a better tool for onboarding new employees were both things that SteelWave desired greatly in their search for an improved internal communications tool.
Challenges
Dispersed workforce: SteelWave had offices around the country with many employees in the field.
Outdated system: They were using a file server/shared folder system that was not meeting their needs.
Lack of centralized information: There was a need for a digital workplace to keep employees informed and updated on company news.
Need for improved internal communications: The company wanted a tool to motivate employees and improve engagement and responsiveness to organizational initiatives.
“Large, international intranet projects pose a challenge as they require consideration of various concerns and stakeholders. With addhucate, our project proceeded smoothly because a small, dedicated core team served as the focal point for all issues, allowing for quick understanding and implementation of the many different aspects.”
Stefanie Hardell-Illgen
Head of Corporate
Marketing and Online
Communications
Carrefour Voyages
Objectives
Move to a cloud network
Keep employees informed
Motivate employee engagement
Improve the social aspects of the intranet
Over time, and after looking at many different intranet solutions, SteelWave settled on implementing a Powell Intranet digital workplace. The company believed that Powell Intranet offered the best value at the most competitive price, and it checked off every specific need that the organization was looking for.
Implementation process
SteelWave’s digital workplace transformation was conducted through a multi-phase approach with the help of both Powell Software and intranet consultant and SharePoint expert, ‘2toLead.’
Although there was some initial prep workthat 2toLead had to assist with, SteelWave had their entire company integrated and set up on the new Powell Intranet within a year from the start of the project.
Results & impact
SteelWave immediately saw the positive effects that their newly deployed Powell Intranet had within the company, and have already begun plans to further develop their digital workplace.
In the outset of deploying the new Powell Intranet, employee adoption was slow. Employees were responsive to the new portal but needed time to grow comfortable and acclimated to the new interface. Over time, employee familiarity with the tool grew along with its usage and effectiveness, and SteelWave utilized the various training resources and materials that Powell Software provided them. SteelWave will continue to encourage employees to engage with the portal and look to their users for feedback and suggestions.
The benefits that SteelWave has seen since implementing the Powell Intranet are substantial:
- SteelWave went from not utilizing SharePoint whatsoever, to housing their entire company infrastructure on SharePoint Online
- Employees in the field and employees working remotely are able to do their jobs more effectively and conveniently
- Communication and awareness regarding company news and events has improved greatly
- There is now a general sense of connectedness from office to office across the country
- Productivity has increased for all users as everyone can now access company resources much easier
These are just a few of the organizational improvements that SteelWave has seen.
“Powell Intranet did not require extensive knowledge of SharePoint or coding and offered excellent services at a great price. The intranet solution is a dynamic, attractive portal that looked alive with personality to keep our employees engaged. The ability to implement and manage the intranet easily using Powell Manager was also something that we were very drawn to.”
Bob Adams
VP of Information Technology, Steelwave
Conclusion
SteelWave’s adoption of Powell Intranet has successfully connected its geographically dispersed workforce and fostered a greater sense of unity across the organization. By moving to a cloud-based system, SteelWave has not only improved document storage and sharing but has also enhanced communication, streamlined operations, and increased productivity. The new intranet has become a vital tool for keeping employees informed, engaged, and connected, effectively bringing teams closer together from all corners of the country.
