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Engineering Firm Enhances Collaboration and Document Management with Robust, Modern Intranet Portal

Optimum develops an Office 365-based Intranet portal to help an engineering firm efficiently manage documents, share content, and improve internal collaboration and communication.

About the Client

Barton Associates is an Industrial Engineering company that provides high-quality engineering solutions throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region. With offices in York, State College, and Pittsburgh, PA, Barton Associates offers a comprehensive approach to construction, renovation, and energy projects, including systems design, commissioning, and sustainable design.

Business Challenges

Barton Associates sought Optimum’s expertise to establish an Office 365 SharePoint-based Intranet portal. The goals were to define SharePoint taxonomy and governance and develop a robust document management platform. 

Their legacy Intranet was outdated, difficult to maintain, and lacked modern collaboration features, leading to poor knowledge sharing and document management. Content updates were restricted to IT admins, and documents were stored in local and shared drives, making them inaccessible and unsearchable for employees.

Optimum’s Involvement

Optimum began by assessing Barton Associates’ legacy Intranet and their document management and collaboration needs. Key steps included:

  • Initial Assessment: Conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the current system and identifying requirements for the new solution.
  • Custom Solution Design: Creating a custom SharePoint-based Intranet that facilitated company-wide and departmental communication, collaboration, and document management.
  • Information Architecture: Defining the company’s information architecture, content structure, and collaboration needs, including a user-friendly interface and branding.
  • Backend Development: Establishing SharePoint taxonomy and developing backend document management and security structures using SharePoint’s Modern Sites, SPFx, and PowerShell programming.
  • Departmental Evaluation: Interviewing departments individually to identify collaboration opportunities and future content management needs.
  • Content Migration: Migrating content and documents from the legacy Intranet and shared folders to SharePoint, ensuring proper metadata and searchability.
  • User Training: Conducting training sessions for departmental content owners and users to ensure seamless adoption of the new system.

Project Outcomes and Benefits

The new Office 365-based Intranet solution delivered numerous benefits:

  • Increased Efficiency: Enhanced company-wide collaboration and communication, leading to improved productivity.
  • Centralized Document Management: Better management and access to content and documents through a centralized platform.
  • Improved Security: Proper security measures and content ownership to protect sensitive information.
  • Enhanced Searchability: Easier access to company knowledge and content, boosting employee efficiency.
  • High ROI: Increased return on investment and adoption of the Office 365 platform.

Optimum’s tailored solution enabled Barton Associates to transform their internal processes, leading to a modern, efficient, and collaborative work environment.

About Optimum: Your Partner in Intranet Solutions

Optimum is a nationally recognized IT consulting firm dedicated to crafting modern, customized, and integrated Intranet and Portal solutions. We prioritize personalized and engaging user experiences to streamline content and document management, facilitate collaboration, and boost employee engagement across all devices.

Specializing in SharePoint Intranet and Extranet Portals, we enhance collaboration and maximize user adoption and ROI of your Office 365 and SharePoint platform with advanced branding, personalized user experiences, and customized integrations.

Reach out today for a complimentary discovery session, and let’s explore the best intranet solution for your needs! 

Contact us: info@optimumcs.com | 713.505.0300 | www.optimumcs.com

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