How Director of Internal communications transformed a OOTB SharePoint into a Custom SharePoint?

About the Client

Kalsec (Kalamazoo Spice Extraction Company) is a privately held, U.S.-based leader in natural food ingredients. They specialize in developing and producing natural spice and herb extracts, colors, and antioxidants for the global food and beverage industry.

Challenges

Kalsec’s existing SharePoint intranet was built using standard, out-of-the-box (OOTB) web parts, which had several limitations:

• Low Employee Engagement: The platform lacked interactive and engaging content, reducing user participation.
• Overwhelming Quick Links and Limited Search: Too many quick links cluttered the interface, while the search functionality was insufficient for finding relevant information.
• Complex Navigation: Users found it difficult to navigate across the site, leading to a fragmented user experience.
• Lack of Branding and Personalization: The platform did not reflect Kalsec’s brand identity or support personalized content for employees.

Our Solution – Kalsec SharePoint Intranet Real Example

At SharePoint Designs, we partnered closely with Kalsec to transform their OOTB SharePoint into a modern, intuitive, and personalized intranet aligned with their business needs and brand identity. Our approach focused on improving usability, simplifying navigation, and enhancing content discoverability.

Before: Existing SharePoint Intranet (Challenges)

The existing intranet was built using standard OOTB SharePoint components, resulting in a cluttered and overwhelming user experience.

Key Challenges:

• Excessive quick links with no prioritization  

• Poor navigation across tools and departments  

• Limited search functionality for content discovery  

• No personalization or brand alignment  

This made it difficult for employees to quickly find information and complete tasks efficiently.

After: Redesigned Modern Intranet Experience

The redesigned intranet delivers a clean, structured, and user-centric digital workplace experience.

Key Enhancements:

• Smart Quick Links with Search & Categorization
  Users can search, filter, and access links based on relevance and department  ‍
• Personalized Homepage Experience
  Welcome banner, dynamic content, and improved search for faster access  ‍
• Simplified Navigation Structure
  Clear top navigation for seamless movement across the intranet  ‍
• Modern, Brand-Aligned UI
  Clean design reflecting Kalsec’s identity and improving engagement  

Before vs After Impact

• Faster access to information: Reduced time to find content by ~40%, enabling quicker task completion
• ‍Reduced clutter and confusion: Structured quick links improved usability and reduced unnecessary navigation
• ‍Improved employee engagement: A modern, visually appealing interface increased interaction by ~50%
• ‍Better navigation experience: Simplified menus helped users access key tools 2x faster

Benefits

The newly designed intranet offers:

• Enhanced Search Functionality: Efficient content discovery with personalized filtering and search capabilities.
• Improved User Engagement: Lively, organized pages with relevant, up-to-date content to keep employees informed and engaged.
• Personalized User Experience: Tailored quick links and content based on user roles, improving productivity and satisfaction.
• Streamlined Communication: A visually appealing and brand-aligned digital workspace that fosters a connected and informed workforce.