HJ Sims - Intranet Implementation

HJ Sims Partners with Synergy to Build a Modern Intranet for a Connected Workforce

As one of America's pioneering financial services firms, HJ Sims is committed to helping individuals and organizations meet the financial challenges of today and tomorrow.

OVERVIEW:

After deciding that their legacy on-premises intranet solution was outdated and rarely used, HJ Sims set out to find a new intranet solution that would replace their old tool. To improve their company’s internal communication and support their clients with the best services possible, HJ Sims needed a functional, branded intranet solution that would boost internal collaboration. 

Goals / Challenges:

HJ Sims, a pioneering financial services firm, recognized that its legacy on-premises intranet had become outdated and underutilized. As the firm grew, so did the need for a centralized, intuitive platform to manage internal communication and support strategic initiatives. The existing intranet no longer reflected the company’s digital ambitions or the needs of a hybrid workforce.

To address this, HJ Sims set out to modernize their intranet experience—prioritizing accessibility, flexibility, and employee engagement. The goal was not just to replace a platform, but to reimagine how employees collaborate, access resources, and connect with one another.

Key goals included:

• Creating a user-friendly, centralized portal for managing strategic initiatives

• Ensuring native integration with Microsoft 365 for seamless functionality

• Delivering a mobile-responsive digital workplace accessible anytime, anywhere

• Enhancing the employee experience with personalized profiles and peer-to-peer communication tools

Solution/Approach:

To deliver on these objectives, Synergy recommended Powell, a low-code/no-code intranet platform that offered both speed of implementation and long-term flexibility. This solution enabled the firm to move away from custom development and instead deploy a scalable, branded intranet that was easy to manage and engaging for employees.

With Powell Manager, Synergy created a responsive, visually appealing intranet tailored to HJ Sims’ needs. The platform integrated seamlessly with Microsoft 365, allowing users to access tools and content directly from their desktops or mobile devices. The transition was smooth and efficient, enabling rapid rollout without major disruption.

Synergy also provided guidance on governance, training, and content strategy—ensuring HJ Sims had full control over the evolution of its digital workplace.

Key solution components included:

• A low-code/no-code platform for fast, flexible deployment

• A branded and intuitive interface that reflected HJ Sims’ identity

• Seamless Microsoft 365 integration to enhance daily productivity

• Use of Powell Manager for ongoing site template management and adaptability

“Powell is a powerful solution that enables us to easily enhance and upgrade our clients’ portals. In a couple of clicks, we can easily update and redeploy a site or enhance existing capabilities with additional features to meet new needs. Delivery is simplified and as consultants, we can focus on works that bring more value to our customers like information architecture, governance, adoption plans and trainings."

— Jason Blair, Senior Architect at Synergy

The Results:

The new intranet immediately elevated internal collaboration and employee engagement at HJ Sims. The platform has become a daily destination for employees—delivering relevant information, boosting onboarding effectiveness, and reducing reliance on IT for updates and training materials.

Tangible outcomes include:

• Company-wide adoption of the new intranet across all departments

• An increase in IT knowledge base visits—from just 1–2 per month to over 260 monthly visits

• A more streamlined onboarding process, with accessible training and resources

• A noticeable increase in employee collaboration, supported by peer-driven content and communication tools

What began as a technical upgrade quickly became a cultural shift. With Synergy’s support, HJ Sims now has a digital workplace that empowers teams, enhances communication, and evolves with their business.

INDUSTRY	GEOGRAPHY	CONSULTING	software
Financial Services	USA	Workflow Powell	SharePoint Nintex

Ready to Transform Your Digital Workplace?

At Synergy, we help financial services firms like HJ Sims build digital workplaces that scale with their teams and strengthen collaboration. Whether you’re upgrading from a legacy system or just beginning your transformation journey, we’ll help you design an intranet that empowers your people and simplifies your operations.

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