Processes and Productivity How RICK Engineering created an intranet that broke down silos and unified 400+ employees RICK Engineering transformed its internal operations with a ThoughtFarmer intranet that connects teams across 11 locations, and streamlines communications and business processes, all while improving employee engagement and productivity. 7 minute read Table of contents You might also like… Intranet use cases Learn about effective intranet use cases ThoughtFarmer examples See our LookBook intranet examples Navigate intranet vendors See how G2 ranks industry competitors ThoughtFarmer hosted a live case study webinar that featured RICK’s story – how a multidisciplinary engineering firm solved widespread organizational challenges by launching a centralized intranet. If you’re evaluating intranet solutions or struggling with disconnected teams, this is a must-watch or you can read the summary below. The problem: RICK was a growing company without a unified way to communicate, collaborate, or work efficiently When Jennifer Shenefield joined RICK Engineering as Communications Manager, she inherited a fast-growing organization with 400+ employees spread across 11 locations in the Western U.S. with no centralized communication system. RICK’s workplace challenges: Teams and departments were siloed No central source of truth Outdated forms and workflows Deskless workers were disconnected The solution: a new intranet to drive digital transformation across the entire organization RICK turned to ThoughtFarmer’s intranet platform to unify teams, simplify access to information, and modernize internal processes. The result was the RICK Hub, a fully customized intranet tailored to the firm’s complex structure and diverse workflows. RICK’s new intranet became the catalyst for improving communication, collaboration, and processes across every department. How a ThoughtFarmer intranet solved RICK’s challenges Easy-to-use interface and powerful search functionality How they did it: Intuitive design accessible to all skill levels Advanced search for quick information retrieval Easy navigation for documents, forms, and contacts Why it helped: Eliminated time spent searching files and emails Reduced frustration in daily work Improved efficiency in project execution Streamlined forms and business processes How they did it: Leveraged ThoughtFarmer’s FormFlow feature Converted paper-based processes to electronic systems Nearly 200 forms now available on RICK Hub Why it helped: Drastically increased efficiency for users and staff Centralized data viewing and processing Eliminated manual data entry and searching time Centralized comms for company-wide initiatives How they did it: Central space for company-wide initiative communication Comprehensive resource hub for major rollouts Integrated feedback and engagement tools Why it helped: Successfully launched RICK 75 Strategic Plan Streamlined HR Employee Handbook refresh Facilitated seamless Brand Refresh implementation Mobile phone accessibility for the deskless workforce How they did it: ThoughtFarmer native mobile app for tablets/phones Accessible from anywhere for field staff New employees set up with app during onboarding Why it helped: Vastly improved field staff access to vital information Potential to save over one week in project timelines If they are out with a client at a meeting, and need to pull up a resource/project example, to pull up files is very hard. Much easier to show at a meeting eg. sales use case – at a lunch meeting Enhanced employee connection and culture How they did it: Interactive People Directory with photos Profile pictures for all employees including new hires @mention functionality for colleague interaction Why it helped: Better understanding of colleagues’ positions and expertise Enhanced connection across 11 offices and disciplines Employees feel more prepared for interactions Spread across multiple offices. Improved employee onboarding How they did it: RICK Hub was integrated into their onboarding process Every new employee receives access on day one Training provided on platform navigation Why it helped: Easy access to onboarding materials and resources Converting paper to online forms saved hours of time, with no typos Specifically praised by new employees Use it as a recruiting tool too! New employees love it Results: from silos to success in 6 months Within half a year of launching their intranet, RICK saw measurable impact across the organization. Even long-time skeptics quickly became champions after using the platform. MetricOutcomeLogins12,000+ unique logins in first 6 monthsMobile adoption100+ field staff regularly use the mobile appCommunications15+ news stories published monthlyEfficiency gains40+ hours saved just on one example of a repetitive taskEmployee feedbackHighly positive from new hires and 40-year veterans alike We have a huge time savings on repetitive tasks. So, anything related to forms, anything related to data gathering, finding resources, we’ve created digital processes which has had a huge time savings globally across the entire company,” Jennifer noted. What RICK’s employees say about their new ThoughtFarmer intranet: “Things are more organized, and forms, documents, and certain information regarding company policies is much easier to locate.” “I feel like we are all working in one location. I can learn about people who work in different locations just by going to their profile. It gives me encouragement and inspiration to know I work with such professionals.” “The news page is great to keep up with happenings across the company. I’ve also used the forms page often.” “I love seeing employees giving shout-outs to each other and posting pictures! It’s such a positive way to stay connected, especially with employees in other offices that we don’t get to see often.” How RICK drove intranet adoption and engagement Jennifer’s team didn’t just launch an intranet—they created a movement within the company. Engagement strategies that worked Pre-launch sneak peeks and video contest to build hype Hollywood-themed launch parties across all offices Gamified events, like the annual “Deck the Halls” decorating contest Regular training sessions and a “Starter Tips” space for new users Feedback loops with ongoing surveys to improve usability Content ownership model Departmental champions manage local spaces Staff submit stories, with comms team providing editorial oversight Forums and galleries open to all employees for social sharing Final takeaway: It’s never too late for change RICK Engineering was nearly 70 years old before implementing its first modern intranet. Within three years, the company radically improved how it connects, communicates, and collaborates, while maintaining its culture and scaling its operations. Advice for companies looking to build a successful intranet Get the skeptics involved early Involve a core committee to drive the project forward Show how it solves their pain points Make the launch fun and engaging ‘Ease of use’ wins people over Continuously find new use cases to make this a valuable tool It’s never too late for change! Learn more about ThoughtFarmer’s Intranet Solutions for Engineering firms. See ThoughtFarmer in action Book a demo with our industry experts to find out how ThoughtFarmer can transform the way you work. Book a demo FAQs about RICK’s intranet transformation How did RICK get buy-in from leadership? Jennifer pitched the intranet directly to the CEO with a clear plan and measurable benefits. She asked him to pick a focus group, and then she won every one of them over by demonstrating how the ThoughtFarmer platform solved real problems and was so easy to use. What made adoption successful across so many offices? Two things: ease of use and pre-launch excitement. RICK held themed office parties, sneak peeks, and even a video contest to build buzz. On launch day, everyone was already eager to try it. Check out this webinar recording with more examples on how to create an intranet employees love and use. How did they engage longtime employees who were hesitant? Jennifer prioritized simplicity and valuable use cases. Even 40-year veterans ended up using and loving the platform. Training libraries, “starter tips,” and peer support from Hub Champions helped ease the learning curve. How did the intranet support RICK’s mobile and deskless workforce? ThoughtFarmer’s mobile app gave surveyors and field workers instant access to forms, codes, and company updates – no laptop required. The mobile-first strategy drastically improved communication across the firm. Want to learn more? Check out RICK’s success story. Success story Jennifer breaks down RICK's intranet journey and the impact it's made. 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