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Intranet Management

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
RICK Engineering intranet

This case study explores 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-read.

Watch the full video case study

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  • Outdated forms and workflows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. 

Intranet use across departments

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.

MetricOutcome
Logins12,000+ unique logins in first 6 months
Mobile adoption100+ field staff regularly use the mobile app
Communications15+ news stories published monthly
Efficiency gains40+ hours saved just on one example of a repetitive task
Employee 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.

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.

Webinar Case Study

Jennifer breaks down RICK's intranet journey and the impact it's made.

Watch video
Creating an intranet that breaks down silos