Klarinet Solutions

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of IT of Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Klarinet Solutions to accomplish?

• Building Microsoft Teams and migrated Classic SharePoint to Modern SharePoint.
• Professional
• Support

SOLUTION

How did you find Klarinet Solutions?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Klarinet Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Klarinet Solutions were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Involve key stakeholders in the discovery of their modern workplace needs and design a strategy for the best implementation of the cloud tools available. 

• Implement the right security so that users only have access to the right sites, data and content authoring capabilities. 
• Create a light intranet with high admin efficiency (user-friendliness also in the backend, editor interface; task-oriented backend processes; single sign on) 
• Migrate up to 1.2TB’s of data to the new information architecture created within Microsoft Teams and/or SharePoint Online. 
• Tap into Klarinet’s deep bench of resources around the Microsoft 365 software toolset as needed to develop new online apps, workflows, implement security, provide user training, provide admin training, etc.. 

Habitat for Humanity is seeking to implement a scalable data structure for the business that provides employees with access to files while allowing for structured collaboration. Klarinet Solutions will partner with Habitat for Humanity to create the right information architecture within Microsoft Teams along with a light SharePoint Online intranet. Working closely alongside your key stakeholders, our own highly skilled and award-winning professional team will plan, prepare and implement your data and document collaboration structure to meet the specific needs of your organization. In addition, we will mentor your team every step of the way, from planning to post-implementation support and training.

Information architecture workshops:

• Two (1-hour) information architecture (IA) workshops 
• Creation of up to (20) Teams 
• Develop migration plan / data mapping and security model 
• Perform initial migration of content to the new structure (migration up to 1.2 TB’s of data) 
• AvePoint migration tool required and purchased seperately by Customer 
• Client to provide content integrity check - check content 
• Perform “go-live” incremental migration to new information architecture 
• Mitigate any file/Team transfer issues 
• Create 1 site collection, multiple sub-sites 
• Create new intranet hub site (single site collection) with Microsoft Lookbook template 
• Configure SharePoint “home site” and basic configuration of Viva Connections app for Teams 
• Training o Teams training for end users 
• Two (1-hour) training sessions o Teams training for owners 
• Two (1-hour) training sessions

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Professionalism, Skillful, Respectful, Reliable, Delivery on-time.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Klarinet team is very professional and responsive and the project deliver on-time as outline.

What was your primary form of communication with Klarinet Solutions?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Professional, Responsive, Availability, Delivery!

Are there any areas for improvement or something Klarinet Solutions could have done differently?

No. Klarinet Solutions was exceptional to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of technology and business systems for a property management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

We were looking to build out our company intranet and systems for collaboration and communication.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we worked with Klarinet Solutions to scope the project and develop a timeline. During our meetings, we provided documentation about our organizational structure and job functions. Then, they helped build the first iteration of our intranet using Microsoft technology. The software is hosted in the cloud, but the team has continued supporting us from a maintenance standpoint. 

Now, Klarinet Solutions incrementally adds functionality to our intranet as we go. They also provide us with consulting services for new projects and share feedback on our different initiatives. 

What is the team composition?

We work with about five team members from Klarinet Solutions, including a project implementation specialist and technical leads. 

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions? 

We started working with Klarinet Solutions before I joined the company, so I’m unsure how we found them. I think they came through a recommendation.  

How much have you invested with them?

We invested roughly $30,000 in the beginning phases of the project. We also spend about $2,000 monthly on our managed services agreement. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Klarinet Solutions in September 2021, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’re a young company, so we’re just starting to build our clientele. However, since working with Klarinet Solutions, we’ve seen a significant increase in viewership and visitors to our intranet. 

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Klarinet Solutions does a good job of meeting deadlines and proposing accurate timelines. They’re great communicators and proactive project managers; they provide regular status updates and are responsive to our needs. Furthermore, they work diligently to move our projects forward. We use MS Teams and MS Bookings to communicate and schedule regular meetings. They also use Zoho Desk as their help desk tool. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with Klarinet Solutions’ innovative nature. They deliberately keep up with new research and implement best practices for doing business. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything Klarinet Solutions could improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions because Klarinet Solutions welcomes questions. Make sure you meet with them regularly and provide them with the documentation and research they need to succeed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing and communications for a nonprofit human services organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

We wanted to incorporate a brand new intranet system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Klarinet Solutions is helping develop and implement a new intranet system in our organization. We began the partnership with a discussion of opportunities, and they’ve since helped us with an overall project plan, structure, design, and backend layout.

They mainly utilize SharePoint for their remote process.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with a digital workplace consultant, director of business development, and managing partner.

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?

We came across Klarinet Solutions through research.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in August 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve recently just launched the intranet system, and the overall feedback from internal employees has been generally positive.

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Their ability to communicate and stick to the schedule has been excellent. They’re also very responsive, and we typically interact through email and Microsoft Teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with their SharePoint knowledge, expertise, and approach to project management. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they need to improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don’t have any specific advice, except that I’d highly recommend them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of IT at Vividion Therapeutics Inc, a drug discovery company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

We were trying to develop some custom applications for some business processes within SharePoint and drive the adoption of those new applications and processes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Klarinet Solutions helped us design, develop, and implement custom solutions within SharePoint and Power Apps. They provide ongoing support for the apps.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with three people from Klarinet Solutions, including their CEO, a digital workspace consultant, and a managing partner.

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?

We found Klarinet Solutions through a referral.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $40,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2022, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve seen an 88% adoption rate within our company since the apps were launched.

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Klarinet Solutions has performed well in terms of project management. They consistently adhere to the established timeline and budget.

We typically communicate through email and Microsoft Teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Klarinet Solutions delivers the same solutions that bigger companies can without the overhead of a large company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to be clear and honest about what you want out of the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of site operations at a biotech company in San Diego.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

We reached out to Klarinet Solutions for Office 365 environment support, including a review of our security practices.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Klarinet Solutions provides us with three main areas of service. They provide security recommendations for our Office 365 environment, take on customization projects, and provide ongoing support with a monthly service agreement. SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and email are among the services that they help us with. Their work involves some PowerShell scripting.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with a sales account manager and occasionally with one of their developers. Our head of IT has more direct day-to-day contact with Klarinet’s support staff.

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?

Another IT vendor referred Klarinet Solutions to help with some of our Office 365 initiatives.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $15,000–$18,000 with Klarinet Solutions.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in May 2021, and the arrangement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We implement their solutions internally, making them available across our company.

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Under our agreement with them, we get a set number of hours to use for any projects or help that we need. If they believe the project will exceed those hours, they give us a scope of work with pricing and schedules. We’re actually underutilizing them somewhat because of where we are as a company, but I’m sure we’ll be engaging with them more soon. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their Office 365 environment specialization sets them apart from competitors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They have a couple of teammates that we really like to work with, and it’s sometimes hard to schedule time with those specific people. However, that hasn’t created any issues with getting projects done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a general contractor in Chicago and Texas. I specifically handle hiring, recruiting, training, and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

Our goal was to develop an internal communication website — an Intranet through Microsoft SharePoint. This would establish a platform for all of our employees to feel connected to the information available to them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided an intranet site structure layout through Excel that encompassed everything we needed. Klarinet Solutions designed and developed the intranet through Microsoft 365.

The site has 4–5 web pages, each with five subpages including a calendar tool, events, news feeds, social media platforms, staff directories, and contacts. There’s also the ability to upload different company videos.

We currently have a monthly maintenance program set with them so they can help with further development and technical issues.

What is the team composition?

We work mostly with Matt (Director of solution Delivery and Support), but also Brian (Director of Business Development).

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?

I found them online while we were working with another vendor on the same project. Klarinet offered better knowledge, ease of partnership, and communication.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $25,000 on the site.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the site from April–December 2021, and we still have a managed services contract, though we’re not as close as before.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The site engages our current team members, and we’ve received lots of positive feedback.

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate well. There’ve probably been times when we could have communicated better or more frequently to resolve issues, but they were very responsive through email and Zoom calls, though not as responsive through their chat system or phone calls. There was only one person working specifically on our project.

Microsoft teams works well for their team, but we excel with face-to-face communication or phone calls. That’s where our preferences are different.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very knowledgeable about building SharePoint sites and good at teaching me how to fix and edit them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think their urgency on getting certain tasks done on time has always been there. When we had an issue and wanted it resolved, they didn’t always have an answer. It was frustrating, as the customer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set the urgency high going into working with them and establish a best mode of communication so that it works going forward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the business development manager at a conglomerate that owns several companies in physical commodity trading. We’re located in Manhattan, New York, and I also provide operational support to the C level at the headquarters.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

Everyone had gone hybrid or was working remotely due to the pandemic. We wanted to create an intranet for the company to improve connectivity and find a solution for our employees worldwide.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Klarinet Solutions provided us with the services we needed. We started the project with half a payment, and the last payment was due after completing the project. We used Microsoft SharePoint from Office 365.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about four people from their team. I initially discussed with the director of business development, who scaled out the project. Then, we consulted with more operational people, including people dedicated to building the intranet and its manager.

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?

My local IT provider recommended them to me. He organized a call with them; we discussed the project, received the quote, and accepted it.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $8,000 on the project.

What is the status of the engagement?

We started our partnership in July 2021, and it ended in October 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

It was pretty tangible — we just created the intranet, and the project results proved themselves. Overall, they had excellent customer service.

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well. Klarinet Solutions tracked the project promptly and followed up constantly. The team was excellent at meeting the set deadlines. They used an Office 365 app and marked the completion; we could see the project’s progress through the app.

We used emails, phone calls, and recurring Teams calls for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had very competitive pricing and outstanding quality of service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn't have any complaints regarding their work.

Any advice for potential customers?

Anyone looking for services in this area needs to stay open, flexible, and meet someone agile.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business systems analyst of a biopharmaceutical company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

We needed someone to help us digitize and automate our processes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Klarinet Solutions helps me co-create solutions to digitize a lot of our manual processes, moving from paper and email to a more automated operation. We mainly work with the program SharePoint and they’ve been instrumental in helping me navigate the different permissions from Microsoft, and guide me in figuring out how to best use the software in different environments.

We use Microsoft’s Power Automate and Power App for this project. Power App is what creates the UI while Power Automate creates the flow of the operations such as conditions and notifications.

Moreover, they’re providing us with maintenance. I was hired to basically help my company transition to the newer version of the system, so Klarinet has been working with me for a lot of the cleanup.

What is the team composition?

I work with Daniel (Managing Partner & Lead Consultant), Michelle (Digital Workplace Consultant), and Jessica (Project Manager).

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?

My company was already working with Klarinet Solutions when I came onboard. The person before me didn’t know how to utilize their team, but I knew I could do a lot with them when we started the engagement.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve probably spent under $50,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

Klarinet Solution’s ongoing partnership with the company started in November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Before we developed the SharePoint app, there were at least three departments in my company that were resistant to using it, so it was difficult for them to do collaborative work. However, once we launched the app in one group, we didn’t even have to approach the others because they all came to us wanting to use it. 

The app has also been especially successful now that everybody is working from home, so we’re starting to see a good collaboration between all departments, and they’re all using SharePoint like they’re supposed to.

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great from a project management standpoint because they never go over the budget and they’re always on schedule — we’ve never had any issues with the deliverables.

We mostly communicate through email and Microsoft Teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve worked with other consultants and I like the fact that Klarinet Solutions feels like a real part of my team. The meetings go really well because they respect each other’s ideas, and conversations are comfortable and flowing so we stay on task consistently.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be nice if they hired more people because they definitely need it, now that they’re getting more popular.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would just say to be as detailed as possible about their needs and assign an expert to oversee the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the project manager for Open Manufacturing Platform. We have a Linux GDF foundation. We transfer data to the cloud.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

We needed someone to provide us with a server.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided the requirements for our specific setup. Klarinet set up Microsoft Teams, including acquiring the necessary licenses. 

They provide the server, host the application, and handle the configuration and help desk. The team is also currently researching how to implement some automation for us.

What is the team composition?

We interact primarily with the account manager.

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?

Another company we work with introduced us to Klarinet when we explained what we were looking for in a provider.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $16,750. We paid $8,000 and there is an ongoing $1,750per month fee. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around June 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Klarinet listened carefully to the requirements and have shown their expertise on Microsoft Teams and SharePoint. They’ve made suggestions, which have been implemented. Their support ticket system works very well, and they respond quickly. We’re happy with their performance.

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly meetings to discuss any issues, and what we need the platform to do. We have conference calls, using Microsoft Teams. We also use their service request tool. They’re very responsive. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Klarinet understands our needs well. I like that they set up regular meetings from the start to stay connected, and to ensure customer satisfaction. The account manager is easy to work with — positive and approachable. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they need to just continue what they are doing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have clear requirements and document everything to avoid misunderstandings.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CIO at Dudek. We’re an environmental services and engineering firm headquartered in Southern California. We have about 600 employees between our 17 offices across the US.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?

At the time, we’d deployed SharePoint for our company-wide intranet but needed to overhaul it. Klarinet Solutions assisted us in implementing more modern features.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

It was a SharePoint modernization project, converting from Classic SharePoint to Modern SharePoint. Klarinet Solutions was responsible for inventorying all of our sites and reporting back on any issues that we might potentially have during conversion.

From there, they led the testing and implementation. One key change was a new tool that allowed us to gain insights into our intranet usage. We could then understand what users were searching for so that we could optimize our site toward the content that people accessed most frequently. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with two SharePoint consultants. One handled the technical testing and planning while the other did the user analytics.

How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?

I reached out via a peer network in San Diego asking for recommendations for SharePoint consultants. After reviewing a few companies, I determined that Klarinet Solutions was the best fit. They were within our price range and had delivered similar projects to other clients.

How much have you invested with them?

Our annual fee is $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our initial project lasted from May–July 2019, however, we do have an ongoing relationship with them. As part of our engagement, we’ve signed up for a one-year term for general SharePoint consulting that includes a number of consulting hours.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Since they’ve completed the intranet and set up our user analytics, we’ve measured their performance based on how well they respond to our consulting requests. Everything they do is put through a ticketing system, whether that’s troubleshooting or a feature request. I review how long it takes them to respond to and complete our requests and have been satisfied with their work.

How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well. Our first project spanned several months and involved several departments on our end. Once that was sorted, Klarinet Solutions has continued to lead meetings on a regular basis. They communicate through email and the ticketing system.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Unlike past partners I’ve worked with, Klarinet Solutions consists of top-tier SharePoint consultants. They don’t try to pass us off to low-level resources who then escalate situations when they can’t figure something out. They take us straight to their experts, which has been impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I guess both sides could be more proactive about collaborating. Other than that, they’re exactly what we need for SharePoint. 

The team is now rolling in other Microsoft services into their offering, though we haven’t really put them to the test. I’m looking forward to seeing if they can really be a one-stop-shop for our Microsoft needs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We haven’t fully utilized their resources, so I’ll just stick to SharePoint. If you’re able to define a wider, more complete roadmap of your project, Klarinet Solutions can really let loose in assisting you. They seem to have a high level of expertise.