SharePoint Consultants & Office 365 Solutions
Klarinet Solutions is an award-winning digital workplace and SharePoint consultant based in San Diego, California. We spearhead and support modern workplace projects and migrations through the use of SharePoint, Office 365, Teams and other supporting technologies, creating intranet solutions that allow employees to work smarter and faster.
We believe when people find purpose in their work and feel connected to their organizations, they produce greater results and lead more fulfilled lives. Our mission is to empower organizations to deliver a clear vision and connect employees to their work, company and community. We accomplish this by investing in customer relationships, getting to the root of digital workplace problems and designing intranet solutions that work for the organization and its users.
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Mechanics Bank
Mechanics Bank provides personal banking, business banking, trust, estate, brokerage, and wealth management services throughout California. As a growing community bank, Mechanics Bank – continues the legacy of commitment based on building lasting relationships, driving regional economic growth, and exceeding client’s expectations every day.
With their recent merger with Rabobank NA, Mechanics Bank needed to take their digital workplace to the next level by uniting both organizations, creating a new company identity, and improving their business operations.
Mechanics Bank and Rabobank NA had two existing 2013 SharePoint intranets however, with the merger fast approaching they needed a new portal for their newly formed bank. Bringing the two organizations together as a single company, brand and identity was important to the executive leadership and Mechanics wanted to use a revamped Intranet portal as a way for users to find new team members, drive new important company messages and centralize their collaboration efforts that best leveraged the Microsoft Modern Digital Workplace tools.
They sought to elevate their digital workplace by leveraging a consolidated Valo intranet, new information architecture/site map, and a company-wide branded experience.
In working with Mechanics Bank, it was clear that they had a lot of great ideas and goals which could be solved by using the Microsoft collaboration platform combined with Valo’s Intranet in a box solution that sits on top of SharePoint and Teams Online. Klarinet’s team was able to deploy a successful Valo Modern intranet solution within 45-days.
We were able to provide a Valo Intranet deployment, custom deployment, strategy, and ongoing managed consulting services to address Mechanics immediate needs but also future needs as the software products continue to evolve.
Within our agreement, we also grant an alert system and other business needed applications. For example, we recently created (1) a Coronavirus Reference Center – COVID-19 template for Mechanics executives to provide real-time tools for their employees and (2) a Valo People Finder which allows users to quickly find coworkers using various search fields.
We created various sites with their own unique site collection settings, including one site for each department of the organization. However, one of the main challenges was also consolidating sites for legacy items; therefore, we reached out to a third party to support us in this project and make a unique site collection. In working with each main department, we determined specific taxonomy, design, structure, permission, and migration to customize the sites’ functionality to the department’s liking.
Separate site collections are common for modern intranets that rely on a flat architecture.It allows an organization to scale their digital workplace without any major restructuring.The benefits of flat include increased flexibility, simplified site management, and simplified permission management. In addition, we created a social hub which all user had access to connect and contribute. The hub became a one-stop-shop for users to read news, get updates, or navigate to any site. It also provided a backbone for the intranet where associated sites inherited themes and functionality from the hub to create a consistent look and feel.
Using Valo's capabilities, we configured web parts to help Mechanics' intranet users leverage the most relevant information and tools as quickly as possible. We focused on configuring and deploying web parts to help users navigate and complete tasks in an efficient manner. We also trained admin of Mechanics to customize these templates and add new features with formal and ongoing Valo training. The "Content Owner" and "Valo Admin Knowlege Transfer" trainings allow authors and executives to have authorization and control over the type of content displayed on their sites.
Klarinet’s team sought to create a branded identity on the new intranet. We met with the organization to determine intranet requirements and applied specific characteristics to match their ideal branding strategy. For example, we provided a customized theme that aims to remind users of their organizational values, purpose, and mission.
Dexcom Inc.
Dexcom, Inc. is a company that develops, manufactures, and distributes continuous glucose monitoring systems for diabetes management. It operates internationally with headquarters in San Diego, California, United States. The driving force behind the new intranet project was the need for improved employee communication that connected all employees across the globe.
Dexcom is a rapidly growing company which recently opened new offices outside the US with numerous remote employees. With all that combined they had a critical need to improve both employee communications and employee productivity to foster
rapid growth.
Dexcom partnered with Klarinet Solutions, Valo Partner of the Year for 2017, for the implementation of the ready-to-go intranet solution. Dexcom sought out a local partner to deliver the Valo Intranet because of the rapid turnaround required for the engagement. Klarinet has a long track record of successful intranet implementation with world-class customer satisfaction ratings.
Klarinet delivered Valo, a turn-key intranet solution that allows for a unified messaging channel between employee communications and all employees, regardless of their location or device. Klarinet provided a well-structured and straightforward engagement that positioned Dexcom to go-live on the new intranet within 30 days of the kick-off call. Since Dexcom’s headquarters are in San Diego, it was easy for Klarinet to setup requirements gathering workshops on-site with the client. This process streamlined the engagement and helped accelerate the process, while at the same time providing critical stakeholders with training on the intranet solution.
Dexcom, with assistance from Klarinet, gathered employee user experience metrics both before and after launching the new intranet.
Benefits
- Dexcom received a great response from employees
- 25% reduction to complete everyday tasks on the new intranet
- 23% reduction in the number of clicks to complete the employee task
- 305% overall improvement in employee satisfaction
- Significant with easy-to-follow layout and design
- Documents and Tutorial easy to find
- Intranet works on mobile devices
- Employees can quickly access their other Office 365 apps on mobile devices
Customer Testimonial
“It’s was so refreshing to have a project engagement be so simple, so structured, and insightful. Klarinet Solutions delivered a well-organized and structured plan from day 1 of the project. Klarinet Solutions engaged our Dexcom Marketing and Employee Communications Teams and walked them through the information architecture planning, Valo branding options, and delivered a clear delivery plan. Klarinet Solutions even provided our Dexcom Intranet Project Team a Valo Workspace to use during the project to organize the project deliverables. The Dexcom team loved this part of the project because it demonstrated the value of Valo during the implementation. Klarinet Solutions made the entire Valo Intranet implementation convenient for our internal Dexcom teams. Valo Intranet and their certified partner, Klarinet Solutions, were the key to a quick return-on-investment for Dexcom.”
“Klarinet Solutions made the entire Valo Intranet implementation convenient for our internal Dexcom teams. Valo Intranet and their certified partner, Klarinet Solutions, were the key to a quick return-on-investment for Dexcom.”
“Employees now have any time, and any device access to all their work resources from intranet. It’s just easy and simple and that’s what resonates with our employees.”
- Chad Johnston, Sr. SharePoint Administrator, Dexcom
Artiva Biotherapeutics
Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. focuses on developing and commercializing off-the-shelf cell therapies for patients with hematologic malignancies or solid tumors. As a growing company looking to expand, Artiva wanted to take their digital workplace to the next level to support the scaling of business operations and improve job efficiencies.
Artiva had an existing Office 365 tenant with some basic file structure in leveraging SharePoint Online. The environment had less than 10 total users, including international external users. Their intranet comprised of one site collection with multiple folders for each department, and the primary purpose of the digital workplace was for clinical development.
Their project objectives was to elevate their digital workplace by leveraging collaboration tools, smarter information architecture, and a branded experience. This includes:
1. Implement a Modern Intranet solution leveraging SharePoint online where end users can add and maintain authorized sections without requiring an underlying knowledge of SP Online.
2. Improve collaboration by utilizing tools that promote easy file sharing and communication
3. Implement the right permission structure to enforce the correct access for internal employees and partners
4. Implement a scalable digital workplace solution that gains adoption and can be easily updated over time by key stakeholders and employees
5. Focus on a compelling design that represents Artiva and fosters user adoption
6. Ability for users to access relevant content quickly as Artiva users are on the go and extremely busy
Klarinet’s team determined that the best approach was to deploy a SharePoint Modern out-of-the-box solution. We used an open-source solution and deployed a Pnp Starter kit. Our solution focused on these larger issues:
Organizing Info Architecture
We created 10+ sites with their own unique site collection settings, including one site for each department of the organization. Working with each department, we determined specific taxonomy, design, structure, permission, and migration to customize the sites’ functionality to the department’s liking.
Separate site collections are common for modern intranets that rely on a flat architecture. It allows an organization to scale their digital workplace without any major restructuring. The benefits of flat include increased flexibility, simplified site management, and simplified permission management.
PnP “Patterns and Practices” Templates
These templates provide support and a foundation for provisioning elements on different sites on SharePoint online. Using PnP templates, we configured web parts which would help Artiva’s intranet users to acquire the most relevant information as quickly as possible. We focused on configuring and deploying web parts that would help users navigate and complete tasks in an efficient manner. In addition, we trained admin of Artiva to customize these templates and add new features without a formal training of SP Online. This allows authors to have authorization and control over the type of content displayed on their sites.
Branding and Design
With any kind of workplace, you want to create a sense of community, culture, and feeling of familiarity for your employees. Building a visual identity in your digital workplace is not something to overlook. It can increase adoption, unite users to the organizational culture, and create a sense of “home” online.
Klarinet’s team sought to create a branded identity on the new intranet. We met with the organization to determine color requirements and applied a color scheme to match Artiva’s branding. With a customized theme, users are reminded of organizational values and purpose even when they are working remotely and are welcomed to a tremendous user experience.
JAMS - Classic to Modern SharePoint
As one of Klarinet’s first Valo clients, we proudly present JAMS as our first Valo Classic to Modern case study. JAMS is a well-known organization in the Alternative Dispute Resolution industry. Founded in 1979, JAMS is the world’s largest private alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider. Their panel includes more than 400 retired state and federal court judges and attorneys with proven track records and extensive practice area and industry expertise. JAMS clients are supported by more than 800 associates who oversee an average of 18,000 cases annually, ranging from two-party personal injury mediations to complex, multi-party, multimillion-dollar arbitrations in the United States and other jurisdictions worldwide.
For the past several years, JAMS IT and Internal Communications teams have been satisfied with their SharePoint Classic Valo Intranet, which Klarinet delivered in 2017. However, recently JAMS expressed an interest in the modern SharePoint capabilities. They had two primary objectives: (1) to find a more engaging way to display Company News to their team; and (2) to provide an intranet which is more employee-focused.
The initial modern SharePoint discussion revolved around streamlining the content authoring experience as well as improving the visual aesthetic of corporate news. Klarinet explained the many benefits of switching to Modern. Some of these modern features include:
1. Streamlined SharePoint Content Creation – Valo Modern provides a guided content creation experience, not just for News and Events but also Pages, Polls, and Important Messages, and much more.
2. Employee Spotlight – The ability to highlight employees using a customized Power App, which showcases employees for their cooperation, effort, and resilience on the Intranet home page.
3. People Finder – An employee search on the home page, which allows a user to quickly find colleagues. The Valo People Directory provides advanced search capabilities allowing users to find colleagues based on job title, office location, department, and other relevant information.
As a very culture-driven organization, executive leadership wanted to find more ways to engage with their team, recognize their efforts, and bring all employees together. After reviewing the advanced intranet capabilities and supplying an overview of Valo Modern Intranet, JAMS executives decided to embark on the journey to modernize their digital workplace.
The Klarinet team conducted an onsite requirement gathering workshop to learn exactly what their vision was for the new intranet. From the workshop, Klarinet was able to gather the information required to bring their vision to life by designing a new modern intranet and information architecture leveraging the Valo deployment toolset. Klarinet also worked closely with their Internal Communication and IT to develop some Power Apps , which boost employee engagement. These include apps such as People Directory, Employee Spotlight, and Employee Anniversary.
The Klarinet team also provided site administrator and content author trainings to empower JAMS IT and Internal Communications on how to best use the Valo features and tools.
Klarinet provides ongoing managed services consisting of world-class 24/7 expert support for Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint, content migration services, and Velocity site metrics.
After project delivery, JAMmer Hub is indeed the hub of their modern digital workplace. They have seen a 200% increase in page views and visits in the first month post-go-live. JAMS associates are able to easily access corporate news, information, and tools in a creative and engaging way. The JAMS IT and Internal Communications team provided a delivered platform that unifies corporate culture, increases productivity and teamwork across the organization.
Customer Testimonial
"Klarinet was very flexible and responded quickly with realistic options. We received much feedback from associates indicating the new JAMmer Hub is so modern, clean, and easy to use. We had COVID-19 unexpectedly hit, creating a bit of chaos in the world, but were impressed that went live on time, even with a staff change.
Digital Workplace expert, our Klarinet consultant was just simply amazing, so smart, and easy to work with. This SharePoint upgrade had such a significant and positive impact throughout the company."
– Angela Chen, Business Analyst
Managed Services
The Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) is a dynamic, growing organization with the sole purpose of providing high quality, safe and reliable water and wastewater services while practicing good stewardship of natural and financial resources. CVWD is one of the leading retail water providers in the Southern California region. Their team leverages innovation and leadership to address regional and state-wide water issues. CVWD serves and oversees:
- 190,000 customers within a 47-square-mile area
- Approximately 48,000 water connections and 37,000 sewer connections
- Average daily demand of approximately 47 million gallons per day
Providing high-quality water and first-class customer service has been at the core of its mission since it was established in 1955.
CVWD’s Intranet was in a state of disrepair. There were no longer internal resources who knew how to update or maintain the content, access, structure, or pages of the Intranet. CVWD required an Intranet that could be easily updated by key personnel and one that could be supported and maintained on world-class systems. CVWD needed something that reflected the brand, culture, and employees while allowing the right resources the ability to keep the Intranet relevant and up to date.
Klarinet Solutions partnered with CVWD’s management team in February of 2017. Their intranet was outdated, and they lacked various modern software functions and features. CVWD decided to engage Klarinet’s consulting services because they preferred to use a local consultant to design the intranet, assist with digitizing documents, and support all their ongoing needs to provide the best experience possible for its users. Our first project was to deploy a new corporate intranet built on the SharePoint platform to streamline internal processes, improve communication, and increase employee productivity. Our team also created a central document sharing network and provided training within each Division so power users can build their own Division Pages and connect across the entire CVWD digital workplace.
The collaboration with the CVWD management was seamless and practical, our Klarinet team was able to:
- Create a brand-new intranet within four months
- Become an external extension of their internal Information Technology team
- Expand our contract to an ongoing Managed Service Agreement (Once we identified that CVWD didn’t have the in-house knowledge of the Microsoft tools required to help them evolve their Intranet as the product and needs to be changed).
- Provide consulting & support, system administration, system monitoring, updates, patching, and maintenance
- Ensure optimal digital workplace results, collaborations, and stability.
Klarinet Solutions now acts as a fully outsourced SharePoint team. We provide Microsoft 365 and SharePoint consulting, strategy, and resources that the CVWD team can tap into when needed. We bring proactive monitoring, world-class support, and custom development (when required) for CVWD’s digital workplace through our Managed Service agreement. If CVWD plans to create bigger projects, onboard more team members, or pivot in an entirely new direction, Klarinet Solutions will be there to support their ongoing digital workplace needs.
Client Testimonial
“When my users understand their role and feel connected to the business, they work faster, communicate better, and produce better work. Klarinet Solutions invests in customer relationships. They understand and solve the digital workplace problems that we face every day.“
– IT Manager at Cucamonga Valley Water District
Halozyme Therapeutics Inc.
Halozyme Therapeutics is a U.S. biotechnology company that develops novel oncology therapies designed to target the tumor microenvironment and licenses a novel drug delivery technology through corporate partnerships. Furthermore, the company was founded in 1998 and went public in 2004.
Halozyme’s IT team was managing a SharePoint Server 2013 infrastructure on-premise, and their Intranet and Collaboration content was mixed in a single site collection. As a result, Halozyme communicated difficulty in managing user permissions, wanted to ensure security and compliance, and did not have the resources to maintain ongoing SharePoint servers.
Halozyme expressed interest in migrating to Office 365 and SharePoint online. They wanted to optimize the digital workplace experience and free up IT resources. Halozyme previously had an in-house SharePoint resource who was very skilled with certain aspects of SharePoint administration. However, Halozyme wanted to tap into Klarinet’s deep bench of talented resources who are experts at SharePoint Architecture, Design, Support, and Automation. Halozyme engaged with Klarinet to replace the in-house resource for a team of experts at a cost savings.
Klarinet deployed Valo Intranet and Teamwork for Office 365. Valo provides a turnkey solution to deliver a digital workplace platform in a very short period of time. Klarinet migrated all intranet and collaboration content to Office 365. Simultaneously, optimized information architecture and security using Microsoft’s best practices.
Klarinet’s team of SharePoint experts engaged with Halozyme by hosting weekly status meetings, assisting onsite on a weekly basis, and leveraging a support portal that was available on-demand. As a result, Klarinet is now an integral part of the Halozyme family as a trusted technology partner. We serve as an extension of their IT and Enterprise Applications team.
Benefits
• Quickly migrated all intranet and collaboration content to O365
• Optimized compliance and security issues
• User permissions were defined and intuitive for the end-user
• Alleivated IT resource constraints at a cost-savings
• Improved employee connectivity and online collaboration
• Exposure and implementation of latest updates in O365 and SharePoint to address ongoing digital workplace challenges
Customer Testimonial
"In a very short period of time, Klarinet was able to migrate our intranet and collaboration content while at the same time optimizing our information architecture, governance, and security model.”
“With the help of Klarinet Solutions, our Valo-enabled intranet is a central communication hub that enables employees to connect and collaborate with their colleagues while giving them quick and easy access to tools, resources, and systems they need to do their job.”
- Carla Taub, Director of Communications at Halozyme Therapeutics
Reviews
the project
Sharepoint Consulting for Manufacturing Technology Company
"We’re happy with their performance."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
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.
What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?
We needed someone to provide us with a server.
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.
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.
the project
SharePoint Consulting for Environmental Services Company
“I’m looking forward to seeing if they can really be a one-stop-shop for our Microsoft needs.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
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.
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.
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.
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.
the project
Sharepoint Consulting for Retail Cannabis Company
“They’re always on top of things and always over-deliver.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the SharePoint administrator for a retail cannabis company that has 24 locations across Colorado.
What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?
We were relying on a previous vendor who utilized outdated technologies. Since then, I’ve overseen our new implementation of SharePoint over the last year and a half. We contracted Klarinet Solutions to help us drive this project.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Initially, they were responsible for producing SharePoint workflows for us. We ended up really partnering with them, where they provided designs for what our workflows should look like. Their team worked with me to ensure the other stakeholders that their needs were being met. They’ve shifted from working in parallel development with me to providing more large-scale consulting.
What is the team composition?
My primary point of contact is Michelle (Digital Workplace Consultant), and I also work a lot with Dan (Co-Founder & CEO). I’ve also engaged with Matt (Co-Founder & Managing Partner) and Brian (Director of Business Development).
How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?
I’d had past work experience with Dan at a previous job.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent around $40,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our relationship began in March 2019 and is ongoing. We’ve just signed another six-month contract.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Everything they’ve done has far exceeded our stakeholders’ expectations. They helped us establish our SharePoint environment from scratch. They turned it into a fully functioning system with around 14 different SharePoint workflows in production. The team has been immensely helpful in providing valuable insights, and they’re always eager to assist us.
Michelle, in particular, has been absolutely fantastic to work with. She’ll bend over backwards to get things done for us. Their whole team is exceptionally helpful and tech-savvy.
How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re always on top of things and always over-deliver. They’ve never missed a deadline. What’s more, they’ll even help out with our own project management, which has kept us on track. They utilize helpful tools, like a ticketing system, so that I can get my challenges addressed promptly.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I’d highlight their knowledge of up-and-coming technologies. They’re eager to share these, to the point that they’ve fully integrated into our team. They truly know what they’re doing, and they do it professionally.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I really can’t think of anything. I’ve been working with SharePoint since 2006, and they’ve outperformed other vendors I’ve worked with.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Figure out their team dynamic and fit it into yours. Take the time to listen to them, because they’re the experts.
the project
SharePoint Consulting for Community Bank's Intranet
“They knocked the project out of the park.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We’re a California-based community bank with over 130 branches and $17 billion in assets. As the web experience and intranet manager, I’m responsible for managing our company’s digital workplace.
What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?
We recently went through a merger and needed a service provider that could help migrate our teams off of their previous intranets into a larger, unified one.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Klarinet Solutions supported us through the merger, setting up a new intranet that could support our larger organization. We had a few criteria for the project: the solution needed to leverage the latest cloud-based Microsoft 360 environment while staying away from too much custom code.
Their team landed on setting up SharePoint out of the box and then adding on to it. For our intranet, we decided to go with Valo. They were able to guide us through the process quickly so that we could keep up with the merger.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with about 13 individuals at various points during the engagement. My main point of contact is Matt (Principal), and he would bring in others depending on the stage.
How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?
I first learned about Klarinet Solutions from our vendor Valo at a SharePoint conference. They’re partners with Valo, so it made sense to go with them.
How much have you invested with them?
Between the initial licensing of the software and their professional services, we’ve spent around $100,000–$150,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We officially engaged them in September 2019, and the initial launch was two months later. They’re still doing maintenance and consulting work for us, so I expect it to be an evergreen relationship.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
In general, people are happy with the project. The leapfrog to a more modern intranet was night and day. Now, we’ve experienced better productivity gains from things like having a better employee directory and integrating our standard operating procedures.
Klarinet Solutions also has a methodical way of collecting requirements that facilitates launch speed — again, the initial planning to go-live was about two months. The team uses its large depth of knowledge to help guide us along the way and resolve our needs.
How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?
Besides their regular meeting cadence and responsiveness, I really appreciate their conscientiousness. They’re just extremely aware of delivering a quality product, so it’s nice to have them worry about the final delivery as much as I do.
What’s more, they bring a structured approach to the process, which means they help us stay focused on the right things. The team supports us on critical events in real-time, whether that’s the COVID-19 pandemic or the system conversion that we’ve just undergone.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their depth of knowledge about Microsoft 365 was extremely helpful because this was my entry point into that space — I didn’t have anyone internal to rely on. Of course, we’re learning on the go, but it’s also valuable to know I can go to them with specific questions and get an answer.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. They knocked the project out of the park.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
What’s made our relationship successful is that I’ve had the luxury of a long runway while I was meeting with different vendors during the selection process. I knew where my company was headed and could verbalize that.
If you’re clear about what you need, then Klarinet Solutions will be forthcoming with you about what they can and can’t do. Communicating those expectations will set you up for success.
the project
Web Development for Biological Technology Startup
"Klarinet management is very responsible and understanding or our needs and limited resources as a seed stage company."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am a co-founder and CEO of a startup biotechnology company located in San Diego, CA USA
For what projects/services did your company hire Klarinet Solutions, and what were your goals?
Help our company build a website in a cost efficient way.
How did you select Klarinet Solutions and what were the deciding factors?
Understand the needs and challenges of a startup biotechnology.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
Build a website from ground up.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
Three people
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
The website has allowed our company to be more visible to potential investors and future employees.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.
Klarinet management is very responsible and understanding or our needs and limited resources as a seed stage company.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Personal touch and dedication of the company.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
I cannot think of one.
the project
Microsoft SharePoint & Teams Consulting for BioTech Company
“They’re really easy to communicate with. I like that they don’t pigeonhole us into a standard support model.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We’re a biotech company with about 100 employees.
What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?
Klarinet Solutions has done a number of projects for us, including Microsoft SharePoint and Teams support.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We work with Klarinet Solutions to deploy Microsoft solutions to problems that we’ve identified. When COVID-19 forced us to switch from working primarily from the office to now working almost exclusively from home, their team expanded our Microsoft Teams pilot test into a full-blown deployment.
They also point out gaps in our workflow and help us optimize them. My predecessor and I have gone to them with raw business problems to solve, and they would come up with options for us to choose from. Then, they would tailor the solution to our needs.
What is the team composition?
My experience has been pretty consistent. I work with an account person, who is one of my main points of contact, but there are a few others, too. Whenever we have calls, I see the same people and know them by name.
Beyond that, I’m not sure how many people work behind the scenes. They seem to have subject matter experts in different areas mixed with some generalists.
How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?
My predecessor had worked with them elsewhere and brought them on to handle one of our business needs.
How much have you invested with them?
We pay around $4,000 per month, but it’s not quite a retainer model. We pay a base fee that they charge against. If we don’t use all of their services, then they carry them over to the next month. It’s a more flexible model in case we use them more for some months and less for others.
What is the status of this engagement?
I’ve started working with them in November 2019, though they’ve worked with our company since before then. We’ve actually expanded our engagement with them three months ago to cover a broader scope of work.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I’m very satisfied with the work they’ve done, considering how the project was a bit of a moving target. We were really thinking through how we wanted to change our work processes, and Klarinet Solutions stayed flexible throughout. They elicited ongoing feedback, revised the SharePoint site, and have continued to do so.
How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?
The team is responsive to our needs. There have been times when our internal stakeholders wanted to make dramatic changes that were beyond the scope of work. But, Klarinet Solutions was adaptable enough to pivot when we switched our direction.
We have weekly meetings with our assigned account manager and technical lead to touch base on items. We’ll discuss what we’ve done, any points of concerns, and timeline updates. That keeps us moving along while making sure that expectations are aligned.
I also value that they’re able to keep our longer-term priorities in mind. Emergent issues tend to crowd out the bigger picture, but Klarinet Solutions reminds us of our future plans so that we can see the whole perspective.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re really easy to communicate with. I like that they don’t pigeonhole us into a standard support model. Instead, we start the conversation with what we’re up to, and they actively listen.
The team has an in-depth command of Microsoft offerings, too. Every month, they host a webinar for their clients on a specific topic to help us with our operations — like how to do file management in Microsoft Teams. Afterward, they open up the chat to Q&A, so we’re able to see what other companies are running up against.
Are there any areas they could improve?
My hope is that they continue to maintain their engagement and level of accessibility with their clients as they grow. I don’t just mean by phone, but also the interpersonal relationships between individuals and the size of the team.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Having a standing weekly call is key to keeping all teams aligned on what’s going on. They also do periodic account reviews to go over the direction of the company and anticipate larger structural needs.
the project
Intranet Upgrade for Government Utility Agency
"Klarinet Solutions invests in customer relationships."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm the I.T. Manager of a local government utility agency. It is a dynamic, growing organization whose sole purpose is to provide high quality, safe and reliable water and wastewater services, serves a population of over 190,000 customers within a 47-square-mile area.
For what projects/services did your company hire Klarinet Solutions?
Our Intranet was old and lack of modern software functions and features. We found Klarinet Solutions because we preferred to use a local consultant that able to design a SharePoint Intranet and also provide Document Imaging services.
What were your goals for this project?
Build a new Intranet with a SharePoint back end, provide users training, and continue to help with maintenance.
How did you select this vendor?
Klarinet Solutions was recommended by ConvergeOne, one of our technology consultants. We also did quite some research and reach out for reference checks. Overall reviews were good and their proposal fits our upgrade budget.
Describe the project in detail.
Klarinet Solutions acts as our fully outsourced SharePoint team. They provide Office 365 and SharePoint consulting, strategy and resources that we can tap into when we need them. Users are very happy with training provided.
What was the team composition?
- Consulting & support
- System administration
- System monitoring
- Updates & patching
- Maintenance
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We built a brand new Intranet in 4 months and it was a team work. Daniel was the project manager and he provided great training with each Division so power users can build their own Division Pages. We also created a central document sharing network so users can find resources on the network.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
We didn't have that much workflow since I have a small team. My software specialist worked with their team and also built a bridge to communicated with our users. In house and web conference training are both available depends on users preference.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
It was a knowledge transfer with a new concept: When my users understand their role and feel connected to the business, they work faster, communicate better and produce better work. Klarinet Solutions invests in customer relationships. They understand and solve the digital workplace problems that we face every day.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Not really, if I'm picky, a few times the support response time were a little longer than what I expected; however, they corrected that issue in a timely manner.
the project
Custom Dev for SharePoint Document Control Automation
"We are very grateful for the team effort! We know this project was very complex."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
My company is a design house for semiconductor chipsets. I am the quality systems specialist with a focus on Document Control, ISO9001 compliance, and change control.
For what projects/services did your company hire Klarinet Solutions, and what were your goals?
We hired Klarinet for two projects in the last 5 years. Klarinet built our original custom Document Control database with approvals, version control, and retention. The latest project was to enhance the system using SharePoint's new automation tools with Power Apps and Flow.
Our goal was to simplify the document submission process for users and minimize manual inputs from the Doc Control team. Before the project start, submissions were sent through emails and users felt SharePoint was too complicated. We wanted to created a user friendly and liquid flowing document submission and approval process, and increase document security.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
For our first project, we interviewed multiple SharePoint solutions companies, many of which gave us very vague answers like "we can do any you want in SharePoint," which was an issue because we were new to the system and didn't really know what we wanted.
Klarinet came to us with ideas and demonstration of what it would look like in the system, walked through possible options and capabilities of SharePoint, and gave us confidence that we could build a customized system that would meet our needs. We asked them to return for the second project because we know they are expert problem solvers.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
Our latest project scope was to improve our current document control submission process by building a user friendly submission/approval application, automating the approval process from submission to release, and changing the security of the system so no one could edit released documents. The project consisted of weekly meeting updates.
Klarinet built the App in SharePoint, used Flow/Power Automate to transition the submitted documents to the Approval process, send out automatic notification emails for approvals, reminders, and release notifications to multiple users.
The workflow was multilevel, starting with an initial review phase, approval phase, and final review phase, then moved the document from the submission library to the release library where it was locked for editing.
Edits to the documents during approval were automatically flagged and email notices were sent to the approvers/doc control team. Complex links were created in the emails and application to ensure users were viewing documents in SharePoint view mode instead of edit mode. Submission dates and approval dates were also tracked for cycle time measurements.
Approvals/rejections/comments were able to be captured on smart phones in the SharePoint app or on the desktop app. Users were now able to track submissions in progress, view pending approvers, and follow the progress of their own submission or others.
Everything was auotmated and saved the Doc Control team so much time and gave autonomy back to the users to track and follow up with important documents. We also completely removed accidental editing issues because of the security measures we were able to implement.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We had Michelle, our SharePoint engineer. She pretty much did everything in the design, build, test, and communications. She is an amazing problem solver, quick to visualize solutions, and came up with the most creative solutions to meet our needs. She went above and beyond for us. Matt F. was our account manager that provided high level support.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
Users are now able to submit their documents in SharePoint with ease (no more email submissions!) Users can track their own submissions and see who has not approved, rather that going through the document control team to ask and wait for a response. User autonomy increased!
Documents are no longer accidentally edited because we were able to use a check in check out system that worked with the automation flows. Great document security!
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Michelle would submit designs for us to review and approve. She would build and then we would test. We communicated on a weekly basis in a call, but also through emails almost daily during testing in the last months. We were always in communication and used bug tracking sheets, email updates of pending actions, and created testing logs.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
As with any project, problems arise and new challenges are presented. Michelle was the most creative problem solver. We were battling many problems that came up during the build, which changed the complexity of the initial project immensely.
As problems arose, we communicated with her and Matt F., and they were eager to find solutions for us. We are very grateful for the team effort! We know this project was very complex.
Michelle was always looking for find ways to solve the problems that came up as we learned about SharePoint. We were always impressed with her work and her drive. Not only did she solve our problems, Michelle kept a positive attitude and we enjoyed working with her.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
I think we could have spent more time on the design planning together as a team.
the project
Sharepoint Web Dev & Design for Alt. Dispute Resolution Co.
“They hit it out of the park in terms of satisfying our end users.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of IT for a large private court system that does arbitrations and mediations.
What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?
We have a longstanding relationship that’s involved a number of conversions with our SharePoint site.
What was the scope of their involvement?
For our most recent project with them, we noticed that our internal SharePoint solution was lacking features that we wanted and was a bit disorganized. They evaluated the site and updated it with a fresh new look and feel. We wanted to take advantage of their creative expertise, so they had a decent bit of flexibility in designing the solution. It was difficult to maintain the other site, so many of the updates revolved around enhanced workflows. Primarily, we wanted it to be easier to add content and include more visually appealing graphics.
What is the team composition?
I work with four people from their team.
How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?
Originally, we built our site on our own and wanted to upgrade it. I happened to have an interview with another vendor, and they ended up recommending Klarinet Solutions as a SharePoint service provider.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been working together for about a decade but started this particular project in late 2019. This project is ongoing, as is our relationship.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our internal users love the updated site. It’s allowed them to use new features within Office 365 more often because those products fit better into this environment. The usage of the site has gone through the roof since we implemented the new site. Instead of just a place for document storage, the site has become more of a collaborative environment. We’ve been able to use it as a platform for interaction.
How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?
They performed well. We had weekly touchpoints, sometimes even more often than needed. They kept on top of due dates, and if there was a slip in the timeline, there was a good reason for it.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The deliverable was great, and we were able to work through technical glitches without much trouble. They hit it out of the park in terms of satisfying our end users.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There were a few technical issues, but we worked through them and were ultimately very satisfied with their work.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
We wanted a certain amount of hand-holding for the sake of guidance because we don’t have an in-house team that focuses on this normally. They did very well with that.
the project
Managed Services for SharePoint Site at Biopharma Company
"Klarinet gives their undivided attention."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the associate director of IT business systems at a biopharmaceutical company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Klarinet Solutions?
We use Klarinet as our SharePoint support manager.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Klarinet manages our internal and external SharePoint. Since they work on design and development as well as customer support, the team tends to collaborate with a lot of functional team members to understand our requirements.
They provide us with recommendations and options to make our site more efficient. The team does a lot of research for us to figure out what’s new in terms of technology.
What is the team composition?
Typically, we deal with about 3–4 people. W8e have an account manager and a technical lead person, who tries to understand what our requirements are. When we’re in development, there are about two people who work on development and configuration.
How did you come to work with Klarinet Solutions?
They were referred to us.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spend about $6,000 per month.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been working together since October 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The key metrics we typically track are the number of requests the functional teams have asked them to do. Klarinet has been great, and we have a great relationship. It’s definitely beneficial not just for our IT but the functional teams as well.
The team has committed the necessary time, and they meet all their deadlines. We’ve never had a complaint about them.
How did Klarinet Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?
We have weekly standing meetings to get status updates on high-visibility projects. That gives us a forum to determine if there’s any support issues or any requests from other teams that need attention. It’s a great way to keep our teams aligned. We also have a monthly meeting with our account manager, and we exchange emails with the team regularly.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Even with COVID-19 restrictions and shelter-at-home rules, Klarinet never changed in terms of support. It was a seamless transition to remote work; their communication never faltered. If anything, they worked with us even more to make sure we were happy.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There’s nothing that comes to mind. They’re great.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I would definitely suggest using Klarinet, especially for companies of similar sizes. They give their undivided attention.
Internal stakeholders are impressed with Klarinet’s expertise. The team regularly meets requirements, responds quickly, and engages professionally, satisfying expectations. Customers can expect an impactful, successful partnership.