A long-term intranet journey, not a one-off switch
Content Formula worked with tp bennett on a long-term intranet journey that began with LiveTiles Hub and Reach and later evolved into a modernisation programme built around Lightspeed365. The story is not just about changing platforms. It is about helping tp bennett move from a LiveTiles-based intranet towards a more modern SharePoint and Microsoft 365 experience while preserving the functionality, personalisation, and employee engagement features that mattered most.
Replacing an ageing intranet across multiple offices
When tp bennett first explored options for a new intranet, the organisation was looking to replace an ageing internal platform and create a better employee experience across multiple offices. Early discovery highlighted a need to move away from an older intranet setup, modernise the employee experience, and make better use of Microsoft 365 and SharePoint.
The initial solution was built around LiveTiles Hub and Reach, giving tp bennett a personalised homepage, targeted news and communications, and ongoing managed support from Content Formula.
Over time, a new challenge emerged. As Omnia took over LiveTiles, tp bennett needed to reassess the future of the platform and decide what a more sustainable modern intranet path should look like.
That raised several practical questions:
- how to move on from LiveTiles without losing important features and familiar user journeys
- how to modernise the homepage and overall user experience
- how to preserve personalisation and targeted communications
- how to continue supporting different offices and user groups effectively
- how to choose a future-ready platform that would sit more naturally within SharePoint and Microsoft 365
A considered transition, not a rushed platform switch
Content Formula supported tp bennett through both phases of the journey: first the LiveTiles implementation and support model, and later the evaluation and move towards Lightspeed365.
The relationship included:
- original LiveTiles Hub and Reach implementation with managed support
- ongoing account reviews, technical support, and enhancement discussions
- homepage redesign and UX improvement work
- review of the impact of Omnia's takeover of LiveTiles
- comparative product demonstrations to help tp bennett evaluate future options
- a Lightspeed365 demonstration focused on platform fit for employees, teams, and the wider business
- a follow-on Lightspeed365 licence and support arrangement as the modernisation path moved forward
This phased approach meant tp bennett could make a considered transition rather than being forced into a rushed platform switch.
Recreating the familiar experience, then building beyond it
The modernisation story centres on moving from a LiveTiles-based intranet towards a more modern Lightspeed365-supported SharePoint experience.
The migration focus was about replacing the LiveTiles product layer with a more sustainable solution while continuing to work within the modern SharePoint framework tp bennett already had in place. The aim was to first re-create a familiar intranet experience, then continue to build on those foundations with more modern features and tools.
The requirements that shaped the solution included:
- maintaining a strong, on-brand experience that employees would recognise and engage with from day one
- keeping the homepage as a key employee engagement tool, including support for user customisation and personalisation
- supporting communications, events, and targeted content for different groups and offices
- finding a route away from LiveTiles that preserved the design effort and brand identity already established
Lightspeed365 was well suited to that next phase because it offered a more sustainable way to extend native SharePoint while keeping the experience user-centric and on-brand. For tp bennett, the migration was not simply about replacing one product with another. It was about delivering a familiar, engaging intranet from the outset, built on more future-proof foundations, while also opening the door to additional features not offered by LiveTiles. Lightspeed365 push notifications, for example, could now be introduced as a targeted alerts tool.
Continuity first, then improvement
For tp bennett, the intranet was not just an internal noticeboard. It played a role in communications, homepage engagement, events, personalisation, and content visibility across the business.
That is why the move away from LiveTiles needed to be handled carefully. The project had to balance continuity with improvement. The organisation needed a platform that felt more modern and future-ready, but without losing the user-centric features that had helped drive engagement in the first place.
What was delivered
- a full like-for-like recreation of the existing intranet experience, preserving the design effort and brand identity tp bennett had already established
- homepage rebuilt using Lightspeed365 and SharePoint native web parts, maintaining the personalisation and engagement features employees were familiar with
- Band customiser and custom CSS applied to retain the look and feel of the previous intranet
- navigation, My Links, news templates, and content re-created or migrated so employees had a familiar experience from day one
- news editor training and audience targeting configured to replace LiveTiles Reach functionality
- successful go-live on 14 August 2025 with no disruption to the employee experience
- Phase 2 roadmap established, including push notifications as a targeted alerts tool
“One of the standout features is its seamless integration with Microsoft 365, allowing teams to collaborate efficiently using familiar tools. Document sharing, communication, and access to company information are all streamlined, helping to improve productivity and reduce time spent searching for files or updates.”
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