In a global organisation like HEINEKEN, HR information is created and managed by many different teams. Over time, that led to a familiar challenge: lots of valuable resources, but no clear overview.
Recruitment documents lived on one SharePoint site, development frameworks on another, performance guides in a third. Each was designed from the perspective of the team who owned it, not the HR professionals in the local business who needed to use it.
The result? A confusing landscape of disconnected SharePoint sites and HR colleagues worldwide asking the same question: “Where do I find what I need?”
The vision: One hub, built around the employee journey
That’s when the idea emerged to create a single, easy-to-use SharePoint platform that brings all global HR information together.
Together with the Global Talent & Leadership team, we reshaped the information structure based on the employee journey: from Recruit to Offboard. No longer grouped by internal teams, but by the real-life moments that matter to HR professionals around the world.
Whether you’re a local colleague, a people leader, or part of the global team, the information you need is now just a few clicks away.
The approach: Co-creation and card sorting
Through card sorting sessions, content audits and stakeholder interviews, we mapped out a logical navigation that made sense to everyone – not just to the people who created the content.
We also involved HR colleagues from HEINEKEN’s operating companies through focus groups, ensuring the platform worked for day-to-day users across the globe.
“A great combination of external expertise and HEINEKEN familiarity. A patient guide, always offering practical input. It would’ve been very difficult to do this on our own.”
— Angela Ridder
More than just structure: An HR platform that feels modern
To make the Global People Portal not only functional but also visually engaging, the team applied HEINEKEN’s branding and the latest SharePoint features. The result is a platform that feels fresh, intuitive, and ready for the future.
Key elements include:
- A clean, modern layout using HEINEKEN’s brand elements
- Reusable templates to ensure consistency across future content
- Fresh colours and intuitive navigation
“It looks so beautiful! Fresh colors, great layout, and a modern feel. Finally, all information is in one place. Super satisfied with the final result!”
— Lina Klapal
The result: A future proof foundation for global HR
The Global People Portal is now live and people teams around the world are responding with enthusiasm. By aligning all content to the employee journey, the platform makes it easy to find and use key HR information. Its scalable framework also allows other teams to align their content with the same structure.
We supported the team with a communication plan to keep the Global People Portal top of mind after launch, including suggested angles for Workvivo posts and ready-to-use Canva templates to help them share updates with ease.
To ensure the platform stays relevant and impactful, it’s built with longevity in mind: a clear maintenance cycle, defined ownership roles, and regular feedback loops that keep content fresh, accurate, and aligned with evolving needs.
Want to make your (global) HR information more accessible and future proof?
Let’s talk. We’re happy to explore what’s possible; whether you need a full redesign or just a smarter way to structure what you already have.
