Transforming Internal Communications: The Simpplr Solution at Silicon Labs

Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) is a leader in secure, intelligent wireless technology for a more connected world. Our integrated hardware and software platform, intuitive development tools, thriving ecosystem, and robust support make us an ideal long-term partner in building advanced industrial, commercial, home and life applications. We make it easy for developers to solve complex wireless challenges throughout the product lifecycle and get to market quickly with innovative solutions that transform industries, grow economies, and improve lives. silabs.com

With over 2,000 employees, mostly engineers, Silicon Labs has a global presence with 21 offices worldwide. The organization was operating on Confluence, which was more of a knowledge repository than a functional intranet. The previous intranet had crashed, prompting the need for a modern solution. But creating a cohesive and user-friendly intranet was a significant challenge with such a diverse employee-base. 

The process of migrating content to a new intranet proved difficult due to a lack of governance and an unorganized mix of information. Some groups had an excess of content, which made it tough to organize and structure the content framework during the transition to a new platform. The organization’s large engineering employee base also made ensuring seamless integration with existing platforms like Dropbox, Okta, Workday and ServiceNow crucial.

Moreover, Silicon Labs needed to establish internal communication processes and a consistent toolkit. The organization grappled with the inefficiencies of random emails, too many newsletters, and a general lack of structured communication channels. 

Recognizing the need for improvement, Silicon Labs implemented a systematic approach. Their goal was to transition from scattered communications to a more organized system, instituting regular all-employee communications on a monthly basis. They wanted to enhance the clarity and consistency of internal communications to provide employees with a reliable and predictable source of information.

A cross-functional team — including HR, Comms, IT and various other departments—evaluated 12 intranet vendors based on priorities gathered from 30 internal interviews. After participating in demos from the top three providers, Silicon Labs selected Simpplr.

The implementation focused on overcoming content migration challenges. The Simpplr team facilitated visualization through Sticky Notes sessions, helping the organization to structure content effectively. Carefully chosen and trained site owners played a key role in content creation. The implementation strategy also included quarterly regional meetings to ensure ongoing support and training for site owners, resulting in a successful go-live in February 2023.

Simpplr seamlessly integrated with business-critical tools, providing a consolidated digital workplace for the employees.

Leadership played an important role in the implementation’s success. The Director of Communications served as the executive sponsor, and the VP of Marketing helped garner leadership buy-in as implementation kicked off. Some executives actively contributed to the platform, and others, while not as active, helped write and approve content that was posted on their behalf. This executive presence provided essential support and validation for the new intranet.