In the era of digital transformation and hybrid work models, successful companies understand that effective communication and quick team coordination are the foundation of sustainable growth. However, even in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, many organizations face barriers: finding the right specialist takes time, employee statuses are not always up-to-date, and switching between applications distracts from the main tasks.
The solution is here - Employee Directory. It is not just a directory but a powerful platform integrated with SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams that redefines the approach to workforce management.
In this post, we will delve into the benefits of Employee Directory, supported by industry research and real-world case studies, to demonstrate how this tool can boost productivity, streamline onboarding, and strengthen corporate culture within Microsoft 365. If your company strives for efficiency and growth, keep reading to discover why implementing Employee Directory is a must today.
Employee Directory: What Is It and How Does It Work?
The Employee Directory is a specialized web part for Microsoft 365, designed to address modern business needs. It creates a centralized, user-friendly employee directory that allows searches based on various parameters such as name, position, skills, interests, location, and custom fields from Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory).
Integration with SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams provides a unified workspace: the directory can be added as a tab in Teams or embedded on SharePoint pages. The solution is priced at $49 per month, supports over 40 languages (including Russian, English, and Arabic), and focuses on cloud-based versions of Microsoft 365.
Key Features:
- Data Management: Automatic filtering of inactive accounts, daily auto-updates, and caching ensure profile accuracy.
- Mobile Optimization: Seamless compatibility with Teams, crucial for distributed and hybrid teams.
- Security: Features only active users, with no direct editing capabilities (managed through Employee Details).
The Employee Directory is not just a contact database but a modern tool for knowledge management and business efficiency enhancement.
Employee Directory for SharePoint and Teams
Benefits of Employee Directory for Your Business
1. Enhancing Communication and Collaboration
Time is the most valuable resource. With Employee Directory, finding the right colleague becomes a matter of seconds: advanced filters allow you to locate professionals by skills, departments, interests, and locations. Integration with Teams displays employee status in real time (available, busy, in a meeting, offline), minimizing unnecessary interruptions and speeding up coordination.
📌 Fact
According to industry research, up to 40% of working time is wasted on ineffective communication. Implementing Employee Directory can reduce these losses and boost team connectivity by 20–25%.
2. Increasing Productivity and Operational Efficiency
Employee Directory synchronizes with Entra ID, eliminating the need for manual profile updates. Comprehensive employee cards include contact information, roles, hierarchy, skills, responsibilities, and an "About Me" section, accelerating decision-making and task execution.
📌 Fact
Companies with engaged employees are 17% more productive, while automation of routine processes can reduce time spent searching for information by up to 40%.
3. Accelerated Onboarding and New Employee Engagement
For newcomers, Employee Directory acts as a guide to the team: filters for skills, locations, and departments allow quick adaptation and connection with like-minded colleagues. Only active profiles are displayed, ensuring data security and accuracy without manual edits.
📌 Fact
Effective onboarding increases new employee retention by 82%, while engagement boosts job satisfaction by 2.6 times. However, only 12% of companies rate their onboarding processes as effective — Employee Directory helps solve this issue.
4. Cost Savings and Seamless Integration
Employee Directory is easy to implement without complex configurations, integrates with existing Microsoft 365 infrastructure, saving IT resources and reducing support costs. SharePoint-based intranet solutions with such add-ons increase productivity by 20–25% and contribute to revenue growth.
Practical Application Scenarios
- IT Company (500+ employees): A manager finds a Python developer in seconds and schedules a meeting based on their status — project completion speeds up by 15–20%.
- Retail Chain: HR filters employees by location to strengthen local teams — engagement increases, and turnover decreases.
Employee Directory vs Standard Microsoft 365 Tools
| Criteria | Employee Directory | Built-in Microsoft 365 Tools (Delve/Teams) |
|---|---|---|
| Search by attributes | Skills, interests, responsibilities, locations | Basic fields only |
| View modes | Detailed, card-based, customizable | List, basic cards |
| Presence status | Real-time, integrated with Teams | Partial, lacks detailed information |
| Branding and themes | Full support via Brand Center | Limited customization |
| Data auto-updating | Daily | Manual |
| Price | $49/month | Free, but limited functionality |
| Impact on productivity | +20–25% | Limited to basic features |
Why Employee Directory Is an Investment in Your Company's Future
Employee Directory is not just an add-on for Microsoft 365 but a strategic tool that boosts productivity, accelerates onboarding, and strengthens corporate culture.
The statistics speak for themselves: +17–25% in productivity, +82% in new employee retention, and a 40% reduction in communication losses.
Start transforming your organization today - download it now and experience the benefits of Employee Directory firsthand!