From Max to the Max: ANZ’s SharePoint Online intranet makeover

ANZ is one of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest banks, with more than 52,000 employees working across 30+ countries. As a major player in the financial services industry, ANZ is leading the charge in digital transformation to empower its people and customers.

Challenge

For many years, “Max” was the backbone of ANZ’s digital workplace. It was where employees went to find policies, read updates, or connect with other teams. But as time went on, the cracks began to show. Built on SharePoint 2010 and layered with years of customisation, Max had become clunky, slow, and unfit for the needs of a modern, mobile-first workforce.

Employees described it as a “patchwork” – information was scattered, search was unreliable, and it often felt like a gamble whether the content you found was still relevant. For frontline staff, the frustration was even greater: the intranet wasn’t mobile-friendly, so they simply couldn’t use it on iPads or phones. Slowly but surely, employees stopped relying on Max altogether, and trust in the platform eroded. Instead, they turned to workarounds like emailing colleagues for documents or storing their own copies of policies – creating inefficiency and risk across the organisation.

Their challenges included:

• An aging platform and poor UX – , Built on SharePoint 2010 with layers of customisation, Max was slow, clunky, and inconsistent, and many employees had stopped relying on it entirely.
• Not mobile-friendly – There was no support for mobile devices, meaning frontline staff using iPads couldn’t access content on the go.
• Sluggish performance – Pages took a long time to load, and the slowness discouraged use while reducing overall productivity.
• Lack of integration – Max had no connection with modern M365 tools like Viva Connections, couldn’t support analytics tools such as Adobe Analytics, and functioned as a standalone island cut off from the wider digital workplace ecosystem.
• Governance and profile issues – There was no clear governance model for content, Azure AD sync issues caused outdated or inconsistent employee profiles, and there was no accountability for keeping the intranet relevant.

Max had gone from being the organisation’s digital front door to a closed, creaking gate. The vision wasn’t just to rebuild Max, but to transform it into a digital workplace platform that employees would actually love to use.

Solution

We knew success would require more than just technology; it had to be about people, too. That meant designing an experience that was intuitive, mobile-first, and deeply connected with the tools employees were already using every day – like Microsoft Teams.

We started by listening. Through discovery workshops and interviews, we uncovered exactly what employees needed: faster access to information, a mobile-ready experience, and clear governance so content could be trusted. From here we worked side by side with ANZ’s project team to co-design a solution that delivered on those needs while setting up the intranet for the future.

Our approach included:

• Modern SharePoint Online architecture – We rebuilt Max on SharePoint Online for scalability, speed, and security. Information architecture was simplified, navigation streamlined, and search enhanced with metadata, taxonomy, and personalised targeting to make information discovery faster and more relevant.
• Viva Connections integration –Max as also directly embedded into Microsoft Teams for a seamless, everyday experience. We designed a tailored Viva Connections dashboard with quick links and personalised news. We delivered true mobile-first access, so employees can now use the intranet anywhere, anytime.
• Performance and analytics improvements – We leveraged Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure for lightning-fast page loads. We integrated Adobe Analytics to give ANZ deep insights into usage and engagement. We enabled a data-driven content strategy, allowing continuous improvement of the intranet experience.
• Governance framework – We established the Enterprise Information Management Committee (EIMC) to provide oversight. We introduced workflows for approvals and review cycles. We defined clear ownership and standards to ensure content quality is maintained long-term.
• Phased delivery and change management – We ran discovery workshops to capture pain points and requirements. We built iteratively, sharing regular showcases and gathering feedback. We introduced custom features, like a “Page Tour,” to help onboard users. We supported rollout with training, reference guides, and pilot testing to ensure a smooth launch.

Results 

The difference between the old and new Max was felt almost immediately. What had once been a slow, clunky intranet that employees avoided quickly became a trusted, daily destination. Staff started calling Max their “digital front door” again – the first place they go to get work done.

The launch wasn’t just an upgrade; it was a game-changer. Adoption climbed rapidly as employees embraced the new platform and experienced the benefits first-hand.

The impacts were clear:

• Work got faster and easier – With powerful search and simplified navigation, staff can now find policies, forms, and resources in seconds. Tasks that used to take minutes now take seconds, and multiplied across 52,000 employees, the time savings are enormous. Confidence in Max has been restored, with people going straight to the intranet instead of “asking around” for help.
• The intranet went mobile – For the first time, frontline employees have full mobile intranet access. With Viva Connections in Teams, Max is seamlessly integrated into daily workflows. Staff can stay connected on the move – in branches, on the train, or between client meetings – creating a new sense of inclusion.
• Performance stopped being a punchline – The days of waiting for pages to load (and joking about coffee breaks) are gone. Cloud hosting ensures pages load quickly and reliably, even at peak times. The smoother, faster experience has driven higher engagement across the business.
• Trust was rebuilt – A clean, modern design and targeted news made the intranet feel relevant and personalised. Employees now trust Max as the single source of truth. Usage surged, with staff feedback noting that “Max feels everywhere now” – a dramatic turnaround from the old platform.
• Governance gave confidence – The Enterprise Information Management Committee provides continuous oversight. Content owners review and refresh material regularly, reducing compliance risks in a highly regulated sector. Governance transformed Max from a static tool into a living, managed service.
• Future-proofed for what’s next – Built on SharePoint Online and aligned with Microsoft’s roadmap, Max is ready to take advantage of innovations like Copilot and Viva Topics. A strong information architecture and metadata model ensures the intranet can scale and evolve. Instead of holding ANZ back, Max is now a platform that accelerates innovation.

The redesigned Max didn’t just replace an ageing intranet; it reshaped how ANZ employees work. It’s faster, more reliable, mobile by design, and deeply integrated into everyday workflows. For ANZ, this was far more than a technology refresh; it was a cultural shift that empowered 52,000 employees to be more connected, efficient, and confident.

This project stands as a resounding success for ANZ and its people – a true digital transformation that delivered immediate impact and set the stage for ongoing innovation.