Creating a stronger foundation for trusted information, governance and employee connection.
HBF is one of Australia’s leading health insurers, known for their quokkas and with a strong focus on helping members access private health cover and health-related support.
As HBF approached critical end-of-life deadlines for its on-premises SharePoint environment, the organisation saw an opportunity to do more than move systems from one platform to another. It chose to reimagine Pulse, their internal intranet platform as a modern digital workplace experience, designed to better support employees, information sharing and organisational knowledge.
A Moment to Reimagine Pulse
The Pulse had long played an important role in how HBF employees accessed news, updates, services and internal information.
With the existing SharePoint on-premises environment needing to be decommissioned before the end of extended support, HBF used the migration as a strategic opportunity to modernise the employee experience, redesign the intranet and create stronger foundations for the future.
Rather than simply replicating what already existed, the project focused on creating a more intuitive, governed and sustainable modern workplace, one that would make it easier for employees to find information, access services and keep their finger on the ‘Pulse’.
More Than a Migration
Working together with Diversus and Huddler, HBF transformed the Pulse into a modern digital workplace built on SharePoint Online, supported by improved information architecture, updated page templates, enhanced search and a stronger governance model.
The project included a full redesign of the Pulse intranet, with new navigation, updated page structures, brand-aligned design elements and templates to support more consistent content creation across the organisation.
Huddler Hub helped create a more connected digital workplace experience, bringing together communications, content and employee access points in a way that supports how people need to work day to day.
The result was not just a technical migration. It was a chance to reshape The Pulse as a central destination for news, updates and connection across HBF.
The Huddler and Diversus team worked as an extension of our team throughout the project. Their collaborative approach, deep SharePoint knowledge and ability to find practical solutions helped us successfully deliver a modern intranet experience while building a stronger foundation for the future.
Nicole Cook, Senior Internal Communications Consultant at HBF
Sustainable Governance for Long-Term Success
Alongside the Pulse redesign, HBF also invested in stronger governance and lifecycle management for its SharePoint Online environment.
Huddler and Diversus developed a Site Governance and Lifecycle Framework to support HBF’s SharePoint Online environment, with recommendations covering site ownership, site lifecycle, naming conventions, templates, access controls, attestation, inactive site management, archiving and deletion.
A new HBF Community Site template was also designed to support business unit and collaboration areas, helping teams work in a more consistent and governed way across SharePoint Online.
This focus on governance helped create a stronger foundation for managing content, reducing business risk, improving operational efficiency and supporting compliance requirements.
Modernising Document Management with Huddler DocHQ
The project also included the modernisation of HBF’s Corporate Library, moving from legacy document management processes into a more structured SharePoint Online environment.
HBF had previously used a document library, submission form and workflows to manage the upload, editing and publication of controlled documents. As part of the project, Huddler DocHQ was identified as a strong fit for HBF’s document management needs, supporting approval and publishing workflows for controlled documents.
This introduced a more modern approach to document publishing, approvals, traceability and information governance, helping HBF manage important organisational documents with greater confidence.
A Strong Partnership Built on Trust
For Huddler and Diversus, the project represented a meaningful full-circle moment.
Diversus originally partnered with HBF on the organisation’s intranet journey in 2015, more than a decade ago. Diversus and Huddler were once again trusted to support the next evolution of The Pulse.
While technology has continued to evolve, the partnership has remained focused on helping HBF create better experiences for employees and get greater value from its digital workplace investment.
That continued partnership speaks to the trust, collaboration and shared understanding developed over many years, and reflects a relationship that has evolved alongside both technology and the organisation itself.
What makes this story special is that it isn’t just about technology. We partnered with HBF on their intranet journey more than a decade ago, and they trusted us again to help deliver the next evolution of The Pulse. That continued partnership speaks to the trust, collaboration and shared understanding built over many years.
Antonella Haug, Practice Lead, Diversus
A Launch Worth Celebrating
What made the HBF project especially unique was the way The Pulse was launched.
Rather than treating the new intranet as simply another technology rollout, HBF created a launch moment that helped bring the new digital workplace experience to life.
The Pulse launch gave employees an opportunity to see the new experience, understand what had changed and connect with the purpose behind the platform. It helped position The Pulse as more than a system, but as a central place for news, updates, information and connection.
For HBF, the launch was a visible moment of adoption. For Huddler and Diversus, it was a reminder that successful digital workplace projects are not only measured by the technology delivered, but by how confidently people engage with the experience once it goes live.
Project Highlights
- The Pulse reimagined as a modern digital workplace experience
- SharePoint on-premises environment migrated to SharePoint Online
- Site Governance and Lifecycle Framework implemented
- Corporate Library modernised with Huddler DocHQ
- The Pulse launch supported by change and adoption activities
- Long-standing partnership between HBF, Diversus and Huddler
Technology
Huddler Hub and Huddler DocHQ built on Microsoft 365
When a migration becomes an opportunity to reimagine the employee experience, organisations can create digital workplaces that people trust, connect with and use every day.
