Building the Largest Healthcare Intranet on Sitecore XM Cloud (Sitecore AI)

At the beginning of 2025, a leading U.S. healthcare organization set out to reinvent its associate intranet on a massive scale. With nearly 200,000 employees across dozens of locations, they needed a modern “digital front door” that could serve everyone, from nurses and doctors to IT staff and administrators. Complexities included API calls to backend HR, payroll and employee management systems with personalized content, self-service tools, and seamless access to both administrators and front-line workers who primarily logged in from mobile devices.

Sitecore is known as an enterprise marketing tool but not the first name in intranets. Some saw it as an unconventional move, but after a robust evaluation of a dozen DXP and IPS solutions, our healthcare giant chose Sitecore XM Cloud (now Sitecore AI) as the foundation for its new intranet, and entrusted digital consultancy Nishtech to bring this vision to life. The result? An intranet implementation of unprecedented scale. This intranet represents a solution roughly 3× larger than any prior Sitecore XM Cloud deployment. It's game-changer for employee experience in healthcare.

A healthcare professional easily accesses internal resources through the new intranet. The Sitecore-powered platform delivers personalized content and tools to nearly 200,000 associates, wherever they work.

Why Sitecore XM Cloud Was the Right Prescription for an Intranet

Choosing Sitecore for an employee intranet might raise some eyebrows. After all, Sitecore is best known for powering public-facing websites and digital marketing. However, the healthcare organization’s decision came after careful evaluation of intranet platforms. Sitecore XM Cloud (Sitecore AI) offered unique advantages that aligned perfectly with the project’s needs:

• Scalability and Performance: Sitecore’s cloud-native architecture can scale to support tens of thousands of concurrent users and huge content volumes. (For perspective, companies like United Airlines use Sitecore to serve intranet content to ~70,000 employees – this healthcare intranet would nearly triple that scale!). The platform’s robust infrastructure ensures fast load times and reliability for users across many regions.
• Personalized, Role-Based Experiences: Because Sitecore is a customer experience platform at heart, it excels at personalization and targeting. For an intranet, this means content can be tailored to each associate’s role, location, and preferences. Delivering personalized informationto employees plays a significant role in satisfaction and engagement. Nurses can automatically see nursing-related news and quick links, IT staff see IT updates, and so on. Everyone gets relevant, meaningful content rather than one-size-fits-all announcements.
• Integration with Enterprise Systems: A key requirement was that the intranet serve as a one-stop hub for employees to access various HR and productivity tools. Sitecore XM Cloud’s flexible, headless architecture enabled Nishtech to integrate the intranet with numerous backend systems via APIs. Associates can now seamlessly connect to HR and payroll systems, check their work schedules, access an internal knowledge base, submit help desk tickets, and more. All in one place, through the intranet portal. This unified digital front door eliminates the hassle of juggling multiple logins and websites. The initiative consolidated more than 3 separately run internal sites and several data connects to back-end systems. In turn, it improves employee efficiency by reducing friction and bolstering self-service capabilities. Routine tasks (like finding a policy document or updating personal info) that used to be time-consuming are now streamlined into a few clicks on a single platform.
• Modern Content Management & Compliance: The organization’s communications team can easily publish and manage intranet content through Sitecore’s user-friendly Page Builder interface. They no longer rely on IT for every edit. This means fresher, more relevant updates for staff. Additionally, Sitecore XM Cloud is officially HIPAA-readyfor healthcare use cases. Operating in a highly regulated industry, the healthcare provider took comfort in knowing the platform meets strict security and privacy standards. Compliance features like role-based access, audit logs, and data isolation are built in, addressing concerns that often give healthcare CIOs pause when considering SaaS solutions.
• Multichannel and Mobile Access: Sitecore’s responsive design capabilities and headless delivery mean the intranet is accessible on any device. Given the increasingly distributed and on-the-go workforce in healthcare (from clinic staff to remote administrative teams), meeting associates where they are. On their desktop at work, on a tablet at a nurse’s station, or on a mobile phone at home. This was essential. The new intranet delivers a consistent, mobile-friendly experience that keeps employees connected and informed whether they’re on-site or off. This reflects a broader trend: organizations are investing in intranets/portals to accommodate remote and distributed teams while keeping engagement high.

In short, Sitecore XM Cloud proved to be exactly the right tool for the job, even though using it for an intranet seamed unconventional at its surface. Its strengths in content management, personalization, and integration lined up perfectly with the healthcare provider’s requirements, whereas more traditional intranet products could not match the flexibility or scale. As one Sitecore partner put it, organizations today need internal platforms that enable self-service and deliver personalized info, not just static pages. That’s precisely what Sitecore empowers here.

Building at Unprecedented Scale (Largest Intranet 3x over)

Once the platform was chosen, the real challenge began: implementing an intranet for nearly 200k users across the enterprise. Nishtech approached this gargantuan project in phases, aligning with the client’s broader digital transformation program. The first phase focused on standing up the new Sitecore XM Cloud environment, establishing the information architecture, and migrating content from the legacy intranet. The legacy system, an older intranet hosted on an off the shelf, limited IPS solution similar to SharePoint. This system was several years old and due for an overhaul. Nishtech’s team audited hundreds of existing pages and documents, then restructured and modernized them within Sitecore. Even at this initial stage, the new intranet started delivering value by making it easier for associates to find important information (reducing time and stress compared to the old site).

The second phase, coinciding with the launch of the healthcare system’s new suite of HR and finance applications, was all about integration and interactivity. Nishtech developed custom connectors and API integrations hooking Sitecore into systems like the HRIS, payroll/benefits platform, time tracking system, and service desk. For example, employees can view their latest paycheck info or remaining vacation days pulled securely from an HR database, see their shift schedule from the scheduling system, or get a personalized list of required training modules due, all within dedicated widgets on the intranet homepage. The intranet’s global search was also supercharged using Sitecore Search. Associates can enter a query and get results not only from intranet pages, but also from knowledge bases, policy docs, and even certain external tools (with single sign-on) that Nishtech indexed. This kind of enterprise search capability, searching across most of the company’s internal sites and resources, turns the intranet into a true central gatewayfor information.

Building such a massive, integrated intranet on Sitecore XM Cloud had never been done before at this scale. At Sitecore Symposium 2025, word spread about the project and it quickly became a hot topic among attendees. Many were surprised (in a good way) to hear that Sitecore’s SaaS CMS was powering an intranet for nearly 200,000 users, something practically unheard of, and stopped by our booth to discuss. Not only did we spark some ideas for other organizations, but healthcare client we were building it for was always in earshot and equally excited to talk through the work that had been done. The buzz around this project highlighted how versatile the Sitecore platform really is. It isn’t just for marketing websites, it can successfully run huge employee-facing portals when implemented with the right expertise. Nishtech collaborated closely with Sitecore’s product team and solution architects to ensure the XM Cloud (SitecoreAI) environment was optimized for the task. From addressing performance tuning and content delivery at scale, to configuring robust security, and architecting complex SSO Authentication workflows, Nishtech pushed the boundaries of the platform. The result is a win-win showcase. The client gets a state-of-the-art intranet, and Sitecore gains a landmark example of XM Cloud’s scalability.

Key Outcomes for Associates and the Organization

Rolling out the new intranet is projected to bring significant benefits for the healthcare provider’s workforce. Some of the most important outcomes and improvements include:

• One-Stop Access, Less Friction: Employees now have one place to go for almost everything work-related. The intranet ties together previously siloed systems and sites into a unified experience. This simplification of the digital landscape means less time clicking around and less frustration. Need to find an HR policy, submit an IT ticket, or read the latest company news? It’s all accessible via a single login and a few intuitive navigation clicks or search queries. Associates report that they “finally feel like everything is in one place” instead of having to remember multiple URLs and passwords.
• Empowered Self-Service: By integrating HR and other internal systems, the intranet enables many self-service workflows that used to require emails or calls. For instance, clinicians can check their schedule or swap a shift without calling a manager, and associates can update their personal information or retrieve pay stubs on their own. This self-service empowerment not only saves time, but also boosts employee satisfaction when people feel less dependent on bureaucracy and more in control of their work life. In turn, support departments like HR and IT have seen fewer routine inquiries, freeing them to focus on more complex issues.
• Personalized and Relevant Communications: The communications team now delivers targeted content to different audiences within the organization. The intranet’s homepage dynamically shows information tailored to each user’s department, location, and role. A nurse might see clinical updates and nursing memos, while a corporate associate sees finance department news or facility announcements relevant to their office. Important system-wide alerts (like safety notices or weather closures) can still be broadcast to everyone via a banner, but the general news feed is customized per user. This personalization ensures employees aren’t inundated with irrelevant info, which keeps engagement high. In fact, personalized content in an intranet plays a huge role in keeping employees engaged and informed. Early analytics show significantly higher click-through and reading rates on news articles now that people see topics that matter to them.
• Mobile and Remote Friendly: The new intranet is fully responsive and also available as a mobile app wrapper. Frontline healthcare workers who don’t sit at desks (like hospital nurses, technicians, and support staff) can still easily use all the intranet features from their personal smartphones. Whether they’re at home or on a break, they can pull up the intranet to check the latest updates or look up a policy. This “always-on” access has been crucial in a 24/7 healthcare environment. During the project design, Nishtech made sure that mobile user experience was first-class, knowing how vital it is for a large portion of the workforce. As a result, the organization is seeing greater reach and usage of internal communications than ever before, since people aren’t limited to reading announcements pinned on a bulletin board or waiting for an email.
• Enhanced Sense of Community: By centralizing communications and resources, the intranet also fosters a stronger sense of community and culture across the far-flung organization. Leaders can easily share system-wide initiatives, spotlight associate success stories, and reinforce the mission and values that connect everyone. One feature the employees love is the daily inspirational quote that greets users on the homepage, aligning with the healthcare system’s culture and reminding associates of their shared purpose each morning. Little “moments of delight” like this, delivered through a sleek and modern interface, make the experience feel less like a bland corporate portal and more like a community hub. It’s a night-and-day difference from the old intranet, and associates have responded with enthusiasm.

Overall, the intranet will become an indispensable tool in the daily work of nearly 200,000 healthcare associates. It improves communication top-down and bottom-up, delivers the information people need when they need it, and helps everyone work smarter. Just as importantly, it positions the organization for the future, with a foundation in place for advanced capabilities like AI-powered search and chatbot assistants (planned for a later phase). The success of this project showcases how a well-executed intranet can drive employee engagement and efficiency on par with the best customer-facing digital experiences.

Why Healthcare Organizations Trust Nishtech’s Expertise

Implementing an intranet of this magnitude, on a newer Headless, Cloud based SaaS platform, required deep expertise and a steady hand. Nishtech was selected as the implementation partner for several compelling reasons:

Proven Track Record in Healthcare Tech: Nishtech is no stranger to the healthcare industry. In fact, they are well known as a leader in crafting digital experiences for healthcare providers. Over the years, Nishtech has partnered with leading healthcare brands to build patient portals, websites, and now intranets. This domain experience meant Nishtech’s team understood the complex needs of a health system (from privacy compliance to the importance of mission-centric content) from day one. The client could trust that Nishtech speaks their language and could anticipate challenges specific to healthcare.

Unparalleled Sitecore Expertise:As a long-standing Sitecore Gold Partner, Nishtech brought over a decade of Sitecore experience to the table. The project was led and executed by Sitecore veterans, including multiple Sitecore MVPsand developers who have delivered 100+ Sitecore solutions in their careers. This level of expertise was crucial for architecting the intranet on XM Cloud correctly. Nishtech knew how to leverage Sitecore’s strengths (and avoid pitfalls), optimize performance, and extend the platform where needed. Few agencies could claim this combination of Sitecore SaaS knowledge, deep healthcare expertise, and real-world intranet experience.

Collaboration and Innovation: Nishtech’s approach is very collaborative, both with their clients and with Sitecore’s own team. For this intranet, Nishtech worked hand-in-hand with the healthcare organization’s internal IT and communications departments, ensuring the solution met end-user needs and could be maintained long-term by the client. Nishtech also engaged Sitecore’s product engineers for guidance on pushing the XM Cloud capabilities to new heights given the 3× scale. This three-way partnership (client, Nishtech, Sitecore) was a recipe for success. It allowed for creative solutions to integration challenges and ensured the project stayed on the cutting edge of what the technology can do. Nishtech even influenced some best practices and needed features around SSO that Sitecore is now using for other large-scale XM Cloud deployments.

Commitment to Results: Ultimately, what set Nishtech apart is their commitment to delivering tangible results and their willingness to stand behind the solution. From the outset, Nishtech established clear KPIs with the client. Reducing the time to find key information, increasing intranet engagement rates, and improving associate satisfaction scores. All project decisions were aligned to these outcomes. Post-launch, Nishtech continues to provide support and optimization, iterating on new features like enhanced personalization and analytics. This focus on outcomes (not just launching a site and walking away) has earned Nishtech a trusted advisor status. It’s no surprise, then, that healthcare clients are increasingly turning to Nishtech for their digital transformation projects as they have a proven formula for success in this space.

Conclusion: A New Benchmark for Sitecore and Enterprise Intranets

What started as an ambitious idea, using Sitecore XM Cloud to power one of the world’s largest intranets, has become a shining reality for this U.S. healthcare leader. The project demonstrates that with the right vision and expertise, Sitecore’s composable digital experience platform can be stretched far beyond its usual use case, delivering huge value in an internal enterprise context. Employees now enjoy a cutting-edge intranet experience on par with the best consumer websites, tailored to make their jobs easier and strengthen their connection to the organization’s mission.

From Sitecore’s perspective, this intranet is a compelling case study to cross-promote: it underlines Sitecore XM Cloud (now Sitecore AI) as a robust, flexible platform for employee engagement and not just external marketing. The Sitecore product team can point to this success as proof of scalability, even to hesitant large enterprises. And within the Sitecore community, the buzz from Symposium has only grown. This project set a new benchmark that others now aspire to meet or exceed.

For Nishtech, delivering the largest Sitecore XM Cloud intranet to date is a proud achievement and a testament to their capabilities. It reinforces Nishtech’s reputation as the go-to partner for complex, enterprise-scale Sitecore implementations, especially in the healthcare sector where stakes are high and requirements are rigorous. The trusted partnership between the healthcare organization and Nishtech turned a bold vision into a digital workplace reality. As word of this success spreads, it’s clear that Nishtech’s proven success record and innovative approach are what gave the client confidence to leap ahead with Sitecore, and why more organizations may follow suit.

In the end, this story is about more than just technology. It’s about how reimagining an intranet (with the help of the right platform and the right partner) can fundamentally improve day-to-day life for thousands of employees. And when employees are empowered and informed, they can in turn provide better care and service, completing the virtuous cycle for a mission-driven organization. That’s the real power of a digital front door done right. Nishtech and Sitecore have swung that door wide open, and a new era of engaged, connected healthcare associates is stepping through.