Employee Directory 365 vs Beyond Intranet: Which SharePoint Directory Tool Should You Choose?
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Finding the right tool for your support team can be tricky, especially when two products look similar on the surface but serve very different purposes.
- Both tools are SharePoint and Microsoft 365 add-ins, but they differ in setup speed, UI design, and how deeply they connect with Teams and Outlook.
- Employee Directory 365 is built for fast, no-code deployment with a simple, modern interface that needs little training.
- Beyond Intranet offers customization through its development team, which can mean more flexibility but also more dependency on support for changes.
- Your final choice should depend on team size, IT bandwidth, and how much out-of-the-box functionality your organization needs on day one.
Two names that often come up in this search are Employee Directory 365 and Beyond Intranet’s Employee Directory. Both promise to turn your SharePoint environment into an easy-to-use people finder. Both also claim to save HR and IT teams time, reduce dependency on manual updates, and give employees a faster way to connect with colleagues. On the surface, that can make the decision feel like a coin toss.
But they are not built the same way, and the differences matter once you start comparing setup time, design, integration depth, customization control, and long-term support. A directory tool that takes weeks to configure properly is not the same as one that is ready to use within a day.
In this blog, we will break down both tools side by side. We will look at what each one offers, how they fit into your existing Microsoft 365 setup, and which one is the smarter pick depending on your team’s needs, whether you are an IT admin evaluating technical fit or an HR leader thinking about employee experience and day-to-day usability. By the end, you will have a clear, practical answer instead of more confusion.
Curious how a modern employee directory looks inside Teams and SharePoint?
Quick Snapshot: Employee Directory 365 vs Beyond Intranet
Before we go deep into features, here is a quick snapshot of how both tools position themselves.
Feature | Employee Directory 365 | Beyond Intranet Employee Directory |
Platform | SharePoint & Microsoft Teams (SPFx based) | SharePoint (add-in & SPFx based) |
Setup time | Plug-and-play, typically minutes | Often involves vendor-assisted configuration |
UI design | Modern, simple, recognized for ease of use | Functional, customizable on request |
Teams integration | Native tab and personal app | Available, varies by package |
Customization | Built-in settings | Mostly handled through development requests |
Best fit for | Teams wanting fast, self-managed setup | Teams open to vendor-guided customization |
This is just the surface. Let’s look at each tool individually before comparing features point by point.
What Is Employee Directory 365?
Employee Directory 365 is a SharePoint and Microsoft Teams add-in designed to give every employee a fast, searchable view of who’s who in the company. It pulls data directly from your Microsoft 365 environment, so names, job titles, departments, and contact details stay accurate without manual updates. Instead of someone in HR exporting a spreadsheet every quarter, the directory simply reflects whatever is already true in your tenant.
It is built specifically for organizations already working inside the Microsoft ecosystem. Instead of forcing employees to learn a new tool, it sits inside SharePoint pages and Teams channels, places people already use every day. That detail matters more than it sounds. Tools that live outside an employee’s normal workflow tend to get ignored after the initial rollout excitement fades. A directory that shows up where people are already working has a much better chance of becoming a daily habit rather than a one-time installation that nobody opens again.
Employee Directory 365 has also been recognized on Microsoft AppSource as one of the most downloaded SharePoint employee directory solutions, and it has earned positive recognition on review platforms like G2 for its simplicity and security. For small and mid-sized businesses in particular, that combination of affordability and ease of use is often the deciding factor.
Core Highlights of Employee Directory 365
- Real-time sync with Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, so profile data stays current automatically.
- A clean, easy-to-navigate interface that needs minimal training for employees or admins.
- Org chart view to display reporting lines and team structures clearly.
- Restricted access controls, so sensitive fields are only visible to the right people.
- Usage analytics dashboard to track adoption across the organization.
- Engagement add-ons such as employee spotlights, work status, pronouns, and birthday reminders.
- Native availability inside Microsoft Teams as both a channel tab and a personal app.
The overall design philosophy is simplicity. You install it, connect it to your tenant, and within a short time, your directory is live and searchable inside SharePoint and Teams. There is no need to build custom workflows or wait on a development queue just to get a basic, functioning directory in front of your employees.
What Is Beyond Intranet's Employee Directory?
Beyond Intranet, a division of Beyond Key, offers an Employee Directory add-in built on SharePoint. It is part of a wider suite of SharePoint solutions the company provides, including onboarding tools, HR management add-ins, applicant tracking, workspace booking, and intranet accelerators. Beyond Key has been operating for close to two decades as a Microsoft Solutions Partner, and Beyond Intranet positions itself as a consulting-led provider rather than a pure self-serve software vendor.
Their Employee Directory focuses on giving employees a searchable list of colleagues with filters for name, location, department, and job title. It is bundled with extras like birthday and anniversary reminders, an org chart, and mobile access. The company also offers a newer SPFx-based version of the directory called HRD 365, which is positioned as a faster, more modern update to their original add-in.
Because Beyond Intranet operates with a strong consulting background, much of their value proposition centers on personalized support and the ability to request custom features. Reviewers frequently mention responsive support staff and a willingness to accommodate specific requirements, which can be appealing for organizations that want a more tailored, white-glove experience rather than a strictly self-managed tool.
Core Highlights of Beyond Intranet's Employee Directory
- Searchable directory with filters for department, location, and job title.
- Org chart and birthday or work anniversary reminders included as bundled add-ins.
- Integration with Microsoft 365 user profile data.
- Customization available through their development and support team.
- Mobile application access for on-the-go lookups.
- Newer HRD 365 version available with SPFx architecture for improved performance.
Because Beyond Intranet operates as a SharePoint consulting and solutions provider, much of the deeper customization and configuration work tends to involve their support or development team. This is not necessarily a drawback, some organizations genuinely prefer a guided rollout, but it is an important distinction to factor into your decision, especially if your IT team prefers tools they can configure independently.
Employee Directory 365 vs Beyond Intranet: Feature Comparison
Now let’s compare the two tools across the areas that matter most when choosing a SharePoint employee directory: ease of setup, design, integration, security, customization, and support.
1. Ease of Setup and Deployment
Employee Directory 365 is designed for a plug-and-play experience. Once deployed to your Microsoft 365 tenant, it begins syncing employee data automatically, and most teams can have a working directory live within minutes, with no custom development required. Admins simply install the app from AppSource, grant the necessary permissions, and the directory starts populating itself using existing Microsoft 365 and Entra ID data.
Beyond Intranet’s Employee Directory can also be deployed on SharePoint, but based on user feedback, getting it fully configured, especially advanced views or specific exclusions, often benefits from guided setup with their support team. One reviewer specifically mentioned a steep learning curve from an administrative standpoint, noting that a piece of software running on an active directory server was needed to sync certain profile fields properly. This is not necessarily a downside if you prefer hands-on help, but it does mean a longer runway to full deployment for teams.
2. User Interface and Experience
Employee Directory 365 has been recognized for its intuitive, modern interface. The layout is clean, search is fast, and navigation feels familiar because it mirrors the rest of the Microsoft 365 experience. Employees can switch between grid views, adjust profile card length, and filter results without needing a manual or training session.
Beyond Intranet’s directory is functional and gets the job done, with reviewers noting it is easy to use day to day. The newer HRD 365 version, built on the modern SPFx framework with Fluent UI, is a noticeable step up in look and feel compared to the older add-in. Some users mention that deeper customization of the look and feel typically requires reaching out to their team rather than adjusting settings directly within the app.
3. Microsoft Teams and Outlook Integration
Employee Directory 365 integrates natively into Microsoft Teams, appearing as a tab inside channels or as a personal app pinned to the sidebar. This means employees can search for a colleague and start a chat or call without leaving Teams, which removes friction from a task employees already do dozens of times a week.
Beyond Intranet also supports integration with Microsoft 365 tools, and its directory connects with Office 365 profile data. Their solution package, particularly the HRD 365 version, includes a Teams Tab and Teams Personal App component as well. The depth of Teams-specific integration can vary depending on the package and version deployed, so it is worth confirming exactly which components are included before purchase.
4. Security and Data Privacy
Employee Directory 365 keeps all directory data inside your own Microsoft 365 tenant. It does not store employee data outside your organization’s environment, and it includes restricted access settings so only authorized roles can view sensitive fields like phone numbers or personal details. This tenant-contained approach tends to simplify compliance conversations with internal security teams, since no employee data is transmitted to or stored on third-party servers.
Beyond Intranet’s solution is also built on the SharePoint platform, which means it inherits SharePoint’s underlying security model. As a SharePoint-native add-in, the same Microsoft 365 governance and compliance protections generally apply, though the extent of granular field-level permission controls may differ by package and version. Their newer HRD 365 offering also references SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certification along with GDPR compliance, which is worth confirming directly if your organization has strict compliance requirements.
5. Customization Options
Employee Directory 365 offers a number of settings you can adjust yourself, such as user roles, visible fields, exclusion rules, and view layouts. Administrators can grant or revoke admin and user roles directly from a settings panel, which keeps day-to-day management inside your own team’s hands.
Beyond Intranet positions custom features as something their team can build for you, which works well if you want a tailored experience and don’t mind working through their support or development process to get there. Reviewers have noted that the app could use more built-in customization options out of the box, though it works well as-is for organizations that do not need heavy personalization.
6. Customer Support Experience
Both companies have generally positive support reputations among reviewers. Employee Directory 365 offers live chat and a support request system for direct, fast troubleshooting, allowing admins to raise queries or feature requests without going through a lengthy process. Beyond Intranet is frequently praised in reviews for responsive, attentive support staff who help with setup and configuration requests, with several reviewers naming specific support team members who guided their rollout.
The key difference is in support style: Employee Directory 365 leans toward enabling connection available when needed, while Beyond Intranet leans toward a more guided, consultative support relationship where the vendor’s team is more actively involved in configuration and customization over time.
7. Scalability for Growing Teams
Employee Directory 365 is designed to handle organizations ranging from around fifty employees to several thousand, with performance that does not degrade as your headcount grows, since data sync runs through Microsoft 365’s existing infrastructure rather than a separate database that needs manual scaling.
Beyond Intranet’s directory tools are also used across startups, small and mid-sized businesses, and larger enterprises, with the company noting it serves organizations of varying sizes. As with customization, scaling considerations for more complex deployments may involve coordinating with their team to ensure performance stays smooth at higher user counts.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Employee Directory 365 is built for speed and collaboration; Beyond Intranet leans on guided, vendor-assisted setup.
- Employee Directory 365 has a more modern, widely recognized UI for ease of use.
- Employee Directory 365 offers native Teams integration with chat and call actions built in.
- Beyond Intranet bundles extra HR-style add-ins like onboarding tools as part of its broader suite.
- Employee Directory 365 gives admins more customization controls out of the box.
- Both tools sync employee data from Microsoft 365 and support SharePoint deployment.
How to Choose the Right Employee Directory for Your Business
Picking between these two tools comes down to how your organization likes to work. Here are a few questions worth asking before deciding:
- How fast do you need this live? If you want a working directory within days with minimal IT involvement.
- Do you want bundled HR features like onboarding, or just a clean directory? Some tools bundle more, which can be useful or unnecessary depending on your needs.
- How important is Teams-first usage? If most of your staff lives inside Teams all day, native Teams integration matters a lot.
- What’s your IT team’s bandwidth? A guided, vendor-supported rollout can work well if your IT team prefers hands-off deployment.
There is no universally right answer, but for organizations that want a fast, modern, self-managed directory that fits naturally into SharePoint and Teams, Employee Directory 365 is built with exactly that priority in mind while still giving you enough depth, org charts, access controls, analytics, and engagement features, to support a growing organization rather than just a basic contact list.
Who Should Use Employee Directory 365 vs Beyond Intranet?
Employee Directory 365 is a strong fit if you:
- Want a directory live within days, not weeks, with minimal IT lift.
- Prefer adjusting settings yourself instead of relying on a vendor for every change.
- Have employees who live inside Microsoft Teams for most of the workday.
- Are a small or mid-sized business looking for an affordable, easy-to-manage solution.
- Care about keeping all employee data inside your own Microsoft 365 tenant.
Beyond Intranet’s Employee Directory may suit you if you:
- Prefer a consulting-style relationship where a vendor team helps configure and customize the tool.
- Already use other Beyond Intranet or Beyond Key SharePoint products and want a consistent ecosystem.
- Need bundled extras like onboarding workflows alongside your directory.
- Have the internal patience and budget for vendor-assisted setup and ongoing customization requests.
Neither approach is universally wrong. It really comes down to whether your organization values speed, or prefers a more guided, relationship-driven rollout.
Switching Tools? Here's What to Keep in Mind
If you are currently using a different directory tool, or even a manual spreadsheet, moving to a new system does not have to be disruptive. Most modern directory add-ins, including Employee Directory 365, are designed to sync directly from your existing Microsoft 365 user profiles, so you are not starting from zero.
Before migrating, it helps to clean up your existing employee data in Microsoft 365, confirm which fields you want visible to which roles, and plan a short rollout communication so employees know where to find the new directory. A smooth transition usually takes far less time than people expect, especially with a tool designed for quick deployment.
Conclusion
Both Employee Directory 365 and Beyond Intranet help employees connect and collaborate within Microsoft 365. Beyond Intranet is suited to organizations looking for a more guided, consultative setup, while Employee Directory 365 offers a faster, more self-managed experience with features like org charts and Microsoft Teams integration.
For teams prioritizing ease of use, quick deployment, and seamless Teams connectivity, Employee Directory 365 is often the better choice. Ultimately, the right solution is the one that your employees will actively use every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Employee Directory 365 only for SharePoint, or does it work in Teams too?
It works in both. Employee Directory 365 can be added as a web part on any SharePoint page and also appears natively inside Microsoft Teams as a channel tab or personal app, so employees can use whichever platform they already prefer.
Does switching to a new employee directory tool mean losing existing data?
No. Both tools pull employee information from your existing Microsoft 365 and Entra ID profiles, so your current data becomes the foundation for the new directory rather than something you need to re-enter manually.
Can smaller businesses use these tools, or are they built only for large enterprises?
Both tools are used across organizations of different sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. Employee Directory 365 is specifically noted for being affordable and simple enough for SMEs, while Beyond Intranet also serves startups, mid-market companies, and enterprises.
Do these tools replace Microsoft Teams' built-in people search?
Not exactly. Both add richer functionality on top of what Teams and Outlook already offer, such as org charts, advanced filters, engagement features, and centralized management, rather than replacing native Microsoft search entirely.
How long does it typically take to roll out a new directory to employees?
With a like Employee Directory 365, a basic working directory can often be live within minutes to a few days. Vendor-assisted rollouts, such as more customized Beyond Intranet deployments, may take longer depending on the level of configuration requested.
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