Chester Zoo streamlines operations with Valto and Microsoft SharePoint

A zoo seeking modernization

Based in Cheshire, England, Chester Zoo is home to more than 20,000 animals and 128 acres of gardens. In addition to being one of the largest zoos in the United Kingdom, it is a conservation and education charity committed to preventing extinction.

Zoo staff members were looking to improve on an outdated system that had led to difficulties tracking policies, employee handbooks, and other key documents, making review and approval processes challenging and time-consuming. The zoo also had issues with ordering new uniforms. It needed a way to keep track of previous orders and an easy way to approve or reject any uniform-related requests. On top of that, the zoo wanted a news hub and a simple way to tally daily visitors.

Zoo stakeholders connected with Microsoft partner Valto.

“At Valto, we are honored to support Chester Zoo's noble mission of preventing extinction," said Hugh Valentine, CEO at Valto. "Our partnership extends beyond technology: It's about contributing to a cause that resonates deeply with our values. By empowering Chester Zoo with innovative solutions, we play a part in safeguarding biodiversity and preserving our planet's precious wildlife for generations to come.”

Expert consulting helps customers digitally transform their operations

With offices in London, Chester, and Southampton, Valto provides services across the United Kingdom, specializing in IT and cloud technology, including Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, and SharePoint. The company's scoping workshops, available on Microsoft AppSource, help organizations on their digital transformation journey. Consultants work with each organization to gain a comprehensive understanding of its IT strategy, then analyze the current application suite to make project recommendations that lead to scalable solutions.

For Chester Zoo, Valto used SharePoint to build a new intranet, inclusive of a homepage, modern branding, and a department template to roll out on other SharePoint sites. It also included hub navigation, a news section, and custom development for a visitor counter app.

Replacing an old static site, Valto created a controlled documents system. Chester Zoo can use this to manage policies, employee handbooks, and other key internal documents. The new system, controlled by Microsoft Power Automate, allows specific people to review and approve documents and policies. Additionally, Valto made a solution with Power Apps that manages staff uniform orders, and Valto conducted training sessions to ensure a successful rollout.

Realizing the zoo's vision

Chester Zoo is now able to quickly access any zoo-related news via its intranet. Zoo staff can easily manage policies and handbooks, and they can approve and review documents in a timely manner.

With the use of their new app, staff members can request uniforms in line with the seasons, and administrators can track previous orders and approve or reject requests.

"Valto replaced our aging intranet with a bright new fresh online version, making it far easier for staff to find what they need, use automated forms and policies, and provide a platform for our digital transformation journey," said David Owen, IT Director, Chester Zoo.

"Working with Chester Zoo was an exciting journey where we seamlessly integrated cutting-edge Microsoft technology with their vision for a more accessible and visually captivating intranet platform," said Dougie Wood, Microsoft consultant at Valto. "Our team at Valto took pride in modernizing their SharePoint system, infusing it with a fresh look and feel while ensuring ease of navigation. Witnessing how our solutions empowered Chester Zoo to streamline their operations and enhance collaboration was truly rewarding. This project exemplifies our commitment at Valto to deliver transformative digital experiences tailored to each client's unique needs."