How to Create a SharePoint Employee Directory in Microsoft 365 (Without Coding)

Finding colleagues in a large organisation can be frustrating when SharePoint’s out-of-the-box options are limited. Many companies want a simple, searchable employee directory integrated directly into Microsoft 365 - without custom development or ongoing headaches. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to set up a SharePoint employee directory, why it matters for collaboration, and how modern web parts like ours make it effortless.

5/8/20241 min read

Why an Employee Directory Matters
  • Improves collaboration across teams & locations

  • Helps HR onboard faster

  • Saves IT from constant “who handles payroll?” questions

  • Boosts adoption of your intranet

Limitations of Out-of-the-Box SharePoint
  • Improves collaboration across teams & locations

  • Default “People Search” is not intuitive

  • User Profiles aren’t visually engaging

  • Difficult for non-technical staff to use

  • No built-in “staff directory view”

Options for Building an Employee Directory
  • Custom coding (SPFx) – flexible, but high maintenance

  • Third-party tools – fast to deploy, fully supported

  • Hybrid approaches – using search + profiles (but limited)

The Easy Way – Using a SharePoint Web Part App
  • Plug-and-play directory experience

  • Filter by department, location, skills

  • Mobile-friendly & branded

  • No need to manage code or servers

Next Steps
If you’re planning a modern intranet or want to improve staff collaboration, a dedicated employee directory is essential.

Try our SharePoint Employee Directory Web Part and see how quickly you can get set up.