A key consideration is whether you want to host the intranet in-house or use a cloud solution. It’s also essential to consider the technical proficiency of your workforce and choose a software that is easy to use.
Identify employees who are enthusiastic about the intranet and encourage them to contribute content. This will create a sense of ownership and boost adoption.
Collaboration
Collaboration in the enterprise intranet enables workers to communicate with colleagues from different departments. It also allows them to share information on projects and initiatives, and create synergies across teams. It helps in reducing time spent on searching for data because all the relevant information is stored in one central repository. It can help reduce costs and improve productivity by providing employees with a convenient way of accessing information.
The best company intranet software is designed for ease of use. A simple interface, with intuitive functionality on desktop and mobile, will ensure users get up to speed fast. This will result in a high adoption rate and better return on investment. It’s important to involve employees in the planning stage, as they will have ideas about the features they want. This will help you find a solution that meets their needs and will allow them to collaborate effectively.
A well-designed intranet will have social features that boost employee engagement. For example, it should feature an activity wall for updates, team chat, and other collaborative tools. It should also have a company directory that showcases employees’ current work projects and areas of expertise. This will make it easy for managers to identify and engage employees.
A company intranet should also support project management through a workflow automation tool and online forms. This will allow employees to submit vacation requests, approve expenses, or order critical supplies without the need for lengthy meetings. It will also enable a smooth transition between teams, and eliminate paper-based processes.
Information sharing
An intranet should be a central hub for professional development, including access to training materials, webinars, podcasts and videos. This encourages employee engagement and results in a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Additionally, a robust intranet platform should have a corporate calendar to keep employees up-to-date on company activities, and an advanced search function that allows users to find information quickly and efficiently.
Traditional portal-style intranets aren’t ideally suited for today’s flexible remote and hybrid teams, which require fast, in-context answers to get their work done. Their outdated user experiences and cumbersome search functions make them difficult to navigate and use.
Rather than waiting for a slow and expensive enterprise intranet refresh, consider using a ready-to-go business intranet solution that is simple to setup, requires no IT support and features a quick ROI. Many solutions also offer a free trial period to help you decide whether they are right for your organization. This is an excellent way to see if the intranet platform meets your needs and can be implemented without significant risk. If the platform doesn’t meet your requirements, it’s a good idea to consult with stakeholders and create a roadmap for future features. A specific, actionable change management process will also help build buy-in and ensure long-term adoption of the new system. The best intranet software for businesses satisfies 80%-90% of your needs out-of-the-box.
Communication
A successful enterprise intranet must have advanced communication tools to promote employee engagement and keep the entire company informed. These should include message boards, forums, media-sharing tools, and comment systems. They should also be integrated with corporate data hubs to streamline workflows. In addition, they should have push notifications that alert employees to new information and updates. For example, a platform like Blink can tailor its content and notification emails to specific industries or departments, such as transit or healthcare centers.
Today, many companies have remote workers and need to engage them no matter their location or device. To do so, a modern intranet must have mobile and desktop support and social features that encourage interaction. In addition, it should be secure and easy to use. In a world where employees switch between 13 different tools an average of 30 times a day, organizations need a centralized place for all their internal communications and applications.
A great company intranet should be fun and engaging, and it must help users achieve the growth, productivity, and streamlined operations every business wants. It should have features that facilitate collaboration, such as team chat and activity walls. It should also have tools that encourage interaction, such as news and blogs, and a social media-like feed. It should also provide a personalized experience that removes distractions, eliminates duplicate information, and allows employees to quickly find what they need.
Security
When it comes to the enterprise intranet, security is of utmost importance. This is because the platform houses many critical files and communications that are commercially sensitive or contain personal details of staff members. If such data were to become publicly available or held hostage by cybercriminals, the consequences would be damaging for a business of any size.
In addition, it is common for remote workers to access the intranet on their mobile devices, and this can present a security risk if they are not working on a secure network or using a VPN. Employees should be educated on the importance of ensuring their laptops and mobiles are securely locked at all times when not in use, so no one else can access their work. They should also be aware that they should never respond to emails or instant messages that request confidential client information or personal details.
Modern intranets allow for granular file and page permissions to be set up that are dependent on job role or seniority, so only those who should have access can view them. Additionally, they can be integrated with other tools (e.g., a survey tool or HR planning software) that enable employees to work in ways that best suit their needs and make them more productive. They can also feature log-in protocols like Single Sign-on that are seamless and centralized, making it more difficult for hackers to get into the system.