Ensure the intranet solution you choose is accessible for all. This includes ensuring the software is compatible with screen readers, and that content is regularly refreshed to keep it up-to-date.
Many cloud-based providers offer a demo or trial period to get your team hands-on with the software. Also, be sure to ask colleagues for recommendations, and research solutions on specialist tech sites.
Communication
A company intranet is an employee portal – a private network inaccessible to the public internet. It provides employees with the tools and information they need to do their jobs and connect with colleagues. It is a critical component of the modern digital workplace and can boost employee productivity, engagement, and innovation. It is a place where employees can “e-meet”, share ideas and collaborate on projects. It also contains an organization’s shared knowledge and culture.
The best intranet software delivers all the essential components of a modern internal communication tool in one platform that’s easy to use and access from anywhere with an internet connection. These include features for document collaboration, employee recognition, and employee-centric tools like dynamic news hubs. In addition, the best platforms integrate with key business applications and systems so users can get to what they need quickly without having to switch between tools or apps.
The best intranets are designed with workers in mind and incorporate all the latest innovations in online communication. They feature notifications that are customized for each user and alert them to only the content they want to see. They also include interactive and dynamic employee directories, enabling users to search for their colleagues by location or department. They can even click through to start a chat with team members they find.
Collaboration
An intranet software helps organizations communicate and collaborate across departments, regardless of location. It consolidates document, content, project, and customer relationship management into a unified platform. Modern intranets have features like search engines, blogs, mobile apps with notifications, and events planning. They can also offer integration with existing software like Office 365, SharePoint, and SAP.
Some companies are moving to a social intranet that operates more like an Enterprise intranet social network. This kind of intranet can be more engaging for frontline workers, who are often digitally excluded by communication tools designed for large corporate communications. The resulting disconnect can be difficult to bridge.
Many modern intranet programs include forums, wikis, and task assigning to help teams stay organized. Some even allow users to directly edit documents, spreadsheets, slides, and other commonly used productivity apps on the program. This can save time and reduce the need to switch between multiple tabs or tools.
In addition to these features, some modern intranet programs also include the ability to flag certain news and announcements for particular groups or leaders. This can ensure that urgent messages don’t get lost in the shuffle or overlooked. One popular option is Communifire, which offers a scalable program with Office 365 integration and a mobile app. It also includes tools like digital forms and people directories.
Knowledge management
A good intranet can help employees find and understand the information they need. It can also support collaboration. This allows employees to share knowledge and ideas with one another, improve their work, and make better decisions. A successful intranet will also promote the company culture and increase employee engagement.
A new generation of intranet software makes knowledge sharing and internal communication genuinely easier. Instead of relying on static, one-size-fits-all communications, modern platforms provide users with personalized dashboards and home pages that report news, executive updates, and more. In addition, they often support mobile and collaborative features to encourage interaction among colleagues.
The first step in choosing an intranet solution is to identify the key problems you want it to solve. This can include identifying the types of documents your business needs to store and access. You can then use this to identify the best system for your needs.
The most common drawbacks of an intranet are that it takes a long time to set up and requires a highly involved administrator. However, these concerns are mainly associated with older, outdated intranets that lack the tools and functionality required to keep up with today’s fast-paced, always-on workplace.
Employee engagement
Employee engagement is a key factor for intranet success. It requires a continual effort to keep employees informed and engaged in your company culture. A full-service social intranet can help with this, as it provides a hub of information and tools to drive organizational culture. The modern intranet can also provide powerful functionality to recognize and reward employees for their efforts, ranging from a simple digital high five to a recognition certificate.
One way to encourage employee engagement is to introduce gamification strategies to your intranet. Gamification uses game elements in non-game contexts to create excitement and motivate behavior change. Gamification features can include scoreboards, achievement badges, levels with status, and virtual meters to promote performance. These features can help increase employee participation in content generation, discussion forums, and other activities.
Another effective way to keep employees engaged is to use humor in your content posts. Using fun challenges, photo contests, or trivia questions can help keep employees interested in your intranet. These activities can also help build teamwork. For example, you can host a photo contest with the theme “two truths and one lie”.
Intranets should be easy to use. They should have mobile capabilities to ensure that employees can access them anytime, anywhere. They should also be personalized to show relevant data based on the user’s job profile, location, and activity. This will help them feel like a part of the organization. It can also help them make sense of the avalanche of information available to them and give them the ability to find what they’re looking for.