In the world of digital workplaces, a modern Enterprise intranet is a purpose-built solution that streamlines all must-read communications and connects remote staff. It enables collaboration, fosters engagement, and grows company culture with ease.
When choosing a vendor, look for an intranet that integrates with systems you already use to streamline processes and improve productivity. A great intranet solution also offers analytics to measure employee engagement and other important metrics.
Communication
In today’s workplace, communication happens across multiple devices and platforms. Keeping employees informed is key to employee engagement and productivity. Providing messaging and information through your intranet helps ensure that everyone is on the same page.
A great way to keep your team updated is by posting company news, promoting upcoming events, or announcing new hires. An intranet with advanced tools for communicating and collaborating can make this process much easier. This can include social chats, project management tools, and document collaboration solutions like wiki’s and collaborative editing.
Most modern intranet software has built-in automation tools to help manage the flow of communication and content in the system. These features eliminate the need for a deeply involved administrator, and can include an auto governance engine that keeps data fresh and trustworthy by automatically archiving or reviewing outdated content.
If your current platform is lacking in these features, it might be time to switch solutions. Consider reaching out to your peers and searching online reviews of popular solutions. For example, Igloo’s Intranet and Collaboration Platform offers a range of workplace solutions from team chat and project management to content creation and search capabilities. It also comes with a variety of tools that enable you to automate your onboarding process, house your brand assets and create wiki pages. Another option is SAP Jam Collaboration, a platform that is designed to drive results by structuring conversations. It also has a range of features, including right-to-left language support and a free trial for up to 25 users.
Collaboration
An intranet can be a great place for collaboration, especially when it has features like forums and wikis. It also has many options for communicating with teams, such as private team chats and email alerts. It can even include a company news feed that provides a central location for the latest updates.
In addition, an intranet can allow for transparent communication between leadership and employees. This helps to build community and ensures that essential information reaches every member of the organization. It can also be a tool for employee recognition, helping to boost morale and increase productivity.
Finally, an intranet can be a one-stop shop for all important documents and systems, eliminating the need to jump between different tabs or tools. This is particularly helpful for dispersed workers, who may need to access data from other departments or locations.
When choosing an intranet software program, look for one that allows you to tailor it to your needs. Find out what kinds of tools your team uses most, such as document creation or communication with coworkers. Also, make sure your new intranet can integrate with other common systems like email and document management software. It should also have analytics that provide granular insights into how your employees are using it. This way, you can be confident that your investment is paying off.
Employee Engagement
Employee engagement is a key driver of business success. In fact, Forbes notes that employees who are engaged in their work are 21% more productive than those who aren’t. Engaged employees feel a connection to the company’s mission and goals and are committed to their position and responsibilities. Conversely, disengaged employees are disconnected from their role in the organization and can have a negative impact on those around them.
To foster engagement within your workplace, it’s important to connect employees with the information and tools they need. For example, workers who are remote or working from home need access to communications via their preferred channels and devices. To make this possible, look for intranet software that allows users to access content on desktop, mobile app, or browser.
An easy-to-use search engine is also an essential feature for helping people find the information they need. And if your company offers chat integrations, consider using an intranet that integrates them seamlessly so workers don’t have to leave the platform to talk with their teams.
Finally, a company calendar is another helpful tool to help workers stay on top of tasks and deadlines. It’s also a great place to highlight staff achievements and recognize them for their hard work, which can go a long way in building morale.
Security
The security of your intranet is critical, whether you’re using the latest digital workplace tools or legacy systems. A best-of-breed solution can help you meet industry standards and regulatory compliance, and protect your data from external threats.
The most important step is to secure the connection between your intranet and your corporate network. This is done through a firewall that filters the data passing from the intranet to the internet and vice versa, checking for unauthorized or suspicious activity.
A strong password policy is also necessary. A good practice is to require all employees to create a complex, unique password that they must change frequently. This will help keep hackers from gaining access to your system through a stolen password or guessed password. Server admins should also encourage members to avoid writing down their password, sharing it with others, or entering it on unsecure public Wi-Fi connections.
In addition to firewall software, a modern intranet should have a VPN or other security system that allows workers who are not connected to the company LAN to log into the intranet remotely. This type of security is particularly important for teams that need to work outside of the office or on personal devices, like smartphones and tablets. Ideally, the VPN or other security system can also be used to prevent workers from downloading, printing, saving, or taking screenshots of your intranet content.