While the web is a global network of computers linked together, an intranet is an indoor network that may be accessed only internally and usually is accessed through a password by authorized users like employees, existing clients, or customers. Allowing clients to access project and budget data, invoices, and old reports through a password is an example of an intranet.
The key advantage to implementing an intranet is improved communications; an intranet facilitates employees sharing knowledge with each other, collaboration on work-related documents, learning the most recent company news, and socializing outside of labor and forming stronger bonds. Additionally, intranets can save companies money on printing, paper, and distribution costs. they’ll also increase productivity and efficiency.
For example, if employee directories, benefits information (401(k), insurance, etc.), holidays, upcoming events, company organizational charts, and policies are posted on the intranet, employees spend less time looking for paperwork or calling employees in other departments for answers to their questions. Employees can even receive information regarding news and announcements simultaneously and during a timely manner instead of having to attend for the knowledge to be announced within the next staff/team meeting or distributed in their internal mailboxes. This sharing of data makes employees feel like they’re a vital a part of the organization. As a result of improved communications and efficiency, employees are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and become more loyal to the company, thereby increasing employee retention and improving customer service.
To ensure that an intranet is successful, the knowledge on that must be in keeping with the company’s brand, business objectives, and mission. Additionally, enough staff and resources should be allocated to promote and implement the intranet likewise as adequate staff to maintain and refresh it.
When thinking of a site name for your intranet, think of a name that’s in line with your brand. for instance, Southwest Airlines’ intranet is named Freedom Net, supported its external brand “A Symbol of Freedom,” which is simpler to recollect, saucier, and powerful than www.southwest.com/employees/intranet.
The best thanks to determine what information should be included in your intranet is to conduct interviews or focus groups with employees from various departments.
Incorporating intranet objectives in regular strategic planning helps to make sure that the intranet is aligned together with your company’s goals and objectives annually. Ideally, you must consider a team approach, incorporating input from a various set of users’ needs and perspectives to review and refresh the intranet. The intranet strategist would monitor performance against objectives, track the budget and resources allocated to the project, and make sure that standard procedures are implemented within the layout of pages. The intranet operations person would be accountable for the day-to-day operations of the location, which includes interacting with other departments like human resources and marketing to get updated materials. The intranet developer’s main job is to see ways during which to enhance and enhance the intranet. However, betting on how large your company is, you may assign only 1 person to be chargeable for all three major tasks or find this function to be served by outsourcing to a consultant. Along with analyzing suggestions that employees send via the net suggestion box, employees should be surveyed on a daily basis about the intranet’s content and style, and results should be available on the intranet for all employees to determine. If changes are made as a result of feedback from employees, take care to say this on the intranet to prove to your employees that you simply value their feedback and make them feel like they’re actively involved within the process.
Simply alerting your employees via e-mail that your company has implemented an intranet might not be enough to entice them to use it.
You need to induce them energized and excited about the intranet. Perhaps you could provide lunch for your staff at some point and explain the way to use it and what the advantages are to them and to the corporate. you’ll be able to also create a proper implementation plan and publicize it internally by using testimonials and specific stories from employees who have tested it, with confirmation about how easy it’s to use and what the particular benefits to them are. additionally, you’ll also send out an announcement letter or perhaps hold an intranet launch party.
The success of your intranet depends not only on adequate staff,funding, and site content, but also on senior management buy-in. If senior management fails to actively support the intranet, it’ll be a challenge to convince others to use the system. If company leaders expect their employees to use the intranet, they need to lead by example and use it themselves.
