The Benefits of an Enterprise Intranet
A company intranet is more than just a portal. It streamlines business processes, increases employee engagement and eliminates data silos.
Look for an intranet solution with chat integration and a robust wiki. These features reduce the amount of time employees spend chasing down subject matter experts or waiting for responses.
Streamlined business processes
Streamlining business processes through the use of an enterprise intranet can help reduce costs and increase productivity. These benefits are important in the long run as companies can improve their bottom line and become more competitive. Streamlining business processes can also help improve quality and customer satisfaction.
Creating a streamlined process takes time, but it can be worth it in the long run. Companies often lose 20-30% of their revenue due to inefficient processes. Inefficient processes waste employees’ time, frustrate customers and prospects, and cause poor decision-making. Streamlining business processes will allow businesses to focus on their core competencies and make the best decisions based on real-time data.
The first step in streamlined business processes is to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks. This can be done by conducting a deep dive into current procedures and talking to those who perform the work. Afterwards, the next step is to implement automation software to replace manual intervention. This will free up employee time and reduce errors.
An intranet can be used to enhance operational flow through document management, workflow automation, and online collaboration tools. In addition, it can be used to provide visibility into business processes by creating a dashboard with reports on progress and metrics. This allows for greater transparency and enables employees to notice missed deadlines, which can be costly for the company.
Increased employee engagement
With remote and hybrid work arrangements becoming increasingly common, employee engagement has never been more important. The intranet can be a hub for recognition and internal communication that is central to company culture and the way that people define themselves as part of the organization. This is a great place for managers to highlight individual team members’ achievements through announcements and newsletters.
Additionally, an intranet can be a hub for professional development by providing access to training materials and eLearning courses. In turn, this makes employees feel like their organization cares about their growth and success. It also combats the skills shortage that is plaguing the workplace by educating current and future employees in areas of critical need.
An intranet can also serve as a place for co-workers to connect and socialize outside of work. Having a space for affinity groups, memes and other non-work related activities can help build team relationships and a sense of community that is often lost when employees are working remotely or in different locations.
An intranet that is easily accessible through mobile devices and computers is essential to employee engagement. If employees have to constantly switch between multiple tools and platforms, their cognitive load increases and they become more disengaged. A state-of-the-art intranet can be built with features that allow users to personalize their timeline and content, as well as enable them to quickly and easily access the information they need through advanced smart search functionality.
Elimination of data silos
When departments are able to collaborate and communicate effectively, your company will be able to achieve optimum productivity. However, communication silos can be a major hinderance to teamwork and can prevent the organization from moving forward in a timely manner. It’s also difficult to make decisions when information is scattered across multiple teams. The problem is that when the various departments don’t share information, they often have conflicting goals and make decisions based on limited knowledge.
A modern intranet solution eliminates these silos through the use of portal platforms that produce information hierarchies and make data easily accessible to users. The solution can also provide tools that automatically delete or archive outdated content, reducing duplication and time spent searching for information. Additionally, it can connect all of your other digital workplace solutions and apps through one single sign-in, reducing frustration for employees who have to repeatedly log in and out of different applications.
Another important benefit of an intranet is its ability to increase employee engagement by allowing them to contribute to the community through forums and social walls. This allows them to feel a sense of ownership in the company, and it increases trust between them and their managers. The solution can also be used to collect structured and unstructured feedback through surveys and comments, which will help your team develop an understanding of the challenges that they face.
Increased productivity
Modern intranets are designed with employees’ needs in mind. They prioritize mobile access, social and collaborative features, personalization and UX improvements. They also provide advanced analytics and insights. These features allow companies to measure and gauge employee engagement. They also help employees work more efficiently by providing tools that automate processes and reduce manual effort.
A centralized information repository helps improve productivity by reducing the need for multiple email exchanges and meeting discussions. It also allows for consistent messaging and ensures that all employees have the same information at hand. It eliminates miscommunication and misunderstandings, and creates a sense of unity throughout the organization.
An intranet can also be used for professional development and training. This can include webinars, podcasts and video presentations. The platform can also host discussions and Q&A sections, which encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing among employees. These functions can help your company attract and retain top talent.
Lastly, an intranet can provide self-service tools, such as personalized dashboards and calendar invites. This will enable employees to manage their own tasks and schedules, and will save time for those who have to process employee services such as vacation requests or leave applications. This is especially important for millennials and Gen Z who expect the same digital conveniences in their workplace as they do in their private lives.