What is an Intranet and is it Still Relevant to Your Organization?

Internal communications are at the center of digital change today. And, as companies adopt more advanced technological tools to communicate with and engage employees, the need to effectively reach frontline and in-office employees, regardless of where they work, is becoming increasingly important. Using the best intranet platforms can aid in smoothening internal communications.

According to a recent study, 57 percent of internal communications and HR professionals are feeling increased pressure to adopt a unified strategy for employee engagement.

What is an intranet?

You could be asking yourself, "What is an intranet?" Intranet platforms are private networks that corporations use to transmit communications only to their employees, and they've been utilized for internal communications for decades.

What's the difference between a corporate intranet and a public internet?

Intranet platforms appeared in the 1990s at the same time as the internet. The distinction between the internet and an intranet is simple: the internet is a public network that is not controlled by any institution, but an intranet system is privately owned and not available to anyone who has access to the internet.

What's the difference between an intranet and an extranet?

You've probably heard of an extranet. An intranet platform differs from an extranet in that an intranet is restricted to employees of a company, whereas an extranet can be accessed by approved third parties such as customers, vendors, or partners.

Employees primarily use intranets to find information, communicate throughout the organization, and manage workflows. An intranet is a website that is used exclusively by an airline company to provide updates and information to its employees.

Intranet systems originated as standalone company websites that could be customized, but they now have the capacity to interface with other technologies like platforms and social media to provide a more sophisticated internal communications experience.

Benefits of Using an Intranet

• Files and information may be easily stored.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of different-formatted files, float around in email threads, Google Drive, and hard drives on laptops and desktops in every workplace. All of your files can be stored and accessed in one single area with the help of a company intranet.

Any conversation that takes place on a business intranet is preserved for the duration of the network's availability. Individuals will be able to search for previous posts on their workplace intranet more easily as a result of this.

• Simple ways for employees to communicate

User profiles in intranet systems are frequently identical to your LinkedIn profile. A photo, job title and description, and contact information are all included. Any employee with intranet access can search for new colleagues and communicate with them via the intranet. This promotes improved collaboration and aids in the formation of a workforce network.

• A good Content Management System

Intranets began as a rudimentary welcome page with little information about a company in the 1990s. They've grown to incorporate discussion forums, blogs, and social features since then. Internal communicators have been able to use their intranet to communicate essential messages and organizational updates as a result of this.

My name is Ranny Watson. I'm a professional Digital Marketing Expert.