A sustainable digital workplace in the current business landscape would be incomplete without a robust intranet platform. It’s not an understatement to say the time of social intranets has arrived.

Your intranet should offer a pan-organizational experience and steer clear of creating silo-based workflows. It should cohesively bring multiple units together to offer a coherent view of the company to your employees.

All that said, how do you zero in on the best intranet platform?

• What are the key features you should be looking at?
• What are the no-brainers?

In our infographic, we give you ten critical components that can be your guidelines to consider while making the choice for the best intranet platform.

Let’s dive right in.

The shift to the cloud and its potential benefits are often underrated in the digital-first workplace. Of course, in recent times, the topic of enterprise cloud suites has moved from just water cooler discussions to becoming a critical part of boardroom discussions. 

Scratching beneath the surface, there is consensus among C-suite leaders that the cloud suite is not just another shiny tool. Well, the proof is in the pudding. 

A Gartner study reports that worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services will reach $678.8 billion in 2024, a spike from $563.6 billion in 2023.

A recent McKinsey survey reports that companies that moved their operations to the cloud experienced a 47% faster time to market. This is a game-changing benefit. How do enterprise cloud suites transform business operations to impact the bottom line?

For one, organizations adopting cloud suites open the horizon to many opportunities – automating workflows, integrating disparate software systems to drive improved collaboration, and enhancing communication and transparency within the organization.

This blog explores how an enterprise cloud suite helps organizations achieve more than operational efficiencies. 

1. Unified Operations for Optimized and Strategic Decision-Making

An enterprise cloud suite consolidates various operational systems—such as communication, project management, collaboration software, productivity tools, and more—into a single unified platform. That leaves employees with the free time to focus more specifically on their KRAs rather than dealing with multiple software that leaves data and communication silos. 

From a business benefit standpoint, this reduces the time spent on navigating and managing different tools, leading to improved decision-making and fewer instances of operational oversight. Studies show businesses using integrated cloud solutions see a 30% reduction in operational costs. InfinCE’s customizable dashboards provide a unified view of organizational goals and productivity metrics, helping remote teams stay aligned and focused. This capability is particularly valuable for organizations that must monitor performance and ensure accountability among distributed teams.

2. Driving Sustainable Growth and Innovation

While streamlining operations is only one function of an enterprise cloud suite’s capabilities, they are also critical growth facilitators. Cloud suites built for enterprises create an ecosystem where growth becomes sustainable. Your existing systems must not be overhauled; they must be integrated. Cloud solutions facilitate that integration, ensuring minimal disruption while amplifying efficiency. The result? A faster time to market, a more agile workforce, and measurable ROI that hits the bottom line in ways traditional methods can’t.

3. Enabling Cost Savings

According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, organizations can significantly reduce their IT budgets by minimizing costs associated with maintaining software and infrastructure. One of the most fundamental advantages of a cloud suite is significant cost savings. By allowing businesses to move from siloed capital expenditure models to a more flexible and scalable pay-as-you-go approach. Cloud suites built for enterprises also help businesses make financial sense. As businesses allocate their financial resources more strategically, they can bypass hefty upfront investments in hardware maintenance and software licensing. 

4. Offering Flexibility and Scalability 

A 2023 Buffer survey indicates a clear leaning toward remote working; 97% of workers prefer to continue working remotely, at least part-time, for the rest of their careers. This means flexibility is a big draw for employees in today’s gig economy. Enterprise cloud suites enable employees to access applications from any device with an internet connection, fostering collaboration and productivity. This accessibility breaks down geographical barriers, allowing organizations to build a globally distributed workforce. 

For example, InfinCE’s enterprise cloud solution is designed to empower employees by providing a comprehensive suite of tools that prioritize remote collaboration. With distinct collaboration features like video conferencing, instant messaging, collaboration apps, and critical project management tools, InfinCE enables teams to communicate and collaborate effectively regardless of their location.

5. Driving Enhanced Data Security

A report from the Cloud Security Alliance states that 64% of organizations cite security as their primary concern when adopting cloud services. Typically, cloud suites designed for enterprises with advanced security protocols, including end-to-end encryption and stringent access controls, can ensure that sensitive information remains confidential and is only accessible to authorized personnel.

InfinCE’s dedicated virtual server ensures that each customer’s data is isolated on its secure server, minimizing the risk of data exposure in multi-tenant environments.  InfinCE’s private IT infrastructure simplifies data backup and recovery processes. In the event of hardware failure or data loss, organizations can quickly restore their information, minimizing downtime and operational disruptions. Additional security features include advanced user access controls, allowing organizations to define who can access specific data and applications. This granular control enhances security by ensuring that only authorized users can view or manipulate sensitive information.

Conclusion

Enterprise cloud suites are instrumental in helping organizations reach higher-order goals. Whether it means optimizing operational efficiency or integrating disparate systems for improved workplace collaboration. At its core, a well-rounded cloud suite built for enterprises is designed to simplify and elevate your entire business operation, not just pieces of it. Each feature plays a key role in driving efficiency, integrating existing systems, and offering measurable returns on investment—all while positioning your company for sustained growth and innovation.

As an enterprise cloud suite trusted by organizations across verticals and of all sizes, InfinCE is proven to deliver measurable results. With InfinCE, organizations can expect significant returns on investment, including a 25% increase in productivity and a 40% faster time-to-market for new products and services. InfinCE empowers organizations to adapt and innovate in today’s digital-first landscape. With its comprehensive suite of tools, businesses can confidently navigate complexities and unlock their full potential.

Book a demo and discover how InfinCE can transform your organization into an efficient, collaborative, innovative powerhouse. 

Traditional communication, collaboration, and knowledge management approaches are becoming increasingly obsolete in today’s digitally-driven workplace. Overlooking workplace challenges jeopardizes productivity greatly. Intranet platforms have found a substantial place in today’s modern workplace, and they deliver results that drive productivity, improve communication, and enhance workplace collaboration. Intranets reduce employee onboarding time by an astonishing 50%, rapidly assimilating newcomers into the corporate fold. They also reduce email overload by 40%. An Intranet is more than a tool; it’s a corporate Atlas. The rise of remote and hybrid work has necessitated new tools for connectivity. Intranets have risen to this challenge, supporting organizations as they adapt to these dynamic paradigms. Remarkably, a study by Gartner reveals 85% of forward-thinking companies employ Intranets to ensure seamless remote and hybrid work experiences. Check out this infographic for more on why your intranet is a crucial tool in addressing gaps and solving workplace challenges.

Of course, AI is driving headlines across all industries today. But, quietly in the background, the cloud has become an essential mandate for digital organizations. In 2020, enterprise cloud suites were just 9% of global IT spending. However, 2024 tells a very different story. 

A 2023 Gartner report suggests global cloud spending will hit $678.8 billion by 2024, up from $563.6 billion in 2023. The report also indicates that cloud budgets will overtake traditional IT spending in 2025. 

Therefore, the key takeaway for organizations today is that to stay relevant, they must go a mile ahead of just dipping a toe in the cloud!

Why Does Your Cloud Suite Decision Matter?

Even more so, choosing the right enterprise cloud suite is a critical decision that can have long-term consequences for your business. How enterprise cloud suites transform business operations is a key consideration, as agility, scalability, and security become increasingly important. Your chosen cloud suite must align with your business goals and operational needs. As a digital organization, you must identify a solution that meets your current requirements and has the flexibility to grow and adapt as your business evolves.

That said, choosing the right enterprise cloud platform involves more than just a technology decision; it’s closely tied to long-term business strategy. Add to the mix issues like vendor lock-in, where your business becomes too dependent on a single provider. This limits flexibility and raises costs. 

This guide is your go-to as we help you assess key criteria while deciding on your enterprise cloud software. When you make the right decision, you set yourself up for long-term success.

Key Considerations While Choosing Your Enterprise Cloud Suite

Let’s start with a disclaimer. Not all cloud suites are created equal. So, what works for one company may not be the best fit for another. The first criterion, therefore, is always to ensure that the enterprise cloud platform you choose aligns with your unique business objectives, especially when addressing the technology challenges of small businesses. Here are a few other criteria to consider,

1. Scalability and Flexibility

A scalable cloud platform is not just about handling more users or data volumes. Your cloud suite should be able to grow and adapt to your organization. For new market expansion, product or service offerings, or seasonal fluctuations, your cloud suite must have all bases covered without significant disruption. When your cloud solution is scalable, it can help your business rapidly recover from disasters and system failures. 

Consequently, this can minimize disruption and maintain business continuity. Imagine an incident like the recent Crowdstrike, and a scalable cloud platform can save you millions of dollars in revenue. Scalable cloud platforms are also useful in reducing disaster recovery costs by eliminating the need for a secondary data center. Businesses can analyze and process data to gain insights and make decisions faster when your enterprise cloud solution is built for scalability. 

2. Security and Compliance

The average data breach cost today is approximately $4.45 million. A no-brainer, robust security features are critical to a successful enterprise cloud software. However, identifying solutions with in-built security mechanisms and ensuring they cover the full spectrum of potential cybersecurity breaches is a far cry. Add to the mix the complexity of compliance on the cloud. Additionally, compliance with industry-specific regulations (such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2) is crucial, especially for businesses operating in highly regulated sectors like healthcare and finance. 

To begin with, factor in how your data is used within the cloud platform. Look for cloud software that offers data management within a secure environment and manages data with utmost exclusivity. Make sure your cloud suite has in-built enterprise-grade security norms protecting data in transit and at rest Starting with a minimum viable cloud and building around that can be suitable since every organization has unique requirements, and cloud adoption doesn’t need to be a ‘big bang’ from the start. That’s where customizability comes into play. 

Read More: Ebook: The Ultimate Intranet Buyer’s Guide!

3. User Experience and Accessibility

Ask any modern employee today to list their problem points with internal software in their digital workplace. You’ll likely hear all of them dealing with legacy IT infrastructure. Endless help desk tickets, lack of integration, recurring security issues, and frequent downtime and disruptions. All of this can be tackled efficiently with an enterprise cloud platform.

Users can have a seamless user experience rather than going through upgrades piecemeal. Your cloud suite should be intuitive and easy to follow so your employees can quickly adapt and use it to its full potential. Steep learning curves can be a significant deterrent, making it complex and inaccessible. Employees should be able to access the cloud suite from any device, anywhere, at any time. This is particularly important in today’s hybrid work environment, where flexibility is key. An enterprise cloud suite offering a mobile experience can enhance productivity and ensure your team stays connected, regardless of geographic location.

4. Collaboration Tools

With hybrid workplaces, inefficient workplace technology can impede an employee’s ability to collaborate well and hampers overall productivity. When choosing an enterprise cloud suite, collaboration, and real-time internal communication should be considered two arm rails driving the entire cloud platform. A McKinsey study reports that organizations prioritizing collaborative working environments are 5 times more likely to be high-performing. 

Don’t go by just ticking off checkboxes for must-have features but understand how shared workspaces and integrated communication channels can benefit your teams. Choosing the right collaboration suite means finding tools that fit your team’s needs, integrate seamlessly with existing workflows, and support both real-time and asynchronous work. The best tools simplify tasks, foster innovation, and help teams work smarter, not harder. 

5. Comprehensive Support and Training

Investing in a new enterprise cloud solution significantly affects your bottom line. It is not a one-and-done activity but one that requires constant follow-up. Ergo, look for an enterprise solution that offers comprehensive support services, including 24/7 technical assistance, a dedicated account manager, and a robust knowledge base. Not to forget, training is another critical component—your team should be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to make the most of the cloud suite’s features. 

To Conclude

The cloud isn’t only a future-proof business strategy. It’s to equip your business to sustain the current market. To thrive in this competitive environment, enterprises must ensure that cloud choice is driven by a strategic eye and not by just ticking checkboxes for the most basic features. The implications of a wrong choice are significant: losing a competitive edge, piling operational costs, and potentially overwhelming IT teams dealing with many technical glitches.

On the contrary, when you pick the right enterprise cloud suite, you are already one step closer to optimized business efficiency. InfinCE offers a comprehensive enterprise cloud suite that can help your business succeed without the challenges of your IT teams bursting at the seams or overhead costs. 

Evaluate your options carefully and ensure your choice sets you up for long-term success.

Want to see how InfinCE fits into your enterprise strategy? Contact us or request a demo.

If you are considering an employee intranet platform or a team intranet portal, the first thing you need to think about is how workplace communication has evolved over time. Gone are the days when fax machines where whirring or typewriters were used in abundance. Employees today do not essentially follow a linear path to communication. They prefer using a suite of tools and have preferences for each of their communication and collaboration needs.

Employee experience has become as important as customer experience, given how it drives overarching business success. The formula is simple – You keep your employees happy and content, your customers are also going to feel satisfied, and there is going to be less churn.

In this article, we cover all bases – we help you understand the critical role modern intranets play in enhancing productivity, fostering collaboration, and streamlining communication.

Intranets: Then and Now

From Static Repositories to Dynamic Hubs

Intranets have come a long way since their inception in the 1990s. Initially, they were simple web-based platforms designed to facilitate internal communication and document sharing within organizations. Over time, they evolved into more sophisticated systems, but the true transformation came with the advent of contemporary intranets.

Traditional Intranets: In the early days, intranets served as static repositories of information. They were one-way communication tools where organizations could post announcements and share documents. These intranets lacked interactivity and failed to meet the evolving needs of modern workplaces.

Modern intranets, on the other hand, are dynamic, interactive, and tailored to meet the unique needs of today’s businesses. They serve as collaboration hubs, fostering real-time communication, knowledge sharing, and streamlined workflows. Unlike their predecessors, modern intranets are versatile, accommodating remote work and providing a consistent user experience across devices.

How Your Frontline Workers Can Benefit from a Modern Intranet

Frontline workers are the backbone of many industries, from retail and healthcare to manufacturing and logistics. Traditionally, they have been underserved when it comes to communication and access to information. However, the demands on frontline workers have evolved, and so too should the tools that support them.

Frontline workers often face challenges such as limited access to company resources, communication silos, and difficulties in staying updated with company policies and procedures. Inefficient communication and a lack of access to critical information can lead to decreased productivity and reduced job satisfaction.

Empowering Frontline Workers

A modern intranet can bridge these gaps and empower frontline workers. It provides a platform for real-time communication, and access to important documents and training materials. It ensures that everyone in the organization, regardless of their role, has the tools they need to excel.

Features of a Modern Intranet

Modern intranets come equipped with a range of features designed to enhance communication, collaboration, and knowledge management:

1. User-Friendly Interface: Modern intranets prioritize ease of use, offering intuitive interfaces that resemble popular social media platforms. This familiarity encourages user adoption and reduces the learning curve.

2. Integrated Communication Tools: They provide integrated communication tools, including instant messaging, video conferencing, and discussion forums, enabling real-time interaction and fostering a sense of community among employees.

3. Mobile Responsiveness: In today’s mobile-centric world, modern intranets are designed to be mobile-responsive, allowing frontline workers to access information and collaborate from anywhere using their smartphones or tablets.

4. Integration Capabilities: They seamlessly integrate with other software and applications commonly used in the workplace, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, inventory management tools, and more. This integration streamlines workflows and increases productivity.

5. Content Management: Modern intranets offer robust content management features, making it easy to organize, share, and update documents and resources. This ensures that frontline workers always have access to the latest information.

How Modern Intranets Impact the Digital Employee Experience

The digital employee experience is a critical factor in employee satisfaction and productivity. Modern intranets play a pivotal role in shaping this experience by:

1. Increasing Engagement: By providing an interactive and engaging platform, modern intranets keep employees connected and motivated. Frontline workers can participate in discussions, share feedback, and contribute to company culture.

2. Streamlining Onboarding: Modern intranets accelerate the onboarding process for new frontline employees. They can access training materials, company policies, and connect with colleagues from day one.

3. Facilitating Knowledge Sharing: Frontline workers often possess valuable insights gained from their hands-on experience. Modern intranets empower them to share this knowledge across the organization, fostering a culture of continuous learning.

4. Improving Accessibility: Accessibility is crucial, especially for frontline workers who may not have access to desktop computers. Modern intranets ensure that vital information is accessible from any device, whether it’s a computer at a desk or a mobile device on the shop floor.

Factors To Help Choose the Right Modern Intranet

Selecting the right modern intranet for your frontline organization requires careful consideration. Here are key factors to guide your decision:

1. Scalability: Ensure that the chosen intranet solution can scale with your organization’s growth. It should accommodate an expanding workforce and evolving needs.

2. Customization: Look for an intranet that allows for customization to meet the specific requirements of your frontline workers. It should adapt to your organization’s unique processes and workflows.

3. Integration: Assess the intranet’s integration capabilities. It should seamlessly integrate with the existing software and systems you rely on to avoid disruptions in your operations.

4. Security: Security is paramount, especially when dealing with sensitive information. Choose an intranet that prioritizes data security, user access controls, and compliance with industry standards.

5. User Training and Support: Consider the availability of training resources and support from the intranet provider. Adequate training ensures that your frontline workers can effectively use the platform.

6. Cost-Efficiency: Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including initial setup costs, ongoing maintenance, and licensing fees. Ensure that the chosen intranet aligns with your budgetary constraints.

InfinCE – A Contemporary Intranet Built with The Modern Employee’s Needs at The Center

In a world where the workplace is evolving at an unprecedented pace, the need for modern intranets has never been more evident. These dynamic platforms serve as the connective tissue that unites organizations, fosters collaboration, and empowers frontline workers.

Whether you’re in need of an employee intranet platform or a team intranet portal, embracing the power of a modern intranet is an essential upgrade for your organization. It’s a transformation that not only enhances communication and collaboration but also elevates the digital employee experience, ensuring that your frontline workers have the tools they need to thrive in the digital age.

InfinCE, as a modern intranet platform, is strategically positioned to address contemporary workplace collaboration challenges through several key features and benefits. Here’s a detailed analysis:

• Centralized Dashboard: InfinCE offers a unified dashboard that integrates various business applications, making it easier for employees to access tools and information from a single point. This centralization enhances productivity by reducing the time spent switching between different apps.
• Customization and Scalability: With InfinCE, businesses can customize their intranet to fit their unique needs. This flexibility allows for the addition of features and integrations as the company grows, ensuring that the platform remains relevant and effective over time.
• Enhanced Collaboration Tools: The platform includes robust tools for communication and collaboration, such as chat, video conferencing, and file sharing. These tools facilitate seamless teamwork, regardless of the physical location of employees, which is crucial in today’s increasingly remote and global work environments.
• Data Security and Compliance: InfinCE prioritizes data security, offering robust encryption and compliance with various data protection regulations. This feature is particularly important for businesses handling sensitive information and needing to comply with legal standards.
• Mobile Accessibility: Recognizing the growing reliance on mobile devices in the workplace, InfinCE ensures that its platform is accessible on smartphones and tablets. This mobile compatibility allows employees to stay connected and productive even when they are away from their desks.
• Analytics and Reporting: The platform provides analytics and reporting tools, enabling businesses to track usage, performance, and engagement. This data is valuable for making informed decisions about workplace strategies and identifying areas for improvement.
• Integration with Existing Systems: InfinCE can be integrated with existing enterprise systems and third-party applications, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of business processes.

By offering these features, InfinCE addresses key workplace collaboration challenges such as communication barriers, data management, and system integration, making it a strong contender in the contemporary intranet platform market.

Explore InfinCE now and unlock new potentials for your modern workplace. Request for a Free Demo now!

Raising the bar on communication, collaboration, and productivity have been three crucial factors driving change across the post-pandemic remote and hybrid work landscape. Business owners have been actively looking at ways to invest in an intranet that meets the three goals apart from meeting other objectives such as knowledge enhancement and upskilling among their employees. Over time, intranets have mostly been essential static file storage spaces that have evolved into dynamic platforms connecting your workforce anytime, anywhere. 

But with an abundance of options available, how do you select the best intranet software for your needs?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the must-have features for intranet software in 2024.

1. A User-Friendly Interface that Drives Communication

A 2020 survey by Deloitte reveals a 20% increase in employee satisfaction and a corresponding 87% increase in employee retention in organizations that implemented user-friendly intranets. A user-friendly interface is one of the key priorities when choosing intranet software. An intuitive user interface is the first impression employees will have of your intranet software. You should look for software that offers customizable layouts, drag-and-drop functionality, and responsive design to ensure a seamless user experience. In this context, communication boards can be a useful feature as they help offer a unified view of your organization, tapping into real-time data and offering useful insights for employees, thus guiding critical decisions. 

2. Access Controls for Security

A robust communication dashboard can also be the cornerstone to achieving multiple layers of security. This is to ensure that employees can securely share sensitive business information and perform the required data analysis on the go. Features such as role-based access control, encryption, and regular security audits are non-negotiable. Since organizations frequently collaborate with external partners, vendors, and clients, your intranet software should support guest user access, allowing external stakeholders to join discussions and access shared resources securely. 

3. Mobile Accessibility

93% of U.S. employees who own a smartphone and spend at least a third of their time away from a desk use their cell phones for work every day. In today’s fast-paced work environment, employees need access to intranet resources on the go. Your intranet software should be mobile-responsive, allowing employees to access crucial information anytime, anywhere.

4. Video Capabilities to Foster Team Bonding

83% of remote workers feel more connected to their teams when they can participate in video meetings. In 2024, as remote work continues to be a prevalent trend, your intranet software should incorporate video meeting capabilities, facilitating face-to-face interactions regardless of geographical barriers. Research reveals that organizations enabling video meetings have seen a 40% increase in remote worker engagement.

5. Advanced Search Functionality and Employee Directory for Enhanced Collab

Information overload is a common challenge in today’s data-driven work environments. To help employees find what they need quickly, your intranet software should offer robust search functionality. The ideal software should support keyword searches, filters, and predictive search suggestions. Companies with advanced search capabilities report a 35% increase in employee productivity due to reduced time spent searching for information. A robust employee directory ensures employees can easily find and connect with colleagues across various business functions. Studies show that organizations with comprehensive employee directories experience a 15% reduction in time spent searching for colleagues’ contact information.

6. Superior Analytics and Reporting Suite

Data-driven decision-making is crucial for business success. Your intranet software should provide detailed analytics and reporting capabilities. Understand how your employees are engaging with the platform and use this data to refine your internal communications strategy.

Organizations that leverage analytics from their intranet software report a 20% increase in the effectiveness of their internal communications.

7. A Host of Collaboration Tools

Effective collaboration is a cornerstone of modern business. Your intranet should include collaborative features like chat, document sharing, and project management tools. In 2023, 68% of organizations cite improved collaboration as the primary benefit of their intranet.

8. Automation and Workflow Integration for The Win

To streamline processes and reduce manual tasks, your intranet should support automation and workflow integration. Look for features like approval workflows, task automation, and notifications to keep your organization running smoothly.

9. Scalability is the name of the game

As your organization grows, your intranet software should grow with it. Scalability is a vital consideration in 2023, as 80% of companies anticipate growth within the next year. Ensure that your chosen intranet solution can accommodate your future needs without major overhauls. Scalable intranet solutions are 40% more cost-effective in the long run, as they reduce the need for frequent software migrations.

10. Say Yes to Employee Feedback Mechanisms

Listening to your employees is crucial for maintaining a positive workplace culture. Your intranet software should provide tools for collecting feedback, conducting surveys, and monitoring employee sentiment.

11. Flexibility to Customize and Brand

Your intranet should reflect your organization’s unique identity. Customization options, including branding elements like logos, colors, and fonts, allow you to create a cohesive and branded digital workspace. 75% of employees believe that a well-branded intranet improves their sense of belonging and company identity.

Closing Thoughts

Selecting the best intranet software in 2024 demands a meticulous understanding of these essential features: communication boards, employee directory, video meetings, file sharing, mobile app, business phone system, and guest user access. Each of these features contributes significantly to fostering collaboration, improving productivity, and streamlining communication within your organization.

As a leader in your domain, it’s imperative to stay ahead of the curve and leverage the power of modern intranet software. These features aren’t mere technological enhancements; they are strategic tools that can transform your organization’s capabilities. Embrace them, and watch your workforce thrive, your projects excel, and your business reach new heights in 2024 and beyond.

Remember, the best intranet software doesn’t just connect employees; it connects success. So, choose wisely, and pave the way for a brighter future for your organization. 

Schedule a demo with InfinCE. Our experts can help you meet your intranet software criteria to its finest detail.

Your company’s internal communications can say a lot about your organization, culture, and prospects. When all your team members feel connected and part of a single, unified structure, it denotes a positive and efficient work environment. If done rightly, internal communications can be the powerful engine that can drive productivity, collaboration, workforce engagement, and employee advocacy in your organization. Research shows that business leaders report positive effects when communication is done right – 60% notice more employee confidence, and 72% say it increases employee productivity. 

Internal communication, however, isn’t as simple as greeting your coworker in a busy hallway. It takes a lot to deliver the right message to the right people in the right place at the right time with the right tone. From ineffective and unproductive day-to-day operations to a lack of proper cross-departmental communications and disengaged or disconnected staff, the impact of poor internal communications can be wide-reaching. Recent data shows that 72% of employees do not fully understand their company’s strategy, while 54% of employees believe they’d be more productive if they had more access to leadership.   

Many organizations struggle with a confusing array of business communication issues that impede their development and productivity. Our essential guide will help you navigate the complex web of internal communications, explain its importance in the modern workplace, and offer tips for setting up or improving your organization’s internal communications strategy. 

IN THIS GUIDE:

What is internal communications?

Why is internal communications important?

Tips to improve internal communications

Setting up a successful internal communications strategy

Using the right internal communications software

How InfinCE can enhance your internal communications process

Keep your team connected and informed with effective internal communications

What is internal communication?

In its simplest form, internal communication (IC) refers to processes and strategies used to communicate information and messages within an organization. 

Announcements from executives and leadership, team or department updates, casual chats among colleagues, updates on projects or initiatives, company news, feedback on performance, and all other information relevant to the organization and its employees can fall under the broader term of internal communications. 

In short, internal communications is the heartbeat that keeps all employees in-sync and in-the-know within your organization. Effective internal communications provide employees with more clarity about your organization’s objectives and goals.     

Why is internal communication important?

“Internal communications can build a strong and cohesive culture, improve employee engagement, and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals.” – Business Dictionary

Internal communication brings together employees and helps them make sense of the company’s goals. More than employers putting out messages, internal communications is part of a dialogue that helps a company better know what employees need. Here’s why it’s important to fundamentally incorporate internal communications into your overarching business strategy.

• Keep employees informed: Effective internal communications can ensure that everyone in your organization is on the same page and working towards the same goals. By staying up-to-date with the latest company news and changes in strategy, your team will be able to execute their jobs efficiently and maintain better relations with other staff. 
• Improve employee engagement: Effective internal communications can help you keep your employees engaged and motivated, which most often leads to higher productivity and loyalty. Higher levels of employee engagement create a positive domino effect on your business performance.   
• Build a positive workplace culture: Messages communicated from the leadership to your staff will influence how they interpret your company’s values and beliefs. A positive workplace culture has a considerable impact on your people and their levels of engagement with work, which in turn leads to higher staff retention.
• Facilitate feedback and discussion: Internal communications can create a healthy space for dialogue within your organization. By encouraging effective feedback,discussion,n and debate, your company can identify ways to improve and also avoid making the same mistakes in the future. 
• Provide clarity into roles and expectations: A clear internal communication strategy helps provide clear expectations to your staff about what they are supposed to do. This can prevent a possible disconnect between your staff and customers, and even improve customer service.
• Foster innovation and new initiatives: Effective internal communication can create a culture of innovation, where employees feel empowered to share ideas and collaborate on new initiatives. A work environment that encourages the exploration of different viewpoints helps create a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Retain the best talent to stay competitive: A robust internal communications strategy helps take a more proactive approach to employee engagement by creating a work environment that fosters growth, creativity, and a sense of purpose. It helps your company to remain competitive by retaining the best talent.   

Tips to improve internal communications

Let’s take a look at some of the internal communications best practices that can help you build a productive, well-informed, and engaged workforce. 

• Optimize your communication channels: Choose communication tools, channels, or methods depending on the message that you want to get across. For instance, social media can be a good choice to advertise your job openings, while an online chat tool can be the best option for instant messaging or to quickly share internal documents. Adopting a unified, multi-channel approach facilitates better workplace collaboration and co-creation. 
• Incorporate feedback loops: Feedback is imperative to building a great culture at work through improved internal communications. People want to know that their ideas and perspectives are valued. Evaluate your internal communications plan regularly. Gather employee feedback on what they think about your internal communications process through anonymous online surveys, group discussions, or one-to-one meetings. 
• Celebrate wins and achievements: Making your staff feel valued for their contributions will help motivate them to work harder to accomplish your organizational goals and objectives. Sharing the successes and milestones achieved by your team through a common internal communications platform, such as intranet software, will help build a positive workplace culture and inspire employees to actively connect with the work they do.   
• Break down information silos: When employees are unified in their understanding of the company goals, they will be able to communicate with one another more effectively in order to reach them. Take time to explain the company’s values and mission, whether as part of corporate training or as a regular reminder to employees. When employees are instantly informed about the latest business news and are connected with the rest of the team, they feel less frustrated or isolated. 
• User-friendly intranet software: Modern workforce requires a robust internal communications solution that reflects the world they live and work in. Use a cloud and mobile-friendly intranet software branded to your requirements. It will provide your employees with all the information and collaboration tools they need to do their jobs efficiently. 

Setting up a successful internal communications strategy

Developing an effective internal communications strategy requires careful planning and consideration. These six steps will ensure your internal communications plan unites your employees with your core business goals.

1. Analyze your current IC strategy

Before developing a new internal communications plan, take a look at your current strategy to identify what needs to be improved, discarded, or retained. 

The best way to find out what could be improved is by asking your team, the people who use the internal communication tools like intranet every day. Identify their pain points to understand what could be made better. 

Employee surveys and group discussions involving representatives from diverse teams or departments are some of the best ways to find out what people think. 

2. Determine the key metrics

Identify the most important metrics that can help define your internal communication goals and measure the success of your strategy. We recommend looking at these metrics:

• Employee engagement: Do your employees feel heard, share their ideas and feedback, receive and discuss internal content and updates, and share company values?
• Project management: Are your employees happy with your current project management tool/ process? What are the constant issues faced?
• Social shares: How often are your employees sharing your content and business updates that make them feel more connected with your brand’s goals?
• Employee referrals: How many candidate referrals do you currently receive from your employees? 

3. Decide if technology could improve your IC

If you aren’t using a company intranet or require a robust tool to streamline your internal communications, now’s the time to invest. 

A modern workplace intranet helps integrate many different tools to make your internal communications easier. For instance, an intranet can integrate with and leverage a horde of workplace collaboration and productivity tools such as instant messenger (chat) app, cloud-based file storage drive, project management tool, video meeting software, business phone system, online Office tools, and so on.

Consider technology that:

• Delivers a rewarding and unique communication experience to your staff
• Keeps everyone in your team updated with the latest information
• Facilitates adequate communications planning and tracking
• Offers social capabilities to encourage employee interaction and engagement
• Guarantees ease of use without posing any potential barriers to adopt and use additional technology 

4. Set a realistic timeline and budget

Timelines and budget will influence how far things can change. 

For example, your company may require a completely new intranet or may need to only update parts of the existing intranet, such as adding a social network, a mobile application, or an integrated search solution. The decision depends on how much your budget allows for. 

Similarly, timelines should be set in a realistic manner to ensure that changes take place on time. Are there other projects that this might be contingent upon? What’s the status of staff availability? And how much time do you need to incorporate the necessary changes? All these should be considered. 

5. Inform employees, so they can adapt quickly

Inform employees about what’s happening so they can easily align themselves with the new internal communication strategy. Employees need meaning and a clear vision in order to fully engage with the job and to understand why their input is valuable to the company achieving its goals.

Run a contest among your teams to come up with an interesting name or a creative design theme for your new IC strategy. Create a diverse group of champions who can promote adoption, usage, and engagement. These are some of the great ways to put the new internal communications plan in place. 

6. Review and improve

Evaluate your key performance indicators (employee engagement & feedback, project management, social media metrics, content reach, etc.) regularly. Learn from them and continually optimize what you are doing for the best results possible. 

Run routine pulse surveys to understand how employees are feeling about your communication content and cadence. Some questions that you could ask include:

• Can you rate the effectiveness of our internal communications on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being poor and 5 being the best)? 
• Are our business communications and updates making our company vision transparent enough for you?
• Are there any setbacks that prevent you from working with others on projects?
• Do you believe we could improve cross-departmental communication?
• What barriers prevent you from communicating internally each day?
• Where can we improve the most on company communication?

Regular evaluation of your internal communications strategy will help people know that you’re listening to them. It will also allow you to plan on adjusting your strategy to promote transparency and trust.

Using the right internal communications software

As more and more teams move to remote and hybrid working models, the need for effective internal communications is growing.

Internal communications software can help everyone stay up-to-date on the latest company news, announcements, updates, events, content, projects, and documents. There are different types of internal communication tools that can facilitate a strong communication strategy within your company. 

1. Company Intranets

A company intranet is a centralized information sharing hub where employees can access all the information and tools they need in a single platform. One of the most important benefits of an intranet is that it connects all employees from multiple locations (remote/ hybrid/ in-office teams), so they can stay up-to-date on company news and events. 

Company intranets often come with features like social feeds, instant messaging, secure file sharing, and integration with other enterprise tools. Teams and departments can use a company intranet to share relevant documents, articles, charts, etc with large groups of employees.

2. Online Collaboration Tools

Online collaboration tools offer a variety of features, including instant messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing, making it easy for teams to chat, share files, and work on projects together. 

Collaboration tools facilitate more effective teamwork by linking teams from different departments or even time zones, so they can work together, track task progress, and stay in sync to reach their common goal.

3. Project Management Tools

Using a project management tool, employees can not only share files, but also track projects, set deadlines, and assign tasks. Many organizations integrate their employee communication software with a project management tool to make their workflow more efficient and streamlined. Project management software is ideal for organizations that need to manage complex projects and large teams.

4. Instant Messaging Tools

Instant messaging or online chat tools facilitate real-time exchange of messages between team members working from anywhere. Instant messengers are frequently used by employees at all levels on a daily basis to ask questions, confirm meeting dates, clarify queries, or share ideas quickly.

Instant messages are a convenient way to quickly exchange information and are sometimes more practical than picking up the phone for a quick question. Modern instant messaging tools offer features such as emojis (or graphical smileys), file transfer, chatbots, voice over IP, and video chat capabilities to make conversations more effective and engaging.

How InfinCE can enhance your internal communications process

InfinCE isn’t just another internal communications software. At its core, it is a complete digital workplace designed to support and enhance your internal communications processes. InfinCE combines multiple workplace tools and components into a single suite, so your employees can perform their best with minimal obstacles.

Here’s a closer look at what InfinCE offers and how it could be the game-changer for your organization’s internal communications plan:

• Collaboration Apps for employees to coordinate at work more efficiently, including employee directory, live chat, video conferencing, and private email.
• Productivity Tools that help perform your day-to-day organizational activities like task management, calendar, document creation, and sharing. 
• Ready-to-Use Online Office Tools: Documents, Spreadsheets, and Presentations raise your employees’ productivity. Employees can easily share and collaborate on documents and get the work done quickly.
• Secure File Sharing: Files can be securely shared between employees, but also between employees and non-employees using options like upload-only folders and password-protected files.
• Data Visualization Dashboards: Users can create custom dashboards to help them keep track of what’s happening in their project or team. It provides an effective way to communicate key business information in real-time and simplifies team collaboration.
• Employee Engagement Mobile App: Stay on top of your work, view dashboard updates, access work files, find contacts, join video meetings, and do a lot more with the intuitive InfinCE mobile app.

Keep your team connected and informed with effective internal communications

A highly engaged team that comes to work every day with excitement and purpose will have a direct impact on your bottom line. The ultimate purpose of an internal communications plan is to drive cultural change, break down communication barriers, transform employee experience, boost workforce engagement, and foster innovation and growth.  

From integrating email and instant messaging to virtual meeting software and custom business dashboards, InfinCE offers all the tools you need to implement an entirely new working environment that replicates your employees’ changing work experience.

If you’re looking for new internal communications software for your business, InfinCE is here to help. Book a demo of InfinCE and see for yourself how it can help your business.

The post-pandemic digital landscape called for organizations across the globe to relook at their toolkits as they adapted to remote work and hybrid arrangements. Post-pandemic, the adoption of flexible work arrangements surged, with 82% of company leaders intending to offer hybrid work options, as was reported by a 2020 survey from Gartner .

This seismic shift necessitates the organization to adopt digital tools that ensure effective collaboration, facilitate knowledge sharing, and bridge geographical divides. A private, secure network designed for internal use within an organization can empower companies to operate in any environment effectively. An employee intranet software is a centralized hub, facilitating seamless communication, collaboration, and efficient information sharing among employees. 

Assuming a critical role in the everyday functioning of modern digital businesses, employee intranet platforms empower organizations to enhance productivity, align their workforce, and streamline internal processes.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the importance of intranet platforms in modern businesses, shedding light on their key features, benefits, and considerations for effective implementation.

A Unified Digital Workplace – Importance of Intranet Platforms in Modern Businesses

According to a report by Prescient & Strategic Intelligence, the global intranet market is projected to reach $39.71 billion by 2026, underscoring its growing importance.

Businesses looking to streamline employee communication and Intranet platforms have become indispensable tools for organizations seeking to optimize their internal operations. They serve as the backbone of internal communication, collaboration, and information sharing within a company. 

For starters, employee Intranet platforms significantly enhance employee engagement and satisfaction by providing a unified digital workplace. A recent Gallup Workplace survey revealed that engaged employees exhibit 17% higher productivity. Features like employee directories, discussion forums, and recognition portals foster a sense of belonging and boost morale.

As per Gartner, enhanced employee engagement drives a 20% increase in productivity.

Setting the Stage: Key Features and Benefits of Employee Intranet Platforms

Before delving deeper into employee intranet platforms, let’s outline some key features and benefits that these platforms offer to modern organizations.

An employee intranet platform offers several benefits to organizations, including improved internal communication, enhanced collaboration, efficient information sharing, streamlined processes, and boosted productivity. These platforms also contribute to aligning employees with the organizational culture and fostering a sense of community within the workplace.

Key Features of Employee Intranet Platforms

1. Internal Communication (Announcements & Newsfeed):

• Internal communication is the lifeblood of any organization, and modern intranet platforms excel at facilitating effective communication. An engaging newsfeed and announcement system ensures important updates reach all employees. According to a study by Towers Watson, companies with effective communication have a 47% higher total return to shareholders. Intranet platforms offer information boards for effective communication and sharing of company announcements, news updates, and vital information. This feature ensures that all employees are well-informed about organizational developments.
• Collaboration platforms offer channels for specific teams or projects where real-time updates and announcements are shared, promoting transparency and collaboration. Employees can comment, react, and stay informed about organizational news and updates.

2. Collaboration Tools:

• Collaboration tools are central to enhancing productivity and fostering teamwork within organizations. Modern intranet platforms integrate various tools like document collaboration, project management, and video conferencing to streamline collaboration. A McKinsey report shows that effective collaboration can improve employee productivity by 20-30%.
• An employee intranet platform should integrate well into existing systems. Real-time document editing, shared project boards, and instant messaging can enable teams to collaborate seamlessly regardless of their location.

3. File Storage and Secure Sharing:

• Secure file storage and sharing capabilities are paramount in modern intranet platforms to ensure easy access to documents and data while maintaining security. Data breaches can cost a company an average of $3.86 million, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report.
• Advanced permissions and encryption features ensure data integrity and confidentiality.

4. Employee Directory:

• An employee directory is a fundamental feature in intranet platforms, offering a centralized hub for accessing contact information and organizational hierarchies. It facilitates connectivity and collaboration across the organization, enhancing transparency and accessibility.
• A comprehensive employee directory should include profiles, skills, and contact details, fostering better collaboration and networking within the organization.

5. Security and Access Control:

• Ensuring security and access control is a critical feature of modern intranet platforms. Robust authentication, role-based access, and compliance measures are essential to safeguard sensitive organizational data and maintain regulatory compliance.
• Granular security controls and user permissions ensure data privacy and role-based access, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access.

6. Task and Project Management:

Task and project management tools integrated into modern employee intranet platforms streamline workflows and enhance productivity. They allow teams to create, assign, and track tasks and projects collaboratively. According to a PwC study, 77% of high-performing projects use project management software.

7. Mobile Accessibility:

Mobile accessibility is a vital feature in modern intranet platforms, ensuring that employees can access essential information and collaborate on-the-go. With the proliferation of smartphones, mobile accessibility has become crucial for a connected and agile workforce. A Global Workplace Analytics report indicates that 48% of employees work remotely at least some of the time.

8. Integration Capabilities:

Integration capabilities are essential for a seamless user experience by allowing intranet platforms to integrate with other essential tools and applications used within an organization. Integration enhances efficiency and reduces manual effort by providing a centralized hub for accessing various systems and data. As per surveys 77% of employees believe integrated technology enhances their productivity.

Integration streamlines workflows, allowing employees to access and manage different tools within an intranet platform.

9. Employee Feedback and Surveys:

Gathering employee feedback and conducting surveys within an intranet platform is crucial for gauging employee satisfaction, identifying areas for improvement, and fostering a culture of open communication. Engaged employees are 21% more productive, as highlighted by a Gallup report.

Benefits of Employee Intranet Platforms

1. Improved Communication, Collaboration, and Productivity:

Intranet platforms facilitate seamless communication and collaboration, leading to increased productivity and efficiency within the organization.

2. Alignment with Organizational Culture:

By providing a platform for organizational updates and sharing of values, intranet platforms help align employees with the organizational culture, fostering a sense of belonging.

3. Enhanced Employee Engagement and Community Building:

Intranet platforms create a sense of community by encouraging interaction and engagement, contributing to a more cohesive and motivated workforce.

Considerations for Implementing an Employee Intranet Platform

Implementing an employee intranet platform is a strategic decision that can significantly impact an organization’s communication, collaboration, and overall efficiency. A well-thought-out implementation process is crucial for maximizing the platform’s potential and ensuring successful integration into the organization. Here are key considerations for a successful employee intranet platform implementation:

1. Needs Assessment and Requirement Analysis:

Before choosing an intranet platform, it’s essential to conduct a thorough needs assessment and requirement analysis. Understand the unique needs, challenges, and objectives of your organization. Gather input from different departments and stakeholders to identify specific features and functionalities that are crucial for your intranet.

2. User-Friendly Design and Accessibility:

The platform should have an intuitive interface and be easily accessible to all employees, regardless of their technical expertise. Consider the diverse needs of your workforce, including remote workers or those on the field. Mobile responsiveness and a user-friendly design are vital aspects to ensure widespread adoption.

3. Integration with Existing Systems:

The intranet platform should seamlessly integrate with existing tools and systems used within the organization, such as email, project management software, or customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Integration enhances productivity by providing a centralized hub for accessing and managing various tools.

4. Data Security and Compliance:

Security is paramount. Ensure the intranet platform complies with data security standards and regulations relevant to your industry. Implement features like role-based access control, encryption, and regular security updates to protect sensitive organizational data.

5. Training and Adoption Strategy:

Develop a comprehensive training plan to ensure employees understand the platform’s features and functionalities. Incorporate ongoing training and support mechanisms to encourage adoption and address any challenges employees might face during the transition.

6. Measuring and Analyzing Performance:

Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of the intranet platform. Metrics could include user engagement, adoption rates, task completion rates, and feedback. Regularly analyze the data to identify areas for improvement and optimization.

7. Budget, Customization, and Scalability:

Look for a platform that allows customization to align with your organization’s branding, culture, and unique requirements. Consider the budget constraints and scalability requirements while selecting an intranet platform to ensure a sustainable and cost-effective solution.

Additionally, ensure the platform is scalable to accommodate organizational growth and evolving needs.

8. Organizational Goals:

Align the choice of an intranet platform with the organization’s specific goals and objectives, ensuring that it meets the unique needs of the company.

Closing Thoughts

Intranet platforms have evolved into indispensable tools for modern organizations, revolutionizing internal communication, collaboration, and information sharing. By serving as centralized hubs, these platforms enhance productivity, align employees with the organizational culture, and foster a sense of community within the workplace. Implementing an employee intranet platform thoughtfully, considering organizational goals, budget, and scalability, can significantly elevate an organization’s internal operations, setting it on the path of success in today’s competitive business landscape.

Are you ready to enhance your organization’s internal communication and collaboration with a modern employee intranet platform? Explore the possibilities and transform your workplace with InfinCE today!

Definition and Evolution of Digital Workplace Platforms

Digital workplace platforms have evolved tremendously over the past few years, with the modern workplace requiring much more than just a basic communication tool. In a dynamic business environment where change is the only constant, employees require a cohesive digital experience to collaborate, access important information, communicate with colleagues seamlessly, and manage their workload effectively.

As a result, modern digital workplace platforms now provide a range of features that enable businesses to meet these needs. A suite of applications that enable businesses to function remotely, collaborate online, and have access to cloud-based tools to run day-to-day operations, digital workplace platforms include communication tools such as email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and project management tools. Analogously, these platforms act as virtual offices where employees can share files, communicate with colleagues, and complete work tasks. A digital workplace platform is like a toolbox that provides everything you need to get the job done from anywhere on any device, examples of which include HR databases, knowledge management systems, and customer relationship management software.

Read more: What is a Digital Workplace: A Complete Guide! 

Employee Experience: The Key Driver 

Several studies have confirmed that a positive employee experience leads to higher engagement, productivity, retention, and even profitability. For example, according to a 2023 Gartner Survey, 83% of HR leaders believe employee experience is crucial to their organization’s success. On the other hand, companies with poor employee experience see high turnover rates, low productivity, a bad work culture, and even customer dissatisfaction.

For a digital workspace to translate to building a positive employee experience, personalization, mobile accessibility, and ease of use are some critical ingredients.

1. Personalization involves tailoring the digital workspace experience to each employee’s unique needs and preferences – this can be achieved through customized dashboards, relevant information feeds, or custom notifications. 

2. Mobile accessibility means enabling employees to work from anywhere, anytime, on any device. An easy-to-use interface and accessibility from anywhere ensure employees can navigate the digital workplace platform without friction, frustration, or confusion. This also contributes to shorter learning curves and lesser training mandates.

Robust Integration with Third-Party Applications: A Must-have

According to a study conducted by the Aberdeen Group, companies that integrate their enterprise applications experience a 20% increase in productivity. This includes everything from marketing, sales, and supply chain management to HR and finance. Key integration capabilities that need to be present in a digital workplace include compatibility, security, and scalability. Compatibility means having the ability to integrate with a variety of applications, ensuring that you have access to your entire suite of tools. Security is important to ensure sensitive data remains safe and protected. Finally, scalability refers to the ability to add or remove apps as needed without disrupting the current workflow.

The Three Cs – Cloud, Collaboration, and Communication

Microsoft reported a 27% increase in revenue from investing in intelligent cloud, with an overall revenue uptick of 39% attached to the cloud. If you want to take a leaf from their book, you know where to put your money. Cloud-hosting is your best bet for a digital workplace platform especially because it safeguards important information, reduces the risk of data loss, increases security, and of course, allows your employees to share and access files from a central location, lending to a simple and seamless experience. Following suit, communication, and collaboration are key elements that have to fall in place if a digital workplace platform is considered successful.

Read more: Role of a Digital Workplace Platform in Hybrid Workplace

Adherence to Regulatory Compliance and Security: The Much-needed Protocol

Adherence to security and compliance policies is critical to the success of digital workplace platforms. Companies that comply with regulations and protect user data enjoy higher levels of trust and customer loyalty, leading to increased revenue and growth. It is essential to prioritize security and compliance to safeguard against the cost and reputational damage of a security breach. The implementation of security features like single sign-on, two-factor authentication, and data encryption has become crucial for digital workplace platforms to protect sensitive information. According to a report by Verizon, over 80% of data breaches are caused by weak or stolen credentials, which can be prevented by using these security measures. Companies like Slack and Microsoft Teams have successfully implemented these features, resulting in improved security and increased adoption rates. In fact, Microsoft Teams reported a record 2.7 billion meeting minutes in a single day in March 2020, attributed to the platform’s security measures.

Embracing Web3 Technologies

Gartner predicts that by 2024, AI will have automated as much as 75% of the manual work involved in project management-related administrative tasks. Better yet, a study by Accenture found that AI adoption could increase workplace productivity by as much as 40%.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning learning (ML) are becoming increasingly important in the digital workplace, and new platforms are designed to leverage these technologies to enhance productivity and automate routine tasks. One example of how these technologies help personalize user experiences is through intelligent recommendations. By analyzing employee behavior, such as the types of tasks they complete, the documents they access, and the apps they use, ML algorithms can suggest relevant content, information, and tools that are unique to each user. This personalized approach helps employees work more efficiently and effectively by streamlining workflows and reducing the time spent searching for information.

Connect with our experts know more about InfinCE

With organizations worldwide adapting to either a hybrid or a remote work structure, the shift to a new work order is difficult if there is no digital workplace platform to streamline operations, especially if the company has a mix of on-site and online employees. Companies need digital solutions to ensure that all employees and stakeholders are on the same page.  

During the pandemic, many companies managed to pivot to remote work, but many of them used existing technology overlays to adapt to a hybrid or online work structure. These piecemeal solutions are inadequate and do not have the intuitive design of a digital workplace solution built especially for digital workplaces and put workers at the center of their design. Companies should choose solutions that digitally transform tasks, unify data, drive productivity, and provide intelligent collaboration apps.

What is a digital workplace? 

A digital workplace is a virtual office space designed to help employees work efficiently and carry out their tasks in remote or hybrid settings. Digital workplaces give employees instant access to resources and help them collaborate better. They streamline company workflows, increase productivity, and boost team morale. Digital workplace solutions also enable an always-connected work environment and a seamless employee experience.

There is a misconception that a digital workplace is simply a group of remote workers. Digital workplaces are all about how you work and are not restricted to location.  

According to Deloitte, a digital workplace can manage tasks from your HR applications and your core business applications to emails, instant chats, enterprise social media tools, and virtual meeting tools.

Deloitte points to one of the key requirements of a good digital workplace solution – one that aligns with the company’s business value and connects worker experience to business outcomes.

Read more: Deliver Engaging Experiences with the InfinCE Digital Workplace

Digital workplaces are gaining traction in the remote work culture – here’s why

With digital workplaces, workplace efficiency has increased, and so has flexibility. Digital workplace solutions also equip companies with exciting new technologies that automate mundane tasks and increase the speed that it takes to complete time-sensitive projects.

With digital tools giving employees all the information they need, including troubleshooting guides and company manuals, customer care reps can service customers better. 

We live in a hyperconnected world where the right digital work experience drives workplace productivity. In its roundup of technology trends, Deloitte states that digital workplaces are gaining popularity because organizations need to use technology to optimize team productivity and collaboration to stay ahead of the curve. In particular, companies can derive incredible benefits from the actionable data generated by these tools and the AI-driven people analytics solutions that can drive superior workflow management solutions. 

A Gartner survey backs this up by reporting that 56% of CEOs attribute increased revenue to digital improvements. Many companies invest in digital workplace solutions because they know that these tools promise measurable returns, which accounts for their growing importance in business.

How Digital Workplace Solutions Make Remote Work Easy And Profitable 

Digital workplace solutions are built to make it easy to work virtually and remotely. They provide powerful enterprise productivity tools that help companies optimize workflows and create an agile workforce. Their tools work in sync with employee workflows, and they help companies adapt to the complexities of the new workforce.  

Digital workplace platforms help remote team members to collaborate easily. Employees can share files, manage cases, track project statuses, and enjoy a single integrated view of multiple workflows. This ensures that all employees and departments are not working in silos and that there is a more transparent, integrated working environment where team members can track project statuses, leads, define tasks, and set deadlines.

Digital workplace platforms provide collaboration tools that employees can use to work across locations and time zones. Digital workplace solutions also automate repetitive tasks, provide an integrated work experience, and increase employee engagement. They have also re-engineered organizational structures and cultures, with workers being more connected with leadership and employees having access to company data. 

Read more: Ensuring Digital Wellbeing With The Right Digital Workplace Platform!

Here’s How You Can Identify The Right Digital Workplace Solution 

When looking for the right digital workplace solution for your company, look for a complete digital workplace toolkit. While many piecemeal digital solutions offer communication tools, it’s the collaboration tools that truly make digital workplace solutions very useful. There is more to digital workplace productivity than ad-hoc digital solutions. Instead, look for a digital workplace orchestration platform that transforms how people work and collaborate. Unlike generic digital workplace tools, digital orchestration platforms are designed to help companies boost efficiency, scale operations, work on continuous innovation, and deliver proactive and intelligent people analytics.

Here are some aspects to consider when choosing the right digital workplace solution for your company.

• Go for personalized and intuitive solutions: Every company is different, so it is important to go with a customizable digital workplace solution that allows you to choose off-the-shelf software or SaaS per your requirements.  
• Look for collaboration tools: Choose a digital workplace platform that provides workgroup chats, group meetings, audio and video conferences, and other collaborative tools. Also, favor a platform with a unified dashboard to manage daily operations seamlessly. 
• Prioritize productivity tools: Go for platforms with important productivity tools like smart email management, simplified multi-app management, calendar management, time tracking, and collaboration channels. Look for tools that can monitor the progress of projects and employee performance. 
• Choose a people-focused digital workplace platform: With remote work, employees and teams need to be constantly engaged and motivated to work and collaborate efficiently. Choose platforms with intra-organizational tools that foster a sense of community and engagement.  

With an orchestration platform like InfinCE, you can simplify your processes and choose only the features you need, thereby controlling infrastructure costs. InfinCE’s modern tools unify data and give you a competitive edge over other companies. Want to increase your profits and drive great business outcomes? InfinCE helped a company like Fingent improve productivity by 20% due to its incredible digital workplace orchestration platform.

Fix a demo session today or talk to our experts to know more about InfinCE.