Good Intranet Design: A Key Driver for Engagement

Introduction

In today’s digital age, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of having an effective intranet design to drive employee engagement. A well-designed intranet can enhance communication, collaboration, and productivity within an organization. SharePoint, a popular platform for intranet development, offers a range of features and functionalities that can be customized to meet the specific needs of an organization.

The Benefits of SharePoint Intranet

SharePoint, whether on-premise or online, provides a comprehensive solution for intranet development. It offers a wide range of features that can be tailored to suit the unique requirements of an organization. Some of the key benefits of SharePoint intranet include:

• Improved communication: SharePoint intranet allows for seamless communication between employees, departments, and teams. It provides a centralized platform for sharing information, updates, and announcements.
• Enhanced collaboration: SharePoint intranet enables employees to collaborate on projects, documents, and tasks in real-time. It offers features such as document sharing, version control, and co-authoring.
• Increased productivity: With SharePoint intranet, employees can easily access the information and resources they need to perform their tasks efficiently. It eliminates the need for manual searching and reduces the time spent on administrative tasks.
• Streamlined processes: SharePoint intranet allows organizations to automate and streamline their business processes. It offers workflow capabilities that enable the automation of repetitive tasks and the standardization of processes.
• Improved knowledge management: SharePoint intranet provides a centralized repository for storing and organizing documents, knowledge articles, and other resources. It allows for easy search and retrieval of information, promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Key Considerations for Intranet Design

When designing a SharePoint intranet, there are several key considerations that organizations should keep in mind:

1. Usability: The intranet should be intuitive and user-friendly, with a clear navigation structure and easily accessible information.
2. Visual design: The intranet should have a visually appealing design that reflects the organization’s brand and culture. It should use consistent branding elements and incorporate engaging visuals.
3. Mobile responsiveness: With the increasing use of mobile devices, it is essential for the intranet to be mobile-responsive. It should adapt to different screen sizes and provide a seamless user experience across devices.
4. Personalization: The intranet should allow employees to personalize their experience by customizing their homepage, setting preferences, and receiving relevant notifications.
5. Integration: The intranet should integrate with other systems and applications used within the organization, such as HR systems, project management tools, and document management systems.

Outsourcing SharePoint Development

Many organizations choose to outsource their SharePoint development to a specialized agency. Outsourcing SharePoint development offers several advantages:

• Expertise: SharePoint development agencies have the necessary expertise and experience to design and develop a customized intranet that meets the specific needs of an organization.
• Cost-effectiveness: Outsourcing SharePoint development can be more cost-effective than hiring an in-house team. It eliminates the need for recruiting, training, and maintaining a dedicated SharePoint development team.
• Time-saving: SharePoint development agencies have streamlined processes and tools in place, allowing for faster development and deployment of the intranet.
• Support and maintenance: SharePoint development agencies provide ongoing support and maintenance services, ensuring the smooth operation of the intranet.

Custom SharePoint Development

Custom SharePoint development involves tailoring the platform to meet the specific requirements of an organization. It allows for the creation of unique features and functionalities that align with the organization’s goals and processes. Some of the key aspects of custom SharePoint development include:

• Custom workflows: Custom SharePoint development enables the creation of workflows that automate and streamline business processes. Workflows can be designed to route documents for approval, notify stakeholders of changes, and trigger actions based on predefined rules.
• Integration with third-party systems: Custom SharePoint development allows for seamless integration with third-party systems and applications. This enables organizations to leverage existing investments and provide a unified user experience.
• Custom web parts: SharePoint intranet can be enhanced with custom web parts that provide additional functionality and improve the user experience. Custom web parts can be developed to display dynamic content, integrate with external systems, and provide interactive features.
• Brand customization: Custom SharePoint development allows organizations to customize the branding of their intranet to reflect their unique identity. This includes customizing the layout, colors, fonts, and logos.

Managed SharePoint Services

Managed SharePoint services offer organizations ongoing support and maintenance for their SharePoint intranet. Some of the key benefits of managed SharePoint services include:

• Proactive monitoring: Managed SharePoint services include proactive monitoring of the intranet to identify and resolve any issues before they impact the users.
• Regular updates and patches: Managed SharePoint services ensure that the intranet is always up to date with the latest updates and patches from Microsoft.
• User support: Managed SharePoint services provide user support, including assistance with troubleshooting, training, and answering user queries.
• Performance optimization: Managed SharePoint services optimize the performance of the intranet by fine-tuning the configuration, optimizing the database, and implementing caching mechanisms.

Conclusion

A well-designed intranet is a key driver for employee engagement. SharePoint intranet offers a range of features and functionalities that can be customized to meet the specific needs of an organization. Whether through outsourcing SharePoint development, custom SharePoint development, or managed SharePoint services, organizations can leverage SharePoint to create an intranet that enhances communication, collaboration, and productivity.