Staff Intranet Development: Steps to Success
Introduction
A staff intranet is a valuable tool for organizations to improve communication, collaboration, and productivity among employees. SharePoint is a popular platform for developing intranets due to its robust features and flexibility. In this article, we will discuss the steps to successfully develop a staff intranet using SharePoint, including the design process, development options, and the benefits of outsourcing SharePoint development.
Step 1: Define Your Objectives
Before starting the development process, it is important to clearly define your objectives for the staff intranet. What are the main goals you want to achieve? Do you want to improve internal communication, streamline document management, or enhance collaboration? By identifying your objectives, you can ensure that the intranet is designed and developed to meet your specific needs.
Step 2: Plan the Intranet Structure
The next step is to plan the structure of your intranet. This includes determining the site hierarchy, organizing content, and creating navigation menus. Consider the different departments and teams within your organization and how they will access and contribute to the intranet. A well-organized and intuitive structure will make it easier for employees to find the information they need.
Step 3: Design the Intranet
The design of your intranet plays a crucial role in its success. It should reflect your organization’s branding and be visually appealing to encourage employee engagement. Consider the layout, color scheme, and typography to create a professional and user-friendly design. If you don’t have in-house design capabilities, you can hire a SharePoint development agency to help you with the design process.
Step 4: Develop the Intranet
Once the design is finalized, it’s time to start developing the intranet. SharePoint offers two main options for development: SharePoint On-Premise and SharePoint Online. SharePoint On-Premise allows you to host the intranet on your own servers, giving you full control over the infrastructure. SharePoint Online, on the other hand, is a cloud-based solution that offers scalability and accessibility from anywhere. Choose the option that best suits your organization’s needs and resources.
Step 5: Test and Launch
Before launching the intranet, it is important to thoroughly test its functionality and usability. Conduct user testing to gather feedback and make any necessary improvements. Ensure that all features and functionalities are working as intended and that the intranet is compatible with different devices and browsers. Once you are confident in the intranet’s performance, it’s time to launch it to your staff.
The Benefits of Outsourcing SharePoint Development
Outsourcing SharePoint development can offer several benefits for organizations. Firstly, it allows you to leverage the expertise of a SharePoint development agency. These agencies have extensive experience in designing and developing intranets, ensuring that your staff intranet is of high quality and meets your objectives. Additionally, outsourcing can save you time and resources, as you don’t have to invest in hiring and training an in-house development team. Finally, outsourcing allows you to focus on your core business activities while leaving the technical aspects of intranet development to the experts.
Conclusion
Developing a staff intranet using SharePoint can greatly improve communication, collaboration, and productivity within your organization. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure a successful intranet development process. Remember to define your objectives, plan the intranet structure, design the intranet, develop it using the appropriate SharePoint option, and thoroughly test before launching. Consider outsourcing SharePoint development to leverage the expertise of a SharePoint development agency and save time and resources. With a well-designed and developed staff intranet, your organization can reap the benefits of improved internal communication and collaboration.