The Intranet Struggle: Time for a Re-think?

Ever since intranets became the backbone of internal communications, organizations have invested significantly in these platforms. Yet, the desired ROI often falls short of expectations, leading to questioning of the model itself. This blog post explores the common struggles organizations face with traditional intranet setups and argues why it might be time for a fresh perspective.

A Misalignment of Expectations

Intranets emerged with the promise of revolutionizing the way we communicate, collaborate, and share knowledge within an organization. Unfortunately, this promise has not been fulfilled universally. The typical intranet setup is often plagued with issues such as outdated content, cumbersome navigation, and low user engagement. These pain points lead to poor user experience, resulting in an intranet that does not effectively serve its intended purpose.

The ROI Conundrum

For many organizations, the ROI from their intranet has been disappointing. The reasons for this are manifold. Firstly, the initial cost of setting up an intranet can be significant, factoring in software licenses, hardware, and professional services. However, the expenses do not stop there. There are ongoing costs for maintenance, support, and continual updates to keep the intranet relevant and useful. These hidden costs can add up, detracting from the expected ROI.

Unseen Challenges and Hidden Costs

A less tangible but equally significant challenge is user adoption. Despite investing in the technology, organizations often struggle to get their employees to use the intranet regularly. This problem is usually due to the intranet not being user-friendly or not meeting the employees' actual needs. Thus, despite significant investment, intranets often remain underutilized, leading to a poor return on the investment.

Looking Beyond the Traditional Intranet

Given these challenges, is it time to rethink our approach to internal communications? As digital tools continue to evolve, there are now alternatives to the traditional intranet. For example, hybrid models combine the structured data storage of intranets with the real-time communication features of modern digital platforms. These models can provide a more user-friendly, engaging, and ultimately more effective solution for internal communications.

Conclusion

While the traditional intranet has its place, it is clear that it cannot meet all the internal communication needs of modern organizations. It may be time for organizations to consider alternative solutions that are more aligned with their current needs and realities. As with any business decision, the key is to keep the end-users – in this case, the employees – at the center of the decision-making process. By doing so, organizations can ensure that their internal communications are effective, engaging, and deliver a positive ROI.