What Exactly is an “Intranet”?
Everybody knows what the Internet is, and most of us use it every day. That might be at home, in the office, or on mobile devices while on the go. The Internet is all around us. What most people don’t know is that many of us also use an “intranet” every day as well. Intranets are computer networks that function basically in the same manner as the Internet but are used entirely and securely within an organization.
Is your company using an intranet? If not, should you implement one? The benefits are numerous and include:
- Time savings and increased productivity
- Better communication
- Centralized information
- Easier collaboration
The amount of time saved while utilizing an intranet is one of the biggest and most attractive benefits to a company. Many companies use intranets to allow employees access to important files and data, and to post internal news items. With all of this available on an intranet, you can do your work while others do theirs. Time saved is productivity gained.
Improving communication within a company is another large benefit of using an intranet. The intranet can be a central point of reference for many types of projects. Data and files can be stored in one location and shared across multiple departments. This means everyone can be up to speed on works in progress, timelines, and milestones. Improving communication will also promote collaboration and discussion.
Another one of the more popular uses of an intranet is providing an internal website. The website can be a powerful tool to facilitate many different aspects of day-to-day operations. Common tools found within an intranet website are:
- Document repositories
- Employee directories
- Message boards
- Proprietary company tools and software
- CMS/CRM tools
Every organization has its own metrics for placing value on key components of its operations. The value or benefit of each piece will be determined on an individual basis. This uniqueness makes it harder to find systems that will function as desired “out of the box.”
When used correctly, intranets can be an invaluable part of your organization and a powerful tool to help you grow. Whether creating your first intranet or upgrading and improving a current one, wisnet.com has the experience to answer your questions and provide you with solutions to make using an intranet as simple as possible.