A Modern Intranet is Your New Digital Workplace

Intranet historically has not been a cool, up-to-date concept. The reputation of intranets has never been great but instead

August 31, 2021
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How would you describe your job to a five year old?
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Were the Spice Girls a good team?
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Intranet, for the longest time, was not the most glamorous aspect of the modern business enterprise. Many viewed it as just a mandatory feature of the physical workplace rather than an integral part of a successful digital workplace. But times have changed.

Welcome to the era of the modern intranet – the cornerstone of a digital workplace environment. This is not a repository for obsolete files but an enhanced digital workplace platform. Today’s intranet space isn't just a static site; it's a vibrant hub for collaboration tools, knowledge management, and internal communications. So let's dive into the intranet vs digital workplace overview:

What is the difference between digital workplace and digital workspace?

Digital Workplace: This refers to an integrated set of tools, platforms, and environments we provide employees for work, irrespective of where that work takes place. It encompasses a broad spectrum of tools such as email, intranet, messaging applications, enterprise social media platforms, and more. The emphasis is on how employees experience and engage with the organization's entire suite of digital tools.

Digital Workspace: This, on the other hand, is more specific. It's a customized environment wherein an employee accesses everything they need to do their job - from apps to data, all in one place. A digital workspace is often a component of the broader digital workplace solution and aims to enhance an employee's productivity by providing a streamlined, personalized workspace.

Is a digital workplace an intranet?

Not exactly. An intranet or digital workplace is just one component of a digital workplace. A digital workplace encompasses a range of tools from the intranet, collaboration tools, project management systems, to even digital workplace platforms. While an intranet is essential for internal communication and may serve as the backbone for many digital workplace strategies, it doesn't represent the entirety of the digital workplace.

What is a digital intranet?

A digital intranet is a modern evolution of the traditional intranet. It's no longer just a static page for company information, news and documentation. A digital intranet offers a plethora of features like real-time collaboration, integration with other workplace tools, personalized content feeds, and social interaction capabilities. It is more aligned with the needs of modern enterprises, catering to remote working, knowledge sharing, and fostering a robust company culture.

What is a digital workplace platform?

A digital workplace platform is an integrated suite of tools and services that enable employees to work efficiently and effectively, irrespective of their location. It offers a unified experience by bringing together applications, data, and collaborations. The aim of digital workplace plan is to foster better employee engagement, enhance company culture, streamline processes, and promote innovation. It is a holistic approach to meeting the multifaceted needs of today's workforce.

What is the difference between intranet and digital workplace?

The intranet is a private network accessible only by an organization's staff, traditionally used for internal communication, document sharing, and basic collaborative tasks. A digital workplace, however, is a broader concept that includes the intranet but also incorporates all the other tools and systems employees use to do their job, whether they are at the office or working remotely. While an intranet may be the hub or gateway to many of these tools, a digital workplace is the entirety of all the tools, platforms, and practices that support employees in their roles.

Here are ways to leverage all the digital tools and transform your intranet and organization into a thriving digital ecosystem:

Zero in on employee experience 

A modern digital workplace prioritizes the employee experience. When tools or the intranet become cumbersome, employee engagement suffers. Envision the intranet as an employee experience platform, a digital gateway that streamlines company culture, information, and workplace tools. The moment your intranet becomes cluttered and disorganized, be alert. A successful digital workplace emphasizes clarity and user-friendliness.

Make it social

In the age of remote work culture, enabling social collaboration in digital workplaces is pivotal. While remote workers value their independence, they equally appreciate access to a well-structured internal network for communication. Finding the balance between collaboration and productivity can enhance the employee experience, promoting organic interactions and boosting company morale.

Add a helpful knowledge base

A successful digital workplace strategy invariably emphasizes a comprehensive knowledge base. Centralizing information and ensuring easy accessibility is key. As digital workplace employees familiarize themselves with this reservoir, it should evolve – adapting to changing needs and growing contributions. Remind your team of the treasure trove of knowledge sharing opportunities, and motivate them to be active contributors.

Don't forget about idea management

If organizations knew how many great ideas get wasted because there is no way to deliver them to the right people, they would immediately invest in idea management. No one knows the inside and out of the product like the employees. Give them a voice and a place to share ideas/solutions that could end up saving time, driving revenue, or innovation. 

Intranet, aka the new digital workplace, can and should be the heart of the organization. Leave the preconceived notions of what it was behind and step towards a better, easier, and more enjoyable work experience.

Knowledge isn't just about information – it's also about innovation. In a digital workplace environment, idea management is crucial. Employees, given their intimate knowledge of the wider digital workplace, often harbor groundbreaking ideas. Offer them a central platform where to share, ensuring that potential game-changers don’t get lost in the daily hustle.

Modern intranets, when optimized with the right digital workplace strategies and digital tools, can be more than just a static page. They can evolve into dynamic digital workplace solutions that drive employee engagement, enable employees to work seamlessly, and bolster a company's mission and culture. Let go of outdated notions and embrace the potential of modern intranets in shaping the future of work.


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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Assembly SOC 2 compliant?

Yes, at Assembly, security is a top priority. Each quarter, we have ongoing security work that is everyone’s responsibility. While we maintain a strong security posture, it was important for us to prove to our customers that we do everything we claim to do. This led us to pursue a SOC 2 Type II report that would provide evidence of our compliance with industry gold-standard security practice.

What's the ROI for employee recognition?

There is study after study showing that employee recognition leads to increased engagement. This in return creates an environment where employees are happier and more motivated which increase productivity and reduces voluntary turnover significantly. In order to filled critical roles, companies tend to spend nearly twice the value of an annual salary. Assembly is an investment in your employees that supports your bottom line.

Does Assembly offer longer-term contracts?

Yes, we will offer contracts for companies with longer-term agreements to help larger customers have more certainty around future costs.

The minimum agreement term is a 12-month subscription.

Does Assembly offer onboarding support?

We do and for FREE! Any new customer needing further support to get started with Assembly to ensure you're set up for success can request custom onboarding support. Improving your employee experience is about much more than just using our amazing software; it’s about transforming your business to create a workplace that people love. That’s much easier to do with the personal support and advice from our passionate people experts.

Is there a free version of Assembly?

Yes. We offer a completely free plan for up to 50 team members. This plan is intended for teams or organizations that are looking to get started with an employee engagement tool. Keep in mind, this plan is limited in features.

All customers can open an Assembly account for free and get started without a credit card. Then you can change plans as necessary.

How much do rewards cost?

At the time of redemption (when your employees exchange their points for a paid reward) you'll pay face value. If a reward is a $10 Amazon gift card, your cost will be $10. All paid rewards are billed for on a monthly basis.

The good news is that you don't have to pay for rewards upfront because we only charge you when points are redeemed, not when they're earned.

Does Assembly offer discounts?

We offer discounts or educational or charitable organizations. In order to secure a discount, you'll first need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

For all other organizations, we are willing to consider longer-term agreements in exchange for discounts. To set up annual plans or longer, you will need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

How do I cancel my plan if needed?

If you're on a month to month plan, you can go here and cancel anytime. If you're having concerns or need help setting up your account for success, you can always book a demo with a customer support specialist.

If you're on a longer-term custom plan, you'll need to reach out to your customer support specialist to cancel your account or email us at support@joinassembly.com.

What customizations are available?

Great question! You can customize your core values to match your organization's to boost and track alignment. You can change your currency from the 🏆 emoji (our default) to any emoji of your choice. You can swap our logo for your own. You can also set up company culture rewards such as, "Lunch with the CEO," "Buy a book on us," and so much more!

Who can give or receive recognition?

While we recommend a peer to peer set up where anyone in your organization can give or receive recognition, you can set up Assembly however you want. If you need to limit the people who can give or receive recognition, that's perfectly fine and can be done from your Admin, here.

What integrations are available?

Assembly connects to the tools your employees use every day to offer an easy, seamless experience with minimal change management.  

Assembly has integrations with HCM/HRIS systems like ADP, Google, Office 365, and Slack. We also integrate with communication tools like Slack and Teams so you and your employees can access Assembly wherever they work now.

What's your average adoption rate?

That depends on the company's permissions set up. That said, over 90% of the employees on Assembly's platform are recognized on a monthly basis. That means nearly every employee across all of our customers are receiving regular recognition from their peers, managers, or leadership. We're extremely proud of this.

Must rewards be set up to use Assembly?

They are not required. You can use Assembly without having rewards set up. However, we don't recommend it if you intend to have a high adoption and usage rate. You can always keep the costs down by offering internal culture rewards that are fulfilled by you internally.

Are points required to use Assembly?

No, you can remove allowances from anyone or everyone. It's up to you but we do recommend using points whether they're worth a real dollar value or not. Companies that use points have a much higher engagement rate even if those points don't exchange for real dollars.

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Please schedule time with an expert and we will help you to get all your questions answered