The Best Internal Communication Intranet Tools for Startups in 2023

With the specialized intranet communication tools, companies can revolutionize their internal communication & collaboration.

September 29, 2023
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Organizations can transform their internal communication and collaboration with the help of specialized intranet communications tools. This blog post looks at how these software solutions may revolutionize things, examples of great ones to use, and tips on properly implementing them in an organization’s operations. With such powerful technologies available today, having efficient internal comms no longer has to be a dream!

Key Takeaways

  • Intranet provides a centralized platform for internal communication, improving productivity and creating positive company culture.
  • Having the right features is key to successful intranet implementation - customizable interface, search functionality & mobile accessibility.
  • Invest in employee training & maintenance of your intranet platform to ensure it’s fully adopted by employees for improved efficiency and productivity.

The Power of Intranet in Internal Communication

Internal communication tools, such as intranet, have emerged as the top option for businesses looking to keep their team connected and up-to-date with company updates. Compared to traditional internal communications tools and channels, intranet offers a centralized platform that facilitates not only information sharing but collaboration too, making it an essential component of effective internalcommunication strategies.

So what sets intranet above these other communication methods? Let’s dive in and take a closer look!

Advantages of Intranet for Internal Communication

The advantages of intranet in regards to internal corporate communication tools are numerous. A major benefit is the ability for workers to quickly locate and access necessary data, saving time that would be wasted searching elsewhere and thus leading to increased productivity. An intranet platform like Assembly offers an opportunity for employees from all team members come together by providing a place where they can share company news updates as well as stay updated on recognition programs such as badges or leaderboards which help foster employee engagement while developing a strong company culture overall.

Intranet vs. Traditional Communication Channels

Intranet provides employees with better accessibility, organization, and the ability to access real-time updates from any device. It enables secure collaboration between workers for document sharing purposes as well. Features such as discussion forums, chat rooms and customizable interfaces enhance internal communication which benefits not only remote workers or on-the-go staff but also makes overall teamwork more efficient. All of these elements contribute towards making intranet a great resource To traditional methods like emailing or phone calls/in person meetings

Top Intranet Tools for Internal Communication

We have gathered some of the best intranet solutions to enable startups take advantage of them. These tools offer a broad range of functions, pricing choices and suitability for organizations so you can locate one that fits your business perfectly.

In this article, we will look into Assembly, SharePoint and Jostle more closely in order to identify their main features as well as benefits they deliver.

Assembly

Assembly is an intranet platform that can be customized to fit the unique needs and branding of your organization, enhancing user experience and boosting adoption. This internal communications tool offers employee recognition capabilities including rewarding team members for accomplishments with badges or leaderboards. This powerful combination of customization options and encouragement makes Assembly a great choice for startups wishing to boost their internal communication goals.

SharePoint

For organizations aiming to enhance their internal communication, SharePoint is an attractive alternative. Microsoft-based and completely compatible with Office 365, it provides a unified platform that allows document management, team collaboration and workflow automation - all of this made possible through its user-friendly interface.

Utilizing features like content management, search capabilities as well as analytics can result in increased efficiency and productivity among your employees which ultimately leads to improved workplace harmony. Making the implementation of SharePoint a highly advantageous decision for startups or any other type organization.

Jostle

Jostle is a cloud-based intranet platform tailored to promote employee engagement, communication and collaboration. Its user friendly design coupled with various helpful functions can help foster unity within the workplace of your startup. Features such as video chat tool, rooms, discussion forums or personalized profiles are designed to allow employees to engage with one another while working towards a common aim in an efficient manner. Through Jostle’s implementation you’ll be able create a productive atmosphere that allows team members excel at their job and develop better relationships amongst themselves .

Essential Intranet Features for Effective Internal Communication

After analyzing some of the most popular internal communication software tools, it’s time to look into their essential features that can help enhance effective internal communication. Elements like a personalizable layout, search function and mobile capabilities are considered key for an efficient intranet system. We’ll discuss these characteristics in more detail later on to demonstrate why they’re so integral when facilitating successful internal communications.

Customizable Interface

Organizations are able to benefit from a customizable interface for their company intranet, which helps create an appealing and easily navigable platform. This offers employees the convenience of having something that feels familiar and personalized, while also fostering greater engagement with internal communication activities. By giving organizations the ability to customize plugins or add widgets, user experience is vastly improved as well. All this goes towards helping businesses enhance effectiveness when it comes to within-company internal communications strategy through providing an intuitive yet tailored solution for users’ needs.

Search Functionality

Any intranet platform is greatly improved by search functionality. This feature allows employees to quickly and easily access important information, eliminating the time-consuming process of manually searching through files or documents. Having a variety of methods for finding data - such as keyword search, natural language queries and semantic analysis – enables users to find exactly what they need from various sources in an effective manner. Thus fostering better communication and collaboration across teams. Search functionality Offers immense value when it comes to streamlining processes and improving overall productivity throughout any business.

Mobile Accessibility

For successful internal communication, having mobile access is a key feature. This allows employees to use the intranet anytime and from anywhere with any device. For remote personnel that cannot always utilize desktops for their needs this helps them stay connected via laptops or cell phones in order to remain involved as part of the organization’s overall success. Intranets should provide both applications specifically designed for portable equipment plus flexible designs so they can cater to all users without compromising user experience no matter where they are located or what type of tools preferred by team members.

Integrating Intranet with Other Communication Tools

The importance of integrating a company’s intranet platform with the various communication tools, such as project management software and collaboration apps, cannot be overstated. By doing so it simplifies communication while also offering employees access to all their required information through one single location. Let’s delve Into how this combination between intranet and instant messaging can benefit an organization To pairing them with other project management solutions.

By bringing these two essential resources together, organizations are able to not only enhance cooperation but heighten operational efficiency too. Allowing team members within each department greater flexibility when conveying important data or accessing precise details necessary for projects success which would otherwise have been arduous tasks without integration across different platforms .

Collaboration with Project Management Tools

Integrating your intranet platform with project management applications such as Trello or Asana can be highly advantageous in boosting the effectiveness of task organization, assignment to team members and keeping track of their progress. This way employees are kept informed about upcoming deadlines for each job they have assigned, bettering communication between group partners while facilitating increased efficiency towards collective goals.

Project management tools work seamlessly with an Intranet based system so that all information related to any particular projects will reside at a central point from which personnel can access easily. Helping them stay up-to-date regarding tasks they have been allocated and remain engaged throughout their duties. Ultimately this leads to improved teamwork dynamics whilst ensuring successful completion within stipulated timelines and budgetary constraints simultaneously.

Combining Intranet and Instant Messaging

Merging intranet platforms with instant messaging applications such as Slack or Microsoft Teams can help employees communicate better in real-time. These tools offer a rapid method of sharing and discussing information, allowing individuals to discuss ideas, make decisions without needing too many emails or face-to-face meetings.

Combining these two systems gives everyone the opportunity for improved collaboration by providing all members access to up-to date data when communicating on projects which could lead towards increased productivity due to efficient communication and better decision making overall

Implementing Intranet for Internal Communication Success

In order to achieve a successful intranet implementation for internal communication, more than just the proper platform and features are necessary. It is essential to provide employee training and onboarding, frequent updates as well as upkeep, To inspiring workers’ adoption of it, all vital elements that contribute towards effective employee communication. Here we will review these components closely with tips on how best implement an intranet system for success in terms of staff interactions.

Employee Training and Onboarding

Offering the right training and assistance during onboarding is critical for successful intranet usage. This can be accomplished through one-on-one instruction, video tutorials or detailed user instructions depending on what your team members need and prefer.

Focusing on employee training as part of an onboarding process not only gets new employees acquainted quickly but also reduces attrition. Having adequate support will make them feel valued and included in the company culture. Investment in this area results to better teamwork along with improved potentials that comes with using an intranet platform effectively.

Regular Updates and Maintenance

To guarantee effective and best internal communication tools and the use of cutting-edge features, regular maintenance is necessary. Tasks such as installing security updates, changing plugins or themes for better performance, updating content regularly need to be executed in order to ensure that employees can access accurate information quickly. Keeping your intranet platform updated not only strengthens the user experience but contributes significantly towards successful implementation of a communication strategy within an organisation.

Encouraging Employee Adoption

Maximizing the advantages of an intranet platform requires encouraging users to adopt it. This can be done through highlighting its benefits, requesting user input and constantly modifying based on needs. Incentives and creating a sense of community are also beneficial in this regard as they allow making the intranet part of company culture leading to successful internal communication that is conducive for increased productivity.

Summary

To reap the many benefits of internal communication, startup owners should consider integrating intranet tools into their systems. Choosing suitable features and other related communication platforms will enable employees to stay connected and engaged at work while increasing productivity overall. Effective adoption requires proper training for full optimization. When done right, organizations can expect a more efficient working environment through successful use of these intranet technologies.

FAQ

What is intranet in internal communication?

For many years, organizations have employed intranets to enable internal communications within their organization and offer exclusive content solely for the workforce. This secure network ensures that only authorized people can access certain information.

What are the four types of internal communication?

Internal communication is a necessity for any company, encompassing four different types: top-down communications from leadership or management to employees. Bottom-up messages coming directly from personnel up the chain of command. Peer interactions between coworkers and finally, an exchange of information within teams.

What are the main benefits of using intranet for internal communication?

Intranet is an ideal resource for the best internal communication tool that helps to unify information, foster teamwork and optimize efficiency while also increasing staff satisfaction. By utilizing this tool, organizations can benefit from a heightened level of collaboration and employee engagement.

How does intranet compare to traditional communication channels?

Intranet provides a more convenient way to stay connected and work together than typical communication channels, with its easier access, better organization capabilities as well as continuously updating information.

Which intranet tools are best suited for startups?

For startups, Assembly, SharePoint and Jostle are the ideal intranet collaboration tools that to invest in. They offer secure features as well as improved communication capabilities for teams plus streamlined processes within their platform.

Browse our Free Employee Recognition Guide

Get the foundational knowledge on creating an employee recognition program that boosts employee engagement and helps them feel valued.

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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.

Could find the answer you are looking for?

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