An Intranet might be thought of as the Internet with a firewall around it. Based on TCP/IP protocols, an Intranet belongs to a corporation or organization, and is accessible only by members, employees, and others with authorization.
Operated on TCP/IP protocols, an Intranet uses the same or similar technology, and its websites and applications look and act like those on the World Wide Web, but the firewall prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing and using it. Most Intranet applications are the same ones that are used on the Internet, or at least similar, such as browsers, document publishing software, and instant messaging applications. Unlike Internet applications, Intranet applications reside on the local server.
Originally, Intranets consisted of a series of static HTML pages and grew as grassroots efforts at the organizational levels until it became difficult or impossible for anyone to find what they were looking for. Even today, many corporate or organizational Intranets are underutilized, serving as little more than communication vehicles and repositories of information. Largely communication-based, many Intranets are not productivity-focused or integrated with core organizational workflows.
As compared to the Internet, the content of Intranets are mostly dedicated to reference materials, policies and procedures, course materials, transactional applications, and library-based information.
However, just as the Internet has changed drastically over the past few decades, Intranets have also evolved, where there is a corporate or organizational determination to do so, shifting from a simple document management platform to a more comprehensive business collaboration and communication solution.
Besides serving as a repository for information, an Intranet can also be used as a platform for team collaboration and messaging, collaborative filtering, procurement, training, various administrative tasks, and global meetings.
An effective Intranet can result in less email traffic and greater corporate security, and reduced costs for company-wide communication. A corporate Intranet can result in faster onboarding and training, as well as increased employee engagement. Sales and marketing departments may realize a decreased time to access necessary information and expertise, as well as reduced time to market for promotions. Those responsible for customer service may experience a faster time to resolution of customer support issues, reduced call-handling times, and increased customer satisfaction scores.
Depending on the needs of the organization, an Intranet may include blogs, a document management system, a content-management system, wikis, forums, facilities for real-time conversation, galleries, mind-mapping applications, directories of people and departments, analytics, and anything else that might be necessary to solve problems, An Intranet exists to solve problems in communication, information, business processes, and collaboration. To serve these purposes, an Intranet may need a blend of tools that answer its needs in each of these categories. Effective search functionality can help to bring it all together.
When a company allows access to any part of its Intranet to the public, it is known as an Extranet. For example, a company might allow clients or suppliers outside of the company to have access to an Extranet portion of it Intranet, using a valid username and password, which determines that parts of the network that can be viewed.
The focus of this category is on any software designed specifically for Intranet use.
Recommended Resources
Originally known as Intranet DASHBOARD, GreenOrbit is an Intranet software designed for organizations across the globe. The site presents a definition of Intranet software and offers details of its top features, such as CMS, forms and workflows, news and blogs, Internet analytics, a profile directory, private groups, integration, document management, polls, onboarding, a social network, active directory integration, notifications, and a staff profile.
https://www.greenorbit.com/
Headquartered in Australia and Canada, Igloo is a subscription-as-a-service (SaaS) company that provides Intranet solutions and support services. The key features of its product are listed and described, including its mobile application, analytics, security, integrations, deployment, and integrations with third-party applications. The company also provides consulting services, design, implementation, training, and support services. User guides and e-books are included.
https://www.igloosoftware.com/
With offices in the United Kingdom and the United States, Interact has clients worldwide. Its core features are highlighted, and all of its features listed on the site, along with the requirements for running the software, integrations with third-party software, and a list of clients. Its pricing is divided into three custom plans (Small Business, Professional, Enterprise), and a quote may be requested through the site. An overview of its services, training, and design services are included.
https://www.interact-intranet.com/
Headquartered in Canada, Jostle is an Intranet platform used by corporations and other organizations to build culture, boost communication, and get work done across remote locations, as well as to access documents, employee directories, and informational databases. Its collaborative tools bring people together from different departments, locations, and teams, and the application can integrate with several popular applications. Pricing is based on the number of employees per month.
https://jostle.me/
Offering an Office 365 Intranet solution provides for a digital workplace, where employees can easily communicate and collaborate, facilitating multiple employees collaborating on projects, allowing employees to work in synergy. The Intranet software is designed to increase productivity, engage collaboration, simplify communication, and boost cohesiveness. Its features and benefits are put forth, a free demo may be requested, and its pricing plans are listed.
https://ls-intranet.net/
The cloud-based Intranet software provider has clients throughout the world. Beginning as Keep In Touch (KIT) in 2001, the company assumed its current name in 2014. It features, design services, and pricing are posted to the site, along with its help guides, videos, and other support resources. A fourteen-day free trial may be requested, and a free demonstration can be booked online. An informational blog offers articles on a variety of topics relating to Intranets.
https://www.myhubintranet.com/
Simpplr creates software that helps companies connect their workforce by streamlining internal communications and enhancing employee connections through a corporate Intranet. A brief company history is provided, along with a list of features for the software, from the user and administrator side, as well as its integrations, its Auto-Governance engine, the Intranet management software, its security features, services, and a demo. A price quote is available on request.
https://www.simpplr.com/
