Intranets are designed to be a hub for all the information employees need to do their jobs. They’re also created to make it easy for employees to find and use that information effectively.
That’s why they’re so powerful: they provide the information you need at any given moment and allow you to customize your intranet so that it’s always working for you. Furthermore, a good intranet can help you run your business more efficiently, and a great one will help you get more out of your employees. If you’re in the market looking for good intranet software, read this article till the end to learn seven features to look for before finalizing an intranet software.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
SSO allows employees to use one set of credentials (usually their network login) to access all the needed applications. This is convenient for employees, who don’t have to remember multiple passwords, and it’s more secure for the business, which only has to manage one set of credentials.
User Provisioning
User provisioning is creating and managing user accounts within an intranet. A good intranet will automate this process as much as possible, making it easy to add and remove users as needed. This is important for businesses that often onboard new employees or contractors, as it saves time and ensures that only authorized users can access the intranet.
Self-Service Password Reset
Self-service password reset (SSPR) allows users to reset their passwords if they forget them. This is convenient for users and helps reduce calls to the IT helpdesk. It’s also more secure than having IT staff reset passwords, as it minimizes the risk of someone guessing or otherwise gaining access to an account.
Active Directory Integration
Active Directory (AD) is a Microsoft Windows Server technology that stores information about users, computers, and other objects on a network. Many businesses use AD to manage their internal networks, and it’s important that their intranet for companies software integrates with AD. This allows the intranet to “pull” information from AD, such as usernames and passwords and makes it easy to add new users to the intranet.
Reporting and Analytics
A good intranet will provide reporting and analytics features that allow businesses to track how employees use the intranet. This can help identify areas where the intranet could be improved, or where employees are struggling to find the information they need. It can also help businesses track which employees are using the intranet most often and who might need more training on how to use it effectively.
Mobile Access
More and more employees are using their smartphones and tablets to access the internet, and an intranet must be accessible from these devices. A good intranet will have a dedicated mobile app or a responsive design that makes it easy to use on smaller screens. Mobile access is especially important for businesses with employees frequently away from their desks, such as field sales teams or traveling executives.
Integration with Other Business Systems
An intranet should work with other business systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) software or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. This integration allows businesses to keep all their information in one place and makes sharing data between different departments or applications easy. It also helps employees avoid switching between different systems to get the information they need, which can save time and increase productivity.
Final Word
Choosing the right intranet software is important for businesses of all sizes. These seven features are essential for businesses that want to improve their operations and make their intranet more user-friendly and efficient.