This blog is authored by guest contributor Debbie Forrester, Editorial Manager at Sequel Group.
Debbie leads Sequel’s editorial team, which project manages and writes for a range of client accounts, from independent features to complete print and digital internal publications. Debbie has been part of the Sequel team for 14 years and has worked in internal communications for considerably longer! A firm believer in authentic, human communications, Debbie advocates an employee-first approach to messaging, helping organisations turn complex ideas into clear, engaging stories that connect with their people.
Employees are increasingly turning from the intranet and to chat tools, email and AI assistants to find work information. They cite wasting up to 20% of their working week on poor intranet search experiences, trawling through outdated information, and content overload.
But intranets do still have a key role to play in today’s digital workplace.
True, the intranet isn’t the only place employees go for information, but it has big value as a trusted hub that connects people, knowledge, tools and communications across the organisation.
It’s easy to see why the intranet is struggling to keep pace in a connected world. Originally, employee intranets were simply places to share internal documents. Pages were created for every new topic and initiative with new pages pile on old ones, quickly creating intranet ‘bloat’ and confusing menus, making it difficult to find what you need, or know what is relevant. They became places where ‘documents go to die’.
So what’s intranet’s vital role?
Our clients tell us that their biggest challenges with their intranets today are simple:
- Getting employees to use them
- Helping people find what they need quickly
- Keeping content accurate, current and trusted.
Three challenges they are keen to overcome. In fact, a recent survey said that 51% of organisations want to increase intranet adoption and engagement as a focus next year2, seeing it as a solution for creating a better employee experience and improving communication effectiveness. Yet many aren’t sure where to start.
Whether you’re replacing an outdated platform or improving user experience and driving better adoption of an existing intranet, Sequel is helping clients through intranet transformations across a range of platforms.
From our work with clients and expertise in digital workplace experience, we’ve developed a five-step model which combines to create intranets that deliver measurable value. Discover practical strategies for improving engagement, fostering trust and creating a more connected workplace and see these principles in action in Sequel Group’s mobile intranet app case study.
Whether you’re replacing an outdated platform or improving user experience and driving better adoption of an existing intranet, Sequel is helping clients through intranet transformations across a range of platforms.
1. Discover
Successful intranets start by understanding employees, not technology. Before making platform decisions, you need to identify what employees need, where current frustrations exist and what success looks like. Through stakeholder interviews, employee research, content audits and analytics reviews, we help organisations build a clear picture of digital workplace requirements.
2. Governance
Many intranets don’t struggle because of technology problems. They struggle because nobody owns the content.
Without clear governance, content quickly becomes outdated, inconsistent and difficult to trust.
3. Design
If employees can’t find what they need in seconds, they’ll find another way.
Effective intranet design focuses on employee journeys and experience, rather than organisational structures. Good navigation, intuitive user experiences, strong search capabilities and well-designed content all help employees complete tasks quickly and efficiently.
4. Build
Launching an intranet is about more than switching on technology. A successful launch requires clear content, visible leadership support and a robust adoption strategy.
5. Measure and optimise
As employee needs evolve, intranets evolve too. Ongoing analytics, user feedback, content reviews and governance health checks provide valuable insight into what’s working and where improvements can be made.
Want to learn more about Sequel Group? Contact them here.
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Source: ClearBox survey report
