Looking for a custom intranet solution that ticks all the boxes for today’s digital workplace? From internal communication and knowledge management to collaboration, a company intranet has everything your organization needs. All your resources and business tools are in one centralized location. That’s why intranet software platforms are mission-critical – no more switching between multiple screens and apps. Instead, the intranet is the go-to digital hub and single source of truth for the entire workforce.
Developing a custom intranet has never been easier. There are a ton of providers out there, offering intranet software you can customize and make your own with a personalized design.
Our comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know. Here are the topics we explore:
- Definition and benefits of a custom intranet
- Choosing new intranet software
- Top 8 best custom intranet software solutions
- What is a SharePoint intranet?
- How to evaluate intranet features
A definition is always a good place to start, so let’s dive in.
What Is A Custom Intranet?
A custom intranet is a private digital network accessible only to your people. Unlike out-of-box solutions, it offers greater flexibility in creating tailored solutions to meet the specific challenges of your business. Organizations can include custom features like advanced content management, engagement tools, and real-time employee collaboration.
A custom intranet goes beyond the basic needs for internal communication and information sharing. You can align the solution to strategic business goals and enhance the user experience.
Moreover, a modern intranet integrates with essential tools like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, providing a seamless, secure environment for document sharing and management.
Benefits Of A Custom Intranet
When it comes to business benefits, a custom company intranet brings plenty to the table. Here are the headlines:
Internal Communications
Do away with the dreaded all-staff email and simplify communication in your custom intranet. From blogs and vlogs to podcasts and dynamic newsfeeds, the employee intranet ensures everyone is engaged and informed about company news and announcements.
Employee Engagement
A custom intranet can take employee engagement to a whole new level. Features like two-way communication channels, feedback surveys, and employee recognition help foster a sense of community. Regardless of whether team members are on-site or remote, an intranet solution brings employees together.
Streamlined Collaboration
The employee intranet is the go-to platform for project management and collaboration. Features like instant messaging, # channels, and document management provide a central hub to work together and track progress in real time.
Improved Productivity
Did you know the average employee spends 51 percent of their working day on low to no value tasks? Centralized resources, organizational communication, and collaborative tools cut down the time employees spend searching for information. And automated workflows and approvals processes make it quicker and easier to get things done.
From onboarding new employees to managing HR requests and approvals, intranets automate routine tasks, saving time and hassle.
Flexibility And Scalability
A custom intranet is scalable and adaptable, growing and evolving with your business over time. You can customize the design, features, and user experience to align with your brand and cater to your employees’ unique and ever-changing requirements.
Choosing The Best Intranet Software
Getting started on your intranet project is daunting. We get it. There are so many options and providers out there that it’s difficult to know where to start. Use the following tips to guide your selection.
The first step is to assess your business needs and employee workflows thoroughly. What is it you want the intranet to achieve? This kind of high-level analysis helps you focus on what’s really important.
Next, consider the essential features for daily operations. It could be information sharing, integration with other software tools, employee communication, or knowledge management. Some intranet platforms will be stronger in certain areas than others. Knowing what’s non-negotiable helps you come up with a shortlist.
Look for intranet software platforms that offer flexibility, customization, and integration with tools like Google Workspace, Salesforce, and more. Don’t miss out on any instant deals.
Furthermore, aim to partner with a vendor that understands your requirements and has a proven track record in delivering scalable and supportive solutions. Ensure the implementation process is as smooth and straightforward as possible, and check that ongoing support meets your requirements.
How To Evaluate Intranet Software Features
OK, so you have compiled a shortlist of company intranet providers. How do you evaluate the different options to make a final decision? The following tips will help you select the right custom intranet software.
Consider the impact of features like content management, employee communication, and project management tools. Make sure all the core features match your expectations. Involve your key stakeholders in making the evaluation: HR, IT, the leadership team, and frontline workers.
Look for intranet software that offers customization options, scalability, and integration with other tools. You want a solution that reflects your unique brand and requirements.
Determine the level of ongoing support and training offered by the vendor. You want to ensure team members can get the most out of the intranet software.
Evaluate the user experience and ease of use, ensuring the intranet software is intuitive, user-friendly, and simple to implement. A free demo or trial offer is the best way to do this. Also, check out independent review sites for honest assessments of happy and unhappy customers.
Finally, it’s vital to analyze costs and ensure the vendor’s pricing model aligns with your budget.
Top 8 Best Intranet Software Tools
When it comes to intranet software choosing, the following top eight tools stand out for their exceptional features and capabilities.
1. MyHub
Of course, we reckon our software is the best. However, you don’t just have to take our word for it. Here’s what one reviewer on Capterra had to say: “I love that you can literally design your intranet to be however you want.”
The bottom line is that MyHub is hard to beat when it comes to custom intranet solutions. With over 60 pre-built intranet templates to choose from, all you need to do is add your stamp with graphics, logos, and custom colors.
Use drag and drop to build a visually stunning, engaging intranet site that your people will love to use. You don’t need to be a techno whizz to create an intranet using our software.
MyHub integrates with Canva and over 60 other apps and enterprise systems, including HR, payroll, CRM platforms, and much more. Single sign-on means staff have easy access to all the tools they need under one virtual roof.
Furthermore, MyHub comes with all the essential features every company intranet needs. From internal communication tools and news feeds to org charts and search functionality, team members have everything at their fingertips.
Even better, our intranet software is available as a dedicated mobile app. Now, on-the-go and frontline workers get to enjoy the same employee experience as office-based staff.
Capterra rating: 4.8/5
Costs: From $3.50 per user / per month
2. Softr
Softr is a no-code web app builder that lets you create bespoke solutions without coding expertise, including creating a custom intranet.
Designing and customizing your team intranet is straightforward with pre-built intranet templates, drag-and-drop interface, and integrations. You won’t need a college degree in computing to get up and running.
Capterra rating: 4.7/5
Costs: $49 per year flat rate
Free trial
3. Happeo
Happeo is a unified digital workplace platform that seamlessly combines intranet, collaboration, and social networking tools. It’s an excellent choice for organizations powered by Google Workspace.
It has a simple interface and has ready-to-use templates with structured layouts and customization options for brand consistency.
Capterra rating: 4.4/5
Costs: Available on request
Free trial
4. Workvivo
Workvivo by Zoom is an employee experience platform. It seamlessly blends modern intranet functionality with social features, making it a powerful tool for enhancing company culture.
The social media-like interface is one of its standout features. It offers a familiar experience that boosts employee engagement, interaction, and internal communication.
Capterra rating: 4.7/5
Costs: From $5 per year flat rate
Free trial
5. ClickUp
A powerful tool that can also serve as custom intranet software, offering consistency and customization options.
ClickUp includes a range of essential business apps, like task management, collaboration tools, internal communication, and work management.
Capterra rating: 4.6/5
Costs: From $10 per month per user
No free trial offer
6. Axero
This social intranet platform enhances company-wide communication and collaboration with built-in features like activity feeds, discussion forums, and team workspaces. The social features make collaboration feel less formal and more organic.
Axero also offers integrations with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, a mobile app for on-the-go access, and intelligent analytics and reporting.
Capterra rating: 4.5/5
Costs: Prices start from $10 per month flat fee
Free trial
7. Notion
Notion is a popular tool that combines workspace functionality with intranet-building capabilities. You can easily create a custom intranet site for teams to collaborate, share documents, and manage projects all in one place.
This intranet platform boasts an intuitive interface, a drag-and-drop page builder, integrations, and access to pre-built templates.
Capterra Rating: 4.7/5
Costs: Start from $10 per user per month
Free trial
8. Confluence
A team workspace tool that also functions as custom intranet software. Confluence offers guided setup and customization options.
The platform has customizable templates for project planning, knowledge sharing, and more. It also features robust user management, permission settings, and access controls.
Capterra rating: 4.5/5
Costs: $4.89 per user per month
No free trial
What About SharePoint Intranet Solutions?
You may have heard of a SharePoint intranet platform and wondered where it fits in the mix.
Developed by Microsoft, a SharePoint platform is a popular choice for document management and team collaboration. However, it also offers features for building intranet sites, making it easy to create tailored intranet pages.
Integration with all MS products, including Microsoft Teams, makes a SharePoint intranet a tempting option for Microsoft-powered organizations.
Advantages Of A SharePoint Intranet
SharePoint’s document management system, flexibility, and extensive customization options mean it’s a versatile solution.
In addition, SharePoint is already included in your Microsoft 365 subscription, and you also get the benefit of Microsoft’s advanced security features.
Disadvantages Of A SharePoint Intranet
However, before you dive in and commit to a SharePoint intranet, there are some drawbacks to consider.
Users often complain that a SharePoint intranet is complex, clunky and offers a poor UX. Another gripe is that the intranet site is difficult to configure, requiring the expertise of the IT department or external consultants.
Finally, there are some hidden costs with the SharePoint platform. Ongoing licensing fees can quickly add up. It can also take time and additional resources to train staff to get the most out of the software.
At the end of the day, a SharePoint intranet may be the best option for your organization. However, it’s worthwhile considering the potential drawbacks we’ve discussed before you sign on the dotted line.
Custom Intranet Software: Key Takeaways
Choosing the right custom intranet solution is crucial for improving communication, collaboration, and employee productivity.
However, finding a solution that meets your needs takes time and effort with so many options available.
Use the tips and advice we’ve shared to focus your search. Consider the benefits of each solution, including features, integrations, costs, scalability, and ongoing support.
Following our best practices, you can create a custom intranet perfect for your business needs.
MyHub’s Custom Intranet Software
Why not start your intranet development project with a demo or free trial with MyHub?
Our platform is super-easy to launch yourself. We provide all the development resources and support you need for a successful launch and beyond.
However, sometimes, there just aren’t enough hours in the day, so the MyHub team can do it all for you. Creating a custom intranet has never been easier with our specialized design services. Find out more today.
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