Imagine holding your organization’s collective knowledge and essential resources in the palm of your hand. What a powerful tool that would be, right? And that’s exactly what you get with a mobile intranet. Everyone and everything is just a tap away with a mobile intranet app. No matter where they are located, your people are connected to each other and company information.
An intranet app is a must-have in today’s digital workplaces for hybrid, remote, deskless, and frontline workers.
This post takes you through all you need to know, including the benefits and essential features. Our comprehensive discussion concludes with a list of the top ten best mobile intranet apps.
What Is A Mobile Intranet?
It’s a mobile version of the company intranet. This secure platform ensures that on-the-go employees can access the same productivity, internal communications, and collaboration tools as the head office. Using their mobile devices and an internet connection, users securely log on to catch up on company news, connect with others, and access vital business documents.
However, unlike mobile-friendly versions of intranet software, the mobile app is specifically designed for smartphones. Mobile employees get an optimized, user-friendly viewing experience. And scrolling, text, and image layouts have been tailored to the smartphone user. Important information is just a tap away rather than a click. And all the tools workers need are easy to use on the smaller mobile screens.
An intranet app is still jam-packed with the key features you would expect in the desktop version. But it’s just more accessible for mobile users.
What Are The Benefits Of An Intranet App?
So, what do you stand to gain by investing in an intranet application? After all, getting a return on investment is a top priority for every organization.
The following list of benefits will help you prepare a compelling business case.
Enhanced Internal Communications
A mobile app takes employee communication to another level.
Company-wide or team news feeds keep everyone in the loop on important updates. And push notifications straight to the user ensure that critical communication gets to the right people at the right time. Workers can also comment, like, and share content for an interactive experience that boosts employee engagement.
Furthermore, co-workers can communicate in real-time with team chat, whether in group chats or private messages. And #channels boost relevancy and ensure all employees can join the conversation, regardless of location. Sharing ideas and insights happens on the fly. And giving employees control of message notifications ensures they stay informed with current news and upcoming events.
Increased Productivity And Improved Efficiency
The ease and convenience of having everything at your fingertips boost productivity and efficiency, especially for deskless workers.
However, the mobile app is more than just a passive information center. It’s where employees go to get stuff done. It could be streamlining workflows such as submitting expense claims using automated forms or sharing documents and identifying internal expertise.
Regardless of the location or time zone, managers and employees can access company resources when needed.
Enhanced Customer Service
An intranet app empowers your sales staff and field employees to deliver top-notch services to customers.
On-the-go workers use a mobile device to swiftly resolve customer queries, track orders, and access important resources and company expertise. Your clients will appreciate the superb service. It will also improve your brand loyalty and increase repeat business.
Lower Operating Expenses And Cost Savings
Introduce a mobile version of the intranet and save on your operating costs.
Your intranet app will become the go-to resource, eliminating the need for long company meetings. And you can wave goodbye to back-and-forth emails for good.
Instead, colleagues use one centralized platform for brainstorming, collaborating, and sharing knowledge. Travel costs are reduced. And freeing up workers’ time means more productivity on mission-critical tasks.
Furthermore, field staff will no longer need to carry around product manuals or operating instructions, saving you a ton of money on paper and printing.
Speed Up Decision-Making
These days, it’s not just sales personnel who spend time on the road. Hybrid and remote colleagues may work from a local café or even from the beach.
A mobile intranet brings people together in a way that laptops and desktops can’t. Everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, with over 320 million users in the US alone.
No matter where your people are, they can still manage projects, respond to instant messages, maintain productivity, and stay connected.
Implement a mobile intranet app and streamline your decision-making process with anytime, anywhere access.
What Are The Essential Features Of A Mobile Intranet App?
Now that you have put together the business case, it’s time to start your search for the perfect private network. To help you, we have compiled the following list of essential features every intranet application should have.
Push Notifications
This valuable tool is a must-have. If you need to communicate an urgent message or critical update, a push notification sends a real-time nudge straight to mobile devices.
Push notifications straight to users ensure these critical messages get through when it counts.
Communication Tools
Make sure your app comes fully loaded with all the internal communications features you need. Think private and group instant messages, #channels, and a company people directory. That way, employees can communicate in real-time, no matter the location.
Your deskless and frontline workers can feel more engaged in the workplace community. This makes for a more inclusive company culture and levels the communication play field for all.
News Feeds
Reach all employees through their smartphones and keep everyone up to date on current news and critical information.
Even better, give employees the option to customize their news feeds with a mix of team and company news.
All-staff emails are not always relevant to every team. However, customization and push notifications ensure your message targets the right colleagues.
Post on the news feed about company events, shoutouts, training opportunities, or office outings. Welcome new colleagues with a special introduction. And why not boost employee engagement by allowing workers to like, comment, or share content?
Employee Directory
A searchable company people directory is another vital feature. It supports internal communication, knowledge management, and collaboration.
Managers and employees can search colleagues and easily find help for specialized projects. And many employees find the platform invaluable for sourcing internal expertise and finding answers to questions.
An employee directory is also very handy for deskless workers. With just a tap, they can instantly access the entire organization, making the digital workplace that bit more accessible.
An employee directory helps businesses build strong personal bonds between colleagues across dispersed teams.
Automatic Customization
Look for a platform you can make your own with personalization options. As the demands of today’s workforce continue to evolve, every company needs to provide a seamless intranet employee experience.
By introducing an automated mirroring system between a web-based intranet and its corresponding mobile application, companies can ensure that their employees are instantly and accurately presented with the information critical to their jobs. From custom forms, user profiles, news articles, calendars, and updates, the mobile app should easily accommodate all these needs without any additional configuration work.
This automated mirroring system will enable your business to keep pace with modern working habits. And ultimately, it allows team members equal access to vital information wherever they are.
Advanced Search
You want to make it as easy as possible for users to find what they need. An intuitive interface goes a long way. However, the search function will be smartphone users’ best friend as they look for tools or people.
Double-check that any mobile intranet has the search button upfront on every page and an overall user-friendly interface.
Safe And Secure
Ensure the platform has built-in security features and access controls that restrict access to authorized users only.
Personal data and confidential company information must be safe and secure within your mobile intranet.
How Do I Create A Mobile Intranet App?
Now that you know the benefits and essential features, here are some tips on how to create an intranet application.
1. Select An Intranet App Provider
Do your homework and research potential intranet software providers. After all, you want someone with a proven track record and expertise. Check out their existing credentials and customer testimonials on independent review sites.
Every provider’s mobile intranet is different. Check that your shortlist has the functionality your business needs.
Any intranet provider worth their salt will automatically provide a mobile version of their web-based application. Take advantage of free demos or trial offers. You get a good feel for how the product works before committing yourself. Be sure to get the active participation of frontline workers and listen to their valuable insights before making your final selection.
2. Keep It Simple
It’s tempting to go for an all-singing, all-dancing intranet application. However, your employees don’t need to have every feature of the desktop company intranet on the mobile version. Accessing information should be as simple as possible. In fact, the simpler, the better.
As the gateway to the entire site, the mobile homepage is critical. Try and pack in too much, and users will be overwhelmed. Instead, focus on the necessities for getting the job done. And if you are unsure what employees need, there’s only one way to find out – ask them!
Intranet pages with a simple layout and structure also mean users can dive straight in without extensive training.
3. Personalize Your Mobile Intranet App
Once you select your preferred app, it’s time to customize.
Use all the available features to create a unique look and feel. And structure the mobile intranet in a way that makes sense for your employees. You want it to be relevant so it becomes the go-to resource for all teams.
Finally, start uploading content. You may start from scratch or simply use current content from your existing company intranet. Either way, be sure you have set up groups in the team chat, have full employee profile information, and have uploaded all important documents and relevant information before going live.
And remember to identify review mechanisms. Doing so gives you confidence that the content is as current on the mobile app as on the company intranet.
4. Download And Install
Your mobile intranet app is now ready to go. All that’s needed is for the employee to use existing authentication modes and download the software on a mobile device or smartphone.
Mobile Intranet FAQs
What Organizations Should Have An Intranet App?
Contrary to what you might think, it’s not just large enterprises that benefit from the app’s seamless collaboration, communication, and knowledge management tools.
With an intranet application, your people can stay up to date, instantly access vital business documents, and stay connected to information, resources, and each other.
Regardless of the size or scope of your business, having the company intranet in your back pocket will boost productivity for all workers, whatever their location.
How Do You Access The Intranet From A Mobile?
The mobile intranet application works just the same as any other other app.
Users should download the app from their respective app store and install it on their devices. After installation, they can log in using their existing credentials. Once logged in, employees have easy access to a ton of features and content tailored to their roles and permissions within the organization.
Can I Integrate My App With Other Business Systems?
Nowadays, most organizations use a wide range of enterprise systems in their daily operations. It could be CRM software, HR management tools, and, of course, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Connecting with these other platforms is non-negotiable.
Most intranet providers offer seamless integration to third-party software through their intranet apps. Just make sure your preferred platform is one of them.
What Are The Key Features Of A Mobile Homepage?
A mobile intranet homepage should be designed to provide employees with quick and easy access to essential information and tools.
Best-in-class mobile homepages have a user-friendly design, visual appeal, straightforward navigation, and prominent access to search and frequently used tools.
How Is Data Secured Within The App?
Securing coding practices, data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and secure APIs are just some of the robust security measures in place within the app.
What Is Mobile Device Management?
When it comes to mobile intranet apps, mobile device management (MDM) refers to the use of software solutions to manage, monitor, and secure employees’ devices when accessing the organization’s intranet. MDM solutions help IT teams enforce corporate policies, ensure secure access to company data, and integrate seamlessly with enterprise systems.
What Is The Best Intranet App?
We conclude our comprehensive discussion with a top 10 list of the best intranet apps.
1. MyHub
OK, full disclosure here. We may be just a bit biased, but we think MyHub’s mobile intranet is hard to beat.
Our newly launched intranet app is mobile first. We haven’t just created a mobile version of our desktop intranet. It’s been specially designed for smartphones.
With an elegant, uncluttered interface, MyHub’s intranet app puts the needs of mobile users upfront with push notifications and an updates feed that pulls together alerts from across the site. Our platform comes with all the fantastic functions you expect and need. And it’s super simple and fun to use.
Even better, our mobile app is included with your existing MyHub Intranet site subscription.
2. Simpplr
The name gives it away: Simpplr is a simple-to-use platform that offers a superior user experience. Simpplr’s app provides a streamlined and engaging user experience for accessing your organization’s intranet on the go.
Key features include an enhanced user experience, responsive design, notifications, and deep linking. There are also a ton of social features to keep your people engaged and driving adoption.
3. Interact
The Interact app gives employees easy access to their organization’s intranet platform on their mobiles. It helps ensure all staff, including frontline workers, stay informed and connected.
Highlights include Interact mobile’s enterprise search, seamless authentication with FaceID and Touch, and customized branding.
https://www.interactsoftware.com/
4. Talkspirit
Talkspirit offers a secure, user-friendly mobile app. With real-time communication, collaboration tools, and personalized notifications, it’s the perfect platform for on-the-go employees.
Standout features include an intuitive interface, plenty of customization options, and video conferencing and chat for easy collaboration.
5. Connecteam
The Connecteam app does what it says on the box. It connects team members, whatever their location. This all-in-one platform simplifies task management and document sharing and supports the employee experience.
The key features include secure chat and communication, project management tools, and a centralized knowledge base for all company resources.
6. Staffbase
Staffbase’s app is like having your entire workplace in your pocket. The intuitive and secure platform supports communication and collaboration anytime, anywhere.
One of the best things about the app is the ability to customize the look, delivery, and functionality. It also has advanced analytics, giving you detailed insights into the app’s usage and effectiveness. Furthermore, Staffbase offers integrations with a wide range of enterprise software.
7. Blink
The mobile-first Blink platform is designed for frontline workers, making it a popular choice with retailers, logistics, and healthcare organizations. The app seamlessly connects workers to communication and information-sharing tools.
Standouts include personalized news feeds tailored to each worker and secure chat for group or one-on-one communication. In addition, single sign-on provides secure, one-click access to all enterprise applications.
8. Axero
Axero’s versatile app is designed to enhance employee communication, collaboration, and information sharing. It provides seamless access to all the tools and functions on-the-go workers need.
One of the platform’s best features is the customizable mobile homepage. Using drag-and-drop, you can make the homepage your own. Another top feature is the mobile employee directory, which allows workers to search colleagues while on the go.
9. Guru
Powered by AI, Guru’s mobile platform is an intelligent knowledge-sharing tool. It consolidates and integrates company knowledge from various sources, providing contextual answers in an instant to employees on the go.
Guru’s AI-powered answers to questions are undoubtedly one of its standout features. What’s more, customizable AI knowledge agents deliver topic-specific information on demand. Employees have immediate access to company expertise and information right when they need it.
10. Jostle
Jostle’s mobile offering facilitates connection and communication in a visually engaging platform. Workers can come together to celebrate success, promote the company culture, and access the tools and resources they need daily.
The personalized news feed is one of Jostle’s big drawcards. The comprehensive activities feed keeps everyone in the know with project news, team updates, and company events. And the chat messaging feature means employees can take part in secure public or private discussions.
Mobile Intranets: Final Thoughts
Make no mistake: a mobile intranet is mission-critical for successful companies in today’s digital workplace.
Employees can jump on a mobile to communicate, create, and collaborate wherever they’re located. Whether your people are hybrid, remote, or deskless, the platform levels the communication playing field.
Our final word is about the cost of a mobile intranet app. Every company is keen to minimize costs. And no doubt you will be looking for a cost-effective solution.
Mobile intranet costs vary from provider to provider. They can range in price from being included within your subscription to many thousands upfront and per month, depending on how many users you need to support. Ask about charges before you sign on the dotted line. And find out whether ongoing support is included or if that’s an extra.
Ideally, you want an app that’s scalable as your company grows without breaking the bank.
Ready to take the next step? Why not start your search with MyHub’s mobile intranet app. It could be just what you’re looking for. Sign up for a free demo or 14-day trial today.
