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Take a Quick TourSocial intranets have taken the world of employee communication by storm. With flexible working arrangements, hybrid workforces, and mobile computing the norm, it’s no wonder social intranet software is at the center of the modern digital workplace. More importantly, the employee social network features now found within intranet platforms – such as instant messaging, activity feeds, forums, likes, emojis, comments, and more – have been proven to enhance culture, boost morale, and increase employee engagement.
It’s widely accepted that the popularity of social networking sites for personal use has fueled this cross-over into the business world. According to the latest data, 59 percent of the world’s population uses social networking platforms. Yet some organizations still question whether a modern social intranet will increase productivity. Their concern is that it could encourage employees to waste time on idle chat and non-work activities rather than focusing on business goals.
Today’s post seeks to answer the question on the lips of many executives: Is a social intranet solution the right choice for every digital workplace?
- What Is A Social Intranet?
- Why Is A Social Intranet Important?
- How To Engage Staff With Your Social Intranet
- Recreating The Social Intranet Experience For All
- Social Intranets In Action: How Companies Are Using Them In Practice
- Real-Life Examples Of Using An Intranet Social Network
- Best Intranet Software Must-Have Features
- How To Select The Best Social Intranet Software: Bonus Tips
- Social Intranet Software: Top 10 Solution Providers Reviewed
What Is A Social Intranet?
Let’s start with a definition. Mention the word ‘social,’ and most of us automatically think of Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. We use these platforms to connect with family and friends by sharing news and updates. So, what exactly is a social intranet in the workplace?
“A social intranet performs the same functions as social media applications in the workplace. It’s an internal communications and employee collaboration platform that helps employees connect and build relationships. Social intranet software encourages information sharing, interactions between colleagues, and working together on common goals.”
What Are The Main Features Of A Social Intranet?
There are two standout features. First is user-generated content. All employees can create relevant contributions – whether commenting on a company blog, sharing insights in a forum, or updating an activity wall. The critical point here is that every worker has an equal opportunity to participate and share knowledge.
Secondly, social intranet platforms are designed around people rather than content. This people-centric approach means each piece of content connects to an individual employee. As a result, staff can build connections more meaningfully than through corporate-generated content alone. The advantage is that employees have a shared responsibility to keep intranet content relevant and up to date. Most importantly, workers can bring valuable information directly to the attention of those who need it.
So, what features would you expect in a modern intranet? There’s a wide range of modules available, and businesses can select the ones that best meet their requirements, including:
- Corporate and team newsfeeds
- Notifications, tags, @mentions, and push notifications
- Instant messaging with # channels
- Team or individual activity walls
- Quizzes and surveys
- File and document sharing
- Follow-me functionality
- Private and public discussion forums and collaboration features
- Centralized knowledge base for all company resources
- Staff directory with detailed employee profiles
All of this great functionality is backed by powerful search capabilities. Employees can quickly locate data and resources, improving efficiency and saving valuable time.
Furthermore, a social intranet platform integrates seamlessly with external enterprise software. It can embed Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 apps, HR platforms, and CRM systems like Salesforce. With single-sign-on synchronization, employees avoid juggling multiple logins and open screens. Instead, they gain one unified gateway to all critical enterprise apps.
How To Engage Staff With Your Social Intranet
We live in a socially-connected workplace. Now, more than ever, organizations recognize this trend and are rapidly implementing social intranets to support collaboration and communication. Many businesses rely on younger staff as catalysts for engagement with workplace social platforms, but the benefits extend to every generation.
The rewards are clear: improving employee engagement, enhancing knowledge management, streamlining internal communication, and encouraging teamwork are all within reach. However, some businesses struggle to launch their intranet effectively, failing to unlock its full potential.
Recreating The Social Intranet Experience For All
The secret to success is telling the right story to generate genuine employee engagement. You can create this narrative by focusing on three critical areas:
1. Establishing The Rules Of Engagement
Provide clarity by setting out clear social intranet guidelines. Rather than leaving employees second-guessing what’s acceptable, outline upfront what is and isn’t appropriate to share on the platform.
The key areas to clarify are confidentiality, compliance, and formality. Confidentiality and regulations are usually industry-specific, for example, prohibiting the disclosure of sensitive RFP details across departments. Clear, concise, and accessible guidelines ensure these rules are well understood.
When it comes to tone, striking the right balance is critical. Our advice? Lean toward informal communication. A social intranet thrives on breaking down barriers, fostering creativity, and allowing communication to flow more naturally. The result: greater engagement and innovation from your workforce.
2. Defining The Purpose
Employees need to understand the purpose of your intranet. Without a clear vision, staff, especially millennials and Gen Z, may assume it’s just another version of Facebook or a redundant work tool and disengage.
Cast a compelling vision around the intranet’s role. Benefits such as improved collaboration, smarter knowledge-sharing, prevention of duplicated work, increased connection, and innovation should be communicated clearly. Tailor this message to your company’s needs, and position the intranet as a tool that empowers every employee.
3. Leading By Example
Leadership engagement is the most powerful driver of adoption. Employees follow what leaders do, not just what they say. When managers and executives actively participate in the intranet, they set a clear standard for employees.
Simple actions such as leaders sharing personal stories, posting quick updates, or recognizing team achievements can have a big impact. For example, imagine the CEO posting: *“Just received fantastic feedback from our largest client, great work, everyone! What’s one win you’ve had today?”* This not only builds connection but also drives employees to interact with the platform productively.
Social Intranets In Action: How Companies Are Using Them
As we’ve seen, social intranets enhance internal communications, boost employee engagement, and accelerate collaboration. But the possibilities don’t stop there. Here are some innovative ways companies are using their intranet platforms:
Employee Recognition Programs
Recognition fuels morale. Modern platforms often include employee recognition features, allowing staff achievements to be celebrated publicly. From formal “Employee of the Month” awards to informal peer shoutouts, social intranets make recognition more visible and impactful across the organization.
Giving Workers A Voice
Two-way communication is essential in high-performing organizations. Social intranets give every employee a voice, whether it’s top-down, team-based, or peer-to-peer. This inclusivity promotes stronger team culture and removes communication barriers. Companies also report better retention and lower absenteeism when employees feel heard.
Speedier Decision-making
Distributed teams need quick solutions. Instant messaging within the intranet enables faster decisions and reduces reliance on calls or emails. In one survey, 66% of respondents said team chat resolved simple queries quickly, while 75% confirmed it saved time on unnecessary calls.
Knowledge Sharing
Hybrid work makes knowledge sharing more complex. A social intranet bridges the gap by enabling instant messaging, searchable knowledge bases, and quick peer-to-peer support. For example, field technicians can access troubleshooting advice or how-to guides instantly, improving productivity and customer satisfaction.
Employee Profiles
Building connections in distributed teams is easier with employee profiles. These profiles can showcase both professional expertise and personal interests, helping colleagues bond and identify internal subject matter experts for projects.
Onboarding New Employees
Virtual onboarding becomes seamless with social intranets. Instead of static welcome packs, new hires can access resources, join #onboarding channels, and connect with buddies via team chat. Uploading how-to videos, workflows, and FAQs ensures new staff are productive from day one. Businesses report smoother, faster, and more engaging onboarding experiences.
Real-Life Examples Of Using An Intranet Social Network
So, how are companies using intranet social networks in the workplace? We’ve gathered real-world examples from MyHub Intranet’s clients to spark ideas and inspire you with what’s possible.
1. Celebrate Success
A recognition program is a powerful way to celebrate achievements or thank employees. Many MyHub customers use their social intranet to do this company-wide. Not only does it boost morale and team spirit, but it also enhances employee engagement.
Beyond corporate awards, you can encourage staff to give informal shout-outs to colleagues across different teams, creating a culture of appreciation.
2. Communicate With Distributed Teams
With 17 offices across several countries, internal communication was a priority for RWR Group. By publishing their fortnightly newsletter on the intranet instead of email, they achieved a fresh look, stronger engagement, and improved inter-office communication.
3. Start Two-Way Conversations With Staff
Features like likes, comments, and shares give every employee a voice. Businesses using MyHub know that genuine two-way communication is vital for recruitment, retention, and culture. Social intranets make it easy to connect employees across all levels of the organization.
4. Introduce Healthy Competition
Kenect Recruitment uses its social intranet for friendly competition between branches. Real-time league tables replaced outdated emailed reports, making performance tracking more engaging. The live updates foster healthy competition and drive motivation across offices.
5. Canvass Employees’ Views
Polls and surveys within the intranet provide quick feedback on business issues. Clients have used these tools for everything from branding decisions to office party planning. Easy to set up and analyze, they’re an effective way to encourage employee input.
6. Encourage Idea And Knowledge Sharing
Guthrie Bowron, a home decorating specialist, uses the intranet for knowledge sharing across 44 outlets. Staff connect via forums to exchange design ideas, check stock availability, and share industry trends, streamlining operations and strengthening collaboration.
7. Quick Resolution Of Issues
Instant messaging makes problem-solving seamless. For example, one client quickly messaged an expert colleague during a sales call when a prospect asked about product specs. The instant response helped secure the deal, showcasing the intranet’s value in real-time support.
8. Self-Service Staff Directory
The intranet’s online staff directory empowers employees to find in-house expertise. Instead of waiting on IT, staff can identify colleagues with relevant skills (e.g., Google Sheets know-how) and resolve issues quickly via instant messaging.
9. Activity Walls For Knowledge Sharing
Activity walls allow employees to follow colleagues, teams, or projects. Much like social media, this feature keeps everyone updated. For example, when reviewing a marketing strategy, multiple teams can track progress and contribute insights in real time, enhancing transparency and collaboration.
10. Connect With Remote Workers
With more employees working from home, clients use intranet social networks to strengthen remote team communication and morale. Team chat channels provide space to share challenges, motivational posts, or even fun tips for family life. Far from being a distraction, these interactions sustain a positive culture during tough times, and beyond.
Scalable to any size organization, these examples prove that for interaction and collaboration that drives productivity, an intranet social network is hard to beat.
Social Intranet Software Must-Have Features
Use this checklist to make sure your social intranet meets today’s digital workplace standards:
- Integrations With Third-Party Apps: Seamlessly connect tools like CRM, HR, or project management software for higher productivity and reduced tech silos.
- Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing Tools: From team chat to file sharing, these are the heart of any successful intranet.
- User-Friendly Interface: An intuitive UX/UI ensures the platform is easy to deploy, manage, and adopt company-wide.
- Mobile Intranet App: Hybrid and remote teams need reliable mobile access to stay connected on the go.
- Analytics & Insights: Usage metrics help optimize performance, improve adoption, and guide future strategy.
How To Select The Best Social Intranet Software: Bonus Tips
Choosing the right platform can feel overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you decide:
Identify Your Must-Haves
Every business is unique. Create a checklist of essential features, whether it’s internal communication, project management, or engagement tools. Also, prioritize integrations that streamline your tech stack instead of complicating it.
Intranet Cost
Costs vary based on user numbers, customization, and features. Compare pricing packages carefully against your needs. Remember that the most cost-effective intranet is one that genuinely boosts efficiency and adoption.
Compare Intranet Providers
Don’t just compare features and price. Look at scalability, customization options, customer support, and vendor reliability. The best choice is a platform that’s easy to manage, flexible, and embraced by employees.
Book A Free Demo
Always trial the software, or better yet, book a free demo. Experiencing the intranet in action is the only way to determine if it’s the right fit for your business.
Social Intranet Software: Top 10 Solution Providers Reviewed
Here is our round-up of the current top ten best social intranets. Ready to take the next step but unsure where to start? Our top ten list of social intranet software has got you covered.
We compare key features, social networking capabilities, and much more. Use our list to narrow your search and save time.
1. MyHub Intranet
No surprises here! However, our recently released updated version builds on all our best features while adding a whole lot more, putting us firmly in the top spot. The best thing about MyHub is the beautifully designed user interface. The software comes with a template library of over 60 pre-built templates ready for you to customize. And integration with Canva means you can easily create a visually stunning platform.
Additional integrations include Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Bamboo HR, Salesforce, Shopify, and many more. Furthermore, our new updates feed brings critical personalized content together in one place. Employees access company news, shoutouts, and alerts in our best-of-breed updates feed.
Your people will love using MyHub’s social networking features, such as instant messaging, employee directory, # channels, notifications, and, of course, emojis. Knowledge management, internal communication, and collaboration are easy with MyHub’s document management and filing share tools, interactive blogs, and workflow automation.
Our social intranet software also has built-in analytics. Use the data about your employees’ intranet usage to learn, report, and act. Our dedicated mobile app guarantees mobile accessibility. Using the app, on-the-go and remote workers can access all the same fantastic features as office-based employees.
Key Features
- Updates feed
- 60+ integrations
- Mobile application
- Extensive template library
- Smart search
- Pricing: Tailor-made pricing
- Free 14-day trial and free demo
- Rating: 4.8/5
2. Happeo
Happeo is a Google-based intranet that integrates collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and social networking tools in one centralized platform. One of its core features is a template-based page builder, making rollout fast and easy.
Use the news channels to share company news and keep employees on the same page. The employee communities feature enhances communication and ensures employees connect even in distributed teams.
This intranet software also integrates with many third-party tools, most notably Google Workspace, Slack, and Jira. Happeo also comes as a mobile app.
Key Features
- Customizable templates
- Employee directory
- Analytics and reporting
- Pricing: Various packages are available based on user numbers
- Free demo
- Rating: 4.5/5
3. Unily
This user-friendly software is an all-round digital workplace platform. It features multi-channel communication tools, an intuitive content management system, and an engaging visual UX.
Standout features include employee journeys with a personalized journey timeline to boost the employee experience. Customizable dashboards allow users to tailor their intranet experience.
Furthermore, Unily incorporates gamification elements to drive employee engagement. Polls, points, badges, and reactions create a fun element that employees love.
Key Features
- Personalized dashboards
- Mobile app
- Employee gamification
- Pricing: Based on the number of licensed users
- Free demo and free trial
- Rating: 4.6/5
4. Staffbase
Staffbase’s mobile-first social intranet software makes it a great choice for distributed teams. It comes with a full suite of communication and collaboration tools to connect and empower employees wherever they are.
One of Staffbase’s strongest features is the ability to target relevant content to employees. You can segment news and updates and create automated content journeys.
The intranet software also uses AI to enhance the relevancy of search results. Staffbase offers ready-to-go integrations with Microsoft SharePoint, SAP, and Microsoft Teams.
Key Features
- Employee directory
- Multi-channel internal communications
- Employee recognition
- Pricing: Available on request
- Free Demo
- Rating: 4.7/5
5. Workplace
Meta’s social intranet software platform is a popular choice for many companies. It mimics all the best features of Facebook for the workplace or office.
Workplace is an all-in-one internal communication software that combines video, chat, groups, and channels. It integrates with Google, Microsoft, Asana, and HubSpot. When it comes to social intranet features, live video is a highlight. You can broadcast events, Q&As, or webinars to teams or the entire organization.
Another great feature is the knowledge library. Employees can access company information from one central location using their mobile devices.
Be aware that Meta is phasing out Workplace in August 2025. However, you can still use the social intranet platform until then.
Key Features
- Newsfeed
- Video chat and live video broadcasts
- Workplace comments
- Pricing: From $4 per month
- Free demo and free version available
- Rating: 4.4/5
6. Workvivo
Workvivo by Zoom is a social intranet platform that focuses on internal communication. It boasts an engaging user-friendly interface with live broadcasting capabilities, including streams and podcasts.
You can also create microsites or spaces where teams, projects, or special interest groups can connect for improved knowledge sharing. Chat and push notifications ensure no one misses a crucial conversation.
Workvivo integrates with Zoom, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and more and is available as a mobile app. The multi-language capabilities make it a popular choice for global companies.
Key Features
- Dynamic employee directory
- Employee feedback surveys
- Document storage and knowledge management
- Pricing: From $5 per year
- Free demo
- Rating: 4.7/5
7. Confluence
This intranet software combines social features with knowledge management and project management tools. Under one virtual roof, Confluence brings together collaboration, communication, and task management tools.
Standout features include Confluence Space which helps you organize knowledge and communication for teams, projects, or goals. The personalized homepage is also helpful. Users can stay updated on project activity or popular feeds and even return to in-progress work and drafts.
Confluence supports integrations with dozens of enterprise apps, including Slack, Office 365, Dropbox, and Google Workspace.
Key Features
- Digital whiteboards
- Personalized home page
- Structured content trees
- Pricing: From $4.89 per month
- Free demo and free version available
- Rating: 4.5/5
8. Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft SharePoint may be more of a content management and collaboration tool. However, its flexibility means it’s also used by many organizations as social intranet software.
SharePoint is a comprehensive document management and storage system. However, it also offers intranet portals, collaboration tools, and more. One of its biggest drawcards is the seamless integration with the Microsoft suite of products. You can also create dedicated team sites, making communication and document sharing easy.
Automated workflows streamline business processes, helping you achieve more faster. SharePoint is available as a mobile app.
Key Features
- Document storage
- Instant messaging
- Whiteboard editing
- Pricing: Included as part of Microsoft 365 or available for $5 per user per month
- Free demo
- Rating: 4.3/5
9. Jive
Jive is an employee engagement platform and social intranet software rolled into one. Companies use the platform to support internal communication, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.
Social intranet features include likes, follows, @mentions, and activity streams. Real-time notifications keep employees updated with the latest company news or project updates. Jive is also strong on employee engagement, with quests, rewards, and peer recognition badges.
A comprehensive engagement dashboard helps you monitor employee engagement over time with data-driven insights. This intranet software has ready-made integrations with Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and many other enterprise solutions.
Key Features
- Multi-channel internal communications
- Single inbox to manage all communications in one place
- Customizable newsfeeds
- Pricing: Available on request
- Free demo
- Rating: 4.0/5
10. Blink
Blink is a social intranet solution with a difference. It’s designed for frontline and deskless employees, making it a popular platform in the construction, retail, and healthcare industries.
Communication and collaboration tools connect frontline and office staff with social-media-style newsfeeds, content hubs, chat, and task management. Surveys and questionnaires ensure you have your finger on the pulse of employee feedback. And employee recognition tools allow team members to give kudos to each other.
Blink offers seamless integration with enterprise systems such as Microsoft 365, Workday, and Zapier.
Key Features
- Powerful mobile-first platform
- Frontline intelligence and workforce analytics
- Personalized dashboards
- Pricing: Starts from $3.40 per month
- Free demo
- Rating: 4.6/5
What is The Best Social Intranet Software?
The answer is simple. The best intranet meets your business requirements and improves the employee experience. MyHub’s intranet software is at the heart of the digital workplace in businesses worldwide. Organizations use our software to streamline internal communication, drive employee engagement, and connect people to information and each other. Ready to take the next step? Sign up for a free demo or 14-day trial and explore how our modern intranet software can transform your business.
FAQ Section
What is a social intranet?
A social intranet is an internal platform combining communication tools like messaging, news feeds, and forums with social features such as employee profiles, aimed at fostering collaboration and connection.
How do social intranets benefit modern workplaces?
They boost engagement by offering instant communication, recognition features, smoother onboarding, and access to ideas and knowledge—promoting morale and reducing information silos.
Are social intranets suitable for hybrid and remote teams?
Absolutely. Their real-time communication tools, mobile access, and easy knowledge sharing make it easier for distributed teams to stay connected and productive.
