What is an Intranet?
An intranet can be defined as a private network of connected computers using internet protocols and standards, to share information. Although the network is private, it still has the same benefits as using the internet.
Here are 6 things you must know about intranets to help you decid how you can best make use of them:
1 - Intranets are used by companies to share information amongst staff, so that each employee has access to the latest or most appropriate data. This helps to cut down on duplication, and uses less paper which helps to save money and the environment. For example, a firm of accountants might want to have financial advice, or accountancy regulations made available to all staff. Rather than each member of staff having to having their own accountancy books, or using different figures from different websites, the required information can be easily put on the intranet, so that staff can access each page of the book in the same way they access web pages. Another usage might be where a company has all it's policies, procedures, contact lists, diaries and more on the intranet, so that all staff can have access to the information they need, as they need it. This means that there is much less need to print out paper copies of documents such as copies of phone lists and company handbooks. As pages are updated they are uploaded to the intranet in the same way that web pages are uploaded to a website. The potential uses for a corporate intranet are endless. Why not see how you can benefit by having easily updatable electronic standard documents for letters or invoices, or for company news, or inter-department communication?
2 - Your company might be using an intranet already, and wanting to make more use of it. Perhaps the idea of making much more available to your staff, or for various different departments appeals to you, but you don't know where to go for advice and help. Why not ask an Intranet Devlopment Newcastle company to implement an intranet or see how they can help you? Will you use your existing website and make new sections that are available only to staff? Will you design your intranet from the beginning, do you know exactly what your company needs? Do you know what sort of things your intranet will need to do?
3 - If you do decide to implement a company intranet,it is important to remember that it must be consistent with the identity, aims and reputation of your company, so that staff give the right image to each other, and to your clients.
4 - Intranets are often managed, and updated by the business side of the company, rather than IT. How easy is the intranet to manage, and update? Are there training and security issues that need to be addressed?
5 - How will you use your intranet? Will the intranet be popular when it is first introduced? Will it require all staff to use it? Will it be used only be certain staff, or departments? Do you know how to ensure that the business makes use of the intranet, as opposed to just the IT staff, or those with an interest in technology? Will your paper based systems become obsolete? These questions and many more need to be thought about in order for you to make the best use out of the intranet and reap its benefits.
6 - How will you measure how vaulable the intranet is to your business? Will it increase turnover or profit? How can staff productivity and effort be measured? By using the same sort of analytics and metrics as is used on websites, the intranet site can be studied in detail to analyse how it is being used. The number of visitors to the intranet site, the number of pages viewed, the pages viewed, the time spent on site, and much more can be analysed to show how the site is being used. Don't forget to ask your Intranet Development Newcastle company about this.
Find out more about Intranet Development Newcastle with Rippleffect.com, by calling 0845 803 8381 today.
