1. Easy to access information

Intranet networks store all necessary documents, policies, and resources in one secure location, reducing time spent searching for information.

2. Automate routine tasks

Many modern intranet platforms allow employees to manage their personal information, approve documents, and submit leave requests and expense claims, saving time and resources and improving operational efficiency.

3. Streamline onboarding and training

Design an onboarding process for new hires, including submitting required documents, accessing training, and reviewing company policies. You can also use an intranet to create a learning management system and provide access to training materials, courses, and resources.

4. Improve communication

By centralizing communication tools, an intranet makes it easy for employees to share company information and collaborate, leading to better teamwork and improved productivity.

For instance, a cross-team project for an upcoming product launch could have a dedicated project management space containing all the essential documentation, deadlines, messaging, and requirements in one central location.

Tip: Softr’s no-code platform allows you to create a central repository for all your company’s important documents, ensuring easy access and up-to-date information.

5. Increase productivity

According to Forrester's The Crisis of Fractured Organizations survey commissioned by Airtable, knowledge workers reported spending 30% of their weeks trying to find the right data and information—wasting 2.4 hours daily.

80% of those surveyed workers consider reducing data and information silos as a critical or high priority.

A unified platform improves productivity by reducing time wasted in unproductive meetings, searching for lost files, and navigating through scattered folders.

Access to a centralized database of resources and tools can streamline workflows and reduce time spent searching for information.

6. Secure knowledge sharing

The security benefits associated with intranets are often the most important for companies, especially for larger corporations.

An intranet provides a secure platform for sharing sensitive information, reducing the risk of data breaches and ensuring that confidential information stays within the organization.

From contracts to employee handbooks, product documentation, revenue planning, business forecasts or quarterly reviews, an organization's intranet keeps confidential information internal and includes access control so that only relevant stakeholders can access it.

7. Increase employee engagement

Gallup's 2023 State of the Global Workplace report found that teams with the highest employee engagement achieve 23% higher profitability.

Intranets are being used to engage employees by providing them with easy access to company information, updates, and resources. This creates a sense of community and improves the overall employee experience.

8. Promote company culture and employee experience

As a direct link to the previous point, providing employees with a single place to access the information they need and collaborate with their colleagues is also a great way to nurture a better employee experience and company culture.

For that reason, organizations should strive to provide a comprehensive employee experience and—as challenging as it might be with remote workers—create a caring and personal culture for their workers.

An intranet can create spaces for employees to share their experiences, collaborate on projects, and even hold casual conversations and activities with their colleagues.

10. Share company news and announcements

Distribute company news, updates, and announcements, keeping all employees informed about what’s happening within the company. Sharing company builds trust: A Deloitte survey found that "83 percent of respondents believe that the more transparent the organization is, the greater the workforce trust."

1. Centralized document management

An intranet is a central repository for your company’s important documents, policies, project files and other resources. Employees can easily access important information without having to search through multiple systems.

2. Team communication tools

Intranets often include tools for internal communication, such as internal email, chat, forums, and discussion boards. Share ideas, track projects, and communicate in real time to make teamwork smoother and more efficient.

3. Custom tools

Custom tools can help you build and personalize your intranet pages to fit your team’s needs. Create spaces for onboarding, project management, or team updates that make sense for your workflow.

4. Employee directory

A comprehensive employee directory lists all employees with contact information and job roles. Directories make it easy to find and connect with the right people in your organization, saving time and leading to better communication.

5. Task management

Many intranets are used for project and task management, allowing teams to:

1. Coordinate work,
2. Track progress,
3. Keep everyone on the same page,
4. Meet deadlines, and
5. Ensure everything runs smoothly.

6. Mobile access

A mobile-friendly intranet offers complete access to your intranet on any device, anywhere. Employees can stay connected and productive at their desks or on the go.

7. Advanced user permissions

Control access limits who can see and edit different parts of your intranet, keeping sensitive information secure and only accessible by authorized individuals.

8. Third-party integration capability

Integrating your intranet with your tech stack leads to higher internal adoption. Having all your tools and platforms in one place eliminates data silos and streamlines workflows, increasing productivity.

Now that we’ve established the basis of an intranet and its benefits to organizations, let’s look at how you can build one.

1. Custom coding your company intranet

With a solid budget and a great team of developers, you could code your own intranet software for your company. Sure, it may take a lot of time (and money), but this method also has perks.

2. Purchasing a dedicated intranet solution

The second choice is to buy and implement a dedicated intranet software. While this is less expensive than building your own, implementation will likely require a significant investment.

3. Building your intranet without code

Finally, our favorite solution is to build your own team intranet with a no-code platform like Softr. This cost-effective (and fun!) method requires some elbow grease, but opens up a world of no-code possibilities.

How to increase employee adoption of an intranet

Once your intranet is live and kicking, how can you implement it and make sure your employees actively use it? We’ve identified 7 best practices to follow:

What is intranet vs. internet?

• Internet: A global network of interconnected computers accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
• Intranet: A private network accessible only to a specific group, like employees within a company.
• Access: The Internet is open to the public, while an intranet is private and restricted to authorized users.
• Purpose: The Internet is for global communication and information sharing, while an intranet is for internal communication and collaboration within an organization.

What are the three types of intranets?

• Internal website: A company's internal website is accessible only to its employees.
• Employee intranet portal: Hosted on a company's servers, it provides access to various employee resources.
• Social intranet: Incorporates social networking features to facilitate employee collaboration and internal communication.

What is the difference between intranet and extranet?

• The intranet is accessible only to people within your organization. 
• An extranet is accessible to both people within your organization and select individuals outside of it. 
• An extranet is helpful for resellers or individuals more involved in your organization than regular customers.

Is an intranet safe?

Security is one of the key benefits of intranet portals. In essence, it allows businesses to control the information that is shared and accessed, and to make sure that confidential information doesn’t get leaked outside of the organization.

Softr provides cream of the crop security features, which you can learn more about in our security page.

Who can use an intranet?

Anyone can use an intranet, as long as they’ve been granted access by the owner (usually the admin/owner). Intranet portals are used by a variety of organizations for a variety of benefits: Some startups implement an intranet for improved collaborations and smoother processes, while large corporations favour it for security reasons.

Which intranet features are available with Softr?

Using Softr, you are able to build an intranet with the following features: Secured login, Server-side authentication powered by AWS, custom permissions, integration with other tools (chat, productivity analytics, and more), Multiplatform (iOs, Android), and more.

What else can I build with Softr?

You can also build Internal Tools, Online Marketplaces, client-portals, Online Communities, Resource Listings, Websites and Landing Pages, OEM Partner Portals, Intranets for Small Businesses, and more.