The best platform for a social intranet or digital workplace

Strategy

Making the right choices

Success with internal digital media, a social intranet, or a digital workplace is achieved by asking the right questions at the right time, enabling you to make the right choices.

This starts right at the beginning: by determining where the added value of the internal platform or channel lies. What must it do to contribute to the organization’s objectives?

Based on the right added value, a solid business case can be drawn up, the right requirements can be established, and your organization can select the best technology.

However, that new internal channel, platform, or medium does not function in a vacuum. Often, there is an existing landscape of various internal digital channels. However, due to all the tools, such as Microsoft 365, AFAS, TOPdesk, and Axxerion, employees often have no idea which channel to use for what purpose. For proper use and a good employee experience, clarity regarding the role and function of a platform within the overall internal channel landscape—and how it connects to other internal channels—is therefore indispensable.

But even then, usage is not a given. The enthusiasm with which a social platform, intranet, or channel is launched is by no means always shared by all employees. “What’s in it for me?”, “I’m already so busy,” and “we should be helping the customer/client/citizen instead of talking to each other” are common objections to not having to participate.

A smart adoption strategy that takes into account the needs and barriers of the various groups of employees within an organization makes a world of difference in the proper use of the platform.

However, usage must be continuously nurtured. Content is the breeding ground for this. Whether it involves centrally communicated messages or content created by employees themselves, in both cases, it does not happen automatically. Or at least not with content that contributes to structurally correct usage and thereby helps the organization move forward. In the current era, where dependence on internal platforms and channels is only increasing, it is of great importance to develop a smart internal digital content strategy based on internal strategic themes to bind, engage, and activate employees. We help you develop that strategy by asking the right questions and making the right choices at the right time.

Business case

What are the benefits? What will it cost?

Convince management of the need for a new (social) intranet or digital workplace, or substantiate the necessity for further development. We help you build a watertight business case.

Requirements

What requirements must an internal platform meet?

We gather the organization's wishes and requirements and translate them into functional and non-functional requirements to be able to objectively compare relevant platforms.

Platform selection

Which technology or supplier fits best?

Choose the right provider based on a well-founded selection procedure. We take you on a reference visit or ensure that you can compare two providers through a user test.

Internal channels strategy

What role does the platform play within the overall system of channels, tools, and existing platforms? What do you do on which platform or channel?

Bij een interne kanalenstrategie kijken naar wat je wilt bereiken, welke eigenschappen welke kanalen hebben en op welke kanalen de beoogde doelgroepen aanwezig zijn. Op basis hiervan kijken we naar de beste rol van een specifiek kanaal in het geheel of optimaliseren we het complete kanalenlandschap zodat mensen en content elkaar echt bereiken.

Adoption strategy

How do you ensure that employees use the platform?

An adoption strategy is established based on goals and target groups. Based on organizational cultures, determine by whom which activities are required and when they need to be undertaken.

Content strategy

How do you involve employees in strategic themes?

Align and engage employees with content. We help you translate your organizational goals and strategic themes into an effective, sustainable content strategy. Supported by strong content pillars, interactive formats, and digital channels.

We build a foundation born from ambition and realistically approached based on budget and resources.

Clients

We previously helped these organizations draft a rock-solid business case or with their search for the most suitable platform.

Starting point: the organizational goals

Many organizations approach the development of a (social) intranet from either a technical or a user perspective. A platform is chosen based on price, IT preference, or because similar organizations work with the same supplier. Alternatively, employees are allowed to choose how they want to work and use a combination of WhatsApp, email, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Dropbox for meetings and collaboration with colleagues.

The result is often an intranet that is barely used because it is not user-friendly and lacks added value. Or a jumble of systems with many (overlapping) features, lacking focus because as many user wishes as possible have been accommodated.

Take the organization’s goals as a starting point when developing a social intranet, so that the contribution the platform makes to these goals becomes visible. This not only justifies the investment but—as research has shown—also increases user adoption.