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Discover the SharePoint Intranet Transformation over Time

The SharePoint intranet did not just appear. It took time to develop into the employee engagement tool you see it as right now.

The video and information below about the SharePoint Intranet transformation is part of a larger webinar on A New Intranet for Modern Employees.

SharePoint Intranet Transformation

When we talked about the intranet, we shared different SharePoint features. These features did not appear randomly but developed over decades to create the modern intranet. The transformation from a basic intranet service to the next generation intranet we’re talking about today.

1990’s

We must go back to the 1990s when they introduced essential intranet services. The service allowed executives to a top-down communication platform.

There is nothing wrong with the top-down communication platform. Employees want to know about the latest hires, acquisitions, revenue numbers, company mission, or other internal news.

However, top-down communication is not the only line of communication in an organization. That would be employee-to-employee communication. As the 2000s started, the intranet added new social features. It wasn’t as interactive, but it was the beginning of the next-generation intranet movement. Also, the content management tools helped with collaboration features. Eventually, it became a hub for forums, processes, news, policies, and procedures.

2000’s

Facebook and Myspace started in the 2000s, and they began to become popular with business crowds around the last crash. What started happening over the previous decade was how the intranet took its cue from social networks with interactive features for employees like shares, likes, and comments.

Instead of being a top-down communication platform, you have cross-departmental and peer-to-peer or cross-departmental communication. For example, when sales and marketing need to talk, the intranet helps them connect.

2010’s

SharePoint created a digital workplace solution in the past decade with additional social features like shares, likes, and comments.

It was closer to what we would want for a modern intranet but there was not enough development towards the employee engagement they needed.

2020’s

When we talk about how the next generation operates in the 2020s, we start talking about personalization. These updates are a crucial development from being a podium where executives could dictate the organization’s future.

1. Personalization

Today when you want to engage employees, you can personalize the look and feel of each employee.

2. Knowledge Hub

The intranet is a knowledge hub, with an easy-to-use and accessible format for finding your information. For companies with remote workers, SharePoint Migration strategies are more vital.

3. Employee Directories

The great thing about the intranet is that you have a lot of utilities that make it better than the platform on it’s own. You have additional features like employee directories and employee onboarding apps to help employees connect.

4. Mobile-friendly

SharePoint is now a mobile-friendly tool thanks to how it moved over to the cloud. The cloud is a crucial component because employees can use the intranet on their mobile devices. They can access SharePoint anywhere, which allows the organization to engage employees more thoroughly.

5. Integrations

There are also easy integrations as well. Whether you want to connect with Microsoft 365 systems like Dynamics, Power Apps, or third-party systems like Smartsheets, you can get more out of your intranet.

6. Gamification

Furthermore, the engagement increase with gamification features as well. Reward employees and give them a sense of accomplishment by tracking and awarding them points for a job well.

7. Secure and Confidential

It is essential nowadays to ensure you have secure, confidential information in an intranet because all your employees’ information is there.

That’s why the power of having Microsoft-level security for their enterprise is so valuable because Microsoft developed their resources into making sure it continues to be secure and confidential. It’s also the reason why we prefer SharePoint because we know we give our clients the best system possible.

SharePoint Intranet Transformation Final Thoughts

As you can see from this article, SharePoint took a long time to become the modern intranet it is today. However, without that development, it would be difficult to create the level of employee engagement that makes the solution so impressive.

If you are interested in learning more about the SharePoint intranet, then let us know how we can help you. Schedule a free 1-hour consultation with our SharePoint Intranet team of experts.