The evolution from an intranet to an employee experience platform

Did you know? Only 13% of employees report using their intranet on a daily basis, and 31% claim they never use it. Even worse, 57% of them say they see no value in their company's intranet! However, transitioning to an Employee Experience Platform (EEP) could enable the concerned companies to create a modern and efficient digital work environment that boosts productivity, enhances collaboration, and improves employee engagement.

But what exactly is it? What are the advantages of such a platform? And which companies have successfully made this transition? Detailed explanations follow.

Understanding the traditional intranet and its limitations

Firstly, let's address the following question: What is an intranet?

A traditional intranet is an internal computer network within a company (or any other organization) designed to facilitate communication, information sharing, and collaboration among its members. Various documents, calendars, articles, resources, and directories are stored, accessed, and exchanged within it.

👉 To delve deeper, explore the 2023 intranet guide: definition, role, benefits, creation.

While an intranet encourages communication and collaboration by providing a centralized space for information, it nonetheless has obvious limitations, particularly in terms of user experience. Many employees cite the following constraints:

• Difficulty in finding the information they're looking for;
• Lack of personalization;
• Lack of interactivity;
• Absence of advanced features;
• Rigidity in the face of technological advancements.

Understanding these shortcomings is crucial to grasp the importance of transitioning to a more modern and dynamic Employee Experience Platform (EEP).

What is an Employee Experience Platform (EEP)?

Firstly, it is important to define what employee experience is. It is a human resources concept that refers to the sum of an employee's feelings and experiences with their company, from arrival to departure. Concretely, it is simply the overall impression a collaborator has about how their company operates. It takes into account various elements such as working conditions, work/life balance, daily tasks, etc.

🎯To delve deeper, explore the guide to improving digital employee experience.

An Employee Experience Platform (EEP) is a solution that brings together all the HR tools of a company in one place. It overcomes the limitations of traditional intranets by offering a more comprehensive approach, one that is interactive and personalized. In this space, employees can collaborate and communicate seamlessly. This is made possible by the integration of advanced features, such as real-time chat messaging, personalized news feeds, project management tools, etc.

In essence, an EEP adapts to the specific needs of each employee. With its advanced features, users can organize their digital workspace according to their preferences and quickly access the tools and information they need.

💡 To delve deeper, discover 6 steps to improve employee experience.

What are the advantages of evolving from an intranet to an EEP?

For companies, adopting an Employee Experience Platform (EEP) brings numerous benefits. Here are the main ones:

• Personalized Approach: By prioritizing an individual-centered approach, EEPs offer a personalized user experience.

• Intuitive Interface: This simplifies navigation and access to critical information and work tools, countering the "static" effect of traditional intranets.

• Advanced Collaboration Features: Real-time document co-creation, instant messaging discussions—these features enhance cooperation, efficiency, and creativity within teams.

• Enhanced Mobility: Unlike traditional intranets, EEPs are often optimized for mobile devices (smartphones, tablets), allowing employees to stay connected even while on the move or away from the office.

• Greater Employee Productivity: Improved collaboration between teams, easier access to knowledge, and increased overall satisfaction contribute to enhanced employee performance.

• Access to Knowledge: EEPs provide effective means of storing and sharing knowledge within the company, making documents and resources easily accessible.

🤯 To delve deeper, discover Knowledge finally available easily with search!

• Facilitated Data Tracking: EEPs can provide analytical data on platform usage, enabling companies to measure employee engagement and adjust their strategy accordingly.

🖥️ To delve deeper, discover how to define and track KPIs for your Digital Workplace?

What are the key factors for successfully transitioning from an intranet to an Employee Experience Platform?

The transition from a traditional intranet to an Employee Experience Platform (EEP) is a crucial step in enhancing the operational efficiency of a company.

First and foremost, employee training plays a central role. Understanding the various features of the platform and mastering them should be part of the overall strategy. It is also important to communicate, both before and after the implementation of the platform. Employees need to be informed about upcoming changes and the benefits they can expect.

✅ To delve deeper, discover everything about change management in the workplace.

Next, it is important for the company's leadership to be actively involved in the project, both in terms of implementation and internal communication. Their commitment should inspire confidence and enthusiasm among employees.

Data migration is another challenge to address. Transferring data from the intranet to the new platform requires a precise methodology and a structured process.

Finally, another aspect to consider in the implementation of an Employee Experience Platform is change management. This is essential to mitigate potential resistance and foster employee acceptance. For this, transparent communication is crucial, and support measures such as training, conferences, webinars, etc., should be implemented.

📢 To delve deeper, explore our article to understand everything about change management in the workplace.

Case Study: Companies that Successfully Transitioned

Several companies have successfully transitioned from a traditional intranet to an Employee Experience Platform (EEP). Here are some examples to draw inspiration from:

Airbnb: The renowned accommodation rental platform invested in an EEP to enhance communication and collaboration among its globally dispersed employees. The platform was fully customized to reflect Airbnb's corporate culture and ensure quick access to all essential information (internal news, themed discussion spaces, etc.). The result: a significant improvement in User Experience (UX) and a strengthened sense of belonging.

Unilever: The multinational adopted an EEP to improve real-time collaboration among its teams, regardless of their locations worldwide. The goal was to enable employees to easily share ideas, collaborate on cross-functional projects, and stay constantly informed about the latest company news.

Bouygues Telecom: While not a traditional EEP, the French company recently launched the Innolab platform, a collaborative digital platform open to all (employees, clients, prospects). The aim of this platform is to create a space for reflection and creativity to envision products and services for the future.

IBM: The American company chose to migrate to an EEP to streamline its work methods. By replacing its old intranets with a modern platform, IBM promoted real-time collaboration and the dissemination of personalized information. This transition stimulated innovation and strengthened knowledge sharing within the company.

Conclusion

The traditional intranet is a thing of the past. The numbers prove it: many employees are dissatisfied with it, to the extent that they sometimes prefer not to use it. Therefore, companies have a strong interest in transitioning to an Employee Experience Platform (EEP), which is more fluid, interactive, and dynamic. The goal is to foster creativity, collaboration, content personalization, idea and information sharing, and ultimately improve employee satisfaction and productivity. It's an ambitious program to implement, and concrete change management measures are indispensable!

✨ To delve deeper, discover How to create a sexy intranet with SharePoint?