Creating An Intranet Using SharePoint Online
An intranet is a private network that is accessible only to an organization's employees. It can be used to share information, collaborate on projects, and access important resources. One of the most popular ways to create an intranet is by using SharePoint Online, a cloud-based platform that is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of tools.
Why Would A Company Have A Intranet
There are many reasons why a business would want an intranet:
Improved Communication: An intranet can be used to improve communication among employees by providing a central location for sharing information and resources, such as company news, policies, and procedures.
Increased Collaboration: An intranet can facilitate collaboration among employees by providing tools such as shared calendars, document libraries, and project management tools.
Streamlined Workflows: An intranet can automate and streamline business processes by providing employees with access to the tools and resources they need to perform their jobs effectively.
Increased Productivity: An intranet can help increase productivity by providing employees with quick and easy access to the information and resources they need to do their jobs.
Better Access to Information: An intranet can provide employees with quick and easy access to the information they need to do their jobs, such as company policies, procedures, and customer information.
Cost Savings: An intranet can help reduce costs by eliminating the need for paper-based processes and by providing employees with quick and easy access to the information and resources they need to do their jobs.
Compliance: An intranet can help organizations comply with regulations by providing a secure location for storing and sharing sensitive information, such as customer data and financial information.
Overall, an intranet can be a powerful tool for improving communication, collaboration, and productivity within an organization, and for providing employees with quick and easy access to the information and resources they need to do their jobs.
What Should You Consider When Planning an Intranet?
When planning and creating an intranet using SharePoint Online it is important to consider the following:
Planning: Before creating your intranet, it's important to plan out what you want it to accomplish and what features and functionality you want to include. This might include things like document management, team collaboration, and employee directories. It's also important to consider who will be using the intranet and what their needs are.
Design: When designing your intranet, it's important to keep the user experience in mind. This means thinking about how easy it is for users to navigate and find the information they need. It's also important to consider the overall look and feel of the intranet, as well as how it aligns with your organization's branding.
Go live: Once your intranet is designed and built, it's time to go live. This means making it available to your employees and training them on how to use it. It's also important to test the intranet to make sure everything is working as expected.
Governance and Maintenance: It's important to establish governance and maintenance plan for your intranet, to ensure it runs smoothly and effectively. This includes designating someone to manage the site, setting up guidelines for content and use, and regularly reviewing and updating the site to keep it up-to-date.
Security: As the intranet is used to share sensitive information, it's important to consider the security aspect of it. SharePoint Online provides a variety of security features, such as user permission and access control, data encryption, and compliance. It's important to familiarize yourself with these features and set them up according to your organization's security requirements.
Who Should Be Involved in Launching a Intranet?
Maybe more than any product a Intranet will only be successful if employees from across the business are enaged from the start of the project. It is therefore critical when creating an intranet using SharePoint Online, to involve the right people from your organisation. Here are some of the typical roles and responsibilities that should be considered:
Project manager: This person is responsible for managing the overall project, including setting goals, timelines, and budget. They will also be responsible for coordinating the efforts of the other team members.
Business analyst: This person will work closely with the project manager to understand the needs of the organization and translate them into specific requirements for the intranet.
Content creator: This person or people will be responsible for creating and uploading content to the intranet. They will need to be familiar with the content management system (CMS) and have knowledge of SEO best practices.
Designer: This person will be responsible for the overall design of the intranet, including layout, color scheme, and branding.
Developer: This person will be responsible for building and implementing the intranet using SharePoint Online. They will need to have experience with the platform and be familiar with web development best practices.
IT administrator: This person will be responsible for managing the technical aspects of the intranet, such as maintenance and security.
Trainer: This person will be responsible for training employees on how to use the intranet and will also be responsible for creating training materials
Governance Team: This team will be responsible for maintaining and updating the intranet, establish and enforce governance policies, and monitor the intranet for compliance.
It's important to involve the right people from your organization in the creation of your intranet. By assigning specific roles and responsibilities, you can ensure that the intranet is tailored to your organization's needs and goals, and that it's user-friendly and secure.
It is critical that business "owners" are given the correct training and have responsibility to contribute and update there areas of the intranet. If this is not done the content will soon become stale and out of date very quickly.
By following these steps, you can create an intranet using SharePoint Online that is tailored to your organization's needs and goals, user-friendly and secure.
How can a SharePoint Development Company Help With a Intranet
A company planning an intranet would benefit from using a SharePoint development and consulting firm like Purenetworking for several reasons:
Expertise: SharePoint development and consulting firms like Purenetworking have a team of experts who are experienced in working with SharePoint and have deep knowledge of the platform's capabilities. They can provide expert guidance on how to best utilize SharePoint to create an intranet that meets the specific needs of your organization.
Customisation: SharePoint development and consulting firms can customize SharePoint to fit the unique needs of your organization. This means that your intranet will be tailored to your organization's specific goals, processes, and workflows, rather than having to fit them into a pre-existing template.
Efficient Development: SharePoint development and consulting firms like Purenetworking have already developed and tested many of the common functionalities that organizations need in their intranet. This will save your organization time and resources in the development process and also ensure that best practices are followed.
Time-saving: SharePoint development and consulting firms can handle the entire development process for you, from planning to go-live. This means that your organization can focus on other important tasks while the intranet is being built.
Continued Support: SharePoint development and consulting firms like Purenetworking can provide ongoing support and maintenance for your intranet, ensuring that it continues to function properly and meet the needs of your organization.
By working with a SharePoint development and consulting firm like Purenetworking, your organization can benefit from the expertise and experience of professionals who are well-versed in SharePoint and can help you create an intranet that is tailored to your organization's specific needs and goals.
If your interested in finding out how we can help you with your SharePoint Intanet please do look over explains of our work here and contact us to discuss this further