Is there a need for an intranet?


In today’s world, where cloud services, social media and various communication applications are constantly in use, it may seem that the intranet, the company’s internal web portal, is an outdated tool. In many organizations, however, the intranet retains its important role. Its purpose is to provide employees with a central place where information, resources and tools are easily accessible, while the intranet supports internal communication and culture.

A central communication channel for the entire organization

The intranet acts as a centralized communication channel that allows the organization to communicate important information and notifications to all employees. It is a place where management announcements, current news and announcements can be shared easily and efficiently. This is especially useful in large organizations where personnel are spread over several different locations or work remotely.

The advantage of an intranet compared to e-mails or chat applications is that all important information is in one place, where it can be easily found. This reduces the risk of wasted communication and helps ensure that employees stay informed about the most important things in the organization.

Information and resources centralized in one place

One of the biggest advantages of an intranet is that it brings together all the necessary documents, resources and tools. It serves as a centralized platform where employees can find company policies, guidelines, forms and other important documents without having to search for them in several different systems or request them via email.

For example, HR processes such as leave applications, training information and payroll documents can be integrated into the intranet, which reduces administrative work and makes it easier for employees to manage things independently. Project management tools, reports and databases can also be easily accessed via the intranet, making it a significant time-saving tool.

Supports organizational culture and employee engagement

The intranet can also serve as an important tool in maintaining organizational culture and strengthening employee commitment. It can provide a platform to share internal stories, staff introductions, successes and celebrate shared achievements. The social dimension of the intranet allows employees to feel part of the community, even if they work in different locations or remotely.

An intranet can also support the sharing of information between teams and departments, increase transparency and help promote the organization’s shared values. In this way, it functions as an important communication tool also in building the organization’s sense of community and culture.

Enhances cooperation and information sharing

In today’s organizations, information sharing and cooperation are key success factors. An intranet can serve as a collaboration platform where employees can share information, discuss projects and collaborate between different teams. Thanks to this, the intranet can replace separate applications or tools that can disperse information flow and slow down work processes.

For example, joint projects, team meetings and document management can be centralized in the intranet, so that everyone has access to the same information. This facilitates collaboration and makes information sharing smoother, reducing the number of email conversations and improving efficiency.

Information security and access control

The company’s internal intranet is a secure platform that can be used to manage the sharing of information and access to various resources. Especially in organizations that handle sensitive information, such as personal data, financial information or trade secrets, an intranet provides a reliable way to control who has access to certain information and documents.

An intranet also enables access control, which means that different departments or user groups can be granted access only to information intended for them. This improves data security and helps comply with various regulatory requirements.

Integrates with other systems

A modern intranet is not a stand-alone tool, but can be integrated with many other systems an organization uses, such as CRM systems, HR software, document management systems and project management tools. This makes it an efficient and flexible platform that connects different systems and provides a single user interface for employees.

When the intranet acts as a hub where all other systems are integrated, employees do not have to constantly switch between different applications, but can perform most of their work tasks in one place. This reduces confusion and improves productivity.

A scalable and flexible solution

Intranets can develop with the organization and adapt to its changing needs. They provide a flexible platform to which new functions and features can be added as needed. For example, new sections and tools can be added to the intranet as the organization grows, or current services and resources can be updated to better meet the needs of employees.

This makes an intranet a long-term investment that can evolve and change with the needs of the organization, unlike many individual applications or platforms that can lose relevance over time.

Improves employees’ self-direction

The intranet offers employees the opportunity to handle many everyday tasks in a self-directed manner. For example, leave applications, payrolls, monitoring of working hours and registration for training can be handled via the intranet, which reduces the workload of the HR department and improves the employees’ experience.

When employees can search for the information they need or perform their own administrative tasks, it increases their independence and reduces bureaucracy. This improves the work environment and makes everyday life smoother.

So it can be stated

Although modern communication tools and digital platforms are constantly evolving, the intranet maintains its important role in the internal operations of organizations. It provides in a centralized form the important information, tools and communication channels that are critical in everyday work. The intranet supports employees’ self-direction, improves communication, enhances cooperation and supports the organization’s culture.

An intranet is still a significant investment for organizations that want to offer their employees a functional, secure and easily accessible tool.



Janne Gylling
Creative Director • janne@jannegylling.fi