Engagement is NOT an email: How intranets build a culture of connection and collaboration
According to recent Appspace research, there was a 900+% increase in entirely in-person workers in 2023 compared to 2022, with nearly 60% of employees experiencing return-to-office mandates. With hybrid and RTO policies set, organizations can now focus on creating environments where team members feel deeply connected in their digital spaces and physical offices.
The goal is clear: foster engagement across all work settings while keeping employees informed. This renewed focus on delivering employee-centric experiences leads organizations to tap modern intranets as powerful engagement engines, offering a bright future of connected and engaged teams.
Targeted content: News that team members really can use
One of the critical features of modern intranets and employee comms platforms is their ability to deliver targeted content. Too much irrelevant information often lands employees in a perpetual ‘Too Long, Didn’t Read’ (TLDR) loop, where they skip over lengthy content that has nothing to do with them or their roles.
A “Goldilocks” approach to disseminating information is ideal, ensuring the right team members receive the right messages at the right time.
By leveraging data and analytics, intranets can personalize content based on an employee’s role, location, and interests, making communication more relevant and impactful.
One multinational commodity trading and mining company provides a perfect example. Its intranet is a hub for thousands of employees, many of whom are frontline workers. Their modern intranet provides access to critical information and enables employees to share best practices on safety and connect with colleagues worldwide.
Last year, the global company onboarded nine additional local intranets under its one central platform, bringing more local content to team members. The intranet also includes Country sites to ensure team members have access to the information that matters to them. This localization strategy works. With millions of unique page views a month, this strategy is working, highlighting the effectiveness of ensuring all team members are in the know about critical company information in their respective regions and across the organization.
Facilitating feedback: Building a culture of open communication
Employee surveys are valuable tools, but annual surveys fall short when gathering continuous feedback. Modern intranets address these challenges by providing a platform for employees to share their ideas and concerns “at the moment,” ensuring their voices are heard. This approach empowers employees and gives leadership the insights to make informed decisions.
Recognizing contributions: The power of praise
Recognition is a powerful motivator. Employees who feel appreciated for their contributions are likelier to be engaged and committed to their work. However, as noted in a joint study by Gallup and Workhuman, recognition practices often need to be improved, with many employees feeling their efforts go unnoticed.
The study found that 56% of employees are less likely to look for external job opportunities when recognition is done right, and 73% are less likely to feel burned out.
Modern intranets can play a pivotal role in addressing this challenge by providing platforms for public recognition. Whether highlighting achievements on the company newsfeed, celebrating milestones in communities, or enabling peer-to-peer praise, intranets make recognizing and rewarding employees easy. They foster a positive work environment and ensure every contribution is valued and appreciated.
The future of intranets: More than just a tool
As organizations continue reshaping the modern workplace, intranets will remain central to employee engagement strategies. The intranet is no longer just an information repository; it’s a dynamic platform that drives connection, collaboration, and recognition.
For companies looking to transform their employee experience, the modern intranet offers an opportunity to create a more engaged, connected, and motivated workforce. This potential for transformation can excite team members and make both the digital and physical workplaces destinations of choice, not mandates.
If your organization is ready to revolutionize the employee experience, it’s time to elevate your intranet. Focusing on targeted content, facilitating feedback, and recognizing contributions are only the beginning of how organizations can turn intranets into an engagement engine that empowers employees and makes them love where they work.
Want to know more? Learn more about Appspace employee comms.
