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How are Intranets Different from the Internet?

A common mix-up that occurs when talking technology is between the terms ‘intranet’ and ‘internet’; both words at a glance look and sound similar, however they are very different in their purpose and accessibility.

What is the internet?

The internet is a huge public network, allowing data and communication to travel around the world. Digital information being shared within its infrastructure is accessible to everyone, allowing users to visit websites, browse social media, stream video content and more.

What is an intranet?

An intranet is a private network used within an organisation, and is only accessible to users who have been granted access. Users of an organisation’s intranet can share information securely, communicate with colleagues, schedule calendar events, use built-in integrated tools and more.

What is the benefit of an intranet?

The usage of an intranet will vary based on the type of organisation and its employees’ needs, however the advantages of adopting an intranet within a workplace are universal for all users. An average of 85% of European workers surveyed by Deloitte stated they use an intranet for digital collaboration^[1].

1) Improved workplace communication

With modern intranets providing employee directories, organisational charts, and seamless integration of communication tools such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Yammer etc., connecting with your team members has never been easier.

2) Find documents and assets quicker

Research conducted by Coveo found that 30% of employees’ working hours are wasted looking for the right information^[2]. A modern-day intranet features improved search algorithms and tools, giving you easy access to large numbers of documents and assets such as policies, guidelines, images, videos etc., all at the click of button.

3) Improved employee engagement

An intranet can gather insights from your employees via tools such as surveys and polls, helping you better understand their experiences in the workplace. An intranet also enables you to keep your employees up to date on company news, updates, events, training opportunities etc.

4) Bridge distances between employees

With businesses having multiple offices around the world, and changing trends of hybrid working, keeping a workforce connected and collaborative is now more important than ever. An intranet can help bridge the gap between your employees in different locations and time zones, ensuring your business still feels like a connected team.

5) Seamlessly integrate tools

With employees using various tools in their everyday workflow, intranets can seamlessly integrate popular applications like Microsoft SharePoint and Outlook under one roof. This means users no longer need to constantly switch between application windows; instead they can access these tools through one central point.

Sources

^[1] Digital Collaboration Survey, Deloitte/Ipsos MORI, June 2013

^[2] Coveo - Fruitless Searching, Irrelevant Information, Inefficient Tools (2022)