3 reasons why more small companies may be leaning towards an Intranet solution

One of the nice things about owning a small business is you can respond quickly, effectively and personally. But as you grow, it is impossible for effective communication to be handled only in this manner.

Often an Intranet is a good solution to keep people connected. Your company’s information can be secured behind a firewall and access can be provided in a variety of levels of security.
Information distribution is a daunting task for companies with thousands of employees but now it is starting to make sense for smaller companies as well.
3 reasons why more companies may be leaning towards an Intranet solution
Communication suffers when dealing with more than one person

Unfiltered communications in informal company settings lead to confusion. If you add individuals who travel frequently or employees telecommuting communication is further diluted and misconstrued. An Intranet can enhance communication through message boards, instant messaging and moderated chats.  Using these tools to collaborate before scheduled meetings allows for democratic contributions and more focused meetings.

A single source for relevant content saves time and money
There is no better way to distribute time-sensitive information, scheduling information, policies, benefits etc. A single source of information combined with a company knowledge base arms each employee with all of the tools they need to succeed.

Email has its limitations
Email is a horrible way to manage projects. Imagine your team is working on a single proposal and each of you has an individual task. The project manager emails the proposal out t each person on the team. Keeping track of the most current document would be much easier if the master was on the Intranet.  Scheduling and deliverable responsibilities would also be more effectively managed. Remote contributors to projects and project leaders could also manage projects and people more effectively.

Bite the bullet and get started
It’s not that expensive. Some packages, such as Instant Intranet Builder, use Microsoft Access as the core database and can cost as little as $5 per month per user.
Before you set up an intranet, set goals. Understand how employees will use it and adhere to good design principles.
You need to designate someone who owns the content and you will need to train your employees on how to use it. Once your company’s Intranet is up and running, the ROI will be significant and it will be measurable. If you need help setting up your intranet, find a marketing agency that understands and is willing to help.

Komando, Kim (2008). Why your business needs an Intranet, Small companies can act quickly.     Retrieved November 14, 2008, from http://www.microsoft.com Web site:     http://www.microsoft.com/canada/smallbiz/issues/running/streamline/intranet.mspx