Is your team drowning in emails, scattered files, and endless meetings? It doesn’t have to be that way. A modern intranet could be the game-changer you need—a space that makes staying connected, productive, and engaged a breeze.
We get it. The modern workplace is fast-paced and ever-changing. That’s why your intranet needs to do more than store files—it needs to empower people to do their best work, wherever they are.
But what exactly makes a modern intranet indispensable? Beyond convenience, it’s a tool that shapes how your team communicates, collaborates, and celebrates success. It’s the backbone of a connected, productive, and resilient workplace.
So, let’s explore the key ways a good intranet can transform your business.
1. Internal communication: centralize communication and cut through the noise
Great communication fuels great work. A modern intranet acts as a single hub for leadership updates, team discussions, and everything in between. No more missed messages or email overload—just a clear path to the information that matters.
And it’s not just about convenience. McKinsey reports that effective communication tools can boost productivity by 20-25%. Imagine what your team could do with that extra time!
2. Facilitate asynchronous work: give your team the flexibility they deserve
Work shouldn’t feel like a never-ending meeting. With the right intranet, your team can collaborate without constant calls or email threads. Share project updates, edit documents, and keep things moving—without interrupting their flow.
As Colleen Labik, Senior Supervisor at Wawa, puts it:
“I don’t know how we’d connect without our intranet. It’s already overtaking email as our main way of sharing information. If an email isn’t important, it gets ignored.”
3. Employee engagement, recognition, and reward: celebrate wins, big and small
Recognition drives engagement and in turn engagement drives results. Whether it’s a shout-out for a project well done or a spotlight on an unsung hero, your intranet makes it easy to show appreciation.
At Fresh, we’ve built employee recognition features such as Kudos, Badges, and a Celebrations web part into our intranet as standard. Because we know that giving team members praise makes all the difference to their well-being and engagement levels.
And the stats speak for themselves: Gallup’s 2023 research found that companies with highly engaged teams are 18% more productive and 23% more profitable.
4. Onboarding documents: make onboarding smooth and welcoming
First impressions count. With all the right resources in one place—like training guides, team directories, and company policies—new hires can hit the ground running. No awkward searches, no delays, just a warm welcome and a clear path forward.
5. Document management: keep important documents at your fingertips
No one has time to dig through countless folders. Your intranet should be a reliable, well-organized library of everything your team needs—from templates to policies to project files. Plus, with smart search, they’ll find it fast.
6. Knowledge management and sharing: encourage knowledge-sharing and collaboration
Ideas grow when they’re shared. Whether through discussion boards, blogs, or shared resources, your intranet creates a culture of learning and teamwork.
When experts can share their insights easily, the whole team benefits—and your business moves forward.
7. Organization charts/employee directories: clarify roles and responsibilities
In big companies, it can be hard to know who’s who. Dynamic organizational charts and directories make it easy to understand team structures, find the right person and get the answers you need—fast.
8. Interdepartmental collaboration: make teamwork effortless across departments
Some of the best ideas come from cross-team collaboration. Your intranet helps teams brainstorm, share files, and track updates in real-time, breaking down barriers and building bridges between departments.
9. Project management: organize projects sites to reduce the chaos
An intranet makes it simple to organize project sites, helping you quickly find workspaces and centralize everything in one place. See your project team, access related documents and stay on top of events—all in a single workspace designed for you.
10. Workplace culture: bring your culture to life
A company’s culture isn’t just what’s written in a handbook—it’s how people connect and engage every day. Your intranet can be the heartbeat of your culture, with social updates and stories that make people feel part of something bigger.
11. Transparency: build trust with transparency
People want to know the “why” behind decisions. Use your intranet to share company goals, strategies, and updates openly. Transparency builds trust and trust builds stronger teams.
12. Security settings/permissions: keep your data safe and secure
Sensitive information deserves protection. Modern intranets come with built-in security features—customizable permissions, encrypted data, and secure logins—so you can share confidently, knowing your data is safe.
Why your intranet matters
Your intranet shouldn’t just be a place to store things—it should make life easier, more connected, and more rewarding for everyone who uses it. A modern intranet isn’t just a tool—it’s the heartbeat of your workplace, keeping everyone informed, aligned and empowered.
It simplifies communication by cutting through the noise and putting the right information at your team’s fingertips. No more endless email chains or wasted time searching for files—just a clear, direct path to what matters most. Plus, by supporting asynchronous work, it lets your team collaborate when it works best for them, without unnecessary interruptions.
A great intranet also fuels a sense of community. Whether it’s a space to celebrate wins, recognize contributions or share company updates transparently, it helps your team stay connected and engaged—wherever they’re working from.
And as Fresh is built for SharePoint, it works seamlessly with Viva Engage to bring content directly onto your intranet. This integration boosts engagement by making it easier than ever for your team to stay connected and informed.
And let’s not forget security and clarity. With smart permissions and reliable search features, your intranet makes it easy to share sensitive information safely and find the answers you need fast.
At its core, a modern intranet empowers your people to do their best work, foster connections and be part of something bigger—all while keeping your organization running smarter and faster.
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Ready to give your team the tools they need to thrive?
Let’s make it happen.
Contact the Fresh team today for a demo and see the difference for yourself.