Running a business is hard enough without worrying about whether your intranet solution is up to snuff. The last thing you want is for your employees to be stuck using an outdated, clunky system that makes their jobs more difficult instead of easier.
To help you avoid such a fate, we’ve put together a list of seven mistakes to steer clear of when looking to upgrade to a better intranet. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you can be sure that you’ll end up with an intranet solution that meets your needs and helps your business run like a well-oiled machine. Let’s jump right in!
Table of Contents
Not Defining Your Goals Ahead of Time
Before you start shopping around for intranet solutions, you must take some time to sit down and figure out exactly what you want your intranet to accomplish. What goals do you hope to achieve?
What specific features are a must-have? Once you have a clear idea of your goals, finding a solution that meets them will be much easier.
Skipping the Demo
Don’t make the mistake of choosing an intranet solution without first seeing it in action. Ask the vendor for a demo to get a feel for the system’s work and see if it fits your business well. It’s also worth attending trade shows or webinars related to intranets so that you can compare different solutions side-by-side.
Not Reading the Fine Print
Once you’ve found an intranet solution that you like, signing on the dotted line is tempting without taking the time to read through the contract in full.
However, before moving forward, you must take the time to understand everything that you agree to. Otherwise, you may find yourself inadvertently agreeing to terms and conditions that are unfavorable or even harmful to your business.
Trying to Do Too Much at Once
When implementing a new intranet solution, it’s important to take things slowly at first and focus on just one or two key areas before moving on to others.
Trying to do too much at once is likely to overwhelm your employees and lead to frustration on their part (not to mention extra work for you). So, start small and expand gradually over time as employees get comfortable using the new system.
Not Getting Buy-In from Employees Early On
If you want your employees to use the new intranet solution once it’s been implemented, they must be involved in the process from start to finish. Get their feedback on what they need and want from the system and let them know how it will benefit them in their day-to-day work lives.
The more buy-in you can get from employees upfront, the more likely they will actually use (and love) the new system once it goes live.
Overlooking Maintenance and Support Costs
When budgeting for your new intranet solution, don’t forget to factor in the cost of maintenance and support after implementation has been completed.
These costs can vary widely depending on the size of your organization and how complex your setup is, so be sure to get quotes from different vendors before making your final decision.
Assuming That All Intranets Are the Same
Just because two different businesses have implemented an intranet doesn’t mean that their solutions are interchangeable. Your company is unique, so finding an off-the-shelf solution is unlikely to meet all your specific needs.
Don’t assume anything – research your options carefully to find the best possible fit for your business.
Final Word
By following this advice, you can be sure that you’ll end up with an intranet system that helps rather than hinders your business operations. And if you need help along the way, don’t forget to comment your questions below – we will try our best to help!
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