Artificial intelligence in manufacturing tends to conjure up ideas of predictive maintenance, supply chain optimization or quality control. All are true, of course, but as a data specialist, I view these more as outcomes. What drives these outcomes is an underlying AI-powered employee experience technology that delivers greater employee engagement, a single source of truth, and best-in-class internal communications — all of which empower your people to excel in all they do.

The company intranet has evolved into a crucial tool for employee experience, offering more than just a way to access resources. Employees now expect their workplace technology to offer the same ease and functionality they experience with personal apps, whether they’re in the office, remote or on the frontlines.

In most companies, the intranet is meant to be the go-to hub for employees to find critical information and stay connected. But even the most beautifully designed intranet can fall short if its search functionality doesn’t deliver accurate, relevant results. When employees struggle to find what they need, productivity plummets and frustration rises.

As anywhere work and AI reshape the modern workplace, traditional employee recognition models fall short. Dispersed teams and stretched HR departments need scalable, innovative recognition and rewards solutions that foster a deeper sense of value and commitment — leading to more engaged people and higher retention rates.

Our State of the Intranet and Future of Employee Technology report uncovers insights to guide intranet purchasing and optimization decisions for program leaders in the financial services sector. Discover current trends in AI integration, user experience, security and more to enhance employee engagement, boost productivity, and drive organizational success in an increasingly digital and regulated world.

The future of workplace efficiency depends on intranet systems that serve as the central hub for all daily operations. But that’s only possible when an intranet can integrate everything employees need to complete their work efficiently. When they are expected to log into multiple systems or dig through various platforms, productivity plummets, engagement falters, and digital friction sets in.

Intranet decisions can either propel your company forward or slow it down, depending on the approach you choose. If you’re considering whether to build a custom solution or buy a packaged intranet solution, consider the implications each of them carry for your organization. The stakes are high — time, money and overreliance on IT resources are on the line — and the last thing you want is an intranet that’s more of a hindrance than a help.

IT teams have shifted to center court of the organizational communication game. Not only are they still responsible for the infrastructure that allows business to get done, they’re now the architects of digital employee experiences, wielding the power to drive measurable business outcomes through strategic employee technology management.

Intranets have long been hailed as the central hub for communication and collaboration, yet many fall short. Instead of facilitating smooth, efficient operations, intranets often frustrate employees and bog down productivity. There are common reasons why intranets fail — as well as solutions to avoid the pitfalls of these intranet challenges.