Social Enterprise Intranet - Social Media Meets the Organization

There are leading Intranet applications that unabashedly call themselves social enterprise tools but are seemingly just grasping out.  The specific example we are refering to are apparently rising to a growing demand by introducing marketing jargon, yet they have little to offer for actual function.  When shopping Intranet software, organizations need to beware of misleading claims and to consider the importance of strong social media features; advanced social media functionality will effectively help to future proof an Intranet system.

If you consider some of the most successful social networking and social media tools on the Internet, you will readily recall this millennium’s most amazing online phenomenon. Specifically, few will argue that sites and services such as Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and any of many thousands of social forums and blogs have solidly established their place in modern communications.

When evaluating Intranet alternatives, we suggest it is a good idea for an organization to develop a list of specific features that will enhance your business' ability to network internally.  With current definitions of social media you might have a list that looks like this:

• Allow users to create social profiles

• Allow colleagues to connect as ‘friends’

• Encourage internal networks

• Provide group zones

• Allow for sharing of multimedia files (photo, video)

• Provide group and private chat function

• Provide discussion forums and commenting capability

This is a good basis for meaningful ‘Social Enterprise’.  Ask the questions outright and then make sure you are duly impressed by a demonstration before you make a decision on the value of any Intranet application as a social enterprise tool.

The clear trend is that social media tools will soon be as indispensible as the telephone so don't get caught short.