Confused between Social Intranet and Enterprise Intranet? Read to Know best option for your business.

With the rising focus on incorporating social networking in a corporate setting, numerous platforms have come up to satiate this demand. The chief platforms include Social Intranet Software and Enterprise Social Networking. Both these platforms have stemmed and evolved from the traditional intranet software which was used by the company to communicate information to employees on a common website. The major dilemma companies seem to face is choosing the most optimal option between the two for their organization. While the choice depends on the culture and policies of the organization, there are unique features of these platforms that can help one make the right choice.

What is Enterprise Social Networking?

ESN makes use of the in-house intranet software as well as some third-party social media sites to provide an open platform for employees to post, comment, follow, like, and share.

What is Social Intranet Software?

This software combines the features of both, the conventional intranet software and the ENS, to develop a platform where employees at any position of the hierarchy in the company can communicate with each other. The software further incorporates tools such as multimedia creation, activity streams, blogs, chats, document management, and online search options to enable the employees to get work done through efficient communication and better connectivity.

Benefits of Social Intranet Software

By combining the software of intranet and functionality of enterprise networking and adding more tools, social intranet software offers the following functions:

• Companies save expenses on buying and maintenance of multiple pieces of software.

• Employees wouldn’t have to learn new social tools, thereby making it easy for the not so technology-savvy employees to communicate as well.

• There is a common platform to share and find information, saving the employees from searching multiple channels for performing different functions.

• This software can be configured to allow clients outside the firewall to access certain areas while protecting the internal communications.

• Social intranet solutions are flexible and customized according to the functioning and culture of the specific organization.