The post-pandemic digital landscape called for organizations across the globe to relook at their toolkits as they adapted to remote work and hybrid arrangements. Post-pandemic, the adoption of flexible work arrangements surged, with 82% of company leaders intending to offer hybrid work options, as was reported by a 2020 survey from Gartner .

This seismic shift necessitates the organization to adopt digital tools that ensure effective collaboration, facilitate knowledge sharing, and bridge geographical divides. A private, secure network designed for internal use within an organization can empower companies to operate in any environment effectively. An employee intranet software is a centralized hub, facilitating seamless communication, collaboration, and efficient information sharing among employees. 

Assuming a critical role in the everyday functioning of modern digital businesses, employee intranet platforms empower organizations to enhance productivity, align their workforce, and streamline internal processes.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the importance of intranet platforms in modern businesses, shedding light on their key features, benefits, and considerations for effective implementation.

A Unified Digital Workplace – Importance of Intranet Platforms in Modern Businesses

According to a report by Prescient & Strategic Intelligence, the global intranet market is projected to reach $39.71 billion by 2026, underscoring its growing importance.

Businesses looking to streamline employee communication and Intranet platforms have become indispensable tools for organizations seeking to optimize their internal operations. They serve as the backbone of internal communication, collaboration, and information sharing within a company. 

For starters, employee Intranet platforms significantly enhance employee engagement and satisfaction by providing a unified digital workplace. A recent Gallup Workplace survey revealed that engaged employees exhibit 17% higher productivity. Features like employee directories, discussion forums, and recognition portals foster a sense of belonging and boost morale.

As per Gartner, enhanced employee engagement drives a 20% increase in productivity.

Setting the Stage: Key Features and Benefits of Employee Intranet Platforms

Before delving deeper into employee intranet platforms, let’s outline some key features and benefits that these platforms offer to modern organizations.

An employee intranet platform offers several benefits to organizations, including improved internal communication, enhanced collaboration, efficient information sharing, streamlined processes, and boosted productivity. These platforms also contribute to aligning employees with the organizational culture and fostering a sense of community within the workplace.

Key Features of Employee Intranet Platforms

1. Internal Communication (Announcements & Newsfeed):

• Internal communication is the lifeblood of any organization, and modern intranet platforms excel at facilitating effective communication. An engaging newsfeed and announcement system ensures important updates reach all employees. According to a study by Towers Watson, companies with effective communication have a 47% higher total return to shareholders. Intranet platforms offer information boards for effective communication and sharing of company announcements, news updates, and vital information. This feature ensures that all employees are well-informed about organizational developments.
• Collaboration platforms offer channels for specific teams or projects where real-time updates and announcements are shared, promoting transparency and collaboration. Employees can comment, react, and stay informed about organizational news and updates.

2. Collaboration Tools:

• Collaboration tools are central to enhancing productivity and fostering teamwork within organizations. Modern intranet platforms integrate various tools like document collaboration, project management, and video conferencing to streamline collaboration. A McKinsey report shows that effective collaboration can improve employee productivity by 20-30%.
• An employee intranet platform should integrate well into existing systems. Real-time document editing, shared project boards, and instant messaging can enable teams to collaborate seamlessly regardless of their location.

3. File Storage and Secure Sharing:

• Secure file storage and sharing capabilities are paramount in modern intranet platforms to ensure easy access to documents and data while maintaining security. Data breaches can cost a company an average of $3.86 million, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report.
• Advanced permissions and encryption features ensure data integrity and confidentiality.

4. Employee Directory:

• An employee directory is a fundamental feature in intranet platforms, offering a centralized hub for accessing contact information and organizational hierarchies. It facilitates connectivity and collaboration across the organization, enhancing transparency and accessibility.
• A comprehensive employee directory should include profiles, skills, and contact details, fostering better collaboration and networking within the organization.

5. Security and Access Control:

• Ensuring security and access control is a critical feature of modern intranet platforms. Robust authentication, role-based access, and compliance measures are essential to safeguard sensitive organizational data and maintain regulatory compliance.
• Granular security controls and user permissions ensure data privacy and role-based access, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access.

6. Task and Project Management:

Task and project management tools integrated into modern employee intranet platforms streamline workflows and enhance productivity. They allow teams to create, assign, and track tasks and projects collaboratively. According to a PwC study, 77% of high-performing projects use project management software.

7. Mobile Accessibility:

Mobile accessibility is a vital feature in modern intranet platforms, ensuring that employees can access essential information and collaborate on-the-go. With the proliferation of smartphones, mobile accessibility has become crucial for a connected and agile workforce. A Global Workplace Analytics report indicates that 48% of employees work remotely at least some of the time.

8. Integration Capabilities:

Integration capabilities are essential for a seamless user experience by allowing intranet platforms to integrate with other essential tools and applications used within an organization. Integration enhances efficiency and reduces manual effort by providing a centralized hub for accessing various systems and data. As per surveys 77% of employees believe integrated technology enhances their productivity.

Integration streamlines workflows, allowing employees to access and manage different tools within an intranet platform.

9. Employee Feedback and Surveys:

Gathering employee feedback and conducting surveys within an intranet platform is crucial for gauging employee satisfaction, identifying areas for improvement, and fostering a culture of open communication. Engaged employees are 21% more productive, as highlighted by a Gallup report.

Benefits of Employee Intranet Platforms

1. Improved Communication, Collaboration, and Productivity:

Intranet platforms facilitate seamless communication and collaboration, leading to increased productivity and efficiency within the organization.

2. Alignment with Organizational Culture:

By providing a platform for organizational updates and sharing of values, intranet platforms help align employees with the organizational culture, fostering a sense of belonging.

3. Enhanced Employee Engagement and Community Building:

Intranet platforms create a sense of community by encouraging interaction and engagement, contributing to a more cohesive and motivated workforce.

Considerations for Implementing an Employee Intranet Platform

Implementing an employee intranet platform is a strategic decision that can significantly impact an organization’s communication, collaboration, and overall efficiency. A well-thought-out implementation process is crucial for maximizing the platform’s potential and ensuring successful integration into the organization. Here are key considerations for a successful employee intranet platform implementation:

1. Needs Assessment and Requirement Analysis:

Before choosing an intranet platform, it’s essential to conduct a thorough needs assessment and requirement analysis. Understand the unique needs, challenges, and objectives of your organization. Gather input from different departments and stakeholders to identify specific features and functionalities that are crucial for your intranet.

2. User-Friendly Design and Accessibility:

The platform should have an intuitive interface and be easily accessible to all employees, regardless of their technical expertise. Consider the diverse needs of your workforce, including remote workers or those on the field. Mobile responsiveness and a user-friendly design are vital aspects to ensure widespread adoption.

3. Integration with Existing Systems:

The intranet platform should seamlessly integrate with existing tools and systems used within the organization, such as email, project management software, or customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Integration enhances productivity by providing a centralized hub for accessing and managing various tools.

4. Data Security and Compliance:

Security is paramount. Ensure the intranet platform complies with data security standards and regulations relevant to your industry. Implement features like role-based access control, encryption, and regular security updates to protect sensitive organizational data.

5. Training and Adoption Strategy:

Develop a comprehensive training plan to ensure employees understand the platform’s features and functionalities. Incorporate ongoing training and support mechanisms to encourage adoption and address any challenges employees might face during the transition.

6. Measuring and Analyzing Performance:

Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of the intranet platform. Metrics could include user engagement, adoption rates, task completion rates, and feedback. Regularly analyze the data to identify areas for improvement and optimization.

7. Budget, Customization, and Scalability:

Look for a platform that allows customization to align with your organization’s branding, culture, and unique requirements. Consider the budget constraints and scalability requirements while selecting an intranet platform to ensure a sustainable and cost-effective solution.

Additionally, ensure the platform is scalable to accommodate organizational growth and evolving needs.

8. Organizational Goals:

Align the choice of an intranet platform with the organization’s specific goals and objectives, ensuring that it meets the unique needs of the company.

Closing Thoughts

Intranet platforms have evolved into indispensable tools for modern organizations, revolutionizing internal communication, collaboration, and information sharing. By serving as centralized hubs, these platforms enhance productivity, align employees with the organizational culture, and foster a sense of community within the workplace. Implementing an employee intranet platform thoughtfully, considering organizational goals, budget, and scalability, can significantly elevate an organization’s internal operations, setting it on the path of success in today’s competitive business landscape.

Are you ready to enhance your organization’s internal communication and collaboration with a modern employee intranet platform? Explore the possibilities and transform your workplace with InfinCE today!

While 2023 unfolded as a significant year for several global businesses, with them coming to terms with the adoption of hybrid workplace models, back-to-work scenarios, and completely remote modes of work, it is clear that the intranet landscape has evolved extensively, too.  Keeping pace with the changes and its dynamic trends is vital for businesses of all sizes to optimize their intranet strategies. 

As the nerve center of internal communication and collaboration within an organization, intranets double up as centralized hubs, enabling information sharing, project management, and team collaboration. Equipped to offer an array of features such as document management, discussion boards, calendars, and more, they enhance productivity, efficiency, and, ultimately, the company’s bottom line. Themes such as personalization, gamification, and robust technology adoption have been doing the rounds even as we see both small and large organizations rushing to stay atop these intranet trends in order to stay relevant and future-proof their operating models. 

Let’s delve into the upcoming trends that will shape intranet strategies in the year 2024.

1. Personalization and Employee Experience

Personalization is the key to future intranets. Tailoring the intranet experience to individual employee preferences and roles ensures a more engaging and productive work environment. Social feeds and user-centric designs play pivotal roles in enhancing this personalized experience, making the intranet a go-to platform for employees. A Gartner study points to how personalized intranet experiences have the potential to increase employee engagement by up to 34%. A McKinsey & Company report from 2022 highlights that engaged employees are 20-25% more productive than their disengaged counterparts. 

These statistics underscore the critical role of personalization in enhancing employee engagement, collaboration, and overall intranet effectiveness. In 2024, integrating personalization into intranet systems is not just a trend; it’s a strategic imperative for a thriving, motivated workforce.

2. Integration with Collaboration Tools

According to a study by International Data Corporation (IDC), businesses leveraging integrated collaboration tools and intranets witness a 30% reduction in project time. In 2024, this trend not only optimizes work processes but also fosters a cohesive and collaborative work culture. Embracing this integration is pivotal for organizations seeking to harness the power of collaboration tools within their intranet ecosystems, ultimately driving organizational success. Seamless integration of intranets with popular collaboration tools allows employees to access collaboration tools within the intranet environment, simplifying workflows and boosting efficiency. It’s a step towards a unified digital workplace.

3. Mobile-Friendly Intranets

Gartner forecasts that by 2025, nearly 80% of work will be done on a mobile device. Ensuring mobile accessibility for intranet systems is no longer an option but a strategic necessity. Research by Nielsen Norman Group indicates that mobile users engage with content for an average of 1.25 minutes, emphasizing the need for concise and easily digestible information on mobile intranets. With the rise of remote work, mobile accessibility is no longer an option but a necessity. In 2024, intranets need to be mobile-friendly, providing responsive designs, dedicated mobile apps, and mobile-specific features to ensure employees can stay connected and productive on the move.

4. Cloud-based Platforms

A study by McKinsey & Company reveals that 92% of organizations have reported increased business agility and speed of innovation after moving their operations to the cloud. Moreover, the cloud facilitates personalized experiences on intranets by allowing tailored content delivery based on user preferences. Cloud-based intranets are gaining momentum due to their scalability, accessibility, and cost-efficiency. Moving to the cloud ensures data security, enhances collaboration, and facilitates real-time updates, making it a trend to watch out for in 2024.

5. Inclusive Knowledge Sharing

Intranets play a critical role in democratizing knowledge, making it easily accessible and shareable across the organization. Encouraging knowledge sharing among employees is crucial for innovation and growth. Intranets are evolving to promote inclusivity in knowledge sharing, ensuring that insights and expertise are accessible across the organization, irrespective of hierarchy.

6. Team-based Segmentation

Intranets with features tailored to specific teams streamline communication, document sharing, and project management, amplifying efficiency. Intranets that enable segmentation based on teams stand a greater chance of fostering focused collaboration within specific groups, enhancing efficiency, and promoting a sense of belonging and community. Personalization within these segmented intranets ensures that teams receive information and updates relevant to their projects and objectives, facilitating informed decision-making and a cohesive team dynamic. 

7. Employee Well-being and Engagement

Intranets are now placing a strong emphasis on employee well-being and engagement. Features such as wellness resources, feedback mechanisms, and recognition programs are being integrated to create a positive work environment. Advancing workforce well-being, a report by Deloitte, has useful pointers advising what leaders should do to help move the needle on workforce well-being. It formulates the kind of roles managers and executives should play and discusses why human sustainability should be part of the long-term solution.

8. A Focus on Search Functionality

A study by Forrester Consulting revealed that 94% of employees believe the search function is crucial for their productivity, emphasizing its importance. Intranets often house extensive amounts of data and documents, making a robust search capability essential. According to a study by the IDC, employees spend about 9.3 hours per week searching for information, highlighting the productivity drain without an efficient search function. 

Personalization further amplifies this functionality by tailoring search results based on an individual’s role, preferences, and search history, significantly enhancing the accuracy and relevance of the results. An enhanced search functionality is crucial for quick and efficient access to information within the intranet. A robust search mechanism is vital to support employees in finding the right information at the right time.

9. Data Visualization

Data visualization is a vital component of intranet systems, transforming complex data into easily understandable visuals for informed decision-making. Visual representations simplify data interpretation and aid in better decision-making. According to a study by the Content Marketing Institute, 73% of organizations prioritize creating more visual content due to its effectiveness in conveying information. Intranets often accumulate vast amounts of data, and visual representation through charts, graphs, and infographics simplifies interpretation. The Nielsen Norman Group suggests that visual aids enhance information retention by up to 32%. In 2024, integrating personalized data visualization into intranets will not only streamline data interpretation but also improve employee engagement and understanding, ultimately leading to more informed decisions and enhanced productivity within the organization.

10. Gamification (Employee Recognition, Leaderboards)

Research by TalentLMS found that 87% of employees found gamified training more effective, showcasing its potential in intranet platforms. Incorporating gamified elements, such as leaderboards, challenges, and badges, incentivizes participation and motivates employees to achieve goals. According to a study by Deloitte University Press, gamified platforms can lead to a 50% increase in employee engagement. Gamification is being employed to drive employee engagement and recognition. Leaderboards, badges, and other gamified elements motivate employees, boosting their productivity and participation.

Next Steps

Where are you on your intranet-building journey?

Assess your current intranet strategy and consider how these trends can be seamlessly incorporated. Stay ahead of the curve by embracing these trends to ensure your intranet remains a cutting-edge tool for enhancing internal communication and collaboration.

For more personalized guidance on implementing these trends into your intranet system, reach out to us for a consultation. 

Even as we transition from a remote working environment to a hybrid workplace, the ubiquitous power of video meetings cannot be undermined for today’s corporate workforce. Like a virtual bridge, they seamlessly connect teams spread across various locations, fostering real-time interactions that mimic face-to-face conversations. 

Video meetings have become the linchpin of effective communication, enabling seamless collaboration between in-office and remote team members. An Owl Labs survey of 2022 reveals that 87% of remote and hybrid workers prefer video conferencing as it fosters better engagement and understanding. 

Companies of all sizes have harnessed the power of video meetings, recognizing their potential to enhance productivity, reduce travel costs, and boost employee morale.

The Role of Participant Engagement in Online Video Meetings

With the increasing significance of video meetings, it’s only obvious that the role of participants and their engagement in meetings, participant engagement stands as the vital ingredient for effective communication and seamless collaboration. However, challenges exist that can  impede participant engagement. 

• Technical glitches: From poor internet connections to audio lags and communication delays, technical hiccups hamper engagement, leaving participants feeling disengaged and frustrated.
• Distractions: Distractions pose another obstacle in the path to active involvement. A Gartner study brings to the fore how video meetings always encourage multitasking, which can be detrimental to focus. 41% of employees admitted to doing unrelated work while on video calls. These distractions diminish attention and prevent meaningful contributions, hindering the team’s progress.
• Absence of non-verbal cues: The absence of non-verbal cues in video meetings can lead to misinterpretations. Non-verbal cues carry valuable information, and their absence can reduce the effectiveness of communication. A Buffer study reveals that 43% of remote employees struggle with miscommunication due to a lack of non-verbal cues.

Read More: 5 Ways to Secure Your Meetings When Using Video Conferencing Software

Strategies To Enhance Participant Engagement In Online Video Meeting

To actively tackle the above mentioned challenges, it is crucial to foster an environment that encourages active participation. Employing interactive tools, nurturing open discussions, and setting clear meeting agendas can rekindle participant engagement. By overcoming these challenges, through a video meeting software companies can transform their video meetings into a harmonious symphony of ideas, collaboration, and successful outcomes. Let’s explore potential strategies that can drive participants to engage and interact better to make the most of video meetings.

1. Setting the stage: Pre-meet prep

Before a meeting commences, it is ideal to encourage participants to acquaint themselves with the meeting agenda. Supporting reading material is a good place to start. This sets the tone for removing potential hiccups and helps drive the context of the meeting. By doing so, attendees can come prepared with insightful thoughts, promoting meaningful discussions. For example, in a marketing brainstorming session, sharing market research data beforehand can ignite innovative ideas and creative solutions.

Creating an optimal meeting environment is equally crucial. Suggest tips for participants to set up suitable lighting, background, and minimize distractions. By doing this, you can ensure everyone’s focus remains on the agenda. For instance, in a design review meeting, clear visuals and minimal background noise can facilitate effective feedback and review. Such streamlined meetings can be promoted through an effective video meeting software. 

2. Laying the foundation of interactivity: Meeting agenda

A well-structured agenda is the backbone of an engaging video meeting. Encourage organizers to include interactive activities and discussion points to keep participants actively involved. For instance, in a team-building session, incorporating collaborative exercises that encourage creativity and problem-solving can enhance team dynamics.

Breaking the ice is essential, particularly in virtual meetings where personal connections might feel distant. Suggest incorporating icebreakers or warm-up activities to establish rapport among participants. For example, in a project kick-off meeting, sharing interesting facts about team members can create a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.

3. Encouraging active participation: A culture of contribution

To foster active participation, guide meeting facilitators to ask open-ended questions that encourage thoughtful responses. For instance, in a strategic planning meeting, prompting attendees to share their perspectives on market trends can lead to valuable insights.

Leveraging features like polls, chat, and breakout rooms can transform passive listeners into active contributors. In a product feedback session, conducting live polls or using breakout rooms for smaller group discussions can amplify engagement and encourage diverse viewpoints.

4. Leveraging the video toolkit: Visual aids and multimedia

Incorporating visual aids is a powerful way to enhance engagement and comprehension. Recommend using slides or screen sharing to deliver information effectively. For example, in a training session, visualizing complex concepts through infographics or diagrams can make learning more engaging and memorable.

To maintain interest, suggest using multimedia elements like videos or interactive presentations. In a sales pitch, including customer testimonial videos or interactive product demos can capture participants’ attention and leave a lasting impression.

5. Empowering participants: Strong communication techniques

Establishing clear communication norms is vital to ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Provide guidance on using mute/unmute etiquette and raising virtual hands for orderly discussions. For instance, in a team status meeting, creating opportunities for everyone to contribute updates can foster a sense of collaboration and accountability. Active listening is equally crucial for effective communication. Encourage participants to acknowledge and respond to each other’s ideas, promoting a collaborative environment. In a brainstorming session, demonstrating active listening by building on others’ ideas can inspire creative thinking and inclusivity.

6. Experimenting with different narratives: Dynamic meeting formats

Varying the meeting format can inject excitement and maintain engagement. Incorporate small group discussions or interactive tools like whiteboards to encourage active participation. In a project planning meeting, using a whiteboard to collectively outline action items and deadlines can create a sense of ownership and accountability.

Tell captivating stories, use humor, or share personal anecdotes to keep the meeting lively and inspiring. For instance, in a team morale-boosting session, recounting success stories and celebrating achievements can motivate the team to strive for more significant accomplishments.

7. Blazing through challenges: Tips and tricks

Addressing common technical issues proactively is essential to maintain seamless meetings. Provide troubleshooting tips for audio or video glitches, ensuring that participants can navigate any obstacles without derailing the discussion.

Suggest using reliable video conferencing platforms with the latest features and improvements to ensure a smooth experience. In a client presentation, using a secure and user-friendly platform with screen sharing capabilities can impress clients and build trust.

Read More: 5 Video Marketing Trends That Every SMB Needs To Follow

Best Practices for Facilitating Engaging Video Meetings

Here’s a list of best practices to remember to facilitate smooth seamless meetings. 

1. Prepare adequately and set the stage
2. Build an interactive agenda that encourages participants to engage actively
3. Keep open-ended questions a part of the agenda
4. Use visual aids and multimedia
5. Establish clear communication norms
6. Use dynamic meeting formats
7. Incorporate humor and storytelling tools
8. Overcome technical challenges

Acing Online Video Meeting With The Right Tool: InfinCE, A Customizable Video Engagement Platform

InfinCE’s online video Meeting software intuitive interface and user-friendly design are built to streamline the video meeting experience, ensuring both organizers and participants can navigate effortlessly through the platform. From pre-meeting preparation to post-meeting follow-ups, InfinCE facilitates every step of the video conferencing journey.

In the digital era, mastering the art of participant engagement in video meetings is a leadership skill that can set teams on a path to success. By employing these strategies and fostering a culture of active involvement, businesses can leverage the full potential of video meetings to foster collaboration, creativity, and connection among their distributed workforce. When every participant feels valued and inspired to contribute, the power of virtual meetings transcends physical boundaries, creating a united and thriving digital workplace. 

Learn more on how InfinCE makes a perfect Video Engagement Platform. Request for a Free Demo now!

Goals of increased employee productivity and cost savings are a no-brainer in today’s digitally transformed business landscape. As Rodney Zimmel from McKinsey Digital observes, the whole point of digital transformation isn’t exactly to become digital. It’s actually to drive value for the business. And that value comes from understanding clearly how to move from a physical workspace to a hybrid or a digital workplace platform. 

Embracing a digital workplace is crucial for businesses looking to increase productivity, enhance collaboration, and reduce costs. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a key accelerator of the perceptive shift to the digital workplace.

Read More: The Definitive Guide to Perfect Digital Workplace Solution

In this blog, we’ll discuss the 8 key considerations you need to make while you make the much needed transition to a digital workplace. From the benefits to caution areas, to potential pitfalls – we have the rundown.

1. The Covid-19 pandemic as a watershed movement: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for businesses to shift to a digital workplace, leading to improved efficiencies, cost savings, and a more agile workforce. According to a study by PwC, companies that adopt digital workplace technology experience a 67% increase in productivity. Additionally, Gartner estimates that the digital workplace market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.6% from 2020 to 2027, reaching $45.7 billion by 2027. Deloitte reports that businesses can save up to $11,000 per employee annually by adopting a digital workplace platform. With the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, businesses need to embrace digital transformation and stay ahead of competition. Failure to do so could result in a loss of market share and diminished profitability.
2. Investment in tools and technologies: To enable a successful digital workplace, businesses must invest in the right tools and technologies. This includes video conferencing, instant messaging, project management software, cloud storage, and more. These tools enable employees to communicate and collaborate, regardless of their location or time zone. Additionally, digital workplace tools and technologies offer companies the opportunity to enhance the employee experience, leading to better retention rates and improved employee satisfaction. Access to online training and development programs, as well as digital resources and tools for wellbeing, help employees to feel valued and supported by their employers. A case in point is Accenture, which has implemented a platform called “Collaboration 2.0.” This platform offers employees a range of tools and services to simplify and enhance collaboration and communication, including instant messaging, video conferencing, and document-sharing capabilities. Accenture has reported increased productivity and employee engagement as a result of Collaboration 2.0.
3. The need for continuous upskilling and training: As businesses shift to digital workplaces, it’s essential to upskill and train employees to use the latest technologies effectively. This can be done through online training, workshops, and mentorship programs. Upskilling employees can also boost morale and improve job satisfaction as employees feel valued and equipped with the skills to succeed in a digital workplace. A key example to highlight this is AT&T, which created a Future Ready Employee initiative aimed at providing ongoing upskilling and reskilling to workers while providing them with new career development paths. As a result, they have improved employee retention by 14% and accelerated digital transformation.
4. Cybersecurity as a crucial tenet: As businesses shift to a digital workplace, cybersecurity becomes a crucial consideration. Cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware, and malware can wreak havoc on a business’s operations, leading to data loss and financial losses. To maintain business continuity, it is important to stay wary of cyber attacks that can bring business operations to a complete halt, causing a loss in productivity and revenue.  Educating employees on cybersecurity best practices and investing in strong cybersecurity measures, such as password management and two-factor authentication, is critical in mitigating these risks.
5. Remote work as a key cost-effective driver: Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years, with the pandemic intensifying the trend. Remote work offers many benefits, such as cost savings and increased productivity. However, managing a remote team can be challenging, requiring strong communication and collaboration tools and a clear structure for managing tasks and deadlines.
6. Change management: Shifting to a digital workplace requires a shift in thinking and behavior, which can be challenging for some employees. Change management is critical in managing resistance to change and ensuring a smooth transition. This involves involving employees in the process and providing them with the support and training necessary to adapt to the new reality. Training employees to get up to speed with the latest tools and technologies is key to successful implementation of a digital workplace platform. The risk of working in silos is also cut to a great degree if there is a cohesive change management plan that drives key resources toward a co
7. Generative AI and the future of work: The future of work is set to be increasingly digital, with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and virtual reality playing a significant role. Businesses must continue to invest in digital tools and technologies to remain competitive and harness the potential benefits these technologies offer.
8. Processes and best practices: To successfully shift to a digital workplace, businesses must adopt best practices. This includes creating a digital transformation roadmap and involving employees in the process.
   1. Create a clear digital transformation roadmap: Develop a clear roadmap that outlines your goals, timeline, process, and milestones. This will ensure that everyone in your organization understands the direction of the digital transformation.
   2. Involve employees in the process: Employees are key stakeholders in the transformation process, and their involvement is crucial for the success of the project. Get them involved in brainstorming sessions, focus groups, testing, and feedback.
   3. Secure buy-in from leadership: Secure the buy-in from senior leadership to ensure that the transformation receives the necessary resources and support. This will demonstrate the importance of the project and its impact on the organization’s growth.
   4. Evaluate and choose the right digital tools and platforms: Carefully choose the digital tools and platforms that fit your organization’s needs and culture. Ensure that the tools provide the required features and functionality to achieve your goals.
   5. Train and support employees: Ensure that your employees have appropriate training and support throughout the transformation process. Provide training for new tools and processes to improve their adoption and comprehension.
   6. Measure the success of the transition: Regularly review the progress of the transformation using metrics that are relevant to your goals. Assess the results and adjust plans where necessary to achieve intended outcomes.
   7. Ensure data security and privacy: Implement appropriate data security measures to protect data and comply with applicable laws and regulations.
   8. Simplify processes and eliminate redundancies: Use the transformation to simplify processes and eliminate redundancies. This will optimize the use of resources and reduce costs.
   9. Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement: Encourage innovation and continuous improvement in your organization by creating a culture that promotes creativity, experimentation, and learning.
   10. Communicate effectively: Communicate the transformation plans and progress consistently and openly with all stakeholders, partners, and employees. This will ensure that everyone is aware of the efforts and the benefits of the transformation.

In addition to this, the implementation of best practices needs to be reviewed to get a tangible measure of success. Therefore, defining key performance indicators against very specific goals is crucial in ensuring the transition is successful.

Read more: Role of a Digital Workplace Platform in Hybrid Workplace

In conclusion, the shift to a digital workplace is essential for any business looking to remain competitive in an increasingly digital world. The benefits of enhanced collaboration, increased productivity, and cost savings are significant, but the transition requires careful planning, investment in the right tools and technologies, and upskilling and training employees. 

To know more about how InfinCE can take your business to new heights, connect with our experts today!

Ever since the pandemic brought in the dynamics of remote work and hybrid models, Microsoft Teams has become a household name in the world of remote work. A 2022 press release indicates Microsoft’s revenue of $51.7 billion in the December quarter, a rise of 20% from the same quarter last year, and profits of $18.8 billion, a steady increase of 21%, with earnings per share of $2.48, up 22%. In terms of quick numbers, the number of daily active users doubled in the wake of the pandemic – from 75 million in April 2020 to 145 million in April 2021.

Despite its immense popularity, it’s not without its shortcomings. Microsoft Teams is feature rich yet falls short of some basic essentials that drive effective communication and collaboration. It’s also probably why several businesses are on the lookout for Microsoft Teams alternatives. 

• For one, it is limited in its use for large scale enterprises that have several cross-functional teams. It offers only about 30 private channels that can be a bottleneck for several communication workflows across large companies.
• Secondly, nuanced access control is not a well-thought out feature with Microsoft Teams. Rankling several industry leaders who have considered switching to Microsoft Teams, the absence of an evolved access and permission control has made it a rather unpopular option.

In this blog, we take a quick tour of 10 Microsoft Teams alternatives that offer an array of features beyond messaging and video conferencing.

1. Zoom

Primarily seen as a video conferencing tool with an instant messaging service, Zoom is equipped with a native cloud phone solution. 

• Integration with other tools and platforms: Available on iOS and Android, Zoom can host a large audience and has powerful integration capabilities. Zoom offers integration with other tools and platforms such as Slack, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams.
• User experience and ease of use: With a simple and intuitive interface, Zoom enables easy scheduling and joining of meetings from desktop and mobile devices.
• Security: Zoom provides several security and privacy features, such as end-to-end encryption for video meetings, password protection, and waiting rooms for meeting attendees.
• Customer support: Customers can access Zoom’s customer support through email, chat, or phone besides offering a comprehensive resource section that serves as a knowledge base. 
• Pricing: It offers a limited free plan with paid plans starting at $149.90/year (or $12.50 / month).
• The flipside: One thing that deters ease of use is that it is loaded with too many add-ons that may not particularly make financial sense for a small business. Also, one of the major cons of Zoom is the mandate to download the app, thus lacking browser only functionality. 

Read More: Why Is InfinCE A Better Choice For Safe Video Calling Than Zoom

2. Google Meet 

Google Meet is a video conferencing tool that allows users to have video meetings directly from their Google Calendar event, email invite, or Gmail.  

• Integration with other tools and platforms: Google Meet can be integrated with other Google tools such as Google Calendar and Google Drive and other third-party tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack.
• User experience and ease of use: It has a simple and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to use for both hosts and participants. The platform offers features such as screen sharing, real-time captions, and recording abilities, which enhance the user experience.
• Security and privacy features: Google Meet features end-to-end encryption for video meetings, two-factor authentication, and enterprise-grade security.
• Customer support and resources available: Google provides extensive support and resources to its users through the Google Meet Help Center.
• Pricing: Offers a free plan for starters with paid plans priced from $8/ user per month.
• The flipside: Browser support is limited, which means some users may need to rely on apps for a smoother experience. The platform does not provide advanced webinar features, such as Q&A sessions or polling, which could be a drawback for larger meetings.

Read More: 5 Workplace Innovations You Can Welcome with Video Conferencing

3.  InfinCE

Here’s how InfinCE Scores over other remote platforms. 

• Tailored for remote work: Infince is designed to cater to the needs of remote teams by centralizing communication, collaboration, and data management in a single platform. The platform is optimized for remote access, usage, and management, providing businesses with flexibility and control over their operations.
• Enhanced security: Infince uses the latest security protocols and encryption methods to ensure data privacy and protection from cyber threats. The platform is hosted on a private cloud infrastructure, which provides additional security layers compared to public cloud hosting used by Microsoft 365 or Google Meets.
• Cost-effective pricing: Infince offers scalable pricing plans suitable for businesses of all sizes and budgets. The pricing is transparent with no hidden costs, making it easy for businesses to budget and predict their expenses.
• High degree of customizability: Infince features highly customizable templates that businesses can tailor to match their brand identity. This allows businesses to create a professional look and feel for their platform without the need for expensive customization.
• Dedicated support: Infince provides users with dedicated 24/7 support via phone, email, or chat. This ensures that businesses always have access to help when they need it, improving the efficiency and productivity of remote teams. It is in fact a perfect alternative during Microsoft Cloud or Google Cloud outages.

4. Cisco Webex

• Integration: Integrates with multiple tools, including Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, and Google Calendar.
• User Experience: Offers an easy-to-use interface, with features like screen sharing and virtual backgrounds.
• Security and Privacy: Provides industry-leading security measures and end-to-end encryption.
• Customer Support: Offers technical support through multiple channels, including phone and chat. 
• Pricing: Offers a free plan with paid plans ranging from $14.95/host per month.
• The flipside: Limited customization options and slightly higher pricing compared to other video conferencing platforms.

Read More: 6 Ways to Build a Secure File Sharing Practice Within Your Organization

5. ClickUp

• Integration: Integrates with popular tools such as Slack, Trello, and Google Calendar.
• User Experience: Offers a customizable interface, with various views and templates.
• Security and Privacy: Provides options like two-factor authentication and GDPR compliance.
• Customer Support: Offers 24/7 customer support through email and live chat.
• Pricing: Comes with a free plan for unlimited users and paid versions starting at $5 per user/month. 
• The flipside: Steep learning curve and requires a longer setup time compared to other project management tools.

6. Chanty

• Integration: Integrates with G Suite and third-party apps like Zapier and Trello.
• User Experience: Offers a simple, clutter-free interface with features like threaded conversations and file sharing.
• Security and Privacy: Provides end-to-end encryption and compliance with GDPR.
• Customer Support: Offers support via email, chat, and phone, with a detailed knowledge base. 
• Pricing: Provides a free plan for up to 10 members and a paid plan with $3/user/month.
• The flipside: Lacks advanced features like screen sharing and video calling, and limited integrations compared to other team chat platforms.

7. Pumble

• Integration: Integrates with Google Drive, GitHub, Bitbucket, and Zapier.
• User Experience: Offers a simple, user-friendly interface with features like public and private channels and voice messaging.
• Security and Privacy: Provides end-to-end encryption and complies with GDPR.
• Customer Support: Offers 24/7 support through a dedicated team and a comprehensive knowledge base. 
• Pricing: Offers a free forever plan that works for the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Paid plans start at $1.99 per user per month with access to most Pumble features. 
• The flipside: Limited integrations and lacks video conferencing capabilities compared to other team chat platforms.

Read More: 5 Tips To Effectively Manage Remote Teams During Challenging Times

8. Brosix

• Integration: Integrates with other tools via Zapier and offers API for custom integration.
• User Experience: Offers a user-friendly interface with features like group and screen sharing and a customizable chat environment.
• Security and Privacy: Provides end-to-end encryption and complies with EU data privacy laws.
• Customer Support: Offers 24/7 customer support through phone, email, and live chat.
• Pricing:A forever free plan that works for small teams that are just getting started. Paid plans begin at $4 user per month.
• The flipside: Limited integrations compared to other team chat platforms and higher pricing compared to some competitors.7. Pumble:

• Integration: Integrates with Google Drive, GitHub, Bitbucket, and Zapier.
• User Experience: Offers a simple, user-friendly interface with features like public and private channels and voice messaging.
• Security and Privacy: Provides end-to-end encryption and complies with GDPR.
• Customer Support: Offers 24/7 support through a dedicated team and a comprehensive knowledge base. 
• Pricing: Offers a free forever plan that works for the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Paid plans start at $1.99 per user per month with access to most Pumble features. 
• The flipside: Limited integrations and lacks video conferencing capabilities compared to other team chat platforms.

9. Zoho

• Integration: Offers integration with many popular tools, including G Suite, Salesforce, and Slack.
• User Experience: Offers a user-friendly interface with features like task management and a customizable dashboard.
• Security and Privacy: Provides industry-standard security measures and promotes data privacy.
• Customer Support: Offers support through phone, email, and chat, with a comprehensive knowledge base and user forum. 
• The flipside: Advanced features require higher-tier subscriptions, and some users may find the interface and navigation slightly overwhelming.

10. Slack

• Integration: Offers integration with various tools, including Google Drive, Zoom, and Trello.
• User Experience: Offers a user-friendly interface with features like channels and direct messaging, file sharing, and app management.
• Security and privacy: Provides various data security and privacy measures, including enterprise-level encryption and two-factor authentication.
• Customer Support: Offers 24/7 customer support through phone, email, and chat, with a detailed knowledge base and user forum. 
• The flipside: Lack of threaded chats, and some users may find it challenging to locate specific conversations or messages

To Summarize

Remote work is gaining popularity with the various shifts in work culture. How companies strategize, evaluate and implement the right tools would define the path to their success. Where, some businesses might focus on improving work efficiency, others might depend on advanced tools and technologies to enhance work collaboration. However, a platform like InfinCE is built to help embrace the ever changing digital work environment and thrive with the rising technology advancements. 

Connect with us today to learn more about InfinCE!

Even as the pandemic unfolded, physical workspaces have started to become obsolete with remote work growing in popularity. A U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that the number of people primarily working remotely grew from 5.7 percent in 2019 (roughly 9 million people) to 17.9 percent in 2021. An Accenture’s 2021 Future of Work survey shows how a whopping 83 percent of employees indicated preferences for hybrid work, while 63 percent of high-growth companies are already implementing hybrid work models to enhance workplace productivity and nurture a culture of flexibility and openness.

With companies world over implementing remote work policies, how well are you covered? Being able to work remotely is a great way to go if you have the right tools. That said, is investing in a comprehensive remote work platform on your radar?

Let’s help you figure it all out in our detailed guide on remote work software and its uses. 

IN THIS GUIDE

• Defining a remote work platform
• Common myths of a remote work software debunked
• Why is a remote work platform essential for today’s digital workforce?
• What are the benefits of a remote work software?
• What are the challenges involved in implementing a remote work software?
• How does a remote work software drive employee experience?
• Why should InfinCE be your go-to other remote work platforms?
• Conclusion

First things first, let’s explore a few myths that are typically associated when the topic of remote work is discussed. Let’s explore a few.

Defining a Remote Work Platform

A remote work platform is a digital tool or platform that allows individuals or teams to work and collaborate on projects, tasks, and assignments remotely from various locations. They are typically equipped with communication tools, task management, file sharing, and video conferencing.

Common Myths of a Remote Work Software Debunked

1. Remote work brings down productivity of employees: Well, this is a big no. A remote work software is equipped to handle virtual communication and collaboration tasks effectively without compromising on efficiency, thus playing a significant role in driving employee productivity. With optimized workflows cutting down on time-intensive processes, remote work tools help build agile teams that are ready to take on the challenges of a future-ready workplace. As the complexities of the modern workforce increase, the time is now to think about a comprehensive remote work platform that handles the a to z of communication, connectivity, and collaboration and helps employees adapt to the evolving needs of a dynamic business workplace.

2. Remote work can leave room for communication gaps: This is yet another misconception that often gets tagged with remote workplaces. A remote work platform helps remote teammates collaborate effortlessly through sharing files on the go over the cloud, manage projects efficiently, and track progress reports frequently by offering an integrated view of several linked workflows. This ensures that cross-functional teams stay well connected and are not working in isolated silos besides fostering an integrated working environment where team members can track project statuses, leads, define tasks, and set deadlines.

3. Remote work demotivates employees: With workplace demographics continuing to shift, the use of remote collaboration tools is on the rise and for good reason. Particularly fuelled by the growing demands to increase employee productivity and cut costs, remote work platforms act as a source of motivation by reshaping the very outlook of work.

Now that we have debunked some myths, let’s define the elements that constitute a remote work platform and understand the benefits it brings to the corporate table. Precisely, a remote work software entails a robust, technological version (aka a digital workplace) of a physical workspace, that encompasses all the technologies that both employers and employees use to get work done in today’s workplace. Ranging from HR applications, e-mail communication tools, core business applications to  instant messaging and enterprise social media tools and virtual assistants, a comprehensive remote work platform consists of a suite of several applications that are meant to transform the employee experience. 

Why is a Remote Work Platform Essential for Today’s Digital Workforce?

In today’s digital workplace, remote work platforms are essential for organizations to ensure seamless communication, collaboration, and project management. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work platforms for many organizations. Remote work platforms provide a range of benefits to both employers and employees, including increased flexibility, reduced overhead costs, and improved work-life balance.

Remote work platforms enable employees to work collaboratively with their colleagues, thereby fostering teamwork and productivity. By using a remote work platform, employees can work on the same documents, share their ideas and collaborate on projects as if they were working in the same office.

What are the Benefits of a Remote Work Platform?

1. Greater employee retention and talent acquisition: A remote friendly work culture is a perk that any employee appreciates. Given that working remotely gives autonomy and flexibility to employees, there is a good chance that employees would opt for a lower paying job if they could work away from the office. Not just from the employee standpoint, employers also stand to gain with remote work as they get to hire top talent and indirectly save on business costs. 

2. Enhanced communication channels: Today’s digital workforce prefers modern communication channels that allows them to communicate on the go without having to gather in meetings that are all too time-consuming. 

3. Reduced costs: For employers in the digital age, investing in IT infrastructure and physical office workspaces may run into overhead costs in the long run. With fewer people in a physical office setup, organizations can cut down on their real estate footprint, reduce costs to run onsite business operations, including office space, equipment and travel reimbursement.

What are the Typical Challenges Involved in Implementing a Remote Work Software?

1. Steep learning curve: While a remote work software is composed of a bunch of applications serving distinct functions, it’s important for your remote work software to work as a unified platform that helps employees have a delightful employee experience. However, this comes with a certain trade-off. To make the most of remote work, it’s important for employees to be tech-savvy and invest time and energy on getting a grasp of multiple tools, no matter how simple they seem. 

2. Integration issues: It’s important to ensure that your technology teams work in cohesion with your infrastructure management teams to get through the traps of siloed implementations and disparate ownership. 

3. Data security and porting: While employees work with scores of data that gets exchanged across all remote work collaboration tools, it’s imperative to keep a tab on secure data sharing and porting. Switching and porting data between multiple apps leads to significant time losses. For instance, a typical day of a remote worker would involve attending a meeting over a video conference on a separate application while also writing an email via an email tool. So the need to maintain a unified view of data is important. 

How does a Remote Work Software Drive Employee Experience?

In addition to boosting productivity, remote work platforms also drive employee experience. These platforms help employees feel more connected to their colleagues and their organization, even when working remotely. Communication tools such as chat, video conferencing, and messaging platforms facilitate a sense of community and enable workers to build relationships with co-workers and managers.

Remote work software also contributes to work-life balance for employees. They allow workers to work from anywhere, anytime, thereby reducing the stress and time involved in commuting. Additionally, these platforms provide employees with greater autonomy, resulting in improved job satisfaction.

Remote work software is essential for organizations that want to stay competitive and provide the best experience for their employees. By using remote work software, businesses can empower their remote workforce to work collaboratively and productively, regardless of where they are in the world. Moreover, remote work platforms drive employee experience, enable work-life balance, and foster a sense of community among remote workers.

Must-Have Features of a Comprehensive Remote Work Software

We list some must-have features that should comprise an ideal remote work software. While investing in one, be sure to check on them.

1. Collaboration apps: Since collaboration is the lifeblood of remote work, your remote work platform needs to be fully equipped to facilitate video meetings, live chat, and bring up a comprehensive employee directory for quick lookup.

2. Productivity tools: Contextual tools that raise productivity such as spreadsheets, presentations, calendars, and calendars are an absolute must. 

3. Flexible integrations and mobile compatibility: Your remote work platform should be capable of unifying all your existing and future digital systems. This gives you an inherent edge because you are not only able to centralize the technology architecture but also indirectly increase enterprise-level flexibility. This helps businesses to scale up, or down, according to dynamic business needs.

4. Secure cloud file sharing: To support a workforce that’s spread across the globe, your remote work tool should be hosted on the cloud, facilitating employees to to work from any location and from any device, with just a basic connection to the internet. Besides being cloud-based, the tool should also have cloud storage to store all important business files and documents in order to make it easier for employees to access the latest versions of files, whether they are in the office or working from home.

Why should InfinCE be your go-to over other remote work platforms?

The following features make InfinCE truly beneficial for customers and offers them a competitive advantage over other remote work software. 

1. Comprehensive and customizable: InfinCE offers a comprehensive suite of tools and features to facilitate remote work across multiple departments in an organization. The platform can be customized to cater to specific business needs, ensuring a personalized and productive workflow.

2. Affordable and scalable: The pricing of InfinCE is transparent and budget-friendly, with no hidden costs or fees. The platform is scalable and can be adapted according to the size of the organization, making it accessible to small start-ups as well as large enterprises.

3. Secure and reliable: InfinCE is built with enterprise-grade security protocols to ensure data confidentiality and protection. The platform also ensures reliable access to data and applications with 99.9% uptime.

4. User-friendliness: InfinCE is designed to be user-friendly, with a user interface that is easy to navigate and understand. The platform is also compatible across multiple devices, making it convenient for users to work remotely from anywhere in the world.

5. Collaborative and efficient: InfinCE fosters collaboration among team members, making it easier to work together and achieve goals. The platform enables efficient project management, workflow automation, and streamlined communication among team members, resulting in improved productivity and efficiency.

Conclusion

As the modern workplace continues to evolve, and employee expectations shift, organizations that do not embrace the digital workplace risk falling behind. With InfinCE, you can experience seamless, integrated and intuitive collaboration with the perfect remote work software at play! Get in touch with us for a free demo, and we would be glad to chip in!

Despite the soaring popularity of virtual meetings since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers point toward the concern that virtual meetings aren’t as effective as the traditional, in-person meetings. 

“Part of the problem might be that we’re worse at taking turns in virtual conversations than in physical ones.” (Stanford University, 2022)

“The number of meetings grew by 7.4% between June 2020 and December 2021, but the meetings were typically of low quality.” (University of Cambridge Judge Business School, 2022)

Many employees are annoyed with the amount of time lost due to technical issues, delayed meetings, irrelevant agenda, off-topic discussions, unpreparedness, and loud background noises. These challenges, however, cannot deny the fact that virtual meetings are here to stay. Gartner data shows that by 2025, 50% of all enterprise virtual events will be held on the video meeting platforms commonly used by organizations today, proving that video meetings are not likely to disappear from our workplace anytime soon.  

What does it take to run an effective virtual meeting that facilitates collaboration, engagement, and communication between in-office and remote teams? 

Common Challenges in Hosting Virtual Meetings

The use of virtual meetings in workplace can raise several concerns, some of the most commonly cited issues are discussed below:

• It can be difficult to pick up on non-verbal cues such as body language and gestures in virtual meetings. For instance, the meeting host or speaker may not be able to gauge whether other members of the meeting are puzzled, distracted or have lost interest.
• Video meetings can lead to Zoom fatigue, a unique kind of exhaustion that occurs when people participate in video meetings for an extended time period. The constant need to focus on screens, lack of breaks, and the difficulty in understanding non-verbal or social cues lead to fatigue and reduced productivity.
• Technical glitches that you have no control over, such as server or internet connection outages, microphone failure, audio problems, crashing of shared applications, or the trouble of logging into a virtual meeting. 
• Many people prefer face-to-face, in-person interaction instead of virtual team meetings. Remote team members may not get enough time to bond with each other and build formal relationships. The result can be a lack of mutual trust which, in turn, can impact your team’s productivity.
• Scheduling virtual meetings could be a challenge when you want remote teams working from multiple locations and different time zones to join the meeting at a reasonable hour.

Best Practices & Tips to Make Your Video Meetings More Effective

1. Turn your camera on during virtual calls

In a prolonged remote work environment, your employees get only little in-person face time with their colleagues, supervisors, or managers. Keeping the camera on during virtual meetings will make your video conferences more accessible, exciting, and intuitive for participants. 

By observing the facial expressions and body language of the participants during a video call, you can pick up contextual cues that are often lost over audio calls or text-based modes of communication such as chat or email. Encouraging your team members to turn on their cameras during video meetings can make them feel more connected, engaged, and productive.   

2. Use interactive tools to increase engagement

Utilizing interactive tools like polls, surveys, quizzes, and breakout rooms during virtual meetings will allow participants to get involved as if they are all in the same space.

Breakout rooms are one of the most popular features in InfinCE video meeting platform that helps create a dynamic virtual meeting experience. Meeting organizers or hosts can use the breakout rooms to divide participants into smaller groups for focused discussions and effective collaboration. 

InfinCE video meeting software allows you to create and launch polls/ quizzes during a virtual meeting and gather the responses from your participants. You can frame customized questions for your polls and see the results in real-time to make informed decisions or next steps. 

Using the Raise a Hand feature in the InfinCE video meeting platform, a participant can notify the meeting host that they want to discuss a point without disrupting the flow of the meeting. All these tools promote better participation and collaboration and provide valuable feedback to the meeting organizers.

3. Allow short breaks between each meeting

Back-to-back virtual meetings can be stressful and decrease your ability to focus and engage. Participants should be encouraged to step away from their screens and take a short break in between successive meeting schedules. It prevents stress from building up. 

Here are a few tips to make your moments of respite successful:

• View breaks away from your computer will help shift your mind and re-energize before joining the next meeting.
• A short meditation break or a simple physical activity such as a stroll will help you feel refreshed and recharged when you start your next meeting.
• Before scheduling a video call, do check if you really require a meeting to discuss the issue or if it can be solved through email, live chat, or document collaboration. 
• Make your meetings more intentional. Create and share an agenda ahead of time, think about who attends the meeting, start and stop on time, and transition to a five-minute recap at the end of the call. 
• Raise your hand, polls and quizzes, breakout rooms, and other interactive tools are great ways to keep your participants involved and elicit creative and strategic conversations.  

4. Find the right balance between virtual and in-person meetings

Despite returning to normal after the pandemic, virtual calls continue to be a staple of the daily business routines. Though virtual meetings cannot completely replace face-to-face meetings for good, they are likely to remain as a part of our working lives as most businesses adjust to a hybrid way of working. 

Here are a few tips to balance both in-person and virtual meetings:

• Choose the meeting type based on the topic or context. If you’re reaching out to a client for a quick check-in, a virtual meeting would suffice. If you want to discuss a major portfolio change or strategy adjustments, it’s better to meet in-person, if possible.
• Schedule virtual meetings and invite participants ahead of time to best manage your time and theirs, especially when you’re collaborating with remote teams located in different time zones.  
• Gauge the complexity level of the issue you’re going to discuss. If you’re tackling a thorny problem that’s difficult to comprehend or is emotionally complex, it’s better to go for an in-person meeting. 
• Finally, choose the meeting type that would be more inclusive. Consider your participants’ availability (proximity) for an in-person meeting. Check if they have a tight schedule that makes it difficult to find a common time for an in-person meeting. In this case, scheduling a virtual meeting can ensure maximum participation and inclusion.  

The Final Word

In the post-pandemic era, the workplace could mean different things for different people. With the erratic work arrangements across companies, individual teams, and industry segments, workers need video meetings more than ever.

The real challenge for employers now is to foster true collaboration in a hybrid workplace setting by balancing remote and in-office employee experiences – and a video meeting platform is the key to achieving that. 

With InfinCE, your organization can experience all the benefits and features of a modern digital workplace. Enable your team to work together from anywhere, using any device with our comprehensive virtual meeting software. Get started today.

Connect with our experts today or Request a Free Demo!

Definition and Evolution of Digital Workplace Platforms

Digital workplace platforms have evolved tremendously over the past few years, with the modern workplace requiring much more than just a basic communication tool. In a dynamic business environment where change is the only constant, employees require a cohesive digital experience to collaborate, access important information, communicate with colleagues seamlessly, and manage their workload effectively.

As a result, modern digital workplace platforms now provide a range of features that enable businesses to meet these needs. A suite of applications that enable businesses to function remotely, collaborate online, and have access to cloud-based tools to run day-to-day operations, digital workplace platforms include communication tools such as email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and project management tools. Analogously, these platforms act as virtual offices where employees can share files, communicate with colleagues, and complete work tasks. A digital workplace platform is like a toolbox that provides everything you need to get the job done from anywhere on any device, examples of which include HR databases, knowledge management systems, and customer relationship management software.

Read more: What is a Digital Workplace: A Complete Guide! 

Employee Experience: The Key Driver 

Several studies have confirmed that a positive employee experience leads to higher engagement, productivity, retention, and even profitability. For example, according to a 2023 Gartner Survey, 83% of HR leaders believe employee experience is crucial to their organization’s success. On the other hand, companies with poor employee experience see high turnover rates, low productivity, a bad work culture, and even customer dissatisfaction.

For a digital workspace to translate to building a positive employee experience, personalization, mobile accessibility, and ease of use are some critical ingredients.

1. Personalization involves tailoring the digital workspace experience to each employee’s unique needs and preferences – this can be achieved through customized dashboards, relevant information feeds, or custom notifications. 

2. Mobile accessibility means enabling employees to work from anywhere, anytime, on any device. An easy-to-use interface and accessibility from anywhere ensure employees can navigate the digital workplace platform without friction, frustration, or confusion. This also contributes to shorter learning curves and lesser training mandates.

Robust Integration with Third-Party Applications: A Must-have

According to a study conducted by the Aberdeen Group, companies that integrate their enterprise applications experience a 20% increase in productivity. This includes everything from marketing, sales, and supply chain management to HR and finance. Key integration capabilities that need to be present in a digital workplace include compatibility, security, and scalability. Compatibility means having the ability to integrate with a variety of applications, ensuring that you have access to your entire suite of tools. Security is important to ensure sensitive data remains safe and protected. Finally, scalability refers to the ability to add or remove apps as needed without disrupting the current workflow.

The Three Cs – Cloud, Collaboration, and Communication

Microsoft reported a 27% increase in revenue from investing in intelligent cloud, with an overall revenue uptick of 39% attached to the cloud. If you want to take a leaf from their book, you know where to put your money. Cloud-hosting is your best bet for a digital workplace platform especially because it safeguards important information, reduces the risk of data loss, increases security, and of course, allows your employees to share and access files from a central location, lending to a simple and seamless experience. Following suit, communication, and collaboration are key elements that have to fall in place if a digital workplace platform is considered successful.

Read more: Role of a Digital Workplace Platform in Hybrid Workplace

Adherence to Regulatory Compliance and Security: The Much-needed Protocol

Adherence to security and compliance policies is critical to the success of digital workplace platforms. Companies that comply with regulations and protect user data enjoy higher levels of trust and customer loyalty, leading to increased revenue and growth. It is essential to prioritize security and compliance to safeguard against the cost and reputational damage of a security breach. The implementation of security features like single sign-on, two-factor authentication, and data encryption has become crucial for digital workplace platforms to protect sensitive information. According to a report by Verizon, over 80% of data breaches are caused by weak or stolen credentials, which can be prevented by using these security measures. Companies like Slack and Microsoft Teams have successfully implemented these features, resulting in improved security and increased adoption rates. In fact, Microsoft Teams reported a record 2.7 billion meeting minutes in a single day in March 2020, attributed to the platform’s security measures.

Embracing Web3 Technologies

Gartner predicts that by 2024, AI will have automated as much as 75% of the manual work involved in project management-related administrative tasks. Better yet, a study by Accenture found that AI adoption could increase workplace productivity by as much as 40%.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning learning (ML) are becoming increasingly important in the digital workplace, and new platforms are designed to leverage these technologies to enhance productivity and automate routine tasks. One example of how these technologies help personalize user experiences is through intelligent recommendations. By analyzing employee behavior, such as the types of tasks they complete, the documents they access, and the apps they use, ML algorithms can suggest relevant content, information, and tools that are unique to each user. This personalized approach helps employees work more efficiently and effectively by streamlining workflows and reducing the time spent searching for information.

Connect with our experts know more about InfinCE

Introduction

Employee engagement is a crucial factor in the success of any business, and InfinCE is a leading employee engagement platform designed to provide a centralized hub for communication, collaboration, and performance management, making it easier for organizations to improve employee engagement and achieve their goals.

IN THIS GUIDE

InfinCE is an employee engagement platform curated to keep you connected to your work and team from anywhere, at any time. With its mobile app, InfinCE makes it easy for you to stay connected and collaborate with your team, even if you’re working remotely or on the go. In this guide, you’ll understand the nitty-gritty of employee engagement software to the benefits of using InfinCE’s tools and resources, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how InfinCE can help your organization achieve its goals.

But, first things first!

What is an employee engagement platform?

An employee engagement platform is a tailor-made digital solution that enables organizations to improve the level of engagement and satisfaction among their employees. This platform comes equipped with a suite of features and tools designed to enhance the overall employee experience that includes communication resources, recognition, and reward systems, surveys, and pulse poll.

The goal of an employee engagement platform:

• Aimed at improving employee retention rates, boosting productivity, and reducing absenteeism.
• Foster better relationships between employees and their managers, 
• Provide employees a voice in the decision-making process.
• Help increase employee morale, reduce turnover, and improve overall business performance
• Businesses can establish a culture of openness and transparency, leading to higher levels of employee morale and job satisfaction.

Read more: Turning Employee Resignations to Employee Retention in Modern Workplace!

Unlock the benefits of Employee Engagement

Nearly one-third (32%) of US organizations have seen an increase in employee engagement as a result of their engagement initiatives. Employee engagement initiatives have been found to lead to a 2.5x increase in post-engagement performance, a 3.5x improvement in job satisfaction, and an impressive 25% reduction in absenteeism.

Additionally, 91% of employees who are engaged in the workplace report feeling a strong connection to their employer. With an employee engagement platform, organizations can empower their employee base and help them to develop the skills and competencies that will enable them to reach their full potential. Such platforms like InfinCE provide the necessary tools for fostering collaboration, engaging in team building, and improving communication and productivity in the workplace. 

By unlocking the benefits of employee engagement, US companies can expect to see improved morale, better job satisfaction, and improved productivity — all of which will contribute to an overall boost in performance.

Types of Employee Engagement Platforms

There are a wide variety of employee engagement platforms available, each designed to meet the specific needs of various organizations. Some of the most popular types of employee engagement platforms include

• Virtual Workspaces: Virtual workspaces allow employees to access their work from any location, helping to foster collaboration, reduce turnover, and increase productivity.

• Social Media Platforms: Social media platforms are used to build relationships, encourage engagement, and provide employees with a platform to share ideas and collaborate on projects.

• Knowledge Management Platforms: Knowledge management platforms are used to store, organize, and share information among teams. This helps to improve communication, reduce redundancies, and create a better overall work environment.

By providing employees with the tools they need to succeed and fostering a positive work environment, an employee engagement platform like InfinCE can help to increase productivity, reduce turnover, and create an environment in which employees are highly motivated and engaged.

Top Benefits of Employee Engagement Platforms for Business Success

Employee engagement platforms are critical for businesses to remain successful in the modern workplace. By utilizing an effective platform, businesses can create a stronger sense of connection between employers and employees, facilitate collaboration, and promote a positive work environment. Furthermore, there are several tangible benefits of using employee engagement platforms, including improved morale, increased productivity, and better customer experience.

Here are the irresistible benefits you need to consider:

1. Communication Tools: Custom dashboards such as chat boards, video conferencing, and file sharing are essential features of any employee engagement platform. These tools allow for efficient communication between the employer and employees, enabling employees to quickly and easily ask questions, get feedback, and share resources.

2. Employee Feedback Mechanisms: Employee feedback mechanisms, such as surveys, polls, and employee reviews, are an important part of any employee engagement platform. These mechanisms provide employers with valuable insights into employee satisfaction, morale, and productivity, allowing them to make necessary adjustments to their business practices.

3. Performance Management: Performance management tools allow employers to track and evaluate employee performance. These tools enable employers to set objectives and goals, measure progress, and provide feedback to employees. According to a study by Gallup, companies with effective performance management systems have 24% higher profit margins than those without.

4. Recognition and Rewards Systems: Recognition and rewards systems are another essential feature of employee engagement platforms. These systems allow employers to recognize and reward employees for their efforts and accomplishments. According to the same study by Gallup, companies with effective recognition and rewards systems have 22% higher productivity than those without.

5. Gamification and Engagement Activities: Gamification and engagement activities can be used to foster team collaboration and encourage employees to participate in activities that benefit the company. Examples of gamification and engagement activities include team building activities, competitions, and virtual events.

6. Personalized Dashboards: Personalized dashboards are a great way to make the employee engagement platform more user-friendly by providing employees with a personalized view of their tasks and progress. Dashboards can be tailored to each individual employee, providing them with a better understanding of their own performance and that of their colleagues.

Read more: How Does The Intranet Contribute To Digital Employee Experience

Experience Seamless Collaboration with InfinCE: The Ultimate Remote Work Platform

In a remote work environment, it is especially important that employees feel engaged and motivated through a robust remote work platform. With the right strategies, an organization can create a culture where remote work is not only accepted but embraced.

According to US data from 2022, employee engagement is essential for organizational success. This is especially true in a remote work environment, where managers must take additional steps to ensure employee engagement. Companies have found that positive engagement strategies such as encouraging wellness, hosting virtual meetings, and fostering personal connections have helped to keep remote employees motivated and engaged. The best way to gauge employee engagement levels is to ask them directly about their work and passion levels.

Importance of Employee Engagement in Remote Work

The level of employee engagement has a direct relationship to an organisation’s performance. Engaged employees are more productive, which leads to greater earnings and higher customer satisfaction. Additionally, engaged employees are less likely to leave the organisation, leading to improved job security and less need for costly recruitment processes. Finally, engaged employees are more likely to be creative and come up with innovative solutions to business problems.

Benefits of a Remote Work Platform for Employee Engagement

A remote work platform can be a great tool for enhancing employee engagement. A platform can facilitate tasks such as setting up video calls, providing access to documents, and allowing collaboration over long distances. Additionally, a platform can also enable coworkers to stay in touch with one another, creating a sense of unity and connectedness.

Strategies for Enhancing Employee Engagement in Remote Work

Organisations should strive to create a culture of engagement, even in remote work environments. Here are a few strategies to help enhance engagement:

• Provide frequent feedback: Remote workers often feel disconnected from their teams. Providing regular feedback can help bridge this gap.

• Set clear expectations: It’s important to set expectations for tasks and deadlines. This will help employees stay focused and motivated.

• Encourage collaboration: Collaboration can help generate ideas and foster a team atmosphere, even when working remotely.

• Offer incentives: Incentives can help motivate employees and encourage them to do their best work.

By taking the right steps, organisations can create an engaging remote work environment that helps employees feel motivated, connected, and productive.

Bottom Line

Organizations today are more competitive than ever, so they need to rethink their strategies. In order to progress, organizations need to prioritize their employees’ wellbeing, and create an environment of engagement. If organizations fall short of creating engagement, employees are likely to switch jobs until they find a suitable workplace. To ensure that employees remain engaged, organizations must take proper measures.

Here is a quote by Annette Franz on employee engagement:

“Employee engagement cannot be a strategy because engagement comes from within the employee. It’s the emotional connection or commitment that an employee has to the organization that then causes the employee to want to put forth the additional effort to ensure the organization and the brand succeed.”

This quote is an important reminder that employee engagement is more than just a strategy; it’s something that comes from within the employee and is characterized by an emotional connection to the organization. This connection can then lead to greater levels of effort and dedication, resulting in a more successful organization and brand.

Recognition is a very important aspect of employee engagement. However, manual recognition can be time-consuming and lack transparency. To that end, organizations can take advantage with InfinCE, a rock-solid employee engagement platform that collects and records data in real-time to avoid disputes and inaccuracies.

InfinCE also recognizes employees immediately after they accomplish something to ensure that recognition efforts are effective. With its range of essential features and support for remote work, InfinCE makes it easier for organizations to improve employee engagement and achieve their goals.

Business continuity planning has been a crucial aspect of business success considering how unprecedented disruptions can have a significant impact on any organization’s operations, reputation, and bottom line. 

Let’s pin down some reasons that make business continuity planning a must for your organization in today’s digital age.

1. Dependence on technology

Today, businesses rely heavily on technology for their day-to-day operations. Any disruption, whether caused by a cyber-attack, natural disaster, or system failure, can result in significant downtime, loss of data, and revenue. Business continuity planning ensures the organization can quickly recover from such incidents and function without severe consequences.

2. Reputation risk

With social media and instant communication, news travels fast. Any prolonged outage, breach, or data loss can create negative publicity and damage the organization’s reputation. A robust continuity plan helps mitigate these risks and ensures the organization can maintain its operations and reputation during crises.

3. Compliance requirements

In many industries, regulatory compliance requires businesses to have a robust business continuity plan. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in financial penalties or legal action.

4. Consumer expectations

Consumers expect businesses to be available 24/7 and provide uninterrupted services. A lack of preparedness can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction and, ultimately, a loss of customers. Business continuity planning ensures the organization can meet its consumers’ expectations, even during a crisis.

As business continuity planning becomes the cornerstone of business success, implementing cost-effective solutions is imperative to help your organization navigate the inherently risky digital landscape and continue to operate smoothly. Read on further to learn how InfinCE is a reliable, cost-effective backup solution for business continuity.

Read more: The Best Ways to Improve Your Digital Workplace Management.

InfinCE- The much-touted backup solution for businesses of all sizes

InfinCE is committed to ensuring the highest levels of data privacy and security. With a robust private IT infrastructure, InfinCE supports multi-factor authentication and a comprehensive, continuous monitoring model to keep data secure and protected from threats. As an independent server, unlike Microsoft Teams or Google Workplace, InfinCE is less prone to public attacks or breaches, acting as a perfect backup solution for your current digital workplace. 

Here is a glimpse of InfinCE’s features focusing on data privacy and security, enabling reliable backup for business continuity.

1. Private IT Infrastucture: When your business runs on private cloud infrastructure, you need not worry about servers being down or your data being stolen. No matter what happens around you, you can easily set up and run your business from anywhere, maintaining service continuity and customer satisfaction every time. InfinCE private cloud solution is purpose-built to enable seamless IT operations, business continuity, and future-proof your business.

2. Secure Access Management: Identity and access management tools that provide secure access to data and applications. InfinCE supports multi-factor authentication, permission-based access controls and authorization, and password policies, among others, to ensure secure access to data. 

3. Data Encryption: InfinCE’s data encryption ensures that all the data is encrypted in transit and storage, offering an extra layer of protection. 

4. Secure Collaboration: InfinCE provides secure collaboration tools that enable teams to collaborate while maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of data.

5. Threat Detection: InfinCE’s security features offer real-time threat detection to identify and prevent attacks before they occur.

6. Access Control: InfinCE provides fine-grained access control that allows companies to set the level of data access their employees have based on their roles and responsibilities.

7. Client Confidentiality: InfinCE prioritizes client confidentiality by implementing privacy laws, security protocols, and dedicated confidentiality clauses in contracts.

8. Centralized IT Management: The biggest challenge organizations face today is to keep up with the rising work culture shifts. InfinCE’s centralized IT management feature makes it convenient to proactively manage IT assets from anywhere, making operations streamlined in remote, hybrid, and work from the office environments. 

When business continuity is your priority, InfinCE is a #NO.1 choice! Although there might still be hesitations implementing such a platform as normally similar software either cost you high or have a complex setup process. But with InfinCE, none is the case. It is easy to set up, simple to use, and cost-effective.  

Let’s learn how easy and fast it is to set up your digital workplace backup solution with InfinCE!

Step-by-step guide on implementing InfinCE as your digital workplace backup solution

1. Conduct a thorough business needs analysis: Before implementing any digital workplace platform, it is important to identify your organization’s needs and pick a platform that suits your business case. 
2. Analyze competitors and choose the right platform: Research and compare different digital workplace platforms available in the market and choose the one that best suits your organizational needs. Consider factors such as ease of use, must-have features, pricing, and scalability.
3. Zero in on the right platform: If you have zeroed in on InfinCE owing to its unique and competitive pricing, sign up for an InfinCE account.
4. Customize the platform: Now that you can choose the features you need with InfinCE, customize it to suit your organization’s specific needs. This includes configuring settings such as branding, user roles, and permissions.
5. Migrate your existing data: Migrate your data from your current system to InfinCE. This includes documents, files, contacts, and other crucial business information.
6. Train your team: InfinCE’s ease of use comes in handy, and given that it is built with great intuitiveness, you can set it up and have your users learn it on the go.

Ensure your team is engaged with the platform by encouraging them to use the key features and providing ongoing support.

InfinCE’s solution is well-positioned to tackle the challenges of today’s dynamic digital business landscape. 

But if you are still reluctant to try InfinCe and are concerned about its pricing, then worry not. InfinCE is more affordable than your Netflix subscription!

Read more: The Benefits of InfinCE’s Unique Pricing Model for Digital Workplace Platforms.

InfinCE’s pricing structure is its USP

A cloud-based digital workplace that offers small and medium-sized businesses a comprehensive solution to improve their employee productivity and streamline their business processes, comes with a suite of enterprise-grade tools such as project management, document management, team collaboration, and automation tools that can be accessed from anywhere, anytime, and from any device. 

What sets InfinCE apart is its unique pricing model. Unlike other cloud-based industry solutions that require users to pay a flat monthly subscription, InfinCE’s competitive market pricing offers lower subscription rates and license costs that require users to pay only for the features they intend to use. This precludes users from the need to pay for a bulk of unnecessary features that serve no purpose in the wake of changing business needs. Customization options to choose what to pay for makes InfinCE a reliable and scalable partner for your digital workplace journey. Not just that, it also doubles up as an affordable backup option, particularly for businesses that may not have the budget to pay for expensive software licenses.

InfinCE’s unique pricing model and data and privacy features are sure-shot reasons why you consider it an appropriate backup option for your business. InfinCE’s solution cuts because of many benefits from a competitive pricing slab. Test drive InfinCE today, or connect with our experts for more details.