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Your SharePoint Intranet Questions, Answered by our Experts

SharePoint intranets can be complex, and we have had a lot of FAQs about it. That’s why we’ve compiled a curated guide addressing the most frequent inquiries to help you know where to start if you are looking for an intranet solution.

1. How to enhance internal communication in a hybrid work environment?

In the evolving landscape of hybrid and remote work, your intranet should mirror the collaborative atmosphere of a traditional office. It’s a digital hub for productivity, collaboration, and access to vital resources. Integrating various communication channels like Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Yammer, or even QR codes can direct users to a central content repository. Read more on our blog.

2. How to know if our SharePoint Intranet is successful?

A successful intranet enables employees to excel, regardless of their location. It should facilitate seamless collaboration, provide personalised communication, and foster an environment of innovation and internal feedback. All employees should be able to communicate seamlessly and work on projects together, without being physically in the same room. Find out more by booking a demo with us!

3. How to plan and launch an intranet?

Launching an intranet should be a positive experience for everyone involved. We advocate for a multi-faceted approach, focusing on intranet objectives, change management, and content strategy. Our approach to implementing an intranet for you is very customer focused and we make sure that the needs of your organisation are met. Read more about our approach to plan and launch an intranet for a client here.

4. How to create a SharePoint intranet portal?

You can opt for an out-of-the-box solution or a custom-built SharePoint intranet. Each has its benefits and considerations, which we explore thoroughly with our clients to help them make the best choice for their organisation. From custom branding to features, everything is possible. The end goal is to facilitate collaboration and communication, easing the sharing of documents and improving employee engagement.

5. How to boost employee engagement on the intranet?

Driving traffic to your intranet involves engaging content, accessibility, and relevance. Ensure your intranet is user-friendly across devices, consistently updated, and aligned with your organisation’s needs. For more detailed tactics, read our blog on employee engagement here.

We are here to simplify your SharePoint intranet journey. We’re committed to providing clear answers that help you enhance communication, create engaging content, and analyse performance to make your intranet a lively and productive space.

Book a free demo today!

Tags Employee Engagement, Hybrid Work Communication, Internal Collaboration Tools, Intranet Content Strategy, Intranet Planning, Intranet Success Metrics, SharePoint Implementation, SharePoint Intranet, SharePoint Portal Development

Beyond Housing’s Marcom Gold-Winning Intranet Transformation

We take immense pride in our commitment to empowering organisations with cutting-edge intranet solutions. Recently, we had the privilege of collaborating with Beyond Housing, a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation, to revamp their outdated intranet and document management system. Today, we’re thrilled to share the incredible success story of how this transformation not only modernised Beyond Housing’s intranet but also earned them the prestigious Marcom Gold award for their newly delivered modern Mercury intranet.

Collaborating closely with Beyond Housing to bring this vision to life was an absolute honour for us. The objective was clear – to modernise their intranet and address their document management needs comprehensively. We recognised the significance of this project and worked hand in hand with Beyond Housing to make their dream of a modern intranet a reality.

“Working with Intelligent Decisioning on the launch of our new intranet has been seamless. Using Mercury Intranet, they transformed the way we collaborate as an organisation and how we share information with colleagues, while providing a much-needed improvement to our digital user experience. With the use of docCentrum, this has transformed the way we store and organise our documents, offering a single source of truth for company-wide documents. Working on this project with Nik and Andy has been a great experience and I would highly recommend Intelligent Decisioning to any potential customers.”
Donna Bill, Digital Marketing Lead at Beyond Housing

The Components of Success

The new solution brought together a powerful combination of elements to fulfil Beyond Housing’s objectives:

Mercury Intranet: This state-of-the-art intranet platform, built on SharePoint, not only provided a modern and visually appealing interface but also perfectly aligned with their branding. It gave colleagues easy access to news, information, integrated business systems, and collaboration tools.

docCentrum Document Management: In their pursuit of more efficient and secure document management, Beyond Housing upgraded their back-end document storage system to docCentrum. This transformation ensured that colleagues could access the correct and up-to-date versions of documents swiftly and securely.

Power Platform: To further streamline operations and foster productivity, web-based forms were replaced with PowerApps, introducing automation and approval processes across various core business functions. Power Automate was also utilised to streamline workflows efficiently.

The Impact Unveiled

The implementation of this new solution unveiled a host of significant benefits for Beyond Housing. Their employees now have access to a stylishly branded intranet that provides easy access to news, information, integrated business systems, and collaboration tools. The modern interface makes navigation a breeze, enhancing the overall user experience.

Additionally, with docCentrum in place, employees can access the correct and up-to-date versions of documents quickly and easily. This not only ensures efficiency but also guarantees security and compliance, a critical aspect in today’s data-driven world.

Lastly, the introduction of PowerApps Forms and Power Automate Workflow was a game-changer. These tools not only streamlined workflows but also introduced automation and approval processes across core business functions, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity.

A Commitment to Excellence

We are honoured to have Beyond Housing as one of our Mercury Intranet customers. We are proud of their success, and we remain dedicated to providing the best intranet experience possible. Our commitment includes ongoing efforts to enhance Mercury Intranet with new features and improvements to meet the evolving needs.

This triumph is a testament to the power of innovation, collaboration, and dedication. It is a celebration of Beyond Housing’s vision and their commitment to creating a modern and efficient intranet that reflects their mission and vision. Explore this case study to gain deeper insights into Beyond Housing’s remarkable intranet transformation.

Book a free demo today!

To experience the transformative power of Mercury Intranet, we invite you to book a free demo and embark on your own journey toward a modern and efficient intranet.

Transforming the Workplace: The Power of AI

In recent years, technology has entered a new and exciting phase. It has transitioned from merely completing tasks set by users to actively participating in decision-making and knowledge gathering. Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this transformation, and it’s changing the workplace in profound ways.

Microsoft 365 Copilot: Your AI Assistant

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered productivity tool that integrates large language models with Microsoft 365 apps and services. It’s designed to help you work faster and spark creativity by offering assistance in apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Importantly, Copilot is not an autopilot; it’s there to provide suggestions and support, working alongside you.

The Benefits of AI in the Workplace

Microsoft’s Copilot is a holistic example of AI technology directly entering the workplace. Think of it as a modern-day version of the Clippy office assistant from Windows 98. But it doesn’t stop there. AI, including Copilot, is being tailored to specific requirements across various aspects of Microsoft technology, from Microsoft 365 to Microsoft Dynamics, PowerApps, security, and more. This approach increases the value of introducing AI into our daily schedules and tasks.

Microsoft 365 Copilot: Shaping Modern Work

Microsoft 365 Copilot aims to turn your prompts into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet. It relieves you of mundane and repetitive tasks, freeing up time for creativity and enjoyment. Copilot responds to natural conversation, working alongside users to boost productivity and unleash innovation.

In Word, Copilot can create original copy and summarise existing content, even following specific tone requests, such as professional or casual. In Excel, it assists with data analysis, simplifying complex formulas, automating repetitive tasks, and improving accuracy and speed. In Teams, Copilot helps organise ideas and understand content during transcribed meetings.

The Benefits for Employee Experiences

Success in the workplace hinges on various factors, with employee engagement and satisfaction being crucial. Copilot enhances the employee workplace experience through its integration with Microsoft Viva. It suggests objectives and key results based on existing data, helps create engaging posts, and offers data-driven recommendations to increase employee engagement. Copilot in Viva Learning suggests specific subjects and knowledge summaries for individual roles and progress requirements.

Beyond Copilot: Exploring AI

While Copilot represents a groundbreaking advancement, the AI landscape is continuously evolving. Tools like ChatGPT offer human-like responses to natural language queries, and other AI solutions like Google’s Bard, Microsoft’s Bing Chat, and Jasper are competing to provide the next leap in human assistance.

The Future of AI in the Workplace

The future of AI in the workplace is filled with possibilities. We’re eager to discuss it with you and how AI and SharePoint can help your organisation. The workplace of tomorrow is being shaped by AI, and the journey is just beginning.

Book a free demo!

If you’re interested in learning more about our team empowerment initiatives or how they can benefit your business, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Book a FREE demo today or call 0845 643 9726.

Video Collaboration: Clipchamp Comes to SharePoint

In today’s digital age, the creation and editing of video content have become essential for effective business communication and collaboration. Microsoft, always at the forefront of productivity tools, introduced Clipchamp – seamlessly integrated with SharePoint and OneDrive for Microsoft 365 users. This is a game-changer, empowering users to edit and create videos without third-party tools, achieving maximum efficiency.

Clipchamp for Microsoft 365: An Overview

Clipchamp for work accounts offers powerful video editing and creation tools, designed to simplify the video content creation process. Available to users with specific Microsoft 365 SKUs, including Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium, Clipchamp is a web-based application that runs seamlessly on Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browsers.

Why Clipchamp on SharePoint Matters?

The integration of Clipchamp with SharePoint is a significant step forward in enhancing the capabilities of Microsoft 365, offering several compelling benefits:

Streamlined Workflow: With Clipchamp’s integration into SharePoint, users can seamlessly create and edit videos within their SharePoint environment, eliminating the need to switch between platforms or rely on third-party applications.
Enhanced Collaboration: SharePoint is already a powerful collaboration platform, and with Clipchamp, teams can easily work together on video content. Multiple users can access and edit videos stored on SharePoint, making collaborative projects, presentations, or training materials more accessible.
Meeting Recording and Beyond: Clipchamp on SharePoint simplifies the process of editing meeting recordings, allowing users to trim, add transitions, filters, text overlays, and more to make them engaging and professional, without the hassle of third-party software.
Security and Accessibility: Videos edited or created using Clipchamp on SharePoint are securely stored on OneDrive or SharePoint, aligning with Microsoft’s commitment to providing secure, compliant, and accessible tools.

While Clipchamp’s integration with SharePoint is a significant step forward, it’s worth mentioning that a Clipchamp application for Windows is currently in development. Currently available for personal Microsoft accounts, this application is expected to be extended to work accounts in the future, offering even more convenience to users.

The integration of Clipchamp with SharePoint for Microsoft 365 users marks a significant milestone in the world of video content creation and collaboration. It eliminates the need for third-party tools, streamlines workflows, enhances collaboration, and ensures secure storage. Get ready to explore the world of video with Clipchamp and Microsoft 365 – your complete suite of productivity tools. With Clipchamp, the future of video content creation is here.

Book a free demo today!

5 Ways HR Departments Can Leverage an Intranet Solution

In today’s fast-paced business world, Human Resources (HR) departments play a crucial role in managing an organisation’s most valuable asset – its people. To streamline HR processes, enhance communication, and improve employee engagement, many companies are turning to intranet software. Intranets provide a secure and centralised platform for sharing information, collaborating, and accessing essential HR tools.

Centralised Employee Information Management

Foremost among HR’s responsibilities is the maintenance and organisation of employee records, spanning personal particulars, work history, benefits, and performance evaluations. Intranet software empowers HR to establish a unified digital repository for all employee data. This not only obviates the necessity for physical paperwork but also ensures seamless data accessibility and real-time updates. By employing this system, HR can swiftly retrieve vital information, thus reducing administrative overhead and heightening data accuracy.

Streamlined Onboarding and Offboarding Processes

Efficient onboarding and offboarding procedures are pivotal to creating a smooth and cohesive employee journey. Intranet software acts as a facilitator in this regard by affording new hires access to crucial resources and information, encompassing company policies, training materials, and contact details. In a converse scenario, during offboarding, HR can seamlessly oversee exit interviews, asset retrieval, and system access revocation, thereby ensuring a seamless transition for departing employees.

Employee Empowerment through Self-Service

Empowering employees to take charge of their HR-related tasks is a fundamental benefit of intranet software. HR can establish self-service portals wherein employees can initiate requests for leave, update personal information, review pay statements, and access benefits details. This not only diminishes the administrative load on HR but also endows employees with more autonomy over their HR-related responsibilities, ultimately enhancing satisfaction and engagement levels.

Facilitated Communication and Enhanced Engagement

Effective communication is vital for HR departments to convey important information, such as policy updates, company news, and benefits changes. Intranet software offers HR the tools to create and manage internal communication channels, such as news feeds, forums, and discussion boards. Additionally, HR can use the intranet to conduct surveys and gather feedback from employees, promoting engagement and improving the overall work environment.

Training and Development Excellence

Employee training and development are essential for maintaining a competitive workforce. Intranet software can serve as a platform for delivering training modules, e-learning courses, and resources for skill development. HR can track employee progress, monitor training completion, and identify areas for improvement. This not only enhances employee skills but also aligns the workforce with the company’s strategic objectives.

In conclusion, intranet software has become a valuable tool for HR departments, enabling them to streamline processes, improve communication, and enhance employee engagement. By centralising employee information, simplifying onboarding and offboarding, promoting employee self-service, facilitating communication, and supporting training and development, HR can become more efficient and effective in managing the human capital of the organisation. As businesses continue to evolve, HR departments that harness the power of intranet software will be better equipped to meet the challenges of the future workplace.

Book a free demo today!

Employee Communications: A Vital Business Tool

In today’s corporate landscape, effective communication is crucial for organisation success. Recent research indicates that a staggering 86% of executives attribute workplace failures to inadequate communication and lack of collaboration. This blog will discuss why improving communication should top your priority list and offer insights on how to achieve this goal.

Employee communication is more than mere conversations; it’s the core of worker engagement, corporate culture, team productivity, and more.

Motivation: In the age of remote work, a streamlined communication platform is indispensable. It not only keeps employees informed about business happenings but also fosters connection among colleagues.
Engagement: Boosting employee engagement is paramount. Engaged employees tend to invest their best efforts, leading to increased productivity and ultimately, higher profitability.
Clarity: Maintaining alignment across teams is key to avoiding project delays and maintaining quality, safeguarding resources, and preserving your reputation.
Socialisation: Studies during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of workplace socialisation. Encouraging social interaction among employees unlocks their full potential.
Collaboration: Collaboration is the lifeblood of any business, whether it’s internal teamwork or engaging with customers. Effective communication is the bridge that facilitates this collaboration.

Initiating Better Employee Communications can be efficiently delivered through using Mercury Intranet. This solution enhances employee communication and yields numerous benefits, such as unifying remote teams by providing accessible enterprise data that empowers remote workers and levels the playing field. It also eliminates information silos, breaking down data barriers to promote informed decision-making and improved client interactions. Furthermore, it enhances company culture by utilising modern communication tools that make work smarter and more efficient, leading to a more rewarding work environment. Additionally, during mergers and acquisitions, effective communication through the intranet fosters understanding and confidence among employees, ultimately improving overall morale.

Book a free demo today!

Tags Collaboration, Employee Communication, Employee Engagement, Mercury intranet, Team Empowerment, Workplace Success

Our participation at the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Conference

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, digital transformation is not merely a choice; it is a necessity for staying competitive. We are dedicated to bringing innovative and tailored intranet solutions to organisations, helping them seamlessly digitalise their operations.

Digital transformation is a dynamic journey, marked by continuous innovation and adaptation. To better assist businesses in their digital transformation and efficiency drive, we are excited to announce our participation in the UK D365 and Power Platform User Group conference on November 7th, 2023. This event serves as our gateway to uncovering the latest trends, strategies, and technologies that can empower businesses in their digital transformation endeavours.

Efficiency is the key:

Efficiency is the cornerstone of every successful digital transformation. Our participation in this conference is geared towards discovering techniques that will help streamline your operations, automate repetitive tasks, and harness the power of data to make informed decisions. We are committed to arming your business with the means to work smarter, not harder.

Our Promise to You:

Our mission is clear: to facilitate your success. Attending events like the UK D365 and Power Platform User Group conference isn’t just about gathering knowledge; it’s about translating that knowledge into actionable strategies tailored to your specific needs. We pledge to assist your business in its digital transformation journey, making it a smooth and efficient experience.

Learn how we can help your organisation:

To learn more, contact us at 0845 643 9726 or book a FREE demo today:

Tags Conference, Digital transformation, Intelligent Decisioning, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, SharePoint

The Power of Integration: SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and Beyond

SharePoint: The Hub of Integration

SharePoint, the versatile and dynamic collaboration platform from Microsoft, holds within it the transformative potential to seamlessly integrate with a wide array of tools and platforms, expanding its capabilities far beyond its core offerings. It is within this realm of integration that SharePoint truly thrives, opening doors to a world of possibilities for organisations seeking to harness the full spectrum of collaborative and productive technologies.

The Synergy of SharePoint and Microsoft 365

When SharePoint and Microsoft 365 join forces, they create a formidable synergy that transcends the sum of their parts. This amalgamation culminates in a comprehensive solution that empowers teams to work together effortlessly, communicate seamlessly, and enhance productivity in ways previously unattainable. SharePoint becomes the epicentre of this digital collaboration ecosystem, facilitating the exchange of ideas, information, and innovation.

Powering Collaboration with the Power Platform

Yet, the story of SharePoint’s integration prowess doesn’t conclude there. It extends further into the realms of the Power Platform, encompassing essential components like Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI. These tools serve as the creative engine of this ecosystem, granting users the ability to craft tailor-made applications, orchestrate intricate automation workflows, and derive actionable insights from data-rich reports and dynamic dashboards—all while remaining firmly rooted within the SharePoint environment. This integration introduces a level of customisation and automation that can reshape how organisations operate and innovate.

Enhancing Collaboration with Yammer

The integration with Yammer adds yet another layer of dynamism to this collaborative tapestry. By seamlessly embedding Yammer conversations within any SharePoint site or page, organisations can seamlessly blend the interactive qualities of social media with the robust content management capabilities of a website. This fusion of social engagement and structured content curation propels user interaction and engagement to new heights, creating a dynamic and vibrant digital workplace environment.

The Future of Work: SharePoint and Microsoft 365

SharePoint Intranet and Microsoft 365 are not mere tools; they represent the foundational building blocks of the future of work. As these platforms continue to evolve, adapt, and integrate with an ever-expanding array of technologies, they are poised to assume an increasingly central and indispensable role in shaping the digital workplaces of tomorrow. This ongoing evolution is a testament to their enduring relevance and capacity to usher organisations into a new era of collaborative, efficient, and innovative workspaces.

Book a Free Demo

Contact us today to discover how our personalised approach to digital solutions can bring your ideas to vibrant life. Your collaboration revolution starts here. Schedule a free demonstration today. Contact us at 0845 643 9726 or visit to learn more about Mercury Intranet and docCentrum.

Team Empowerment: A Client-Centric Approach

In today’s fast-paced business world, companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to provide exceptional services to their clients. We understand the significance of having a motivated and empowered team to meet this goal.

Why Empower Our Team?

Empowering our team is not just a catchphrase; it’s a philosophy that drives everything we do. We believe that when our employees are given opportunities to grow and develop, they, in turn, can offer superior services to our clients. Here are some key aspects of our approach:

Continuous Learning Opportunities

We are committed to providing our team members with continuous learning opportunities. This includes access to courses, conferences, workshops, and training sessions. By investing in their professional development, we equip our team with the latest knowledge and skills needed to excel in their roles.

Flexibility and Support

We understand that work-life balance is essential for our team’s well-being and productivity. That’s why we offer flexibility in work schedules and provide support for those pursuing further education or certifications. This flexibility ensures that our team can perform at their best while juggling personal and professional commitments.

Encouraging Growth

Our company culture encourages personal and career growth. We actively support our team members in setting and achieving their career goals. Whether it’s pursuing higher education or obtaining industry certifications, we believe that their success is our success, ultimately benefiting our clients.

How Does This Benefit You?

You might wonder how investing in our team directly benefits you, our clients. Here’s the connection:

Enhanced Expertise

When our team is well-trained and up-to-date with industry trends, they can provide you with the most current and relevant solutions. This translates into better decision-making and more effective strategies for your business.

Improved Service Quality

Empowered and motivated employees are more engaged in their work. This leads to improved service quality, as our team is driven to deliver their best performance, ensuring your needs are met with excellence.

Tailored Solutions

As our team continues to grow and develop, they bring new perspectives and ideas to the table. This innovation allows us to tailor our services to your specific requirements, ensuring that we meet and exceed your expectations.

In conclusion, we believe that by empowering our team, we empower our clients. Our commitment to continuous learning, flexibility, and personal growth ensures that we can deliver the best possible services to you. We are dedicated to providing tailored solutions, top-notch expertise, and exceptional service quality. When you choose Intelligent Decisioning, you’re choosing a partner who is invested in your success.

Tags Client-Centric Approach, Continuous Learning, Employee Development, Innovation, Service Quality, Tailored Solutions, Team Empowerment, Work-Life Balance