Is your employee intranet actually working for your team — or is it just taking up space?
Today’s workforce is mobile, distributed, and digitally savvy. They manage their finances, shopping, and social lives through beautifully designed apps — and they expect workplace tools to keep pace.
When an intranet doesn’t, employees steer clear. That’s why clunky, desktop-first platforms are quietly being replaced by modern intranets and employee apps designed for how people actually work in 2026 — not how they used to.
Simply put: Most intranets don’t fail because they’re missing features. They fail because no one actually wants to use them.
A modern intranet needs to be more than a static homepage or a document dumping ground. It’s a living, breathing hub that helps employees do their best work.
It connects people, information, and tools — all in one place. And crucially? It’s designed around how employees actually work now, not how they used to.
So what separates a truly modern intranet from versions that have come before? Meet the eight features you’ll find on any cutting-edge intranet platform.
8 must-have modern intranet features
Whether you’re planning to update an outdated intranet or find a completely new solution, here are the must-have intranet features you need — and why they matter.
1. A mobile-first experience
Let’s start with a non-negotiable. A modern intranet should be mobile-first.
It should be designed for mobile devices as a priority, not retrofitted later as part of a clumsy glow-up. Because shrinking a desktop intranet down to fit a teensy smartphone screen just doesn’t cut it for user experience.
A modern intranet app features:
- Full functionality — not a slimmed-down version of your desktop platform
- Intuitive navigation via a user-friendly dashboard
- Easy access, even for employees without a corporate email address
- A consistent experience across both mobile and desktop
What makes this a modern intranet must-have?
Work doesn’t just happen at a desk. Employees are on shop floors, hospital wards, construction sites, and warehouses. Even desk-based employees are increasingly hybrid, remote, or on the move.
If your company intranet only works well on desktop, you’re excluding a huge chunk of your workforce.
A mobile-first intranet app closes communication gaps, puts resources within easy reach, and creates an equitable digital employee experience for everyone. So it’s easy to check policy updates, swap shifts, and even submit a safety report — all via smartphone and all in the flow of work.
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2. A central hub for information
One of the central promises of any intranet is simple: a single source of truth. That means:
- Policies, handbooks, and standard operating procedures all living in one place
- A clear structure and ownership for every piece of content
- Content management tools — so it’s easy for admins to see what needs updating when
What makes this a modern intranet must-have?
Many organizations still have information scattered across Microsoft 365 SharePoint sites, email attachments, shared drives, and unofficial WhatsApp chats.
Employees aren’t sure where to look for resources or, when they do lay their hands on the right document, whether the information it contains is up to date.
A central hub makes information reliable and easy to find. Employees spend less time digging around for documents and resources, so productivity and collaboration improve.
3. Powerful search and discovery
Even the best content is useless if no one can find it. So modern intranets treat search functions as a core feature, not an afterthought.
They provide a fast, intuitive experience — with filters, tags, and clear navigation. They surface the right content, not just the most recent.
What makes this a modern intranet must-have?
Advanced search functionality saves time, reduces queries to managers, and helps employees find the answers they need in seconds. This is particularly useful for busy frontline teams who don’t have time to hunt for the information they need.
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4. Built-in communication tools
A modern intranet mobile app goes beyond storage. It acts as a communication hub, bringing together knowledge, company news, and collaboration tools.
We’re talking:
- A social-media-style news feed for company updates and culture building
- Chat tools for quick team messaging
- Live streams and video conferencing for real-time social collaboration
- Employee surveys and polls to give everyone a voice
Employees get two-way communication channels, easy access to workplace updates, and a cohesive intranet experience.
What makes this a modern intranet must-have?
With fewer tools and tabs, it’s easy for employees to get up to speed. People are also more likely to act on your comms — they can click on a link within a message and head straight to the intranet resources it relates to.
With built-in tools, employee communication becomes more streamlined, effective, and engaging. And your intranet becomes the go-to place for company comms.
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5. Easy access to other systems
Are there barriers between your intranet and the other digital workplace systems you use? Then you’re adding friction to the work day — and missing out on another essential modern intranet feature.
The best intranets act as a digital front door for your organization. From one simple dashboard and a single set of login details, employees can access all the tools they need to do their work well. No juggling passwords or hopping between tabs.
They can check a payslip in the HR system, complete an online training module, view inventory information — all in a couple of clicks, right from your intranet platform.
What makes this a modern intranet must-have?
When your intranet acts as a digital hub, providing single sign-on and deep integrations with your existing systems, work flows more smoothly. Employees spend less time navigating tools and more time actually using them.
The payoff is less frustration, fewer support requests, and higher adoption of the software you’ve already invested in.
6. Social and engagement features
Work isn’t just about tasks and to-do lists. It’s about people — and your intranet should reflect that. It needs social features that feel natural and intuitive.
A news feed where employees can react, comment, and start new conversations. Quick-fire polls. Communities of coworkers. Short-form video stories. Public recognition that makes great work visible.
This modern social experience mimics the apps employees love to use away from work. And — done well — it doesn’t add to the noise. With smart targeting and personalization, employees see relevant, engaging content every time they log in.
What makes this a modern intranet must-have?
Employees want to feel seen, heard, and connected. Social and engagement features give them a shared space to interact — a digital water cooler where people can gather, no matter their location, shift, or time zone.
This is great for building company culture and improving employee engagement. It’s particularly useful for dispersed teams who don’t always get to see their coworkers face to face.
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7. Simple administration and governance
Modern should never mean hard to manage. Behind every great intranet experience is a setup that’s easy to run — without constant IT involvement. That means:
- Simple publishing workflows
- Clear permissions and controls
- Easy audience targeting
- Straightforward governance for content creation
What makes this a modern intranet must-have?
When administration is too complex, content delivery slows down. Pages go stale. Updates get stuck in approval loops. Before long, people stop trusting the intranet. And once you’ve lost that trust, it’s very hard to get employees back onto the platform.
The best intranet sites give comms, HR, and operations teams the confidence to manage their piece of the intranet independently. That agility keeps information fresh, accurate, and timely.
8. Analytics that show what’s working
Last on our list of must-have modern intranet features it’s analytics. Because it’s no longer enough to publish content and hope for the best. Internal teams need data that helps them understand:
- Who’s logging in?
- What content is being read?
- Where engagement is high (or low)
- How adoption changes over time
The best employee intranets provide clear, actionable insights. They present data clearly and allow you to drill down into that data to reveal trends and causes.
What makes this a modern intranet must-have?
Employee expectations and needs are liable to change. So, to keep pace, you need to understand the intranet experience inside out.
With access to usage, reach, and engagement data, you can continuously improve your intranet. You can make it more relevant, more engaging, and more valuable over time. So employees consistently get value from the platform and actually enjoy logging in each day.
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Making work easy and enjoyable with a modern intranet app
When all the right pieces come together, your intranet becomes an employee magnet. It also makes work a whole lot easier.
Employees don’t waste time hunting for answers or switching between tools. People communicate and work together easily. Culture shows up in everyday moments — not just leadership announcements.
That’s the difference between an intranet people avoid and one they rely on. Between a platform you’re simply paying for and one that actually gets used.
If your intranet still feels like a filing cabinet — or if it’s missing any of the modern intranet features we’ve covered above — it’s time for an upgrade.
Modern intranet platform FAQs
#1. Are intranets still a thing?
Yes, intranets are still a thing. But not in their traditional form. Desktop-only intranets are a thing of the past. In their place, organizations are using modern intranets and intranet apps. These are mobile-first hubs that connect people, tools, and information — and better meet the needs of today’s workforce.
#2. What is a modern intranet platform?
A modern intranet platform is a digital hub. It combines internal communication, knowledge, access to tools, and engagement features in a mobile-first, user-friendly interface.
#3. What are mobile intranet apps?
Intranet apps are mobile versions of mobile intranet platforms. They allow employees — especially frontline and deskless workers — to access information, communication, and tools from their smartphones.
#4. What are the top features to look for in a modern intranet platform?
Key features of a modern intranet include mobile-first design, a central content hub, strong search, built-in communication tools, integrations, social media-style tools, easy administration, and useful analytics.
#5. How do you migrate from a traditional intranet to a modern employee intranet platform?
Start by auditing your existing intranet content and getting to know employee intranet needs. Then, choose a mobile-first platform, prioritize high-value content, and launch with clear communication and training.
A good intranet provider will offer support throughout the migration and launch process to ensure high adoption rates.
Blink. And get a modern intranet app fit for today’s workforce.
