Forrester recently released The Forrester Wave™: Intranet Platforms, Q2 2020, an independent evaluation that compares top intranet vendors and identifies their strengths and weaknesses. The information included in this report is valuable for anyone who’s in the process of evaluating intranet solutions for their organization.
The sudden shift to remote work has highlighted the importance of having an effective intranet. Employees and teams are communicating and collaborating from afar, which is impossible without dependable tools and technology. Plus, culture and engagement activities that would have previously happened in the office have now gone online.
This report is a critical tool for helping organizations navigate these new challenges. It’s timely, too, considering it’s been five years since analysts have released a comprehensive ranking report on this industry, which has experienced incredible evolution and innovation during that time.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what’s in the report and how you can use it to advance your digital transformation initiatives. In a future article, we’ll dive deeper into the data to help you pull out key insights that can assist you in choosing the best provider for your business needs.
What’s in the report?
Forrester identified the 12 “most significant” intranet platform providers and researched, analyzed, and evaluated each against these 26 key criteria:
Current offering
Repository and content services
Metadata support
Search and indexing
Dashboards and reporting
Delegated administration
Governance services
Collaborative content services
Internal communications
Information architecture
Knowledge graphs
Content analytics
AI and/or machine learning
Design tools
User interfaces
Templating
Integration and interoperability
Developer support
Personalization
Strategy
Market approach
Product vision
Execution roadmap
Partner ecosystem
Supporting products and services
Delivery model
Market presence
Customer base
Product revenue
Each provider received a score of 0-5 for each criterion – which Forrester illustrates in a scorecard format so it’s easy to see how each vendor stacks up. The scores are based on a detailed questionnaire, demos/briefings, and customer reference surveys/interviews, combined with the analyst’s experience and expertise in the marketplace.
The report separates the 12 providers into 4 categories: Leaders, Strong Performers, Contenders, and Challengers. Then, charts them on a graph that shows their relative position – in terms of their current offering, strategy, and market presence – compared to other providers.
How you can use the report
Here are three ways you can leverage the report in your search for a new intranet platform provider.
1. To kickstart your evaluation
Forrester intends the report to be “a starting point” in your evaluation. If you’re just beginning, the data can help you narrow down your focus and identify key capabilities and criteria you should reference throughout the selection process.
2. To bring the right players to the table
As a trusted and reputable research and analyst firm, Forrester is an authority on technology solutions. So, if you don’t have time to compile a list of all possible digital workplace solution providers and conduct your own analysis, this report can be used to identify the right players and exclude the wrong ones.
3. To make sure you ask the right questions
Forrester identified the 26 criteria they believe intranet platform providers should be evaluated against. Having this list handy allows you to formulate targeted questions and ensure you’re not overlooking or missing out on any important information that may impact your decision or experience with your chosen solution.
We compiled a list of 12 questions to ask potential intranet partners. Read them here.
Download the report
Igloo Software is proud to be named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Intranet Platforms, Q2 2020. We received the highest possible score in 11 areas, while, we believe striking the best balance between the current offering and product strategy. Our digital workplace solutions were even recognized for their ability to help organizations communicate and collaborate during a crisis. You can download a complimentary copy of the report here.
“Igloo leads with communication and collaboration and shines during crisis response.”
