3 Key Factors to Consider When Computing Your Intranet Cost

It is not easy to determine the exact cost of setting up an intranet system for your business. It is not as simple as comparing the cost of your system to that of your close competitor. Each business is unique. So are their intranet systems. Here are a few important factors that you need to explore when determining the cost of your intranet project.

What do you need from your intranet system?

Before starting an intranet project, you should be clear on what you’re trying to achieve. What needs and issues are you trying to resolve? How can your intranet provide the solutions to these concerns? A system purely for internal communications is less expensive than something that integrates all functions across all departments. Each situation is unique that is why it is extremely important to determine your intranet requirements. Ask everyone who will be using the system about their needs and suggestions. This process will also help you avoid spending for a feature that you’ll end up not using. 

How far are you willing to customize?

There are a lot of options when trying to set up an intranet solution for your company’s specific needs. Will your hosting be on premise or cloud-based? Are you using your own resources to build your own system or are you purchasing out-of-the-box solutions? Unique requirements often require highly-specialized solutions that would cost you more. Decide whether you really need these customizations or you can find other applications that provide better solutions.

Anticipate unexpected complications that will add to your cost

Regardless of how great your hired consultants are at their jobs; unexpected things can happen. Certain processes may take longer than expected. Realizations that certain features are missing or incompatible with your current system may surface along the way. Your employees may have a harder time adapting to the new system than you anticipated. All these issues can significantly add to your costs.

Conclusion

Setting up your company’s intranet system will eat up not only your funds but also your time and effort. Considering these factors can help you save money where you can and get the most value out of your investment.