The classic intranet as a pure information platform is dead. In 2026, employees expect a personalized digital workplace that proactively delivers relevant information. SharePoint combined with Viva Connections makes exactly this possible.
The Evolution of the Intranet
| Generation | Period | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2000–2010 | Static information pages |
| 2.0 | 2010–2018 | Social intranet with interaction |
| 3.0 | 2018–2024 | Hub-based, mobile intranet |
| 4.0 | 2024+ | AI-powered digital workplace |
The 4 Pillars of a Modern SharePoint Intranet
1. Hub Site Architecture
A well-thought-out hub architecture is the foundation:
- Corporate Hub: Company-wide news, policies, HR information
- Department Hubs: Area-specific content and tools
- Project Hubs: Cross-project collaboration
- Location Hubs: Local information (cafeteria, room booking, local events)
2. Viva Connections: The Personalized Dashboard
Viva Connections brings the intranet directly into Microsoft Teams:
- Dashboard: Personalized tiles for frequent tasks
- Feed: Curated news based on department, location, and interests
- Resources: Quick access to important links and portals
Example dashboard for a Swiss employee:
- Time tracking (7pace/SAP)
- Create IT tickets
- Room reservation
- Lunch menu (location-based)
- Personal tasks
- Unread messages
3. Multilingualism Natively Solved
Especially relevant for Swiss companies: SharePoint supports multilingual pages natively.
- Default language: German (or the company's main language)
- Translation pages: French, Italian, English as linked variants
- Automatic language detection: Users see content in their preferred language
- Copilot translation: AI-assisted translation suggestions for new content
4. News & Communication
SharePoint News is the central communication instrument:
- Company news: Important announcements for all employees
- Department news: Area-specific updates
- People stories: Employee portraits and team introductions
- News Digest: Automatic weekly summary via email
AI in the Intranet: What's Already Possible
Copilot for Intranet Authors
- Generate page drafts
- Optimize news texts
- Suggest images
- Create multilingual versions
Copilot for Employees
- "What's the current home office policy?"
- "When is the next company event?"
- "How do I submit expenses?"
SharePoint Agents
- Automated answers to frequently asked questions
- Personalized content recommendations
- Proactive notifications for relevant updates
KPIs for Intranet Success
Measure your intranet's success with these metrics:
- Adoption rate: How many employees use the intranet regularly?
- Engagement rate: Likes, comments, and shares per news post
- Search success rate: How often do users find what they're looking for?
- Task completion rate: How often are self-service tasks completed?
- Mobile usage: Percentage of mobile access
Conclusion
A modern SharePoint intranet isn't an IT project – it's a culture project. With the right strategy, the right tools, and continuous evolution, it becomes an indispensable digital workplace.