In 2025, while some have been predicting the end of the intranet for several years, a new reality is emerging: the intranet is not disappearing… it is transforming . This is what the Augmented Intranet 2025 Observatory reveals , the benchmark study conducted by Arctus (experts in employee experience, technology, and collective intelligence) which provides an up-to-date overview of the practices, uses, technologies, and challenges related to internal digitalization in organizations.
Based on a quantitative survey conducted with hundreds of professionals, supplemented by qualitative interviews, this edition highlights the profound dynamics that run through the world of intranets.
As internal digital systems multiply, the question is no longer whether the intranet still has a place, but how it adapts to remain relevant, useful and engaging.
In this context, we present the 10 key trends to remember , which outline this transformation and offer strategic insights for thinking about the intranet of tomorrow.
1. The intranet remains an essential strategic asset
Contrary to the rhetoric regularly predicting its demise, the intranet is proving its central role in organizations by 2025. 96% of respondents believe it is essential or necessary for employees' daily work, with 55% considering it indispensable .
This perception transcends sectors and company sizes, confirming that the intranet remains a structuring foundation, regardless of its level of sophistication.
The study highlights that hybrid work, the proliferation of external resources, and the need to centralize information reinforce this functional dependence on the intranet. Even when the user experience is deemed imperfect, the tool remains perceived as essential, revealing strong potential for improvement rather than disengagement.
2. The "all-information" intranet model still dominates
The top-down information and communication model remains the most widespread: 40% of intranets are still primarily designed as information dissemination tools.
This choice reflects a logic of continuity rather than disruption, particularly in organizations whose intranet was designed several years ago.
However, this model also generates the most dissatisfaction . Users are expressing increasing expectations for features that go beyond simply publishing content, particularly in terms of collaboration, business services, and personalization. The study clearly shows that IT intranets account for a disproportionate share of dissatisfied users, especially regarding search experience and operational usefulness.
3. The paradox of SharePoint, the de facto standard
Microsoft confirms its dominant position: 82% of companies use Microsoft 365 , and SharePoint remains the dominant technical platform for building intranets.
However, the study highlights a persistent paradox: the native SharePoint experience is frequently considered unsatisfactory , particularly when it is not enhanced.
Organizations using SharePoint alone are overrepresented among dissatisfied respondents. Usability limitations, complexity of implementation, and lack of customization are frequently cited. This explains why many companies choose to add a layer or a specialized CMS to maintain the Microsoft ecosystem while improving the user experience.
4. Editorial restraint is becoming a major issue
Information fatigue is clearly identified as a key issue by 2025. Employees don't lack information, but rather prioritized, clear, and useful content .
The study emphasizes the need to move away from a volume-driven approach and focus on relevance.
Qualitative interviews reinforce this observation: several organizations report voluntarily reducing the number of weekly publications in favor of more concise and retrospective formats. Editorial restraint thus appears to be a key lever for improving readability, engagement, and overall satisfaction with the intranet.
5. Specialized solutions are essential for developing intranets.
By 2025, 51% of intranets will rely on a dedicated intranet CMS or a SharePoint overlay. This growth confirms the added value of these specialized solutions, both in terms of usability and functionality.
Intranet CMSs are the most widely used solution (35%), ahead of SharePoint alone (31%). These tools allow for greater customization, smoother integration with Microsoft 365, and faster deployment, often using no-code.
The study highlights that intranet projects now favor short cycles (6 to 12 months), which are less compatible with complex custom development.
6. The Digital Workplace is progressing but remains a minority.
Despite growing interest, only 27% of organizations report having a Digital Workplace (DWP) or an Employee Experience Platform (EXP) .
These systems have seen slight growth compared to 2023, but remain hampered by budgetary constraints and the complexity of integrating them with existing information systems .
The study shows that, in many cases, the DWP is still limited to an application launcher role, without any real orchestration of usage. Organizations are therefore adopting a cautious approach, preferring to consolidate existing systems before investing in more ambitious unified environments.
7. Governance is progressing significantly through data
The increasing maturity of organizations is reflected in a clear rise in data-driven management. 66% of respondents now track intranet KPIs , a 14-point increase in one year .
The editorial committee has emerged as the primary governance body, present in 49% of organizations , a figure that has been steadily increasing for several years.
This indicator-driven approach allows for better measurement of actual usage, satisfaction, and the impact of communication efforts. It is a key lever for making objective decisions, prioritizing changes, and strengthening the strategic credibility of the intranet teams.
8. The real start of generative AI
Generative AI is gradually being integrated into intranet usage. 10% of companies report regular use , and 17% are in the deployment phase .
The two main use cases identified are content generation and augmented search (AS) , each cited by 58% of respondents.
However, nearly 49% of organizations are not necessarily considering generative AI for their intranet. The study highlights strong momentum among software vendors, accompanied by a level of deployment that reflects a natural phase of learning and gradual structuring.
9. The new communicator acquires two key skills
The role of the internal communicator is changing significantly. In 2025, the two skills considered priorities to strengthen are mastery of generative AI (68%) and control of information reliability (66%) .
In a context of proliferating content, the communicator becomes responsible for the quality, consistency, and security of the information disseminated. This "technicalization" of the profession reflects a rise in strategic responsibility, at the intersection of communication, data, and information governance.
10. Employee experience remains a priority lever
Finally, the study confirms that UX and change management are the key factors in enabling advanced intranet use.
The observed gaps between available features and actual usage reveal a lack of engagement, training, and change management.
Employee experience thus appears as the main lever to transform the intranet into a true tool serving business processes, engagement and collective performance, far beyond a simple communication channel.
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