The Intranet Illusion: Simpplr Report Finds Many Organizations Are Still Failing at Internal Comms

91% of organizations say they have an intranet. But most aren't actually helping people work better.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Simpplr's 2025 State of Internal Communications and Intranet Technology Report, many organizations are still struggling to connect their people, even with systems in place.

Employees still can't find what they need. Teams are buried in noise. Communication leaders are being held accountable for engagement and alignment without the infrastructure to deliver it.

And it's costing companies more than they think.

The report, based on a survey of nearly 800 professionals in internal comms, HR, and IT, found that organizations with modern, purpose-built intranets significantly outperform those without.

They reported:

• 21% higher employee engagement (83% vs. 69%)
• 15% stronger productivity impact (78% vs. 63%)
• 13% greater revenue impact (67% vs. 54%)

"For years, internal comms was treated like a soft skill — something nice to have, not a business driver," said Dhiraj Sharma, CEO and Founder of Simpplr. "But the data in our latest report says otherwise. When organizations invest in clarity and connection, they build momentum that leads to real results."

So what's really going on?

The report reveals a hidden challenge: a false sense of progress.

Many organizations think they've solved internal comms just because a platform exists. But behind the curtain, they're still relying on legacy tools, fragmented systems, and one-off customizations that frustrate users.

"Most teams didn't choose the chaos — they inherited it. What used to 'work well enough' now works against them," said Carolyn Clark, VP of Comms & EX Strategy at Simpplr. "This is the moment to fix it."

Key findings include:

• Internal communications proves its strategic value. Leaders overwhelmingly recognize IC's impact across key business drivers including engagement (89%), productivity (87%), culture (85%), talent attraction and retention (84%), and revenue (81%). What was once dismissed as a soft skill is now driving hard outcomes.
  
  
• Modern intranets create real connection and clarity. Organizations with purpose-built platforms report better outcomes across productivity (84% vs. 67%), belief in company mission (78% vs. 60%), and connection to coworkers (75% vs. 58%). The difference isn't just operational. It's emotional.
  
  
• Many teams are ready to upgrade their tech. While 91% of organizations have some form of intranet, 55% rely on fragmented systems. And 42% say they'd switch to an all-in-one platform if they could. These legacy setups often require heavy IT involvement to maintain, customize, and troubleshoot, making them harder to scale and slower to adapt.
  
  
• Inaction compounds the disadvantages. The cost of not modernizing intranet infrastructure adds up in talent loss, inefficiency, and slowed business performance.

Purpose-built platforms — like Simpplr's — are emerging as the new standard. Organizations that unify engagement, enablement, and services in one AI-powered system are seeing faster adoption, reduced IT burden, and stronger business impact.

The question isn't whether you have an intranet — it's whether your intranet actually works for your people.

Get the report

Download a free copy of the full 2025 State of Internal Communications and Intranet Technology Report.

Survey methodology

Simpplr surveyed 786 senior professionals in IC, IT, and HR, spanning various industries. Respondents were based in the U.S. and the U.K. representing a mix of organizations employing from 501 to more than 20,000 people. Data was collected via an online survey between March 5 and March 13, 2025.

About Simpplr

Simpplr is the AI-powered platform that unifies the digital workplace — bringing together engagement, enablement, and services to transform the employee experience (EX). It streamlines communication, simplifies interactions, automates workflows, and elevates the everyday experience of work. The EX platform is intuitive, highly extensible, and built to integrate seamlessly with your existing technology. More than 1,000 leading organizations — including AAA, the NHS, Penske, and Moderna — trust Simpplr to foster a more aligned and productive workforce. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with global offices, Simpplr is backed by Norwest Ventures, Sapphire Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, and Tola Capital. Learn more at simpplr.com.

Contact:
Carolyn Clark
VP, Communications & EX Strategy, Simpplr
[email protected]

SOURCE Simpplr