Blink named a top intranet choice for 2024 by ClearBox

Blink is named one of the top intranet software providers for 2024 by ClearBox, who recently gave Blink a ClearBox Choice Award as part of their annual intranet report.

The report takes an in-depth look at the intranet and employee app market. It compares the available solutions and awards standout intranet providers.

Here’s a snippet of what ClearBox had to say about Blink:

“The focus Blink places on the deskless audience is among the best we’ve seen in this report and makes a compelling choice for organizations with a frontline heavy workforce.” – ClearBox Consulting Ltd.

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About ClearBox

ClearBox Consulting Ltd. is an independent consultancy. It helps organizations find an intranet solution that meets their needs. They’ve worked with lots of big-name brands, including Unilever, Bayer, PlayStation, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Through intranet analysis, strategy, planning, and testing they support their clients to collaborate and communicate more effectively.

When it comes to new solutions, they help companies to establish priorities, create a roadmap, and explore intranet provider options.

Importantly, ClearBox is vendor-neutral. They don’t have any agreements with intranet vendors. They pride themselves on giving honest, impartial advice to their clients.

About the report

ClearBox takes 20 of the intranet industry’s leading vendors and compares their products for their annual intranet report. In doing so, it gives organizations an in-depth understanding of what each software offers.

As part of the report, ClearBox identifies standout vendors and gives them a ClearBox Choice Award. Blink was among the winners this year. 

What was assessed?

ClearBox evaluates every product against the following eight criteria.  

1. User experience and visual appeal

For this criteria, ClearBox looks at the user interface, menus, and navigation features. It assesses how easy it is for users to navigate the app or intranet. And how easily companies can incorporate their own branding.

2. Publishing and communications management

Here, ClearBox looks at the tools that organizations can use to build appealing and effective content. It takes into account the variety of media content creators can use. It also looks at content targeting features and the options admins have for making sure messages cut through.

3. Community and engagement

ClearBox likes intranets and apps that encourage user interaction and employee engagement. They look to see that users can like and comment on posts. It assesses survey tools and recognition features. It also looks for proof that organizations can use the software to promote company culture and support employee onboarding.

4. Integrations and services

Does the software complicate or simplify the employee experience? Here, ClearBox looks at whether products offer easy and effective integrations with other common workplace systems. And whether the software helps reduce the overall number of sites or apps an employee has to visit.

5. Information find and search

For this criterion, ClearBox assesses how easy it is for people to find information within the intranet. It looks at the ease of search, the indexing of content, and the quality of search results. It also analyzes how easy it is for admins to add tags and promote results.

6. Administrator experience

Managing your intranet should be easy. So ClearBox looks at the menus and options available to intranet and employee app admins. Templates, widgets, the ability to configure pages, and the ability to create content in multiple languages are all assessed.

7. Analytics

How can admins measure the effectiveness of the intranet and its content? As part of its report, ClearBox looks at analytics functions for each tool. It looks for data on platform usage and adoption, as well as useful, actionable insights.

8. Mobile and frontline support

The final criteria is all about whether a product provides an effective experience on mobile devices. ClearBox looks at whether the app replicates the experience of popular consumer apps. And whether it supports the needs of frontline organizations and employees.

How they made the assessment

All of the products in the report are tested by ClearBox consultants. They look at the criteria above, fact-check with vendors, and also seek feedback directly from customers.  

As well as marking each product out of five for the eight criteria, the report includes information on pricing, technical support, and the vendor’s developmental roadmap.

Blink employee app: the ClearBox review

ClearBox describes Blink as “a highly effective frontline-focused tool”.

The report highlights how easy it is to build community and engagement, and to encourage two-way communication. It also draws attention to the fact that Blink has an easy-to-use interface across all devices.

The ClearBox review gives Blink particularly high scores in the following areas:

• User experience and visual appeal
• Community and engagement
• Mobile and frontline support

Here’s what else ClearBox had to say about Blink’s frontline app:

“Blink is a frontline-focused, mobile-first product that understands its target audience perfectly. It’s easy to use and quick to navigate, making communications, reference materials, and tools easy to find.

“Blink offers organizations alternatives to shadow technology like WhatsApp, while also providing easy access to business tools without the need for employees to download multiple apps.

“Organizations of any size that have frontline workers will find something to like about Blink. It offers a good companion to desktop platforms too, meaning desk workers and frontline workers can be served by products that best suit their needs without clashing.”

And here’s a snapshot of what customers interviewed by ClearBox said about their experience with Blink.

“Blink has drastically improved the way we communicate with our team members. In a recent survey, they already feel more listened to and this is all down to Blink.”

“[Blink] is amazing. They partner with us to complete projects or work through any desired improvements as they are able. Great partner to work with!”

Customers also said that Blink support is second to none. During software set-up, they provide lots of advice and training. Post-launch, they are happy to discuss changing business needs and to offer help whenever partners have a question or issue.  

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The importance of a modern intranet

The ClearBox annual report is a really useful resource for organizations. It’s helping more companies to adopt a modern intranet that meets the needs of their modern workforce.

Traditional intranets can be clunky and inefficient. They’re often home to lots of outdated information. And they rarely provide the intuitive, productivity-boosting features that employees now expect.

A modern intranet combines essential workplace tools with exceptional user experience. It’s a social hub, where employees can collaborate, build relationships, and access all of the resources they need.

A modern intranet:

• Connects your organization: The best modern intranets have a mobile-first design. This means that everyone — whether they’re in the office, working from home, or working on the frontline — gets access to the same great tools.
  
  
• Promotes two-way communication: With a range of communication options, you can conduct 1-2-1s, share key messages, and seek employee feedback. This helps information to move in all directions.
  
  
• Supports company culture: You can use the intranet news feed to promote company culture and recognize employees who demonstrate company values.
  
  
• Prevents app overwhelm: A modern intranet acts as a digital front door for your organization. It integrates with other workplace apps you use. So it provides an easy way for employees to access all workplace tools.

Because it ticks all of these boxes, a modern intranet brings a range of benefits for your organization.

You become more productive and collaborative, sharing insights and ideas even when employees aren’t working in the same location.

You also better engage your workers. When employees feel invested in their organization and their work, they’re more likely to give their all. They’re also less likely to leave.

Why choose Blink?

The Blink employee app is built for frontline organizations. It improves workplace connection, productivity, and employee engagement. And — because it’s an intuitive app available via smartphone — it quickly becomes part of every employee’s every day.

Blink is recognized as a top intranet provider by ClearBox. It also won a range of G2 awards in winter 2023. These include:

• High performer, enterprise and mid-market, employee intranet
• Easiest to use, mid-market, employee intranet
• Users most likely to recommend, mid-market, employee intranet

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