Useful materials

  • All
  • Articles
  • Releases
  • Success stories
6 min read
SmartPoint Intranet 3.9 release banner showcasing digital workplace platform with task management, notifications, employee profiles, and process transparency features
SmartPoint Intranet 3.9 — Process Control, Action Transparency, and System Scalability
In the SmartPoint Intranet 3.9 release, we focused on three key aspects of the platform’s development: system scalability, transparency in task management, and flexibility in configuring working processes. We have updated the Notification Center to ensure stable system performance even when handling a large number of personal notifications, introduced the Change History functionality for full visibility into actions performed on tasks, and expanded the capabilities of the Form Builder and the Contact Card Builder. A new functional block, Rules, allows users to create dynamic forms and manage field visibility logic without developer involvement. All improvements and enhancements are available to users both in the web version (via a browser) and in the SmartPoint Intranet app for Microsoft Teams. SmartPoint 3.9 makes the workspace more manageable, transparent, and adaptable to a company’s processes.

Notification Center Updated to Handle Large Volumes of Personal Notifications

  • What was done:
The Notification Center has been scaled to handle a large number of personal notifications. This improves the performance of the Notifications section for each user: the page refreshes just as quickly whether it displays 10 or 10,000 notifications per day for a single user.
  • How it works:
The user experience of the Notification Center page remains unchanged. As before, when a task is assigned, a user is mentioned, or other changes occur in a task form, you receive a push notification and a personal notification in the Notification Center.
  • Why it is useful: 
The updated Notification Center improves the stability and performance of the system regardless of the number of notifications you receive during the day. Thanks to enhanced scaling capabilities, all your notifications are now stored in the database while your familiar user experience remains the same.

Change History Functionality Implemented for Tasks, Checklist Items, and Comments

  • What was done:
A button has been added to the task form to open a modal window displaying all changes made to the task. Users can also view how the data has changed for each checklist item, comment, subtask, and the main task. Each change is now available for review by all participants involved in the task execution or approval process.
  • How it works:
A user opens any created task and clicks the Change History button in the right-hand menu. The system then displays a separate modal window showing all changes made to the task form since the moment the task was created. The system records who made the change, when it was made, and what exactly was modified. The same steps can be used to view the change history for checklist items and comments.
  • Why it is useful: 
This enhancement makes working with tasks significantly more transparent and convenient. With a dedicated change history window, users gain full visibility into all actions related to a task, a better understanding of the context of changes, improved team collaboration, and quick access to important information.

Powerful “Rules” Functional Block Added to the Process Form Builder

  • What was done:
A new Rules block (dynamic fields) has been implemented within the Form Builder. Now business analysts, administrators, or any users responsible for creating process forms can configure field dependencies and define conditions for showing or hiding fields, significantly increasing the flexibility of automated processes.
  • How it works:
As before, a business administrator follows the familiar steps to create a process form in the Form Builder. However, a new option to configure rules is now available in the menu for each field. By clicking this option, a separate window opens where users can define dependencies between fields and set conditions for displaying or hiding them.
  • Why it is useful: 
The new Rules functionality makes forms dynamic and intelligent. Administrators, business analysts, and other responsible users can now independently configure field dependencies without involving developers. This increases process flexibility and reduces the time required for configuration: more automation scenarios, fewer errors when filling in forms, and more intuitive and user-friendly process forms.

Expanded Configuration Options for Administrators in the Contact Card Builder

  • What was done:
The range of configuration scenarios for displaying the contact card has been expanded. Administrators can now apply a custom icon to any field and control whether the field name is displayed or hidden.
  • How it works:
As before, administrators need to navigate to the contact card settings and configure the field icon, as well as specify whether the field name should be displayed or hidden on the contact card.
  • Why it is useful:
This update expands the personalization capabilities of the contact card, allowing administrators to tailor it more precisely to the company’s working scenarios. The SmartPoint 3.9 release continues the development of the platform as a unified digital environment for managing people, tasks, and business processes. We have strengthened the system architecture to support high workloads, improved transparency in team collaboration, and expanded the tools that enable administrators and business analysts to independently configure processes. SmartPoint Intranet continues to evolve as a platform that helps companies structure their workflows, reduce operational chaos, and build a clear digital ecosystem for the entire organization.  

Would you like to learn more about SmartPoint Intranet? Book your personalized demo today!

Schedule a demo

5 min read
SmartPoint Intranet 3.8 — A Step Toward a Smarter, More Convenient Workspace
We’re expanding the platform’s capabilities where it truly impacts everyday efficiency: task management, form creation, and company structure visualization. In this release, we focused on flexibility, speed of interaction, and user convenience. You can now return completed tasks to work, format descriptions, work comfortably from mobile devices, and create more informative forms and clearer organizational structures.

Key Updates in SmartPoint 3.8

  1. Task Center: Return Completed Tasks to Work You can now easily resume tasks by returning them to the “In Progress” status with a single click. This allows you to respond flexibly to project changes and avoid losing important information.
  2. Mobile Task Center: New Interaction Logic The updated interface ensures a smooth experience on any screen — text fields open in a focused window, and all actions are conveniently grouped in the menu.
  3. Form Builder: More Design Options for Operational Business Processes A text editor has been added to titles and notes, and each field now displays an icon indicating its data type. This simplifies the creation of clear and structured forms.
  4. Task Description Formatting The text editor in the “Description” field allows you to structure content, add lists, links, and images — making tasks more precise and easy to understand.

Task Center: Return Completed Tasks to Work

  • What was done?
A new button has been added to the task form, allowing users to quickly move a completed task back to the “In Progress” status and continue working on it. This option is available for data sources from SmartPoint Intranet and Microsoft Planner. The button works for main tasks, subtasks, and checklist items. The system also automatically creates and sends a notification to both the task author and assignee about the status change and adds a comment in the “Comments” section specifying the reason for the change.
  • How does it work?
Open the Task Center, select any task with the “Completed” status, and click “Return to Work”. The system will automatically:
  • Change the task status to “In Progress” and check for related tasks to update their statuses as well.
  • Send a notification and quick message to the author and assignee informing them of the status change.
  • Add a comment to the task noting the reason for the status change.

Mobile Version of Task Center: Updated Interface

  • What was done?
A new task form behavior has been implemented for the mobile version: text fields now open in a new window, and functional buttons are neatly grouped under a menu icon.
  • How does it work?
As before, a user opens the task form in the mobile version and fills in text fields — Title, Description, Comments. When the user taps any of these fields, a separate window opens to provide a focused workspace and expand the working area on the mobile device. To change the task status, the user scrolls to the bottom of the form and selects the needed option from the button menu.
  • Why is it useful
The updated behavior is universal and convenient for any mobile screen.

Text Editor Added for Section Title and Field Note; “Information” Icon with Field Type Introduced in Form Designer

  • What was done
A text editor has been implemented in the Form Designer to allow formatted text in the Section Title and Field Note. In addition, an “Information” icon is now displayed next to each field, showing the field type for quick reference.
  • How does it work?
The workflow in the Form Designer remains largely unchanged. The user still creates section titles and field notes as before but now has access to a functional text editor that supports adding clickable links, formatted, and numbered text. To check the field type, the user simply hovers over the “Information” icon.
  • Why is it useful
This functionality enables the creation of more structured business process forms and helps highlight important information for users filling in the form with data.

Visual Highlight Added for Department Head in the Horizontal Organizational Structure

  • What was done
A visual highlight has been added for the department head block in the detailed information panel of each department.
  • How does it work?
The user navigates to the Horizontal Organizational Structure page, finds the required department, and clicks the details icon. A panel opens on the right, where the department head block is visually separated by a divider.
  • Why is it useful
The visual highlight helps users quickly locate key information when working with the organizational structure.

Text Editor Added to the “Description” Field in the Task Form

  • What was done? 
A functional text editor has been added to the “Description” field in the task form, supporting formatted text, images, and links.
  • How does it work?
When creating a task, the user opens the “Description” field, which now displays a toolbar with available text editor options: text formatting and alignment, numbered and bulleted lists, links, and images.
  • Why is it useful? 
When creating a task, users often need to highlight text, add numbered lists, or insert images. The text editor was introduced for the “Description” field to make these scenarios more convenient. Request Consultation
19 min read
Ілюстрація, як Task Manager допомагає пріоритезувати завдання та впорядкувати роботу
How a Task Manager Helps Prioritize and Track Tasks Amid Deadline Chaos
Every project manager, team leader, or employee knows the feeling when the day has just begun — and already you need to keep dozens of tasks, urgent assignments, deadlines, meetings, approvals, messages, and emails from various channels all in your head, all piling up and requiring quick decisions. But when there are more tasks than hours in the day, it’s easy to lose control over processes and get overwhelmed by chaos. That’s why more and more companies are adopting task managers — solutions that help organize workflows, structure team efforts, and boost productivity. According to research by McKinsey & Company, businesses that implement team-oriented transformations can increase productivity by as much as 30%. Especially when teamwork relies on technologies that support fast coordination, transparency, and analytics. That’s exactly how a Task Manager works — as a steady anchor in the ever-changing daily rhythm.

What Is a Task Manager in Business: Its Key Goals and Capabilities

A Task Manager is a digital tool for managing tasks, projects, and teams. Its main purpose is to help businesses stay in control of workflows, assign tasks, track progress, and ensure timely communication among team members. This kind of tool makes it easier to plan work, see priorities at a glance, avoid duplication, and respond to changes in time. With a Task Manager, managers get a clear view of actual progress, while employees have a firm understanding of when each task needs to be completed.

Core Objectives and Functional Purpose of a Task Manager

In short, a Task Manager helps companies bring order to their daily operations. Its key value lies in its focus on results, synchronized teamwork, and timely task execution. The most common objectives of Task Manager systems include:
  • Structuring workflows — instead of chaotic messaging or spreadsheets, each task gets its place in the Task Manager, along with logic and a designated responsible person.
  • Maintaining a clear project overview — Task Manager tools allow managers to see what stage the project is at, which tasks are critical, and where delays may arise.
  • Enforcing task discipline — strict control over deadlines and responsibilities helps avoid “forgotten” tasks.
  • Making delegation easier — Task Manager features allow tasks to be easily reassigned to another person or distributed among several contributors.
  • Ensuring transparent communication — when all task-related information is stored in one place, it simplifies collaboration between employees from different departments.
  • Boosting team accountability — when every specialist clearly understands their responsibilities and deadlines, it strengthens personal accountability and helps teams stay on track.
  • Keeping focus on business priorities — with well-structured business processes and tools for visualization and analytics, leadership can see where the team is headed and how close they are to reaching their goals.

Features of Modern Task Manager Tools

Modern task manager tools offer extensive functionality adaptable to the needs of various teams — from IT to marketing, from HR to manufacturing. These software solutions cover all the key stages of team collaboration:
  1. Task planning: Create tasks, set deadlines, priorities, and assign responsible team members — all in just a few clicks.
  2. Goal and milestone setting: Break large projects into subtasks to get a full picture and move toward results step by step.
  3. Flexible priority management: Change task priorities in real time based on the situation or project updates.
  4. Team collaboration features: Assign roles, leave comments, hold discussions, attach files, and integrate with messengers — everything needed for smooth teamwork.
  5. Reminders and notifications: The task manager can automatically alert users about upcoming deadlines or changes to tasks.
  6. Change and status history: Track who made changes and when, ensuring full transparency in task progress.
  7. Integration with other solutions: Exchange data with CRMs, calendars, email, or ERP systems — enabling seamless work within a unified digital ecosystem.

Business Benefits of Using a Task Manager: A Cross-Department Perspective

A Task Manager is a tool that no modern department or business area can go without. Whether it’s retail, manufacturing, IT, or the service sector, this solution delivers value across industries and teams alike. Key advantages of implementing a Task Manager across company departments:
  • For executives: real-time visibility into project progress, the ability to allocate resources based on priorities, and timely intervention when bottlenecks are detected.
  • For the sales team: a clear structure for working with clients, tracking progress toward targets, automating repetitive tasks, and receiving timely reminders.
  • For marketing: keeping a record of past campaigns, planning future launches, analyzing the effectiveness of activities, and coordinating with other teams.
  • For HR: transparent onboarding processes for new hires, tracking completion of onboarding tasks, and getting reminders about performance reviews, surveys, or training deadlines.
  • For the IT department: managing incidents and support requests with a clear system of priorities and statuses.
Despite the specifics of each department, they all share common challenges — tight deadlines, cross-team communication, planning, and structured task management. That’s why a Task Manager becomes a universal solution, adaptable to any workflow. Benefits of a Task Manager for different business sectors:
  • Manufacturing: A task manager helps manage production cycles, coordinate shift work, meet deadlines, and monitor compliance with production standards. For example, in food manufacturing, it can automate tasks for each shift, track deviations from plans, smoothly hand off tasks between stages without delays, and respond promptly to incidents or process failures.
  • Retail: Managing assortments, coordinating marketing campaigns, and quickly rescheduling tasks in response to changing demand. For instance, if a certain product category suddenly sees a sales spike, a Task Manager enables real-time redistribution of team tasks — like rapidly redirecting designers and copywriters to create new promotional materials or setting up new tasks with clear deadlines and responsible parties to launch a campaign tailored to the new demand.
  • Finance: Planning and controlling regular operational tasks — from budgeting to financial reporting — with the ability to prioritize, monitor deadlines, and assign responsibilities. The task manager ensures transparency and facilitates coordination with other departments.
  • IT and Development: Transparent project tracking, task prioritization, and efficient communication between internal teams (e.g., developers, DevOps, testers) and other company units. It enables creating requests such as feature enhancements, tech support, or access configurations. The task manager helps quickly process such requests and clearly track their statuses.
  • Services: With Task Manager tools, companies can clearly plan work schedules, control task quality, respond promptly to client requests, and improve customer satisfaction. For example, a household appliance repair service can automatically assign requests to technicians based on location, workload, and expertise, monitor completion deadlines, and gather customer feedback within a unified system.
If a Task Manager supports flexible customization, extensive integration options with other business systems (CRM, ERP, email services, messengers, etc.), it becomes a universal tool that supports efficiency, coordination, and transparency of processes in any business and team.

How to Know If Your Team Needs a Task Manager

If deadlines are constantly being missed, the team lacks transparency regarding task statuses, and the manager has to manually collect updates from different sources — these are clear signs that the current approach to work organization isn’t working. A Task Manager is often introduced when:
  • Tasks are “up in the air” — there’s no clear understanding of who is responsible for what or when a task needs to be completed.
  • Meetings replace real work — the team spends a lot of time discussing, but it’s hard to track which decisions have been made and what happens with them afterward.
  • Information is scattered — some tasks live in email, others in chats, some in spreadsheets or personal notebooks, making it hard to get a full picture of the company’s operations.
  • Common phrases like “I thought it wasn’t my task,” or “I didn’t know who was responsible” — these indicate a lack of clear role and responsibility distribution among employees.
  • Lack of transparency — managers can’t see what the team is working on, where tasks stand, or where the bottlenecks are.
  • Recurring processes start from scratch every time — instead of using templates, automation, or standard workflows.
  • Breakdowns in cross-team communication — tasks get delayed or lost when being handed off between departments.
Business changes that signal it’s time to implement a Task Manager:
  • The business has scaled, and manual control of processes is no longer efficient.
  • The number of project participants has grown, making systematic coordination crucial to avoid frequent errors.
  • There’s a growing need for analytics — not just to check off completed tasks, but to monitor team workloads, response times, and deviations.
  • Tasks need to be integrated with CRM or ERP systems or calendars, to avoid duplication and work within a unified information space.
  • Workflows have become cross-functional — for example, marketing working closely with sales, or technical issues being escalated from support to development.
If any of these situations sound familiar — it’s time to choose a Task Manager tool that will streamline your processes, improve manageability, and supercharge your team’s performance.

Types of Task Manager Tools and How to Choose the Right One

The digital task management market today is highly diverse. A solution that works perfectly for a small startup may be completely unsuitable for a large corporation with dozens of departments. When choosing a Task Manager for your company, it’s important to consider not just the number of users, but also the complexity of your processes, the need for analytics, role and access management, and available integrations. Here are the most common types of Task Manager tools:
  1. Personal task trackers — most Task Managers include a built-in task tracker — a tool that allows users to monitor the status of each task from creation to completion. Personal task trackers are focused on individual planning. With a simple interface, minimal configuration, and quick task creation, they’re ideal for freelancers or small teams.
  2. Corporate Task Manager systems — these offer advanced functionality, flexible workgroup settings, role-based permissions, and integrations with CRM, ERP, calendars, and more. Such tools are best suited for medium and large companies that require a scalable task management structure.
  3. Project-oriented Task Managers — tailored for managing long-term projects, these systems emphasize task dependencies, milestone tracking, and progress visualization using Gantt charts — timelines that clearly show task sequences and overlaps.
  4. Industry-specific solutions — designed for the unique needs of particular industries (e.g. IT, retail, manufacturing, or construction), these often come with pre-configured workflows and templates.
  5. Task Managers as part of an all-in-one platform — in many companies, the Task Manager is a built-in module within a broader system — such as an intranet portal, ERP, DMS, or HRM system. Here, task management is tightly linked with documents, employees, projects, or service requests. This eliminates disconnects between systems, speeds up response times, and keeps data consistent. It’s a smart choice for companies looking to centralize operations.

What to Look for When Choosing a Task Manager for Your Business:

  • Scalability: Will the system be able to grow with your company as the number of tasks and users increases?
  • User interface and ease of use: How easily will your team adapt to the new system? Is it intuitive and user-friendly?
  • Flexible role and access management: Can you set permissions so that each team member only sees the tasks relevant to them?
  • Integrations with other systems: How easily can the Task Manager be connected to your existing IT ecosystem — including CRM, ERP, email, and messaging platforms?
  • Analytics and reporting: Does the tool offer dashboards, progress tracking, KPI monitoring, project reports, and team workload insights? Pay special attention to this criterion — analytics not only help you understand the current situation, but also enable data-driven decision-making. In the next section, we’ll explore how the analytical capabilities of Task Manager tools can boost both team and business efficiency.
  • Mobile support: Does the tool offer a full-featured mobile version for employees working in the field or on the go?
  • Data security and storage: Where is the data stored — in the cloud or on your local infrastructure? Does the Task Manager support backups? What security measures are in place — two-factor authentication, encryption, role-based access restrictions? This is especially important if you handle personal data, financial information, or confidential documents.
  • Pricing model: Does the cost match the value? What type of licensing is used — per user, per project, or based on data volume?
When choosing a Task Manager, match its functionality to your team’s actual needs and pace of work. A successful implementation will not only streamline task management, but also make your workflow more transparent, organized, and results-driven.

Analytics Tools in Task Manager Systems: What They Are and How They Help You Make Better Decisions

Tasks get completed, projects move forward — but is that enough to grow your business? Without clear analytics, the answer is no. Reporting and data visualization are what enable teams to see not just that work is being done, but how it’s being done — and how effective the overall system really is. Modern Task Manager tools typically include built-in analytics features that allow you to:
  • Track real-time progress — dashboards help managers see the status of each project: how many tasks are completed, paused, or overdue.
  • Analyze team workload — the system shows which employees are overloaded and who has available capacity — enabling smarter, more balanced task distribution.
  • Evaluate deadline performance — analytics highlight systemic delays and potential time management risks.
  • Measure KPI achievement — with customizable metrics and automated reporting, the system shows how close the team is to reaching key business goals. Many Task Managers allow you to set target indicators for each project or workflow. The tool then tracks deviations, performance trends, and results based on deadlines and roles.
  • Compare results across time periods — weekly, monthly, or quarterly reports reveal performance trends and help assess the impact of recent changes.
  • Build forecasts — collected data makes it possible to identify patterns in task execution and plan workloads and resources for upcoming periods.
Thanks to data visualization, even complex statistics become easy to understand for everyone involved — from frontline team members to senior management. All of this helps supercharge decision-making, reduce errors, and ensure transparency at every level. Because it’s numbers and facts — not assumptions — that help you not only understand what’s happening, but also course-correct in time.

How AI Can Supercharge Your Task Management System

According to McKinsey & Company, after the release of ChatGPT in late 2023, the number of organizations actively adopting artificial intelligence jumped by 20 percentage points. Companies are now using AI across various domains — from customer service and support to software development — unlocking new opportunities to optimize business processes and boost productivity. In Task Manager systems, AI opens up a whole new level of functionality, making task management solutions even more powerful and business-friendly. Here’s how AI can supercharge your Task Manager:
  1. Enhanced communication — smart chatbots and virtual assistants can respond to common queries, remind team members about deadlines, and help locate information within the Task Manager.
  2. Automated task distribution — AI can analyze team workload, employee skill sets, and deadlines to assign tasks more effectively — reducing the risk of overload or downtime.
  3. Risk forecasting — by analyzing historical data, AI can identify potential delays or issues in task execution and flag them early.
  4. Priority optimization — AI helps adjust task priorities dynamically based on changes in business processes, ongoing events, or new requirements.
  5. Performance analysis — AI provides deep insights into team and individual productivity, uncovers bottlenecks, and suggests ways to improve efficiency.

User Roles in Task Management Systems: Why They Matter and How to Set Them Up Effectively

In task management systems, every participant’s role should be clearly defined — this helps avoid confusion, increases accountability, and ensures smooth collaboration within the team. Role configuration is one of the key steps in adapting a Task Manager to the specific needs of a project or business process.

Here are the most common roles in task management systems and their functions:

  1. Administrator — has full access to system settings, manages users, roles, and permissions. Responsible for the overall organization of work within the Task Manager.
  2. Project Manager — oversees planning, task distribution, and progress monitoring. Has access to reports and analytics to track progress and respond promptly to risks.
  3. Contributor — receives assigned tasks, completes them on time, and reports the results. Has access only to their own tasks and related resources.
  4. Viewer / Observer — can view tasks, comments, and reports, but cannot make changes. Ideal for project stakeholders or senior managers who want to stay informed without actively participating.
  5. Commenter / Collaborator — can add comments and participate in discussions but cannot change task status or settings.

How to Set Up Roles in a Task Manager Effectively: Practical Tips

  • Tip #1: Define the core responsibilities of each project participant — Before creating roles, analyze who is responsible for what, what tasks they handle, and what permissions they need. This helps avoid overlaps or access gaps.
  • Tip #2: Apply the principle of least privilege — Grant users only the permissions they truly need to perform their tasks. This reduces the risk of errors and helps protect sensitive information.
  • Tip #3: Create role templates for similar projects or teams — Templates speed up the setup process and help standardize role configuration, especially when you’re managing multiple similar projects.
  • Tip #4: Review and update roles regularly — As your project or company evolves, needs change. Make sure roles stay aligned with current tasks, workflows, and organizational structure.
  • Tip #5: Clearly communicate each participant’s role and responsibilities — To avoid misunderstandings, ensure everyone knows their role, what’s expected of them, and which tools or permissions they should use.
  • Tip #6: Test role settings in practice — Before rolling things out at scale, verify that everyone has the right access and feels comfortable using the system as intended.

Key Principles for Productive Task Manager Use

To turn your Task Manager into a true productivity booster, it’s essential to follow a few key principles that help eliminate chaos and streamline task management.
  1. Clearly defined tasks — Each task should be described in a clear and specific way. Avoid vague wording — this minimizes misunderstandings and helps assignees better understand their responsibilities.
  2. Realistic deadlines — Set deadlines your team can meet without unnecessary stress, while still allowing room for quick adjustments if plans change.
  3. Regular task status updates — It’s crucial for all participants to track and update task progress in a timely manner. This enables managers to stay in control and adjust plans as needed.
  4. Task prioritization — Prioritize tasks based on their importance so that critical work is completed first, rather than losing time on less urgent activities.
  5. Open communication and discussion — Use built-in comments or integrations with messengers to quickly exchange information, clarify details, and solve problems collaboratively.
  6. Ongoing process analysis and optimization — Regularly assess how your task management system is performing, gather team feedback, and implement improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Are Task Manager systems suitable for large companies? Yes, provided the right solution is chosen. Most modern Task Manager systems offer scalable functionality that can meet the needs of large organizations — supporting multiple teams, roles, access levels, analytics, integrations with CRM/ERP systems, and more. For the corporate level, it’s important to look for solutions with customization options and centralized administration capabilities.
  2. Do modern Task Manager systems support mobile versions? Many modern online Task Manager solutions offer mobile apps for iOS and Android, but not all. Therefore, when choosing, make sure the solution you select has a user-friendly mobile version. This allows you to stay updated even outside the office — creating tasks, commenting, checking statuses, and reacting to changes without being tied to a work computer.
  3. How secure is data storage in a Task Manager system? Security depends on the provider. For example, if you use a solution based on Microsoft technologies, your data is stored in a cloud environment certified according to international security standards (ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, etc.). This means data is encrypted, backed up, and protected with multi-level access controls.
  4. Can tasks be imported from Excel or other systems into a Task Manager? Yes. Most Task Manager systems support importing from Excel, CSV, or other formats. This enables you to quickly transfer existing tables or tasks from old tools into the new system without losing structure. Some platforms also offer ready-made integrations or APIs for automatic synchronization with other sources.
7 min read
24/7 Personal Assistant: Major Updates in SmartPoint Intranet Release 3.7
Release 3.7 includes enhancements across multiple blocks of the SmartPoint Intranet product. The functionality of the HR module has been expanded with a convenient Contact Card Builder. The mobile and tablet versions of the Personal Assistant pages have been fully updated. The Form Builder now supports multiple use of the file upload field for any process. The Task Center integration with Microsoft Planner reflects all recent updates in both tools. All tabular views in the Task Center now display the task number and due date. The task form itself now includes a data refresh button. The list of notifications in the Notification Center has been extended: users now receive instant alerts when they are mentioned in task comments.

Contact Card Builder Implemented in the HR Module

  • What was done?   

A convenient and functional builder was created, allowing business administrators to manage the number of fields displayed on the contact card across all web parts of the HR module. The tool also enables expanding the overall list of fields by creating new ones.
  • How does it work?

To create a new custom field, the business administrator needs to open the Contacts list and follow a few simple steps:
  • Enter a field name
  • Select the field type
  • Configure additional settings (optional)
Once all necessary fields are created and populated with data, the administrator can go to the settings list to define which fields should be displayed on the Contact Card and in what order.
  • Why is it useful?  

This functionality offers greater flexibility to administrators, allowing them to independently configure which fields appear on the contact card — and in what order — without involving the development team. They can also easily create custom fields tailored to the company’s needs and display them just as easily. The saved changes are immediately applied across all HR module components: Horizontal and Vertical organizational structures (by department), Organizational structure by employee, Contact directory, General “Birthdays” page, Information blocks such as “New Employees” and “Birthdays”, the “Profile” section in the Personal Assistant, and the Contact Card in the Task Center.

Task Number, Due Date and Refresh Button Added to the Task Center

  • What was done?   

To enhance usability and task visibility, task numbers and due dates are now displayed across all Task Center views: Compact, Standard, and Kanban. Business administrators can also configure color highlighting for task due dates. Task numbers are also shown on task forms, subtasks, and checklist items. Another improvement is the addition of a refresh button on task forms. This button is available on the main task, each subtask, as well as in the “Checklist” and “Comments” sections.
  • How does it work?

Users can continue working in whichever task view they prefer. While reviewing task details, they can now also see the task number and a color-coded due date for better clarity. The new Refresh button on all task form types makes collaboration more efficient: when multiple users are editing a task at the same time, clicking the button instantly updates the view with the latest changes. For administrators, color configuration for due dates is quick and easy — just populate a predefined lookup list, and the changes will automatically apply for all users.
  • Why is it useful?  

Displaying task numbers, visually highlighting due dates, and enabling fast data refresh directly from the task form significantly improves task management efficiency for a Task Center user —especially in fast-paced, high-volume environments. The ability to configure the accent color for the “Due Date” field is another convenient SmartPoint Intranet feature, making customization possible without additional development.

Notification Triggered When a User is Mentioned in Task Comments

  • What was done?   

The existing notification set has been expanded to include alerts sent to the Notification Center when a user is mentioned in a task comment.
  • How does it work?

As before, task-related communication takes place in the Comments section, which is available for every task regardless of its type. Now, users can mention a colleague in a comment to draw their attention to task details. The mentioned user will receive an instant push notification and a corresponding message in the Notification Center, including a direct link to the task for quick access.
  • Why is it useful?  

Expanding the list of notifications improves usability and helps users respond faster to updates. It also facilitates active collaboration — even with colleagues who are not directly assigned to the task.

Mobile and Tablet Versions of the Personal Assistant Fully Updated

  • What was done?   

The update of mobile and tablet versions for all Personal Assistant pages has been completed with no loss in functionality. All pages are now adapted for various screen sizes.
  • How does it work?

Users can access the Personal Assistant from their smartphones or tablets and perform all familiar actions. There is no longer any difference in experience, regardless of the device being used.
  • Why is it useful?  

The updated mobile and tablet versions provide greater flexibility and convenience. Whether an employee is in a meeting, on a business trip, working remotely, or in a hybrid setting, they have full access to all processes, data, and tasks — just like in the desktop version of the intranet.

Added Support for Multiple File Upload Fields on a Single Process Form

  • What was done?   

The Form Builder functionality has been expanded to support the repeated use of the file upload field within a single process initiation form. Now, one form can contain up to 10 file upload fields.
  • How does it work?

As before, a business administrator creates a process form using the Form Builder. The new enhancement allows the file upload field to be added to a section — or multiple sections — up to ten times. Each field can be given a unique name and set as required, if needed.
  • Why is it useful?  

This update enables the creation of more complex process initiation forms with multiple sections containing file upload fields. It makes the Form Builder even more versatile, user-friendly, and feature-rich.
11 min read
picture of it departament
IT HelpDesk System — Timely IT Support for Employees: Less Stress, More Efficiency
How can you create a competitive advantage for your business without going over budget? Every day, hundreds of thousands of managers worldwide ask themselves this question. Some look for new investment opportunities, others bet on technology, while some see their main growth area in their own personnel. Importantly, investing in employee experience has already become a hallmark of good business practice, as numerous studies clearly show the benefits. According to Gallup, engaged employees demonstrate 21% higher productivity, which directly impacts a company’s financial performance. Moreover, based on dozens of their own studies, Gallup concludes that regardless of the industry or economic conditions in which a company operates, it is the level of employee engagement that determines whether the business will grow or struggle to survive in times of instability. Among Gallup’s key recommendations to boost employee engagement is to create conditions where staff always have everything they need to do their jobs well. This means not only ticking off a formal must-have checklist. Proper office equipment, appropriate software, and easy access to necessary information are all important. Additionally, employees must be able to quickly and conveniently notify the responsible specialist about equipment failures, access issues, or the need for additional software — and receive timely support and problem resolution. Automating the process of creating and handling such employee requests significantly reduces IT department or technical specialists’ response times. This is the responsibility of the IT HelpDesk system — also known as a ticketing system. The tools needed to implement it are provided by SmartPoint Intranet, a solution for building an internal corporate workspace. Let’s take a closer look at how it works.

What Is IT HelpDesk?

HelpDesk is an IT tool designed to provide centralized management of employee requests related to technical or IT issues. Simply put, it’s an internal technical support system for staff, created to ensure the smooth operation of the organization. In practice, the HelpDesk serves as the main entry point to the company’s IT services, which users can access to request corporate services or support.

Key Use Cases of IT HelpDesk

Equipment Repair and Maintenance

With the HelpDesk system, employees can quickly report equipment malfunctions — computers, scanners, POS terminals, and more. The system automatically routes requests to the technical department based on set priorities, enabling:
  • fast response to issues,
  • efficient resource allocation,
  • minimization of equipment downtime.
Regular analysis of HelpDesk requests helps identify recurring equipment problems and schedule preventive maintenance in time, significantly reducing the risk of critical failures in the future. Tip: When implementing a HelpDesk system, it’s important to correctly set up the priority matrix. For example, a POS terminal failure during peak hours should have a higher priority than a software update on a backup computer.

Access Management

HelpDesk allows quick and convenient submission of access requests for new employees to the systems they need — such as POS software, ERP, or CRM systems. Requests are automatically sent to responsible personnel, significantly reducing processing time. Similarly, access revocation requests upon employee termination are easy to submit. When an employee changes position or department, the tool enables quick updates to their access rights. Handling requests through HelpDesk not only speeds up execution but also:
  • ensures control over access rights,
  • reduces risks of unauthorized access,
  • enhances overall information security within the company.
According to Verizon’s 2024 study, 74% of information security breaches were caused by human factors, including user errors or improper data handling. This highlights the importance of proper access management and regular review of access rights. Tip: Automate access granting and revocation processes to minimize human error and ensure timely updates of access rights. This approach helps avoid situations where a former employee, due to oversight, still retains access to corporate resources or files.

Submitting Software Installation and Update Requests via HelpDesk

With the HelpDesk system, employees can submit requests to install necessary software or update existing programs. This ensures data is up-to-date and the work environment remains secure. Tip: Integrate HelpDesk with other corporate systems to enable seamless information exchange and improve overall work efficiency.

Supporting Remote Workers with HelpDesk

In companies using remote or hybrid work models, HelpDesk plays a key role in ensuring smooth operations. It allows employees to submit requests for access to corporate resources, resolve ongoing technical issues, and receive support without needing to be physically present in the office. Tip: If your company follows a remote or hybrid work format, implement remote access technologies to quickly resolve technical problems without requiring on-site specialist presence.

HelpDesk as an Effective Tool for Information Literacy Training

The HelpDesk system is a powerful tool for organizing training sessions and providing consultations on using company IT resources, cybersecurity, and data protection. Responsible staff can automate requests for regular and initial training sessions on employee information hygiene. This helps reduce errors caused by insufficient understanding of security policies. Did you know? The international agricultural company Tiryaki, through regular cybersecurity training, reduced phishing clicks by 89% and annually prevents losses exceeding $100,000.

Benefits of Using an IT HelpDesk

A HelpDesk system is not just a convenient tool for handling requests — it’s a foundation for building a full-fledged IT service management system. This is largely thanks to the following core capabilities:
  • Automation of routine internal employee support processes.
  • Reduced workload on the support team through integration with a Knowledge Base, use of response templates, and self-service scenarios for common issues.
  • Increased productivity of the internal support department through automation.
  • Full control and transparency of task progress/completion via a user-friendly interface.
  • Better time and resource allocation through task prioritization.
  • Real-time analytics of support team workload and data-driven decision-making.
  • Shorter ticket resolution times.

HelpDesk as a Set of Convenient Personal Services for Employees by SmartPoint Intranet

SmartPoint Intranet is simple and user-friendly software based on Microsoft 365, designed to create a unified digital environment for the entire company. The solution also includes a tool for building an easy-to-use ticketing system to automate and optimize the processes of technical support for company employees — HelpDesk. In practice, HelpDesk serves as the single entry point for employee requests related to technical support, office infrastructure maintenance, and IT access provision. The system automates numerous operations involved in creating and processing requests to the IT or technical support departments. Thanks to this, the overall level of internal service within the company significantly improves, while the workload on responsible units is noticeably reduced.

How Does a HelpDesk Work, and What Features Should an Effective Ticketing System Have?

To improve business efficiency, such a system should provide:
  • Easy creation and collection of support requests
  • Sorting and prioritization of tickets based on pre-defined criteria
  • Automatic assignment of responsible employees
  • Ticket tracking: status, updates, comments
  • Communication with users to clarify or request additional information
  • Request fulfillment within agreed timeframes
  • Ticket closure by authorized personnel
  • Reporting and analytics: total number of tickets, average response time, resolution time
Let’s take a closer look.

Creating a Request

  • Any employee with system access can submit a request through the program interface, selecting the category in advance (IT request; Account creation request; Equipment issuance request), describing the issue, and attaching files if needed.
  • Each request is automatically assigned a unique number.

Process Automation in HelpDesk

One of the key advantages of HelpDesk based on SmartPoint Intranet is the built-in Process Builder. Thanks to this, the responsible employee at the user company can:
  • choose from standard request handling logics those relevant to internal business processes,
  • create a custom workflow for processing each request type,
  • set request prioritization — urgent requests (for example, an ERP system failure) are handled first.
This is made possible through integration with Power Automate’s Task Center and Flows, which allows easy creation of automated processes — from notifications and approvals to full-fledged routing of requests between departments.

Request Handling and Communication

  • The specialist responsible for the request sees it on their work dashboard and communicates directly with the employee within the HelpDesk system.
  • The system stores the complete history of correspondence, shows current request statuses (“in progress,” “completed,” “awaiting information”), and automatically sends notifications about updates to all parties involved.
Thus, HelpDesk is an effective tool that helps create a positive work environment, increases employee satisfaction, and reduces turnover. According to research by Tesla, 82% of remote workers report reduced stress levels thanks to efficient technical support — in particular, through the use of software solutions designed to support staff in remote work settings. Moreover, the solution directly contributes to increased overall company productivity and profitability, serving as an important tool for building and developing corporate culture. Tip: Regularly analyze HelpDesk usage statistics to identify potential issues and improve your employee support processes. Read the success story about how Nemiroff uses SmartPoint Intranet built on M365 — with its rich functionality and tools — to boost employee engagement. Want to learn more about which features of this solution will be most beneficial for your business? Request a free consultation here.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Which processes are automated in a HelpDesk system?
Modern HelpDesk systems automate the following processes:
  • Receiving requests via online forms, email, or chat
  • Routing tickets to the appropriate specialist or department
  • Prioritizing requests (e.g., based on keywords, category, or level of severity)
  • Notifying users about the status of their tickets
  • SLA monitoring — the system tracks how much time is left before a deadline and can send reminders to assignees
  • Closing tickets once they’ve been resolved
  • Providing suggestions for self-service solutions using AI tools and virtual agents
  • Generating reports on request-handling performance
  1. Are AI technologies already improving HelpDesk systems?
Yes, artificial intelligence technologies are already actively used to enhance HelpDesk systems as IT solutions. In particular, they enable:
  • Automatic ticket classification and routing: AI algorithms analyze the content of a request to automatically determine the issue category, priority level, and responsible employee
  • AI-powered virtual assistants: intelligent bots answer frequently asked questions in support chats and assist users in creating tickets
  • AI-driven knowledge base search: based on past requests, AI suggests the most likely solutions even before a ticket is created
  1. What is the difference between a ServiceDesk and a HelpDesk?
Both HelpDesk and ServiceDesk are designed to improve technical user support. However, while a HelpDesk primarily focuses on resolving individual incidents and technical issues, a ServiceDesk is responsible for proactively managing all company’s services. In other words, a ServiceDesk is a full-fledged service support unit that not only resolves technical issues but also works to prevent them. For example, a user reports a printer malfunction to the HelpDesk — a technician responds to the ticket, repairs the printer, and closes the request. In contrast, a ServiceDesk system detects that the same printer has malfunctioned three times in the past six months. This triggers a problem management scenario: the feasibility of replacing the equipment is assessed, and if needed, the budget is adjusted.
  1. What role does a HelpDesk system play in ITSM?
The difference between a HelpDesk and ITSM (IT Service Management) lies in the scope: a HelpDesk is a standalone tool for providing IT and technical support, while ITSM is a comprehensive methodology for managing the entire IT infrastructure of a company. A HelpDesk is a component of ITSM. When developed to the level of a ServiceDesk, it can serve as an incident management tool. Meanwhile, ITSM also includes:
  • Change management
  • Configuration management
  • Service level management
  • Issue management
  • Service catalog
  • Automation and analytics
  1. HelpDesk as a mobile-first system
A mobile-first HelpDesk system is one that works seamlessly on mobile devices. In practice, this means that all elements — buttons, forms, tables, and messages — automatically adapt to the screen size. The system is also optimized for performance under unstable internet conditions and provides fast access to corporate services even in areas with weak connectivity. Order a consultation
10 min read
visualization of people sitting around the planet as if at a round table
Corporate Culture and the Intranet: From Chaos to Unity
There’s really no such thing as internal culture anymore. Your culture is always public, and it’s your most powerful, public-facing asset or liability.
David Mattin

What Is Corporate Culture?

What does “company culture” mean? Technically, the term “corporate culture” refers to the set of norms, values, behavioral patterns, and management practices that shape how employees interact and relate to the company. But today, corporate culture goes far beyond internal etiquette. Modern companies view it as a strategic asset and a measurable management tool. It functions like an operating system – invisible on the surface, yet essential to the stable operation of the entire organization. In today’s environment, corporate culture not only governs internal relationships but also helps shape a company’s external image – one that directly influences customer loyalty and potential partnerships. A study by Heidrick & Struggles found that companies whose leaders effectively prioritize culture achieve twice the financial performance compared to those that don’t. But how exactly does this work? Despite its intangible nature, corporate culture has a measurable impact on the following business processes:
  1. Recruitment – Companies that showcase a clearly defined culture during the hiring process are more likely to attract candidates who share their values and can integrate into the team more easily.
  2. Onboarding – A well-established corporate culture helps new employees feel like part of the team faster. Clear internal communication guidelines also reduce new hires’ anxiety, as they don’t have to guess “how things are done here”.
  3. Internal Communication – Well-structured communication norms help prevent conflicts (or resolve them in a healthy way when they do arise), encourage open and respectful dialogue, and generally boost employee engagement.
  4. Learning and Development – A culture focused on growth encourages self-learning, mentorship, and knowledge sharing – all of which raise the team’s overall skill level.
  5. Motivation – A thoughtfully built culture helps employees feel connected to the company and more likely to take initiative in achieving shared goals.
  6. Performance Evaluation – A balanced culture supports objectivity and fairness in performance reviews, while also helping define what the company considers “success”.
  7. Decision-Making – Culture influences leadership style, long-term priorities (such as values, impact, and sustainability), and the transparency of how decisions are made.
  8. Employee Retention – People stay not only for financial rewards but also for the sense of belonging, psychological safety, and support in pursuing a common goal.

Grasping the Intangible: Types of Corporate Culture

Corporate culture is no longer an abstract concept. Today, it’s increasingly defined by clearly documented norms, values, and behavioral principles that shape how a company operates from within. Moreover, modern management recognizes several distinct types of company culture. Each has its own features, benefits, and potential risks – and most importantly, each can affect business outcomes differently depending on the industry, company size, and strategic goals. Here are some of the most common types of workplace culture today:
  • Clan (Family) Culture — This culture resembles a large family, where the focus is on internal relationships, teamwork, and shared values. Employees support one another and contribute to each other’s development and learning. Leaders act as mentors, and the organization values traditions and collective achievements.
  • Adhocracy (Entrepreneurial) Culture — Organizations with an entrepreneurial culture prioritize innovation, flexibility, and rapid adaptation to change. They encourage creativity, experimentation, and risk-taking. Employees enjoy a high degree of autonomy and responsibility, which fosters the development of bold and innovative ideas.
  • Market Culture — This organizational culture type is result-driven, emphasizing internal competition and the achievement of external goals. Employees are motivated to hit high-performance targets, while leaders set ambitious objectives and expect them to be met. While such a culture can drive strong results, it may also lead to stress and burnout due to constant pressure.
  • Hierarchy (Conventional) Culture — This type of culture is common in government institutions, this culture is characterized by strict structure, rules, and procedures. Authority and responsibility are distributed across hierarchical levels, and decisions follow established protocols. This approach ensures stability and predictability but may limit flexibility and innovation.
  • Flat (Horizontal) Culture — This culture features minimal hierarchy and emphasizes flexibility. Decisions are made collectively, roles and responsibilities flow freely among team members, and leaders work alongside their teams. It's a highly innovative environment, often favored by startups and young companies seeking a dynamic atmosphere.
Understanding the type of culture that already exists in a company – or the one needed to meet future goals – is key to effective management of people, change, and growth. Culture defines not only how we work, but also why we work the way we do. Of course, every company chooses the cultural model that best fits its needs. In practice, however, “pure” types of company cultures are rare – most companies develop a blended model that combines elements from several cultures. That’s why, before building or reshaping your corporate culture, it’s crucial to identify what it will be made of and what results you expect it to help achieve.

The “Recipe” for Corporate Culture: What It’s Made Of

Corporate culture is more than just the general atmosphere within a team. It’s an invisible yet powerful mechanism that shapes employee behavior, defines leadership styles, influences productivity, and impacts the company’s image. So, what exactly makes up this mechanism? There are several key elements:
  1. Values — The ideological foundation of the company; the principles that guide what it believes in and how it makes decisions.
  2. Mission and Purpose — The slogans and core objectives the company communicates to the world.
  3. Development Strategies — The company’s plans over specific timeframes.
  4. Behavioral Norms and Rules — Formal policies and informal expectations regarding employee behavior. This includes a dress code, appropriate language for communication, and internal communication guidelines.
  5. Management Practices — Leadership styles, feedback approaches, decision-making structures, and how communication with company leaders is organized.
  6. Employee Instructions — Clearly defined responsibilities for each team member, including working hours and areas of accountability.
  7. Customer Interaction Rules — Communication norms for working with clients, where the employee’s approach reflects the company’s core values.
  8. Company History — An essential part of shaping corporate culture, the company’s story influences how its values were formed. When employees know their company’s history, they are more likely to feel emotionally connected to it.
  9. Symbols, Rituals, and Traditions — All the elements that create a unique company identity: branded items, internal celebrations, success stories, or traditions like Friday ping-pong matches.

How to Implement Corporate Culture: Potential Challenges and Practical Tips

A company’s corporate culture isn’t created overnight. It is typically shaped by the company’s history – every day, every decision made by its leadership. That’s why, before formalizing culture into a set of rules and norms, it’s important to identify what already exists as a foundation. Abruptly changing communication styles or company rituals is not recommended, as this often leads to employee resistance and pushbacks. The first step is to define the key principles the company wants to promote – its vision, mission, and strategies. Then, these abstract concepts should be translated into concrete actions. Don’t wait for the annual strategy session – promote your values and vision consistently: in communications, in processes, and in leadership responses. How exactly can this be done? Here’s a step-by-step approach:
  1. Embed Culture into Processes and Behaviors: Integrate corporate culture into onboarding, performance evaluation, feedback, communication, and leadership practices. For example, if transparency is a core value, demonstrate it through regular AMA sessions with leadership or by openly discussing mistakes.
  2. Be Consistent: Culture is not a slide in a presentation – it’s what is repeated every day. It doesn't work if stated values contradict leadership behavior. Start from the top – leaders set the tone.
  3. Evaluate and Adjust: Culture is a living process. Regularly assess how it’s perceived by employees – what works and what doesn’t. Gather feedback and adapt your approach.
For companies with a hybrid work model, it’s especially important to ensure employees feel connected to the company’s culture. Remote work brings not only benefits but also hidden challenges – such as limited informal interactions and a weaker sense of unity and engagement. How can this be addressed?
  • Implement digital rituals (regular online meetings, informal chat channels, etc.).
  • Maintain transparent communication and frequent feedback.
  • Support micro-social initiatives: online recognition, themed events, mentoring programs.
However, in a hybrid work environment, promoting corporate culture is nearly impossible without enabling tools – such as an intranet.

SmartPoint Intranet: The Central Hub of Corporate Culture

An intranet is a company’s internal digital space that serves as both an information hub and a communication channel for all employees. It acts as a bridge between people – removing the distance between departments and offices, fostering a sense of unity among cross-functional teams, ensuring equal access to resources, and enabling everyone to stay informed, regardless of their location. A corporate portal can become a powerful driver of company culture, so choosing the right system is a critical decision. If you’re unsure where to start, here’s a simple checklist to guide you:
  1. Define your company’s needs and goals.
  2. Assess technical requirements – identify which portal features will help meet your objectives.
  3. Engage key stakeholders – SMART business experts can offer tailored consultations and help implement a solution that supports your company’s specific cultural needs.
  4. Form a team with representatives from various departments (HR, IT, communications) to gather requirements and ensure a holistic approach.
  5. Test and gather feedback.
Today’s market offers a wide range of digital workplace solutions. One worth considering is SmartPoint Intranet, built on Microsoft 365. This out-of-the-box solution is quick to deploy and seamlessly integrates with your company’s CRM and ERP systems. It offers all the tools needed to shape a digital workplace and provides the following benefits:
  • Unified digital space – All corporate information (news, updates, announcements, etc.) is consolidated in one place, keeping employees informed and aligned.
  • Accessibility – Custom visualizations and a user-friendly interface ensure intuitive navigation and quick access to corporate content. Multilingual support helps strengthen internal connections among employees in different countries.
  • Learning and development tools – SmartPoint includes a centralized knowledge base, and integration with SMART HCM & LMS provides access to webinars, courses, and resource libraries – encouraging upskilling.
  • Security and reliability – Built on Microsoft technologies, SmartPoint complies with international security standards, ensuring data protection at every access level.
  • Stable updates – With quarterly releases, the solution keeps pace with market trends and technical advancements.
  • Chatbot integration – The built-in chatbot works with Telegram and Microsoft Teams, enabling employees to receive updates and view assigned tasks in just a few clicks.
SmartPoint Intranet acts as a bridge between cultural ideals and daily operations. It provides tangible tools to help every employee feel part of the community, stay informed, understand the company’s goals, and see how they fit into the bigger picture. Employees don’t just receive updates or access documents through the portal – they interact, share ideas, express opinions, and learn to be part of something more than just routine tasks. If corporate culture is something intangible – values, interaction styles, team atmosphere – then SmartPoint Intranet is the digital tool that brings that culture to life. Still unsure about the digital environment in which to cultivate your corporate culture? Submit a request, and SMART business experts will help you choose a solution tailored to your company’s goals: Order a consultation
12 min read
logo bakotech
Марина Моськіна
Maryna Moskina
Head of People BAKOTECH
A Unified Digital Communication Environment Without Borders: Implementing the SmartPoint Intranet Solution for True Value Added IT Distributor BAKOTECH
Innovation is not merely the result of financial incentives or the brilliant breakthroughs of a few individuals. It is born where there is a favorable environment for ideas to grow. When people have access to knowledge, the necessary tools, and the ability to collaborate effectively, their ideas evolve, expand, and transform into truly groundbreaking solutions. This is why corporate culture, internal communication, and the environment that enable employees to generate and realize their ideas play such a crucial role. Behind every innovation stand people – experts who bring cutting-edge solutions to life. With this understanding, BAKOTECH invests not only in expanding its solution portfolio but also in its team and in creating optimal conditions for productive work. This, in turn, enables the company to deliver the highest level of service to its partners. The implementation of the SmartPoint Intranet solution has become another strategic step toward strengthening BAKOTECH’s human capital. So how exactly did the launch of the corporate portal help the company enhance its communication processes and boost the efficiency of its HR department? Read the full story in this new case study from SMART business!

How Processes Worked Before Implementation – and What Factors Triggered the Need for a New Solution

The company’s active growth, expansion into new markets, and the scaling of cross-functional teams became key factors that called for a more streamlined approach to BAKOTECH’s internal communications and HR processes. Existing tools such as Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft products performed their roles well – both when the team had fewer than 100 employees and during the phase of rapid growth. However, relying solely on these tools made it increasingly difficult to keep everyone informed about important updates, quickly find necessary documents and corporate information, conduct comprehensive onboarding for new hires, and cover the broader range of tasks handled by the HR department. All of this pointed out the need for additional tools. When the company grew to over 200 employees, the old approach required reinforcement to meet key needs, specifically:
  1. The need for a centralized platform that would provide quick access to corporate information and company resources.
  2. Expanding the capabilities for automation and personalization of processes such as onboarding or familiarization with company policies – of which BAKOTECH has more than 150, spanning nine countries. Each of these jurisdictions has its own specific policies and regulations governing employee activities and internal procedures, which require a thoughtful approach to data organization and structuring. This called for the creation of a single platform that would enable efficient management of large volumes of information and grant easy access to employees across different countries.
  3. The ability to seamlessly integrate communication and HR processes within a single digital environment, eliminating the constant need to switch between different programs and systems.
The company was looking for a solution that would enhance our onboarding process, ensure effective introduction of employees to our company structure, policies, corporate culture, management, and other essential aspects of BAKOTECH’s operations. We chose SMART business and the SmartPoint Intranet solution, as it fully met these requirements
Maryna Moskina
Head of People BAKOTECH
Since the company was already actively using Microsoft tools, choosing SmartPoint Intranet was a natural next step. This software solution is built on Microsoft 365, allowing the customer to smoothly integrate it into their familiar ecosystem. At the same time, SmartPoint Intranet enabled the company to quickly establish a unified digital communication environment thanks to a wide range of additional corporate portal components. The features that became a priority for BAKOTECH included:
  • Personal Dashboard with a Knowledge Base
  • Organizational Structure of the Company
  • Employee Directory
  • News Feed
  • Q&A Section
  • Photo and Video Gallery Module

How the SmartPoint Intranet Implementation Went: Challenges, Tasks, and the Vendor’s Role in Solving Them

The implementation of SmartPoint Intranet at BAKOTECH followed a classic scenario: the company deployed an out-of-the-box version of the solution, which offered the advantage of having all the essential modules already available within the intranet, along with the ability to quickly launch the system and further customize it as needed. As part of the implementation project, SMART business configured the system’s integration with Microsoft Entra ID to automatically retrieve employee and department data. This approach offered a number of benefits:
  • Keeping the data in the Organizational Structure and Employee Directory up to date – when a new employee joins the company, an existing employee’s position changes, or someone transfers to another department, these changes are automatically reflected in the internal portal.
  • Reducing the workload for HR and IT departments – there is no need to manually create or update employee profiles in SmartPoint Intranet, which saves HR and IT specialists time on system administration.
Additionally, during the implementation, the solution was fine-tuned to adjust the display of employee names and surnames in the web parts of the HR module, taking into account the way this data was entered by the customer in Microsoft Entra ID. Particular attention was also paid by both the vendor and the customer to organizing the Knowledge Base. BAKOTECH developed its own approach by dividing the Knowledge Base into regional pages for each country where the company operates. Since each jurisdiction has its own specific policies and regulations, it was crucial to implement an access control system. SMART business helped configure this logic so that each country would have its own set of policies, and employees would only have access to the documents relevant to them. This setup ensured that:
  1. Policies and internal regulatory documents are displayed only to employees for whom they are applicable.
  2. Employees working in Ukraine see Ukrainian policies, while their colleagues in Poland, for example, see Polish ones.
  3. The system takes into account the legislative and corporate standards of each country to ensure compliance with local requirements.
  4. Document access is configured based on roles and access rights, preventing employees from viewing information that is not intended for them.
Our Knowledge Base in SmartPoint Intranet has grown to an impressive scale: 9 countries, over 150 policies – and each policy is a separate page. Yet everything is well organized, intuitive, and convenient to use. We filled the system from scratch – it was a labor-intensive process, but we accepted the challenge because we aimed to create a unified digital environment where all our specialists could interact comfortably. As a result, we’ve built a valuable resource for all our colleagues, which is a major achievement for an international company with such a wide geographic reach
Maryna Moskina
Head of People BAKOTECH
Thus, SmartPoint Intranet allowed the company to streamline its work with corporate documentation – making the documents personalized while ensuring the storage environment remained secure. The BAKOTECH team involved both HR representatives and technical administrators in the project. A key success factor was the customer’s careful preparation of the content needed to populate the new system:
The customer approached the preparation of materials for implementation very responsibly and thoroughly, delivering a large volume of well-structured information on time – which significantly optimized the process. In many projects, one of the key challenges is the lack of ready-made content. But in BAKOTECH’s case, all the necessary data were provided even before the project officially started, which greatly contributed to smooth implementation
Natalia Nenych
Product Consultant
Moreover, the customer fully understood the importance of loading real data into the new system from day one. They prepared articles for the portal’s homepage, materials for the News section, and other content so the interface wouldn’t look “empty” immediately after the Go-Live. BAKOTECH also highlighted the administrator training stage, conducted by SMART business experts as part of the implementation project. However, no matter how thoroughly the theory is covered or how detailed the system walkthroughs are during training, real-life scenarios often raise additional questions. For the customer, it was especially valuable that the implementation team remained available even after the project was officially completed. SMART business quickly provided extra free training hours once the administrators had some hands-on experience with the system, allowing them to address questions arising directly from real-world use. This post-project support helped boost the administrators’ confidence in using the corporate portal and minimized potential startup challenges. The synergy between the two teams, regular productive meetings, the customer’s engagement, and the vendor’s ongoing support all contributed to effective communication and prompt resolution of both organizational and technical issues at every stage of the project. All these factors – combined with SMART business’s well-structured implementation plan – allowed the project to be completed on schedule within the planned 12 weeks.

The First Results of Using the Portal: How the Team Responded to the Change and Which Employee Engagement Methods Proved Most Effective

During the implementation of SmartPoint Intranet into BAKOTECH’s existing business processes, one of the key challenges for the customer was overcoming the team’s initial concerns about the new system. The company’s goal was to ensure an organic and stress-free introduction to the corporate portal, easing the typical anxieties that arise when adopting something new and unfamiliar. Like any company, BAKOTECH aimed to ensure both the return on investment and the system’s effectiveness. To facilitate this, the company assembled a pilot group whose members acted as “internal testers”, carefully identifying any minor issues that needed adjustments. Feedback from this group allowed the portal to be even better tailored to the employees’ individual needs and preferences. Once the pilot phase was complete, communication was expanded to the entire company. To increase engagement and encourage exploration of the portal, BAKOTECH launched a special content series within SmartPoint Intranet. Each week, the team published bite-sized mini-news updates starting with: “Did you know that…”. These posts offered users quick and practical tips on how to use different components and tools of the new portal. For instance, one week would highlight the benefits of browsing the Organizational Structure, and another would focus on the Knowledge Base. This strategy proved highly effective, helping employees gradually adapt and integrate SmartPoint Intranet into their daily routines. One-on-one conversations also revealed that specialists often found more than just answers to their immediate questions — while browsing the portal, they would discover other useful resources, which encouraged deeper and more frequent use of the system. Special attention was given to long-standing employees, as they were more accustomed to existing processes and naturally viewed change as a challenge. Interestingly, for new hires who joined the company after the portal’s launch, SmartPoint Intranet quickly became a standard, everyday tool – since new employees are granted access from their very first working day as part of the onboarding process. The implementation of SmartPoint Intranet was a significant milestone for the HR department. Today, the portal serves as an effective onboarding tool, providing new employees with all the essential information about the company, their colleagues, office locations, corporate values, policies, and more. The solution helps make the onboarding process more autonomous, structured, and comfortable for everyone involved. According to the customer, around 70% of employees have already used the portal at least once to browse specific materials. At the same time, the company continues to explore new initiatives to further increase employee engagement. Additionally, BAKOTECH discussed plans to enhance analytics by using Microsoft’s free service, Microsoft Clarity. This tool offers features such as heatmaps, user journey tracking, and session recordings, which will enable the company to gather deeper insights into how employees interact with the portal.
We understand that in order to be a source of innovation for others, we must constantly evolve ourselves. That’s why we actively implement modern solutions within the company – to optimize workflows, improve communication, and boost team productivity. With SmartPoint Intranet, our company has gained a universal tool that enables seamless communication, easy access to essential policies, guidelines, and other corporate information – all in one place. Now, employees can quickly find what they need without wasting time searching across various systems or local files. The solution has significantly improved the onboarding process and reduced the workload on our HR specialists
Maryna Moskina
Head of People BAKOTECH
Strategic employee engagement, attention to detail, combined with vendor expertise and ongoing support – these were the key factors that ensured the smooth and successful implementation of BAKOTECH’s corporate portal. If your company is also aiming to strengthen its corporate culture, embrace modern tools for automating operational processes, and foster efficient internal communication, SMART business solutions can help you reach those goals. As a trendsetter in the world of innovation, the SMART business team believes modern technology helps free up valuable time and resources, enabling businesses to focus on generating new ideas, developing human capital, and strengthening their competitive edge. SmartPoint Intranet is more than just a portal – it’s a reliable assistant designed to structure your workflows, safeguard important information, and create a digital space for seamless collaboration. Curious to see if SmartPoint Intranet is the right fit for your business needs? Request a free demo, and SMART business experts will help you unlock the solution’s full potential for your company! Request a Demo
14 min read
Guide to Effective Onboarding: The Role of the Corporate Portal in New Employee Integration
According to Gartner research, successful employee onboarding increases discretionary effort by 20%. This refers to the extra efforts that employees make on their own initiative, rather than as direct instructions from management. It is a kind of “bonus” contribution to the work, where an employee does more than expected by the company: showing initiative and deeper engagement, generating ideas, helping colleagues, or suggesting ways to improve business processes. As a result, a well-organized onboarding process can increase employee effectiveness by 15%. On the other hand, another Gartner study shows that outdated onboarding processes can increase employee fatigue by up to 42%, especially for those directly involved in the onboarding processes. Meanwhile, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) points to another positive trend, stating that employees who have undergone structured onboarding are 58% more likely to stay with the company for three years. Onboarding structure should not be viewed merely as a checklist for newcomers but as a comprehensive process that shapes the first impression of the company, its culture, and approach to people. In a world where the speed of employee adaptation equals the speed of achieving productivity, effective onboarding is impossible without automation and digitalization of processes. Outdated models of employee adaptation no longer work at full capacity: they are resource-intensive, create administrative burdens, and do not ensure a personalized experience for employees. Instead, the modern approach – digital onboarding – is onboarding as a service, where digital platforms play a key role: intranet solutions such as SmartPoint Intranet, or platforms for effective human capital management (SMART HCM & LMS) and other comprehensive automation tools. This approach not only simplifies the work of HR professionals but also ensures process transparency, control of key indicators, and promotes better engagement of new specialists.

What is Onboarding in the Context of Modern Trends, and What is Its Role?

Today, onboarding is not just an introduction to the job; it is a strategic process that ensures the quick adaptation of new employees, integration into the corporate culture, and lays the foundation for long-term employee productivity through digital solutions and automation.

Common Onboarding Challenges Faced by Companies and Factors that Negatively Impact Onboarding Attrition Rate

Many companies face typical problems during the adaptation of new employees, the key ones being:
  • Lack of a Single Information Database – when new employees must spend time searching for necessary materials instead of learning their core work processes.
  • Unstructured Materials – when documents are scattered across different platforms or stored as inconsistent files. This complicates the search for necessary information, increases the time spent learning new materials, and slows down the adaptation process.
  • Overburdened HR Department – often, HR professionals must manually answer the same questions and personally monitor each stage of onboarding, forcing them to constantly switch from priority strategic tasks. This, in turn, slows down the adaptation of newcomers and increases the risk of errors due to human factors.
  • Difficulty Integrating into the Team – without a clear adaptation program, new employees feel lost, which reduces their productivity and engagement, increasing the risk of a rise in the Onboarding Attrition Rate, which reflects the proportion of new employees who leave the company during the adaptation phase (usually within the first 30, 60, or 90 days after hiring). A high rate of this indicator can signal issues with the onboarding process, a mismatch between the candidate’s expectations and reality, or inadequate support from the company.
  • Inflexible Onboarding Processes – traditional onboarding approaches may not be able to account for the specifics of remote employees’ work or specialists located in different geographical regions. This can lead to new employees not receiving support in the format that suits them best. In such cases, onboarding processes need flexibility to adapt to different work conditions and communication features so that support and information sharing are equally effective for all employees, regardless of their location or work schedule.
  • Difficulties in Role Setting – if it is not clearly defined within the company who is responsible for each stage of the adaptation process, it can lead to inconsistencies and confusion in task execution. Therefore, it is crucial to have tools that allow for clear distribution of responsibilities and ensure technical-level control so that all processes work smoothly.

Which Modern Systems Can Enhance Onboarding?

To overcome these challenges, companies are implementing modern digital solutions. One powerful tool for managing HR processes is HCM systems (Human Capital Management). For instance, the SMART HCM & LMS solution is a comprehensive platform that includes modules for automating not only onboarding but also overall personnel management: recruitment, development, performance evaluation, goal setting, training, and more. This solution is suitable for large companies with complex structures, as it allows centralized management of all aspects of human capital. At the same time, for businesses that are just beginning to automate onboarding or those with limited budgets, HCM systems may prove to be too expensive and cumbersome. An alternative for starting out could be the implementation of an intranet solution – a platform for internal communication, information exchange, and organizing daily business processes. For example, SmartPoint Intranet by SMART business allows businesses to streamline employee onboarding, automate key tasks, and reduce the burden on HR departments. The advantage of this solution is that when the company needs to scale up, the corporate portal can easily integrate with a full-fledged HCM system.

How to Automate Onboarding with SmartPoint Intranet

SmartPoint Intranet is a unified digital communication environment that provides employees with tools for self-managing information, developing, and training specialists. The solution ensures the ability to work efficiently in a hybrid format, manage staff productivity, securely store corporate data, and build a strong corporate culture. Today, we will consider one scenario of how this solution helps companies build an effective onboarding process, using the key stages of adaptation as an example.

Preliminary Preparation

Typically, before a new employee’s first day, it is necessary to provide access to corporate resources, prepare the required documents, and explain what to expect. This process can be significantly simplified with the functionality of SmartPoint Intranet:
  • The system allows the creation of a centralized repository where all important materials for newcomers can be gathered in one place, with easy and immediate access. This can include job descriptions, internal rules, and checklists, allowing new employees to quickly familiarize themselves with the necessary information without wasting time searching. Since all information is available online and across various platforms, the employee adaptation process is greatly simplified, regardless of their geographical location.
  • The solution allows automatic task generation for setting up the new employee’s workspace, such as setting up the computer, granting access to necessary programs, and corporate resources. As a result, the new specialist can begin working immediately without delays, and the company saves time by efficiently planning the first days of work.

First Day on the Job

On the first day, it is crucial for the new employee to quickly adapt to the work environment and feel like part of the team. SmartPoint Intranet helps make this process structured and comfortable. For example, HR can initiate the onboarding process directly from the intranet through the Personal Cabinet. The system automatically sends a personalized invitation email, which is sent to the newcomer on the designated date and time. This email may contain all necessary links: to company video presentations, key documents, and initial tasks to be completed. Even if the training materials or other content are stored in external systems, the flexible integration capabilities allow for quick access to them. At the same time, the People Partner or Mentor can receive a notification about the new employee assigned to them and their own tasks related to onboarding. Thanks to the solution, the entire onboarding process can be transparently tracked, including task completion statuses using task manager tools, adaptation progress, results, and analytical reports. This approach ensures timely support at each stage of the adaptation process and allows for transparent tracking from the perspective of HR, the new employee, the People Partner, and other onboarding participants.

Training and Adaptation

This stage usually lasts from 2 weeks to 3 months, depending on the complexity of the job and the new employee’s qualification level. On average, basic familiarization with corporate processes takes 1-2 weeks, and full integration into the work can take 1-3 months. SmartPoint Intranet also supports this important stage. The new employee gains access to a personalized training material database, which may contain links to video lessons, instructions, and tests to assess knowledge after completing training modules. This makes the training process transparent, controlled, and most importantly, personalized. It is also worth mentioning the Employee Directory – another component of the solution, which allows quick access to colleague contact details, information about which department they work in, and their skills and competencies. This helps to promptly establish communication between newcomers and experienced colleagues. Additionally, the solution includes tools for creating an organizational structure of the company, helping new employees quickly understand who is responsible for what and effectively direct their questions.

Integration into Corporate Culture

On average, the process of integrating into corporate culture lasts from the first week to 3 months, depending on the level of engagement from the company. SmartPoint Intranet facilitates this process through components of the portal such as:
  • Corporate News, where important updates, company achievements, colleagues’ accomplishments, and other interesting topics related to corporate life are published.
  • Event Calendar, with all scheduled activities and company events, ensuring they are not lost in a busy schedule and that employees are always aware of important events.
  • Office Map, which helps employees quickly orient themselves in the locations of the company’s offices and improves communication between teams, even if they are in different locations.
  • Personal Services – a component that allows employees to easily submit requests for absence, office supplies, equipment, and various access rights, as well as track the status of these requests. This service contributes to building trust in the company, which cares about the comfort of its employees and ensures effective communication across cross-functional teams.
  • Support for Multilingualism – for companies with international presence, SMART business can provide multilingual support for the corporate portal, allowing the adaptation of information to various linguistic and cultural contexts. This enables employees from different countries to receive up-to-date information in their native language, fostering better communication and integration into the corporate culture.
With SmartPoint Intranet, you can also set up testing to assess the knowledge and adaptation level of a new hire or conduct surveys for feedback. The system can send notifications to employees about successfully completing a certain stage of onboarding and the need to take a test, including a link to it. Additionally, tasks can be created with deadlines to ensure timely completion of mandatory activities. This gives the company an additional tool to assess how well the new employee has absorbed the material and, if necessary, offer additional training resources to ensure a full entry into the work process.

Specifics of Onboarding Processes in Different Industries, and Why SmartPoint Intranet Is a Universal Solution for Business

The onboarding process can differ and have its own specifics depending on the industry, company size, corporate culture, and values.

Industry-Specific Features:

  • Manufacturing Companies: At the onboarding stage, it’s crucial for the newcomer to familiarize themselves with safety regulations, work instructions, and shift schedules as quickly as possible.
  • Service Industry: A critical focus is on quickly integrating into customer service standards, mastering communication scripts, and training in soft skills.
  • Technology Companies: Onboarding often focuses on accessing internal IT systems, product documentation, and integration into internal development processes.
  • Financial Institutions: Onboarding emphasizes security policies, regulatory requirements, and rapid immersion in the company’s financial products.
  • Healthcare Sector: Adaptation includes learning medical protocols, patient safety standards, and specifics of working with medical systems.
  • Retail: The key focus is on knowing the product range, shelf placement rules, working with cash systems, and customer interaction standards.
  • Logistics Companies: Knowledge of route logistics, transportation management systems, and document flow regulations is crucial.
  • Educational Institutions and EdTech Companies: Onboarding focuses on teaching methodologies, communication with students, and familiarization with educational platforms used by the organization.

Onboarding Features by Company Size:

  • In a startup – onboarding is usually dynamic and informal, with an emphasis on multifunctionality, quick adaptation, and involvement in key processes from the first days.
  • In small and medium businesses – onboarding combines structure and flexibility: new employees are given clear roles and responsibilities, while adaptation is tailored to individual needs. Due to limited resources, quick immersion in work processes and real tasks from day one is important. At the same time, the smaller scale of the company promotes closer interaction with leadership and the team, helping employees integrate faster into the corporate culture.
  • In large corporations – onboarding follows a well-structured program that includes several stages: from familiarizing with the company’s mission and values to integration into specific work processes. New hires receive detailed instructions, undergo training on internal policies, corporate standards, and organizational structure. Special platforms and mentoring are often used to gradually involve employees in work, helping them effectively adapt in large teams.

Onboarding Features by Corporate Culture:

  • In companies with a flexible culture – onboarding focuses on autonomy, minimal bureaucracy, and quick immersion in projects through mentorship or peer-to-peer learning.
  • In companies with a clear hierarchy – new hires undergo step-by-step adaptation through approved procedures, training, and progress evaluation checkpoints.
  • In international companies – the intercultural factor is important, as well as awareness of global practices, compliance policies, and adaptation to different time zones or communication styles.
  • In companies with remote or hybrid work formats – the key focus during onboarding is on autonomy, digital tools, independent material review, synchronization with the team, and ensuring a smooth integration into the corporate online environment.

Why SmartPoint Intranet Can Be a Universal Solution for Businesses

SmartPoint Intranet is an out-of-the-box solution that adapts to the specifics of various companies and allows for the creation of custom onboarding scenarios, considering a wide range of business needs. Here are the main advantages that make SmartPoint Intranet a universal tool:
  1. Process Automation – the solution allows the creation of a personalized and automated onboarding path for each new employee, such as task creation for HR, mentors, and employees themselves, helping avoid “forgotten” or lost stages of adaptation.
  2. Transparent Progress Tracking – HR professionals and managers can monitor and manage the stages of onboarding online, as well as receive analytical data for making informed management decisions.
  3. Single Access to Company Resources – with the SMART business solution, all important corporate documentation, organizational structure, policies and regulations, contacts, and company news are gathered in one convenient digital environment.
  4. Content Flexibility – the solution provides the ability to easily integrate any learning materials, video instructions, checklists, tests, and more.
  5. Customization Options – the system allows the creation of onboarding programs tailored to the unique needs of your business. The vendor also ensures that the portal design aligns with the company’s corporate identity, extending the brand’s visual identity.
  6. Broad Integration Capabilities – integration with the Microsoft 365 suite offers additional advantages, as all functional capabilities of this suite (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive, Planner, Outlook, etc.) are closely connected. This advantage allows employees to work with documents, communicate with colleagues, plan tasks, and access convenient work tools directly through the intranet. Additionally, integration with HCM & LMS systems allows for scaling HR, training, and development processes if needed.
SmartPoint Intranet is not just an internal company website but a powerful, comprehensive tool where the adaptation of new employees is only one of its many uses. Submit a request – and the SMART business team will demonstrate how the intranet can change the way your team works, saving time and resources, while helping each employee feel like part of your corporate family from day one!
11 min read
SmartPoint Intranet with Integrated Single Sign-On (SSO): Your Unified Gateway to Corporate Tools and Systems
Imagine having to unlock dozens of doors, each with its own lock and key, every morning before you even reach your desk. Exhausting, isn’t it? Yet in the digital workplace, this scenario feels all too familiar to professionals who spend their mornings logging into multiple systems, juggling endless browser tabs, and switching between a computer, tablet, or smartphone – where finding the right resource isn’t always straightforward. All this routine eats away at valuable time and attention that could be better spent on actual work. This is exactly the problem that a unified access point solves. Today, let’s take a closer look at how to streamline your company’s interaction with various systems by creating a single digital entry environment integrated with SSO – and how SmartPoint Intranet helps make that possible.

What is SSO Technology and How Does a Unified Access Point Work with It?

Single Sign-On (SSO) is a technology that allows users to access multiple systems and applications by entering their credentials (username and password) only once. After successful authentication, the system automatically recognizes the user across all integrated services – eliminating the need to log in repeatedly. The unified access point is a centralized portal that grants employees instant access to all corporate services and applications through a single interface. Instead of entering login credentials every time for every system, the user authenticates once and gains access to everything they need – from email to task managers, analytics platforms, and more. Think of it as a digital office in one place. An employee opens their work laptop or smartphone, logs into one system – and all essential tools are immediately available. No more password overload, no excessive browser tabs, no endless app searches. This is exactly what SmartPoint Intranet offers: a modern platform that not only provides centralized access to company services, but also combines tools for internal communication, knowledge base management, onboarding automation, document storage and search, service request management, company structure building, and more. It’s also worth noting that SmartPoint Intranet fully supports SSO integration.

How Does SSO Work When Integrated with SmartPoint Intranet?

  1. The user logs in through a single access point (for example, via SmartPoint Intranet).
  2. SSO verifies the credentials through an identity management system (such as Microsoft Entra ID).
  3. Once the login is successful, the session is maintained, and the user automatically gains access to all connected services – such as email, CRM, ERP, task managers, corporate learning platforms, and more – without the need to re-enter a password.
As a result, companies gain a range of benefits:
  • Convenience – fewer passwords mean less time wasted logging into various systems.
  • Enhanced security thanks to centralized access control and the ability to implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
  • Reduced IT workload – SSO integration minimizes password reset requests caused by forgotten or lost login credentials.
In this way, the unified access point in SmartPoint Intranet not only simplifies and optimizes daily work with multiple applications and services but also ensures safer access to corporate tools.

What Are the Benefits of Using SSO and a Unified Access Point in SmartPoint Intranet for Different Companies and Departments?

A unified access point is not just a convenience but a necessity for companies operating in dynamic environments, with complex structures and a variety of internal services.

For IT Departments

Implementing a unified access point and SSO integration is especially important for IT departments, as they manage user access and ensure cybersecurity. It’s equally valuable for HR departments, which rely on various tools for recruitment, onboarding, personnel management, and reporting.

For Finance Teams

Centralized access with SSO integration is critical for finance departments, which handle sensitive data and are responsible for the accuracy and security of financial reporting. It’s also essential for sales and marketing teams, who need instant access to CRM systems, analytics platforms, customer databases, and communication tools.

For Manufacturing Companies

For manufacturing businesses, a unified access point allows employees to centrally manage systems for warehouse and logistics operations without switching between platforms.

For Legal Departments

Legal teams can manage documents, contracts, and knowledge bases through a single access point – accelerating workflows and reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

For Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Organizations

For medical and pharmaceutical institutions, integrating all digital services into a single ecosystem enables doctors, administrators, and suppliers to efficiently handle patient records, medical databases, and inventory management systems.

For Educational Institutions

And for educational organizations, centralized access simplifies the management of student databases, remote learning platforms, and internal communications.

Benefits of Implementing SmartPoint Intranet with Single Sign-On Technology for Companies

Implementing a unified access point via SmartPoint Intranet combined with SSO integration offers a range of advantages for companies, including:
  1. Convenience for employees – instead of opening dozens of browser tabs and entering passwords for each system individually, employees simply log in to SmartPoint Intranet and gain access to all the necessary tools within a single workspace.
  2. Time savings – even if each login takes only a few seconds, over the course of a day this can add up to several minutes, and over a year – to dozens of hours. Time that could be better spent on solving important tasks is often wasted on routine logins. SmartPoint Intranet, combined with SSO technology, solves this problem by allowing employees to log in just once and immediately start working with all corporate services.
  3. Enhanced security – instead of managing dozens of passwords (some people even write them down in notebooks or on sticky notes), users enter just one strong password or use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This significantly increases security and reduces the risk of data leaks or accidental unauthorized access by malicious actors. On top of that, administrators have centralized control over access – they can quickly update user permissions, restrict access to certain systems, or promptly disable accounts for employees who are no longer with the company.
  4. Flexible customization and personalization – since each employee usually works with a different set of services, SmartPoint Intranet allows the interface to be tailored to specific needs. For example, a marketer can pin quick access to analytics dashboards and CRM on their main panel, while an HR specialist can prioritize the candidate database and interview scheduling system. The ability to adjust service visibility based on user roles helps avoid cluttered interfaces and creates a more comfortable working environment for everyone.
  5. Mobile access – support for mobile devices allows employees to access corporate systems and necessary tools even when working remotely. This is especially valuable for employees on business trips, remote teams, and field staff, enabling them to conveniently view information, handle documents, and communicate with colleagues directly from their smartphone or tablet.
  6. Usage analytics – SmartPoint Intranet enables the analysis of how users interact with internal portal pages, helping to optimize content and structure. For advanced analytics, it can be integrated with Microsoft Clarity – a tool that provides detailed insights into user activity, including click patterns and frequency, whether pages are scrolled to the end, what devices are used for access, and more. This integration helps assess content effectiveness, identify which elements need improvement, and make the digital workspace more convenient and useful.
In summary, SmartPoint Intranet is more than just a corporate portal – it’s a tool that makes work processes simpler, faster, and more secure. The combination of a unified access point and SSO technologies allows employees to start their workday without unnecessary obstacles, while helping companies streamline access management and protect sensitive data.

What Services Can Be Integrated into SmartPoint Intranet’s Unified Access Point?

SmartPoint Intranet enables centralized access to a company’s key platforms. Let’s look at the main services that can be integrated into the unified access point.

Corporate Email

Email remains one of the primary channels for business communication. Integration – for example, with Outlook – allows employees to receive and send emails without the need to log in to a separate mail client. This not only streamlines workflows but also helps respond more quickly to important messages throughout the day.

CRM and ERP Systems

Sales, finance, and logistics departments work daily with CRM and ERP systems that store critical business data. Thanks to integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance or SMART CRM, users can access up-to-date information on customers, deals, financial transactions, and inventory directly from SmartPoint Intranet.

Internal Portals and Document Management

Key internal company data is often stored in cloud repositories or corporate portals. With the capabilities of Microsoft 365, Microsoft Copilot, and integration with SmartPoint DMS, employees can quickly and easily find, review, and share documents using SmartPoint Intranet. This is especially useful for legal, finance, and administrative teams that handle large volumes of files and internal regulations.

Communication Tools

Team collaboration is the foundation of effective work, especially in companies with remote or hybrid teams. SmartPoint Intranet allows the integration of popular communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams, providing instant access to chats, video calls, and communication channels. This reduces the time spent searching for messages and improves interaction between employees.

Project Management Systems

Project teams often rely on specialized systems to plan, monitor, and control task execution. Thanks to API support, SmartPoint Intranet can integrate with Jira, Trello, Asana, and other platforms, enabling employees to quickly view project statuses, update tasks, and manage notifications – all without leaving their unified workspace. This significantly boosts productivity and reduces the risk of missing important information during the workday.

HR Platforms

With SmartPoint Intranet integration with solutions like SMART HCM & LMS, BambooHR, or Workday, employees can view relevant information, personal data, complete training courses, or access internal documentation – all from a single access point. This increases transparency in HR processes and simplifies interaction between HR departments and employees.

How the Unified Access Point is Set Up – Key Stages

Setting up a unified access point in SmartPoint Intranet is handled by the vendor and involves several stages, each influencing the integration’s effectiveness and user convenience.
  1. Company Needs Assessment – At the initial stage, the SMART business team collaborates with the client to define the key services and systems that need to be unified within a single workspace. These can include CRM, ERP, and HR platforms, document management solutions, and communication tools. It’s important to consider the number of users, access levels, and security requirements to design an optimal unified access point architecture.
  2. Selecting an Authentication System – The company can choose from ready-made single sign-on solutions such as Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, OneLogin, or opt for a custom solution tailored to its specific business processes. An essential factor here is compatibility with existing corporate services and support for multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  3. Integration with SSO (Single Sign-On) – At this stage, automatic user authentication is implemented. After logging into SmartPoint Intranet for the first time, employees no longer need to enter passwords to access internal systems – all connected services become available within a single session. This functionality reduces login time and enhances security.
  4. Configuring Access Rights – To ensure the correct access level for each employee, roles and permissions are configured in line with job responsibilities. For example, the finance department will have access to accounting systems, while the HR department will access candidate databases. Centralized access management allows for quick adjustments in case of role changes or employee offboarding.
  5. Testing and Deployment – At this stage, the integrations are tested for functionality, SSO and access levels are verified, and special attention is given to employee training. This ensures that users can fully leverage the new system from day one.

Why Entrust SMART business with Your Unified Access Point Setup?

SMART business has been working with companies of all sizes, industries, and markets for over 16 years. During this time, the team has gained deep insight into a wide variety of business processes. SMART business solutions are designed to support both specific business functions – HR, Sales, Marketing, Analytics, Finance – and the creation of a comprehensive IT ecosystem for the entire company. SMART business experts will take your company’s unique processes into account and configure SmartPoint Intranet’s unified access point to perfectly match your needs, ensuring maximum convenience and productivity for your business! Request Consultation