Best use of Intranet Multimedia files
We have seen video files used in several areas within Claromentis intranet systems – here are some examples with comments.
1. The corporate talking head. This is common in certain more corporate Marcoms solutions - where departments see these are a way to get the management story across in a more friendly way.
2. Training videos. We have manufacturing customers that use videos to show agents and distributors how to perform various hardware tasks - highly effective. Pictures here really do speak a thousand words. Especially if the audience is not always English speaking.
3. Software training - short animations of people using the software demonstrate how to perform various tasks. Becoming easy to produce and very low cost.
There are some problems, in my opinion, with use of videos on corporate intranets.
For example a user will get very irritated once they have seen any talking head animation more than once. So the idea of promoting a departmental home page using a manager discussing the departments goals and contributions is fine – providing it does not play unless I click on it. Before it plays – I should see something else in its place. In general this is a good example of where the phase 1 system might need replacing with phase 1.1 very soon after launch!
In general this idea of “information before I play it” can be extended – it is much better to have a gateway page describing and cataloging videos on the intranet – preferably using universal metadata as used in Claromentis to optimize relevancy and speed of searching – so that a user is well informed before they select a video to watch – rather than surprising them with possibly irrelevant animations on an otherwise useful resource.
Similarly make sure the files are optimized and delivered for fast access. In fact – some useful media files need no image at all – for example on people profiles why not have an audio clip from the user about their interests and current activities – or perhaps in global corporations have an audio file of how to properly pronounce their name. Effective, personal and simple.
General Intranet Posts, People and Cultural Issues, intranet applications