Enterprise social networking (ESN) software supports bottom-up communication and collaboration within an organization. It provides a digital platform for employees to interact socially, collaborate, and share information, encouraging more informal, peer-to-peer communication. ESN software lets employees share updates, photos, and messages directly with their colleagues, like consumer social media platforms. Any organization can use ESN software to promote engagement and collaboration among employees. More specifically, ESN software can help companies with a hybrid or remote workforce ensure that employees have opportunities to connect, engage, and socialize despite their work location. This can help to boost morale and overall satisfaction among employees.
While ESN software is a type of internal communications platform, it differs from employee communications software in the kinds of communications they are designed to facilitate. Employee communications software is geared toward holistic solutions that offer a variety of communication styles (top-down, bottom-up, asynchronous, synchronous) and broadcasting essential company-wide messages. ESN software encourages informal, interactive, and peer-to-peer collaboration, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and teamwork. Both types of software play vital roles in enhancing internal communication and promoting a well-connected and engaged workforce.
To qualify for inclusion in the Enterprise Social Networking (ESN) category, a product must:
Allow users to create and maintain profiles that include information such as contact info, skills, expertise, and interests
Have an activity feed or timeline that displays real-time updates, posts, and interactions from users or groups
Allow users to engage with content via likes and comments
Enable users to upload, share, and collaborate on a variety of files or document types
Allow users to send direct messages in one-on-one or group conversations
Organize groups or communities based on employees’ interests, projects, or departments
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Workvivo by Zoom is a leading Employee Experience Platform (EXP) that unifies internal communications, employee engagement, intranet, and employee listening in one modern, mobile-first hub. Built for
Users: SPS Associate, Software Engineer · Industries: Consumer Services, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 57% Enterprise, 29% Mid-Market
User Sentiment
Reviewers like Workvivo's user-friendly interface, its similarity to social media platforms, the ability to recognize colleagues, and the convenience of having all work-related tools and updates in one place. Users mentioned issues with the platform's notification system, which can be overwhelming, the lack of customization options, occasional slow loading times, and the need for frequent authentication.
DSMN8 is the #1 employee advocacy platform, trusted by global brands like McKinsey, Nokia, and Dropbox. Our software makes it effortless for employees to become authentic brand advocates, social selle
Users: Recruitment Consultant, Account Executive · Industries: Telecommunications, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 68% Enterprise, 24% Mid-Market
User Sentiment
Users like the platform's user-friendly interface, its ability to schedule posts, and the analytics feature that provides insights into post engagement and reach. Reviewers mentioned issues with the platform's navigation, lack of personalization options, and the need to frequently reconnect their LinkedIn accounts.
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Simpplr is the AI-powered employee experience platform with the most comprehensive intranet as the foundation.
Simpplr is the only platform that unifies employee engagement, enablement, and servic
Users: Communications Manager · Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software · Market Segment: 57% Mid-Market, 40% Enterprise
User Sentiment
Reviewers like the ease of use, the ability to keep teams connected and informed, the security features, and the tool's scalability, which enhances productivity and simplifies team engagement. Reviewers mentioned limitations in customization options, the need for familiarity with the platform's features, and the requirement to log in each time as some of the drawbacks of the tool.
WorkJam is the leading digital frontline workplace, proven to deliver a 410% ROI by combining task management, scheduling, learning, and communication into one easy-to-use super app for employees who
Reviewers frequently mention the user-friendly nature of the platform, its ability to provide clear task assignments and tracking, and the convenience of having schedules and pay stubs readily available. Reviewers mentioned occasional glitches, difficulty understanding certain aspects, and issues with tasks not completing when off the clock, as well as the need for configuration or phased rollout for some features to align with existing processes.
Blink is a leading employee experience platform that unifies employee communications, employee intranet, and employee engagement in one mobile-first super-app. Built for frontline and deskless organiz
Users: Operations Manager, Assistant Operations Manager · Industries: Transportation/Trucking/Railroad, Hospital & Health Care · Market Segment: 49% Enterprise, 41% Mid-Market
Jostle’s employee success platform is where everyone connects, communicates, and celebrates at work. It’s the heartbeat of our own company and has helped employees in over 1,000 organizations easily b
Users like the app's adaptability, the variety of content it offers, its user-friendly layout, and the responsive support team that assists with questions and suggestions. Reviewers noted issues with the mobile version and app stability, limitations in terms of user interface personalization, occasional login challenges, and the inability to set fixed notifications for important content.
Reward Gateway helps companies engage, motivate and retain people – every day, all over the world. Partnering with over 4000 companies in 23 countries, we empower more than 6.5 million employees to co
Users: Software Engineer, Teacher · Industries: Hospital & Health Care, Computer Software · Market Segment: 47% Mid-Market, 43% Enterprise
User Sentiment
Reviewers frequently mention the platform's ease of use, the tangible value it delivers to employees, the ability to customize it to align with company branding and values, and the responsive customer support team. Users experienced challenges with the back-end administration, found the communications and blog functionality outdated compared to other platforms, and suggested improvements in the platform's integration with HR systems and the addition of more options for recognition.
Reimagine the employee experience with Unily — the AI-powered platform defining the future of work. Recognized as a global Leader across top analyst reports, Unily helps enterprises boost productivity
Users like Unily's user-friendly interface, flexible customization, strong integration capabilities, and its ability to reduce email dependency and support better coordination across teams. Reviewers mentioned that some advanced features can be complex to configure, the search results could be more accurate, and the social features could be easier to use and implement.
EveryoneSocial is an employee advocacy platform that transforms employees into influencers by enabling them to easily create and share authentic content.
Some of the world’s highest-performing organi
Users: Account Executive · Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software · Market Segment: 77% Enterprise, 20% Mid-Market
GaggleAMP is an employee advocacy platform that enables organizations to easily distribute content for employees to share on social media, helping amplify brand reach and engagement.
With a simple
Users: Social Media Manager, Marketing Manager · Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 60% Mid-Market, 28% Enterprise
Zoho Connect is a modern employee experience platform and intranet that unifies people, resources, and the apps they need. With Connect, employees can hold discussions, share ideas, create collaborati
Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software · Market Segment: 53% Small-Business, 31% Mid-Market
Firstup’s mission is to improve the employee experience at every moment that matters. The Firstup intelligent communication platform empowers Comms, HR, and EX leaders to reach every employee and impr
Industries: Hospital & Health Care, Manufacturing · Market Segment: 78% Enterprise, 29% Mid-Market
User Sentiment
Reviewers frequently mention the platform's user-friendly nature, its ability to tailor content based on user feedback, and its transformative impact on team communication, with its multi-channel delivery capabilities and centralized knowledge hub being particularly appreciated. Reviewers noted issues with the platform's limited UI customization support, complex navigation for searching old messages, recurring glitches in the Studio, and the need for more technical help in setting up, as well as the lack of certain features like the Knowledge Hub as a standard part of the platform.
Xoxoday powers rewards, incentives, and loyalty programs for 5,000+ companies worldwide, including Freshworks, Infosys, Capgemini, AT&T, H&M, and more, that help them engage and retain their e
Users: Software Engineer, Manager · Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software · Market Segment: 48% Enterprise, 37% Mid-Market
User Sentiment
Reviewers appreciate the wide range of rewards suitable for over 175 countries, the ease of integration with other apps, and the flexibility of the tool in rewarding different groups such as clients, employees, and partners. Users mentioned issues with the redemption process being confusing, the platform not being adaptable for small companies, and customer support taking too long to resolve tickets.
AgilityPortal is an award-winning cloud-based intranet software and digital workplace platform designed to help organizations modernize how their people connect, communicate, and collaborate. Built fo
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