The same benefits being realised across the Internet are also available internally to organisations via their Intranet. This is the new medium for global collaboration, information delivery, corporate communications, sales and the all important customer and internal user support.

Most people have used the Internet now and can navigate the maze of web sites. We all have our favourite sites and our pet hates. Few people will have the patience to sit and wait for extravagant graphics to begin their display. Equally you do not want a system on your network that generates excessive network traffic or server/PC resources. Simple, clean sites with only informative images not only load faster but look better too. When selecting a web based solution consider the the time it takes to load a page, the number of gifs or jpg's and your ability to navigate the site. 

The application by design should be a web site in it's own right  and not just a series of unconnected pages. Consider how it will fit in with the rest of your organisation's Intranet or web site. Can it be configured to have the same look and feel.? Will the pages fit in the browser window?, do you have to scroll down and across the pages to find the buttons?. Navigation is important as you do not want to constantly train new staff in how the system functions. It should be intuitive by design and use common standards of web navigation.

Flexibility in the web design is also important. Schemes come and go and the web has had more flavours of the month than you could count. If you are using the same application day in day out, how refreshing it would be for it to evolve. Not just with new colours and fonts but the layout, background and the occasional image. It must also keep abreast of the latest 'more sensible' web trends.  The web will not stand still and your web based application should not stand still either. Simplicity of design is the key to change.

A number of vendors now provide the source code so that you can make final adjustments to the look and feel. If it to truly blend in and not be a disparate site then this is essential. Releasing source code is an unprecedented move by software vendors but in keeping with the Internet revolution. Anyone can right click their mouse and view the source code of most web pages. This truly open source approach is what has made the web such a rapidly growing phenomena. Any vendor serious about being in the web application market knows this. If you do select an application with encrypted an inaccessible code then make sure you get an ESCRO or similar agreement so that the source code is obtainable should the software company cease operations or support.

The helpdesk site becomes a focus of all the support personnel, it is imperative therefore that it complements without duplicating the support process. A truly web based helpdesk has all the features of a web site with the ability to add your own links to useful documentation and sites, be it on your network or across the internet.

We no longer see information being delivered by Executive Information Systems applications, which proved to be yet another information island. The Intranet provides companies with unrivalled opportunities to gain access to all company information from a single user interface, their web browser. Any application purchasing decision must now consider  a web browser application interface to compliment the delivery and management of corporate information.