The ECA market consists of vendors offering a discrete application, well-defined module, or cohesive set of capabilities that enables people in “communicator” roles to plan, create, coordinate, and distribute internal communications across the workforce or to specific audiences. ECAs include analytics that measure interactions and effectiveness of communications across content, channels, devices, campaigns and feedback loops to assess business and employee value.
Gartner defines an intranet packaged solution (IPS) as a software product that organizations use to create and deploy an internal website or network of websites, portals, hubs, mobile apps and other digital experiences supporting business-to-employee needs. An IPS is delivered as an integrated assembly of capabilities geared specifically for intranet use cases, including employee communications and engagement, employee service and self-service, application access and knowledge services. “Packaged” signifies a holistic and fit-for-purpose approach. In contrast, a custom-built or developed approach would leverage a platform or array of products not specifically designed to support intranet use cases.
The market for social software in the workplace includes software products that support people working together in teams, communities or networks. These products can be tailored to support a variety of collaborative activities. Buyers are looking for virtual environments that can engage participants to create, organize and share information, and encourage them to find, connect and interact with each other. Business use of these products ranges from project coordination within small teams or homogeneous groups, to information exchange between employees across an entire organization.