Introduction
You’ve seen it happen. An intranet project gets the green light… and then it stalls. Priorities shift. Teams get busy. Budgets tighten. The thinking is: “Let’s wait until the timing is right.”
But while you wait, something else is happening – quietly, invisibly.
Not dramatic. Not loud. But costly.
Because the real price of delay isn’t just missed deadlines.
It’s lost momentum, fragmented communication and growing disengagement. And it adds up – faster than you think.
Postponing means shadow systems will take over
When your intranet doesn’t keep up with how people actually work, they fill the gaps themselves.
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HR policies live in someone’s Google Drive
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Project updates get shared in unofficial WhatsApp groups
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Team processes sit in a spreadsheet only two people know about
Each workaround feels harmless. But together? They create confusion, duplication and a growing lack of trust in any “official” source.
This is shadow IT. And it’s not just a technical problem, it’s a signal. That the organisation isn’t giving people what they need. And so, they build their own tools.
Over time, this impacts compliance, knowledge sharing and employee experience. Even simple questions – “Where can I find X?” – become a time sink.
Momentum doesn’t wait
Internal projects need more than approval. They need energy, alignment and belief. And those things don’t stick around forever.
Delay six months, and:
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Your executive sponsor may have moved on
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Priorities in the business have shifted
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The comms team has been pulled into three other projects
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The early excitement? It’s cooled off
Momentum isn’t a tap you can turn back on when convenient. When people see a project stall, they often assume it won’t happen at all.
And when you do try to restart? You’re not picking up where you left off. You’re starting over – often from a more cynical place.
You miss the moments that matter
A modern intranet isn’t just about publishing content. It’s a tool to support culture, clarity and connection – especially in key moments.
If you’re about to:
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Roll out a hybrid or remote work policy
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Onboard a large group of new hires
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Announce changes in leadership or structure
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Launch new values or priorities
Then you need a trusted space to communicate, engage and reinforce alignment.
Without it, you fall back on scattered emails, outdated PDFs and meetings that don’t reach everyone. You inform, but you don’t connect. And that difference matters.
Disengagement creeps in
When employees stop trusting the intranet, they stop using it.
When they stop using it, they stop contributing.
And when they stop contributing, it gets even more outdated.
It’s a slow spiral. One that’s hard to spot – until adoption drops, or the feedback turns sour.
Meanwhile, your most motivated people – those who drive culture and connection – start to burn out. They waste time searching for info, recreating what already exists, or answering the same questions again and again.
Eventually, they stop trying. Or worse, they leave.
Not because of just the intranet.
But because repeated delays send a message: “Employee experience isn’t really a priority.”
Good news: You don’t need to wait for “the perfect moment”
There’s no such thing as perfect timing.
But there is such a thing as a smart start.
You don’t have to rebuild your entire intranet in one go. You can begin with a focused, functional quick win – something people feel immediately.
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A central HR hub to replace scattered files
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A modern people directory with accurate info
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A news feed that actually reaches the right audience
At Involv, we help you do exactly that.
Our intranet solution is built on SharePoint, but with 50+ ready-made components, best-practice templates and a user-friendly experience that removes the heavy lifting. No lengthy dev cycles. No steep learning curves. Just fast, visible progress – led by your team.
Every month of delay has a cost.
Not just in time or tools – but in trust, energy and missed opportunity.
⏱ So why not use that time to build momentum instead?
Book a personalised Involv demo. See what’s possible in just a few weeks and start showing value before the year is up.
What are the risks of delaying an intranet project?
Delaying your intranet project often leads to fragmented communication, loss of momentum and the rise of shadow IT. Employees turn to unofficial tools and channels, making it harder to control information and maintain trust in your internal systems.
How does delay affect intranet adoption?
When a project is postponed repeatedly, employees lose confidence that it will ever launch. This creates disengagement and weakens adoption when the platform finally goes live – making it harder to achieve lasting impact.
What are the hidden costs of intranet delays?
Beyond missed deadlines, delays result in lost time, duplicated effort, employee frustration and reduced engagement. You also risk missing key moments – like onboarding waves or organisational changes – where a strong intranet would make a real difference.
How can I modernise our intranet without doing everything at once?
Start small. Focus on one clear quick win – like a centralised HR hub or updated people directory. This allows you to demonstrate value fast, build trust internally and create momentum for future improvements.
What is shadow IT and why is it a risk?
Shadow IT refers to employees using unauthorised tools and platforms to get their work done. While often well-intentioned, it leads to information silos, security risks, compliance issues and inconsistent communication across the organisation.
Why is timing so critical for internal projects like an intranet?
Support from leadership, stakeholder alignment and team energy are often short-lived. If a project gets delayed, the sponsor might move on and priorities shift. Relaunching later typically means starting from scratch – with less enthusiasm.
