Soft Market Testing - Social intranet software solution

We are looking to test the market for a social intranet software solution that provides a collaborative and social space that allows colleagues to engage. The solution should connect a modern workforce working from home and other multiple locations with information and a range of engaging and effective tools that encourage collaboration. The product should also provide a knowledge management solution that supports and encourages knowledge sharing. The solution needs to offer a secure mobile version as around 20% of the workforce do not have regular access to computers.

The solution needs to be viable for Council staff, councillors and Council Companies staff.

Staff figures: Council staff - 3,043 70 Councillors Council Companies staff - circa 2,800 people across the six council-owned companies

The solution needs to offer multiple ways of connecting our modern workforce to each other and making two-way communication and engagement easy and rewarding. Staff will use the solution for accessing news and features, finding information, getting the advice and guidance they need to deliver their roles, engaging with each other and sharing knowledge. It must be able to host multiple types of media, such as video, audio etc, and offer high levels of interaction. It must also offer solutions that can serve different types of information to different segregations of the audience service-specific messaging can be delivered.

This solution should be primarily an off-the-shelf product with a proven provenance. We are not looking to purchase a bespoke build. A list of our mandatory requirements is also attached.

Interested organisations should apply on The Chest (www.the-chest.org.uk) and provide the following :

• An overview of their product - marketing literature is permitted • How it meets the mandatory criteria provided • Costing details - a benchmark costing of the 1st year fee plus ongoing maintenance and support fees for subsequent years • List of customers already using the product effectively.

Please note that we are not looking for the level of detail we would in a tender. The purpose of the soft market testing is to shortlist companies who we would then contact to arrange an on-line demonstration. To confirm, the solution must be an off the shelf product meeting all of the mandatory requirements set out in the Excel document.

Please apply by uploading the required information as follows:

• Upload to the Chest • Closing date is 10am Wednesday 11th November 2020