Fast-growing US market operator IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) has launched an internal social networking site to enable staff to communicate with colleagues and find information.
Using technology from Jive Software, ICESpace serves as the company's corporate intranet and collaboration platform.
Based on Jive's Clearspace platform it acts as a central repository for employees to find company information such as executive communications, human resource policies and legal notices.
In addition, staff can share project updates and technology advancements across organisations, spawning innovation, speedy resolution of issues and improved productivity, says Jive.
ICE approached Jive looking to improve employee communications after seeing its headcount grow rapidly.
After a string of seven acquisitions, the firm's headcount has soared from around 200 staff at the beginning of 2007 to nearly 800 today with staff based in New York, Chicago, Houston, London, Winnipeg, Calgary and Singapore.
"ICESpace has become a fixture on the desktops of our employees, providing access to shared documentation, real-time project updates and educational resources," says Edwin Marcial, CTO, ICE. "As a leading technology provider in the exchange space, we sought a solution for our internal needs that was innovative and more dynamic than a static intranet, and we found the right solution with Jive."
Earlier this week a survey commissioned by AT&T revealed that around two thirds of employees in Europe use social networking tools as part of their everyday work life, with 65% saying the technology has made them, or their colleagues, more efficient.
The poll shows 39% use their companies' own collaboration sites on intranets whilst internal forums within the firm are used by 20%.