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HCL Connections Reviews

Vendor: HCLSoftware
4.1 out of 5
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What is HCL Connections?

IBM Connections™ is a leading unified collaboration and social networking solution that helps you filter out the noise to get work done. Connections empowers your teams and organization to engage with the right experts, accelerate innovation, and deliver results. All the collaboration tools you need to be productive are united under a single sign-on so you can reduce time spent switching between disparate tools and focus on the people and work that matters most. Experience a security-rich and business-compliant environment sanctioned by IT. Confidently share knowledge within your teams and your organization, and extend collaboration beyond traditional boundaries. Connections can enable you to improve decision-making, increase productivity, and accelerate time-to-market. Shift from being merely productive, to truly effective with Connections today.

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HCL Connections is the #5 ranked solution in top Corporate Portals and #12 ranked solution in top Enterprise Social Software. PeerSpot users give HCL Connections an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. HCL Connections is most commonly compared to SharePoint: HCL Connections vs SharePoint. HCL Connections is popular among the small business segment, accounting for 46% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a performing arts, accounting for 20% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
HCL Connections
August 2025
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HCL Connections mindshare

Product category:
Corporate Portals (Enterprise Informa...
As of August 2025, the mindshare of HCL Connections in the Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals) category stands at 3.1%, up from 2.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
HCL Connections3.1%
SharePoint26.7%
Liferay Digital Experience Platform21.2%
Other49.0%
Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals)

PeerResearch reports based on HCL Connections reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryCorporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals)Aug 29, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonHCL Connections vs SharePointAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonHCL Connections vs Atlassian ConfluenceAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonHCL Connections vs Liferay Digital Experience PlatformAug 29, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
SharePoint3.926.7%79%162 interviewsAdd to research
Atlassian Confluence4.114.6%90%106 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

HCL Connections offers key features like file sharing, communities for team collaboration, mobile access for on-the-go convenience, and integration with existing tools. Users appreciate the ability to manage projects through activities, wikis for documentation, and effective profiles for connecting with resources. Notifications keep teams informed. The platform's suite of enterprise collaboration tools, including social features and threaded conversations, enhances communication, reduces information silos, and supports a unified work environment across departments.
  • "Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."
  • "The most valuable feature is the Activity flow that is used to catch new activities."

Room for Improvement

HCL Connections needs improvement in its interface, which is not intuitive and challenges users with inconsistent navigation. Document management and file sharing features are limited without additional extensions, making content organization difficult. Licensing and installation are complex, requiring skilled partners. Administration lacks centralization and requires accessing multiple platforms. The mobile and desktop plugins need enhancement for better functionality and integration with other tools. Community and user management features, including tagging and file organization, require further development to improve user experience.
  • "The support is an area where the product can improve...If you are having an issue on a Monday, the support personnel will contact you next Monday."
  • "The inclusion of a file plugin for Windows Explorer would make it easier to use."

ROI

Some users observed a positive return within nine months, benefiting from enhanced knowledge sharing and reduced meeting times. Adoption requires effort in the beginning, emphasizing driving initial user engagement. Negotiation on features is crucial; some users pay for unneeded features such as chat services that are already covered by alternatives like Skype. Understanding HCL Connections' capabilities and prioritizing essential features over unnecessary ones can enhance return on investment.

Pricing

HCL Connections pricing involves single user licensing, with two main editions offering similar pricing structures. Companies find initial costs competitive compared to Jive or SharePoint, although market awareness of its value may be limited. Attractive pricing can be secured through IBM business partners, especially when bundled with additional solutions. The cloud version is recommended for reduced maintenance. Negotiations on pricing are beneficial, as list prices may not reflect available discounts and flexibility.

Service and Support

HCL Connections' customer service is mixed, with Business Partners frequently handling tasks. Technical support receives varied feedback, from excellent to needing improvement. Many express satisfaction with knowledgeable and efficient support staff, but some encounter delays and require multiple interactions to resolve issues. IBM's multi-tier support offers strengths at higher levels, while earlier levels can struggle, sometimes requiring escalation. The community and IBM's network of Business Partners provide valuable additional assistance.

Deployment

Initial setup of HCL Connections varies, with some finding it straightforward and quick, especially in cloud environments, while others consider it complex due to integration with components like WebSphere, DB2, LDAP, and Cognos. Technical knowledge is often necessary, and the process is considered challenging when customizing for specific needs. Many participants report needing expert help, although detailed documentation is available. Those already familiar with IBM environments might find it easier.

Scalability

HCL Connections is praised for excellent scalability, handling tens of thousands of users effectively. It is running on the robust IBM WebSphere platform, offering effortless horizontal and vertical scaling. Despite a few noted challenges, such as with Solr search clustering, organizations found their scalability needs met with minimal issues and sufficient infrastructure. Admin users expressed limitations in backend control. Users appreciated the capability to expand using additional resources like RAM and servers when required.

Stability

HCL Connections demonstrates good stability. Many users report no issues when properly configured, though some encounter challenges relating to tuning and performance. Issues like browser incompatibilities and occasional portal hanging have been noted. IBM works with users to resolve such concerns. Some prefer a more stable experience like that of other platforms. Generally, HCL Connections is stable, with improvements ongoing. WebSphere enhances reliability for large environments. Confidence levels vary, mostly favorably. Maintenance occasionally affects stability.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our HCL Connections Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business19
Midsize Enterprise11
Large Enterprise24
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business33
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise28
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Performing Arts
20%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Media Company
10%
Educational Organization
7%
Outsourcing Company
7%
Transportation Company
7%
Wholesaler/Distributor
6%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Healthcare Company
6%
Insurance Company
6%
Logistics Company
3%
Computer Software Company
3%
University
3%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Construction Company
1%
Energy/Utilities Company
1%
International Affairs Institute
1%
Real Estate/Law Firm
1%

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Learn more about HCL Connections

IBM Connections can help you: Engage experts. People-centric platform enables you to easily locate the expertise you need, right now. Accelerate innovation. Illuminate and promote new ideas within a thriving social network of teams and communities. Empower teams. Get work done together and take action; anywhere—from any device. Deliver results. Leverage cognitive insights to prioritize results and arrive at better outcomes. Extend collaboration. Safely collaborate with customers and partners, bringing them into the conversation.

HCL Connections was previously known as IBM Connections, Lotus Connections.

HCL Connections customers

Yamato Financial Co. Ltd., University of Zurich, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., Telus, Rabobank, Christian Brothers Services, Grupo Financiero Banorte, The Loft Group, Dow Water & Process Solutions, JGC Corporation, College of Medicine, Swansea University, solvito GmbH, Loft Group, Hamm-Reno Group GmbH, Geno SA

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals)
Enterprise Social Software

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HCL Connections Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Talent acquisition & development specialist at Software Productivity Strategists, Inc. (SPS)4.5I use HCL Connections for marketing, but the support needs improvement as it takes a week to address issues. We have extensive experience with IBM and utilize HCL Connections for email and social media marketing alongside other partnership products.
IT Support Manager at MAX Burgers AB4.5No summary available
Project Manager | Business Consultant | Learning & Development | Managing Partner at a tech services company with 51-200 employees4.5No summary available
IBM Infrastructure and IBM Escalation at a tech services company with 51-200 employees5.0No summary available
Chief Solutions Architect at a tech consulting company with self employed4.0No summary available
IBM Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees4.0No summary available
Responsable Technique IT at a tech company with 51-200 employees4.5No summary available
Senior Manager of Network at a mining and metals company with 10,001+ employees3.5No summary available