Web portals, perhaps one of the most underrated solutions for managing a business, offer some amazing benefits for businesses of all types and sizes. Web portals allow employees in your company to (1) securely access information and tools from any location or device, (2) automate operational and administrative processes, and (3) conduct business without constraints of time, location, or system.
#1 Secure Access From Any Location & Device
Did you know that 70% of all professionals work remotely at least once per week? Or that BYOD (bring your own device) has become standard procedure in many organizations? (“59% of organizations allow employees to use their own devices for work purposes,” reports one research firm.)
As working remotely on a variety of devices becomes increasingly common, businesses should consider how they can make their work processes easier and more secure. Web portals are often the answer!
Because portals are internet-based, they can be accessed from any location; they can also be designed so that they’re mobile-friendly. Portal users are provided unique access credentials, which allows management to track activity and ensures no unauthorized access to your company’s information. Furthermore, custom security levels can be configured to allow (and prohibit) certain types of access to both groups and individual users. By setting security levels, management can control what information (files or images, for example) and portal features or software components each user can access.
#2 Automate Operational & Administrative Processes
Web portals allow businesses to automate many operational and administrative processes. For example, digital robots can be enlisted to perform a range of tasks, from uploading documents to pushing out notifications and reminders.
Additionally, web portals utilize custom user interfaces which are built to make the user experience friendly and robust. This can be an excellent way to dress up an aging or non-user centric software that has good “bones,” but isn’t intuitive or enjoyable to use.
Lastly, a portal can be built as a layer on top of one or more pre-existing third-party software programs. The benefit in this is that end users only have to rely on a single access point for using a wider set of features. Multiple HR or AP-related softwares, for example, could be united in one single portal where users can complete much (or all) of their regular tasks. Software integrations can be developed to allow data to move between various programs so that the user experience within the portal is totally seamless.
#3 Manage Business Without Time, Location or System Constraints
Web portals can be designed to integrate with industry-leading business intelligence software and specialized industry software. Perform a full range of data analytics and harness the power of the business intelligence tools you’re already using… without ever having to leave the portal.
Let backend software utilize raw data to display concise graphs, reports, and management dashboards. No need to switch between systems!
How Would a Web Portal Change Your Workflow Process?
Want to learn more about how a web portal could improve your business’s workflow processes? Contact us for more information. Web portals are just one aspect of InStream’s many custom solutions for organizations in business, healthcare, government, and other sectors.
