A board portal is specialist governance software that safely and securely delivers digital board packs to directors and their organisation’s secretariat. Automated and streamlined they facilitate better collaboration, enhance discussions and decision-making, and assist all stakeholders to align around the strategic direction of the business.
They also reduce the costs of printing, couriering and emailing. Board members have access to board documents and communicate with each other via an encrypted, in-app messaging system, even if they are not in the office. They can prepare for meetings and sign documents online or through the app. They can also use the video conferencing feature to attend virtual meetings when they’re not able to attend in person.
What should you look for in a board portal
Ask prospective vendors to provide demonstrations, and extensive troubleshooting information on their website. They will also be able to provide you with a complete estimate that includes all up-front and ongoing expenses. Pricing models can differ and be built around a flat price, per feature or by the number of users. Therefore, it’s important to compare them.
Security is the main requirement for a top-quality board portal. It should be able to secure all data that is in transit and in storage and offer specific security controls for authentication and access rights. It should also have a disaster recovery plan that includes a guarantee of uptime and go through periodic external audits to ensure availability, privacy and security.