Within this article, we’ll be covering everything you need about board portal software. Some of the topics we’ll cover include:
What is a board portal? Why should boards use board software? How can you use the best board portal software?
Read on for more information.
What Is a Board Portal?
A board portal (sometimes referred to as a board of directors software) is a type of governance software that lets team members secure and timely delivery of digital board packs, as well as hold board meetings, record minutes, share other sensitive documents, and more.
Why Should Boards Use Board Portal Software?
If a board incorporates board portal software into their business practices, they can increase efficiency and productivity, save money and time, and improve the security of any sensitive papers. Board portals like NASDAQ’s Directors Desk make it simple for companies to compile board packs, allowing directors access to insights and documents anytime and from any location. Report writers will be able to write more comprehensive and in-depth reports, while secretariats can put together board packs and deliver them to members of the board with ease. Essentially, board portals are crucial for streamlined board document management, helping boards get the information they need quickly so they can focus on other company matters and decision-making.
How Can You Use the Best Board
While companies may be tempted to switch to paperless with more generic platforms like SharePoint or Acrobat to save money, they will not have access to industry-leading security protocols or numerous other benefits that the best board portals offer. Your best option is a dedicated board portal solution to ensure efficient board meeting resolution, file sharing, reporting, insights, and more. However, there are numerous things you need to consider, such as who will use the software and how will the software work for them. As the name suggests, a board portal is primarily used by the board of directors of the company, as well as any governors or trustees. However, the software will also be used by your secretary team, report writers, and anybody else who requires information from the board portal. While generic management software and certain board portals will aid one or two of those groups, the best programs will work for all of these groups and pass your IT team’s tests for security, support, and more. Let’s look at how the board portal works for each of these subsections of the company in greater detail.
Directors
Directors require a streamlined board portal experience that offers the convenience of paper aided by user-friendly technology that makes board practices more efficient. As such, the portal should be intuitive and easy to navigate. Most board portals offer the following features:
Secure and instantaneous access to documents and the dashboard wherever you are and whenever you need it, whether you are online or offline. Push notifications and alerts to direct board members to new updates and documents. Allow directors to navigate the archive of electronic documents without fuss. Allow directors to annotate documents and keep those notes even if the document is updated. Access 24/7 support from a specially trained in-house support team
Company Secretary Team
Board portal software can help secretaries save a huge amount of time compiling and distributing the board pack. However, this benefit is usually overlooked when organizations are considering whether they should go digital. Sure, no board portal can prevent report authors from making changes right before the board pack is due to go out, but sophisticated board portals can make those unexpected changes more manageable for secretaries whose job is to ensure directors get all the information they need for an upcoming board meeting. Board portals offer the following perks for your secretary team and organization as a whole:
Speed and an intuitive user interface, eliminating many time-consuming processes and relieving the workload for secretaries. Publish board packs, as well as updates or late documents with one click. Amand agenda items with drag and drop functionality. Arrange files in any format with drag and drop functionality. Preview and collaborate on document drafts before they are published. Control who sees specific documents, as well as who can edit them. Calculate agenda timings automatically. Keep track of the company’s audit trail easily. Streamline report briefings, task management, feedback, deadlines, and more.
Report Writers
The best board portal software eliminates constant back-and-forth emails between report writers and other members of the organization, unclogging your inbox and reducing the security of risk of leaking sensitive documents. Writers can also use the platform to make the reports more accurate and help improve company decisions. For example, board portals can help:
Manage briefings, version control, and deadlines in one platform. Provide feedback on papers between the secretary team and report writers. Provide templates, guidance, and training for report writers to create more effective reports.
IT Teams
An organization’s IT team has to ensure the board uses the right technology and any documents are secure. While every company has its own requirements, a board portal should offer the following benefits to IT teams:
24/7 support from trained support staff. Total encryption at rest and in transit. Complete control over access rights and authentication (for example, two-factor login-ins). Remote wipe functionality in the event of missing devices. Complete audit trail of company activity. Third-party penetration testing Security audits Comprehensive continuity and disaster recovery plans (this could include an uptime guarantee).
Great for Board Meetings and More
As you can see, board portal software is essential for any company looking to streamline its practices and scale its business. While it is primarily used for boards and directors, the software can be useful for any committee or meeting that requires shared use of documents and robust security.
