Web Portal: A Solution Every Startup Should Have

Startup is the new way to do business across the globe. Governments are pushing and promoting young minds to start their own companies. From making special policies to organizing hackathons, funding to setting up incubation centers, organizing business meetups, government bodies are backing innovative ideas and businesses led by young entrepreneurs. In fact, big tech companies are also investing in small scale startup companies which help them to promote themselves better.

Helping startups is a must as they face lots of challenges in setting up their businesses. But, there is one forever issue which these companies face and i.e. to gain and retain customers. We all know customers are king. Happy and satisfied customers help you bring more customers and grow your business. Remember, getting customers is not just about contacting them; it's about connecting with them.

There are many ways of getting customers but having a web portal is the new way for upscaling, enhancing, and growing your business.

Let's understand how a web portal can help you as a startup company for gaining and retaining customers even during the pandemic.

What is a web portal?

According to Liferay,A portal is a web-based platform that collects information from different sources into a single user interface and presents users with the most relevant information for their context. Over time, simple web portals have evolved into portal platforms that support digital customer experience initiatives.

And here’s how it helps a startup likes yours grow:

[*]Simplified Management

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This is one of the major issues most of the startups are facing. Many of them don’t know the key of management. But, with the help of a single portal, you can manage your company, employees, and customers all in one place. Web portals can also work as an internal employee portal. Here, your employees can collaborate with each other and streamline internal operations. Not only this but with the help of a web portal it becomes easy for your customers to reach out to you. This not only reduces a lot of miscommunication and management mishaps but also simplifies internal processes.

[*]Flexible and User-friendly

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Digital is the new normal. From purchasing hairpins to big electronic items or even paying for everything is now online. Today more than half of the population of the world is dependent on the internet. In such a rat race, having a good, user friendly, and easy to navigate UI/UX is necessary. If your customers are facing difficulty in navigating through your web portal or even your website then it is likely that they will drop the idea of doing business with you.

Bad UI/UX is one of the major issues why your customers don’t come back to your website. In this scenario, developing a custom web portal is the key. You can have complete control over these things and create a portal that lives up to your customers’ expectations helping you create a brand name.

[*]Secure Channel

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Security is an essential part of any online product today. Having a secure portal means your clients’ data is safe and they trust you with it. Your clients will also have individual login credentials using which they can log in their accounts and have access to their documents only. It works as a secure channel for your clients to communicate with you.

[*]Custom Solution

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There are thousands of web portals available in the market and looking at the different options with myriad features might confuse you. This is why a customized portal is the way to go. There are lots of web portal development companies out there that can help you to create a portal of your choice according to your business logic.

Having a custom portal means it can have the features and functionalities of your choice, you can also develop a custom theme based on your website’s design language. Additionally, having a custom portal also gives you an opportunity to integrate features based on your clients' feedback as well.

In short, having a custom web portal is a win-win situation for you as well as your customers.

[*]Single Sign-in Option

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Once the web portal integrates with your website then it becomes very easy for your customers to sign in to your portal. They can easily access the technical documents, generate tickets for their issues, access user manuals, understand your company’s products, services, and many such things. Additionally, integrating web portals helps even your support team member in solving your customers’ issues efficiently.

[*]Creating a Brand

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If your company requires a strong social media presence then you can integrate the same in your web portal which makes it easier for you to interact with your customers. And get new customers as well. Not only communicating but you can also come to know their issues directly through social media platforms. We all know how powerful social media is. Big tech companies have dedicated support pages that help their customers to easily solve the issues round the clock.

Providing round the clock support on a platform of your customers’ choice will not only help you in getting new customers but will also build up the reputation of your company.

Being an entrepreneur has its own difficulties but with the help of the technology and correct tools you can surely make your name in the market. Business is all about taking risks, sometimes there are profits, sometimes there are losses. But keeping up with the market trends is the key to success.
 
This article effectively highlights the growing importance of startups in the global economy and the critical challenge they face: customer acquisition and retention. It posits that web portals are a modern and highly effective solution for startups to overcome this hurdle, especially in today's digitally-driven world.

The article defines a web portal as a web-based platform that aggregates information from various sources into a single user interface, presenting the most relevant information to the user. It then elaborates on how web portals can significantly contribute to a startup's growth, focusing on key benefits:

  • Simplified Management: A web portal acts as a centralized hub for managing the company, employees, and customers. It can function as an internal employee portal for collaboration and streamlined internal operations, while also simplifying customer outreach, reducing miscommunication, and streamlining processes.
  • Flexible and User-Friendly (UI/UX):In the current digital landscape, where most transactions and interactions happen online, a user-friendly and easy-to-navigate UI/UX is paramount. The article stresses that poor UI/UX is a major reason for customer churn. Developing a custom web portal gives startups complete control over design, allowing them to meet customer expectations and build their brand.
    • Statistical Insight: Research indicates that even a one-second delay in page load time can significantly reduce user satisfaction and increase bounce rates. For example, some studies suggest that a website loading in over 2 seconds can lead to a significant drop-off in users. A well-designed portal, optimized for speed and responsiveness, can directly counter this.
  • Secure Channel: Security is a fundamental requirement for any online product. A secure web portal ensures client data safety, fostering trust. Individual login credentials provide secure access to personal documents, establishing a secure communication channel between clients and the company.
  • Custom Solution:The article advocates for customized web portals over off-the-shelf options. Custom development allows startups to incorporate specific features and functionalities aligned with their unique business logic and brand design. It also enables integration of client feedback for continuous improvement, creating a win-win for both the startup and its customers.
    • Statistical Insight: According to Microsoft's State of Global Customer Service report, up to 90% of customers expect brands to offer an online self-service portal. This high expectation underscores the necessity of a custom portal that caters to specific user needs.
  • Single Sign-in Option: Once integrated with a website, a web portal offers a seamless single sign-on experience for customers. This simplifies access to technical documents, knowledge bases, user manuals, and allows them to generate support tickets efficiently, greatly aiding the support team.
  • Creating a Brand:Web portals can integrate social media, facilitating direct interaction with customers and potential new leads. Providing round-the-clock support on customers' preferred platforms builds company reputation and trust.
    • Statistical Insight: Vonage's Global Customer Engagement Report found that 46% of customers look for self-service support but often find a lack of 24-hour options. A web portal with robust self-service features directly addresses this pain point, enhancing brand perception. Bain & Company estimates that a 5% increase in customer retention can increase profit by between 25% and 95%, highlighting the direct financial impact of improved customer experience facilitated by portals.
In conclusion, the article strongly advises startups to leverage web portals as a vital tool for navigating the challenges of customer acquisition and retention. It emphasizes that by embracing technology and adapting to market trends through web portals, startups can streamline operations, enhance customer experience, build a strong brand, and ultimately achieve success in the competitive business landscape.
 
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