A board portal is an effective tool for streamlining meetings and reducing administrative burden and enhancing communication. But it’s important to select the most appropriate software for your particular organization. A lot of board portals have features that your nonprofit doesn’t require. It’s easy to waste money on tools that don’t add value to your board.
To avoid this risk, you can use this checklist to review potential providers of board portals. The questions below are designed to help you analyze the most relevant and important factors that should determine your final choice of a provider.
Choosing Leading Board Portals
First, look for an online portal that has an intuitive interface that is easy to understand and use. Consider the performance of the company’s customer support team. If you need assistance in creating your new portal or solving a problem, the way in which they respond can have a huge impact on your satisfaction with the product and how well it meets your needs.
Next, check out the security measures a potential vendor has in place to safeguard your personal information. Some websites offer two-factor authentication, secure data encryption and third-party penetration testing of the software. Some servers are hosted in hardened data centers and conduct regular security audits. Ask the company if they are ready to handle a catastrophic recovery scenario.
Ask a prospective provider how they intend to enhance the functionality in the future of their board portal. Do they have a roadmap of future features? Do they notify clients of any imminent changes that could affect their experience in the future?