The web’s vocabulary is vast and quite technical, so it might be difficult to understand the difference between two terms such as web portal and website. However, today we are going to show you the difference and to tell you how a professional portal development company can be a game-changer for your business.  

First of all, unlike a website which designates a collection of web pages, linked by hyperlinks, accessible to the general public, and can be static or dynamic, a web portal is a website that offers a common entry point to a wide range of resources and services accessible on the internet and focused on a particular area of ​​interest or community.

The resources and services to which access is thus gathered may be websites or web pages, discussion forums, email addresses, publication spaces, search engines, etc.  That’s why there is no doubt that a web portal is a strategic entry point to the World Wide Web for individuals and businesses.

What types of web portals exist?

Today, there are several types of web portals, each of which has its own characteristics, functions, and goals. In general, all portals can be divided into 4 types:

1. Intranet web portal

2. Extranet web portal

3. Specific web portal

4. E-commerce web portal

Let’s discuss the characteristics of all of them. The intranet is a type of web portal dedicated to communication and sharing of internal resources within a company. It allows you to communicate essential information to all your employees. Depending on your needs, an intranet site can have any type of functionality, it can include a workflow system, a social wall, reporting, instant messaging, a mailbox, an internal newsletter, etc.

The goal is to bring together all of your company’s resources. If an employee is looking for a document, they must be able to find it on your intranet. It’s ultimately an online resource centre dedicated solely to your business.

This type of portal every development company designs for your private professional access. Therefore, only your employees will be able to log in using their credentials, even if they work remotely.

Extranet web portal

This type of web portal allows you to share documents and communicate with people outside the company (customers, suppliers, etc.). Very close to the intranet in terms of functionalities, the extranet site differs in its access. In fact, the extranet allows you to connect to the company’s web interface from any workstation, using a personal identifier and password. It is also possible to limit access based on the users who connect to it.

The emergence of new working methods such as remote working is pushing companies to adopt new working habits, capable of meeting the needs of everyone involved in the different projects.

The purpose of the extranet is to connect the company with external partners or customers securely and confidentially, and it also has the possibility of linking several sites of the same company.

Specific web portal

Web portals provide a comfortable, customizable, and intuitive web interface allowing users to access the information and services of interest to them. There are web portals of all types: travel, entertainment, employment, real estate, classified ads, social networking or even video sites.

E-commerce web portal

In the digital world, e-commerce projects constitute an important part of customer requests. Building an e-commerce site requires perfect mastery of back-office, ERP and supply chain processes. E-commerce only makes sense if it can be perfectly integrated with the company’s other activities.

How do you choose web portal development specialists?

You should choose specialists according to your request, having read in detail the advantages of portal development services of each company you trust. One of the leading development companies is Digiteum, a professional team that supports clients in creating not only web portals and e-commerce sites but also the complete design and development cycle of your web portal or e-commerce platform project. Usually, IT companies cover several of your needs at once, including supporting your needs such as UX/UI design, development, and application maintenance.

Look to web portals and e-commerce development experts and testimonials to benefit your projects. In addition to technical and functional skills, ensure the developers’ ability to analyze and formalize, as well as interpersonal skills to develop a solution that best meets the needs of your users.

In addition, the best experts also support you in setting up change management and training specialists to ensure user adoption and the success of your transformation.

What businesses need web portals the most?

There are 3 sectors of activity for which a web portal can be particularly useful:  manufacturers, distributors, and services.

A web portal from a professional development company like Digiteum can provide significant benefits to manufacturers, facilitating efficient management of B2B and B2C customers. For B2B customers, it simplifies the ordering process for complex equipment, optimizes inventory management, strengthens collaboration with business partners, and even makes it possible to offer online training. Furthermore, web portals may be a useful tool for distributors who want to set up many businesses or offer online at varying rates based on the type of consumer.

This technological platform provides a simple way for B2C clients to place individual orders. Consumers may easily peruse the merchandise, put things in their carts, and pay online. Ultimately, because of its capacity to enhance operational efficiency, communication, and transparency, this type of portal is also a good fit for service-oriented enterprises. 

Customers may examine bills, follow progress, request services, and contact the firm all in one place using these online portals. It streamlines making appointments and providing access to crucial data, hence enhancing the general client experience. To lessen the need for direct customer assistance, service organizations may also utilize the portal to provide their clients with helpful tools, instructions, and information.

Conclusion

Modern portals have become an integral part of business. We recommend getting your own if you don’t already have one. Even the most average web portal is already an order of magnitude more effective than working offline. Besides, you can always improve or rework it in the future.