A portal is a web-based platform that gathers details from different sources into one user interface and provides users with the most applicable information for their context. Or another way to say it, a personalized, secure access point for information.
Portals were originally developed to assist with content discovery.
But nowadays, with search engines and sharing capabilities of social media, content discovery isn’t the primary purpose of portals; it’s more so about improving and simplifying the digital user experience.
Now that we know what a portal is, let’s look at some examples of various portals:
The one goal all these portals have is a personalized experience, specific to the user, and most of the time in a secured fashion requiring login credentials. A common example of a portal’s practical use may be at work. Employees may utilize different programs to track time, complete quarterly reviews, acknowledge a team member – and having to jump around to each specific program could be frustrating. A portal at work would allow those three programs to be housed in one spot that the employee could access!
It’s also important to distinguish the differences between a web portal and a website.
Web Portals allow users to interact with information on a page, provide real-time and highly personalized experiences, and can have multiple integrations with third parties.
Websites are predominantly static, so you don’t need a username and password for a website. And website customization is designed to generate brand awareness and tell your company’s story.
At Raborn Media, our web development team can work with you to review the various sources of information your company may have, and determine if portal creation may be a fit for your organization.
