While web-based portals can represent the most basic IT methods for distributing and/or collecting information, portals are completely scalable thus, when performing as envisioned, portals represent the simple elegance attained from enterprise-wide integration. This simple elegance translates into a coherent corporate image/brand; intuitive data entry and searching capabilities for users of the portal; real-time connectivity through the portal (A2A, B2B, B2C, B2X); completely secured and authorized data transfer; event-driven process initiation and workflow automation; event-driven and scheduled content and data management; and improved response times for queries and requests - with automated, immediate scheduling of requests and automated messaging and data transfer to initiate response processes.

Intranet Portals & Executive Dashboard Advantages:

• Coherent presentation of corporate culture & identity:
  
  • Guide strategic planning
    
  • Facilitate marketing initiatives
    
  • Structure organizational design
    
  • Direct workflow improvements & reorganization
    
  • Frame business relationships of all types
    
  • Cohere the corporation!
    
• Architected IT solutions that leverage intangible assets such as culture & identity enable:
  
  • Consistent view of and relationship with the corporation by the user
    
  • Internal coherence based on a single, consistent operating system & information access and distribution across the corporation
    
  • Real-time, collaborative decision-making - truly leverage your knowledge and intangible assets
    
  • Decision-analytic and data transfer systems customized to represent your organizational structures and hierarchies

Business solutions based on well-integrated intranet portals:

• Business process and business rules integration and automation
  
• Knowledge transfer and dissemination
  
• Streamlined and effective decision-making
  
• Reduction in cost of operations
  
• Alignment of technological and corporate strategies
  
• Ability to create new opportunities and options due to real-time knowledge and data sharing
  
• Promoting a coherent and unified view of the corporation
  
• Increased flexibility:
  
  • Capitalize on market volatility
    
  • Improve risk management
    
  • Anticipate opportunities and threats
    
  • Leverage IT integration to improve decision-making processes
    
  • Improve response times

Extranet Portal Advantages:

• Interactive, tangible integration device
  
• Cohere IT strategy with corporate strategy (to increase competitive advantages)
  
• Increased back- and front-office integration:
  
  • Eliminate redundant and repetitive tasks
    
  • Transfer large volumes of data between applications & divisions
    
  • Information and data management
    
  • Integrated content management
    
• B2B and B2C information distribution:
  
  • Scheduled information publication
    
  • Real-time, event-driven data entry, manipulation, and transfer
    
  • Coordinate decision-analytic processes
    
  • Automate business process coordination, project execution, schedule & report generation
    
  • Enhanced risk analysis & asset management
    
• Procurement for all divisions and subsidiary companies
  
• Increased resources for marketing/branding strategies
  
  • Data collected from portal-based interactions are transformed into enriched, searchable, and interactive customer databases
    
  • Enlarged arena for branding efforts
    
  • Reduce redundant activities & recognize new opportunities

EAI & Portal Development
Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) is a crucial aspect of portal building that must be considered early in the planning process. Not only must the portal be integrated into the business processes and data repositories, but the most effective portals are touch points through which individuals interact with a well-architected, enterprise-wide, integrated infrastructure. Current technology investments must be integrated in to portal technology to truly maximize the effectiveness of the portal and decrease the learning curve associated with using and managing the portal. Applications, businesses and customers must be able to exchange information, regardless of their platform, data format, or geographical location. Seamless integration inside and outside the enterprise allows for data transmission that is fast, secure, and 100% reliable.

Related Topics
Live Solution #1 - AISM
Live Solution #2 - Gaynor
Portals through Instapro Gateway