The advantages of boards portals go beyond the digitization of paper documents. They help directors to organize meetings, manage their tasks, and work with other members.
For instance, if directors receive a message from the company secretary stating that her board documents have been uploaded to the portal, she is aware that she can dedicate time to them on the weekend or in the afternoon on Tuesday to make sure she is ahead of the agenda for the meeting and to note key issues or questions. The director can also utilize the portal’s real-time analytics to understand how directors engage with information prior to the meeting and see how much time they’re spending on each document or section.
This is particularly beneficial for directors who are managing multiple commitments and have limited time to dedicate to the board. A well-designed portal can be accessed by any device at any time. Because most board members already use their existing devices to access other online services it does not require a lengthy learning curve.
When evaluating various vendors be sure to take into account other features. While user-friendliness is a major factor for most directors, it’s not the only one. For instance, some platforms offer tools that enable directors to vote and keep records of their decisions. This reduces the time required by the secretary and lets the board make changes between meetings.
