May 11, 2023
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Visibility is a strengthening factor in client relationships. But figuring out the best way to offer it to your clients can be a challenge. One hack for doing so with the least amount of manual effort is to implement a client portal.
What Is a Client Portal?
A client portal, or customer portal, is an interface that allows clients to access information relating to projects and services. This may also include files and billing.
Client portals are used across various industries to streamline the client experience. Commercial organizations, design studios, insurance firms, banks and others use client portals to create an efficient line of communication with their customers. They can be especially useful for small to mid-sized businesses looking to better manage time and day-to-day operations.
The Intent Behind a Client Portal
Client portals can be used to varying extents. Before selecting the one you’ll use, consider your unique business needs and those of your clients.
- What information would be useful for them to have?
- Are you regularly providing project status updates?
- Do you need to offer the ability to access and accept quotes or pay invoices?
- What features do you need from a file-sharing solution?
- Do you need to comply with any security standards for your industry?
To help you connect those needs to the right software, we’ve compiled key details about five leading client portals:
Accelo
Accelo offers much more than a convenient, branded client portal: It’s an end-to-end client work management platform built to help professional services businesses automate tasks, improve visibility and increase profits.
While it offers robust project management and advanced time-tracking features, Accelo also offers solutions for all stages of client work, including sales and quoting, customer relationship management, a complete ticketing system, billing and retainer management.
Features
- Easy access to real-time status updates, documents and invoices
- Project breakdowns, including milestones, tasks, due dates and budgets
- Custom permissions for various team members of the client’s organization
- An end-to-end solution for managing client work, including sales, billing, projects and retainers
Pros
- Ability for clients to accept quotes and new work orders
- Forms for quick request submissions
Cons
- Because Accelo is most effective for teams of five or more, it may not be the best fit for smaller teams or solopreneurs
- Teams primarily seeking project management or time-tracking solutions may not need Accelo’s end-to-end solution for managing all aspects of client work
Pricing
Accelo’s pricing starts at $24 per user per month.
Start a free trial today to see Accelo in action. If you have questions or want to explore custom solutions for your business needs, schedule a demo to speak with a product expert.
READ NEXT: How one IT consultancy doubled revenue and profits using Accelo's client portal and other robust work management features
Huddle
Huddle, an Ideagen product, aims to provide aesthetically beautiful shared spaces via its client portals. Ideal for organizations that focus on teams, partners and other groups, Huddle works for a range of industries, including government, accounting, managed services, transportation and more. The platform provides an efficient workspace for managing documents, approvals, discussions and revisions.
Features
- File sharing via a “document-centric experience”
- Security trusted by government agencies
- Custom branding
- Easy task assignments
Pros
- One easy-to-use space for file management, discussion and more
- Clients can request files directly from the portal
Cons
- Some users dislike the lack of a preview option for big files
- Other users note that the inability to edit live documents is problematic
Pricing
Because Huddle offers bespoke solutions, custom pricing quotes must be requested.
HyperOffice
HyperOffice is a collaborative software that focuses on service provider industries. Its solutions works best for those in healthcare, education and the public sector. HyperOffice Atlas, its customer and employee portal creator, offers some unique feature, including rich editing and a code snippet library.
Features
- Custom templates, HTML editor and drag-and-drop portal builder
- Workflow apps and forms
- Shared calendars and unlimited address books
- Task lists and assignments
Pros
- uShare.to add-on: A suite of customer collaboration features
- WorkMap.ai add-on: Automated workflows and managed databases
Cons
- Some users report issues with calendar syncing
- Lacking features like built-in access to quotes and invoices
Pricing
HyperOffice’s services range from $7 to $10 per user per month.
ShareFile
ShareFile’s client portal provides services focused on security, collaboration and comprehensive tools. This client portal software is designed for industries like accounting, finance, healthcare and legal services.
Features
- Password protection, device lock and remote wipe capabilities
- Options for in-person storage, cloud-based storage or both
- Customizable for legal requirements in various industries
- Electronic signatures
Pros
- Templates make it easy to quickly create subfolders
- Unlimited client accounts
Cons
- Limited to document sharing
- Users report slow loading and frequent platform outages
Pricing
ShareFile’s offers four pricing tiers, ranging from $50 to just under $340 per month.
Zoho Invoice
Zoho is a widely used company that provides unique and effective client portal services to over 50 million users worldwide. Zoho serves well-known organizations that range from apparel to agricultural industries.
Zoho provides its services through a series of comprehensive apps — ranging from customer service to social media management and more — which can be bundled to meet the needs of various industries.
The price varies because of Zoho’s broad range of client portal services, but free quotes are available via Zoho’s website.
Zoho Invoice, part of the Zoho platform, is a widely used company that provides unique and effective client portal services to over 50 million users worldwide. Zoho serves well-known organizations in industries as wide-ranging as apparel and agriculture.
Features
- Access to estimates, invoices and payments
- Real-time notifications when invoices have been viewed or paid
- Automated payment reminders
- Multi-currency and multi-language
Pros
- Free platform
- Role-based permissions
Cons
- Some users report that clients have frequent problems logging in
- Limited to quoting, invoicing and payments unless connected to other Zoho products
Pricing
Zoho Invoice is free, though there is separate pricing to connect it to additional Zoho products.
Ready To Upgrade Your Client Portal?
Most client portals will streamline communication between you and your clients, but they’re often limited to a few features. You’ll find that Accelo’s client portal is connected to quoting, billing, projects and other key stages of client work, making it even easier to provide quick information on demand.
See how it works with a free trial or set up a demo.
About the Author
Chelsea Williams is Senior Copywriter at Accelo, where she shares unique insights with service professionals and tells user stories via blogs, eBooks, industry reports and more. She has over 15 years of B2B and B2C writing experience — primarily in tech, sales, education and healthcare. Chelsea is an AWAI-certified Master Copywriter trained in brand storytelling and microcopy.