Do I Need a Portal? Part 1

When mindWireless began back in 2000, the idea of a software portal to centralize and automate all corporate wireless tasks would have seemed a bit overwhelming. But now, in the year 2017, we hear comments to a much different tune when talking to prospects. Usually, it sounds something like this:

“Oh, you have a portal? I don’t think we need that. That’s overkill.”

“I don’t need to look at your portal. A portal is a portal, probably nothing I haven’t seen.”

“We already have a portal, so no thanks. I’m tired of having to sit through these demos to see the exact same thing every time.”

As you can tell, the business world is overwhelmed with software automation tools, and to the naked eye, most of them look the same. So how do you distinguish from one portal to the next? In this three part blog, we will break down what you should look for when evaluating a software portal.

Part 1: Ease of use

Most vendors will have a team of developers that can make the software as robust as possible. They can integrate it 10,000 different ways, code it to automate millions of workflows, and even make it look pretty and match your company colors. These are all important aspects, as the software needs to be completely function, but what about its ease of use?

When we talk with companies who are evaluating our space, they often ask us this one simple question: Your software has some great capabilities, but I have 5,000 users who need access to it; will it be easy and simple for them to use?

Two years ago we were involved in an RFP that was run by IBM on behalf of one of our current clients. IBM and the client solicited 17 different vendors to participate, and they provided each of us hundreds of questions to answer. At the end of the day, mW was selected as the vendor to take over all wireless management responsibilities for this Fortune 500 retailer.

After the contract was signed, we asked the client and IBM what made them choose us over the 16 other vendors. Without hesitation, they looked at us and said, “Your software is just so much easier to use than the others. At the end of the day, that’s what matters to us and our end users.”

And that was that. They certainly are not the only one who saw value in our portal’s ease of use, as we consistently hear that this is the highest priority within an evaluation. So if you think all portals are the same, think again.

As you evaluate a software solution, ask them how easy it is to use. And then have them prove it to you. Because at the end of the day, no one wants to spend time training thousands of employees on how to utilize new software. Instead, just look for software that doesn’t require training.

Curious how easy it is to use our portal? Call 512-615-7600 or email sales@mindwireless.com to schedule a brief demo today.