For a lot of businesses, not much sets them apart from their competitors. The main defining factor nowadays is a business’s ability to adapt to modern technology and meet the needs of their customers in a way their competitors aren’t, and to do this, new software and operational processes need to be introduced. Implementing a secure document exchange portal could help your business stay one step ahead of the curve and improve customer satisfaction to the point loyalty is positively impacted as a result.
If you're considering whether document exchange portals could work for your business, and how, keep reading as we explain everything you need to know.
What is a secure document exchange portal?
A secure document exchange portal is a digital platform that allows businesses to securely transfer and store confidential documents between themselves and their customers. Digital document exchange software provides a secure and efficient way to exchange sensitive data such as financial reports, contracts and personal information.
By implementing this type of software, your business can ensure that information shared both internally amongst departments and externally with customers remains confidential, therefore simplifying the process of exchange while reducing the risk of data breaches and protecting the privacy of both the sender and the recipient.
What are the benefits of using a secure document exchange portal?
There are several benefits your business can take advantage of by opting to use a secure document exchange portal, including:
Increased security
One of the most notable benefits of using a secure document exchange portal is that, as mentioned, it provides a secure environment for the exchange of important documents. This type of software uses encryption technology to protect data both whilst it’s being sent and when it’s being stored, ensuring critical information remains confidential and secure at all times.
Improved efficiency
By eliminating the need to send and receive physical documents, secure document exchange portals can significantly improve the operational efficiency of your business. This can result in a reduction of both the time and costs associated with sending documents in the post and waiting for them to be returned by the customer. In turn, this can enable your business to make faster decisions, and this will have a positive impact on customer satisfaction.
Enhanced compliance
Secure document exchange portals are specifically designed to comply with various data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This helps your business to meet its legal obligations and avoid penalties associated with data breaches - something that can be costly in terms of money and customer retention. Not just this, but most online document exchange solutions also provide a robust digital audit trail, so if something does crop up, you can trace back to the source of the problem.
Better accessibility
Secure document exchange portals provide access to information from anywhere and at any time, as long as there is an internet connection. Everything is managed from one central hub, reducing the need for technical support or discrepancies. This makes it easier for your business to collaborate with customers and meet their specific needs, no matter what they might be.
How can a secure document exchange portal improve your customer journey?
Implementing a document exchange portal can have a significant impact on your overall customer journey by providing a seamless and secure experience for exchanging sensitive information. There are multiple ways this is done, including:
Improved customer experience
By providing a secure and efficient platform for exchanging sensitive information, you can improve the customer experience at its core. The more seamless, intuitive and user-centric your processes are, the more you can increase customer satisfaction and reduce the number of customer journey-related complaints.
Reduced response times
One of the major benefits of secure document exchange portals is that they make processes a lot faster. With the software allowing your customers to access information, upload and download documents from anywhere and at any time, they can respond to requests more quickly. This can result in improved customer satisfaction and a reduction in response times from them and your team overall, allowing your team to increase their output as a consequence.
Increased customer engagement
Customer engagement is fast becoming a crucial differentiator for businesses. By providing a secure platform for exchanging information and documents, your business can encourage greater engagement with customers. Without the need to carve time out of their day to speak to a person or send a letter, they are more likely to continue with an application or keep up communication with your company. This can lead to increased customer loyalty and improved relationships.
What file formats can be used on a secure document exchange portal?
Secure document exchange portals support a wide range of file formats, with the most commonly used files being:
- Microsoft Office documents: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files can be securely shared and stored through a secure document exchange portal.
- PDF files: Portable document format (PDF) files can be securely shared and stored on the platform.
- Image files: JPEG, PNG, and other image file formats can be securely shared and stored through the software.
- Video files: MP4, AVI, and other video file formats can also be safely shared and stored on the platform.
What devices can a secure document exchange portal be accessed from?
Whether you’re a Mac or Windows company, or if you use tablets or desktop, secure document exchange portals can be accessed from a wide range of devices, including:
- Desktop computers: The software can be accessed from desktop computers using a web browser, such as Google Chrome.
- Tablets: Secure document exchange portals can also be accessed from tablets using a web browser.
- Mobile devices: Document exchange portals can be easily accessed from mobile devices.
Are there any costs involved with using a secure document exchange portal?
Yes, there are costs involved with implementing a secure document exchange portal to your business, but the fee isn’t flat. It depends on the scale of your business and your specific requirements. That being said, by eliminating the need for physical document storage, printing and postage costs, you can bring your business overheads down significantly. For more information on pricing, please contact us.
Is using a secure document exchange portal safer than using email?
As a service provider, the protection of sensitive information will be of utmost importance to you. While email has been a popular method for exchanging information for decades now, it is not the most secure option for sharing confidential data.
Emails can be vulnerable to hacking and cyber attacks, as well as being susceptible to human error, such as accidentally sending confidential information to the wrong recipient. In contrast, a secure document exchange portal provides a more secure environment for exchanging sensitive information by using encryption technology to protect data in transit and at rest. This reduces the risk of data breaches and ensures that information remains confidential at all times.
In addition, secure document exchange portals offer added security features that email doesn’t, such as password protection, two-factor authentication and digital signatures - further enhancing the protection of sensitive information.
Does Vizolution provide a secure document exchange portal?
At Vizolution, we specialise in helping businesses streamline their processes and improve customer journeys. One of the ways we do this is with our document exchange portals. To find out more about our software and how it could potentially help your business, please contact our team.
