Customer & partner systems

Give clients one secure place to see work, files, decisions, and progress.

Digigen designs and engineers client portals that replace fragmented email threads, shared folders, and unclear approvals with a dependable, branded workspace.

The problem this can help solve

A portal becomes valuable when customers repeatedly need information or actions that are currently distributed across email, spreadsheets, file-sharing links, messaging, and staff memory. The goal is not another dashboard. It is a reliable customer-facing boundary around the operation.

When this approach may fit

Clients repeatedly ask for status, documents, invoices, or the latest version

Approvals happen in email without a durable version and decision record

Internal staff manually assemble the same updates for every account

Sensitive files are shared through uncontrolled or expiring links

What the first release should do

One authenticated destination for each client or partner

Version-aware files, approvals, milestones, and decision history

Clear boundaries between client data and internal operations

Fewer repetitive status requests and manual update handoffs

Delivery approach

Build and test one workflow first.

Check the most uncertain parts early, then review working software at agreed milestones.

Map the service boundary

We identify what clients need to see, what they need to do, and what must remain internal. Roles, organisations, permissions, exceptions, and support ownership are defined before interface work begins.

Deliver one complete journey

The first milestone connects authentication, one high-value client workflow, its underlying data, notifications, and administration. That vertical slice proves the operating model before more modules are added.

Make decisions durable

Files, approvals, comments, and status changes are tied to versions and timestamps. Audit requirements and data retention are designed into the workflow rather than added after launch.

Project planning

Budget and timeline.

These are Digigen planning bands. The scope, assumptions and exclusions determine the quote and schedule.

Investment planning

Digigen's planning band for a custom client portal is R150,000 to R500,000+. Roles, integrations, migration, payments, files and compliance requirements determine the scope and quote.

Timeline planning

A focused first portal journey is commonly planned over twelve to twenty-four weeks after discovery, with additional modules released in controlled milestones.

Possible deliverables

What can be included?

Use this list to discuss your requirements. The proposal confirms which items are included and who is responsible for each.

Client and administrator experiences
Authentication and organisation-level access
File and document workflows
Milestones, approvals, and audit history
Notifications and selected integrations
Testing, deployment, handover, and support plan

Frequently asked questions

Questions to settle before delivery starts.

Can the portal use our existing business systems?

Yes, where the existing systems expose suitable APIs or controlled data access. Integration constraints and failure handling are established during discovery.

Can each client see only its own information?

That is a core requirement. Organisation boundaries, roles, server-side authorisation, and database controls are designed and tested as part of the access model.

Can we launch the portal in phases?

Yes. A narrow end-to-end journey is usually safer than launching files, messaging, billing, projects, approvals, and reporting simultaneously.

Explore further

Understand Digigen's custom software budget bands, what changes the cost and how to compare proposals before commissioning a build.

Explore guide

Start with the problem

Ready to discuss client portals?

Describe the current workflow, the people involved, the systems already in use, and the outcome that would justify the investment.

Submit project brief Request an introductory call

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