why portalink
Trusted by the world's largest brands
Vertical Intelligence focuses on creating solutions to real data challenges whereas Artificial Intelligence is task driven and comes at a later stage.
Smart technology
- Large, diverse data sets
- Structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data
- Different data sources
Best methodology
- Best methodology for each use case
- Real-time integration
- Data validation
- Complex processes and workflows
- Audit trail
- Governance
Human intelligence
- Portalink helps CSR’s fix errors (e.g. pricing) and learns from their actions. Portalink’s mapping is AI-Assisted.
- Our human mapping experts achieve the best outcomes for every trading partner.
- Cognitivity
- Education
- Training
- Agile thinking
- Emotional (EI)
- Ethical practices
Independent technologists prove Portalink is No. 1
In early 2020, a global Fortune 500 company committed to finding the best PDF-to-EDI system. Extensive research had established a shortlist of nine software providers that were considered best-of-breed for document digitization.
A team of Technologists in Boston MA were tasked with setting up and testing each platform to determine which system delivered the best Zero-Touch outcomes. Converting PDF Purchase Orders into digital EDI files is complex, requiring accuracy and precision. Hundreds of actual PDF orders were processed through each system to test critical benchmarks. Despite being the smallest company selected for the test, Portalink outperformed all other systems and has since been successfully implemented globally by the Fortune 500 Company.
The testing also proved that systems that only use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for data capture, and systems that are dependent on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for mapping, cannot be trusted for Zero-Touch.
Portalink outperformed all other systems in the critical benchmarks tested
Best data
accuracy
Best data
context
Easiest to
set up
Best user
interface
Best technical
support
Most scalable
system
Risk Mitigation Checklist
Please carefully consider the following check list when considering the right automation solution for your business. If you can’t trust the data, you will never eliminate manual effort and costly errors. Portalink embodies all of these capabilities to achieve True-Touchless results for all transactions.
Captures granular data with 100% accuracy
Systems that rely on OCR and AI to process every transaction make too many mistakes and cannot achieve Zero-Touch.
Portalink’s unique IP can be trusted to accurately capture header and line-level data with 100% accuracy.
Scalable mapping
Fast, low cost mapping of each trading partner’s unique order form or invoice is essential for scalability.System must be able to automate the long tail of trading partners from the biggest to the smallest. Systems that charge high annual fees per trading partner do not scale, leaving potentially thousands of trading partners that still need to be manually entered.
Portalink’s AI powered mapping capabilities enable thousands of trading partners to be automated in weeks, not years.
Flexible and adaptable
System must complement your bespoke business rules and workflows with flexible customization options. Systems that are not built for the specific purpose of the transaction type they are processing (e.g. orders versus invoices) require too many compromises.
Portalink is customized to optimize Zero-Touch outcomes for each client’s complex B2B environment.
Multi-dimensional processing
System must be able to automate any document or file from any sender in a way that is fast and frictionless. Systems that need to be manually fed, one transaction at a time and onedimensional systems, such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), are task specific and do not scale.
Portalink is entirely frictionless for the sender and the receiver. By automatically applying the mosteffective processing method for every transaction, no change or effort is required by trading partners.
AI-Assisted, not AI dependent
AI is inherently prone to reasoning errors, or hallucinations, consequently, systems that rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to process every order will make costly mistakes. AI uses OCR to process PDF documents which compounds risk. When AI hallucinates, Machine Learning (ML) learns badly, creating a false positive loop.
Portalink does not use AI in a way that puts order processing accuracy at risk. Portalink AI facilitates rapid scale with guard rails to avoid costly mistakes that are prone to other systems.
Mapping service provided
System must be able to scale rapidly without putting your business at risk. Systems that provide Mappingas-a-Service options remove the burden of mapping internally. The mapping service must be quick without compromising quality. It must be able to map any template and any document type with multiple methods with EDI grade accuracy.
Portalink and Portalink Partners provide Mapping-as-a-Service (e.g. for the most complex templates), as an alternative option to the inbuilt self-mapping system.
Fully integrated
The system must be able to integrate seamlessly with your ERP, and any other required databases such as CRM and/or WMS, wherever necessary. Provider should be able to adapt in/out files to your established file formats, such as EDI, and accommodate your preferred file transfer methods, whether that be API, AS2, and/or SFTP.
Portalink’s well-honed implementation process reduces the technical effort required for successful system integration to between 20 and 40 hours.
User-friendly and intuitive
ERP’s are cumbersome. An order or invoice automation system must complement existing ERP and other internal systems to simplify transaction processing and eliminate manual effort. Incorporating familiar terminology, fields and business rules that align with the ERP further reduces risk. The system should be quick to learn (days, not months) and quick to earn the trust of all users.
Portalink reduces risks by enabling new users to be proficient within just a few hours. Portalink can be a single system-of-work for all offline and EDI orders and invoices, reducing inefficiencies of multiple different processes.
Security
Whilst not at the top of this list, it must be at the top of your list. Systems that offer Single-Sign-On (SSO) and single tenant mitigate risk. Multi-tenant systems may be suitable for small-to-medium businesses, not enterprise companies. Of course there are many other security checks that the system must pass, too many to mention here.
Portalink’s single tenant and SSO framework provides peace of mind. Portalink is ISO-27001 certified.
Validate all data
You cannot control the quality or accuracy of the order and invoice data that comes from your trading partners. Systems that have limited or no data validation capability, including legacy EDI, will transfer errors into your business environment which are often difficult to detect. Without double or triple handling in the ERP, this puts businesses at risk and slows order-to-shipment cycles. Systems that requireadditional transaction management in the ERP are not True-Touchless.
Portalink forensically checks every transaction to find data errors that can be quickly fixed with light touch when necessary.
Great support
Careful project management during the implementation and hypercare phase is critical for success, and quick and diligent ongoing support is super important, but great support goes much further. A quick mapping service including 24/7 monitoring and quick fix response times when customer templates change and require mapping adjustments minimizes business disruption.
Portalink and Portalink Partners are genuinely committed to achieving optimal Zero-Touch outcomes, not just at deployment, but for the life of the license with continual improvement.
Customer referrals
Unfortunately, software projects are littered with horror stories. Too many sales representatives over-promise and under-deliver. Proof-of-Concept may demonstrate an ability to process a few transactions from a few trading partners in a semi-controlled environment, but can the system achieve the same outcomes quickly at scale? Can the system perform consistently across millions of transactions and thousands of trading partners? Independent users who have already installed a system are best qualified to give you a true appraisal so, before committing to any system, ask to speak to the provider’s other customers. The end customer’s experiences will be far more meaningful than what you read on a website or hear in a sales pitch. Any excuses or resistance to provide introductions to existing clients should be seen as a red flag.
Portalink will happily introduce you to any of our customers. Our 97% customer retention rate over more than a decade is also testimony that we tick the boxes.
See if Portalink is the right solution for your business
We understand the importance of making sure our order automation solution will fulfil your business needs before you commit. We will help you fast track the process.
1
Discovery
Let us get to know you and gain an understanding of your challenges. We will demonstrate Portalink™AnyOrder, consider your wish list and provide a cost estimate.
2
Proof-of-Concept (POC)
There is nothing better than a POC to help your team evaluate the pros and cons. Let your team experience Portalink™AnyOrder in a safe parallel working environment. Allow us to show you how quickly we can automate 100 of your most difficult customer’s orders.
3
Business Case
A decision of this size requires buy-in. If the POC convinces you and your CS team that Portalink™AnyOrder is the right solution that can help drive your business to the next level, we will help you build a business case, including ROI estimates and implementation guidelines, to present to your Executive Team.
4
Proceed
If/When you get to this point, you will probably want Portalink™AnyOrder yesterday. We will provide a highly experienced project team who will do most of the heavy lifting. Our step-by-step process ensures that your Portalink™AnyOrder solution is implemented quickly, tested thoroughly and ready to transform your Sales Order processing within 8-12 weeks.