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⚠️ Checklist

5 Warning Signs Your Business
Needs a Customer Portal

Identify the symptoms of inefficient processes before they become real problems

By Tino Rabe, Microsoft Power Pages MVP • 9 August 2025 • 7 min read

The truth: Most B2B companies need a customer portal long ago – they just don't realise it yet.

Digitalisation happens gradually. First there are small inefficiencies. Then they grow into structural problems. Eventually, it costs you customers.

These 5 warning signs show: A customer portal is overdue.

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Warning Sign #1: Your Support Answers the Same Questions Daily

"How can I reset my password?"
"Where can I find the latest invoice?"
"What's the status of my order?"

The Problem

If your support team spends more than 30% of its time on repetitive standard questions, you're literally burning money. A support employee costs an average of €40,000-60,000/year.

📊 Calculation Example

  • • 3 support staff at €50,000 = €150,000/year
  • • 40% of time on repetitive questions = €60,000 wasted
  • • With self-service portal: 60% reduction = €36,000 savings/year

The Solution: Self-Service Knowledge Base

A customer portal with searchable FAQs, how-to articles and video tutorials answers 80% of standard questions automatically – 24/7, without waiting time.

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Warning Sign #2: Excel Lists and Documents Flying via Email

"Order_final_v3_really_final_2.xlsx"
"Here's the updated price list – please delete the old version"

The Problem

Nobody knows which version is current. Email inboxes are full. Attachments get lost. Employees spend 15-20 hours per week searching for and sending documents.

⚠️ Real Consequences

  • • Customer works with outdated price list → incorrect quotes
  • • Contract document not found → delayed contract completion
  • • Wrong Excel version → order errors, complaints
  • • Time overhead: ca. 500 hours/year per 10 employees

The Solution: Central Document Library

In the customer portal, each customer has access to their current documents: Invoices, contracts, price lists, certificates – always the right version, without email chaos.

Do You Recognise Your Company?

In a free 30-minute call, we'll analyse your situation and show you how a customer portal solves your specific problems.

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Tino Rabe

Tino Rabe

Microsoft Power Pages MVP

I support mid-market companies in building secure and GDPR-compliant customer portals with Microsoft Power Pages. My focus: Fast implementation, measurable ROI, no vendor lock-ins.