Dee Bodle, Head of Business Support says “We wanted to bring new methods of working to our members, and to those visiting, re-locating to, or investing in the region. The portal helps us to achieve this, by providing a simple, friendly interface for all types of users.”
The portal enables the Chamber to update its members with locally relevant information, without overloading them. Many businesses are still new to the web, and the benefit of using new technologies needs to be introduced in a supportive and sympathetic way.
The Portal is powered by CPORTAL, the multi-agency search engine from OCLC PICA based in Sheffield.
It searches over 15 separate local and national agencies including the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, Yorkshire Forward, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.
Registered members, and the staff at the Chamber, use a Content Management System (CMS) in the portal to create mini web sites to publish information about their services to members and non-members, which can then be found through the portal. The CMS uses the Encore Publish software, developed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) for community support.
The next step for the portal is to provide a consolidated directory of local businesses and Chamber members, using CPORTAL to aggregate regional business directories into one. New members can add their details to the directory at www.business-in-doncaster.co.uk/register.
“There is always an imperative to increase the return on investment and to ensure that members of Chambers of Commerce get the best value for money. By enabling partnerships to work effectively and efficiently together, CPORTAL provides a unique and valuable tool for Chambers everywhere.” Says Mark Allcock, OCLC PICA project manager.
Dee Bodle concludes “The business portal is a significant contribution to our overall service to our users, and a service we will continue to develop for both the members of the Chamber and the wider community of Doncaster and South Yorkshire.”
