Successful Adoption of Global Portal and Its Impact on Our Work
Successful Adoption of Global Portal and Its Impact on Our Work
At BDO Latvia, we are constantly evolving to provide top-quality services and enhance collaboration with both local and international clients. We firmly believe that technology-driven solutions significantly improve our daily work, and one of the most valuable advancements in this field has been Global Portal—a secure, cloud-based platform that streamlines data exchange, enhances communication, and boosts efficiency across all our projects.
The adoption and active use of Global Portal have transformed our workflow, making it an essential part of our operations today. Sīmanis Broks, our Chief Technology Officer (CTO), has been the driving force behind its successful implementation and continued development at BDO Latvia.
Global Portal: From Optional Tool to Essential Business Platform
BDO Latvia first introduced Global Portal in 2018. Initially, it was an optional tool, and its use was limited within our team. However, everything changed when Sīmanis Broks took over as CTO and implemented the Exchange Next Gen upgrade—an advanced version that made the platform even more user-friendly and efficient.
Thanks to these improvements, Global Portal has become a mandatory tool in our daily operations. Today, over 60 of our professionals actively use it to:
- Effectively manage group audits and international collaboration projects.
- Serve more than 200 local clients across various industries.
- Facilitate communication and data exchange among 1,000+ users within the BDO network.
This digital solution plays a key role in ensuring high-quality work and seamless project organization—especially in complex, long-term engagements.
Security and Reliability: The Core Benefits of Global Portal
One of the primary reasons BDO Latvia has fully adopted Global Portal is data security. In today’s digital environment, where security requirements are constantly evolving, our clients—especially those in the banking and financial sectors—greatly appreciate that:
- Global Portal is ISO-certified, ensuring the highest level of data security and compliance.
- Clients can control access permissions, allowing for the secure handling of sensitive information, such as payroll data.
- Regular system recertifications guarantee that the platform meets the latest regulatory standards, making it a safer alternative to systems used by other firms.
More and more of our clients acknowledge that Global Portal is a more modern and user-friendly solution compared to other platforms in the industry.
How Global Portal Supports Different Service Lines at BDO Latvia
While Global Portal is a highly flexible tool, different BDO Latvia service lines utilize it in ways that best fit their needs:
Audit
- Exchange Next Gen is particularly useful for large, complex, and long-term audit engagements involving multiple team members and tasks.
- Even for smaller engagements, our auditors prefer using Exchange Next Gen to improve organization and task clarity.
BSO (Business Services & Outsourcing)
- The BSO team primarily leverages the document management feature of Global Portal to store, organize, and manage client information efficiently.
TAX (Tax Advisory Services)
- Since tax projects are usually short-term and require quick turnarounds, full Global Portal functionality is not always necessary.
- However, for long-term tax projects, the platform facilitates better communication and secure document exchange with clients.
Providing Technical Support and Training for a Seamless Experience
To ensure an optimal client experience, BDO Latvia manages technical support internally—allowing engagement leads to serve as the first point of contact for client assistance.
- The most common client issues arise during the onboarding process, mainly due to unread emails, missed activation links, or invitations being blocked by spam filters.
- To improve the process, we have implemented automatic email forwarding solutions, ensuring that all users receive their login credentials promptly.
Additionally, we regularly enhance documentation and conduct training sessions, empowering both our internal team and clients to maximize the benefits of Global Portal.
Sīmanis Broks: Experience and Practical Tips on Using Global Portal
Our Chief Technology Officer, Sīmanis Broks, has played a pivotal role in integrating Global Portal at BDO Latvia. He believes that hands-on experience and practical testing are the best ways to fully understand and leverage the platform’s potential.
- A useful tip: After attending Advanced User Training, Sīmanis implemented a simple but effective change—adding his email to the BCC field in client invitation emails. This allows him to quickly resend invitations to users who might not have received them, preventing unnecessary delays.
He also highlights that short demo videos and practical examples are far more effective than long instructional documents for learning how to use Global Portal efficiently.
Want to Learn More? Get in Touch with Us!
If you're interested in discovering how Global Portal can benefit your business, reach out to Sīmanis Broks, CTO of BDO Latvia: simanis.broks@bdo.lv