As a new generation of B2B buyers demand fast, personalised, and self-service commerce, custom web portals have become crucial for helping businesses stay ahead of the competition.  B2B commerce is evolving. By 2025, Gartner predicts that 80% of B2B sales will be held online. This charge is being led by Millennials, which make up 73% of the B2B market right now, followed swiftly behind by Gen Z. These are all customers who demand fast, easy, and personalised sales experiences that allow them to browse, buy, track, compare, and review products and services independently from home. It’s no wonder that 90% of B2B buyers now expect organisations to have a web portal. What is a B2B web portal? A B2B web portal is a secure, interactive platform that serves as a central hub for customers, partners, and suppliers to interact with an organisation. By aggregating and organising multiple sources of information, these portals allow users to access real-time sales data, browse and compare products, track orders and invoices, and manage real-time messaging and file-sharing tools, all in one place. Users typically log into a web portal account with a URL, username, and password to access their unique purchase history, preferences, settings, and more. In this way, web portals offer customers a far more personalised and dynamic sales experience than static corporate websites. Why are custom web portals important? The days of doing B2B sales in person, via email and phone, or through typical website support channels are ending. 81% of customers now prefer to make purchases and resolve issues independently, according to the Harvard Business Review. Enter B2B portals. As Millennials and Gen Z buyers tip the scales towards online commerce – especially post-pandemic – they crave higher levels of control and customisation. They have little tolerance for friction in the buying process (60% of customers will cancel a purchase if the host website is too slow) and they’re likely not window shopping anymore. Most B2B buyers have a clear idea of what they want and what they can afford. These demands are good news for businesses. It means that by investing in a custom web portal, you can provide the real-time, personalised, and self-service B2B experiences that customers expect, right across the entire sales lifecycle, with no need for multiple tools, platforms, or third-party services. The benefits of custom web portals 1.Reduce costs by up to 50% Web portals are great long-term investments. They can help you: Reduce dependence on customer support teams Automate tedious manual transaction and invoicing processes Conduct faster and more efficient site audits Reduce the chance of human error Reveal ways to optimise your strategy through data and analytics Advertise and recommend products to customers And more These features not only save money on staffing but also mean you don’t need to invest in multiple applications, services, or promotional tools to support your B2B sales. Web portals seamlessly integrate with your business systems, applications, and third-party services (including CRM systems, ERP solutions, messaging tools, file sharing services, and even AI implementations), letting you manage your operations from a single platform. In many cases, this helps companies save up to 50% on the cost of customer support services. 2. Win over customers B2B buyers today – many of whom grew up with the internet – are critical digital consumers. They’re accustomed to unique, high-quality applications and interfaces with responsive designs and full accessibility across different mobile devices, browsers, and operating systems. This is why traditional contact-based B2B sales and generic, corporate websites don’t cut it anymore. Web portals, on the other hand, are often designed to include the latest digital features. They’re user-friendly and easy to navigate, and can be integrated with various user devices and business systems. This means they can streamline the entire B2B journey and empower users to find information, resolve issues, and purchase products or services on their own, wherever they are. Crucially, web portals also continuously aggregate data to offer personalised workflows and recommendations, boost engagement, and make customers feel appreciated. This makes web portals invaluable tools for both attracting new customers and gaining their loyalty.   By removing the need for round-the-clock support services, web portals also allow customer service teams to concentrate on delivering personalised assistance, emergency response, and after-sales services. This focused support strengthens relationships with customers, distributors, and partners, builds trust, and encourages repeat business. 3. Uncover detailed data and analytics Web portals allow businesses to continuously collect and aggregate vast quantities of data. With features such as data visualisation tools and dashboards, web portals can reveal detailed information about your customers’ interests, shopping behaviours, and pain points. Metrics such as page views, session times, click-through and conversion rates, traffic sources can all be measured and tailored to your business needs via a web portal. At the same time, this data can help you track your performance, identify roadblocks, and make data-driven decisions about how to improve your strategy. Web portal data also benefits users, providing them with real-time updates on their order and delivery statuses, purchase histories, messages, and more. This gives buyers the independence and control that they’ve come to expect with B2B sales experiences today. 4. Enhance security When your business is dealing with clients that are using different devices and endpoints around the world, it’s essential to monitor incoming traffic and protect yourself and your customers from bad actors. Cyberattacks can have devastating legal, financial, and reputational consequences. However, if you’re juggling multiple access points, applications, and support options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the scale and complexity of it all. This makes it easier for attackers to exploit your blindspots and breach your systems, and increases the likelihood of non-compliance with key security regulations. The centralised structure of web portals greatly improves security. As a single source of truth, your portal monitors and controls all interactions, reducing the risk that attackers find a way to break in. Web portals also offer tailored access controls for different user classes, strengthened by end-to-end encryption, and strong authentication controls (such as multi-factor authentication) to ensure that only legitimate users can access your data and

Streamline OHS Reporting with a Custom-Built Solution: How to Empower Miners and Site Operators to Better Meet Their OHS Obligations. The Challenge: Increasing demand for meticulous record-keeping and quarterly reporting of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) incidents are a key part of a mine operators’ legislative obligations. Many mines rely on outdated methods like spreadsheets or legacy software to fulfil their obligations, causing major headaches such as: Error-Prone Data Entry: Manually entering data into spreadsheets is tedious and prone to errors. Time-Consuming Reporting: Compiling reports every quarter becomes a struggle, wasting valuable time and resources. Inconsistent and Unreliable Data: Complex formulas in spreadsheets can lead to inconsistencies and mistakes in your OHS data. Data Loss Risk: Spreadsheets offer minimal protection against accidental deletion or file corruption, jeopardizing crucial OHS records. It’s clear: that many miners need a modern solution built for the specific needs of the mining sector as a whole and their own business. Why Go Custom? Off-the-Shelf Solutions Don’t Cut It: Generic OHS recording software might seem like a quick fix, but it often falls short: One-Size-Fits-All Approach: These solutions are designed for a broad audience and may not cater to your specific mining operation’s unique needs. Feature Overload: Off-the-shelf software can be cluttered with features you don’t need, making it difficult to navigate the functions you use daily. Limited Customization: You’re stuck with the software’s preset features. Custom solutions allow you to add functionalities and adapt them to your specific workflows as your needs evolve. The Power of Custom-Built OHS Software: Forget generic solutions! Custom OHS recording software offers a powerful, tailored solution: Perfect Fit for Your Workflows: Unlike generic software, custom solutions can be built to seamlessly integrate with your existing mining management systems and cater to your specific incident types and reporting formats. Effortless Data Entry: Record incident details directly into the software, eliminating tedious manual entry and reducing errors. Actionable Insights: Assign corrective actions to incidents, track their progress, and ensure timely resolution. Automated Reporting: Generate pre-formatted reports that meet regulatory requirements with a single click. No more scrambling to meet deadlines. Unmatched Efficiency: Free yourself from data manipulation and time-consuming reports. Custom software automates these tasks, saving valuable time and resources. A Real-World Example: Genolis developed a custom OHS Risk Reporting Register for a leading gold mine in Australia. This software: Streamlined incident recording, action assignment, and progress tracking. Ensured secure data storage and a historical record of incidents and resolutions. Significantly reduced the time needed to prepare reports, allowing the mine to focus on core operation Meeting the New Regulations with Confidence: The recent changes in legislation make custom OHS recording software an essential tool. By automating tasks, improving data accuracy, and simplifying reporting, you can confidently meet your obligations under the new regulations. Invest in Your Mine’s Safety and Efficiency: Don’t settle for generic solutions. Explore how custom OHS recording software from Genolis can empower your mine to achieve peak safety and efficiency. Feel free to reach out to us on LinkedIn or via our website. Let us help you improve your performance and save costs with a bespoke software solution from Genolis.

I have noticed a new trend while responding to usual software development enquiries in the last twelve months. These enquiries were not from management or business owners but from junior or young staff members of the organisations. These young people were looking not only for better ways of doing their work but also for software that would look good too. The new generation of workers who grew up with iPads and Play stations is no longer prepared to put up with old clunky software, spreadsheets, and paper sheets. To be satisfied with their work, young people demand better working and better-looking systems. They are becoming a considerable influence when pushing for a software upgrade. Implementing a new software system is no longer about improving efficiency, reducing costs, or eliminating double handling. It is becoming more about a satisfied workforce and retention of young talent. Outdated though still working systems may be okay for a more senior manager but not good enough for a young one. Some managers listen to the staff and are prepared to invest in system upgrades. The bosses who continue to ignore this push risk losing young talents and will be left behind, along with those who do not care. Oleg Genin, CEO of Genolis Genolis is a local company that has been transforming Australian businesses for 20 years by developing custom software. We have a proven record of accomplishment and expertise in improving business and making software to keep your staff happy and fulfilled. Do not hesitate to contact us if you want to make the most of IT to streamline and innovate your operations management and stay ahead of change.

What will your business do better with custom software? Bespoke software can be a valuable tool for businesses looking to improve efficiency, streamline operations, and gain a competitive advantage. By implementing the features of custom software development, your business can automate routine tasks, conveniently manage and analyse data, facilitate collaboration and communication, and enhance the user experience. This article will discuss some practical examples of such business improvements. Automate time-consuming and prone-to-error tasks One of the key reasons why to use custom software is to automate manual operations specific to your business workflow. This can save time, require fewer human resources, and reduce the risk of errors associated with manual processing, be it routine data entry or complex engineering calculations. Innovate operations management You can leverage custom-built features to efficiently process orders, automatically create invoices and track payroll, or for effective procurement management and real-time expense tracking. Custom software can also be designed for manufacturing to manage inventory, track stock levels, and monitor resource usage in real time. Or you might want to get notifications for keeping up with the assets maintenance schedule and be alerted timely about equipment breakdowns. Get a native app with an easy-to-use interface A competitive advantage of custom software is that it can be designed with a specific user group in mind, allowing for an interface that is easy to use and intuitive for those users. This contrasts off-the-shelf solutions, which may have a more crowded and complex interface designed to accommodate a wide range of users with different needs and skill levels. An uncrowded interface can improve the user experience and make it easier for employees to perform their tasks efficiently, reducing the learning curve and the potential for errors. Let multiple users collaborate on data in real-time You can get a collaboration platform allowing multiple users to add and modify data in your database simultaneously. Custom software can facilitate coordination and communication among your employees, customers, and partners. Integrate systems Features created for your specific business workflow can seamlessly integrate with other systems and applications, such as CRM software or ERP systems. Or suppose you process your data and generate reports with off-the-shelf software solutions such as Power BI. In that case, you might want a custom app to give your customers and stakeholders access to the data or reports without needing them to buy licenses or subscriptions. Create a customer portal You can leverage custom software to improve customer service in a variety of ways. For example, developing a customer portal with an easy-to-use and intuitive interface will let your clients access the needed information anytime. This will improve their experience and reduce the workload on customer service staff. Moreover, a unique web portal of your company will become your trademark and help you stand out in the market. Consolidate data and fetch data with smart filters Your data management can also be greatly improved with the ability of a custom-built web application to consolidate data from different sources, store it in a secure repository, securely update your database on the go and conveniently fetch the needed data with flexible filtering. Process data with advanced visualisation tools Custom software can also help you process data into graphs and dashboards, leveraging advanced visualisation tools such as Power BI embedded. Insights into a business’s performance, project status tracking in real-time, detailed analytics and reporting can help you have a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of your business operations. Data security and multiple access levels An important feature of custom software development is the ability to implement multiple security access levels. This allows you to control who has access to sensitive data and resources and to customise access rights based on an individual’s role and responsibilities within the organisation. For example, you might give different levels of access to employees, managers, executives, or various departments or teams. By doing so, you will ensure that only authorised users have access to sensitive information and that data is accessed and used per established policies and procedures. Wrap-up Custom software can support nearly any aspect of your business, from managing day-to-day operations to driving long-term growth and success. It will be a smart choice for your business to advance in 2023 and upgrade your workflow, getting away from manual processing of your data in Excel spreadsheets and time-consuming prone-to-error manual consolidation of your data from numerous MS office tools, databases and legacy software. Be it an educational institution in Sydney seeking course management software, a biomedical manufacturing enterprise in Melbourn needing a production management system, a heavy equipment manufacturer in Brisbane requiring software with a complex engineering calculator embedded, a mining company in Perth needing an OHS application, a water authority in Adelaide looking for a mobile app for the meter replacement specialists to modify data in the centralised database on the go, or a logistic company in Adelaide seeking software to automate allocation, scheduling and routing.  In all cases, a one-time investment in bespoke enterprise software development will definitely pay off very soon. Just make sure that you have entrusted this job to real professionals. Who makes a reliable cost-effective bespoke software in Australia? Genolis (Unicon Software) is one of the best custom software development companies in Australia, with 22 years of expertise in building functional and easy-to-use bespoke solutions for organisations in the government and private sectors. We are passionate about contributing to Australian businesses’ innovation and digital transformation to come forward on the global market.  Genolis (Unicon Software) is dedicated to making modern IT capabilities serve our clients’ particular business needs by developing user-friendly, intuitive applications, web portals and database management systems of high quality and at affordable cost. Do not hesitate to contact us for free expert advice on the type of solution optimised for your unique business requirements and the estimate of the timeline and costs.

Custom-built software can be hard to let go of. Tailored to your organisation’s specific needs, it offers myriad benefits for productivity and innovation. However, if your company has been around for a while, then your custom-built software is likely outdated, and as a result, it could pose a serious security risk. ‘Unsupported (or end-of-life) software’ ranks first place in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s list of security bad practices, while over half of IT professionals in critical industries say that legacy systems represent their biggest security challenge. Cyberattackers today are targeting legacy software because they know it harbours blind spots and vulnerabilities that they can exploit to steal critical data and extort massive sums of money. If they’re successful, you could incur heavy financial and legal penalties. This is why more businesses are now migrating to secure cloud-based environments. Perhaps it’s time for you to upgrade too. Why do companies hold on to legacy software? Legacy custom-built software is likely embedded deep within your day-to-day operations. If this is the case, ripping it out for a newer model will likely require a complete system overhaul and significant downtime. This doesn’t exactly please stakeholders or map to strict product roadmaps, and it’s why many companies delay important software upgrades and migration plans – sometimes indefinitely. But this fear of change comes back to bite in one way or another. More than half of chief information officers say that they spend up to 60% of their time managing legacy technology. And when the average cost of a data breach is over AU $6.5 million, the benefits of upgrading become painfully clear. The Australian Government puts it bluntly: “The most effective way to mitigate the risks associated with legacy IT is to replace it.” The top 5 security risks of legacy software Over 20,000 vulnerabilities have been discovered in 2024 so far – a figure set to be the highest ever recorded. Attackers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to breach systems using tools and techniques such as ransomware, malware, phishing scams, and authentication flaws, and legacy software makes their lives a lot easier. Here’s why: 1. Legacy software is no longer supported Legacy software eventually stops receiving support from the original developers, vendors, or manufacturers. This means you won’t receive official updates or bug fixes that protect you against new and evolving cyber threats, your documentation will go out of date (if it even exists at all), and you’ll struggle to find professionals skilled enough to help you at a decent price. Even informal communities built around solving legacy software issues eventually disappear. This all creates a perfect storm of confusion that leaves your vulnerabilities exposed and lets attackers catch your scent. 2. Legacy software lacks modern security controls In just the past few years, the cyber threat landscape has evolved dramatically. To keep pace with the latest attack methods, your software needs to include several security controls (at minimum), including: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) Zero trust model Modern encryption algorithms and secure communication protocols Monitoring and reporting tools  Security controls like these help prevent attackers accessing your network, escalating their privileges, and reaching critical data and resources. Unfortunately, legacy software is often designed to work independently, meaning it cannot integrate with modern tools, networks, or mobile applications. This prevents you from backing up or recovering your systems and devices, which makes it easy for attackers to infiltrate your network without raising suspicion and means that if they’re successful, you could lose everything. 3. Legacy software creates blind spots Visibility is key to good cybersecurity. If you can’t see what’s going on inside your network, how can you expect to spot suspicious behaviour? The architecture of legacy software is often complicated and monolithic. This means that while it may be home to many users, privileges, applications, and third parties, IT teams cannot always keep track of them. But it’s through these unmonitored access points that attackers can infiltrate your network. Case study Legacy accounts that aren’t protected by authentication controls such as MFA or monitored by administrators are prime targets for attackers. The massive attack on Medibank in 2022, which leaked the sensitive information of nearly 9.7 million customers and could carry fines into the trillions of dollars, is a key example. If your software is making life difficult for your teams, they’re more likely to leave things exposed. After all, employees grappling with the day-to-day issues of legacy software may not be vigilant of phishing attempts, good password hygiene, or safe remote working practices, while admins and security teams may lack the tools to audit their network environment and assign the correct access permissions to users. 4. Legacy software makes life easy for insider threats Legacy software can also be damaged from within by your own employees. These insider threats can cause even more damage than attacks coming from outside your network. Insider threat incidents are on the rise in Australia, and they cost businesses an average of more than AU $20 million each time. Insider threats have privileged access to networks, systems, and data. This makes it quicker and easier for them to deploy malware, for instance, into the heart of your software without alerting security teams – especially if your software lacks the proper security controls or architecture to recognise suspicious behaviour. Here’s a twist: insider threats aren’t always malicious. If your software is defective or confusing, employees can accidentally alter critical system controls, exploit unpatched vulnerabilities, or leak personal and business data – inadvertently damaging your system from within and opening the door to threats lurking outside. Case studies Malicious insider threat: In 2023, two former staff members at Tesla breached the sensitive information of nearly 76,000 employees and shared it with a German newspaper. Accidental insider threat: An insider source blamed the major Optus breach, which affected up to 10 million customers and leaked personal data from the defence and prime minister’s office, on human error. 5. Legacy software leads to non-compliance Leaving security holes in your software exposed can have serious legal, financial, and reputational consequences. This is because most companies – especially those in sensitive industries such as healthcare,