|
Table of contents
• Classification
• Architecture of corporate web portals
• Features of Web portals
• How to create a portal
A web portal is a web site that provides users with various interactive services operating on one web resource. The information on web portal pages is published in a uniform manner, regardless of sources. Such websites offer not only a search function, but also services such as email, forum, voting, etc.
Classification of web portals
By specialization information
Horizontal portal. This is a universal general purpose site, covering many topics, which presents a set of services that serve them all, if possible. It is focused on maximizing the interests of a wide audience. The scope of activity of horizontal web portals often overlaps with the media. Examples: Yahoo!, Mail.ru, Yandex and others.
Vertical portal. This is a niche site with a narrow theme. It provides services for Internet users based on specific interests and is focused on the most complete coverage of a specific topic or area of activity.
By direction
Corporate portal. This site provides personalized access to corporate services, information resources, and applications for solving various problems. A web portal of this type is created for clients, partners and employees of one organization.
Public portal. Available for an unlimited number of users. It provides each of them with any information and services. Typically, a public portal is owned by a company and is part of its business. An example is Mail.Ru. However, such a web portal is not corporate, since it rarely publishes data about the company itself.
Architecture of corporate portalsA typical resource consists of three functional layers:
Basic infrastructure. Ensures the operation of the security system, portal management, and transactions. The basic infrastructure includes a Web server, database and application servers.
Application integration. Responsible for the interaction of the portal with various company systems, DBMS, CRM, ERP, etc.
Interface. The layer includes a CSM for managing information content, as well as tools for working with wireless and mobile devices, data exchange services with business partner projects, and portlets (software modules).
Features of Web portals
•
Direct access to all posted information.
•
Single access to all applications.
•
Availability of data search tools.
•
Extensibility, application integration.
•
Publication of documents, support of document flow.
•
Availability of documentation catalogs.
•
Support for group work of users.
•
Managing the work of user groups.
•
Personalization of access.
The following properties are also characteristic of new generation corporate web portals.
•
Flexible and powerful tools for application development.
•
A reliable environment for their implementation.
•
Compliance with the requirements for enterprise information systems.
•
Supports wireless and mobile access.
•
Possibility of integration with partner information systems and other applications.
How to create a portal
Various means are used for this purpose. Let's look at a few popular ones.
InfoExchange Portal (from BroadVision)
Using this tool you can create the following types of portals:
•
B2E and B2C;
•
to exchange information with suppliers and partners;
•
corporate portals with tools for managing unstructured and structured information content, supporting internal transactions, remote administration, teamwork and personalization.
Personalization can be carried out in accordance with the user’s role and taking into account his behavior on the site, tasks, goals, location, time. Each user can change the appearance of the site for convenient access to applications. Working with documents and data is also based on roles.
WebSphere Portal Server (from IBM)
The WPS offer is suitable for building corporate and horizontal portals. Using portlets, the system provides access to data, applications and experts. WebSphere Portal Server provides data that spans news outlets, unstructured information, third-party application packages, office suites, content management systems, and file systems.
In WPS you can create a corporate portal for customers, employees, and business partners. This IBM product contains the function of categorizing and structuring information content, ensuring security, document management, and personalization.
SharePoint Server (from Microsoft)
This server application can be used to provide tools for managing the content of portals, enabling user collaboration, implementing business processes, and providing access to information important to organizational processes. The system offers various tools for quickly creating publishing nodes and managing content.
Using SharePoint Server, they organize portals for effective collaboration among organizational users, create personal sites for centralized management of their own documents, and host XML business forms integrated with other applications.
In addition to these funds, there are the following:
• Oracle 9iAS Portal,
• iPlanet Portal Server,
• Enterprise Portal,
• Sybase Enterprise Portal and others.
|
