CnEL India designed and implemented a secure, lightweight Professional Access Portal focused on speed, simplicity, and operational control. The solution supports manual approval of verified users, email and Google Sheets–based tracking for registrations and orders, secure document distribution to members, and a no-frills UI that prioritizes clarity over marketing flair. Admins gained a streamlined workflow to review requests, activate users, manage documents, and monitor activity with minimal overhead.
Project Objectives
- Private, access-controlled portal for verified professionals (no public storefront, no online payments).
- Fast, uncluttered UI with essential CTAs only: “Request Access” and “Login to Portal”.
- Lightweight registration and order forms (Google Forms or custom) with email notifications and Google Sheets logging.
- Members-only documents area for secure PDF downloads with easy admin updates.
- Manual user approval flow and basic password reset support.
Why CnEL India Was the Best Fit
- Security-First Architecture: Role-based access, hardened login, and least-privilege design ensure only approved professionals view restricted content.
- Operational Simplicity: Email alerts and Google Sheets logging let teams run approvals and order tracking without adopting heavy new systems.
- Performance & Minimalism: Clean, no-clutter UI with zero unnecessary animations—optimized for speed and adoption.
- Flexible Form Strategy: Supports Google Forms for quick rollout or custom forms for deeper validation and branding—switchable with minimal effort.
- Admin-Friendly Document Management: Drag-and-drop PDF uploads, categorization, and instant updates—no developer required for routine changes.
- Proven Process & Handover: Clear documentation, training, and a maintenance option to keep the portal secure and current.
What We Built
1) Homepage — “Professional Access Portal”
- Concise sections: Welcome, About, and two primary CTAs—Request Access and Login to Portal.
- Design aligned to final brand elements (logo, colors, typography) once provided.
- Zero marketing clutter; optimized reading flow and accessibility.
2) Registration — “Request Access”
- Form fields: Organization/Business Name, Trading Name, Business Address, Contact Name & Role, Email, Phone, License/Certification ID, PDF upload, and authorization checkbox.
- Submission sends an email to admin and can log responses in Google Sheets.
- Admins manually verify and approve access from an internal review panel.
3) Thank You Page
- Clear message: “Thank you for submitting your access request. We’ll review your details and respond within 1–2 business days.”
4) Login + Forgot Password
- Basic login for approved users with “Forgot Password” option.
- Role-based routes ensure non-members cannot access protected pages.
5) Order Page (Members Only)
- Simple order form: Organization Name, Product selection, Quantity, Recipient Initials, Authorizing Professional, Delivery Address, Reference (optional), Urgency, and Notes.
- Orders trigger email notifications and are logged to a Google Sheet for tracking—no cart, no online payment needed.
6) Documents — “Downloadable Resources” (Members Only)
- Secure PDF library for product information sheets, certifications, safety data, and professional FAQs.
- Admin users can upload, replace, or remove PDFs quickly.
7) Contact / Support
- Support email and an FAQ explaining registration, ordering, and typical response times.
Admin Features
- Manual user approval queue with status controls (Pending, Approved, Rejected).
- Email notifications for new registrations and orders.
- Google Sheets logging for auditability (timestamps, requester, order details).
- Document manager for PDFs (categories, replace/update, visibility controls).
- Configurable forms: switch between Google Forms and custom forms as needs evolve.
Technical Approach
- Platform: WordPress with a lightweight custom plugin to manage roles, approvals, secure routes, and document access.
- Security: Role-based capabilities, nonce-protected actions, reCAPTCHA on public forms, and enforced file-type checks for uploads (PDF only).
- Data & Tracking: Email alerts and Google Sheets integration for registrations and orders; exportable CSVs for reporting.
- Performance: Minimal dependencies, caching-friendly templates, optimized assets, and accessibility best practices (semantic HTML, ARIA where necessary).
- Scalability: Modular code structure to add products, categories, or extra member content without rework.
Outcomes & Benefits
- Frictionless Operations: Admins verify and activate users quickly; professionals access documents and place orders without extra steps.
- Faster Time-to-Value: Google Forms/Sheets option accelerates Phase 1 while leaving room for deeper customization later.
- Lower Overhead: No full eCommerce stack; fewer moving parts to maintain and secure.
- Compliance-Friendly: PDF-only uploads and explicit authorization checkbox support professional oversight.
- Future-Ready: The architecture can evolve to add payments, APIs, or advanced reporting if required.
Client Testimonial
“CnEL India delivered exactly what we needed—a fast, private portal that keeps our professional workflows simple and secure. The manual approval and Google Sheets tracking give us total control without extra software. Document updates are easy, orders are straightforward, and the UI stays out of the way. Setup and handover were smooth, and the documentation is clear. Highly recommended.”
— Operations Manager, Professional Products Division
Deliverables (Phase 1)
- Fully functioning private portal with secure login and manual approvals.
- Registration and order forms (Google Forms or custom-built) with email alerts.
- Google Sheets tracking for registrations and orders.
- Members-only documents page with admin-friendly PDF management.
- Contact/Support page with FAQs.
- Admin handover documentation and training session.
- Optional maintenance quote for security updates and enhancements.
Proof of Fit
- Focused, minimal build aligned to professional workflows—not a public eCommerce site.
- Security, speed, and admin control prioritized from day one.
- Pragmatic integrations (email + Google Sheets) to keep ops simple and auditable.
Next Steps
- Confirm branding (logo, colors, content) and choose Google Forms vs. custom forms for Phase 1.
- Provide initial PDF resources for the Documents library and define categories.
- Approve user roles and the manual approval workflow.
- Schedule admin training and go-live checklist review.