What should I use to build a portal for customers and partners?

A good choice depends on how complex the portal needs to be and how much customization/integration you want.

Best options by situation

1) If you want the fastest path and are already in Microsoft

Use Microsoft Power Pages (for the portal) and Power Platform / Dynamics 365 behind it.

Good for:

• Customer self-service portals
• Partner portals
• Authentication and role-based access
• Forms, case tracking, knowledge base, data integration

Why:

• Low-code
• Integrates well with Microsoft 365, Dynamics, Azure
• Good for external users
• Faster to launch than custom development

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2) If you need a highly customized portal

Build it with a modern web stack like:

• Frontend: React / Next.js
• Backend: Node.js / .NET / Python
• Auth: Auth0, Azure AD B2C, Okta
• Data: SQL + APIs
• Hosting: Azure, AWS, or GCP

Good for:

• Complex workflows
• Custom UI/UX
• Deep integration with internal systems
• Scaling to unique business requirements

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3) If you want enterprise workflow + support portal

Consider:

• Salesforce Experience Cloud
• ServiceNow Portals
• Liferay
• OutSystems / Mendix

Good for:

• Mature enterprise environments
• Case management
• Partner relationship management
• Workflow-heavy portals

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Simple recommendation

• Microsoft ecosystem + speed: Power Pages
• Salesforce ecosystem: Experience Cloud
• Need maximum flexibility: Custom web app
• IT/service-heavy portal: ServiceNow

Key things to evaluate

• External user authentication and SSO
• Role-based access for customers vs. partners
• Support for forms, cases, downloads, and dashboards
• Integration with CRM/ERP/ticketing systems
• Content management needs
• Cost and licensing
• Time to launch vs long-term flexibility

If you want, I can help you choose the best platform based on:

1. your current tech stack,
2. what the portal should do, and
3. your budget/timeline.