Skip to Content
ConfigurationCustomer Portal Settings

Customer Portal Settings

The Customer Portal Settings tab configures the self-service portal that allows your customers to view declarations, upload files, and manage their own data.

Overview

The customer portal provides a simplified, branded interface for your customers to:

  • View their declarations and shipment status
  • Upload files for import/processing
  • Review drafts created from AI email import
  • Download declaration documents (SAD, UTB, etc.)
  • Manage their own notification preferences
  • View invoices and statements (if enabled)

Portal Enabled

Enable Customer Portal

Master toggle to enable or disable the customer portal.

When Enabled:

  • Portal is accessible at configured domain or subdomain
  • Customers can register and log in
  • Portal branding and customization active
  • File import and mapping features available

When Disabled:

  • Portal is inaccessible (shows maintenance page)
  • Existing customer portal users cannot log in
  • Data is retained but not accessible
  • Internal Borderbolt users unaffected

When to Enable:

  • You want to provide self-service access to customers
  • Customers need real-time declaration status
  • You use AI email import or file upload features
  • You want to reduce support inquiries

When to Disable:

  • You handle all customer communication internally
  • Security policy restricts external portal access
  • You’re not ready for customer self-service

Custom Portal Domain

Portal Domain Configuration

Configure a custom domain or subdomain for the customer portal.

Default Domain: portal.borderbolt.com/organization-slug

Custom Domain Options:

  • Subdomain: portal.yourdomain.com
  • Path-based: yourdomain.com/portal
  • Dedicated domain: customer.yourdomain.com

DNS Configuration

To use a custom domain, configure DNS records:

CNAME Record (Recommended):

Type: CNAME
Name: portal (or your subdomain)
Value: portal.borderbolt.com
TTL: 3600

Example:

portal.customsflows.com → CNAME → portal.borderbolt.com

A Record (Alternative):

Type: A
Name: portal
Value: (Borderbolt server IP - provided by support)
TTL: 3600

SSL Certificate

Automatic SSL:

  • Borderbolt automatically provisions SSL certificates for custom domains
  • Uses Let’s Encrypt for free, trusted certificates
  • Auto-renewal every 90 days
  • No manual certificate management required

Manual SSL:

  • Upload your own SSL certificate if preferred
  • Useful for wildcard certificates or specific CA requirements
  • Contact support for manual certificate installation

DNS Propagation: After configuring DNS, allow 24-48 hours for global propagation. SSL certificate provisioning begins after DNS is verified.

Portal Branding

Upload a custom logo for the customer portal.

Supported Formats:

  • PNG (recommended for transparency)
  • JPEG
  • SVG (best for scalability)
  • GIF

Requirements:

  • Maximum size: 2MB
  • Recommended dimensions: 300x100px
  • Transparent background preferred (PNG/SVG)

Where Logo Appears:

  • Portal login page
  • Portal header/navigation
  • Email communications to portal users
  • PDF documents generated from portal

Branding Colors

Customize the color scheme of the customer portal.

Customizable Colors:

  • Primary Color: Main brand color (buttons, links, accents)
  • Secondary Color: Supporting color (headers, highlights)
  • Accent Color: Call-to-action elements
  • Background Color: Page background
  • Text Color: Body text

Color Format: Hex codes (e.g., #3DCD58) or RGB

Best Practice:

  • Use your company’s brand guidelines
  • Ensure sufficient contrast for accessibility (WCAG AA)
  • Test colors on both light and dark backgrounds
  • Preview changes before saving

Custom CSS

For advanced customization, add custom CSS to override default styles.

Use Cases:

  • Custom fonts
  • Specific layout adjustments
  • Advanced hover effects
  • Responsive design tweaks

Example:

/* Custom portal styles */
.portal-header {
    background: linear-gradient(to right, #3DCD58, #2BA84A);
}
 
.portal-card {
    border-radius: 16px;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

Advanced Feature: Custom CSS requires knowledge of CSS and the portal’s HTML structure. Improper CSS can break portal layout. Test thoroughly before deploying.

Customer Access Management

User Registration

Control how customers can register for portal access.

Registration Options:

Open Registration

  • Customers can self-register with email verification
  • No admin approval required
  • Faster onboarding
  • Higher security risk (verify email domain)

Invitation Only

  • Admin must send invitation emails
  • Customers receive unique registration link
  • More controlled access
  • Recommended for B2B environments

Disabled

  • No new registrations allowed
  • Existing users can still log in
  • Manual account creation by admin only

Best Practice: Use “Invitation Only” for B2B customers to maintain control over access.

Email Domain Restrictions

Restrict portal registration to specific email domains.

Format: Comma-separated domain list

Examples:

Single domain: example.com
Multiple domains: example.com, acme.com, supplier.net

When Configured:

  • Only emails from listed domains can register
  • Prevents unauthorized registrations
  • Useful for verified customer organizations

When Left Blank:

  • Any email domain can register (if registration enabled)
  • Higher flexibility but lower security

Default User Role

The role assigned to new portal users upon registration.

Available Roles:

  • Portal Viewer: Can view declarations and documents only
  • Portal User: Can view and upload files
  • Portal Manager: Can manage team members and settings

Recommended: Start with “Portal User” for self-registered accounts, upgrade manually as needed.

Portal User Management

User Overview

View and manage all customer portal users.

User Information:

  • Name and email
  • Associated customer
  • Role and permissions
  • Last login timestamp
  • Account status (active/disabled)

Actions:

  • Invite new users
  • Edit user details
  • Change user role
  • Disable/enable access
  • Reset password
  • Resend invitation

Invite New Portal User

Send invitation to customer for portal access.

Process:

  1. Navigate to Settings → Customer Portal → Users
  2. Click “Invite User”
  3. Enter customer name and email
  4. Select associated customer (links user to customer data)
  5. Choose initial role
  6. Click “Send Invitation”
  7. Customer receives email with registration link

Invitation Expiry: 7 days

Resend: If customer doesn’t register within 7 days, resend invitation from user management.

File Import and Mapping

File Import Templates

Configure templates for bulk file imports via the portal.

Supported File Types:

  • Excel (.xlsx, .xls)
  • CSV (.csv)
  • XML (.xml)

Template Configuration:

  1. Upload sample file
  2. Map columns to Borderbolt fields
  3. Set validation rules
  4. Save template for reuse

Field Mapping:

  • Customer reference → LRN
  • HS Code → Commodity code
  • Description → Goods description
  • Quantity → Line quantity
  • Weight → Net weight
  • etc.

Validation Rules:

  • Required fields
  • Format validation (dates, numbers)
  • Range limits (min/max values)
  • Lookup validation (customer codes, etc.)

Mapping Templates

Save and reuse field mapping configurations.

Benefits:

  • Customers use same format every time
  • Reduces import errors
  • Faster processing
  • Consistent data quality

Multiple Templates:

  • Support multiple templates per customer
  • Different templates for different shipment types
  • Example: “Air Freight Import” vs. “Sea Freight Export”

Import Permissions

Control which portal users can import files.

Permission Levels:

  • Portal User: Can upload files with pre-approved templates
  • Portal Manager: Can upload and create new templates
  • Portal Viewer: No import access

Portal Features

Available Features

Toggle specific features on/off for the customer portal.

Feature Toggles:

View Declarations

  • See all declarations for their customer
  • Real-time status updates
  • Filter and search declarations
  • Recommended: Always enabled

Upload Files

  • Upload documents for AI import or manual processing
  • Attach to existing declarations
  • When to Enable: Using AI import or document upload workflow

File Import

  • Bulk import declarations via Excel/CSV
  • Use saved mapping templates
  • When to Enable: High-volume customers with structured data

View Documents

  • Download declaration documents (SAD, UTB, IIAA, etc.)
  • View uploaded files and attachments
  • Recommended: Always enabled

View Invoices

  • See invoices and statements
  • Download invoice PDFs
  • View payment status
  • When to Enable: If you bill customers through Borderbolt

Manage Notifications

  • Customize email notification preferences
  • Toggle notification types on/off
  • Recommended: Always enabled for better customer experience

Feature Matrix by Role

FeaturePortal ViewerPortal UserPortal Manager
View Declarations✓✓✓
View Documents✓✓✓
Upload Files✗✓✓
File Import✗✓✓
Create Templates✗✗✓
View Invoices✓✓✓
Manage Notifications✓✓✓
Manage Team✗✗✓

Best Practices

Portal Security

Recommended Settings:

  • Enable customer portal only if needed
  • Use “Invitation Only” registration
  • Configure email domain restrictions
  • Enable 2FA for portal users (if available)
  • Review portal user list quarterly
  • Disable inactive accounts after 90 days

Branding Consistency

Professional Portal:

  • Use high-resolution logo (300x100px minimum)
  • Match company brand colors exactly
  • Include company contact information in footer
  • Use professional, welcoming language in templates
  • Test portal on mobile devices (responsive design)

User Onboarding

Smooth Customer Experience:

  1. Send invitation email with clear instructions
  2. Provide portal user guide or tutorial
  3. Include support contact for portal questions
  4. Offer initial setup assistance
  5. Follow up after first login

Welcome Email Template:

Subject: Welcome to [Company] Customer Portal

Dear [Customer Name],

You've been invited to access our customer portal where you can:
- Track your declarations in real-time
- Upload documents for processing
- Download customs documentation
- Manage your notification preferences

Get Started:
1. Click the link below to create your account
2. Set a secure password
3. Log in and explore your dashboard

[Registration Link]

Questions? Contact us at support@yourcompany.com

Best regards,
[Company Name]

File Import Templates

Template Best Practices:

  • Start with simple templates (fewer fields)
  • Add validation rules to prevent errors
  • Test templates thoroughly before sharing
  • Provide example/sample file to customers
  • Document field requirements and formats
  • Version templates and track changes

Updating Settings

  1. Navigate to Settings → Customer Portal
  2. Toggle “Enable Customer Portal” on
  3. Configure custom domain (optional)
  4. Upload logo and set branding colors
  5. Configure user registration settings
  6. Enable/disable portal features
  7. Invite initial portal users
  8. Test portal with test customer account
  9. Changes save automatically on blur

Permissions

To edit customer portal settings, users must have the Settings permission. This is typically assigned to:

  • Admin role
  • Manager role

To invite portal users, users must have the User Management permission.

Troubleshooting

Custom Domain Not Working

Problem: Custom domain configured but portal shows error or doesn’t load.

Solutions:

  • Verify DNS CNAME or A record is configured correctly
  • Check DNS propagation: https://dnschecker.org 
  • Allow 24-48 hours for DNS propagation
  • Verify SSL certificate has been issued (can take 1-2 hours after DNS)
  • Check domain spelling in settings matches DNS record
  • Contact Borderbolt support if issue persists after 48 hours

Portal Users Can’t Log In

Problem: Portal users receive error when attempting to log in.

Solutions:

  • Verify customer portal is enabled in settings
  • Check user account is active (not disabled)
  • Confirm user has completed registration (not just invitation)
  • Verify user is using correct email address
  • Check password reset if credentials forgotten
  • Review portal domain is accessible (not blocked by firewall)

File Import Failing

Problem: Customers upload files but import fails with errors.

Solutions:

  • Verify file matches template format exactly
  • Check for extra/missing columns
  • Validate data types (dates, numbers) match expected format
  • Ensure required fields are populated
  • Review import error log for specific issues
  • Test template with sample file before sharing
  • Provide example file to customer

Portal Branding Not Appearing

Problem: Custom logo and colors not showing in portal.

Solutions:

  • Clear browser cache and reload portal
  • Verify logo was uploaded successfully (check settings)
  • Confirm logo file size is under 2MB
  • Check logo file format is supported (PNG, JPEG, SVG, GIF)
  • Review custom CSS for syntax errors
  • Test in incognito/private browser window
  • Wait a few minutes for cache to clear

Email Domain Restriction Not Working

Problem: Users from unauthorized domains can still register.

Solutions:

  • Verify email domain restriction is configured (not blank)
  • Check domain format (no @ symbol, no spaces)
  • Ensure registration is set to “Open” or “Invitation Only” (not “Disabled”)
  • Contact your administrator to clear the application cache if changes don’t appear immediately
  • Test with authorized and unauthorized email domains
  • Contact your administrator to review system logs for validation errors
Last updated on
Security SettingsRoles & Permissions