THE PORTAL PEOPLE LIMITED

What THE PORTAL PEOPLE LIMITED does

The Portal People Ltd is a privately held UK-based software company that provides a cloud-hosted B2B eCommerce platform designed to integrate natively with Datafile, Sage 200, and Oracle NetSuite ERP systems. The platform functions as a customer-facing ordering and account management layer that preserves the ERP as the system of record, delivering account-specific pricing, real-time stock visibility, and self-service order capture for wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, and service companies primarily in the UK mid-market. Beyond the core portal, the company offers a Datafile-specific API service (supporting JSON, CSV, and XML) that exposes ERP data and accepts orders and payments from third-party sites and applications.

The product portfolio also includes NGauge Rail, a specialized cloud-based rail welders management software for UK Rail Network contractors with offline trackside and tunnel operation capability, ISO and FORS compliance documentation, and KPI dashboards. The company resells and implements Datafile ERP software as a Delivery Partner, providing consultancy, training, and ongoing support, and operates Chalvington Cloud, an ISO 27001-certified and PCI DSS-compliant managed cloud infrastructure service optimized for hosting the company's portals in UK and Northern Europe data centers. The platform is delivered as a SaaS subscription with annual quote-based pricing that bundles maintenance and updates, supplemented by professional services revenue from ERP implementation and support contracts.

The company is headquartered in Hailsham, East Sussex, with main operations in Polegate, and serves a UK-only customer base via direct consultative sales engagement, supported by content marketing, SEO-focused thought leadership, and partner-sourced referrals from Datafile. The company traces its operational history to the late 1980s as M B Computer Services. It is privately held with no disclosed external investors, parent company, acquisitions, or executive team information, and has no publicly disclosed revenue or headcount figures.

Name

THE PORTAL PEOPLE LIMITED

Legal name

The Portal People Ltd

Website

https://portalpeople.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Portal People Ltd is a UK-based B2B SaaS provider that delivers an ERP-integrated eCommerce platform (Datafile, Sage 200, NetSuite) along with vertical rail-management software (NGauge Rail) and managed cloud hosting, serving UK wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B eCommerce Software (ERP-integrated)

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

akta.pro primary industry

B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wholesale/B2B Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAF)

Keywords

• B2B eCommerce platform
• ERP integration software
• Wholesale order management
• Datafile API services
• Managed cloud hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Polegate

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription - Portal People Commerce: The primary revenue stream is subscription-based SaaS for the Portal People eCommerce platform. All technical maintenance and updating is included in the subscription, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience for customers. This is a recurring revenue model based on providing cloud-hosted B2B eCommerce portals integrated with customers' ERP systems.
2. Datafile ERP Implementation and Support: As a Datafile Delivery Partner, the company provides consultancy, system design, implementation, training, and ongoing support for Datafile ERP software. Revenue comes from implementation services and support contracts.
3. Cloud Infrastructure Hosting: Managed cloud hosting services branded as Chalvington Cloud. Includes hosting, monitoring, backups, and security services. Part of the overall managed service offering.
4. NGauge Rail Software: Rail welding management software subscription for rail industry. Provides job management, resource management, compliance documentation, and KPI dashboards for trackside operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Portal People Limited builds and sells ERP-integrated B2B eCommerce portal software that lets wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers take orders online while keeping their ERP (Datafile, Sage 200, NetSuite) as the system of record. Alongside the portal it sells a Datafile API integration service, the NGauge Rail field-application for rail-infrastructure works, and Chalvington Cloud — an ISO 27001-certified UK managed-cloud hosting environment — typically delivered as a subscription plus implementation service.

Product overview

The Portal People offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on ERP-integrated B2B eCommerce solutions. The core B2B eCommerce Portal integrates with ERP systems (Datafile, Sage 200, NetSuite) to deliver real-time pricing, stock, and order management. The Datafile eBusiness Portal is a specialized variant for Datafile users. The Datafile API Service enables custom website and third-party system integration with Datafile ERP. NGauge Rail provides vertical-specific rail welders management software. As a Datafile Delivery Partner, the company also resells and supports Datafile ERP Software with its modular components. Chalvington Cloud provides managed cloud infrastructure. Additional modules extend the portal with account management, pricing management, product management, delivery management, GDPR compliance, content management, booking, service management, and marketing tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B2B eCommerce Portal ERP-integrated B2B eCommerce portal software that lets wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers take trade orders online while keeping their Datafile, Sage 200, or NetSuite ERP as the system of record. Supports customer-specific pricing, live stock, account hierarchies, and order-to-fulfilment back into the ERP.
• Datafile API Service Managed API integration service that connects third-party portals and applications to the Datafile ERP in real time, reading and writing product, customer, pricing, stock, and order data so customers do not have to develop or maintain their own Datafile integration.
• Datafile eBusiness Portal Standard B2B eBusiness portal built specifically for Datafile ERP customers, with optional Modular Add-Ons, enabling online ordering, account management, and ERP-integrated workflows for KCS Datafile users.
• Datafile ERP Software (reseller) Resale, supply, and support of the Datafile ERP system from KCS as part of the company's broader ERP-integrated commerce offering, providing a single vendor for ERP plus eCommerce plus integration.
• NGauge Rail Field and cost-tracking application purpose-built for rail infrastructure contractors, used to record hours, materials, plant, and progress against rail works on site and reconcile them back to head office for invoicing and contract reporting.
• Chalvington Cloud ISO 27001-certified UK managed cloud hosting platform used to host the company's own software (B2B eCommerce Portal, Datafile eBusiness Portal, NGauge Rail) and offered to customers as a secure, sovereign UK cloud environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Processing millions in B2B orders through the platform in live production
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Datafile (Software Solutions)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Portal People is a Delivery Partner and Technology Partner for Datafile Business and Accounting Software. They have developed specialized web-based applications that complement Datafile's capabilities, extending the system to online customers and field teams. This partnership provides deep integration expertise and referral pipeline from Datafile's customer base. Portal People has in-depth knowledge of Datafile's system and capabilities, with strong relationships with the author and other Datafile delivery partners.
• Sage 200coreTechnology or IntegrationNative integration partnership with Sage 200 ERP system. The Portal People platform integrates with Sage 200 to provide B2B eCommerce capabilities including customer-specific pricing, stock visibility, and order processing synchronized with the ERP.
• NetSuite (Oracle)coreTechnology or IntegrationNative integration partnership with Oracle NetSuite ERP. The Portal People platform integrates with NetSuite to deliver B2B eCommerce capabilities with real-time ERP data synchronization.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Handshake (Shopify B2B): B2B-focused wholesale commerce platform with customer-specific catalogs and pricing. Directly competes for the same mid-market wholesaler/distributor buyers Portal People targets via its ERP-integrated portal.
• Cin7: Inventory and order management platform aimed at product sellers including wholesalers and distributors, with built-in EDI and integrations to ERP/accounting systems. Overlaps with Portal People's target buyer and ERP-anchored value proposition.
• Corevist: B2B eCommerce platform purpose-built for SAP ERP, delivering real-time pricing, stock, and order data to a web portal. Directly comparable to Portal People's ERP-anchored, customer-specific pricing model for B2B buyers.
• Sana Commerce: ERP-integrated B2B eCommerce platform built natively on top of ERPs (SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, Sage). Closely comparable to Portal People in both technology approach (ERP as system of record, storefront layered on top) and target customers (wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers).
• Unleashed (now part of Sage): Inventory and order management software for wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers with accounting integrations. Closely comparable in target customer (UK and global SMB wholesalers/distributors) and in integrating with ERPs like Sage.
• Brightpearl (Sage): Retail and wholesale ERP/order management platform integrated with Sage and other accounting systems. Comparable buyer (wholesalers/distributors) and overlapping ERP-anchored commerce value proposition to Portal People.
• TradeCentric (PunchOut2Go): Focused on B2B eCommerce integrations between procurement systems (punchout, cXML, OCI) and supplier storefronts. Comparable in addressing ERP- and procurement-driven B2B ordering workflows where Portal People's ERP-integrated portal competes.

Broad incumbents

• BigCommerce: Headless commerce platform with B2B Edition and ERP integrations targeting mid-market and enterprise. Broader incumbent competing for the same B2B merchants, but without Portal People's depth in Datafile and Sage 200.
• Shopify (Shopify Plus / B2B): Dominant commerce platform with expanding B2B and ERP integration features (Shopify Plus, Shop Pay, B2B features for wholesalers). Competes for the same B2B buyers, though Portal People differentiates via deeper ERP-system-of-record integrations.
• Adobe Commerce (Magento): Enterprise-grade commerce platform frequently paired with ERP integrations. Portal People's integration list explicitly includes Magento for Datafile connectivity, making it both a partner and competitor for B2B projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE PORTAL PEOPLE LIMITED