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BoardEffect Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users appreciate the ease of use with BoardEffect, simplifying the preparation and distribution of board packets. (113 mentions)
Users value the secure document management features of BoardEffect, enhancing governance and reducing email clutter. (57 mentions)
Users value the excellent customer support from BoardEffect, providing quick solutions and helpful guidance throughout the process. (50 mentions)
Users find BoardEffect to be a transformational tool for streamlining board meeting information and communication. (44 mentions)
Users value the efficiency and clarity offered by BoardEffect, enhancing communication and streamlining board processes. (35 mentions)
Users face challenges with mobile app lag and document management inefficiencies that hinder document access and organization. (23 mentions)
Users find BoardEffect has limited functionality, missing features like attendance and lacking in overall app presentation. (22 mentions)
Users find BoardEffect not intuitive, requiring training and additional tools, which complicates the user experience. (22 mentions)
Users find the agenda management clunky, citing poor margin control and formatting limitations as frustrating issues. (18 mentions)
Users find it unfortunate that minutes are a separate module with additional licensing costs, complicating board management processes. (12 mentions)

5 Pros or Advantages of BoardEffect

1. Ease of Use
Users appreciate the ease of use with BoardEffect, simplifying the preparation and distribution of board packets.
See 113 mentions

See Related User Reviews

GP

Ginny P.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Has made my work life easier!"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

I like the ease of preparing and distributing board packets.

AB

Amanda B.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Excellent service and ease of use"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

The ease of everything. Not just on the admin end, but for users as well.

2. Document Management
Users value the secure document management features of BoardEffect, enhancing governance and reducing email clutter.
See 57 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Michael K.
MK

Michael K.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"BoardEffect transformed how we work with our Board(s)"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

Our organization has a corporate governance board, as well as two advisory boards for key program areas. The platform has allowed us to streamline sch

KD

Kim D.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"One stop place for all meeting materials"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

We can easily manage our documents and retain for years.

3. Customer Support
Users value the excellent customer support from BoardEffect, providing quick solutions and helpful guidance throughout the process.
See 50 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Kristen C.
KC

Kristen C.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Great Board Portal"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

We enjoy the capabilities of storage and sharing resources in various forms. We also like the way the platform allows us to have many workrooms. Custo

Glenda S.
GS

Glenda S.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"BoardEffect customer service team is QUICK, ACCURATE and DEPENDABLE!"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

I like that I can call and actually talk to a human who knows exactly what I need and resolve the problem or find a solution in a matter of minutes!

4. Board Management
Users find BoardEffect to be a transformational tool for streamlining board meeting information and communication.
See 44 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Michael K.
MK

Michael K.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"BoardEffect transformed how we work with our Board(s)"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

Our organization has a corporate governance board, as well as two advisory boards for key program areas. The platform has allowed us to streamline sch

AS

Ariel S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Absolutely amazing platform"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

BoardEffect has been instrumental in streamlining information for our board meetings and all our board members love it.

5. Features
Users value the efficiency and clarity offered by BoardEffect, enhancing communication and streamlining board processes.
See 35 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Michael K.
MK

Michael K.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"BoardEffect transformed how we work with our Board(s)"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

Our organization has a corporate governance board, as well as two advisory boards for key program areas. The platform has allowed us to streamline sch

CT

Carol T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Easy to User Board Platform"

What do you like about BoardEffect?

Library is limitless and makes finding materials easy.

5 Cons or Disadvantages of BoardEffect

1. Document Management
Users face challenges with mobile app lag and document management inefficiencies that hinder document access and organization.
See 23 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Solid Board Management System"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

The document library it doesn't give you the ability to either view or download a document before opening it. So you have to create a view only and a

Verified User
A

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Executive Assistant"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

I was disappointed that the individual documents migrated from BoardPaq weren't kept as individual documents in the different months as they were save

2. Limited Functionality
Users find BoardEffect has limited functionality, missing features like attendance and lacking in overall app presentation.
See 22 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"New to this platform"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

Wish we were able to switch back from Admin view to Trustee view as we were able to do previously.

PS

Pam S.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"BoardEffect User Since March 2024"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

Not crazy about the app. Lost some functionality in the app when we switched from BoardPaq to BoardEffect.

3. Not Intuitive
Users find BoardEffect not intuitive, requiring training and additional tools, which complicates the user experience.
See 22 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Kyle P.
KP

Kyle P.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Solid Board Packet Solution for your Modern Boardroom"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

Sometimes it's not as intuitive as I would like, but they do have ton of tutorials and how-to's to figure it out.

Verified User
A

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Board Members, Administrators and staff find it to be very effective."

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

It is not intuitive, takes a bit to train people in its use, the mail feature does not ALLOW ATTACHMANT OF DOCUMENTS AND FILES!! I have complained abo

4. Agenda Management
Users find the agenda management clunky, citing poor margin control and formatting limitations as frustrating issues.
See 18 mentions

See Related User Reviews

GP

Ginny P.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Has made my work life easier!"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

Sometimes it feels clunky when moving items around on an agenda.

Verified User
A

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"User-Friendly"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

The meeting agenda has poor margin control. I frequently have the presenter roll down two or three lines because the margins are so narrow. I have a

5. Board Management
Users find it unfortunate that minutes are a separate module with additional licensing costs, complicating board management processes.
See 12 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Kirsten G.
KG

Kirsten G.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Time Saver!"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

We have had some trouble with Board members downloading the PDF and then being off on page numbers if a last minute adjustment is made.

Verified User
E

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Great training and mentor support for a quick implementation"

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

Unfortunate that minutes is a seperate moduyand licensing cost. Lots of board management functionality

BoardEffect Reviews (263)

Reviews

BoardEffect Reviews (263)

4.4
263 reviews
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Kaitlin D.
KD
Governance Associate
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Good experience as a newer user!"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

My organization previously used a different board portal before it was sunsetted last year. After evaluating a few options, we chose BoardEffect. Overall, it has been a positive experience, and we've received encouraging feedback from our board members about the new platform. While I’m still learning the ropes, I appreciate how easy it is to create board books and how seamlessly the minutes are integrated into the site. The overall layout is user-friendly, and we've definitely seen more board members actively engaging with the platform. The implementation and integration process was straightforward, and the customer support team provided excellent guidance throughout. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

It takes time to access the minutes section.

I wish there was a way to track when users view or open the board book.

It would be helpful to have a way to preview what users are seeing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi Kaitlin!

We're thrilled to hear that BoardEffect has been a positive experience for you and your organization! We appreciate your feedback about the convenience of accessing board materials and the user-friendly layout.

We understand your suggestions for improving access to the minutes section and tracking user activity, and we will consider these for future updates.

- Bella from BoardEffect

LR
Supervisory board member
Food Production
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"BoardEffect makes meeting prep a breeze, ensuring all our sensitive documents are secure"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

I absolutely adore the fact that BoardEffect offers safe document management and distribution. Our board room documents are highly confidential therefore a highly encrypted platform offers us a great relief. The game changer is also the meeting management tools. It is easy to create agendas, handle RSVPs, and share whole board packets before meetings online digitally. It is not only a time saver but also they have done away with physical printing. All of that is stored and easily accessible to our board members which is great. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

But there is a pinch of new software solutions to replace the user interface which is a bit less modern. It is practical and not necessarily user-friendly as it might be to completely new board members. We also once in a while find the search capability in documents to be more interesting. Sometimes it is a small challenge to find particular notes or past discussions easily. They are rather minor details that do not hamper basic functions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi Lucrezia!

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with BoardEffect. We're glad to hear that the platform has helped address your key problems with insecure and inefficient communications among the board. We understand your feedback about the user interface and search capabilities, and we'll work to enhance the user experience.

- Bella from BoardEffect

TC
Document controller
Performing Arts
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Our board communications feel organized"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

My favorite aspect of BoardEffect is that it makes sure board members are following the same direction without needing to communicate all the time. I have mostly used it to keep our board materials and meeting notes in order. It’s obvious that the communication is always on the same level. Since everyone has access to the same documents, a lot of my responsibilities have been relieved. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

There have been times when board members didn’t notice important changes because they were not aware they were made. That little gap creates more problems when it results in confusion in meetings. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi Tonia,

Thank you for sharing your experience. We're so glad BoardEffect has helped bring more organization to your board communications. It's great to hear that keeping everything in one place has made your job easier and helped everyone stay on the same page.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and are happy to be part of what’s working for your board.

- Bella from BoardEffect

Verified User in Health, Wellness and Fitness
AH
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Exceptionally User-Friendly with Outstanding Customer Support"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

We have been using BoardEffect and couldn't be more pleased with the experience. As an administrator, I find the platform incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate, which has saved us significant time when preparing for board meetings. Our board members have also found the interface simple and accessible, which has greatly improved engagement and communication.

What truly sets BoardEffect apart, however, is the exceptional customer service. Our Customer Success Manager (Pia Roper) has been consistently responsive, knowledgeable, and proactive in ensuring we get the most out of the platform. Whether it's onboarding, troubleshooting, or exploring new features, the support has been top-notch.

Highly recommend BoardEffect for any non-profit organization looking to streamline governance processes and improve board collaboration. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

If I had to point out one area for improvement, it would be that board members who serve on multiple boards using BoardEffect need separate logins for each organization. It would be much more convenient if there were a way to access multiple boards with a single sign-on or unified dashboard. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi there!

Thank you so much for the thoughtful review! We're so glad BoardEffect has helped simplify your board operations and that you’d recommend it to other nonprofits.

We couldn’t agree more about Pia! She’s a key part of our team and we’ll be sure to pass your kind words along.

The ability to switch between boards with a single login is something we've heard from users like you, and we’re excited to share that this will be available in a future update. We're always listening to customer feedback to improve the product and your overall experience.

If you have any questions in the future, feel free to reach out to our team or connect with Pia directly.

Verified User in Research
UR
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"From Email Overload to Organized Clarity"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

The best thing about BoardEffect, hands down, is how it brought everything into one clean, organized space. Before, I’d have to dig through email threads, Google Docs, and old PDFs just to prep for a single meeting. Now, I log in, and everything I need—agendas, past minutes, reports—is right there. It sounds simple, but it’s honestly taken a huge weight off. I feel more prepared, less stressed, and like my time’s actually being respected. That’s no small thing when you’re juggling a board role with a full-time job. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

Honestly, the learning curve in the beginning was a bit frustrating. When we first switched over, a few of us—especially the less tech-savvy board members—felt lost. It’s not the most intuitive platform right out of the gate, and I remember one meeting where we spent more time figuring out where a document was than actually discussing it.

Also, it’s not cheap. For smaller organizations like ours, the cost made us hesitate at first. It felt like a big leap.

That said, once we got past the early bumps and learned how to use it, those issues faded. But yeah, onboarding could definitely be smoother. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi there!

We're thrilled to hear that BoardEffect has brought everything into one clean, organized space for you, making it easier to prepare for meetings and reducing stress. Thank you for sharing your experience!

- Bella from BoardEffect

Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management
AN
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"BoardEffect gets the job done =)"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

I really love how BoardEffect acts as a one-stop shop for everything board related. It makes communicating with board members super easy and keeps all our important docs safe and in one place. What I really appreciate is how it simplifies getting ready for meetings, helping everyone stay organized and in sync. From a board member's point of view, having all the info and materials in one spot is efficient and they heavily rely on this functionality. Overall, BoardEffect has really smoothed out our board processes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

I don't think BoardEffect is a standalone. You have to use other tools to do what it cannot.

If board members go there to RSVP, view the board book, see upcoming events, I believe there should also be a messenger feature within the software.

Minute-taking is also a core part of board management. It unfortunate that you have to pay extra for a baseline need. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi there!

Thank you for sharing your experience with BoardEffect!

We’re glad it’s made communicating with board members, securing documents, and preparing for meetings easier. We appreciate your suggestions on messaging and minute-taking and will share them with our team. It’s great to hear BoardEffect saves you time and helps keep your board processes running smoothly! Thank you again for your positive review!

- Bella from BoardEffect

Joyce B.
JB
Grants Manager
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"DFA BoardEffect Review 2024"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

BoardEffect is easy to work with. Creating Board Books and building the library for our trustees is a seamless process. The conversion process was easy and we were able to begin using it immediately. Our staff and trustees were all trained quickly and were able to integrate the tools into the every day work process easily. I feel confident in the customer service group whenever an issue comes up, which has been very little. We build out information for 4 board meetings every twelve months which consists of 3 board books for each meeting for a total of 12 a year, however, there have been instances when an additional one was utilized. All staff and trustees have access to the library 24/7 which is a definite asset for our foundation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

In the beginning, there was an issue that prevented automated notification when the meeting materials were ready and available to the trustees, however, new updates have ressolved that issue. As of today, we have no issues with how BoardEffect is working for us. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi Joyce,

We're glad to hear that BoardEffect has helped streamline the process of creating and accessing board materials for your foundation. Eliminating manual processes and providing 24/7 access to the library are key benefits of using BoardEffect. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to continuing to support your organization.

- Bella from BoardEffect

BN
Executive Assistant to the CEO
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"New BoardEffect User - 3 Months"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

The migration from Diligent's BoardPaq to BoardEffect was extremely easy and the support I received during the process was very helpful. It is obvious the BoardEffect Team has put a lot of thought and work into the training, available Webinars and materials for this particular Diligent product.

I have completed two (2) Board meetings using BoardEffect. The Directors and Executive Team found the App easy to install and the internal training we scheduled with small groups was also easy and informative to get them started with the new product.

Creating the Board Meeting Book for each meeting is intuitive and easy to update the order of agenda items as well as attachments through the edit process.

I am still learning BoardEffect and appreciate the enhancements that continue to be communicated by the BoardEffect Support Team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

Preparing the meeting minutes is the only area so far that takes more time than it did using the Diligent BoardPaq product. The following areas are a bit clunky and take additional time in BoardEffect / Diligent's Meeting Minutes area:

1. Identifying the meeting attendees would be easier if the members of the workroom were already listed to select from a list. My name is the only name that pre-populates for meeting attendance. Once I start typing the names, the name selections pop up to select from, but this is time consuming due to the meeting attendees varying from meeting to meeting.

2. Reporting of voting details for meeting agenda items would be easier and quicker if a system tool was available to enter each step of the voting process. BoardPaq's system for automatically provided an area to select names for the "Move", "Second", and "Status" recording of agenda items submitted for approval. In BoardEffect, I am currently entering this information manually within a table for each agenda item receiving approval.

If I am missing something within BoardEffect/Diligent Meeting Minutes for both of these items, I would love to receive some additional training or "how-to" information.

Thank you!

Beverly Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi Beverly,

We're pleased to hear that you're finding our support to be incredible during the migration process. If there's anything else we can do to assist you as you transition to BoardEffect, please don't hesitate to contact us.

- Bella from BoardEffect

SL
Operations Manager
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Seamless Usage and Easy to Use"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

It is incredibly easy to use, make events, and create board materials ahead of meetings. I have also reached out to customer service several times and have been happy with the services provided. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

I wish there was a setting to notify workroom members when an event is created and when a new board book is created. I also wish that there was a better method of creating collaborative docs in the library. I am looking to have a spreadsheet and working doc available for members to edit, and most of my Board members do not have Microsoft accounts to do so. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

AI
Board meeting coordinator
Fine Art
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"BoardEffect supports us with clear scheduling"
What do you like best about BoardEffect?

BoardEffect has made all of our board activities easy to manage and keeping neat. Almost no effort is needed to set up meetings and to share files. I’m especially a fan of the fact it syncs straight into Outlook to avoid a lot of scheduling time. With such an ease of use and such a wide range of features, such as secure document storage, how we prepare for our meetings have changed completely. And it’s more than a huge improvement for my daily work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about BoardEffect?

I don’t like BoardEffect’s mobile app, because their app is glitchy and opens large documents very badly. Regretfully I have to wait or continue starting the app to have fast access to it from my phone in the middle of a meeting. This has made it harder to get flexible when I’m not at my desk and unnecessarily complicated my usual workflow. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Bella Basso of BoardEffect

Hi Ana!

We're glad to hear that BoardEffect has made managing your board activities easier and more efficient. We appreciate your feedback about the mobile app and will share it with our development team for further improvement. Thank you for your review!

- Bella from BoardEffect