We got tired of sending WhatsApp updates, so we built our own client portal
We’ve all been there. You’re working hard on a feature branch, and suddenly your phone buzzes. It’s a WhatsApp message from a client asking for a quick staging link, followed by another asking if the latest landing page design has been updated in Figma.
For a long time at Sanmora, this was our normal. We tried Slack, but clients found it too noisy. We tried Trello, but clients forgot their logins. The result? Project management scattered across three different chat threads, email chains, and shared drives.
So, three weeks ago, we decided to do something about it. We built our own client portal.
Why build when you can buy?
Before writing a single line of React code, we researched client portal SaaS products. Most of them were either overly complicated enterprise platforms or glorified file sharing folders that cost $150/month per user.
None of them integrated with our exact workflow. We wanted a portal that could:
1. Show real time build status: Directly pull deployment status from Vercel/Netlify.
2. Embed live interactive Figma files: So clients can leave comments directly inside the portal without navigating to Figma's complex UI.
3. Offer a simple timeline view: A clean, zero login progress bar showing what phase the project is in.
The Stack we chose
We built the portal inside our Next.js monorepo using:
Frontend: Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS + Framer Motion
Database: Supabase (for quick auth and row level security)
APIs: Vercel webhook integration for deployment statuses
What we learned from the launch
Since deploying the portal for our active Ahmedabad and remote clients, our daily WhatsApp notifications have dropped by roughly 70%. More importantly, the feedback loops are much faster. Clients love having a single URL where they can preview the live staging build and approve design mockups in one click.
Sometimes, the best solution to agency friction isn't another third party subscription. It’s just building the bridge yourself.
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