Simbli
By eBOARDsolutions
Simbli typical implementation process:
Initial needs assessment: Simbli’s team works with the organization to understand board structure, workflows, compliance, and module requirements, which typically takes a few days to a week.
Configuration and setup: The platform is configured based on organizational needs, including custom user roles, permissions, and document imports; this process usually spans 1–2 weeks.
Data migration: Existing agendas, documents, and policies are securely imported and organized; depending on data volume, this can take several days to a week.
Training and onboarding: Simbli provides hands-on training for administrators and end-users, often completed with live webinars and self-paced resources in 1–2 weeks.
Pilot launch: The system is rolled out to a limited user group or used for a live board meeting to ensure all processes run smoothly, lasting about 1 week.
Full rollout: Once pilot feedback is addressed, the platform is launched organization-wide for all scheduled governance activities.
Simbli can be customized to fit a wide range of business and organizational needs, particularly within board management, governance, and planning contexts.
Custom Organizational Plans: Simbli’s Planning Software allows users to develop and manage multiple types of plans—such as strategic plans, operational plans, school improvement plans, technology plans, and more. Administrators can create custom templates, configure plan structures, and add organization-specific fields to each plan type.
Custom Fields and Item Templates: When building plans or meeting agendas, users can create and use custom templates, customize item fields to specific plan types, and assign custom Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This enables granular customization of planning, reporting, and monitoring processes to directly fit varying business requirements.
Visibility and Access Control: Administrators can customize who has access to different sections, agenda items, documents, and entire meetings. Visibility can be set at multiple levels (e.g., public, board members, confidential), and access can be adjusted even after publication, supporting tailored workflows and privacy needs.
Custom Policy and Document Management: Simbli’s Policy Module supports managing various policy and procedure manuals (such as handbooks, safety manuals, continuity plans) in one place. Organizations can customize manuals, attach custom statuses to draft policies, and print or export policies in multiple formats.
Meeting Customization: Meeting types, agenda templates, voting mechanisms, and supporting documents (including videos and a variety of file types) can all be customized per business or board needs. Users are able to move, add, or edit agenda items and create templates for repeated use.
Branding and Interface Customization: The software supports customizable branding to reflect an organization’s identity. Some reviews confirm the availability of customizable interfaces and templates for further tailoring.
Integration with Existing Workflows: Simbli modules—meetings, planning, policy, evaluations, and document management—work together and can be configured to reflect the specific workflow of an organization, including assignment of responsibilities and triggering of notifications for required updates.
Custom Reporting: Users can select and customize reporting and export options, such as outlines, scorecards, strategy maps, and exporting data to Excel, to suit stakeholder requirements.
Simbli offers extensive training and support resources to help new users onboard quickly and effectively, including personalized assistance, a knowledge base, live events, and direct support options.
Virtual User Conferences and Workshops: Simbli organizes online conferences that provide hands-on training sessions, personalized workshops, best practice sharing, and networking opportunities for users from various organizations, enabling interactive learning and peer exchange.
Webinars and Video Tutorials: Regularly scheduled webinars and recorded video guides cover platform basics, advanced features, and new updates, allowing users to learn at their own pace.
Resource Library: An extensive library of downloads, guides, and takeaways is available to help users build knowledge and skills related to board management and Simbli’s modules.
Use-Case-Based Learning: Simbli provides role-specific training and resources, ensuring board members, administrators, and staff get tailored guidance relevant to their responsibilities.
Dedicated Customer Support Team: Simbli offers responsive customer service via phone, email, chat, and an online help desk, frequently cited in user reviews as knowledgeable and highly supportive.
FAQs and Knowledge Base: A searchable self-service knowledge base and FAQ section address common questions and troubleshooting needs for rapid answers to typical problems.
Personalized Demos: Prospective and new clients can schedule personalized demonstrations with Simbli experts to address specific needs and walk through platform features.
Phone and Email Support: Direct lines (toll-free and main office) ensure users can access real-time assistance as they learn or encounter challenges.
Simbli enforces several security measures to safeguard user data, protect privacy, and provide secure governance operations.
Encryption of Data: Simbli employs strong encryption protocols for data storage and transmission to ensure sensitive information remains protected from unauthorized access. This typically includes industry-standard encryption, but specifics are not always publicly disclosed.
User Access Controls: Granular role-based user access permissions allow administrators to control and restrict what data each user, group, or committee can view, edit, or manage. This helps limit exposure of confidential documents or board material to only authorized users.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Simbli supports multifactor authentication for both remote access and privileged accounts, including phishing-resistant schemes whenever feasible. This is crucial for protecting admin-level and sensitive user credentials.
Regular Data Backups: To prevent data loss and facilitate recovery from accidental deletion or cyber incidents, Simbli runs regular backups of client information to secure storage locations.
Compliance and Governance Standards: Simbli aligns with legal and regulatory standards in key areas (e.g., ADA, privacy laws), contributing to a secure organizational environment and minimizing legal risk.
Audit Trails and Activity Logs: The platform maintains detailed logs of user actions and document history, enabling administrators to monitor who accessed, shared, or modified data within the system, strengthening accountability.
Policy and Document Security: Meeting content, policies, and documents managed in Simbli benefit from built-in access restrictions, custom workflow protections, and privacy settings, allowing organizations to secure sensitive content end-to-end.
Simbli releases updates regularly and manages these updates in a way that keeps users informed and minimizes disruption to board operations.
Regular Release Cycle: Simbli introduces both major enhancements and incremental feature updates periodically. Major module updates and enhancements, like those to the Policy Module, are publicized through official announcements and platform notifications. Minor updates, feature improvements, and bug fixes can occur on a rolling schedule, supporting the ongoing evolution of the platform.
Real-Time Feature Improvements: The platform is designed to push real-time updates so users always access the latest features and enhancements without needing manual downloads or installations.
Managed by eBOARDsolutions: All updates and platform maintenance are handled by eBOARDsolutions centrally, ensuring a consistent and controlled rollout of new versions and bug fixes.
User Communication: Users are notified of new features, significant enhancements, or changes through direct communication—such as emails, release notes, or in-platform alerts.
Seamless Integration: Updates are deployed in a manner that supports continuous access, keeping modules like meetings, planning, evaluations, and policy management always available without major interruptions.
Simbli’s policy ensures organizations retain ownership of their data, with clearly defined procedures for data portability and deletion upon request.
Data entered and managed in Simbli is owned and controlled by the subscribing organization or board, not by eBOARDsolutions or Simbli itself.
Organizations, as subscribers, maintain full rights and access to their board materials, policies, documents, and protected information generated or uploaded in the platform.
Simbli’s Terms of Service specify that, upon written request from the subscriber (within 90 days of contract termination), the organization’s data can be exported and delivered back to them in a structured format.
Data export is managed securely and supports multiple formats compatible with organizational needs, allowing easy transfer between systems or archiving.
Data deletion is available upon contract termination, and the subscriber can request the removal of all its data from Simbli servers, reinforcing control over the organizational data lifecycle.
Simbli complies with privacy regulations, ensuring users can access, export, and delete their personal and organizational data consistent with modern data protection expectations.
Simbli allows organizations to scale their subscription up or down as needs change, with policies for adding or removing modules, users, or features that are managed contractually and operationally.
Organizations can add new modules (e.g., meetings, planning, policies, evaluations), increase user licenses, or expand features at any point by contacting Simbli support or their account manager.
Additional modules and user seats typically result in adjusted fees, which are calculated prorated for the remainder of the contract period or included as part of the next renewal cycle.
Organizations can remove modules or reduce user licenses by giving written notice to Simbli, generally before the next renewal period.
Downscaling may not result in partial refunds, but future billing cycles will reflect the reduced scope of the subscription.
Changes in features or seats are usually effective at the start of the next billing term, but special arrangements may be made on a case-by-case per contract.
Simbli’s Terms of Service specify that any scaling (up or down) is subject to the approved licensing and fee schedule agreed in the contract.
Most changes require written communication and agreement before bill adjustment or feature activation/deactivation.
Contracts are flexible enough to support organizational growth or reduction with managed changes, keeping board operations optimized.
Simbli contracts typically include auto-renewal clauses, clear notice periods for renewal and cancellation, and explicit guidelines for refunds and the data lifecycle upon termination.
Automatic Renewal: After the initial contract term, Simbli agreements generally auto-renew on a year-to-year basis under the same terms unless the subscriber provides written notice of non-renewal.
Renewal Notification: Users are often required to notify Simbli at least 30 days before the end of the current contract (or renewal) term if they do not intend to renew.
Notice Period: Cancellation typically requires advance written notice—commonly 30 days before the end of the subscription period or contract year.
Refunds: Fees already paid for Simbli subscriptions are non-refundable unless explicitly stated otherwise; any pre-paid amounts generally remain with Simbli for the current billing cycle.
Data Retrieval: Upon contract termination, organizations are entitled to request their data be exported and returned to them within 90 days of termination, in a structured, accessible format.
Data Deletion: Organizations may also request that their data be fully deleted from Simbli servers as a final step in the offboarding process.
Simbli meets several key compliance standards, including accessibility, security, and legal benchmarks relevant for board management and governance in education and public organizations.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Simbli is fully ADA-compliant, which ensures all platform features are accessible to users with disabilities and meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
SOC Certification (System and Organization Controls): Simbli is SOC-2 certified. This attests to the platform’s strong safeguards for confidentiality, integrity, and security around organizational and board data, reducing cyber-risk and supporting regulatory compliance.
Privacy Laws Compliance: Simbli follows applicable privacy regulations for the protection and management of user and organizational data. The platform provides transparency and enables users to manage, export, and delete their data according to modern privacy standards.
Multi-Language Accessibility: In line with accessibility and diversity requirements, Simbli supports multiple languages, making content and board activities more inclusive.
