Selecting the right software platform has a direct impact on how efficiently integrators can design, quote, and deliver projects. Portal.io and System Surveyor both serve AV, IT/MSP, and security firms, but they approach the workflow from different angles—Portal.io from the sales and quoting side, and System Surveyor from the design and lifecycle management side.
About Portal.io
Portal.io is built for integrators who want to move quickly. Quotes, approvals, invoices, and POs are all handled in one place. It’s a modern, cloud-based system made specifically for AV, IT/MSP, and security firms, built around structured product data and automation.
Key benefits:
Quoting is fast, powerful, and easy. The interface is clean and intuitive. Proposals look great out of the box and everything connects to real product data. No templates or spreadsheets required.
Massive product catalog, already structured. Over 1.5 million SKUs with current pricing, images, and metadata. You don’t need to manually upload or maintain your own product list.
Invoicing and payments built in. Collect deposits as soon as a proposal is signed. Send retainer or progress invoices. Let your techs create field invoices without logging into QuickBooks. Everything is designed to work seamlessly together and look consistent to your client.
Intuitive client workflows. Share links to proposals and change orders, get approvals and signatures, and keep the project moving. It’s all connected and simple to use.
Ideal for
Portal is designed to make the sales side of integration feel modern. It’s fast, clean, and built to help you work without friction.
About System Surveyor
System Surveyor is a visual planning tool that helps you design and map out systems during the early phases of a project. It’s built for field teams and planners who want a drag-and-drop interface to lay out devices and create documentation on the fly.
Key benefits:
Drag and drop design tools. Build system layouts by placing cameras, sensors, access points, and other gear onto a floorplan during site visits.
Mobile first survey workflow. Use the iOS or Android app to work offline, take photos, and document site conditions while you’re in the field.
Track gear through the process. Build equipment lists as you go and keep tabs on what’s been proposed, approved, or installed.
Designed for collaboration. Share surveys and layouts with your team or clients, leave notes, and work together to plan the system.
Ideal for
System Surveyor is intuitive, polished, and built for the design and planning phase. It’s a strong fit for firms that want to make fieldwork and system layout more visual and collaborative.
Conclusion
Portal.io and System Surveyor are both polished, easy-to-use tools—but they’re built for different stages of the project. Portal is ideal if your priority is quoting, approvals, and keeping sales and invoicing organized. It brings everything together in one place so you can move faster and look professional doing it. System Surveyor, on the other hand, is great for field teams doing site walks and early-stage design. If you need something visual for mapping out systems and collaborating on layouts, it’s a solid choice. Think about where your team needs the most help—selling the job or planning the install—and go from there. You can leverage both tools in your project workflows.