Faster Orders, Stronger Security
What’s New at a Glance
- A completely redesigned order portal, built for speed, simplicity, and security.
- Streamlined order workflows – place, track, and manage orders across multiple entities in fewer steps.
- Microsoft Single Sign-On (SSO) support, alongside built-in Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), giving admins a choice in how their organisation authenticates.
- Bulk user import from Azure Active Directory, so admins can bring their whole team in at once rather than inviting people one by one.
- A live walkthrough session covering the new UI/UX, navigation, and security features – details below.
Quick Answer
DataTracks UK Portal 2.0 is a redesigned version of the order portal, built around three priorities: faster, more intuitive workflows for placing and tracking orders; stronger security through Microsoft Single Sign-On (SSO) and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA); and a smoother experience for admins managing users and entities, including direct import from Azure Active Directory. A live walkthrough session is available for customers who want a guided tour before or after switching over.
Why We Rebuilt the Portal
Two things kept coming up as the old portal aged: the order process took more clicks than it needed to, and password-only access wasn’t where enterprise security expectations have moved. Portal 2.0 was built to address both at once – not as a cosmetic refresh, but a redesign of how orders, entities, and user access work underneath.
Efficiency: A Faster Path from Order to Output
Placing an order now runs through a single, guided flow: select the entity, choose the service type, file format, turnaround time, and financial year-end, then review and check out. For firms managing several entities or filing types at once, the portal supports adding multiple documents and entities within the same order before checkout, rather than repeating the process from scratch each time.
Once an order is placed, everything else – uploading input files, tracking job status, raising a revision with comments for the preparer, and downloading the finished XBRL output – happens from the same Jobs section, so there’s one place to check rather than several.
Task | Where to go in Portal 2.0 |
Place a new order | Orders → Orders/Invoices → Place Order |
Upload input files | Jobs → Input Upload File icon |
Request a revision | Jobs → Raise a Revision icon |
Download the finished XBRL output | Jobs → Download XBRL Output icon |
Download an invoice | Orders/Invoices → Download icon |
Manage entities | Entities → Add Entity / Edit |
One Portal for HMRC and Companies House Filing
DataTracks’ HMRC filing and Companies House filing services both run through the same order system, so a firm placing orders for both no longer needs two separate workflows, or two separate accounts, to get both filed. If you’re setting up for the first time, your account team can confirm exactly which service types are available for your entity.
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Security: Single Sign-On, Without Losing Flexibility
Security: Single Sign-On, Without Losing Flexibility This is the change most worth an admin's attention. Portal 2.0 supports two authentication paths.
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Built-in Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Any user's profile has a toggle to enable 2FA for themselves, and admins can enable it organisation-wide for everyone under their account. This is a choice available to the admin and not enforced by default.
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Microsoft Single Sign-On (SSO)
Only Administrators can enable SSO, and doing so links the organisation to Microsoft Azure Active Directory - authentication and any further verification then run through Azure AD rather than the portal's own password system. Admins can also import users directly from Azure AD and invite them in bulk, rather than sending individual invitations. Imported users authenticate exclusively through Microsoft SSO and don't receive a separate portal password.
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One thing worth flagging clearly
2FA and SSO aren't used together. Once SSO is enabled for a user, the portal's built-in 2FA is automatically switched off for that user. From that point on, any additional verification during sign-in is governed entirely by your organisation's own Azure AD security policies, not by the portal itself. It's a genuine either/or, not a stacked layer, admins choosing between the two should factor that in before enabling SSO organisation wide.
Join the Live Portal 2.0 Walkthrough
See the new UI, order workflow, and SSO setup in action, and get your questions answered before you switch over.
Preparing for the Switch: What You Need to Know
For most day-to-day tasks – placing orders, uploading files, downloading output – the workflow will feel familiar, just reorganised for fewer steps. A few things worth knowing ahead of time:
- If you plan to use SSO, this needs to be set up by an Administrator on your account – standard users can’t enable it for themselves or for others.
- Imported Azure AD users authenticate through Microsoft only and won’t have a separate portal password to manage.
- Existing verification habits change slightly – if your organisation moves to SSO, expect Microsoft’s own authentication and MFA prompts to replace the portal’s built-in ones.
- Support is available throughout at support@datatracks.co.uk if anything doesn’t go as expected during setup.
If your organisation already has an account today, the exact steps for moving over – whether that’s a fresh sign-up or a direct transition with existing credentials – are best confirmed directly with your account team or during the live walkthrough, since that specific detail isn’t something, we’re stating here without checking it against your account first.
Get the Full Portal 2.0 User Guide
A complete walkthrough of sign-up, SSO setup, placing orders, and downloading your XBRL output – sent straight to your inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to reset my password to use Portal 2.0?
If you’re setting up an account for the first time, you’ll create a password as part of sign-up. If you already have an account, check with your account manager at DataTracks or the live walkthrough for guidance specific to your migration, since this depends on your organisation’s setup.
Can I use both SSO and Two-Factor Authentication?
No. Enabling SSO for a user automatically disables the portal’s built-in 2FA for that user – authentication and any further verification then run entirely through Microsoft Azure AD instead.
Who can enable Single Sign-On for our organisation?
Only users with the Administrator role. Standard users can’t enable SSO for themselves, for others, or modify SSO settings once it’s configured.
What happens if I don't receive my sign-up or password reset OTP?
Contact support@datatracks.co.uk for assistance – this applies to both the initial sign-up verification and the “Forgot Password” flow.
Can I still place orders for multiple entities in one go?
Yes – the order flow supports adding multiple documents and entities within a single order before checkout, rather than placing separate orders for each.
What if I need to revise a document after submitting it?
Use the “Raise a Revision” option in the Jobs section rather than submitting a new order – this keeps the request properly tracked and notifies the preparer directly with your comments.
Suggested CTA
Portal 2.0 is live now. Register for the live walkthrough to see the new order flow and SSO setup in action, or get in touch with your account manager if you’d like a head start before then.
