What is the best software for creating digital board packs?

TL;DR

• Digital board packs cut prep time, reduce costs, and improve access for directors.
• The best tools automate collation, handle last-minute changes, and keep documents secure.
• Board Intelligence and OnBoard are strong options for accuracy, usability, and governance needs.
• Effective rollout and light training help directors realize benefits fast.

What are the benefits of digital board packs?

Paper packs are slow to produce, expensive to print, and hard to update. Digital packs change that. Governance teams can publish updates instantly and keep a single source of truth. Here are seven reasons to go digital with your board pack:

1. Security by design: Sensitive information stays protected with encryption, access controls, and audit trails, unlike email or printed packs.
2. Time savings: Automated workflows reduce the admin burden of compiling, updating, and distributing board materials. JTC, a global financial services firm, reported a 20–25% reduction in the time required to create board packs after adopting Board Intelligence.
3. Always up to date: Directors see the latest version instantly, avoiding confusion caused by multiple email attachments or print runs.
4. Smarter preparation: Features like searchable documents, executive summaries, and highlights help directors focus on what matters.
5. Remote-ready: Directors can access packs securely from any device, supporting hybrid or fully virtual board meetings.
6. Greener governance: Going digital cuts out printing and shipping, reducing costs and environmental impact.
7. Better decision-making: With clearer, more accessible information, directors can spend less time chasing details and more time shaping strategy.

You can also save money. An analysis of the data on effective board reporting gathered from over 1,500 users of our Board Reporting Calculator showed the average cost to companies is $4 million a year, rising to an average of over $10 million for the largest organizations.

Using our board reporting software, a global engineering company, a client of ours, decreased its board reporting cost from nearly £4m to just under £2m per year. Read more of our client success stories.

What features should I look for when creating digital board packs?

When choosing board management software to create digital packs, focus on features that simplify the job and improve clarity:

• Automated collation: Combine files and formats into one pack with a click.
• Agenda planning: Templates, drag-and-drop ordering, and automatic page numbering.
• Version control: Republish late papers without losing existing annotations.
• Annotations and collaboration: Private notes, shared comments, and Q&A.
• Search and navigation: Jump to sections, follow links, and find data quickly.
• Cross-platform access: Online or offline on a laptop, tablet, or phone.
• Security: Encryption, granular permissions, and biometric login.

Keep in mind that the best board papers are no more than five pages long and have a logical and visible structure that clearly outlines the “So what?” and the action proposed by management. You need a software solution that sticks to this format even in organizations where many people are involved in producing reports.

For more on this, download our guide on shorter papers.

What are the leading software options for creating digital board packs?

Digital board packs work best when the software does the heavy lifting. Board Intelligence delivers an intuitive way to build, publish, and update packs, while OnBoard, Boardlogic and Boardly provide capable alternatives with broad features.

Board Intelligence

The Board Intelligence board portal streamlines pack creation from start to finish. Collate files into a single pack in seconds, auto-update page numbers, and use agenda templates to cut manual formatting. If a paper changes late, republish without wiping directors’ notes.

Directors benefit from intuitive navigation, split-screen views for virtual meetings, and fast search across the full library. Security features include granular permissions, single sign-on, and biometric access on compatible devices.

Tools, such as AI-powered Lucia, the thinking and writing tool created by Board Intelligence, drive and embed best practices at scale in order to upskill your authors and give your board more effective papers.

With Insight Driver, see what matters in your board materials, spot gaps in data or reasoning, and use AI to generate value rather than abstracts.

Our Board Pack Diagnostic Tool is the industry-standard methodology for board pack assessment using Scope, Structure, and Style (the 3 Ss). In a board pack diagnostic, we’ll benchmark your board materials against this framework and identify actionable opportunities for improvement.

OnBoard

OnBoard is a widely used platform for digital board packs. It offers agenda builders, e-signatures, real-time updates, and collaboration tools. Organizations that want straightforward pack creation, scalable user management, and broad device support will find it a capable option. Some boards may still prefer a more streamlined workflow for late changes and annotations, so a hands-on trial is worth running.

Users have also noted that its document management, agenda editing, and meeting prep tools come with a learning curve or premium access, which can dilute focus amid information-heavy packs

Board Intelligence surpasses OnBoard by making board packs not just easier to produce, but smarter by design: the platform embeds insight and clarity into every stage. This way board materials drive strategic governance and not just information sharing.

Boardlogic

Boardlogic simplifies digital board pack creation by offering intuitive features like drag-and-drop uploads, file linking to specific agenda items, automatic pack compilation, version control, and fine-grained permissions. Documents update instantly for all users, reducing version confusion and streamlining meeting preparation.

Despite its efficiency, Boardlogic primarily focuses on the mechanics of what files go where,without guiding users on how to craft compelling, strategic content. It lacks integrated report-writing guidance, insight-driven templates, and narrative structure.

Board Intelligence does all the organizational heavy lifting and embeds a question-led writing framework. The platform elevates board packs by combining seamless compilation with strategic insight. It helps authors think critically, structure reports effectively, and deliver clarity, not just documents.

Boardly

Boardly streamlines the process end-to-end: agendas, report submission, board pack generation, and access are all integrated. Live updates eliminate version confusion, while AI assists with report drafting, transcription, and minute-taking, adding automation and speed to the mix.

Boardly’s AI-driven automation often focuses on form over function. While it pumps out polished text, it doesn’t guide deeper, intentional thinking. The narrative may be slick, but it risks becoming formulaic without ensuring real insight or board-level alignment.

Board Intelligence offers the best of both worlds: automation and insight. Its AI supports structure, readability, and strategic alignment without overshadowing critical thinking. Pack creation becomes not just faster, but smarter, driven by questions that spark clarity and elevate governance outcomes.