Backoffices are also called admin panels or management pages. Why are there so many different names for backoffices? What exactly is the role of a backoffie, and what are the origins of these different names?
Various Names for Backoffices
Backoffices go by various names. Each name originated from either who uses the backoffice or its functionality.
- Admin: Derived from the word "Administrator." It originally referred to a person who manages or controls specific tasks in a system or software. The software used by this person is also called admin.
- Backoffice: Originated from dividing corporate operations into Front Office and Back Office. While the front office refers to parts that directly interact with customers like mobile apps and web services, the back office is mainly used internally and manages internal operations and processes of the company or organization. Since admin tools perform tasks like finance, accounting, operations, and HR, they're often called backoffice.
- Management Page: As web services became widely used, admin panels were often implemented not just as programs but as web pages accessible through browsers. Similar to "admin," since it's a web page used by administrators, it's called a management page. It's also called an admin page.
Backoffice Functions
So what functions do backoffices perform? Just as there are multiple names, backoffices handle various functions. Let me introduce some representative functions of backoffices.
Customer and Product Management
Backoffices provide functionality to manage a company's customers and products. For B2C companies, they manage end users' personal information and service-related information. For B2B companies, similar to CRM, they manage company information and can access contact person information.
They can manage products that companies provide for customers to purchase or subscribe to. They can manage product information and may integrate with WMS when logistics is important.
Check out more details here!
Payment and Order Management
If customers need to pay to purchase products provided by the company, payment information and order details need to be managed. Backoffices help verify payment and order details.
Usually, payment information needs to be handled securely, so security features are also provided. If using PG companies that provide APIs like Toss Payments or Inicis, you can process payment cancellations directly from the backoffice or check order status.
Check out more details here!
Data Dashboard
Visualizing important company data, KPIs, OKRs at a glance is also one of the important roles of backoffices. Acting as a kind of BI, it helps internal members make efficient decisions. It can also generate and provide reports that need to be delivered to customers.
Check out more details here!
Customer Backoffice
For B2B companies, besides backoffices used by internal members, there are cases where clients or our customers need to directly manage their own customers or products. A typical example is commerce platform businesses like Shopify, where there are two types of customers: sellers (=company's customers) and people who actually buy clothes or groceries (=seller's customers).
The company's customers need a backoffice where they can register and sell their products. Therefore, companies provide backoffices for their customers.
Check out more details here!
Backend API Page
When using MSA or implementing multiple services, API servers and database servers get divided into multiple parts. Backoffices allow managing these multiple servers as one. They can perform a kind of DevOps function.
Check out more details here!
Third-party Integration Including Spreadsheets
Another function of backoffices is increasing work efficiency by integrating with services used by members, like spreadsheets. It helps members perform their work better by integrating with commonly used corporate tools like spreadsheets, email, and messaging (Channel Talk, notification messages, etc.).
Check out more details here!
How to Implement Backoffices Quickly and Easily?
There are several ways to develop backoffices. Since backoffices are essential for work efficiency, they need to be created quickly and easily according to the company's situation.
I previously introduced 5 effective methods for backoffice development. If you want to develop backoffices quickly while maintaining quality, I recommend reading it.
From information architecture to screen layout, we'd love to discuss any admin-related concerns you have.
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