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About Us

Why ConsultOnline?

Born from the original ConsultOnline service launched in 2013, the 2026 ConsultOnline 2.0 combines proven consultation expertise with recent technological developments.

ConsultOnline 2.0

ConsultOnline 2.0 turns the original consultation website concept into a more intelligent engagement tool — one that helps present complex proposals clearly, reach wider audiences and gather structured feedback in a way that is professional, accessible and easy to manage.

It combines information sharing, surveys, maps, updates and document access with outreach options designed to broaden participation, AI-assisted support and dashboard analytics.

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Why ConsultOnline

Wider reach

Reaches people where they already are — online, on mobile and often already discussing local issues — and gives them a structured, branded space in which to engage more constructively.

Engaging formats

Presents proposals in more engaging formats than a traditional consultation website, including virtual exhibitions, interactive maps, image and document libraries, FAQs, news updates, webinars, polls and surveys.

AI-enhanced experience

Uses AI to answer questions from indexed consultation content and show relevant source links. Automated answers can be wrong or miss context, so teams should review conversations and provide a route to human support.

Greater control

Gives clients far greater control through a secure admin dashboard, self-management tools, role-based permissions and audit trails, making it easier to manage content, users and reporting in one place.

Access and verification

Supports different levels of access and verification, from open public access through to registered and invitation-only modes, with options for email, address, SMS and even physical mail verification.

Consultation integrity

Protects the integrity of the consultation through anti-bot measures, helping to prevent spam, fake registrations and skewed results.

Mobile-friendly

Makes it easier for busy people to take part on their own terms, with mobile-friendly design, voice input, support across devices and consultation available in ways that suit different audiences.

Deeper participation

Encourages deeper participation through a mix of quick and detailed engagement tools, from surveys and live polls to ideas walls, discussion boards and interactive feedback.

Responsive and agile

Keeps the consultation responsive as the project evolves, with quick setup, real-time updates, automated alerts, milestone tracking and project management support where required.

Monitoring and reporting

Provides much stronger monitoring and reporting than older-style consultation websites, with engagement dashboards, analytics, document tracking and data for robust consultation reports.

Extended promotion

Extends the reach of consultation through integrated email notifications, social sharing and optional digital marketing support, helping to drive awareness as well as capture feedback.

Beyond the original

Goes beyond what ConsultOnline originally set out to do by adding live dashboards, richer verification, interactive presentation tools, enhanced analytics, AI support and more sophisticated engagement features.

A smarter way to consult

Built for modern consultation: ConsultOnline 2.0 supports online, on-demand engagement with responsive layouts tested on representative devices, while giving project teams practical control over content and consultation records.

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Designed for control, accountability and smarter technology

Designed for control and accountability: A secure admin dashboard allows authorised users to manage content, users, settings and reporting, with role-based permissions, audit trails and project management support helping to keep the process organised and defensible.

AI-assisted chat can answer questions from indexed consultation content, while configurable anti-bot and access controls help teams review response integrity. Chatbot answers and unusual response patterns still require human review.

Adaptable to different project needs: Consultations can be configured with different access and verification levels — from open public access to registered, invitation-only, address-verified or SMS-verified participation — depending on the sensitivity of the scheme.

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Stronger evidence and ongoing value

Stronger evidence and reporting: Real-time dashboards, analytics, document tracking, milestone updates and automated alerts make consultation easier to monitor and much easier to evidence in a robust consultation report.

A better alternative to relying on traditional methods alone: ConsultOnline 2.0 does not replace physical events where they are useful, but it reduces dependence on costly one-off tactics and turns consultation into an ongoing, visible and better managed process.

Built to support the project as it progresses: The platform can continue to inform and engage communities beyond the initial consultation stage, helping to maintain communication as a project moves forward.

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Ready to transform your consultations?

Discover how ConsultOnline 2.0 can help you reach wider audiences, gather better feedback and produce stronger reporting.