The Mobile Professional: Mobile Portal Drives On-the-Go Dealers’ Business

Rinnai put the capabilities and features of its Partner Portal — an online sales lead management tool and support resource — into the palms of thousands of national dealers of its tankless water heaters and appliances with a mobile-enabled version for smartphones.

Thanks to the mobile version, dealers access and use the Partner Portal’s features with expedited ease and functionality through an intuitive, mobile-specific interface. Since its development by Sherpa! Web Studios in 2011, the mobile site has proven crucial for dealers to access potential customer information and communicate from the field. In a recent survey of dealers, 87% reported the mobile version was effective for business.

The mobile Portal allows dealers with all types of mobile devices — iPhones, Droids, and Blackberrys — to view lead details quickly; call, text, or email leads instantly; look up directions, comments, and notes; and contact technical support within one click.

The Partner Portal is available only for dealers in the Rinnai network. When they access the regular Partner Portal from their smart device, a “sniffer” on the site serves a mobile-enabled site automatically and the option to proceed to the regular version, if preferred.

Future enhancements will include the exciting abilities to use the phone camera to scan product barcodes for effortless unit registration and to receive real-time SMS text notifications.

These mobile capabilities have allowed Rinnai dealers to deliver more information and support on demand, not to mention continuous hot water and savings from their high-efficiency home-heating units.