Custom Business Portal Solution for Landwärme
Landwärme GmbH
Landwärme GmbH is one of Germany's fastest growing energy companies and a major player in the renewable energy sector. Thanks to its good business policy, the company has been able to grow its customer base considerably in recent years in an ever-evolving market. However, this expansion has also increased their administrative burden, they had to face intricate challenges and the probability of errors also grew considerably. Therefore the need arose for a digital transition, to manage their customer relationships more efficiently.
In 2019, Landwärme chose Alias Innovations as their partner, entrusting us with the task of developing a custom solution to simplify the management of customer data and optimise internal workflows. This initial engagement grew into a five-year collaboration, and the two companies have been working together ever since to keep their business processes up to date and thereby create value for Landwärme and its customers.
The Challenge
Landwärme used an existing CRM to successfully manage its customer relationships, which proved sufficient in the early days. However, as the number of customers exploded and the administrative challenges became more complex, this system was no longer sufficient to manage Landwärme's tasks effectively. Customer growth was outpacing their administrative capacity, and manual processes were becoming too resource-intensive. Specifically, Landwärme needed a system that could:
- Handle structured data and document management: Landwärme needed a solution that would allow customers to submit structured data (for example the amount of produced biomethane) and documents easily. This process also required validation, storage of customer data and seamless integration with existing systems.
- Enhance customer communication: Landwärme wanted to improve the way they communicated with customers by automating email communications, launching targeted marketing campaigns, and providing relevant updates, all aimed at improving the customer experience.
- Optimize internal workflows: With a growing number of customers, manual administrative tasks became error-prone and inefficient. They needed a system that could automate and streamline many of their core processes, reducing human error and the administrative burden on their employees.
Off-the-shelf solutions were inadequate for their needs. They required a tailored solution capable of integrating with their existing systems while providing a seamless interface for both employees and customers.
The solution: Custom Businessportal by Alias Innovations
In a collaboration between Landwärme and Alias Innovations we created a unique platform, a so called Business Portal, specifically designed to address the challenges outlined above. Alias Innovations took a collaborative approach, working closely with Landwärme’s stakeholders to understand their needs and ensure that the platform was tailored to meet them.
In developing a possible solution, we identified the bottlenecks that were preventing Landwarme from operating effectively. The main problem was that the company received customer information mainly in the form of emails, rather than in a standard format. To make matters worse, this information was stored in four different systems. This made tracking information overly complex and did not provide feedback to customers.
The solution was found in a central communication platform with an on-line validation system, called Businessportal.
Key Features of the Businessportal:
- Centralised Data Management: The portal was designed to receive customer data in a consistent format, through a single interface. We therefore created a customer side and a company side interface, complemented by an online validation system. This allowed the customer to easily upload and submit the required data, while the built-in monitoring processes ensured that no incorrect information entered the system. This solution reduced the administrative workload of Landwärme team and minimised the number of errors entering the system.
- Automated Communication: We have created automations in the platform to make routine customer communications smoother, and to avoid the additional administrative burden of regular updates. We also added an online marketing system to our application, which allowed Landwärme to have a personalised and flexible relationship with their customers, increasing customer satisfaction.
- Enhanced Workflow Management: Through the portal, Landwärme was able to automate several key processes, including customer registration, data validation, and document handling. These automation features streamlined internal operations, reduced the risk of task oversight, and significantly lowered administrative costs.
Key Technologies and Services Provided:
- Business Analytics: Alias Innovations conducted a thorough business analysis to identify key pain points in Landwärme’s workflow and customer interactions. This informed the design and functionality of the Businessportal, ensuring it addressed their most pressing challenges.
- Software Development: The key to our business is software development. To provide the best tailored solution, we have chosen an agile methodology for development to get continuous feedback from our partners and thus refine the iteration. This process ensured that we created a web application capable of Landwärme-specific data management and process management.
- Database Schema Design: In order to provide the right service, it was necessary to carefully design and develop the database schema. The primary considerations were robustness and scalability to adapt to Landwärme's growing customer base and their changing data needs.
- UI/UX Design: The Businessportal was built with user experience in mind, providing an intuitive interface for both customers and internal users. This contributed to higher customer satisfaction and improved efficiency for Landwärme’s staff.
- Cloud Services: The platform was deployed on the cloud, ensuring scalability and high availability. This allowed Landwärme to scale their operations quickly and efficiently, without worrying about infrastructure constraints.
- 24/7 Assistance and IT Consultation: As part of the ongoing collaboration, Alias Innovations provides round-the-clock support and IT consultation, ensuring that the Businessportal continues to meet Landwärme’s needs as they grow and evolve.
The Results
The launch of the Businessportal was a significant success for Landwärme, delivering tangible benefits both for the company and their customers.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: Customer satisfaction surveys showed that the Businessportal greatly enhanced the overall customer experience. Customers appreciated the convenience of being able to submit and manage their data at any time, as well as the seamless communication and support provided through the portal. The built-in FAQ section and marketing updates further contributed to positive feedback from users.
- Operational Efficiency: By automating many of their core administrative processes, Landwärme was able to handle the surge in customer data without having to expand their workforce significantly. This automation not only reduced the risk of human error but also helped eliminate the problem of tasks being overlooked. The efficiency gains allowed Landwärme to focus their resources on expanding their business, rather than managing administrative tasks.
- Revenue Growth: The increased efficiency and scalability provided by the Businessportal enabled Landwärme to continue growing their customer base without being constrained by administrative limitations. With more streamlined operations, the company was able to pursue new business opportunities and increase their revenue significantly.
- Reduced Administrative Mistakes: The automation of data handling and validation helped to reduce errors in data entry and processing, which had been a significant challenge for Landwärme before the introduction of the Businessportal. This improved the accuracy of customer data and reduced the amount of time spent on manual corrections.
Ongoing Collaboration
What began as a straightforward project to develop a customer portal has evolved into a long-term partnership. Over the past five years, Alias Innovations has continued to work with Landwärme to enhance and expand the platform. As new needs have arisen, Alias Innovations has responded with innovative solutions, ensuring that the Businessportal remains a key tool in Landwärme’s ongoing digital transformation.
The close collaboration between Alias Innovations and Landwärme has been built on trust and mutual success. With each iteration of the platform, new features are added to meet evolving business needs, and Alias Innovations continues to provide expert consultation, maintenance, and 24/7 support.
Conclusion
The partnership between Landwärme GmbH and Alias Innovations demonstrates the power of tailored digital solutions to drive business success. Through the development and ongoing enhancement of the Businessportal, Landwärme has been able to improve customer satisfaction, increase operational efficiency, and support its continued growth in a competitive market.
Alias Innovations remains committed to helping Landwärme navigate their digital transformation, ensuring that they are well-equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s energy market.
What our partners say about us
The cooperation with Alias was described by a high level of commitment and flexibility right from the start, so that we always got the feeling that our special and sometimes short-term concerns and requirements were also understood in the depth of their complexity and developed into our system by a customised and functional solution.
Not only the technical approach and expertise, but also the pleasant and competent exchange of ideas and interaction on a human level contribute to a positive service experience.
