Case Study: How node9, a Zoho Creator Consultant, Helped Panda Windows & Doors Streamline Manufacturing and Sales Operations

Introduction: The Challenge at Panda Windows & Doors

Panda Windows & Doors, a leader in designing and engineering custom glass wall systems, caters to both residential and commercial markets with its cutting-edge products. With a growing customer base and increasing operational complexity, the company faced significant challenges in managing its manufacturing and sales processes. Panda Windows was looking for a comprehensive solution to streamline these operations, increase efficiency, and reduce the likelihood of errors that might impact customer satisfaction. The company’s production process, involving multiple stages and stakeholders, required seamless communication, tracking, and coordination between teams on the manufacturing floor and the project management team in the office.

In response to these challenges, Panda Windows engaged node9, certified Zoho Creator Consultants , to build two custom Zoho Creator applications. These applications aimed to integrate the entire process—from order tracking on the production floor to generating proposals for sales representatives. The goal was to provide a unified system that would allow the company to manage its operations more efficiently, reduce delays, and maintain a high level of customer service throughout the entire sales-to-production cycle.

The Solution: Two Custom Zoho Creator Applications

Application 1: Manufacturing Floor Order Tracking System

A Zoho Creator Developer at node9 helped develop the first custom application focused on streamlining the order tracking process on Panda Windows’ manufacturing floor. This application was designed to automate and simplify the tracking of customer orders as they moved through different production stages. The challenge was to create a solution that would allow operators to track orders in real-time, input quality assurance data, and move orders efficiently from one station to another, all while minimizing manual errors.

Features of the Manufacturing Order Tracking System:

Real-Time Order Updates: The application displayed customer orders on large monitors at each production station. Operators could easily update the status of orders and move them through various production stages using a simple barcode scanner. This real-time data entry allowed for seamless communication between the stations and reduced the time spent on manual tracking and updates.
Quality Assurance Data Entry: At each station, operators were required to input key quality assurance data for each order. This ensured that the production process maintained the high standards expected by Panda Windows' clients and allowed project managers to monitor and address quality concerns promptly.
Progress Monitoring for Project Managers: The Zoho Creator application included an admin interface for project managers, who could oversee the progress of orders across different stations. They could easily identify bottlenecks in the production process, which allowed for timely intervention and ensured that orders were completed on schedule. This data-driven approach significantly improved decision-making and operational efficiency on the production floor.
Integration with Other Business Systems: The order tracking application was integrated with Panda Windows’ existing systems, ensuring that data from the production floor was available to other departments, such as inventory management and customer service.

The result of this application was a significant reduction in manual tracking errors, increased efficiency in production, and enhanced visibility into the status of customer orders for both production staff and project managers.

Application 2: Custom Proposal Generation System for Sales Teams

The second Zoho Creator application node9 built for Panda Windows focused on streamlining the process of generating custom proposals for both internal and external sales representatives. Panda Windows’ sales process involved offering a wide variety of custom configurations and pricing options to both residential and commercial clients. As the company grew, it became clear that the existing system for generating proposals was inefficient and prone to errors, especially when it came to calculating the right pricing and configurations for each project.

Features of the Custom Proposal Generation System:

Custom Configuration Options: Sales representatives could use the application to generate custom proposals for clients by selecting from a range of configuration options. This allowed them to tailor each proposal based on the specific needs of a residential or commercial client, ensuring that all pricing and product specifications were accurate.
Real-Time Pricing and Customization: The system integrated with Panda Windows’ pricing database, enabling sales representatives to generate real-time quotes based on the selected configurations. This removed the need for manual calculations and the risk of pricing errors, ensuring that clients received accurate, up-to-date pricing information.
Integration with Zoho CRM: The proposal application was also integrated with Zoho CRM, which allowed sales representatives to track leads and manage customer relationships more effectively. When a lead was converted in the CRM, the proposal application automatically populated the relevant customer data, ensuring a seamless transition between the sales process and proposal generation.
Tracking Proposal Status: The application also included a feature for tracking the status of proposals, allowing sales representatives and project managers to monitor whether proposals had been accepted or were still under review. This improved the visibility of each deal in the pipeline, enabling sales teams to follow up promptly and increase the conversion rate.
Integration with Manufacturing Order Tracking: Once a proposal was accepted, the application integrated with the manufacturing order tracking system, allowing customer orders to be automatically entered into the production system. This integration ensured that no order was lost in the transition between sales and production, reducing the chances of delays or miscommunication.

By automating the proposal generation process, Panda Windows was able to improve the efficiency of its sales teams, reduce the risk of errors in custom pricing, and provide faster responses to customer inquiries. This also created a more streamlined process from lead generation to proposal acceptance and order processing.

Enhancing Lead Generation with SalesIQ and Zoho CRM

Beyond the custom applications, Zoho CRM Consultants at node9 also helped Panda Windows optimize its lead generation efforts by integrating SalesIQ with Zoho CRM. SalesIQ is a live chat and lead tracking tool that allowed Panda Windows to capture leads directly from their website.

Lead Capture and Engagement: SalesIQ helped Panda Windows engage website visitors in real-time, answer queries, and convert visitors into leads. The integration with Zoho CRM ensured that once a lead was captured, it was automatically added to the CRM system for follow-up and tracking.
Seamless Data Flow: Once a lead was converted in Zoho CRM, the data automatically populated the custom proposal application, allowing sales representatives to generate proposals quickly without needing to re-enter customer information. This seamless flow of data between SalesIQ, Zoho CRM, and the proposal application reduced duplication and saved valuable time.
Tracking Customer Interaction: The SalesIQ tool also provided valuable insights into customer behavior, enabling Panda Windows to better understand customer preferences and needs. This data could be used to improve future lead-generation strategies and personalize outreach efforts.

Results and Impact

The implementation of the two custom Zoho Creator applications and the integration with SalesIQ had a significant positive impact on Panda Windows' operations.

Improved Efficiency: By automating the order tracking and proposal generation processes, Panda Windows reduced the time spent on manual tasks and improved operational efficiency. The integration of systems allowed for smoother communication between departments, ensuring that customer orders and proposals were processed faster and with fewer errors.
Enhanced Customer Experience: With real-time tracking and quicker proposal turnaround, customers experienced more efficient and personalized service. Sales teams could respond faster to inquiries, and project managers had better visibility into the production process, ensuring that customer orders were completed on time.
Increased Sales and Revenue: The ability to generate accurate and timely proposals contributed to higher conversion rates and faster deal closures. The integration of sales and production data further streamlined the process, reducing bottlenecks and enabling Panda Windows to handle a higher volume of orders without sacrificing quality.
Better Data-Driven Decision Making: With data flowing seamlessly between the production floor, sales team, and CRM system, Panda Windows was able to make more informed decisions, identify potential bottlenecks, and respond proactively to any challenges in the production process or sales pipeline.

Conclusion: The Path Forward for Panda Windows & Doors

The successful implementation of Zoho Creator applications and the integration of SalesIQ has positioned Panda Windows & Doors for continued growth. The company now has a more streamlined, efficient, and scalable system to manage its manufacturing and sales processes. As the company continues to expand, these applications will allow it to manage an increasing volume of customer orders while maintaining the high standards of quality and service that have been central to its success.

However, there are still challenges ahead. As Panda Windows continues to grow, it will need to further optimize its internal processes and explore additional automation tools to ensure that its systems continue to scale effectively. Additionally, as the company looks to expand its reach into new markets, it will need to consider integrating new tools and technologies to enhance its competitive edge in the custom window and door industry.

Ultimately, the collaboration between Panda Windows & Doors and node9 exemplifies the power of information systems in solving complex operational challenges and driving business success.

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