Along with the front-end website and product collateral, we also developed a back-end sales tool to support their sales force. Designworks designed and built a secure, easy-to-use intranet where Controlled Lighting employees can upload or download files, view and update their calendars, administer passwords to prospects and export sales leads from the website into MS Excel Spreadsheets for report generation.

Administrative Level Control : The intranet is designed for secure access by Controlled Lighting employees only. We provided a separate upper level module where one “system administrator” assigns employees with access to different areas. Access to this upper level module is available through a password that is not stored in the database and cannot be changed through any control panel. (Only the administrator has this password)

New Leads : Based on the competitive nature of the market, we recommended that certain proprietary product data be kept behind password protection. Curious prospective customers can fill out a product inquiry form if they would like to receive more information. That data is captured in a bin called “New Leads”. The sales team leader logs in and goes through the new leads, checking a box next to the ones that look promising, or deleting nosy competitors. (Our clients have found that email addresses like [email protected] are often competitors. A serious prospect will most often have their company name IN the email address.)

Names with checked boxes are assigned to a particular sales person or sales division and then “upgraded” into a bin called “Qualified Leads”. At this point the prospect is automatically emailed a password giving them “guest access” to a common area with proprietary product information.

Qualified Leads : Qualified leads can be grouped by vertical market or sales division, or both. Leads can be sorted, modified and deleted through the web based control panel. While the sales team leader would still see all of the qualified leads, each individual salesperson will only see his or her own leads when they log in. Every qualified lead has password access to the guest area. Passwords can be changed in this module. This Leads list, with all the contact info, can be exported into an MS Excel Spreadsheet with one button click.

Customers : Customers can be added, modified, deleted or upgraded from Qualified Leads. Usernames and passwords for each customer can be easily assigned by the Controlled Lighting staff. When a customer logs in to the site, they are met with a personalized greeting, and shown their own data, as well as any files such as custom-tailored presentations, demos, proposals, estimates, and invoices.

Email Newsletter : Email lists can be generated from the database of New Leads, Qualified Leads, and Customers. Subscriptions are then formed so that recipients can easily unsubscribe to the newsletter if they desire. This can be used to publish monthly or quarterly email newsletters in order to keep prospective customers informed of any promotions or deals, and to keep current customers notified of any product upgrades or updates. The software does not create SPAM, it distributes the newsletters on an opt-out basis, and it actually cycles through the list and sends each email one at a time, so it will not be deflected by bulk email interceptors.

Calendar : An interactive calendar helps coordinate Controlled Lighting employees' schedules and makes sure everyone is on the same page. Managers schedule dates for the install team, post staff meetings, schedules, vacation dates, etc.

Controlled Lighting has been using our Intranet for over a year now, and it has proven to be a simple, yet invaluable tool for keeping everyone up to date.