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PROJECT: Ajax Boiler
Posted in: Projects by Scott W. Graves on March 4, 2009
Ajax Boiler, Inc. designs and manufactures a comprehensive line of boiler and commercial water heating products. With over eight decades of experience, the company offers high quality, heavy duty products with a reputation for reliability, serviceability, and cost effective operation.
Product lines are distributed by more than 70 sales representatives located throughout the United States and Canada. Representatives use the S.T.A.R. (Sales Transaction and Reporting) System to create quotations, size and price complex systems, generate submittal packages, and more.
IMPRESSIVE RESULTS
The results have been impressive. The S.T.A.R. System assumed burden of sizing and pricing as Ajax was able to manage the same number of transactions with 50% fewers Sales Engineers. Representatives embraced the new system for its ease, speed, and accuracy. Quotation volume increased. Customer satisfaction improved.
• Online product configurator
• Dynamic pricing
• Quotation management
• Submittal generator
• Proprietary sizing calculator
• Wiring, piping, and dimensional diagrams
• Comprehensive website makeover
• Administrative interface
ONLINE PRODUCT CONFIGURATOR
Replacing an inefficient system that required several hours for each quotation, the new Ajax Boiler S.T.A.R. System puts power in the hands of its customers. In less than two minutes, Ajax customers configure and complete their own quotations using an online system that is fast, simple, and easy to use.
By using a series of highly intuitive selection boxes and data grids, customers quickly select and configure a boiler from Ajax’s complete line of commercial boiler products. The online system configures:
• Four types of commercial boilers
• Thirty different sizes
• Five types of burners
• Four types of fuel
• Eleven types of control systems
• Hundreds of accessories and options.
DYNAMIC PRICING
The online S.T.A.R. System allows Ajax Boiler managers to adjust prices on all boiler products with just a few clicks. Gone is the need for printed price books . Mailing out new price sheets and CD-ROMs is a thing of the past.
The online system updates prices instantly throughout the user community. From the moment a price adjustment is implemented, all quotations are updated and all manufacturer representatives are automatically notified.
QUOTATION MANAGEMENT
By creating a dynamic, online system, Ajax representatives can generate complete quotation and submittal packages in just minutes. Quotations are automatically placed in a library of past quotations that can be referenced or revised with just a few clicks.
The library is viewable based on access level. Sales staff see only their own quotations. Sales Managers can view both their own quotations and those of their staff.
SUBMITTAL GENERATOR
Boiler and water heating systems can be very complex. Part of the bidding process requires that representatives create complete submittal packages that include lists of specifications, dimensional drawings, and diagrams for wiring and piping. What used to be a time consuming process that took several days, is now available in just seconds. Upon completion, each quotation automatically compiles all of the required submittal documents into a single PDF file.
PROPRIETARY SIZING CALCULATOR
At its core, the Ajax S.T.A.R. System is a powerful engine that integrates more than eight decades of proprietary engineering experience in heat transfer and thermal dynamics. On the front end is an online interface that effortlessly allows customers to accurately size coils based on the heat transfer properties of water and steam through various materials. It also factors for rate of flow, gas pressure, temperature requirements, fouling, and more. With the development of the S.T.A.R. System, calculations take just seconds, accuracy is guaranteed, and valuable time is saved throughout the Ajax Boiler engineering department.
WIRING, PIPING, AND DIMENSIONAL DIAGRAMS
Ajax offers tens of thousands of variations of hundreds of different products. Each variation can require a new set of drawings. Thanks to the S.T.A.R. System, the process of sorting through the vast library of diagrams is completely automated.
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERFACE
While the user community focuses on the features and functionality of the front end, managers focus on the administrative functionality of the back end. Via the online administrative interface, managers can quickly implement price adjustments, product upgrades, and create user accounts. Reporting functionality also allows managers to track product selections and monitor system usage by the representative user community.