Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 80 THE door industry journal winter 2023 Industrial Doors & Shutters Alliance Door Engineering’s Customer Portal Ready for Launch In recent years, Alliance Door Engineering, a leading manufacturer of industrial doors and shutters, has embraced digital innovations. As a key supplier to the door industry, they are not just keeping up with the latest trends; they are committed to setting new standards for customer service within the industry. Alliance Door Engineering’s recent advances, including their upcoming online customer portal, underline their dedication to providing an unrivalled service to their trade partners. The Wigan-based company has already introduced several innovations, which have been well received by their customer base. They now automatically generate CAD drawings that are personalised with the customer’s logo, and these are included with every quotation. They have also implemented a user-friendly digital order approval system, which allows customers to request revisions or approve drawings digitally using their smartphones, tablets, or computers. These innovations have expedited the process of delivery from the point of order and are just the beginning of what they have in store. Putting It to the Test Over the past year, Alliance Doors initiated a pilot program with a number of their trade customers taking part. This program offered a glimpse into their digital vision and allowed them to fine-tune their online customer portal based on valuable feedback. Seamless Integration What makes Alliance Door Engineering’s online portal unique is its seamless integration with its pricing and specification systems. The portal uses the same data and parameters as its internal manual quotation process. This ensures that the door configurations customers choose are fully compliant and safe for their intended use, whether it is a Phoenix™ fire-rated roller shutter, an Arctic Hare™ highspeed insulated door, or a Ram-Fold™ sliding, folding door. A Personal Approach Tim Stuart, Alliance’s Sales Director, emphasises the importance of maintaining personal contact with their customers. He explains, “We’re introducing the portal option to service the needs of our customers, who may not always work traditional hours. It is designed to be user-friendly and provides a simple platform for configuring shutters to suit their intended environment. “Our customers can access all previously generated quotations and drawings, whether through the portal or by our customer service team, and they can make necessary specification changes. The portal also provides access to digital survey sheets that, when completed, generate custom drawings. This is a valuable tool for surveyors, allowing them to provide instant information on the shutter’s specifications. “Of course, the online portal will not replace the more traditional ways of keeping in touch with us; we will always be at the end of the phone to assist, give guidance, and discuss a customer’s specific requirements.” 24/7 Access One standout feature of the portal is its flexibility. Recognising that many of their customers work late into the evening, handling paperwork and administrative tasks for their projects, Alliance Door Engineering designed the portal to offer a 24/7 platform for generating quotations and door drawings. This accommodates their customers’ diverse work schedules. Beyond enhancing customer service, Alliance Door Engineering has also made significant improvements to its internal processes to create a more efficient and streamlined production system. They have changed the way they distribute work instruction sheets to the various departments within their manufacturing facility. John Hare, the Managing Director, explained, “In response to the ever-evolving manufacturing landscape, our organisation has undertaken a transformative journey to modernise the distribution of instruction sheets to each department within our factory. “One of the most significant changes is the adoption of electronic tablets as a crucial tool in this process. Instead of relying on traditional, static paper instructions, our staff now use tablets that provide real-time schedules and detailed task descriptions.” This transition to digital instructions allows the workforce to update their progress step by step as they work on tasks. This dynamic ‘live’ progress board not only improves communication and collaboration but also enhances adaptability, efficiency, and precision in their manufacturing processes. In Conclusion Alliance Door Engineering’s commitment to innovation and customer service is transforming the industrial door industry. The imminent launch of their customer portal reflects their dedication to embracing digital solutions and enhancing their customers’ experience. For more information, please visit their website at www.alliancedoors.co.uk or get in touch with them at 01942 683601 or via email at info@alliancedoors.co.uk .
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