DaveNet Travels Information Superhighway

Rob Zimbelman, DaveNet manager, said that Lennox has experienced "phenomenal growth" in online ordering.

It is unlikely that any Lennox Industries dealers will complain about a lack of communication between themselves and the corporate office — at least, that’s the goal of the folks who designed DaveNet. According to the company, its Internet tool has been an effective means for Lennox dealers to obtain product information, order products online, and download business management tools and software.

The Web site (www.lennoxdavenet.com) is available 24/7 to Lennox dealers. It is password protected. Rob Zimbelman, manager of DaveNet, recently did a walk-through of the Web site for The News.

The first thing that visitors find is the “landing page,” according to Zimbelman. “We communicate upcoming events and newsworthy items to our contractors at this location,” he said. “We are constantly publishing to this page.”

There is a list of menu items that contractors can click on at this page, including placing orders for parts or finished goods. Dealers can enter information such as the items wanted, form of payment, and method of shipment. They can add additional notes or special handling instructions, and they can review, submit and confirm their orders. Zimbelman said that process is designed to be easy and not intimidating.

“We found that by breaking down complex business processes into easy steps, it is less threatening for our dealers to conduct online transactions,” he stated. “Ordering is a real-time process. It is just as if a dealer would have called us.

“We have experienced phenomenal growth in this order entry process, and we continue to grow and enhance it.”

Advanced Features

Dealers can also go to an “order center” where they can check on the price and availability of an item without actually placing an order. They can also check back-ordered items.

Other features include:

A warranty center, which provides warranty claim information;

A product information center, which gives access to most current engineering data, available on PDF files;

A marketing center, which offers advertising tools and a lead management program;

An events center, which promotes trips and dealer meetings;

A dealer resource center, which lists third-party suppliers/vendors, such as truck signage and billboard providers;

A training center, which includes online testing and product launches;

A software center, which provides downloadable programs;

An account center, which handles administrative functions; and

A support center, which covers frequently asked questions and provides contact information.

“DaveNet is a massive site with hundreds and hundreds of pages available,” noted Zimbelman. “And we are never done. We are always revising it.”

Two of The News’ contractor consultants also have high praise for DaveNet.

“We use DaveNet for all Lennox warranty work,” said Scott Getzschman of Getzschman Heating & Sheet Metal, Fremont, Neb. “We also use it for information and equipment specifications and for marketing.”

“I have resisted using the Web for regular phone or paper orders, but recently have been using DaveNet, and I am impressed,” said Arthur Pickett of Royal Air Systems Inc., North Reading, Mass.

“Dealers are no longer looking through 50-pound books and sitting on hold for ten minutes, waiting to order,” concluded Zimbelman. “The payoff in DaveNet is efficiency, time saving and accuracy.”

Publication date: 03/24/2003

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