case - RENERGY

How to translate water pump configurations into transparent quotes

The question

Making a complex calculation tool usable by sales and partners.

Solution

User-friendly interface with workflow, supported by an API layer around the existing calculation tool.

Result

Easily work out scenarios and generate instant quotes.

RENERGY works with installers and consultants to make the built environment more sustainable. The heat pump supplier focuses on business customers in the utility sector, such as offices, commercial buildings, schools and apartment complexes. In an opaque market with numerous options, RENERGY aims to offer transparent quotes with different scenarios.

The existing calculation tool was strong in terms of content, but practically unusable for non-technical users. In addition, transparency played an important role. The market often provides limited insight into performance of installations, whereas RENERGY wanted to show how a heat pump performs under different conditions.

User-friendliness in complex configurations

As director Jim van de Kar points out, “We wanted an online configuration tool where we and our partners can select and compare heat pumps. We were looking for a solution that was user-friendly, approachable and open and honest about performance.”

Saving time for colleagues and partners

Thanks to an intuitive flow, colleagues can quickly work out different system configurations into a customised quote. Partners of RENERGY, working with multiple parties, can create and share a comparative quote themselves.

Quickly sketching scenarios

Users can easily calculate, compare and optimise variants and alternatives based on different assumptions and specifications.

Transparency on performance

The tool makes performance transparent based on self-entered assumptions, allowing users to make more informed choices and providing customers with honest information.

Thousands of different configurations are possible. The software allows us to incorporate different scenarios into personalised offers.

Jim van de Kar

Director/owner | RENERGY

Thousands of different configurations are possible. The software allows us to incorporate different scenarios into personalised offers.

Jim van de Kar

Director/owner | RENERGY

speed and ease of use

A smart shell around existing software

Blenddata developed an intuitive solution that communicates with the existing calculation tool via an API. Complex data remains under the bonnet, while users work in a clear workflow with filters that work like a web shop. This makes it easy to calculate thousands of possible configurations without technical knowledge.

The impact is mainly in speed and ease of use. Quotations can be generated instantly without dependence on suppliers, without manual work and endless switching between systems and lists. That delivers personalised quotes in RENERGY’s format, including technical specifications and an overview for consultants. Jim explains what that delivers every day: “We want to present our customers with different alternatives so that they are well informed and have something to choose from. Much faster than before, we can work out different variants.”

Scepticism becomes confidence

IT professionals who understand business

In a previous project on this issue, RENERGY had already learned the necessary lessons, so the project started with some scepticism. Quick understanding of the business and the translation of requirements into a working solution made the difference here.

Jim: “Blenddata turned out to be a fine party to work with. What positively surprised me is that they immediately understood what we wanted. You are dealing with IT people and we also have our own jargon. That seemed like a difficult translation beforehand, but it was amazing how quickly everything went. For everything we asked, Platform Engineer Kevin immediately understood what we meant and made exactly what it should be.”

Don't start too soon and outline clear expectations. In the preliminary stage, make a good assessment of who you want to work with.

Jim van de Kar

Director/owner | RENERGY

Don't start too soon and outline clear expectations. In the preliminary stage, make a good assessment of who you want to work with.

Jim van de Kar

Director/owner | RENERGY

Principles

Advice for entrepreneurs with data issues

Choosing a data partner and preparing for the process prove crucial for the end result. From this experience, Jim has clear advice for other entrepreneurs: “Don’t start too soon and outline clear expectations. In the preliminary phase, make a good assessment of who you want to work with. In our case, Blenddata turned out to be the best party.”

“This collaboration has given us a lot of confidence. We are going to use this tool for a long time and if, for example, we run into something in a year’s time, I am confident that Blenddata will help us. We will also turn to them again for future data or automation issues.”

Let's talk business!

Wondering what data can do for your business? Make an appointment with one of our engineers. We are curious to know what you are up against.

Contact

Harm Hoebergen

Operations Director

@harm.hoebergen@blenddata.nl
T+31 6 13 19 16 60