The synergi interface, which can be found at https://synergi.enta.net, represents a significant investment by Entanet in its partners. It provides them with a single use interface through which they can complete a wide variety of tasks, including the placement of orders for voice and data services, management of customer accounts, downloading of product literature on the wide range of branded and white-label services available from Entanet and the creation of usage and commission reports.
Resellers can also log into synergi to run diagnostic tests on connections. This can be done directly by the partner with no intervention from Entanet unless assistance is required.
The portal has been designed to be easy to use. It provides logical navigation and drag-and-drop dashlets that enable partners to customise and adapt their view to suit their day-to-day needs. Comprehensive and easy-to-follow training documentation, handbooks, FAQs and videos, which help partners familiarise themselves with synergi are also available on the site.
Entanet’s Head of Marketing, Darren Farnden, said: “Entanet has supported its partners by providing a secure online portal since 2003, providing access to every single channel partner, free of charge. The variety of services we offer and the resources we make available to partners has increased massively over that time. synergi will make it easier for them to access and make full use of those services and resources and Entanet’s continual investment in its channel partners.”
The intuitive synergi interface has been developed to make it easier for resellers to conduct routine tasks faster and more efficiently. As well as the enhanced navigation, an additional search facility and dashboard-style display have been added, making it easier for partners to find, retrieve and manage information and facilitate easy multi tasking. Entanet has also introduced a number of new features to encourage partner interaction and knowledge sharing. These include the Idea Network, which enables partners to exchange ideas and expertise with each other and with Entanet, easily and effectively. The company is also developing an integrated partner forum, which it plans to introduce shortly.
Farnden said: “The Idea Network is a fantastic way for partners to suggest further enhancements to synergi as well as new products they’d like to see us make available. As soon as one partner creates an idea, others can vote for or against it as well as help develop it with additional comments. It’s a valuable source of feedback for us.”
The ordering processes and many of the account management facilities including reporting have not changed in terms of functionality but have instead been streamlined and updated to provide comprehensive help text and a more logical flow. Farnden adds: “The launch of synergi hasn’t changed the way we work with partners. All the existing functionality remains and, wherever relevant and possible, has been improved to make life even easier for them.”
Partners were closely involved throughout the development and beta testing of the new interface. This proved invaluable, he added. “While synergi includes a ‘report a bug’ feature that informs our programming team directly of any issues found, we also encouraged direct feedback from partners on their experiences of using every part of the interface.” A group of 20 Entanet partners volunteered to use the interface and provide feedback over a five week period, leading to the successful roll-out of synergi to all Entanet partners during March.
Initial feedback showed that over half of partners that make use of other supplier portals, give synergi a higher rating. Similarly, almost 80 percent of respondents also said that the variety of commercial and training resources are just as good or better, while all respondents stated their intention to make use if the Idea Network and partner forum.