Viessmann DigitalServices: partnership with specialist installers – from initial contact to planning and installation up to operation
The rapid advance of digitalization is radically changing both society and business. Customers are increasingly mobile, constantly online, and sharing their experiences. They are placing more value on service and quality. Products are being supplemented by mobile services in connection with the Internet. Furthermore, digitization is an essential condition for the success of the energy transition.
Viessmann recognized the success potential of digitization early on and is making a comprehensive program of digital products and services available to specialist installers. It not only helps generate sales, but also makes daily work much easier. Viessmann’s new digital tools and its own online channels show that it is keeping up with the times. Its trade partners can reach out to customers and interested parties online and secure them with new offers.
Digital Services at a glance:
-heizung.de is the new Internet platform for end customers. It offers information and solutions related to the topic of heating and establishes contact to the local specialist company.
-Have an offer ready in a matter of minutes – the heating calculator links the data from customer inquiries fully automatically with the contractor’s pricing scheme and derives an offer from it. The contractor can thus respond immediately to customer inquiries and make an offer.
-New online tools are available for easy, time-saving system planning: for configuring individual packages, schematic browsers with more than 300 system diagrams, the new ViBooks document database, and Vitoflow 100, the new online tool for balancing existing systems.
-Vitoguideis the digital service center for the trade partner, with new functions, such as heating analysis and operating history for error identification.
heizung.de: new Internet platform turns interested parties into customers of specialist companies
To provide end customers and users with neutral, competent information and establish contact to the closest Viessmann trade partner – that is the declared goal of heizung.de. This new Web presence offers everything related to the topics of heating, subsidies, and financing, provides advice and solutions to all questions about new heating systems.
The fastest way to the closest trade partner
Individual consulting or an offer for a new heating system? Visitors to heizung.de can look for a specialist company or send a contact request at any time – no matter what page of the Internet portal they are currently viewing. They need only enter their postal code to immediately see a list of the closest specialized companies– with the necessary contact data and an opportunity to request an offer at the click of a mouse. The contact data of the interested party are forwarded by Viessmann directly to a suitable trade partner near the customer to facilitate consultation as soon as possible. Hence the future system operator can create a complete digital process after this initial contact – from the preparation of an offer to planning up to ordering the components.
A comparison of the most important types of heating
A comprehensive offer of information includes, among other things, a non-proprietary overview that compares the specific features of gas, oil, wood, and heat pump heating systems, and electric heating systems. In this way, each visitor to the website can quickly and easily get an idea of the various possibilities of heat and electricity supply. Apart from the comparison of the most important types of heating systems, a heating encyclopedia explains important terms from the realm of heating technology in an easily understandable manner, such as balanced flue operation or combination water heater.
Building energy savings check
With just a few simple instructions, anyone interested can take a few minutes to make a building energy savings check and learn how much energy a new heating system could save in their home. In addition, various heating modernization scenarios can be simulated and compared. This can help limit the large number of possibilities for the first consultation with a trade partner, for instance. The building energy savings check has been certified by the TÜV (German technical supervisory association) and returns objective results.
Possible subsidies and financing calculator
Efficient heating systems lower costs and relieve pressure on the environment. Government institutions like the German Development Bank (KfW) and the German Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) have a large number of subsidies ready in order to allow as many homeowners as possible to profit from these advantages. How to finance the new heating system and have it subsidized by the state are explained in a detailed yet easy to understand manner.
viessmann.de – detailed productinformation
Contractors, planners, chimneysweeps, and interested end users can access detailed information on the entire Viessmann product portfolio at viessmann.de – from heating to industrial to refrigeration technology. Reference properties show examples of solutions, various heating systems can be directly compared to one another, and initial information can be expanded in more detail by downloading brochures and data sheets.
A new service for system operators and specialist companies is on offer at viessmann.de: all instructions – even for older boilers – can easily be searched and downloaded from the website at any time.
Advantages for trade partners
-Contact can quickly be established between system operators and local specialist heating companies
-Advance information on the possibilities of heating system modernization for those interested facilitates consulting
-The business process can be completely digitized(offer preparation, planning, placing orders for components)
Advantages for users
-Neutraland competentinformation
-Quick orientation on the various possibilities of heat and electricity supply
-Easy-to-understand explanation of important technical terms
-Quick and easy appraisal of potential energy savings with the building energy savings check
-Quick and easy access to an offer from the nearest Viessmann trade partner
Heating calculator: offers with the customer in five minutes
Consumers are increasingly finding information and making purchases online – even capital goods like new heating systems. An Internetsearch usually leads directly to the website of a provider. Once the inquiry has been made, this group of customers expects the provider to respond with an offer as soon as possible. Viessmann helps its trade partners reach customers directly with the new heating calculator, which automatically prepares non-binding offers.
Increase visitor numbers
In order to lead potential customers to the specialist company’s website, a search engine marketing module (SEM) can be integrated as an option. This module speeds up the Internet search for the nearest specialist heating company, which is then listed at one of the top positions in a Google search. After clicking, interested parties are guided to the target page of the specialist company, where they can click to inquire about an offer after entering a bit of basic information – preferred fuel, design of building, and existing heating system, as well as name and address.
Heating calculator increases sales
Using the heating calculator integrated into its own website, a specialized heating company is able to generate a complete, non-binding, ad-hoc offer for a potential customer. This is done automatically on the basis of data entered by the interested party and taking account of the individual cost estimates of the specialist company. The result is a non-binding offer from the contractor, which is immediately sent to the potential customer by e-mail.
With the data and requirements from the customer’s request for an offer, the trade partner has a valuable basis for further customer processing. The cost estimate can be changed at any time. The non-binding offer does not become binding until after individual consultation with the contractor.
Integrated into the website
The heating calculator is integrated into the website of the specialist heating company and its color design adapted to the respective website. Thus, the individual Internet presence is fully retained.
Comfortable and efficient
Handling the inquiries digitally saves the contractor a great deal of time compared to the conventional procedure. Online toolsfor further processing the order are available, such as the schematic browser for system planning and an online library for downloading planning, installation, and service instructions.
Advantages for trade partners
-Substantial enhancement of online coverage
-Website of the regional specialist company can be found thanks to professional search engine marketing (SEM)
-Automated offer preparation saves time
-Individual offer preparation thanks to filed cost estimates of the specialist company
-Professional look for Internet-savvy customers
-Completeintegration into the website of the specialist company, individual appearance retained
Advantages for system operators
-Quick orientation concerning possible costs of a new heating system by receiving the offer in the shortest possible time
Viessmann online tools for easy ordering and system planning
Viessmann’s online tools enable contractors to bring useful tools directly to their office or construction site. Whether it is a matter of configuring individual packages, selecting hydraulic and wiring plans, searching for technical documents, or automatic flow balancing – the online tools make daily work easier for the trade partner.
Configuring individual packages online
Packages make planning and ordering easier because only one order number is necessary for complete heating systems and the total price can be ascertained immediately. Viessmann offers pre-configured package solutionsfor the most frequent cases. Now technically tested packages can be put together online for individual cases. Here the individual package price is shown in real time during configuration.
Schematic browser – 300 system diagrams to download
The schematic browser helps every Viessmann trade partner plan heating systems. It provides lots of information for every case: hydraulic diagrams, wiring plans, parts lists, and functional specifications.
The browser can be opened directly with any common Web browser on a PC or tablet without having to install a program or app. The online schematic browser always has the most up-to-date system diagrams available.
ViBooks – the centralized document database
ViBooks is the new centralized document search with more than 20,000 filed documents. The database contains planning, installation, and service instructions, price lists, printed marketing material, Vitoset documents, and much more.
The user-friendly interface offers not only a full-text search, but also various entry levels: you can search for order, material, or part numbers;product names or types; or keywords. What is more, filters can be used and document types selected. A few clicks let you view, download and, if necessary, print instructions for both new and old heat generators.
ViBooks( can be used on all stationary terminals with common Web browsers and on mobile devices with iOS or Android operating systems.
Vitoflow 100: online balancing of existing systems
The automatic flow balancing of heating systems can now be done easily online with Vitoflow 100. After selecting the existing radiators and calculating or entering the room heating load, the contractor receives a final report indicating the settings for the thermostatic valves, the required pump pressure, and the lowest necessary flow temperature. The VdZ form to confirm the flow balancing for subsidies from the German Development Bank (KfW)/German Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) can easily be generated at the push of a button.
Vitoflow 100 is ideal for automatic flow balancing of existing systems with up to 100 radiators. Use the menu bar or “next step” menu item to navigate through the online tool. In addition, a system optimization can be calculated by replacing radiators.
Advantages for trade partners
-Saves time thanks to free online tools
-Simplifies ordering procedures thanks to individual, technically tested packages
-Easy system planning thanks to more than 300 system diagrams, including wiring plans, parts lists, and functional specifications
-Comprehensive information thanks to access to more than 20,000 planning, installation, and service instructions, as well as price lists
-Easy, time-saving automatic flow balancing thanks to online tool
Advantages for system operators
-Individual and efficient heating system with perfectly coordinated components
-Comprehensive documentation, operating instructionsavailable even for older heat generators
-Energy savings of up to 15 % thanks to automatic flow balancing
Vitoguide: software tool for service with added value
The Vitoguidedigital service center for monitoring heating systems online allows specialist partners to keep an eye on the systems they are looking after. This service enhances security for system operators in the operation of their heating system. New functions, such as heating analysis with operating report, operating history log, and heating element management for heat pumps, now let contractors further expand their service offer.
Graduatedservice offers
Vitoguide enables every specialist partner to profit from graduated service offers that can be bought and easily integrated into existing maintenance and service contracts. Each specialist partner independently designs the agreements with the customer. How additional services are calculated and accounted depends on how the contracts are drafted. Viessmann cannot influence this in any way.
New and old devices can be connected
In order to make use of Vitoguide, the heating system must be connected by way of the Vitoconnect Web interface. Vitoconnect enables this Internet connection for nearly all Viessmann boilers with Optolink interface.
Heating analysis with operating report
A heating system connected to Vitoguide provides the contractor and system operator with information on the efficiency of the system in the past year. This allows the specialist to figure out what sort of service and optimization, as well as new settings, are necessary during maintenance work to enhance the efficiency of the heating system and to lower energy costs.
Operating history for error detection
In the event of a failure or a call from a customer, the operating history in Vitoguide quickly shows if any changes have been made to the boiler’s settings. Then the backup function lets the original setting be activated quickly. Time-consuming and costly journeys can thus be avoided, because many settings can be changed right from the desk.
Heating element management for heat pumps
In the case of heat pump systems, Vitoguide enables a remote control to switch over to manual operation with the aid of the heating element manager. Thus, for instance, DHW generation and the heating function can quickly and easily be ensured on particularly cold days. A reminder function in Vitoguide regularly provides a notification as long as the immersion heater is in operation.
Make solar thermal systems more efficient
Now specialist companies have more ways to assess the functioning of a solar thermal system. Systems connected to the Viessmann server can be put into direct relationship with one another by means of automatic evaluation of the operating data related to temperatures and control instructions, thereby providing tips on how to enhance the efficiency of solar thermal systems. For instance, it is possible to tell whether there is any air in the system. The findings are then made directly available to the specialist heating company. This Viessmann service is only performed when ordered by the specialist partner.
Operating data provide arguments for modernization
From an ongoing analysis of the operating data from connected existing systems, the specialist can also obtain reasons for additional business. The ascertained relationship between room heating and DHW generation, for instance, indicates whether a solar thermal system or a DHW heat pump would be worthwhile for the system operator.
The curve of the operating data can also facilitate a well-founded reason for a new heat generator when a modernization is in the offing. To this end, a new heat generator is mirrored with the available operating data. This can yield a recommendation for a wood-fired boiler, for instance, or a heat pump.
Replace ignition and ionization electrodes in due time
The analysis of operating data enables Vitoguide to automatically detect irregularities, such as changes in gas pressure and contamination, or deposits in the heat exchanger. Furthermore, the system can monitor the ignition electrode and ionization electrode in gas-fired boilers. Thus, the right time to change these wearing parts is automatically detected and indicated to the contractor by Vitoguide even before the burner shows a fault.