Planned Greenboard software upgrade to integrate Zillow

13 May Planned Greenboard software upgrade to integrate Zillow

NEW YORK — Text messaging capabilities combined with a planned upcoming partnership with home value site Zillow are behind the upgrade of a web-based tool called Greenboard, designed by furniture people for furniture people.

The Greenboard software records information from every touchpoint including store walk-ins, phone calls, emails, web forms, live chats, abandoned carts, failed payments and text messages. Any sales associate can then use the information gathered to follow up with the customer by phone, email or text.

All information is centrally stored in a customer profile, which means sales associates don’t have to start the sales process from scratch if the customer should return at a later date. Store owners and managers can monitor these leads from anywhere and redirect them to other salespeople as needed.

In addition to the text messaging component, Lenny Kharitonov, furniture retail veteran and Greenboard developer, said he also plans to upgrade the system’s mobile experience by integrating real estate values from Zillow into the system.

“When sales reps get the customer’s address, they can ping Zillow to find out the home’s value and if the customer recently moved in,” Kharitonov said. “That is powerful information that can help the sales associate to change their approach and target what the consumer needs.”

Greenboard is available by subscription, the price varies from $40 to $100 based on the number of users and commitment.There is also a small set up-fee which varies from client to client.

Kharitonov said, with Greenboard’s website analytics, reps can see in advance if customers are looking for high end furniture vs. promotional furniture and how much time they’ve spent on the retailer’s website.

“Home furnishings are a large and considered purchase, and Amazon has set the bar high where customers expect personalized results,” said Kharitonov. “But today’s brick-and-mortar stores can offer a human touch with even better personalization than online sites by having sales reps build that rapport with customers.”

Creating that rapport helps draw customers back, and the close ratio on these second-visit consumers can increase to about 80%, he said.

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