Partner
Package: SALES MARKETING SERVICE
1. General
The Partner module enables the separate management of partner companies – independent of the other Organizations. Partners can be linked to leads, contacts, deals and other records to document the origin of business contacts in a traceable way.
A new lead was referred by a sales partner. The corresponding partner is linked to the lead's organization. This makes it traceable at any time via which partner the lead was generated. All further referenced records of the partner are viewable in the Relations tab.
A main partner has two regional sub-partners. The sub-partners are linked to the main partner via the Member Of field. Via the Show Partner Hierarchy action, the structure can be called up as an overview at any time.
This section only describes special fields or functionalities of the module, as all general brainX functionalities are described elsewhere in the manual.
2. List View
The list view in the Partners module has the usual functionalities of a list view. For more detailed information, see the section Structure/Layout – List View.
2.1. Actions
In the list view, general actions are available depending on the module. An overview and description of all general actions can be found in the section Actions (List View).
The following module-specific actions are also available:
| Action | Prerequisite | Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Create Google Maps Route | none | Creates a Google Maps route based on the selected records – see Actions (List View) – Create Google Maps Route |
| Retrieve Geodata | none | Retrieves the geodata of the selected records based on the stored address – see Actions (List View) – Retrieve Geodata |
3. Detail View
3.1. Fields
The following table describes required fields and fields with non-obvious functions. All other fields are self-explanatory.
Basic Data Block
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Partner * | Name of the partner |
| Member Of | Link to a superordinate partner; enables the mapping of partner hierarchies |
| Email Opt Out | When activated, no automated emails are sent to the partner (affects: trouble ticket communication, emails from automations, support notifications). Direct emails via the Email accounts and Emails modules are still possible. |
| Newsletter Unsubscribed | When activated, the email address is ignored when adding to a newsletter recipient list (e.g., in the Campaigns module) |
| Created by Lead Conversion | Automatically set to yes when the partner was created via a lead conversion. Not manually editable. |
*Required field
Bank Details Block
The Bank Details block stores the partner's banking information: Bank Name, Sort Code, Account No., IBAN, BIC.
3.2. Actions
The following actions are available in the detail view:
3.2.1. General Actions
- PDF Export
- Recommend
- Copy
- Delete
- Change Tracking
For detailed information on the actions, see the section Actions (Detail View).
3.2.2. Module-Specific Actions
| Action | Prerequisite | Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Generate QR Code (vCard) | – | Generates a QR code with the partner data as a vCard |
| New Document | – | Creates a new document and links it to the partner |
| Show Partner Hierarchy | – | Shows the hierarchy of linked partners (via Member Of). Note: The displayed hierarchy refers exclusively to the client of the current record. Records of other clients are not taken into account. |
| New Task | – | Creates a new task and links it to the partner |
| New Appointment | – | Creates a new appointment and links it to the partner |
| New Email | Configured email inbox | Opens the email editor with reference to the partner |
| Send SMS | Configured Connect integration | Sends an SMS to a phone number stored in the record |
4. Practical Examples
1 – Documenting Partner Referrals for Leads and Deals in a Traceable Way
A sales partner regularly refers new prospects to the company. To be able to trace the origin of these leads at any time, the partner is maintained in the Partner module as a standalone record. For every lead referred by the partner, the corresponding partner record is linked in the lead via the Partner field.
This way, via the Relations tab on the partner record, it is viewable at any time how many leads, contacts and deals were generated through this partner. The data can be evaluated in the Reports module to analyze partner performance and make informed decisions about the collaboration.
2 – Mapping a Partner Hierarchy with Main and Sub-Partners
A main partner manages several regional sub-partners. In the Partner module, all sub-partners are first created as their own records. They are then linked to the main partner via the Member Of field.
Via the Show Partner Hierarchy action, the entire partner structure can be called up as an overview at any time – comparable to an organization hierarchy. Leads, contacts and deals can be maintained specifically at individual sub-partners, while the overarching partner structure remains transparent.
3 – Creating and Linking a Partner from a Lead
When converting a lead that was referred by a new sales partner, a new partner record is to be created simultaneously. In the Convert Lead popup, the Partner option is activated and the partner's data is automatically transferred from the lead.
After conversion, the newly created partner is linked to the created contact and the organization. The Created by Lead Conversion field is automatically set to yes on the partner record, making it traceable at any time how the partner entered the system.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Partners module and the Organizations module?
The Organizations module is used for managing customers, prospects and other business contacts. The Partner module is specifically intended for partner companies – e.g., sales partners or resellers – and enables the separate management of these relationships as well as tracking of partner-generated leads and deals.
Can a partner be linked to leads, contacts and deals?
Yes. Partners can be linked to records from the Leads, Contacts, Deals and other modules. All referenced records are viewable in the Relations tab on the partner record.
What is the "Member Of" field in the Partners module used for?
The Member Of field enables the mapping of partner hierarchies. A sub-partner can be linked to a superordinate main partner via this field. The resulting structure can be visualized via the Show Partner Hierarchy action.
What does the "Email Opt Out" toggle do for a partner?
When activated, no automated emails are sent to the partner – this affects ticket communication, emails from automations and support notifications. Direct emails via the Email accounts and Emails modules are still possible.
Can I identify whether a partner record was created by a lead conversion?
Yes. The Created by Lead Conversion field is automatically set to yes when the partner record was created in the course of a lead conversion. The field is not manually editable and serves for information purposes only.
In which packages is the Partners module available?
The Partner module is included in brainX CRM in the Sales, Marketing and Service packages. In brainX APP, the module is available by default.