11.17.2008 — Lifeware has unleashed a slew of new tools to help integrators configure the company's home automation and entertainment systems.

A hefty book of "Delivery Guides" (also available online) features 13 different installation scenarios – for example home theater, whole-house control, and retrofit --complete with schematics, estimated labor requirements, bill of materials, proposal templates, and more.

With Lifeware's project summary worksheets, dealers "can do a complete 'walk-through' with their customers, either by the project [applications] or room by room," says Jeff Mahan, director of sales for the Western U.S.

An Excel spreadsheet, then, "auto-suggests a sample system," he says.

Mahan notes that "a lot of dealers are new to whole-house control," so the Lifeware tools take much of the guess-work out of system design.

Lifeware demonstrated the Delivery Guides during the recent Electronic House Expo in Long Beach.

Interviewed by CE Pro earlier this year, Lifeware chief strategy officer Steve Cashman says the company's "approach to the marketplace is not only product-centric. We've actually invested in making it easier to get into this business."

The 13 installation scenarios, Cashman says, "range from simple to complex, with very granular details, like the exact parts, and the amount of time it will take to install."

The Delivery Guides also include marketing materials, such as videos, magazine ads and Web site content. Dealers can customize the collateral "so they don't have to hire a graphic artist," says Cashman. "They just download it, stick their logo and telephone number in it, and run with it."

It's all in the interest of proving that "Lifeware is the best partner of anyone," Cashman says.

In the works are more Delivery Guides based on products available through AVAD. Lifeware recently announced a relationship with the distributor, and is setting up complete Lifeware and Media Center systems in each of AVAD's 37 branches.

The new Delivery Guides will help dealers design, install and sell similar solutions.