Build an OEM Partner Portal with No-Code (Tutorial)

In today’s fast-paced business world, a well-designed OEM partner portal is essential for effective collaboration. With no-code platforms, you can bypass complex programming and build a customized, user-friendly portal with ease. In this guide, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to build an effective OEM portal.

Key Takeaways

• An OEM partner portal is a secure online platform that provides original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their partners with centralized access to resources, information, and tools for managing and enhancing their business relationships.
• Creating an OEM partner portal enhances efficiency, strengthens relationships, and drives mutual growth by offering a tailored and organized platform for managing business interactions.
• Your OEM partner portal should streamline access to critical resources, manage partner information efficiently, and facilitate effective communication and support. 

What is an OEM Partner Portal?

An OEM partner portal is a specialized online platform designed to facilitate and streamline interactions between an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and its partners, such as suppliers, distributors, and service providers. This portal is a centralized hub where partners can access critical information, resources, and tools needed for effective collaboration.

OEM partner portals typically include detailed product information, pricing and inventory updates, order management systems, technical support resources, marketing materials, and training modules. These elements are crucial for partners to efficiently manage their interactions with the OEM and ensure they have the necessary tools and information to align with the OEM’s standards and goals.

Benefits of Using OEM Partner Portals

Using OEM partner portals comes with many benefits, including resource access, priority support and opportunities, and discounts and offers.

Exclusive Access to Resources

Through the OEM partner portal, partners gain access to a range of specialized resources designed to support their roles effectively. This includes detailed technical documents that provide insights into product specifications and installation procedures, comprehensive product information including features, benefits, and pricing, and a wealth of training materials such as tutorials, webinars, and certification programs. These resources ensure that partners are well-informed, skilled, and aligned with the OEM’s standards, enabling them to offer high-quality support and services.

Priority Support and Partnership Opportunities

OEM partner portals offer enhanced support options, including priority technical assistance and exclusive partnership opportunities, which are instrumental in driving business growth. Partners benefit from expedited access to expert technical support, ensuring swift resolution of issues and minimizing downtime. 

Additionally, the portal provides exclusive opportunities for collaboration on new product developments, joint marketing initiatives, and access to special incentives or programs. These enhanced support options strengthen the partnership and open doors to new business opportunities, fostering a more dynamic and profitable relationship between the OEM and its partners.

Discounts and Offers

Through the OEM partner portal, partners can access potential discounts on products and services, offering significant financial incentives for collaboration. These discounts may include reduced pricing on bulk purchases, special promotional offers, or exclusive service rates, which help partners lower their costs and increase their profitability. 

By taking advantage of these financial benefits, partners can enhance their competitive edge, make their offerings more attractive to customers, and drive mutual growth and success in their business relationship with the OEM.

Why Build an OEM Partner Portal with No-Code?

No-code is a development approach that allows users to create software applications without writing traditional code. Instead of programming, users leverage visual interfaces and pre-built components to design and build applications. This approach simplifies the development process, making it accessible to individuals without technical expertise and enabling rapid creation and deployment of solutions.

Knack is an intuitive no-code platform that can streamline the creation of OEM partner portals with its versatile features. It offers centralized partner information management, effective document handling, and integrated communication tools to enhance collaboration. With Knack, you can automate workflows, monitor performance, and generate insightful reports effortlessly. It has everything you need to build and maintain a highly functional OEM partner portal that adapts to your evolving business needs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your No-Code OEM Partner Portal With Knack

Now that you know what an OEM partner portal is, let’s dive into how to build one using Knack’s no-code platform. If you need additional guidance, visit our knowledge base or read our developer documentation.

1. Define the Key Features of Your OEM Partner Portal

Before you start building, outline the key features and sections you want in your portal. This preliminary step helps ensure that the final product meets all your operational needs and objectives by providing a clear roadmap for development. 

Common elements might include:

• Partner Directory (contact details, company info, regions)
• Product Catalog (products available for OEM partners)
• Order Management (placing, tracking, and managing orders)
• Support Tickets (technical support, inquiries)
• Document Library (contracts, technical documents, marketing materials)
• Announcements/News (updates, important notices)
• Sales and Performance Reports
• Training and Certification (resources, tracking certifications)

2. Get Started with Knack in Seconds

Before you can start building your OEM partner portal with Knack, you need to sign up for an account. 

Here’s how:

1. Visit the Knack Website: Open your web browser and navigate to Knack’s website.
2. Click on “Start Building for Free”: Click the “Get Started for Free” button in the top right-hand corner of the homepage. 
3. Choose a Plan: You’ll be prompted to select a plan that best suits your needs. Knack offers various plans, including a free trial option if you want to explore the platform before committing. Review the features and pricing for each plan and choose the one that fits your requirements.
4. Create Your Account: Enter your email address, create a password, and provide any additional required information. You may also be asked to provide details about your company or project to tailor the platform to your needs.
5. Explore Knack’s Features: Take a moment to familiarize yourself with Knack’s interface and features. 

3. Create a New App in Knack 

Once you’re logged into Knack, the next step is to start creating your new OEM partner portal app. 

1. Navigate to the Dashboard: After logging in, you’ll be taken to your Knack dashboard. This is your central hub for managing your apps and data.
2. Click on “Create a New App”: Look for the “Create a New App” button on your dashboard. This will prompt you to begin the app creation process.
3. Choose Your Starting Point: You’ll have the option to start building your app from scratch or use Knack’s AI assistance to help set up your app. For this tutorial, we’ll focus on creating your app from scratch.
4. Select “Start from Scratch”: Choose the option to build your app from scratch. This allows you to fully customize your OEM partner portal according to your specific needs and preferences.
5. Name Your App: Provide a name for your new app. This name will help you identify your portal later and should reflect its purpose or function, such as “OEM Partner Portal.”
6. Begin the Setup Process: Click on “Create” or “Start” to begin setting up your new app. You’ll be directed to a workspace where you can begin configuring your portal’s features, layout, and data structures.

4.  Build Your Database Structure and Connections

With your new app created, the next step is to set up the database structure to manage and store all partner-related information. Follow this guide:

1. Create the “Partners” Table:

• Add a table named “Partners” to store information about your partners. Include the following fields:
  • Partner Name: The name of the partner organization.
  • Contact Information: Contact details such as phone number and email address.
  • Region: Geographic location or region of the partner.
  • Partnership Level: The level or type of partnership.
  • Notes: Any additional notes or comments about the partner.

2. Create the “Products” Table:

• Add a table named “Products” to keep track of the products associated with your partners. Include the following fields:
  • Product Name: The name of the product.
  • Description: A brief description of the product.
  • SKU: Stock Keeping Unit for product identification.
  • Associated Partners: A field to link this product to specific partners.

3. Create the “Documents” Table:

• Add a table named “Documents” to manage important documents.
• Include the following fields:
  • Document Name: The title of the document.
  • Type: The type of document (e.g., contract, specification).
  • Upload Date: The date the document was uploaded.
  • Associated Partner or Product: Fields to link documents to specific partners or products.

4. Create Relationships Between Tables:

• Link Partners to Products: Create a relationship between the “Partners” and “Products” tables to track which partners are associated with specific products. This involves adding a field in the “Products” table that references the “Partners” table.
• Link Documents to Partners and Products: Establish relationships in the “Documents” table to connect documents to the appropriate partners and products. Add lookup fields in the “Documents” table that link to both the “Partners” and “Products” tables for easy document retrieval and management.

5. Ensure Scalability: As you build your database structure, consider how it will scale with future growth. Organize fields and relationships to accommodate additional data and evolving needs. Knack’s no-code platform makes it easy to adjust and expand your database as your requirements change.

5. Set Up User Roles

Setting up user roles and permissions is crucial for managing access to different features and data within your OEM partner portal. Here’s how to set up user roles in your Knack app:

1. Access the User Roles Settings: From your Knack dashboard, navigate to the “Settings” menu. Select “Users” or “User Roles” to access the section where you can define and manage user roles.
2. Define Administrator Roles: Administrators have full access to all data, settings, and content within the portal. Set permissions to allow these users to view, edit, delete, and manage all aspects of the portal, including database structure, user roles, and settings.
3. Define Partner Manager Roles: Partner managers need access to manage partner information, documents, and product associations. Configure permissions to enable these users to view and modify partner data, manage documents, and link products to partners. Ensure they have the ability to generate reports and oversee partner interactions.
4. Define OEM Partner Roles: OEM partners are external users who need access to view relevant products, download resources, and submit requests or feedback. Set permissions to allow these users to access product information, download resources from the documents section, and submit requests or feedback through designated forms or interfaces.
5. Assign Roles to Users: Once roles are defined, assign them to individual users based on their needs and responsibilities. You can do this by adding users to the appropriate roles and configuring their access accordingly.
6. Review and Adjust Permissions: Review the permissions for each role to ensure they align with your organizational needs and security policies. Make adjustments as necessary to refine access levels and ensure data integrity and privacy.
7. Test Role Permissions: Test the permissions by logging in as users with different roles to confirm that the access and restrictions are working as intended. This step helps ensure that each user has the appropriate level of access and functionality.

6. Build Public and Private Views

Creating public and private views is essential for organizing content and controlling access within your OEM partner portal. Knack’s Pages feature allows you to set up different views based on user roles and permissions. Here’s how to use this feature to build both public and private sections:

1. Access the Pages Feature: From your Knack dashboard, navigate to the “Pages” section. This is where you can create and manage different views for your portal.
2. Create Public Views:
   • Partner Portal Homepage:
     • Click “Add Page” and choose a layout that suits your needs.
     • Title the page “Partner Portal Homepage” and add widgets or sections to display general information, updates, and key resources for your partners.
     • Configure the page settings to make it accessible to all users or specific roles, ensuring that it’s publicly viewable.
   • Product Catalog:
     • Add a new page titled “Product Catalog.”
     • Use widgets to display a list or grid of products, including details like product names, descriptions, and SKUs.
     • Ensure that this page is set to be accessible to partners so they can view the available products and their details.
   • Resource Center:
     • Create a page named “Resource Center.”
     • Add sections where partners can download documents, manuals, and marketing materials.
     • Set this page to be accessible to partners, allowing them to access and download the resources they need.
3. Create Private Views:
   • Partner Management:
     • Click on “Add Page” and title it “Partner Management.”
     • Configure the page to include tools and sections for reviewing and updating partner details, managing relationships, and monitoring partner activity.
     • Set permissions so that only Partner Managers or administrators can access this page, ensuring that sensitive partner information remains private.
   • Internal Resources:
     • Add a page called “Internal Resources.”
     • Include sections for documents and information meant solely for internal teams, such as internal reports or confidential materials.
     • Restrict access to this page so that only internal users or administrators can view and manage its content.
   • Partner Communications:
     • Create a page titled “Partner Communications.”
     • Add forms or tools where partners can submit requests, feedback, or support tickets.
     • Set permissions to ensure that this page is accessible to partners but managed by internal teams to handle submissions and communications.
4. Configure Page Visibility: For each page, adjust the visibility settings to match your requirements. Use Knack’s permission settings to control which roles or users can view or interact with each page. Review your settings to ensure that public and private views are appropriately segmented, and test access to verify that permissions are correctly applied.

7.  Enhance Partner Collaboration with Communication Tools

An internal messaging system enhances partner communication by providing a streamlined, centralized method for submitting inquiries, feedback, or support requests. This feature improves collaboration and ensures that all communications are captured and managed effectively within your OEM partner portal. 

Here’s how to create a form that allows partners to communicate directly through the portal:

1. Access the Forms Feature: From your Knack dashboard, go to the “Forms” section, where you can create and manage forms within your app.
2. Create a New Form: Click “Add Form” to start creating a new form. Title the form appropriately based on its purpose, such as “Submit Inquiry,” “Feedback Form,” or “Support Request.”
3. Add Form Fields:
   • Contact Information: Add fields for partners to enter their contact details, such as Name, Email Address, and Phone Number.
   • Subject: Include a field where partners can specify the subject of their inquiry or feedback.
   • Message: Add a large text area where partners can describe their inquiry, feedback, or support request in detail.
   • Attachments: Optionally, include a file upload field if you want partners to attach relevant documents or screenshots.
4. Set Up Form Notifications: Configure notifications to ensure that submissions are sent to the appropriate internal team members or departments. Set up email alerts or notifications within the portal to inform the relevant staff when a new form submission is received.
5. Add the Form to a Page: Go to the “Pages” section and select the page where you want the form to appear, such as the “Partner Communications” page. Use the “Add Widget” or “Add Section” option to place your new form on the page.
6. Configure Form Permissions: Set permissions for the form to ensure that it is accessible to partners while keeping internal management and responses secure. Ensure that the form is visible to partners but that responses and form management are restricted to internal users.
7. Test the Form: Preview the form to ensure it functions correctly and appears as intended on the page. Submit a test entry to verify that submissions are correctly routed and notifications are received by the appropriate team members.
8. Monitor and Manage Submissions: Regularly check the submissions in the form management section of Knack. Ensure that your team addresses all inquiries, feedback, and support requests promptly and appropriately.

8.  Launch and Monitor Your Portal

Once you’ve built and configured your OEM partner portal, it’s time to ensure everything functions smoothly before launching it. 

You can do this by:

1. Testing Your Portal:
   1. Functionality Check: Test all features, including forms, data tables, and user roles, to ensure they work as intended. Verify that public and private views are correctly set up and that permissions function properly.
   2. User Role Testing: Log in as users with different roles (e.g., Administrators, Partner Managers, OEM Partners) to confirm that each role has the appropriate level of access and functionality.
   3. Form Testing: Submit test entries through forms to ensure that they are correctly routed, notifications are triggered, and responses are received by the intended recipients.
   4. Compatibility Check: Test the portal on various devices and browsers to ensure it’s accessible and functional across different platforms.
2. Launching the Portal:
   1. Final Review: Conduct a final review of all content, settings, and configurations to ensure everything is in place and accurate.
   2. Prepare Documentation: Create user guides or help documents for partners to assist them in navigating the portal. Include instructions on how to access key features and contact support if needed.
   3. Announce Launch: Communicate the launch of the portal to your partners. Send out an announcement email or notification with details on accessing the portal and any relevant instructions or credentials.
   4. Go Live: Publish the portal and make it available to your partners. Monitor the initial usage to ensure everything operates smoothly.
3. Maintaining the Portal:
   1. Monitor Performance: Regularly check the portal’s performance to identify and address any issues or bugs. Use analytics tools to track user activity and gather feedback.
   2. Update Content: Keep the content, such as product information, resources, and documents, up-to-date. Regularly review and refresh the portal to ensure it remains relevant and useful.
   3. Manage User Roles: Continuously review and adjust user roles and permissions as needed. Add or remove users and update their access levels based on their roles and responsibilities.
   4. Respond to Feedback: Collect and act on feedback from partners regarding the portal’s usability and features. Make improvements based on this feedback to enhance user experience.
   5. Security and Compliance: Ensure that the portal complies with security standards and data protection regulations. Perform regular security audits and updates to safeguard data and maintain compliance.

Get Started with Knack

Building an OEM partner portal is a strategic investment that enhances communication, streamlines operations, and strengthens partnerships. With careful planning and ongoing maintenance, your OEM partner portal can become a cornerstone of your partner management strategy.
If you’re ready to build an effective OEM partner portal with no-code, sign up for Knack and start building for free today!