The solar power industry used to be very different than what it is now. Before 2010, people saw solar panels as a luxury that only the rich could afford.
But with technological improvements, this renewable energy has been made more affordable for everyone. One way the industry has changed is how things are being done. Software programs are now being used by solar installation companies to ensure they do an accurate job.
However, there are several solar proposal software programs available today and solar installers may be confused about which to select for their business. With each of these programs claiming to be better than the rest, we understand how confusing it is to select one.
This is why, in this article, we will be discussing 5 things that you need to know when choosing solar proposal software. Knowing these things will help you make the right choice and pick a program that will best suit your business.
1. What the Software Can Do
You could save both money and time when you invest in software that will help you accomplish more than 1 task. Therefore, before you select any solar proposal program, ensure you know what the app can do. If it will help you to do multiple tasks, then you’d get your ROI on the software in no time.
For instance, if you send proposals, design systems, and offer financing, you’d have a smoother operation if you have an app that can perform all of these tasks. Rather than using multiple programs for these different tasks.
2. If you’d Be Able to Work Remotely with It
Another thing that you have to know is whether or not you can work remotely with the program you are considering. The global pandemic changed several things in the way people do business in all industries and the solar power industry wasn’t left out.
Installers were faced with the challenge of adapting to this change. Sites visits, in-person conferences, and so many other aspects of the business were no longer possible. Even now that these things can now be done, so many businesses have realized that working remotely is as effective (even more so) as doing these things in person.
Hence, the software you choose should be able to help you accurately and effectively when it comes to working remotely. Visit https://www.solargraf.com/blog/ to learn more about how these programs can help your business in this regard.
3. How It Will Serve Your Business
Everyone at your company should be able to use the program; they should be able to understand it in minutes. Therefore, you should choose software that has several permission options and roles. This way, someone new to the team can confidently use the platform without being scared of accidentally changing the master settings.
Role-specific tasks can also be accessed without the cluster of other role tasks. For example, your accountant should be able to log in to the app and access just the payment and invoices options.
4. How Easy It Is to Use
As you shop for a solar proposal program, you’d likely find several ones that claim they can do virtually everything for you minus the installation itself. All these may sound very exciting, but you have to consider how much training and extra knowledge you’d have to acquire so that you can access all the features being offered.
The value of these features will be lost if you’d have to spend hours training before you or anyone on the team figures out how to use the software. The only way to avoid this is for you to choose a program that isn’t difficult to use.
You should be able to use your knowledge about PV design and solar energy to set up your costs, materials, and presets on an easy-to-use program without spending hours training. Your team members should also not have a hard time figuring out how to use the app. They shouldn’t have to attend several training sessions just so they’d learn how to use the app.
5. How It Will Represent Your Business
If pragmatic projections are to be believed, then this industry is going to grow incredibly in years to come. Read this article to learn more about this. As the industry becomes bigger, so will the competition.
However, so many installers are currently using similar software to create their quotes and design systems. With this happening, a lot of homeowners might likely be getting different quotes, yet these quotes may look visually similar or even identical.
This is why you need a program that will adequately help you represent your business and stand out from all the others. The software you select should offer you the option of customizing your quotes to represent your brand. This will help your business tremendously because most homeowners request quotes from several companies and then compare them. With this, you’d far outshine the others.
Conclusion
Using solar proposal software can help your business in several ways. But for this to be achieved, you need to choose not just a good one, but one that is ideal for your business. The important things that you have to know when choosing a solar proposal program have all been discussed in this article.
