How solar energy businesses are now directly streamlining order management

Solar energy provides one of the key forms of sustainable electricity for individuals, companies, and organisations on a global scale. With an increasing number of sales tips coming in, and sales opportunities needing to be managed, it is more important than ever that solar energy businesses are positioned to make smart choices in managing their sales, and orders, and nurture existing customer relationships. In this article we take a look at the solar energy industry and how it currently stands. Then we will look at what order management entails for this niche, what is causing challenges in this process, and how order management software can make a dramatic difference to sales for solar energy.

An overview of the solar energy business

According to IEA, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) accounted for three-quarters of renewable capacity additions in 2023, and (in conjunction with wind) are expected to account for 96% within the next five years.

Although the development and usage of solar energy is a global industry, Statista has determined that the top countries for generating solar energy are:

• China (306.9 gigawatts)
• United States (95.9 gigawatts)
• Japan (74.2 gigawatts)
• Germany (58.5 gigawatts)
• India (49.7 gigawatts)

The market for solar energy is split between residential and individual customers, and business and industrial, with their being increasing take-up of sustainable energy and alternative power being sourced in both segments.

Some of the key trends and developments in the industry come from:

• Growing demand for renewable energy.
• Government regulations and legal obligations for businesses.
• Consumer focus on sustainability and transparency from providers.
• Increased development in utility-scale solar facilities.
• Technological advancements and improvement in capacity of panels.
• Consumer desire for lower costs.

Being able to split out leads and manage clients requires tools and software that lets you accurately sort your data, whilst still keeping it protected and secure. TEB Apps offers the ability to flexibly customise your offerings, manage your opportunities, and stay on top of your lead activity. The use of strategic automation and a data-centric approach to your business processes can help you ensure that every opportunity is made the most of.

What does order management entail for solar energy businesses?

Whether you are focusing on individuals and residential clients or are looking at providing utility-scale services to industry, you need an order management process that makes it simple for you to capture, track, and fulfil your customers orders.

For solar energy businesses, there is also the added need to ensure that every potential order is manageable, has the appropriate legal obligations and paperwork covered, and that your services can be provided without being caught up in red-tape or trouble.

Order management in the industry often involves:

• Customer enquiries and product education.
• Requirement stage and assessment of suitability.
• Quote generation and order placement.
• Product creation or product packaging.
• Invoice creation and payment (which may involve the creation of payment plans and multi-stage invoicing).
• Order fulfilment (this may also involve liaising with 3^rd parties if the company does not provide installation in-house).
• Upselling or cross-selling opportunity offering.
• Follow up and retention nurturing.

Being able to manage your range of items, engage with clients on a customised and individual basis due to their own specific requirements, handle sales invoicing and ensuring any recurring payments are not only scheduled but monitored to ensure completion, is absolutely essential in order for solar energy businesses to function effectively.

What are the key challenges being faced in order management for solar energy businesses?

The more complex a sales process is, the more difficult order management can become.

Significant challenges that can be faced by solar energy businesses when handling order management might include:

• Difficulty in effectively monitoring inventory and ensuring accuracy in availability of products and types.
• Poor integration of customer data leading to inaccurate order assessments or delays in acknowledging viability and suitability for product placement.
• Inaccurate data leading to missed conversion opportunities.
• Incomplete orders disrupting the invoicing process.
• Delays in order fulfilment and subsequent installation leading to damage of brand reputation.
• Slow response times to customer order status enquiries.

Many of these challenges are a result of ineffective order management software, a lack of integration with business process activities, and resources having to be used in areas that do not directly deal with customer engagement or order fulfilment.

How can order management software help solar energy businesses streamline these processes?

Making use of order management software and technological solutions can make an enormous difference when it comes to the way in which your company operates. With strategic implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Process Automation (BPA), and effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, businesses can position themselves to be more efficient, streamlined, and cost effective.

The right order management solution can help businesses by providing, at a minimum:

• Workflow management.
• Automated payment scheduling.
• Stock and product management.
• Integrated returns, refunds, and cancellation updates.
• Invoicing and payment tracking
• Tax management and options for trading in multiple currencies.
• Customisable quote templates and options.

Why is TEB Apps being adopted for order management? What can we do for you?

When you work with TEB Apps, your solar energy business can benefit from a huge range of advantages and data-driven accurate solutions that will drive your business in the right direction.

TEB Apps can help you with:

• Streamlined stock management capable of handling thousands of products and variations.
• Automatic payment reminders to keep on top of payment arrangements and recurring payments from clients.
• Multiple terms and conditions for different items so every client has T&Cs that are specific to their order and requirements.
• Expected payment dates and delivery details that allow your team to answer customer queries with precision.

Book your demo today, and discover for yourself why TEB Apps is the best solution for a brighter future, and the next step on your path to more sustainable business growth.