Hiring solar installers remains a key challenge in our industry. By implementing strategies to increase the productivity of your solar installers, you can install more with the same resources. Hannes Beer from Thermondo has given a keynote (German only) about how to install 10x more heatpumps with HVAC technicians. We’ve took his talk as an inspiration for this article where we discuss some strategies that solar businesses can adopt to enhance the productivity of their installers.
1. Organize your workflows
One of the key ways to increase productivity is to have standardized and streamlined processes. This includes a common understanding of all processes and clear responsibility per task. Splitting work across teams is essential to decrease complexity and to avoid double work. As an example, the preparation of the installation and the installation itself can be done by different teams. Some solar companies are even using third party logistics companies that bring the material and equipment directly to the construction site. The solar installers can go to the construction site without driving to the warehouse before. To avoid waiting times, ensure that all the necessary tools and equipment are available, and create a timeline for completion of each task. Below is an example of the installation fulfilment process where you need to define your internal workflows:
2. Embrace technology
Technology is rapidly transforming the solar industry. There are various software tools available that can help solar installers streamline their workflows and automate processes. This is exactly what we’re working on at Kwest. Using technology can help solar installers to reduce errors and increase efficiency. A costly mistake is if the job pack for the installer contains wrong information. Imagine your installer drives 2 hours to the construction site but has the wrong equipment. This can easily turn into a negative profit margin for that installation. By using software, you can create documents automatically and ensure that all the information is correct.
3. Modern equipment
Having the right equipment can make all the difference in completing a job quickly and efficiently. Solar installers should invest in high-quality tools and equipment that can help them complete the job with ease. For instance, using a solar panel lifter can make it easier to install panels on a rooftop. Companies such as Mauderer provide scaffolding that is very easy to assemble (see example below). Similarly, using a solar panel tester can help identify issues with panels quickly.
4. Assembly Support
Adding assembly support helps solar installers to complete installations faster. Assembly support ensures that components are correctly assembled to minimize errors and reduce installation time. They prepare the installation and make sure that the right equipment is there at the right time.
Streamlining workflows, investing in modern equipment, using modern software and assembly support are all essential steps to improve the productivity of your solar installers. If you are looking for software to streamline your workflows of your solar business, please reach out to us.
