Three searches here cover CRM, job management and compliance tooling. They are the same shelf of the toolbox: the system that holds the job.
What the job passes through
- Lead and enquiry
- Site assessment and design
- Quote and contract
- Scheduling and install
- Photos, serials and signed forms
- STC claim and settlement
- Warranty and service
A tool earns its keep if it handles stages 5 and 6 as well as 1 and 2, because that is where money gets stuck.
CRM
A CRM tracks leads, follow-ups and sales. For solar, check that it holds site details, quote versions and the contract. Many installers use a general sales CRM with custom fields. Look at how it connects to your quote and proposal software.
Job management
Job management tools schedule crews, track materials and manage invoices and timesheets. General trade platforms are popular with installers. Features to compare:
- scheduling and crew allocation
- stock and purchase orders
- mobile forms and checklists
- photo upload with timestamps
- invoicing and payment tracking
Compliance tooling
For STC work the compliance tool is mostly a checklist with teeth. It should:
- require the full photo set before a job can be closed; see the photo requirements and, for batteries, the battery submission guide
- capture serial numbers and match them to the approved lists
- hold the signed assignment form and installer statement (installer written statement)
- track each installer’s accreditation and expiry (renewal)
- keep the electrical licence and insurance certificates current
- log who attended, to support attendance requirements
Why it matters
Rejected or delayed claims turn into cash flow problems; see installer cash flow. Most rejections trace back to missing evidence, not bad installs. Our top rejection reasons lists the usual suspects.
From the desk: do not let a job be marked complete until the photos are uploaded, the serials are matched and the signed form is attached. A thirty-second gate saves a week of back-and-forth with a compliance desk.
Choosing
Trial on a real job, with the crew who will use it daily. A tool the installers refuse to use on site is shelfware. Check data export, so you can move later, and privacy, since you hold customer data.
What this means for installers
Tooling should reduce rework. If your trader pre-checks claims, you have a second line of defence, but the first is your own process. Compare traders in choosing a certificate trader, then start trading. More on the installers hub, including start-up costs.