5 tips for planning your installation teams

The extremely rising energy prices are driving an unprecedented demand for solar panels. We still have a sprint ahead of us as an industry before winter, as we can leverage the current rush. Efficient planning is then necessary to get installations done as quickly as possible and to keep margins intact. 

The tight labor market makes the challenge even more complex, because how do you get enough mechanics to do the jobs? We provide you with 5 tips for smarter planning and efficient team scheduling  

1. Immediately offer your customer an installation date  

We still see that many installers spend a significant time agreeing on an installation date with their customer. They want to give the customer room to specify a date that is convenient for them. Their intentions are good, but before you know it you are 3 or 4 phone calls or emails away: a waste of time and energy for your planner as well as for your customer. Clarity is essential. So, suggest one or two dates right away and ask them to confirm them digitally. 

We see in our data that about 85% of customers confirm an appointment proposal. Do the math on how much time this will save you. 

2. Plan by location

Reduce the need for your technicians to travel extensively across the country. By implementing the first tip, you suddenly gain much more control over your planning. You can easily put together the most efficient route for your mechanics. When doing this, don’t forget to also consider your mechanics’ location and commuting time. By taking locations and travel times into account, you may be able to squeeze in just that one job. By doing so, you not only save a significant amount of time but also reduce travel distance. Additionally, working in a more sustainable way. 

3. Cluster the same type of chores 

Preferably plan the same type of jobs one after the other. In other words, send your mechanics out at a specific time to do a series of flat roofs. That way you save start-up time and help assembly teams get into the flow, resulting in fewer mistakes. 

4. Make sure mechanics have all the information at hand 

Making a schedule is one thing, sticking to it is another thing. Ensure that your technicians have all the essential information readily available when doing a job. Think of bills of materials, work orders, inspection forms and completion documents. That way, you reduce the chances of your installation teams running into unexpected situations and your schedule encountering delays. 

5. Work with teams as much as possible 

Give your technicians the opportunity to become highly coordinated by working in fixed teams. For example, have two people doing work on the roof, while another takes care of the inside work. This is not only beneficial for the workers on the job, but also for your planner, who can schedule entire teams at once instead of individual technicians.  

Bonus Tip

Do you have multiple installation teams working? Try to maximize scheduling efficiency by scheduling teams on jobs that are near each other. If team members from one installation team complete their job ahead of schedule, they can easily help on another job. Additionally, exchanging any necessary materials becomes much simpler in such cases. 

Sharp planning = more margin

Every day your planner faces the challenge of efficiently scheduling installations within designated timeframes, considering factors such as location, installation type, available workforce, and their expertise levels. In essence, a nice puzzle that must come together seamlessly every day to be successful. While there are numerous excellent solutions available on the market, integrating and connecting multiple systems is often necessary in practice. Thus, entailing transferring significant amounts of data from one system to another. Any time wasted in this process can lead to missed opportunities and reduced profit margins. Our consultants have assisted more than 450 clients in optimizing their operations to achieve greater efficiency. Discover how we’ve integrated these valuable insights into our software, enabling you to plan with enhanced precision. Would you prefer to speak with one of our advisors? Schedule an obligation-free inspiration session.