3 Must-Haves for Solar Inventory Management


Scaling your solar and renewable energy business and optimizing for efficiency requires a clear, real-time understanding of inventory supply and demand. Solar inventory management software is the best way to track solar panels, modules, and other equipment, playing a pivotal role in the solar industry.

In its most basic form, this software should be able to track inventory and provide accurate inventory levels and locations. However, in order to scale your solar energy business, your inventory or solar asset management software should also be connected to your sales, service, and solar installation solutions. Read on for three must-have features of inventory management software for solar energy companies.

Inventory Management for Solar Companies

For the solar and renewable energy industry, suppliers and installers alike depend on inventory such as solar panels, modules, and other materials to do their job, support customers, and provide exceptional service.

Solar companies carry a variety of renewable energy assets – everything from solar modules, solar panels, and solar cells to photovoltaic (PV) materials such as solar paste, junction boxes, and PV glass. Other equipment includes PV connectors, racking and mounting materials, batteries, storage, inverters and accessories, solar installation tools, safety equipment, and more. Effective inventory control is crucial to managing this wide array of items.

solar technicians mounting photovoltaic pv solar panels on roof of house

Specific Inventory Challenges Faced by Solar Companies

Solar inventory management has unique challenges, similar to those of solar construction inventory management and other markets that are innovative, experience fluctuations in demand, and are subject to technological disturbances. Some of the key challenges include:

  1. Limited visibility and outdated inventory levels
  2. Manual documentation subject to errors
  3. Fluctuating demand for solar

Limited Visibility and Outdated Inventory Levels

Whether due to access controls, a lack of ownership, or unreliable reporting, many solar companies experience difficulty in identifying accurate inventory levels. This can either lead to overstocking certain equipment such as solar panels, or delaying an installation while your crew waits on equipment and materials to arrive at a warehouse or on-site. Extended lead times can have consequences on your credibility and customer satisfaction. The availability of inventory at the right time and place is critical for the success of the solar industry.

Manual Documentation Subject to Errors

Processes that once worked for tracking your solar asset portfolio are no longer viable as your company grows. Disconnected tools, manual spreadsheets, and old notes or emails do not provide a clear picture of today’s inventory levels and future requirements for upcoming projects. Adjustments in inventory count must be tracked properly to avoid inaccuracies, and implementing advanced solar inventory management systems can significantly improve the accuracy of inventory processes.

Fluctuating Demand for Solar

The solar and renewable energy industry is prone to fluctuating demand due to a variety of external factors. International, federal, and state incentives such as the US Climate Bill can shift market demands as consumers hope to capitalize on rebates and other incentives before proceeding with solar installations. Pricing, climate, and other factors also play a role in the demand for solar. Seasonal demand in the solar industry can affect inventory needs dramatically. It is a complex function, but your company must do its best to anticipate supply and demand while being cautious and avoiding the storage of excess inventory.

Installing Panels at Babcock Ranch 2000

How Does Inventory Management Work?

An inventory management system helps to simplify and streamline solar project inventory, solar operations and maintenance (O&M), as well as day-to-day operations. These tools track inventory levels and use algorithms and data workflows to predict demand based on upcoming solar installation projects and service visits. This approach to inventory control allows solar companies to maintain sufficient stock levels without overburdening storage capacities.

3 Solar Inventory Management Must-Haves

 

1. A Clear and Accurate Pipeline Report

In order to understand which materials and how much inventory will be required, solar and renewable energy companies must have a clear, accurate, and digitized project pipeline report. A project dashboard allows you to see deals as they are created and moved through the sales funnel, from prospects all the way to closed customers. You can also access relevant data such as installation schedules, requirements for solar panels and other equipment, and more. These reporting features help to ensure the accuracy of inventory processes.

scoop project tracker live dashboard with stock photo

Through inventory and solar asset management technology, your installers and other team members can receive accurate and real-time visibility on required inventory levels without having to chase anyone down. Advanced inventory management solutions are essential for providing complete inventory visibility to all stakeholders.

2. Automated Workflows and Notifications

Solar production and installation teams must quickly understand the status of each project and how it is progressing in order to communicate with inventory teams about materials that may need to be ordered, as well as finance teams regarding expected payment dates tied to key project milestones. Automated workflows and notifications can alert these teams when specific criteria have been met, reducing or completely eliminating missed handoffs and forgotten status updates. Automatic Inventory updates are crucial for maintaining project timelines and meeting customer demands.

3. Real-Time Inventory Reporting

Because there is no one-size-fits-all software solution for solar companies, your team is likely using a handful of tools for different business functions. Rather than eliminate your existing software stack, you must ensure these tools can integrate seamlessly and communicate with one another. This method provides you with access to real-time inventory levels and the ability to quickly relay that data both up and downstream to teams across your organization. Cloud-based inventory software can facilitate this process by ensuring the amounts of inventory data are accessible whenever and wherever required.

Scoop and Inventory Management

At Scoop, we understand that as organizations scale, traditional methods—often reliant on manual processes or spreadsheets—become increasingly inadequate. Many of our customers reach a growth threshold where these home-grown inventory management techniques can no longer keep pace with their operational needs.

Recognizing this challenge, we developed the Inventory Management Resource Planning (IMRP) module, specifically designed to bridge the gap between basic inventory tracking and full-scale Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. IMRP offers a fully integrated, cost-effective solution tailored for teams at various stages of growth.

Organizations often find themselves in a dilemma: while they recognize the need for advanced inventory management, the complexities and costs associated with ERP implementations can be daunting. This is where Scoop’s IMRP comes in. It provides an intuitive, streamlined approach to inventory management that helps teams maintain efficiency without the burden of a large-scale system.

One of the standout features of our IMRP module is its adaptability. Depending on your organization’s size and specific needs, it can serve as a standalone solution or act as a stepping stone toward more comprehensive ERP systems in the future. As your team evolves, the IMRP is ready to evolve with you.

Moreover, our GLOO integration platform ensures that when the time comes for a more extensive ERP solution—be it NetSuite, Sage, or others—connecting your operational hub in Scoop to your chosen system is seamless and straightforward.

IMRP Solar Inventory Management Graph

Reach out today to discuss how Scoop helps leading solar and renewable energy companies manage installation projects, accurately track inventory levels, cut costs, keep customers happy, and maximize efficiency.

Inventory Management FAQs

How is Inventory Tracked in a Warehouse?

There are several computerized methods of tracking inventory as it enters, leaves, or remains in a warehouse. Barcode scanning is one of the most popular tracking methods, followed by scanning RFID tags and serial numbers. These systems are efficient and provide an accurate way to manage and control stock levels. Effective inventory tracking is a critical component in ensuring operational efficiency in the solar energy industry.

What is the Difference Between Inventory Management Software and Warehouse Management Software?

Warehouse Management Software (WMS) controls and optimizes the movement, storage, and tracking of inventory in and around a warehouse. For instance, this solution can indicate a specific point or location where inventory can be found. Inventory management software, on the other hand, has additional capabilities and includes a broader view of inventory planning and optimization along the entire supply chain. Solar energy inventory management requires these broader features to optimize availability and handle inventory transactions efficiently, enabling a more cohesive approach to inventory control.

How can integration between inventory and sales systems benefit solar companies?

Integration ensures that inventory levels are updated based on sales pipeline data. This prevents overpromising products and keeps installation projects on schedule by ensuring adequate stock availability.

What role does inventory management play in solar project installation timelines?

Effective inventory management ensures the timely availability of essential solar components for installation. It helps keep project timelines on track and minimizes costly delays.

What challenges do solar companies face with manual inventory tracking?

Manual tracking can lead to errors, inaccurate stock counts, and inefficiencies. Solar companies need accurate data to avoid delays in projects, making automated systems more reliable.

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