Author: JaclynH

How SolarSuccess Can Help You Streamline Operations

Post author By JaclynH
Post date May 30, 2023

As the solar energy industry continues to thrive, solar installers face the challenge of managing complex business operations while delivering successful projects. This is where implementing Solar ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software can play a vital role. Solar ERP solutions like SolarSuccess offer complete business management for solar installers, enabling them to achieve operational excellence and maximize their success.

In this article, we will explore how SolarSuccess solar ERP software can help manage cash flow and manage margins, while increasing ROI. We will also offer top tips for managing solar installations effectively.

Complete Business Management for SolarSuccess

SolarSuccess, built on Oracle NetSuite, is an innovative solar ERP software solution designed specifically for the solar industry. It offers comprehensive business management capabilities, allowing solar installers and developers to improve their solar project management, resource allocation, customer relationship management, and financial operations. With SolarSuccess, solar installers can streamline their entire workflow, increasing employee productivity and project profitability.

How to Achieve Solar Success

SolarSuccess empowers solar installers to achieve operational efficiencies by providing them with the tools, visibility, and insights into their operations. SolarSuccess helps businesses manage their resources more efficiently across project management, accounting, inventory management, and much more.

The software also includes a fully interconnected CRM. By leveraging customer relationship management (CRM) features, solar installers can nurture relationships, provide personalized customer experiences, and increase customer satisfaction.

Efficient project management is crucial for solar success, and SolarSuccess offers robust project planning and execution capabilities. From project scheduling and resource allocation to tracking project milestones and monitoring progress, the software enables installers to stay on top of their projects, ensuring timely and successful installations.

How to Manage Cash Flow Excellence

Cash management excellence is a critical aspect of any business, and solar installers are no exception. SolarSuccess helps installers achieve cash flow excellence with powerful accounting and financial management features. The software enables businesses to get a clear image of their financials, allowing installers to track their income and expenses, analyze revenue projections, assess profitability at a project level, and manage cash flow effectively. With integrated financial analytics, installers can gain insights into revenue trends and make informed financial decisions.

End-to-End Business Solutions for Solar Installers

SolarSuccess offers end-to-end business solutions for solar installers, covering every stage of the project lifecycle. From initial lead capture to post-installation customer support, the software provides a seamless and integrated platform for managing all aspects of the business. This comprehensive approach ensures consistency, reduces manual errors, and enhances overall efficiency.

A Solar Software that Walks the Walk

SolarSuccess is not just a software solution; it’s a partner in success. As an award-winning business management software for all solar installers, SolarSuccess has been helping clients reduce installation costs and manage solar projects more profitably. The software is built and continuously updated based on industry best practices and customer feedback. It walks the walk by addressing the specific needs and challenges solar installers face, making it more effective and efficient than other industry-agnostic ERP solutions. A third of solar companies use SolarSuccess today!

Top Tips to Manage Your Solar Installs

While implementing SolarSuccess can significantly improve your solar installation management, here are some additional tips to further enhance your operations:

Standardize Processes: Develop standardized procedures and workflows for different stages of the installation process to ensure consistency and minimize errors.

Invest in Training: Provide comprehensive training to your employees on both the software and industry-specific best practices. Well-trained staff can leverage the software’s capabilities to their fullest extent.

Monitor Performance: Regularly review project performance metrics and KPIs to identify areas for improvement, optimize resource allocation, and streamline processes.

Foster Collaboration: Encourage collaboration among different teams involved in solar installations, including sales, project management, and customer support. Effective communication and collaboration are essential for seamless project execution.

Implement SolarSuccess with Blu Banyan

Implementing solar ERP software like SolarSuccess can revolutionize the way solar installers manage their businesses. From complete business management capabilities to cash flow excellence and end-to-end solutions, SolarSuccess offers the tools and insights needed to achieve solar success and thrive in the growing solar energy industry.

Looking to implement SolarSuccess? Reach out to us at Blu Banyan, we offer a complete suite of tools and insights to increase your efficiency and cut back costs for your solar installation business.

Tags solar

The Top Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Help PM’s Keep Solar Projects on Track

Post author By JaclynH
Post date May 9, 2023

Project managers in the solar industry have their work cut out for them. Keeping track of project milestones, ensuring that projects are on schedule and on budget, and dealing with unexpected setbacks can be daunting. But by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), project managers can minimize problems and ensure that solar projects stay on track. In this blog post, we will discuss the Top 5 Solar KPIs that you should be tracking in order to keep your projects on track!

Read to the end for 5 more bonus metrics to ensure your team is monitoring what matters most!

The Importance of KPIs for Solar Project & Asset Managers

Solar projects are complex, with many moving parts and stakeholders. This can make it difficult to keep track of everything that is going on. KPIs can help solar project managers by providing a clear overview of what is happening on a project and where there may be potential problems.

As a project manager, it is important to be aware of the different KPIs that you should be tracking in order to keep your projects on track. By tracking these KPIs, you will be able to identify issues early on and take corrective action to prevent problems from occurring.

Which Project Processes Benefit from KPI Tracking?

Solar project managers should track KPIs related to project cost, schedule, and performance, operational impacts and solar system performance.

Project Cost KPIs

Project cost is one of the most important KPIs for solar project managers. By tracking project costs, project managers can ensure that projects are on budget and identify areas where cost savings can be achieved.

There are a few different ways to track project costs. One way is to track the total project cost relative to the budget. This can be done by tracking the percentage of the budget that has been spent as the project progresses. Another way to track project costs is to track the cost of each individual component of the project. This can help solar project managers to identify areas where costs are higher than expected and take corrective action.

Project Schedule KPIs

Another important KPI for solar project managers is project schedule. By tracking the project schedule, project managers can ensure that projects are on track and identify potential delays.

There are a few different ways to track project schedules. One way is to track the project milestones and compare them to the planned schedule. This can help solar project managers to identify delays and take corrective action. Another way to track project schedules is to track the number of days that each task takes to complete. This can help solar project managers to identify areas where tasks are taking longer than expected and make changes to future project plans or make processes more efficient.

Project Portfolio Performance KPIs

More often than not, PM’s will be managing multiple projects. Whilst this can be complex, it offers the opportunity to do cross project comparisons to really see how each project is performing compared to baseline projections and the original project plan. By tracking the overall project performance, project managers can see across their portfolio of solar projects, identify where there may be issues and investigate further.

Operational Solar KPIs

As well as project-based KPIs, there are also operational KPIs that solar project managers should be aware of. These KPIs can help solar project managers to track the performance of the operations team and identify areas where improvements can be made in terms of managing materials, supply chain and logistics constraints, and installation/servicing tasks.

Solar System Performance KPIs

Customer satisfaction in the solar industry is intrinsically linked to the performance of the assets that are being managed, as well as the transparency of reporting that is given to the customer.

Some of the operational KPIs that solar project managers should track include:

Solar PV system performance

This KPI tracks the performance of the solar PV system. Solar project managers can use this KPI to identify issues with the system and plan to make changes to improve its performance.

Energy production – This KPI tracks the amount of energy that is being produced by the solar PV system. Solar project managers can use this KPI to ensure that the system is operating as expected and identify any issues that may be affecting its performance.

Solar system uptime

This KPI tracks the amount of time that the solar PV system is operational. Solar project managers can use this KPI to ensure that the system is available when it is needed and identify any issues that may be reducing its availability for customers.

Solar system reliability

This KPI tracks the number of faults that occur with the solar PV system. Solar project managers can use this KPI to identify issues with the system and plan to make changes to servicing plans to improve its reliability.

Solar PV system maintenance costs

This KPI tracks the costs associated with maintaining the solar PV system. Solar project managers can use this KPI to identify areas where cost savings can be made in terms of servicing and maintenance to improve overall ROI of the asset.

Top 5 KPIs to Help Drive Profitability in the Solar Industry

1. ROI – Return on investment

ROI is always an important KPI for any type of business, but it is especially important in the solar industry where there is a lot of upfront investment required. Solar project managers can use this KPI to track the performance of their projects and ensure that they are meeting targets for ROI.

It’s a good idea to go back and review the ROI at regular intervals throughout an asset’s existence so you can figure out any declines in expected ROI as well as the cause to ensure that future asset management plans are not impacted the same way.

2. NPV – Net present value

Over time, the Net Present Value of certain assets can decline due to usage, age, or technology obsolescence. Solar project managers can use this KPI to track the performance of their projects and ensure that they are meeting targets for NPV.

This is another metric where it’s a good idea to review at regular intervals so you can make course corrections as necessary to keep the NPV from declining too much.

3. IRR – Internal rate of return

The Internal Rate of Return is a more granular way to look at the concept of ROI. This KPI can help solar project managers to ensure that their projects are meeting targets for profitability. Consider IRR to be a form of interest on your investment. It tells you how much money you make each year on the money you invest. It’s critical to keep track of the IRR while a project is underway in order to guarantee successful outcomes

4. PR – Performance ratio

This is a crucial indicator for solar power generation plants. The performance ratio compares the actual electricity generated to predicted figures. Site layout and weather, among other factors, will reduce the actual performance of an asset so it is important to keep a close eye on performance trends to ensure profit targets are achieved. A poor PR indicates that technical difficulties are preventing an asset from operating at maximum efficiency, which can trigger the need for proactive servicing outside of the standard maintenance schedule.

5. PA – Plant availability

Plant Availability KPIs give you a score on your plants overall uptime. When a plant goes down due to planned or unplanned outages, this reduces the amount of time that it can generate electricity, which in turn impacts your power generation capacity. Having a targeted plant availability goal, and tracking PA as a KPI will help ensure that your targets are being achieved and service level agreements are being met.

In Conclusion

There are a number of KPIs that solar project managers can use to track the performance of their projects and ensure profitability. ROI, NPV, and IRR are important financial KPIs to track, while PR and PA give insights into the operational efficiency of an asset. By tracking these KPIs on a regular basis, solar project managers can make course corrections as necessary to keep their projects on track and profitable.

SolarSuccess by Blu Banyan comes with a wide range of KPIs ready to implement on your users dashboards with the click of a button. These KPI portlets help make the day to day managing and monitoring of your solar projects easy and ensure that any issues are detected and rectified as quickly as possible.

If you are interested in learning more, reach out to one of our team members for an obligation free discussion.

5 BONUS METRICS TO EMPOWER YOUR SOLAR BUSINESS:

Carbon offset: By tracking the amount of carbon emissions that are offset by the solar project, project managers can use this KPI to demonstrate the environmental benefits of the solar project and provide transparency to customers and stakeholders.

Employee turnover rate: This KPI tracks the rate at which employees are leaving the project or the organization. High employee turnover can affect the project’s performance, and by tracking this metric, project managers can identify the reasons for high turnover and take steps to improve retention.

Supply chain KPIs: Supply chain management is crucial for solar projects as they involve the procurement of a wide range of materials and equipment. Solar project managers can track KPIs related to supplier performance, lead times, and inventory levels. These metrics can help project managers to identify potential supply chain bottlenecks and take corrective action to ensure that materials and equipment are delivered on time and within budget.

Safety KPIs: Safety is a top priority for any construction project, and solar projects are no exception. Project managers can track KPIs related to safety incidents, near-misses, and safety training completion rates. By tracking safety metrics, project managers can ensure that safety protocols are being followed, identify areas where improvements can be made, and promote a culture of safety.

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Blog

SolarAPP+, the New Normal

Post author By JaclynH
Post date April 20, 2023

This article has been featured in the March-April issue of the North American Clean Energy Magazine.

The standardization of the solar industry is crucial to its success. With a push towards cleaner, greener energy sources, ensuring a common data standard for all participants will allow the solar industry to achieve its potential, providing benefits to society as a whole.

One way to help standardize data and enable process automation in the solar industry is through the use of Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus. SolarAPP+ is an online permitting platform that helps streamline the permitting process for solar projects. The platform includes a library of standard permit templates that can be used by jurisdictions across the United States.

Improving solar permitting is a collaborative effort. This work is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy; the DOE’s Orange Button Working Group seeks to create a commonly accepted data structure to aid in the development of solar industry applications, in an effort to ease the process of integration through this standardization. NREL is working with a variety of partners to deliver the SolarAPP+ online platform. The platform was created to help address the permitting challenges faced by solar installers and developers, aiming to decrease the amount of time and complexity that inherently exists in the current fractured permitting processes used across thousands of Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs).

To date, SolarAPP+ has been used to streamline the permitting process for thousands of solar installation projects. The platform has also been recognized by the DOE as a Best Practice for Solar Permitting — they are actively promoting and incentivizing adoption through programs such as the SolarAPP+ Prize, which rewards AHJ’s with up to $15,000 to lower the cost of adopting SolarAPP+.

How SolarAPP+ Works

SolarAPP+ provides local governments and AHJs with a standardized permit application portal for receiving and processing information for residential and commercial solar storage systems. The standardizations can be incorporated into the existing processes and procedures currently used by approval authorities. The technology can assist approvers with electronically reviewing the relevant safety and building code compliance requirements. If all checks are in order, authorities can instantly approve applications, lessening the burden of manually reviewing applications.

The app also gives applicants access to a streamlined application submission form that includes all of the required information for a permit application. After an application has been submitted, applicants receive notifications on the status of their application via email or text.

Is SolarAPP+ Mandatory?

Solar Access Act SB 379, which passed on August 24, 2022, mandates the use of SolarAPP+, or a similar type of online permitting tool, for California counties with over 150,000 residents. It is hoped that this legislation will pave the way for more states to introduce similar mandates, in an effort to improve the solar application process countrywide.

In other states, the use of SolarAPP+ is voluntary, but SEIA and NREL encourage its use. SEIA also offers a free SolarAPP+ Training Academy to help jurisdictions and developers learn how to use the platform. In the future, SolarAPP+ aims to be the gold standard when it comes to solar permit approval processes and hopes to achieve 100 percent penetration across every state.

What are the benefits of using SolarAPP+?

Time Saving

The SolarAPP+ platform can save developers time by providing access to a library of pre-approved permit templates. This can help to reduce time spent on the permitting process, from months down to days, in some cases.

Decreased Costs

By using SolarAPP+, developers can avoid having to hire third-party consultants and expediters to manage the solar permit application process. This will help to decrease costs associated with the permitting process.

Increased Efficiency

SolarAPP+ can streamline the permitting process by automating many of the tasks that are typically carried out manually, such as collecting signatures, sending notifications, and generating reports.

Improved Accuracy

SolarAPP+ can help improve the accuracy and avoid delays of solar permits by ensuring that all required information is captured and validated before the permit application is submitted.

Standardization is Critical to the Success of Our National Climate Change Action Plan

The United States has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, as part of the Paris Climate Agreement. In order to achieve this goal, it is critical that the solar industry is standardized to remove unnecessary roadblocks and red tape, allowing for greater and faster uptake of clean energy solutions.

Solar energy is a key component of our national climate change action plan. It is a clean, renewable resource that can help us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and meet our climate change goals. SolarAPP+ is an important tool that can help us to achieve these goals adding a level of sophistication and simplicity that has never been seen before at scale.

Partnering with All Stakeholders

In order to achieve its goal of 100 percent penetration across the United States, SolarAPP+ is partnering with all industry stakeholders, including:

Solar Technology Developers and Manufacturers
Solar Installers and Contractors
Utility Companies
Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs)
Electric Cooperatives (co-ops)
Public Utility Commissions (PUCs)

The Future is SolarAPP+

The solar industry is booming, and is expected to continue to grow exponentially in the coming years. SolarAPP+ is leading the way in simplifying and streamlining the solar permitting process, making it easier than ever for developers to get their projects off the ground. In the future, SolarAPP+ aims to be the go-to platform for all solar permit applications.

The author is Jaclyn Haynes, Marketing Manager at Blu Banyan, a technology consulting firm that specializes in developing custom software solutions for the solar industry using NetSuite- a cloud-based business management platform. We have a team of experienced developers and solar industry experts who are passionate about building innovative applications that make a difference to our world.

Tags solar

Blog

[Press Release] SunSpec Alliance Names Blu Banyan CEO Jan Rippingale to its Board of Directors

Post author By JaclynH
Post date April 7, 2023

Blu Banyan Founder & CEO, Jan Rippingale is a SunSpec Open Standards Champion

SunSpec Alliance Names Blu Banyan CEO Jan Rippingale to its Board of Directors

Visionary Thought Leader for Solar Industry Digital Transformation Added to Help Drive SunSpec’s Next Phase of Growth

April 7, 2023, SAN JOSE, Calif. — The SunSpec Alliance and Blu Banyan Inc. today announced the appointment of Jan Rippingale to SunSpec’s Board of Directors. Rippingale serves as the CEO of Blu Banyan, a leading cloud-based business management software provider for the solar and construction industry. Rippingale is also the co-chair of the Orange Button Workgroup, a program launched as part of the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, that is enabling the automation of sales, design, construction, and supply chain management in the solar and energy storage industry.

“We are excited to welcome Jan to the SunSpec Board of Directors,” said Tom Tansy, Chairman of the SunSpec Alliance. “Jan has been a driving force towards the goal of reducing the soft costs of solar installation by streamlining the collection, management, and exchange of data, and the creation of standardized datasets such as the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) Registry. She has also been instrumental in leading integrations with commonly used solar business applications, while strengthening cybersecurity capabilities, across the distributed Solar PV value chain.

“The U.S. Distributed Energy Resource (DER) industry, including solar, energy storage, and electric vehicle charging, has been constrained by high soft costs. Fully two-thirds of the cost of a typical distributed energy system is soft costs comprised of supply-chain management, customer acquisition, permitting, interconnection, installation labor, and overhead,” said Rippingale. “These costs can be reduced by at least 30% and system quality can be increased by more accurate data exchange. The SunSpec Alliance and the Orange Button Initiative, are catalysts for reducing soft costs and that is why I am so excited to join the company’s board,” Rippingale stated.

Rippingale’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company is a market leader in the solar industry. Its SolarSuccess software is the first fully integrated business management software for solar installers, enabling them to scale their business, protect and grow margins, drive productivity, and manage solar projects more profitably. SolarSuccess integrates seamlessly with the Orange Button AHJ Registry, Product Registry, SolarAPP+, and over 20 other solar applications, providing solar installers the efficiencies of scale to deploy more solar faster.

“For more than a decade SunSpec has been a leading developer of core information standards, SunSpec Modbus, IEEE 2030.5, and Orange Button, that are shaping the Distributed Energy Resource (DER) market,” said Dylan Tansy, Executive Director of the SunSpec Alliance. “As SunSpec’s primary focus shifts from developing standards to driving adoption, Jan’s leadership, energy, and passion for our shared mission are a welcome addition to the SunSpec board of directors,” Tansy added.

With the addition of Ms. Rippingale, the SunSpec board now consists of global leaders: Mike Bourton, founder and VP of Business Development at Kitu Systems; David Erhart, founder and Head of Technical Standards at STEM Energy, Vish Ganti, VP of Product, Autogrid; Hannes Knopf, Head of Business and Portfolio Strategy at SMA; Larry Truong, Product Manager of Solar and Energy Storage at TMEIC; and Thomas Tansy, CEO of DER Security Corp and Chairman of SunSpec Alliance.

About Blu Banyan

Blu Banyan is an enterprise cloud-based business management solutions company helping digitally transform small and mid-sized businesses to optimize operations and deliver metrics that drive growth and profitability.

Blu Banyan’s flagship, product, SolarSuccess, is the leading solar business management software in the industry today, used by over one-third of the top 100 residential solar installers in the U.S.

For more information, visit www.blubanyan.com.

About the SunSpec Alliance

SunSpec Alliance is the open information standards and certification organization for the Distributed Energy Resources industry. SunSpec communication standards address operational requirements of solar and energy storage on the smart grid to reduce cost, promote technology innovation, and accelerate industry growth.

Global leaders from Asia, Europe, and North America are members of the SunSpec Alliance. Membership is open to corporations, non-profits, and individuals. For more information about the SunSpec Alliance, or to download SunSpec specifications free of charge, please visit www.sunspec.org.

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Tags Press Release

Blog

NEM 3.0 and What Solar Installers Should Do to Prepare for It

Post author By JaclynH
Post date April 3, 2023

Given the potential impacts of NEM 3.0 on solar installations, here are a few key steps installers can take.

NEM 3.0 is a new set of rules for net energy metering in California that will take effect in 2023. The new rules will gradually reduce the credit rate that solar customers receive for any excess energy they generate, from the current retail rate to the wholesale rate over a period of five years. The new rules will also introduce a fixed monthly charge for solar customers, regardless of how much energy they use from the grid.

So, how will NEM 3.0 affect solar installers? Firstly, the reduction in the credit rate could make solar less financially attractive to customers, which could lead to a slowdown in the growth of solar installations. Additionally, the fixed monthly charge could make solar less competitive compared to traditional grid energy, which could further reduce demand for solar installations.

Given the potential impacts of NEM 3.0 on solar installations, what should solar installers do to prepare for it? Here are a few key steps they can take:

Reduce soft costs – protect and grow margins: Solar installers should consider using streamlined cloud-based end-to-end business management or ERP software to streamline their operations and cut soft costs. By doing so, they can increase productivity, reduce errors and delays, manage cashflow in real-time, and ultimately protect and grow margins, helping them remain competitive in an increasingly crowded market.
Educate customers: Solar installers should educate their customers about the changes coming with NEM 3.0 with focus on long-term value. The increase in costs for electricity will only go upward while the need for energy will also follow-suit, especially given the demand and direction of EVs. It would still benefit the customers to focus on effectively thinking about their energy needs connected to the value and impact of solar that is tailored to their needs.
Focus on efficiency: With the reduction in the credit rate, solar installers should focus on improving the efficiency of their installations to maximize the amount of energy they generate. This can help offset the reduction in credit rate and make solar more financially attractive to customers.
Continue to offer energy storage solutions: With the fixed monthly charge, solar installers should also consider continuing to offer energy storage solutions to their customers. The demand for storage is based on needs which will only continue to increase with the use of EVs and other demands on electricity. Energy storage can help customers reduce their reliance on the grid and offset the fixed monthly charge, making solar more competitive.
Stay up-to-date: Solar installers should stay up-to-date with the latest developments related to NEM 3.0, including any potential changes or updates to the rules. This will help them adjust their strategies and offerings accordingly.

NEM 3.0 represents a significant change to net energy metering in California and will have important implications for solar installers.

Blu Banyan’s SolarSuccess platform is built for solar installers to help them overcome the challenges posed by NEM 3.0 and beyond. SolarSuccess is a end-to-end business management cloud-based SaaS platform that is native to Oracle’s NetSuite, and is tailored for Solar Installers to scale and grow their business.

If you would like to learn more about how SolarSuccess can optimize your solar business, explore the modules or schedule a 15 minute chat with our team.

Tags solar

Blog

Why Are Solar Installers Concerned About NEM 3.0?

Post author By JaclynH
Post date March 28, 2023

Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 is the latest version of a policy that is being developed and implemented by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which is a government agency responsible for regulating utilities and implementing energy policies in California. The policy governs how customers with rooftop solar panels are credited for the excess energy they generate and feed back into the grid. Naturally, solar installers have concerns that NEM 3.0 will result in decreased incentives for customers to install solar panels and therefore cause a reduced demand for their services.

The changes in NEM 3.0 aim to address the costs associated with interconnecting and maintaining the grid, which are currently borne by all utility customers, including those without solar panels. However, the changes may also affect how solar customers are compensated for the excess energy they generate and send back to the grid. This would result in lower credits for excess energy generated by rooftop solar panels, reducing the financial incentive for customers to install them. Additionally, the implementation of new fees and charges for interconnecting and maintaining the grid could also make solar systems less affordable for customers, further reducing future demand for solar installations.

On the other hand, some solar customers and installers may feel a sense of urgency to complete solar projects before the policy changes take effect, leading to rushed demand to get solar projects sold. There are several factors that could influence the behavior of solar customers and installers leading up to the implementation of NEM 3.0. For example, some customers may have been planning to install solar panels regardless of the policy changes, while others may be waiting to see how the policy changes will affect the economics of solar energy.

In a follow-up blog, we will share some thoughts on how Solar Installers should better prepare for NEM 3.0.

If you would like to learn more about how SolarSuccess can optimize your solar business, explore the modules or schedule a 15 minute chat with our team.

Tags solar

Blog

Entreprenista 100 Award Winner

Post author By JaclynH
Post date February 21, 2023

We’re excited to announce that Blu Banyan’s Founder and CEO, Jan Rippingale is the recipient of the 2022 Entreprenista 100 Award in the Best Self-Funded Business category. The Entreprenista 100 Awards, presented by Chase Ink, recognize ambitious women business owners across 11 different categories who are paving the way in their industry and amongst the wider founder community.

“The impact that Blu Banyan has made in the solar industry qualifies as noteworthy. I’m thrilled to be recognized for our team’s achievements and proud to be on the esteemed list of winners,” Rippingale said.

“As a female entrepreneur, I am proud to lead my amazing team to create innovative solutions that are driving positive change in the world. My biggest win was seeing the impact we envisioned become a reality. My interest in applying for this award was to inspire smart women with talent to also follow their passion and make the change they want to see for the children. Even short, geeky moms like me can make their vision become a reality by leveraging their passion for meaningful change,” says Jan.

We want to thank the Entreprenista 100 Awards for recognizing our efforts and the amazing work of all the other women entrepreneurs on the list. We are honored to be in the company of such inspiring and dedicated women.

About Blu Banyan:

Blu Banyan is an award-winning NetSuite Solution Partner and SuiteApp developer experienced in ERP consulting, implementation, and professional services. We specialize in solar, construction, manufacturing, and retail industries. We enable our clients’ growth by increasing their productivity with a combination of collaborative process development, harmonized data streams, and optimal software automation, helping them align their people, systems, and metrics to maximize positive impact.

Our impact focus is on the digital transformation of the energy information infrastructure to accelerate decarbonizing the economy. Our award-winning business software, SolarSuccess, became the platform that accounted for 33% of the total installed residential solar capacity in the US in 2021-22. Blu Banyan has played a leadership role in bringing together diverse stakeholders to envision and implement a new energy information infrastructure, and helping to develop critical elements of the new energy information infrastructure like the DOE Orange Button taxonomy, the AHJ Registry of permitting agencies, and the SolarAPP+ SolarSuccess tools for digitally submitting and approving solar permits.

Our successes accelerated the adoption of standards and inspired global adoption. Addressing this challenge helped us gain more industry visibility and increase adoption of our flagship SolarSuccess software. We’re proud to have made a meaningful impact on decarbonizing the economy and grateful for the recognition of our accomplishments.

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Blog

Oracle NetSuite Awards Blu Banyan Micro-Vertical Partner of the Year 2022

Post author By JaclynH
Post date February 11, 2023

Oracle NetSuite Micro Vertical Partner of the Year Award 2022, SuiteWorld Awards

Blu Banyan, a leading NetSuite Solution Provider and SuiteApp developer, has won the Micro-Vertical Solution Provider Partner of the Year Award from Oracle NetSuite for the third consecutive year since the award’s inception.

In recognition of Blu Banyan’s continued “epic” growth, the Micro-Vertical Solution Provider Partner of the Year Award 2022 recognizes the profound impact of the company’s SolarSuccess platform, the only comprehensive solar software solution specifically optimized for the expanding solar installer market.

“We have seen that our efforts to assist our solar installers has created an impact in mitigating climate change,” said Blu Banyan CEO Jan Rippingale. “By focusing on the specific needs and business processes of the solar energy micro-vertical market, we’ve been able to build a business management solution that is uniquely able to meet the needs of our customers, from startup to utility-scale, in the renewable space.”

Blu Banyan VP of Sales & Marketing, Chris Phipps said, “Receiving the MV Partner of the Year Award for the third year in a row serves as a strong validation of our dedicated approach. It reinforces our mission and brings a sense of celebration to our entire team.”

NetSuite presented Blu Banyan with the NetSuite Micro-Vertical Solution Provider Partner of the Year award during its SuiteWorld conference in October 2022.

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Articles Blog Construction

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in the Construction Industry: How They Impact Project and Business Success

Post author By JaclynH
Post date November 9, 2022

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are critical to the success of projects in the construction industry. Without an effective ERP system in place, construction firms can experience a number of problems that can impact their bottom line. A recent study by the University of Western Sydney explored the real word impacts that implementing or upgrading Construction ERP‘s had on a number of construction businesses in various sectors, including:

General Construction
Mechanical Projects
Manufacturing Lead Construction
Infrastructure Projects
Homes and Low-Density Dwellings
Renewable Energy Projects
Electrical Projects
Communications Infrastructure
Civil Construction
Town Planning and Development

In this blog post, we will discuss the results of this study and the role that ERP systems play in the construction industry and how they can help builders control projects, manage complex accounting processes, streamline and automate workflow and administration and keep customer and project stakeholder relationships thriving.

What is Construction ERP?

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is a software solution that helps businesses manage their core operations, including accounting, human resources, customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain and project management.

A construction ERP system is a purpose-built software solution that helps construction firms manage their end-to-end business processes from pre-construction to post-completion.

Construction ERP systems are designed to manage the complexities of the construction process and provide firms with visibility and control over their projects. They do this by providing a single database to manage all operational, business, and project-based information, which allows users to analyze data in ways not possible with disconnected systems.

How Construction ERP Systems Impact Projects

The University of Western Sydney study found that construction businesses who had implemented or upgraded their ERP system reported a number of positive impacts on their business, including:

– Improved project management and control

– Increased visibility of information

– Improved communication and collaboration

– Reduced costs

– Increased profitability

– Improved customer satisfaction.

The study also found that the most successful businesses were those who had a clear understanding of their business needs before selecting an ERP system. Once they had selected a system, they worked closely with their software vendor to ensure that the system was configured to meet their specific needs, with the overwhelming majority of organizations seeing almost immediate improvement to both operational efficiency and project profitability.

Real World Impacts of Implementing ERP in the Construction Industry

A study titled “Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems to the Construction Industry”, researched and written by Thathsarani Hewavitharana from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and Samudaya Nanayakkara, from the Western Sydney University, Australia, seeks to profile the post-implementation impact that ERP solutions have in the construction sector.

The study seeks to understand whether companies who implement Construction ERP solutions experience positive impacts, measured by a number of key metrics. The results, when viewed collectively, indicate that the majority of Construction companies see positive impacts on their projects and businesses as a whole.

Construction Business Growth After ERP Implementation

The study aims to place each construction company into one of five self-reporting categories post-ERP implementation. These categories included:

Company Experienced High Growth With ERP
Company Experienced High Growth Without ERP
Company Experienced Stagnated Growth With ERP
Companies Only Survived Due to ERP
Companies Experienced Decline With ERP

When analyzing the data, the researchers found that the majority of companies (53%) fell into the first category of experiencing high growth with an ERP system in place.

The next highest performing segment was companies that reported their businesses survived due to ERP, with 27% of respondents identifying with this category.

This is followed by construction companies who experienced stagnated growth at 10% of the total cohort. Companies that declined in growth represented 7% of the study subjects.

Most interestingly, however, it was found that only 3% of the total sample reported high growth without having an ERP in place.

Whilst it cannot be proven conclusively, this indicates that the ability/likelihood for a construction firm to experience high levels of growth without ERP solutions in place is vastly lower than those that have made the investment into modern construction management software applications.

Is the Size of a Construction Company a Contributing Factor to ERP Helping Control Growth?

An additional analysis of the dataset sought to break the total sample of construction companies who participated in the study into large Enterprise Construction Companies and medium-sized Construction companies.

Impacts of Construction ERP on Enterprise Construction Companies

When analyzing the Enterprise sized segment of the study, 62% of respondents reported high levels of growth, with the remaining 38% reporting that they were able to survive due to the ERP solution having been in place. This indicates that in the larger end of the market, almost all businesses are using ERP software, and that none of the respondents reported a decline or stagnation due to the solution being in place.

Impacts of Construction ERP on Medium-Sized Construction Companies

In the next tier down, again, the majority of respondents (41%) reported high growth due to the positive impacts of implementing an ERP solution, with a further 19% reporting they were able to survive due to the ERP system.

Why do Construction Companies that have Implemented ERP Experience Higher Growth?

When asked what the main reasons construction companies believed they were either able to survive or grow with ERP in place, respondents provided a number of key business improvements that they were able to directly attribute to their ERP solutions. These included:

One clear picture of all entities, departments and projects

For construction companies of all sizes, the ability to have one clear picture of all entities, departments, and projects is seen as a key success factor in being able to effectively manage growth.

Other benefits included greater levels of transparency and improved communication across the business.

An enterprise-wide single database where all business transactions are entered, recorded, processed, monitored, and reported

The ability to have one enterprise wide database was also seen as a key success factor, with businesses reporting that this enabled greater levels of transparency and improved communication.

It also allowed for easier monitoring and reporting of business transactions.

Integrated software solution that covers the entire life-cycle of a project from inception to close-out provided technological support to a complex process.

Increasing managerial flexibility

For managers, being able to gain a better understanding of all aspects of the construction process was also seen as a key benefit by those construction companies that had implemented ERP.

The ability to see the “big picture” and make better decisions about resources, projects, and processes was seen as a major advantage of having an ERP solution in place.

Lowering the cost in the entire supply chain

Many construction companies reported that they were able to streamline their supply chain by integrating all processes and automating many tasks. Many construction companies identified they were able to lower the cost in the entire supply chain, which had a direct impact on the bottom line of individual projects and the company in general.

Increasing efficiency of communication among different business departments

Construction companies that had implemented ERP were able to increase the efficiency of communication among different business departments. This was seen as a major advantage by those companies who participated in the study.

By integrating all business processes and automating many tasks, construction companies were able to improve communication and collaboration among different departments, which in turn saw a reduction in errors occurring due to miscommunication.

Improving business productivity

Construction companies who had implemented ERP reported that they saw an improvement in business productivity. This was attributed to a number of factors, including reducing inventory turnover, expanding the product choice, and providing more reliable delivery dates.

Improving quality customer service

Most companies that had implemented ERP were able to reference improving quality customer service as a key cause of their growth. By having a single view of the customer, construction companies were able to provide a higher level of customer service with greater transparency on performance in real time. This was achieved by being able to track all interactions with the customer and provide more personalized service.

Gaining a competitive advantage

Gaining a competitive advantage is one of the main reasons why construction companies choose to implement ERP solutions. By automating many processes and integrating all business functions, construction companies are able to gain a competitive advantage over those who do not have an ERP solution in place. This was seen as a major benefit by those companies who participated in the study.

In Conclusion

What is clear from the data is that those companies that had made the decision to invest in a construction specific ERP solution are experiencing the impacts of a number of key benefits and advantages for their businesses.

The study provides strong evidence to suggest that those who have not made the investment in ERP are at risk of being left behind by their competition as the industry continues its digital transformation journey.

This is particularly true for larger construction companies, where the majority of businesses already have ERP solutions in place, and those that don’t are struggling to survive.

If you would like to learn more about how an ERP solution like BuilderSuccess could benefit your construction business, please contact us today. We would be happy to discuss your specific needs and provide you with a tailored demonstration and proposal.

Tags construction

Articles Blog Solar

Accelerating Solar Permitting with SolarAPP+, the Future of Solar Industry Standardization

Post author By JaclynH
Post date November 9, 2022

Streamlining Solar Permitting with SolarAPP+, the Future of Solar Industry Standardization

Improving solar permitting is a collaborative effort. This work is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. NREL is working with a variety of partners, including those listed here, to deliver the SolarAPP+ online platform. The platform was created to help address the permitting challenges that solar installers and developers face, with the aim of decreasing the amount of time and complexity that inherently exists in the current fractured permitting processes used across thousands of AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction).

To date, SolarAPP+ has been used to streamline the permitting process for thousands of solar installation projects. The platform has also been recognized by the Department of Energy as a Best Practice for Solar Permitting, and they are actively promoting and incentivizing adoption through programs such as the SolarAPP+ Prize, which rewards AHJs with up to $15,000 to lower the cost of adopting SolarAPP+.

How SolarAPP+ Works

SolarAPP+ provides local governments and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) with a standardized permit application portal for receiving and processing information for residential and commercial solar storage systems. The standardizations can be incorporated into the existing processes and procedures currently used by approval authorities. The technology can assist approvers with electronically reviewing the relevant safety and building code compliance requirements. If all checks are in order, authorities can instantly approve applications, lessening the burden of manually reviewing applications.

The app also gives applicants access to a streamlined application submission form that includes all of the required information for a permit application. After an application has been submitted, applicants will receive updates and notifications on the status of their application via email or text message.

Is SolarAPP+ Mandatory?

On the 24th August, 2022 the Solar Access Act. SB 379, which mandates the use of SolarAPP+ or a similar type of online permitting tool, for California counties with over 150,000 residents. It is hoped that this legislation will pave the way for more states to introduce similar mandates, in an effort to improve the solar application process countrywide.

What are the benefits of using SolarAPP+?

There are many benefits to using SolarAPP+, including the following:

Time Saving

The SolarAPP+ platform can save developers time by providing access to a library of pre-approved permit templates. This can help to reduce the amount of time spent on the permitting process, in some cases from months down to days.

Decreased Costs

SolarAPP+ can also help to decrease the costs associated with the permitting process. By using SolarAPP+, developers can avoid having to hire third-party consultants and expediters to manage the solar permit application process.

Increased Efficiency

SolarAPP+ can help to make the permitting process more efficient by automating many of the tasks that are typically carried out manually. This includes tasks such as collecting signatures, sending notifications, and generating reports.

Improved Accuracy

SolarAPP+ can help to improve the accuracy of solar permits by ensuring that all required information is captured and validated before the permit application is submitted. This can help to avoid delays and disruptions further down the line.

What’s next for SolarAPP+?

The SolarAPP+ platform is continually being updated and improved. NREL and the SolarApp+ working group are continually working on adding new features and functionality that will make the platform even more user-friendly and efficient. In the future, SolarAPP+ aims to be the go-to platform for all solar permit applications.

Why Standardization is Critical to the Success of Our National Climate Change Action Plan

SolarAPP+ is Partnering With All Industry Stakeholders to Create a New Normal in Solar Permitting

In order to achieve its goal of 100% penetration across the United States, SolarAPP+ is partnering with all industry stakeholders, including:

Solar Technology Developers and Manufacturers
Solar Installers and Contractors
Utility Companies
The Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs)
The Electric Cooperatives (co-ops)
The Public Utility Commissions (PUCs)

The Future is Shining Bright with SolarAPP+

The solar industry is booming and is expected to continue to grow exponentially in the coming years. SolarAPP+ is leading the way in simplifying and streamlining the solar permitting process, making it easier than ever for developers to get their projects off the ground.

With SolarAPP+, we are creating a new normal in solar permitting that will help to accelerate the deployment of solar energy across the United States and contribute to our national climate change goals.

About Blu Banyan

Blu Banyan is a boutique technology consulting firm that specializes in developing custom software solutions for the Solar industry using NetSuite- a leading cloud-based business management platform. We have a team of experienced developers and solar industry experts who are passionate about building innovative applications that make a difference to our world.

The US Department of Energy’s Orange Button Working Group, chaired by Blu Banyan, Sunspec Alliance and Sandia, seeks to create a commonly accepted data structure to aid in the development of solar industry focused applications and ease the process of integration through this standardization.

Blu Banyan is working with SolarAPP+ to create a seamless integration with SolarSuccess that will help solar installation companies to save time and money on their solar projects. We are also working with NREL to help promote the initiative.

If you are interested in learning more about SolarSuccess, SolarAPP+ or how we can help you with your solar company’s software solutions, please contact us today. We would be happy to discuss your specific needs and requirements.

Tags Orange Button, solar