The verdict in three sentences
For a Vancouver installer delivering 50 to 180 commercial rooftop and residential projects a year, the best choice in 2026 is usually a specialised solar SaaS at a 2026 market ballpark of CAD 110 to CAD 350 per user per month, as long as the team stays under 15 users. Once you run many BC Hydro interconnection files, rebate paperwork and post-commissioning monitoring for commercial clients, a custom build at CAD 60,000 to CAD 200,000 becomes competitive over three years. The deciding criterion is how each option tracks the 10 to 20 documents and approvals per project from design to energisation.
What the software must track
A commercial rooftop project in British Columbia typically moves through a site and structural assessment, design and quote, an interconnection application to BC Hydro, an electrical permit and inspection through Technical Safety BC or the local authority, installation, utility approval to energise, rebate claims where applicable, then production monitoring.
| Stage | What the tool manages | Measurable 2026 requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | roof survey, structural notes, yield estimate | quote produced in under 2 hours |
| Interconnection | application, utility review, metering changes | every step dated with an owner, over 3 to 9 months |
| Permits | electrical permit, inspection booking | alert before each deadline |
| Documents | single line diagrams, spec sheets, approvals | 10 to 20 items per project, status for each |
| Installation | crews, lifts, roof safety plans | crew scheduling by skill and certification |
| Rebates | program eligibility, claim forms, proof of install | claim filed within 10 days of energisation |
| Operations | production monitoring, underperformance alerts | deviation flagged within 48 hours |
Rebate programs and interconnection rules change; check current conditions directly with BC Hydro and the relevant provincial program before you hard-code them.
The 2026 ranking
We rank categories of solutions without naming any vendor or agency. Budgets are 2026 market ballparks for a 10-user team.
| Rank | Option | Three-year total (CAD) | Timeline | Reversibility | Local support | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specialised solar SaaS (design, proposals, project tracking) | 40,000 to 125,000 | 2 to 6 weeks | medium, check exports | good, North American vendors | under 15 users, standard process |
| 2 | Custom build by a specialised studio | 80,000 to 260,000 | 4 to 8 months | high if you own the code | varies | heavy interconnection load, client monitoring |
| 3 | Generalist CRM adapted (HubSpot, Salesforce) | 35,000 to 140,000 | 2 to 4 months | medium | depends on partner | sales-led firms, light project tracking |
| 4 | Construction project management software | 30,000 to 100,000 | 1 to 3 months | medium | good | multi-trade electrical contractors |
| 5 | Spreadsheets and shared drives | low on paper | immediate | high | internal | under 30 projects a year |
Why solar SaaS ranks first, with a condition
Solar SaaS products already include design, proposals and standard project stages, so you can start within weeks. Their limit shows on commercial rooftops: long interconnection files, document-heavy approvals and monitoring obligations under service contracts. Generalist CRMs follow public pricing that varies by plan and user count, and need serious configuration for the technical side.
A nearshore option: Kolonell's prices
Kolonell is one option among others for custom work, with public prices: medium application 6,100 to 10,670 EUR (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA) for interconnection and document tracking, and complex application 10,670 to 22,870 EUR and more with production monitoring and a client portal. Monthly maintenance runs from 53 EUR to 183 EUR.
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Illustrative example: Aisha, general manager of a Vancouver solar installer, delivers 110 projects a year. Each interconnection and permit file takes about 10 hours of chasing, document hunting and updates at CAD 55 an hour loaded, or CAD 60,500 a year. Two energisations a quarter slip by a month because of a missing document, delaying final invoices.
With a CAD 95,000 custom build and CAD 15,000 a year in recurring costs, halving that effort saves CAD 30,250 a year, a net gain of about CAD 15,000. On this line alone, payback is about six years, before counting final invoices collected a month earlier. It gets much faster if the company grows to 170 projects without hiring another coordinator.
FAQ
What does solar installer software cost in Vancouver in 2026?
The 2026 market ballpark for solar SaaS is CAD 110 to CAD 350 per user per month. A custom build runs CAD 60,000 to CAD 200,000.
Is custom worth it for 50 projects a year?
Rarely. Below about 80 projects and 10 users, a well-configured SaaS stays cheaper over three years.
How do we track a 9-month interconnection?
Split it into dated steps with an owner and an alert each, and store the 10 to 20 documents with a clear status. The software should flag anything missing before the utility does.
Can production monitoring be integrated?
Yes, through inverter monitoring platforms that offer APIs. Budget CAD 10,000 to CAD 35,000 on the market for integration and alerts.
How long does rollout take?
Two to six weeks for SaaS, 4 to 8 months for a full custom build. A first release focused on interconnection tracking can ship in 8 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your annual projects, user count and interconnection steps, and we will price a custom tool to compare against your three-year SaaS cost. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
