The verdict in three sentences
For a Berlin company completing 120 solar installations a year, custom management software from Kolonell costs 6,100 to 10,670 EUR (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA) and pays for itself mainly through faster quotes and better tracked recurring maintenance contracts. The decisive modules are automatic system sizing, stock of panels, inverters and batteries, and tracking of manufacturer warranties from 10 to 25 years. The project ships in 3 to 4 months, with a mobile app for technicians in the first phase.
Spreadsheet, generic software or a custom trade tool
Many small solar installers still run their designs in Excel, their quotes in Word and their jobs over WhatsApp. That holds up to 40 or 50 installations a year. Beyond that, sizing errors, stock outs and forgotten maintenance visits cost more than the tool.
| Criterion | Spreadsheet and WhatsApp | Generic ERP or CRM | Custom solar software (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 entry cost | 0 EUR | 2,300 to 6,100 EUR setup (ballpark) | 6,100 to 10,670 EUR |
| Recurring cost | Lost time | 45 to 90 EUR per user per month (ballpark) | Maintenance 50 to 180 EUR per month |
| System sizing | Manual, 2 to 4 h per design | Absent | Automatic in 10 minutes |
| Panel, inverter, battery stock | Rough inventory | Generic, no serial numbers | By serial number and job |
| 10 to 25 year warranties | Not tracked | Not provided | Alert and history per device |
| Technician app | WhatsApp photos | Rarely suited | Checklist, photos, client signature, offline |
The modules that matter for a PV installer
A good tool follows the full lifecycle of a solar customer: design, quote, installation, commissioning, then maintenance over 10 years or more. Here is the typical scope and what it returns.
| Module | Function | Expected gain (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Design and sizing | Consumption, local irradiation (about 2.8 kWh per m² per day on average in Berlin), choice of panels, inverter, batteries | Design in 10 minutes instead of 3 h |
| Automatic quote | Catalogue price, margin, labour, options, branded PDF | Same day quote, signing rate up 10 to 20 % |
| Stock and purchasing | In, out per job, alert thresholds, serial numbers | Stock outs cut by half |
| Job scheduling | Crews, vans, reserved equipment | 1 to 2 more jobs per month |
| Maintenance contracts | Annual visits, recurring billing, reminders | Recurring revenue of 150 to 300 EUR per client per year |
| Manufacturer warranties | Panels 10 to 25 years, inverters 5 to 10 years, batteries 2 to 10 years | After sales returns covered by the manufacturer |
The maintenance module changes the business model: an installer who converts 50 % of clients into annual contracts builds a recurring base that smooths cash flow between large jobs.
Mini case study
Jonas, managing director of a solar installation company in Berlin (illustrative example), completes 120 installations a year with an average ticket of 18,000 EUR and 6 technicians.
- Designs: 120 signed jobs out of about 300 designs, 3 h saved per design, so 900 hours freed per year.
- Maintenance contracts: 60 clients at 200 EUR per year = 12,000 EUR of recurring revenue in year one, cumulative afterwards.
- Signing: 10 more jobs a year thanks to same day quotes, so 180,000 EUR of revenue, about 36,000 EUR of margin at 20 %.
- Investment: 8,400 EUR with Kolonell, plus 1,320 EUR per year of Standard maintenance (110 EUR per month).
The project pays back in a few months, even if only half of the additional jobs materialise.
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FAQ
How much does management software for a solar installer cost in 2026?
At Kolonell, this kind of medium complexity application ranges from 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR). The price depends mainly on the depth of the sizing logic and the number of integrations.
Is automatic sizing reliable?
It applies your own calculation rules: daily consumption, desired autonomy, local average irradiation, losses of 15 to 25 %. The technician always validates the design before the quote goes out.
Can technicians work offline?
Yes, the mobile app keeps the checklist, photos and client signature offline, then syncs back in 4G coverage. It is useful on rural sites and in basements or plant rooms.
How are manufacturer warranties tracked?
Each panel, inverter and battery is linked to the job by serial number, with its installation date and warranty length, from 2 to 25 years depending on the device. A fault triggers the manufacturer procedure directly.
How long until we are operational?
Plan 3 to 4 months: a first phase covering design, quotes and the technician app in 8 to 10 weeks, then stock, maintenance and warranties. Migrating the existing customer file takes about a week.
Let's scope your project. Share your job volume, team and maintenance offers, and we will propose a scope, an indicative budget between 6,100 and 10,670 EUR and a phased plan. 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.
