Unveiling the Hidden Challenges in Solar and Battery Sales: A Report

Understanding the Hidden Challenges in Solar and Battery Sales

A recent survey conducted by Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd. focused on the economic benefits of solar and battery systems has unveiled some striking challenges in the sales and proposal processes for these technologies. This report aims to summarize the primary obstacles faced by professionals in the field, as identified by a study involving 110 sales representatives and contractors.

Key Findings from the Survey

The findings are staggering; a significant 88.2% of the participants reported encountering issues in their sales and proposal efforts. This highlights a collective struggle that many are facing in the renewable energy sector. The survey points to three specific areas identified as particularly burdened by labor and time:

1. Hearing and On-Site Surveys - 41.8% of respondents found this to be the most labor-intensive aspect of their tasks.
2. Obtaining Power Demand Data - 37.3% cited this as a significant challenge.
3. System Design - 29.1% acknowledged that design-related tasks were also consuming considerable resources.

Knowledge Gaps in the Workforce

A noteworthy insight from the survey is that 44.6% of professionals believe their colleagues lack sufficient knowledge regarding solar power and energy storage systems. The primary reasons for this knowledge gap are attributed to:

- Rapid advancements in products and technologies (44.9%)
- Inability to hire specialized skilled personnel (38.8%)
- Insufficient time allocated for training (30.6%)

This gap not only hampers sales efforts but also contributes to an inability to keep pace with the fast-growing sector.

Design and Simulation Challenges

The survey delved deeper into design tasks, revealing that 66.7% of participants are uncertain about optimizing the capacity of solar and battery systems. Many professionals also expressed that preparing post-design proposal documentation adds to their workload, with 33.3% identifying it as a point of stress.

Another critical aspect highlighted was the complexity and burdensome nature of conducting economic effect simulations. 41.5% of respondents reported that calculating cash flow became a time-consuming issue, while 35.1% found investment return calculations to be overly complicated. The intricacies involved in presenting economic simulations to clients also proved to require significant effort, particularly when customizing for unique needs.

Challenges with Subsidies and Public Support

The survey further explored the struggles faced when navigating subsidy programs. 40% of respondents stated that time consumed in checking and correcting documentation was a major concern. This inefficiency was compounded by a lack of clarity in application formats and difficulties in communicating requirements to clients.

BPO as a Potential Solution

In response to these challenges, there is a growing demand for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services. As organizations strive to streamline their operations and reduce burdens associated with proposal and sales processes, services like Enegaeru BPO/BPaaS are increasingly attractive. These services promise to alleviate the heavy lifting of design work, economic simulations, and subsidy application procedures, allowing companies to focus on their core competencies.

Conclusion

The survey findings present a profound insight into the operational bottlenecks within the solar and battery system market. It is evident that an urgent need exists for enhanced training, better resource management, and specialized support services to bridge the knowledge gap and streamline business processes. As the push toward a decarbonized economy accelerates, the renewable energy sector must adapt and evolve to meet these challenges effectively.
As organizations consider BPO strategies, they may find the key to unlocking efficiency and success lies in leveraging external expertise to counteract internal limitations.