OneSolar CRM

Tutorial

How to manage a solar project from lead to commissioning

Capture and assign the lead

Every solar project starts with a lead. Whether it comes through your website, a referral, a door-to-door visit or a direct call - the first step is getting it into OneSolar CRM immediately so nothing slips through.

  • Go to Leads → New Lead
  • Enter name, contact, lead source and enquiry details
  • Set the lead stage to New Lead
  • Assign to a sales agent - they receive an instant notification
  • Add a follow-up task with a due date (e.g. call back within 2 hours)

Set lead source on every lead - this feeds your attribution report showing which channels drive the best close rate.

Result: Lead captured, assigned and has an automatic follow-up task. No lead goes uncontacted.

Qualify and move to a deal

Once the lead responds, qualify them - confirm roof ownership, system size estimate, budget range and timeline. If qualified, convert the lead into a Deal and set the deal value.

  • Open the lead record → click Convert to Deal
  • Set deal stage to Qualified
  • Enter deal value, system size estimate and preferred timeline
  • Assign a deal watcher (manager) for visibility
  • Add qualification notes to the deal record

Add a deal watcher - your manager sees deal progress without being the assigned agent. Great for team visibility on large deals.

Result: Deal created with value, system size and stage. Sales process officially started.

Schedule and conduct the site survey

Once the deal is qualified, schedule a site survey from the deal record. The field team visits the site, completes the digital assessment form and uploads photos from the mobile app.

  • From the deal record → click Schedule Site Survey
  • Assign the field surveyor and set the survey date
  • Field team opens mobile app on-site
  • Completes digital survey: roof type, pitch, shading, orientation, electrical panel condition
  • Uploads site photos linked to the survey
  • Submits assessment - deal stage advances automatically

The more detail captured in the site survey, the more accurate the auto-generated BOQ. Encourage surveyors to complete every field.

Result: Site assessment complete with roof data, shading notes and photos. Ready for BOQ generation.

Auto-generate and approve the BOQ

With system size confirmed from the site survey, OneSolar CRM auto-generates a complete Bill of Quantities - panels, inverter, cables, mounting, BOS and labour - from your product catalogue.

  • From the deal → click Generate BOQ
  • Review auto-populated line items: panel count, inverter size, cable lengths, BOS
  • Adjust quantities for any site-specific requirements
  • Submit for internal approval
  • Approver reviews and approves - or requests changes
  • BOQ approval confirmed before proposal is generated

Set up standard system presets in your product catalogue for common install sizes. This makes BOQ generation a single dropdown selection.

Result: Accurate BOQ approved. Ready to convert to client proposal - no Excel, no manual calculation.

Send the proposal and close the deal

Convert the approved BOQ into a branded client proposal with your company branding, system specs, estimated savings and payment schedule. Send for e-signature.

  • From approved BOQ → click Generate Proposal
  • Review proposal preview - system specs, savings estimate, pricing breakdown
  • Add payment schedule: e.g. 30% deposit, 40% on installation, 30% on commissioning
  • Click Send to Client - client receives proposal with e-sign link
  • Client signs → deal auto-marked Won
  • Client record and project auto-created from the won deal

Same-day proposals win more deals. Aim to send the proposal the same afternoon as the site survey - OneSolar CRM makes this achievable.

Result: Deal Won. Client record created. Project auto-created from the approved BOQ. Zero manual handoff.

Set up project milestones and crew

The project is auto-created when the deal is won. Define milestones, assign crew members, set due dates and configure billing triggers per milestone.

  • Open the auto-created project from the deal
  • Click Add Milestones - define each phase: Civil, Mounting, Panel Install, DC Wiring, Inverter, Commissioning
  • Set due date and billing amount for each milestone
  • Configure milestone dependencies
  • Assign crew members to each milestone - they see tasks in their mobile app

Create milestone templates for your standard project types and reuse them - saves 20 minutes per project setup.

Result: Project milestones configured with crew, due dates and billing triggers. Execution begins.

Execute, track and invoice to completion

Crew execute from the mobile app. As milestones are marked complete, invoices fire automatically and the project dashboard updates in real time.

  • Field crew open mobile app → see their assigned tasks per milestone
  • Crew mark tasks complete, upload photos, geo check-in at site
  • All tasks done → mark milestone complete
  • Milestone invoice auto-generated and sent to client
  • Finance sees payment status on the revenue dashboard
  • Final milestone → commissioning sign-off → project closed → AMC created if applicable

Check the project dashboard at the start of each day - 2 minutes replaces 30 minutes of status calls to site supervisors.

Result: Project delivered. Every milestone invoiced automatically. Client has signed commissioning record. Zero missed billing.

You’ve completed this tutorial

Each step has a clear outcome. Tick steps off as you complete them using the progress tracker.

Continue learning

Keep going with the next tutorials in the Solar CRM series.

Frequently asked questions

See it with your own projects

Book a demo and we will walk through your workflow.

Book a demo