The Case for Outsourcing On-Site Solar Service
By Omnidian
Solar developers and asset owners who outsource on-site operations and maintenance (O&M) – instead of building and managing their own network – are experiencing rapid growth while reducing common pain points. Here are some important considerations when deciding on build vs buy.
1. Scale on demand.
Signing on with a nationwide third-party service provider – with a deep network of specialized technicians – provides dependable coverage for new territories and removes any geographic constraints around your growth.
“Quick and efficient response times from issue to resolution is the highest priority for our clients, because every minute of system downtime means lost revenue.” says Tiffanie Talley, Commercial Service Network Manager at Omnidian. ”Our service network was purpose-built to ensure our clients experience maximum system uptime and internal rate of return. We have hundreds of certified & trusted partners nationwide, who have successfully completed over 6,500 commercial tickets just in 2023 alone.”
2. Preferred pricing.
That type of scale and guaranteed work for the service technicians also means solar asset owners utilizing Omnidian’s network benefit from those economies of scale.
“We remove the hassle of finding and managing qualified technicians”, says Talley. “ We manage the contract negotiations, we get the best possible rates, and we are able to quickly dispatch qualified specialists.”
3. Specialized service.
When building a PV service network, the importance of specialization is often underestimated.
A third-party provider with a deep network can more efficiently match the right technician for the task and avoid any delays in issue resolution.
“We use certified technicians for QA/QC; if a site is medium voltage, we have technicians that specialize in that as well,” Talley says. “And we have coverage across the country. So, if you think about trying to build this network in-house, going directly to providers, and having to vet them all and negotiate contracts … it’s a lot to take on, especially if you have plans of expanding into a new territory.”
4. First to know.
Having access to a nationwide network of service pros also means having access to a vast network of industry intelligence. Solar service technicians are the first to understand what equipment is failing in the field (and why), what supply chain issues are delaying repair times, and much more you will not find printed in the trade press.
“There are a few things that are out of our control, like the lack of materials and extended lead times for replacement equipment, but we’re typically the first to see all of these issues because we’re linked to so many contractors and partners nationwide,” Talley says.
5. Standards of quality.
Given the workforce shortage – and reports that the majority of C&I solar rooftops have safety and workmanship issues – the vetting of a PV service network is worth emphasizing.
Constantly evaluating and scoring an in-house roster of technicians, and replacing anyone that drops out or needs to be substituted, requires constant due diligence. To join the Omnidian service network, providers must start by submitting documentation such as business license, contractor’s license, insurance and more. The process takes three to four weeks at minimum.
“Once they’re approved, we put them through training on our platform,” Talley says. “Once they are an activated partner, we then grade them after every service visit based on client feedback and on metrics like time to site and issue resolution.
Wrap up.
Added together, a solar developer or asset owner can save a significant amount of time, stress and money – and open up new expansion opportunities – by working with a third party service provider that is built to handle a high volume of work across the country at a moment’s notice. Every second counts – for you and your solar assets.
Read the full story on Omnidian’s website.
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