VE’s Business Analyst is transforming how
this USA-based solar power company does
business.
Faulty pricing system. Unable to expand. Systems getting
rejected by utility company.
New pricing system (15+ factors). Zip code calculator.
Comprehensive system suggester.
Growth highlights in our 2-year partnership:
From 1200 to 2500+ orders a year
Expanded from 3 states to 9
Ability to make data-driven decisions
Based in Brooklyn, New York, Venture Solar is a solar panel installation company that specializes in renewable energy solutions. For Northeast homeowners seeking personalized service and a firm grasp of local policies and codes, Venture Solar makes an excellent choice.
Aesthetics is important. That’s why Venture Solar prioritizes not only performance and service but also a sleek and clean look.
Earlier this year, they made their 10,000th installation of “best-looking” and highly customized solar systems. And, 4500 installations took place after they partnered with VE.
Business grew steadily from 2015 to 2018.
But when, for 3 years straight (2018, 2019, & 2020), the graph showed even lines – it called for inspection.
Turned out, two major challenges halted the growth.
Unlike their customized services, their prices were not customized. Prices did differ based on factors like states, territory, county, utility company, pitch, etc.
Sounds easy, doesn't it, offering customized prices?
But 15+ factors affect the cost. And missing one of them can result in loss. So, not that easy.
The immediate challenge they faced was creating a pricing system. An automated system that suggested profitable prices based on the inputs.
In those 3 years, the growth spike went flat, and they did not expand their territories. Venture Solar operated only in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
But why didn’t they just expand? Because it is easier said than done.
A lot of factors come into play here. Like regulations, multiple institutions involved, location of the warehouse, price of electricity, state incentive, rebate on income tax, and more.
To overcome this enormous challenge they needed a data-driven plan of action.
Amit is a self-taught Data analyst. He has won VE’s prestigious and much-coveted Employee of the Year award 
twice while working with Venture Solar.
As soon as he started working with them, he discovered inconsistencies in their roofing calculators, pricing models, failing systems, etc.
He used the data to help the company adapt and innovate.
As a result, the company grew almost 3X.
In essence, it is the act of identifying the needs of a business and presenting solutions.
Amit did exactly that.
Solution 1
To understand why the new calculator was so crucial, you need to know how the previous roofing model worked.
If the roof is 1,100 sq feet, the price would be 7,700$. Cookie-cutter price. But there are several factors that affect the price, like roof pitch and number of layers.
Sometimes, the actual price would be 9,000$ due to a steeper roof pitch or lesser roof layers.
It cost them multiple losses.
The new calculator suggested profitable prices, considering all 15+ factors. If the roof area was big, it even had the option to apply for a discount and see the final profit.
1) The sales agents could offer the best price without anyone’s help.
2) The automated calculator generated a breakdown of the price for customers. It also included points like loan amount, monthly payable, etc.
Solution 2
Rhode Island Energy, a utility company in the state sets the solar panel benchmark for homeowners. It kept rejecting Venture Solar’s systems.
This happened at the end of the sales cycle, which meant they were losing money in marketing, warming up the lead, and facing losses because of an unsuccessful deal.
On top of that, they also lost credibility.
Yes, the requirements were complicated, but not impossible to tackle. To solve this problem, Amit created a Rhode Island calculator. For that, he assessed why the systems were rejected, and studied the criteria set by the utility company.
Based on the input in terms of usage, wattage, choice of the module, inverter, the calculator suggested the number of panels allowed, and a final system.
100% of the systems got approved after Amit made this calculator.
Solution 3
Before they partnered with VE, the company operated in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Earlier the prices were the same for all three states.
But then Amit suggested the following changes.
The customer is capable of spending more money.
The market is booming, people are inclined toward solar power
High electricity cost
High state incentives
Solar is very popular
Good incentive credit
Good tax rebate
By growing the customer base here, it will be easier to expand to neighboring territories.
Low utility rates
250+ sunny days a year
By growing the customer base here, it will be easier to expand to neighboring territories.
Based on 15+ factors, Amit created new pricing models.
Within 6 months, the company started making 2X profit. As a result, they started expanding to the neighboring states.
Amit designed pricing models for all 9 states.
The solar power industry is worth $ 17 B in the US.
Venture Solar’s annual revenue is reportedly $33M.
Since our partnership, the company has become a solar biggie with 2.65% of the entire solar business.
Working with him makes me feel good. If I'm stressed about something or if I am working on a project and I'm like, hey, Amit, how do we do this? He would calmly listen, and figure the best possible solution, very fast.
Than Other Companies Have Clients
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