When installers price a job, they count panels, inverters, batteries, scaffolding and labour. Admin rarely makes it into the calculation, yet every install creates a surprising amount of office work. Here is a typical breakdown.
Before the sale
- Replying to the enquiry and answering questions.
- Qualifying the lead: bills, roof, battery interest.
- Booking the site survey and sending reminders.
- Preparing and sending the quote.
- Following up the quote, often several times.
After the sale
- Raising the deposit invoice.
- Ordering equipment and scheduling the install.
- Briefing the crew and preparing the kit list.
- Reminding the customer the day before.
After the install
- Preparing the NC6 for your electrician.
- Assembling the handover pack and warranties.
- Supporting the customer with grant paperwork.
- Raising the final invoice and chasing payment.
- Answering “how do I use the app?” calls for months afterwards.
It adds up fast
Each task only takes a few minutes, but there are dozens of them per job, spread across weeks, and many involve waiting on someone else. Multiply that by every install in a busy month and it is easy to see why so many owners do paperwork at the kitchen table at night.
What can be automated
Almost everything on that list is repetitive and rule-based: replies, reminders, follow-ups, briefs, kit lists, paperwork assembled from data you already have, and payment reminders. Those are exactly the tasks software does well, leaving your team to handle the judgement calls.
Work out your own number
Try the savings calculator on our home page to estimate how much office time WattScribe could give back to your business, or see how the plans are structured.
Frequently Asked Questions
What admin task takes installers the most time?
It varies, but replying to enquiries, following up quotes and preparing NC6 and handover paperwork are usually the biggest time drains.
Can small installers benefit from automation?
Yes. Owner-operators often benefit most, because automation takes evening paperwork off the person who is also on the roof all day.
