How to Record a Solar Assessment in CrmLeaf
Solar CRM edition. The same underlying screen is labelled Solar Assessment in this edition and Construction Assessment in the Construction CRM edition. The vertical is a paid add-on module that an…
Availability: Solar CRM edition. The same underlying screen is labelled Solar Assessment in this edition and Construction Assessment in the Construction CRM edition. The vertical is a paid add-on module that an Administrator must enable for your account.
Overview
A solar assessment is the design record for a site. It takes the survey findings and turns them into the system design: how the installation will connect to the grid, what inverter arrangement is needed, whether batteries are included, and whether the customer is expected to qualify for a subsidy. The assessment is the document the estimate and BOQ are built from.
How It Works
Each assessment links four things together: the lead the enquiry came from, the site being installed on, the survey the design is based on, and the assessor who produced it. Against that context you record the grid type, the inverter type, and the battery and subsidy flags. Once the assessment is settled, it feeds the numbered estimate and the BOQ.
Link lead, site & survey → Assign assessor → Design grid, inverter & battery → Flag subsidy → Estimate & BOQ
- Grid type is recorded as on, off or hybrid, which determines the rest of the design.
- The inverter type is recorded on the assessment, along with flags for battery inclusion and subsidy applicability.
- The assessment carries its own status, so an in-progress design is distinguishable from a settled one.
- The estimate and the BOQ that follow are built from the assessment, and the BOQ is then handed to the Purchase and Manufacture modules.
Who Can Use This Feature?
User
- Create an assessment against a lead, site and survey.
- Record the grid type, inverter type and the battery and subsidy flags.
- Update the assessment status as the design is settled.
- Move from a settled assessment to the estimate and BOQ.
Access depends on the modules and role assigned by your Administrator.
Prerequisites
- An approved solar site with a completed survey. See How to Complete a Solar Site Survey.
- Solar master data configured. See How to Configure Solar Master Data.
- The lead record the enquiry came from, and a user to act as assessor.
For Users
Step 1: Open the solar assessments screen
The list shows the assessments you are permitted to see.
Step 2: Create the assessment and set its context
Select Add, then choose the lead, the solar site and the survey the design is based on, and Assign the assessor. All four links are what make the design traceable back to what was seen on site.
Step 3: Record the grid design
Set the grid type to on, off or hybrid. On-grid systems export to the utility, off-grid systems do not, and hybrid systems do both.
Step 4: Record the inverter and battery design
Select the inverter type and set the battery flag according to whether storage is included. An off-grid or hybrid design normally implies storage, so check the two entries agree.
Step 5: Flag subsidy applicability
Set the subsidy flag if the customer is expected to qualify. Eligibility itself is evaluated against the subsidy schemes an Administrator configures. See How to Configure Financing and Subsidy Schemes.
Step 6: Settle the assessment and Save
Update the assessment status to show the design is settled, then save. You can now build the estimate and the BOQ from it.
Field and Option Reference
| Field / Option | Values or description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | The enquiry the assessment belongs to. | Yes |
| Solar site | The site being designed for. | Yes |
| Survey | The site survey the design is based on. | Yes |
| Assessor | The user responsible for the design. | Yes |
| Grid type | on, off, hybrid | Yes |
| Inverter type | The inverter arrangement chosen for the system. | Yes |
| Battery flag | Whether battery storage is part of the design. | Yes |
| Subsidy flag | Whether a subsidy is expected to apply. | No |
| Status | The stage the assessment has reached. | Yes |
Expected Result
The assessment is saved with its lead, site, survey and assessor, records the grid, inverter and battery design and the subsidy flag, and can be used as the basis of a solar estimate and BOQ.
Important Notes
- Menu names and their position can differ between product editions and can be customised for your account, so your sidebar may not match these paths exactly. Use Search or your Quick Access items if you cannot find a screen.
- The same screen is labelled Construction Assessment in the Construction CRM edition, so search material written for one edition may use the other name.
- Record the design on the assessment rather than only in the estimate. The BOQ, the installation project and the budget all read from the same design decision.
- A survey with a not feasible result should not normally lead to an assessment. Resolve the finding first.
Common Scenarios
Example: a hybrid system with storage. A customer wants backup during outages. The assessor sets grid type hybrid, selects the matching inverter type and sets the battery flag, then flags subsidy because the customer's ownership and system size fit a scheme. The estimate and BOQ then include the battery and the hybrid inverter without anyone re-deciding the design.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Possible Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| The survey cannot be selected | The survey is still a draft, or it belongs to another site | Complete the survey against the correct site |
| The inverter type list is empty | Solar master data has not been configured | Ask an Administrator to configure the relevant solar master data |
| The estimate does not reflect the design | The estimate was created independently of the assessment | Build the estimate from the settled assessment |
| A user cannot open an assessment | Their permission scope on the record is none or owned | Ask an Administrator to adjust the scope for the role |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can one site have several assessments?
Yes. A revised design is recorded as its own assessment, referencing the survey it is based on.
Does the subsidy flag calculate the subsidy amount?
The flag records that a subsidy is expected. Subsidy schemes and their eligibility rules are configured separately by an Administrator.
Who should be the assessor?
The user responsible for the design. Recording it keeps the design decision attributable.
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