Empowering Efficiency: NYSS Cuts Survey Time by 40+ Minutes with EagleView Powered Models
Results at a Glance
Standard site survey time reduced by 45+ minutes per project using EVPM
2x Faster True-Ups: Streamlined site survey reconciliation with EVPM
Approximately 20% of projects avoid a repeat site survey, saving $150-300 per visit
NYSS can schedule up to 3 additional site surveys per week using EVPM
4.8-star average rating for NYSS on Google, backed by over 650 glowing reviews
Standard site survey time reduced by 45+ minutes per project using EVPM
2x Faster True-Ups: Streamlined site survey reconciliation with EVPM
Approximately 20% of projects avoid a repeat site survey, saving $150-300 per visit
NYSS can schedule up to 3 additional site surveys per week using EVPM
4.8-star average rating for NYSS on Google, backed by over 650 glowing reviews
Company Overview
NY State Solar (NYSS) is a leading provider of customized photovoltaic systems for residential and commercial properties across New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey. With nearly 200 employees, NYSS has built a strong regional presence and reputation by delivering efficient, customized solar solutions through its eight locations.
But, living up to that reputation, and continuing to build that presence isn’t easy — it requires constant improvement. NYSS uses integrated software solutions to streamline its operations and improve its bottom line. For sales through installations, NYSS relies on Aurora Solar, empowering their sales team with Aurora AI and Sales Mode to build customer trust, and seamlessly handing off those designs to the post-sales workflow, where EagleView Powered Models (EVPM) support efficient, reliable installations.
Customer Focus and Customized Solutions
NYSS is committed to collaborating with homeowners and business owners on every project to ensure that each solar system is designed to meet the specific energy needs of the customer. This customer-centric approach has earned NYSS the NYSERDA Gold Quality Installer recognition, a distinction awarded to less than 4% of solar installers in New York State. Additionally, with over 650 reviews and a 4.8-star rating on Google, NYSS’s dedication to service excellence is clear. With a commitment to sustainable growth and efficient operations, NYSS's partnership with Aurora aligns perfectly with their focus on delivering high-quality, customized solar solutions across the region.
Challenges Before Adopting Eagleview Powered Models (EVPM)
Before implementing EVPM, NYSS faced several challenges in its manual site survey process:
Time-Consuming Manual Measurements
The standard process involved outlining an initial design in Aurora, aligning it with LIDAR data, and making adjustments using tools like Street View and Nearmap. Surveyors manually measured roof dimensions, spending 45 minutes to an hour for standard roofs and up to 2-3 hours for complex structures. This process involved many different tools and significant manual input, creating bottlenecks that impacted efficiency and data continuity across sales and installation.
Safety Concerns and Efficiency Issues
High or steep roofs required physical measurements, posing safety risks and requiring two surveyors during high winds or bad weather. This reduced efficiency, but also limited the number of site surveys that could be completed in a day. The physical limitations of manual measurements not only posed risks but also highlighted the need for an integrated solution that would ensure consistent, reliable data and efficient project flow.
Accuracy and Human Error
Manual measurements were prone to discrepancies, especially when measuring obstructions and roof pitches. These inaccuracies often led to project delays and redesigns.
The combination of these challenges often meant longer project timelines, especially when weather conditions prevented safe roof access. These extended survey times and repeat visits also created customer dissatisfaction and increased the risk of project cancellations.
"When it comes to confirming measurements, sooner is always better. With EVPM, we can save up to a week on project timelines"
- Charley Yaipen, Sr. Design Engineer
The Solution: Implementing EagleView Powered Models
To address these challenges, NYSS integrated EagleView Powered Models into their workflow in Aurora — the centralized solution they were using to streamline their solar projects from sales to installation. By incorporating EVPM into their Aurora workflow, NYSS further improved their operational stability and efficiency in a few important ways:
Improved Efficiency and Reduced Turnaround Time
By integrating EVPM, NYSS significantly reduced the time required for measuring, designing, and completing CAD work from up to a week to just 2-3 days. Accurate measurements obtained through EVPM allow projects to move forward without relying on in-person site visits.
Enhanced Customer Experience
The shortened project lifecycle improves the customer experience by reducing delays and decreasing the likelihood of cancellations. Additionally, for houses with multiple roof planes, EVPM provides flexibility by allowing NYSS to quickly obtain updated measurements without scheduling repeat visits. This scenario occurs in approximately 20% of projects, saving $150 per repeat survey and freeing up resources for new appointments.
Increased Market Adaptability
With more complex, taller structures becoming common, particularly in New York City and Long Island, Aurora’s EagleView Powered Models enables NYSS to manage these challenging projects efficiently. By seamlessly integrating EVPM, NYSS can adapt their operations to serve additional markets and handle a growing share of complex projects — now around 20-25% of all projects — without compromising workflow consistency or efficiency.
Charley Yaipen, Senior Design Engineer at NYSS, emphasizes the impact of accurate and timely measurements on overall project success: “The sooner we can confirm the measurements, the better off we’ll be.”
Alternative Solutions Explored
Before choosing EVPM, NYSS considered other solutions, such as drones. However, drones often missed obstructions or produced measurements that were off by several feet, presenting significant risks to project accuracy and success. In contrast, EVPM’s seamless integration within the Aurora platform reduced the potential for human error and eliminated additional coordination with third-party tools.
"Using EVPM saves us an average of 45 minutes per site survey, with even more savings on complex roofs." - Charley Yaipen, Sr. Design Engineer
Success Highlights
Faster site surveys when using Eagleview Powered Models
Avg. site survey time without EVPM
per sitesurvey
Avg. site survey time using EVPM
per site survey
NYSS’s adoption of EagleView Powered Models within Aurora has helped the company achieve measurable improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and capacity, directly leading to growth and an enhanced customer experience.
⏱️ Time Savings
Standard site surveys now save over 45 minutes per project, while complex projects benefit from additional hours saved. These time reductions allow NYSS to handle more projects and respond more quickly to customer needs.
🔄 Reconciliation Efficiency
The time required to reconcile surveyor measurements with EVPM data dropped from 45 minutes to just 20 minutes, doubling the speed of project true-ups. This improvement ensures reliable project continuity and accelerates the overall project lifecycle.
🏡 Reduced Repeat Site Surveys
Approximately 20% of projects now don’t need repeat surveys, saving NYSS between $150-300 per project. These savings not only free up resources but also improve scheduling flexibility, allowing for 2-3 additional site surveys each week.
🛠️ Resource Optimization
EVPM's accuracy and efficiency mean NYSS can allocate surveyor teams more effectively, meeting growing pipeline demands without additional strain on resources.
🌆 Market Expansion
The elimination of weeks-long delays due to rescheduled or repeated site surveys has allowed NYSS to complete installations faster, further enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing project timelines.
📉 Reduction in Manual Steps
By integrating EVPM directly into Aurora’s platform, NYSS has minimized reliance on third-party tools, reducing manual data entry and communication steps. This streamlined process speeds up workflows by days in some cases, reducing the potential for errors and improving data continuity.
🚀 Accelerated Installation Timelines
The elimination of weeks-long delays due to rescheduled or repeated site surveys has allowed NYSS to complete installations faster, further enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing project timelines.
Key Takeaways
NYSS’s adoption of Eagleview Powered Models (EVPM) has been instrumental in improving efficiency, enhancing the customer experience, and enabling the company to confidently expand into new markets. By consolidating its processes within a single, integrated platform, NYSS has not only increased efficiency but also fostered better collaboration and project continuity across its growing operations.