25% Fewer Change Orders, 2 Hours Saved Per Project: Kasselman Solar’s Success with Aurora Solar
Results at a Glance
A 25% reduction in change orders improves project efficiency and customer satisfaction.
By reducing proposal creation time by 30 minutes per project, the sales team saves a total of 25 hours per month.
Smoother handoffs and fewer errors across teams reduce project time by an average of 2 hours per sold project.
Kasselman Solar empowers homeowners and business owners across New York State to save on utility costs, increase property values, and champion clean energy through solar power. They are committed to contributing to New York’s ambitious goal of creating 2 million climate-friendly homes by 2030. With over a decade of experience in solar, Kasselman Solar has built a foundation on trust, transparency, quality, and exceptional customer service. Their reputation is “forged by results and relationships built on trust.” And it shows: With more than 160 five-star Google reviews, they consistently deliver stellar customer experiences. As an NYSERDA Quality Solar Installer with Gold Status, Kasselman Solar exemplifies excellence in solar installation, further reinforcing their position as a trusted leader in the New York solar market.
The Challenge
For Steve Kasselman, Founder and CEO of Kasselman Solar and a solar industry veteran, accuracy is the foundation of every successful solar project. However, Kasselman Solar faced several challenges that stemmed from design inaccuracies:
Inefficient workflows
Delays and clunky handoffs between sales, design, and other cross-functional teams disrupted project lifecycles.
Duplicative efforts
Errors during early project stages required project managers to revisit and fix issues, wasting valuable time.
Frequent change orders
Inaccurate designs necessitated adjustments mid-process, frustrating both the team and customers.
Customer dissatisfaction
Modifications to pricing or panel placement led to negative homeowner experiences, prolonged timelines, and, in some cases, project cancellations.
Additionally, training sales representatives to create accurate solar designs was a time-consuming and error-prone process. Even minor mistakes could jeopardize project success.
The Solution
To address these challenges, Kasselman Solar integrated Aurora’s Expert Design Services (EDS) into their pre-sales workflow, streamlining processes through API automation.
How it works:
- Automated design requests: When a project reaches a specific stage in Kasselman Solar’s CRM, an API call triggers an EDS request in Aurora’s platform.
- High-precision modeling: Aurora’s expert designers create permit-quality 3D models that include roof obstructions, and shading from surrounding trees and nearby buildings.
- Rapid turnaround times: Most designs are delivered within 60 minutes (maximum 3 hours), ensuring efficiency at scale.
Why it works:
Aurora’s EDS combines skilled designers, cutting-edge technology, and a proven process to deliver reliable, permit-quality designs:
- Expert Designers: Each project is matched with a specific designer based on complexity, with all models undergoing QA before delivery.
- Advanced Technology: Designs leverage HD Nearmap imagery, LIDAR data, and Street View verification for unmatched accuracy.
- Streamlined Process: Aurora’s regimented design workflow eliminates friction and ensures consistency.
"Aurora’s Expert Design Services have greatly improved our process. Accurate models from the start eliminate friction and rework, allowing us to focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences. The seamless integration into our CRM through the API has been invaluable."
- Steve Kasselman, Founder and CEO
Impact and Results
By adopting Aurora’s Expert Design Services, Kasselman Solar achieved measurable improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction:
Time Savings
Each proposal takes 30 minutes less to create, saving the sales team 25 hours per month (based on 50 proposals).
Enhanced Workflows
Smoother team handoffs save an additional 2 hours per sold project.
Fewer Change Orders
A 25% reduction in change orders minimized rework and improved customer experiences.
Error Reduction
API integration eliminated 10% of manual errors, streamlining operations further.
