Case Study - Transforming Tedious Excel Workflows with Custom Software Solutions – Achieving 50% More Efficiency for Easy Solar

Overview

Over Easy Solar AS is a Norwegian company that develops, manufactures, and supplies pre-assembled PV-Units for easy solar installations on green and flat roofs. The Over Easy VPV-Unit solves the key challenges for green and flat roofs in a new and previously unseen way. The technology is patent pending, and all the principles and benefits are being demonstrated in a prototype and pilot installations throughout Europe.

Problem

Over Easy Solar was grappling with an inefficient and time-consuming Excel-based workflow. Their process involved multiple spreadsheets for critical tasks such as yield estimation, bill of materials (BOM) creation, output calculation, and report generation. This approach was not only tedious but also prone to errors, making it difficult to maintain accuracy and efficiency.

• Yield Estimation: The team spent countless hours manually entering and verifying data to estimate yields, which slowed down project timelines.
• Bill of Materials (BOM): Creating and updating BOMs required meticulous attention to detail and constant cross-referencing across several spreadsheets.
• Output Calculation: Calculating outputs involved complex formulas that were difficult to manage and easy to miscalculate.
• Graphs for Reports: Generating graphs and visual reports demanded extra time and effort, often leading to delays in delivering insights to stakeholders.
• Cable and Feet EW Calculations: Planning and resource management tasks were bogged down by the cumbersome Excel sheets, leading to inefficiencies and potential oversights.
• Fragmented Project Management: Managing projects through multiple disconnected spreadsheets made it difficult to track progress and collaborate effectively.
• Limited Collaboration: The Excel-based workflow hindered collaboration, making it challenging for multiple teams and external partners to access and share critical information.
• User Management Issues: Managing user access and roles within Excel was cumbersome, leading to security and usability concerns.
• The Excel Inefficiency Trap: Relying on Excel for complex project management tasks not only increases the risk of human error but also significantly hampers efficiency and productivity, ultimately impacting the company's ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Solution

We developed a custom software solution tailored to the specific needs of Easy Solar. This integrated platform streamlined their entire workflow, replacing multiple Excel spreadsheets with a single, cohesive system.

• Automated Yield Estimation: The custom software automated data entry and calculations, providing accurate yield estimates quickly and effortlessly.
• Efficient BOM Management: The new system simplified BOM creation and updates, ensuring all details were accurate and up-to-date without manual cross-referencing.
• Simplified Output Calculations: Our solution handled complex formulas and calculations, reducing errors and freeing up time for the team to focus on more strategic tasks.
• Instant Graphical Reports: The software generated professional graphs and reports instantly, enabling timely and informed decision-making.
• Streamlined Resource Management: Planning and managing cable and feet EW calculations became straightforward and efficient, enhancing overall project management.
• Easy Project Management: The platform featured a great user interface, making project management simple and intuitive.
• Multi-Team and Multi-Organization Access: Multiple teams and organizations could access the app, allowing Easy Solar to share the software with their partners seamlessly.
• User-Friendly Login and Management: The solution included easy user login and management features, simplifying the onboarding and user management process.

What we did