Zoho for Energy & Solar/EPC
An energy or solar EPC deal moves through a survey, a proposal, an install crew and years of after-sales maintenance — usually tracked in four different places. Flowpeak puts that whole lifecycle on one Zoho stack so nothing falls through at handover.
Discuss Your ProcessWhat we usually find
Disconnected Surveys
Site survey data collected on paper or personal phones, disconnected from the deal.
Messy Handovers
Subcontractor and vendor documentation chased over email at project close-out.
Fragmented Billing
AMC and PPA billing tracked separately from the original installation record.
What we'll ask you first
Before we build, we understand. Your answers shape the architecture of your Zoho energy stack.
Start with these answers- 1
Are you primarily doing new installations, ongoing maintenance/AMC, or both?
- 2
How is site survey data captured today?
- 3
Do you bill clients one-time, on a PPA/recurring model, or both?
Where Zoho fits, function by function
We map every critical stage of your process to a specific, optimized Zoho tool.
Deal Pipeline
Every enquiry, survey and proposal tracked from first contact to signed contract.
Site Survey & Feasibility
A custom survey app capturing site data directly against the deal.
Installation Tracking
Milestones, crew allocation and progress visible to the client if needed.
Vendor Documents
Commissioning certificates and subcontractor agreements signed and stored centrally.
AMC / PPA Billing
Recurring maintenance or power-purchase billing tied to the original install.
Performance Dashboards
Maintenance history and performance data in one view per site.
The process, end to end
A seamless flow of data throughout your entire lifecycle.
Enquiry & Feasibility
Survey & Proposal
Installation Project
Commissioning & Handover
AMC / PPA Billing
Asset Monitoring
Ready to talk?
Tell us your current tools, your team size and your top priority — that's all we need to scope a first conversation. No generic sales pitch, no obligation.
Zoho services for energy companies
All Zoho services →- Zoho implementationZoho CRM live within 2 weeks, fixed price agreed in writing
- Zoho support100-hour support packs, first reply within 1 hour
- Zoho consultingChoose the right apps and plan before you build
- Data migration to ZohoMove from Salesforce, HubSpot, Tally, QuickBooks or spreadsheets
- Zoho integration servicesConnect Zoho to payments, ads, telephony, e-commerce and more
- Zoho auditA scored review of your current Zoho setup
Business process workflow
How energy work flows in Zoho
Run projects, inspections, field teams and contracts with compliance records.
Common problems we fix
- Inspections are on paper
- Project milestones slip unseen
- Compliance records are hard to find
The process, step by step
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Entity diagram: the data behind energy in Zoho
Each box is a record type, coloured by the Zoho app that holds it, with its key fields. Lines show how records connect, so a customer, an order and an invoice stay linked instead of being retyped. We refine this model with you during discovery.
- Zoho CRM
- Zoho Projects
- Zoho FSM
- Zoho Inventory
- Zoho Books
Read the relationships as text
- Customer awards Project (1:N)
- Project starts with Site Survey (1:N)
- Project needs Material Request (1:N)
- Project executed in Installation (1:N)
- Project billed by Milestone Invoice (1:N)
Department by department
How every department of a energy business works in Zoho
An energy company that develops, builds and runs solar, wind or other power assets has deals, sites, plants, crews and power buyers to keep in step. In Zoho business development, projects, plant operations, HSE, procurement, billing, accounts and HR share one record for each site and contract, so generation, maintenance and invoices tie back to the same asset.
How the departments hand work to each other
Each arrow is a handover. Because every team works on the same Zoho records, the next department picks up the work without re-entering it.
- 1Business Development to Project Engineering and Construction: Signed contract with site, capacity and milestone dates
- 2Business Development to Power Billing and Customer Accounts: Tariff, term and billing terms for the power buyer
- 3Project Engineering and Construction to Procurement and Stores: Material requests with required dates and site
- 4Project Engineering and Construction to Plant Operations and Maintenance: Commissioned plant with equipment list and as-built documents
- 5Project Engineering and Construction to Finance and Accounts: Milestones completed for billing
- 6Procurement and Stores to Project Engineering and Construction: Delivery dates and material at site
- 7Procurement and Stores to Finance and Accounts: Goods receipts for vendor bill matching
- 8Plant Operations and Maintenance to Power Billing and Customer Accounts: Monthly metered generation per plant
- 9Plant Operations and Maintenance to Procurement and Stores: Spare part needs and warranty replacements
- 10Plant Operations and Maintenance to Health, Safety and Environment: Incidents and near misses at site
- 11Health, Safety and Environment to Management and Reporting: Safety performance by site
- 12Health, Safety and Environment to HR and Payroll: Training needs and certification gaps
- 13Power Billing and Customer Accounts to Finance and Accounts: Issued invoices and disputes for collection
- 14Finance and Accounts to Management and Reporting: Monthly financials and lender figures
- 15HR and Payroll to Finance and Accounts: Payroll summary by project and plant
- 16Management and Reporting to Business Development: Target capacity and markets for the year
Each department in detail
Open a department to see its workflow, its own entity diagram, who does the work, what needs approval, the reports it watches and what it hands over.
Business DevelopmentFinds power buyers and project sites, prepares proposals and signs power purchase or EPC contracts.
Workflow
- 1
Capture opportunities
Enquiries from commercial and industrial buyers, tenders and land partners are logged in Zoho CRM with load, site location and type of deal.
- 2
Assess the site
A site assessment records roof or land area, grid connection, shading or wind data and expected yield.
- 3
Build the proposal
Capacity, tariff or EPC price, term and savings estimate go into a proposal, with versions kept for each revision.
- 4
Negotiate and sign
The power purchase agreement or EPC contract is negotiated, clauses tracked and signed electronically.
- 5
Hand over to projects
A signed deal creates a project with capacity, site, milestones and contract value.
Entity diagram: Business Development
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho CRM
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Contracts
Read the relationships as text
- Opportunity needs Site Assessment (1:1)
- Opportunity priced in Proposal (1:N)
- Proposal becomes Contract (1:1)
Who does the work
- Business development manager
- Pre-sales engineer
- Head of business development
Approvals and controls
- Tariffs below the approved internal rate of return need the head of business development and finance
- Contract clause changes go through legal review before signing
Reports they watch
- Pipeline by capacity and stage
- Proposals sent and won by month
- Signed capacity against annual target
Hands over to
- Project Engineering and Construction: Signed contract with site, capacity and milestone dates
- Power Billing and Customer Accounts: Tariff, term and billing terms for the power buyer
Zoho CRM
Zoho Forms
Zoho Creator
Zoho WorkDrive
Zoho Contracts
Zoho Sign
Zoho ProjectsProject Engineering and ConstructionDesigns, permits and builds each plant on time and on budget, then commissions it for operations.
Workflow
- 1
Plan the project
The project manager builds the schedule for design, permits, procurement, civil, mechanical and electrical work in Zoho Projects.
- 2
Track permits and approvals
Grid connection, land and local permits are tracked with submission dates, status and documents.
- 3
Raise material requests
Module, inverter, cable and structure needs from the design are sent to procurement with required dates.
- 4
Report daily progress
Site engineers post daily progress, manpower and issues with photos from the field.
- 5
Commission and hand over
Tests and commissioning checklists are completed and the plant is handed to operations with as-built documents.
Zoho InventoryEntity diagram: Project Engineering and Construction
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Projects
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Project requires Permit (1:N)
- Project raises Material Request (1:N)
- Project records Daily Progress (1:N)
Who does the work
- Project manager
- Site engineer
- Design engineer
Approvals and controls
- Design changes after approval need the project manager and client sign-off
- Commissioning is signed off by the project head before handover
Reports they watch
- Milestones planned versus actual
- Permits pending by project
- Project cost against budget
Hands over to
- Procurement and Stores: Material requests with required dates and site
- Plant Operations and Maintenance: Commissioned plant with equipment list and as-built documents
- Finance and Accounts: Milestones completed for billing
Procurement and StoresBuys modules, inverters, balance of system and spares, and keeps stock at the warehouse and sites.
Workflow
- 1
Collect requirements
Material requests from projects and spare needs from operations become purchase requests.
- 2
Compare vendors
Quotes are compared on price, warranty and lead time before a purchase order is raised.
- 3
Receive and record serials
Goods are received with serial numbers for modules and inverters, so warranties can be traced.
- 4
Dispatch to sites
Material is moved from the central warehouse to site stores with transfer orders.
- 5
Hold critical spares
Minimum levels are set for critical spares at each plant, with reorder alerts.
Entity diagram: Procurement and Stores
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Inventory
- Zoho Books
Read the relationships as text
- Vendor receives Purchase Order (1:N)
- Purchase Order delivers Serialised Item (1:N)
- Serialised Item held at Site Store (N:N)
Who does the work
- Procurement manager
- Buyer
- Storekeeper
Approvals and controls
- Purchase orders above the set value need the procurement manager and project head
- Vendor substitutions for main equipment need engineering approval
Reports they watch
- Open purchase orders by project
- Material delivered late against need date
- Spares below minimum by plant
Hands over to
- Project Engineering and Construction: Delivery dates and material at site
- Finance and Accounts: Goods receipts for vendor bill matching
Plant Operations and MaintenanceRuns operating plants for maximum availability, records generation and carries out maintenance.
Workflow
- 1
Record generation
Daily export, irradiation or wind speed and availability are recorded per plant, from meter readings or monitoring exports.
- 2
Plan preventive maintenance
Module cleaning, inverter checks, transformer tests and vegetation work are scheduled as recurring work orders.
- 3
Handle breakdowns
Alarms or faults open a corrective work order with the failed equipment, and a technician is dispatched.
- 4
Use spares and log work
Technicians record time, spares used and photos on mobile, and stock reduces at the site store.
- 5
Raise warranty claims
Failed modules and inverters under warranty are claimed with serial number and fault report.
Zoho Analytics
Zoho Cliq
Zoho DeskEntity diagram: Plant Operations and Maintenance
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho FSM
Read the relationships as text
- Plant records Generation Log (1:N)
- Plant needs Work Order (1:N)
- Work Order may raise Warranty Claim (1:1)
Who does the work
- O and M manager
- Plant engineer
- Technician
Approvals and controls
- Planned shutdowns need the O and M manager and notice to the power buyer
- Spares over the set value used on one job are reviewed by the manager
Reports they watch
- Generation against forecast by plant
- Plant availability and downtime by cause
- Open work orders by age
Hands over to
- Power Billing and Customer Accounts: Monthly metered generation per plant
- Procurement and Stores: Spare part needs and warranty replacements
- Health, Safety and Environment: Incidents and near misses at site
Health, Safety and EnvironmentKeeps people safe on construction and operating sites and keeps environmental records for permits and audits.
Workflow
- 1
Issue permits to work
High-voltage, working-at-height and hot work permits are raised, approved and closed for each job.
- 2
Run site inspections
Safety officers complete checklists on a tablet with photos, and findings get owners and due dates.
- 3
Report incidents
Incidents and near misses are logged with root cause and corrective action.
- 4
Track training
Safety inductions and certifications are recorded for staff and contractors before they go on site.
Zoho Learn
Zoho PeopleEntity diagram: Health, Safety and Environment
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Permit to Work may lead to Incident (1:N)
- Inspection may raise Incident (1:N)
Who does the work
- HSE manager
- Safety officer
Approvals and controls
- High-voltage work starts only after the permit is approved by the authorised person
- Serious incidents are reviewed by the HSE manager before the site restarts
Reports they watch
- Incidents and near misses by site
- Open inspection findings
- Safety training compliance
Hands over to
- Management and Reporting: Safety performance by site
- HR and Payroll: Training needs and certification gaps
Power Billing and Customer AccountsBills power buyers from metered generation, handles disputes and keeps contract terms applied correctly.
Workflow
- 1
Take meter readings
Joint meter readings are recorded each month with the buyer's sign-off and a photo of the meter.
- 2
Calculate the bill
Units are multiplied by the contract tariff, with escalation, minimum offtake and deemed generation rules applied.
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Entity diagram: Power Billing and Customer Accounts
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Books
- Zoho Desk
Read the relationships as text
- Meter Reading feeds Billing Run (1:N)
- Billing Run creates Invoice (1:1)
- Invoice may raise Dispute (1:N)
Who does the work
- Billing executive
- Customer accounts manager
Approvals and controls
- Bills based on estimated readings need the customer accounts manager
- Credit notes on disputes need finance approval
Reports they watch
- Units billed by buyer and month
- Disputed amounts by age
- Billing against generation
Hands over to
- Finance and Accounts: Issued invoices and disputes for collection
Finance and AccountsCollects from buyers and clients, pays vendors, tracks project and plant costs and reports to lenders.
Workflow
- 1
Bill EPC milestones
Construction milestones completed by projects are invoiced as per the contract, with retention held where agreed.
- 2
Collect receivables
Reminders and receipts are tracked per buyer, and late payment charges are worked out per contract.
- 3
Pay vendors
Vendor bills are matched to purchase orders and receipts before payment.
- 4
Track asset cost
Capital spend per project and operating cost per plant are tracked with reporting tags.
- 5
Report to lenders
Generation, revenue and debt cover figures are compiled for lender reports.
Entity diagram: Finance and Accounts
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Books
- Zoho Analytics
Read the relationships as text
- Milestone Invoice settled by Receipt (N:N)
- Vendor Bill adds to Asset Cost (N:N)
- Receipt compared with Asset Cost (N:N)
Who does the work
- Accountant
- Finance manager
- CFO
Approvals and controls
- Vendor payments above a set value need two approvers
- Waiving late payment charges needs the CFO
Reports they watch
- Receivables ageing by buyer
- Project capex against budget
- Plant revenue and operating cost
Hands over to
- Management and Reporting: Monthly financials and lender figures
HR and PayrollHires engineers and technicians, manages site rosters and allowances, and runs payroll.
Workflow
- 1
Hire for projects and plants
Openings for engineers, technicians and safety staff are tracked by site.
- 2
Onboard with safety training
New joiners complete safety induction and electrical authorisation before site access.
- 3
Roster site teams
Shift rosters for plants and site attendance are captured, including travel and site allowances.
- 4
Run payroll
Salaries, overtime and site allowances are paid through Zoho Payroll where it is available or your local provider.
Zoho Recruit
Zoho Shifts
Zoho PayrollEntity diagram: HR and Payroll
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho People
- Zoho Shifts
- Zoho Expense
- Zoho Payroll
Read the relationships as text
- Employee assigned to Roster (N:N)
- Employee submits Allowance Claim (1:N)
- Allowance Claim paid in Payslip (N:N)
Who does the work
- HR executive
- HR manager
Approvals and controls
- Site allowances and overtime need the site manager before payroll
Reports they watch
- Headcount by site
- Overtime and allowance cost by plant
- Authorisations expiring
Hands over to
- Finance and Accounts: Payroll summary by project and plant
Management and ReportingGives leadership one view of pipeline, construction, generation, safety and cash.
Workflow
- 1
Join the data
Zoho Analytics brings CRM, Projects, Creator, FSM and Books data into one model.
- 2
Portfolio dashboard
Generation, availability and revenue for each plant against forecast.
- 3
Construction review
Projects behind schedule or over budget are reviewed each week.
- 4
Zoho FlowEntity diagram: Management and Reporting
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Analytics
- Zoho Flow
Read the relationships as text
- Dashboard shows KPI (N:N)
- KPI triggers Alert (1:N)
Who does the work
- CEO
- Head of operations
Approvals and controls
- Annual generation and capacity targets are set by leadership
Reports they watch
- Portfolio generation and availability
- Construction pipeline to COD
- Cash and receivables
Hands over to
- Business Development: Target capacity and markets for the year
What to expect when you start
A typical plan for a focused project of one to three apps. Larger scope or messy data takes longer; we confirm the timeline after discovery.
Week 1 to 2
Map and agree
We walk through your energy process from "Enquiry and tender" to "Billing", list the records and fields you really need, and agree the scope.
Week 3 to 4
Build the core
We configure Zoho CRM and Zoho Sign with your stages, roles, approvals and templates.
Week 5 to 6
Connect and migrate
We clean and import your data, connect email, payments or other tools, and build the reports you will use every week.
Week 7 to 8
Test and go live
Your team tests with real cases, we train each role, and we cut over with a checklist.
Mistakes to avoid
- Copying the old spreadsheet column for column. Keep only the fields that help someone decide or act.
- Leaving out exceptions such as returns, changes and cancellations. Model them early so the team does not work around the system.
- No owner per stage. Name one person for "Enquiry and tender" and one for "Billing".
- Going live without checking reports against numbers you already trust.
A good first win
Start with the problem that hurts most: Inspections are on paper. Fixing one visible problem in the first month builds trust and adoption for everything after it.
What you can measure
- Milestones on time
- Inspection completion
- Billing lag
Questions about Zoho for energy
Which Zoho apps suit energy businesses?
A typical energy setup uses Zoho CRM, Zoho Sign, Zoho Projects, Zoho Creator, Zoho FSM, Zoho WorkDrive, Zoho Books. We confirm the exact apps after mapping your own process in a discovery call.
How does the business process flow in Zoho for energy?
1. Enquiry and tender; 2. Contract; 3. Project plan; 4. Field work and inspection; 5. Compliance; 6. Billing.
Which departments does a Zoho setup for energy cover?
A full setup covers Business Development, Project Engineering and Construction, Procurement and Stores, Plant Operations and Maintenance, Health, Safety and Environment, Power Billing and Customer Accounts, Finance and Accounts, HR and Payroll, Management and Reporting. Each department works in its own Zoho screens, but they share the same customer, order and finance records, so work moves from one team to the next without being retyped.
Zoho apps we set up for Energy
- Zoho CRM
- Zoho Sign
- Zoho Projects
- Zoho Creator
Zoho FSM- Zoho WorkDrive
Zoho Books
Not sure which apps fit your business? Book a free 30-minute call or see all Zoho products we implement
More industries we build Zoho workflows for
Zoho adapts to almost any business that has leads, orders, projects, people and money to track. A few examples are below; the industries page lists all 179 with a typical process flow and the Zoho apps behind each.
- Construction and ContractingControl tenders, project costs, subcontractors, site materials and progress billing from one system.
- Wholesale and DistributionRun orders, stock across warehouses, credit limits and collections for dealers and retailers.
- Food and BeverageTrack outlet and central kitchen stock, recipes, suppliers and daily sales with branch-wise accounts.
- Fitness and WellnessConvert enquiries into members, manage bookings and recurring fees, and keep members engaged.
- Staffing and RecruitmentManage client job orders, candidate pipelines, placements and invoicing in one flow.
- Travel and TourismTurn enquiries into itineraries, bookings and payments with supplier and customer tracking.
- Telecom and ISPsRun activation, installation, support and recurring billing for subscribers and enterprise accounts.
- Media and AdvertisingManage clients, briefs, campaign projects, approvals and retainer billing for agencies and media firms.
- Import and Export TradingHandle enquiries, proforma invoices, shipments, documentation and multi-currency accounting.