Most solar companies get the inquiry right.
They lose the deal between the inquiry and the site survey.
A customer fills your Google form at 11pm asking for a quote on a 5kW rooftop system. Your sales engineer calls the next morning. But another company already called at 8am, sent an ROI calculation on WhatsApp, and scheduled the site survey for Saturday.
3Sigma ensures that the moment an inquiry arrives — from Google, IndiaMart, Facebook, or your website — it gets assigned, welcomed, and followed up. Before your competitor even wakes up.
The Solar Sales Cycle — All 8 Steps, Tracked
Solar is not a one-call close. The average residential deal takes 3–6 weeks from inquiry to installation. Commercial projects take 4–12 weeks and involve multiple decision-makers. Here's how every step works in 3Sigma.
Inquiry Captured
Customer fills a Google form, clicks a Facebook ad, or messages on WhatsApp. 3Sigma captures it immediately. You record: residential or commercial, location, monthly electricity bill (e.g. ₹4,500/month), and roof type (RCC/sloped/industrial shed). This data shapes everything downstream.
ROI Calculation Sent via WhatsApp
Within minutes, an automated WhatsApp goes out with a personalised savings estimate. For a customer spending ₹4,500/month on electricity, the message shows: estimated 5kW system cost (₹2.4 lakh after subsidy), monthly savings of ₹3,200, payback period of 6 years, and 25-year savings of ₹7.8 lakh. Numbers make the customer curious. Curiosity gets you the site survey appointment.
Site Survey Scheduled
The site survey is the critical step. Without it, no accurate quote is possible — you don't know the roof dimensions, shading conditions, tilt angle, or existing wiring setup. 3Sigma sends an automatic reminder to the customer the day before, and a route and checklist to the engineer on the morning of the visit.
Post-Survey: Quote + Layout + Subsidy Sent
Within 24 hours of the site survey, the customer receives the final quote with: panel layout (number of panels, placement), system capacity, total cost, PM Surya Ghar subsidy amount they qualify for, EMI options if applicable, and net metering process explanation. All sent as a WhatsApp message — no PDF attachments that never get opened.
Proposal Follow-up with Objection Handling
If the customer doesn't confirm in 3 days, automated follow-up messages go out addressing common objections: 'Will it work on my roof?' — message with photos of similar installs. 'What if there's no sun?' — message explaining performance on cloudy days and monsoon season. 'How long to recover cost?' — payback period with comparison to FD returns. Most customers convert within 2–3 of these touchpoints.
Order Confirmed → Installation Scheduled
Customer confirms. Pipeline stage updates. Installation date set. Customer receives a WhatsApp with what to expect: installation duration (typically 1–2 days for residential), materials that will arrive, electrician coordination, and net metering application next steps.
DISCOM Net Metering Application Tracked
Every state's DISCOM has a different net metering process. Rajasthan has different timelines than Maharashtra. 3Sigma tracks the net metering application status per customer — documents submitted, inspection date, meter change scheduled. When the DISCOM delays, the customer sees your team is on it rather than feeling abandoned post-installation.
System Commissioned → Monthly Performance Updates
System goes live. 3Sigma schedules a monthly check-in message showing units generated, money saved this month, and cumulative savings since installation. A happy customer with numbers in hand is your best referral source — at the 6-month mark, a referral request goes out automatically.
Two Different Sales Tracks. One CRM.
Residential and commercial solar are entirely different selling processes. The customer profile, decision cycle, and paperwork are different. 3Sigma lets you run separate pipelines for each.
Residential Pipeline
1kW–10kW • ₹50,000–₹5 lakh • Decision in 2–4 weeks
Single decision-maker
Usually the homeowner. Sometimes spouse needs to be convinced.
PM Surya Ghar subsidy eligible
Up to ₹78,000 subsidy for systems up to 3kW. Documentation required: Aadhaar, electricity bill, property proof, bank details.
Main objections: ROI and roof suitability
Automated messages handle both. Savings calculation addresses ROI. Photos of similar roofs address suitability.
Lead sources: Google, Facebook, housing societies
High-intent Google leads. Facebook leads need more education. Housing society tie-ups bring bulk residential leads.
Pipeline stages in 3Sigma:
Commercial / Industrial Pipeline
25kW–500kW+ • Multi-lakh deals • Decision in 4–12 weeks
Multiple stakeholders
Purchase manager, plant head, MD, sometimes a finance director. Each has different questions. Track all conversations in one lead record.
Multiple site visits common
First visit: initial survey. Second visit: detailed load assessment. Third: final measurement before SLD drawing. 3Sigma tracks each visit with notes and next steps.
Procurement cycle, not impulse
Longer education phase. The lead needs ROI analysis, DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) calculations, and sometimes a presentation to the board.
Lead sources: IndiaMart, referrals, trade shows
IndiaMart B2B leads for commercial. Channel partners and electricians for industrial referrals.
Pipeline stages in 3Sigma:
PM Surya Ghar Subsidy: Document Tracking Per Lead
The PM Surya Ghar scheme gives homeowners up to 300 units of free electricity per month — but only after the system is registered, documents are verified, and the application is approved by the DISCOM. Tracking this manually per lead is a nightmare. 3Sigma makes it a checklist.
Documents Required per Applicant
Aadhaar Card
Of property owner. Must match electricity bill.
Electricity Bill
Last 2–3 months. DISCOM consumer number required.
Property Proof
Sale deed or index-2. Rental properties may not qualify.
Bank Account Details
Subsidy disbursed directly to account post-commissioning.
Passport Photo
For DISCOM application form.
Net Metering Application Form
DISCOM-specific. Format differs by state.
How 3Sigma Tracks This
Each lead has a document checklist. Mark documents as received, pending, or rejected.
When a document is pending for more than 3 days, the system sends an automatic reminder to the customer on WhatsApp.
DISCOM application status tracked as a separate field: Not Applied / Applied / Inspection Done / Meter Changed / Active.
Manager can filter: "Show me all customers where DISCOM application is pending for more than 15 days." One tap. Instant list.
State-wise DISCOM Variation
Each state has a different DISCOM portal and process timeline. 3Sigma lets you add custom status fields per state so your Gujarat team and Rajasthan team can track the right steps.
Gujarat
DGVCL / PGVCL / MGVCL
Rajasthan
JDVVNL / AVVNL / JVVNL
Maharashtra
MSEDCL / BEST
Personalised ROI Calculation Sent Automatically on WhatsApp
The most common question from a new solar inquiry is: "How much will I save?" The answer isn't generic — it depends on their current electricity bill, location, available roof space, and system size.
When a lead comes in with their monthly bill amount, 3Sigma can trigger a WhatsApp message with a calculated savings estimate. This message is sent within minutes of inquiry — before you've even had a chance to call.
What the WhatsApp ROI message includes:
Example WhatsApp message sent automatically
Hi Ramesh ji,
Thank you for your inquiry for rooftop solar. Based on your monthly bill of ₹5,200, here's what a 4kW system would look like for you:
We'd like to do a free site survey to give you an accurate final quote. Shall we come this Saturday?
– Suresh, Solar Solutions Gujarat
Where Solar Leads Come From — and How to Handle Each
Different lead sources have different intent levels, different typical questions, and need different follow-up speeds. 3Sigma connects all of them and tracks which ones actually convert.
Google Ads
Residential + Commercial
These leads searched 'rooftop solar near me' or 'solar installation cost'. High intent. Fastest to convert. If you don't call in 15 minutes, a competitor will.
IndiaMart
Mostly Commercial / Industrial
Purchase managers and plant heads looking for commercial solar. Longer decision cycle. Need a techno-commercial proposal, not just a savings estimate.
Facebook / Instagram Ads
Mostly Residential
Customer wasn't searching for solar — your ad caught their attention. They need education first. Automated WhatsApp with ROI calculation does the initial qualification.
Housing Society Tie-ups
Residential — Bulk
Society secretary or RWA has already discussed solar with residents. Multiple leads from one building. High conversion rate. Manage all society leads under one campaign.
Referrals
Residential + Commercial
Referred by an existing happy customer. Highest conversion rate of any source. Track referrer name in 3Sigma to manage referral commissions or gifts.
Website / Landing Page
Both
Someone visited your website specifically and submitted their details. Treat like a Google lead — high intent, needs fast response.
After Installation: The Referral Flywheel
The sale doesn't end at installation. A customer who sees real savings on their electricity bill becomes your best marketing channel. Here's how 3Sigma turns installations into referrals. These messages are sent via WhatsApp sequences →
Month 1
Installation Complete
Customer receives a welcome message explaining how to read their generation meter, what to expect in the first bill cycle, and who to call if anything looks wrong.
Month 2–5
Monthly Generation Update
Each month, a WhatsApp message goes out: 'Your system generated 320 units in August. Estimated savings: ₹3,840. Total savings since installation: ₹9,600.' This keeps the customer engaged and validates their purchase decision.
Month 6
Satisfaction Check + Review Request
At 6 months, the customer has seen real savings. A message goes out: 'Happy with your solar system? Would you mind leaving us a review? Or do you know anyone who might benefit from solar?' Referral request at peak satisfaction.
Annual
Annual Service Reminder + Upsell
Annual cleaning and servicing reminder. Also a good moment to discuss battery storage if they don't have it, or system expansion for commercial customers who've grown. Existing customers convert to upsells at 3x the rate of new leads.
Features Built for Solar Sales Teams
Every feature is designed around how solar sales actually works in India — not generic CRM functionality.
Multi-Source Lead Capture
Leads from Google, IndiaMart, Facebook, your website, and WhatsApp all land in one place. No manual entry. Each lead shows which source it came from so you can see what's converting.
Site Survey Workflow
Schedule surveys, send pre-survey WhatsApp to the customer, give the engineer a checklist, and trigger a proposal sequence the day after the survey completes. The entire site visit is managed in the app.
Subsidy Document Tracker
Per-customer document checklist for PM Surya Ghar and state subsidy applications. Automatic reminders when documents are missing. DISCOM application status updated in real time.
Automated WhatsApp Sequences
Set up message sequences for residential and commercial tracks separately. ROI message on day 1, objection handling on day 4, subsidy reminder on day 7. Different messages based on pipeline stage.
Field Team Management
Assign leads to engineers by territory. See which engineer has how many leads at each stage. Flag leads stuck in 'Survey Scheduled' for more than 7 days without update.
Source and Conversion Reports
Which lead source is converting best? What's the average time from inquiry to installation? How many leads are stuck at the proposal stage? Reports that answer the questions that matter.
What Changes When Solar Teams Use 3Sigma
Site surveys booked when lead follow-up happens within hours, not days
Leads falling silent after the survey with structured post-survey follow-up
Leads managed per sales engineer with a pipeline replacing Excel tracking
Typical window to start getting referrals from installed customers
Solar Companies Using 3Sigma Across India
From Gujarat's rooftop solar boom to Rajasthan's industrial solar market to Maharashtra's commercial segment.
"Gujarat is one of the strongest solar markets in India right now. We were getting 80–100 leads a month but our conversion was terrible. The site survey was our bottleneck — we'd schedule surveys and then lose track. 3Sigma fixed the entire survey-to-proposal workflow. The difference is very visible."
Suresh Patel
Solar EPC Company, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
"Rajasthan has a huge residential market because of high electricity tariffs and excellent irradiation. Our IndiaMart leads were all over the place — some residential, some big industrial farms. 3Sigma let us separate the two pipelines and manage them completely differently. Our industrial deal average is ₹18 lakh and each one needs careful tracking. Can't afford to lose those to an Excel mistake."
Vikram Rathore
Rajasthan Solar Solutions, Jaipur
"In Maharashtra the subsidy documentation is particularly complex — MSEDCL has its own process that's different from other DISCOMs. We were losing customers at the net metering stage because they'd get frustrated with the paperwork. Now 3Sigma tracks every document and sends reminders. Far fewer customers are dropping off at that stage."
Priya Deshmukh
GreenWatt Solar, Pune, Maharashtra
See How It Works for Your Solar Business
Book a 30-minute demo. We'll walk through the site survey workflow, subsidy document tracking, and WhatsApp automation for your specific residential or commercial pipeline.
Free 7-day trial. No setup fees. Works with Google, IndiaMart, Facebook, and your website.
Not in Solar Energy?
3Sigma works for these industries too: