As the solar industry continues to grow, new entrants come into the market offering solar services to customers. These are the top 4 factors that customers consider to choose the right solar company to carry out installations for their homes or offices.
- Reviews
The advent of social media and online communities has empowered the average customer with information about pretty much anything. Before making major purchasing decisions customers often go online to see the various options available to them. Reviews are one of the things customers look out for online to determine if they should patronize a business or not.
Solar energy installations require a substantial financial commitment from a customer looking to make installations either in the home or office. The more the financial commitment that is required from the customer, the more concerned and meticulous such a customer would be when choosing the solar company to handle such an installation.
Solar companies looking to attract more customers ought to pay close attention to the reviews previous customers have of their business or service deliveries.
- Customer service or experience
No one wants to do business with a company or organization that is bad at customer service.
Customer service ensures that the customer has a good experience with the company before, during and after the transaction is completed.
For solar companies, customer service is even all the more important because a number of customers looking to install solar, have little idea about how solar power works. When choosing a solar company to work with, customers are more inclined to opt for companies that show that they understand their concerns about the process, and try to clarify all grey areas in a satisfactory and timely manner.
Ideas to boost customer service include having toll free lines for customers to contact your company with, having a team of well trained customer service representatives, giving free quotes and consultations to understand customers needs, subsidized energy audits and after sales services.
- Experience and Expertise
One of the factors customers put into consideration when picking a solar company to install solar energy in their homes is the number of years of experience that company has in the solar business. Why? This is an indicator of expertise and knowledge of the business.
Customers are more likely to trust a company that has been in the business for a longer period of time, over new entrants. Customers are more inclined to part with their money for a product or service when they trust that they would get good value for their money.
- Financing Options
The purchasing power of most consumers in Nigeria and even other countries in Africa has been drastically reduced due to inflation and the harsh economic landscape. Most Nigerians today would want to opt for solar power because of the lack of supply from the grid. However, the economic reality restrains them from making this move because solar installations do not come cheap.
This is a case of customers needing a product or service but not being able to afford them. For this reason, customers look out for solar companies who have flexible payment plans they can subscribe to in order to get the energy they need.
