Payaca vs Salesforce
Enterprise customisation vs purpose-built clean tech software
Salesforce can do almost anything - with enough time, money, and developers. Payaca does what clean tech installers need, out of the box.
Payaca
Purpose-built platform with clean tech features included. Works out of the box for installation businesses.
- DNO, MCS, design tools included
- Operational in days, not months
- Predictable pricing
- Support from industry experts
Salesforce
Highly customisable enterprise CRM. Can be configured for any industry with sufficient investment.
- Unlimited customisation potential
- Large ecosystem and marketplace
- Requires significant development investment
- No clean tech features out of the box
The Build vs Buy Decision
Salesforce gives you a blank canvas. But clean tech installers shouldn't have to build what already exists in purpose-built software.
What you'd need to build in Salesforce:
- +Custom objects for installation projects
- +ENA Connect integration for DNO applications
- +MCS compliance tracking and documents
- +Design tool integrations (EasyPV, Heatpunk)
- +Field Service licensing and configuration
- +Custom quoting for multi-option systems
- +Ongoing maintenance and updates
What Payaca includes:
- Installation project management
- DNO applications via ENA Connect
- MCS compliance and documentation
- EasyPV, OpenSolar, Heatpunk integrations
- Mobile app for field teams
- Multi-option clean tech quoting
- Continuous updates at no extra cost
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Payaca | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | Ready to use in days with clean tech features built in | Months of customisation and development required |
| Industry Focus | Purpose-built for solar, heat pumps, batteries, EV | Generic platform - needs custom development |
| DNO Applications | ENA Connect integration for G98/G99 built in | Would need custom integration development |
| MCS Compliance | Built-in MCS certificate generation | Requires custom development or third-party app |
| Design Tool Integration | EasyPV, OpenSolar, Heatpunk connections included | Would need custom AppExchange or development |
| Field Team Mobile App | Offline-capable app designed for installers | Field Service requires additional licensing |
| Customisation | Configurable with OpenAPI for integrations | Highly customisable with developer resources |
| Enterprise Scale | Handles enterprise deployments (OVO, British Gas) | Built for enterprise scale |
| Total Cost | Predictable pricing including all clean tech features | High licensing + implementation + ongoing development |
| Support | Team that understands clean tech industry | General CRM support - may not know your industry |
Setup Time
Ready to use in days with clean tech features built in
Months of customisation and development required
Industry Focus
Purpose-built for solar, heat pumps, batteries, EV
Generic platform - needs custom development
DNO Applications
ENA Connect integration for G98/G99 built in
Would need custom integration development
MCS Compliance
Built-in MCS certificate generation
Requires custom development or third-party app
Design Tool Integration
EasyPV, OpenSolar, Heatpunk connections included
Would need custom AppExchange or development
Field Team Mobile App
Offline-capable app designed for installers
Field Service requires additional licensing
Customisation
Configurable with OpenAPI for integrations
Highly customisable with developer resources
Enterprise Scale
Handles enterprise deployments (OVO, British Gas)
Built for enterprise scale
Total Cost
Predictable pricing including all clean tech features
High licensing + implementation + ongoing development
Support
Team that understands clean tech industry
General CRM support - may not know your industry
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Salesforce overkill for a solar installation company?
- Often, yes. Salesforce is powerful but requires significant investment in customisation to work for installation businesses. You'd need custom objects for jobs, compliance tracking, field operations, and integrations with design tools. Most installers find purpose-built software delivers what they need at a fraction of the cost and complexity.
- How much does a Salesforce implementation for installers cost?
- A basic Salesforce implementation for an installation business typically costs tens of thousands of pounds in licensing, consulting, and development. Custom objects for DNO tracking, MCS compliance, and design integrations add more. Plus ongoing admin and development costs. Payaca includes these features out of the box.
- Can Salesforce handle DNO applications and MCS compliance?
- Not natively. You'd need to build custom objects and workflows, potentially with custom integrations to ENA Connect and MCS systems. This is possible but expensive. Payaca includes these integrations already built and maintained.
- What if we're already using Salesforce?
- Consider whether the ongoing cost and complexity is delivering value. Many installation businesses switch to Payaca from Salesforce when they realise the customisation and maintenance costs exceed the benefits. Payaca can integrate with Salesforce if you need to keep it for specific functions.
- Does Payaca work for enterprise-scale installation businesses?
- Yes. Payaca serves energy suppliers like OVO and British Gas alongside SME installers. The platform scales from small teams to enterprise operations. Enterprise customers benefit from the same clean tech specific features, plus dedicated support and custom requirements.
- How long does it take to set up Payaca vs Salesforce?
- Payaca can be operational in days - the clean tech features are ready to use. A Salesforce implementation for an installation business typically takes months of scoping, development, testing, and training. Time to value is significantly faster with purpose-built software.
Skip the development project
Get clean tech features today, not in six months.