Wednesday 24 April 2013

Innovation in Solar

So, you have an idea, the Web is a medium to sell and then some, there are a million of people waiting to see what you have got, the Government has all the legislation in place, the market is just right for the product and the Sun shines everyday now.  You know, for instance that there are 1000W in a KW, that the Generator rating is in kVA and how to calculate the Total Load of any given site, for instance, the load in a house might be as follows :

10 CFLs = 10 * 20W = 200W * 8 hours                   = 1600 WHrs
1 Aircon =  1 * 5KW = 5000W * 2 hours                 = 10000 WHrs
2 Ceiling Fans = 2 * 50W = 100W * 8 hours             = 800 Whrs
1 Clothes Washer = 1 * 3600 W = 3600 W * 0.5hrs = 1800 Whrs
1 Computer/printer = 1 * 500W = 500 W * 2hrs       = 1000 Whrs
                                                                               ==================
                                                                                    15,200 Whrs

You know a lot things that you didn't know earlier, and I am sure it makes one feel proud and rejuvenated.  The idea is that a lot of things life are like this, serial in nature, some parallel in nature and lots of them are a combination of both.  We derive our sustenance from nature, as a matter of fact, we are nothing but a putty in its hands, the food that we eat, water to drink and air to survive.  Last night I was watching one of those old Star War movies "Attack of the Clones", and it was natural to presume that we would overcome all that I mention here within a duration of time.

We have the ability, or shall have the ability in years to come, to generate synthetic food, water and air.  Sunlight is free and to put it to good use is like producing synthetic energy.  Since the conventional forms of energy have always been fossil fuel, sun energy is obviously synthetic energy or as many call it Alternate Energy.  Much has been written about it, not too much success though has accrued, or at least not as much success as it should have garnered and if I try and analyse the reasons they fall into two categories :

1.  Commerce
     Commercialisation or Business leads to a mindless pursuit of money. If we are here to sell only then we forget part of the ethic story and the concept of creating viable Solar Businesses.  Communities are formed on ethics and good business practises, they are a natural progression from having spent time analysing the business.  We are Sales people, and for us the talk is everything, to figure out what is going on in somebodies mind or region, and then provide them with the product of their choice.  I for one, and number of people I talk to understand the difference between a Poplar tree and the Mahogany tree, why the leaves turn golden brown in fall and what is the significance of rotation of the earth around its own axis.  If I were to sell a solar system at the lowest price available it would be of no consequence, I could for instance get a 80Wp Solar Panel for as low as Rs 3200 or 70 dollars, combine 12 of these Panels, with a Battery Pack and Inverter and get a 1kWp system for a super price of $2500.  Now this would make sense to everyone except for yours truly, the author of the blog, I somehow don't believe that price is the thing holding back customers.

An understanding of the Solar Product is what the client is looking for, they would want to know what it entails to buy this product.  Choices there are many and if lighting and water heating were the only two solar energy systems to sell then they may not want to buy the system.  Quality systems fall into the culture and ethics of the client, the systems have the ability to satisfy the client in any way which they seem fit.  For instance, I sold a system to the Rama Krishna Mission in Mathura, at that time I was working for Suryadhan Energy Pvt. Ltd., now the Swamiji was adamant that I stay at his Ashram for 7 days to understand his philosophy of work.  We all come with our minds free, and then our systems get programmed to what we want to do.  Swamiji and I came from different worlds and yet here I was listening to him talk about a meat free diet and the advantages of abstinence.  No garlic and no onions, avoid tea if possible, sleeping on coir mattresses, simple and yet elegant living, far from the cities I was used where a cup of capacinno costs Rs 80 and a evening out for four would dent your pocket by 10Ks at least.  Swamiji was far removed from the bars and discotheques of a city, living a spartan life, isn't it what they call, "Simple Living, High Thinking".  Talking to him opened my eyes, I knew instantly what I had to do, develop a product that the client wanted, not sell what I wanted to sell.

2.  Low Emoting
     Sell, sell, sell and very little to learn, that seems to be motto nowadays, once I get my pitch right, I ain't going to care for anyone as long as I get my pitch right, I will meet my targets.  Solar Sales is not only about sales target but some community targets as well.  Combine the Community targets with some Environment targets and the commercialisation boat will rock and then some.  So how is Solar Sales different from other kinds of sales, for instance FMCG sales :

      a.  You are selling Simplicity.
      b.  You are selling Change.
      c.   You are selling Retrofits.
      d.   You are selling Accolades, that is, success stories
      e.    You are selling Post Sales  ..........................................SCRAP model

Simplicity, Change, Retrofits, Accolades and Post Sales, the four factors that lead up to the sales.  But before I make the sale, I must highlight and promote all the four factors, as also emphasis the brand YOU.  Do I have what it takes to be a brand ambassador for Solar, does my life and lifestyle map out to the established thought process or am I trying to do something to change what has been.  The brand YOU is most critical of brands and takes a long time to build up.  You must focus on this and the rest will fall into place.  

In an endeavour to enhance the understanding of Solar Sales, I invite professionals to contribute to this blog, I have stated my understanding of the facts and if your thought process differs, do write into info@freshenergy.co.  I do not know how to publicise this blog, my immediate thought, is to write a book on Solar Sales and this could well serve to be the "Introduction" to the book.  Any ideas would be appreciated as I am a total novice, just a writer who is trying to write a book with the help of like minded people.

A few questions I need answer to, and I hope that the book will answer the questions for all aspiring salesmen of solar :

How to write a book on Sales ?
How to promote the blog ?
How to get like minded people on board ?
How to have an electronic discussion ?
How to run an e-business on Solar Sales ?





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