EV charging is an exciting industry to be a part of right now.

From constant technological innovation to a market all but guaranteed for steady growth throughout the next decade, it’s clear to see that the EV future looks bright.

Amidst the EV boom expected as we move from early adopters to the first stage of mainstream buyers, EV charging companies will be hoping to stave off competition and earn their share of the market.

And they’ll have stiff competition.

In this blog, we’ll look at how partnering with an EV charging software company can help hardware manufacturers gain a competitive edge, and offer more to their customers without compromising on their profit margins.

Software partnerships: what can they offer?

First off, we’ll start by explaining some of the key features of EV charging software.

As many will know, EV charging software improves what end users can do with their EV chargers.

The two main ways of differentiating between charging software is through the features available for commercial and residential users; although most EV charging software systems are tailored to an array of use cases across the EV charging infrastructure.

In short, EV charging software offers commercial clients easy ways to manage and maintain their EV charging networks. That ranges from supplying network reliability tools to streamline maintenance, a single billing and admin platform to report on usage, and running a 24/7 driver helpline for customers to outsource support.

What it all means is that commercial users are left with a dedicated provider to help them navigate the complexities of regulations and effective management; a means to make the sometimes daunting world of EV easy.

Beyond that, customers have been able to leverage EV charging software to achieve huge network growth, reduce operating costs by up to a million pounds annually, and more.

And for residential users, EV charging software offers access to smart features to help make and save money, as well as manage and monitor energy usage and billing for company vehicles.

What’s the benefit to hardware manufacturers?

Any hardware manufacturer will know that the field is a competitive one.

With the help of software partnerships, hardware manufacturers can choose to pre-load their hardware with software that allows for extra features like charge scheduling, and integrations with popular tariffs like Octopus Energy.

Having this full ‘out-of-the-box’ solution allows hardware suppliers the chance to stand out from competitors. With EV making the switch from the tech-savvy, early adopters, to the first wave of the general mainstream, partnering with a software provider can provide a more holistic service.

We all know how daunting EV can be to an outsider. When customers receive a product which isn’t working as intended, it can be difficult to differentiate where the fault lies, and by not having someone to explain and help post-install, you can risk losing customers or receiving negative feedback for simple issues or things that just aren’t your fault.

As part of some software packages, however, users will be provided with a round-the-clock customer service line (based in the UK and managed in-house, in our case) to help resolve issues as and when they occur, and reduce the pressure on manufacturers.

That’s just one example of where software partnerships can help you improve your overall customer service levels, and improve brand loyalty.

On top of that, partnering with a software solutions provider with an eMSP offering, for example, can mean a whole lot more. 

What this means is that when your drivers inevitably have to charge on the road, they can do so using an app with over 250,000 locations across the UK and Europe.

That means one system that ties together having greater home charging capabilities, on-the-go, Roaming options, and round-the-clock support. And that’s just what’s available to home EV charger customers.

When it comes to commercial usage, it can be argued that software is even more important.

Simply put, those managing EV charging sites would be unable to do so without software.

It means being able to lock Joe Public out from using sites for free. It means charging different amounts to staff/customers as to the general public, who can use the sites at the manager’s convenience to help earn back ROI. It means having an instant and complete oversight to make sure a network is running smoothly, and remote maintenance tools for when it’s not.

Ultimately, your commercial customers will be looking for all of these features regardless.

By partnering with a software company to provide them recommended, or pre-installed solutions, you remain a step ahead of the game in making all of these capabilities part-and-partial of your regular offering.

White-label options

If all of those features and benefits sound good to you, but you’re not sure about sticking another competing label on your hardware, then don’t worry.

There’s a solution to that, too.

Most software providers are happy to provide fully branded as well as white label solutions, so that throughout the service it’s just your hardware brand that remains visible to the end customer.

That means a home and on the go charging app branded in your name; an admin dashboard made in line with your company’s branding guidelines; and the option to put forward an NDA so that we’re not competing for brand visibility among your customers.

Customisable options in the Clenergy EV white-label package include:

• Logo

• Brand imagery

• Colour palette

• Brand language

• Iconography

How fast can a white label be implemented?

A white-label charge point platform can typically be implemented within 6 weeks. A white label provider, like Clenergy EV would require the relevant information such as logo, brand colours, iconography, and imagery - then it’s over to us to build the platform specifically for your needs. 

Is it secure to use a white label?

It’s often more secure to use a white label than to develop your own software. Companies that develop white labels will often pride themselves in hitting those all-important standards such as ISO:27001 and Cyber Essentials. In our case, we’ve recently renewed these qualifications, and have a blog explaining a deeper breakdown of our security practices for those looking for peace of mind in their white-label solution.

Of course, the white label option is just that; an option. If you’d prefer to inform your customers of Clenergy EV’s status as a partner providing a range of extra features on top of your hardware installation, then that’s totally up to you. It could prove beneficial in gaining visibility from our growing user base and social media followings, among other possible benefits.

How do I get started?

If you want to know more about what a Clenergy EV software partnership can do for you and your EV charging offering, all you need to do is fill out the form attached below to get into contact with one of our team members.

From there, we can get into the technical aspects of what our partnership would look like for you, as well as covering key points like pricing, white-label possibilities, and timeframes.

Either way, the team is there to help you make an informed decision that’s right for you and your business.

If you’re interested in learning more about software in general, then feel free to explore our site and reach out if you have any questions or queries.