Eneco: Bridging Workforce Challenges in Renewable Installations

Case Study: Bridging Workforce Challenges in Renewable Installations

The Brief

A leading European energy provider faced a critical challenge: bridging the supply-demand gap for skilled heat pump installers. With the transition to sustainable energy accelerating, they needed an agile, scalable solution to meet the rising demand for installations. Our task was to identify barriers preventing more freelancers from taking on installation work alongside their private clients, enabling our client to adapt swiftly to industry demands.

The Challenge

As sustainable energy goals continue to drive renewable energy adoption across Europe, heat pumps have emerged as essential tools for reducing carbon emissions. Yet, like many energy providers, our client encountered a shortage of skilled installers, creating a dependency on freelancers to meet demand. However, freelancers faced several challenges that impacted their ability to take on additional work:

• Job Scoping Clarity: Installers encountered inefficiencies due to jobs lacking specific scoping, which disrupted workflow and wasted time.
• Scheduling Flexibility: Many freelancers needed flexible scheduling to balance client and project work effectively, but an intuitive scheduling system was missing.
• Peer Collaboration: With no established network, installers found it difficult to seek guidance on complex or unique property challenges.

Our client needed a solution to address these core challenges, creating an environment where freelancers could effectively scale their involvement, improving both satisfaction and operational efficiency.

The Solution

Our approach began with in-depth research, spending time on-site with installers to gain first-hand insight into their day-to-day experiences. This fieldwork revealed key areas for improvement, leading us to design targeted solutions:

1. Enhanced Job Scoping: We developed a digital tool that allows clear, criteria-based job scoping to ensure freelancers only receive relevant assignments.
2. Flexible Scheduling System: A new scheduling interface was designed to enable freelancers to seamlessly integrate project assignments around existing commitments.
3. Peer Support Network: We introduced a platform where installers could share advice, discuss installation techniques, and troubleshoot challenges for varied property types.

These solutions provided freelancers with a streamlined experience, while our client gained a reliable, scalable workforce model suited to the growing market for renewable installations.

Developing the Solution

After validating prototypes with installers, we collaborated closely with the client's internal teams to develop and implement these solutions. Our end-to-end support, from technical scoping to onboarding support, ensured the solutions were well-integrated and aligned with the client’s broader framework.

Impact

The project’s impact was substantial. By reducing obstacles for freelancers, our client could better balance supply and demand, significantly improving installer engagement and satisfaction. The new tools empowered freelancers to accept more jobs with confidence, ensuring that the client was equipped to meet the increasing demand for heat pumps in the European market.