The most significant difference with DCI Industries is that even though we use sub-contractors, we undertake the whole design process and the project management of the installation in-house.
Below is our process so that you can see how we interact with our customers and our sub-contractors to provide stringent quality control and a smooth installation process
- The initial contact. This can be through a phone call to us, an email or website request or through our own sales staff. The aim of this contact is to get to know what you need and how we can best help you.
- Site inspection. This is the most critical aspect of the entire process. We will conduct a comprehensive site inspection to ensure that every aspect of your desired system can go together without a hitch. From where we can install the inverter, to the condition of your switchboard and the cable path from your roof to your inverter. We will look at everything so that there are no surprises down the track.
- System design and quote. Once all of the information from the site inspection and the details from the initial contact and sales process have been gathered, one of our CEC accredited solar designers and electricians will design the best solution for your needs. This will take into consideration anything you may have stipulated such as budget constraints, size limits, or the ability to expand in the future.
- Acceptance of the quote. Once you have reviewed your quote, you have the option to ask to make changes and have the quote re-issued (free of charge) and when you are happy with the quote, you simply email us and state that you are ready to proceed with your quote. Simply provide us with the quote number in the correspondence.
- Ordering of the equipment. Once a quote has been accepted, DCI Industries will issue an invoice for the purchase of the major system components. This is normally comprised of the inverter, solar panels, framing system and batteries. There are a few reasons for this part of the process (which is different to many other companies). Firstly, it is a straight forward purchase of your equipment. By you purchasing the equipment up front, there is no risk to DCI Industries of non-payment of expensive (and sometimes unique) equipment. Secondly, when your equipment is purchased, it is delivered directly to you prior to the installation so that even if something was to happen to your installer and DCI Industries had to arrange for a different installer to take on the job, your equipment is already in your hands. We just need the installer to attend the side and install the system. In reality, it's no different to purchasing your inverter on ebay, but by doing it through DCI Industries, we can track it, get it delivered and if a warranty issue arises, we can resolve it very quickly though our distributors here in Australia.
- The installation. Once all of the major equipment items have been delivered to you, DCI Industries will arrange your installation date. We ask that you allow a 1 week installation timeframe as our installations can be hampered by weather and our installers may need to attend another site during your installation period if requested to by an electrical inspector or similar authority. This time frame just gives everyone a bit of breathing space in case of the unforeseen. It is always better to under promise and over deliver than the reverse.
- Handover. At the completion of your installation, you will receive an electrical certificate and a documentation pack (normally emailed to you) with all of your product data sheets, manuals, design information, and warranty information along with some information that is required by the CEC.
- SCT form. At the completion of your installation or shortly after, you will need to approve the STC creation which are the energy certificates for your system (unless you have requested to claim the STC's yourself). As a standard practice, DCI Industries will claim the STC's and provide the value of the STC's as shown in your quote as a discount off the final invoice. If you choose to cliam the STC's yourself or have the STC's paid directly to you then this discount line item in the quote will be removed on your final invoice.
- Final invoice. At the completion of your installation, you will be issued your final invoice which will be fore the balance of your quote (quote minus your first invoice) plus any additional cost that you had agreed to along the way. It's not uncommon that we get asked to install a new power point or smoke detector while we are doing the solar, which we are happy to do.
- Follow up. Generally we will follow you up around 8 weeks after the completion of the installation to make sure that everything is fine. You are always welcome to contact us at any stage if you have issues and we will do what we can to help you out. There are often small teething issues with owners and their new systems as they get to know the system and it is often just a short phone call to sort it all out. Were here to help.