First Meeting · · 6 min read
“Which Panel Will You Use?” Answer Instantly by Designing With Your Own Panels
Informed customers ask about panel brand, wattage and technology. If your design tool doesn’t have your panel, you can’t give a real answer.
This article is part of our series How to Close Solar Deals in the First Meeting. It covers one of the most common challenges Indian EPCs face — and how a 3D solar draft, built during the meeting, helps you solve it before you leave.
The challenge
Customers have researched online. They ask about bifacial vs mono PERC, 540 W vs 580 W, and ALMM-listed brands. Your answer affects trust and price.
Many tools force you to wait for the vendor to add a new module to their database.
Why it happens
- New panel models launch constantly.
- EPCs switch suppliers based on availability.
- Design databases lag behind the market.
- Customers compare options.
What it costs your EPC
If you design with the “closest available” panel, your capacity and generation numbers won’t match what you install.
How a 3D solar draft solves it in the first meeting
Pick software that lets you add your own panels directly, so you design with the exact module you will install and can show the layout and energy output for each option.
- Add your own panels directly.
- One-click panel fill with any module.
- Energy report per option.
- Proposal builder to present choices.
Both Solar Designer and SolarDraft accept a custom panel spec — brand, wattage and dimensions — so you are not waiting for a database update when a new module arrives.
First-meeting playbook: 5 steps
- Add your stocked panel models to your design tool in advance.
- Design with the recommended panel.
- Switch to an alternative if the customer asks.
- Compare capacity and generation side by side.
- Put the chosen option in the proposal.
Keep 2–3 panel options ready: a value option, a recommended option and a premium option.
Solar draft vs traditional first meeting
| Traditional first meeting | With a 3D solar draft | |
|---|---|---|
| What the customer sees | Brochure & price list | Their own roof in 3D |
| Energy estimate | Rule of thumb | Energy report with losses |
| Proposal | Sent 2–3 days later | Built in the meeting |
| Absent decision makers | Hear it second-hand | Open the 3D link |
| Typical outcome | “Let me think about it” | Decision today |
Related reading
- The complete first-meeting playbook for solar EPCs
- Manual Solar Estimates Cause Rework: Get the Quote Right in the First Meeting
- Show Multiple Solar Layout Options Live and Close in the First Meeting
- Best Solar Design Software in India (2026): SolarDraft, Solar Designer, Arka360, SolarLadder, Reslink & SurgePV Compared
Need the design done for you?
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Order a design →Frequently asked questions
Can I add my own panel models to design software?
In most India-focused tools, yes. SolarDraft and Solar Designer both let you enter a custom panel’s brand, wattage and size directly.
Should I offer panel options?
Offering two or three options helps customers choose instead of delaying.
Does PM Surya Ghar require specific panels?
Yes — ALMM-listed modules are required for subsidy. Check the current list.
