PES: Hi Tobias, welcome to PES. Please could you tell us how you came to work in the solar industry, and about your role at meteocontrol?

Tobias Brüser: I first came into contact with renewable energies about twelve years ago. It was in high school, where we established a student company in order to set up a

photovoltaic system on the roof of our school. I have been in the photovoltaic industry ever since.

At meteocontrol I am the product manager running the team for our cloud applications. We turn requirements of the market into products and features. Launching a new product is always something very exciting and we are doing it again: we are expanding our online platform, the VCOM Cloud.

PES: We would love to know more about the platform.

TB: The VCOM Cloud is our platform for PV monitoring – all our customers worldwide trust in this solution to monitor their systems: the cloud-based software currently monitors more than 14 GWp in about 120 countries. Monitoring is our core business and we continuously set new standards in the industry.

We now plan to provide improved support to our customers for their O&M processes by offering a holistic solution: VCOM CMMS. ‘CMMS’ is short for Computerized Maintenance Management System. This solution will make the technical operation management of photovoltaic systems even simpler and more efficient and once again set a trend. The VCOM Cloud is now a modern

cloud solution that incorporates the proven VCOM Monitoring solution as well as our newest product, VCOM CMMS.

PES: Are there any other applications offered in the VCOM Cloud?

TB: The VCOM Cloud is an open platform. We believe the exchange of data with other tools should be as simple as possible, so we developed the VCOM API. This interface enables data access and the connection to systems like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in the simplest way.

Over the past two years, we have also introduced two mobile applications for smartphones and tablets. The VCOM Monitoring allows investors, asset managers and system owners to keep an eye on the key performance indicators of their plants. The VCOM O&M app is aimed at technicians as a way of simplifying service tasks.

PES: Why did meteocontrol decide to add a CMMS to the VCOM Cloud?

TB: Processes initiated after fault detection can be very time-consuming. The basic idea of VCOM CMMS is to digitize and automate these processes wherever possible to save time. As systems and portfolios are expanding and rapid access to information is becoming increasingly important, O&M

CMMS and digitalization: the next level of O&M?More efficient, cost and time saving operations & maintenance of power plants: the worldwide increasing requirements demand special software solutions that are adapted to the needs of operations & maintenance managers, technicians as well as asset managers. For the first time, Tobias Brüser, product manager cloud applications at meteocontrol GmbH, shares his insights. He gives PES a look into the development of meteocontrol s latest software solution VCOM CMMS and the merits of agile development processes.

Tobias Brüser

PES SOLAR1

ASK THE EXPERTS: DIGITALIZATION

WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 2

ASK THE EXPERTS: DIGITALIZATION

managers face cost pressure and need to work very efficiently.

With VCOM CMMS, we will provide our customers with a tool that boosts both the quality and the efficiency of technical operation management.

PES: There are already successful CMMS solutions available. What differentiates yours?

TB: There are a number of CMMS solutions and modules in the marketplace, some of them by major players like Salesforce or Microsoft. But we do not compete against these software heavyweights: our tool is tailored to the needs of the photovoltaic industry, here our vast experience and PV knowledge comes into play. This is where we are the market leader.

The integration of monitoring and CMMS into one platform appeals greatly to customers. It eliminates the need for time-consuming and costly development of interfaces between systems. There is no need to switch from tool to tool.

PES: Did customer and partner feedback prompt you to develop the product?

TB: Absolutely. In the recent past, we focused on monitoring in order to develop and offer the best technical solution. We became the world market leader as a result.

During this time, we developed very strong customer relationships and became a trusted partner for many renowned companies in the industry. This new enhancement of our product range is a result of a very deep dialogue with our partners and the know-how of meteocontrol.

PES: How is VCOM CMMS being developed?

TB: In order to develop the product, we are working with some of our large international customers. The months-long test phase has received positive feedback. With VCOM CMMS, we have really struck a chord. Our partners are proactively sharing their ideas with us and as a product manager, I am really glad to be working so closely with them and our development team. The developers enable us to achieve an agile development of new features in the shortest possible time.

Two other aspects were also very important to us: the first is receiving international feedback from our subsidiaries and joint ventures in an early development stage of the project and the second, gathering requirements from various markets.

PES: Why do you prefer agile development?

TB: Requirements simply change too quickly. This is the reason we switched to agile methods years ago. Being agile enables us to

collaborate very closely with customers and to adapt to their needs in a timely manner. As a result, we can frequently offer new software versions and builds. For VCOM CMMS, our goal is to create something long-term with monthly improved releases, just like VCOM.

PES: In your opinion what is the most important feature of VCOM CMMS?

TB: To me it is about processes being automated to speed them up and eliminate sources of error: for example, a system triggers an alarm, the O&M manager notices it in the VCOM Monitoring. He can decide if on-site intervention is necessary and create a job request in VCOM CMMS. This request will include all the information a technician needs on site: first of all, the technician will receive one or more forms to be filled out. These will include all necessary steps that must be taken on site.

The technician will receive all this information in the VCOM O&M app, can work his way through the list and return it to the O&M manager. He will also receive directions to the site, information about potential dangers, and safety instructions. The manager can then create an instant report for stakeholders, the investor and the asset manager. We have successfully tried this process with test partners and will

roll it out to all customers in September via VCOM CMMS.

Every document, all information is available digitally end to end. Once an internet connection is available, the information will be synchronized between the mobile devices of the technician and the VCOM CMMS of the O&M manager. The app is designed in such a way that it can be used by both our own service technicians, as well as external service providers.

PES: What other functions can O&M managers expect to see?

TB: The previous example is a process that we have digitalized and thus accelerated. Parts of this process are service requests and reports. In addition, we will offer a way to create and customize templates. Customers can use them in the usual VCOM environment and do not need to learn how to operate yet another tool.

PES: How do you think O&M managers will respond to your product?

TB: We are definitely on the right track. Not only because operation managers will be able to work more time and cost efficient, but also because quality and service will improve. They will be able to provide information and answer questions much faster.

The goal is to have all information required available digitally. Today operation managers need to access data from various sources and some information are not even available digitally: forms, service requests, service reports, some of which need to be printed, sent, filled out and returned. This is a very time-consuming process.

PES: In how far is customization necessary and possible?

TB: There are products that need much time and money for customization after purchase. With VCOM CMMS, the O&M manager can get started immediately. Of course, we will offer support during the introductory phase and also provide online training.

Customers requested it, so we offer it: customization of the templates and reports.

PES: Are you planning to have a link to the VCOM Monitoring app at some point?

TB: Yes, definitely, we are already working on it. The operation manager will then be able to send the reports not only by e-mail but also via the app to investors.

PES: So, what’s next?

TB: The official product launch for VCOM CMMS is set for mid-September. The tool will be available in German, English, Italian, French, Spanish and Japanese.

Naturally, we hope to convince new customers with the strengths of the monitoring system and the various CMMS functions that we have united in the VCOM Cloud. The benefits are obvious: the customers have a tool that fulfils their every monitoring and managing need and we provide them with everything they need to operate the system on their own in a very efficient way.

www.meteocontrol.com

ASK THE EXPERTS: DIGITALIZATION

PES SOLAR3