Software · South Africa · Head-to-head
Field Service Cloud vs OpenSolar
Two South Africa software options, compared side by side for South Africa trades.
Which should you choose?
Field Service Cloud and OpenSolar are both Tier S: our check found each one's prices published on its own website, so you can compare their costs before talking to sales. The tier is not a quality ranking: weigh the pros, cons, pricing and South Africa-specific notes below against your trade and region.
Field Service Cloud
Tier S · Published pricesPretoria-based job card and field service software, R213.90 per field worker a month excluding VAT
Field Service Cloud is cloud field service management software with an office in Pretoria, and says it was born from the construction industry for the construction industry. It covers job cards and scheduling, on-site sign-off on mobile, quotations and invoicing, client management, GPS tracking of field technicians and fastest-route suggestions via Google Maps. It lists plumbing, electrical, construction and paint and decor businesses among the industries it serves.
Pros
- + Published rand price: R213.90 per field worker a month excluding VAT
- + Office managers, administrators and finance users are free
- + 60-day free trial with free company profile setup
- + GPS tracking of technicians and route suggestions via Google Maps
Cons
- − Importing data from a legacy system costs R15,000 once-off
- − Prices exclude VAT
- − Contract and cancellation terms are not published on the pricing page
- − Support hours are weekdays only
South Africa note
Field Service Cloud lists an office at Building D, 375 Oberon Ave, Faerie Glen, Pretoria, with support on 012 004 0233, Monday to Friday 08:00-16:30. Prices are in rand excluding VAT, and only field service members are charged; office, admin and finance users are free.
OpenSolar
Tier S · Published pricesFree solar design, proposal and CRM software for solar installers, from Australia's OpenSolar
OpenSolar is solar design and sales software from OpenSolar Pty Ltd of New South Wales, Australia, founded in 2017 by Adam Pryor and Andrew Birch. It covers automatic system design, mounting design, single-line diagrams, proposals with e-signature, integrated finance, a hardware shop and project management CRM. OpenSolar says it is free for solar professionals because manufacturers, finance companies and distributors pay to be on the platform, and that more than 28,000 professionals use it.
Pros
- + Free for solar professionals; OpenSolar says partners fund the platform
- + Automatic design, mounting design and single-line diagrams
- + Proposals with e-signature and integrated finance options
- + Project management CRM and hardware shop in the same platform
Cons
- − Solar-specific, not general trades job management
- − Funded by manufacturers, finance companies and distributors that pay to be on the platform
- − No South African office or SA-specific pages found
- − Aerial imagery is paid per image through a prepaid wallet, with no public prices
South Africa note
OpenSolar is a global web platform that says it is used in more than 185 countries, but none of the pages read mention South Africa, and it lists no South African office or local support. It handles solar design and sales only, so a trades business would still need separate job management software.
More South Africa options
See all South Africa software vendors and the rest of the South Africa directory.