Charge RosterIn short
Most installer projects involve up to three software layers: software for running installation jobs, software for operating connected chargers and software for managing how people use shared workplace charging. One product does not automatically replace the others. Charge Roster belongs to the workplace coordination layer: it schedules charging access between employees and does not run installer jobs or operate charger hardware.
The three software layers installers commonly encounter
| Software layer | Main job | Typical capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Installer operations | Run the installation business | leads, surveys, quotes, engineer scheduling, job workflow, documentation, invoicing |
| Charge point management / CPMS | Operate connected charging hardware | OCPP, commissioning, charger status, sessions, diagnostics, remote commands, firmware, tariffs or load management where supported |
| Workplace charging coordination | Organise access to shared chargers | employee access, reservations, booking rules, shared availability, charging turns, demand visibility |
An installer may need one, two or all three layers depending on the business model and customer project.
Layer 1: installer operations software
Installer operations software manages the work required to sell and deliver an installation.
Typical capabilities:
- Customer and lead management
- Site surveys
- Quoting
- Engineer scheduling
- Installation workflow
- Photos and documentation
- Compliance records
- Completion and handover records
- Invoicing
This software helps the installer deliver projects. It generally does not decide which employee gets to use a workplace charger next.
Layer 2: charge point management software
A charge point management system manages connected charging equipment after or during commissioning.
Typical capabilities may include:
- Connecting supported chargers to a backend
- OCPP communication
- Charger and connector status
- Remote commands
- Charging-session records
- Diagnostics
- Firmware management
- Driver authentication
- Tariffs or payment
- Load or energy-management functions
The exact capabilities depend on the platform and hardware.
A CPMS is the appropriate layer when the project requires the software to communicate directly with the charger.
Layer 3: workplace charging coordination
A different problem appears after workplace chargers are installed: several employees may need to share a smaller number of charging spaces.
The customer's questions become operational rather than electrical:
- Who may use the chargers?
- When is charging time available?
- Can employees reserve a charging period?
- How long may one driver use the resource?
- When should the next employee get access?
- What happens when demand exceeds the available schedule?
Those questions can exist even when the chargers themselves operate perfectly.
Why the distinction matters
Searching for one “EV charger software” platform can lead to mismatched expectations.
A field-service platform may be excellent for quoting and engineer scheduling but have no concept of workplace charging reservations. A CPMS may provide detailed charger telemetry but not the employee allocation model the customer wants. A workplace scheduling system may organise charging turns without knowing anything about firmware or electrical load.
Evaluate the software against the problem it is meant to solve.
What software does a workplace installation actually need?
| Customer need | Software layer |
|---|---|
| Manage surveys, quotes and installers | Installer operations |
| Commission/configure connected chargers | CPMS / manufacturer tooling |
| Monitor charger status remotely | CPMS |
| Manage tariffs/payment | CPMS or billing platform |
| Manage electrical/load constraints | CPMS/EMS as appropriate |
| Let employees reserve shared charging time | Workplace coordination |
| Set employee booking rules | Workplace coordination |
| See unmet requests for charging time | Workplace coordination |
Can the layers work together without an integration?
Yes, depending on the use case.
If the customer's charger hardware already functions correctly and the workplace only needs a fair way to allocate charging time, the scheduling layer may operate alongside the hardware without controlling it.
If the customer needs charger status, session data, payments or remote commands to influence the booking process, integration requirements become more important and should be assessed separately.
Questions installers should ask before proposing software
- Is the problem installation workflow or post-install customer operation?
- Does the software need to communicate directly with the charger?
- Does the customer need OCPP connectivity?
- Does the customer need payment or tariffs?
- Does the customer need load management?
- Is the real problem employees competing for shared chargers?
- Does the customer need reservations or a queue?
- Who will administer users after handover?
- Will the installer remain involved after installation?
- Can the customer's existing hardware be retained?
Where Charge Roster fits
Charge Roster sits in the workplace charging coordination layer.
It gives workplace customers a shared schedule for their chargers, lets employees reserve charging time and gives the workplace visibility into booking activity and demand that could not be accommodated.
It does not run the installer's quoting, engineer or invoicing workflow. It is not a CPMS and does not communicate with chargers through OCPP, perform diagnostics, control electrical load or manage firmware.
Charging partners can use Charge Roster with workplace customers after installation and decide whether to remain involved in the customer account or hand day-to-day management to the workplace.