Most platforms offer dashboards. Few deliver intelligence. Use this 25-criteria checklist — the same one Zerowatt's engineers use in every evaluation — to tell the difference before you sign.
The Evaluation Gap
Why Most Factories Choose the Wrong Platform
Energy platforms are marketed on dashboards and integrations. But what separates a platform that pays back in months from one that collects dust?
Data ≠ Intelligence
Most systems give you charts. Very few tell you which equipment is wasting energy, why, and what to do about it. Without an intelligence layer, a monitoring platform becomes an expensive data logger.
Integration is the Hidden Risk
Every factory already has PLCs, SCADA, and manual logbooks. A platform that can’t reuse existing sensors forces a rip-and-replace project — adding months to deployment and six figures to the budget.
Adoption Decides ROI
Platforms that don’t fit existing workflows — reports in familiar formats, alerts via WhatsApp or email, mobile access — simply don’t get used. Low adoption = low ROI, regardless of the technology.
Compliance is Accelerating
GHG Scope 1, 2 & 3 reporting is becoming mandatory across industries. A platform that can’t automate emissions accounting will require a second system and manual reconciliation within two years.
Criteria 1–5 · Sensor & Integration
Sensor & Integration: What to Demand from Day One
Integration failures are the single most common reason energy monitoring projects stall after purchase. These five criteria determine whether a platform will slot into your facility — or fight it.
Criteria 6–9 · Dashboard Features
Dashboard Features: What Every Operator Needs to See
A strong dashboard does more than display numbers — it shows how power flows, where costs accumulate, and when demand is about to spike. These four criteria separate platforms that inform from those that simply display.
Criteria 10–12 · Equipment Intelligence
Asset-Level Visibility: Catching Waste Before It Compounds
Most energy waste is invisible at the facility level. These three criteria test whether the platform can isolate inefficiency to the individual asset — and alert the right person before it costs you.
Criteria 13–16 · Usability & Access
Adoption Decides ROI: Criteria That Keep the Platform in Use
A technically superior platform that nobody uses delivers zero ROI. These four criteria test whether the platform fits real workflows — for operators on the shop floor and managers in the boardroom.
Criteria 17–20 · Advanced Dashboards
Beyond the Basics: Criteria That Unlock Hidden Value
Power quality, predictive maintenance, shift-team performance, and budget tracking are often absent from entry-level platforms. These four criteria separate a full-stack energy intelligence system from a basic monitoring tool.
Criteria 21–25 · AI & Intelligence
5 Intelligence Tests Every Platform Must Pass
“AI-powered” is the most overused claim in industrial software. These five criteria cut through the marketing and test whether the intelligence layer actually drives action.
Financial Justification
Build Your Business Case: ROI Calculator
A rigorous business case beats gut feel every time. Use the calculator below to model your expected returns — then stress-test with conservative and optimistic scenarios.
Quick ROI Estimator
Based on industry benchmarks (20–30% avg. Year-1 savings). Actual results depend on facility baseline and implementation quality.
Establish Your Baseline
Collect 12 months of utility bills and any available sub-meter data. Calculate energy intensity (kWh per unit of output). This becomes your M&V baseline.
Estimate Savings Potential
Industry benchmarks: 8–15% from operational changes alone; 20–30% with AI-driven recommendations. Apply a conservative 15% to your annual energy bill for the initial business case.
Calculate Total Cost of Ownership
Include hardware, software licence, implementation, training, and Year 2+ support. Insist vendors break out Year 1 vs. Year 2 costs — hidden renewal fees are a common trap.
Apply M&V Protocol
Use IPMVP Option B (equipment-level) or Option C (whole-facility). Ensure the platform supports automated M&V reporting so savings are auditable — not estimated.
Next Step
See How Zerowatt Scores on Your 25-Point Checklist
Skip the sandbox. We'll run a live assessment against your actual energy data and return a prioritised savings roadmap — no commitment required.
100+ large industrial facilities across India · 20–30% average reduction in energy costs, with payback in under 6 months
