Why bringing energy billing in-house is easier than you think

The good news is that in-house billing has evolved significantly. Modern Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms designed specifically for the district heating and cooling sector offer a solution that doesn’t require major investments in IT infrastructure or the hiring of specialized teams. Instead, these platforms provide streamlined, automated processes that simplify billing and give suppliers more control over their operations, allowing them to stay agile and focused on the bigger picture—delivering sustainable energy to their customers.

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The changing landscape of DHC billing

As the district heating and cooling sector becomes more digitized and data-driven, the role of billing has expanded beyond just invoicing customers. It's now about transparency, trust, and providing accurate, real-time data that helps customers understand their energy usage and costs. Having this capability in-house enables suppliers to respond more quickly to customer questions, make adjustments as needed, and ensure compliance with ever-changing regulations—all without the frustrations of external third-party systems.

The fear that in-house billing is too complex is understandable but no longer justified. With the right tools, it becomes not only easy manageable but also leads to strategic advantages. SaaS billing solutions are built with flexibility in mind, allowing district heating and cooling suppliers to automate much of the manual work and focus on what matters most: operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and long-term growth.

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Key benefits of in-house billing with a SaaS solution
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1. Increase customer experience due to full control and transperency

Suppliers gain complete control over their billing process, allowing for real-time oversight and immediate response to customer issues. This transparency helps build trust with customers, as they can access accurate and up-to-date billing and consumption data.
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2. Automation for increased efficiency

Automations and integrations reduce manual tasks such as invoicing, payment collection, and reconciliation. This not only minimizes manual errors but also saves significant time, allowing suppliers to focus on more strategic aspects of their business. Additionally, the consolidation of systems through automation centralizes data management, streamlining operations across different processes.
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3. Cost savings

By bringing billing in-house, suppliers avoid third-party service fees and can streamline their processes without the need for expensive ERP systems. The long-term cost savings are substantial, especially for growing operations.
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4. Compliance with regulatory changes

The in-house solution automatically updates to meet  new energy billing regulations, ensuring suppliers remain compliant without needing to manually track or implement regulatory changes.
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5. Scalability and flexibility

As a supplier’s operation grows, an in-house solution like Zero Friction scales with it. The flexibility of the system allows it to adapt to both small-scale and large-scale operations without requiring major overhauls or additional investments.

As a supplier’s operation grows, an in-house solution like Zero Friction scales with it. The flexibility of the system allows it to adapt easily to both small-scale and large-scale operations, whether you have 500 or 50,000 connections. This scalability ensures that the platform grows with your needs without requiring major software readjustments and thus additional investments.
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Check if In-house billing solutions are your key to success

If you're considering bringing billing in-house, here's a quick checklist to help you understand why a SaaS platform would make sense for you:

• No Excel or manual work required
• No need to build or maintain an ERP system
• Full control of billing with automation
• Real-time access to billing data
• Scalable and flexible system
• Built-in energy regulatory compliance
• Improved customer communication and transparency
• Cost savings from eliminating third-party fees
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Zero Friction: your expert SaaS billing partner

At Zero Friction, we make bringing billing in-house easy and stress-free. Our SaaS platform is designed to give you control over your billing operations while automating the key processes that save you time and money. By choosing Zero Friction, you’re not just adopting new software—you’re gaining a partner committed to helping you succeed.

As Bob Bloemers from Duurzaam Opgewekt highlights:

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"The automation within the system makes sending and collecting advance payments as well as processing final and annual settlements very simple for us."

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Zero Friction is here to simplify your billing, allowing you to focus on providing energy that supports the transition to a sustainable future. Let us take care of the billing software so you can focus on what matters most: your business and your customers.

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Ready to simplify your billing?

Bringing billing in-house doesn’t have to be complex or time-consuming. With Zero Friction, you can easily manage your billing processes while eliminating the need for Excel or building your own system. Contact us today to learn more about how our SaaS platform can transform your district energy billing.

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