3D Design in Proposal - Sharing an Interactive 3D Proposal with Your Customer

Summary:

This article shows you how the 3D design proposal works and how to present it to your customer. When you share a proposal for a design that has a 3D rooftop view (or 3D imagery available), the customer opens an interactive 3D proposal — they can rotate, zoom, and move the model, compare system options, view shading analysis and solar irradiance across the year, and then continue into the full online proposal.

3D design proposals appear automatically for eligible proposals — there is nothing to switch on. If a design does not have a 3D view available, the customer simply sees the standard proposal as before.

This feature is currently available for Indian installers only.

When the 3D view appears:

• Org: the org must be part of the India rollout (the feature is enabled per region).
• Design: every system option in the proposal must have a 3D design built in the Studio.
• Fallback: if the design is 2D-only, or if even one option is missing a 3D design, the customer sees the regular proposal exactly as before — no 3D view, no overlay.

Note: You don't switch anything on. If you designed in 3D and your org is in the rollout, the customer gets the 3D view automatically.

How the 3D Proposal Works:

Step 1: Share the proposal link with your customer

Share the online proposal link with your customer as you normally would. For any design where a 3D rooftop view has been created, or 3D imagery is available, the customer will see the 3D proposal.

• Open the project and go to the online proposal, then copy the proposal link (or use the built-in WhatsApp share).
• Share the link over WhatsApp, SMS, or email. The WhatsApp preview shows the project address and a thumbnail, so it looks credible before the customer even taps.
• Sending a PDF instead? The PDF includes a 'View in 3D' button that opens the same online 3D view — one tap into the full experience.

Tip: For the strongest first impression, ask the customer to open the link on their own phone while you're on the call, then walk them through it live using the talk track below.

Example proposal link - https://app.opensolar.com/myenergy/10689226?token=AEGAJgeIqv6_FTlsTek 

Step 2: The customer opens the proposal — cover page first

When the customer opens the link, they first see the cover letter / cover model, just like in a usual proposal.

• The customer reviews the cover page.
• They then click Continue to Proposal to open the interactive 3D view.

Step 3: Explore the interactive 3D view

Once inside, the customer has a fully interactive view of their roof and the proposed installation, shown on top of their existing roof drawing. The 3D roof fills the screen with a set of light cards floating on top (the overlay). The overlay shows your logo, the customer name and address, the system size, the system-option selector, the key financial figures, the shading controls, the irradiance control, a compass, and the 'Continue to Proposal' button. Editing tools are always hidden — the customer can look but cannot change the design.

The customer can move the model to see the setup from any angle:

• Rotate: right-click and drag to rotate the entire view.
• Move (pan): left-click and drag to move the view around.
• Zoom: scroll to zoom in and out.
• Return to view: use the option to return to the selected view at any time.

Step 4: Review the customer details and system options

Every proposal is headed by the customer's name followed by their address. If the proposal has multiple system options, both options appear in the panel on the left, each with a few key details.

• The customer can choose between the different options available.
• The metrics for each option — such as the net system price and the annual bill savings — are shown so they can compare.

Step 5: Show shading analysis (sun path across the year)

The 3D proposal includes shading analysis — a feature that was previously only in the Studio and is now available to the end customer in the proposal itself. It shows the sun path through the year and the real-time effect of surrounding obstacles on the roof.

• Switch between months to see how shading changes across the year, or drag the slider.
• Show the customer the effect of nearby obstacles (trees, structures) on their panels at different times.

Step 6: Toggle Solar Irradiance

Solar Irradiance is also available. Toggle it on to show how much sunlight the panels receive.

• Turn the Solar Irradiance toggle on to colour the panels by irradiance.
• Toggle it off to return to the normal view.

Step 7: Play the timeline

A small play button animates the whole analysis. Click it and the proposal plays through the timeline — across the months and the time of day — so the customer can watch how shading changes over time.

• Click the play button to run the timeline automatically.
• Watch the shading analysis update through the months and the time of day.

Step 8: Continue to the complete proposal

Once the customer is convinced, they click 'View Complete Proposal' to move into the full online proposal. They can return to the 3D view at any time if they want to explore the design again.

• The customer clicks View Complete Proposal to open the full online proposal (pricing, savings detail, and next steps).
• They can switch back to the 3D view whenever they like.

Controls Reference:

The 3D view uses the same controls as the design studio:

• Rotate: right-click + drag (desktop).
• Move / pan: left-click + drag (desktop).
• Zoom: scroll wheel (desktop).
• Return to view: the return-to-selected-view control resets to the default view set by the installer.
• Shading: switch months or drag the slider; use the play button to animate the timeline.
• Solar Irradiance: toggle on / off.
• Options: select a system option in the left panel to compare price and savings.

Note: On a phone, the customer uses touch gestures — one finger to move, two fingers to rotate, and pinch to zoom.

Mobile Experience:

Most customers open the proposal on their phone from a WhatsApp, SMS, or email link. The 3D proposal is built mobile-first, so the full experience — 3D view, options, shading, and irradiance — works on a phone with touch controls. The layout adapts to the smaller screen: the 3D view fills the screen, and the controls sit as compact cards and a bottom strip so they never cover the roof.

Touch controls

• Rotate: drag with two fingers to rotate the model.
• Move (pan): drag with one finger to move the view around.
• Zoom: pinch in and out with two fingers.
• Return to view: tap the return control to reset to the default view set by the installer.

Using the controls on a phone

• Switch system options by tapping the option cards; price and savings update in place.
• Use the month and time sliders in the bottom strip to run the shading analysis; tap the play button to animate the timeline.
• Tap the Solar Irradiance toggle to colour the panels by sunlight, and tap again to turn it off.
• Tap View Complete Proposal to move into the full online proposal, and return to the 3D view whenever needed.

[ Screenshot: 3D proposal on a phone — 3D view filling the screen with controls as compact cards and a bottom strip ]

Note: A one-time on-screen hint shows the customer how to move the model on their first visit. For the smoothest experience inside WhatsApp, Instagram, or Twitter, the customer can open the link in their normal browser (Chrome or Safari) if a swipe accidentally closes the view.

If the 3D view can't load on a device

If a customer's phone or connection can't load the 3D view, the proposal automatically falls back to the regular proposal so they still get all the information — they simply won't see the interactive 3D. Ask them to reopen the link on Wi-Fi or in their normal browser to try the 3D view again.

How to Explain the Proposal to Your Customer:

A suggested talk track for a live call or an in-person demo. Adapt it to the customer, but this order works well: design first, then confidence (shading), then value (options + savings), then next step.

1. Open on their device. Ask the customer to tap the link on their own phone so it feels real and hands-on.

Say: "Open the link I just sent — that's your actual roof in 3D."

2. Show the design. Have them rotate and zoom to see the panels on their roof; use the compass to point out orientation.

Say: "Turn it around with two fingers, pinch to zoom — those are your panels, exactly where they'll be installed."

3. Build confidence with shading. Move the time slider across a day, then the month slider across the seasons.

Say: "Watch the shadows as I move through the day — and across the year. We've placed the panels to avoid the worst shade."

4. Show sunlight with irradiance. Turn on the irradiance heat-map.

Say: "The brighter areas get the most sun all year — and that's exactly where your panels sit."

5. Compare options. Switch between the system options and let them watch the roof and the savings change.

Say: "Here's the standard system… and here's the larger one — see how the savings go up."

6. Move to the numbers. Tap 'Continue to Proposal' to walk through pricing, savings and payment options.

Say: "When you're happy with the design, tap Continue and I'll take you through the numbers and payment options."

Device & Browser Support:

• Modern Android phones and iPhones, and desktop browsers (Chrome, Safari).
• Opens inside WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter in-app browsers; for best results open in the normal browser.
• Optimised for Android/iphone over 4G/5G both — the devices most India customers use.

Common Questions:

When does the customer see the 3D proposal?

When the design has a 3D rooftop view created (or 3D imagery available) and the org is eligible. If no 3D view is available, the customer sees the standard proposal instead.

Can I choose what view the customer sees first?

Yes. You can change the view and set it as the default view the customer lands on. The customer can also return to this selected view at any time.

Where do the pricing and full details appear?

The 3D view shows headline figures such as net system price and annual bill savings. For the complete details, the customer clicks View Complete Proposal to open the full online proposal. They can return to the 3D view afterwards.

What is shading analysis showing?

It shows the sun path across the year and the real-time effect of surrounding obstacles on the roof. The customer can switch months, use the slider, or press play to animate the timeline through the months and time of day.

What does Solar Irradiance show?

Toggling Solar Irradiance on colours the panels by how much sunlight they receive, helping explain why the panels are placed where they are.

Can the customer edit the design?

No. The 3D proposal is view-only — the customer can explore the design but cannot change it.