Take a look at some of the aspects of the EV charging in commercial venues.

Being an eMobility leader in various projects across multiple startups, Piotr was responsible for OCPI and OCPP integration as well as EMP and CPO platforms development. With extensive expertise in the open standards field and eMobility tech solutions, he is leading teams of experienced developers and contributing with invaluable knowledge and experience.

Piotr Majcher

You’ve probably noticed the shift already.

The colleague pulling into the office parking lot with an electric company car. The delivery van humming quietly down your street instead of rumbling. The hotel guest asking, 

“Do you have a charger I can use overnight?”

Electric vehicles are becoming part of everyday business life. It raises a practical question for property developers, building owners, and facility managers: 

This article breaks down why EV charging station installation makes sense across commercial and industrial buildings, including office spaces, logistics centers, and hotels. We’ll look at the business case, the infrastructure requirements, and how to approach installation in a way that’s both scalable and sustainable.

Business advantages of commercial EV charging station installation

Growing demand for EV charging in commercial real estate

 accelerates, the demand for charging infrastructure in commercial properties is surging. To meet the anticipated 

 demand by 2030, the number of commercial EV charging stations in the U.S. must increase by 

 times, necessitating over 500,000 additional chargers. This underscores a significant opportunity for commercial real estate owners to invest in 

Office buildings, shopping centers, and mixed-use developments are strategically positioned to provide this essential infrastructure. By installing EV charging stations, property owners can address market demands, align with sustainability objectives, and enhance long-term property value.

Benefits of EV charging stations for business and property value

Adding EV chargers to your building supports business objectives in multiple ways:

Attracts tenants who expect sustainability-focused amenities

Increases overall property appeal and market competitiveness

Supports environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance

These benefits are especially relevant in urban areas, where convenient charging is a strong factor in tenant and customer decisions.

Why EV charging for office buildings is a smart investment

In 2023, workplace EV charging sessions in the U.S. surged by 

, while the new charging ports grew by only 22%. This disparity indicates that demand for workplace charging is outpacing the installation of new infrastructure, highlighting a significant opportunity for commercial property owners to meet this growing need.

Office buildings are well-suited for EV charging installation

Most office properties already have key components needed for EV charging: parking availability, existing electrical systems, and long-term tenant relationships. Adding EV chargers improves the building’s profile and responds to the needs of employees and business visitors who drive electric vehicles.

EV-ready office buildings appeal to companies prioritizing sustainability and employee experience. 

 setups allow buildings to support multiple users without major infrastructure overhauls. With a modest number of stations and proper scheduling software, you can serve daily charging needs efficiently and reliably.

Industrial EV charging solutions for warehouses and logistics centers

Why industrial sites are ideal for EV charging infrastructure

Industrial properties like warehouses and distribution centers often have stronger electrical capacity than commercial sites. This makes it easier to implement EV charging for electric fleet vehicles, delivery vans, or employee use without expensive system upgrades.

How industrial EV charging helps meet operational and sustainability goals

Electrifying fleet operations helps reduce fuel costs and emissions. On-site industrial EV charging stations make this transition practical and cost-effective. When integrated with facility management software, these systems also support energy efficiency and real-time monitoring.

Industrial operators looking to reduce carbon output or improve ESG scores can start with charging infrastructure tailored to their operational needs.

EV charging for hotels: How hospitality businesses can attract EV travelers

EV charging availability is now a key booking decision for guests

Travelers increasingly filter hotels by EV charging availability. By offering EV charging for hotels, hospitality operators can meet this growing demand and improve guest satisfaction. Well-known brands like Marriott and Hilton have already adopted this amenity across many locations.

Streamlined EV charging station installation for hotel properties

Hotels often work with EV infrastructure partners who provide everything from hardware to mobile apps. These solutions help guests find chargers, manage payments, and access support during their stay.

For hotels, EV charging is both a brand differentiator and a practical service that increases visibility on booking platforms.

How to choose the right EV charging solutions for business properties

Importance of software, scalability, and open protocols

EV charging infrastructure isn’t just about installing plugs. Businesses should look for solutions that include:

Real-time monitoring and maintenance tools

Support for mobile access and user controls

Choosing platforms that support open standards like 

 ensures flexibility for future upgrades and integrations.

Partnering with charge point operators and eMobility providers

The best approach often involves working with experienced 

charge point operators (CPOs) or eMobility service providers (eMSPs

). These partners handle technical planning, installation, and ongoing system management. They can also help with applying for local incentive programs and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Key considerations and challenges for EV charging station installation

Before any chargers go in, there are a few practical questions to answer. Does the building’s electrical system have enough capacity? What permits are needed? Are there incentives that could offset the cost? Getting clarity on these early makes the installation process smoother and more cost-effective.

How to assess electrical capacity for an EV charging setup

Start with a review of your property’s existing electrical system. While many sites can handle limited charging setups, scaling up may require upgrades. Smart charging systems can help distribute available power more efficiently and avoid unnecessary load increases.

Working with a qualified consultant ensures your installation is both technically sound and ready for future expansion.

Navigating permits, regulations, and incentives for commercial EV charging

Every region has its own permitting rules and regulations. Understanding these requirements in advance prevents delays and ensures compliance. There are also national and regional programs that provide financial incentives for EV charging infrastructure.

Planning and applying early can help reduce installation costs and improve the return on your investment.

Future-proofing your property with EV charging infrastructure

Installing commercial EV charging stations in office buildings, industrial properties, or hotels is a strategic move that improves property value, tenant satisfaction, and long-term sustainability.

From increasing demand in real estate to growing regulatory support, the case for EV charging is strong. Property owners who take action now can stay ahead of market trends and benefit from early-mover advantages.

Ready to explore EV charging solutions for your building? Start by assessing your site’s capacity, identifying your user needs, and connecting with the right technology partner.

Discover why EV charging station installation is essential for commercial and industrial buildings, from offices to hotels and logistics centers.

Why Commercial and Industrial Buildings Are Ideal for EV Charging Station Installation

 Learn when and how to migrate your EV charging platform without disrupting your network.

After founding Solidstudio, Pawel was an originator in terms of pursuing expertise in eMobility. With the build-up of a solid knowledge-base on industry’s needs & wants, he now keeps a close eye on products’ development. He’s also hugely responsible for the business’ side and designs the business models for our products.

Paweł Małkowiak

If you're running an EV charging network, you've probably hit that moment: your software feels more like a limitation than a solution. Maybe it can’t keep up with your growing infrastructure. Maybe it’s missing features your customers now expect. Or maybe you’re simply tired of relying on a third-party platform that doesn’t give you the control or flexibility you need.

 is a decision that eventually shows up on the roadmap of most CPOs and eMobility providers. And while the idea of switching systems might sound daunting - downtime, data transfer, compatibility issues - the real risk lies in doing nothing.

Sticking with outdated, underperforming software can hold your business back just when the market is moving faster than ever.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about EV charging software migration:

What should you watch out for when evaluating providers?

And how do you pull off a migration without disrupting your network?

If you're planning to scale, streamline operations, or take back control of your infrastructure, this article will help you make the move confidently.

EV charging software migration is the process of switching from one backend platform to another to manage charging stations, user data, billing, and integrations. It ensures scalability, performance, and compliance as networks grow, and is often necessary when legacy systems can no longer meet business demands.

But in eMobility, it’s rarely as simple as “moving to a new platform.” Unlike traditional SaaS tools, EV charging software connects to physical infrastructure, communicates in real time with charging stations, and needs to stay online for drivers 24/7.

Such a migration touches more than just your tech stack, it impacts your entire operation.

When you move to a new EV charging management platform, you’re often dealing with:

Charging station control and communication (typically over 

Each of these layers must be carefully transitioned to ensure stability and service continuity.

Why EV charging platform migration is more complex than it looks

Even if two platforms claim OCPP compliance, they might interpret edge cases differently. Hardware from different manufacturers may respond unpredictably. Network configurations, charger firmware versions, and custom business rules all need to be accounted for.

That’s why migrating EV charging networks isn’t just about plugging in new software. You have to make sure to validate every interaction between your backend and the real-world charging infrastructure while minimizing downtime and avoiding service disruptions for drivers.

In short, EV charging platform migration is equal parts strategy, coordination, and technical execution. Done well, it opens up new opportunities for growth, performance, and autonomy. Done poorly, it risks revenue loss, unhappy users, and long-term setbacks.

When should you consider EV charging platform migration?

No one wakes up hoping to switch platforms. Migrations usually come up when something stops working the way it should.

 If you're starting to feel friction between your current EV charging software and your business goals

Whether you're a CPO expanding your network or an EMSP looking for better service quality, here are the most common reasons companies decide to make the move.

These are the day-to-day frustrations, the technical and functional limitations that pile up until staying put feels more painful than changing.

Your users expect real-time availability, remote diagnostics, mobile payments, dynamic pricing, and your current system doesn’t deliver.

Crashes, slow performance, and scaling issues can cause disruptions, especially as your network grows.

When you’re managing a nationwide or regional network, waiting days for a ticket response is unacceptable.

If your current software can’t keep up with evolving standards or regulations (OCPP 2.0.1, data privacy laws, etc.), it puts your entire operation at risk.

Beyond bugs and feature gaps, some problems cut deeper into how your business is built and where it's headed.

In SaaS setups, your customer and operational data often sits on someone else’s servers. That’s a problem if you need full control or are preparing for audits, funding rounds, or M&A.

If your software provider makes it hard (or expensive) to customize, integrate, or leave, you’re not in control of your growth.

Software designed for 100 chargers might break under the weight of 5,000. Legacy systems weren’t built for today's scale, let alone tomorrow's.

If you can’t add new features fast, your competitors will, and they’ll win on customer experience, uptime, and innovation.

Migrating to a new EV charging management platform doesn’t mean something went wrong. Often, it means your business is growing, and your software needs to catch up.

Read how our team migrated 9k chargers in zero downtime for 

Key considerations before migrating your EV charging network

Even if you’re convinced that your current software is holding you back, migrating your EV charging system isn’t a decision to rush. Between technical integration, cost structures, and long-term implications, there are several things worth thinking through before you switch to a new EV charging management platform.

1. Total cost of ownership (not just license fees)

SaaS solutions might seem cheaper at first, especially if you’re just getting started, but the cost can scale fast. More chargers = higher recurring fees. Over time, you may end up paying far more than you would for a licensed or custom-built solution.

How will costs change as my network grows?

Am I paying mostly OPEX, or building long-term value through CAPEX?

Every migration comes with risk. The question is: how much can your business handle?

How long can your network afford to be down?

What’s your fallback plan if chargers go offline during the switch?

Are you set up to manage edge-case errors (like firmware mismatches)?

The lower your tolerance for disruption, the more important it is to phase the migration carefully, or work with a provider who has done it before at scale.

3. Compatibility with your hardware and infrastructure

Some EV charging networks include dozens of charger models from multiple vendors — not all software handles that well.

Is the new platform fully OCPP-compliant (1.6 and/or 2.0.1)?

Can it support your specific hardware types and network architecture?

Does it offer flexibility in how OCPI connections are managed?

This is where OCPP acceptance testing and OCPI migration planning come into play.

If you’re currently using a cloud SaaS solution, your data might be locked away behind someone else’s dashboard. Migrating could give you:

Full access and control over your historical and real-time data

The option to host software on your infrastructure

Greater leverage in future provider negotiations

In regulated or highly competitive markets, data autonomy is a must-have.

Are you looking for a one-size-fits-all product? Or do you have specific workflows and integrations that off-the-shelf platforms don’t support?

Custom software or licensed solutions can offer:

Tailored features like smart energy management, API-first design, or unique billing models

Competitive differentiation through exclusive capabilities

The option to own your software’s intellectual property (IP)

Your next platform should be built not for where you are now, but where you're headed.

Can the new system support 5x or 10x your current network size?

What’s their track record with large, complex deployments?

Do they support modular expansion (e.g., fleets, residential, public charging)?

Choosing a platform that matches your growth curve avoids the need to migrate again in a year or two.

Migrating your EV charging network is a long-term commitment. By weighing these factors carefully, you can reduce risk, avoid rework, and set your business up for scalable success.

How to choose the right software provider

Once you’ve decided to migrate your EV charging software, the next big question is: who should you trust to power your future operations?

Choosing the right provider is about finding a long-term partner that aligns with your infrastructure, growth goals, and business philosophy. Here's how to make that decision with confidence.

1. Look for proven EV industry experience

Not all software vendors understand the real-world demands of EV charging networks. Prioritize those who:

Have deployed solutions across multiple CPOs or EMSPs

Work with OCPP and OCPI standards regularly

Can demonstrate uptime, scalability, and performance under load

. Real success stories are more telling than polished sales decks.

2. Assess their OCPP and OCPI capabilities

Protocols like OCPP (for charger communication) and OCPI (for roaming and partner connections) are core to your operations. Your new platform should:

Handle edge cases reliably (not just pass “basic compliance”)

Offer tooling for OCPP Acceptance Testing

This ensures your new system will play nicely with your chargers and existing partner integrations.

3. Evaluate scalability and ecosystem fit

A good platform grows with you and integrates easily with other tools you rely on.

 Learn when and how to migrate your EV charging platform without disrupting your network. Discover key risks, benefits, and steps to future-proof your operations.

EV Charging Platform Migration Guide for CPOs

In the new series about open protocols, we aim to standardize the knowledge in a concise format.

Having a chance to work with well-established startups from the e-mobility sector, Bartek gained invaluable knowledge on the industry requirements. On his path, he was given the opportunity to work on numerous EMSP applications and CPO platforms. Bartek is also our Head of Delivery.

Bartłomiej Łazarczyk

As EV infrastructure expands, the real challenge isn’t just building more charge points.

 It’s making sure they all work together.

Different networks, providers, and platforms need a common language. That’s where the Open InterCharge Protocol (OICP) comes in.

Created by Hubject, OICP enables seamless communication between 

Charge Point Operators (CPOs), eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs)

, and backend systems. It powers real-time services like eRoaming, authorization, billing, and pricing exchange, helping unify what would otherwise be a fragmented charging landscape.

With support for over half a million charging points across 52 countries, OICP has become one of the most widely adopted EV protocols worldwide.

In this article, we’ll look at how it connects key players in the ecosystem and why it remains critical to EV adoption at scale.

The Open InterCharge Protocol (OICP) is a communication standard developed by 

 in 2012. It enables CPOs and eMSPs to exchange data through a centralized platform called the Hubject Brokering System (HBS).

By standardizing how EV charging services communicate, OICP removes the need for custom integrations between every provider, making scalable, cross-network interoperability possible.

Hubject, the company behind OICP, is a joint venture formed by leading automotive and energy companies including BMW, Bosch, Daimler, EnBW, Innogy, Siemens, and Volkswagen. From the beginning, its mission has been to streamline the EV charging landscape through open standards and shared infrastructure.

OICP supports various services, including eRoaming, session tracking, pricing, and Plug and Charge (via 

). Since 2019, the protocol has been available as open-source under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. This model has allowed developers and service providers to contribute to its ongoing evolution and broaden its adoption.

By acting as a universal layer between service providers and charging networks, OICP simplifies connecting systems across countries, vendors, and technologies. That’s why it’s considered one of the most widely implemented protocols in the European EV charging ecosystem and a blueprint for global scalability.

Since its launch in 2012, the Open InterCharge Protocol has evolved through continuous versioning and modular updates. Each release has introduced improvements that reflect the needs of a growing, increasingly complex EV charging ecosystem.

OICP is designed to be flexible, so Hubject versions individual services independently, rather than releasing monolithic updates. This modular structure makes it easier for participants to adopt new features without overhauling their entire system.

The latest stable release, OICP 2.3, includes significant upgrades in several key areas:

Improved Point of Interest (POI) data quality

Enhanced compliance with calibration laws

To support smooth adoption, Hubject provides remote testing tools that allow Charge Point Operators to validate their implementations before going live. The protocol is based on SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and supports real-time and asynchronous operations.

While Hubject maintains a session and transaction database, it does not push data directly to charging stations. Instead, it focuses on enabling consistent, reliable exchange between backend systems. This model reinforces OICP’s role as a trusted intermediary that scales with the ecosystem rather than constraining it.

For Charge Point Operators, OICP offers a streamlined way to open their infrastructure to a wider audience of EV drivers, without managing separate integrations for each service provider. By connecting to Hubject’s Brokering System via the SHARE interface, a CPO can make its network accessible to any eMobility Service Provider already on the platform.

This shared framework turns the Hubject ecosystem into a kind of open marketplace. Once a CPO is integrated, drivers with contracts through any connected eMSP can locate, authorize, and use their charging stations, all through a standardized, backend connection.

Sharing charge point availability and status

Exchanging session and pricing information

The result is a scalable, interoperable charging infrastructure that extends reach and removes technical friction. CPOs benefit by gaining access to a large, ready-made pool of potential customers, without building and maintaining multiple bilateral integrations.

OICP for eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs)

For eMobility Service Providers, OICP offers a way to instantly extend their charging network coverage, without the burden of negotiating and integrating with individual Charge Point Operators. Through Hubject’s CONNECT interface, eMSPs can offer their customers access to a vast network of public charging stations across Europe and beyond.

Charging stations inside the Hubject ecosystem are marked with the intercharge logo, making it easy for users to identify compatible locations. From the customer’s perspective, the experience is unified even if the underlying infrastructure spans dozens of CPOs.

There are two ways an eMSP can connect to the Hubject platform:

Online EMP: Provides full real-time communication with the Hubject Brokering System, including instant authorization and session control.

Offline EMP: Transfers customer authentication data to Hubject in advance, allowing authorization even without a live connection.

This flexibility allows eMSPs to scale at their own pace. Even providers without advanced backend capabilities can participate in cross-network charging through OICP’s support for offline authentication. In both cases, the protocol helps streamline access, improve customer experience, and reduce integration overhead.

Services and capabilities of the OICP Protocol

OICP supports services that ensure interoperability, efficiency, and a smooth user experience across 

. They cover everything from real-time session handling to dynamic pricing and offline authentication.

 Enables real-time or remote start/stop authorization for charging sessions. It also manages Charging Data Records (CDRs) to ensure accurate billing between providers.

 Allows EV drivers to reserve charging stations in advance. The protocol handles compatibility checks and confirms bookings with the relevant CPO.

 Communicates both static data (like charger location and hardware specs) and real-time availability. This ensures accurate information is presented to end users.

 that vary by location, time, or energy consumed. This enables providers to reflect real-world pricing conditions within their apps and services.

 Delivers status updates throughout a charging session, including start, stop, error messages, and other progress indicators.

 Allows offline EMPs to securely transfer user credentials to Hubject, enabling charging without a live connection.

In addition, Intercharge Direct, a feature built into the OICP protocol, enables ad hoc payments. This means EV drivers without a contract can initiate and pay for charging sessions directly at participating stations, expanding accessibility for casual or one-time users.

These services work together to reduce integration friction, standardize communication, and enhance the overall reliability of cross-network EV charging.

OICP defines a clear set of roles that support a connected EV charging ecosystem. By formalizing these relationships, the protocol ensures consistency in how data and services flow between all parties.

 The driver who initiates a charging session. While not a direct user of OICP, their experience depends on how effectively the protocol connects backend systems.

Discover how OICP connects EV networks, enabling seamless charging, eRoaming, and data exchange across 500K+ charge points globally. 

Let’s read our posts

How AI Secures EV Charging Networks and Prevents Fraud

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EV Charging Platform Migration Guide for CPOs

How Open InterCharge Protocol OICP Connects the EV Charging Ecosystem

Software Migration: Choosing a New Mobility Software Provider

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How AI Secures EV Charging Networks and Prevents Fraud

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