Why The Hybrid CPMS Approach Is Winning The EV Charging Race

The explosive growth of the EV charging market has compelled charge point management systems (CPMS) to undergo their own parallel evolution. What began as basic software to control chargers and process payments has evolved into sophisticated ecosystems that manage complex energy flows, integrate with multiple business systems, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver seamless user experiences across diverse charging scenarios.

For charge point operators (CPOs), the traditional binary choice between building a custom platform or buying an off-the-shelf solution is increasingly inadequate. This black-or-white approach has dissolved into shades of gray, mirroring the broader evolution of the EV charging market from one-size-fits-all solutions to more flexible approaches that reflect the diverse needs of EV charging networks today.

The early days: When simpler approaches met simpler needs

In the early days of EV charging, when operations were simpler and market demands basic, CPOs faced a straightforward choice:

The Build Approach: Many early CPOs built their own management systems from scratch, maintaining complete control over their technology stack. With relatively simple requirements and limited scale, this approach worked well for organizations with development resources. They enjoyed full customization freedom and could shape every aspect of their charging experience.

The Buy Approach: Others purchased ready-made solutions to get to market quickly. These off-the-shelf platforms offered reliability and quick deployment, allowing CPOs to focus on business operations rather than software development. For many EV charging network operators, especially those without extensive technical teams, this option provided an efficient path to market.

At this stage, both approaches adequately served their purpose, and the choice largely depended on each CPO’s resources and strategic priorities.

The reality of scaling: When challenges begin to emerge

As charging networks grew and the industry matured, the limitations of both pure approaches became increasingly apparent:

Build Approach Growing Pains: CPOs who built their platforms began encountering escalating development and maintenance costs. What started as manageable custom software projects evolved into complex systems requiring dedicated teams. Beyond the initial build cost and time, these operators faced mounting challenges:

• Maintaining compliance with evolving industry protocols
• Managing system security
• Ensuring 24/7 uptime
• Continuously adding new features to stay competitive

Their slow pace of innovation frequently led to missed market opportunities, and they constantly found themselves playing catch-up in the market.

Buy Approach Limitations: Meanwhile, CPOs who chose off-the-shelf solutions began to feel constrained as their operations scaled. Standard platforms struggled to accommodate unique business models or specific market requirements. Integration with existing systems became challenging, often leading to fragmented user experiences across customer touchpoints. Most critically, CPOs found themselves restricted by their vendor’s roadmap and development priorities, potentially limiting their ability to innovate or differentiate in key areas.

The breaking point: Specific challenges that force evolution

Today, CPOs operate in a fundamentally different environment. They need platforms that can handle complex integrations with energy management systems, support various payment methods, enable multiple business models, and adapt to rapidly evolving industry standards. They require solutions that can scale across markets while maintaining operational efficiency and enabling innovation.

The natural evolution: Moving beyond the binary choice

The EV charging market development has created a gap between what traditional platform approaches offer and what CPOs actually need. Network operators increasingly require both the reliability of established platforms and the flexibility to customize and innovate in areas that drive competitive advantages.

Recognizing this fundamental market challenge, AMPECO offers a different approach. Instead of forcing CPOs to choose between quick deployment and innovation and differentiation, AMPECO’s platform architecture enables both. Our comprehensive white-label solution provides enterprise-grade reliability from day one, while our extensive API capabilities and developer tools empower CPOs to build custom experiences and integrations that drive their competitive advantages. This ensures operators can launch quickly, differentiate effectively, and scale confidently – all within a single, cohesive platform.

“The most successful CPOs we work with follow a strategic approach,” says Orlin Radev, CEO at AMPECO. “They leverage proven platform capabilities for core functions like payment processing, protocol compliance, and network management, while investing their development resources in creating unique user experiences and business models that set them apart in the market.”

This approach enables CPOs to:

• Launch operations quickly with enterprise-grade reliability
• Scale confidently across markets and use cases
• Maintain compliance with evolving industry standards
• Focus development resources on strategic differentiation
• Reduce total cost of ownership through optimal resource allocation

As the EV charging ecosystem continues to mature, the companies that will lead the market are those that can intelligently balance platform reliability with strategic innovation. Want to learn more about implementing the hybrid approach to your EV charging management platform? Explore our comprehensive e-book for more details.