EV charging management software, also called a charge point management system or CPMS, is the software layer that connects to your chargers and runs them from one dashboard. It starts and stops sessions, bills users, balances electrical load, and flags faults before your customers notice them. If you operate more than a handful of chargers, it is the difference between running a network and babysitting hardware.
What a CPMS actually does
A charger on its own can deliver power. Everything around that, who can charge, at what price, how much the site can draw, and whether the charger is even online, is the CPMS's job. A typical platform covers five areas:
• Monitoring. Live status of every charger and connector: available, charging, faulted, offline.
• Access and sessions. Users authenticate through an app, RFID or QR code; the CPMS authorises and records each session.
• Billing and payments. Tariffs, invoices, wallets and payment gateways, so revenue is collected without manual meter readings.
• Load management. The CPMS shares available power across chargers so the site stays within its sanctioned load.
• Maintenance. Fault alerts, remote diagnostics, firmware updates and ticketing.
Who needs EV charging management software?
• Charge point operators (CPOs) running public chargers across locations
• Fleet operators charging delivery vehicles, cabs or buses at depots
• Commercial buildings and offices that bill employees or visitors
• Housing societies that need per-resident billing on shared chargers
• OEMs and utilities managing chargers sold or installed under their brand
If you have one charger at home, you don't need a CPMS; the charger's app does the job. Once chargers are shared, billed or spread across sites, you do.
Why OCPP matters more than any single feature
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is the open standard that lets a charger and a management platform talk to each other. If your chargers and your CPMS both support OCPP, you can change either one without replacing the other.
Without OCPP, your software and hardware are locked together. If the vendor raises prices, drops support or shuts down, your chargers go with it. Ask any vendor which OCPP versions they support (1.6 is the most widely deployed; 2.0.1 adds newer features) and how many charger brands they have actually integrated.
OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface) is the related standard for roaming. It lets drivers from other networks and apps find and pay at your chargers, which brings in more sessions.
Features to look for in a CPMS
Use this as a checklist when you compare platforms:
• Hardware compatibility: OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1 support, and a list of tested charger brands
• Real-time monitoring at the connector level, not just the charger
• Flexible tariffs: per kWh, per minute, time-of-day, flat fees, and different prices for different user groups
• Payments: wallets, UPI and cards through integrated gateways, with automatic invoices and GST details
• Dynamic load balancing with a per-site limit you set to your sanctioned load
• Fault detection and remote diagnostics, with over-the-air firmware updates
• Ticketing and maintenance workflows, ideally linked to field teams
• Roaming through OCPI to reach drivers on other apps
• Reports by user, site and charger: utilisation, uptime, revenue
• Integrations with the tools your business already runs, such as ERP or CRM
• A driver app, white-labelled if you want your own brand in front of customers
Questions to ask before you choose
• Which charger brands and models are already integrated, not just "supported"?
• How does load balancing work, and can I set a limit per site?
• What uptime do you commit to, and how do you detect faults?
• Who owns the charging and customer data?
• How is the platform priced: per charger, per session, or a share of revenue?
• Can I move my chargers to another platform later without new hardware?
Kazam CMS
Kazam CMS is a full-stack charging management platform for CPOs, fleets, OEMs and utilities. It is built on OCPP 1.6 and 2.0 and OCPI, and connects to over 100 charger brands and models, so you are not tied to one hardware maker.
• One dashboard with live usage, uptime, power and voltage per device, down to the connector
• Real-time fault detection, predictive diagnostics and over-the-air updates
• Automatic receipts, dynamic tariffs, multi-tier pricing, wallets and integrated payment gateways
• Dynamic load balancing with customisable load limits per hub, to stay within sanctioned power
• Automated ticketing and predictive maintenance
• Integrations with SAP, Salesforce and ServiceNow
Kazam also offers revenue management, roaming and an EV charging app that work with the CMS.
Frequently asked questions
What is CPMS software?
A CPMS (charge point management system) is software that connects to EV chargers and manages access, sessions, billing, load and maintenance from one dashboard.
What is the difference between a CPMS and an EV charging app?
The app is what drivers use to find chargers and pay. The CPMS is what the operator uses to run the chargers behind it. Most platforms include both.
Does EV charging management software work with any charger?
It works with chargers that support the same protocol, usually OCPP. Always ask for a list of tested charger brands.
Do housing societies need charging management software?
If residents share chargers and pay for their own usage, yes. The software handles per-resident billing so the society doesn't have to read meters.
Can a CPMS prevent overloading the building's supply?
Yes. Dynamic load balancing shares available power across chargers and keeps the site within a limit you set.
Talk to Kazam about your charging network
Running chargers across sites, depots or buildings? Contact Kazam for a demo of Kazam CMS.
