Charging Business
Charge Point Management Software (CPMS): What It Does and How to Choose
What charge point management software does — monitoring, access, pricing, payment, load management, roaming, reports — and how to choose one.
- Prepared by
- VULTAE Engineering Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 3 min
- Sources
- 2 references
Key takeaways
- 1A charge point management system (CPMS, also called CSMS) is the back end that connects to chargers over OCPP and runs the business: monitoring, access, pricing, payment, load management, roaming and reports.
- 2Choose software and hardware together: confirm the exact charger models are tested with the platform, on the OCPP version you plan to use.
- 3The features that decide daily operations are remote diagnostics and firmware updates, alarms, tariff flexibility, payment options and data export.
- 4Check commercial terms as carefully as features: fee per charger or per session, data ownership, contract length and how you would migrate away.
Contents
Short answer: charge point management software (CPMS, or CSMS in OCPP 2.0.1 terms) is the back end that talks to your chargers over OCPP and runs the business: monitoring and diagnostics, access, pricing, payment, load management, roaming and reports. Choose it together with the hardware — confirm your exact charger models are tested with the platform — and read the commercial terms: fees, data ownership, contract length and exit.
What a CPMS does
| Function | What it means day to day |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | Live status of every connector; alarms when a charger faults or goes offline |
| Remote diagnostics | Read logs, reset, change settings without a site visit |
| Firmware updates | Push new firmware to chargers over the air — see OTA firmware updates |
| Access control | RFID cards, app users, groups (staff, residents, fleets) — see RFID and access control |
| Tariffs | Prices per kWh, minute or session; idle fees; time-of-day; group prices — see pricing |
| Payment | App, QR-code web payment, card terminals, invoicing — see payment options |
| Load management | Site or group power limits, scheduling — see dynamic load management |
| Roaming | Lets drivers of other networks charge, via OCPI or hubs — see OCPP vs OCPI vs OICP |
| Reports | Energy, revenue, uptime and utilization per site — see network KPIs |
| Driver support | Session lookup, remote start and stop for a support team |
How it connects
The charger connects to the CPMS over the internet — Ethernet, Wi-Fi or 4G — using OCPP. The CPMS connects to other systems: payment providers, roaming platforms, fleet or billing systems, and sometimes the building’s energy management.
| Link | Protocol |
|---|---|
| Charger ↔ CPMS | OCPP 1.6J or 2.0.1 |
| CPMS ↔ other networks | OCPI, OICP or other roaming interfaces |
| Car ↔ charger (for Plug & Charge) | ISO 15118 — see ISO 15118 and Plug & Charge |
Choosing a CPMS: the checklist
Fit with your hardware
- Are your exact charger models and firmware tested with the platform?
- Which OCPP version and which feature profiles (smart charging, firmware management, local authorisation) are supported?
- How are charger-specific error codes shown?
Operations
- Alarms, remote reset, log download, firmware campaigns.
- Uptime and availability reports per connector.
- Role-based access for your team and for site hosts.
Revenue
- Tariff flexibility: per kWh, minute, session, idle fee, time-of-day, groups.
- Payment methods and payment providers in your country.
- Roaming connections to the networks your drivers use.
Data and terms
- Who owns the data, and can you export it in full?
- Pricing: per charger, per session, payment fees.
- Contract length, service level and exit process.
Hardware features that make the CPMS work better
| Charger feature | Benefit in the CPMS |
|---|---|
| OCPP 2.0.1 with security profiles | Stronger security, richer device model |
| Detailed error codes | Faster remote diagnosis |
| Local authorisation list | Charging continues if the connection drops |
| Billing-grade meter | Accurate per-kWh tariffs |
| 4G with Ethernet fallback | Fewer offline chargers |
| Remote power limits | Load management and demand-charge control |
VULTAE chargers support OCPP 1.6J and OCPP 2.0.1 over Ethernet, Wi-Fi or 4G, and work with third-party CPMS platforms. Tell us which platform you use and we will confirm the tested firmware version before you order.
Questions buyers ask
- What is the difference between CPMS and CSMS?
- Nothing in practice. CSMS (charging station management system) is the term used in OCPP 2.0.1; CPMS (charge point management system) is the older, common name. Both mean the back-end software that manages chargers.
- Do I need CPMS software for my chargers?
- For a single home charger, an app is enough. For any business — paid charging, staff or resident access, several sites, fleets — you need a CPMS to manage access, prices, payment, load and reports.
- Can I change CPMS provider later?
- Yes, if your chargers use OCPP and you own the data. The chargers are re-pointed to the new back end; tariffs, users and cards must be migrated. Check the contract for data export and exit terms before signing.
- How is CPMS software priced?
- Usually per charger or per connector per month, sometimes plus a percentage or fee per session, and extra for payment processing and roaming. Compare total cost for your expected number of chargers and sessions.
References
- [1]Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP). Open Charge Alliance.
- [2]OCPI — Open Charge Point Interface. EVRoaming Foundation.
