The Challenge
The client needed to solve a range of problems related to the collection, management, analysis, and reporting of energy-related information.
The solution needed to be developed not just for consumers and realtors, but also for leading utilities companies as well, to manage large-scale energy-efficiency programs. The solution required robust back-end integrations with utility providers through widely deployed mobile-based technologies.
Another requirement was for the UX to be able to guide the user to the relevant sections and sub-sections of the application. In addition, the UX design had to have the utility company’s branding and implement their APIs to integrate various offers.
The Design
The developed solutions have two separate platforms for consumer and realtors. The consumer app helps users understand the energy consumption level of their homes.
The realtor solution is made up of two separate but integrated platforms for consumers and realtors. Both of these apps were implemented for iOS and Android platforms using the respective native app development framework.
The consumer app was developed to make homeowners aware of the levels of energy consumption in their homes. We provided an interface through which the consumer fills out a survey to create a “Digital Mockup” of their property, and receives a free “Energy Assessment Report.” This report includes a list of recommendations for achieving greater energy efficiency, such as using energy-efficient Energy Star-certified bulbs, adding attic insulation, sealing windows and doors, and other energy-saving tips. Each proposal is followed by a field showing estimated savings and applicable rebates from utility providers.
The realtors’ app was designed as a real estate lead-generation engine. It would automatically analyze the data provided by homeowners to generate a list of real estate leads with valuable insights about the property. It also leveraged the power of social media marketing, thus helping realtors grow their prospect base. Automatic lead generation is the unique selling proposition of this app.
The Solution
The solution implemented by Taazaa helps consumers in conducting an in-depth and thorough review of the home’s current energy usage, along with a step-by-step plan for decreasing power bills. At the very beginning, a bare-bones solution was put forward for conceptualizing the proof-of-concept. Subsequent discussions with the client led to additional functionalities being added to later versions.
Taazaa’s solution also helps homeowners find rebates offered by utility providers, thus reducing their carbon footprint. The realtor version of the app includes few additional features like automatic lead-generation, social-media marketing, contact management, lead conversion, white-label reports, and payment processing.
To make the analysis process agile, we created native Android and iOS applications. As the client has its own managed hosting service working over a back-end Microsoft .NET platform for all server needs, cloud integration was not needed.
The app also contained a survey where users were given a form to be filled through a Web Audit Tool, so they could fill it out right from their smartphones. The client was concerned about the privacy issues that might impact the business in the future, so the robust cryptographic algorithm AES128 was deployed for all communications between the server, users, and realtors. The “connection” between realtors and users is made through the client’s central server.
This solution helped avoid duplicate functionality along with the prospect of developing and releasing each of the parts independently, as well.
Design System
