Developing and Integrating Cross-Platform System for Energy Consumption Management
The cross-platform mobile app [Name is under NDA] for iOS and Android that helps users monitor, predict, and optimize energy consumption.
KEY FACTS:
Country
North America and Europe
Industry
Energy, Services
Cooperation period
2014-2018
Cooperation type
consulting, dedicated development team of 5-9 experts
KEY FACTS:
Country
North America and Europe
Industry
Energy, Services
Cooperation period
2014-2018
Cooperation type
consulting, dedicated development team of 5-9 experts
The Story Behind
After more than two decades of powering homes and businesses across North America and Europe, an energy retail enterprise sought to enhance its offerings by embracing new technology. They turned to MobiDev with a forward-thinking concept: to develop a mobile-first system that would streamline the management of energy usage and distribution, bringing greater efficiency and control to their customers.
Industry Challenges
The application enables users to tackle the complex task of monitoring, predicting, and optimizing their energy consumption. It offers greater transparency regarding energy usage patterns, allowing users to make informed decisions and adjust their habits. This, in turn, leads to more efficient cost reduction and better energy management overall.
How we delivered
1
Performed comprehensive consulting for new product development
We conducted an in-depth consulting stage to develop a new product from the ground up, ensuring seamless integration into the client's existing ecosystem. This process included a thorough discovery phase, interviewing current users, and creating a comprehensive tech strategy. Additionally, we designed the product from scratch to align with both user needs and the system’s infrastructure.
2
Made seamless integration into the client’s existing ecosystem
Working in collaboration with the client’s multiple in-house teams involved in other parts of the system development, we integrated the new application and project flow within the ecosystem. As part of this process, we conducted a software audit to gain a better understanding of the existing system. Additionally, from the start, we established automated deployment across six different environments, ensuring smooth and synchronized processes throughout the project.
3
Established serverless architecture to speed up the development process and enhance system scalability
Based on the results of the established tech strategy, we recommended implementing a serverless architecture using Amazon Lambda-based backend code. This architecture enabled seamless synchronization of all data and transaction history across devices, ensuring real-time updates without the need for extensive infrastructure management. By leveraging the scalability and flexibility of AWS Lambda, we also enhanced the system's ability to handle increasing user demand while minimizing operational costs.
4
Implemented authorization and registration aligned with the client's ecosystem
We developed a unified authorization and registration system for this application, fully compliant with the client's ecosystem rules. This ensures a seamless user experience for both new and existing customers across multiple regions. To accommodate all edge cases and avoid user frustration, we created around 40 different registration screens. For example, we accounted for outdated account number formats still in use in certain areas. The system was integrated with the centralized Identity Service, which is shared across more than 10 client's products. Given the strict, unmodifiable rules of this service, we focused on maintaining user-friendliness without compromising the established guidelines.
5
Provided post-launch software audit for app modernization
While Cordova was the optimal tech stack at the time of development, newer technologies, particularly React Native, later emerged as better alternatives. To assess the risks and opportunities of re-engineering the app with a more modern tech stack, we conducted a post-launch software audit. This analysis helped the client make an informed decision by considering factors such as user load, future feature development, and overall scalability.
Technical Details
Mobile
Cordova, rad.js
Backend
Amazon Lambda, Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon RDS, Node.js, Express.js, Sequelize, MS SQL, Microsoft TFS + CI Octopus (automated deployment), STS Authentication, SNS/SQS Push Notifications, DynamoDB (feedback API)
Testing
manual testing (Mocha/Chai/Sinon), automated API testing
