Real-time data that gives social housing providers the necessary to support residents and proactively manage homes.
Switchee is a certified B-Corp working to revolutionise the social housing sector. Committed to improving the quality of life of people in rented homes, Switchee believes in leveraging technology to help landlords manage their properties more effectively, making things easier for residents too. Real-time data provided by Switchee devices offers insights that help achieve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and increase resident satisfaction.
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Switchee had already developed their innovative device and basic landlord dashboard, but to be able to assist residents better, they needed a reliable and user-friendly mobile app. Back in 2019, Whitesmith stepped in to fill this gap, creating an initial app that provided residents with remote control over their home heating and hot water systems. Following upgrades in their devices and business development, Switchee contacted Whitesmith again in 2022. This time around, we made significant upgrades to bring the app closer to the full functionality of the Switchee device. The latest release features a sleek new design, customizable temperature and hot water schedules, and enhanced support for visually impaired users.
“Working with Whitesmith, we've appreciated the balance in their team's expertise, which contributed to the high quality of the app without rushing the process.”
Sam Bunyan, Product Manager at SwitcheeThe main goal for the new app was to match the capabilities of the physical Switchee device to give residents full control over their home heating and hot water from their phones. One key thing was to add a scheduling feature that allowed residents to easily set their desired temperature for any time of the day.
It was also essential to make the app more accessible to those who are not tech-savvy, sometimes elderly, as well as people with visual impairments - allowing everyone to be able to manage their home environment with the same ease.
On the technical side, the app needed to communicate reliably with Switchee devices and the cloud server, even in areas with weak internet connection. Additionally, the cost and reliability of using SMS for remote communication needed to be addressed for a consistent and cost-effective user experience.
The solution provided by Whitesmith was a React Native app that could be rapidly deployed across iOS and Android, enabling quick value delivery. We decided to keep using React Native for the new iteration, to reduce friction and keep delivering value faster. The team tackled UX and accessibility by:
— Researching common design patterns for similar apps and audiences.
— Engaging directly with residents for iterative feedback.
— Collaborating closely with Switchee's product team for shared insights.
To address connectivity issues, Whitesmith applied strategies that minimised SMS costs and enhanced communication with the cloud server. A phased rollout plan was implemented for the app's new features, which included extensive QA and careful monitoring of user metrics - this was crucial given that we were changing an app that was already in use.
The latest version of the Switchee app has been successfully launched, providing Switchee users with an intuitive and flexible tool to manage their home environments. This has led to:
— An improved user experience with a logical and intuitive UI, as recognized by resident feedback.
— A steady increase in the number of schedules created via the app, indicating higher engagement and satisfaction.
— A strong foundation for future enhancements to further align the device with market expectations.
— Empowering residents to optimise their energy use, resulting in lower heating bills by up to 17% and reduced energy consumption.
Cooperation between Switchee and Whitesmith has led to a transformative mobile app that not only meets the immediate needs of residents but also sets the stage for continuous improvement and innovation. By focusing on user-centric design and accessibility, Whitesmith has helped Switchee take a significant step towards fulfilling their mission of enhancing the lives of those in rented homes. Switchee and Whitesmith are still working together to ensure that the app can be rolled out to all users gradually and will remain stable and useful, improving people’s experience and the quality of their lives as residents.
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