Transforming an expert touch-point into a lovable consumer product
sonnen, a pioneer in home solar energy storage since 2010, has emerged as a global leader in Europe, the United States, and Australia. Recognizing the need to adapt to a rapidly expanding market, we collaborated with sonnen to completely revamp their main customer touch-point centered around their core product, the sonnenBattery. We transformed their tool for experts and enthusiasts into an exciting companion that caters to the demands of future user generations beyond the early adopters.
INSIGHTS
- months from blank canvas to launch
- 10
- continents launched
- 3
- pull requests
- 700+
The Challenge
As the solar energy market experienced unprecedented growth, it began attracting new target groups beyond expert and enthusiast users. This necessitated customer touchpoints that addressed new needs and made complex energy ecosystems accessible: Captivating for everyone while still retaining powerful functionality to ensure the loyalty of the existing user base.
The Edenspiekermann team partnered with us on a completely new and revolutionary digital customer experience to access our digital ecosystem on various devices. We were aiming to attract an international audience that also reflects the broader appeal of energy solutions, that’s why we established a solution that is informative and enjoyable at the same time.Marko Hein, Managing Director / Chief Digital Officer, sonnen
The Solution
To tackle this challenge, we developed an enjoyable companion app that seamlessly integrated sonnen's entire product ecosystem, including energy storage, electric-vehicle chargers, energy contracts, and third-party products like heat pumps. This modular and scalable digital touchpoint supported different setups and allowed for global, market-specific differentiation.
Taking energy management to the next level, our solution focused on rewarding energy-saving behavior through engaging features. We didn't just present data but provided meaningful, actionable, and joyful information. Additionally, we transformed sonnen's customer base, known as the "sonnenCommunity," from a strong marketing story into concrete features, fostering a sense of togetherness beyond the rational benefits of a decentralized energy grid.
We are excited about the close cooperation with the sonnen team: From research to product strategy and implementation, we accompanied all steps of the launch of the new app – to make the energy transition more accessible.Christian Hanke, Managing Director & Partner, Edenspiekermann
Exploration
To define and prioritize hypotheses, we adopted a co-creational approach and conducted three intense full-day workshops . We interviewed users in four core markets — Germany, Italy, USA & Australia to develop a detailed user typology which focused on behavior, motivations, and concerns regarding energy production and consumption.
The interviews revealed that self-sufficiency is a common goal driven by diverse motivations. We also discovered that energy had become an emotional topic, with people yearning to be part of a greater energy movement. Furthermore, a market analysis and benchmarking exercise highlighted the lack of differentiation in core features which often cater to expert users.
Strategy
Synthesizing our research findings, we established a customer-centered product vision and strategy. Our aim was to develop a visually unique mobile app that prioritizes joyful energy management with meaningful insights, moving beyond mere data representation. Recognizing market differences on a global scale, we adopted a modular approach to design, allowing for customized feature arrangements based on specific market needs. To strengthen the sense of togetherness within the sonnenCommunity, we empowered users in a playful and motivating manner without enforcing active participation.
Based on this UX vision we devised a platform roll-out strategy that focused on launching a concentrated product on key platforms in priority markets, with plans for expansion into additional platforms and markets in the future.
Design
In the design phase, we explored visual directions for a wide consumer base with emotionally engaging language. Through iterative qualitative and quantitative validation, we struck the right balance between information and emotion, ensuring desirability and usability. Our unique design pattern enabled users to switch between rich data visualizations for analysis and simplified insights for daily use. Additionally, we integrated a rewarding achievements feature for meaningful engagement that conveys a positive emotional product experience. To support scalability, we implemented an atomic design system derived from brand guidelines, featuring rich illustrations.
Build
During development, we employed an agile sprint approach with close collaboration and fast iterations. We made roadmap adjustments based on estimations, capacity, and progress. Our tech stack included React Native, GraphQL, and TypeScript, with a focus on reusable components using Storybook. Compiler checks were used for bug prevention and quick refactoring. Testing and compiler checks ensured bug prevention, quick refactoring and stability. Overall, our process prioritized agility, communication, and quality assurance for a high-performing application.