BEHA - Smart Heaters

ABOUT OUR CLIENT

BEHA, a well-established Norwegian brand in the electrical heating market, has been providing quality heating solutions to homes and businesses in Norway and beyond for over a century. Known for their innovation and commitment to quality, BEHA has become a leader in supplying heaters that meet modern energy and safety standards.

Their product range includes smart heaters with sleek designs, Bluetooth-enabled heaters for remote control, compact heaters for small spaces, freestanding units, customizable paintable heaters and digital thermostat-equipped panel heaters. These are designed to be safe, environmentally friendly and especially suitable for families or individuals with respiratory concerns due to their low surface temperatures.

The BEHA app significantly enhances the functionality of their smart heaters, allowing users to control their heating remotely. With the app, users can adjust temperatures to their comfort levels or set the heaters to lower temperatures when they are away, promoting energy efficiency. The app also enables the creation of customizable heating schedules that align with users' daily routines, helping to reduce overall heating costs.

For more information about BEHA and their offerings, visit beha.no

CHALLENGE & SOLUTION

Why did Beha choose DO OK?

Our cooperation with BEHA began when they approached us with a critical project that required our expertise. From the beginning, we understood the importance of not only delivering a software solution but also aligning with their unique business challenges and goals.

The first phase of our collaboration was dedicated to an in-depth discovery process. We took the time to fully understand BEHA’s needs, providing tailored recommendations and ensuring that every aspect of the project was meticulously planned. With a clear roadmap in place, our team moved into the implementation phase, approaching each step with precision, professionalism, and a commitment to transparency.

We worked closely with BEHA, keeping them involved and informed at every stage. When challenges appeared, our expertise and problem-solving skills allowed us to deliver innovative solutions swiftly, ensuring the project stayed on track. Throughout the project, our goal was to act as an extension of BEHA’s in-house team. We collaborated closely with their team, maintaining open lines of communication and providing support whenever it was needed, especially during critical moments.

As we continued to work together, BEHA began to see us not just as a service provider but as a partner. With our broad range of expertise from software development to IoT solutions, we were able to address their evolving needs comprehensively, establishing ourselves as the go-to source for their technology requirements.

What started as a single project has grown into a long-term partnership that we truly value. We are proud to have played a role in BEHA’s journey and to have become a trusted extension of their team. As we look to the future, we are excited about continuing this great cooperation and supporting BEHA’s growth with new solutions and exceptional service.

What was the project about?

We initiated the project by engaging in high-level discussions with BEHA to outline the preliminary scope. During this phase, we provided a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate, offering a budget range that factored in anticipated complexity and resource needs. Once the proposed budget and team structure were defined, we began a series of discovery workshops. These were instrumental in deepening our understanding of BEHA's requirements, including user demographics, business objectives and the guiding principles of their operations. The insights gained from these sessions allowed us to refine the project's scope and draft a detailed roadmap, aligning closely with BEHA’s strategic goals.

The main deliverable of the project was a comprehensive platform for remote heater management, including a robust mobile application and a backend system. Developed natively for iOS and Android, the mobile application allows users to manage heaters across various locations such as homes, cabins and offices. Each location can be organized into specific rooms, with heaters linked accordingly, enabling manual temperature adjustments and the scheduling of heating based on user presence to optimize energy use and comfort. The application also provides live status updates, incorporates a child lock for added safety, and allows users to register and manage multiple Wi-Fi heaters, enhancing user control and interaction.

The second core component of the platform is the backend system, a robust and scalable solution that plays a pivotal role in managing the entire ecosystem of connected heaters. This backend system serves as the central hub for controlling various functionalities, including supporting seamless device linkup, enabling over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates, managing user accounts and providing real-time data on heater operation.

One of the key features of the backend is its ability to efficiently manage a wide range of heaters, regardless of their model or version. This ensures that the client’s product range, including legacy devices, remains fully operational and continuously supported. Through this system, users can receive important firmware updates, which are automatically pushed to the devices. These updates not only enhance the performance of the heaters but also ensure they remain compatible with evolving software and security standards.

The entire backend system was redesigned and developed by DO OK, showcasing our team's expertise in building scalable, secure and feature-rich platforms. It shows readiness to deliver solutions that not only meet the immediate needs of the client but also provide long-term value by supporting product evolution and enhancing the user experience.

What kind of challenges did we face during the project?

The most significant challenge we faced during the project was ensuring backward compatibility for both the application and platform. This compatibility was crucial as it would enable the seamless management of the company’s first-generation Wi-Fi heaters, which were still in use by many customers. Achieving this milestone was not just a technical necessity but a strategic priority for the client, as it would ensure continued support for their legacy products while allowing them to expand their product ecosystem.

One of the key hurdles was that the client's original backend platform, which had been used to manage these Wi-Fi heaters, was no longer supported by the service provider. This posed a major risk to the project’s success. However, through perseverance, collaboration and effective communication, our team rose to the challenge. Rather than viewing the unsupported platform as an insurmountable roadblock, we approached it with proactive problem-solving.

We reached out to the original creators of the backend tools, despite their involvement with the project having ceased. Through these efforts, we were able to establish communication, gaining invaluable insights into how the platform was originally built and how it functioned. This knowledge proved to be essential in reverse-engineering and reconstructing a new system that could support not only the first-generation Wi-Fi heaters but also the full range of devices our client now offers on the market.

Thanks to the dedication and resourcefulness of our team, we were able to achieve backward compatibility, ensuring that all of the client’s existing devices continued to operate smoothly within the new platform. This solution extended the lifespan of the legacy products while enabling the integration of new devices, thus maintaining a consistent user experience for their entire customer base.

This outcome was a testament to our team's technical expertise, persistence, and ability to navigate complex challenges, all while fostering strong communication and collaboration with both the client and external parties.

What were the results of the project?

The project resulted in the successful development and launch of a comprehensive platform that significantly enhanced BEHA’s ability to manage its heaters remotely. The mobile app, with its improved UX and UI, made it easier for users to interact with their heaters across various locations, offering more control, flexibility and convenience. The robust backend system ensured reliable performance, enabling seamless integration across BEHA's product range, including both current and legacy heaters.

By addressing the challenge of backward compatibility, we ensured that BEHA could continue supporting its existing customer base without disruptions while laying the groundwork for future product innovation. The platform’s scalability not only stabilized the backend but also positioned BEHA for long-term growth, making it easier to incorporate new devices and features as they evolve.

“To us, DO OK has been an extension of our in-house department and far more than a supplier. This itself underlines how these employees meet, greet and work together with you.” - Mette Elizabeth Rud Olafsen, BEHA