Just like users want to see where their rideshare is in real time instead of calling a taxi, or view breakdowns of their spending at the click of a button rather than via monthly invoices in the mail, prosumers (consumers who also produce energy) want to take an active role in their energy management. Users want to not only view but also control their energy production and consumption to automatically minimize costs and emissions, without sacrificing comfort.
Energy management systems (EMS) should therefore put end users in the driver’s seat – and not just for their smart electric vehicle (EV) charging. They also want to control when their battery charges, where their surplus solar power is directed or how warm their house is heated.
How do we know this? Because we take the time to better understand end users’ needs.
At gridX, we've embraced a user-centric approach to design and development, recognizing that the key to a successful product lies in continuous learning and adaptation based on user prioritization. Creating software that truly empowers users to optimize their energy flows requires more than just a robust feature set; it demands a deep understanding of user behaviors, motivations and pain points. Only by harnessing the power of user insights and research, are we able to create home energy management systems (HEMS) that not only meet but exceed user expectations.
Let’s dive into the user insights that drive our product enhancements to guarantee industry-leading energy management systems.
The power of user insights in energy monitoring
Deciphering user behavior in energy management is vital for energy companies to create solutions that resonate on both a practical and emotional level. gridX Senior UX Researcher, Kathrin Gumm-Bochenek, says, “When users feel empowered by their tools – whether it’s through access to live data, insights on financial savings or smart controls – they are more likely to engage with and trust the energy assets they manage.”
When users feel empowered by their tools, they are more likely to engage with and trust the energy assets they manage.”
Kathrin adds, “The global shift toward cleaner, more efficient energy systems requires widespread buy-in from everyday people. By listening to their motivations – whether they prioritize cost savings or energy independence, whether they prefer to know their daily or weekly savings – energy companies can create solutions that align personal incentives with the goals of the energy transition.” Ultimately, when users can easily see the benefits of participating in the energy ecosystem, they are more likely to adopt technologies and behaviors that support a more sustainable future.
At gridX, we see user insights as a bridge between the technical advancements we create and the real-world impact these tools have on people, businesses and the planet. Addressing user pain points, such as reducing complexity or increasing transparency, makes the energy transition smoother and more accessible. By truly understanding and meeting the needs of the end user, we’re helping to drive the energy transition forward, one smart decision at a time.
Five insights into smart energy app user behavior
We use a sophisticated product analytics toolkit, on top of extensive user research via interviews, to gather valuable insights and better understand users’ motivations. This enables us to analyze how users interact with our software, particularly via our Web app or Mobile app. By tracking clicks, hovers or navigation patterns, we gain a detailed understanding of how users engage with our product. Here are some of our key insights that all energy companies looking to empower their end customers should keep in mind:
1. Prioritize live views
Insight: The live view is the feature with the highest engagement (views and clicks) in our app.
Takeaway: Users prioritize live data on energy production and consumption, and they want quick access to this information to adjust their behavior accordingly. As such, critical live insights should be available with as few clicks as possible on the main dashboard.
2. Historical views remain valuable
Insight: Users regularly look at past data to provide context to their current production and consumption data.
Takeaway: Offering both live and historical data is important to provide comparisons for users so they can see trends and the benefits of changing their behavior. Historical views should therefore never be more than a click away.
3. Ensure savings are visible
Insight: Users are not only interested in the amount of energy produced (kWh), but also the savings they generate with an EMS. Users find accumulated savings the most rewarding i.e. across weekly or monthly periods, and these also more closely reflect the way they think about spending and savings.
Takeaway: KPIs like weekly savings should be visible on the dashboard to clearly show the amortization potential of a HEMS setup and allow users to see tangible outcomes.
4. Make EMS decisions transparent
Insight: Users want to stay in control and need to gain trust by understanding the decision-making process, such as how time-of-use tariff optimization works and its savings potential.
Takeaway: A smart energy app should provide transparency behind time of use decisions, for example by showing savings potential of shifting consumption to lower price periods. Even if users don’t deep dive into the topic regularly, having the feature available helps instil trust and control knowing that this is possible.
5. Simplify options
Insight: The majority of users use just two of four available charging modes.
Takeaway: Users don’t want to be overwhelmed by too many choices, but rather fully understand the options available, which should be simple and minimalistic.
The iterative process of product enhancement
At gridX, improvement is an ongoing process. We believe in an iterative approach to product development, where gathering user feedback, analyzing data, and implementing changes is a continuous cycle. With each enhancement, we measure the impact on user satisfaction and performance, ensuring that every change delivers value. Our end-to-end consulting services ensure gridX customers optimize their own product development and roll out along every stage and in every market.
Keeping users at the center of our development process strengthens the relationship between gridX, our customers and end users, ensuring our software remains cutting-edge in a competitive market.”
Closing the loop on user feedback is thus critical. “Keeping users at the center of our development process strengthens the relationship between gridX, our customers and end users, ensuring our software remains cutting-edge in a competitive market,” says gridX Product Manager for Product Analytics, Ruben Damoiseaux. “As the energy landscape continues to evolve, so will our innovative approach to product development,” he summarizes.
Get in touch if you want to learn how you can better understand your users’ changing needs and develop a tailored energy management solution that constantly maximizes value and minimizes complexity. Start leveraging data to optimize your rollout of future-proof technologies today.
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