Turning a Dashboard prototype into an analytics app

​I collaborated with a property management company in Darmstadt, Germany to develop an energy consumption tracking application. Starting with a PowerBI prototype, we refined it into a comprehensive tool, enhancing energy usage data for thousands of households.

Understanding user needs

Insights from the technical management team in Darmstadt guided the app’s design and functionality, revealing real challenges and priorities. At the core of the value proposition, was enabling data aggregation and sharing that the team was already doing in excel. The app needed to provide value by allowing this flows to live across multiple teams.

Shipping an MVP with PowerBi

In the initial phases of our project, we used Power BI to construct a foundational dashboard. The goal was to aggregate the correct data while our customer guided us through their pain points. This approach allowed for real-time collaboration, enabling us to fine-tune the dashboard to precisely address their specific needs. It was a dynamic and efficient way to ensure that our solutions were aligned with the customer's goals.

The importance of local weather in energy usage

Weather is a critical factor in energy usage, impacting consumption patterns. For our client, a map view was invaluable. It visually depicted weather patterns, enabling them to identify areas where extreme conditions might lead to increased energy consumption. This feature provided an efficient way to proactively manage resources and optimize operations..

Narrowing down a single property

A single property view is an indispensable component of our energy management application, offering users an in-depth understanding of their consumption patterns and benchmark scoring. This feature serves as a hub for comprehensive insights, allowing users to delve deep into the data of a specific property. It not only empowers users to monitor their energy consumption with precision but also provides benchmark scoring, enabling them to compare their property's performance against industry standards or their own historical data. This holistic view enhances decision-making, facilitates targeted energy-saving strategies, and ultimately promotes greater sustainability and efficiency in managing energy resources.