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  • Cases
  • Raising Home Comfort to New Levels with IoT Technology

Hunter Douglas

Raising Home Comfort to New Levels with IoT Technology

Leading global home solutions brand, Hunter Douglas, takes customer experience to new heights with exceptional Bluetooth Mobile IoT integrated window covering products.
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Hunter Douglas, renowned for producing top of the line window coverings, launched a new brand of technology-infused products called Bliss. Looking to contend in this steadily growing niche, they tapped Monstarlab to help them design an awesome user experience.

The Monstarlab team took on the challenge; from designing the user interface, mapping user experience, to deploying intricate product integrations. The team took into account ease of use, device compatibility, and even power consumption, which led them to decide on using Bluetooth technology as the main IoT component for the mobile application. The synergy between Hunter Douglas’ engineering & product team and Monstarlab tech team was exceptional, bringing the mobile solution available to the market in as little as 4 months.
MVP launched in only 4 months

Improving Smart Blinds’ Customer Experience

Motorized smart blinds are not an entirely new line of products. There are brands who have launched their own product lines to varying levels of success. However, customers encounter inconsistent product experience. Citing complicated set-ups, failed pairings, and unsatisfactory mobile app experience.

Hunter Douglas launched Bliss, its own line of technology-powered window coverings. They wanted to offer a better experience to stand out and commissioned Monstarlab for an end-to-end engagement. Taking on every part of the project from user experience architecture, design, app development, integrations and calibrations, up to deployment.

Working under agile methodology, the team had weekly check-ins that allowed for quick progress and resolution of issues. Extensive functionality set-ups were rigorously done for optimum user experience. The close collaboration culminated in the quick launch of the MVP.
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As world market leader in window covering products our ambition is to enlarge the share of smart blinds, meaning motorised and app-controlled. One of the key criteria to achieve this is to offer an app that exceeds in simplicity. Monstarlab helped us design and develop the “Bliss Smart Blinds” app with exactly this in mind. The process to match our domain knowledge with Monstarlab’s skills in app-building and user experience was and still is effective and a pleasure.

- Nick Lansbergen, Manager Motorisation & Controls, Hunter Douglas

App supports over 8 different hardware products and counting
IoT Made Simpler
The Bliss app was developed with user experience in mind. Simplifying the setup by utilizing Bluetooth technology and a quick app pairing functionality. Users are able to use the mobile app and control their smart blinds without the need to be online and navigate complicated initial processes.

Once they pair their motorized blinds with the app, customers get to enjoy voice-activated commands, set up automated blinds settings according to relevant times of day, and many more in just a few taps on their device.

Easy QR Code Set-up

Each product is assigned a unique QR code that can be scanned and automatically be recognized and paired in the system. Users can custom name, program, and set it up right away. No hassle. No internet required.

Easy Dealer Onboarding

Hunter Douglas also caters to dealers and distributors. The Bliss experience is ensured to end-users as dealers are provided with their own white-labelled version of the mobile app. This comes with a custom CMS for easy onboarding and management of dealers and users.

Enjoy Automated Comfort

Customers enjoy awesome features with a tap on their devices. They can set-up and control several blinds as a group and even set and manage automated timed settings for an entire week.

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Elevating User Experience

The project was a great cooperation between us and Hunter Douglas. Starting with a discovery phase, the collaborative approach really worked in our favour as our engineers and the client’s worked together to get a first POC. From that, we did our initial designs and started the implementation. Since then we have added several new functionalities and hardware types, and are looking towards a big Europe push in 2021.

- Sven de Brouwer, Project Manager, Monstarlab

Supports control modes such as tilting and bottom-up

About Hunter Douglas

Hunter Douglas, formally established in 1946, is a leading global enterprise engaged in manufacturing and distributing a wide range of window blinds and coverings as well as architectural products. The company’s head office is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, while the management office is in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Hunter Douglas has operations in over 100 countries, employing more than 2,000 people worldwide, and posting earnings of around $3.7 Billion US Dollars in the past year.

The company has introduced several innovations in the industry including those directly concerning child safety and energy efficiency. They are continuously growing their product portfolio and started venturing into technology-infused solutions such as their recently launched smart blinds brand Bliss.

The Partnership

Still Working to Make Better Experiences

The partnership between Hunter Douglas and Monstarlab spans continuing additional functionality improvements such as adding in new products, onboarding dealers onto their white-labelled mobile app, and future developments. Ensuring consistent service quality through a strong relationship.

Languages

  • Java
  • Kotlin
  • Swift
  • Vapor

Tech

  • Bluetooth
  • Siri Voice
  • Google Voice
Voice integration for Siri and Google Assistant