Iris Network
Iris Network is an integrated platform enhancing EV charging network efficiency and user experience with predictive maintenance, automated management, and seamless trip planning.
Role
Product designer
Website
iris-network
Challenge
As the demand for EVs rises, CPOs encounter difficulties in maintaining charger efficiency, optimizing energy distribution, and ensuring a seamless experience for users. Without an integrated platform, issues such as slow maintenance response, inefficient trip planning, and cumbersome payment processes frustrate both operators and EV drivers.
Goal
To address the growing challenges faced by Charge Point Operators (CPOs) in managing EV charging networks by providing an integrated solution that optimizes both network and customer management, enhances charger reliability, and improves the user experience for EV drivers.
Background: Iris Network serves as an all-in-one Charging Management System (CMS) and Electric Mobility Service Provider (eMSP) solution, providing a proactive and user-centered approach to managing EV chargers. Key objectives included:
Improving network monitoring and maintenance for optimal charger uptime.
Enhancing customer-facing features, such as trip planning and streamlined payments, to improve the EV driving experience.
Research Goals:
Uncover the specific needs and pain points of CPOs and EV drivers in charger management and usability.
Ensure that the platform’s features, like predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring, align with CPO expectations for efficiency and customer satisfaction.
User Interviews:
Conducted interviews with key stakeholders, including Charge Point Operators, EV drivers, and field technicians, to gain insights into network management needs and user experience pain points.
Competitive Analysis:
Analyzed leading EV charger management platforms to identify common challenges, unique strengths, and areas where Iris Network could introduce innovative features, like automated tariff management and predictive maintenance.
Research Findings:
Predictive Maintenance: High demand for systems capable of anticipating issues, thereby minimizing charger downtime.
Efficiency & Cost Control: Strong emphasis on reducing operational costs, particularly by minimizing field team visits.
Centralized Management: Need for a consolidated platform to monitor asset health, manage work orders, and generate reports.
Features Roadmap:
Charging Management System (CMS):
Remote Monitoring & Maintenance: Allows CPOs to monitor charger health and resolve issues quickly.
Automated Tariff Management: A simplified interface for dynamic tariff adjustments based on demand and energy consumption.
Predictive Alerts: Notifies operators of potential issues to reduce downtime.
Electric Mobility Service Provider (eMSP) App:
Trip Planner & Charger Availability Tracking: Assists EV drivers in planning trips and finding available chargers.
Payment & Wallet Management: Enables seamless payment through RFID and auto-charge features, enhancing transaction speed.
EV Roaming & Smart Charging: Facilitates access to partner networks and optimizes charging efficiency.
Additional Enhancements:
Mobile Compatibility: Designed for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Apple Watch for seamless use during trips.
Dark Mode for CMS Dashboard: Reduces eye strain for CPOs during extended shifts and low-light conditions.
Information architecture
Created a sitemap that establishes primary navigation through four key sections: Monitor, Optimize, Billing, and Support. Each section is subdivided to allow quick access to the most frequently used features.
Mobile application
Web application
Wireframes
Developed wireframes focusing on two main user groups:
CPO Dashboard: Simplified layout for quick access to charger health, energy optimization, and tariff management.
eMSP Mobile App: Streamlined navigation for planning trips, tracking charger availability, and managing payments.
High-fidelity key-screens
Usability testing & Outcome
Feedback-Driven Iterations: Based on usability testing, the CMS dashboard was restructured to highlight critical data and reduce interface clutter, while the eMSP app’s payment flow was streamlined with an RFID and auto-charge feature.
Outcome: Reduced clicks for CPOs to manage charging sessions by 83%, with EV drivers experiencing a 75% reduction in payment duration.
Takeaways: Balancing a user-friendly design with feature-rich functionality was achieved through iterative testing, resulting in a clean, intuitive layout without compromising comprehensiveness.
Lesson Learned: Simplified and detail-oriented designs improve usability in intricate systems. Establishing a consistent UI library proved essential for seamless handoffs and smoother development processes.
Product Benefits:
