”MJØLNER IS A SKILLED BUSINESS PARTNER THAT WE TRUST TO DO THE JOB”
1st Issue 2015
Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup
YOUR BUSINESS,OUR PRIORITY2014 was a great year for Mjølner. We formed even stronger
partnerships with our clients, created a new home for
TouchGFX, welcomed 19 new members to our team, and
had the best annual result to date.
Our strategy is quite simple: Your business is our priority.
With more than 26 years of experience, we know that
putting your customers center-stage enables effective
digital solutions that add value to your business.
A strong partnership built on trust lets us help your
business stay ahead. We take pride in knowing your
business, customers, and context. With this foundation,
and with our innovative approach, we take you from idea
to digital product.
On the following pages, we bring you stories about our
partnerships with Kamstrup and DBA.
Learn how our consultants have helped create user-centric
and innovative solutions. We also present you with our
year in review.
As a tech fix, we have put together a list of pros and cons
for which platforms to choose for app development.
Best Regards,
Brian Gottorp Jeppesen, CEO
EDITORIAL
KAMSTRUP: CROSS-PLATFORM PROTOTYPE IN 100 HOURS
CASE
We delivered technical proof-of-concept for Kamstrup’s READy app. Based on a pre-study, we built a prototype providing clarification for their technical and business possibilities within cross-platform mobile development.
Kamstrup is among the world’s leading total suppliers
of intelligent metering solutions. Their solutions cover
meters for electricity, heat, cooling, and water.
Energy and water meters are installed in homes worldwide
and reduce administrative burdens for collecting and
billing water consumption.
Professional Service ToolREADy is a very useful service tool for professionals
working on water and heating plants. It is an Android app
that uses Google Maps to place metering installations.
With the app, service technicians can read meters simply
by driving or walking in a close-by area. Phone calls or text
messages do not interfere with the app.
Technical ClarificationKamstrup wanted to investigate the possibilities of
making READy a cross-platform app, functioning on iOS
and Windows Phone in addition to the Android platform.
It was important for Kamstrup to maintain specific
features of the existing Android app in the cross-platform
solution. For instance, the app needed to be able to run
undisturbed in the background of phones, and certain
Bluetooth possibilities should be present.
It was with these criteria in mind that Kamstrup turned to
Mjølner and asked for assistance.
Mjølner is a skilled business partner and one we trust to do
the job. We are happy with the result they delivered.
- Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup
READy is an android app enabling quick, simple,
and cost-effective meter reading for professionals
working on water and heating plants.
From Pre-Study to PrototypeTo explore the READy app’s cross-platform potential,
we studied the possible frameworks and technologies.
With basis in the study, we wrote a report on the different
platforms, for instance HTML5 and Xamarin, and gave a
recommendation on how to move forward in the process.
After receiving the report, Kamstrup wanted a prototype
using the recommended framework, which proved to be
Xamarin. We outlined the specific demands of the READy
app and made a prototype. All in just 100 hours.
Clarification for General UseEven though this specific cooperation with Kamstrup
centered on the READy app and its cross-platform
possibilities, the project also gave Kamstrup clarification
for their future mobile development.
The solution is valuable to us, as it provides a solid
background for decision-making processes in the future.
- Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup
In Need of a Prototype?Frederik Winstrup Johansen
The cross-platform prototype for READy running on Android, Windows & iOS phones
2014
2014 IN REVIEW:A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR2014 was a great year for us in many ways. We started a new company, welcomed 19 new team members, and our annual accounts broke three records.
We Are Ready for a Great 2015!We are quite sure that our strategy is working and the first couple of months of 2015 have been a continuation of our 2014 success. We are more than ready to strengthen our clients’ businesses with technology, innovation, and design in 2015.
Does Your Business Need Our Help?The scene of technology is constantly changing, and it is our job to make sure your business stays ahead. We take pride in acquainting ourselves with your business, customers, and context.
With our knowledge about you and our innovation approach, we take you from idea to digital product.
Brian Gottorp Jeppesen+45 41 95 36 26 [email protected]
All of the 75 Mjølner team members have been working hard in 2014, achieving some great results. This is our 2014 in review.
Our Strategy Is WorkingWith more than 26 years of experience, we know a thing or two about technology.
We have, however, had some difficulties com-municating the business potentials of our technical solutions effectively.
2014 became the first year for us to truly succeed in this, and our clients have responded to our efforts.
In the IT industry, we are very good at being specific. We
focus on the technical details of a project, forgetting
to convey the business value that IT solutions
bring. In 2014, however, we have talked business
rather than technology with our clients, and our annual
accounts tell us that we need to keep doing that.
- Brian Gottorp Jeppsen, CEO, Mjølner Informatics
We started Draupner Graphics A/S
We welcomed 19 new team members
The media picked up on a lot of our stories
We ate 564 kg of carrots and 9400 pieces of fruit
Male (82% male, 18% female)
36.9 years of age (from 23 to 57)
Started at Mjølner 5.5 years ago (from one week to 26 years)
THE AVERAGE MJØLNER EMPLOYEE 2014
CASE
PICKING THE BRAINS OF DBA’S USERS DBA picked the brains of their users in a pop-up lab in Aarhus downtown to understand the actual user experience of their platforms.
DBA brought their employees and users together in a pop-
up lab in Aarhus downtown in the beginning of December.
For two weeks, the employees picked the brains of the
users, detecting the good and the bad about DBA’s ”sell
your item” flow, new ideas, and the overall user experience
of DBA’s platforms.
It’s All about the UsersUnhappy users are bad business for DBA. Their platform
depends on the users’ willingness and ability to post items
in order to sell their used goods. This makes a user-friendly
approach important.
DBA is a frontrunner in utilizing click-statistics, and they are
constantly perfecting their platforms.
When it comes to user experience, statistics do not always
cut it. User experience is all about getting a holistic picture
of the users’ likes and dislikes.
Big data is not always enough. We need to get our
hands dirty.
- Nikolaj Gjeding Larsen, CEO at DBA
The software developers used the pop-up lab as the setting
for hands-on user tests and interviews.
With a qualitative approach to the individual users, DBA’s
employees were able to reach their users in a new and
alternative way, providing new inspiration for their daily
work.
Anchoring the User Perspective in Just 20 HoursDecember is a busy time for DBA, and they needed some
help in order to get the most of the user interaction. This
is where Mjølner came in.
Mjølner is a great business partner and one that we trust
to do the job. We have used Mjølner consultants before,
and it came naturally to us to ask them again. The job
they delivered is as always of high quality.
- Christian Dürr, Software Developer at DBA
With only 20 hours dedicated for the project, Mjølner
managed to find the right questions, create interview
guides, and coach the DBA employees during the pop-up
lab. This ensured that DBA got what they set out for –
good and inspirational conversations with Mr. and Mrs.
Denmark about their ”sell your items” flow experiences
and wishes.
We Did Not Even Think of That…One of the main findings was that the users want to be
able to see their ads before publishing them. A simple
and rather understandable suggestion, but one that the
software developers did not realize on their own.
CEO Nikolaj Gjerding Larsen was more than pleased with
the project, and he wants to use the same set-up in the
future. The pop-up lab and DBA’s work with user-centricity
made the headlines with an article in Børsen in January.
TECH
WHICH PLATFORM TO CHOOSEFOR APP DEVELOPMENTThe app market is constantly changing. As platforms offer different advantages, how do you choose the right one? In this piece, we give you some pros and cons of the most popular platforms used in app development.
ProsNative apps give access to thoroughly tested APIs,
making way for high quality apps.
As native apps are platform specific, they utilize
platform specific features with a high performance.
You get great control over resources, which makes it
easy to create smooth animations.
ProsWith HTML, you are able to create everything from mobile
apps to desktop applications.
HTML apps do not need platform specific APIs and
programming languages and you can create apps similar
to a native app.
ConsWith native apps, you agree to use tools and
programming languages dictated by others such as
Apple and Google.
Maintenance and creation costs are often high, as you
need to develop the same app for each platform.
ConsHTML apps tend to vary in quality depending on browser
and platform. This often leads to workarounds in order to
achieve a satisfying quality.
NATIVE APP DEVELOPMENT
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HTML APP DEVELOPMENT
NATIVE HTML
VS.
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HYBRID APP DEVELOPMENT
ProsHybrid apps offer fast development that do not require
platform specific APIs.
Access to native app features will enable creation of
apps similar to native.
Hybrid apps also allow for easy reuse of existing pages
from e.g. websites.
ConsThe hybrid platform needs specific bridges for
HTML content to interact with apps. If you use non-
local HTML, you will need to take additional safety
measures.
Existing webpages must be fitted to the screen size of
the target device.
The look and feel needs platform specific adjustments
in order to present a high quality app.
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KAMSTRUP: CROSS-PLATFORM PROTOTYPE IN 100 HOURS
2014 IN REVIEW: A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR
PICKING THE BRAINS OF DBA’S USERS
WHICH PLATFORM TO CHOOSE FOR APP DEVELOPMENT
Mjølner Informatics A/S Finlandsgade 10, DK-8200 Aarhus N +45 70 27 43 43 www.mjolner.dk [email protected]