Tech, Design, and Business. Mjølner UPDATE 1st, 2015

”MJØLNER IS A SKILLED BUSINESS PARTNER THAT WE TRUST TO DO THE JOB” Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup

1st Issue 2015

EDITORIAL

YOUR BUSINESS, OUR PRIORITY 2014 was a great year for Mjølner. We formed even stronger

Learn how our consultants have helped create user-centric

partnerships with our clients, created a new home for

and innovative solutions. We also present you with our

TouchGFX, welcomed 19 new members to our team, and

year in review.

had the best annual result to date.

As a tech fix, we have put together a list of pros and cons Our strategy is quite simple: Your business is our priority.

for which platforms to choose for app development.

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

Best Regards,

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.

Brian Gottorp Jeppesen, CEO

UPDATE

CASE

KAMSTRUP: CROSS-PLATFORM PROTOTYPE IN 100 HOURS 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.

Technical Clarification Kamstrup 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

Kamstrup is among the world’s leading total suppliers

features of the existing Android app in the cross-platform

of intelligent metering solutions. Their solutions cover

solution. For instance, the app needed to be able to run

meters for electricity, heat, cooling, and water.

undisturbed in the background of phones, and certain Bluetooth possibilities should be present.

Energy and water meters are installed in homes worldwide and reduce administrative burdens for collecting and

It was with these criteria in mind that Kamstrup turned to

billing water consumption.

Mjølner and asked for assistance.

Professional Service Tool

Mjølner is a skilled business partner and one we trust to do

READy is a very useful service tool for professionals

the job. We are happy with the result they delivered.

working on water and heating plants. It is an Android app

- Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup

that uses Google Maps to place metering installations.

With the app, service technicians can read meters simply

READy is an android app enabling quick, simple,

by driving or walking in a close-by area. Phone calls or text

and cost-effective meter reading for professionals

messages do not interfere with the app.

working on water and heating plants.

The cross-platform prototype for READy running on Android, Windows & iOS phones

From Pre-Study to Prototype

Clarification for General Use

To explore the READy app’s cross-platform potential,

Even though this specific cooperation with Kamstrup

we studied the possible frameworks and technologies.

centered on the READy app and its cross-platform possibilities, the project also gave Kamstrup clarification

With basis in the study, we wrote a report on the different

for their future mobile development.

platforms, for instance HTML5 and Xamarin, and gave a recommendation on how to move forward in the process.

The solution is valuable to us, as it provides a solid background for decision-making processes in the future.

After receiving the report, Kamstrup wanted a prototype

- Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup

using the recommended framework, which proved to be Xamarin. We outlined the specific demands of the READy

In Need of a Prototype?

app and made a prototype. All in just 100 hours.

Frederik Winstrup Johansen fwj@mjolner.dk

2014

2014 IN REVIEW: A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR 2014 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.

rather than technology with our clients, and our annual

All of the 75 Mjølner team members have been working hard in 2014, achieving some great results.

This is our 2014 in review.

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.

Our Strategy Is Working With more than 26 years of experience, we know a thing or two about technology.

We have, however, had some difficulties communicating 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.

accounts tell us that we need to keep doing that.

- Brian Gottorp Jeppsen, CEO, Mjølner Informatics

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.

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

Brian Gottorp Jeppesen +45 41 95 36 26 brj@mjolner.dk

We started Draupner Graphics A/S

The media picked up on a lot of our stories

We welcomed 19 new team members

We ate 564 kg of carrots and 9400 pieces of fruit

THE AVERAGE MJØLNER EMPLOYEE 2014 36.9 years of age (from 23 to 57) Started at Mjølner 5.5 years ago (from one week to 26 years) Male (82% male, 18% female)

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.

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

DBA brought their employees and users together in a pop-

hands dirty.

up lab in Aarhus downtown in the beginning of December.

- Nikolaj Gjeding Larsen, CEO at DBA

For two weeks, the employees picked the brains of the

The software developers used the pop-up lab as the setting

users, detecting the good and the bad about DBA’s ”sell

for hands-on user tests and interviews.

your item” flow, new ideas, and the overall user experience of DBA’s platforms.

With a qualitative approach to the individual users, DBA’s employees were able to reach their users in a new and

It’s All about the Users

alternative way, providing new inspiration for their daily

Unhappy users are bad business for DBA. Their platform

work.

depends on the users’ willingness and ability to post items in order to sell their used goods. This makes a user-friendly

Anchoring the User Perspective in Just 20 Hours

approach important.

December is a busy time for DBA, and they needed some help in order to get the most of the user interaction. This

DBA is a frontrunner in utilizing click-statistics, and they are

is where Mjølner came in.

constantly perfecting their platforms.

Mjølner is a great business partner and one that we trust When it comes to user experience, statistics do not always

to do the job. We have used Mjølner consultants before,

and it came naturally to us to ask them again. The job

We Did Not Even Think of That…

they delivered is as always of high quality.

One of the main findings was that the users want to be

- Christian Dürr, Software Developer at DBA

able to see their ads before publishing them. A simple and rather understandable suggestion, but one that the

With only 20 hours dedicated for the project, Mjølner

software developers did not realize on their own.

managed to find the right questions, create interview guides, and coach the DBA employees during the pop-up

CEO Nikolaj Gjerding Larsen was more than pleased with

lab. This ensured that DBA got what they set out for –

the project, and he wants to use the same set-up in the

good and inspirational conversations with Mr. and Mrs.

future. The pop-up lab and DBA’s work with user-centricity

Denmark about their ”sell your items” flow experiences

made the headlines with an article in Børsen in January.

and wishes.

TECH

WHICH PLATFORM TO CHOOSE FOR APP DEVELOPMENT The 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.

NATIVE APP DEVELOPMENT

+

Pros Native apps give access to thoroughly tested APIs,

HTML APP DEVELOPMENT

+

As native apps are platform specific, they utilize

+

-

-

Cons HTML apps tend to vary in quality depending on browser

Cons

and platform. This often leads to workarounds in order to

With native apps, you agree to use tools and

achieve a satisfying quality.

programming languages dictated by others such as Apple and Google.

-

to a native app.

You get great control over resources, which makes it easy to create smooth animations.

HTML apps do not need platform specific APIs and programming languages and you can create apps similar

platform specific features with a high performance.

+

With HTML, you are able to create everything from mobile apps to desktop applications.

making way for high quality apps.

+

Pros

Maintenance and creation costs are often high, as you need to develop the same app for each platform.

NATIVE

HTML

VS. HYBRID APP DEVELOPMENT

+

Pros Hybrid apps offer fast development that do not require

-

platform specific APIs.

+ +

Hybrid apps also allow for easy reuse of existing pages from e.g. websites.

The hybrid platform needs specific bridges for HTML content to interact with apps. If you use nonlocal HTML, you will need to take additional safety

Access to native app features will enable creation of apps similar to native.

Cons

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.

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

info@mjolner.dk