COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
A comprehensive competitive analysis was conducted on several energy supplier apps† and non-energy supplier apps‡ that connect to smart meters in the UK.
The analysis looked to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses related to the accessibility of carbon footprint data and the use of gamification features in the apps.
After thorough analysis of the competitors’ apps, it was discovered that none of the energy suppliers’ apps use gamification elements to help their customers reduce energy consumption and lower their carbon footprint. Interestingly, there's one non-energy provider company app (Equiwatt) that does implement this approach through rewards and goal setting.
Competitor analysis has shown that none of the energy suppliers currently offer real-time updates on carbon footprint status within their apps, despite the importance of such information for tracking energy usage.
It's worth noting that only one energy provider (Scottish Power) has taken the initiative to utilize energy insights to show users how they're using energy inefficiently. They've cleverly visualized this information using a pie chart, making it easy for users to understand. Alongside that, there's a solitary energy provider (Ovo) and a non-energy provider (Hugo Energy) that provide users with general tips and feedback to enhance their experience.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
To gain further insights into the Customer experience of using these apps an analysis of Apple’s App Store reviews was undertaken, reporting the overall score (out of 5)
and the top key insights obtained from both the favourable and critical reviews.
From the App Store review, generally these apps are well received by their customers (4.7-4.9/5).
The positive reviews state that several apps have a good user interface and provide functionality which provides useful information and provide tips on how to save energy and money.
