Flo Home Charger Mobile App Experience
About the client
Alongside its public charging network, Flo develops residential charging stations designed for home use. These devices extend the charging experience beyond public infrastructure, allowing users to manage their daily charging routines directly from home.
The mobile app plays a central role in this ecosystem, acting as the control interface between the user and the charger.
Project overview
The project
Rather than building two separate applications, Flo made the strategic decision to unify both public network usage and home charger management into a single mobile experience.
This meant designing an app capable of supporting two fundamentally different use cases: real-time public charging and personal device control.
The context
Home charging introduces a different set of challenges compared to public networks. The first interaction happens during installation and setup, a moment where users often feel uncertain and unsupported.
Without a clear onboarding experience, even a well-designed hardware product can quickly become a source of frustration.
The app therefore needed to guide users from the very first connection, ensuring they could successfully install, configure, and control their charger independently.
UX challenges and technical constraints for home charging
The challenge
Simplifying the initial setup of a connected device
Guiding users through Bluetooth pairing and Wi-Fi configuration
Making energy data understandable and actionable
Allowing remote control while ensuring security
Constraints
Bluetooth communication with the charger
Wi-Fi configuration flows
Real-time data synchronization
Device access control and security
Our approach and UX/UI solution for the home charging app
Designing a frictionless onboarding experience
We focused heavily on the first-time user experience. The onboarding flow was designed as a guided, step-by-step journey that helps users connect to their charger, configure network settings, and activate the device with confidence.
Every step was simplified to minimize confusion and reduce the need for external support.
Providing real-time control and visibility
Once the charger is connected, the app becomes a control center. Users can monitor charging sessions in real time, access their history, and understand their energy consumption through clear and actionable data.
The goal was not only to provide information, but to make it meaningful and easy to interpret.
Enabling smart charging behaviors
We introduced scheduling features that allow users to plan their charging sessions based on electricity rates. This empowers them to optimize their energy usage and reduce costs without additional effort.
Ensuring security and control
The app also provides control over who can access the charger. Users can restrict usage and protect their device, reinforcing a sense of ownership and security.
Results and benefits for the mobile IoT experience
Results
By simplifying the setup process and improving overall usability, the application significantly reduced support needs related to installation and configuration.
Users were able to take full control of their charging experience, leading to higher satisfaction and stronger adoption of smart features.
Why this project matters
This project illustrates how mobile can transform a hardware product into a connected service. By focusing on onboarding, usability, and real-time control, we enabled a seamless interaction between users and their home charging devices.
Sidekick Interactive’s expertise in IoT and EV charging
Design intuitive onboarding for connected devices
Bridge hardware and mobile experiences
Deliver high-quality UX for IoT ecosystems
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