Exide Mobile App

COUNTRY Sweden
INDUSTRY Automotive
PEOPLE INVOLVED 4

The Challenge

Exide wanted to build a complete solution for testing and recommending Exide car battery replacement. They already had a hardware device used by car mechanics – EBT Tester. They needed an app that would complement it.

Exide approached us with a well-thought proposal for such an application. The materials provided by the client were the base for further UX research. The application had to be extremely usable and readable, as it was to be used in various conditions, including auto repair shops. One thing was set in stone, though, the client wanted it to be a Progressive Web Application (PWA).

What were the technical challenges? Almost all the data needed by the application were obtained from external APIs. This means the usual external-party-related issues: inaccurate documentation, mingled data coming from the API, and the need to find new ways to use endpoints.

How It Works

The application works with the new EBTP battery tester used by car mechanics for testing the car battery condition. It lets them send customers a battery test report along with Exide battery recommendations. The report includes test details, new battery proposals, and the driving style (number and length of journeys per day) of the car owner.

The application aims to help mechanics find the right battery for their customers’ vehicles. It works best with the EBTP Tester, but it can be used without it giving the user an option to test the battery themselves without the need to visit the garage.

The first step is completing the client’s data. Then the battery test result is entered as the QR code or manually. Then the license plate is entered, as in some countries it provides all kinds of information about the vehicle. Finally, the TecDoc API suggests batteries matching the information provided. The mechanic can select up to 3 batteries from the TecDoc API proposal or browse the entire Exide catalog if needed. A detailed report is then sent to the vehicle owner with information on driving style, battery status, and new battery proposals with prices. The vehicle owner can select the battery and accept or reject the proposal.

Design & UX

The application was designed and tested for mobile phones. We conducted usability tests with mechanics from different European countries to give us a global idea of how users interact with the app. Also, we worked with Exide’s battery testing equipment to ensure seamless integration.

The registration screen is clear and readable. Information and options are intuitive and easy to find. The process of scanning the QR code and license plate doesn’t cause any problems.

Technology

The front end was written in Vue.js and the back end in Laravel. We chose it because it’s versatile, easy to work with, and at the same time offers excellent performance.

To minimize the number of possible errors during the data transition from the battery testing device to the app, we’ve decided to use QR codes. We used the ZXing library to do this.

For license scanning, we went with the Openalpr Python library. Its purpose is to speed up the process of entering data on the application.