How we reinvented electricity meter reading for E.ON
UX Services
Design thinking
Focus groups
Gamification
Expert review
Workshops
Prototyping
Radical simplification of the electricity meter reading process
How E.ON plans to make meter reading more convenient for its customers
You’re probably familiar with this situation: a note in the mailbox or a notice posted in the hallway announces that it’s time for the electricity meter reading. Once a year, millions of households in Germany go through this.
Isn’t there an easier way to do this?
E.ON agrees and wants to make meter reading more convenient for customers. The goal is to digitize the entire process while also creating a digital interface with its customers.
It was important to E.ON to get customers on board from the very beginning in order to create the greatest possible value.
They came to us to bring a fresh perspective to the process of generating and implementing ideas.
With over 70 creative ideas for a user-centered and gamified app prototype
A results-oriented mix of methods in a lean project
For this project, we drew on the extensive repertoire of design thinking methods:
- In a guerrilla user research study, we interviewed people on the street about their experiences with reading their electricity meters to learn about the problems consumers face.
- In an expert review of E.ON’s current submission form, we analyzed these issues in greater depth.
- In an internal ideation workshop, we first gathered ideas from our team of experts.
- In a second step, we worked with six users in a creative focus group to develop solutions.
This resulted in more than 70 ideas that can make reading your electricity meter easier, more fun, and less stressful.
Of course, not all of these ideas made it into the final prototype (for example, a robot dog that comes by to read the electricity meter wasn’t technically that easy to build). But they gave us some great inspiration on how an app can connect the analog and digital worlds.
With over 70 creative ideas for a user-centered and gamified app prototype
For this project, we drew on the extensive repertoire of design thinking methods:
User research
In guerrilla interviews, we asked people on the street about their experiences with meter reading to learn about the problems consumers face.
Expert review
Our UX specialists analyzed E.ON’s current submission form in a heuristic evaluation.
Ideation workshop
In an internal workshop, we first gathered ideas and solutions within the team.
Creative focus group
Then, together with six participants, we came up with additional solutions.
Prototype design
We turn the best ideas into a clickable app prototype.
Our UX consultant got up to speed incredibly quickly on the complex energy utilities market and really immersed herself in the project. This allowed her to point out problems that we hadn’t considered before. This shift in perspective led to many new ideas for solutions.
Customer
Michael Bengsch
Senior Business Development Manager
E.ON
Results & benefits
From analog to digital
First, we created wireframes for the new app to enable rapid iteration.
The result is a clickable app prototype featuring E.ON’s corporate design.
Our services
Curious? Here’s how we can help you
User research
We lay the groundwork for your product decisions. Real user feedback to answer your questions—even before you make a decision.
UX design
We develop digital products that delight your users while keeping your business goals in mind.
Quantitative survey
We provide you with facts and figures about your users and their experience, thereby establishing benchmarks.
Where do you want to start? Let’s talk—no strings attached.
Birgit Bärnreuther
Head of Consulting
+49 30 / 544 870 24
(Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.)
Birgit Bärnreuther, Head of Consulting at
+49 30 / 544 870 24
(Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.)