Building a software toolkit for heat pump installers
We helped a major energy data firm break into the green tech market, by co-developing an innovative AI-powered workflow for heat pump installers.
For reasons of client confidentiality, photography throughout is illustrative.
- Client
- Energy data firm
- Sector
- Proptech
- Duration
- 18 months
We worked with a major energy data firm's R&D team over 18 months to define, design and deliver a new software toolkit for heat pump installers - helping them manage projects, connect with customers and stay compliant.
One unified product team
Highly skilled practitioners from Panda and our client working closely together as one agile, multi-disciplinary team.
Focused on user needs
From discovery research and trade conversations to usability testing and product demos - user insight was woven into decision-making throughout.
Building a whole new venture
Our team's focus was on the business, not just the product. Pricing, forecasting, branding and growth: we obsessed over all of it.
With a startup mentality
The team worked like a startup - under pressure to ship an MVP quickly, demonstrate traction and build investor confidence.
I wanted to ensure we took a real user-centred approach. Panda were able to bring in all the skills we needed at exactly the right time.
It's not easy being an installer
Installing a heat pump isn't like installing a boiler: it needs detailed specifications to ensure that a building is properly heated without increasing costs. And with Government grants and regulation, there's lots of paperwork.
Our mission was to lighten the load for heat pump installers, and help them build their businesses.
Managed complexity
Our solution was a mobile-first web app that supports installers from initial enquiry to after-sales service.
While the user experience is clean and friendly, our client's sophisticated back-end uses AI to process property data and run calculations, minimising manual inputs and avoiding errors.
From zero to one
User research
Through interviews with homeowners, installers, merchants and manufacturers we began to build a picture of the experience, pain points and needs of installers and their customers.
We created personas - "Billy" to represent the typical small-firm owners who make up the majority of the market, and "Becky" to represent homeowners.
They guided us through countless decisions as we developed the product.
Experience vision
We used storyboarding to illustrate the fragmented, frustrating experiences of installers and homeowners, and how much better things could be with the new product.
From triaging enquiries, to gathering property data and designing and selling the system - we helped articulate a vision which built stakeholder confidence and unlocked investment.
Concept testing
Working with our client's marketing team, we tested proposition options with a microsite fed by traffic from Facebook ads.
Alongside the quant, we ran further interviews with installer firms to understand the fit between their concerns and our messaging.
This enabled us to refine our proposition and plan the product roadmap.
Industry engagement
We joined our client in reaching out to industry players who work with installers every day.
We met with manufacturers such as Worcester Bosch, Vaillant and Baxi, as well as the regulator (MCS), training providers and merchants such as City Plumbing and Wickes.
These conversations helped to shape the product roadmap: ensuring that it can scale to support enterprise partners, as well as smaller installers like Billy.
I've found the team incredible to work with. Most valuable for me has been the mentorship on a personal level.
Design
Our designers worked closely with our client's domain expert and technical lead to map proposed user journeys and understand data flows before producing detailed UI.
Designs were refined and iterated as new requirements came to light (a feature of moving quickly).
Finished UI components were added to the product's design system and indexed in Storybook to support UX consistency and efficient development.
Engineering
With our client's back-end engineers, we built a modern web platform integrating a Next.js/React frontend with a Supabase backend and a bespoke Python calculation engine via a REST API.
We worked with a high-velocity workflow using trunk-based development, CI/CD pipelines, and fully automated testing and deployments.
Feature flags enabled us to decouple deployment from release and ship to production multiple times a day with confidence.
We flexed the team and workflow to meet the demands of the roadmap.
Product management
We ran a kanban board punctuated by demos and retros.
Roadmap and prioritisation decisions were facilitated with a mix of user story mapping and high-level feature roadmaps.
We worked fluidly, adapting to user feedback and evolving business priorities - like any startup team - and then solidified the codebase as uncertainty reduced.
Product marketing
We used our product knowledge to support the marketing team in developing the brand positioning and messaging.
We provided creative for ads, landing pages, pricing tiers, FAQs and everything in between. And we joined our client's staff manning the stand at a series of trade shows.
Honestly, from all I've seen of other apps, I think you guys have made something amazing. It's easier and better to use than anything out there.
Ready for takeoff
At the end of the process our client had the vision, the product and the in-house capability to succeed. They went on to a successful exit in September 2026.
An elegant product
Where competitors fill their products with clutter, ours delivers the best user experience, with the key features that matter most to installers.
A capable team
Our product people, designers and engineers supported our client's team as they strengthened their internal capabilities.
A roadmap for growth
With the architecture, branding, design and core features in place, the in-house team is set to iterate and build out the product.
Update: Following our work, the business was sold, enabling investors to realise their return on investment.
Panda are great to work with whenever you want to power change. I highly recommend.