epyGuard™

With limited resources and a tight timeline, our client was intent on swiftly building a Proof of Concept to validate their idea and draw a broader client base.

We were asked to create:

• A mobile app that could pair with their custom wearable health monitor, epyShield™, using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The goal was to enable the real-time tracking of physical workers‘ vital signs.
• A web app to retrieve data from the mobile app and provide safety managers with key information about the health status of employees.

At the heart of this project was a clear mission: to keep non-desk workers safe by delivering a B2B safety platform that is driven by health data – increasing safety and reducing costs.

The epyGuard™ apps needed to facilitate the early detection of predominant accident causes in demanding workplaces, namely heat exhaustion, and fatigue. This solution especially targets sectors such as industrial, emergency response, and defense.

Flutter enabled us to reduce client costs by around 40%. We developed the product in an Agile approach, which enabled us to easily adapt to changing requirements and kept our Product Owner (PO) constantly updated on the progress of our work.

Mobile app

We developed a mobile app that seamlessly connects via BLE with the epyShield™ wearable for monitoring workers’ vital parameters. The app receives real-time data from the device, such as heart rate, body temperature, or sweat rate, and displays it to the worker, indicating whether the vitals are within safe levels.

Alongside workers, supervisors also use the epyGuard™ mobile app. The live dashboard allows them access to critical data and react in real-time if the readings are troubling. Next, the app transmits data to the backend, where it is then sent to the web application.

While the development was progressing smoothly, we encountered and adeptly overcame several interesting IoT challenges:

• Maintaining data flow with the app in the background, especially on iOS. We tackled this by setting the device to periodically wake the app with notifications, ensuring the system didn’t put the app to sleep.
• Ensuring automatic reconnection with the device when the application launches. The difficulty lay in the fact that many epiShield devices are located in the same place, and a user’s app should connect specifically with the device they have previously selected.

Web app and backend

Moreover, we created a web app dedicated to Health and safety managers for monitoring workers’ health status via charts. The historical dashboard allows them to access and analyze aggregated and pseudonymized data to improve workflows and decision-making. It also enables admins to manage teams and handle member roles.

All worker health data is fed directly from a dedicated backend, which was a strategic choice driven by the unique communication requirements among the mobile app, web app, and device. This approach not only enhances data security but also streamlines the application’s structure.

The team consisted of 3 Flutter Developers, 2 Web Developers, a Scrum Master, a Business Analyst, a Quality Assurance Engineer, a UX/UI Designer, and a Product Owner (on the client’s side).

These steps helped them expand their client base and strategic partnerships.

We successfully created the product within the set timeline and budget thanks to:

• Choosing Flutter: Enabling the rapid launch of the app’s core versions and cutting development and maintenance costs by nearly 40%.
• A product-centric process: We focus on delivering real value.
• Agile prioritization techniques: These help us define objectives and the path to reach them.
• A proven track record in creating IoT apps: We know the process and the pitfalls to avoid.
• Data-driven decisions: We make them effectively by daily tracking our project’s progress, with a keen eye on the roadmap and milestones.