”MJØLNER IS A SKILLED BUSINESS PARTNER THAT WE TRUST TO DO THE JOB”

1st Issue 2015

Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup

YOUR BUSINESS,OUR PRIORITY2014 was a great year for Mjølner. We formed even stronger

partnerships with our clients, created a new home for

TouchGFX, welcomed 19 new members to our team, and

had the best annual result to date.

Our strategy is quite simple: Your business is our priority.

With more than 26 years of experience, we know that

putting your customers center-stage enables effective

digital solutions that add value to your business.

A strong partnership built on trust lets us help your

business stay ahead. We take pride in knowing your

business, customers, and context. With this foundation,

and with our innovative approach, we take you from idea

to digital product.

On the following pages, we bring you stories about our

partnerships with Kamstrup and DBA.

Learn how our consultants have helped create user-centric

and innovative solutions. We also present you with our

year in review.

As a tech fix, we have put together a list of pros and cons

for which platforms to choose for app development.

Best Regards,

Brian Gottorp Jeppesen, CEO

EDITORIAL

UPDATE

KAMSTRUP: CROSS-PLATFORM PROTOTYPE IN 100 HOURS

CASE

We delivered technical proof-of-concept for Kamstrup’s READy app. Based on a pre-study, we built a prototype providing clarification for their technical and business possibilities within cross-platform mobile development.

Kamstrup is among the world’s leading total suppliers

of intelligent metering solutions. Their solutions cover

meters for electricity, heat, cooling, and water.

Energy and water meters are installed in homes worldwide

and reduce administrative burdens for collecting and

billing water consumption.

Professional Service ToolREADy is a very useful service tool for professionals

working on water and heating plants. It is an Android app

that uses Google Maps to place metering installations.

With the app, service technicians can read meters simply

by driving or walking in a close-by area. Phone calls or text

messages do not interfere with the app.

Technical ClarificationKamstrup wanted to investigate the possibilities of

making READy a cross-platform app, functioning on iOS

and Windows Phone in addition to the Android platform.

It was important for Kamstrup to maintain specific

features of the existing Android app in the cross-platform

solution. For instance, the app needed to be able to run

undisturbed in the background of phones, and certain

Bluetooth possibilities should be present.

It was with these criteria in mind that Kamstrup turned to

Mjølner and asked for assistance.

Mjølner is a skilled business partner and one we trust to do

the job. We are happy with the result they delivered.

- Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup

READy is an android app enabling quick, simple,

and cost-effective meter reading for professionals

working on water and heating plants.

From Pre-Study to PrototypeTo explore the READy app’s cross-platform potential,

we studied the possible frameworks and technologies.

With basis in the study, we wrote a report on the different

platforms, for instance HTML5 and Xamarin, and gave a

recommendation on how to move forward in the process.

After receiving the report, Kamstrup wanted a prototype

using the recommended framework, which proved to be

Xamarin. We outlined the specific demands of the READy

app and made a prototype. All in just 100 hours.

Clarification for General UseEven though this specific cooperation with Kamstrup

centered on the READy app and its cross-platform

possibilities, the project also gave Kamstrup clarification

for their future mobile development.

The solution is valuable to us, as it provides a solid

background for decision-making processes in the future.

- Finn Rasmussen, Project Manager, Kamstrup

In Need of a Prototype?Frederik Winstrup Johansen

fwj@mjolner.dk

The cross-platform prototype for READy running on Android, Windows & iOS phones

2014

2014 IN REVIEW:A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR2014 was a great year for us in many ways. We started a new company, welcomed 19 new team members, and our annual accounts broke three records.

We Are Ready for a Great 2015!We are quite sure that our strategy is working and the first couple of months of 2015 have been a continuation of our 2014 success. We are more than ready to strengthen our clients’ businesses with technology, innovation, and design in 2015.

Does Your Business Need Our Help?The scene of technology is constantly changing, and it is our job to make sure your business stays ahead. We take pride in acquainting ourselves with your business, customers, and context.

With our knowledge about you and our innovation approach, we take you from idea to digital product.

Brian Gottorp Jeppesen+45 41 95 36 26 brj@mjolner.dk

All of the 75 Mjølner team members have been working hard in 2014, achieving some great results. This is our 2014 in review.

Our Strategy Is WorkingWith more than 26 years of experience, we know a thing or two about technology.

We have, however, had some difficulties com-municating the business potentials of our technical solutions effectively.

2014 became the first year for us to truly succeed in this, and our clients have responded to our efforts.

In the IT industry, we are very good at being specific. We

focus on the technical details of a project, forgetting

to convey the business value that IT solutions

bring. In 2014, however, we have talked business

rather than technology with our clients, and our annual

accounts tell us that we need to keep doing that.

- Brian Gottorp Jeppsen, CEO, Mjølner Informatics

We started Draupner Graphics A/S

We welcomed 19 new team members

The media picked up on a lot of our stories

We ate 564 kg of carrots and 9400 pieces of fruit

Male (82% male, 18% female)

36.9 years of age (from 23 to 57)

Started at Mjølner 5.5 years ago (from one week to 26 years)

THE AVERAGE MJØLNER EMPLOYEE 2014

CASE

PICKING THE BRAINS OF DBA’S USERS DBA picked the brains of their users in a pop-up lab in Aarhus downtown to understand the actual user experience of their platforms.

DBA brought their employees and users together in a pop-

up lab in Aarhus downtown in the beginning of December.

For two weeks, the employees picked the brains of the

users, detecting the good and the bad about DBA’s ”sell

your item” flow, new ideas, and the overall user experience

of DBA’s platforms.

It’s All about the UsersUnhappy users are bad business for DBA. Their platform

depends on the users’ willingness and ability to post items

in order to sell their used goods. This makes a user-friendly

approach important.

DBA is a frontrunner in utilizing click-statistics, and they are

constantly perfecting their platforms.

When it comes to user experience, statistics do not always

cut it. User experience is all about getting a holistic picture

of the users’ likes and dislikes.

Big data is not always enough. We need to get our

hands dirty.

- Nikolaj Gjeding Larsen, CEO at DBA

The software developers used the pop-up lab as the setting

for hands-on user tests and interviews.

With a qualitative approach to the individual users, DBA’s

employees were able to reach their users in a new and

alternative way, providing new inspiration for their daily

work.

Anchoring the User Perspective in Just 20 HoursDecember is a busy time for DBA, and they needed some

help in order to get the most of the user interaction. This

is where Mjølner came in.

Mjølner is a great business partner and one that we trust

to do the job. We have used Mjølner consultants before,

and it came naturally to us to ask them again. The job

they delivered is as always of high quality.

- Christian Dürr, Software Developer at DBA

With only 20 hours dedicated for the project, Mjølner

managed to find the right questions, create interview

guides, and coach the DBA employees during the pop-up

lab. This ensured that DBA got what they set out for –

good and inspirational conversations with Mr. and Mrs.

Denmark about their ”sell your items” flow experiences

and wishes.

We Did Not Even Think of That…One of the main findings was that the users want to be

able to see their ads before publishing them. A simple

and rather understandable suggestion, but one that the

software developers did not realize on their own.

CEO Nikolaj Gjerding Larsen was more than pleased with

the project, and he wants to use the same set-up in the

future. The pop-up lab and DBA’s work with user-centricity

made the headlines with an article in Børsen in January.

TECH

WHICH PLATFORM TO CHOOSEFOR APP DEVELOPMENTThe app market is constantly changing. As platforms offer different advantages, how do you choose the right one? In this piece, we give you some pros and cons of the most popular platforms used in app development.

ProsNative apps give access to thoroughly tested APIs,

making way for high quality apps.

As native apps are platform specific, they utilize

platform specific features with a high performance.

You get great control over resources, which makes it

easy to create smooth animations.

ProsWith HTML, you are able to create everything from mobile

apps to desktop applications.

HTML apps do not need platform specific APIs and

programming languages and you can create apps similar

to a native app.

ConsWith native apps, you agree to use tools and

programming languages dictated by others such as

Apple and Google.

Maintenance and creation costs are often high, as you

need to develop the same app for each platform.

ConsHTML apps tend to vary in quality depending on browser

and platform. This often leads to workarounds in order to

achieve a satisfying quality.

NATIVE APP DEVELOPMENT

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HTML APP DEVELOPMENT

NATIVE HTML

VS.

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HYBRID APP DEVELOPMENT

ProsHybrid apps offer fast development that do not require

platform specific APIs.

Access to native app features will enable creation of

apps similar to native.

Hybrid apps also allow for easy reuse of existing pages

from e.g. websites.

ConsThe hybrid platform needs specific bridges for

HTML content to interact with apps. If you use non-

local HTML, you will need to take additional safety

measures.

Existing webpages must be fitted to the screen size of

the target device.

The look and feel needs platform specific adjustments

in order to present a high quality app.

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KAMSTRUP: CROSS-PLATFORM PROTOTYPE IN 100 HOURS

2014 IN REVIEW: A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR

PICKING THE BRAINS OF DBA’S USERS

WHICH PLATFORM TO CHOOSE FOR APP DEVELOPMENT

Mjølner Informatics A/S Finlandsgade 10, DK-8200 Aarhus N +45 70 27 43 43 www.mjolner.dk info@mjolner.dk