Making heat pump installation simple and smart

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
We had to design something that works just as well for installers at their desk as it does when they're out visiting homes. One minute they're in the office managing all their jobs on a big screen, looking at schedules and customer details, the next, they're at someone's house using their phone to measure rooms and plan where to put heat pumps, or what alterations are needed to the house. Getting the floor planning piece right was especially tricky - it had to be super easy to use on a phone while walking around a property, but also powerful enough for detailed design work back at the office. Making one system that feels natural in both situations and can act as a practical tool and a CRM was our biggest challenge.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
Working closely with our developers on the floor planning tool revealed what design tools alone couldn't show us. Creating an interface where users could draw and connect rooms, with point-to-point drawing and canvas interactions, needed to be tested in real time. Our breakthrough came with the snapping feature - making rooms automatically align when placed near each other. What seemed simple in design became more complex when we saw how it needed to adapt at different zoom levels. Sitting together with the development team, making adjustments and testing with customers immediately, was key to getting the feel just right. This direct collaboration helped us create a tool that's both powerful and natural to use.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
Looking back at what we achieved in just one year shows the power of our approach at Cosmic Velocity. We transformed a simple form into a sophisticated platform that's reshaping how heat pump installations are managed in the UK, helping installers focus on what matters most. Our experience with Spruce demonstrates the power of our startup acceleration program - we understand that different stages of growth need different levels of design support, and help startups evolve from initial concept to market-ready product. Looking ahead, we're excited to help more startups achieve similar transformations in the energy sector and beyond, as we work together to bring UK to net zero.