myCistern: Smart Rainwater Management

How Blynk’s low-code IoT software added value

"Hiring a full-time developer to create even half of what Blynk provides would cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars. Blynk offers a ready-to-use solution for just a fraction of that cost." - Shared Georg D., Founder of myCistern

Quick customization for B2B clients.‍

myCistern serves both homeowners and businesses. Commercial customers often need custom features and Blynk’s low-code software allows myCistern to implement them within a very short timeframe. This keeps them ahead and makes myCistern the preferred partner for business clients. 

Exceptional user experience for both clients and developers.

While other platforms typically cater to one group or the other, Blynk stands out by excelling at both. This was one of the key reasons myCistern chose to partner with Blynk, as they were not satisfied with their previous solution. The team was very happy with sleek interfaces for users and straightforward, ready-to-use tools that simplify development.

Focus on the core product. 

myCistern launched its first product in July 2024, and now the team is working on the fourth solution! By relying on the flexible low-code software the team can focus on advancing and innovating within their industry.

Challenges & experience with other IoT providers

Building an IoT product is a complex project that spans various areas of expertise and requires multiple trial and error. The myCistern team's core competence was in hardware, and they sought a user-friendly software solution that did not require an in-house developer, and allowed for rapid building and frequent iteration.

“It’s easier to say what didn’t work on the first try than what did, especially with the hardware. It’s handy to have a tool that works out of the box and covers the software side for us.”

The team had prior experience with another IoT provider but faced several challenges, especially with developing a quality mobile app interface. They couldn't move to production until they switched to Blynk.

myCistern aimed to implement for their product the following:

• Providing real-time data on water systems' functioning and health markers.
• Enabling remote control and automation of the irrigation process.
• Implementing a notification system.
• Developing branded and user-friendly web portals and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Solution 

Hardware: ESP32
Connectivity: WiFi

Blynk's Enterprise plan covered all the IoT software requirements for myCistern water control devices. Key features include:

• Remote Control from Anywhere: Monitoring and control of water levels and filter conditions within a user-friendly mobile application.
• Maintenance Notifications: Timely updates on system health, such as reminders to change filters or other maintenance actions.
• Automated Irrigation Process: Fully automated and configurable irrigation workflows.
• Seamless Device Activation: An easy device setup process as a part of user experience is important for myCistern. Blynk’s Blynk.Edgent packaged solution provided a two-click WiFi activation flow, requiring no additional backend programming‍
• Essential IoT functionality with advanced features out of the box: Over-the-Air firmware updates, no-code mobile and web app builder, automations, and more.