Windmill: Smart AC and connected energy management

Three years later: A growing partnership

By partnering with Blynk in 2021, Windmill was able to stay focused on its core mission while quickly bringing innovative products to market.

While other HVAC players are still figuring out the IoT software part, Windmill launched three standout products that have made waves: the charming and eco-friendly window AC, the award-winning Windmill Fan, and the sleek Windmill Air Purifier with bamboo finish, designed to complement interiors rather than look like a typical air purifier.

Each product connects seamlessly in a single Windmill app with its own intuitive user interface.

How Blynk’s low-code IoT software added value

Windmill has not only saved millions and avoided years of complex development by choosing Blynk over building an IoT system from scratch but has also gained these advantages:

• High User Adoption: Windmill apps are highly rated, with a 4.7-star average on the App Store, reflecting strong customer satisfaction.
• Scalability: Quick and smooth scale-up to tens of thousands of active devices.
• New Revenue Streams: Integration with the Demand Response program opened up new revenue opportunities.
• Effective Upselling: Blynk’s in-app marketing suite achieved higher engagement and conversion rates than traditional marketing tools the team used before.

The story & the challenge

Windmill’s journey with IoT began in 2020 when they launched their first connected window AC product using another leading IoT platform. However, challenges with customer experience, platform flexibility, and responsiveness soon prompted a search for a new partner.

By mid-2021, Windmill was actively exploring IoT platforms that could better support their vision for an energy-efficient product line with a focus on user experience.

In addition to these issues, Windmill aimed to enhance its offerings with a robust energy management program that wasn't feasible on their previous platform. Their key objectives included:

• Seamless Device Activation: A frictionless setup process for users.
• Demand Response (DR) Power Savings Program: Enabling Windmill to regulate the power usage of connected ACs during peak demand, reducing grid stress and helping end-users save on energy costs.
• Scalable Platform Architecture: Support for multi-tenancy and multi-level organizational structures.
• Flexible, Cost-Effective Customization: A partner capable of offering custom features at reasonable rates.

Time was a critical factor; as an established brand, Windmill needed a platform that could support most use cases out of the box while allowing custom developments at a fixed cost to keep timelines on track.

Solution: full IoT software suite for smart AC

Blynk IoT platform and Blynk.Studios had been chosen for the launch of the new, improved AC unit. The product went live in February 2022 and has been getting incredible feedback from new Windmill end-users.

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Blynk provided a comprehensive suite of IoT software solutions for the connected AC units. Key features include:

• Remote Control from Anywhere: Users can control their units remotely, turning them on/off, adjusting settings, and even integrating with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home.
• Scheduled and Power-Saving Modes (Demand Response): Users can set up schedules and take advantage of power-saving programs that adjust dynamically based on real-time conditions.
• Seamless Activation Process: A smooth device setup was crucial for Windmill, making the first user interaction easy and intuitive. Blynk’s out-of-the-box Blynk.Edgent packaged solution provided a two-click WiFi activation flow, requiring no additional backend programming.

This collaboration has empowered Windmill to deliver a high-quality user experience while meeting technical and market demands, further establishing their leadership in smart, eco-friendly HVAC solutions.