Budlex - proptech, IoT, and a resident mobile app
A property developer and GMI - sensor readings, smart building features, and better resident service.
Idea
Budlex is a Polish property developer active for over 30 years, with award-winning architectural projects. As IoT solutions spread, they saw an opportunity to make daily life easier through technology - not just build homes.
The goal was smart meters in apartments and a mobile app so residents could track utility usage in real time.
Hardware problems
Meters were already installed when the client came to us - we had no say in hardware choice. As in our other case studies, hardware-software integration is risky if you do not validate capabilities first.
Fortunately we had experience with similar problems and were ready to take on the challenge.
Real-time data
The first blocker was fundamental: the app goal was real-time utility usage. The hardware vendor had promised Budlex that capability - it drove the purchase. Only later did we learn it did not exist.
Meters sent data once per day. Changing vendors was not an option, but daily usage still had clear value for residents.
Data format
Data delivery was another issue. Each day a CSV with raw data landed on a remote server - full of noise, with needed fields unstructured. The fix was a dedicated integrator.
The integrator collected, ordered, and stored data as needed. It was unplanned cost, but without it the mobile app could not be built.
No documentation
After two days we thought surprises were over and started on Android and iOS. Of course that was wrong. Parsed numbers did not match real usage.
We went back to raw data. Meters with bad readings showed values like 000000000 or 999999999. The vendor confirmed these were error codes, not measurements.
000000000 meant "no connection to meter", and 999999999 was "unknown system error". With that knowledge we fixed the system.
Mobile app
Building the UI to display data was straightforward. We started with a product design workshop and followed Budlex branding. SMS authentication and an admin panel for users and apartments were in place.
The app shipped quickly - MVP would have been done if not for testing. Meter data was not always current, so the app showed past usage. Raw data revealed devices sometimes sent readings from days ago with today date.
Integrator and app worked correctly, but releasing under those conditions made no sense. Many projects stop here - paid software that cannot launch.
We did not give up. After workshops with the client we reframed the business model and project goal - adding forecasting logic and charts for estimated usage per apartment.
MVP is not the end of the story…
That closed the MVP chapter. The app launched on Android and iOS and residents used it actively - but work continued. We love when client products succeed and we can ship the next version. That is exactly what happened.
As users embraced utility tracking, Budlex turned the app into a resident hub and sales tool. Changes did not touch meter integration, so hardware risk was behind us.
User experience improvements
We added switching between apartments. Previously you could only be logged into one unit - frustrating for multi-property owners. User feedback drove the fix; admin user management took only a few hours.
Residents can now report damage with a photo to the community or developer. Obvious in theory - less so when you try to reach someone about your own apartment.
Sales tool
Prospective buyers without an apartment could not use the app meaningfully - only a demo showing look and feel.
Budlex saw many prospects downloading the app and added features for them: location on first login so sales can tailor offers, plus construction progress via camera feed - watch a plot become your future home.
Summary
This is only version two and Budlex already has more ideas. Hard to quantify ROI - the app was never meant to be a revenue product. It is a benefit of being their customer.
It did increase loyalty - and it feels great to build something whose main goal is making life easier, not extracting fees.
We hope this inspires your own product - and that you learn from this and our other stories. The idea is a small part of success. You need a technology partner who embraces challenges and stays when things break.
Even simple solutions depending on third-party hardware can surprise you. Validate with your dev team before committing - or budget for plan and budget changes.
Get in touch with us
Let's talk about how we can implement a solution for your project.
Build on proven product experience.
From strategy and architecture to app development, release, and maintenance.
Tell us about your use case. We will recommend the right technology and delivery approach.
Related product scenarios
See where this experience can be applied
Let's talk
about the project.
Have an app idea or need technological support? Write to us — we'll prepare a preliminary analysis and estimate within 48h. Projects that go through our DDT process (Discovery, Design & Technology) come with a price guarantee and a fixed-price agreement — a key differentiator for us.
80-890 Gdansk, PolandNearshore product delivery across EU, UK and US time zones.