NextEra Case Study

Empowering Energy Innovation through Strategic Product Planning

MojoTech product managers in a conference room strategizing with clients.

The Opportunity Transforming HVAC Replacement & Servicing with a Progressive D2C Fintech Platform

NextEra Energy a leader in clean energy, is one of the largest electric utility companies in the United States. Operating through subsidiaries like Florida Power & Light Energy Services (FPLES), they are renowned for their commitment to sustainability and innovation across the energy sector.

Seeing an opportunity to empower homeowners, they set out to revolutionize the process of replacing HVAC systems at the end of their lifecycle. Their goal was to create a direct-to-consumer platform that provides a seamless, self-service experience—from selection, purchase, and financing to installation and ongoing maintenance—all with a strong emphasis on safety, information security, and rapid installation.

FPLES conducted a manual pilot targeting a market with similar demands to test the feasibility of this opportunity. They explored whether HVAC contractors would accept FPLES’ financial and logistical support. The positive results validated the concept, prompting FPLES to move forward with the product strategy and planning of a self-service platform that brings together homeowners, HVAC suppliers, and contractors.

Our Response Strategic Vision and User-Centric Design Fuel FPLES’ Monetization

Defining The Vision and Guiding Light

The primary goal was to create a platform that enables FPLES to expand and monetize its services beyond its traditional market with a scalable and adaptable HVAC purchasing and servicing platform.

Mother and daughter sitting in the kitchen on the computer searching for HVAC services and a Technician servicing HVAC unit.

Driving Innovation Through User Research

To ensure the platform aligned with stakeholder needs, we developed detailed personas for homeowners and contractors. The homeowner persona prioritized ease of use, transparency, and trust, while the contractor persona focused on streamlined workflows, clear communication, and efficient job tracking.

We conducted interviews with both groups to uncover their pain points and expectations. These insights were pivotal in shaping the platform's features, ensuring it effectively met user needs. The research identified several critical use cases, including:

  • Homeowners shop and compare HVAC systems.
  • Homeowners request price estimates and qualify for loans.
  • Contractors receive job bookings and manage projects.
  • Contractors manage the installation process and ongoing maintenance.

Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of contractors and service vendors, ultimately selecting a vendor with whom they had an existing relationship. The vendor was chosen for their proven ability to deliver the required hardware and installation services. The selection process considered the vendor's capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with FPLES’s strategic objectives, ensuring a well-rounded and strategic choice.

Transforming Insights into Intuitive Designs

Building on our user research, we translated key insights into detailed wireframes that mapped out the platform's structure and user journeys. By prioritizing these wireframes according to user needs and business objectives, we ensured a solid foundation for the platform's success.

During the design phase, we refined these wireframes into cohesive design tiles that faithfully adhered to FPLES’ branding guidelines. We crafted desktop and mobile versions to guarantee a seamless and consistent user experience across all devices, enhancing accessibility and engagement.

The final creative designs delivered a clean, visually appealing, and user-friendly interface. With an emphasis on simplicity and usability, the platform allows homeowners to navigate effortlessly while empowering contractors to manage their projects efficiently. This intuitive design approach meets the diverse needs of users and aligns with FPLES’ goals of expanding services and effectively capturing new markets.

Prototype of the mobile interface for the HVAC fintech app.

Creating the Architecture and Technology Blueprint

FPLES required a standalone system that operated independently, without an immediate integration into their existing ERP and CRM systems, and as such, sought a workaround to achieve this. MojoTech recommended a progressive web app tech stack emphasizing speed, scalability, and minimal maintenance.

We proposed a combination of custom software development and third-party financial solutions to build a robust, scalable platform. We recommended against FPLES developing their own fintech and loan origination technology in-house, as building and maintaining such systems would demand substantial resources, diverting focus from their core strategic priorities. Instead, we suggested leveraging a white-label third-party solution, ensuring FPLES could offer these services under its own brand without the burden of in-house development.

The platform's information architecture was designed to support the user journey, from selecting HVAC systems to long-term loan servicing and maintenance. Given the need for data integrations with OEM equipment ordering and shipping platforms, plus contractors' work order management systems, we developed a comprehensive approach to connect these components seamlessly, ensuring a smooth user experience and efficient operational workflows.

Architecture diagram planning the product features for the D2C HVAC fintech platform.

Results Fintech Product Discovery Provides Key Insights for Go-to-Market Strategy

Through our product discovery engagement, we uncovered the critical questions that needed to be addressed to define a successful go-to-market plan. We highlighted the significant costs associated with platform development, integrations, and third-party vendors, spurring essential discussions around ROI, break-even timelines, and overall profitability. This analysis also prompted the client to evaluate their internal capabilities, including the necessary skill sets, development talent, and team capacity required to execute such an ambitious project. Armed with these insights, the client made strategic reassessments, leading to a more informed and confident approach to their next steps. This pivotal moment exemplifies the true value of our discovery engagement.