Reviving momentum in an ambitious digital strategy
When Laurastar contacted us, the challenge was clear: to take back control of a mobile application project that had become too rigid to keep up with the rapid evolution of their connected product offering. The first version of the application met the initial needs. In the second, more ambitious version, multi-Bluetooth pairing had not been planned from the outset, but the shift towards a multi-device strategy made this feature essential, raising new technical challenges.
Our mission: reposition the application so that it becomes a true pillar of the Laurastar experience, capable of supporting product innovation and international growth.
Laurastar: a Swiss brand of excellence and durability, in harmony with Apptitude’s values
Laurastar’s commitment against planned obsolescence, embodied by robust products whose repairability is guaranteed for at least 10 years, resonates deeply with our own vision at Apptitude. Like them, we believe that a solution is only worthwhile if it stands the test of time, remains reliable, and continues to deliver value to its users. This focus on durability naturally brought us closer: working with such a demanding Swiss brand allows us to build a collaboration based on trust, where geographical and cultural proximity becomes a catalyst for synergies and innovation.
A mobile application designed for a connected ecosystem
Developing an application that communicates with physical devices is a demanding task: it requires managing hardware and software constraints, and above all, delivering a flawless user experience. In Laurastar’s case, the application had to enable each of its products — all-in-one ironing system and steam purifier — to interact with the user’s smartphone with fluidity, security and reliability.
We supported Laurastar in addressing several key challenges:
- Bluetooth multi-device connection: enabling pairing, control and simultaneous monitoring of multiple machines, ensuring fast detection and precise management of connection states.
- Real-time synchronisation: immediately transmitting useful information to the user (usage time, program currently in use, low water level, recommended maintenance…).
- Integrated purchase recommendations: facilitating the purchase of accessories and consumables by automatically suggesting products compatible with the connected machines.
- International deployment: ensuring a multilingual application (14 languages), adapted to regional specificities (product catalogue, reading direction, formats), with a consistent experience across all markets.
- Data centralisation: connecting usage data, alerts and interactions to Laurastar’s Salesforce ecosystem for better exploitation in customer support, marketing and R&D
Enters the machine: a technical collaboration with SDATAWAY
One of the major challenges of the project concerned the communication between the mobile application and the physical products. To address this, we worked hand in hand with SDATAWAY, the provider of the Bluetooth SDK integrated into Laurastar devices, notably for the Laurastar Aura steam purifier and cleaner.
This SDK acts as a gateway between the physical world and the mobile environment. It encapsulates the complexity of the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol and enables the application to:
- Detect nearby devices.
- Establish a secure connection.
- Read and interpret the machine’s internal data (usage time, water consumption, alerts).
- Remotely control certain product settings.
- Manage real-time notifications.
This integration was not immediate. Several iterations were required between the Apptitude and SDATAWAY teams, notably to adapt the SDK’s behaviour to the specifics of multi-device usage, ensure connection stability, refine error handling, and guarantee a smooth experience even in complex network environments.
This constant dialogue between partners, driven by a shared commitment to excellence, made it possible to build a solid, scalable and sustainable technical foundation. An approach that reflects our belief: it is in the quality of collaboration that the most reliable and high-performing user experiences are created.
Arbitrating without discarding everything: evolving rather than rebuilding
One of the critical points of the project was deciding whether to completely rebuild the application… or evolve the existing one. Like many industrial players, Laurastar had already invested in a significant codebase, but some initial choices — notably technical foundations inspired more by the web than by native mobile — severely limited the app’s extensibility.
Together with Laurastar, we opted for a partial, considered redesign. This allowed us to:
- Preserve the high-quality software components already developed, reducing costs and accelerating time-to-market.
- Rewrite blocking modules (multi-connection, synchronization logic, mobile navigation).
- Establish a modular architecture, ready to accommodate new devices and functionalities in the future.
Results: a revitalised application, an enhanced experience
This new version of the mobile application represents a true turning point for Laurastar:
- International deployment: the app is now available across all the brand’s markets, with improved quality praised by users. Available in around fifteen different languages, sometimes including reversed reading directions.
- Seamless multi-device use: devices can be controlled simultaneously, without latency or loss of connection.
- Optimised experience: personalised recommendations, cycle tracking, useful notifications… the app becomes a brand companion, not just a tool.
- Sustainable architecture: the application is now built to last, with attention paid to differences in processing power, screen size, performance, and connectivity specific to each market and device.
A project turned into a springboard
“Apptitude stands out for its expertise in mobile and IoT. Their technical understanding is accurate, their recommendations are relevant, and their execution capability makes the difference. Thanks to them, we accelerated a complex project to create a high-performing, stable and scalable application.” Alain Lamonato, Global Digital Director, Laurastar
Our method for supporting connected platforms
The Laurastar project perfectly illustrates our approach to complex IoT projects:
- A thorough audit to identify what truly hinders product evolution.
- A clear-headed decision on what can be reused and what needs to be rebuilt.
- Continuous collaboration with third-party providers (SDK, firmware, hardware…).
- Iterative development, in constant dialogue with business teams to ensure functional relevance.
Do you have an ambitious vision for a connected application or an IoT ecosystem?
👉 Contact the Apptitude team to transform your technical constraints into a new user experience.
