Adapto Global - Augmented Reality meets AI-generated models
The Adapto platform combines mobile technology with a b2b e-commerce infrastructure, making it easy for companies such as Logitech, to develop, order and ship custom-fitted ear-piece and hearing products to their customers. The platform leverages a revolutionary 3D scanning technology based on AR (Augmented Reality) and AI modeling, to allow for easy and quick mobile scanning of the client's ear, 3D printing of a fully customized earmold, and shipment of the tailored earpiece directly to the consumer.
Native apps
The Story of Adapto
Adapto Global was founded in 2020 by Mads Stærke and Jesper Martini, two Danish entrepreneurs with years of experience in developing tailored audio solutions for customers. The founders established the company with one great vision: to disrupt the industry by drastically lowering the cost and accessibility for custom-fit ear products. The final concept was developed in close collaboration with leading in-ear specialists, engineers, and entrepreneurs, and client-partnerships in the US military as well as medical, and gaming industries. In 2022, we started collaborating with Adapto Global to design and develop the Adapto platform and thus realize their visionary concept.
1. Scoping the needs
The founder and CEO, Mads Stærke contacted us in July 2022, and in the mid of August, we started working on this exciting project. Mads and Jesper already had a clear vision of revolutionizing the industry with custom-fit ear products, but after a first attempt at developing the platform had stranded, they sought a digital partner with experience in developing complex systems with cutting edge technologies. Before the official kickoff for our collaboration, we therefore spend long hours talking and discussing the scope, and sparring on the possible directions of the project, as well as technical implications and possibilities. We delved into the business, gathered knowledge, and explored all the expectations on the client side in order to create a more detailed vision of our collaborations future trajectory, budgets and timelines. Their goal was to create a platform where businesses can easily both develop and sell fully customized headsets and hearing devices, by recruiting and training scanners to use a simple mobile app based 3D scan. Of course, it was important to create an app that is easy and intuitive to use during scanning, but just as important was the actual infrastructure, enabling the administration of end customers, corporate customers, app users, order orders, and data. Having agreed on the scope and trajectory for the next year, we also set a fixed deadline for the soft-launch of the project, which meant getting ready with the first version of the app and the web-based order system for a large trade show in January 2023.
2. Graphic Design and Technical Requirements
At imangu we love complex solutions, but we take pride in making them easy to understand for users and clients. Therefore, the planning stage included lots of weekly workshops and daily communication in Slack and online calls. After an in-depth analysis of the business and exploring the different user-cases for both version 1, and long-term visions, we gradually visualized the concept with flow charts, which guided us to have a transparent overview of the project and user flow. We used Figma and Miro boards, which are great tools for collaborating with clients who can see the changes instantly. Having mapped out the flows, the fun part began by creating wireframes and more detailed screens of the user flows for both the app, but also the order-flow infrastructure. Playing around with mock-ups also allowed us to try out different concepts and functions, to pick the best solution with Adapto. After creating the wireframes, we developed the final graphic design, and as Adapto already had a clear brand guide, it meant implementing the visual identity to the app, while creating an industry specific design style in the form of a clean-cut and professional looking UI. Once the project was visualized, the project team finalized the technical requirements and architecture, based on the completely customized concept. This planning stage lasted about 1.5-2 months. By the end of this phase, the budget and timeline for development and launch was finalized based on the elaborated technical and visual requirements.
3. Solution
Four and a half months after the first workshop, we launched the app successfully. We always make sure that the app works smoothly, so during development, our testers and developers conducted unit and integration tests, as well as ongoing quality assurance to check that the design specifications and standards comply with the pre-development specifications and design. Towards the end, Adapto also got involved in the process, as we conducted a thorough beta-testing with them, once the software was complete to allow for feedback and adjustments. As a first version, we created the Adapto scan app which implemented the SDK (Software Development Kit) developed by the Australian-based company 3D Hearable, and integrated to their cloud AI via REST-APIs, in order for the Adapto platform to both create 3D scans and receive the accurate 3D models of the inner ear based on these scans. After the mobile scan, models are in turn received in the back-end, where they can be processed as orders with both b2b client and end-user ID. The order is then processed, the silicone ear product is 3D printed, and then sent to the B2B client or their end-user. At the same time, the information is sent to the B2B client, so they can process the order data in their systems. The platform also offers b2b clients a network of trained scanners and a complete infrastructure with unique log-ins, where manufacturers and dealers can order and process 3D scans and custom-fit products. The manufacturing is automated, and the custom-made earmolds are made of medically approved, soft TPE, which is a recyclable material. To provide a user-friendly interface; high-quality scanning features and the best possible foothold for stable operations and a scalable and fully flexible future, the mobile apps were developed as Native apps (Swift for iOS). To truly allow for customizing the platform, we developed a custom back-end in the latest version of Laravel, a powerful PHP web framework, with a MYSQL database structure.
4. Outcome
On the 10th of January 2023, Adapto participated in a large trade show where they showcased the app and underlying technology to potential partners and clients with great success. A few weeks before the trade show, we had already launched the app, to allow for some live-testing and for the Adapto employees to have time to familiarize themselves with the flows. The workflow of the app is user-friendly and intuitive. First, you sign up as an Adapto Scan partner and get a unique login. Then, you create logins for your dealers or scanners. In the next step, scanners complete the scanner training module in the app, and after this, you can do the scanning of customers’ ears. Time is an important part of the user experience, so scanning sessions are connected to a timer to make sure that the scanning does not take longer than 2 minutes per ear. In the third step, the raw data from the app is automatically processed using AI to create a 3D copy of the customers’ ears, and finally, you can digitally submit the order from your smartphone to make an order. The processing phase continues in the B2B e-commerce system, where the orders are processed and then they are sent to the 3D printers, turning the models into physical, custom-fit ear products, which are then shipped right to either the end-users or the company client.
5. Future
Currently, we are developing the web-system, so B2B clients can manage order flows and recruit scanners for the app on a closed, personalized web-based dashboard. We collaborate on a weekly basis, and provide ongoing operations management and technical support and we are very pleased to be committed to a long-term collaboration, helping Adapto on their journey to provide custom-fitted ear-products to everyone.
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