Background Information
Qardio, Inc was founded in 2012 by Marco Peluso and Rosario Iannella which aims to “transform the healthcare industry” with easier, intelligent and more practical solutions for everyone (Qardio, 2018.). Qardio integrates “innovative technologies, high-end design and exceptional user experience” into personal health monitoring equipment. Some of its products include QardioArm, QardioBase and the latest QardioCore.
About QardioCore
Qardio mentions that “one in three adults lives with a chronic heart condition” and there is no simple and modern solution to monitor heart health without compromising lifestyle. QardioCore was first introduced in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2015. However, it was only first available for pre-order in 2017. QardioCore is the first wireless wearable patchless electrocardiogram (ECG) device that enables its consumer to monitor their heart activity anytime and anywhere. In addition, QardioCore also accurately measures other biometric data such as skin temperature, respiratory rate as well as activity tracking. Qardio states that the biometric information collected by QardioCore will be “transmitted wirelessly” to the smart devices. The data will then be sent to the Qardio Cloud through its QardioApp, which provides the patients with an easy-to-understand timeline summary. These biometric data can then be shared with heart health practitioners for them to gain a better insight into their patient’s health. Furthermore, QardioCore is “splash and rain-resistant”, making this device convenient for consumers to use it to monitor heart health or for training purposes.
Problem Statement
The ideal ECG device should allow users to access the data easily through different smart devices. Currently, Qardiocore is only integrated with Apple iOS that allows the user to share and store the data with other applications that used Apple iOS. QardioCore will need to expand into other operating systems to cater to a more wider range of users outside of just Apple.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of the report is to propose an implementation of a mobile or an online application that enables to retrieve data easily from the QardioCore. This implementation will able to enhance Qardio’s revenue in the long run.
Solution
In order to allow both Apple and Android users to access the data easily, it is recommended to update its current application, QardioApp, to be able to connect the QardioCore to other devices such as the Android.
Benefits
- Convenient and time-saving:
- By having an online application, users can access their data without finding an Apple product.
- Cater to more users:
- As there is a mixed variety of Apple and Android users, it will attract more consumers to purchase the product.
- Healthcare professionals are also able to keep track of more patients’ health data and provide medical advice and treatment if necessary.
- A wide variety of usage:
- Exercise equipment will be able to provide real-time data to the users. This will enable the user to analyse the data and further improve on their physical performance.
- Ease of usage:
- By having the application, it will not only restrict to the Apple users but also enable Android users to access the data.
- Up to date application:
- By having both Apple and Android applications, it allows Qardio to get more users’ feedbacks to help them further improvise their application to better serve the users.
Drawback
While it might be ideal to create an application outside Apple iOS to solve this issue, the cost of creating and maintaining the application will be costly. The cost of building an application range from as low as $50,000 to as high as $1,000,000 depending on the company hired for building the application and the complexity of the application.
Another concern will be the stability and the reliability of the application. A good application will allow users to access, review and share the data intended with just a snap of your finger. Hence, if the mobile application does not meet the requirements of its consumers, they will be less inclined to use the product and the application. This can indirectly generate bad reviews for the product and the company.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by having a reliable online or a mobile application, it will benefit both Qardio and its users. As Apple product are generally more expensive compared to Android product, this additional feature will be beneficial in increasing the consumer base.