PICLO
WEB UX/UI │ SAAS │ ENERGY
Piclo Operations & Settlement Modules
In parallel, Piclo was working to mature its API offering. I was brought in to support the integrations team by identifying where new endpoints could be deployed, and by contributing to their design to ensure ease of use, scalability, and relevance to market needs.
Becoming a Subject Matter Expert
To ensure our product offering could scale across regions, I became an in-house expert on the UK’s flexibility market structure. This included understanding the various service types (such as dynamic, static, and time-bound flexibility), market mechanisms, and platform interoperability requirements.
Early on I realised we required a fundamental change in our object model to cater to the Italian market. ENEL needed fine control over the contractual obligations they dispatched, whereas UK DSO's were happy for Piclo to choose the most economical provider across all obligations. Understanding this requirement, and the underlying motivator, early was critical for the ultimate success of the project.
Another complex aspect I needed to understand fully was baseline methodologies. Each region used different logic to determine what qualified as “normal” energy usage, which in turn affected how delivered flexibility would be measured. By identifying cross-market commonalities, I helped the team confidently implement both nomination and historical baselining approaches that were accepted by all major system operators.
MVP Design
With a tight timeline to onboard ENEL and begin trials, I worked closely with product managers to determine what features would constitute a minimum viable product while still supporting a usable, end-to-end experience for FSPs.
I produced simple personas to identify broad FSP types. Key criteria by which they differed were portfolio size, management structure and whether flexibility was a core profit generator for the organisation or just the "cherry on top."
Key cross-persona functions required included:
Automated dispatch emails to alert FSPs when to provide flexibility services
A simple service schedule interface to quickly identify upcoming delivery requirements
A meter data upload interface so providers could validate service delivery
Settlement reporting tools to help providers understand monthly payment breakdowns
Despite the technical complexity behind these workflows, I focused on creating a simple and accessible UI that could scale as the product matured.
Understanding underlying user frustrations beyond digital touch-points was imperative. For example, although I had designer a meter data upload template that would work for many different asset types, we kept hearing that just getting hold of meter data was difficult.
I worked with multiple FSP's to discuss how Piclo could help alleviate this concern, from pushing out the meter data upload deadline, to providing services whereby Piclo retrieves the data from third parties on behalf of the FSP.
Growing the Customer Base
As ENEL trials progressed, Piclo pursued a new opportunity, National Grid ESO’s Local Constraint Market (LCM) tender. I played a key role in ensuring the success of this strategic project.
My responsibilities included:
Providing detailed responses to technical elements of the tender
Designing and building the prototype used for the live demo
Being part of the on-site pitch team at National Grid's offices in Warwick
Following our successful tender win, I continued to collaborate directly with National Grid’s team, even spending the day in their national control room in Workingham. identifying ways to streamline their day-to-day operations and save time through better design.
