20 March 2020 is a special day: we launched the Solvoz prototype

Since we started, backed with the financial support for our proof of concept of the Philips Foundation, a dot on the horizon was marked in our agendas… end of March 2020. Early 2020 we knew it would become week 12 of 2020: the release of the Solvoz prototype. Years have been leading to this day. We envisaged a day of celebration, however the current coronavirus pandemic just made things different, of course.

We finished all technical documentation over the summer of 2019. However, with our technical partners we had to re-discuss and clarify before starting the build of our solutions catalogue with an integration to a tender platform. With only limited functionality, of course. Data and user workflows and schemes were fine-tuned, and many sessions with aid workers, experts, procurement specialists and other stakeholders have taken place. Today we are finally able to show the world our prototype!

The Solvoz prototype

The working prototype of Solvoz is able to capture expert knowledge, and translate this into an open-access expert knowledge database. It guides users through an identified need with applicable criteria and presents solutions (kits) to the user, which can be tendered. For example, if a user enters the search term ‘generator’, the search return will be different energy supply needs (Community power supply, Facility power supply, Household power supply, to name a few). Based on the need of the user, e.g. community power supply, relevant criteria will be available (for example, average customer load, peak load, budget, area of distribution, etc.). Solution packages will be offered that match the criteria set by the user. A solution is a combination of services, designs and products, which can be tendered with one click. Solvoz offers several tender templates to chose from, relevant for aid agencies and the sector.