December 3rd, 2024
6 min
Sebastian KratzIntelligent terminal devices thanks to Qt software development
What if your devices could not only work, but also communicate with each other and optimise your business processes? Discover the versatile possibilities of Qt and how mindcurv's Qt Commerce Connector can transform your business.
In this article, you will learn how you can intelligently utilise the full potential of your end devices with Qt and open up new business opportunities. Immerse yourself in the world of software development with Qt and discover how mindcurv's Qt Commerce Connector can help you realise innovative business models and open up new markets.
What is Qt? Everything you need to know
Qt is a framework for software development based on the C++ programming language. It enables the platform-independent development of numerous software applications and offers a variety of tools that make it possible to design, develop, test, deploy and manage software. With the C++ framework from Qt, a standardised codebase can be used for all operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. This also applies to different platforms and form factors, whether for desktop, embedded or mobile systems.
Communication between Qt-enabled devices creates competitive advantages
“I'm responsible for the catering at our company. There's hardly anyone in our company who doesn't drop by every day and is happy to see me. I have a lot to do, especially in the mornings, to fulfil the numerous wishes.”
Can you guess which device we’re talking about here, that’s involved in our use case? Of course, the coffee machine.
Using our specially developed interface, the Qt Commerce Connector, we would like to illustrate the diverse application possibilities of Qt below. Our internal use case, an innovative sales channel for modern coffee machines with touch displays, shows you what the integration of e-commerce functions in Qt can look like as an example of a wide range of possible applications.
More convenience thanks to smart touchpoints – efficient control via app and touch display
Our colleagues have the option of selecting which coffee product they would like directly via the touch display on the machine. An additional app also offers the option for the configuration of individual products, where the quantity of ingredients can be selected and saved as personal favourites. In the event of high demand, the app provides information about the potential waiting time if there are too many orders in the queue.
More service with networked devices
Several coffee machines are linked together via a network. Users can use a dashboard to see which coffee machine is currently active or cannot be used due to a fault or maintenance. It is also possible to view the fill levels of the individual consumption components via an app in the browser or on mobile devices, regardless of location. If necessary, a notification is sent to replenish the required components. This allows the responsible colleagues to monitor the status of the machines live and contribute to a smooth office routine - an efficient process.
Connection to common shop systems thanks to Comemerce Connector
The direct connection of the coffee machine to the suppliers' ordering platforms makes it possible to order consumables such as beans and cleaning agents seamlessly and (partially) automatically. The Commerce Connector developed by us ensures a fast connection of a device based on the Qt framework to all common store systems - maximum smart!
Regular maintenance for maximum performance and new features
With intelligent and networked coffee machines, upgrades with new features can be easily installed, for example new coffee products or optimizations to the user interface. Security updates can also be installed at any time.
In addition, time-consuming self-cleaning programs, for example, start automatically and are scheduled for quiet office hours.
Software development with Qt – The key to innovative business solutions
Many devices such as smart TVs, cars, industrial robots, medical devices, and coffee machines already contain software that was developed using the Qt framework. Open-source software development with Qt offers end users new application experiences, as Qt-enabled devices can go beyond their original purpose. For example, the touch display of a coffee machine can not only be used to order coffee but also to display advertisements or messages.
Communication with Qt-enabled devices can be bidirectional: they can send valuable data to the operator and simultaneously receive and process incoming information. One example of this is medical devices that enable examinations to be billed directly to the health insurance company.
The information collected can be transferred to other Qt-enabled devices, storage or cloud systems and made available for algorithms or AI systems. In our example, the vending machines communicate and transmit their queue or maintenance status. This device-to-device communication enables situation-adapted behaviour, individual control and process optimisation. A connection to a shop system for the automatic reordering of ingredients is a simple example.
Revolutionise the world of headless commerce together with mindcurv and our Qt expertise
Do you have an idea for a new device or do you need customised software for your Qt-enabled device? As a Qt Service Partner, we will assist you with you Qt projects and offer you the opportunity to try out the Qt Commerce Connector. With a location-independent demo and our advice, we can show you personally what is possible with the Qt Commerce Connector. Our experts will help you to realise your ideas.
Discover more about our successful Qt projects and learn more about our technologies and how we have already realised a live shopping mobile app with Qt.