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Ecosystem & Business Model

Vision: Open Smart Desk Standard

The end goal is not a product. It is a market standard.

70% of height-adjustable desks ship with an interface compatible with the Open Smart Desk Standard. 20%+ ship with a laser sensor pre-installed. The rest offer it as an option.

This is what success looks like in 5-10 years. We get there by making the standard open, the software free, and the value proposition undeniable for manufacturers.

The Ecosystem

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  OPEN SMART DESK                    │
│                  (open standard)                    │
└──────────┬──────────────────┬───────────────────────┘
           │                  │
    ┌──────▼──────┐    ┌──────▼──────────────┐
    │  Smart Desk  │    │   Smart Move        │
    │  (app v1)    │    │   (app v2)          │
    │              │    │                     │
    │ desk sensor  │    │ full body activity  │
    │ sit/stand    │    │ smartwatch + steps  │
    │ nudges       │    │ lifestyle coaching  │
    └──────┬───────┘    └──────┬──────────────┘
           │                  │
    ┌──────▼──────────────────▼──────────────┐
    │         User data layer                 │
    │   (local first, user-owned, private)    │
    └──────────────────┬──────────────────────┘
                       │
    ┌──────────────────▼──────────────────────┐
    │      Manufacturer API integrations      │
    │  FlexiSpot / IKEA / Uplift / Linak...   │
    │  "Open Smart Desk Certified" label      │
    └─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Smart Desk → Smart Move progression

Smart Desk (current): desk-centric

  • Tracks sitting vs. standing at desk
  • Sends nudges to change position
  • Shows daily timeline

Smart Move (future): life-centric

  • Extends beyond the desk
  • Integrates with smartwatch (steps, heart rate, activity)
  • Guides user toward gradually increasing physical activity
  • Personalized: meets you where you are, not where you "should" be
  • Same philosophy: no punishment, positive progression, habit building

The name "Smart Move" is intentional — it's a pun (smart move = good decision, smart = intelligent, move = movement).

Why manufacturers should adopt the standard

The problem for manufacturers: Customers buy a $600-1500 motorized desk. They use the motor once a week. They feel vaguely disappointed. They don't recommend the desk to friends. The "smart" part of a height-adjustable desk is invisible and unused.

What we offer manufacturers:

  • Users who engage with their desk daily (app + gamification = habit)
  • Data: "users of our certified desks stand 2h/day vs. 15min average"
  • Differentiation: "Open Smart Desk Certified" badge = premium positioning
  • Sales channel: users who want the sensor buy it from manufacturer's shop

Format of manufacturer partnership:

  • Provide open API spec (free, published)
  • "Open Smart Desk Certified" certification process (consortium fee)
  • Optional: laser sensor pre-installed or as official accessory
  • Optional: co-branded experience ("Powered by Open Smart Desk")

Revenue model

Phase 1: Zero revenue (now → first 1000 users)

  • Open source software, free
  • DIY hardware kit instructions (free)
  • Goal: users, data, proof of concept

Phase 2: Hardware kit (~1000 users)

  • Sell pre-assembled sensor kit (RP2040-Tiny + VL53L0X + PCB + enclosure)
  • Price: 150-200 PLN
  • Made in Poland (PCB assembly + laser cutting), components from China
  • Revenue: breaks even on hardware, builds supply chain experience

Phase 3: Consortium — the real revenue engine

Key insight: Annual membership fee is NOT enough. Consortium must have ongoing financial interest — they need to keep paying because the value keeps flowing.

Model: per-unit OEM supply

Manufacturers don't just pay to join — they buy the sensor module from us as an OEM component for their desks:

We design + manufacture sensor PCB
    → Manufacturers buy it as OEM component (per unit, ongoing)
    → Goes into their desk as "Open Smart Desk Sensor"
    → Every desk sold = revenue for us
    → More desks sold = more recurring revenue

Revenue per unit: even 5-15 PLN per desk × 10,000 desks/year = sustains project.

Additional consortium revenue:

  • Certification fee (one-time, per product model) — covers our testing cost
  • Priority support / custom integration work — billed separately
  • "Powered by Open Smart Desk" co-marketing — included in OEM contract

Why manufacturers accept this:

  • They get a certified, tested, working sensor — no R&D cost
  • We handle firmware + app compatibility — zero maintenance for them
  • "Open Smart Desk Certified" = marketing differentiator they can charge for
  • Their desk becomes stickier (user engagement daily, not once a week)

Phase 4: Smart Move (ecosystem play)

  • Smart Move app expands addressable market beyond desk owners
  • Anyone with a smartwatch can use it
  • Freemium: basic free, advanced coaching subscription
  • B2B: companies pay for team wellness dashboards (opt-in, employee-controlled data)

Phase 5: EU Grants (optional, not relied upon)

  • Possible after academic study is published
  • Horizon Europe / EIT Health / NCBR
  • Requires academic partner (PW contact)
  • High overhead, long timelines — pursue only if consortium is established
  • Not a primary funding source

The flywheel

More users
    → More data
        → Better algorithm
            → Better results
                → More word of mouth
                    → More users

More manufacturers certified
    → More users discover via desk purchase
        → More users
            → More data
                → Better algorithm

Open questions (TBD)

  • Exact consortium membership fee model
  • Which manufacturers to approach first (FlexiSpot? Linak? IKEA?)
  • Legal structure for the standard (foundation? nonprofit? LLC?)
  • EU grant programs relevant to workplace ergonomics (Horizon Europe? EIT Health?)
  • B2B model: how to ensure employee data privacy while providing company value