Quensus set out to radically transform how we manage water. Their mission? Prevent water leaks before they cause damage—minimising costs, conserving resources, and eliminating disruption across commercial and residential properties. To meet the diverse needs of customers managing utility infrastructure across vast properties, they needed a robust, scalable, and cost-effective solution.
Enter Green Custard.
THE CHALLENGE: From Proof of Concept to Scalable IoT Solution
As Quensus developed the third generation of LeakNet, the next step was critical: build an intelligent cloud platform that could manage thousands of valves at scale. Quensus turned to Green Custard, an agile team of AWS IoT specialists with the technical depth and startup mentality to match their ambition.
Working collaboratively, Green Custard:
- Designed and implemented a secure, scalable AWS cloud architecture that could grow with customer demand while keeping operational costs lean.
- Integrated with RAKwireless hardware to bring robust, industrial-grade edge capabilities to LeakNet, enabling long-life performance in field environments.
- Deployed LoRaWAN as an alternative to Wi-Fi, giving Quensus a low-power, long-range communication protocol ideal for properties with unreliable or no internet access. This added an important dimension of deploy-anywhere flexibility, crucial for adoption in retrofitted or remote buildings.
- Connected SmartValves to AWS IoT Core, enabling near real-time control and monitoring via the cloud.
- Built-in device provisioning, over-the-air updates, and fault tolerance to futureproof the platform and ensure a seamless experience at scale.
This was not just a lift-and-shift to the cloud—it was an end-to-end transformation that put Quensus on the path to sustainable growth.
THE SOLUTION: A Partner That Gets Start-Ups
Start-ups need more than code. They need clarity, speed, and a team that sees around corners. Green Custard brought all three to the table:
- Strategic tech guidance: – From architecture and security to scalability and device provisioning, Green Custard helped shape the long-term technical vision while keeping near-term goals in focus
- Flexible delivery within structure – While a clear SOW was in place, Green Custard worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the Quensus team, adapting to emerging needs and collaborating closely to keep momentum high.
- AWS-native thinking: With deep expertise in the AWS ecosystem, Green Custard ensured the solution was scalable, secure, and cost-efficient, enabling Quensus to launch with confidence and only pay for what they used.
To enhance LeakNet Gen3's connectivity, Quensus partnered with AWS IoT specialist Green Custard to expand beyond WiFi. Green Custard brought in connectivity specialists RAK Wireless to provide a LoRaWAN network. LoRaWAN’s long-range, low-power capabilities made it the ideal choice for utility management providers, significantly reducing connectivity costs and infrastructure complexity.
A comprehensive site survey was conducted in a large apartment complex to validate LoRaWAN’s suitability. The results confirmed that a single LoRaWAN gateway per ten stories could replace the equivalent coverage of 20–50 WiFi access points, offering substantial savings.
RAK Wireless's RAK3172 module was chosen for its high performance, certification compliance, and seamless integration with existing IoT infrastructure. Green Custard, an AWS IoT specialist, worked alongside Quensus and embedded electronics partner Tebira to design a new schematic incorporating the RAK3172 module. The updated design included enhancements to improve efficiency, scalability, and overall performance.
"Collaborating with Green Custard on our LoRaWAN-based IoT project for leak detection has been exceptional. Their grasp of AWS services and IoT innovation has immensely bolstered our capabilities. Their team's technical expertise, combined with a collaborative spirit, significantly contributed to the project's success, ensuring that our solutions were technically sound and aligned with our business needs. Green Custard kept us informed throughout the project lifecycle and the outcome is a testament to their commitment. The project has greatly enhanced our ability to install enterprise-grade leak detection systems in large developments, providing substantial value to our business and customers."
Dr Dan Simmons, Quensus Founder and Director
THE OUTCOME: Why Innovators Choose Green Custard
The RAK Wireless integration into LeakNet Gen3 marks a significant advancement in IoT-based utility management. LoRaWAN’s extended range far surpasses WiFi, making it an ideal solution for large-scale deployments where traditional connectivity options fall short.
For example, a LoRaWAN gateway replaced 24 WiFi routers in one eight-story building, drastically lowering infrastructure requirements and reducing costs. Additionally, a LoRaWAN-only configuration decreased operational costs per unit by 86%, transforming affordability for end users.
By incorporating RAK Wireless’s RAK3172 module, Quensus continues to push the boundaries of leak detection and water conservation, delivering cutting-edge, cost-effective solutions for the utility management sector. This partnership underscores the potential for LoRaWAN to revolutionise IoT applications, offering seamless scalability and unparalleled efficiency in water and resource management.
Green Custard specialises in helping start-ups build the next big thing, with services designed for early-stage companies:
- Speed to market without sacrificing quality or security
- Lean, cloud-first architectures that scale with your business
- A true partner mindset, not just another vendor
Whether you’re pre-revenue or Series A, if you’ve got a big idea and need a partner to help bring it to life, Green Custard can help.