Droople

Water consumption around the world continues to grow. But this precious resource is limited: the United Nations predict a 40% shortfall in water supply by 2030. With this significant challenge in mind, Droople has developed a smart water management platform for buildings that makes use of the Internet of Things (IoT). For once, this business venture didn’t start out in a garage but in a kitchen. It was while preparing a baby’s bottle for his son that Droople’s founder, Ramzi Bouzerda, came up with the idea. How could you ensure that the tap delivered exactly the right amount of water so that none was wasted? Thanks to the sensors installed by Droople at water distribution and treatment points, a whole host of water data can now be collected and analysed: flow rate, volume, pressure, hardness and temperature. “Our technology makes it possible to anticipate equipment maintenance needs, identify potential hazards such as water stagnation and predict hot water requirements, and it also reconnects us all with our water usage – which can change our behaviour,” says Ramzi Bouzerda.

And it works. In one demonstration of this, Droople carried out a study in a school. The pupils’ toilets were fitted with sensors, and usage data was displayed on a screen in real time. Various parameters such as hand washing and toilet flushing were used to measure water consumption and compile statistics. The children’s new awareness of their water consumption habits led to a 22% water saving and an improvement in their hygiene score – the percentage of pupils washing their hands after going to the toilet – to 9.5/10.

Droople began commercially producing its solutions in 2022 and is continuing to develop its technology. “We supply the equipment and subscription-based data analysis for each sensor,” says Ramzi Bouzerda. The sensors can be added to existing installations or integrated directly into the manufacture of bathroom units, water treatment installations and electrical appliances. Droople now boasts around 100 clients in Europe and the United States, including Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal, Kurita and Refreshing USA, plus a number of property operators and owners such as Lombard Odier. “Our business model is B2B, but our approach always keeps the end user in mind,” he adds.

From 2023 to 2024, Droople has tripled its turnover, after completing a series A funding round to step up its presence in the United States by establishing a subsidiary. Now mature and with large-scale industrial availability due by 2025, its technology is set to generate a turnover of CHF 100 million a year from 2027 onwards. “This is about transforming the entire water industry,” says Ramzi Bouzerda with confidence.