Background
Utilita is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of pay-as-you-go energy, serving hundreds of thousands of homes. As part of their operational excellence and digital innovation drive, Utilita approached us to redevelop their internal Void Portal — a tool used to manage the status of properties during tenant changeovers, known as void periods.
The previous version, built on a legacy stack, had served its purpose but was limited in flexibility, scalability, and real-time data handling. Our task was to rebuild and modernise the portal as a more robust, scalable Laravel application that integrates seamlessly with Utilita’s internal systems via live APIs.
Objectives
Rebuild the existing Void Portal with modern technologies
Enable real-time property status updates via API integration
Create a secure, scalable foundation to support future enhancements
Improve UX for internal teams and external partners
Our solution
We delivered a bespoke Laravel web application: uPortal – a purpose-built platform developed to manage and update property void statuses in real time.
Key features
Live API integration
The core functionality revolves around seamless, real-time API communication with Utilita’s internal systems. When a void property status changes (e.g. reoccupied, under maintenance), updates are pushed instantly to the portal — ensuring accurate, live data across the system.
User role management
Custom access control tailored to Utilita’s internal teams and third-party contractors, ensuring the right level of access and data visibility for each user.
Secure authentication
The portal features robust authentication measures, with future-proofing for Single Sign-On (SSO) integration using Azure AD.
Activity logging & auditing
Every status update is tracked for transparency, including timestamps, user actions, and API responses.
Modular architecture
Built with scalability in mind, the portal’s modular design enables future expansion — from reporting tools to wider system integration.
Responsive UI
The interface is designed with simplicity and speed in mind, allowing users to access and update property information quickly, whether from a desktop or mobile device.
The impact
Increased efficiency
Real-time updates have significantly reduced delays and miscommunication between Utilita’s teams and external partners.
Improved accuracy
By syncing live with the internal API, property status data is now reliably accurate, reducing admin errors.
Future ready
With a scalable Laravel foundation and secure authentication protocols in place, Utilita is well positioned to enhance the portal with additional features over time.