Designing a one-click AI agent for EV charging operators

AI can analyze large amounts of data and surface valuable insights, but most AI tools require extensive configuration before delivering value. EV charging operators don't have that time. They're in the field managing charger issues and keeping operations running smoothly.

Here's how we designed our first feature for Flip AI (the daily charger health recap) to deliver high-value insights with the lowest-effort setup for our operators.

Chatbots and custom workflows: too much setup to get to value

When we explored the AI product landscape, we found two common approaches: chatbots for analyzing data and custom workflow builders for automation.

These looked promising, so we explored options like:

• Chatbots that could help explain charging data
• Custom workflows that could automate tasks like remotely resetting chargers
• AI agents that ingest each organization’s runbook to implement existing processes

However, when we investigated how users would actually set these up, the problems became clear:

• Custom workflows required extensive setup and training before delivering value
• Chatbots meant operators had to log in and iterate through multiple prompts to get useful insights

We realized we needed a solution that would our customers to get valuable insights without having to spend time fine-tuning prompts and configurations.

Improving what operators already do: daily shift recaps

Working with our customers, we identified a workflow that operators perform every day:

• Shift handoffs: Operators manually create summaries of what happened during their shift so the next shift knows where to pick up.
• Leadership reporting: Operations managers request high-level reports to verify charger uptime and operational health. Operators manually compile data across multiple spreadsheets and dashboards to create these reports.

This process takes significant time. Operators often spend hours digging through dashboards, error codes, charging session details, and even OCPP logs to understand what's happening across their sites.

We realized we could save operators hours every day by having Flip AI analyze charging activity overnight and deliver a comprehensive report of what needs attention each morning.

Making the report immediately actionable

To make the report worth reading, we needed to understand what makes a good operational recap. We collected feedback from our customers to learn what data was most useful to them. Our team also triaged charger issues ourselves using the Flipturn platform, experiencing firsthand what operators face daily. We learned that:

• Content structure matters: The report needed to combine system-level framing ("is anything exceptional happening?") with drill-down links so operators can investigate further in Flipturn.
• Quality over quantity: Long lists of summaries and raw data aren't helpful. The goal is to highlight the most important issues with sufficient context, not summarize everything.
• Executive summaries are essential: A top-level summary answering "how did things go?" helps operations leadership get the big picture and operators understand what happened before diving into detailed site reports.

We spent 3 months refining the report and input data so our customers wouldn't have to: selecting for useful error codes, formatting text to be scannable, and adjusting the AI's conversational tone. Learn more about how we fine-tuned the report here.

Email reports: meeting our customers where they are

We wanted to make it easy for our customers to access the report, so we met them where they already spend much of their day—in their email inbox. Instead of requiring customers to read reports in Flipturn, they receive high-value, comprehensive insights directly in their inbox without ever needing to log in. Our customers were excited to receive emailed reports:

• Operators read the reports with their other emails while heading to work, so they're ready to go as soon as they arrive onsite.
• Operations leadership, who don't actively use Flipturn, get a high-level view of operational reliability straight from their inbox.

One-click setup, zero configuration

Setting up Flip AI needed to reflect the same hands-off approach that we took with crafting the perfect report prompt. We designed the activation experience to require just one click. This way operators can easily turn it on and start receiving their reports every morning.

The results

When we started building Flip AI, we wanted to build AI that actually works, not just to follow industry trends. After months of iteration and close collaboration with users, we're proud to have landed on a feature that eliminates busywork and helps our customers focus on what matters.

47% of Flip AI users interact with the report on any given day, and it's making a real difference for operations teams:

"This translates charger messages into English and puts it in one update I can review in 5 minutes. We're dedicating staff to solve the vehicle/charger interoperability issues Flip has highlighted." — Christian Bigger, Zero-Emission Fleet & Facilities Manager, Spokane Transit

"Flipturn's AI report is my go-to in the morning to see what I'm walking into. It's helped us identify and fix power module issues to keep chargers operational." — Roger Alvarez, Director of Depot Operations, Zeem Solutions

Want to see Flip AI in action? Request a demo and we'll show you how it works with your charging network.

About Flipturn

Flipturn is the leading EV charging management platform for businesses and fleets, helping organizations maximize charger uptime, process charging payments, and scale operations efficiently. Backed by leading investors including CRV and Accel, Flipturn serves Fortune 500 companies, commercial property owners, and major fleet operators across North America.