The ESP32 modules have arrived. They are still a bit hard to get and pricey, but we believe they will replace ESP8266 as a standard for these kind of appliances.
I have also received various samples of wifi antenna
And the 12/24V power source reduction. We decided to use DIN-4 connector, as this is the only one able to handle the maximum of 10A @ 24V which we will support. For lower power existing sources, users will be able to use the supplied reduction from barrel jack connector.
Today, I have reached out to a couple of local companies, which provide mobile app development services. The reason is, that I feel I have very little control over the app development when working with the remote freelance developers. The progress is very slow and it doesn’t seem to improve. From my other projects, I am used to local teams, where we share the information very frequently and work closely together. The problem with these local companies is, that their services are way more pricey than the of the freelancers. But as it turns out, this might be actually better choice in the long run.