Create an OEM App for Smart Travel

This topic describes how to create, configure, and launch an OEM app for smart travel on the Tuya Developer Platform.

Build an OEM app

Create an app

1. Log in to the Tuya Developer Platform and go to the App Creation page.

2. Click Create App. In the Select OEM App Category dialog box, click Create for the Smart Travel category.

   

3. In the dialog box that appears, enter the app information, and carefully read and accept terms in OEM App Service and Software License Agreement.

   Option	Description	Example
   App Name	The app name will be displayed on the user’s mobile phone desktop. We recommend that you enter a name within six characters in Chinese or 12 characters in English. If the specified maximum length is exceeded, app users cannot view the full name.	Smart app
   Package Name for Android, Bundle ID for iOS	The unique identifier used for launching apps in app stores. Try to include the organization’s domain name to ensure a unique package name or bundle ID. If the package name or bundle ID already exists in an app store, the app cannot be launched in the app store. Recommend letters and numbers. Three sections are recommended and they can be separated from each other with periods (.). Each section starts with a letter. The characters such as “tuya” cannot be used. For example, if the Tuya domain name is tuya.com, the package name can be set to com.tuya.smart.	com.testapp.smartiot
   Channel ID	Optional. If not specified, the channel ID is automatically generated based on the package name. The channel ID cannot be modified after it is confirmed. It is mainly used to evoke this app on the mobile phone, and is also related to the link of the QR code to print.	-

   

4. Click OK.

Customize UI

The user interface (UI) configuration determines the app icon and appearance.

1. Set App Icon.

   • Only square images in the .png format are supported. Do not upload images with transparent backgrounds. Otherwise, a display error might occur.
   • The dimensions must be 1024 × 1024 pixels.

2. Set Splash Screen for iOS and Splash Screen for Android.

   A splash screen is automatically generated after you upload the app icon in the previous step. You can also upload a preferred page to change the existing one.

   Splash screen for iOS:

   • Only .png files are supported.

   • Upload: You can upload an image with dimensions equal to or higher than 1242 × 2688 pixels. Images of different dimensions can be separately uploaded.

     

   Splash screen for Android:

   Different from the Splash Screen for iOS tab, on the Splash Screen for Android tab, you can select the Merge Images mode. In this mode, the app automatically merges the uploaded images as previewed into a splash screen for the current aspect ratio. This can avoid image distortion that might occur when a splash screen is loaded on the mobile phone with a special aspect ratio.

   

3. Set App Theme Color.

   • When the template version used by your app is v3.33.5 or later, you can set the theme color, background color, text color, round corner style, and other preferred styles.

     Some items are Advanced Settings. They are available only after you subscribe to required value-added services. Otherwise, the default configuration takes effect or the preset configuration is automatically used according to the specified background color.

     

   After you subscribe to the specific value-added service of the app, more options are available on the App Color Theme tab. You can set the following parameters:

   • The background colors of cards, dialog boxes, and tab bars.

   • Modify the text color transparency and configure the right-angle or round corners of cards, buttons, and dialog boxes.

     

   The following table shows Previews A and B of each advanced setting for your reference.

4. Set Tab Icon.

   Tuya provides default icons. Also, you can upload the desired icon.

   You can upload your own six icons in the .png format. The dimensions must be 108 × 108 pixels.

   The following figure shows the configuration.

   • Default: preview an active icon.

   • Active: preview an inactive icon. You can customize the font color of an active tab label.

     

5. More Custom Settings: Tuya provides default icons. Also, you can upload a desired icon.

   • Login/Sign-Up Logo: The logo must be in the .png format, with the dimensions of 400 × 400 pixels.

   • Default Avatar: the default avatar on the Me tab of the app. The file must be in the .png format, with the dimensions of 144 × 144 pixels.

   • Login/Sign-Up Background: The file must be in the .png format, with the dimensions of 1080 × 1920 pixels. Currently, the button font color on this page is fixed. You must upload the image and confirm the preview effect. We recommend that you change the background.

     

   • To try an OEM app with a few simple clicks, click Next: Function after the preceding configurations.
   • You can use the default settings of the basic features or modify the settings. Click Next: Configure App to further configure the app, choose Next: Build App > Build, wait until the app is built, and then test the app. Each version can be built up to 10 times a day and up to 30 times a month.
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Set the functions

1. Extended Functions: You can choose whether to enable or set the functions.

   

   • About Us: You can enter your official website URL in the format of https://. If the URL does not start with “https://”, this page cannot be opened on the app. Currently, only the pages in Chinese and English are supported. To navigate to a page in another language, enter the URL in the field for the English language.

   • Copyright Information: To add the copyright information to the app, tap Me at the bottom of the page, tap the setting icon in the top-right corner of the page, and then tap About. Currently, only Chinese and English are supported.

   • Access Device List from Me: After opening, the App supports the control and management of non-travel devices, and the entrance will be in Me-More Devices

   • User Agreement: Due to the rules of the major app stores, it is enabled by default. After it is enabled, the logged-in user can also view the latest version of the user agreement.

   • Smart Scenes: You can choose whether to enable the function.

   • Scan: You can choose whether to enable the function.

   • Bluetooth Mesh: You can choose whether to enable device pairing over Bluetooth. If you disable the Bluetooth mesh service, make sure that the devices to be paired do not include Bluetooth devices.

   • Gesture Password: You can choose whether to enable this function of the app. If it is enabled, users can use the gesture password to lock and unlock the app and enhance security.

   • Dashboard Weather: You can choose whether to enable the function.

   • Privacy Policy: Due to the rules of the major app stores, it is enabled by default. After it is enabled, the logged-in user can also view the latest version of the user agreement.

2. Third-Party Voice Assistants: If your product supports a smart speaker, you can select the required voice assistant, and add the name of the supported skill in the input box next to the name of the voice assistant. Then, choose Me > Third-Party Voice Services on the app to see the icon for navigation to the documents.

   

   • If you select Customize Document Content, you can click Edit File to edit the document in a preferred language in the dialog box.

     

     The preset text is displayed in the online editor. You can modify and save this template. Users can view the latest version of the text.

     To create a document in languages other than Chinese and English, you must first create the version in English and click the language drop-down list, select the required language, and then edit the content.

     
   • If you enable Alexa and Google Assistant for your app, you must subscribe to the OEM skills for each of the voice assistants. Otherwise, the voice control might fail.
   • The Alexa app-to-app account linking is available. For more information, click Service Description to view the description or click Subscribe to purchase the service.
   • You can enable or disable the preferred voice-enabled service, or modify the document for the service without the need to rebuild the app.

Configure the app

After you set functions for the app, click Next: Configure App to configure the features that are required for launching in app stores and subscribe to and configure the recommended services. You complete the configurations as needed. You can also simply click Next: Build App to build and test the app and complete the required configurations later.

Build the app

In the step of Build App, after you click Build, the system builds each app package or bundle in the sequence of application time. The estimated build time appears on the page. After the app is built, the system pushes the build result to your account of the Tuya Developer Platform by email or SMS.

• Launch Checklist: When you visit this page for the first time, this page displays the required configuration items for your app to be launched in app stores. However, to optimize your tests and experience, you can click Build to build the app for tests in advance.

  

• If the app is built, you can use your mobile phone to scan the QR code to download and install the app for tests. The QR code automatically identifies your mobile phone operating system, and supports both Android and iOS.

  

• In the very rare case that the build fails, an error message is returned to help you troubleshoot the error. You can also submit a ticket to request technical support.

  

Trial app

The trial app is created and configured on the Tuya Developer Platform through the above process. After the app is built, you can scan the QR code for the trial version to download and install the app on your mobile phone.

• The trial app is valid for 30 days from the date of creation. The trial app cannot be edited or built after expiration, and the installed app on the mobile phone cannot be used as expected.
• The installation package of the trial app cannot be used to launch the app in app stores. You must purchase the OEM App service and complete the required configurations before the app can be launched.

Official app

If you have already purchased the OEM App service, ignore this step and launch the app in app stores.

Purchase the OEM App service

If your app passes the test, you can launch the app in app stores. If the OEM App service is not purchased, you cannot get the installation package for launching. After the trial app expires, you cannot continue to use the app.

1. Click Purchase OEM App and follow the instructions on the page to place an order and complete the payment.

   

   • Select App: Select the app to be purchased. Check the Application Object option and other details carefully to purchase the right service.
   • Verify the country or region and currency.

2. Check and confirm the order information. If all the information is correct, you can click Buy Now.

   • Confirm Order: If your OEM app has been paid offline, provide your order number and contact the Tuya staff to bind the payment.

   • Invoice information: You can choose whether to request an invoice. If you want an invoice, provide the invoice information after the service is completed and contact the Tuya staff to get an invoice.

3. After you select the payment method and complete the payment, you can return to the studio and continue to configure your app.

App overview

After you subscribe to the OEM App service, enter the app overview page from the OEM app list and update the following information as needed.

• Modify App Name: Currently, the name can be set only in Chinese and English. If the name in Simplified Chinese is not specified, the name in English is displayed.

• History Version: If you have created two or more versions of your app, click History Version to view the configuration information of the historical versions.

• Change Template: If the template version of your app is earlier than the latest template on the Tuya Developer Platform, you can choose Change Template > Update to select the latest template. The updates take effect only after you rebuild the app. Click View Release Notes to view the functions of the latest template.

  If you want to get notified of the latest template, you can subscribe to App Update notifications from the Subscriptions service.

• Continue: Click here to enter the last configuration page of the latest version.

• Recommended Value-Added Services: If you want to subscribe to more functions of the app, you can view and subscribe to desired services.

• App Operations and Data: You can view the app analytics and feedback from the users and check information about the marketing tools for the app.

Launch the app

Method 1: Purchase the app launching service

• When the app test is finished, click Next: Launch App.

  
  After you modify the content in the development step, such as UI and extended functions, you must rebuild the app.

• If you have not purchased the launching service, we recommend that you purchase this service in advance. Because certain required functions of the app depend on third-party platforms, we provide related configuration services for Location, App Certificate, and Push Certificate.

  

• If you have already purchased the launching service, the system will display a prompt, and the Tuya staff will contact you. You can ignore the steps for launching and the Tuya staff will complete the follow-up operations.

  

Method 2: Launch the app by yourself

1. After the app test is finished, click Next: Launch App. The system automatically checks the required items. When the app is not fully configured, you will be prompted to configure it. You can click Configure for each item to complete the required configurations.

   
   As long as any configuration item is modified, the app must be rebuilt to make the modification effective. After the configuration is completed, you can rebuild the app. To accelerate the build process, we recommend that you complete all the configurations at once before building.

2. After the app is built, uninstall the previous app version and install the latest version for testing. Check whether the push notifications and map function for Android take effect, and continue to launch the app. Push notifications for iOS can only be tested after the app is launched.

3. You can upload and download the bundle for iOS on the Tuya Developer Platform. To pass the strict review of apps for iOS, carefully read the operation manual and launch your app with respect to the specifications.

   The installation package for Android supports Android (mainland China) and Google Play-specific packages. Starting August 2021, new apps will be required to launch with the Android App Bundle on Google Play.

   • By default, the Android (mainland China) package includes the AutoNavi map service. It allows login with WeChat and Tencent QQ accounts and supports push notifications for multiple mobile phone brands.

   • The Google Play-specific package includes Google Maps and push notification services.

     

4. (Optional) You can submit a ticket to consult and solve the problems when you launch the app.

5. After your app has passed the review, click Launched at the bottom of the page to confirm that the app has been launched in app stores.

Required setting

To launch your app, the following functions are required.

User agreement and privacy policy

Click Add Version. You must provide the custom content of the privacy policy and service terms.

Tuya provides Template Reference in multiple languages including Chinese, English, German, French, and Japanese. You can download and customize your content. To publish your app, the versions in English are required.

Certificate for iOS

If you want to launch your app on the App Store, you must upload the required certificates. To create a certificate, you must register a developer account first. For more information, see the documents. If the certificate is not uploaded, the system will not be able to build an installation package or bundle, and the app cannot be launched.

• Auto Generate Certificates (Recommended): This function is an auxiliary function. The certificate preparation process of the iOS certificate platform is complex. You can enable the automatic generation and upload of all certificates. You only need to enter the authorization information to quickly configure the certificates.

  

• Manually Create and Upload Certificates: For more information, see Create Certificates for iOS.

Certificate for Android

To launch your app in the Android app stores, upload the required certificates. To create a certificate, you must register an Android developer account first and configure the app as required by the app stores. For more information, see the documents. If the certificates are not uploaded, the system will not be able to build an installation package, and the app cannot be launched.

• App certificate

  • Re-signing for Android: App security can be improved after setting. For more information, see Resignature Configuration.

  • App Signing Certificate: You can apply the certificate to specific services. For example, you must provide the certificate to get the token that enables Login with Amazon (LWA).

• Set the Push certificate according to the location of the app user:

  • Google FCM: the certificate information that must be set when you use the Google Push service. For more information, see Register FCM.

  • To send push notifications to users in mainland China, you can use the Tuya push channel or Umeng push channel.

  In addition, to allow users to receive push notifications without the need to open the app, you must set up the branded system-level channel to push certificate information.

Map for Android

Click Get SHA-1 to get the related values, follow the instructions in Apply for Google Map Key and Apply for AutoNavi Map Key to get the Google Map key or AutoNavi key, and then enter the key in the respective field.

Map for iOS

Use iOS package name, Apply for AutoNavi Map Key to get the AutoNavi key, and then enter the key in the respective field.

Optional setting

Devices

Currently, you can choose the category of the devices to be paired. Standard View is selected by default. For this category, the same pairing list and guide content as the Tuya Smart app are used. In the standard view, you cannot modify the pairing list and guide content.

After the app is built, template A v3.33.5 is used as an example. You can click a device icon to add the device. The following figure shows the example in the standard view.

• If you have less than 10 categories, you can choose Tile View. Users do not need to switch categories. All available product categories are easily visualized.

  

• If you have multiple product categories, you can choose List View. Users can quickly find the pairing entry of the target product category by classification, and pair devices under the guidance.

  

Customize specific steps

1. Click Create Custom Category. In the Custom Category for Pairing dialog box, select the product to be associated with the category.

   

2. If no product has been created for the current space account, the product cannot be associated. You must create a product first or choose Add Standard Category. For more information about how to create a product, see Create Products.

   After the association, during pairing with the specified category, the app user can see pairing guidance. Accurate pairing guidance can improve the success rate of pairing.

3. After the product is associated, the category icon will default to the icon of the associated product. Also, you can upload other icons.

   The category name can be customized. The default Chinese and English are required. After the creation is successful, you can set the category name in other languages in the dialog box that appears.

   

4. Click a category to see an icon with three lines on the left side of the category. Click and hold the icon to sort the specified category.

   

5. Click Setup Instructions in the Operation column to navigate to the pairing wizard of the product. You can improve pairing wizard content by following actual pairing steps and things to note.

6. Click the icon with three dots in the Operation column to view more operation items.

   1. Click Multilingual to navigate to the multilingual configuration page for the pairing list.
   2. Click Modify to modify the specified information in the dialog box.
   

7. Click Delete. In the dialog box that appears, click OK to delete the category. The deletion operation immediately takes effect. Proceed with caution.

Add a standard category

1. Click Add Standard Category. In the dialog box, add the required standard categories to the Selected column.

   

2. You cannot modify the icon, name, and pairing guidance of a standard category. You can only sort the list of paired devices or delete the category.

Push notifications triggered by third-party devices

1. Third-party push notifications
   Currently, LINE push notifications are supported. After users’ devices trigger conditions that match predefined push notification rules, users can receive push notifications from the LINE app. For more information, see Integrate with LINE Notification.

2. Third-party login
   Configure Biometric Login: Tuya-powered OEM apps allow biometric login after this service is enabled. This way, users can log in to the apps without entering the account and password. For more information, see Enable Biometric Login.

   App Store requires that both Apple login and third-party login must be enabled for the same apps. You can enable the third-party login in the Apple certificate.

   • Users in mainland China can log in to your app with Tencent QQ and WeChat accounts.
   • Users in other countries or regions can log in with Facebook, Google, or LINE accounts. If a user logs in with a Facebook account, a minimum activity level is required. If the lower limit is not reached, the authorization might be revoked and the user cannot log in to the app with a Facebook account. For more information, see Facebook Login Application.

Malls

This page displays the malls that are associated with the app, including the multilingual navigation name and mall center name.

If you have not subscribed to the mall service, you can subscribe to the trial version first.

More

• Simultaneous Login on Devices: You can choose whether to enable simultaneous login on multiple mobile phones with the same account.

• Support Tuya’s Generic Skills: You can choose whether to enable Tuya’s generic skills and allow smart speakers to control devices.

Common tools

QR Code

A QR code can be printed on the outer packaging of the product and can be used properly even if the app is updated later. Make sure that the specified download URL is available. It must be the URL of the app details page that appears in each app store.

Update notification

You can configure the update notification feature. This way, when your app updates are released, update notifications are sent to app users. The users can determine whether to update the app. For more information, see Configure Upgrade Notification Push.

Debug the allowlist

If your app uses the template version v3.33.5 or later, the setting bar will appear. You can add an app account in mainland China to the allowlist. Users can choose Me > Settings > Multilingual Debug Mode in your app. This allows users to check the latest updates of UI text. For more information, see What is the debug whitelist?

Multilingual settings

Currently, you can modify all entries in the same task and modify specified entries online.

• Method 1 (batch modification): You can export the spreadsheet of the app UI entries, modify the content in this file, and then upload the edited file.

• Method 2 (individual modification): You can search for the specified entry with UI text and modify it.

  For more information, see App Multilingual Introduction.

Subscribe to template updates

The OEM app can be iterated and updated. After you enable App Update in the OEM App section of Subscriptions, your specified email address will receive notifications of the template updates.