SAML Single Sign-On User Experience
The user experience can be customized when implementing SAML SSO by controlling how the utility website initiates SSO and how users are directed to the Oracle Utilities website from the Oracle Utilities Opower Home Energy Reports (HERs). Some of the most widely used options are described below. The URL that is displayed in the HERs can point directly to the Energy Efficiency Web Portal or the utility website.
Visiting Utility Website First
In this scenario, the URL that is displayed in the HERs sends users directly to the utility website. After users log in, they can be presented with links that would take them to the Energy Efficiency Web Portal using SSO. These links can be customized to link to any particular page on the Energy Efficiency Web Portal. The disadvantage of this approach is that the user may never navigate to the Energy Efficiency Web Portal and only conduct other activities (like bill pay) based on the functionality of the existing utility website.
Another option is for the URL on the HERs to take the user directly to a landing page on the utility website that is specific for the Oracle Utilities Opower program. Users would be directed to the Energy Efficiency Web Portal using SSO after they log in. The advantage of this technique over using the overall utility homepage on the HER is that users accessing the website on the HER URL are taken directly to the Energy Efficiency Web Portal after logging in. This helps to maximize the use of the Energy Efficiency Web Portal. Users can still go the main utility website for other necessary functions and applications, such as paying bills.
Both these options use IdP-initiated SSO. The disadvantage of these options is that users cannot browse content on the Energy Efficiency Web Portal prior to logging in.
Visiting Energy Efficiency Web Portal First
Another option is for the Home Energy Report (HER) URL to take the user directly to the Energy Efficiency Web Portal. Consumers can then browse content that is available to non-logged in users. If users click on a link that requires that they be logged in to view the content, they are directed to the utility website to log in under SP-initiated SSO. After logging in, they are directed back to the Energy Efficiency Web Portal to the specific page they were trying to access.
The Energy Efficiency Web Portal home page also presents the user with links allowing them to sign in or register. The default configuration is to have these links invoke SP-initiated SSO and have the user directed back to the Energy Efficiency Web Portal after they complete the sign in process. The utility can elect to send the user to any arbitrary page on the Energy Efficiency Web Portal. These links can be configured to point to any specific URL on the utility (or any other website).
If the method described above is used, customers can browse content on the Energy Efficiency Web Portal that is accessible for users that are not logged in. The advantage of having the Home Energy Report contain the URL of the Energy Efficiency Web Portal is that this ensures users will land on the Energy Efficiency Web Portal after logging in.