247 Labs Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of A1 Metals. We provide a catalog of automotive parts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs Inc.?

We needed a partner to build the catalog.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

247 Labs Inc. created a digital catalog of our products from scratch. They created search bars to locate products by year. Their team integrated capacities into the platform to enable photo uploads and price listings, which fluctuate by entering data into the catalog. They implemented my ideas, but also supplied their own such as a logo for my company.

What is the team composition?

Mainly, I worked with one person. First, I met the owner who introduced me to a web developer. Anything we needed, he took care of it. He distributed work to the rest of the 247 Labs Inc. team.

How did you come to work with 247 Labs Inc.?

I googled my requirements and checked 247 Labs Inc. out. It looked like their team knew what to do. They didn’t work with big companies so I decided to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $15,000–$20,000 CAD (approximately $11,300–$15,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We collaborated for about two–three months in 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

247 Labs Inc. created a platform that has made my life easier. It's everything I asked them to produce. As a result of the product, processes are more organized. The catalog looks really good and works really well. I’m satisfied.

I’m a strong believer that you get what you pay for. 247 Labs Inc.'s services are worth the cost. You could pay a lower price but would get poorer results. What they charge is worth it. Their service was great. 

How did 247 Labs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed really well. Whenever I called—no matter the time—247 Labs Inc. answered the phone. Their team tried to fix any issues right away. If I said something was wrong, they resolved it immediately. Their team didn’t delay.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service was their greatest asset. After we finished our paid for hours, their team continued to adjust the platform to our satisfaction. They didn't say we finished our hours or charge us more. Their team didn’t leave us out to dry. They did everything they said they were going to do and I paid the agreed-upon price.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, 247 Labs Inc. was really professional.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Like I’ve said, you get what you pay for. Even though they’re pricey, 247 Labs Inc.’s worth it. They weren’t a scam, avoiding my calls or e-mails after we finished our hours. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a security guard company based in Toronto. We have 35 to 40 employees that offer security guard services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs Inc.?

We needed a distinct and unique application for our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

247 Labs Inc. developed the app from scratch, using some sketches I provided. The app, for iOS and Android, was a tool for our employees. Every guard has to download the app to check-in at their job sites. The backend system registers their time, location, and employee number before confirming the guard is on site. While developing the backend system, their team made it accessible for us to do programming on our end. They also redesigned our website and performed troubleshooting.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 people. At one point, we switched project managers.

How did you come to work with 247 Labs Inc.?

I searched for app developers on Google. I called a few, but they seemed to be larger-scale companies that wouldn’t be interested in my scope of work. I ended up talking to 247 Labs Inc. and found out that they had a rep in Toronto. We had a friendly meeting where he discussed the history of the company. They’re a mid-sized company with 20–30 employees, which is what we were looking for since we’re a smaller and cost-sensitive business. I also like having face-to-face interactions, so being in the same city was another plus. Whenever there’s a problem, we could sit down and hash out the issues. I did interview a couple of other groups in Toronto, but they didn’t have the same skillset that we required.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we’ve invested over $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August–October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The app works great and performs how it is supposed to. It trumps the system we were using for the last 37–38 years. During testing, there were additional functionalities I wanted to add and some things I wanted to change. They helped with that even after the project was completed.

The only issue we had wasn’t with the app, but some of the guards are elderly and didn’t have smartphones. That was a problem we had to work around, but we’ve put systems in place to make sure they all received phones and can easily use the app.

How did 247 Labs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management style was excellent. I was able to discuss everything on the phone with my point of contact. He would check in, addressing any issues or milestones. He also asked our opinion on work before receiving our approval. They kept me in the loop the entire time.

Even when they switched project managers, there was a smooth transition. They found one to move forward within a couple of days. Sometimes it was hard to explain problems through email and phone, but we had a teleconference video system that allowed us to see each other. During the video calls, we had a live feed of the computer screen. It was helpful for explanations. I could discuss what I wanted with the functionalities and layout. They would take my thoughts and get work back to me in a few days.

What did you find most impressive about them?

247 Labs Inc. delivers quality products within a quick turnaround. Their team had to develop this app from scratch, relying on my limited technical guidance. There were talented programmers that worked on different aspects of the app. They seem like a larger firm because of all of their skillsets. Their turnaround time is insanely quick, like a one-man operation that works 24/7. That must be the reason for their name.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This isn’t a problem, but an aspect of the workforce. 247 Labs Inc. has a lot of programmers from around the world. Sometimes we had conferences late at night or early in the morning because of time differences. There’s not a lot there can be done about that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Customers need to have a clear idea to save time. They should almost draw what they want on each screen, so the developers know what they’re doing. Their team can mimic exactly what’s drawn on paper. I had a clear indication that their development team could plot on their computers. This is the first app I’ve ever developed, and have little experience with companies. I’m not sure how it goes for brand new ideas, but give 247 Labs Inc. something to work off of. Based on my process, they adapted my renderings quite well, giving me exactly what I was looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder & CEO of Elite HRV. We offer digital health and performance tracking tools.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs Inc.?

We hired 247 Labs to improve our app and dashboard along with general software development services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over the past few years, 247 Labs has provided full-time development staff augmentation. We generally have one ongoing resource, but as many as three full-time developers at any given time. Their team assists with development projects using Angular JS, PHP, JavaScript, and MySQL. They also work with DevOps technologies. For the app and dashboard, they added D3.js, implemented data visualization features, and improved user onboarding.

What is the team composition?

We typically work with three developers and a project manager. Occasionally, we employ a designer.

How did you come to work with 247 Labs Inc.?

Over the years, we worked with many different developers with various projects. We found 247 Labs and struck up a conversation with them. We decided to give them a try, and they’ve ended up working well with us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in mid-2016, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

During our journey with 247 Labs, our revenue and users have grown. 247 Labs is open and easy to communicate with. Their team genuinely cares about delivering the work their clients want. If customers take the time to talk to them, then 247 Labs will take the time to make sure they’re happy.

How did 247 Labs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m pretty hands-on during our engagements. We work remotely, using video calls, Slack, and other project management tools for communication. We have weekly standups. 247 Labs is responsive, getting back to our team immediately or by the next business day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with the quality and value at a reasonable price.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Other firms may offer better quality services for a higher price, but 247 Labs delivers a great service within our price range.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should be communicative. That’s my advice for anyone entering a business relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the managing director for a university film festival.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs Inc.?

We reached out to 247 Labs to redesign and develop our outdated website before an event. We wanted to move over to a new CMS to make it easier for both our team and customers to use. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

247 Labs redesigned and developed our website on WordPress, integrating our ticketing software. They also made changes to our newsletter and email subscription features, while updating our privacy standards. In addition to development, they also provided testing throughout the process and continue to maintain the site as needed.

What is the team composition? 

We work with a developer, a designer, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with 247 Labs Inc.?

We conducted an RFP process in the Toronto area, reviewed about 12 different proposals, and ultimately felt 247 Labs had the strongest presentation. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested between $20,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since July 2018 and although the site was completed by October, they continue to provide ongoing support and are making additional enhancements as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The new site 247 Labs developed has significantly improved our online customer satisfaction by improving navigation and the way tickets are purchased. It's also a lot more reliable and fast, making it easier for internal staff to make edits on the fly. 

How did 247 Labs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great about planning and managing our expectations. They're also very accessible over Slack and responsive to any changes we request. We generally have meetings over the phone every week to go over the status of milestones and testing. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to manage the project and meet our demanding deadline was very impressive. They were able to pull off this project in just a couple months, despite some of the unknowns in our scope of work. They've been understanding of our situation, applying an efficient work ethic to get the job done in time. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were a few times when they could've been more communicative about what they needed from our end so we weren't causing any delays. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide as much detail as possible in the scope of work and make sure they have all the assets they need to deliver the best possible end product. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of Voombiz, a startup company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs Inc.?

I had a fantastic app concept, but I was not well-versed in mobile-app development. To bring my idea to life, I needed to find an experienced developer who could guide me through the entire process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

247 Labs Inc. initiated the project with a series of meetings, where we discussed my goals and the amount of work required to achieve them. After listening to my ideas, they created screen prototypes with InVision Studio. They scheduled a few meetings after the drafts were completed to refine the design and omit elements that were redundant and impractical. Using the updated requirements, they built a wireframe model of the app. In preparation for the final stages of development, their role expanded to include pitch consultancy. Their CTO gave me a list of potential investors and accompanied me during the pitch meetings. A few of the investors wanted more information about the app, so 247 Labs Inc. is currently producing a pitch video that explains the product in full detail.

What is the team composition?

I have interacted with their CTO, senior brand and digital product designer, product manager, and sales representative.

How did you come to work with 247 Labs Inc.?

I selected the first company that appeared in my online search for local app developers. 247 Labs Inc. had astonishing reviews, so I had confidence in their ability to deliver excellent work. 

How much have you invested with them?

To date, I have spent more than $8,000 for their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

They have been working on the app since August 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

247 Labs Inc. is still in the process of developing the app, but I am pleased with all of the work that they have delivered thus far. The wireframes are well-designed, and they showcase the app’s eye-catching color scheme. In addition to producing high-quality work, their guidance has helped us raise funds for development. We expect to attract more developers once the pitch demo is finalized.  

How did 247 Labs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

From my perspective, 247 Labs Inc. employs highly effective time management strategies. When I go off-course with a flurry of ideas, their team helps me narrow down my thoughts quickly. I can always rely on them to follow through on their promises and abide by the timeline. Frequent communication via phone and Zoom’s video chat service has been the foundation of our solid partnership.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have a minimal understanding of how the app development process works, so it is comforting to have a partner who looks out for my best interests. They are always willing to break down each step so that I can follow along. While most vendors would be frustrated with my endless questions, they never fail to provide thorough explanations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

247 Labs Inc. takes pride in their work, and they are committed to client satisfaction. Everything has gone according to plan.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or voice concerns.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

As a senior university recruitment partner, I oversee talent acquisition for a global manufacturing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs Inc.?

In preparation for launching our talent acquisition program, we searched for an experienced web developer who could deliver a sophisticated brand identity, a website, and mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After developing a complete brand guideline, 247 Labs incorporated the style elements into the public-facing website. In addition to its unique brand identity, the site features detailed information about our talent acquisition program.

Once the website was complete, they focused on building an internal web application for our program. The web app has two user paths; students in the program can use the app to take online courses, and admin users can track the students’ grades and progress. We are also able to upload new information on the platform. For iOS and Android devices, they developed a similar app that allows students to take the courses at their convenience.

What is the team composition?

About 10 people were working on our account, which included the product owner, web designers, solution architects, front- and backend developers, and a few QA engineers.

How did you come to work with 247 Labs Inc.?

They were one of the many companies that responded to our request for proposal. Most of the vendors gave us a sales pitch, but 247 Labs offered a genuine consultation. We felt comfortable working with them because they were knowledgeable and had our best interests at heart.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent more than $200,000 for their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from February 2015–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We have a lot of stakeholders within our organization, and they all have unique interests; 247 Labs managed to please all of our decision-makers with their final product. Their sophisticated branding and web designs have also garnered attention from prospective hires. With the project’s success, we have the clearance to improve and expand our talent acquisition program.

How did 247 Labs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was remarkably agile. They used Jira to keep track of their work, and they met with us two times a week to discuss their progress and resolve outstanding issues. We had access to their Slack channel, but we rarely used the platform.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have worked with several developers in the past, but their work pales in comparison to 247 Labs’ high-quality web products. Their excellent customer service was another highlight. They were responsive to our needs, and they maintained an open line of communication. We were always aware of the project’s status and informed of any complications.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We experienced a few delays, but it was never detrimental to the timeline.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

247 Labs has the potential to take a product concept to new heights if the client is open to new ideas.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former technology director at Total S.A., an oil and energy company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs Inc.?

A government regulation required us to conduct an environmental study to get approval to install oil rigs. We sent airplanes to scope, document, and map wildlife in the surrounding area. Pilots took thousands of photos and scanned images during each flight. Our department of 550 people must process each image and denote any environmental life they find. We hired 247 Labs Inc. to digitize and automate the manual process we’d been using. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Each of the project’s four stages began with a kickoff. During the research and discovery phases, the team’s project managers, designers, and analysts helped us analyze the need and problem solve. Over a long series of workshops and brainstorming sessions, we finalized what to include in the implementation.

For our digital restructuring, the team developed a progressive web application (PWA) with a mobile-friendly aspect. Features include data transformation, mapping, migration, and synchronization. 

During later phases, they built AI components using TensorFlow.
247 Labs Inc. also provided database and user management. Our database contains thousands of images of animals our field inspectors detected. Each photo taken from the airplane has associated details like latitude and longitude. The geospatial interface maps documented wildlife to avoid environmental impact from our oil rig. 

What is the team composition? 

I mostly interacted with the project manager. Two designers and a developer attended some of our meetings. We engaged other companies for digital strategy and solutions architecture.

How did you come to work with 247 Labs Inc.?

We shortlisted vendors through an RFP process. 247 Labs Inc was one of the many referrals we received. Prior experience partnering with an oil company was the main reason we hired them. They also seemed the most flexible about the scope and meeting our needs

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2016. After several launches, the final release took place in August 2018. We still have 247 Labs Inc. on limited support contract for minor maintenance.
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Of the many developers I’ve used before, 247 Labs Inc. has the best and most clearly defined process. They produced quality work and stayed flexible our changing requirements. We worked well together as partners, and they even blended well with our external strategy organization. 

Given the number of photos we take in every trip, we were concerned about how the application could perform. 247 Labs Inc.’s deliverable is very reliable, however. Throughout each stage, they helped us build out and expand our product. Our organization is currently using the application internally to handle a massive load of data for a significant project. 

How did 247 Labs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Depending on the stage of the project, we held calls anywhere from daily to every two weeks. For certain deliveries, we even touched base 2–3 times a day. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

247 Labs Inc are great communicators. We really felt like they were there for us. They were committed to doing whatever it took to succeed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They didn’t always make every deadline they set verbally. We had some misses that came from both our sides.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to review and finalize the scope. We overlooked several parts of the agreement, which caused issues midway through some of the stages.
 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a private startup called The Venue Global. We provide marketing services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs?

We needed external resources to design a mobile marketing app that was consistent with our branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

247 Labs created the wireframes and prototype for our marketing app. It’s an iOS/Android app that would allow our clients to conveniently use our services. We provided the team with documentation on our logo, core functions, and general look and feel. They then worked with us to produce the final prototype, going back and forth on the design as well as expanding the functionality and identifying the user journey.

What is the team composition?

Azwar (Technical Director, 247 Labs) worked with us initially to write up and sign the contract. From there, Nazar (Project Manager, 247 Labs) managed the project, and Sheraz (Creative Director) designed the prototype.

How did you come to work with 247 Labs?

I searched online for companies that built business apps in Toronto and reached out to a few of them. Out of all the candidates, Azwar was the most responsive, setting up a call straight away and being the first to give a proposal. Everyone else seemed to move a bit slower, but 247 Labs was on the ball.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from October–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’re very happy with the quality of their deliverables. The team understood what we wanted and suggested new items that we hadn’t even considered. The prototype now provides functionality beyond our initial concept.

The design is also spectacular and really represents us. I love that they collaborated with us on the visual choices (e.g., color, formatting, layout) rather than imposing their own ideas. We were able to tell them what we wanted while still listening to their ideas.

How did 247 Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

While the quality of work was excellent, the time management could be better. The project actually finished a few weeks over the estimated end date, which affected our internal timeline, too.

On the collaboration side, we communicated via email and calls. Every other week, we’d also have GoToMeeting sessions where they would explain a build before delivering it. This helped us align our expectations for the project and give detailed feedback in a way that we couldn’t through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their designs was amazing; I hadn’t seen such talent before. Sheraz was able to completely invest himself into what we were doing, offering recommendations for the prototype that built upon our ideas. It’s important to have someone who tries to understand your mission and explores ways to bring clients more efficiency rather than just executing an idea. If I could take Sheraz and put him in my company, I would.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As I mentioned, they would benefit from looking at their overall time management. Since we were planning things internally, going over schedule also affected our timelines.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go into the project with an open mind, and be prepared to listen because there’s a lot of things that you might not know. I always pushed to hear 247 Labs’ recommendations because it showed that they really understood our goals. As a such, it’s essential to get them involved before you can take advantage of their creativity.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of a media startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 247 Labs?

I was exploring the possibility of developing an app, so I needed a company to help me with the prototype.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided consulting services, helping me identify technical requirements and the feasibility of developing an app. Then, they developed wireframes and the basic prototype. I knew what I wanted, so I gave them a lot of direction in terms of functionality. It was a very collaborative process and they helped me figure out the milestones I'd need to hit in order to develop an app and how much it'd cost.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a project manager and two other members of their team.

How did you come to work with them?

I knew I wanted to work with a Canadian team, so I was looking at different review websites, including Clutch. I liked 247 Labs' company profile and the reviews they had, so I gave them a call.  

How much have you invested with them?

I spent less than $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them between June–July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They're very knowledgeable and flexible. They made sure I understood the full scope of the development process. Also, I now have the initial prototype, which is an important milestone for me.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very thorough and answered all of my questions. We usually used Zoom, Google Hangouts, and WhatsApp to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They gave me much more than than I had hoped for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I had a great experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more information you can give to your potential development team, the more effectively they can guide you.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder of a security service company. We offer a basic security training course and have security guards for hire.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 247 Labs Inc.?

We hired them to create our website and online security training course.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have a professional and easy-to-use website for visitors, potential clients, and trainees.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were looking for an affordable and reliable web developer that would meet our needs in a professional and timely manner.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They created our website’s main page, about page, contact page, and security training course. The security training course includes 12 separate sections with quizzes after each one to test the student’s learning. It ends with a final test, which includes questions of all the learned sections.

What was the team composition?

There were multiple people working on the project. We were in contact with their technical director at the start and then with an assigned project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

This project provided us with the web presence we needed to reach a larger client base. It also created a new customer base for the security course.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had web calls with the project manager on a weekly basis to discuss any add-ons or changes that had to be made, which she later discussed with her team. Once they came up with a solution, they would show us for approval.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The quality of work was outstanding and budget-friendly. They were also quick to respond to emails and calls.