Raconteur Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a technical lead at a restaurant chain based in Michigan.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Raconteur Digital?

We needed help to manage our ad campaigns on social media.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Raconteur Digital provides content and manages the ad campaigns mainly using Instagram’s native ad campaign manager. They also run ads on LinkedIn.

What was the team composition?

We work with a digital marketing strategist and a project manager. 

How did you come to work with Raconteur Digital?

One of my colleagues worked with them previously at another company, and she referred them. 

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent about $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2022, and it’s an ongoing collaboration.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Essentially, we’ve seen nearly a 20%–30% growth in our engagement. Our likes grow day by day.

How did Raconteur Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is good. They send us weekly updates, and we have phone calls every Monday to discuss any improvements on the project. Most of our communication is through emails, but we also use Google Meet. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity is outstanding. They do an excellent job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t see any room for improvement at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a try to see how things work out for you. From then, you can move forward with your partnership.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a UK-based educational charity that promotes information about veganism and supports people going vegan. Our organization also works with companies to trademark vegan products. I’m the senior digital communications officer here. I run the digital communications team within the communications department. We deal with our site, social media, blogs, and a podcast.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

We’ve had two engagements with their team, both of them involving the fix of a veganism-related app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our app encourages people to go and stay vegan over a 30-day period. They built off of existing code to complete both projects, making the app easier for our users. The app functions as a month-long program, so each time someone uses the app, they’re presented with a video including popular vegan influencers.

Those provide general information about going vegan, which can have to do with ethics, dining out, or nutrition. That way, users are provided with daily information. They’re also presented with a quiz surrounding veganism. Completing the quiz unlocks recipes and discounts as well as extra information. The idea is to gradually ease people into veganism. 

Mublaloo was involved most heavily in the back-end development of the app. They did tweak small UI glitches, but they focused on our database and the storage of user data.  

What is the team composition?

Across both engagements, there were two senior developers, a project manager, and a business development director.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

They came as a recommendation from a design agency that we had a past relationship with.  

How much have you invested with them?

The first project cost £5,300 (approximately $6,890 USD), and the second should come out to about £6,000 (approximately $7,802 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The first engagement started and ended in November 2019. The second project lasted from January–February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All of their work was very high-quality. It’s been a great relationship. The only issue involved a slight deadline slip. It was only one day late, and they worked hard to get everything sorted out.

At the time of the first engagement, we were suffering from an iOS bug that rendered the app unusable for most users. At this point, the app can be used by everyone with ease. That’s completely changed user feedback on the app. We’re starting to see the ratings of the app increase in response to the changes Mubaloo has made on the iOS version.    

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

Perhaps, there could be more communication surrounding potential deadline slips. That would’ve enabled us to alter our strategy around it. However, they did work very hard to recover from the small deadline slip that we experienced. Generally, it’s been nice to work with them because they have a lovely team.

On both engagements, they completed high-quality projects. We communicated mostly through email, Slack, and phone. Our team has also met in-person before.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The efficiency in which they’ve managed to dive into our codebase has been very impressive. They have a solid handle on what’s going on, able to identify the problems quickly to solve them effectively. Generally, it’s been a stress-free process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Aside from the communication issue that I mentioned earlier, there’s nothing I can think of. Everything else they do is very good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have clear requirements laid out for them. The less clear you are, the more difficult the project will be for them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a product owner at a real estate firm. Our company is currently undertaking a project to replace our various health and safety products worldwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

This is a global project with a vast number of stakeholders around the world. We faced a lack of buy-in and usage of the existing systems, so we hope to create a much easier and more streamlined user experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We engaged with them to provide wireframes based on our user story requirements. We want to flesh out the UX, and we hope to have something to show to stakeholders to get their feedback before investing in any significant development time. They are supporting a couple other pieces, but most of their involvement is in those wireframes.

What is the team composition?

We work with their head of user experience, but we've upscaled to a second person until the end of 2019, as we approach the end of the project.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

They were a known partner of ours. When I needed support for this project, I was advised to use them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $100,000-$250,000, probably leaning closer to $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working around June or July 2019. The work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their deliverables is extremely high. We originally worked exclusively in-house, but we ran into several issues before we hired Mubaloo. Since we hired them, we've had no issues, and their outputs are easy for everyone to follow. They give us the rationale behind each methodology they choose, and they've gone a long way to help our stakeholders understand our objectives.

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with them is very easy. We have daily standups over the phone to discuss what is ready and what their expected outputs for the day are. They have access to our Microsoft DevOps systems and are integrated into our team sites. They're very easy to communicate with, and it's very simple to reach them. They're integrated into the team, even though they're remote.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to bring in accepted wisdom for mobile design is incredibly useful. They've quelled a lot of noise from inexperienced members of our team, and we all understand the thought processes behind the directions they take.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have a very good experience with them. They integrate with us, and I can't fault them for anything. The second point of contact is also very helpful, and we enjoy working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Like any project, ensure that you are clear in all your requirements and that you maintain a high level of communication with their team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We connect sport and entertainment stars to trusted brands and service providers. I'm the co-founder and COO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

We first engaged them to help us develop an app. We worked with another agency previously, but they weren't giving us the level of service we needed. We wanted a better team that could manage our project and deliver what we wanted.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They oversaw a lot of project management, road mapping, and gap analysis, then they worked through all the development. They spent time with our existing company to go over the code, and we did several workshops with them to work everything out. Their designers managed the wireframes, UX, and other needs. The app is currently only for iOS, but we hope to expand into an Android version in the future.

What is the team composition?

We've worked with about ten people from their team on this project. We're in touch with most of the team during workshops and meetings, but we have a main contact, two product owners, and a business development lead.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

I did a web search for app agencies in London. I was interested in the range of their work, and they looked like they could handle the complexity of our project. We considered a few other agencies, but Mubaloo knew what they were talking about and had all the resources we needed. I instantly had a good feeling about them, and some of the team members who attended that initial meeting are still a part of the team we interact with.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent roughly £120,000 (approximately $154,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first meeting was in March 2019, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work is very high, and they have very clear systems in place. Everyone in their organization knows their role, and they fit very well into the project plan. They challenge us, and they warn us whenever a change might put other pieces at risk. They've never missed a deadline, and they manage our expectations well. I'm confident in their abilities, and we know they'll deliver on their promises.

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

The tools that they use are very useful. We use Slack and Jira, and everything is always up to date. They're very accessible, and we can contact them at any time and get a quick response. If I have a question, I can go directly to any team member for answers. We have good interactions with the whole team, and they encourage us to be strict with our process so we stay on track.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a brilliant team, and they're all specialists in their specific areas. They're a great set of individuals, and they each bring their unique expertise to the project. They all care about their work, and they treat our business like it's their business. They're invested in our success, and they clearly want to participate.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There isn't anything I can think of that they should improve. We've worked with them for several months, and we're just entering our first major sprints. Things may arise as we get deeper into development, but, so far, they're straightforward, transparent, and accommodating. Their attitude and the quality of their work are both excellent.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to working with them collaboratively and you will get so much more value from the experience. They will work with you to make sure you get the best possible outcome.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Hermes is a parcel company in the UK. We delivered 355 million parcels in 2018, which is roughly a million per day. We’ve got an e-commerce business with both web and mobile platforms as well. I’m the head of portfolio. I’ve been delivering a big business transformation for the last three years, which covers digital, customer experience, and network optimization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

Our app was legacy and ran in real-time. There was a lot of negative feedback for it: it had only been designed for iOS, it was never maintained, and it didn’t support a large part of our customer segment. Along with the app, there were a lot of pain points around the website. Looking at some 200,000 customer surveys, and some of the broken customer journeys, really helped drive home some of the digital strategies. We decided it would be easier to start again.

Mubaloo was brought on board to help us create what we called a “digital future,” namely, a range of industry-leading services and products that would provide assurance around project delivery. We were building best-in-class products like returns and specializations, driven by a customer experience program and underpinned by digital.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In terms of the partnership, Mubaloo was brought in alongside another provider at the start of the RFP process, which was all around digital strategy. I needed suppliers to come in and help shape the strategy, roadmap, and vision. They were involved in a lot of the pre-discovery workshops and introduced a new way of capturing the jobs to be done, which, at the time, none of us were really familiar with, so it felt quite strange. They interviewed our senior stakeholders, including the CEO, and analyzed all the current pain points in our customer journey.

They helped create a mobile strategy for delivering really exciting experiences. Working alongside the website team (from a third-party), they developed our mobile apps for iOS and Android, introducing user-centered design and creating some really nice prototypes

Initially, we had some challenges around API development, and we closed down the delivery. Mubaloo recommended that we slow down the app development and give our API people a chance to build. Once we did that, they accelerated the iOS effort. We were planning to do Android development in-house, but we quickly realized that we didn’t have Mubaloo’s internal skillsets, in terms of product owners and UX/UI experts in Android. That piece of work went back out to Mubaloo, and they delivered it in April 2019. They worked closely with us, supporting our internal developer. Because they’ve supported us for so long, we’ve transitioned a lot of the development and product support to their internal teams.

The app is very much designed around the customer who may want to download it. It has multiple features. It started with a single website product, rather than multiple. People would download the app to track their parcels, and there would be a quick and easy feature for making returns. They could simply click a parcel and have everything pulled up. From there, the user could quickly print a label. We have quite a few different labels, including ones specific to returns and labels specific to specific clients. The e-commerce elements also allow users to send parcels. It’s very quick, and it’s targeted to customers using eBay and Amazon—hobbyists who want to send parcels quickly.

Although it was an MVP, Mubaloo managed to introduce some really nice features within the timeline and budget. We’ve introduced augmented reality for scanning parcel numbers, as well as features like a contact address book.

What is the team composition?

Companies like ours are very traditional, and we had to create teams and structure everything into squads. Some of those wanted to work in Kanban and others wanted to do scrum. We had no internal mobile app team when we started, except one Android developer who joined in 2018. Everything was done with Mubaloo. On their side, there was a project owner, a project manager, a UX/UI resource, and Sam (Strategic Account Manager, Mubaloo). There was also one senior and one junior developer. They brought them in based on the demand of where we were. We also had a 7-8-person third-party API team on their side, because we didn’t have the skills in-house.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

We had an existing relationship with one of the other providers brought in for this project, and I believe they brought Mubaloo in for the sales pitch and introduced them as a partner. Mubaloo did a lot of presentation work themselves, touching on things like our customers, and how the web version would work differently than the mobile one. I didn’t want a wrapped version of the website in an app, and they really understood that the experiences had to be different, that there would be different journeys. Mubaloo brought that strategy piece, and that really won over our CEO.

They quickly prototyped what they wanted the app to look like, but part of the sales pitch also allowed us to see the vision. They helped us articulate that very quickly. There were some wireframes and ideas around social as well, and how we could use the app to engage with customers at different points, including the ones who didn’t know our company. There was a lot of work specific to the app that they covered, and they won us over with a very strong sales pitch.

How much have you invested with them?

I believe the investment on the app itself was £250,000–£500,000 ($310,000–$620,000).

What is the status of this engagement?

I’ve been involved with them right from the start, since August 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The apps have been out there for a few months now, and we’ve gotten some really good feedback on them. We’re currently looking at improvements to the product, and we’ve decided to keep working with Mubaloo on this. Their ways of working and the fact that they’re a small, lean team that’s quick with deliveries have really helped us.

The app is frictionless and not clunky at all, and its icons and whole UX/UI are very engaging and intuitive when searching for help. Our CEO was involved in all the show and tell, and he was very close to the mobile app. He saw prototypes and was just blown away by how the design was so easy. The feedback I’ve had is that the functionality on the app is actually a lot better than what we’ve got on the website. Then again, the website was designed for very different users and screens.

They’ve been working with us for two and a half years now, and they’ve played a role in demoing any new concepts and prototypes we took to the board. Our competitors don’t provide the same products; some of them just do tracking. We’ve launched returns, which we saw as a business opportunity, and, as a strategic investment, it’s driven massive improvement in our proposition.

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve gone through a lot of project managers during the course of two years, but I found that project management was consistent in 2019. The person heading the effort has been fantastic. They’ve been diligent and focused, giving us plans immediately. They’ve used the tools we needed for engagement and communication.

They’ve been providing the delivery to some extent. I’m in charge of a whole portfolio, not just digital, and I didn’t have a project manager on my end. Mubaloo was working directly with me and my product owners and program managers. We were very small as a team, given the scale of what we were doing, and they constantly owned some of our work, and really supported me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If it has to be one thing, it’s that they have developed an app that’s been well-received and didn’t require us to rework any of the designs. I thought the launch was going to go wrong, but it was seamless. They managed the whole end-to-end launch with the stores and organized beta programs around launching the app.

We’ve launched Android and taken over its maintenance ourselves. Our capability is still growing, and we do have a problem every now and then. Mubaloo knows how to use the right tools, and how to do the work. We can see they’ve done it many times.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone is happy. I’ve worked on 1–2 apps before this one, and I’m struggling to think of what Mubaloo could do differently. If we were to do it again, I’d probably put something aside in the budget for them to help us with the analytics and engagement.

We’re happy to have launched the app, but we don’t have the skills to handle the adoption piece. We probably should’ve invested more time in that and set aside some resources for it. The app goes live and, before we know it, we’re not continuously improving it, and then feedback starts to decline. From a strategy perspective, it was fantastic in the start, but, throughout the program, they could touch base more on strategy and helping us understand what we should be doing after the app went live.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT business analyst manager for The Go Ahead Group PLC, an international transport provider in the bus and rail market. I currently work as part of the applications team, which is developing an internal app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

We wanted to improve how our bus drivers inspect their vehicles. Every morning, drivers fill out paper cards, but that’s bad for the environment and inefficient, so we wanted a partner who could help digitize the process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mubaloo provided the development capability to create the internal app we wanted.Our team identified the business needs and worked closely with Mubaloo to build the business case. We then entered the discovery phase, where they came up with a proposed solution for our situation. They worked closely with our business, such as interviewing both end users and staff. They also ensured that the app met all the requirements and policies set forth by our architecture, technical, and IT security teams.

Next, we moved into a series of sprints, which was mostly managed by Mubaloo. They used Azure for the platform and built both an Android app for our drivers and a web interface for administration and reporting. The tools integrate with our asset management system, and we’re currently piloting them at one of our bus operating companies with plans to expand.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 10–20 people, depending on the sprint. They had their own product owners, project manager, developers, and strategy team.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

We’d previously worked with Mubaloo on a different app for our rail business and had a good experience. They were flexible and had skilled developers who could solve industry-specific problems.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about £130,000 (approximately $158,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from February–July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve done some driver training with the app, and everyone says it’s incredibly easy to use.

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

They were involved in project management and had good communication. We always had opportunities to review work and share feedback in an open and constructive manner.  We had two-week sprints with daily stand-up meetings and review sessions at the beginning and end of every project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had broad technical knowledge and were able to bring in various technical resources from different areas in order to quickly solve our challenges. Unlike most agencies, they focused on the bigger picture and how the products they were helping build would fit into our overall business strategy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We could have prioritized work better.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Openly challenge them to get the best out of the partnership.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of digital products and innovation for an association of music schools. I’m part of the products and services team responsible for developing online and mobile apps that support our core offer, namely the learning of material for exams and beyond, into areas that inspire achievement in music.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

We were going through a major digital transformation and working with big partners on changes to our infrastructure. As part of that project, we were also building two customer-facing digital products for learning music. We engaged Mubaloo to build those. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mubaloo developed and designed a mobile and a web app for learners of music. The iOS and Android apps are meant for tracking music practice and rewarding good habits. The web app has to do with popular music. The biggest part of both apps is integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365. 

The web app has dependencies on payment gateways, working with Barclaycard and other providers. Mubaloo created a bespoke web CMS for it. There’s a lot of server-side encoding using FFmpeg and other components. The platform is hosted on Azure and the stack therein.

The mobile app was built for smartphones. Both versions are native.

They assisted us with the discovery phase. They thoroughly focused on what we were trying to achieve and performed an in-depth study of our needs. They validated those needs and identified the opportunities for feature development with large user groups, which was useful throughout development. We’re also using the same data and process to be clear on what the product does and for whom for our marketing.

They worked with us on the product strategy and the roadmap in the beginning, helping us reach an MVP. They continue to help us as we prepare to launch the product. In the case of the web product, one of Mubaloo’s partner agencies is in place to be the growth strategist, developing all the digital marketing and growth.

What is the team composition?

Mubaloo deployed two teams for Android and iOS development. The mobile and web products had product managers on Mubaloo’s side who served as my counterparts. We had a shared pool of designers, with 1–2 on mobile, and a different pair on the web side. There were a couple of developers on the Android and iOS sides with a lead doing most of the work on each of those. They had a different developer for the backend and infrastructure parts.

Mubaloo has good business relationship managers who’ve helped us bridge the gaps between design, marketing, strategy, and development. They’re the glue that holds it all together.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

As part of our digital strategy, we were looking for business and system integrators and mobile app developers. A number of agencies had the technical capabilities necessary, and Mubaloo demonstrated they had a good track record. We hired them because of their approach to the job, strategy, and growth. They were interested in the whole process and wanted to make sure we’d develop something that could grow. They wanted to have a good understanding of its lifecycle and strategy and wanted to be involved with that all the way through.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent £250,000–£500,000 (approximately $326,000–$652,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Not counting the discovery phase in autumn 2017, we started working with them at the end of 2017, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had an independent audit of the overall project, which is much bigger than the pieces we’re building. My colleagues and I agree that the collaboration with Mubaloo shone as a beacon of good practice, and it’s been a highlight of the process. 

In terms of measurements of success, we finished on time, and there were no surprises. We conducted a five-week benefit study of the mobile app and proved measurable increases in the satisfaction of the needs we identified due to the product we made with Mubaloo.

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been excellent. Our biggest strength is that we’ve worked as one team from the beginning. Project management has been transparent, and I feel close to the product managers on Mubaloo’s side. We’re all in the room together from sprint planning to refinement. Their phenomenal scrum masters do their jobs in an efficient but nonaggressive way.

Mubaloo excelled in the task management process. They also led Google framework-style workshops, doing rapid development. We identified needs, developed solutions, and got testable prototypes by the end of the week. They worked with us all the way through.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have a one team approach with no batons being passed. Mubaloo is one big team.

We also appreciate their ability to tap into their close relationships with external companies. They can always bring in expertise when they feel they have a gap.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing worth calling out. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important to trust them when they don’t take the client’s word and request testing. It’s valuable across the process, and we lean on it constantly. I advise clients to enter into it fully.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the group head of applications for a transports company that runs bus and rail services, mostly in the UK, but also internationally. We have operations in Germany, the Nordics, Singapore, and Ireland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

We were trying to provide improved train service information to our frontline staff. Our current solutions were not fit for purpose; we wanted to offer a better experience.

The goal of the app is to translate a number of data feeds into service-related information, in order to allow station staff to understand where a particular train service is, relative to own location. It’s for internal use only.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided end-to-end services, building our responsive application from the ground up, from design all the way through to development.

Through the design process, they helped us realize what our objectives were, and then identify exact use cases and a strategy, to a degree. They’ve also supported me personally in understanding what our roadmap for the platform would be after we had it built, but they didn’t provide any formal marketing services. They did share collateral with me, though, which I used internally.

What is the team composition?

They assigned around six people to the project. We had two points of contact: the project manager and the account manager, who was my key liaison at the point of estimation. The project manager worked with me on a day-to-day basis, making sure everything was being delivered as it should be.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

Another partner of ours referred them. We had a catch-up with our CIO and concluded that Mubaloo was a good fit to support us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration’s been on-and-off. The design work was done in fall 2017, then the development ran from February–August 2018. We’re currently ensuring that the production environment is ready for use.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The solution needed to meet a number of use cases, which were then tested with users at various points. The project’s success is based on the feedback it’s received and on Mubaloo’s ability to meet use cases.

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

We worked in an agile way, so we had various daily meetings and other key communications. They performed well throughout.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were more focused on UX than other companies that we’ve engaged in the past. Other companies might achieve a specific process or meet functional needs, but then didn’t really focus on what the user experience would be. That’s something Mubaloo did: they made sure that the UX design was good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This was one of our first engagements using an agile approach, so we had a learning curve as well, to a degree. We had to get used to the process more than anything else.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital experience and creative director for a large commercial, private, and personal bank. I head up the prototyping program and design team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

We wanted to validate some internal thinking about a specific segment in commercial mortgages. We needed a partner to make a working prototype of the solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mubaloo built an HTML website for customers who want more information about the commercial mortgages we offer. They took components of our app and iterated them onto the website, working with a few different third-party partners to finish the task. Along with dev, they also ran UX testing. We assigned test users specific tasks and followed how easy they were to accomplish.

What is the team composition?

They provide a diverse team, which includes an account director, developers, business analysts, and strategists.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

I met with several companies and explained our timeline and project requirements. Mubaloo seemed to best understand our strategy, purpose, and framework, so I hired them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together since March 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Some customers have said that this is the most innovative commercial mortgage tool they’ve ever used. The code is high quality, and Mubaloo made a product that was commercially viable.

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m a demanding client, but they provide a great team, and we work well together. The bulk of our work was finished in a tight deadline, but they did a good job. They use Jira to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They collaborate well and listen to our wants and needs in order to produce something that meets our expectations. They adapted to our workflow, even though it can be difficult to work with a commercial bank. The entire team is friendly and approachable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m satisfied with their work and would definitely start another project with them again.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clearly explain what you want but also consider their practices and suggestions. Find an effective middle ground that satisfies both teams.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Yolion. We’re fintech startup that uses open banking to help UK families get the most out of their money. We advise customers to save money by switching service providers or by finding better deals within the services they’re using.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mubaloo?

As a startup, time and money are our biggest constraints. While we developed our app, Mubaloo joined the project to design and build the frontend part of the value proposition. The biggest challenge was that they had to quickly design the frontend while the backend was still being constructed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mubaloo built our native applications for both iOS and Android. The iOS version was developed using Swift. They also handled the frontend design and development while we created the APIs using RESTful JSON with Node.js on top of it. We also made a series of prototypes using Proto.io and InDesign that we continued to iterate over five rounds of testing. Mubaloo was highly involved in producing those prototypes and implementing test phases with our product owner.

We started working with them during the project’s early stages and even before wireframing. We collaborated with them to conduct research, identify problems, establish a list of tasks, design mock-ups, and refine the platform’s value propositions. After testing the prototypes, we moved onto developing the UI/UX. The initial concepts differed significantly from the final product, and this speaks to their flexibility. As a result, the application changed quite a bit before the wireframes were finalized.

After cultivating a practical design, Mubaloo worked on the product’s front- and backend architecture. Their developers quickly integrated themselves with our internal team. The project was moving at full-speed within three days. Their architecture team made valuable suggestions of aspects our backend developers needed to implement. A lot of architecture work went into designing the required APIs and making sure that each backend and frontend were working harmoniously.

What is the team composition?

They provided a full-fledged frontend team. The only thing we contributed was a strong product owner. Their allocated resources include an architect, a scrum master, and a project manager. There’s also a couple of developers, UI/UX designers, and QA testers.

How did you come to work with Mubaloo?

I’d heard about them in the past and had seen their work. After meeting Mubaloo and walking through their approach, we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent £350,000 (approximately $460,000) with them for phase one, and we’re hoping to continue the collaboration.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Mubaloo in January 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform hasn’t launched yet, and we haven’t conducted end-to-end testing at this time. However, the QA results have been reliable thus far. I’ve looked at the code and can confidently say that both developers from Mubaloo are valuable resources. They don’t take shortcuts when it comes to providing stable systems, and I like that approach. Our product will likely become redundant before the technology does. That’s quite a testament to the quality of Mubaloo’s services.

From a product design point of view, we’ve had multiple people say that they’ve delivered incredible work. Each person participating in feedback asked, without being prompted, when the product would be going live. After achieving a 100% acceptance rate, we closed testing and moved forward.

It’s in their best interest to prolong development and to charge us a lot of money. Instead, they’re more concerned with building the best product possible. We’re going to put a lot of money towards this project and they’ve made sure that we’re not making something that no one’s going to use. They’ve safeguarded our investment well. As a result, I feel comfortable with what we’re bringing to market.

How did Mubaloo perform from a project management standpoint?

Mubaloo doesn’t tend to work with startups, but they’ve accommodated to us immensely. We started the project and immediately realized that we needed more management resources. We requested adjusting the time allocation of several key people and they shifted things around for us. I found that to be refreshing.

Mubaloo delivers a lot of value to us and that’s largely due to their incredible project manager. She’s there when we need her, she communicates efficiently, and she works well with our head of products. We’ve invited their project management team and scrum master to get involved in our backend estimations as well. That exemplifies how well our teams work together.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been building digital products for nearly 10 years, and I was impressed with how swiftly their team understood the project’s goal. Their biggest strength is being unafraid to challenge us and not rushing to deliver an incomplete project. It’s easy to go out to market and find a development agency that wants to rush the client into a build because it’s in their best interest to do so. Mubaloo consistently ensures that their best interest aligns with our own. I appreciate their ability to design products, but they’ve given us much more than just development work. They’ve confronted us, pointed out issues, and raised flags that ultimately benefit us as a startup.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Adopting some new QA technologies would be an improvement. However, I’m not saying that they’ve underperformed on this front. Their team is receptive and can take charge when necessary.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s good to have an idea of what needs to be built before engaging with a third-party service provider. Let Mubaloo challenge ideas and pitch better solutions. They’re great developers and strategists.