TheAppLabb

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President, Front Office Development of Empire Life Insurance

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Empire Life sells investment and insurance products to both individuals and to groups (companies).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire TheAppLabb to accomplish?

• Create a mobile application for our Group Insurance Plan Members to submit insurance claims.
• Have the application be bilingual English and French
• Utilize a code base that can deploy to both Android and iOS devices (React native)
• Assist us in designing an app that conforms to current best practices for both UI/UX as well as accessibility.

SOLUTION

How did you find TheAppLabb?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select TheAppLabb over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fits our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from TheAppLabb were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Due to our lack of in-house expertise in mobile app development, we looked to hire a company that had experience and expertise to help guide us in creating a mobile application for our Group Insurance Plan Members to use to perform personal information updates (address changes, banking changes), as well as enter and submit health benefit claims (dental, health provider, health care spending allowance, etc.)s their group health benefit plan permits. 

The first deliverable was a design analysis and review of the tentative application screens as designed by our in-house team to ensure the application fit modern mobile application design standards as well as meeting accessibility legal requirements. Once the designs and functionality was signed off and recommended changes incorporated, the next deliverable was the actual iOS and Android version of the plan member application that could run on both iOS and Android devices. 

The deliverable included both working binaries for the application as well as all the relevant source code. TheAppLabb also guided us through the process of registering and certifying the apps for both the Apple Store and Google Play store. Finally, a maintenance contract was setup for TheAppLabb to continue to support the application in the near- to medium-term. 

The application had well over 50 screens which were linked by conditional logic into tens of different branching screen flows for group benefit claim entry and submission. The app needed to support both integration to a separate web-based login/registration application (OAuth2) as well as a back-end API that would be called remotely to dynamically power a lot of the mobile app functionality.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Application development was done in three distinct phases. The design and discovery phase was one month long and at the end there was a set of design mockups as well as user stories created to guide the subsequent development phase. The development phase used an agile approach where work was broken out into 2 week sprint cycles over the next 3 months. 

We had a shared Jira board where TheAppLabb would collaborate on which user stories would be prioritized for each sprint, and at the end of each sprint there was a clear set of features delivered that were then turned over for our quality assurance and user acceptance testing. A regular summary report of completed features and progress was provided at the end of each sprint documenting work completed and what was ready for the UAT and sign-off. 

We always had a very clear view into the progress the mobile app development team was making, and there were regular touchpoints every week for key stakeholders from both Empire and TheAppLabb to ensure continuous alignment throughout the development phase. During UAT, there was even more interaction both on virtual meetings and on messaging apps as the teams collaborated very closely to deal with issues that cropped up during the final UAT cycles. 

It should be noted that many of these only emerged once we wired together the mobile app, the middle tier API written by us at Empire, and a back-end claims processing system that was also written in-house by a separate back office team. 

The main success of this project will be measured once it goes live in production this month or next, both in terms of how it helps our group insurance sales team capture new business, and also in the feedback we get from plan members on how easy it is to enter claims from their mobile device.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management at TheAppLabb was excellent. The were accessible and gave timely response to questions, as well as being very proactive at reaching out with any questions from their end. The were very clear in their reporting so we always had accurate visibility into the progress of the project at every step, and they were very helpful and willing to work with us whenever discussing any potential scope creep or unanticipated work. 

They've been especially collaborative in this final UAT phase of the project, as we've had a lot of last minute discoveries from our end, and they seem truly vested in helping us achieve our objectives with this project. They went the extra mile to meet our requirements.

What was your primary form of communication with TheAppLabb?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They take real ownership of the project and genuinely want it to succeed. Their entire project team works very well together, and they have a very good understanding of the design and development of a mobile application.

They were able to quickly come up with creative solutions and fast fixes to all of our requests, so I never felt like the project was bottlenecked waiting for a response or solution from them. They work quickly and efficiently, and despite the core development team being located in India, we never experienced any significant delays in deliverables or our ability to get quick feedback. 

In some ways it was advantageous to be able to send a bug or fix request at the end of the day and already have it dealt with by the time we started work the following day.

Are there any areas for improvement or something TheAppLabb could have done differently?

Be clear and upfront about the fact the core development team is based overseas. It did not have a negative impact on our project, but it was a bit of a surprise to us after signing the contract and starting work. 

We did have some concern that the timezone would present some problems, but this turned out to be unfounded as the remote team worked hours that lined up very well with our core hours, and coupling that with a management team local to us, there was no real issue.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Cofounder of WishWell

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

WishWell leverages technology to facilitate and capture compassion

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire TheAppLabb to accomplish?

• Wireframe and Design WishWell
• Program and Test WishWell
• Onboard WishWell to Apple Store

SOLUTION

How did you find TheAppLabb?

Referral

Why did you select TheAppLabb over others?

Understood our goals and product the best

What was the size of TheAppLabb’s team?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Exceptional team executed UI and UX including personas, Information architecture, User Stories, Research, and a full back end Web portal for admin. Key Deliverables were met and the team meticulously designed our app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Completion of each phase, UX andUI design. Measured with 4-5 hours of weekly meetings.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The Project was managed perfectly. Our meeting allowed us to go through an agenda and to workshop concepts so that we could create our unique app that has not ever been seen. Coming up with a completely new product that has never been seen is challenging and AppLabb team was able to dig deep into the design and architecture. The team was very responsive through email or Slack, while we went back and forth in reviewing the designs on Figma.

What was your primary form of communication with TheAppLabb?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their passion and expertise.To work with a team that passionately wanted us to succeed was the most important part of our team. They've truly wanted WishWell to impact humanity and went above and beyond what a development team needs to do. They worked very well together and it was easy to see that they respected each other and admired their teams contribution. Our communication was frank and fluid allowing for differences of opinions to be discussed until we all agreed. They are the real deal.

Are there any areas for improvement or something TheAppLabb could have done differently?

The AppLabb would have kept us more on top of out-of-scope. Further we started in December when many team mates started holidays, in hindsight starting in January would have been a better timing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Product of Nuclear Promise X

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Consulting, engineering, and software development for the nuclear energy industry

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire TheAppLabb to accomplish?

• Turn an idea into a viable prototype/design
• Develop the design into an MVP

SOLUTION

How did you find TheAppLabb?

Referral

Why did you select TheAppLabb over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

What was the size of TheAppLabb’s team?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Build a comprehensive but easy to use web platform for companies looking to apply for regulatory licenses. The solution would be offered to companies on a SAAS based model where they would be able to manage licensing requirements, compile their data and be able to send this information to the regulatory body.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• For the design phase, a Successful prototype that could be validated for product market fit with our customers

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

TheAppLabs are very good at managing expectations, timelines, and delivery of the work. Although we are past the original timeline we had planned, this is due to additional refinement and scope requested from our end in order to make the discovery/design phase more successful. TheAppLabs is very accommodating and quick to respond to changing needs while ensuring we stay focused on the primary objectives of the project.

What was your primary form of communication with TheAppLabb?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I really enjoyed how the Discovery team has really made an effort to understand the problem we are trying to solve deeply, place themselves in our customers and users' personas, in order to design a product that will actually solve the problem. The level of thinking and effort is clear, and the results speak for themselves.

Are there any areas for improvement or something TheAppLabb could have done differently?

None so far.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CXO at a digital agency in Montreal.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TheAppLabb, and what were your goals?

Our client requested a partner to help develop a mobile app to act as an extension of their Shopify store. As our firm does no mobile app development, we leveraged the services of TheAppLabb.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We evaluated a number of firms in consideration for this project, but found that their flexibility and comprehension of our phased approach to scope were the deciding factors. Plus, Kundan has great suits.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Prior to engagement, we had an extensive discovery phase to make sure all details of the scope of the project were captured. Once agreed upon, the firm provided an estimate of effort and timeline. The process followed a typical software development lifecycle, where we reviewed iterations of functionality until complete. The QA cycle allowed us to actively test the integration with existing systems, and then TheAppLabb handled submissions to app stores.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The team consisted of a Product Owner, Project Manager, Business Analyst, and a number of Software Developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

When we look for a partner to enhance our offering, it has to be someone who ultimately makes us look good. We had a great relationship with TheAppLabb and would engage them again.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Weekly updates were communicated via email, and additionally a weekly status call allowed us to discuss dependencies and risks.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their efficiency is the most impressive attribute of the team. Their out of the box thinking comes in close second.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing to add here.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of an online mortgage marketplace business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TheAppLabb, and what were your goals?

We hired the AppLabb to develop a mobile app and a web app for our business. We are a start-up and they designed and developed our app. We wanted a user friendly customer interface that allows a user to obtain financing quickly and easily online.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We searched for developers in Toronto and ended up with a shortlist of 3. We chose the AppLabb due to their expertise, competitive pricing and deep talent bench.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The scope of the work was essentially to develop a web app, an iOS app and a back office workbench for agents and underwriters. We started with a discovery meeting to evaluate our goals and objectives and begin to set the project plan. The we conducted UX analysis and strategy. This lead to a product roadmap including user stories and documentation. Our first sprint was a design sprint and system architecture was evaluated concurrently. This then lead to refinements and a scheduled sprint process for development.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

There were project managers, UX designers, developers and others on the team. I do not know how many.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We have launched our online business and the web app and iOS app are functioning well.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

I am the wrong person to answer this question.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their team is always open, honest, and accessible. They are able to solve problems and help us find solutions to technical challenges.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO and CIO for Caary Capital. We do credit cards for small businesses. I started this company about a year back, and I partially own it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TheAppLabb?

We’re utilizing TheAppLabb's capabilities for a UX/UI design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I've worked with TheAppLabb a few times before. This time, it has been a more extensive engagement because it's a brand new company. We initially bought a few hours with TheAppLabb for an exploratory phase. When we were both comfortable with the deliverables, they engaged 5–7 people on the project.

We worked with those people on brainstorming and UX/UI design for three months straight. After three months, we designed another application, login pages, and a mobile application for Android and iOS.

Now, we’re working on the product, which is a money movement service. It's for B2B payments, and they’re designing the UX/UI for it.

What is the team composition?

We have 5–7 people on the team. There are two UX designers, two UI designers, and a technical architect.

There’s also a project manager, and the other two guys are also consultants on the technology.

How did you come to work with TheAppLabb?

I've known the owner for 15 years; he's very personable. I could’ve given this contract to anyone, but I settled on TheAppLabb because they were very flexible in their thinking and competitive from a cost point of view.

Additionally, I had experience as an executive at big banks, so I used to deal with many consultants. They were very stringent in the way they were. I hated that they usually tried to convince us if they didn’t get their way, so they ended up doing what they wanted anyway. Also, most of their decisions were based on how much more money they could make off of us.

Whereas with TheAppLabb, it was like talking to a colleague. They didn't want to make gauges to extort money or extend the contract. They had a solid, deliverable methodology. We’ve worked together, and they're very congenial.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our partnership in July 2020, and it's still ongoing. The main deliverables are done, but we’re in the touches.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're launching the platform in phases. The first launch is just for friends and family. We’ll have better feedback when we launch in public in three months, but now it’s only with five companies.

How did TheAppLabb perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything has gone well, and all the designs have been done in time. Even with the changes, they’ve been great at management.

In the beginning,  we used to come up with a new idea and let them know so they’d change it on the fly. In that sense, the turnaround time, team management, and overall design have been great.

In terms of communication, we had five to six-hour sessions every day when we were designing the logo. The initial plan was to sit down in the office and do a whiteboard session, but we had to scale it back due to COVID-19. Therefore, we couldn't work in person, but online meetings worked out well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very flexible in their approach. In most of the companies I used to work with, once you signed an NDA, they tracked the scope to the beat. Any small deviation, they’d jump all over it and start charging money. Whereas with TheAppLabb, it’s an easy conversation. Even if we’re changing a design after it's done, they don’t start yelling and screaming.

Secondly, they’re great at finding the right resources for the team. Every time we’ve gone to them, they’ve been able to quickly provide us the right resources with the proper context, which helps us deliver on time. Additionally, they’re pretty cost-competitive as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't see anything to improve; they're doing a good job.

Any advice for potential customers?

Engage them all in your thinking process. Don’t think in isolation, and go back with a design or development code. Also, the earlier the engagement, the better the outcome will be because the more they understand, the more they can provide you with better feedback and pricing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner of Dial a Bottle a beer and liquor delivery franchise throighout Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TheAppLabb?

We use TheAppLabb for ongoing SEO as well as our App build and also ongoing web developement.

What were your goals for this project?

More market share.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Referral from an I.T. friend.

Describe the project in detail.

Building of our App start to finish including App change requests from on of our marketing partners. Current website updates and seo for maximum ranking of various keywords.

What was the team composition?

They have an excellent team strategy and manage time well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

App is currently over 23,000 orders in one year. Website is ranking better every month and soon we will have online ordering on the website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Effective workflow. In house meetings and phone/computer strategy meetings

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Ability to pay weekly on a minimal budget.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything could be done faster but at the current budget level I am ok with the current results. Always wanting more.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a national airport parking provider.          

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The AppLabb?

We were developing a consumer-facing native mobile app for our business. The app ran on iOS and Android.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our team provided the objectives, user experience, and functionalities we wanted for the mobile app. We also provided them with information on our user base, as in what type of traveler was using the service. However, they developed the wireframes and a prototype of the app. They also determined the scope of the project by mapping out each functionality.

It was developed concurrently in each of the native environments (iOS and Android). The app allowed users to make a parking spot reservation. Consumers could park and pick up their vehicle from the app using a geofencing system. They did not have to come into the office or contact us.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Kundan (CEO, The AppLabb) and his team.

How did you come to work with The AppLabb?

We went through an RFP process, shortlisting a number of developers. We thought they were nimble and provided the best value in terms of output and cost. Our company needed a more boutique-style developer, which is what they were offering. After the interview process, we felt they were the right fit for us.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in October 2016 and ended in early 2019. We’ve paused the development process to get more data, and we’ll reinvest in the app later.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered on what our expectations were. The app functions according to what was intended. The app has received positive feedback.

How did The AppLabb perform from a project management standpoint?

They were good at meeting deadlines and used Jira to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

From a leadership perspective, I found that they were easily accessible. Kundan (CEO, TheAppLabb) still made time to be part of the project, which was refreshing. I’m sure he has many different projects, so I was appreciative of that. That’s the core strength of their organization.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Companies should have a clear scope and understanding going into the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I founded eQuo in 2018 as a platform built for entrepreneurs, investors and lenders to connect with one another, based on qualified data and mutually aligned interests and criteria. eQuo creates a unique global marketplace connecting entrepreneurs, talent and investors to the resources they need, when they need them. eQuo is the first distributed marketplace that allows resources to be aligned so entrepreneurs and stakeholders can connect efficiently and productively to the financial capital, human capital, knowledge, customers, technology or other resources they need within the ecosystem. How? Investors and lenders receive pre-qualified leads that decrease the fire hose of applicants who don’t meet the general qualification factors required for consideration.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TheAppLabb?

To build the software platform, assist with the development of the algorithms and AI and to help build the tech stack and related functions.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a platform capable of generating our Alpha of 10,000 users and able to scale beyond hundreds of thousands of users. To also have a working platform that was able to have unique IP in our core matching criteria through data tagging and AI.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

There was a tender where we evaluated five companies, including theAppLabb. After initial presentations and several meetings, their team had the deepest understanding of the project, our purpose and how to complete the project.

Kundan was also very well connected to the target market we were addressing and was extremely helpful in working toward setting up meetings and opening doors for partnerships. The team was incredibly passionate about what we were doing and was the clear winner.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Everything from project management, design, UI/UX and front and back end tech services. Additionally, they were very good collaborating in the development of the project, prioritizing and helping lead the articulation of the features and documentation.

What was the team composition?

A variety of people including project management, strategy, design, and technical services. All together there were up to ten people working on the development at any given time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have been a tremendous partner who have worked through difficulties collaboratively as well as assisting the team through coaching and mentorship. All in all, they were responsible for many key partner meetings with sponsors, investors and community builders.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very good with documentation and an effective use of key software such as invision and slack for questions and feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their passion for our business and how they over-reached in working side by side with us to realize our vision. They were part of our team, not a vendor. They truly cared about what we were doing and were very reliable as a key partner.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are always areas for improvement, in their team and ours. We always talked through it and found a plan that worked for everyone.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of Oeno. We are a tech operation that provides wine and beer country tour services combined with payment processing capabilities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TheAppLabb?

We started this app about four and a half years ago and were met with more success than we were qualified to handle. We took the app offline and we needed some pros to come in and give it a facelift.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TheAppLabb redeveloped a mobile app for us. Their team also consulted on our ideas and formats, including on our UX design and coding. Our team provided the majority of the mockups and wireframes. We originally had only an iOS app but plan on releasing a cross-platform app. Eventually, we plan on migrating the platform to a web app. 

The app contains profiles on the different wineries in the area where users could go and learn about each winery. Users can see which wineries are closest to them using geolocation and how far away they are to decide where to go. The app also allows users to make purchases at festivals and wineries. 

What is the team composition?

I had one main point of contact at TheAppLabb.

How did you come to work with TheAppLabb?

A partner of mine was familiar with TheAppLabb and brought them to the table.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested between $25,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement began in August 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While the app is still in development, I’m happy with the work TheAppLabb has done so far. We often dump very aggressive timelines on these guys and they work their fingers to the bone to make sure they don’t let us down. And to this day, they haven’t. 

How did TheAppLabb perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything has been pretty good. We primarily communicate through email. I’m lucky that I live an hour away from their office, so if there’s a fire burning or a new initiative, I get up there to meet them face to face. We get in front of our blackboard and we map out everything. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

TheAppLabb goes the extra mile to make sure we get what we need when we need it. Their work ethic impressed us. They also have impressive after-sales service. When we have an important life event, these guys are always available and make sure we have support. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

In this sector, you need to understand your capabilities and your direction. Understanding how these companies work, their rates and structure before you go in for initial meetings is helpful.