Virtual Lab

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Creative Director at 23 Bulbs. 23 Bulbs is an Immersive Media Studio in the Entertainment space. The studio team is fully remote (in my case, I’m from Melbourne Australia), but the HQs and most of the clients are from the USA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were at the time a very recent Start-Up. There were few core people involved working on the concept of our first product, a VR content production for a big Media Client in the USA. We needed extra Dev hands to move from Concept to Prototype. That's where Virtual Lab came in.

SOLUTION

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

We knew someone at their side at the time, it was an easy fit. They had the expert skills we needed at the time and were known for the flexibility of approach. Ideal for what was a fluid piece of work.

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

Discovery Phase: They understand the process, we too, so a few conversations, mock-ups, storyboards and we were set to go. Development Phase While running under Agile, we didn't really need the usual touch-points that method generates. We trusted them, they us, so we largely left them to it (albeit with bimonthly meets on progress etc). Testing & Debugging We actually took the lead here because we had to know everything under the solutions hood for us to scale the build internally. Nice flow to the Tests and any bugs found and quashed.

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

5 all up. Product Manager 2 Animations Artists 2 Unity Developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered what we thought we wanted all with clean, robust, auto-tested code. Important for us because we had then to build upon the foundations they set. Worked well and no real ‘’whats this’’ ‘’whats that’’. Code was aligned to robust standards.

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

Very good indeed. We could leave them to it, allowing us to work on other items in support of the product.

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

They know the tech landscape well, particularly on what works and what doesn't and why. They execute very well.

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

No, all good. If anything, challenges were at our side!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I founded a music-focused social networking app that gives users a better way to send, receive and share music.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Finding competent Dev partners can be difficult. After a number of false starts, Virtual Lab was recommended to me by someone I know. As with all start-ups, money needs to be tightly controlled so I needed a safe Dev partner. They provided a solid price point, good communication and with no price creep.

SOLUTION

How did you select Virtual Lab and what were the deciding factors?

They were recommended as being solid and having a price-point that would work for us. Once I met them and discussed their services, I decided to proceed.

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

Discovery Phase: We created some assets of our roadmap and they analyzed what would be involved from both front and backend perspectives. Development Phase Light touch really, trusted them to do the work including weekly stand-ups. Challenges were identified quickly and solutions found.

They kept me up-to-date well and were always available for me. Testing & Debugging Produced a solid piece of code for us. Normal QA, nothing dramatic.

How many resources from the Virtual Lab team worked with you, and what were their positions?

5 team members: Product Manager UX 2 Front End 1 Back End

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work led to us moving forward with v2 of the app.

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

Good workflow

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

Cost was reasonable. There was no deviation in setting the workflow.

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

None that I can't think of at the moment

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

New England Biolabs, Inc. is the industry leader in the discovery and production of enzymes for molecular biology applications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

New England Biolabs was looking to bring a unique, more interactive experience to its popular Catalog and Technical Reference. We reached out to Virtual Lab to explore the use of Augmented Reality.

We launched the first version of the Augmented Reality app to coincide with the catalog that was released two years ago, and worked with Virtual Lab most recently to generate a second version of the app that included more functionality and additional interactive elements.

SOLUTION

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

We investigated a few companies that have experience in Augmented Reality, as well as some available apps. After speaking with the Virtual Lab team, we felt they had a good understanding of our needs and offered a solution that was a good fit for us, both technically and financially.

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

During discovery, we were able to share our vision, which Virtual Lab translated into a storyboard. During development, weekly meetings were held to discuss progress and address any outstanding questions or issues that may have come up.

Once the prototype was developed, the app had to be tested with a mock up of the catalog, to be sure that things like paper source, print quality, and curvature of the book didn't affect performance. We also wanted to be sure that the scanning element could be as small as possible, but still trigger the appropriate data.

Finally the app had to be tested across different devices of varying age. In all cases Virtual Lab was very responsive to our needs and willing to help troubleshoot, even after the app was launched.

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

We worked with 5 members of the VL team, including a product manager, UX designer, 2 front end developers and 1 back end developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While uptake of the app has been gradual, we have received positive feedback from those who have used it alongside the catalog.

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

Virtual Lab was able to manage this project and meet a very aggressive timeline through regular meetings and frequent email communication. They were very responsive to our requests and always responded in a timely manner.

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

They were very responsive to our needs and were always receptive to our feedback.

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

Occasionally, we faced challenges with communicating via email. In these situations Virtual Lab was always willing to set up a phone call to discuss matters live.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of Sparrow, where founders learn how to scale their companies from successful founders. Till date, we've helped several founders get actionable advice on fundraising, b2b sales, product, etc. with the objective of increasing their revenue.

Feel free to learn more at - https://www.sparrowtheapp.com/
 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with the vendor?

Sparrow hired Virtual Lab to develop our website and management platform

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We needed to build:

• a client registration system
• an advisor registration system
• a client-advisor matching algorithm

Additionally, we needed to integrate all appropriate processes with communications tools such as email, SMS, etc.

What is the team composition? 

Their team was composed of 4 members: Product Manager, UX designer, Front-End developer and back-end developer.

How did you come to work with the vendor?

I met Gaston, Virtual Lab’s founder, through LinkedIn and since then he became one of the first advisors in Sparrow (http://www.sparrowtheapp.com/advisors).

When I asked Gaston about the possibility of working with Virtual Lab on our project, he came to me with an outstanding proposal that was well-structured, organized and had an attracting price point! I couldn't ask for more.

As aligned with best practices, I did reach out to other similar companies and analyzed my options. In the end, Virtual Lab stood out as our best option because of their exceptional client relationship management. Gaston's professional experience stood out to me and I could tell he genuinely cared about what we wanted to build at Sparrow!

How much have you invested with them?

$35,000USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

Completed (and happy).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to the engagement with their team, our platform can match advisors more accurately with the founders that come to the platform for help with their startups and businesses. Since Sparrow is a 2-sided marketplace, this development helped ensure the matches are smoother.

How did the vendor perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was agile. The key deliverables that were being built was clearly defined which meant that our team knew exactly what we were getting or not getting. Additionally, they were timely on their deliverables which meant less worries for me and my team about missing out on our internal roadmap.

Communication was smooth. We talked over email and video calls. Gaston was available for conversations with a few hours' notice. Emails with his team were cleanly written, without unnecessary verbiage or excess words. "Purposeful conversations" is how I would define the experience with Virtual Lab.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their development skills are outstanding, at a great price point. Their communication and project management skills are outstanding, which meant that our Sparrow team had less overhead / issues working with Virtual Lab.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not at all.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director and founder of Story Coin, a cancer nonprofit. We bring art to the lives of people going through healthcare-related tragedies and challenging situations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Virtual Lab?

We needed help with app development. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Virtual Labs developed our app from scratch. The app uses technology to create a meaningful connection between healthcare and the arts. 

We aimed to make people feel good about our products and about donating to our organization. We also wanted people to see things from a different perspective and feel empowered to overcome their challenges. 

I provided Virtual Labs with a one-page guide about color schemes and sketches. They were able to interpret that rough road map into something palpable and actionable. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with five people, but we collaborated closely with Paul (Co-Founder & Chief of Vision) and Gaston (Co-Founder & CPO).

How did you come to work with Virtual Lab?

We looked for web development agencies through Google, and Virtual Lab stood out as very approachable. 

They had such a high level of intellect, and they could explain complex series of systems in a way that we could understand. The process was enjoyable since they were able to talk about technical details conversationally. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from February 2019–June 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Virtual Lab’s app had been very engaging. When people used the app to view artwork, it was like watching kids see magic. The platform was consistent, and it worked every time. 

They had a keen eye for UI and how people use technology. They were also very creative — they were able to weave their expertise in UI with a unique interpretation related to our organization.

How did Virtual Lab perform from a project management standpoint?

We had become so friendly with Virtual Lab that calls with them became a part of our everyday conversations. It was easy for us to approach them with any questions about the project — they became my family.

Each member of their team was excellent and had a different skill set. They were highly qualified and good people. I’ve worked with them for almost two years now — they were able to overcome any challenge we’ve thrown at them. They had adapted to our needs really well, and they had been a consistent, reliable, and professional partner. 

Additionally, the way Virtual Lab laid the project out, explained it, and made it feel very approachable was impressive. They made technology feel approachable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Virtual Lab had been impressive across the board. They displayed professionalism and attention to detail throughout the process. It was easy to communicate with their team, and they could decipher complex situations. Their team was well-rounded and had a gamut of talents that they could use. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. They had been fantastic through and through. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend Virtual Labs without hesitation. They’re one of the best choices you can make both from a technology and business standpoint. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of Knowledge Anywhere. We create and deploy easy-to-use, performance-based e-learning tools to make the transfer of knowledge more flexible, effective, and engaging across organizations large and small

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Virtual Lab for 3 different projects, each for a different client of ours. The 3 projects were around Virtual Reality:

• Medical Device: Virtual Reality Mobile App. It allowed women to experience a mammography exam before actually attending the hospital. It was developed in order to lower their anxiety.
• Manufacturing: Virtual Reality Mobile Tour. A VR tour of the client's training center allowing the clients to perform a tour before actually attending to the facilities.
• Healthcare: Virtual Reality Mobile App. this VR app allowed new salespeople to be trained on how to approach a client. The vertical chosen was Vet Care, one of Client’s main businesses.

SOLUTION

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

We did our usual due diligence when researching any out-sourcing partner we might want to engage with. Virtual Lab had the correct balance of expertise, approachability, responsiveness, and, importantly, price point.

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

In the 3 projects, the same approach or framework was employed. We began with a discovery phase, were we analyzed all the assets that were needed. Then we proceeded to content generation. This was mainly 360 photo shooting and 360 renders generation.

Once the assets were created then Virtual Lab took approx 3 weeks to put all together using Unity as their technology. Then they provided a Beta App which we tested. After the final tweaks, the apps were published in the app stores.

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

4 team members: 1 Product Manager 1 UX designer 1 3D artist 1 Sr. Unity developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients were completely happy with the outcome. This VR technology a new to them, so it opened a number of doors in their strategic thinking going forward.

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

Over-communication and delivery on time and on budget.

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

Their VR development skills were just outstanding and at a price point that matched the marketplace. Our clients aren’t familiar with this tech, so for them to take a leap, the price was important.

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

Nothing comes to mind, they handle the usual Project frictions well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Hokali is an extreme sports lessons marketplace. We began our platform through surf as the first sport. We connect surfers and coaches, letting them learn to surf and earn money by doing what they love. I'm Co-Founder & CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We used to have Peek as our booking engine and we needed to migrate to our own platform. Matching students and coaches was being done by hand, we needed a marketplace platform to be able to escalate.

SOLUTION

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

We received good references by checkers.com, another company that worked with them. We had a bunch of meetings and they seemed to be professional and their pricing ok.

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

We began with a thorough discovery phase, were Virtual Lab excelled at analyzing all our requirements and needs. We then proceeded through sprints where VLab delivered new features each sprint, in order to maximize value. We then analyzed, tested and gave feedback for further iteration. Each Sprint was composed of analysis/development/delivery. It was an amazing experience to work this way, rather than in waterfall methodology.

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

5 team members:

• 1 Product Manager
• 1 UX
• 2 Front End
• 1 Back End

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

www.hokali.co -> anything you see on our site was developed by them. The outcome is a robust and stable platform that gives us total traceability of our operation and metrics.

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

Amazing. Excellent communication and supera easy to work with. Their management style was 100% digital and agile, a modern way of working.

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

Organization. Since day one, they already knew how to tackle the problem. A detailed backlog and roadmap was created and we could see the progress anytime and communicate with them knowing the real state of the project in real time.

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

Nope, not at all.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the General Manager of Bell Olmsted Park in Boston. We're a Co-Living building that features top category apartments, coworking space and incredible facilities to make the perfect mix of living and working.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Virtual Lab to help us develop a 360 VR Tour of our venue. Our goals were to share this VR tour with our potential clients in order to speed up sales.

SOLUTION

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

We googled VR companies and spoke with like a dozen, then came to a shortlist of 5 based on responsiveness and adaptability. Then we decided based on the proposals they sent and Virtual Lab was the one that mostly adapted to ur budget and their professionalism was just outstanding.

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

They helped us to go smoothly throughout the project. Firstly we scoped the building spaces that needed to be included. Then Virtual Lab sent a 360 photographer to make the necessary shots. The spheric images were stitched and re-touched by Vlab team and through Unity they created a wonderful web based VR tour.

The tour development took 4 weeks approximately, it was fast and the process super easy.

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

3 people:

• 1 Product Manager
• 1 3D designer
• 1 Unity developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We boosted our sales closing rate by 80%. This development truly changed the way we sold property, because people were able to foresee the property without the need of being present. Here's a quick link to a light version of the tour: http://virtualabvr.com/bell-olmsted-park/

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

It was fantastic. The communication and planning were just perfect. Everything clearly planned upfront and the communication was a pleasure. We used Asana and Slack to communicate throughout the whole process.

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

It's incredible how they structure their work and keep their clients on top of everything all the time. Five stars in communication and workflow. And the output was just perfect.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I worked in 3M from early 2017 until march 2021, as Marketing Manager for the adhesives department. During this period I was the responsible for hiring Virtual Lab for this project. I then left 3M and I'm now working as Marketing Manager for the Outloud Group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed an app to tie up all the actions we wanted to do on our annual offsite event. This event is an annual gathering of all the adhesives vertical, where brainstorming and planning sessions are performed in order to arrive to next year’s plan.

SOLUTION

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

We found them through Google and requested a quote for them, along with other 6 US based vendors. Their proposal was the best one in terms of budget, timeline, and how well structured it looked. After a couple of meetings with them, we decided to select this vendor for the job.

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

We needed an app that was able to: create random groups of people, let them connect through chat (this was for the pre-event activities), let each group receive content pieces (this was for a game we were playing during the event), and let the users respond to polls in real-time during the event.

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

4 people:

• 1 PM
• 1 UX
• 2 mobile developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app worked flawlessly during the event and everybody loved the experience. We’ll keep improving it for our following events.

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

Super effective. Working with them was so simple.

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

Their speed for delivering this app was just amazing. I never thought they would be able to send us a beta version so fast.

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

Nope, nothing I can think of.