247 Labs Inc.

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

We’re still collecting feedback from users, but based on internal testing we’ve done, the app is intuitive and loads quickly. 247 Labs Inc. kept the app within our brand. It’s pretty much everything we were looking for in terms of a clean and straightforward app that users can access to stay engaged with the material that we provide during in-person workshops. 

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

Because we’re such a small organization that had never done a project like this, there was a bit of a learning curve for us. The expectations of what 247 Labs Inc. would do versus what we would do were not always clear, which was challenging. Sometimes, this resulted in starting a phase of the project where I thought we were going to get a lot more detailed support on how to do something, when it was really up to us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their enthusiasm, which came across in a lot of our early calls, set them apart. It was nice to know that they were invested in this project and excited to work on it. They were open to receiving feedback. They also worked with us and accommodated our organizational constraints and limited experience in this area.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As I mentioned before, some of the expectations could’ve been clearer. We also would’ve appreciated having a better idea of what the four phases were: requirements, design, development, and support. We didn’t know what those phases were going to look like until they were happening. There were sometimes deadlines that we didn’t know about until we were already in the middle of a process, so I think that outlining those steps for organizations who have never done this kind of project would be helpful. 

They could’ve also maintained more consistent communication. We went through periods of lots of communication to times when we didn’t hear much of anything. With the expectations not being fully clear, we didn’t know whether we were supposed to be reaching out, or if we were waiting for them.  

Any advice for potential customers?

Have a really good idea of what you want to build, and they’ll be a great team to help you work through that. We started with an idea that wasn’t very clearly defined, and I think that played a factor in having such a steep learning curve.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What did you find most impressive about them?

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

Are there any areas they could improve?

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

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

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

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

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

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

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

What did you find most impressive about them?

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

Are there any areas they could improve?

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

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

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

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

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

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

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

What did you find most impressive about them?

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

Are there any areas they could improve?

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

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

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