Bixlabs

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and COO of a small mobile app startup.

What challenge were you trying to address with BixLabs?

We needed a vendor to design and develop a product.

What was the scope of their involvement?

BixLabs designed prototypes of our web and mobile app. Now, their team’s developing the platforms, handling everything from inception to QA to release. They’re building the web app in React but using Flutter and Dart to build the mobile app, which will be available for Android and iOS.

What is the team composition?

We work with four people from BixLabs. The team includes two designers and two developers.

How did you come to work with BixLabs?

BixLabs completed design and development challenges that we presented them on Upwork. We were satisfied with their initial work.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $25,000–$50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around August 2020, and it’s ongoing.

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

BixLabs meets all our expectations. Their team matched the design to the final product and created accurate estimates for each sprint. They do quality work.

How did BixLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

To track the project, we use Jira and have daily meetings. So far, they’ve met deadlines. Their communication is extremely strong too.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understand what we want and thoughtfully work with us. Their team produces high-quality designs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Define the scope of work internally and understand the resources you’ll need. Stay connected with their team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a company that does web and mobile app development and creates film production tools.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bixlabs?

We hired them to help us with an app development project because our bandwidth was a little bit limited.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bixlabs is helping us with an app. They’re using Java and Android studio.

What is the team composition?

We work with an account manager and three developers.

How did you come to work with Bixlabs?

We found them on Upwork. Bixlabs seemed to understand what we needed, and they were easy to communicate with and reasonably priced.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them about six months ago.

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

We’re hoping to get the project launched in the Google Play store this week. I’ve done significant testing on their work, and it seems to be of good quality. So far, so good.

How did Bixlabs perform from a project management standpoint?

Bixlabs did estimates in various milestone stages of the development process, which we reference in Google Docs and Google Sheets. The team is pretty good a sticking to their estimates most of the time, but some milestones missed the mark cost-wise. That’s quite typical in the development process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They do a good job of communicating, scheduling meetings, and setting deadlines. Communication is important when it comes to a map-based app like this.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing jumps to mind right away. If anything, sometimes, there was quite a big gap in the estimates between the worst and best cases. I like to be a little more sure about what a certain feature or milestone is going to cost upfront. 

It’s understandable because you can’t accurately estimate something until you get to it, but I think the team could do a better job of sticking to their estimates. That said, most of the time, Bixlabs was accurate.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Reachify’s voice and messaging platform enables businesses to automate, collaborate, and deliver better customer experiences. I am the CEO or Reachify.

For what projects/services did your company hire Bixlabs?

We brought Bixlabs on to help us augment our development team. We needed savvy developers that understood our modern tech stack, and of all agency's interviewed their developers performed the best.

What were your goals for this project?

Help us increase our development velocity while maintaining code quality and consistent development patterns.

How did you select this vendor?

We went through a 2 phase interview process that included verbal technical questions and screen-share technical exercises.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Being a staff augmentation, the bixlabs team members that joined Reachify had to work on all aspects of our web platform. They immersed themselves and became acclimated very fast while working very professionally and seamlessly with our existing team.

What was the team composition?

We started with 2 specific individuals we interviewed at Bixlabs to join our team.

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

They have allowed us to expand our team and increase our velocity in a great way.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We handled all the project management in-house and our developers and the developers through Bixlabs worked together well, organized by Jira stories that we managed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are very talented and skilled developers that had friendly and fun personalities.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Very minor, but a few occurrences of delayed notice on upcoming time-off requests.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a social media aggregator app.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bixlabs?

We were trying to develop an app, and at that point, I hadn’t been able to find a technical co-founder. I had created prototypes and had done a good amount of usability testing and research to validate my idea through lower-fidelity prototypes. I was ready to take it to the next level and build out an MVP.

What was the scope of their involvement?

When I reached out to them, Bixlabs scheduled an interview with me. We talked through the app that I was trying to build, the research that I did to validate the UX, and my budget. They then assigned me a developer.

The team worked from the design and UX components that I already had. During the implementation stage, we had to rethink the UX, so Bixlabs and I did that together and adjusted the design accordingly.

They assisted me to integrate the app with various social media APIs, do some crawling depending on restrictions, and display social media postings. We used React Native.

What is the team composition?

Rodrigo (Techincal Leader) was my main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Bixlabs?

I found Bixlabs on Upwork after doing research and reading web reviews. They were incredibly transparent and forthcoming, which I appreciated. In my earlier conversations with them, they seemed very buttoned up and professional.

Additionally, I really liked their website. They had case studies, client stories, and lots of documentation to vouch for their work. 

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $24,000. When I pitched it to them, I naively said that I wanted to keep it within $8,000, which I now know was unrealistic. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with them in December 2019. The Android app went live, and we just need to fix one more bug for the iOS app. The project was essentially completed in June 2020.

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

Rodrigo would go through every single ticket, story point, and estimation with me and talk through how that amounted to the hours that led to the invoice. The process was very transparent. At this point, we don’t have user feedback, but anecdotally, I’ve received positive responses. There are still some bugs that we need to fix, but Bixlabs has been on top of that. 

How did Bixlabs perform from a project management standpoint?

Rodrigo was very communicative, responsive, and accessible. It felt like he was a teammate rather than a contractor who was prescriptively being told what to do. We communicated via Slack and had regular stand-ups. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They hire people with integrity. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind right away. If anything, they could tell people with unrealistic expectations that building an app requires a lot of engineering. Overall, there was nothing that they could’ve done differently.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of virgotalent.com - It's an online database of extras for TV commercials and music videos.

For what projects/services did your company hire Bixlabs?

Completely rebuild my website, database, casting apps.

What were your goals for this project?

To design and build a modern, fast, and fluid website/app for my employees, casting clients, and the actors/extras that utilize my companies services.

How did you select this vendor?

I found them on Upwork. They had great reviews and were very responsive.

Describe the project in detail.

I've had around 20+ meetings with Bixlabs over the past 6 weeks. They've learned every aspect of my business. They've taken all of my companies stakeholders into consideration in designing our new database.

I never have to worry about miscommunication, wasted time/resources. The first mockup was spot on. We only had to make minor changes on a few pages. I can honestly say that to date, this has been my best experience with developers.

What was the team composition?

Damian (Project Manager), Santiago (Designer), Julian(Programmer), and Ana(Sales and Service) have all been a pleasure to work with. They seem to have a company culture of friendly, professional, commutative staff.

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

We haven't launched yet, but the mockups look amazing. I'm very grateful to be working with such a talented team.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seemless

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their punctuality and professionalism were amazing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nope!

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of an online talent platform that connects women to global board opportunities. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Bixlabs?

We reached out to Bixlabs for web development services relating to our platform.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bixlabs supports two development elements for our platform. They're building tools to support the onboarding of new users, collecting data that helps us understand both our candidates and companies searching for talent. They also work on our search algorithm, helping us connect candidates on our platform with relevant opportunities. 

What is the team composition? 

We work with an engineer and project manager.

How did you come to work with Bixlabs?

They were recommended to me personally, and I felt like they were a good match based on initial conversations with them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since January 2019 and the relationship is ongoing.

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

Their turnaround time and velocity are quite good, and the processes they've established with us have been relatively seamless. They've been great to work with across the board; they're flexible and understanding of working with a business without any direct product content.

How did Bixlabs perform from a project management standpoint?

In addition to their flexibility, they also have an effective process. They're organized when it comes to managing projects on Jira, allowing for a lot of visibility of what they're working on. They also hold weekly meetings with our team to demo the completed code and next steps. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

It's been a very easy relationship overall.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing specifically stands out.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a broker at a large real estate firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bixlabs?

We needed help developing an app that will help process our execution tasks.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bixlabs helped us define the problem, evaluate the need, and formulate a solution. We worked together, so the design would allow for streamlined communication as well as an accessible data presentation for our staff and clients. Once completed, the iOS app will make it possible to define, analyze, and evaluate transactions.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Damien (Product Manager, Bixlabs), Santiago (UX Designer, Bixlabs), and Matías (Tech Lead, Bixlabs).

How did you come to work with Bixlabs?

I searched for developers online and reached out to a few different providers. After hearing what each of them had to offer, I decided to go with Bixlabs. They were only able to offer the design phase, without committing to the actual development of the app. I thought that was a good option, so I could get myself to a solid starting point before taking the next steps with the app.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $9,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from May–July 2019.

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

We don’t have any measurable data yet, because the app has yet to launch. During the project, while I had most of the ideas myself, Bixlabs came up with some valuable suggestions that were helpful in determining the app’s direction.

How did Bixlabs perform from a project management standpoint?

The team was really organized and prepared. I thought they brought good ideas to the table over the phone and through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m overall very happy and impressed with their work. They ask a lot of great questions and offer insight I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything right now.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend them to anyone in the same position that I was in—they’ll help you get to your next step.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

When I started working with Bixlabs, I was a partner at a startup in the restaurant space.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bixlabs?

We were looking to develop a mobile ordering and takeaway app MVP. The app would send food pickup notifications and allow customers to order and then pay for their bill. It would also allow customers to divide the bill among friends.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed an app for Android and iOS. They also consulted with us about which type of app would be best for our business. 

What is the team composition?

They offered an interdisciplinary team rather than just a project manager. 

How did you come to work with Bixlabs?

Initially, I was looking for a project manager and I found a very good freelancer who said he had stopped freelancing and was now working at Bixlabs. He connected me with them, and the solution they offered fit my business needs.

How much have you invested in them?

I’ve invested about $60,000–$70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in June 2017 and finished the project in May 2018.

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

Our startup has grown using the solution that they developed for us. It was a positive experience, and they delivered what we expected within all deadlines. 

How did Bixlabs perform from a project management standpoint?

We had in-office meetings in addition to using Slack, Jira, and email to communicate. If we had any setbacks, they took care of them immediately. They took a hands-on approach to the project, which made me confident in their insights.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had a flexible working style and easily fixed all any problems that arose. They gave thoughtful advice about which technologies to use. I told them what we wanted to achieve and they figured out how to do it. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could communicate the project scope more clearly. However, since our project ended, I know that they brought on a project manager to help with communication. They are taking the right steps.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director and founder of Tried and Supplied, a specialty food and drink supplier. We also list recommendations on the website.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bixlabs?

We hired Bixlabs to build our MVP to launch our business.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bixlabs developed my MVP for a web-based application. We used Jira, Cloudinary, and InVision, and their team has their own staging environment.

What is the team composition?

We started the engagement working with a project manager and developer. Once we got further into the project, I worked closely with the developer. Other team members such as a designer and other developers were involved at various stages and filled different roles.

How did you come to work with Bixlabs?

I found Bixlabs through Upwork. We engaged with them because they work with the latest technologies and in an agile framework.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $40 per hour.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Bixlabs in May 2017. We still work together, but not as much since I hired an in-house developer.

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

We were able to launch the MVP and attract users. The project manager constantly thought of ways to improve the site, making helpful suggestions.

How did Bixlabs perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication was effortless. We mainly use Slack. Bixlabs understood the urgency. I always receive quick responses from their team. There were a few occasions where they missed deadlines, but that was ultimately a result of not giving them enough time. Bugs appear randomly and need fixing, but that’s a challenge for a lot of development teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate that Bixlabs thinks proactively about my business. Their team has a gift of figuring out alternative suggestions for the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are none that I can think of.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I run the internal communications department of Sociedad Española. With over 7,000 employees, we are one of the largest healthcare providers in Uruguay.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bixlabs?

Initially, we handled human resource transactions, processes, and requests in person, but with our large staff, we decided to automate our internal resource management system.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bixlabs developed mobile applications for iOS and Android devices to support our internal processes.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about seven developers, and a multidisciplinary team of programmers, project managers, and designers.

How did you come to work with Bixlabs?

We personally knew one of their employees. Once we decided to move forward with the mobile app, we reached out and asked for a meeting. We chose them based on their understanding of our idea and their cost.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the first version of the app from November 2017–June 2018. We’re currently working on new features for the platform.

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

It was a complex task, but Bixlabs understood our goals and successfully completed the project. They were receptive to our feedback and we’re very pleased with their work. The institution, as a whole, praises the app.

How did Bixlabs perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated mainly via Slack, but there were additional meetings and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their collaboration skills were great. We had consistent meetings to discuss the project and Bixlabs willingly incorporated our feedback into the application.