Blott Studio

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO and Founder of a financial services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Digital banking for unbanked and underbanked in Africa.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Blott Studio to accomplish?

• Develop Mobile App in React Native
• Design Mobile App experience
• Design and build a design system for scalability

SOLUTION

How did you find Blott Studio?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Blott Studio over others?

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

How many teammates from Blott Studio were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Project Initiation: 

• Define project objectives, goals, and success criteria. 
• Conduct a comprehensive market research and user needs analysis specific to African banked and underbanked populations. 
• Identify key stakeholders and establish communication channels. 

Conceptualization and Planning: 

• Develop a detailed project plan, including timelines and milestones. 
• Create user personas and user journeys to understand the target audience. 
• Define the core features and functionalities of the mobile app. 
• Decide on the technology stack and platforms (iOS, Android, or cross-platform). 
• Establish a budget and allocate resources accordingly. 

Design Phase: 

• Create wireframes and prototypes for the mobile app. 
• Design the user interface (UI), focusing on user-friendliness and accessibility. 
• Ensure compliance with relevant design standards and guidelines. 
• Conduct usability testing and gather feedback for iterative design improvements. 

Development: 

• Begin coding and development based on the approved design. 
• Implement security measures to protect user data and transactions. 
• Integrate with banking APIs and financial systems to enable essential functionalities. 
• Develop a backend infrastructure to support app functionality. 
• Regularly test and debug the app to ensure a smooth user experience. 

Features and Functionalities: 

• Consider including features such as account management, funds transfer, bill payment, and mobile banking. 
• Implement a user-friendly registration and onboarding process. 
• Enable secure authentication methods, including biometrics where applicable. 
• Provide multi-language support to cater to diverse user populations in Africa. 

Security and Compliance: 

• Ensure compliance with local and international financial regulations. 
• Implement robust security measures to protect user data and transactions. 
• Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments. 

Testing and Quality Assurance: 

• Perform rigorous testing, including functional, usability, and performance testing. 
• Address any identified issues and bugs promptly. 
• Conduct beta testing with a small group of users to gather feedback. 

Deployment and Launch: 

• Prepare for the app's official launch by optimizing performance and scalability. 
• Publish the app on app stores (Google Play Store and Apple App Store). 
• Promote the app through marketing and outreach campaigns. 

Post-launch Support: 

• Provide ongoing maintenance and support for the app. 
• Monitor user feedback and make necessary updates and improvements. 
• Stay updated with evolving technology trends and regulatory changes. 

Evaluation and Feedback: 

• Continuously gather user feedback and conduct post-launch evaluations. 
• Make data-driven decisions to enhance the app's features and user experience. 
• Plan for future updates and expansions based on user needs and emerging market trends.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Mobile App Development: Completed the development of the mobile app in React Native within the defined timeline, with all planned features and functionalities implemented. 
• User Experience (UX) Design: Achieved a high user satisfaction rating through usability testing and surveys. 
• Design System Implementation: Successfully implemented the design system across the mobile app, ensuring consistent branding, layout, and UI elements, with a measurable reduction in design-related development time.

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

Project management was great and the manager responded well to changing requirements and needs in a timely manner. Communication was done through Slack Connect and Google Meets calls and we were given weekly updates on the project status. All deliverables were submitted on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Blott Studio?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• High quality deliverables 
• Cost of project 
• Very consistent with communication and updates 
• Exceptional execution 
• Well-coordinated with our team 
• Full breadth of experience in building Fintech platforms

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

The project was extremely successful. I can't think of anything I would have changed if we did it again.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a software company that helps businesses reduce their carbon emissions and footprint.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blott.io?

We were looking for experts to provide us with a scalable website, UI/UX design, and software development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blott.io was essentially our design and development partner that helped us come up with various solutions through Figma.

They utilized their expertise to execute our ideas and implement tools so we can scale their involvement depending on the project.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a range of people, including a product designer, director, branding specialist, engineer, head of architecture, and project manager.

How did you come to work with Blott.io?

We came across their company through the Google Workspace Slack channel. We spoke to them there and they ended up moving into the office next to ours, so we established a really good relationship with their team.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested somewhere between $75,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July 2021–April 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Blott.io was able to help us build our products and sell £100,000 (approximately$125,300 USD) worth of revenue in 2022 alone. Anecdotally speaking, their service felt quite personable while remaining professional, so our overall experience was great.

How did Blott.io perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform well from a project management standpoint as they were always willing to admit when they don’t know how to accomplish a certain task, so they consistently brought in the right people to overcome any challenges.

We used JIRA as our primary management tool and we typically communicated through Slack and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were impressed with their cost-effective solutions, as well as the quality of their deliverables.

They didn’t have the product knowledge for our specific industry, but they were very adaptive and willing to learn as much as they could.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could improve on, as they were very receptive from a communication standpoint.

They always checked in on us to ensure everything was okay and resolve any issues before they became a problem.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director and sponsorship manager for G&G Productions, an entertainment provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blott.io?

We were looking for an innovative and ambitious company to help us develop our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blott.io provides us with web development and mobile app development services. They’ve built five websites for us using custom WordPress and Webflow. Our company has a main website, and we run four music festivals with different target demographics, and they designed and developed a website for each. 

We left a lot of the creative direction to them. The team came up with the concept for each festival with a unique look and feel and customer journey flow for each site. They had a lot of freedom to present their ideas, and as a result, each festival has its own distinct design and identity. For example, some of them have festival guides while others don’t, and some sites call admission passes tickets, while others call them passports. From there, they also designed and developed an app for each festival using React Native. Each app has its own design, and they’re all available for iOS and Android. 

Additionally, Blott.io has worked with brands to integrate sponsored partnerships within our apps and websites. They’ve also provided design work, including social media, generic, campaign, print design, and a complete portfolio for marketing focused on the website’s design. Each year, the festivals have a new style and a new look and feel, so Blott.io revamps the websites and the apps every year. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Ben (Senior UX Designer) and Scott (Co-Founder & Product Designer). Additionally, we’ve worked with Shane (Co-Founder). 

How did you come to work with Blott.io?

I found them through a friend who worked at a music corporation and was dealing with Blott.io. They recommended that I get in touch with Scott. We hired them based on their portfolio and their passion for what they did. At the time, they were a very young team, and we found their level of skill impressive for their age, so it made sense for us to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about 75,000 South African Rand (approximately $5,000 USD) a month with them, which amounts to about 1 million South African Rand (approximately  $64,000 USD) a year. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around January 2014, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Blott.io always does great work and puts 100% effort into everything. Deadlines are always met, even if they have to work nights. Moreover, their attitude is always positive, and they’re always finding solutions to any problems we have. They also have a quick turnaround time. 

When we started working with them, they helped us give each festival identity for the first time, including unique cultures, designs, and looks. Our previous websites were done with Wix templates and weren’t user-friendly or customizable. Blott.io has helped us take our business to the next level in an age where things are very digital. 

How did Blott.io perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great at project management, and they always go above and beyond to meet deadlines. We use Monday.com for task management, and we’ve also used Trello and Asana. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with Blott.io’s passion, problem-solving skills, and ability to meet deadlines. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There isn’t anything they need to improve; they’re great. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to work with Blott.io as a team. Instead of isolating them, collaborate with the team so they can understand what you need.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Co-Founder, CEO and head up product direction.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Blott.io, and what were your goals?

We required a trusted, passionate team of software developers to partner with us building a banking app for the creator economy in Africa. More than the skills we required a team that has local market context and that leads product development on a first principles design thinking basis.

Beyond the app itself, we wanted a team of people that understood the urgency of our requirement and the very high benchmark set for the banking industry in South Africa. Being a bootstrapped fintech, seed funded with limited runway in a very challenging space, we needed a Team with resilience, that shared in-part the risk, but also the challenge which makes the project fun and inspiring at the same time.

SOLUTION

How did you select Blott.io and what were the deciding factors?

Prior to Blott, we have engaged with 8 other local software development companies. Whilst we have great skills locally in South Africa and also at a good rate, we chose Blott for their leadership and team culture. They are self-starters, the journey led, super responsive, and passionate about solving problems

Blott is culture first company, no matter the strategy, they were the real bet that have landed our launch and recent funding achievements.

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

UX/UI Product & App Design Figma, Sketch, Zeplin Design Tools Customer Interviews & User Journeys Mobile Banking App Architecture React Native V64 for Android and IOS Mobile Banking Security Infrastructure Mobile API development via Graph QL AWS Cloud, Serverless Lambda Jira Project Management Google Docs Instabug MixPanel Google Analytics Firebase And many many more....

How many resources from the Blott.io team worked with you, and what were their positions?

1 Lead Mobile Architect (Security Expertise) 1 Product Owner 1 UX/UI Designer 1 Project Manager 2 Senior React Native Devs 2 Mid Weight React Native Devs 1 Jnr React Native Devs

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not all MVP Ver 1.0 Launches are smooth. Critical for startups is to get something out just good enough to obtain user feedback on what matters most. This feedback, closely paired with the design thinking outcomes (job's to be done) were more accurate than what we wanted to believe.

Again this created more trust in the Blott team. Our app launch was successful, we have achieved over 1000 out of a capped 5000 beta users (as per our plan). Most of the issues were backend performance related whilst the app and website received a-lot of compliments and awesome new feature suggestions.

Key lessons learned, the customer is the actual product owner. Dont over engineer, validate every step of the way and trust the Team, dont over micro-manage. Follow their framework, if they fault, allow them to correct and perfect over time. The 6 month mark is where the real magic happens, if your project is shorter than this, think again.

Get engaged for a minimum of 6 months with an option to renew for another 6 months. Tech dev can happen fast, user feedback cycle and the intricacies that comes with that often requires more time.

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

Mondays: Weekly overview of backlog Daily: Standup's reviewing work done/to-do of previous Friday's: Demo days and sprint review Weekends: Testing, Testing, Testing Tuesdays: Mega releases (30 Tickets) Repeat.... Monthly Project Reviews Monthly Feature Planning Monthly Feature Scoping Slack Primary Tool Zoom or Google Hangouts for calls.

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

I think all of the above - South African's building global FinTech products with Team culture at their core.

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

They require a-lot of talk time, intricate issues needs deeper conversations. I wish we listened more in the beginning vs fearing that we're running billable hours not executing. Reality is, listening and talking is 50% of the work and makes the execution of easier with more solid outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a financial services company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blott.io?

We engaged Blott.io to help us design the UI/UX of our merchant payments application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had already internally defined the user stories and our overall UX scheme based on the market trends and customer feedback. We provided that to Blott.io, and their team worked off of those requirements. They used Figma for the UI/UX design.

What is the team composition?

There were two people working with us.

How did you come to work with Blott.io?

We found them through a referral.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost about $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together for a six-month period, from June–December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Blott.io’s UI/UX designs met our quality standards. They executed our requirements well.

How did Blott.io perform from a project management standpoint?

Jira and Confluence were our main project management tools. We also communicated via Slack and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Blott.io team is an innovative, hard-working group of people. I think they are a great asset to any company that decides to work with them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Enjoy the process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Co-founder & CEO of Shepherd, an Oslo-based interactive canvas that allows remote teams to collaborate on their work using Shepherd as well as embedded applications (like Notion, Google Slides and Miro) within the Shepherd canvas in a multiplayer format.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Blott.io?

We hired Blott to create our entire Design System, brand pack, ongoing product mock-ups and user testing. We have essentially brought on one of their Product Designers as our in-house designer and pay Blott each month. It works really well this way.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We hired individual product designers to hire them in-house, but then came across Ben & Pam at Blott and decided we were willing to bring in a consultancy since we liked them so much from a skills and a culture-fit point of view.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Pam designed and built our entire design system in Figma, which allowed us to scalably create new features and product designs quickly and consistently. Pam also conducts user interviews and tests variations of different features. Pam also helps create marketing materials and video/GIFs that we use in our marketing campaigns.

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

We work with Pam, a Senior Product Designer. She has been with us since early 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've managed to raise capital from designs, mock-ups, prototypes and our MVP which was created off the back of their designs.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was seamless. It was as if they were part of our internal team. Pam joined for the social events, standups and every other meeting that involved design or the entire team at Shepherd. We used Slack Connect to ensure we had clear comms with the rest of the Blott management team,

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

Culture-fit was a huge one for us. And also the design processthey use - using Figma as a means for our dev team to work was intuitive and allowed us to build the momentum we needed.

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

No, they've been great!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Howler is an event technology business, providing online payments, cashless onsite payments and streaming. I and the COO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Blott.io, and what were your goals?

Covid hit Al all our events were cancelled so we pivoted into providing streaming services to clients. Blott were brought in to to build our streaming site. This site was used to attract clients and allow them to view our new streaming product.

SOLUTION

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

They are young and dynamic and the quality of their work impressed us massively. We were in a tight spot and needed a company who was willing to dive right in and turn it around in a very short space of time.

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

We needed to build a new website displaying our services to potintual customers. Together with our team of developers Blott provided the following expertise:

• UX design
• User interface design
• Web development

All of which was done exceptionally and in good time.

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

The team was about 4 or 5 but I’m not sure if the exact rolles within their business. We presented them with the problem and the brief and they took it on and delivered the project. There was some reverts and tweaks along the way but they really were great to work with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We needed a website that we could use to sell our new services and then offer the product to customers ASAP. Covid crippled our business and this was our new pivot. It was all hands on deck and Blott were critical in the shiv was of this new service offering.

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

They were exceptionally professional. We were also kept up to date with the progress of the work done and there was an easy approval process in place. I think we used Trello to track the items and their status but other tools were use like Slack, WhatsApp and google meets for our meetings.

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

Their ability to take the brief and understand what we were looking for, then to just run with the project and make it happen. It really was a dream working with Blott.io's team.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder of a Financial Services Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sending and requesting money to other users with just a username no matter who you bank with!

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Blott Studio to accomplish?

• Building the back and front-end of our App

SOLUTION

How did you find Blott Studio?

Referral

Why did you select Blott Studio over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Blott Studio were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We contacted Blott to work on the development of our new application, and utilised a range of their services. This is included the initial technical architecture, integration of financial services APIs, the development of back and front-end tech, as well as UI/UX.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Working with Blott has been a success and highly recommended to others. The measurable outcome is simple in our case, the development of a mobile application, and this has been achieved.

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

Yes, project management was incredibly efficient and delivered on time. The project was incredibly well-organized, with every detail logged and managed.

What was your primary form of communication with Blott Studio?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Blott's efficiency in how they work has been excellent, and their organisation is top-tier.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm one of the owners/directors at Function Six. We provide consulting services to the finance function within an organisation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Blott.io, and what were your goals?

Blott developed our Function Six branding and built two websites for us

SOLUTION

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

We

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

Wordpress with custom php, and javascript

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

A designer and a two backend developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have two excellent sites and branding that represent what we do

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

We had a number of remote workshops via MS Teams

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

Their flexibility and ability to turn our ideas into a reality impressed us.

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

Delays to interim deadlines throughout the project weren't always communicated very well. However, the end product was delivered on time, so it wasn't a major issue.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Uplinq is a fintech startup that delivers credit as a service technology to small business lenders. I am the founder & CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Blott.io, and what were your goals?

Brand development including logo, style guide, website development and overall tone and feel for the company.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Interviewed a number of potential vendors.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Blott developed: - logo - brand style guide including fonts, colors and tone of brand - website design including HTML development

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

2 including one of the partners and general designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They developed a very professional and modern look and feel, which we love. We use the style guide at all times when working with other vendors and/or customers.

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

We used Slack, email and Figma to communicate with one another. We set timelines and goals to be met.

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

They were very talented in product design. They were a very creative shop.

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

Communication protocols at times could have been better but nothing that created a threat to the project's overall success.