Blue Label Labs

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

I’d bring the app to friends or family and ask what they thought about it. I judged how good Blue Label Labs performed by that and whether they were meeting deadlines. They performed exceptionally well.

How did Blue Label Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great in this regard. I really liked the weekly meetings with their project manager during which we’d talk about what has and hasn’t been done and if deadlines were being met. We’d also address any questions or concerns I had. Additionally, their availability was great. I was able to call them and get my questions addressed as needed. Even if they didn’t have the answer, they’d go figure it out and get back with me in a very timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Blue Label Labs’ ability to understand startup needs and their willingness and ability to work with clients to get the desired product is remarkable. They really worked with me, and they love that excitement of creating something new.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was a bit of a lag to actually get development going after the conceptualization phase. Though it would’ve been better if that transition were immediate, deadlines were still met once the development started, so it may just be something normal.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open about the project’s needs and the company’s situation. Don’t go in there seeking a bargain or trying to negotiate things; it doesn’t lead to a great relationship. Clients should want to have a good relationship with Blue Label Labs. They’re great people who help out a lot, and the more open a client is, the more open they’ll be as well.

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

Without any marketing apart from social media connectivity, we’re already at 1,000 downloads. We’ve seen over 50% retention so far, which is a great start as we prepare to scale up promotional efforts. The apps have received a great deal of positive customer feedback on the App Store and Google Play store, which primarily focus on the consistency and functionality. There have been no significant bugs, which is an impressive accomplishment for a project of this scope.

How did Blue Label Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

We started with a project management tool that I hadn’t used before, but eventually moved to Trello due to the nature of the project. I needed something that was clean and easy to interact with. It was always clear where things stood and what was being developed. We had weekly calls to discuss project status and consider new ideas along the way. The project took about two months longer than the initial schedule, but they provided feedback along the way to help me understand the delays. The final product exceeded all expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Blue Label made clear that they were invested in this idea. Throughout the project, they brought on and consulted a variety of resources that added tremendous value. Our project manager has been very successful in bringing new resources up to speed, and there’s been an element of continuity across the various aspects of the project. I’ve really appreciated their holistic approach to the project. Other companies I was considering didn’t offer the full-service package that Blue Label does. Their breadth of expertise makes them a unique and valuable partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At times, they did not keep me updated as thoroughly as I had hoped. I was working on a variety of other projects at the time and requested that they keep me as thoroughly updated as possible throughout the process, and there were times that they did not deliver on that. This wasn’t a frequent occurrence, and they adjusted their processes immediately upon my highlighting the issue.

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

The app Blue Label built peaked at No. 2 for news apps in iTunes during the first week of its launch. Previously, it ranked around No. 134. We've increased usage by a consistent rate of eight times our previous average. Their team has also been very quick to fix any bugs as needed following the launch.

How did Blue Label Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate mostly through phone, email, Slack, and Trello. Their team is always quick to respond, getting back to us usually within 30 minutes during working hours.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They truly understand the needs of their clients and proactively push the envelope to achieve those needs. Their willingness to extend discovery sessions to help us build the best product was invaluable.

Their developers are also extremely talented. Despite the fact that they're located in India, their work rivals that of many US-based vendors I've seen.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have done a better job notifying us on the pacing of the project against their original estimate both in terms of cost and timeline. As we begin the second project, we now routinely check in to ensure pacing is moving along as expected to avoid any headaches.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure your team is meeting regularly with Blue Label's team to go over budgeting and pacing as the project progresses.

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

This is our first version, so it’s hard to tell. It’s a good start, and the look and feel of the app are clean. I provided a lot of guidance, and they gave me exactly what I wanted, and the app’s attracted the right audience so far.

How did Blue Label Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a few problems with project management, but things eventually got better. We communicated through email and tracked progress in Trello. I’m glad we had a tool to keep track of the priorities. They have a team that's offshore, so there was a time delay, but whenever I raised an issue, they were pretty quick to adjust things.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their business development side is great. When I needed help, Zack was always there, and Bobby was attentive during the whole project. Stewart [Business Development, Blue Label Labs] provided all the tools and connections I needed to get the best app possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Communication could have been better, but it may have just been my project manager.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Set expectations up front and don't be afraid to ask questions. Make sure that communication flows well and it's your style of communication.