BlueLabel

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO of a retirement planning company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provide retirement planning to clients in the mass affluent segment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BlueLabel to accomplish?

• Reduce manual data entry and improve speed and accuracy in generating retirement plans
• Improve advisor adoption of the plan tools
• Provide AI-driven insights that enhance decision making

SOLUTION

How did you find BlueLabel?

Clutch Site

Why did you select BlueLabel over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from BlueLabel were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of the project was to create a proof of concept of the financial plan for testing before conducting productization planning.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project plan, including regular review of conceptual design and initial build of the proof of concept.

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

Yes, they did deliver on time. There were some longer timelines, but that was based on turn around time in getting items to them in order to support discovery and verification.

What was your primary form of communication with BlueLabel?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• BlueLabel was prompt, professional, and focused. 
• Their approach to working relatively quickly on design and discovery was helpful. 
• Their engagement with similar types of use cases in the industry was very important.
• Their ability to do the development onshore was important to us.

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

The proof of concept had some aspects that were not clean enough to really get a strong feel from the users about potential adoption. This could have been a little cleaner before launching.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder of a navigation app company. 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile apps for custom navigation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BlueLabel to accomplish?

• Improve the existing app architecture through refactoring to make future development smoother and reduce potential crashes.
• Implement Clean Architecture to enhance the appʼs scalability and maintainability (e.g., separation of concerns, easier testing, and adding new features without breaking existing functionality).
• Assist with Android project management with task definition and breakdown based on Figma designs and project goals.
• Enhance UI to match Figma designs, ensuring consistency across screens.
• Integrate critical functionalities, such as user groups and home screen sections, to support the appʼs future monetization strategy.
• Set up unit testing to ensure thorough coverage and long-term stability of the app.

SOLUTION

How did you find BlueLabel?

In Person Event

Why did you select BlueLabel over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Skill Level of Developer

How many teammates from BlueLabel were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

The project involved refactoring the Android appʼs architecture to implement Clean Architecture, which significantly improved code maintainability and scalability. Major tasks included removing the Room local database, resolving app crashes, and establishing comprehensive unit testing coverage. 

The BlueLabel developer implemented essential features such as user groups and sections, which were critical for both user experience and future monetization. Additional work included integrating Google Billing for in-app purchases and handling account-related functionality (password reset, account deletion). The developer collaborated closely with the client to ensure alignment with the appʼs goals and addressed technical challenges as they arose.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Successful refactoring to Clean Architecture, leading to smoother app performance and easier feature development.
• Elimination of known app crashes, resulting in a more stable user experience.
• Full implementation of unit testing, increasing the appʼs test coverage and reducing future bugs.
• Completion of key features (Sections, Groups, Account Management) necessary for future monetization.
• Integration of Google Billing, allowing the app to process subscription purchases through Google Play.
• Assistance outlining and applying tech lead level knowledge to our Android app and development processes. 
• Ensuring best practices would continue after contract end.

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

Our project was self-managed and we simply treated their lead Android developer as a team member. This was a highly collaborative experience where Blue Label's developer was able to make signficant contributions to our app for the duration of the contract. Outside of just accomplishing coding tasks, their developer brought deep Android and Android project management knowledge to our small team. 

This set us up on the right foot both with work completed, our app architecture and our processes for moving forward after contract completion.

What was your primary form of communication with BlueLabel?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

It's not often when working with an agency that you have access to topic specific mentorship for the duration of the contract. Blue Label's skilled Android developer not only contributed to our project, but made a substantial impact in our future by providing useful mentorship to our team in their area of expertise.

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

Nothing comes to mind. BlueLabel exceeded our expectations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a senior strategist for a storytelling and innovation company. We do everything from brand building to product strategy. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BlueLabel?

We were working with an end client who wanted to move into the AI world. We’ve been working on a product with them for several years now but needed BlueLabel's assistance with AI expertise ranging from strategy to design. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We went through the discovery process with BlueLabel and worked with a strategist and designer. We took a while to determine the entire product vision and strategy we wanted to work toward, but after that, we got buy-in from our end client and moved forward. 

During the discovery phase, we spent time digging into users' functional and emotional needs. Once we had a good grasp of this, we started to lay out everything in Figma and worked through an iterative process to produce finalized designs for the client. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Tanya (Director of Innovation & Strategy), Allan (Product Designer), and Annie (Senior Product Manager). We also worked with an account team from BlueLabel. 

How did you come to work with BlueLabel?

I believe that they were a referral from someone inside my company. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with BlueLabel between January 2023–January 2024. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any hard metrics because the project has not been launched, but our end customer was very pleased with the work. Everything they gave us was approved and promoted by our end customer’s C-suite leadership and board. 

How did BlueLabel perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Notion for project management, and BlueLabel was highly organized throughout the project. Their team was able to adapt to changing needs and roll with the punches. Everything was delivered on time and within budget. We communicated via Slack and email. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

We’d like to shout out Tanya; she is a powerhouse when it comes to strategy visioning and was able to push a lot of the designs into a really powerful place. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The entire team we worked with was very impressive, and we appreciated what they brought to the table. They were very accommodating for what we needed in each circumstance and always ensured that we had what we needed to move quickly and complete tasks. We were also impressed with the level of support that BlueLabel provided and their ability to push the product and the vision through consistently. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They addressed everything that we brought up and were willing to work with us, so there’s nothing we can come up with at this point. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you’re scoping, make sure that you’re being very clear upfront. Work with BlueLabel to ensure that your needs are being met and that you’re working with the right team members who will be most successful. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder of BounceBack

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

BounceBack is a software platform that enables people with any type of orthopedic injury (acute or chronic) to connect, share informational and emotional support, and recover together

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BlueLabel to accomplish?

• Develop an iOS & Android mobile app

SOLUTION

How did you find BlueLabel?

• Online Search
• Referral
• Clutch Site

Why did you select BlueLabel over others?

• High ratings
• Company values aligned
• Offered a Holistic App development process

How many teammates from BlueLabel were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Blue label Labs helped us design, test, and develop our custom software application. This included assistance with prototype design, user testing, design refinement and iteration. Blue Label has a forward thinking and people first strategy and produce excellent quality. 

For the first phase of the project, Blue Label helped us build a clickable protype to take our business from an idea and concept into a concrete, usable example. This included strategic business consulting and user-centric design strategies. After rounds of user testing we transitioned into phase two where Blue Label's experienced engineering team helped us develop this prototype into a completed app for iOS and Android.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Blue Label's efforts have helped put us on the map. As a start-up, Blue Label's design and engineering experience, holistic process, and outstanding team have been critical for us to begin with an exceptionally professional and functional app to hit the market with. They helped ensure that the user experience was smooth and intuitive - a crucial aspect for any app. 

Their team demonstrated great technical prowess -- the app functions flawlessly across various devices and platforms. They have a commitment to delivering a high-quality product. In preparation for launch, Blue Label has helped us rigorously test the app to identify and fix any bugs or glitches. 

Positive Testing Feedback: Throughout initial user testing we received extremely high ratings from users throughout the prototype phase. Throughout the follow-on Beta phase, we again received strong ratings across the board -- the system usability score among other metrics have demonstrated significant opportunities and the potential for success. I can confidently say that Blue Label stands out as a top tier player in the industry.

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

They have been organized, proactive, timely, and provided a seamless collaboration. The team is very responsive and provides feedback in a comprehensive, yet concise manner that is very digestible to understand. Blue Label worked seamlessly with our digital marketing partner (func media), providing exceptionally easy collaboration across multiple aspects to further enhance the product and go-to-market strategy. 

Blue Label provided routine updates via slack, virtual meetings, email, as well as other platforms that were very clean and easy to understand. The scope of work, deadlines, or other expectations were clearly communicated. The team has been highly responsive and available for any and all questions.

What was your primary form of communication with BlueLabel?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

One of the most unique aspects about Blue Label is their holistic approach to app development. They provide numerous key components throughout the discovery phase to include: research, analysis, testing and iteration prior to even thinking of development. With design sprints, innovation & strategy sprints, and regular design & user testing - they offer the complete package. 

Some companies only build or develop whatever list of features you provide them. Not Blue Label - their comprehensive approach to app develop provides superior quality and intuitive functionality. Their ability to take abstract or difficult concepts and make them come to life in a very clear and digestible way. They do not need reminders or pings; they just get it done. A sign of a truly competent and detail-oriented team.

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

No. We are very pleased with their work! We are looking forward to continuing our partnership in the post-launch and maintenance phase and hopefully well beyond!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I'm an executive at Kung Fu Tea

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Kung Fu Tea is a bubble tea chain that offers a variety of tea-based drinks and snacks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BlueLabel to accomplish?

• to create the front end of an app would include creating a visually appealing and user-friendly interface, ensuring seamless navigation and functionality, integrating necessary features such as payment processing and loyalty programs, and overall improving the user experience to drive customer engagement and retention.

SOLUTION

How did you find BlueLabel?

Referral

Why did you select BlueLabel over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Referred to me

What was the size of BlueLabel’s team?

6-10 Employees

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

Product Strategy and Discovery - This phase involves:

• the development of a product strategy and UX design for the Kung Fu Tea app
• Competitive analysis
• user personas
• documentation of user stories will be created
• a clickable wireframe prototype of the core flow and technical architecture diagramming will be developed.

Product Design and User Testing - This phase includes:

• qualitative and quantitative testing and user feedback through interviews and surveys
• the development of visual brand identity and UI design
• A full-fidelity, clickable prototype will also be created

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• App Rating

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

Blue Label Labs was effective in our project management and delivered items on time. They were also responsive to our needs on Slack. Effective project management is essential for the success of any project and involves clear communication, defined goals and timelines, frequent status updates, and prompt issue resolution.

What was your primary form of communication with BlueLabel?

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

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

One aspect that I found most impressive or unique about this company is their ability to assign specific roles for specific tasks. This allows for a streamlined approach to project management, ensuring that each team member is able to focus on their specific area of expertise and deliver optimal results.

By having a clear understanding of each team member's role and responsibilities, this company is able to efficiently manage their projects and deliver high-quality products and services to their clients.

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

If there were any areas for improvement or things that BlueLabel could have done differently, it would be to pay closer attention to details. While they were effective in delivering items on time and responsive to our needs, there were some instances where attention to detail was lacking.

By focusing more closely on the details of the project, BlueLabel could further enhance the quality of their work and ensure that all aspects of the project are completed to the highest standard.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an IT executive at a chemical manufacturing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with BlueLabel?

We had a good understanding of our customers, what they value, and what we wanted to convey as a partner of choice. Due to these circumstances, we decided to reduce the friction when doing business and scale from phone calls, text messages, and other manual processes to a mobile web application. We didn’t have the mobile development expertise for this, so we were looking for a partner that could help us realize our vision and streamline our internal processes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BlueLabel has been helping us with Android and iOS mobile app development based on a proof of concept we had and the backend infrastructure we had created. Their team mainly takes care of the platform’s frontend and the UI/UX design, which they’re building from scratch. Regarding technologies, they’re using React Native, and we also rely on AWS components.

In terms of features, the app allows users to simplify their buying and fulfillment experience. They can go and see their orders and use the app to request a specific delivery date and also share that information with their customers or others in their organization. These functionalities are very important for us because our customers need many of our products in certain windows of time when they’re ready to plant crops, so they depend on weather conditions to use them. This application helps them view their orders, see their details, schedule a delivery, track them, and share the information with people within their organization.

We’re currently in the beta phase of the project. This includes going with external customers to collect feedback and working on the final details of all the features.

What was the team composition? 

We’ve worked with around 15 members of BlueLabel’s team, including one of their founders, technical architects, a product manager, a UI/UX designer, frontend developers, and their sales and marketing staff.

How did you come to work with BlueLabel?

We found them through a Gartner search and chose them because they were on the leading quadrants.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent $800,000–$1.2 million with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2022, and the engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

BlueLabel has been hitting all of our milestones, and we’re delighted with the results of their work.

How did BlueLabel perform from a project management standpoint?

BlueLabel has been outstanding with project management. They deliver on time, stay within budget, and incorporate our feedback.  Regarding tools, we use Microsoft Teams for daily stand-ups, weekly sessions with the project group, biweekly calls with their leadership teams, and quarterly feedback sessions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We consider ourselves a tough company, and it’s hard for us to trust our business partners. Still, BlueLabel has become meshed with our team, and it feels like they’re part of our organization.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Cofounder of Rocket

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile application that makes it easy and fun for consumers to shop, share, and earn cash rewards!

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BlueLabel to accomplish?

• Help with product design
• Solutions architecture
• Build the MVP

SOLUTION

How did you find BlueLabel?

Referral

Why did you select BlueLabel over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

What was the size of BlueLabel’s team?

6-10 Employees

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

Product management, product strategy and design, react native iPhone and Android development with an ultimate end goal of submitting an MVP to the app store for beta testing purposes. In addition, we worked on a web-based admin panel to make it easier for key people on the business side to manage the app. The goal was to have a fully functioning prototype that can handle brand onboarding, creator and user onboarding, and have a full multi-vendor universal checkout experience.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Completion of the MVP based on agreed upon features demonstrated in our Figma prototype

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

The project manager on the project was excellent, communicative, and very pro active. Maggie demonstrated strong project management skills and really understood our vision for the product. She was responsive, always in touch, and an A+ performer. Overall, the team was responsive and organized.

What was your primary form of communication with BlueLabel?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Product and design were strong suits.

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

From a core engineering perspective, I don't think we had enough direct communication with the front-end and back-end engineers actually doing the work. I think this caused some delays and perhaps a bit of a mismatch between our expectations / vision against initial drafts produced. The engineering leads were strong and very thoughtful, but if I could do it again, I would insist on an investment upfront in getting the engineers fully up to speed on the product vision, expectations, etc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a department head for a life sciences company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BlueLabel?

We needed help with building a patient-friendly mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BlueLabel built an iOS and Android mobile app that allows our patients to have access to our technology. Initially, I gave them some design direction, and they produced a prototype of what the app would look like. From there, their team was in charge of the entire UI/UX design and front- and backend development.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 people from BlueLabel, including a product manager. We also communicated with Zachary (Partner & VP of Client Solutions).

How did you come to work with BlueLabel?

I found them on a list of top mobile app developers in the US, and I read either their Clutch or G2 reviews. Still, we went through an RFP process, where we vetted 6–7 different agencies. BlueLabel was the only one willing to put in the extra effort and produce a prototype — that was why we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of the project was around $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking with BlueLabel in February 2022, and we signed a contract with them in June 2022. They delivered the app in January 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

BlueLabel was very committed to building a high-quality product, so they did a lot of extra work. However, we haven’t launched the app yet, so we don’t have any metrics regarding performance.

How did BlueLabel perform from a project management standpoint?

BlueLabel didn’t truly meet the deadlines; the project took twice as long as they said it would. However, the app was more complicated than we initially thought, and they were very accommodating. For example, we ran into some app crashes throughout the process, so BlueLabel had to redevelop some parts of it and reinstall it. We communicated via Slack and used Jira and Confluence to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

BlueLabel was very strategic and thoughtful about what we were trying to accomplish, so they put a lot of effort into making the app as high quality as possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

BlueLabel should have asked for more documentation to accurately assess the project’s complexity. At one point, they knew they had to reestimate the project, but they didn’t. Instead, they asked for twice as much money later in the project. Although they tried to make up for it by meeting us in the middle, we didn’t appreciate that issue.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very specific about what you’re looking to do and share as much technical documentation as possible. Additionally, have them do an audit of the documentation to make absolutely sure that they provide a proper project estimate.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’d the director of products and new ventures for a nonprofit organization. We aim to identify and create new products to reach a broader, more diverse audience.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Label Labs?

We have a small team, so we rely on assistance from external vendors to get us up and running. We hired Blue Label Labs because we’d identified a winning market concept for a home maintenance app and needed a development partner to help us create it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Label Labs has designed and built a home maintenance app. Our team had pre-tested the idea to ensure it was desirable and viable from a business standpoint, so we had a general idea of the proposition. 

When Blue Label Labs came on, they ran an entire design sprint where we got into the specifics of the proposition and the requirements to build an MVP. Then, they developed the app for iOS and Android from scratch. Since launching the app, they’ve continued to help us manage and grow the product. 

The app targets first-time homeowners and allows them to identify maintenance tasks specific to their homes. The Blue Labs team has built features within the app that allow users to submit information regarding their appliances and systems. The app takes that information and creates a customized plan for users to maintain those items, which includes scheduling notifications.

Blue Label Labs has also embedded educational features within the app. For example, users can access a step-by-step guide to learn how to clean gutters or reseal floors.

What is the team composition?

We’ve mostly worked with Zach (Partner & VP of Client Solutions), Stewart (Senior Director of Client Solutions), and a project manager. Throughout the development stages, we also interacted with a UI/UX designer, researcher, engineering manager, and the development and QA teams.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

Blue Label Labs was a referral from within our network. They submitted an RFP for this project, and we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $750,000 in the partnership with Blue Label Labs. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Blue Label Labs in July 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app has been really successful in terms of user acquisition and downloads. We’ve been nominated for several awards since launching the app, including a Webby for best UX. The app has also been featured under different categories in the App Store and Google Play Store. Fast Company has also nominated us for an innovation award, and we’ve been featured on their list of best new apps.

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

Project management is a strength for Blue Label Labs. Our meeting cadence has been dictated by project phases, but we typically meet with them 2–3 times per week, and they have an internal appointment to move the project forward. 

They’ve done a great job keeping tasks on track and managing the project efficiently. Asana is our primary project management tool, and we use Jira to track backend development progress. We communicate via Slack and Google Meet and share documents through Google Workspace and Miro. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Blue Label Labs is a very well-rounded 360 app development shop. The team is particularly strong regarding product design, strategy, and development, which was impactful for us during the product launch stage. 

They’ve been a great development partner; they’re smart folks who’ve been a pleasure to work with. Even though things can’t always be perfect, they’ve always done everything in their power to resolve issues quickly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

As with any development project, we’ve had some learning curves and growing pains. Initially, they didn’t offer data analytics instruments because they didn’t have the skill set. Although we went through some trials and tribulations, they were open to learning alongside us and brought in a data expert at no additional charge.