BlueLabel

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in the product development department of a radio station, overseeing several mobile apps and websites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were looking for a vendor to develop an Android and iOS app for one of our news talk radio shows. Our previous app was about five years old and in need of a redesign.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Label Labs designed and built native iOS and Android apps, including frontend design and the implementation of existing backend APIs. Features included editorial rich content, audio, video, and pay gated content for subscribers.

We worked in pretty agile environments, including two-week sprints and a couple of day-long development sprints towards the end.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one designer, two project managers, and about eight developers.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

Our radio show host and his team canvassed for a vendor and recommended Blue Label Labs to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested just under $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2017 and launched the app in January 2018, followed by a 60-day maintenance period. We're in the process of working with them on a second project to incorporate more features into the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT manager for a nonprofit organization that helps women back into the workforce. We have multiple programs, including suiting and professional women's groups. I oversee all aspects of IT: servers, emails, desktops, etc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to create a mobile app for our digital platform that provides women the ability to access our programs online.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Label Labs did a pre-evaluation and gave us a budget and overall scope for the work that was required. We wanted the app to be a one-to-one replicate of the website, and they captured all that, even though we were still developing the site while they were developing the app.

They built the app in a hybrid environment; it’s single-code based on both iOS and Android. They did all the mobile app development, from start to finish. It serves as a digital platform for clients to learn about our programs, and there’s also a quiz at the end that we’re able to track. We were extending our learning platform digitally, and the app serves as a way to transcribe that into the digital world.

What is the team composition?

My main points of contact were their head of development and project manager, and there were a few people in the beginning who did the mockup. Other than that, we also had one main developer.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I found them on Clutch. I looked at a lot of companies because it was a large project. What I liked most about Blue Label Labs was that they’re local and they’d worked with nonprofits before, so they knew how to fit in our budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2017, and the app was delivered in December.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't fully launched the app out to our clients, so we don’t have any qualitative data. The app is working as intended, though, and we’ve fixed all the outside bugs. Our executives like the layout and how well it portrays the website.

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

They were satisfactory. Sometimes communication was a little messy because information wasn't relayed properly. Usually, the developer would tell the project manager who would tell me, and that system sometimes caused issues.

We mainly used Trello to track what the developers were doing, where we were at, and any bugs. We also communicated via email, and we had weekly conference calls.

We didn’t finish the app on the estimated deadline, but that’s because of a bug that cropped up late in development.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their whole team was attentive to detail.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not right now.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Have a proper scope laid out prior to reaching out for development.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of a social media app for brand builders. Our customers are small business owners, online influencers, bloggers, social media celebrities, etc., and they create partnerships among themselves.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I needed a firm to build our initial iOS app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had preliminary high-level wireframes, but Blue Label Labs predominately started from the beginning. They did everything from requirements gathering to the app design, and we used Envision so I could track what the app, user flow, and UI looked like.

Beyond that, they also developed the frontend and backend of the 1.0 version. As of now, we’re just planning on the iOS version. Some of the features include group chat to create partnerships, direct messaging, and Stripe integration for payment.

I’ve also talked to their marketing department to work on Facebook ads.

What is the team composition?

I had a project manager, designer, and a few development team members. Bobby, their CTO, was also on my project.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I did a lot of online research and saw some good reviews for them. I reached out to them and met with Zack [Head of Business Development, Blue Label Labs]. The conversation went well, so I met with a few team members and thought we could work well together, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $100,000. I wasn’t expecting to spend that much, but the scope changed a bit, and the quote increased.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017, and the app launched near the end of May.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.           

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I came up with the idea for an app called “HowUDish,” which is now available for iPhone. It recommends dishes at nearby restaurants that fit a specific diet, like vegan, gluten-free, low calorie/carb, or balanced high protein. The main interface uses a location-based swiping methodology. Based on a user’s specific profile, several cards appear that feature food items and indicate where they’re offered.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

As this was my first foray into development, I needed someone to execute all aspects of my initial idea, using a list of available data sources. Swiping for inanimate objects differs from networking apps like Tinder or Bumble. The process of combining and standardizing data from disparate sources was much more complicated than anticipated.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Label Labs developed an understanding of my goals and masterminded how it would look, including UX/UI. Rather than using a rigid methodology, they developed new ideas and tried different strategies I suggested. Once the design was completed, they focused on making it workable. A backend developer completed the actual coding, and they managed that entire process.

They haven’t formally worked on our marketing strategy or branding, but have offered advice in more casual conversations. Our app is currently just for iOS. If all goes well, they’ll build the Android version next year. They made a rudimentary landing page, but a functional web version might be a plan for later on.

What is the team composition?

We worked most closely with a relationship manager, designer, and Bobby Gill, the head of the company. Their backed developers are located in India.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I'm proud to say we partially found them on Clutch.co., along with other testimonial and review sites. I first reached to 10-15 developers, which we narrowed down to 5-6 local vendors. I’m based in New York and believe in direct, face-to-face conversations for this type of project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $140 - 150K so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We formally started work in April 2017, after I approached them in March. The first iteration of the app (the MVP) was released at the end of October. They're continuing coding work on premium features and a social networking component.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the app is in its early stages, I don’t have many metrics to share. It was purposely designed for release before the full version was coded, so it could be available for New Year's resolution dieting. There've been approximately 1,000 downloads so far, and our 71 reviews average 4.5. It's been well received in terms of user presentation.

Since this is my first software development project, I would initially get frustrated by the number of times I saw crashes or bugs. They did a great job of fixing issues, although I’d often notice them first. The quality assurance has been fairly good.

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

We communicated with developers mostly through Trello. They gave the prompt responses I expected, even during off hours like nights and weekends. This was critical, because the logical flaws I’d notice often had tight timelines to be corrected. They worked patiently through several iterations of the product.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their competitive advantage lies in their employees’ integrity, flexible methodology, and engaging pedagogy. Bobby is very skilled at everything he does, and he has a good temperament for understanding and educating clients. He’s well versed in solving challenges that pertain to specific projects.

I view them as partners. Their team is passionate and willing to experiment. They’re invested in their work with clients, beyond just a paycheck. Going above and beyond the services I paid for, they’ve embraced our unique approach and executed it well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

A few things were missed during the initial discovery stage that caused major issues in the middle of actual development. To their credit, they remedied the problem and comped the ensuing related work. I can trust that they're charging me fairly; I only pay for work that’s done successfully.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Our issues with the discovery phase could have been unique to our non-traditional app. It’s important to anticipate problems, which are bound to happen. How the vendor reacts is what counts, though, and Blue Label consistently responds in the right way.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Isaac: I’m the CEO of FlockIt LLC. We’ve created the ultimate mobile tailgating application, Flock, for which we currently have 150 users.

Howard: I’m the COO. We just launched our app last week.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Isaac: We needed more developers when we first started considering Blue Label Labs. Neither I nor Howard had any sort of coding background, so we were looking to them to provide that expertise, as well as design the user interface and user experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Isaac: Initially, we asked them to develop an app that would give users the ability to find, join, and create tailgates in 15 different university locations for the D1 NCAA football season. They were able to establish all 15 universities, and now users are able to create those tailgates no matter which location they’re at. Even for away games, users are still able to find the tailgates at their own universities.

We’ve been able to supply our target audience with an app that encourages them to gather and celebrate sports. Blue Label Labs allowed us to customize what we actually wanted to go into the Apple Store, and then they submitted the updates and changes as we went along.  

Howard: The app also creates loyalty to the teams because users can choose their favorites. They can switch teams depending on their decisions, and also chat about tailgates. Users are also able to load pictures and videos.

The initial scoping process was great because it gave us a full view of their iterative development capabilities. They provided ancillary services around marketing, and also helped immensely with branding. We went through a design process, and since we had prepared detailed user requirements, the entire process went smoothly. They were mainly working to refine our requirements.

They helped tell the user story and articulate it in a way that could be translated into the development process. Blue Label Labs did a great job of interpreting and distilling what we intended for the functionalities in order to design the end product.

They took us through sprints, which they compounded into our MVP [minimum viable product]. They also helped prioritize what was most important, then they brought that added value into the outcome while staying within our budget.

They also built custom background technology for the app. They have extensive experience in both iOS and Google platform development, but our budget only allowed for iOS.

What is the team dynamic?

Isaac: In total, we had ten team members from Blue Label Labs. We interacted with four of them on a daily basis. The CTO and CIO were active in the entirety of our development process.

Howard: Our team works closely together. We had a couple UX designers, as well as one UI designer. We also had an offshore development lead, a QA lead, and a project manager who oversaw the process.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

Isaac: They had award-winning apps, which increased their value to us. We searched on Clutch for a while, and we compared many different development companies. Blue Label Labs stood out from their competitors.

Howard: We were drawn to Blue Label Labs because their site featured existing references for other apps they’d built, which we were really impressed with. Their company was also on the East Coast, and although they had offshore developers, the fact that they were in the same time zone was attractive to us.

What is the status of this engagement?

Isaac: We started working with them in June, and the app launched October 25. Our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Isaac: The app has only been released for a week, but our ROI [return on investment] has already reached 150 users, which is exactly what we expected. It’s great to have all of our needs fulfilled. Our app also boasts a 5-star rating in the Apple Store, which comes from 16 separate reviews. All of the feedback has been extremely positive.

Howard: Currently, the number of downloads and engagement, including how long people stay on the app, are the two most telling metrics. We didn’t really build into our admin tool because of budget concerns, but we plan to implement analytical tools during the next phase. We were supposed to launch in December, but due to jointly working on the scope and finding ways to do things differently, we were able to launch much earlier. We are very pleased.

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

Isaac: We have the tendency to look too far ahead into the future, but Blue Label Labs was able to bring us back to reality so we could focus on our short-term goals. Their project management was great. We used Trello to communicate, along with email, phone, text, etc.

Howard: They have a high level of communication, and I’ve been very pleased with David [Project Manager, Blue Label Labs]. We are a dual team, and since we’re so close to the project, we miss things sometimes. David kept bringing us back to our mission and our vision, and he always asks questions to better understand our intent. He knew our main goal was engagement, so he provided suggestions regarding a much larger approach during the development process.

We also used UberConference and InVision.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Isaac: The value that they provide is their most impressive attribute. We had a lot of specifications for user stories, and everything that we’d outlined for any company that we could have used for development. Blue Label Labs gives us succinct value, which makes them stand apart from competitors. They are very professional in their development, and their executive leadership has been absolutely incredible and unexpected.

Howard: Due to their experience with other apps, they were able to tell us what they’d seen in the past. They provided suggestions that kept us from making mistakes, and also helped us fill in the gaps when we were considering all of the possibilities.

They helped create a culture around our app, and they truly want it to be successful, which has been incredible to witness. Many of them knew nothing about football, but we’ve helped them learn. It’s like having a team that became a family.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Howard: They may be generating a lot of demand, but I sometimes find that some resources are pulled in a lot of different directions. I’m aware that it’s tough to have a fully dedicated staff on one particular project, but their growth is at a point where they may need to increase their staff.

We are a relatively small project compared to some of their other clients, and although I feel like their first priority most of the time, there has been some resource contention. This hasn’t impacted their ability to meet deadlines, but it has caused a bit of frustration on both sides.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Howard: Potentials clients should approach the project with an open mind instead of preconceived notions. They should stay true to their strategy, vision, and mission, but also allow it to evolve based on Blue Label Labs’ experience. When we gave them control sometimes, it helped us, and we got much more out of the app by letting them take ownership. They became a part of our team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product manager for an experience management and market research company. We build an experienced management platform for companies to use for customer experience, employee experience, as well as market research. I’m in charge of our closed loop follow-up product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed to build a mobile app to get to market fairly quickly, much quicker than we could hire an engineering team to do so.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They contributed to almost every aspect, from scoping out the project to design, project management, delivery, and managing the release process. The app was built for both Android and iOS. We specifically chose them because they were able to build a cross-platform app in React Native which was one of our requirements.

It allows us to close the loop with our customers, and takes our closed loop follow-up offerings and makes them available in the app for people to follow-up on tickets from there triggered off of customer experience surveys. Most of the key features were custom to our product and building a mobile version of it, and it wasn't anything unique to the platforms.

They also provided mobile consulting. We’re building up stuff on our end, and they’ve been able to provide feedback and consulting services to identify the best way to do things for the mobile world.

What is the team dynamic?

There is one program manager, two or three developers, and one tester that are working on the project.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

The partnership started before I actually started at the company. My understanding is that there was an RFP process but I don’t know how we found them. It’s likely there were a few different vendors that were a part of it. We chose them because of their price, knowledge with React Native, and ability to build cross-platform apps.

How much have you invested with them?

Approximately $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just launched the app, and in terms of reliability and crashes it’s very stable. We have a reporting service that alerts of us of every crash, and it has virtually none.

It’s gotten very positive feedback. We've run it through user testing on our end, and they’ve told us it’s straightforward and to the point, and that it enables them to do their jobs easily.

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

It’s excellent. We have a dedicated product manager who I can contact at any time. We've set up a private Slack and they're pretty responsive to our needs. We’ve changed the scope of the projects a few times, and they’re able to adjust very well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The overall level of communication and openness. It feels like they’re an extension of our team, and I can contact them at any time and get a response. We have a direct line of communication to our product manager, as well as their CEO and CTO if needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some initial challenges with their delivery of the product, in terms of the quality and the test coverage but that also had to do with processes on our end. It’s not clear whether it could be attributed to more us or them, but that has been resolved and the quality of the work we've been getting recently has been what we expected.

They use a lot of offshore engineers which means that the development time is often shifted across time zones. We’ll give feedback and then we know, it’s going to be 24 or 36 hours before they’re able to address it. It’s a little frustrating that their main resources are in New York, and then development has been offshore which I don't think was entirely clear to us at the beginning.

Advice for potential customers?

Be very clear on the expectations of what they are going to deliver versus what needs to be done on the client side. There are a lot of resources that we should have predicted we needed but we didn’t plan for, and as a result that's where some of the quality issues came in. Initially, we didn't plan on doing any design, but they jumped in and created a design for which wasn’t part of the original scope.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a specialized agency of a global-focused organization devoted to capacity building and training for diplomats and civil servants of member states. I am the head of our New York office.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We aim to provide delegates with the best tools to deliver and enhance their performance. Those tools include materials and knowledge on procedural matters. There is a lot of documentation which used to be delivered in hard copy. Due to the transformations brought by information technology, as well as the PaperSmart initiatives of the institution, we have started to develop software tools and websites in order to provide methodology and rules-and-regulations documents to the delegates of member states. We are trying to shrink the digital divide between computers, cell phones, and tablets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Label Labs developed our iOS and Android apps. Most of the information they delivered was already contained within the organization's domain. The quantity of information was overwhelming, so our apps aim to concentrate the most useful documents and tools which diplomats have to use for getting quick answers regarding meetings, trends, and international politics. We want to streamline the available information, and also include additional links and social media tools in the apps. Since everyone has a smartphone, the interaction with those devices tends to be greater than with printed material, and this is what the apps give us.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

Our organization is like any other institution, so we've gone through a procurement and bidding process, evaluating several companies regarding quality, reviews, and pricing. The personal interaction with the individuals from those groups was also a factor. We had a face-to-face meeting with Blue Label Labs' director and discussed issues. Their offer came on top among the 6–7 candidates who participated in our bidding, regarding timeframe and cost. We were ultimately happy with our choice, but we couldn't know that from the start since we are not tech-savvy people. We are diplomats and lawyers, so the guidance provided by Blue Label Labs has taught us a lot about the field.

How much have you invested with Blue Label Labs?

We negotiated an initial cost of $30,000. During the discussion process, we realized that we needed to put certain limits on the expansion of the product. The cost ended up being around $20,000. Beyond this, there were resources we had to spend within our office, regarding the time needed for providing documentation and actually launching the apps.

What is the status of this engagement?

The apps have been live for two or three weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We have been very happy with the product. It was tailor-made for us and went through several iterations in order to best satisfy our challenges.

Since launching the app, we have sent it to certain members and plan to put together banners promoting it. We are in the earliest stages of its use, but, from what I know, the people who have looked at the app have been satisfied. The simplification of the documentation and form-filling processes have been significant. We used to require actual pieces of paper for many processes, which needed to be signed and filed, but members can use their smartphones for the same tasks, and print, email, or save the results.

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

We had a very friendly relationship. I had a focal point from my office, but I wasn't absorbed by the whole process, even though I was supervising it. I kept in touch with a contact from Blue Label Labs' team on a daily basis, during the final stage. They were always there for us, and answered on time; we never had to talk to a machine when calling their office or emailing them. In the end, everything went okay.

Are there any areas Blue Label Labs could improve?

There is not much I can criticize. Blue Label Labs would be more likely to be critical of us since we asked for many things at the last minute. We pushed the timeframe since we didn't know a lot about software development.

I would recommend Blue Label Labs to anyone else, and I would engage them again for a similar project, even though that would require another bidding process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Cloudred is a web and interactive design studio based in New York City. We primarily work with non-profit, city government, and clients that are interested in doing civic-minded work. I’m the creative partner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We have an existing client that needed an Android app so we reached out to Blue Label Labs for the programming aspect of the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided Android app development.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

We looked at other agencies but I knew Zach Drew [Head of Business Development] from Blue Label Labs personally and saw the work they’d done. We could tell that they knew what they were doing.

How much have you invested with Blue Label Labs?

Confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took 2 or 3 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The client is really happy with the app. I don’t have any stats because they haven’t fully marketed the app yet. The conversion percentage is really good.

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

The project came in on budget.

What did you find most impressive about Blue Label Labs?

I was really happy working with them. They were very knowledgeable.

Are there any areas Blue Label Labs could improve?

There were times it was hard to get a hold of them when they got busy. I think that’s pretty normal for development firms.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an entrepreneur that was looking to develop a small mobile game.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I needed a partner who could build my game.

SOLUTION

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I went through a lot of research. The main problem is that most developers only work on complex and expensive projects, which makes sense, but my project wouldn't have been worth their time. Also, the communication with a bigger company was poor. Blue Label Labs had the perfect size and stood out in terms of communication. They were willing to work with me over a few months' period.

How much have you invested with Blue Label Labs?

The cost of Blue Label Labs' work was between $20,000 and $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project has been completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The feedback has been generally positive. I didn't necessarily build the game in order to make a profit, it was more of a passion project meant to give me experience with the development process.

The game has had around 1,000 downloads at this point. It hasn't had a great success, but it was worth building for the experience itself.

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

The communication with Blue Label Labs' team and principals was excellent. They were all available whenever I needed to talk, which was very nice.

Are there any areas Blue Label Labs could improve?

A point of annoyance, in the beginning, was figuring out how much the project would actually cost. The negotiating process could have been a bit clearer. The game itself was pretty well done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is BridgeEdu, an education startup that creates products to help students overcome barriers to their education and continue to raise persistence levels in schools. I am the CIO and VP of product development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

What we are focusing on right now are two problems that higher risk or high promise students face—financial aid and being prepared for college. Our company has two products. The first is an on-campus program to help students succeed in their freshman year of college. We provide them tutoring, co-curricular activities, resume writing, and linking work and employment to their education to get them to stay in school. The second product is an app that we have built to help students navigate the complex financial aid process so that they can afford school. The app consists of guides at the federal, state, institutional, and scholarship levels.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I have worked 16 or 17 years in the IT area in traditional desktop and backend systems, but this was the first time I created an app. We didn’t know how it should look, if it should be a game or a guide, and what would it take to develop it. I did a quick RFP [request for proposal] and decided on Blue Label Labs as a partner to do this. They guided us through the process of creating an app by helping us define the user experience, documentation, coding, QA, production set up, look, and brand.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I didn’t want to do a full RFP, so I got recommendations for 3 different professional services, and Blue Label Labs was one of them. I sat with all 3 and said, "this is what we are trying to do, and here’s what we’re thinking for the scope." I spent a couple of hours with each team and had them provide their proposals and time estimates of what it would take to build the app. Through years of software development, I know that whatever you think it’s going to be, it’s not enough because things come up. I thought Blue Label Labs asked really good questions about my scope and they challenged me to think about what truly was my goal and what the scope should look like. They did a decent amount of work during the sales cycle to try and understand as much as they possibly could of what I wanted to do because they really hold themselves accountable for the price that they give you. I told everybody I had a set budget with some contingency money included. Blue Label Labs ultimately was the one that convinced me that they had put the most thought into their quote and that the quote was most realistically close to what it would end up costing.

How much have you invested with Blue Label Labs?

Our app investment was between $250,000 - $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Blue Label Labs in April 2016. The version 1 for Android launched on October 1st, 2016. The iOS version 1 launched November 15th, 2016. Version 1.1 for both iOS and Android launched January 18th, 2017. As of the 1.1 release, that finishes the scope of work that we had identified in April.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our app is currently a pilot. Although you can download it from the App Store, it’s really meant to be sold to schools, and then the schools give it to their students for free, it’s not a retail app. Some school systems have a very long lead time. We are in a pilot in 10 different schools, and we are working with counselors to get it to students. The overall feedback of the look, feel, and information provided has been extremely well received both for students and for counselors.

We show it to people in the education industry, and they are blown away by the tone of our videos. They like how they resonate with the students, how easy it is to navigate, how we explain financial literacy concepts that previously students weren’t able to understand, and the way we broke it up into missions with defined starts and ends. I think people appreciate that because it is a long process and breaking it up into smaller chunks is always helpful.

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

Blue Label Labs did a fantastic job. They are in New York, and their development team was in India. I would say that I didn’t feel that at all. As a customer, that’s what you want. You don’t really care where your development is being done. I feel like their project management set the expectations well. They followed through with commitments well and communicated next steps and timelines well. They made the backend development and QA efforts almost immaterial. I never had to talk to a developer. Everything went smoothly with the project management team. To me, that was a very good feeling to have, that I could just go to my one point of contact, and they would handle it from there.

What did you most impressive about Blue Label Labs?

I can’t necessarily compare them to other providers because I don’t have the experience as far as to app building, but I can compare them to other consultancy teams that I have worked with. I felt that they were innovative in terms of how they approached the problem, how they encouraged us to build paper prototypes, and really go through the app before we did any development. They created these insanely large screen flow maps, and we put them up on the wall. There are almost 500 screens in the app, and I had every single screen and arrows going to and from every screen based on what actions they took up on my wall. I was able to modify the user experience before we did any coding. I don’t know how differential that makes them for their ability to prototype that, but I appreciated that that was the process they took with it.

Are there any areas Blue Label Labs could improve?

Blue Label Labs could have had more transparency and communication around actual burn rate vs budget. However, I can't get too upset. Although the project management and requirement scoping went over budget, Blue Label stuck by their original estimate and did not bill me the overcharges. My scope of work did not change but did require more effort than they originally thought.