BlueLabel

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company provides funding to small businesses. We do this for both our online channel, our website, and we do it through our telephone channel as well.

Part of the value proposition that we offer is that our customers have a better experience going through the process of applying for business funding with us than they would through traditional banks. We try to make the process easier and quicker so folks can get a decision within minutes, sometimes in real time as they're applying or after they submit their information, otherwise as soon as possible thereafter.

What is your position?

I’m the Chief Technology Officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

In addition to the website and the telephone experience, we wanted to provide customers with a mobile experience as well. Being a relatively small company, we didn't want to make the investment in bringing on technology staff to implement our mobile experience or take time away from the teams that are providing the technology to develop our web services and other internal systems.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Blue Label Labs was able to work closely with our team so they could help us get that first version of our mobile applications out there. It is something that we will probably work with them over time to bring the ongoing development in-house.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

We spoke with several firms and the things that appealed to us about Blue Label Labs were: one, they had a number of references that we were able to speak to that also spoke very positively of them, and the model by which they would do the development seemed to fit well with the way that we approach things. We use an actual development process ourselves and we were trying to understand how we would engage them in both the design and the code testing. That process aligned well with how we do our development.

Finally, I think they provided a good value proposition. A lot of firms, I think, wanted to do a little bit more overkill than what was necessary, or than what we were asking, but they wanted to do it at a materially higher price than what we saw from Blue Label Labs and other firms that actually had made our final cut. That value proposition plays a big part as well.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Our app was between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Ongoing, but will eventually work to bring the development in-house.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Basically it's just a Version 1 of our mobile application that we wanted to get out. After Version 1, we worked with them to build two more point releases, so I guess we're on Version 1.2 now of our mobile experience. They were able to provide both native iOS and Android versions, which was something that was important to us to give us full flexibility for future development.

Actually, we operate two websites. We had a great experience with the first and so we've engaged Blue Label Labs to build our mobile apps for our second website, doing a fairly similar type of customer experience. We'll be launching those in the second quarter of 2016.

The success is that we like the work, both the engagement model and their great value proposition, so much so, that we did a couple more point releases. We've now engaged them to do the mobile app for our second website.

What distinguishes Blue Label Labs from other providers?

For one, there's very low bureaucracy. We're working with the leaders in the organization who are also the "doers", and I would say it's the same way in our organization. They're very well aligned to small, mid-size companies, where you don't have layers of bureaucracy in the company and so you're not looking for a partner that's going to be adding to that. A nice streamlined process; easy to get answers to questions. The billing is very on target; they don't say one thing and then try to bill for a lot more than they had estimated. They just work well with the people at every level here, from relatively new developers to people that are fairly senior.

Is there anything Blue Label Labs could have improved or done differently?

I think it's been pretty good lately. I think that in the beginning there were probably a few times when we wanted a little bit more ongoing information, just from a status perspective. Over the months that we've been working together now, we've gotten to a point where I think we're happy with everything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Planet 911 is a self-protection app that deals with protecting yourself. It records the audio and video around you, calling 911, alerting your emergency contacts, storing audio and video in the cloud. It also has a timer on it for kids and college students to walk in between dorms or if they’re going someplace else.

What is your position?

I’m the inventor and founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I needed an iOS app developed with multiple functions. The app they built has two levels of alarms. There’s level one which sends a link to up to 10 contacts with your GPS location. They click the link and when they do that, it opens up the actual satellite picture of where that person is as well as giving the address. Level two is straight to 911. That GPS location is what the 911 centers are struggling with. For either level one or two, a viewing screen will come up so they can look and see what the user is seeing.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

It’s only available on iOS right now. We’re trying to raise money to do the Android version. I’ve got several versions ready to go. I just need to raise money.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I found Blue Label online. They were the quickest to respond to my inquiry and they were very helpful from the beginning. I’m not a tech savvy. I just got on the phone and they were the first to call back, so I went with them.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The app has cost a total of $105,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The current project is complete but we look towards the future to potentially work with them on the Android version of the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I built the app because there’s no place safe on the planet, and our app works in 247 countries. It will call the emergency number for whatever country you’re in. We’re in 42 countries. We’ve been up for almost two months and we have 1151 users. It’s a free app. If something happens to that person and they don’t make it, the hope is that the audio and video that has been recorded will be stored in the cloud so they can go back and look and try to get any evidence of that person’s last few minutes. Everybody can’t carry a gun but most people have a phone.

I have another company running my SEO [search engine optimization] campaign. They’re doing a great job for me. The biggest thing is app store reviews. I’m 4 stars plus in the app store. I’ve got 20 great reviews. We have had multiple interviews and publicity that came out of Blue Label Labs. It’s helped us grow. I’m sometimes getting 20 or 30 people a day which they say is very good. 

What distinguishes Blue Label Labs from other providers?

Blue Label Labs is really easy to work with. They’ve got an amazing team. I feel like they’re honest with me and I highly recommend them.

Is there anything Blue Label Labs could have improved or done differently?

I can’t think of one time that we’ve had problems. It’s been relatively smooth. They did what they said they were going to do. They got the app out in a timely manner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I don't have a company. I was doing this as an individual who loves music theory.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I just wanted to try something I had never done before, and that led me to create an app.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

It was not a big project. To my mind, it was fairly simple, but got a little more complicated since specific knowledge about music theory was required. I'm not sure if I can name all the services since I was not familiar with anything that was done. Basically, everything from scratch to the final product was done by the Blue Label team.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I was trying to find companies on the Internet and contacted a few without getting any response. I remember reading an article where this company was mentioned as having a good reputation. I contacted them, and I got a very friendly response, which I valued highly. I felt that even though I didn't know anything about making an app, the Blue Label Labs's team was there for me and tried their best to understand what I wanted them to do.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

This project was in the range of $10,000 to $50,000

What was the timeline of the project?

The complete project duration was approximately six months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

The app is ready and in the App Store. It is pretty much exactly what I wanted.

What distinguishes Blue Label Labs from other providers?

This was the first time I have done anything like this, so I won't be able to offer a comparison.

In hindsight, are there areas in which they could improve or things you might do differently?

In the beginning when I described the app, I wanted to know if they were able to do it. I got an answer that it was possible. The only problem was that no one on their team had any knowledge of music theory. That meant that I actually had to teach them all the basics, and it took quite a while to make them understand some of the things. If they had had someone who already had this knowledge, it would have been much quicker, easier, and probably less expensive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are an iOS mobile app that connects travelers to like-minded local people in different cities so that they are able to get recommendations for things to do. 

What is your position?

I am CEO and founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

At the time we started working with Blue Label Labs, we didn't have an in-house developer. I had originally hired a freelance developer to build a prototype of the product for us. It wasn't the best quality. So, instead of trying to find another freelancer, I wanted to find a more reputable development firm. We came to them with existing code base and prototype.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Initially, we were just trying get something out [a minimum viable product] to get feedback on. It wasn't the easiest project in the world because we asked them to take over an existing code base that wasn't built that well. We needed Blue Label's help to stabilize it. The product BLL delivered wasn't completely built from scratch, but it required them to get up to speed on the existing code base quickly. We did have them implement some new features.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I talked to a few other agencies. I had met with Blue Label's leadership to talk about the project, and I liked working with them. They're very technical, but they also seemed to understand the business side of things. They had perspective on SEO [search engine optimization] as well. For me, it was wanting to partner with somebody that wasn't just offering the technical side, but also offering inside information like technology strategy and how to think about the app in terms of an overall business.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

For Blue Label's services, we are spending in the range of $10,000 to $50,000. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We've gotten a bunch of feedback on the overall concept and how that product reflects the concept and what we're trying to turn into an actual business. We first released an MVP version in October [2015] and, based on that, we implemented a new feature to it in February. Since then, we have brought on an in-house developer, so we redesigned the product, and we're just finishing up some usability tests on that. We're rebuilding the app from scratch because we don't want to continue to deal with the buggy legacy code from the first freelancer.

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

Most development firms will have project managers who facilitate between you and the developers. If you want to be involved in the development, project management adds a layer of complexity. I liked working with Blue Label because I was able to interact directly with my developers. From a communication perspective, that was awesome.

What distinguishes Blue Label Labs from other providers?

For me, coming from a nontechnical background, the most important thing was being able to understand the rationale on why we were doing certain things in terms of development and the full implications of new features and Apple system updates. Being actually able to talk to somebody who could communicate business rationale for certain things as opposed to just a pure technology perspective was important. 

Is there anything Blue Label Labs could have improved or done differently?

There were occasions where I would have loved to do certain things to make the app perform better, but then I'd rely on them to say it might be more cost-effective to do it a different way. There were spots where they saved us money for sure. When we first gave them the project, the previous freelancer was costing us $1,000 a month for servers. I didn't have any perspective on whether that was a lot or a little. Once we got Blue Label involved, they changed that right away and saved us hundreds of dollars a month. Having technical advisors was so helpful for me.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company is an insurance brokerage firm. We insure fleets of vehicles whether they be school buses, oil tankers, etc.

What is your position?

I’m the Chief Technology Officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were giving our clients a paper trifold of information that they would have to collect in the event of an accident so that we could handle the claim. We were looking to make that electronic, and since everybody has cell phones today, we thought about making it an app. I started a process of looking for someone who could help us develop an app and get it in the app stores for our clients’ use.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Blue Label delivered an Android and Apple app. The app is an accident reporting app.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I was new to the app development world. I had never developed one. I started researching who to go to on Google and asking colleagues. They recommended me to some places. Every place that I went to basically told me that the cost for the app would be way too expensive for the app we were going to get. One of the companies that I talked with was very helpful. They recommended Blue Label Labs. They said this company would fit my needs more. I reached out to Blue Label and we hit it off.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Our project fell between $10,000 and $20,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

One of the issues we were experiencing with the trifold was that it was just a piece of paper with all the questions. The users would write down the information, and you can imagine that some people’s handwriting is very atrocious, and we would get it via mail. Our new process is all digital, takes all the information into the app, and electronically sends it in PDF form to my claims team. Now, because of the app, we’re getting the claim information much quicker and legible with all the required fields filled out.

What distinguishes Blue Label Labs from other providers?

The thing that stuck out to me about Blue Label Labs is when we negotiated the project, they said it was going to be done by a certain date. To be able to do that do that, their project management team kept reminding me to keep my side of the agreement as far as delivering all the information they needed from me. That effort kept the project online and I really appreciated that. Blue Label came in on time and under budget, and I believe we got the app two weeks ahead of schedule. Their team is top notch.

There were slight adjustments that we needed after the project was officially completely, and I figured I’d have to reengage them, but they just took care of them at no cost which was really nice. We still maintain communication because there are going to be some future projects we’re going to work on with Blue Label. They were very good.

Is there anything Blue Label Labs could have improved or done differently?

I didn’t have any issues at all. They were very helpful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a beauty company that provides on-demand hair and makeup services in the New York and Los Angeles area.

What is your position?

I'm the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were looking to streamline our logistics and operations process by using an app to facilitate scheduling of our artists.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Our app is currently on iOS only.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

I was considering Blue Label Labs and a few others. I went with them because of a very strong recommendation from an SEO [search engine optimization] expert that I trusted. He told me the top app development companies that he had worked with. Blue Label was the best value for the quality.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

This project is in the range of $50,000 to $200,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Before we launched the app, I went to investors to get their feedback to raise money to launch the app with my company, and the feedback was so strong that they just wanted to invest in the app technology. 

Now, I've created a whole new company around just that app technology. The extra knowledge and skills that Blue Label Labs lent to me in coaching me and guiding me through the app process was invaluable. We were able to get to a place that was much bigger than I had expected, and now we have such a scalable product, and will be able to scale our offering around the base of this technology.

What distinguishes Blue Label Labs from other providers?

Blue Label Labs is very responsive. If you send an email, you get a response back in the next five to 10 minutes. The customer service is great. Their business development team is amazing. They're smart. They know a lot and they can figure things out. They add a lot of value that you're not paying for.

Is there anything Blue Label Labs could have improved or done differently?

There's a lot of underlying cost not associated directly with their development of the app. There's a lot of ancillary costs like Apple fees and things like that that could have been more transparent because that can drive up the cost of an app. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I am the co-founder of the Sploops app, a new sports conversation app for fans.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We had a partner do some preliminary design work for us, but we needed a separate company to build the app itself.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Blue Label essentially built our app from the ground up, all the way through to our first launch in November. We used them for everything, including front-end and back-end development, video streaming, integrating Amazon Web Services, and quality testing.

How did you come to work with Blue Label Labs?

They were referred to us through a partner, which we're very happy about because we would not have built as great of an app without their services. Blue Label made the process very simple and easy. It was a great experience for sure.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The cost falls between $50,000 and $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first launch of the app was in November 2015 and the second launch was March of this year [2016]. We work with them on an ongoing basis. When we have ideas for the app, we'll pitch it to them, and they'll come back to us with a plan for us to approve before they start working.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Since the first version was launched in the App Store, we've seen nothing but positive reviews. It's been excellent. Since the second version was released on March 8, we've had almost 2,000 downloads [in approximately two months], which we're also very excited about. The feedback from customers and users has been overall positive. We built an app that has a very smooth navigation, clean interface, and well-functioning technology. Blue Label did an excellent job.

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

Blue Label performed very well. If we wanted to add more features to the app, we would have a general phone call with either our project manager or one of the two co-founders, Jordan [Gurrieri] or Bobby [Gill]. They were very clear with us throughout the whole process. They provided a timetable and pricing for every project, which is very important for the client.

The testing cycle was very easy as well. We were able to go back and forth with questions and suggestions for our project manager on a daily basis. At the end of the process, Blue Label would make sure that we were satisfied with the outcome and everything was buttoned up, and then we would get a bill that we could pay through PayPal. It was all a very smooth process.

What distinguishes Blue Label Labs from other providers?

Blue Label gave us the freedom to be creative while also offering their input, which was a perfect mix for us. We were able to get their professional experience and opinion while also incorporating our ideas. Another thing they are excellent at is keeping you updated throughout the process. It's important for customer satisfaction to be reassured that things are working and moving along smoothly.

Their technical expertise is also something that really sets them apart. There was never a time that they couldn't do something that we suggested. We love being creative, so it was great for us that Blue Label was able to make anything possible. They told us that the sky is the limit, and they proved it. It was unbelievable working with them, and we are going to continue the relationship through the life of our app and any apps going forward.

Is there anything Blue Label Labs could have improved or done differently?

We haven't had any complaints through this entire process. There is nothing negative to say from our end. It was very smooth the entire way.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We have a website that takes care of women who are trying to get pregnant. We use Blue Label to do the website for us.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am the founder of the company. I am also a physician, the director of obstetrics at a hospital.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Blue Label Labs?

We previously had an app and showed it to Blue Label. We wanted to update and modernize it. Our schedule was to start with a basic app and add modules to it to make it grow. It is for iOS, iPhone.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

The scope was to meet with Blue Label to give them the outline for the app. I gave them mathematical formulas and outlines on how to develop the app. They came up with some recommendations, which we discussed and implemented. Then, they designed the app from the bottom up.

What was your process for selecting Blue Label Labs to work with?

We looked online for a small-sized company that already had developed some apps, but not a huge company where I wouldn’t know whom I was talking to. I wanted to be able to talk to somebody in real time since we’re located in New York.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

The project was performed in phases. The initial expense was in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. It was initially a small project, and when we added pieces, they charged us by the addition. It was very reasonable.

When was the latest milestone completed for that work?

The project is still ongoing. It’s a never-ending story. They completed the initial project in time. We started with putting the app in the App Store in October of 2013. They were done within the deadline, upgraded it, and we’ve continued to upgrade it with add ons.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

We received very good recommendations online, and the reviews were excellent. Blue Label were very receptive to reviews and made changes to improve it even more.

How did Blue Label Labs perform?

Blue Label performed beyond expectations. They are very smart. They understand what is going on, and they are extremely professional. They are professional beyond what I have seen in anybody else.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

They are very smart, and they can come up with their own ideas. They think independently for people who do this kind of development. I’ve been doing this for more than 10 years. If I ask them to do something, and it won’t work, they will tell me before they do it. They are wonderful. They deserve any success that they can get and want.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

Not at all. They’re as good as I want them to be.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We are a social network called Skycheckin Team. We used Blue Label Labs to do the frontend development.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am the co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Blue Label Labs?

We briefed them on what we needed, and they gave us some screen shots of what the app could be. We continued talking about it until we found something we both agreed on. Our main concerns were how fast and efficient it would be.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

My partner developed the whole backend that communicates with the app, and Blue Label developed the front end and the design of the app.

What was your process for selecting Blue Label Labs to work with?

It was random. I was looking for a company online and wanted someone who wasn’t too expensive or too cheap, either. Blue Label was in the middle, and I decided to contact them.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

From the time we started the project until it was available on the App Store was about six months. We adapted some features, too. When they gave us the first shot of the app, we thought there were some options we should change. In terms of money, it was about $15,000.

When was the latest milestone completed for that work?

The soft launch was this week so February of 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

Not yet. It's too early. We're very happy with the work. The two teams worked very well together.

How did they perform overall?

We're very satisfied. They understood our project and the purpose of our app. We met some other people who submitted proposals for the app, but they didn’t really get the feeling of what we wanted. They were very involved and fixed the bugs by themselves without us needing to tell them all the bugs. They gave us updated versions of the app, and they worked from that. It was very professional.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

This was my first app, so I can’t compare them to other firms. We had a good relationship. We met the whole team and had a soft launch party. If we need to do more, we will go through them.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

I would say the time frame could improve. We are happy the way it is, but perhaps it could have taken a month less overall.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

Fest is a holding company that I incorporated several months ago. We have produced one app so far. We're an app startup.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I’m the founder and CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Blue Label Labs?

We were looking for the technical proficiency that we were lacking. We're mostly humanities- and business-based, but not as technically savvy. Blue Label Labs was great about the technical side. I had seen some of their previous work, and it seemed like it was compatible. I thought there were a lot of features that translated well into what I was trying to build. That held true throughout the process; they had a good grasp on the area and they were very insightful. I had a complicated vision going into the project, and they helped me simplify a lot of things, based on their experience in the field.

Which platform did you use to develop the platform?

The app was developed on iOS. We're in the process of talking about converting it for Android. If I do that, I think I'll go back and do it with Blue Label Labs since it's much easier.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

In addition to app development, Blue Label Labs has been very helpful in support. I didn’t do any tech training through them. I’m taking classes right now. They were completely in charge of the design element, from creating the basic templates and logos for the business, which we're still using, to designing the app, the color scheme, and so on. We've been through several iterations, and they’ve been very helpful.

What was your process for selecting Blue Label Labs to work with?

My personal process is long and drawn out, looking for the right technical partner who can be supportive and insightful. I found them by going to a few tech startup meetings around the city. One day, I found a huge roster of people who were attending them, what their titles were, and so on. That’s how I found Blue Label Labs. I made a list and narrowed it down based on what they had done before in conversations that I had with them. They were the best, they were nearby, they were relatively well-priced, and they had good experience in the field.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

The cost was between $10,000 and $20,000.

When was the latest milestone completed for that work?

The app was launched in late 2013, but we updated it a few times based on bug fixes. That work is ongoing, and they’ve been helpful about maintaining the app and fixing any problems that we’ve had with it. It's been great so far.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

I’m very happy with the outcome of the project and with the product itself. It's very clean, simple, and well designed. Functionally, it's very sound. I think they were very professional and helpful along the way. They offered a lot of insights about things I wouldn’t have seen myself from different perspectives from design, programming, marketing, across the board. They performed above and beyond. I can’t say enough about how happy I was with Blue Label Labs.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

I was especially impressed with how their people on the technical side of things are normally personality-deficient. Their group was definitely the opposite. My project manager was very outgoing, easy to talk to, very responsive in terms of email, communication, and text messaging. That sealed the deal since he was someone that I could talk to who could talk to me beyond the technical issues.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

There were some normal time issues, and there were additional costs, which always happens, so I can’t hold that against them. Most of that was my doing or hesitancy.