A B2B2C SaaS Product for super-fast app creation
JollyApps
Created at Jollywise
Worked on from 2012 to 2022
JollyApps: A SaaS Self-Service App Creation System Enabling Fast, Global Deployment of Digital Experiences
Summary
Since 2011, Jollywise has been delivering user-generated content (UGC) campaigns, competitions, and quizzes for clients’ websites and social channels. Recognising that many clients had overlapping needs, we developed JollyApps—a SaaS product that enables businesses to quickly set up, configure, and deploy various digital apps on multiple platforms.
This self-service system not only saved us time but also reduced costs for clients by offering an annual subscription model, rather than a ‘per app’ fee. Trusted by industry leaders like Disney, WarnerMedia, Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon, and Sony, JollyApps continues to power global campaigns to this day.
The Journey
With the surge of Facebook’s popularity in the early 2010s, clients increasingly sought UGC Facebook apps that required robust moderation features. In 2011, we created a global UGC campaign for Disney’s release of The Muppets, called ‘The Never-Ending Mahna-Mahna.’ This campaign saw thousands of video uploads from around the world, all of which required global moderation and content management tools.
Realising the potential for broader application, we took a step back and developed a comprehensive product that could handle more than just UGC. We envisioned a scalable system that could manage multiple app types—UGC, competitions, quizzes, and more—across various platforms and locations.
Starting with UGC and competition apps, JollyApps evolved to support quiz apps, sweepstakes with code redemption, survey apps, and even image creation apps. It was designed to handle multiple languages, global access, and API integration, enabling developers to plug in their own custom solutions.
This system became a powerful tool for our global clients, offering flexibility and ease of use for a wide range of high-profile marketing campaigns.
Goals & Outcomes
Our primary goal was to create a reusable system that could address all our clients’ needs from a single codebase. The project delivered on that, allowing clients to quickly produce and manage digital apps, turning around internal requests far more efficiently.
Not only did this system save clients money, but it also allowed them to offer more value to their audiences. Strategically, JollyApps opened doors to new client opportunities, further strengthening our relationships through the ability to create bespoke campaigns using the system’s robust APIs.
Since its inception in 2011, JollyApps has stood the test of time, continuously evolving to meet the needs of modern digital campaigns. Its longevity is a testament to the clarity of the original vision and the ongoing investment in product management and improvement.
My Roles
As Product Lead, I was involved in every aspect of JollyApps from inception to ongoing development. I worked with the development team to define the initial vision, managed stakeholders, led the team through roadmap planning and execution, and oversaw continuous improvement.
This project was a prime example of how getting the vision right can align stakeholders and teams, ensuring full support and enthusiasm. Seeing the product’s success over the years has been deeply rewarding, and it remains a source of pride for me.
Pillars & Opportunities
Identifying the key pillars and opportunities that would drive JollyApps forward was an exciting process that fuelled creativity and innovation. Below is a snapshot of the core vision and opportunities we identified in 2012, which have remained consistent with some additions to meet evolving market needs:
- Scalability: Allowing for seamless deployment of various app types, adaptable to different client needs.
- Global Reach: Supporting multilingual functionality and global moderation.
- Flexibility: Offering APIs for custom integrations and bespoke campaign creation.
- Cost Efficiency: Providing a cost-effective solution for clients through an annual subscription model.
- Continuous Improvement: Ongoing feature enhancements to meet market demands and client feedback.
Recap
Pillar 1 - The research on the digital landscape
Pillar 2 - The UX of the Apps
Pillar 3 - The configuration of the Apps
Pillar 4 - The platform & operations
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