Adobe BrowserLab / MeerMeer

Define

As a creative web agency, we were frustrated that we weren’t able to visually test websites for inconsistencies with different browsers and devices, and when we did it was a slow and difficult process.

The visual testing tools market was almost non-existent, and the industry was full of scripted testing software that wasn’t aimed at visual testing. The few companies that did provide visual testing had poor pricing models, slow performance and in the end were unreliable resources.

Discovery

We realized we could build our own visual testing software, which would test a website browser within a website browser. In addition, we realized there were visual testing needs beyond our own website testing. Many users are disadvantaged by conditions such as Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataracts, Color Blindness and poor vision that could be improved with a visual testing software tool.

To accomplish a potentially daunting project, we created a new business entity to organize the effort to success. We realized there was a unique way to utilize virtual machines and interface to warrant patenting the software application. And we realized that an SaaS business approach could provide the software idea with the backbone of a business plan, including a revenue/profit model and market strategy.

Design

Plans were developed including software plans for the app, and the SaaS business plan and market strategy, including end-game strategies ranging from running an SaaS company to selling the patent and software.

The Meer Meer brand and marketing strategy for going to market included brand identity, messaging and related corporate ID materials. The BD team designed the architecture, visual interface, and did front-end development for both the marketing site and the software application. And not surprisingly, did lots of testing of the UI and UX.

Materials were designed to pitch the sale of the company/software to some large software corporations, and eventually Adobe. And we continued evolution of the software with market feedback, including a beta program where users could provide feedback on the Meer Meer app to help us evolve it in the real world.

Delivery

Beta testers and other subscribers were processed through the tool's marketing site and the reviews were great!

MeerMeer was successfully sold to Adobe in December of 2007, and was released worldwide as part of Adobe Creative Suite 4, renamed BrowserLab. BrowserLab continues to flourish at Adobe within Creative Suite 5 and we look forward to seeing it evolve.