music & video

Sollos – An app that leverages sound
science into enhanced well-being

A fusion of cognitive science and unique audio technology

Sollos, developed by Universal Music Group (UMG), is a wellness app that merges cognitive science with cutting-edge audio technology to help users focus, relax, and sleep better. By integrating advanced tech with UMG’s vast music catalogue, Sollos offers personalised sound experiences tailored to each user.

The app offers scientifically-backed solutions for holistic well-being, showcasing UMG’s innovative approach to blending technology, science, and music. Sollos demonstrates how music can improve quality of life, serving as a powerful tool for mental, emotional, and physical balance.

Building an evidence-based wellness app comes with significant technical challenges. To ensure continuous improvement and deliver the best possible user experience, UMG sought help to rebuild the iOS app with a modular architecture and enhance quality assurance processes. They also needed support to automate backend audio content processing. Learn how UMG and Miquido worked together to refine and perfect Sollos.

+2,000

pieces of audio & video content

exclusive content access

Challenges

Enhancing QA processes

A solid quality assurance process is the backbone of any successful development project. UMG had a strong foundation in place, but needed extra support to lighten the QA workload and seamlessly integrate it into the team’s daily operations. Miquido partnered with UMG to strengthen their efforts, improving issue detection and resolution, which made the development process more efficient.

Empowering Sollos’ rebranding

When Universal Music Group partnered with Miquido, Sollos was undergoing a major rebranding to refresh its design and improve accessibility. To support this, they needed a modern, modular approach to native mobile development. This new approach would make it easier for the team to test and launch new features, simplifying the development process and resulting in a more flexible, user-friendly app.

Streamlining backend processes

UMG saw an opportunity to boost efficiency and reduce the operational workload by automating backend processes. Automation would free up engineers from manual tasks, allowing them to focus on high-impact development, such as creating new algorithms to improve user well-being. This shift promised faster content management, greater operational efficiency, and more resources dedicated to innovation and growth.

Solutions

Creating an effective QA strategy

Our senior software developer led the way in enhancing quality by performing detailed regression testing and setting up automated UI tests to ensure the iOS app was fully evaluated. By expanding the test case repository, a wide range of scenarios and edge cases were covered, helping us catch potential issues early and avoid bigger problems down the road.

The systematic testing ensured a stable, reliable user experience. As the client prepared for Sollos’ rebranding launch, this thorough testing guaranteed the new design would be smooth and glitch-free, preserving user trust and satisfaction from day one.

Enhancing the iOS mobile application

Our iOS developer revamped key parts of the app to create an easily maintainable and scalable codebase. By introducing dependency injection and modularity, the app now supports easier updates and seamless feature integrations. This enhancement made major updates, like redesigning the profile screen and adding features such as widget support and Siri integration, much easier. It also enabled more dynamic, evidence-based improvements to keep the app evolving smoothly.

Developing new features

In addition to assisting our client in improving QA processes and optimising the code, our team introduced several new features designed to elevate the user experience. Mindfulness minutes, integrated with Apple HealthKit, enable users to track their wellness, while voice-over support ensures the app is accessible to everyone. A new beat checker feature allows users to preview neural beats before sessions, adding a personalised touch.

We also implemented user surveys to gauge how the app’s sounds impact well-being, validating its effectiveness in promoting relaxation, sleep, and focus. New sharing options were added to help grow the app’s user base. An extensive UI overhaul, including a typography and colour audit, enhanced visual consistency and appeal. These updates made the app more user-friendly and accessible, perfectly aligning with Sollos’ rebranding vision.

Backend process automation

Initially, adding beats to sound files was a manual task managed through Airtable, a tool for handling databases and workflows. Our backend developer helped automate this process, making it run seamlessly with just one click. The automation now fetches the correct sound files based on parameters stored in Airtable, transfers them to the noise-adding algorithm on AWS, and accurately places the processed outputs.

Enhancing user feedback and data analysis

Our team assisted in building a comprehensive survey system to measure the impact of sounds on users. This system gathers feedback before and after sessions to assess how effectively the audio promotes relaxation, sleep, and focus. The collected data is analysed to uncover valuable insights into user experiences and preferences.

We also developed a robust database to track and analyse sessions and songs, using metrics such as survey responses, playback length, and frequency. This provides a deeper understanding of user behaviour, allowing for continuous improvement of the content.

Let’s work together

Services & tech stack

iOS
Backend
QA

Results

Increased marketability

With a sleek, user-friendly design and accessibility that aligns perfectly with Sollos’ rebranding goals, the app’s marketability has significantly increased. The revamped Sollos app fully harnesses UMG’s expertise in blending science and entertainment for holistic well-being. Unique features and personalised experiences, shaped by user feedback, set Sollos apart and attract a growing audience.

Increased operational efficiency

Automating backend processes has improved operational efficiency, reducing manual tasks and freeing UMG’s team to focus on other strategic initiatives. Our ongoing collaboration with UMG continues to drive Sollos forward, with plans for additional automation and new backend capabilities, including improved survey data processing and deeper analysis of audio session impacts. These upgrades will ensure Sollos remains innovative, delivering even more value to its users.

Unlocking future growth

Sollos stands out in the wellness space with user-focused features like mindfulness minutes, a beat checker, and integrated surveys. These tools not only elevate the user experience but also provide valuable insights into user behaviour and preferences, guiding smart development choices. The app’s modular design allows for seamless integration of new features, ensuring it stays ahead of trends and continues to meet the evolving needs of users.