MassageBook Case Study | Binary Studio

The Client

MassageBook is a leading all-in-one business management software in the US tailored for massage therapists and bodywork experts. It offers an all-in-one solution to help these professionals manage their business effortlessly. The platform is designed to simplify day-to-day operations, attract more clients, and help practitioners grow their business.

Founded by an expert with over two decades of experience in the bodywork industry, MassageBook is about supporting the bodywork community, providing tools that help independent bodyworkers thrive. The platform is popular among thousands of users, with more than 55,000 members in its Facebook community. Recognized as one of the top 10 spa management software products in the US, MassageBook has earned its place as a trusted solution for bodywork professionals nationwide.

One thing that continues to impress us is the quality of engineers that Binary Studio is able to provide us. They are truly exceptional.

And we would have extremely difficult time, if not impossible, finding that kind of talent locally. There is no way we could be doing what we are doing right now and succeeding to the level where we are without Binary Studio help. Will I recommend Binary Studio? Absolutely! They make life a lot easier, they take care of a lot of problems and they allow our products to evolve and develop much more rapidly and at higher level quality than I could imagine even having a team locally.

Mark Volkmann

CEO / MassageBook

MassageBook Case Study-2 CHARLESTON, SC, USA

“

One thing that continues to impress us is the exceptional quality of engineers that Binary Studio is able to provide us

Mark Volkmann - CEO /

Massage Book

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“

They are real experts in both Back End and Front End

James Tetler - Engineering Manager /

Massage Book

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Objectives

Binary Studio helped MassageBook rebuild their platform from scratch following an earlier unsatisfactory experience with a different software development provider. Our team not only accelerated MassageBook's time to market but has also assumed a primary role in the ongoing development process since our collaboration began in 2012.

Our team has successfully achieved the following objectives:

01

Rebuilding the platform for public release

MassageBook reached out to Binary Studio after facing significant challenges with their current vendor, which hindered their ability to launch the application for massage therapists as planned. Seeking a new partner was a difficult decision, as MassageBook had already invested heavily in the platform's development. After a thorough assessment of MassageBook's existing assets and multiple discussions, both companies concluded that rebuilding the platform from scratch was the most effective way to ensure a successful launch. Although this decision required additional resources, they recognized the long-term benefits of a robust and maintainable platform outweighed the short-term costs.
02

Expanding platform functionality

We aimed to enhance the platform by adding new features and capabilities. This goal was centered around understanding and anticipating the evolving needs of massage therapists and bodywork professionals.
03

Continual updates and performance enhancement

A primary objective has been the consistent updating of the platform, with an emphasis on reducing legacy code and technical debt. This process involves transitioning the product to more advanced, scalable technologies, continuously enhancing its performance.
04

Developing a mobile experience

Recognizing the growing importance of mobile accessibility, we set out to extend the platform's reach through the development of a mobile-friendly version, which has recently been revamped using the latest technology stack.

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Solution and Outcome

Our team efficiently recreated the platform's functionality within just four months, facilitating the public release of the MassageBook software. This milestone marked the beginning of a long-term partnership fostering continuous improvement and expansion of the platform.
From the beginning of our collaboration, we engaged in close dialogue with the MassageBook CEO & founder, contributing our insights on the technology stack, feature implementation, business logic, and user experience. As the product evolved, both our team and the client's team expanded. We now operate under the classic Scrum methodology, working in direct collaboration with MassageBook’s product owners and Scrum master.
Our development team is deeply integrated into the client’s business operations. We are actively involved in daily standups and retrospective meetings, and we play a significant role in guiding decisions related to the app's architecture, technical implementations, and design and UX modifications.

AWS

PHP

Symfony

Laravel

mySQL

Vue

Vuex

Nuxt

jQuery

Backbone

Marionette

Cypress

Jest

Rainforest

X-Ray

We have accomplished the outlined objectives as our project has successfully evolved through several key stages.

Stage 1
Binary Studio took over the project with a dedicated team of five engineers. Collaborating closely with two PHP architects from the client's side, they managed to recreate the platform's functionality within four months – a task that previously spanned nearly two years.
The primary technology stack included PHP, CodeIgniter for building dynamic websites, AWS as the hosting solution, and MySQL for database management.
It resulted in the first public release of the MassageBook platform, featuring:
- CRM functionality, encompassing client contact information, SOAP notes (a standardized format for medical documentation), intake forms, email marketing capabilities, and financial records
- Scheduling software for seamless online bookings, complete with client reminders
- A payment module for processing online transactions
- Website building tools tailored for therapists
- An online massage therapist directory, facilitating the discovery and booking of services by potential clients
Binary Studio was largely responsible for Massage Book's entire software development process, with key contributions included:
- Planning and developing the architecture of application modules
- Implementing back-end business logic
- Developing API services and front-end features
- Building modules to integrate Massage Book with third-party services (such as Stripe, Google Calendar, etc.)
- Integrating solutions for communication with hardware
Stage 2
After its public release, MassageBook quickly started attracting a community of massage therapists. Based on their feedback, we've been continuously adding new features to the platform, ensuring it not only meets the needs of our customers but also brings additional value.
To ensure the platform's reliability and scalability, we selected the most advanced and suitable frameworks available. For the MassageBook 2.0 update, we used Marionette and Backbone, brand-new for that moment. This update brought several new features, like an enhanced search, integration with Facebook business pages, better SOAP notes, and more customizable email campaigns.
During this phase, we also introduced the first mobile app for MassageBook users. We started with native apps built with Apache Cordova. These apps were just the beginning, and they set the stage for later cross-platform versions made with Flutter. For more details about the mobile app's evolution and special payment features, check out this dedicated case study.
Stage 3
During the current phase of the project, our focus has shifted towards enhancing overall performance and user experience, along with expanding the platform's capabilities. To achieve these objectives, we've transitioned to the newest technologies and updated to the latest framework versions. A key move in this direction was our migration to Vue.js 2, chosen for its improved performance and scalability. Consequently, all recent features have been developed using Vue.
In addition, we utilized Vuex and Nuxt frameworks, particularly for server-side rendering, which played a crucial role in rebuilding the public search. This upgrade significantly optimized the massage therapists directory for better SEO performance.
A notable aspect of our development process is robust testing. The testing phase starts in the early stages, beginning with requirements analysis and functional test design for features that are under development, and concluding with direct dynamic testing. Our testing occurs at multiple levels:
- Manual
- Automated (Cypress)
- Automated (RainForest)
Each requirement must be covered by a minimum of 3 test cases (success, fail, and validation). We also pay special attention to End-to-End tests. Such tests verify that a system meets external/internal requirements by testing the entire MassageBook platform. E2E tests focus on "journeys" through the complete system, including client/server integration scenarios, and eventually test at the User Interface Level. This practice not only helps in early bug detection but also contributes to reducing development costs and ensuring stable releases.

As a result of these strategic and technical advancements, we've succeeded in continuously developing a reliable and scalable platform. This platform adeptly supports an expanding user base and a growing volume of transactions, aligning with the evolving needs of clients.

User Recognition

The success and impact of the MassageBook platform are evident in its significant user engagement and recognition. Boasting over 15,000 users and a thriving online community of more than 55,000 followers on Facebook, the platform has established itself as a leading solution in the massage therapy industry.
Clients especially appreciate the user-friendly interface, automated reminders, customizable scheduler, integrated POS system, and comprehensive SOAP notes and intake forms. These features not only streamline client management but also enhance the overall user experience.
Binary Studio's collaboration with MassageBook has transformed a challenging situation into a success story, marked by the platform's robust functionality, high user satisfaction, and strong market presence.

About Binary Studio

Binary Studio is a boutique software development company, regularly praised for its unique blend of engineering excellence and product ownership that enables its clients to build robust and scalable software products.
With our development team made up of top 0.5% international tech talent, we build web and mobile platforms using Node.js, .NET, React Native, Flutter, and integrating AI and ML. We also offer full-cycle QA and project management services to ensure the efficient delivery.
Our clients see us as a trusted partner dedicated to turning visions into great products. This is proven by 200+ delivered projects, more than two decades of business excellence, and stellar customer reviews.

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