HTeaO
The app built to grow with a franchise that isn't slowing down
HTeaO partnered with Detroit Labs to completely redesign their mobile apps for iOS and Android. The goal: create a fast, intuitive experience that scaled with the brand and deepened customer loyalty. The work supported a larger digital transformation to fuel HTeaO’s rapid growth.
HTeaO is the country’s largest iced tea franchise, serving ultra-premium teas and coffees. With over 100 locations and more on the way, they’re expanding fast and building the tech foundation to support it. To meet that demand, they needed more than a digital refresh. The existing mobile app lacked the flexibility, reliability, and integrations required to serve a growing customer base. HTeaO came to Detroit Labs to rethink the mobile experience from the ground up—giving customers an easier way to order, earn rewards, and stay connected to the brand, whether pulling into the drive-thru or planning a gallon order for the weekend. Just as important, the app needed to serve as a custom platform for growth. It had to be built around HTeaO’s model, not wedged into someone else’s.
The Challenge
HTeaO’s original mobile app wasn’t keeping up—with the business or its customers. It needed to be more reliable, more flexible, and integrated with critical systems like Olo (for ordering) and Paytronix (for loyalty). It had to scale with the brand and feel just as welcoming and seamless as the in-store experience.
The Vision
HTeaO saw the mobile app not just as a utility, but as an extension of their brand. It needed to bring their hospitality, convenience, and product customization into the palm of a customer’s hand.
Smooth ordering across pick-up, curbside, and delivery
Easy customization for tea blends, gallon sizes, and more
Built-in rewards and incentives through Paytronix
A frictionless, always-on connection to their most loyal fans
The Process
HTeaO came to us with a clear objective: build a mobile experience that could grow with the brand while staying true to the customization and hospitality that define their in-store experience. Their existing app couldn’t support the scale or complexity of what was ahead, so we started from scratch, designing and developing brand-new iOS and Android apps.
To stay grounded in what customers actually needed, we used a blended research approach:
Customer Insights: We analyzed loyalty data, app store reviews, and conducted competitive analysis to uncover pain points and usage trends.
Persona Development: AI-powered tools helped us rapidly create data-informed personas, offering sharper direction for user journeys and feature prioritization.
At the same time, a full technical audit of the legacy system exposed key performance issues and architectural limits. This helped guide foundational decisions about scalability, reliability, and integrations.
Working in agile sprints, we partnered closely with HTeaO and their branding agency, Norton Creative, to ensure every screen felt consistent with the brand and every feature supported real operational needs. Our team iterated quickly—from wireframes to prototypes to production—continuously testing and refining to keep pace with a high-volume QSR environment.
We focused on four critical pillars:
Reliable Ordering: Rebuilt the technical foundation to eliminate crashes and simplify the order flow.
Fulfillment Flexibility: Enabled in-store pickup, curbside, and delivery options.
Loyalty Integration: Redesigned rewards around real customer behavior, making the system more engaging and easier to use.
Personalization: Enhanced user profiles, reordering, and notifications to keep the experience relevant beyond just transactions.
The Solution
The new HTeaO mobile app launched in December 2024 as a complete rebuild—faster, more reliable, and fully aligned with the brand’s growth ambitions. It gave customers exactly what they needed: a seamless way to customize drinks, choose fulfillment options, and earn rewards along the way.
Customization became effortless. Whether fine-tuning flavors or selecting gallon sizes, customers could personalize orders without friction. The redesigned rewards experience made earning and redeeming points intuitive—boosting engagement and driving repeat visits. Payments were streamlined too, with Apple Pay available at launch and Google Pay following shortly after to reduce drop-off and speed up checkout.
Behind the scenes, the app was built on a modern tech stack with scalability baked in. And the results? Adoption was swift. In just a few months, the app reached nearly one million active users, with thousands more joining each week. Even more encouraging, average order values are consistently higher through the app than in other channels, pointing to stronger customer engagement and higher-margin transactions.
The new app isn’t just a better interface. It has become a central pillar of HTeaO’s growth strategy. As they expand into new markets and build deeper digital relationships, the app stands ready to scale with them.
