Case Study
Rebuilding UX Research for a Distributed World
How a global tech company saved $28M and unlocked scalable, secure, anywhere research with CloudLab by Beings.
THE CHALLENGE
$100M Labs, 11.8% Utilization
Between 2015 and 2022, one of the world’s leading tech companies invested over $100M building sophisticated UX research labs: robotic cameras, mirrored observation galleries, high-end AV infrastructure. But by 2023, post-COVID usage had dropped to just 11.8%.
Researchers were:
- Tied to physical locations, limiting participant diversity
- Dependent on complex, inflexible AV setups
- Using third-party tools in non-compliant ways
- Struggling with inconsistent workflows and 40+ disconnected tools
As the new Global Head of UX put it:
“How do we escape the labs?”
That single question sparked a transformation.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Software-Defined Research
A senior program manager on the UX Infrastructure team discovered Beings through a demo of the ‘Infinite Control Room.’ Originally designed for livestreaming and content capture, Beings’ platform offered a configurable foundation for something much bigger: a new research operating system.
Other vendors declined to prioritise this company’s unique needs. Beings leaned in.
Together, we configured and deployed CloudLab: a secure, cloud-native platform for conducting, observing, and storing UX research anywhere—from labs to living rooms to live urban walk-throughs.
THE DEPLOYMENT
From Wearables to Streaming
Over five rapid sprints, Beings partnered with researchers and program managers from:
- Streaming media
- Wearable devices
- Search
- Ads
- Phones
- Mobility, navigation and automotive platforms
- Health and smart home initiatives
Teams simulated:
- Multi-angle living room tests for smart TVs
- Over-the-shoulder mobile walkthroughs
- Wrist-mounted smartwatch navigation
Beings didn’t just provide software—we co-designed camera kits, built training flows, and helped align security reviews across internal teams.
What Researchers Loved
Google’s researchers put CloudLab through its paces—and were impressed. Whether in-lab, remote, or on the move, they found a system that flexed to their workflows, respected their privacy, and let them focus on what matters: the research.
Custom Layouts
🎛️ Total Layout Control
CloudLab’s drag-and-drop canvas let researchers design video layouts in seconds, toggle views with keyboard shortcuts, and run sessions without AV support.
- Add webcams, media, and overlays however you like
- Build and toggle between your favorite layouts (we call them “scenes”)
- Use drag-and-drop or keyboard shortcuts to edit on the fly
- Brand your session, add instructions, or just set the mood with a color gradient
“Super intuitive. I can just drop in what I need and switch layouts live.”
Multiple cameras
📱 Mobile + Field Study Support
With Beings’ mobile app, researchers used phones and tablets as screen shares, context cameras, and gesture cams.
- Scan a QR code to turn your phone into a second (or third) camera
- Use the back camera for gestures, product tests, or contextual views
- Share your mobile screen directly into the session
- Layer everything together — no extra tech needed
“Capturing both the participant’s face and their phone screen at once? Game-changing.”
Data security
🔒 Stakeholder Privacy + Recording Control
Full ownership stayed with the researcher. Recordings only occurred with explicit permissions. Sessions synced to internal cloud storage systems.
- Zero PII leakage: Personally identifiable information is never exposed to downstream processes.
- Encryption everywhere: Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, following enterprise-grade standards.
- Access control: Only verified, authorised users can access session content, recordings, or data.
- Audit-ready: Every session, action, and data interaction is logged for compliance, review, and transparency.
- Jurisdiction-aware: Our infrastructure supports GDPR, HIPAA, and global regulatory frameworks.
🔐 Enterprise-grade privacy and compliance, built in.
Our certifications
✅ Data isn’t just “used” — it’s protected, governed, and treated with the respect it deserves.
THE RESULTS
$28M Saved + Researcher Autonomy
CloudLab replaced fixed infrastructure with a secure, scalable research layer that:
- Enabled mobile-first, hybrid, and in-home research
- Supported up to 8 live feeds with researcher-controlled layouts
- Integrated directly with internal cloud and compliance systems
- Reduced dependence on AV vendors and local IT
- Aligned with enterprise-grade compliance (SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001)
💰 Cost + Efficiency
- $28M projected savings by decommissioning legacy labs
- 13,500+ sq ft of real estate reclaimed
- Fewer handoffs and tools across workflows
🙋♂️ Researcher Experience
- More autonomy, faster setup, and simplified logistics
- Greater access to diverse, real-world participants
🏆 Strategic Recognition
The program manager who led the CloudLab initiative received an internal innovation award and was promoted to product leadership.
⚡ Why It Matters
CloudLab empowers researchers to do what they do best: observe, understand, and improve human experience —without cables, constraints, or compromises. “CloudLab is the future of research.”
👋 Ready to Try It?
You don’t need to change everything. You just need to stay curious.
Let Aida show you what it looks like to work with an AI research assistant that understands your world.