Back to all stories

Pickatale: Pivoting to Global Schools with Strategic EdTech Development

How we partnered with Pickatale at a critical juncture to transform their successful Norwegian family app into a global digital library solution for schools.

Web DevelopmentEPUBGlobal SchoolsTeacher DashboardAI
Pickatale App Showcase

"AXOL played a pivotal role in the successful launch of our web library product back in 2022."

"Their expertise and efficiency, from concept to execution, allowed us to bring our vision to life in just three months—a feat that seemed nearly impossible at the time."

"We highly recommend AXOL to any organisation looking to launch their EdTech products."

Sigbjorn Dugal
CEO & Founder - Pickatale

The Challenge: From Nordic B2C Success to Global School Solution

Pickatale, an innovative EdTech company, had already captured the hearts of families in Norway with their engaging mobile reading app for children aged 0-8. Their vision was ambitious: to expand this love for reading into schools worldwide. However, transitioning from a direct-to-consumer model to a robust, scalable solution for educational institutions presented significant hurdles. They had struggled to deliver a product that met the specific needs of teachers and school administrators on a global scale. This was a critical time for the business, requiring a strategic shift and expert development to unlock the vast potential of the international schools market.

Our Solution: Expertise-Driven Development for Educational Impact

Joining Pickatale at this pivotal moment, we leveraged our experience in EdTech and complex platform development to address their challenges head-on. Our approach focused on:

  • Insightful Teacher Dashboards: We designed and built comprehensive dashboards providing educators with valuable insights into student reading progress, engagement levels, and areas needing support. This empowered teachers to tailor their approach and effectively manage their classrooms' literacy development.
  • Enhanced Reader Experience with EPUB: Moving away from a homebrew format, we implemented a reader experience built around the EPUB standard. This not only improved accessibility and compatibility but also streamlined content management and allowed for a richer, more interactive reading experience for pupils.
  • Streamlined School Onboarding Portal: To facilitate global adoption, we developed a sophisticated onboarding portal. This system enabled educational bodies to easily manage their structures, allowing for the clear organisation of students into distinct Organisations, Schools, and Classes, simplifying administration and user management.

Within a demanding timeframe, we delivered a transformed platform ready for the global education market.

Pickatale Create: AI-Powered Book Creation

Make captivating books for every student with the power of AI. With Pickatale Create teachers can effortlessly craft engaging, personalised books that support both the curriculum and individual student needs.

Pickatale AI Book Creator Interface

Teachers using the Pickatale AI Book Creator (Illustrative Placeholder)

Results: Unlocking Global Potential

Our collaboration catalysed Pickatale's entry and growth in the international schools sector.

  • Successful Global Schools Launch: The new platform features enabled Pickatale to effectively market and deliver their product to schools worldwide, overcoming previous barriers.
  • Empowered Educators: Teacher dashboards provided the tools educators needed, making the platform a valuable asset in the classroom.
  • Improved Accessibility & Scalability: The adoption of EPUBs and a structured onboarding system created a more robust, scalable, and user-friendly platform for both schools and Pickatale's internal teams.
  • Critical Acclaim: Pickatale's enhanced offering and impact on early childhood literacy were recognised when it was named one of Time Magazine's Best EdTech Apps, ranking among the top 20 globally.
  • Sustained Partnership: Our collaboration extended beyond the initial transformation. We continued to work with Pickatale for over two years, iteratively enhancing the product, adding new features, and supporting their continued success in the competitive EdTech landscape.

"When Pickatale needed to pivot and scale their offering for the global schools market, we provided the critical development expertise. Our work on teacher dashboards, an EPUB-based reader, and a comprehensive onboarding portal was instrumental in their subsequent success and international recognition."

Fostering a Lifelong Love for Reading, Globally

The Pickatale story demonstrates the power of strategic partnership and targeted technological innovation. By addressing specific challenges in the educational sector, we helped Pickatale expand their reach and impact, contributing to children's literacy development on a global scale. We are proud to have played a key role in evolving their platform to meet the complex needs of schools and educators worldwide.

Explore Pickatale and their offerings: Pickatale Website