Scaling a Platform and Structuring for Impact

The work was important. The foundation wasn’t strong enough to sustain it.

The Digital Bible Library (DBL) is the largest repository of Scripture translations in the world—housing over 2,000 languages across text, audio, video, and braille. It enables 6.1 billion people to access the Bible in their heart language. But there was a problem: over 1.5 billion people still lack the full Bible in their language, and more than half of the world’s languages have no Scripture at all.

And DBL itself was struggling to keep up.

For more than a decade, the platform had been managed by a patchwork team—a volunteer, a customer support generalist, and a handful of translation experts. A critical product serving a global mission was being held together by a few overextended individuals.

There was no roadmap. No clear leadership structure. No plan for the future.

DBL needed more than just fixes. It needed a complete operational transformation. That’s where Ounce stepped in.

Building a Team That Could Build the Future

When we first engaged with DBL, it was clear that its biggest challenge wasn’t technology—it was structure. There was no dedicated product team, no defined cadence for planning and execution, and no single entity responsible for driving DBL forward.

The first step was getting the right people in place.

We grew DBL’s team from a handful of part-time contributors to a fully staffed team of over 20 experts—including front-end and back-end developers, API and infrastructure specialists, product designers, customer support professionals, and content experts in biblical translation.

We didn’t just add people—we built an operating model to support them.

We defined how work happened, how priorities were set, and how execution was managed. We transitioned DBL from an ad-hoc, reactionary approach to a structured, strategic operation—one where product planning, technical development, and customer support worked in sync.

And we ensured that DBL was positioned not just to survive, but to scale.

Making DBL Work - For the People Who Rely on It

Technology at this scale is only as good as the experience it delivers. DBL wasn’t just under-resourced; it was difficult to use, poorly documented, and lacked a clear vision for growth.

We tackled these challenges head-on:

• We led a complete product redesign—mapping out the entire platform experience, refining workflows, and establishing a design system for long-term consistency.

• We improved API structure and documentation—previously, DBL’s API was largely undocumented, creating barriers for developers and partners. We worked with teams to rebuild and document a more scalable system.

• We standardized metadata across thousands of translation records—analyzing unstructured XML data and publishing the first official metadata guide, bringing consistency to an otherwise fragmented dataset.

• We rebuilt customer support from the ground up—migrating DBL’s support team from individual emails to a centralized platform, establishing response protocols, resolution policies, and knowledge management systems.

• We clarified DBL’s product messaging—the language used within the platform was unclear and inconsistent, creating confusion for partners and translation agencies. We redefined how DBL was positioned to ensure clarity in how it served its global audience.

One team member reflected on the transformation:

“Aaron was able to take a fragmented roadmap and turn it into something the entire team could rally around. He has a unique ability to translate complex product and technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies.”

Funding the Future

A mission this large needs more than just great execution—it needs financial sustainability.

We built a fundraising strategy and financial model that secured millions in annual donor funding, ensuring that DBL had the resources to continue growing.

With a stronger team, a clearer roadmap, and a stable financial foundation, DBL was now positioned for long-term success.

But real impact isn’t measured in organizational improvements—it’s measured in people.

Why This Work Matters

“Language is what gives you identity. If someone doesn’t have their language, they’re not a people.”

These words from linguist Blas Jaime, who worked to revive the Indigenous Chaná language, speak to something deeper than just translation.

For billions of people, having Scripture in their heart language isn’t just about faith—it’s about identity.

With DBL stabilized, its team fully staffed, and a clear succession plan in place, more people—across thousands of languages—can now access the Bible in the format that meets their needs.

What We Took Away

Ounce didn’t just fix DBL’s broken processes or build a better product.

We helped create a structure that will last. A system that ensures DBL can continue expanding its reach, improving its technology, and serving the communities that rely on it.

Because this work isn’t just about technology. It’s about making sure that language—identity, culture, and meaning—is preserved, honored, and accessible to all.