Mobiiworld

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for a construction business. Our company name translates to “The Art of Construction” from Arabic.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobiiworld?

As an expert in the field, the owner of our company has written a comprehensive four-part encyclopedia for homeowners. However, he felt that a book wasn’t the best format to reach people. Since there’s a high demand for e-books in our region, we decided to digitize the book into an Android and iOS app, which we called the Bina Mobile App.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After giving Mobiiworld a copy of our book, we had 3–4 initial meetings to go over proposals and discuss business prospects. Much of our target audience was older and lacked experience with smartphones, so the app needed to be simple and intuitive to use. Their team accommodated our requirements, provided technical counsel for key situations, and developed a book app for Android/iOS devices. They also built a web backend that we could modify ourselves.

The app itself consists of over 300,000 pages of construction content for homeowners. This includes information on choosing and buying land, understanding the culture of the construction field, working with architects and interior designers, and more. The app also advises homeowners on what they should and shouldn’t do. It’s a high-profile guide that informs users of the potential advantages and disadvantages for each approach.

What is the team composition?

I’m not sure of how many developers were working behind the scenes, but they assigned a project manager to handle our project. Their business manager and COO were also involved. 

How did you come to work with Mobiiworld?

I researched 20–30 mobile app developers before finding Mobiiworld. When we contacted them, I was surprised at the quality of their work process. We had meetings to review the business side of the app, talking only in terms of business and final product rather than costs. They clearly knew what they were doing and were the right match for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $85,000. Actually, two months after we launched the app, the app’s owner wanted to do an upgrade. We met with Mobiiworld’s owner and operations manager to get a cost estimate, and they quoted us $20,000–$50,000. However, they persuaded us no to go through with the upgrade because we’d just gone live recently. Despite the fact that they were losing business, they confirmed my impressions that we didn't need to do additional developments. That’s why I’m confident in their team and plan to continue working with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

From inception to launch, their work lasted from February–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve had about 3,000 downloads with 2,000 active users. In fact, many of our users bought a smartphone to access our app. Complaints have mostly revolved around the price; it costs about $40 to read the e-book. We’re currently looking for sponsors to help us boost our reach. Once we get them, I’m sure we’ll climb to 100,000 users.

How did Mobiiworld perform from a project management standpoint?

I was impressed by how professionally they managed the process. They assigned an active project manager, and the business manager and COO supervise everything. In terms of communication, we used phone and email for official coordination. Occasionally, we held digital conferences so that the whole team could listen in on my conversations with the programmers and project manager. The price was high, but the quality of the end product was good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their boldness that stands out. I’d looked for developers locally in Saudi Arabia, India, and Dubai. After going through several companies, I chose Mobiiworld because I could see their team with my own eyes. That was very important to me. I don’t like coordinating just through emails; rather, I like to see things personally. While other developers might have stronger skills, I wouldn’t be able to visit and interact with them the same way I could with Mobiiworld.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Aside from lowering their prices, I can’t really think of anything. I was never upset with them, and I’m happy with their delivery. As time passed, we became more friends than business partners.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Explain exactly what you want out of your app. Most people have general ideas that they want to implement, but it can be challenging to translate those ideas to the development team. Since I’m an IT person, I wasn’t too concerned with this, but we still had to have meetings, review our ideas, and ensure that they understood what we wanted. Additionally, be sure you know how they’ll charge you, whether that’s per contract, hourly, or based on team size.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of MigrateNow. We're legally licensed immigration consultants. We provide immigration solutions for people who want to immigrate to Canada, Australia, or the U.K.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobiiworld?

We didn't have any online presence and we didn't know what audience we needed to target. We wanted to find a company to help us with digital marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had some brainstorming sessions with them where we discussed the business requirements and the design of the website. After that, they used Bootstrap and PHP to design and develop an attractive and SEO-friendly site for us. It was a collaborative process and we approved each phase before they moved on to the next level. They did extensive keyword research and then started doing digital marketing and website optimization for us.

What is the team composition?

We've worked with a business analyst, a technical project manager, designers, and developers.

How did you come to work with Mobiiworld?

I attended a seminar where they were presenting the projects they had done for other big companies in the region. We had a list of requirements we were looking for and evaluated a couple of vendors against those requirements. Mobiiworld's proposal was the most attractive and they had the right set of skills, so we chose them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2018 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The website is visually pleasing and the user engagement is on the rise. We had no online presence at all before we started working with Mobiiworld. Now, we get an overwhelming response through our website and our business is growing.

How did Mobiiworld perform from a project management standpoint?

They've done a great job. We have a project plan and a clear timeline. They have the right resources available for us, no matter what we need. We've been using MS Project for project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Combining their extensive technical and project management skills, they delivered a very good solution.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They handled every phase of the project very effectively.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear project plan and stringent conditions to make sure you're in control of the project and the delivery times.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We have a website that allows users to find the best doctors and hospitals. It has a rating system and features options for social media interaction.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobiiworld?

Our local market has some specific requirements, which differ from European and US standards. We can’t just copy any idea; rather, products need to be customized.

Since we already had a website in place, we engaged Mobiiworld to help us implement a simple signup/login feature. We then expanded their role to include front- and backend work as well as mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the login component on our site, we made the initial design using Adobe XD. Mobii assigned a team of developers to implement our design into the frontend using HTML and CSS. After we verified the work, they proceeded to the backend since we didn't have that experience.

From there, they created native mobile apps for iOS and Android, which is their specialty. We’re currently working on developing a new layout for the site and will finish it this month. The backend work is ongoing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one of their project managers and a UI/UX designer. I don’t know the size of the backend team.

How did you come to work with Mobiiworld?

I found their designs to be unique and modern, and they had reasonable prices compared to the local market.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $59,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2017, and the work is ongoing. The design phase is done, and, after some changes, the frontend development will be finalized this month. I don’t have an estimate for the backend yet.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’re still in the design and development stage, so we haven't had any live users yet. So far, I’m happy with the design, but I can’t speak to the impact it’s had on my business.

How did Mobiiworld perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was a bit awkward in the beginning but improved with time. We initially decided on one design, however, they suggested an alternate option which I preferred. Occasionally, I have meetings with them to give my requirements and check their designs. We review work directly with their team, which facilitates any design changes. It’s been a good experience overall.

In terms of communication, we use Slack and Jira to coordinate the project. I prefer Slack because it’s much easier for me to use. They also send us links to work on Adobe XD, where we can post comments and make changes without signing up.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their excellent design sense is impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Beyond better project management, it would be helpful if the account manager would give us a timeline of the work and vacation periods. In one case, the person who handled our project took a vacation, so no one was available to handle our site responsibilities. It would have been more beneficial if they'd informed us of the schedule or, alternatively, provided replacements as needed.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients will get a good deal when it comes to design and development, but they should always follow up with the project managers. Have a clear vision of what you want, whether it’s a website or a mobile app, otherwise Mobiiworld will come up with too many concept options. It’s better to prepare a document with all the technical specifications for the product. Mobiiworld will also suggest including additional features or taking out others to reduce the development cost.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of sales at an auto-trading company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobiiworld?

We needed help in developing our mobile app. The app had to be built to allow our traders to view our cars and place bids within the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed the entire app after we revealed our vision for it to them. The Mobiiworld developed it so that the app functions on iOS and Android devices.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with the CEO, project manager, five developers, and a few teammates who specialized in backend development.

How did you come to work with Mobiiworld?

We had worked with other service providers before and weren’t satisfied with their work, so we searched online. We reviewed Mobiiworld's portfolio, and we liked that they had worked with bigger companies before. We were comfortable after meeting with the owners a few times.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January to March 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We have no issues with the app, and they delivered everything we asked for.

How did Mobiiworld perform from a project management standpoint?

We had no problems with how they managed the project. We communicated through email, and there were a few delays but only because of scope changes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are open to providing support and quickly fix any issues we have.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are occasional miscommunications between the project manager and his team due to language barriers, but it isn’t a frequent problem.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in the marketing department at Ajman Free Zone. We provide services for businesses who want to register in the UAE, visa services, and so on.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobiiworld?

Our website was very dated, and we needed to upgrade it and improve our digital presence. In addition, we had to move online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we wanted to make sure that all our services were available online.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our website was designed and developed by Mobiiworld. Together with the team, we first created a functional specification that detailed our requirements. They then moved on to development and UI/UX design, which were done using Sitecore. The team also integrated the site with our CRM and ERP system. 

What is the team composition?

There were about 10 people assigned to the project. We mainly spoke to the project manager, but we also worked with the CEO, CTO, technical director, and general manager. Then there was the development and design team. 

How did you come to work with Mobiiworld?

We did quite a lot of due diligence in looking for reputable agencies in the region with extensive experience with Sitecore. Mobiiworld had a lot of experience working with government clients, so we selected them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2019–January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We were one of the first free zones to go online, and Mobiiworld was to thank for that. The site they built was fast and modern compared to our previous platform, which was really sluggish and dated. They tested the new site very thoroughly, so there weren’t any bugs during launch.

Their work has allowed us to generate many leads through the site, which was the main objective. Our current numbers are way above industry standards, and our conversions were very high. That was partly due to our digital marketing, but the sleek design encouraged users to stay on the site and learn more about our services. We’re delighted. 

How did Mobiiworld perform from a project management standpoint?

We had no problems with project management. Mobiiworld was excellent and kept us updated. They were also on time with all of the critical milestones of the project. Initially, we had physical meetings, and then we shifted to online meetings during the COVID-19 lockdowns. During our weekly meetings, the team gave us project updates, and we’d discuss the next steps. They were very good at documenting their progress. We also interfaced to review designs and discuss user acceptance testing. The team was very professional, and we had no complaints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We liked that the Mobiiworld development team was in-house and based in the UAE because we felt like they were in control. It helped that we could physically meet up with them initially and that they were in the same time zone. They were professional and delivered on time. Additionally, they've got a lot of experience, so they were very skilled. The whole experience was seamless.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't really think of anything where they could’ve improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The key is to know what you’re looking for and clearly define objectives and KPIs.