MotionMobs

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of IT at Porter Freight Funding. I'm responsible for technical management, strategy and execution of IT projects for the organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MotionMobs, and what were your goals?

Porter Freight Funding's target clientele is Owner Operator Trucking Companies. We wanted to develop a mobile app for our clients to have a resource they could use anywhere to quickly and easily complete day to day tasks like credit checks or submitting loads. We also wanted to increase our visibility in the freight factoring industry by offering a competitive product and an "easy to use" solution for new customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

The vendor was already selected when I was assigned to the project.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

There were a series of discovery meetings to determine what the app would look like and how it would function. We had ongoing weekly status meetings with a project manager, Sam, until the project was viable enough for testing. Once the MVP was achieved we released the iOS and Android apps to the stores.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

A project manager and team of 2-3 developers were assigned to our team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Since the release of the app we've added 800+ users with a steady increase of new users.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The PM was easy to reach via Slack, weekly meetings, and usually provided prompt feedback to questions.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The design of the app and user experience exceeded our expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of JHO App, Inc. It’s an app that allows users to write letters from their phones.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MotionMobs?

I wanted to create an app that was bipartisan and would allow Americans to write their congressmen a physical letter by composing it on their phones. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve created an app that mails a letter written on the phone and has all the participating representatives’ mailing addresses. They built the app for both iOS and Android. The deliverable was the app itself. There were many test runs and a biweekly development report.

I had a lot of the vision myself but they also handled the app’s UI/UX designs. I created mockups, and they enhanced them. Their team helped me with marketing by putting together images for the app stores and creating a pitch deck.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Sam (Project Manager), Matt (CTO), Emily (COO), and Taylor (Interactive Developer).

How did you come to work with MotionMobs?

I knew of someone who worked with them. Because I knew they were there, I contacted MotionMobs. That was the door opening and then when I met them all I liked everyone.

How much have you invested with them?

I invested about $140,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement was from August 2019–December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app is successful and is up and running in the respective app stores. We had started direction on where we were going to use some components of a third-party provider. We wanted to utilize the Google Civic API but found that some of the data weren’t accurate. It’s probably because Google Civic is more focused on electronic means than physical mailing addresses.

We had to re-shift and change our programming thoughts about creating our own backend to provide the addresses for all the representatives.

How did MotionMobs perform from a project management standpoint?

They did well with project management and always kept me informed. Their biweekly reports as well as weekly and ad hoc conversations kept me in the loop. We typically communicate through emails, phone calls, and in-person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their responsiveness. They’re very personable and took the time to really understand what I wanted to do. We had conversations back and forth about how to make it work. It was active participation with friendly people.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything went pretty well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think through what you want to happen. Mock it up at least in your mind so you can clearly convey what you want to do.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My organization is called GirlSpring, a nonprofit with a mission of empowering girls ages 9–18. Our largest platform is an online community and website for teenage girls of 13–18 years old. We operate as an online magazine with content created for girls. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MotionMobs?

We already had a website and realized the need for an app based on the teenage girls that we worked with. 

One of the girls in our group has gone to Google CAMP, and she came back super excited. She said she could help design an app for GirlSpring, but she didn't know how to code or do any programming. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We went to MotionMobs with the idea of this teenage girl's vision for an iOS and Android-based app. They took her basic design, which was pretty well-thought-out. They had to work within our budget and within the constraints of what they could do with her visual layout, what it would look like, and what it could do in real life. 

Their team did a lot of research about our competitors, both in the nonprofit market and in the same type of app. 

Our mission as a nonprofit is to help girls by creating a peer platform with content created by other girls. They researched similar digital magazine platforms that have peer content, which there weren’t that many. They also looked at online magazines written by adults. 

From a nonprofit perspective, they also considered what we wanted to accomplish and how we wanted to serve our audience using the design of one of our members. 

They did a lot of research before coming back to us with a proposal, and then we had some conversations about how long it would take. 

What is the team composition?

Initially, there were three people, but for the majority of the project, there were two main people that I worked with. Behind the scenes, I didn't talk to the developers directly. I talked more with their marketing director and an account manager. 

How did you come to work with MotionMobs?

We wanted to work with a woman-owned company to go with our girls’ empowerment mission. That was what led us to MotionMobs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from May 2019–November 2020. The actual initial conversation before we signed any contract was in May 2019. The app was finished in September 2020, and we released it publicly after some final tweaks in November 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just launched the app publicly right before Thanksgiving, so it's hard to measure in numbers right now.

However, in terms of qualitative impact, the audience that we're working with — a group of 60 girls — said that being able to pull up our magazine app on their phone has been a hundred times better than pulling it up on the website. 

For them, the experience of immediately being able to see an article they've written published on an app provides a great sense of pride and confidence. Thousands of other people can also pull up the app and easily read it. 

How did MotionMobs perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a great project management system. The initial conversation was a long process. It began with how much the project was going to cost because I needed to find the money. They were helpful from the beginning in helping me make connections and find grants locally.

Our member also was able to participate in the discussions of the design process. We wanted to get feedback straight from her since she created the original design, considering our budget and what the app could actually do. She was able to talk to some of the developers as they were working on it, and that was a cool experience for her. 

On the contract, MotionMobs billed us every two weeks based on the estimate of the project cost. Once we got close to the total cost, they asked if we wanted to cut back on some things. They were very forthcoming and upfront with the costs. 

They sent reports every two weeks, so they were very transparent and itemized what they were working on and how much things cost based on their hourly rate. It was very easy to tell what they were working on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very professional, especially when there was some confusion between them and our website hosting provider. The people hosting our website had been doing some minor marketing for us, and there was some confusion right before we were launching. There was a delay, and the app wasn’t working fast. 

The marketing firm was saying one thing, and MotionMobs was saying another, and I didn't know enough to know who was right and wrong. 

MotionMobs asked me to let them reach out and talk to our marketing firm because they thought the firm didn't understand the cause of the delay since they built two different things.

They made it easy for me to navigate between them, instead of making me the negotiator when I really didn't know what I was talking about. 

I appreciate that they were able to step in and make that communication go much more smoothly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Like all companies, they're super busy and have a lot on their plate going on, but I really can’t think of anything they could improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If customers come to MotionMobs and say they want an app, then the team is going to research what they think the app should look like. If they have a specific vision of what they want the app to do and what it should look like, the team can customize it. 

However, if customers don't tell them, they’ll build it based on similar business models of what they're researching. If clients have a specific idea in mind, make sure they know that so they're not looking at other models and thinking that that's what they want. Be specific. They can customize the app to clients’ needs,  but the team has to know what they want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the manager of communications and marketing at a pediatric not-for-profit hospital.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MotionMobs?

We had a previous vendor who developed a web app for us. However, they went out of business and the app was no longer supported. MotionMobs came to the rescue to help us get our resource back online.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was a mobile app for iOS and Android. They provided the technical skills and support for the development of the app, a resource for poison control information.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from their team.

How did you come to work with MotionMobs?

A friend recommended them as they worked with them before. The fact that they were a local company was a big plus.

How much have you invested with them?

The investment was about $30,000 on our part.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together beginning in September 2019, and they completed everything to satisfaction in January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app that MotionMobs helped us develop is a resource to identify flora, fauna, and household poisons in Alabama. New residents, science teachers, and first responders all use the app. They all appreciate that it’s back online, and they all comment on the fantastic changes that MotionMobs made, like improving the aesthetics.

How did MotionMobs perform from a project management standpoint?

It was a first-class experience and we will definitely work with them again. We mainly communicated with email and scheduled calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They cared about our organization. They expressed interest and made it seem like our work was important to them, which really distinguished them in our eyes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t say anything bad about them. We’ve worked with three different vendors on the project, and they’re by far the best.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Projects like this rely on the buyer to have their ducks in a row and have the content ready to go. If we hadn’t had everything ready to go, the project would not have been as smooth.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I run a tour and hospitality company based in Selma, Alabama.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MotionMobs?

MotionMobs helped me create a tourism app for my business and a website to help promote it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a mobile application for both iOS and Android. It functions as an interactive map where tourists can find restaurants and attractions, but also get access to free guided audio walking tours. The website so far is more of a landing page to help direct people to the app.

What is the team composition?

I worked with several different members of their team, but Sam (Project Manager, MotionMobs) was the leader on my project and had a couple of other people working alongside him.

How did you come to work with MotionMobs?

I called two different companies in Birmingham, and when I went in to interview them and see their offices, the MotionMobs team just seemed like a better fit.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in April 2019 and our work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app seems to be doing very well so far. People find it intuitive and easy to understand, and any issues we have had have been solved pretty quickly by the MotionMobs team. Their assistance has made it much easier to produce an app that caters to an audience that largely does not understand how phones work.

How did MotionMobs perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very professional throughout the whole project. They took a really hands-on approach and were able to walk me through a lot of things that even I didn’t understand about the technical side of what goes into an app. I learned a lot because of their willingness to explain it to me as we went through the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were just a really enjoyable team to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think it was difficult for me at first to understand some of the more technical languages that they were using, but any time that happened they were willing to slow down and discuss things in more detail, so I wouldn’t blame them for anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would just recommend you choose to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the manager and administrator of CodingSolutions, LLC. Our startup organized about a year ago to provide additional training to students who are transitioning from colleges and universities into the software engineering and development field.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MotionMobs?

Most recent graduates tend to work independently rather than collaboratively, which is more common in the corporate world. Our platform allows them to work together on community-based projects.

We didn’t have any in-house resources who were well-versed in coding and software development. Therefore, we needed an online presence to train the students graduating from secondary institutions of higher education. We hired MotionMobs to provide the software we needed.
 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

MotionMobs developed our web platform that gives users access to an online process to find developers who recently graduated from college and engage them to collaborate on real-world projects with established teams. 

Our group of hiring partners can view each recent student’s in-progress work through our system to assess their skill level. Having access to current projects helps recruiters decide whether students are qualified to work with a company.

MotionMobs continues to work with us as a consultant. They are evaluating the portfolios candidates provide to determine whether they are well-versed in the programming languages we need. Since none of our internal employees have a technical background, we will continue to use MotionMobs as a partner we trust to identify the best candidates.

What is the team composition?

We mainly interact with Taylor (President, MotionMobs). I have also worked on a limited basis with Emily (Marketing Director, MotionMobs), Sam (Project Manager, MotionMobs), Vaughn (Marketing Strategist, MotionMobs).

How did you come to work with MotionMobs?

A mutual friend introduced us to MotionMobs.  After conducting our due diligence, we decided it was the right partnership for us.

How much have you invested in them?

We invested a little more than $100,000 in this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since May 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

MotionMobs helped us meet our goal of launching the platform and attracting applicants by the deadline we set.  We are very pleased with the finished product, which is very user-friendly and exceeds our earlier expectations. We are all very excited and optimistic about it.

By answering a series of questions, students can quickly fill out a profile based on their background. Once registered, they have the opportunity to deliver a real project they work on with other developers. 

How did MotionMobs perform from a project management standpoint?

MotionMobs has met every deadline. Our communication has been great. Taylor (President, MotionMobs) and her team have been very supportive.   As a client who lacks experience in their field, the team’s guidance has been particularly important to us. They carefully explained each step as we went along. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

MotionMobs’ greatest strength is working closely with clients. Their analytical skills helped us determine our true goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no complaints. The only limitation in their growth is the same problem that all of our hiring partners are having. It’s difficult to find properly trained software engineers and developers, which is the problem our program intends to solve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Spend some time with MotionMobs’ principals. Let them guide you through their understanding of your project and plan to complete it together. As long as both parties maintain communication, the team at MotionMobs will do their very best to deliver what you are looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, a commission formed by the state legislature to organize year-long celebrations for the state’s 200th anniversary. We’re working through a 12-member commission and committees focused on education, communities, and statewide initiatives, and partnering with agencies like Alabama Public Television, the department of archives, the state tourism department, and the state historical commission. The celebrations have been an opportunity for us to do significant things in the realm of education including teacher training, social studies content, and links between schools and communities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MotionMobs?

One of our big projects for the bicentennial—and probably the most visible one—is the Alabama “PastPort”. It’s a guide to about 300 historical sites around the state. There’s a printed version that people can take and have stamped at the sites. Because we could only print a finite number, we decided to develop an app version.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

MotionMobs developed our PastPort app. They now manage maintenance and updates for us. You can check in at sites virtually with the app and get a virtual stamp on your passport. It links to additional content, particularly to the Encyclopedia of Alabama which is an online resource all things Alabama.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with the president and the marketing director.

How did you come to work with MotionMobs?

MotionMobs was contracted through the design firm that we were working with.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

They developed the app between December 2017 and April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most important thing that MotionMobs did was make the content accessible to students in classrooms. We’re a very rural state and there are areas where the schools don’t have the resources to put students on a bus and bring them to the state capitol. The app enables them to be part of that experience in their own classroom. Teachers are using it extensively and developing lesson plans around it because an entire class can take a virtual field trip thanks to the app and then link to the additional educational resources. The same is true for people with disabilities or who are unable to travel. That’s an added value.

How did MotionMobs perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management has been first-rate. They’re collegial and very responsive to questions and when we reach out for updates or more information. We had a very short timeline given the limited timeframe of the celebrations. They’ve been sensitive to that. Our budget is limited so they've worked with us to create an affordable app and to stay within our budget. They've been terrific.

They communicate clearly which makes things easy. For example, I'm the least technologically savvy person on our staff and they’ve been able to make me understand what they're doing. They bring me along without being condescending or dismissive in any way, which I really appreciate. We have come to highly value the quality of their communication.

The quality of their work is also very high. We appreciate the intelligence and experience that MotionMobs and their staff have brought to our project. Our experience with MotionMobs has been so positive. We have a real partnership rather than just a contractual agreement.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I could go on about the positive experience of working with them but, when it comes to the actual product, what they created is high quality and highly functional. We haven’t had any problems with it. We have a vast array of audiences using the app and the only complaints have been that it doesn’t have enough content, which is what we provided. We were happy with how it was rolled out and how it’s been maintained. We’ve been very satisfied.

They also think beyond what's in the contract. They've come back to us with ideas about things that we could do or ways we could approach things. We see the app as something that will grow and be an asset at the end of the bicentennial. They’ve worked with us on that, with an eye towards longevity and investing in it as a continual resource. In my experience, that’s not always the case when you work with contractors. They see the potential and have gone the extra mile to realize it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

MotionMobs has been a valuable partner and a dream to work with. We’ve had a great experience and I highly recommend the company.