Mushket Mobile

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the operations manager for an online video network. We oversee multiple YouTube channels that specialize in new age music. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mushket Mobile?

We engaged Mushket Mobile to build an iOS application for one of our brands.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create a high-quality, cost-effective app that allows users to have a customized music experience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our previous managing director researched several options and chose Mushket Mobile due to their professional and cost-effective proposal. When I took over the project, I visited the team in Ukraine. I was impressed with how accommodating and helpful they were and felt that we had hired the right firm for our project.

Describe the project in detail.

Mushket Mobile guided us through the research and wireframe process to set up an outline of the project. They then designed and developed the iOS app. The team remained helpful as we continually changed the project’s direction. They also offered solutions to our challenges and implemented them promptly.

What was the team composition?

We interface with a lead iOS developer, a UI designer, and a project manager.
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The app has yet to launch, but we’re highly satisfied with the design and functionality of the app. We’re confident of its success once we release it.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Mushket Mobile leads a highly productive workflow. We collaborate through Skype and email. Despite some language barriers, the team is overall good at communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Mushket Mobile delivers high-quality work very quickly.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Their communication still has room for improvement. An uneven fluency in English has caused some challenges in our collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO at a QA testing company. We provide testing services for products all over the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mushket Mobile?

We hired Mushket Mobile to create a mobile app for our internal time tracking and time reports for our customers.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted an internal custom solution for QA testers’ time tracking that has information storing on a server and that can be accessed on iOS and Android.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had a few references about them.

Describe the project in detail.

We began with determining a description and prototyping. After figuring out the scope, we divided the work into iterations, working in sprints that ended with a demonstration. We postponed a few functions to get the final finished on the planned delivery day. They will be included in the next version. Our team performed QA testing on the app.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a PM, CTO, and a lead designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our customers are quite satisfied with the reports’ format. We stand out among competitors because of our tracking system.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I enjoyed working in different iterations. Being deeply involved in the process allowed me to make decisions faster and share my opinion. We worked as a single team, which was effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Mushket Mobile didn’t try to sell me on unnecessary work. There were even instances where they rejected ideas to fit with our budget. Mushket Mobile persuaded our company to concentrate on key functionalities.

Are there any areas for improvements?

It’d be nice for them to expand their development team so they can set tighter deadlines.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a solutions provider and development company for clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mushket Mobile?

I hired Mushket Mobile to create an internal management app.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the app to optimize our internal processes, help track progress, and improve the method our employees use to make reports.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Mushket Mobile through a recommendation.

Describe the project in detail.

We had all the specifications prepared for the developers, so we began the wireframing and UX process immediately. From there, the developers presented several mockups and we gave them our changes. They then began the UI design for the screens and, once it was complete, their developers built the app. Their developers built the product to be compatible with iOS and Android devices. 

What was the team composition?

Mushket Mobile provided a dedicated project manager, sales manager, and team leader.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

All of the issues we were suffering from were solved after implementing the app Mushket Mobile built. Our employees are satisfied with the product and we’ve found no bugs.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our project manager effectively handled each task and kept a consistent pace throughout development. We completed the project using Agile methodology and both teams were highly cooperative and productive. Mushket Mobile finished the app within our time frame and completely aligned with our expectations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Throughout the project, Mushket Mobile provided several smart suggestions for new features. They were helpful and willing to contribute in an intelligible way. Additionally, their strength in developing a strong UX was important to us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I’d like to work with Mushket Mobile on a few upcoming projects, but they don’t offer the specific technologies I require.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Toplivovbak is an on-demand gas delivery business in Moscow. We have special vehicles that transport fuel and charge orders on demand. I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MushketMobile?

We needed Android developers with a lot of experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with them to develop an Android application for our clients, and one for our drivers. It works similar to a taxi business, but instead of transporting passengers, we deliver fuel. We did the UI/UX on our side and gave it to them. They did the development, then we tested it and fixed the bugs.

There’s a sign-up and login feature for clients in the app. Clients download the application and put their telephone number, which they verify with a message they receive. Then the user lands on the map where they can point the application to where their car is parked, place an order, choose what kind of fuel for their car, input payment information, credit card, and place an order.

The mobile application for drivers is a little bit different. There’s a signup and login, then a map where drivers can see all the orders, pick an order, reserve the car order, go there, and fuel the car.

What is the team composition?

There were two developers.

How did you come to work with MushketMobile?

I found them through an online search for developers in Ukraine. I had a developer in Ukraine in the past and was satisfied with the quality and attitude, but that team didn’t have any Android developers. I asked my CTO to interview the developers and from there we made a decision to work with MushketMobile.

How much have you invested with them?

$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2017 until June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application is live. When it was first released, there were some bugs so sometimes we release versions twice a day. We've had complaints from customers that we had to support by email or telephone, but Mushket responded very quickly. We can fix the Android app very quickly compared to an iOS one.

How did Mushket Mobile perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management is good and they’re very responsive. Whenever I send them an email or Skype message, they answer in 5–10 minutes. They’re very approachable and willing to fix problems, which they do well. They’ve never been unable to solve the problem. We communicate via Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed when I inform them about bugs and they fix it. They fix any issues fast. I like that they offer different ways to solve the bug or problem. My CTO says they’re quite good developers.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of the company. I have multiple responsibilities ranging from product management to design.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mushket Mobile?

Our company's mobile application needed a lot of work, so we approached Mushket Mobile with the task of getting it to feature complete.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted completed API layers that tied the application layer to the UI.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team interviewed about ten potential app developers, but I ultimately chose Mushket Mobile because I liked the founder of the company as well as the quality of the work presented.

Describe the project in detail.

Since I already had a completed UI and most of the API layers spec'd, we developed an iterated plan for how the API and UI should be married together within a very simple framework. Over the course of a few weeks, we wrote the application API layer and linked it to the UI.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with the team of engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Many people have remarked that the application is one of the best they have ever seen. Although in its infancy, our outreach process looks very good from a download standpoint. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was fantastic. We worked together well and in harmony; I designed and created technical specifications for the each of the screens and vignettes during the day that they would then code during the night. Despite the long process, watching the app come to life was amazing. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was very impressed by and satisfied with the quality of work, their responsiveness, and their willingness to work with us. I would definitely recommend them to anyone.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There were a few minor issues concerning timelines, but I enjoyed our work together.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner and CEO of ZAFA international. We created a mobile application akin to a technological Neighborhood Watch. It’s intended to fight against civilian violence and provide resources for people being followed or threatened. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mushket Mobile?

A team in India has initially written the code for our app. They’d taken many shortcuts that led to programming issues. The app had several software bugs and was crashing often. Many features weren't working correctly. 

We worked with many teams who tried to rehabilitate this code. I'd invested so much time and money that I didn't want to have to start over from scratch. Our main issues pertained to the GPS system, navigation, and app behavior’s underperformance and inaccuracy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I initially spoke with Oleg (CEO, Mushket Mobile) about how they could help us get the app up and running. At the time, it was being hosted on a cloud server that was letting lots of hacks and malware through.

Based on Mushket Mobile’s counsel, we decided to switch over to a firebase server. This change aimed to limit the number of attacks on the code and make our app less vulnerable to hackers. After this migration, the team had to review the entire product and rewrite some of the code as needed.

Mushket Mobile also added new features and improved the navigation. The team upgraded the GPS functionality and added real-time monitoring that tracks your location accurately. 

What is the team composition? 

They assigned two developers to our project. The CEO acted as the main developer and oversaw the entire scope of work. 

How did you come to work with Mushket Mobile?

I found Mushket Mobile on Upwork.com and selected them based on their high approval rating. After speaking with their CEO, I felt confident they were a good candidate for this engagement. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $10,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2016 and finished this project by July 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our app had a lot of issues before they took over, and now it really works from a functional point of view. The navigation is accurate even if a user has to run away from an aggressor. When we tested it, I remember really feeling like we were breaking ground and making progress for the first time. By the time we finished working together, we were very close to being able to take the app to market. 

They did a great job addressing all the complex tasks we assigned them. On a consistent and reliable basis, they came up with viable solutions to resolve them. They were always unemotional and task-oriented about quickly addressing and resolving problems that arose. 

How did Mushket Mobile perform from a project management standpoint?

The team worked quite thoroughly within a fast turnaround time. We communicated via Skype, email, or texting. Whenever we encountered an issue, I always felt comfortable reaching out to the CEO. I knew I could trust that he'd address it correctly each time.

Our point of contact speaks fluent English, so there were no problems with our correspondence. I'm used to collaborating from different time zones, and they helped mitigate the distance to make our partnership work. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Mushket Mobile was patient and worked rapidly to remedy critical issues, which I greatly appreciated. They had a rapid turnaround time and a useful problem-solving approach. If something was wrong, they were always able to fix it fast. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No; they did an excellent job in my opinion.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a product development company in Israel.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mushket Mobile?

We needed web app and mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mushket was involved with two applications. We brought them on board to augment our internal capabilities and provided them with our client’s specifications as well as the scope of the project. They developed the work accordingly, specifically handling the UI/UX and business logic. Our internal team has the skills for the server and API side of things.

One of the projects was an iOS and Android app for monitoring kindergartens. Any teacher can open their dashboard and is able to provide updated information such as how the child is doing, if they slept, pictures of the child, and any other updates or information that needs to be passed onto parents.

What is the team composition?

We had two developers and a project manager assigned to this project.

How did you come to work with Mushket Mobile?

I found them through Upwork.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on this project from June to December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our client's business experience growth due to the success of the app and was able to hire internal developers because of that. Mushket addressed any bugs immediately.

How did Mushket Mobile perform from a project management standpoint?

They were good with deadlines. We mostly communicated through Skype and our management system, working together online day to day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have expert iOS developers that are not only good at code writing but have a great understanding of app architecture.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would be happy if they provided more accurate estimations. Developers like to provide either pessimistic or optimistic estimates.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of Ovoshi Media, a mobile-based media buying company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mushket Mobile?

We wanted to test some ideas for creating an entertainment mobile app for users in developing countries and hired Mushket Mobile for development help.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a development team that could properly execute details and specifications without too much oversight so that we could finish and launch the application quickly.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A member of our team recommended Musket Mobile based upon a previous experience working with them.

Describe the project in detail.

The Musket Mobile team took our designs and specifications and executed the development of the mobile app. We conducted online weekly meetings to clarify goals, establish a schedule, and discuss the current and future status of the project. They continue to provide maintenance work, as-needed, and will update the application with new features after we receive substantial user data and feedback.

What was the team composition?

One project manager and one designer on our team worked with a manager and two developers on the Mushket Mobile team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We launched the app on schedule and have already begun user acquisition.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The Mushket Mobile team provided frequent updates and were responsive to our questions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

During our work together, Mushket Mobile proved itself as a very professional team. They helped with both the technical and strategic aspects of the work. Their adherence to their own previous estimates suggests that they did the previous groundwork necessary fordeeply understanding our common goal.