Semaphore Mobile

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder of a social networking platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I had an offshore dev company work on my app for about a year, but they weren't able to do many of the things I was asking. The quality of the app suffered. We got worried and needed a higher quality dev team to save the project

SOLUTION

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

We started development with an offshore company, but the quality just was not there. So, I decided to transfer the project to a team in the USA. I still had several months left with the offshore company but I decided to go ahead and review numerous American businesses to see what they could do. Out of all of the companies I spoke to, I found Sempahore to be the most personable, intelligent and straightfoward.

Semaphore was the only company over the course of that several months I had left with the offshore devs to occasionally check in to see how the project was going and to offer up advice on working with offshore companies. Many of the things they predicted would happen with the offshore company came true, and much of the advice they provided helped during the remaining months with the offshore devs.

Other dev companies told me they would have to start from scratch but Sempahore was able to pick it up and run with it. On some of the initial calls I was impressed by how knowledgeable Eric and Jeff were. They both gave me great ideas and technical advice.

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

We set out to create a robust social media platform that can keep up with some of the big names out there. The app is on par and better is some ways. It includes a commenting system, a point system, profile pages, a ranking/leaderboard page, animations, mini games and much more.

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

I mainly worked with 1 project manager who oversaw the devs and communicated other issues back to the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The devs work pretty fast. I'm impressed.

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

The communication is pretty casual. They typically only communicate through basecamp and email.

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

It's great to be able to trust who you work with. I cannot say enough about the quality of the dev work. The app looks very polished so far and can compete with the big dogs. I definitely plan to keep them on after I launch as I don't really trust another company to do this good of a job

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

If I had to pull something, it would be an all hands on deck approach. Weeky/bi-weekly meetings to go over things and discuss scope/ideas etc. It's a smaller team so I understand this may not be possible. Opinions/Feedback for a consultative feel would be very helpful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of AT Systems, LLC. We’re an aviation training company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Semaphore Mobile?

We needed help developing our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Semaphore Mobile developed and designed our iOS mobile app. Our team provided them with basic flows and their team built the actual app. They continue to provide improvements and enhancements to the system.

The app controls our training system as relates to visibility and applying safety systems. Our target users are pilots and training pilots. Users are able to input predetermined safety data and the app provides them with feedback that lets them know what the training pilot is experienced.

What is the team composition?

We work with 3–4 members of their team as well as a handful of contractors. Our main point of contact is Eric (Owner)

How did you come to work with Semaphore Mobile?

We found Semaphore Mobile online. We chose them because they were able to provide us with a complete package for both software engineering and electrical engineering on our circuit board. It made for a much cleaner and more seamless buildout than having separate vendors for each. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement began in May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Semaphore Mobile was able to take a complex piece of software and make it usable. We were focused on how the end-state performs. Because we’re moving in real-time in an aircraft, we need to be able to process information and provide an output to the training pilot quickly so they can take action. Their team is helping make that a reality.

How did Semaphore Mobile perform from a project management standpoint?

Semaphore Mobile has excellent project management skills. As the project progressed, it didn’t require too much interaction, they handled everything. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our system isn’t like anything on the market, and they were able to turn that complex idea into an excellent product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we are really happy working with them. If there we any ever challenges, they kept us up to date.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate your needs, wants, and desires to them. That’s critical in finding success.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company provides white glove technology professional services to companies large and small. My role is Engineering and Operations Director. I am responsible for finding and delivering solutions to whatever challenges our customers send our way.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Estimate a mobile app and backend development project for a large travel and transportation company.

What were your goals for this project?

To provide a clear, professional plan for a C-level audience to demonstrate the approach, effort involved, next steps, and budget required to work alongside the client's in house marketing department to deliver the backend system and app.

SOLUTION

How did you select Semaphore Mobile?

I had worked with Semaphore Mobile in the past. Originally I found them via Google search and, after interviewing several providers, selected Semaphore Mobile. Then and now they did an excellent job for us.

Describe the project in detail.

Our client asked us to scope and estimate a mobile app development project for their marketing refresh / facelift efforts. They are planning a major overhaul to their website and mobile app. This will involve backend design and implementation to be shared with the website and the app, UI/UX design, etc.

What was the team composition?

Semaphore's team consisted of a team lead, project manager, UI/UX designer, and developer. The members of the team remained consistent throughout the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Semaphore Mobile delivered on time and on budget. The client was happy with the result. We expect to hire Semaphore Mobile for the next phase of the project once the client approves it.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was fine. At the end of the day we got the job done.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Semaphore Mobile was exceptional in patiently communicating with the existing team and to understand the personalities involved and nuances therein. Many providers can write write code.

Requirements gathering, definition, scheduling and estimating is an art form in the world of software development, and Semaphore Mobile handled this masterfully. Our client is very happy with their work product.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No really. They did a great job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and owner of Avvee, LLC. I own the app Wrapt, a gift-giving app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Semaphore Mobile?

I needed a development team that could build the mobile app I wanted.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had no experience with building an app, and Semaphore was able to break down and walk me through the process from start to finish. The team provided me with direction as far as timelines and other necessary information. 

One of the key features is the categorization of each element, like different holidays. The main feature is that users can send anyone a photo, and to reveal the photo, the recipient rubs off the overlay we installed. The app is built for iOS.

What is the team composition?

I work with three people in total. Eric (CEO) kept in great contact with me, helping communicate progress along the way. Renee (Project Manager) provided timelines and updates on day-to-day progress. Jeff (Director of Software Development) is more on the technical side of things — if I have questions about features or functionalities, I go to him.

How did you come to work with Semaphore Mobile?

I spoke to a few vendors, but Eric was really genuine as far as his concern, feedback, and how he spoke to me. He was very sincere and humble, and an overall great professional. Any information I requested, he provided promptly. It was clear Semaphore was the company that I wanted to work with. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent roughly $23,000–$24,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since June 2019. We went live in December, but we’re still working together to make changes and updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The success of the project is very high. Semaphore developed everything I asked for, and they worked with me throughout the entire project. On a scale of one to 10, I would give Semaphore a 10. 

The quality of their work is outstanding. They’re professional and the results are great overall.

How did Semaphore Mobile perform from a project management standpoint?

Semaphore did very well. Communication was great, and they kept me apprised of any changes. Their timelines were always met, and there was never a lapse if adjustments would have to be made. We used a project management app to keep track of tasks. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication was one of the best aspects of working with them. I was also impressed with Semaphore’s overall knowledge of the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think they could’ve done anything differently. If I ever had issues, it wasn’t because of a lack of service on their part. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hire Semaphore — they really care about the product and the process. Even after you have your app developed, they’ll continue to work with you and make updates. I would highly recommend them, especially for people like me who don’t have a lot of experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of an innovation product company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Semaphore Mobile?

We needed a software platform to work with a product we were developing for Amazon.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created the platform from scratch. It was a web and mobile application for iOS and Android, and they integrated everything into the chips that we use for the project. The product interacts with Amazon's Alexa, so it's a cross-platform system between Amazon and our clients to deliver information back through our product. The entire project is unique in our industry.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of three, and our main point of contact was one of their company heads.

How did you come to work with Semaphore Mobile?

We interviewed a number of companies. Semaphore's depth of understanding and overall grasp of the total project was very impressive. Ultimately, that's why we selected him.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in 2017 and worked into 2018. We had a five-month development period before we fully deployed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our main markers for the project were implementation and a successful rate of functionality. The product operates well and we've received positive comments from users.

How did Semaphore Mobile perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was particularly strong, and they did extremely well throughout the process. Most of our communication was through in-person meetings and email. We also shared links to documents and other parts of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their global understanding of our mission and their ability to see the project through to fruition both stood out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re great, and I really don’t have anything they could change. They worked all hours of the day or night, and we couldn’t have achieved our goals without them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Spend the time you need at the beginning of your project and collectively develop your expectations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a software development company focused on building an e-commerce product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Semaphore?

We didn’t have the required on-site staff to develop new features for our web-based platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Semaphore worked on several features, including a quotation system and order fulfillment functionality. They used Ruby on Rails and JavaScript. They did not provide any frontend design.

What is the team composition?

Semaphore assigned three senior developers and a project manager (PM). An architect was also available. We didn’t really need the PM, as we could manage our own staff.

How did you come to work with Semaphore?

I found them online and gave them a call. I started a conversation with Eric (Owner, Semaphore Mobile), and we hit it off. We kept in touch over time, and I reached out to them when I needed help.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work was around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Semaphore from January–November 2018. The application is fully deployed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We tracked their quality through a weekly code review. It took us a few reviews to let them know how we wanted things to be done, but this is to be expected with every project. Once we got past this, they were able to meet our standards.

How did Semaphore perform from a project management standpoint?

It was pretty great. We shipped code quickly, with the average deployment time being two weeks. Our main forms of communication were phone and email. We also had Skype meetings when needed. They responded well to our feedback.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We sometimes get the bait-and-switch with development companies, but I never saw that happen with Semaphore. They stand out just by being straightforward.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They addressed all the issues that I brought up.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s always wise to know exactly what you want before engaging a development company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and COO of GlamPro, a makeup services and watch rentals company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Semaphore Mobile?

We needed to create a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Semaphore Mobile has designed and developed five curated pages that highlight everything we do. The team has also created contact forms for our trade show experience. The team provides ongoing support.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 2–5 teammates from Semaphore Mobile.

How did you come to work with Semaphore Mobile?

We found Semaphore Mobile through an online search. We chose them over other options because they were a great culture fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Semaphore Mobile in March 2026, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Semaphore Mobile has completed the website within the timeframe for us to have it at the trade show. We’ve seen a significant increase in leads, especially when using the contact form at the trade show.

How did Semaphore Mobile perform from a project management standpoint?

Semaphore Mobile’s project management is awesome, and they deliver on time. We communicate via in-person meetings, virtual meetings, and emails or messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Semaphore Mobile is very personable and has quick responses. They really make it feel like we’re all part of a team together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Owner of MNBF, LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Ai powered platonic friend. She 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Semaphore Mobile to accomplish?

• Develop website
• Develop app
• Publish app

SOLUTION

How did you find Semaphore Mobile?

Online Search

Why did you select Semaphore Mobile over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Semaphore Mobile were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Working website and published mobile app on the App and Play Stores. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Published app today and we'll see if we're successful. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Very responsive and a pleasure to work with. 

What was your primary form of communication with Semaphore Mobile?

Virtual Meeting

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

Semaphore Mobile's clarity in explaining each step stands out. It 

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

Tell your clients ahead of time the expected delays in waiting for Apple and Google to review. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Programmer analyst of PivoTrac Monitoring

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a pivot monitoring company. We provide control and monitoring solutions for growers that use center pivot irrigation systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Semaphore Mobile to accomplish?

• Take over app development
• Continue to improve the app with new features

SOLUTION

How did you find Semaphore Mobile?

• Online Search

Why did you select Semaphore Mobile over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• The team connected with our vision very well

How many teammates from Semaphore Mobile were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We had an app built by our local team. However, development had come to a stand-still due to lack of manpower. We enlisted Semaphore Mobile to take over the app development from where the code existed. This required a major update due to the age of the application. After the first release that brought the app up to date, Semaphore has been working with our back-end team to develop and release new builds to our clients to improve the user experience and to add features to the application.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The re-write of the app libraries and UI was a complete success. All bugs were mitigated before release to the public. Client response the updated version of the app was very positive. Since the first release, there have been 2 newer releases, including some new features and performance and security improvements. These releases have been extremely positively received as well.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Semaphore has been very agile in its responses to our update requests, and bug submissions. They have even provided several solution suggestions to our back-end team when requested.

What was your primary form of communication with Semaphore Mobile?

• Email or Messaging App

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

The greatest thing about working with Semaphore has been the very rapid delivery of feature requests, system improvements, and UI updates. The team at Semaphore has been very "on hand" to discuss changes as they evolve and have demonstrated that they are very enthusiastic about our product and services. Questions that come up are always answered very quickly and clearly. The team has consistently proven to be available and helpful.

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

If there are, I am not aware of them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Jd Todd LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Small scale agricultural based App development

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Semaphore Mobile to accomplish?

• Help define the concept and capabilities of the App
• Maintain a cost expenditure vs expected outcome thru development
• Weekly progress and status updates

SOLUTION

How did you find Semaphore Mobile?

• Online Search

Why did you select Semaphore Mobile over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Semaphore Mobile were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Planning and Documentation, user stories and technical specs
• Design and Development
• Testing and Deployment

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Semaphore delivered a complex and functional App. It implemented progressive changes promptly, and is providing feedback and guidance on continued development.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management was/is superb. They are very attentive and timely, they are focused on my definitions of success, are extremely proactive with suggestions, and helped balance dollar investment versus capability.

What was your primary form of communication with Semaphore Mobile?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Eric S is the owner, he is very responsive any time I call. Semaphore Mobile has done a great job; I trust their guidance through this project with a very high degree of confidence.

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

None