Mobecls

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the lead UX and content designer and marketing specialist for an e-commerce retailer of home organization and décor products.

For what projects/services did your company hire Mobecls?

My company wanted to launch our new website on Magento. Since our in-house development team was not familiar with the Magento platform, we needed a partner with that skillset. Furthermore, we needed assistance with solutions that required work with third-party integrations.

What were your goals for this project?

In addition to responsive design, the website needed accelerated load times, improved search capabilities, and a zoom-in function for users to enlarge products.

How did you select this vendor?

I had worked with Mobecls before. Responsive and reliable, they were a leading Magento developer. We considered a few different companies, but Mobecls offered the right combination of value and technical knowledge.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Mobecls has designed the website and developed features including the zoom-in function. The team has built an advanced search tool to streamline how customers find our products. They delivered the designs using Adobe XD.

What was the team composition?

We have worked with Artem (General Manager, Mobecls) and then Tanya (E-commerce Manager, Mobecls).

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Although the website is too new to measure specific impact metrics, bounce and exit rates have dropped significantly since our collaboration began. The UX is much improved as well.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Planning and logistics have been unsteady as a result of both companies being startups. However, the collaboration has been effective and respectful. The team provides satisfactory support and implements changes within set time frames. We communicated via Slack, Tello, and email.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Mobecls has prioritized appropriate solutions that benefited us over their bottom line. They are responsive, honest, and agreeable partners. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

The team could improve project scope details and planning. They should be more specific about deliverables and realistic expectations for implementation, especially given the time zone difference.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a sales manager for a home furnishings company. 

For what projects/services did your company hire Mobecls?

Mobecls needed to redesign our Magento 1.x platform and then provide ongoing support.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed responsive design of our Magento platform.

How did you select this vendor?

A developer of Magento recommended Mobecls based on previous work.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Mobecls redesigned our platform and then provided various solutions to boost our digital shop. They provide ongoing server and Magento development support.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a manager. 

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Mobecls was a professional and highly-qualified web designer. The redesign was cost-effective and aided conversions. They fixed errors and improved the search engine, footer, check out, and application functions. The site is more modern and better-functioning, with no malfunctions.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They provided different solutions and ways for moving forward; I chose the one best-suited to me and the company. All completed tasks were overviewed in Trello, and we had multiple meetings through Skype.

The manager always found appropriate solutions and never lost sight of the final goal. She provided very good communication, fast responses, and professional advice. She was 100% dedicated to the work and could always be reached to answer even the most mundane questions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team's professionalism and dedication distinguished them. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I was happy with the service and expertise provided.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Internet Manager at GolfDiscount.com, an online golf equipment retailer based in Seattle, Washington.

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobecls?

About four years ago, we made the switch over from a Ruby On Rails-based proprietary software to a Magento platform. We had our original developer overseeing the transition, but we realized after the site went live that we needed more support from Magento experts.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mobecls initially worked closely with our in-house developer to assist the transition from Ruby On Rails to Magento. They worked on everything from troubleshooting communication with our internal ERP system to navigating the re-indexing and caching process.

One of the big tasks they took on was transferring our server from Amazon Cloud over to Sonassi, which had a Magento-specific stack on their service that would speed up and elevate the performance of our website. Mobecls worked directly with Sonassi for about two to three months to ensure the transition was smooth. Even after we re-launched on Sonassi, Mobecls continued to troubleshoot when needed.

This past year, Mobecls moved all of our PHP code from version 5.4 up to version 7 code. They also added some web caching performance using Varnish and mobile caching performance using AMP. 

Our products are complex — a single product can have multiple attributes customers can choose from. Currently, Mobecls is building out a custom ordering system from scratch that allows customers to select the attributes they want on a product, and the prices will change accordingly. It’s been a two month-project because of its complexity, but we’re coming up on the final stages.

Our next major goal is to slowly migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2. We anticipate it could take anywhere from three to nine months to complete a project of this caliber, and we’re depending on Mobecls to guide us through the process. 

What is the team composition? 

We communicate primarily with Artem Pugachev [Business Development Manager and Project Manager, Mobecls]. I’m not sure how large his team is, but I know Mobecls has offices in both Ukraine and Russia.

How did you come to work with Mobecls?

I’m not certain because it was our previous internet manager who handled our initial contact with them, but I believe we reached out to a handful of services in our local area. We then decided to take a look at the international market for more competitive prices. We found several overseas firms on Freelancer.com. We interviewed about three or four firms. Mobecls was among them — they came highly recommended and their rate was competitive, so we decided to do a couple preliminary projects with them to see how well they worked.

As they gained our trust, we began giving them more tasks to do in tandem with our local in-house developer. They proved themselves to be very good at both customizing existing extensions and building extensions from scratch. So when our in-house developer decided to move on, we brought Mobecls on full-time to manage our development. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began partnering with them in mid-2015, and we continue to work with them.

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

Our business has doubled in the last two years, and Mobecls is a big part of our success. We really leaned on them when we were struggling to get our website to function properly. They strive to offer suggestions and ideas that will keep our platform competitive within our market. 

How did Mobecls perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve performed well. As they grow, I’ve noticed that they take a bit more time to complete tasks, but I’m comfortable with that because the more clients they get, the more knowledgeable they become about trends in the marketplace that can enhance our business. 

Our projects rarely have hard deadlines they have to adhere to, but with projects that do, Mobecls will do what they can to ensure they meet expectations within our timeline. 

I speak with them every day primarily via Google Chat or email. Despite the nine-hour time difference, there is a rare time I can’t get ahold of them if we have a problem that needs attention.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was anticipating a language barrier, but despite English being their second language, it was always easy to communicate with them. I never have to simplify or over-explain a task to ensure they understand what I needed. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The time zone has delayed us in a couple instances when we needed immediate assistance, but as they’re growing, I think they’re working on ensuring that someone’s available to help us at all times.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust the developers instinct, but understand your particular business’s needs. Artem and his team really want to build a relationship with their clients, so if you make it clear what you want to achieve, they will shape their suggestions around your goals and the experience you want to create for your customers.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of NCL Truck Sales Inc., and we sell trucks on a wholesale basis.

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobecls?

We wanted to increase our sales and visibility through the development of our first website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mobecls built us a website using Magento. The overarching goal of the site was to provide a digital showroom that then directs clients to call us directly. I found a site template, provided them with all the specifications and features that I wanted, and they built it from the ground up. One key functionality that I requested was search filtering capabilities, which was vital for our customers to be able to locate the right truck(s). We have about 200 unites in stock, and the filtering allows any user to quickly find the desired product. Mobecls also installed a chat function and provided search engine optimization (SEO). Although the primary site development and launch has completed, they continue to provide us with ongoing maintenance—by implementing Magenta patches—and site hosting services.

What is the team composition?

There were three primary people, one of whom was the team lead, and they would occasionally mention the primary coder, although I did not interact with the coder in person.

How did you come to work with Mobecls?

They were recommended to me by friends, and I chose Mobecls out of a final selection of three or four vendors. I made my decision to engage them after a short period of time, probably within two months.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, I have invested a little less than US$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We engaged their services back in 2016, and the primary work was completed within a month or two. The maintenance work is ongoing.

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

I have no concrete metrics to share, but overall it has improved our online presence and the business’ visibility. The website works well and I am very satisfied with their work.

How did Mobecls perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was effective. I would mostly discuss the SEO with the team lead, although she also occasionally offered feature suggestions. Then the three of us would have a conversation about how to make those ideas actionable, we would make a decision, and they would take care of it. We did not need to speak often; after the work period I described above, they would do their work and we might not speak for a month at a time. I never felt the need for daily updates.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was drawn to them because of their competitive pricing, as well as their overall professionalism. They delivered everything in a timely manner and within our budget. My research on other similar companies here in the U.S. indicated that their value for money is impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because they are located in Europe, there were occasional delays based on their differing work calendars. That being said, it was never a serious problem.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You need to know exactly what you are looking for, and try to be as specific as possible. No one else can make these decisions for you.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT manager of an e-commerce company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobecls?

I initially did the work myself, but the business expanded so much that I wasn’t able to manage it any longer. We have eight stores, a warehouse, and dozens of employees. I decided to look for offshore help.

I was using a company in India, but their team split up, which sacrificed harmony. There was also a language barrier. Mobecls is much better with taking time to evaluate our concerns and reply back in English.

Our industry is ever-changing with new laws and regulations. Mobecls has worked with me for a long time to help our e-commerce in becoming compliant as far as identifying customers and implementing APIs. We utilize extensive background checks to make sure people aren’t buying products while underage, etc.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I started using them when a ‘buy one get one free’ extension came out for Magento, and realized they were really good with mathematics. A lot of other developers lack those skills. Mobecls was able to do unique things with discounts and numbers. When handling any kind of financial system, it’s important to have someone that understands numbers. Mobecls customized this extension for our particular application, because we had some pretty extensive needs as far as deals go.

Mobecls completely rebuilt the 1.9 version which the previous vendor originally worked on. They put in wholesale stock modules and hooked them up to Webgility connectors. They’ve also worked on speed and optimization. We had a lot of bugs in the previous vendor’s work, so I had Mobecls rebuild everything.

They’ve also installed advanced e-commerce analytics recently, and are currently working on our Quickbooks point-of-sale system, which is a desktop-based platform. We’re migrating all of that over to a cloud-based system in collaboration with another developer who provides the base software. Mobecls helped me keep that organized.

What is the team composition?

I have a couple points of contact, including Artem [e-Commerce Manager, Mobecls], who was the first person I talked to. I also communicate with Alexander [Project Manager, Mobecls]. I can talk with anyone there if I need something, and they make sure it gets fixed.

Their company has really expanded, and they’re always adding new people and connections to meet their needs.

How did you come to work with Mobecls?

Many developers make these smaller extensions that are available. I installed the ‘buy one get one free’ Magento promotion that they had on sale a few years ago for my app to sell more products. It worked incredibly well, and Mobecls was able to customize it for me at a decent rate. I decided to work with them further because I trusted them to handle the financial information.

They were able to solve complex problems, which gave me the initial confidence to continue working with them for more development. It’s rare to find someone this well-rounded in every aspect of the Magento world.

It’s not a difficult process because there are plenty of people looking for work. It is, however, difficult to find someone willing to put up with the client. Some people don’t try to build a business relationship with their client, and they get the job done and leave. It’s not like that with Mobecls.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2014, and the work is ongoing. They are working on a very extensive project for me now.

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

They optimized our system from a D grade to an A or B on many sites. The speed keeps getting better, and they’re always making adjustments. They make sure to make the best uses of the amount of products we have and what we’re paying for the server. Everything is displayed quickly on mobile and desktop, and the site is completely different than before. The speed at which I’m able to get things done has saved me a lot of time. They pride themselves in exceptional performance.

The age integration piece had the website down for three months because of the FDA’s ruling. The software we now have to use protects us as a company. Mobecls had my site running again in a couple months, and it worked fairly well. They continued to adjust things and add small features. I wouldn’t be selling anything online without Mobecls because there wasn’t anything offered at the time for Magento. We were one of the first to offer this type of integration that checks the name, address, and age of the customer.

It’s a very competitive online when there are other places selling from places like China. However, we’re doing well.

It’s very rare that our website goes down, whereas before it was unmanaged and unsupported. They have systems in place that report errors back to them, and they usually have problems fixed before I realize what has happened. They’re good with security aspects as well.

How did Mobecls perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a one-on-one relationship. I need someone who understands our business. They’re available on a daily basis through chat platforms, and I usually talk with them four days a week. They’re always willing to speak with me. Sometimes, I might wait a week to let them know to continue forward. They’re also available on weekends.

They’ve implemented a process that allows them to finish things in a timely manner. They have a project management tool, but they enter tickets after talking to me in order to get an understanding of what I want. Afterwards, they pass it on to the developer.

I always have a long list of tasks, but what we’re able to do depends on what funds are available. We have to decide what to do now, and what can wait in order to have the best ROI [return on investment]. They’re good at choosing practical tasks. They’ve put my requirements together and made an itemized list in an Excel spreadsheet. We make plans for the next 2–3 months. They also have a CMS that they use to manage clients.

Their chain of command also works pretty well. They’re able to find the right resources to complete any task I give them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They never lose patience with me. I understand the challenges of coding. They’re willing to listen and never give up on trying to fix a problem. I like their flexibility and that they don’t bill me for every conversation. They ask when I need something done and then find the appropriate resources. There’s no task too small, and that’s why I continue to use them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be nice to have them closer, but that’s not possible. Mobecls provides more for $125 an hour than I could get in the U.S., and they’re well worth the money. Their English proficiency is also very good, and they’re very professional. Everyone wants a faster turnaround time, but we have to work with what we have.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open and truthful about what is wanted. Ask what their capabilities are beforehand, and if they feel comfortable with it. They’re likely going to agree to anything because they have the tools and resources to accomplish it. Make sure to have a budget in mind so there aren’t any unexpected fees. They’re very straightforward with the work they’ve done.

Do research and figure out if a business relationship or one-time project is being sought after. They will do either, but they prefer to build a relationship and learn the business.

When outsourcing for Magento, there are many agencies that have good ratings. The key is finding the right services at the right price. It’s important to find someone who understands the cause of a problem from the beginning without having to take too many steps. Mobecls is willing to work to make things right. They’re not pushy.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of e-commerce for Destination Lighting. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobecls?

We were going through a re-platforming process with Magento 1.9. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mobecls was hired to support our re-platforming efforts. We knew the direction we wanted to take but needed help with the implementation. We converted from a proprietary, Java-based stack built 10 years ago to a more contemporary e-commerce architecture, with the goal of implementing it within the timeline and budget we expected.

They’ve provided engineering services primarily, as well as some mobile strategy work. We defined the scope of work, business requirements, and technical specifications in collaboration with Mobecls’ team. They’ve handled every aspect of the re-platforming, from writing custom middleware between the e-commerce platform and our ERP [enterprise resource planning] to handling data migration, template development, and new features and functionalities.

The major features included a payment gateway and integration between our platform and the ERP. Mobecls has worked on 2 non-transactional sites and a transactional site for us, and they provided customization on the default Magento themes we were using. They also enhanced our product details page, provided export functionalities, integrated search capabilities, and handled a customized extension build-out that supports all the components of our platform on the user side. We have an administrative interface with many capabilities built-in. Mobecls is also working on Varnish Cache for site management.

We’ve had 3 developers from Mobecls’ side, who were frontended by Artem, their project manager. The size of the team varied based on the timing we set for each task. We’ve also had gaps where no people were assigned to the team.

How did you come to work with Mobecls?

I’d worked with Mobecls on a re-platforming project for a former company and felt comfortable using them based on that experience. I had a high degree of confidence in Mobecls’ abilities and value.

For the initial selection at my previous company, we were looking for particular expertise and researched many agencies. We selected Mobecls for a test project before engaging them in a larger one.

How much have you invested with Mobecls?

The cost of this project was $50,000 or more.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working with Mobecls in June 2016. They provide ongoing maintenance and QA work.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?

Mobecls has been a valuable partner in helping us with this implementation. They’ve let us bring the platform to market, and we consider them a team member. The new platform isn’t live yet, but I expect it will benefit our company.

How did Mobecls perform from a project management standpoint?

We don’t interact with the developers that much. Artem handles the coordination, and we speak to him on a daily basis. We have standup calls daily using Google Hangouts about upcoming product launches. We also have weekly planning sessions.

Artem is responsive and willing to accommodate our schedule, which sets them apart from other offshore development firms. He is available for both email exchanges and live conversations.

What did you find most impressive about Mobecls?

I’ve appreciated Artem’s responsiveness and availability, as well as Mobecls’ expertise in the Magento ecosystem. The value-per-hour has been solid.

Are there any areas Mobecls could improve?

As I mentioned to Artem, the project extended longer than we anticipated. He is comfortable in doing what the client asks, but he could be more proactive in pushing back and sharing his expertise about how to get from point A to point B based on the team’s experience, rather than letting us find our way. I’d like to have more strategic guidance about the kick-off of a major re-platforming project. Lessons from the current engagement could be applied to future work.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Mobecls?

Think about the scope of the project and spend time up front talking about the product’s philosophy, budget, and timeline. For smaller engagements, this is an easy matter; for bigger platforms, it’s important to get the team’s input to find the best approach. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I head up online for Stackers, a lifestyle and home organisation brand

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

To resolve issues we were having with their Magento product personalisation module

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

They made the module

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

When a customer placed an order with personalisation applied it wasn't appearing in the order details in Magento backed. We need this to be fixed so that the warehouse was able to properly prepare the order.

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

2 people, one was an account manager the other a developer.

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

They were very helpful in fixing the issue and then making further amends as new things cropped up.

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

Good communication through email by both the account manager and the developer. Lot's of follow up to make sure we were satisfied.

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

We were impressed by their commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction.

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

No.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company develops fire resistant apparel. I am the Systems Administrator.

For what projects/services did your company hire Mobecls?

We needed some custom work on an extension we purchased. The original extension did not fully meet our requirements.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to allow the price to be hidden for a product when a specific color was chosen.

How did you select this vendor?

They were referred to us by the developer of the Magento 2 extension that we purchased.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The developer modified the Amasty Hide Price extension so that when a specific color was selected on a product, the price could be replaced with a static CMS block.

What was the team composition?

There were 2 people that I worked with. The liaison, and the developer.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The added functionality will simplify the complexity of our website for the end users, allowing us to put all colorways into one configurable product instead of creating a separate product for the restricted colorway.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Everything was on time and delivered beyond our expectations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Both the price and the ability to understand our needs and deliver the product in a polished, intuitive user interface.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We’re an online retail company, I am a partner.

For what projects/services did your company hire Mobecls?

Find reasons for extensions crashing the store then install new extensions.

What were your goals for this project?

Increase functionality of the website

How did you select this vendor?

We were referred by Amasty

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Development services for multiple platforms.

What was the team composition?

They had a development team. 

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Very pleased and efficient

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very pleased

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They had great communication.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the CTO of Viomart, LLC. It’s an e-commerce website specializing in clothing, footwear, and accessories.

For what projects/services did your company hire Mobecls?

We needed development services to support a server migration and ongoing maintenance.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve our security and develop new e-commerce features.

How did you select this vendor?

We chose between dozens of companies and freelance developers on Upwork.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Initially, they transitioned us to a FreeBSD server. Then, they scanned for and eliminated security vulnerabilities and developed custom Magento e-commerce features. They then provided ongoing maintenance and support. 

What was the team composition?

We communicated with a project manager mostly, but we also spoke with a development team lead.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Our business was dependent 100% on this project. Without a new server, our website wouldn't exist. They delivered completely.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They provided constant communication via email and Google Hangouts.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We greatly appreciated their ability to deliver what they promised on time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I noticed. I was completely satisfied with their performance.