MOBOX

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of an information aggregation processing service on US customs and import trade information for importers, traders, and government employees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MOBOX?

MOBOX was hired to create an easy to use, accessible application of our service. The app was to mirror the full range of action of our service and the different sections our websites provided.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app was developed for iOS and Android and written in Java and Swift. There were no specific types of technical backend that I wanted them to adhere to.

How did you come to work with MOBOX?

I put up a bid on Upwork. I hired them because I thought they made a pretty good representation of the project. I liked the work that they had done previously, and their client feedback was good.

How much have you invested with MOBOX?

I have invested $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them about a year and three months ago. From the time I began working with them, until the last production set, was a total of 6-9 months. The apps launched in October 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There have been no crashes, which is a real achievement considering that many apps do have problems. The apps function fine and they have gotten some great usage. The apps had a good launch, and it was a good product. It is a good tool but very small in terms of the overall budget and scope.

How did MOBOX perform from a project management standpoint?

Their management was good. One of the most important things for me is responsiveness and timeliness. I am flexible on timeliness as long as I get communication. In that regard, they were pretty good. For reviewing designs and providing a window into their work, we would share screenshots and images. In terms of code management software, they did not use any code management that I had access to. Eventually, I did move them to our Bitbucket system so they became more integrated into our web service.

We initially did a fixed amount for the project and then an hourly amount in a high-low method so there would be a guaranteed minimum but with a ceiling. That setup became complicated, but they were very manageable and transparent with us about it.

What did you most impressive about MOBOX?

I liked the communication I had with my contact person. I also liked their creativity. It was very good of them to have initiative. As I run my projects, I like to be hands-off and say, “You are the expert. You take it on, you run with it, and let’s see what you produce.” I was happy with what they returned as a product.

One more thing I want to compliment is their transparency of cost. They projected and managed the cost and stuck to it, so I give them much praise for that.

Are there any areas MOBOX could improve?

I do not know if they are short-staffed or if they have many projects, but they could have a faster turnaround time. When designing or updating an app, it can be a little bit frustrating if something that takes you six weeks took two months. But again, it is balanced with the fact that the product they produced functions very well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief technology officer of SmartAdvocate, a software development company. We have developed a case management system for law firms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MOBOX?

Most of our developers on the product were browser-based in the Windows server, so we didn’t have in-house expertise in mobile apps. We still don’t have that internally. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We decided to work with MOBOX to develop an iOS product. It’s a native app for iPhone and iPad. The app is in the App Store. You could download it but you won’t be able to use it because it requires the back-end, which is installed on the server for each of our clients. It’s a business application so it’s not for general consumers. Even though we already have the released version, we still engage with MOBOX as they are adding more features and making changes.

It wasn’t a fixed-price project as was based on time spent. For the most part, we worked with a single developer and a graphic designer. A project manager also worked on an as-needed basis.

How did you come to work with MOBOX?

We found them on one of the hire-a-coder sites. Basically, we were looking to hire someone and we got multiple offers from different companies. We looked at the price and experience. We also determined if they had the right people for the task. One of the factors that made the decision a little easier was that MOBOX has developers who can speak Russian. Some of our developers also speak Russian, so that made communications easier. The language wasn’t a major deciding factor though.

How much have you invested with MOBOX?

We paid $40,000 to $50,000 for their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

It began in the late summer or early fall of 2015 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got the product to the place where we’re happy with the performance. Even though it wasn’t a fixed-price project, the speed of the development and the quality of the development was pretty much to our satisfaction. If we had hired a mobile developer locally, we probably would’ve spent twice the money for similar results.

How did MOBOX perform from a project management standpoint?

MOBOX tracked their projects in JIRA, particularly for time and tasks. For discussions, we usually use Skype chat or voice. We started with a project manager for general tasks, but our developers are also working directly with their developer. Around 90% of the time, the developers directly worked together. We needed this arrangement because we made the iPhone app interfaces internally.

What did you find most impressive about MOBOX?

I was pretty happy with the way they handled incomplete or vague requirements, as we really didn’t have much experience with mobile apps. We would show them our current functionality in the browser and discuss the right approach to implementing a similar functionality for the mobile app.

Are there any areas MOBOX could improve?

Nothing off the top of my head.

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

Our side could have spent more time figuring out our exact requirements. A couple of times, we did something and then we had to change it. That was mostly because we weren’t exactly sure what we wanted or how we wanted the application to work. We did trial and error on a couple of occasions. We tried something, we played with it, we were not too happy with the result, and then we came up with a modification.

BACKGROUND

2x2 is a math camp for children. We teach children mathematical sciences in children's camps during the summer, autumn, winter, and spring holidays. Our camps are located in the three major Ukrainian cities, so parents can always visit their children during the holidays. Our business started in 2010 in Kiev. We are planning to open new math camps across the country. I am a senior business manager with 2x2. I am responsible for social activities, press, and promotion of our business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

2x2 faced the problem of getting feedback and suggestions from parents and children as well as responding to these issues rapidly. Therefore, it was decided to create mobile applications for these purposes. We were looking for a good company to find a solution. The main criteria were they had to be located in Kiev for close cooperation, as well as the company's reputation and experience. We chose MOBOX rather than other developers.

SOLUTION

We decided to develop iOS and Android applications from scratch. MOBOX was attentive to our requirements and offered us four different designs for applications. Then, every month, we received the MVP [minimum viable product] and continued further development.

The main feature is that the reviews are written through the website as well as through the apps. We can see them in the app, and give answers immediately when we see the notification.

We have had great work experience with MOBOX and the skilled specialists in the team. The general estimate to date [October 2016] calculates to more than $120,000. The project started in March 2013, and we are still working with them on a support basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

After the final launch of the applications, our customers have been very happy about our careful approach taken with the app. We have improved many of the organizational issues of our business, so more parents trust their children to our camp.

We have no prior experience working with other IT [information technology] companies, but we are happy to work with MOBOX.