MOBIKASA

BACKGROUND

I’m the CEO of a third-generation family-run online business with quite a loyal following. We offer about 3,000 products ranging from nuts to dried fruit, seeds, chocolate, and spices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We basically had a static online catalog with poor search functions, bad categorization, and no pricing or ability to place orders. Also, we had multiple price points depending on the type of customer, as well as various attributes and variations within our product line. We decided to build a Shopify e-commerce website since it’s a major platform.

SOLUTION

We needed to launch a redesigned e-commerce website on a more modern platform. The project lasted for about a month.

We found MOBIKASA listed as a well-reviewed solutions provider on either Magento or Shopify. They were reasonably priced, very responsive, and organized.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

The project finished on time and within budget. The team was incredibly responsive, and we ran the entire project using Trello, a tool we use internally.

I would highly recommend MOBIKASA, and I am going to use them for another project. They are strong communicators and managed the project well. I enjoyed going to sleep and waking up to a deliverable from their team in India. I had to be very specific with my instructions, but the project was a success and didn't go past the timeline. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director and shareholder of a facility management company that offers outsourcing options for various services to different verticals. We provide various services in terms of cleaning, marble polishing, and carpet shampooing. We also offer asset management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobikasa?

I’m dealing with various multi-nationals in India, all of which represent big companies. I needed to create an ERP [enterprise resource plan] system for our employees in order to give them a user ID and a password for their salary slips and other basic deductions during salary payouts. The product lets them go online and check what they have been paid and how they have been paid. They also can download their slips. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mobikasa designed the software and offered suggestions in terms of UX/UI design. A few of our users aren’t that technically capable, so I wanted to make something streamlined. They gave me some options, and we chose the best option for our needs. They also explained other services they offer like website development and an online server that could connect all of our offices. They also suggested designing an app to support our business in different cities, but I haven’t agreed to that proposal yet because I think we need to grow more in order to require that level of technology.

How did you come to work with Mobikasa?

A partner told me about Mobikasa, and I contacted them. I compared 3 companies, but Mobikasa had a more energetic team. They had new ideas and seemed competitive and proactive.

How much have you invested with Mobikasa?

We spent $70,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them over 4 months ago, and the project was finished in June of 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m satisfied with the product. They adapted to my requests and changes easily. Other companies might’ve charged $5,000 more or $5,000 less, but I always got a quick reply from Mobikasa when I had questions. I trust that they’ll provide a good service through the server they created.

I haven’t used the servers personally yet. The service is for our employees. They’re satisfied, and the product reduces our attrition rate. Last month, we put all the documents online for the first time. We got a good response from our team. Our employees on-site were really happy and have not faced any challenges when using the software. Mobikasa provided training in order to show us how to use the system. They have been supportive.

How did Mobikasa perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered the project on time. Whenever I called their team with a question, they came to my office to discuss anything I needed.

What did you find most impressive about Mobikasa?

They’re highly responsive. My team was doing app development for the first time on this system, so we really wanted Mobikasa to stay in touch. Often, they came to our offices to complete the job. That physical availability really meant a lot.

Are there any areas Mobikasa could improve?

In our fast-paced industry, I think that they should stay up-to-date and continue to grow. I am sure they are doing that because they have roots in the US.

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

Two days ago, I was actually in a meeting with a client, who’s also a good friend. I mentioned the software that I’d just received from Mobikasa, and he now wants to get in touch with them. I’m happy to be a reference for Mobikasa. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of an e-commerce men’s fashion label.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MOBIKASA?

We needed to update and enhance the functionalities of our mobile website. It was not the most optimized page and had a number of glitches. It also had issues when it came to fitting into small screens. We wanted to make certain changes to the desktop version as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We put a lot of time and effort into the design project ourselves. Initially, we studied what we already had and what could be done to better increase conversions and sales. We created a full document listing all the sections that we needed to update. We also provided screenshot examples from other sites we liked.

Based on our input, MOBIKASA provided design and development for our Shopify site. Most of the work had to do with mobile functionalities. They also added a few key features in the platform. One of the advanced features was a module that showed users their current product selection, which also gave suggestions for matching products.

How did you come to work with MOBIKASA?

There is a database of experts on Shopify. We found MOBIKASA on the platform’s list of selected partners. MOBIKASA did a small project for us in the fall of 2016, designing and developing our email system for abandoned carts. When the time came to revamp our website, I figured that we should work with them again.

How much have you invested with MOBIKASA?

The cost of their work was around $6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the current project with MOBIKASA in January or February 2017. We launched the new website at the beginning of June.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

MOBIKASA gave us what we wanted. They developed many functionalities that other agencies would not have done. Other vendors sent us quotes for $15,000–$20,000 for only a basic revamp.

MOBIKASA’s work has definitely enhanced our user experience, especially since the mobile page is a big part of our site. While we haven’t promoted the site or reached out for customer feedback, we expect to see an increase in conversions.

How did MOBIKASA perform from a project management standpoint?

I worked with a head developer, a designer, and a project manager. The project took a bit more time than expected, but this may have been due to the level of feedback we gave after each stage. I was a little slow myself. However, I could email the team and get a reply within a few hours. They’re very good technically. I would give them a 7/10 for the quality of their design.

Are there any areas MOBIKASA could improve?

MOBIKASA could spend more time on the post-development stages. There were a few bugs on the website that delayed the project a bit. They should test the website more to limit the overall number of glitches.

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

It’s important to provide as much specific information as possible, including examples of what you want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a non-profit organization in the education space. I’m the digital director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobikasa?

Because we’re a non-profit, we are funded through grants from private foundations or organizations. We have a very lean team and cannot support a full-time development team and staff. Mobikasa augments our overall team as a development and technology partner. We had been with another organization that couldn’t scale with our growth strategy so I reached out to Mobikasa.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They help us implement new changes and features on our site. They also provide maintenance support for our servers and website. We were looking to move our site to a friendlier web environment but we opted to stay with Ruby on Rails. Mobikasa works off-site by providing a project manager and a senior team that I collaborate with in New York. Based on the size and scope of our project, they assign the team through their offshore locations. They have been great.

How did you come to work with Mobikasa?

I had conversations with other vendors that we work with. I was looking for someone local to NYC. They were highly recommended by a marketing agency that we work with. They facilitated the introduction and we began conversations with Mobikasa. We were in conversation for a couple of months to explore their expertise level and how they would be able to support us. I was impressed with their expertise in Ruby on Rails and other areas.

How much have you invested with Mobikasa?

Our cost with them in the beginning was higher because of the development we were pursuing that year. We spent around $25,000. We’re now expanding to other digital territories including mobile and text, so our spending will double.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them a year and a half ago, and the work is ongoing. We plan to renew our contract with them at the end of the fiscal year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m very satisfied with their work. Whenever I have an opportunity, I share their name with other colleagues and community-based organizations within the higher education space. There are other organizations structured the same way we are and don’t have the resources for a full-time development team. They’ve helped me reach my acquisition goals and retention goals. Because of them, I’m able to get a green light from senior management to move forward with other relevant digital development. They’re fast and they know what they’re doing.

How did Mobikasa perform from a project management standpoint?

They communicate frequently.

What did you find most impressive about Mobikasa?

They’re a really great partner. If you leverage their expertise, they can help you vet through some ideas and share some best practices of other organizations that are in your space. They are great to work with.

Are there any areas Mobikasa could improve?

Having an offshore partner is something to get used to if you’re in the US. The hours don’t align with your normal business day, so there’s some lag time.

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

You need to know exactly what role you’re looking to augment in your staff, as well as project requirements and elements, and make that clear to them. Expect to work quickly. They’re really on top of things and they’re great with follow-up.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The company is a house of brands specializing in sports nutrition, multivitamin, and fitness-related products and services. I’m the multimedia producer working on mobile apps, websites, videography, content, augmented reality, etc. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MOBIKASA?

I worked with MOBIKASA directly as a liaison for our company with their project manager to complete two mobile apps. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the first mobile app, we looked to disrupt the whole mobile app personal trainer model by introducing a virtual trainer. It essentially is a mobile app that offers content where the user can follow along both visually and verbally with the trainer. At the end of the program, they should be able to see positive results on their health, both physically and mentally, by sticking to the program. The second mobile app was a derivation of that for a different brand and audience. It also included things like nutrition tip videos and healthy recipes that you can cook at home. All of the information was hosted on the app. The trainer app was with an influencer, Allison Hagendorf, who put together workout tips, mainly targeted at women and users of the app’s brand product.

They also built a custom CMS [content management system] for both apps and offered to build out for iPad, Apple Watch, Home app, and other capabilities. But, for the initial project, where we currently stand, we wanted to have an iOS and Android version and get some customer data feedback before proceeding.

How did you come to work with MOBIKASA?

Our CEO had either a recommendation to or a prior relationship with them. They are based in New York City (at least their storefront is). Development happened in India. The project manager was between India and New York City. Choosing them really came down to their level of confidence, the price for the project, and the timeline of the deliverables.

How much have you invested with MOBIKASA?

The first one was roughly $70,000, and the second one was $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We completed the first app around December of 2015, and it was roughly a 3.5-month project with about half a month of preproduction planning. The second project was completed in October of 2016, and that was a six-week project with a week of preproduction planning because a lot of it was built on what we had currently created for the original app. I would definitely use them again. I can’t tell you about our future projects, but we may have some more in the pipeline.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are satisfied with how these apps were received. With any mobile app, it’s not just the quality of it, but it’s also the strategy to go to market, which includes marketing plans and dollars. Therefore, I wouldn’t gauge any of the statistics purely based on the functionality or the user experience of the app. I’d attribute it more to the marketing strategy and our ability to get the app out in front of people to download. However, when I did run digital ad campaigns, we had a really great response, and I was able to get user acquisition for way less than average in the industry.

How did MOBIKASA perform from a project management standpoint?

If you want to get something done quickly and at a low cost but also ensure that you get what you ask for, MOBIKASA is a great company to consider. They cut all the right corners to allow you to be agile and flexible in the budget. They’re also great at communicating during any issues. In terms of timelines and deliverables, whatever was promised was given. Their team as a whole is very capable.

What did you find most impressive about MOBIKASA?

They gave us exactly what we asked for—nothing more, nothing less. They are very good at transactional project execution. They’re flexible and accommodating in allowing us to alter the scope, especially during the first project but less during the second. In the first project, they were very flexible and accommodating in introducing new functionalities and things into the scope without drastically increasing costs, which is why we went with them again for the second app. They’re just the definition of fast and cheap but also effective.

Are there any areas MOBIKASA could improve?

The biggest challenge was working with a PM in India, so having a very fluent English project manager available in time zones that are more in accordance with the US would be very helpful. Delayed communication was the only hang-up, but that’s understandable since we’re outsourcing the work to them, which is why the cost was lower. Anyone in the tech space knows that.

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

Spend more time developing the use case and scope of work documentation prior to initiating a project to ensure that, as fast as they move already, they can move twice as fast. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the general manager of Juka Innovations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MOBIKASA?

There were issues with our website and we needed our Shopify backend changed and tailored to our needs, products, and business flow.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The website already existed; it was put together by one of my colleagues. It was working but faced a few challenges from orders being processed through the website and flowing in from several sources, along with a bunch of different business rules that had to be kept and maintained properly.

They had to change our template while making sure that we can continue operating. We’re working with several 3PLs [third-party logistics] warehouses to make sure that our orders continue flowing properly.

There were several people on their team working on it. They communicated with me and my colleagues at Juka.

How did you come to work with MOBIKASA?

The CEO of our company found them, but I’m not sure how.

How much have you invested with MOBIKASA?

I can’t answer that question. My colleague would be the one that knows this detail.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them mid-January 2017. They’re available for maintenance support, but at this point, all the changes that we needed to have made were made. We will definitely reach out to them when we need more work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Metric number one is that we didn’t lose a single order, and that was extremely important to us. We were able to expand our product line, and they supported that with additional fields or the presentation of the products. They’ve worked on some additional couponing options for us as well, and everything is working seamlessly. We are happy with the results.

How did MOBIKASA perform from a project management standpoint?

It was good. Regarding project management, there are only two metrics of importance for me: they have to be timely and the solution has to work in the end. It looks like both were met.

They were responsive, so we didn’t have to wait around. We’ve hired some companies in the past trying to address similar business goals, and we had to wait for days for someone to get back to me with a question. I just can’t wait, especially on a site that’s live. Their communication was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about MOBIKASA?

What definitely sets them apart is that I can get someone on the phone quickly and easily, and have someone return my calls when I need them returned. Honestly, I only have the best things to say about them.

Are there any areas MOBIKASA could improve?

I don’t run a tech operation here, so I wouldn’t be able to tell you. However, I think they should continue doing more of the same. That will allow them to grow.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of R&D at a startup that’s revolutionizing the credit card industry. Our system gives merchants the ability to offer interest-free consumer credit with securitization, just like a regular credit card transaction. The solution works for merchants and retailers of all sizes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobikasa?

Our solution needed to be integrated quickly and smoothly into online checkout pages. This would allow merchants to offer our system as an additional payment method when shoppers check out. The challenge was to give a plug and play solution to those merchants for existing platforms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mobikasa developed plug-ins for common e-commerce platforms such as Magento and WooCommerce. They were able to complete the challenge for a plug and play solution for the merchants using our product. Mobikasa took part in every step, starting from professional suggestions as part of the initial design and continuing with the development of the plug-ins and QA.

What is the status of this engagement?

The overall duration of the project was five months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both plug-ins were released with all of the agreed content last month. They are now being installed on many sites successfully. The project team was very flexible, responsive, and provided exceptional service. I would certainly recommend Mobikasa to any company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a social music network app. I am the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MOBIKASA?

We believe that music is the universal language and that this app allows people to connect simply on their mutual love of music. Our target audience is anyone over 18 who loves music and listens to music on their mobile device.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We went with MOBIKASA to build the initial iOS application. An Android application will be added later.

How did you come to work with MOBIKASA?

Our lead investor suggested MOBIKASA. We put out a competitive bid and they won after three meetings. We had several meetings with them and other builders before deciding that MOBIKASA was the right fit. They had a grasp of what we were trying to build, and we spent a lot of time breaking down how it would operate and what needed to be accomplished.

It was very important to our investors and ourselves that deadlines were met and that the app would be built and functional in time for our launch date.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

If you think you can launch an app and not have any issues, then I believe you are not being realistic. You want a team that will stand by their work and MOBIKASA does that. They have been a constant in this build and growth period and we appreciate that about them.

What did you find most impressive about MOBIKASA?

MOBIKASA stood by their work and have consistently helped with the functionality and design of the app. We have missed our launch date, but more importantly than that, the team is working diligently to make sure that the app is functioning and that our growing ecosystem of end users are being heard about changes and issues with the functions they are experiencing.

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

When you’re building an app, you need to be prepared for bumps in the road such as coding issues, functionality issues, and changes to the look and graphics. All in all, we appreciated their quick turnaround and how responsive MOBIKASA was to every growing need that we had.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My e-commerce store sells items across a bunch of different categories—from clothing accessories to art and home decor. I'm the founder of and also the owner and buyer for the store. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mobikasa?

The store is solely based online. We don't have a brick-and-mortar location, so the website was a pretty important aspect of the company. The goal was to create an online platform with a good user experience (UX) that is really user-friendly, where the user can get from opening the homepage to the cart without too much effort. I wanted to make it as easy as possible, but I also wanted to create a customized experience that customers haven't seen before in e-commerce. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For a lot of the frontend design, I told Mobikasa what I wanted. I submitted PDF files from Illustrator of actual layouts. I had to show them examples from other websites because I'm not extremely well-versed in all that stuff. Web development was definitely something that I had to wrap my head around for this project. Applications were used to drive the full experience, but it was all built on the Shopify platform.

As far as providing support in what we could and couldn't do, what I really enjoyed was Mobikasa trying to make it work, even though they weren’t given enough direction and support from me because web development is not really my field. I guided them as much as I could, but they were able to take direction and move forward nicely.

How did you come to work with Mobikasa?

I found them on the “Shopify Experts” page. They came highly recommended, so I knew that they knew the Shopify language, which was really good.

How much have you invested with Mobikasa?

It was between $5,000 and $6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Right now, it's not ongoing, but I was working with them from March to September of 2016. I don't have many additions or corrections to make to the website just now. If I ever want to build out some of the pages, I would get in touch with them again. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can tell from Google Analytics that customers are spending a good amount of time navigating through the website. The bounce rates aren’t high, which is great. Since it is a fully e-commerce driven business, I am really satisfied with the UX. Customers are coming back and telling me that they enjoyed being on the site and that it's easy to navigate. It has also helped drive sales, which is great. Other than that, it’s still a pretty small but growing business. Hopefully, we'll continue to see the gains.

How did Mobikasa perform from a project management standpoint?

It was tough at times because they're based out of India, so I wasn't really working with someone in the US. You're given that information right off the bat, but it proved a little difficult in terms of sticking to timelines. In some projects, I could have done a better job of really explaining in more detail what I was looking for. For the most part, however, they stuck with the timelines. I did have to make sure the information was understood well on both sides because I think that's where the time gaps really occurred.

Like I said, I'm not in web development, so I think that if I had worked with a frontend developer or a graphic designer on my side, who could clearly outline my pixels and user flow in a lot more detail with more precise measurements and interactions, the interaction could have been more graceful between us. Since I didn't work with someone on my end, I think that it went as fast as possible, and they remained patient with me.

What did you find most impressive about Mobikasa?

They're really just a phone call away. It was really easy to get in touch with them and set up Skype appointments, which was awesome. Even though they were in India, there was definitely a lot of support there. They were able to finish everything that I had asked for, even though it might not have been the easiest or most conventional process. It was really nice to work with them on a unique project. Rarely did I ever hear that something couldn't be done, and if that was the case, I know they tried.

Are there any areas Mobikasa could improve?

We did a lot of our interaction via email, but I would have liked to have another platform to monitor checkpoints and page progress. Since we were sometimes working on multiple pages at the same time, having those interactions via email got pretty heavy. If they had used Trello or some other software where we could both stay in tune with every tweak, it would have been a more manageable on my side. Sometimes, it felt like a lot was going on at once. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a New York-based direct-to-consumer luxury brand. I'm the CEO and co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MOBIKASA?

We needed to find a web development agency that had Shopify experts. We wanted someone who responded to our needs in a timely fashion, charged a fair price, and was highly detail-oriented. 

SOLUTION

How did you come to work with MOBIKASA?

I looked online and called around six Shopify agencies. At the end of the selection process, I figured out that MOBIKASA was the better choice, compared to the other companies I emailed. They took the time to understand our business and our web development needs. They were willing to work with us on very specific projects, which gave us a chance to evaluate the quality of their work. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The developers at MOBIKASA are true web development and Shopify experts. They have the experience, the passion, and the understanding of mobile-first and execution skills. We usually interact with their account manager, and she has always been responsive to our needs—regardless of the time difference between NYC and India.

How did MOBIKASA perform from a project management standpoint?

There have been times where misunderstandings have occurred, and they have been super quick to resolve those issues. I'd highly recommend them. I do think that they could grow their SEO, SEM, Google Analytics, digital advertising, and ad optimization support teams to round out their offer. I know that their CEO is already working on this.

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

My suggestions to other buyers are always the same: start with something smaller, like a specific update for one section of the site, and get a chance to see what the provider can do, who the account manager is, and how he or she can get along with the team, as well as what the price is.

Once the client has dipped their toes in the water and like what they’re seeing, they can move forward with something bigger. This is how we worked, but we’re quite young as a company. Mobikasa worked well for us, but, depending on the size and needs of the client company, this decision needs to be made on the interaction type and quality of work.