Redefining Productivity: Insights from Nikolay Kussovski’s Pulse 2.0 Interview

What if you could transform the way you complete your daily tasks and enhance your productivity with a single tool? In a recent interview with Pulse 2.0, Nikolay Kussovski shared key insights about MobiOffice (formerly known as OfficeSuite), the product’s journey and where MobiSystems’ products stand in the market.

Keep reading for his take on pivotal moments, challenges, and future plans.

How It All Came to Be

Launched in 2001, MobiSystems later started providing affordable and convenient office tools. As a freelance developer in the company, Nikolay's work was focused on creating a comprehensive office suite for Palm OS. This opportunity led to a series of events that resulted in him being MobiSystems’ CTO and MobiOffice’s co-founder today.

But how did MobiOffice come to be? “We identified a gap in the market for productivity software on handheld devices, much like Microsoft did for personal computers”, Nikolay says. "Consequently, we seized this opportunity by providing convenient and affordable office productivity tools.”. This resulted in MobiOffice, which has since become a strong competitor to Microsoft Office and other leading productivity suites.

Main Products 

Nikolay spoke at length about MobiSystems’ core products. As a cross-platform suite, MobiOffice includes MobiDocs for text editing, MobiSheets for spreadsheets and data analysis, and MobiSlides for presentations. MobiPDF, a powerful PDF tool formerly known as PDFExtra, as well as the proprietary cloud storage tool MobiDrive, are also part of the company’s portfolio.

The cross-platform functionality lies at the core of the development and deployment of MobiOffice. This, as well as cost-effectiveness and ease of use, really separates the app from competitors and drives its success. “This [cross-platform] approach streamlines the development process by allowing features to be implemented once within the core engine, subsequently becoming available on all platforms through platform-specific user interfaces and experiences.  MobiOffice empowers individuals and businesses to unlock heightened productivity and effortless document collaboration, regardless of the device they’re using.”, says Nikolay.

Adaptability and flexibility have become especially crucial in the product’s value offering with the rise of remote and hybrid work environments – with MobiOffice, users transition seamlessly between devices and can complete their daily tasks anywhere.

Overcoming Challenges

Nikolay shares that competing against Big Tech has been a significant challenge, but MobiSystems remains focused on customer needs. “The key has been not to view it as an ‘us vs. them’ battle, but rather as a healthy competitive ecosystem that drives innovation and better serves customers. Big Tech’s one-size-fits-all approach often struggles to address the nuanced demands of diverse industries and customer profiles.”

As for overcoming the challenges, this comes down to a hands-on approach, according to Nikolay. Keeping the customer happy often involves close-knit teamwork and dedication. One issue he talks about in the interview involved a long-time user in the medical field who was facing scheduling difficulties with MobiOffice. “Upon receiving the user feedback, our support team immediately sprang into action, successfully resolving the issue. Delighted with our swift resolution, the customer expressed satisfaction and pledged to endorse our product among their colleagues and associates.”

Current and Future Growth

As for future goals, Kussovski revealed plans to expand MobiOffice’s offerings to include macOS and online versions with enhanced collaboration features. “Our aim is to make productivity tools accessible across more platforms while increasing brand awareness. We want people to know there are viable alternatives to the major suites.”

MobiSystems remains committed to delivering affordable, cross-compatible productivity tools that streamline users' workflows worldwide. For the full scoop, read the full interview in Pulse 2.0.