It’s widely known that contented customers not only tend to remain loyal but also tend to share favorable recommendations, a potential game-changer for any brand. Nonetheless, attaining and sustaining elevated levels of customer satisfaction presents significant challenges. In this exploration, we delve into the crucial significance of product support and maintenance in India and beyond, in guaranteeing top-notch customer service, shedding light on this essential aspect of business. As we delve deeper into this topic, let’s start with some revealing statistics that highlight the undeniable connection between excellent product support and soaring customer satisfaction.
Did you know?
>A staggering 78% of customers have decided not to complete a purchase because of a negative customer service experience.
>If a company’s customer service is deemed “very poor,” only 1 in 5 customers will forgive a negative experience.
>A 5% increase in customer retention can lead to a 25-95% increase in profits.
>83% of consumers are willing to pay more for a product or service if they receive excellent customer support
These statistics underscore the pivotal role product support and maintenance in Kenya, US and other places play in fostering a loyal and satisfied customer base. Let’s explore this connection further and uncover the strategies that can transform your customer service from ordinary to outstanding.
The Link Between Product Support, Regular Maintenance and Customer Satisfaction
Product support and regular maintenance are integral to customer satisfaction. When companies offer robust support systems, addressing customer queries and issues promptly, it instills confidence and trust. Regular maintenance ensures products function optimally, reducing downtime and frustration. This proactive approach prevents unexpected breakdowns, enhancing customer experience. Satisfied customers are more likely to become loyal, repeat buyers, and brand advocates, contributing to a company’s long-term success.
Therefore, the interplay between product support and regular maintenance forms a critical link in the chain of customer satisfaction, ultimately impacting a business’s bottom line and reputation positively.
Leveraging Product Support for Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
1.Providing Timely and Accessible Support Channels: To enhance customer satisfaction, companies should prioritize providing timely and accessible support channels, such as live chat, email, and phone support, ensuring customers can reach out whenever they need assistance, ultimately fostering a sense of reliability and trust in the brand.
2.The Power of Proactive Support and Issue Resolution: Proactive support is a potent tool for customer satisfaction. By identifying and resolving issues before they become major problems, companies can create a smoother customer experience and demonstrate a commitment to customer well-being, resulting in higher satisfaction levels and brand loyalty.
3.Tailoring Support to Individual Customer Needs: Tailoring support to individual customer needs is vital. Personalized assistance, based on customer preferences and past interactions, can make customers feel valued and understood, leading to improved satisfaction as they receive solutions and guidance tailored specifically to their unique circumstances and challenges.
Maximizing Customer Satisfaction through Regular Maintenance and Updates
1. Creating Long-term Customer Loyalty Through Continuous Improvement: By consistently enhancing our products and services, we foster lasting customer loyalty. Our commitment to continuous improvement ensures that customers not only receive reliable solutions but also stay engaged with our brand. Through proactive feedback collection and implementation, we tailor our offerings to meet evolving needs, creating a strong bond built on trust and satisfaction. This approach not only retains existing customers but also attracts new ones, establishing a thriving ecosystem of loyal clients.
2. Staying ahead with software and hardware updates: Remaining at the forefront of technological advancements is essential for meeting customer expectations. Regular software and hardware updates enable us to provide cutting-edge solutions that not only maintain functionality but also introduce new features and capabilities. This proactive approach ensures our customers always have access to the latest innovations, enhancing their experience and reaffirming our commitment to excellence.
3.Preventing and addressing common issues through regular check-ups: We prioritize customer satisfaction by conducting routine check-ups to identify and rectify common issues before they become major problems. Proactive maintenance and troubleshooting help minimize disruptions to our customers’ operations. By addressing issues promptly and efficiently, we demonstrate our dedication to their success, instilling confidence in our ability to provide reliable and hassle-free solutions.
Minimizing Downtime and Disruptions: Our focus on regular maintenance and updates significantly reduces downtime and disruptions for our customers. By proactively identifying and resolving potential issues, we ensure that their operations run smoothly and without interruption. This not only boosts productivity but also reinforces our commitment to delivering dependable and efficient services, further solidifying the trust and satisfaction of our valued customers.
AlignMinds: Your Partner for Excellence in Customer Service and Maintenance
In the ever-evolving landscape of customer service, one thing remains constant: Quality support and maintenance are paramount to ensuring customer satisfaction. AlignMinds, with its unwavering commitment to excellence, stands as a shining example in India’s service industry. By choosing AlignMinds, you’re not just investing in a service provider; you’re investing in a partnership dedicated to your success. So, let’s pave the way for unrivaled customer satisfaction, where product support and maintenance in US, India and other global hubs, are the keys to unlocking a world of delighted customers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing how businesses create and maintain online presence. By combining technology and creativity, AI enables web developers to design and build more engaging, responsive, and user-friendly websites.
According to a Statista report, the revenue generation from AI is expected to reach $126 billion in 2025. AI has become an essential tool for web development and online branding, as it offers various benefits such as personalization, optimization, and automation.
In this article, we will explore the different aspects of AI and how it influences web development and online branding. We will also look at the future of the internet in the era of AI.
The Rise of AI in Web Development
Artificial Intelligence has transcended science fiction and become an integral part of our digital lives. When it comes to web development, it is not just about creating functional websites anymore; it’s about delivering an immersive, personalized, and efficient experience to users.
The AI revolution in web development has been driven by the need to cater to an ever-demanding user base. Today’s users expect websites to not only load swiftly but also adapt to their preferences seamlessly.
Important Factors to Consider That Influence Online Branding
Several factors in website development influence online branding and have revolutionized because of Artificial Intelligence!
AI-Driven Design for Better User Experience
In web development, making sure users have a great experience is super important. AI-powered design is leading the way in this effort. It is like having a smart assistant that watches what users do on a website and then changes things like the layout, menus, and content to match what each person likes. This personalized touch makes the website enjoyable to use and keeps people coming back.
AI-Powered Content: Creating More with Less Effort
Content, like articles and videos, is what makes the internet interesting. AI is like a powerful helper that can create top-quality content quickly. It is not just about text; AI can even make audio, video, and interactive stuff like chatbots and virtual assistants. This means less work for human creators and consistent quality across different parts of a website. AI is unlocking creative possibilities to engage users in exciting new ways.
Personalization for Better Engagement
Personalization is very important for online success. AI helps websites show you what you like based on your past behavior and some basic info. This makes you feel like the website is made for you. You are more likely to stay, interact, and buy. AI helps websites get you hooked.
Making Web Development Easier with AI
Creating websites used to be hard and slow. People had to write and test lots of code by hand. But now, AI helps by doing most of the work. AI tools can make and fix the code for websites without human help. This lets web developers be more creative and less bored.
AI and SEO: A Dynamic Duo
Having a great website is not enough; people need to find it online. That is what SEO does—it makes sure your website appears in search results. AI-powered SEO tools have changed how businesses do this. They can analyze data, find the right words, and keep your website visible and relevant.
The Ethical Considerations
While the potential of AI in web development and online branding is immense, it also raises ethical considerations. Privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and transparency issues need to be addressed as AI continues to shape these domains. It’s crucial for businesses to navigate these ethical challenges responsibly while harnessing the power of AI.
Case Studies: Real-World Applications
To truly understand the impact of AI, it is essential to examine real-world applications. Across various industries, businesses have harnessed AI to transform their web development and branding strategies. From e-commerce giants using AI for product recommendations to healthcare organizations improving user experiences, case studies showcase the versatility and effectiveness of AI in different contexts.
Here are a few references that can further help comprehend the concept:
1. Netflix: Personalization Through AI
Background: Netflix, the world’s leading streaming platform, relies heavily on AI to enhance user experience and retain subscribers.
AI Implementation: Netflix employs AI algorithms to analyze user viewing habits, preferences, and historical data. This data-driven approach enables them to recommend personalized content to viewers, increasing user engagement and retention.
Results: By leveraging AI-driven recommendations, Netflix has seen a significant boost in user satisfaction and subscription retention rates. According to a report by McKinsey, Netflix’s recommendation system, powered by AI, is estimated to save the company $1 billion per year by reducing churn.
2. Spotify: AI-Powered Music Recommendations>
Background: Spotify, a popular music streaming service, uses AI to deliver personalized playlists and recommendations to its users.
AI Implementation: Spotify’s AI algorithms analyze user behavior, such as the songs they listen to, the time of day, and their mood, to curate personalized playlists like “Discover Weekly” and “Release Radar.” They also use AI for audio analysis to categorize songs based on characteristics like tempo and mood.
Results: Spotify’s personalized playlists have significantly increased user engagement. As of 2020, Spotify reported that over 60% of their streams come from personalized playlists, showcasing the power of AI in keeping users engaged and satisfied.
3. IBM Watson: AI in Website Development
Background: IBM Watson, IBM’s AI-powered platform, offers a suite of tools for businesses, including web development.
AI Implementation: IBM Watson’s AI capabilities extend to web development through AI-powered chatbots, content generation, and user experience optimization. It allows businesses to create websites with personalized content and responsive designs using AI.
Results: Multiple businesses have used IBM Watson to streamline their web development processes and improve user experience. For example, a travel booking website used Watson’s chatbot to assist customers in real time, resulting in a 30% increase in bookings and a 20% reduction in customer service response times.
4. Coca-Cola: AI-Driven Content Creation
Background: Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most recognizable brands, adopted AI for content creation.
AI Implementation: Coca-Cola employed AI algorithms to generate thousands of unique product descriptions for their e-commerce website. The AI analyzed product features and customer preferences to create compelling and personalized descriptions for each product.
Results: By using AI to enhance their website content, Coca-Cola experienced a 28% increase in online sales and a 20% reduction in bounce rates. The AI-generated descriptions resonated better with customers, leading to higher conversion rates.
These case studies demonstrate the versatile applications of AI in web development and online branding. From personalized content recommendations to streamlined web development processes, AI is reshaping the digital landscape and delivering tangible results for businesses across various sectors.
As AI continues to advance, its impact on these domains is poised to grow further, offering exciting possibilities for businesses seeking to thrive in the digital age.
Future Trends in AI-Driven Web Development & Online Branding
The future holds exciting prospects for AI in web development and online branding. One of the most promising areas is augmented and virtual reality experiences. AI can enhance these immersive technologies by personalizing user experiences, creating lifelike simulations, and improving real-time interactions.
The result is a more engaging and captivating online world!
Even for businesses, investing in futuristic AI is a strategic move! Businesses need to understand the tangible benefits of AI adoption. From increased conversion rates and improved user satisfaction to cost savings through automation, the ROI of AI investments is measurable and significant.
Get Ready to Embrace the AI Revolution with AlignMinds
In conclusion, Artificial Intelligence is a transformative force reshaping the landscape of web development and online branding.
Embracing this revolution is not an option but a necessity for businesses looking to stay competitive in the digital age. As technology continues to advance, staying ahead of the curve will be the key to success.
AlignMinds is a prominent Website Development and Software Development company with a global presence, including operations in India, Kenya, and the United States. This company has established itself as a valuable partner for businesses seeking to enhance their web development and online branding strategies.
As a renowned website development company in India – AlignMinds boasts a highly skilled and experienced web developer proficient in creating user-friendly, responsive, and visually appealing websites. Their expertise covers various industries and technologies, including Artificial Intelligence. By offering custom website development solutions, AlignMinds ensures that each client’s unique needs and brand identity are reflected in their online presence.
2.Robust Software Development Services:
In addition to website development, AlignMinds excels as a software development company in India and other parts of the world! They create customized software solutions that are AI-driven that help streamline business operations, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experiences. Their software development services cater to various domains, including healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and more.
3. Global Reach:
AlignMinds’ presence in India, Kenya, and the US allows them to serve clients from diverse locations. This global reach enables them to understand and adapt to market dynamics and customer preferences.
4. Online Branding and Digital Transformation:
AlignMinds understands that a website’s role extends beyond design and functionality. They offer comprehensive services to help clients establish and strengthen their online branding.
5. Emphasis on User Experience:
AlignMinds places a strong emphasis on user experience (UX) design. Being a website development company in Kenya, they ensure that websites and software applications are intuitive and easy to navigate, resulting in higher user satisfaction and more extended visitor engagement.
6. Innovative Solutions:
AlignMinds keeps pace with the latest technological trends and innovations. They offer cutting-edge solutions, such as progressive web apps (PWAs) and AI-driven applications, to keep clients ahead of the curve.
7. Client-Centric Approach:
AlignMinds takes a client-centric approach to every project. They collaborate closely with clients, understanding their goals and challenges to deliver tailor-made solutions that align with their objectives.
8. Measuring Success:
AlignMinds believes in data-driven decision-making. They provide clients with analytics and performance metrics, enabling them to continuously measure their websites and software applications’ success.
9. Security and Trust:
AlignMinds prioritizes security in all their projects in the era of increasing cyber threats. As a software development company in Kenya, they implement robust security measures to protect websites and software applications, building user trust and safeguarding sensitive data.
AlignMinds’ website and software development expertise positions them as a valuable partner for businesses looking to enhance their online branding efforts. Their commitment to quality, innovation, and client satisfaction makes them a reliable choice in the competitive web and software development world.
FAQs: Your AI and Web Development Queries Answered
Q1: How can AI improve website load times?
AI can optimize website performance by compressing images, caching content, and prioritizing resources, resulting in faster load times.
Q2: Are AI-generated articles as good as those written by humans?
AI-generated articles can be of high quality, but human touch is often needed for creativity and nuanced writing.
Q3: What are the security implications of AI in web development?
AI can enhance security by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities, but it can also be exploited by malicious actors. Robust cybersecurity measures are essential.
Q4: Can small businesses afford AI-powered web development?
AI tools are becoming more accessible, with options for businesses of all sizes. It’s a matter of choosing the right solutions that align with your budget and goals.
Q5: How can AI improve the mobile browsing experience?
AI can optimize mobile websites by adapting layouts, images, and content to suit various devices and screen sizes, ensuring a seamless experience for users.
In summary, the impact of Artificial Intelligence on web development and online branding is profound and far-reaching. It’s a journey into a future where websites are not static pages but dynamic, personalized experiences that engage and delight users. Embracing AI is not just an option; it’s the path to staying competitive in the digital landscape.
Have you ever wondered how some companies manage to create groundbreaking products that not only captivate the market but also revolutionize entire industries?
The answer lies in the pivotal role of product engineering companies. These unsung heroes of innovation play a crucial part in turning visionary ideas into tangible, market-ready solutions. In fact, statistics show that businesses that collaborate with product engineering firms experience a staggering 40% increase in product development efficiency, leading to accelerated growth and enhanced competitiveness.
In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the world of product engineering and explore its transformative impact on businesses.
Definition of Product Engineering
The realm of product engineering involves the intricate processes of ideation, development, and optimization, culminating in a product’s readiness for the market. It necessitates a holistic approach, fusing technology, design, and practicality to yield inventive and high-performing solutions.
For instance, within the technology sector, product engineering may pertain to the development of a smartphone, which encompasses activities such as integrating hardware and software, designing user interfaces, and conducting exhaustive testing. This holistic methodology guarantees alignment with customer needs, industry benchmarks, and market demands, resulting in a top-tier, competitive offering. The primary aim of product engineering is to enhance performance, reliability, and user satisfaction while keeping production costs at a minimum
How Product Engineering Companies Benefit Businesses
1. Streamlining the Design Process: Product engineering companies play a pivotal role in optimizing the design process for businesses. Their expertise in design methodologies, CAD tools, and rapid prototyping allows for efficient and error-free product development. By leveraging their experience, companies can save time and resources, minimize design flaws, and ensure that their products meet or exceed customer expectations. This streamlined design process not only reduces the likelihood of costly redesigns but also enhances overall product quality, positioning the business for long-term success in a competitive market.
2. Robust Testing and Quality Assurance: Product engineering firms excel in implementing rigorous testing and quality assurance protocols. Their dedicated teams focus on identifying and rectifying potential flaws early in the development cycle, reducing the risk of defects reaching the market. This meticulous approach results in products that are more reliable, have fewer recalls, and enjoy higher customer satisfaction. By entrusting their QA processes to engineering experts, businesses can uphold their brand reputation and avoid costly post-launch issues, ultimately saving money and ensuring product success.
3.Accelerated Time-to-Market: Product engineering companies in US, India and diverse global locations specialise in expediting the development timeline. Their vast experience, access to cutting-edge technologies, and streamlined workflows enable businesses to bring products to market faster. By reducing development cycles, companies can seize market opportunities swiftly, respond to changing customer demands, and stay ahead of competitors. The shortened time-to-market not only generates revenue sooner but also increases the chances of capturing a larger market share, making it a crucial advantage for business growth.
4.Cost Optimization and Efficiency: One of the primary benefits of partnering with product engineering firms is cost optimization and efficiency. These companies are well-versed in cost-effective sourcing, materials selection, and manufacturing processes. Through careful analysis and optimization, they help businesses reduce production costs, minimize waste, and enhance resource utilization. This leads to improved profit margins, cost competitiveness, and sustainable business operations. Additionally, engineering expertise allows for the identification of potential cost-saving opportunities during product development, ensuring that projects stay within budget constraints.
5.Innovation and Competitive Advantage: Product engineering companies bring fresh perspectives and innovative thinking to the table. They collaborate with businesses to identify new Digital Transformation technologies, materials, and design approaches that can give products a competitive edge. By harnessing their expertise in emerging trends and market insights, businesses can stay ahead of the curve, create unique products, and differentiate themselves in crowded markets. This innovation-driven approach not only fosters growth but also solidifies a company’s position as an industry leader, attracting customers and partners who value cutting-edge solutions.
Future Trends and Innovations
>AI and Machine Learning in Product Design: Product design is undergoing a profound revolution thanks to AI and machine learning, which harness the power of data-driven insights, predictive modeling, and automated design optimization. These technological marvels simplify the design process, ignite creativity, and boost product performance, ultimately giving rise to an era of innovation that prioritizes the customer.
>Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Product Engineering: In response to mounting environmental concerns, sustainable and eco-friendly product design is emerging as a prominent trend. Corporations are actively placing importance on selecting materials, refining manufacturing processes, and extending product lifespans to minimize their ecological impact. This shift toward sustainability not only benefits the environment but also caters to the escalating demand for environmentally-conscious products.
>3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping: 3D printing and rapid prototyping are transforming product development by enabling faster, cost-effective, and highly customizable prototyping and production. This Digital Transformation technology accelerates innovation cycles, reduces waste, and facilitates complex design iterations, making it a vital tool in various industries from aerospace to healthcare.
AlignMinds: A Leading Force in Product Engineering Innovation
In conclusion, the role of product engineering companies in business cannot be overstated. These product engineering companies in Kenya, US, India and various other regions serve as invaluable partners, driving innovation and ensuring product excellence.
As we’ve explored, AlignMinds, a prominent product engineering company in India and other places, stands out as a prime example of such a valuable partner. With its expertise, it has played a pivotal role in transforming ideas into market-ready solutions, bridging geographical boundaries, and fostering global business growth. In the interconnected world of business, companies like AlignMinds are the cornerstone of progress and success, enabling businesses to thrive on a global scale.
Software development is an art and a science, and developers always seek new ways to master it! One of the tools that can help them achieve this is Conversational AI, a technology that enables machines and humans to communicate naturally.
This remarkable technology has redefined how we interact with machines, making human-computer conversations more intuitive, efficient, and engaging than ever before.
Join us as we delve into ChatGPT and discover how it is revolutionizing the field of Conversational AI.
But before that, let us enlighten ourselves with a few stats that show the importance and potential of Conversational AI:
>The worldwide conversational AI market was close to $5 billion in 2020 and is projected to increase to $14 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 22%
>56% of companies say conversational bots drive disruption in their industry and 43% report that their competitors are already implementing the technology.
>By 2021, more than 50% of enterprises will spend more per annum on bots and chatbot creation than traditional mobile app development
Understanding Conversational AI
Conversational AI, short for Conversational Artificial Intelligence, harnesses the capabilities of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) to facilitate human-like interactions between machines and humans, whether through text or voice communication.
Building Blocks of Conversational AI
1. Natural Language Processing (NLP)
NLP empowers machines with the capacity to comprehend, interpret, and produce human language.It allows software to process text inputs, extract meaningful information, and respond coherently.
2. Machine Learning (ML)
ML algorithms enable systems to learn from data, adapt to user behavior, and improve their responses over time. This adaptive learning process is crucial for creating more proficient AI with each interaction.
Understanding ChatGPT
? What is ChatGPT?
One of the most advanced tools in the Conversational AI space is ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art language model developed by OpenAI. It is part of the GPT-3.5 architecture, designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives. ChatGPT is pre-trained on a vast dataset, making it proficient in various topics and capable of providing contextually relevant responses.
? How does ChatGPT work?
ChatGPT operates by predicting the next word in a sentence based on the preceding words. It uses a transformer architecture to capture dependencies between words and generate coherent and contextually appropriate text. Its ability to recognize and create text conversationally for various applications, including software development.
ChatGPT’s Role in Software Development
Streamlining Coding Tasks
One primary way ChatGPT benefits software developers is by streamlining coding tasks. Developers can interact with ChatGPT in a natural language format, making writing code snippets easier, finding solutions to coding problems, and generating complex algorithms.
Enhancing Documentation
Documentation is a crucial aspect of software development. ChatGPT can assist developers in creating comprehensive and user-friendly documentation. It can generate explanations, code comments, and user manuals, making it easier for developers and end-users to understand the software.
Debugging Made Easier
Spotting and addressing code bugs can prove to be a laborious and demanding endeavor. ChatGPT can assist in debugging by analyzing code and suggesting potential solutions. Developers can describe the issue in plain language, and ChatGPT can provide insights and recommendations to resolve it.
The Benefits of Using Conversation AI such as ChatGPT in Software Development
1. Increased Productivity
By automating repetitive coding tasks and providing quick solutions to common programming challenges, ChatGPT boosts developer productivity. Developers can focus more on creative problem-solving and less on tedious coding.
Reduced Errors
Human errors in code can lead to software vulnerabilities and system failures. ChatGPT’s ability to assist in code review and error detection helps reduce the likelihood of such issues, enhancing the overall quality of the software.
2. Faster Learning Curve
New developers often face a steep learning curve when entering the field. ChatGPT can be a valuable mentor, providing guidance, explanations, and code examples to help newcomers quickly grasp programming concepts.
Real World Application & Statistics
ChatGPT has found applications in various software development tasks, such as code generation, code reviews, and natural language interfaces for software. Its versatility makes it a valuable asset in a developer’s toolkit.
Let us delve into some real statistics and a case study that highlights the impact of ChatGPT in the world of software development:
According to a survey by Stack Overflow, 44% of developers reported using AI-powered tools like ChatGPT to assist them in coding tasks. This demonstrates the increasing adoption of AI in the development community.
GitHub surveyed over 2000 developers and found that GitHub Copilot helped them stay focused (73%) and save mental effort on repetitive tasks (87%). AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and CoPilot help developers code faster by reducing repetition, keeping productivity, and using context from millions of codes in different languages. In short, AI-powered tools cut down keystrokes.
These real-world statistics demonstrate the tangible benefits that ChatGPT brings to software development teams.
Potential Challenges and Limitations
While ChatGPT offers numerous advantages, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations.
>It may generate code that is not optimized for performance or security,
>Its responses are based on the data it has been trained on, which means it may not always provide contextually accurate information.
Future Advancements
As AI technology continues to evolve, ChatGPT is expected to become even more proficient and capable. Future advancements may include better
>Code Optimization
>Improved Natural Language Understanding
>Enhanced Debugging Capabilities
Conclusion
In conclusion, ChatGPT is changing the game for software development by offering a powerful tool to streamline coding tasks, enhance documentation, and make debugging more accessible. Its ability to increase productivity, reduce errors, and facilitate learning makes it an asset for developers worldwide.
As technology advances, ChatGPT’s role in software development is set to expand, making it an indispensable tool for developers.
FAQs
Can ChatGPT replace human developers?
No, ChatGPT is not a replacement for human developers. It is a valuable tool that can assist developers in various tasks, but human expertise and creativity remain essential in software development.
Is ChatGPT capable of understanding complex coding problems?
Yes, ChatGPT can understand and provide solutions for complex coding problems. However, its responses should be used as guidance and verified by developers.
How can I integrate ChatGPT into my software development workflow?
ChatGPT can be integrated into your workflow through APIs provided by OpenAI. Consult OpenAI’s documentation for guidance on integration.
Is ChatGPT accessible for developers?
Yes, ChatGPT is accessible to developers and used by professionals and enthusiasts. You can access it through the OpenAI platform.
AlignMinds: Transforming Software Development with Conversational AI & ChatGPT
As a forward-thinking software development company in US, AlignMinds is at the forefront of adopting innovative technologies to enhance the development process, and ChatGPT is no exception.
Our company recognizes the transformative power of Conversational AI and ChatGPT, and we are dedicated to helping software development teams harness these capabilities to their fullest extent.
1. Consulting and Integration Services
At AlignMinds, we understand that integrating new technologies can be daunting. Our team of experts is here to guide you through the process of incorporating ChatGPT into your software development workflow. Being a renowned software development company in India, we offer tailored consulting services to assess your needs, identify areas where ChatGPT can be most beneficial, and create a roadmap for seamless integration.
2. Customized ChatGPT Solutions
Every software development team has unique requirements. AlignMinds specializes in developing customized ChatGPT solutions that align with your project goals. Whether you need ChatGPT to automate coding tasks, improve documentation, or enhance user interactions, we can build a solution that caters to your needs.
3. Training and Support
To maximize the benefits of ChatGPT, your team needs to be well-versed in its capabilities. AlignMinds offers comprehensive training programs to ensure developers are proficient in using ChatGPT effectively.
4. Case Studies and Success Stories
We believe in showcasing the real impact of ChatGPT in software development. AlignMinds has a collection of case studies and success stories from our clients who have leveraged ChatGPT to streamline their development processes, reduce errors, and boost productivity. These real-world examples demonstrate the tangible benefits of integrating ChatGPT into your workflow.
5. Continuous Improvement
AlignMinds is committed to staying at the forefront of AI advancements and continuously improving our solutions – ChatGPT or any new technology! We provide regular updates and enhancements to ensure that your software development team always has access to the latest features and improvements.
In summary, AlignMinds is your trusted partner in leveraging ChatGPT to improve conversational AI for software development. As a software development company in Kenya, India, and the US, we offer a comprehensive suite of services, from consultation and integration to training and support. All these services are aimed at enhancing your development processes and delivering superior results.
Join hands with AlignMinds and embark on a journey to transform your software development with ChatGPT. To learn more about how AlignMinds can assist your company in embracing ChatGPT and Conversational AI, please get in touch with us.
Reaching customers globally is very important for online businesses to boost their productivity, which can be effortlessly carried out with the help of robust applications. The companies’ quality app development services can increase the organizations’ profits by growing sales. Entrepreneurs can proficiently save their precious time and money and stay ahead of the competition by employing the incredible services of AlignMinds Technologies, which utilizes the latest technologies to achieve the client’s business objectives.
About AlignMinds Technologies
Incepted in 2009, AlignMinds Technologies is a renowned digital transformation company that possesses expertise in product engineering in mobility along with cloud platforms. The experienced and knowledgeable team members strive hard to meet the growing business demands of the clients. With their agile and highly functional methodologies, the team builds and maintains long-lasting relationships with valued clients.
Further, the professionals provide top-quality digital product engineering solutions that involve web and mobile app development, DevOps, and cybersecurity. They employ cutting-edge technologies and follow modern industry practices to deliver robust business solutions to clients globally.
High-performance Services of AlignMinds Technologies
Product Engineering
The team possesses knowledge and expertise in developing products that meet the client’s unique business demands. Further, the experts employ Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies to manage services related to consulting, research and UI/UX, architecture, development, and QA solutions that take clients’ business to the next level. The team competently manages the discovery and designing of the products, development, and DevOps maintenance.
Product Modernization
The company proficiently enhances the performance and functionality of the products, resulting in a rich user experience. With the help of top-notch technologies like UI/UX facelifts, AI integration, cloud transformation, and architecture redesign, the professionals enable clients to gain a competitive advantage.
Product Support and Maintenance
The support and maintenance technicians ensure the product functions seamlessly by offering efficient services related to version upgrades, enhancements, and support services. Product maintenance services include performance, security, and compatibility management.
IT Infrastructure Management
The quality IT infrastructure management service enables clients to optimize and maintain the digital infrastructure of their organizations. The experts provide end-to-end services to enhance the clients’ digital resources’ performance, security, and scalability. Their bespoke Cloud migration services to monitoring, maintenance to DevOps adoption, and AI services take clients’ business to new heights.
Consequently, GoodFirms researchers consider AlignMinds Technologies one of the top app development companies in India for offering impeccable business solutions that accelerate the digital journey of the client’s business.
Why does GoodFirms consider AlignMinds Technologies as one of the top app development companies in India?
AlignMinds Technologies is a well-known technology consulting company that believes in providing top-grade business solutions globally. The certified and experienced engineers of the company provide high-quality product engineering, product modernization, product support and maintenance, and IT infrastructure management services that result in high-performance and reliable services for the clients’ business growth.
Further, with their innovative ideas, the team provides a complete suite of offshore product development services that keeps clients’ business ahead of the competition. With industry best practices, the team enables clients to partner with renowned brands. The company’s flexible engagement model helps provide a digital transformation that benefits clients’ businesses by accelerating their business growth. By employing a wide range of services, clients can efficiently and effortlessly transform their business by design-led product engineering services.
Conclusion
AlignMinds Technologies is the dedicated app development company specializing in digital product engineering services. The company passionately serves a wide range of industries, including media, retail, consulting, logistics, education, and government. The innovative and dedicated professionals provide quality product engineering services, including web and mobile app development, DevOps, and cybersecurity solutions.
GoodFirms Methodology
GoodFirms is a reliable B2B research and listing platform that reviews IT companies’ performance and helps enhance their modern technological value. By employing established metrics and determining ranking for deserving companies, the researchers of GoodFirms evaluate the performance of the IT companies. Further, the extensive research process helps rank the companies, enhances their online reputation, and enables service seekers to pick the right technology partner that meets their online business demands.
Get ready to dive into the riveting world of “Computer Vision for Autonomous Vehicles: Enabling Safer and Smarter Transportation.” In this cutting-edge era, where AI meets the open road, let’s explore how pixel-powered genius is reshaping our highways. Did you ever realize that human misjudgments cause over 90% of all road accidents? Discover how computer vision’s eagle-eyed precision slashes this alarming statistic while propelling us towards a future of autonomous marvels.
From detecting obstacles to reading traffic signs, we’ll dive into the mind-boggling ways computer vision revolutionizes the road, propelling us toward a future where safety and sophistication share the driver’s seat.
A brief overview of Autonomous vehicles
Autonomous vehicles, incorporate state-of-the-art sensors, computational technology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Transportation. These vehicles can navigate and operate without human intervention, relying on intricate algorithms to perceive their surroundings, make real-time decisions, and safely maneuver through complex traffic scenarios.
Progress in autonomous vehicle technology holds the key to bolstering road safety, easing traffic congestion, and fundamentally changing the way we think about transportation.
Computer Vision Technology
Computer Vision Technology pertains to the crafting and implementation of algorithms and systems, enabling computers to decipher and process visual information derived from the global environment. It encompasses tasks such as image and video analysis, object recognition, scene understanding, and gesture tracking.
This technology finds applications in various fields, including autonomous vehicles, medical imaging, surveillance, and augmented reality, revolutionizing industries and enhancing human-computer interaction through the understanding of visual data.
Advantages of computer vision in autonomous vehicles
Object Detection and Recognition: Computer vision enables autonomous vehicles to identify and classify objects such as pedestrians, vehicles, and obstacles in real-time. This information is crucial for making informed decisions and planning safe trajectories.
Low-Light Assistance: Computer vision algorithms equipped with low-light image enhancement techniques enhance visibility in challenging lighting conditions, allowing autonomous vehicles to operate safely during nighttime or in poorly lit environments.
Lane Detection and Lane Keeping: Computer vision systems analyze road markings to accurately detect and track lanes, helping autonomous vehicles maintain proper lane position and execute safe lane changes.
Generation of Three-Dimensional Maps: By processing images from multiple cameras, computer vision constructs detailed 3D maps of the vehicle’s surroundings. These maps aid in navigation, localization, and path planning.
Collision Avoidance: Computer vision continuously monitors the environment to anticipate potential collisions with other vehicles or obstacles. It triggers timely alerts and assists in applying appropriate braking or steering actions to avoid accidents.
Initiation of Automotive Airbag Systems: In the event of an imminent collision, computer vision can assess the severity of impact and the presence of passengers. This information guides the activation of airbags to minimize injuries.
Detection of Lane Lines: Computer vision algorithms precisely detect and track lane markings on the road, helping the autonomous vehicle maintain proper lane position and ensure safe driving within lanes.
Challenges in Implementing Computer Vision for Autonomous Vehicles
Environmental Variability and Unpredictability: Autonomous vehicles must operate in a wide range of unpredictable and complex environments, including varying weather conditions, different lighting levels, and dynamic road scenarios. Implementing computer vision systems that can robustly handle these variations and adapt in real-time poses a significant challenge.
Safety and Reliability Requirements: Ensuring the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles is paramount. Computer vision algorithms must accurately detect and interpret objects in the environment, including pedestrians, other vehicles, road signs, and obstacles. Any errors or misinterpretations could lead to accidents, emphasizing the need for highly accurate and fail-safe vision systems.
Real-time Processing and Latency: Autonomous vehicles operate in real-time and require rapid decision-making based on the information collected by computer vision systems. Achieving low latency processing while maintaining high accuracy is a major challenge. Balancing the computational requirements of advanced algorithms with the need for quick response times is crucial for safe and efficient autonomous driving.
Edge Computing and Data Management:The massive amount of data generated by the sensors and cameras in autonomous vehicles poses challenges for data storage, transmission, and processing. Effective edge computing solutions are essential to handle the data locally within the vehicle while still ensuring the availability of relevant information for decision-making. Efficient data compression, storage, and communication protocols are critical for optimizing the use of onboard computational resources.
The Crucial Role of Computer Vision in the Autonomous Vehicle Revolution
In the fast lane of innovation, Computer Vision emerges as the unsung hero, steering us towards a future of autonomous vehicles. As we bid adieu, remember this: it’s not just about self-driving cars, it’s about self-driving safety and intelligence. With Computer Vision at the driver’s seat, roads become safer, traffic smarter, and journeys seamless.
So, buckle up for the exciting ride ahead, where the road ahead is illuminated by the potential of computer vision to redefine our journey towards a safer, more autonomous future.
Ever wondered how cutting-edge technologies can revolutionise the efficiency of supply chain management?
In the dynamic world of contemporary business, enterprises are perpetually seeking innovative solutions to optimize processes and secure a competitive advantage. Enter AI-enabled computer vision technologies – a game-changing innovation that has reshaped the logistics and inventory management landscape. With features such as real-time data analysis, automatic identification, and improved quality control, these sophisticated systems offer unmatched potential to transform the supply chain landscape
Let’s explore the astounding statistics behind this transformative technology, revealing its true potential to reshape the future of global commerce.
AI-powered computer vision can reduce supply chain errors by up to 30% to 50%, leading to substantial cost savings.
Companies adopting computer vision technologies have witnessed a 65% increase in inventory accuracy.
The global market for AI in supply chain management is projected to reach $10110.2 million by 2025.
Discover how these statistics are paving the way for a more agile, efficient, and responsive supply chain ecosystem, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for businesses worldwide
Overview of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and its significance
Supply Chain Management involves the methodical coordination of production, procurement, and distribution activities, spanning from raw materials to end consumers, aiming to maximize efficiency, reduce expenses, and satisfy customer needs. SCM holds immense significance in today’s globalized economy, facilitating the uninterrupted movement of goods, information, and finances across suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and customers. Successful SCM implementation leads to optimized inventory control, shorter lead times, elevated customer satisfaction, and improved profitability for enterprises.
By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, SCM enhances visibility, mitigates risks, and enables adaptability to market fluctuations and disruptions. With its significance extending across industries, SCM empowers organizations to gain a competitive edge and thrive in a dynamic business landscape.
Understanding Computer Vision in Supply Chain Management
Computer vision is a revolutionary technology that has gained immense importance in supply chain management. It involves the use of algorithms and machine learning to enable machines to interpret and understand visual information from images and videos. plays a critical role in various areas, including inventory management, quality control, logistics, and demand forecasting.
One of the primary applications of Computer Vision Technologies in supply chains is automated inventory tracking. Using cameras and sensors, companies can monitor stock levels in real-time, minimizing stockouts and overstock situations. Quality control is another crucial aspect where computer vision helps identify defects and ensure product quality, reducing waste and returns.
Additionally, AI in computer vision aids in optimizing warehouse operations by streamlining product picking, sorting, and packing processes. It can also enhance shipment tracking and route optimization, leading to more efficient and cost-effective logistics.
Furthermore, computer vision-driven demand forecasting allows businesses to predict customer preferences and trends accurately, ensuring better inventory management and improved customer satisfaction.
As computer vision technology continues to evolve, its potential to transform supply chain management is bound to grow, providing businesses with unprecedented insights, enhanced efficiency, and a competitive edge in the dynamic market landscape. Embracing this technology is imperative for the Digital transformation company in the US and beyond, as it strives to maintain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving supply chain ecosystem.
Benefits of Computer Vision in Supply Chain Management
1. Increased Efficiency and Productivity: Computer vision enables the automation of various supply chain processes, such as inventory management, quality control, and order fulfilment. By optimizing these processes, digital transformation companies in India and other regions can decrease manual labor, enhance resource allocation, and accelerate operations, resulting in more rapid and efficient workflows.
2. Enhanced Accuracy and Data Integrity:Computer vision systems provide precise and reliable data collection and analysis. By eliminating human error in data entry and verification, supply chain stakeholders can make better-informed decisions based on accurate information, ultimately leading to more reliable supply chain operations.
3. Reduction in Human Errors and Downtime: Human errors in supply chain tasks can lead to costly mistakes, delays, and disruptions. Computer vision can identify potential issues in real time, enabling proactive measures to prevent errors, minimize downtime, and enhance overall supply chain reliability.
4. Improved Customer Service and Satisfaction: With enhanced accuracy and efficiency, companies can meet customer demands more effectively. Timely and accurate order processing, better inventory management, and improved delivery tracking lead to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.
5. Savings and ROI: Integrating computer vision technologies can result in significant cost savings by reducing labor expenses, minimizing errors, and optimizing inventory management. The initial investment in computer vision solutions can be justified by the long-term return on investment through improved operational efficiency and reduced supply chain costs.
The Future of Supply Chain Management with AI-Enabled Computer Vision
1. Evolving trends in computer vision technology: Enhanced accuracy, real-time processing, edge computing integration, and multimodal fusion capabilities.
2. Potential areas for further development and research: Human-robot collaboration, occlusion handling, 3D object recognition, and interpretability of AI models.
3. Predictions for the future of supply chain management with AI and computer vision: Automated quality control, efficient inventory management, enhanced logistics tracking, and reduced operational costs for businesses.
Embracing AI-Enabled Computer Vision – The Game-Changer in Supply Chain Management
In a world where Supply Chain Management is the backbone of business success, AI-enabled Computer Vision has emerged as the game-changer. It’s no secret that AlignMinds, the best Digital Transformation company in Kenya, US and India, has taken the lead in harnessing this technology’s potential. From optimizing operations to enhancing inventory management, their expertise has revolutionized the supply chain landscape.
Embracing this powerful alliance between AI and Computer Vision is not just a choice; it’s a necessity for companies aiming to thrive in the dynamic market of today and tomorrow.
Mobile applications have become an integral part of our daily lives in the modern digital era. With the soaring popularity of smartphones, businesses and developers are constantly striving to create applications that cater to a diverse user base across various platforms.
Recent statistics show over 3.8 billion smartphone users worldwide, with the number expected to reach 4.3 billion by 2023. This exponential growth in mobile users has increased the diversity of devices and operating systems in the market.
As a result, businesses and developers face the challenge of ensuring their applications reach a broad audience across different platforms. And this is why cross-platform mobile development emerged as a game-changer.
In this article, we will explore cross-platform development, its benefits, and how it unifies app creation for Android, iOS, and other platforms.
Cross-platform mobile development is a methodology that enables developers to build applications that work seamlessly across multiple operating systems and platforms. Unlike traditional native app development, where separate codebases are required for each forum, cross-platform development utilizes a single codebase that can be deployed on Android, iOS, Windows, and more.
The Advantages of Cross-Platform Mobile Development
1. Cost-Effectiveness
One of the most significant advantages of cross-platform development is its cost-effectiveness. Creating a single codebase that covers multiple platforms drastically reduces development costs compared to building separate native apps for each OS.
2. Efficient Time-to-Market
In the highly competitive app market, time-to-market is crucial. Cross-platform development allows businesses to reach a broader audience faster, as the same code can be deployed on different platforms simultaneously.
3.
Wider Audience Reach
With a unified app platform, businesses can reach a broader audience across various devices and operating systems. This expanded reach enhances the app’s visibility and potential for success.
Three-Popular Cross-Platform Mobile Development Frameworks
1. React Native
Native, developed by Facebook, is a leading cross-platform framework known for its efficiency and performance. It allows developers to write code in JavaScript and render native components, resulting in an app with a native look and feel.
2. Flutter
Flutter, backed by Google, is gaining popularity for its ease of use and stunning user interfaces. Written in the Dart programming language, Flutter provides a rich set of pre-designed widgets, making it simpler to create visually appealing apps.
3. Xamarin
Xamarin, now a part of Microsoft, is a robust cross-platform development framework that uses C# and .NET. It offers seamless integration with native APIs, allowing developers to access device-specific features effortlessly.
Critical Considerations for Cross-Platform Development
Performance Optimization
While cross-platform development is efficient, optimizing app performance is crucial for a smooth user experience. Developers must carefully manage resource usage and ensure the app performs well on different platforms.
Platform-Specific Adaptations
While aiming for code reusability, it’s essential to consider platform-specific adaptations. Certain design elements and functionalities may need to be adjusted to provide the best user experience on each platform.
Testing and Debugging
Thorough testing and debugging are paramount to ensure the app functions flawlessly on all targeted platforms. Rigorous testing helps identify and address platform-specific issues and bugs.
Overcoming Challenges in Cross-Platform Development
Fragmentation
The diversity of devices, screen sizes, and OS versions across different platforms can lead to fragmentation challenges. Developers must adapt the app to accommodate these variations effectively.
Native Functionality Limitations
While cross-platform frameworks offer extensive features, some advanced native functionalities may not be readily available. In such cases, developers might need to use plugins or write platform-specific code.
Best Practices for Cross-Platform Mobile Development
Focus on Code Reusability
Promoting code reusability is at the core of cross-platform development. Writing clean, modular, and reusable code allows faster development and easier maintenance.
Regular Updates and Support
Continuously updating the app and providing timely support is crucial for keeping the app relevant and competitive. Regular updates ensure compatibility with new OS versions and devices, while excellent support builds trust with users.
Conclusion
Cross-platform mobile development has revolutionized the app development landscape, offering cost-effectiveness, broader audience reach, and faster time-to-market. By leveraging frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin, businesses, and developers can create powerful and user-friendly apps that work seamlessly on Android, iOS, and beyond. While challenges exist, following best practices and considering platform-specific adaptations will lead to successful cross-platform applications.
FAQs
Q1: Are cross-platform apps as performant as native apps?
A1: With advancements in cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter, the performance gap between cross-platform and native apps has significantly narrowed. Well-optimized cross-platform apps can offer similar performance to native apps.
Q2: How much cost can be saved with cross-platform development?
A2: Cross-platform development can save up to 30-50% of development costs compared to building separate native apps for each platform. The precise savings depend on the complexity of the app and the number of platforms targeted.
Q3: Can cross-platform apps access device-specific features?
A3: Cross-platform apps can access device-specific features using plugins or platform-specific code. This ensures that the app can utilize the full capabilities of each platform.
Q4: Is it possible to convert a native app to a cross-platform app?
A4: While it is technically possible, converting a native app to a cross-platform app may require significant code restructuring and adjustments. It’s generally more efficient to plan for cross-platform development from the outset.
Q5: Which cross-platform framework is the best choice?
A5: The choice of framework depends on the specific project requirements, development team expertise, and app complexity. React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin are all popular and powerful options, each with unique strengths.
Get Started with Alignminds
Alignminds is a mobile app development company in India that offers cross-platform mobile development services. With a global presence, Alignminds caters to clients across different regions, providing innovative and cost-effective solutions for mobile app development. Their team of skilled developers and expertise in cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin allows them to deliver high-quality and user-friendly apps that work seamlessly on Android, iOS, and other platforms.
Whether you are in India, Kenya, or the US, Alignminds can assist you in creating unified and efficient mobile applications to meet your business needs.
They also specialize in creating innovative and user-centric mobile applications for various platforms, including iOS, Android, and cross-platform solutions.
With a team of skilled developers, designers, and project managers, Alignminds offers end-to-end app development services, from ideation to design, development, testing, and deployment. Their commitment to quality, creativity, and customer satisfaction has earned them a reputation as a reliable and trusted partner for businesses seeking top-notch mobile app solutions.
From giving life to your startup idea to revamping an existing app, Alignminds is well-equipped to deliver tailored, cutting-edge mobile app solutions to meet your specific requirements. For more information, visit alignminds today!
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made noteworthy strides in recent years, revolutionizing various industries. One of the most exciting areas where AI has made a tremendous impact is Natural Language Processing (NLP). NLP enables machines to understand, interpret, and respond to human language in a way that mimics human communication.
In this article, we will explore the role of GPT-3, a powerful language model developed by OpenAI, in software development.
Understanding GPT-3 and Natural Language Processing
GPT -3 short for “Generative Pre- trained Transformer 3,” is a state-of-the-art language model created by OpenAI. It is based on a deep learning architecture known as the Transformer, which allows it to process and generate natural language. GPT-3 is trained on a massive amount of data, allowing it to predict and generate text that is remarkably human-like.
Similarly, Natural Language Processing, includes the interaction between computers and human language. NLP algorithms analyze and interpret text and speech, making it possible for machines to understand the meaning, context, and sentiment behind human communication.
Let’s Look at AI’s Impact on Software Development
AI, especially NLP-powered technologies like GPT-3, has had a profound impact on software development. Traditionally, software development requires developers to write thousands of lines of code to achieve specific functionalities. However, with the advent of AI, the process has become more streamlined and efficient.
GPT-3 Applications in Software Development
GPT -3’s ability to process and generate human-like text has opened up new possibilities in software development. It can understand and interpret code snippets, making it a powerful tool for developers. With GPT-3, developers can efficiently generate code for various tasks, reducing the time and effort required for manual coding. From building simple functions to complex algorithms, GPT-3’s applications in software development are diverse and transformative.
GPT-3 Code Generation for Developers
GPT-3’s code generation capabilities have sparked a paradigm shift in how developers approach their tasks. By leveraging the vast corpus of pre-trained data, GPT-3 can provide developers with relevant code examples tailored to their specific needs. This not only saves time but also fosters creativity and innovation. Whether it’s web development, data analysis, or machine learning, GPT-3’s code generation is reshaping the way developers bring their ideas to life.
Use Cases of GPT-3 in Software Development
1. Automated Code Generation: GPT-3 can generate code based on written descriptions or pseudocode. This accelerates the development process and reduces human error.
2. Natural Language Interfaces: Developers can create software with user-friendly interfaces that understand natural language inputs, improving user experience.
3. Automated Testing: GPT-3 can help in testing software by generating test cases and predicting potential issues.
4. Debugging Assistance: GPT-3 can assist developers in debugging complex code by understanding error descriptions and providing relevant solutions.
Advantages of Using GPT-3 in Development
1. Time Savings: GPT-3 accelerates software development by automating various tasks, reducing the time required to create new applications.
2. Improved Accuracy: The model’s language capabilities ensure accurate code generation and a better understanding of user inputs.
3. Accessibility: Developers with limited coding knowledge can leverage GPT-3 to create functional software applications.
Limitations and Challenges
While GPT-3 offers numerous advantages, it also faces some limitations and challenges:
1. Data Dependency: GPT-3’s performance heavily relies on the quality and quantity of training data.
2. Bias and Ethics: The model may produce biased outputs, necessitating careful monitoring and ethical considerations.
3. Cost: Implementing GPT-3 in software development can be expensive due to its computational requirements.
4. Ethical Considerations: As AI and NLP technologies like GPT-3 continue to evolve, ethical considerations become paramount. Ensuring the responsible use of AI is essential to prevent unintended consequences and biases.
Future of GPT-3 and NLP in Software Development:
The future of GPT-3 and NLP in software development is promising. As these technologies advance, we can expect even more sophisticated applications and improved integration with existing development processes.
How GPT-3 is Transforming Software Development?
GPT-3’s impact on software development cannot be overstated! Its ability to comprehend the context and generate human-readable code has revolutionized the way developers work. Instead of spending hours writing code from scratch, developers can now rely on GPT-3 to suggest code snippets or even entire functions. This has significantly accelerated the development process, enabling faster prototyping and iterative improvements. As more developers embrace GPT-3, software development is becoming more efficient and productive.
What’s at stake for the Software Development companies?
Although GPT-3 and Natural Language Processing have revolutionized software development, it is crucial to address the limitations and ethical considerations associated with AI’s increasing role in software development. This is where software development companies can play a major role!
Appointing a software development company in the US or any other part of the world is extremely necessary! These companies can harness GPT-3 and other cutting-edge technologies to deliver exceptional software solutions. Software developers are known for their expertise, agility, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, with an AI-driven approach, they can further streamline development processes and offer efficiency.
Alignminds AI-Driven Approach in Software Development:
Alignminds is a software development company in India, well established in Kenya, the US, and several other regions across the globe.
They incorporate an AI-driven approach to provide innovative solutions for their clients. An AI-driven approach means that they leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to enhance the software development process and deliver intelligent, data-driven solutions.
Here are some key aspects of Alignminds’ AI-driven software development approach:
AI Integration:Alignminds, as a software development company in Kenya, integrates AI and machine learning capabilities into the software they develop. This integration allows the software to learn from user interactions and data, adapt to changing conditions, and make intelligent decisions.
AI-powered Analytics: Alignminds uses AI algorithms to analyze large volumes of data efficiently. By leveraging AI-powered analytics, they can gain valuable insights from the data collected by the software, enabling clients to make data-driven decisions and improve their business processes.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): Alignminds may incorporate NLP technologies into their solutions, allowing the software to understand and process human language. This can enable features such as chatbots, voice assistants, sentiment analysis, and more.
Predictive Capabilities: By utilizing machine learning models, Alignminds’ solutions can make predictions based on historical data and patterns. These predictive capabilities can be applied to various domains, such as sales forecasting, demand prediction, or predictive maintenance.
Automated Processes: Alignminds may leverage AI automation to streamline repetitive tasks and processes within the software. This can improve efficiency, reduce human errors, and free up resources for more strategic tasks.
Personalization: Through AI-driven recommendations and personalization algorithms, Alignminds can tailor the software experience to each user’s preferences and behaviors, enhancing user satisfaction and engagement.
Data Security and Privacy: As a software development company in the US, Alignminds ensures that data privacy and security are prioritized in their AI-driven solutions. They implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data and comply with relevant data protection regulations.
FAQs
Is GPT-3 suitable for all types of software development projects?
GPT-3 is beneficial for various software development projects, but its suitability depends on the specific requirements of each project. Some applications may benefit more from their language capabilities than others.
Can GPT-3 replace human software developers entirely?
While GPT-3 streamlines certain tasks, it cannot replace human developers entirely. Human expertise is still essential for complex decision-making and problem-solving.
GPT-3 understand all programming languages?
GPT-3 is not limited to specific programming languages. It can understand and generate code in various programming languages, making it versatile for developers.
How can developers address bias in GPT-3’s outputs?
Developers can mitigate bias by carefully curating training data, actively monitoring the model’s responses, and implementing ethical guidelines during application development.
What challenges might arise when integrating GPT-3 with existing software development workflows?
Integrating GPT-3 may require adjustments to existing workflows and additional computational resources, leading to cost and compatibility challenges. However, the benefits often outweigh these challenges.
In the dynamic world of Software Development and AI, Computer Vision stands tall as an ingenious and transformative technology. With its eye-catching capabilities, it’s reshaping industries across the globe. From healthcare and automotive to retail and entertainment, Computer Vision has left an indelible mark on the way we interact with machines.
Imagine a world where AI-powered systems can not only recognize faces and objects but also interpret emotions, detect anomalies, and aid in medical diagnoses. Impressive, right? According to recent statistics, ‘the computer vision domain is on the fast track, eyeing a remarkable $17.7 billion market size in 2023, and all signs point to a continued surge with a 19.6% CAGR spanning from 2023 to 2026’. This staggering growth underscores the pivotal role of Computer Vision in unlocking new possibilities and driving innovation.
Ready to be blown away? Join us on an exciting quest to explore the vast array of benefits that Computer Vision offers to AI, and envision the incredible possibilities it holds for shaping our future!
Definition of Computer Vision in AI
Computer Vision in AI is a field focused on enabling machines to interpret and comprehend visual information like humans. It involves developing algorithms and models that enable computers to extract meaningful insights from images or video data. By harnessing methods such as image recognition, object detection, and image segmentation, computer vision empowers AI systems to discern patterns, recognize objects, and comprehend scenes.
This technology is put to use in diverse fields such as self-driving cars, facial recognition, medical imaging, and augmented reality. By bridging the gap between visual data and AI understanding, computer vision revolutionizes the way machines interact with and interpret the world.
How Computer Vision is Becoming Vital for AI Applications
Within the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, computer vision has risen to prominence and become an essential component, witnessing a notable increase in importance and relevance. Computer vision involves the extraction of information and understanding from visual data, enabling machines to perceive and interpret the world as humans do. Thanks to the strides made in deep learning, neural networks, and the accessibility of large-scale annotated datasets, this technology has undergone tremendous growth.
The applications of computer vision are vast and diverse across various industries. In healthcare, it aids in medical imaging analysis, detecting anomalies, and assisting in diagnosis. In autonomous vehicles, computer vision enables real-time object detection, lane tracking, and pedestrian recognition for safe driving. Additionally, it finds its utility in manufacturing for quality control, in retail for customer analytics, and in agriculture for crop monitoring.
One of the key reasons for the growing importance of computer vision in AI applications is its potential to transform raw visual data into valuable insights. This capability opens doors for enhanced decision-making, increased efficiency, and better automation in several sectors. As technology progresses, the accuracy and capabilities of computer vision models continue to improve, expanding its practical applications and impact.
Moreover, the rise of edge computing, where data is processed locally on devices, further boosts the importance of computer vision. With processing power becoming more accessible, AI-powered cameras and sensors can be deployed in various edge devices like smartphones, drones, and IoT devices, enabling real-time and on-device analysis.
Exploring 9 Ways Computer Vision Enhances AI Capabilities
Improved Image Recognition and Object Detection: Computer vision in AI enables more accurate and efficient image recognition and object detection, allowing machines to interpret and process visual data with high precision. This has diverse applications in fields like automotive, retail, and security, enhancing user experiences and safety measures.
1.Enhanced Facial Recognition Technology: Computer vision empowers facial recognition systems to identify and verify individuals, leading to improved security, personalized user experiences, and streamlined access control in various sectors such as banking, airports, and law enforcement.
2.Automation in Manufacturing and Industry:Computer vision plays a vital role in automating quality control processes, defect detection, and assembly line tasks in manufacturing industries. This leads to increased production efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced product quality.
3.Advancements in Healthcare and Medical Imaging:AI-powered computer vision aids medical professionals in diagnosing diseases through advanced medical imaging analysis, offering earlier and more accurate diagnoses, leading to improved patient outcomes and treatment plans.
4. Enabling Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR):
When it comes to AR and VR, computer vision takes center stage, delivering lightning-fast perception of reality and a flawless merge with imaginative virtual elements, taking users on an immersive joyride of their dreams.
Support for Autonomous Systems and Robotics: Computer vision is indispensable for enabling autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots to navigate and interact with their surroundings, making them safer, more reliable, and capable of performing complex tasks independently.
5.Improving Accessibility for Visually Impaired Individuals: AI-powered computer vision assists visually impaired individuals by interpreting visual information and providing auditory or haptic feedback, enhancing their ability to interact with the world and promoting inclusivity.
Efficient Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring: Computer vision aids in monitoring crop health, detecting pests, and assessing environmental changes, empowering farmers and environmental agencies to make informed decisions and optimize resource usage.
6.Enhanced Security and Surveillance: Computer vision enhances security and surveillance systems by enabling real-time monitoring, object tracking, and anomaly detection, bolstering public safety and reducing crime rates in various settings, such as public spaces, transportation, and critical infrastructure.
Final thoughts on the transformative potential of computer vision in AI
As technology propels us into the future, Computer Vision stands out as a transformative force, reshaping the landscape of Artificial Intelligence. Venturing into a world of limitless opportunities, aligning with the very best Digital Transformation company in the US, India, and Kenya can set your business on an upward trajectory like never before. As we’ve explored the astounding benefits it brings to various industries, one thing remains crystal clear – the transformative potential of Computer Vision is boundless.
And when it comes to maximizing these advantages, AlignMinds emerges as the undisputed champion. As the best Digital Transformation company in Kenya, India and US, AlignMinds harnesses the power of Computer Vision, propelling businesses towards unparalleled success.
Embrace Computer Vision with AlignMinds today – Unlock Success! Contact us now to explore limitless opportunities.
With each stride in technological progress, a world of boundless possibilities opens up, bringing forth new challenges and opportunities. According to recent statistics, the anticipated worth of the global product engineering market is set to exceed $2 trillion by 2032, driven by innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence. From artificial intelligence revolutionizing design processes to the rise of sustainable manufacturing, this blog explores the exciting trends shaping the future landscape.
Brace yourself for a captivating journey into the realm of possibilities where imagination meets engineering brilliance!
Definition of product engineering
Product engineering encompasses the comprehensive and strategic approach of designing, developing, and refining a product, from its initial concept to its eventual manufacturing. By integrating diverse disciplines such as design, engineering, and technology, product engineers collaborate synergistically to create innovative and commercially viable products. Their key focus areas include enhancing functionality, performance, quality, and user experience, all while navigating the challenges of cost and manufacturing feasibility.
Importance of product engineering in today’s market
Today’s market relies heavily on product engineering, which covers the critical stages of product ideation, construction, and optimization. Its ultimate goal is to ensure customer satisfaction and outshine competitors in the ever-evolving business environment. By leveraging technological advancements, product engineers create innovative solutions that enhance functionality, usability, and user experience. They ensure products are reliable, scalable, and cost-effective, fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Moreover, product engineering enables companies to adapt swiftly to changing market demands, reducing time-to-market and driving business growth. In a highly competitive landscape, investing in product engineering is paramount for organizations to succeed, differentiate themselves, and maintain a competitive edge.
Product Engineering Challenges
1.Rapid technological advancements and the need for continuous learning:The fast pace of technological advancements requires product engineers to constantly update their skills and knowledge to stay relevant and effectively contribute to product development.
2.Increasing complexity of products and systems:Modern products are becoming increasingly complex, incorporating advanced technologies, interconnected systems, and intricate designs. Product engineers face the challenge of managing and integrating these complex elements seamlessly.
3.Globalization and distributed teams:Product engineering teams are often geographically dispersed, collaborating across different time zones and cultural backgrounds. Overcoming communication barriers, coordinating efforts, and maintaining productivity in such distributed environments can be a significant challenge.
4.Time-to-market pressures and shorter product lifecycles:The quest for accelerated innovation and staying ahead in the market compels the necessity for minimizing time-to-market in software development Product engineers must cope with shorter product lifecycles, requiring efficient design, development, testing, and production processes.
5.Balancing cost, quality, and sustainability:Product engineers face the challenge of finding the right balance between cost-effectiveness, product quality, and sustainability. Meeting cost targets while ensuring high-quality products that minimize environmental impact requires careful decision-making and trade-offs.
6.Regulatory compliance and evolving standards:Product engineering involves navigating complex regulatory landscapes and staying up-to-date with evolving standards. Compliance with safety, quality, and industry-specific regulations poses challenges for engineers to ensure their products meet legal requirements and adhere to industry best practices.
Opportunities in Product Engineering
A. Integration of emerging technologies (e.g., AI, IoT, blockchain):The integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain presents significant opportunities in product engineering. AI can enhance product capabilities through intelligent automation and predictive analytics. IoT enables the connection of devices and data exchange in application development, facilitating smart products and real-time monitoring. Blockchain technology provides secure and transparent transactional capabilities, ensuring trust and traceability in product supply chains.
B. Embracing a customer-centric approach and user experience design:Product engineering can greatly benefit from adopting a customer-centric approach and prioritizing user experience design. By understanding customer needs and preferences, products can be tailored to provide exceptional user experiences. User-centric design methodologies, such as user research, prototyping, and usability testing, can lead to intuitive interfaces, enhanced usability, and improved customer satisfaction.
C. Leveraging data analytics for better decision-making:Data analytics plays a vital role in product engineering by enabling better decision-making. Through the collection and analysis of data, organizations can gain valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and product performance. These insights can inform product development strategies, optimize features, and drive continuous improvement. Leveraging data analytics empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions and stay competitive in the market.
D. Collaborative and agile product development methodologies: Collaborative and agile product development methodologies offer immense opportunities for product engineering. By fostering cross-functional collaboration, teams can work together seamlessly, leveraging diverse expertise and perspectives. Agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, promote iterative development, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback, resulting in faster time-to-market, increased flexibility, and improved adaptability to changing customer requirements.
E. Automation and robotics in manufacturing and assembly processes: Automation and robotics have revolutionized manufacturing and assembly processes, presenting significant opportunities for product engineering. Robotic systems can automate repetitive tasks, enhance precision, and increase production efficiency. Automated assembly lines can streamline manufacturing processes, reduce errors, and optimize resource utilization. Embracing automation and robotics in product engineering can lead to improved productivity, cost savings, and higher product quality.
F. Sustainable product engineering and eco-friendly practices: Sustainable product engineering and eco-friendly practices have become crucial in today’s environmentally conscious world. By incorporating sustainability principles into product design, materials selection, and manufacturing processes, organizations can reduce their ecological footprint. This includes using renewable resources, minimizing waste generation, adopting energy-efficient technologies, and promoting product recyclability. Sustainable product engineering not only benefits the environment but also appeals to environmentally conscious consumers and can create a competitive advantage in the market.
Shaping the Future: How AlignMinds is Reshaping Product Engineering?
In an era of rapid technological advancement, the realm of product engineering is confronted with a multitude of hurdles and possibilities. As we traverse this dynamic terrain, it becomes clear that triumph relies on innovation, adaptability, and proficiency. Amidst this dynamic environment, AlignMinds emerges as the epitome of excellence. With its unwavering commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions, AlignMinds has established itself as the leadingproduct engineering company in India, Kenya, and the US
The future of product engineering and the revolution of industries across the globe are within reach, thanks to AlignMinds’ ability to leverage talent, collaboration, and advanced technologies. With an exciting journey ahead, they are prepared to spearhead this transformative process.
Join us in overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities – together, let’s engineer a transformative tomorrow!
In the rapidly evolving world of software development, delivering high-quality software quickly and efficiently is essential. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) have emerged as crucial practices to streamline the software delivery pipeline.
In this article, we will explore the concept of CI/CD, its benefits, and how it automates the software delivery pipeline and much more!
So, let’s get started!
What is CI/CD?
CI/CD, an acronym for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment, is a set of practices and methodologies that enable software development teams to automate and streamline the process of delivering software applications. It focuses on integrating code changes frequently and automatically deploying them to production environments.
CI refers to the continuous integration of code changes into a shared repository. Developers commit their code changes to a central code repository, which triggers an automated build and test process. This practice ensures that code changes from multiple developers are regularly merged and tested for any conflicts or issues.
CD, on the other hand, encompasses continuous delivery and continuous deployment. Continuous delivery involves automatically packaging and preparing software for deployment after successful integration and testing. Continuous deployment takes it a step further by automatically deploying the software to production environments once it passes all necessary tests.
The Key Components of CI/CD
CI/CD comprises several key components that work together to automate the software delivery pipeline:
Version Control System (VCS)
A VCS, such as Git or Subversion, is used to manage and track changes made to the source code. It allows developers to collaborate, maintain a history of changes, and easily revert to previous versions if needed.
Build Automation
Build automation tools, such as Jenkins or Travis CI, automate the process of compiling and packaging software. They fetch the latest code changes from the VCS, build the software, and generate executable artifacts.
Automated Testing
Automated testing frameworks, like Selenium or JUnit, play a crucial role in CI/CD. They execute various types of tests, including unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests, to ensure the software functions correctly and remains stable throughout the development process.
Continuous Integration Server
A continuous integration server monitors the VCS for code changes and triggers the build and test process automatically. It provides feedback to the development team about the status of the build, including any failures or errors.
Deployment Automation
Deployment automation tools, such as Ansible or Docker, automate the process of deploying software to different environments. They enable consistent and reproducible deployments, reducing the chances of human error and ensuring the software is deployed correctly.
Benefits of CI/CD
Implementing CI/CD brings numerous benefits to software development teams and organizations:
Faster Time to Market
CI/CD enables rapid software delivery by automating time-consuming tasks, such as code integration, building, testing, and deployment. It eliminates manual interventions and reduces the time required to release new features or bug fixes.
Improved Code Quality
By integrating code changes frequently and running automated tests, CI/CD helps identify and fix issues early in the development cycle. This results in higher code quality, as bugs and compatibility issues are caught sooner, reducing the overall development time and effort.
Enhanced Collaboration
CI/CD promotes collaboration among developers by providing a centralized code repository and encouraging frequent code integration. It enables developers to work concurrently, reduces conflicts, and fosters a culture of teamwork.
Continuous Feedback Loop
With automated tests and continuous integration, developers receive instant feedback on the quality and stability of their code. This feedback loop helps them address issues promptly, improving overall software quality.
CI/CD in Action: Automating the Software Delivery Pipeline
CI/CD automates the software delivery pipeline, enabling a smooth and efficient process from development to production.
Let’s explore the typical steps involved:
Step 1:Code Integration
Developers commit their code changes to the VCS, triggering a CI server to fetch the changes and integrate them into the shared codebase. This ensures that changes from different team members are merged and tested regularly.
Step 2:Build and Test
The CI server initiates a build process, compiling the source code and creating executable artifacts. Automated tests, including unit tests, integration tests, and other types of tests, are executed to validate the functionality and stability of the software.
Step 3:Artifact Packaging
Once the build and tests pass successfully, the CI/CD pipeline packages the artifacts for deployment. This step involves preparing the software, along with its dependencies, for deployment to various environments.
Step 4:Deployment
The deployment automation tools take over at this stage, automatically deploying the packaged software to the intended environments. This includes development, testing, staging, and production environments.
Step 5: Monitoring and Feedback
After deployment, monitoring tools track the performance and behavior of the software in production. Any issues or errors are reported back to the development team for immediate attention and resolution.
Common CI/CD Tools and Practices
Several tools and practices are commonly used in CI/CD implementations:
1.Jenkins: A popular open-source CI/CD server.
2.Travis CI: A cloud-based CI/CD platform, primarily used for open-source projects.
3.GitLab CI/CD: A built-in CI/CD solution provided by the GitLab platform.
4.Docker: A containerization platform that simplifies application deployment and scalability.
5.Kubernetes: An orchestration platform for managing containerized applications in a production environment.
Best practices for CI/CD include:
>Frequent code integration to minimize conflicts and enable early bug detection.
>Fast and reliable automated tests to ensure the stability and quality of the software.
>Consistent and repeatable deployments using infrastructure as code.
>Monitoring and logging to track the performance and behavior of the software in production.
Challenges & Best Practices for Implementing CI/CD
Implementing CI/CD comes with its challenges. Some of the common challenges include:
>Legacy code and complex systems that require significant refactoring to enable CI/CD.
>Maintaining a balance between automation and manual processes.
>Ensuring security and compliance throughout the CI/CD pipeline.
To address these challenges, it is essential to follow CI/CD best practices, such as:
>Starting small and gradually expanding CI/CD best practices to minimize disruption.
>Automating as many processes as possible while maintaining necessary manual checks.
>Integrating security and compliance measures into the CI/CD pipeline from the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions on CI/CD
Q1. What are the primary benefits of implementing CI/CD?
A1. Implementing CI/CD brings several benefits, including faster time to market, improved code quality, enhanced collaboration, and a continuous feedback loop. It enables rapid software delivery, identifies and fixes issues early, promotes teamwork among developers, and provides instant feedback on code quality.
Q2. Which tools are commonly used in CI/CD?
A2. Some commonly used tools in CI/CD implementations include Jenkins, Travis CI, GitLab CI/CD, Docker, and Kubernetes. These tools automate various aspects of the software delivery pipeline, such as code integration, building, testing, and deployment.
Q3. What are the best practices for implementing CI/CD?
A3. Best practices for implementing CI/CD include frequent code integration, fast and reliable automated testing, consistent and repeatable deployments using infrastructure as code, and monitoring and logging in production environments. It is also essential to start small, automate processes while maintaining necessary manual checks, and integrate security and compliance measures from the beginning.
Q4. What are the challenges in implementing CI/CD?
A4. Some common challenges in implementing CI/CD include dealing with legacy code and complex systems, finding the right balance between automation and manual processes, and ensuring security and compliance throughout the CI/CD pipeline. It is crucial to address these challenges by following best practices and gradually expanding CI/CD practices to minimize disruption.
Q5. How does CI/CD contribute to software development efficiency?
A5. CI/CD contributes to software development efficiency by automating time-consuming tasks, reducing manual interventions, and enabling rapid software delivery. It improves code quality by identifying issues early, promotes collaboration among developers, and provides a continuous feedback loop for instant improvements.
AlignMinds – The Masters of CI/CD
AlignMinds is a leading software development company in India that offers comprehensive CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) solutions to help businesses streamline their software delivery pipeline.
With their expertise in agile software development methodologies and DevOps practices, AlignMinds enables organizations to achieve faster and more efficient software development and deployment processes.
AlignMinds understands the importance of delivering high-quality software rapidly. Their CI/CD services focus on automating key aspects of the software delivery pipeline, including code integration, building, testing, and deployment. By implementing CI/CD practices, businesses can significantly reduce the time and effort required to release new software features or bug fixes.
One of the core components of AlignMinds’ CI/CD solutions is version control system integration. They leverage industry-standard version control tools such as Git or Subversion to effectively manage code changes and enable collaboration among development teams. This ensures that developers can work concurrently on different features or bug fixes, while maintaining a centralized repository for code management.
Automation in software development and automated testing is another vital aspect of AlignMinds’ CI/CD offerings. They employ robust testing frameworks like Selenium and JUnit to execute various types of tests, including unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests. By automating the testing process, AlignMinds helps organizations identify and resolve issues early in the development cycle, leading to higher code quality and stability.
AlignMinds also excels in setting up and configuring continuous integration servers. They have expertise in popular CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, Travis CI, and GitLab CI/CD. By leveraging these tools, AlignMinds enables businesses to automatically trigger builds, run tests, and generate artifacts upon code integration. This eliminates manual intervention, reduces human error, and ensures a consistent and reliable software delivery process.
Furthermore, AlignMinds’ CI/CD solutions encompass deployment automation. They leverage tools like Ansible and Docker to automate the deployment process, making it more efficient and scalable. By utilizing infrastructure as code principles, AlignMinds enables organizations to deploy software consistently across different environments, including development, testing, staging, and production.
AlignMinds understands that each organization has unique requirements and challenges when it comes to CI/CD implementation. They offer tailored solutions and best practices to address specific needs, whether it’s legacy code refactoring, balancing automation with manual processes, or ensuring security and compliance throughout the CI/CD pipeline.
Imagine a world where you can bring your wildest dreams to life, where you can step into a virtual realm and interact with products that haven’t even been manufactured yet. This is the power of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in product engineering.
In this article, we will delve into the realm of AR and VR, exploring their applications in product engineering, their benefits, and how they are shaping the future of the industry.
Introduction to AR and VR
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are revolutionary technologies that merge the physical and virtual worlds, enhancing our sensory experiences and enabling us to perceive and interact with digital content in a more immersive way. In AR, digital elements are added to the real world, while in VR, a full simulated environment is created.
The Role of AR and VR in Product Engineering
AR and VR have found a profound application in the field of product engineering. These technologies are transforming the way products are designed, developed, and tested, offering numerous advantages throughout the entire product lifecycle.
Enhancing Product Visualization with AR and VR
One of the key benefits of AR and VR in product engineering is the ability to visualize products in a highly realistic and interactive manner. Designers and engineers can create virtual prototypes and visualize them in a real-world context, allowing for better evaluation of aesthetics, functionality, and ergonomics.
Here are some ways AR and VR has been enhancing product engineering and visualization:
Streamlining Design and Prototyping Processes
AR and VR eliminate the need for physical prototypes, significantly reducing time and cost associated with traditional design iterations. With virtual prototypes, engineers can test different configurations, materials, and dimensions virtually, enabling faster and more accurate decision-making.
Simulating Real-World Environments and User Interactions
AR and VR technologies enable engineers to simulate real-world environments and user interactions. By immersing themselves in a virtual environment, designers can assess the usability, accessibility, and safety of products, identifying potential issues and making necessary improvements early in the design phase.
Improving Collaboration and Communication
AR and VR facilitate collaboration among multidisciplinary teams by providing a shared virtual workspace. Engineers, designers, and stakeholders can collaborate remotely, visualizing and manipulating 3D models together, regardless of their physical location. This enhances communication, streamlines decision-making, and reduces the risk of misinterpretation.
Overcoming Challenges
AR and VR Implementation
While AR and VR offer tremendous potential, their implementation in product engineering does come with challenges. Some of these challenges include high development costs, technical complexities, and the need for specialized hardware and software. However, as technology advances, these hurdles are gradually being overcome.
Security and Privacy Concerns
Another challenge is the security and privacy concerns! As with any emerging technology, security and privacy concerns arise with AR and VR implementation. Storing and transmitting sensitive data in virtual environments require robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access and protect user privacy. Industry standards and regulations are continually evolving to address these concerns and ensure the responsible use of AR and VR technologies.
Future Trends and Potential Applications
The future of AR and VR in product engineering is incredibly promising.
As technology advances, we can expect more sophisticated and accessible solutions. Some potential applications include virtual training simulations, remote product demonstrations, and even personalized customer experiences through AR and VR interfaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How does AR differ from VR?
A digital element is added to the real world through AR, while a virtual reality creates an entirely simulated environment.
Q2: Can AR and VR be used for training purposes?
Yes, AR and VR have proven to be effective in providing immersive training experiences across various industries.
Q3: What are the main challenges in implementing AR and VR in product engineering?
Some challenges include high development costs, technical complexities, and the need for specialized hardware and software.
Q4: Are there any security concerns with AR and VR?
Yes, security and privacy concerns arise with the implementation of AR and VR, and measures need to be taken to ensure data protection.
Q5: What are some potential future applications of AR and VR in product engineering?
Future applications include virtual training simulations, remote product demonstrations, and personalized customer experiences.
Have more question? Get in touch with one of the established product engineering company in US, India, Kenya and other parts of the globe.
Get Started with AlignMinds
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have revolutionized product engineering, offering unprecedented opportunities for visualization, design, collaboration, and user testing. The integration of these technologies into the product development process has the potential to enhance innovation, accelerate time to market, and improve overall product quality.
If you would also like to be a part of this or adapt AR and VR into your product or application development, then connect with the best product engineering company in India also very well known in Kenya, US and other parts of the world.
AlignMinds is a renowned company that offers exceptional AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) solutions for product engineering. With their expertise and innovative approach, AlignMinds has established itself as a leader in leveraging AR and VR technologies to enhance various aspects of product engineering. Here are some reasons why AlignMinds is recognized for their AR and VR solutions:
Extensive Experience: AlignMinds has a wealth of experience in developing AR and VR solutions for product engineering across diverse industries. Their team of skilled professionals understands the unique challenges of product engineering and applies their expertise to deliver tailored solutions.
Customized Solutions:
AlignMinds recognizes that every product engineering project has specific requirements. They work closely with their clients to understand their needs and objectives, ensuring that the AR and VR solutions are customized to meet those requirements effectively.
Immersive Visualization: AlignMinds excels in creating immersive visualization experiences using AR and VR technologies. Whether it’s virtual prototyping, 3D modeling, or interactive simulations, AlignMinds’ solutions provide realistic and interactive experiences that facilitate better design decisions and user engagement.
Collaborative Tools: AlignMinds understands the importance of collaboration in product engineering. Their AR and VR solutions incorporate collaborative tools that enable teams to collaborate remotely, review designs, provide feedback, and iterate efficiently. This streamlines the design process and improves overall productivity.
Ergonomics and Human Factors: AlignMinds emphasizes the importance of ergonomics and human factors in product design. Their AR and VR solutions allow engineers to simulate human-machine interactions, conduct usability studies, and optimize product ergonomics for enhanced user experience and safety.
Seamless Integration: AlignMinds ensures seamless integration of AR and VR technologies with existing product engineering workflows and systems. They have the expertise to integrate these technologies with CAD software, PLM systems, and other engineering tools, enabling a smooth transition and maximizing efficiency.
Scalability and Future-readiness: AlignMinds’ solutions are designed to be scalable and future-ready. They leverage advanced technologies, such as cloud computing and machine learning, to handle large-scale projects and provide insights for continuous product improvement.
Client Satisfaction:
AlignMinds has a strong track record of client satisfaction. They prioritize open communication, timely delivery, and superior customer support throughout the project lifecycle. Their goal is to ensure that clients achieve their objectives and derive maximum value from their AR and VR solutions.
In conclusion, AlignMinds is a reputable provider of AR and VR solutions for product engineering. Their extensive experience as a software development company, they offered customized approach, immersive visualization capabilities, collaborative tools, focus on ergonomics, seamless integration, scalability, and commitment to client satisfaction make them an excellent choice for businesses seeking top-notch AR and VR services for their product engineering needs.
Organizations are constantly seeking ways to optimize their infrastructure management processes in the current digital world. Traditional manual approaches are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of modern software development and deployment. This is where Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and DevOps come into play, offering a powerful combination that enables seamless infrastructure management.
In this article, we will explore the benefits of IaC and DevOps, understand their key principles, and learn how to implement them effectively.
What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a methodology that allows infrastructure provisioning and management using code-based definitions. Instead of manually configuring servers and resources, IaC enables you to define your infrastructure in a declarative manner using scripts or configuration files. These scripts can be version-controlled, tested, and automated, providing a repeatable and reliable approach to infrastructure management.
What is DevOps Principles?
DevOps is a set of practices and principles that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to enhance collaboration, automate processes, and deliver high-quality software products. DevOps emphasizes the integration of development, testing, and operations teams to streamline the entire software delivery lifecycle. By breaking down silos and fostering cross-functional collaboration, DevOps enables organizations to achieve faster and more reliable deployments.
Benefits of Infrastructure as Code and DevOps
Implementing IaC and DevOps brings a wide range of benefits for organizations aiming to improve their infrastructure management processes. Let’s explore some of the key advantages:
A. Improved agility and scalability
IaC and DevOps enable organizations to quickly provision and scale their infrastructure as per their needs. With automated processes and infrastructure templates, you can easily spin up new environments, replicate existing configurations, and handle dynamic workloads efficiently. This agility allows teams to respond to changing business requirements swiftly.
B. Faster time to market
By automating manual tasks and streamlining processes, IaC and DevOps reduce the time it takes to deliver software products to the market. Continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines enable faster and more frequent releases, ensuring that valuable features reach the end-users promptly.
C. Enhanced collaboration and communication
DevOps emphasizes collaboration and communication among development, operations, and other stakeholders involved in the software delivery process. By breaking down barriers and fostering cross-functional teams, organizations can achieve better alignment, improved decision-making, and accelerated problem-solving.
D. Increased stability and reliability
With IaC and DevOps, infrastructure configurations are defined and managed through code, eliminating manual errors and inconsistencies. This results in more reliable and stable infrastructure deployments. Automated testing, monitoring, and observability practices further enhance stability by quickly detecting and resolving issues before they impact the end-users.
Challenges in IaC and DevOps Adoption
While the benefits of IaC and DevOps are compelling, organizations often encounter various challenges during the adoption process. Let’s explore some of these challenges in detail:
A. Addressing resistance to change
Change can be met with resistance, especially when it involves new technologies, processes, or cultural shifts. Introducing IaC and DevOps requires buy-in from all stakeholders, including developers, operations teams, and management. Overcoming resistance to change and fostering a culture of openness and collaboration is crucial for successful adoption.
B. Managing complexity and technical debt
As infrastructure and application architectures become more complex, managing the associated technical debt becomes a challenge. Over time, infrastructure code can become convoluted, making it difficult to understand, maintain, and scale. Organizations must find effective strategies to manage complexity and prevent technical debt from hindering the benefits of IaC and DevOps.
C. Ensuring security and compliance
As infrastructure becomes code, organizations must prioritize security and compliance. Failure to do so can lead to data breaches, compliance violations, and reputational damage. Ensuring secure infrastructure configurations, implementing appropriate access controls, and regularly auditing and monitoring the infrastructure are essential for maintaining a robust security posture.
D. Training and upskilling the workforce
Adopting IaC and DevOps often requires new skills and knowledge. Organizations must invest in training and upskilling their workforce to ensure they have the necessary expertise to effectively implement and maintain IaC and DevOps practices. Identifying skills gaps, providing relevant training programs, and encouraging continuous learning are crucial for building a capable and empowered team.
Unleashing Agility by Overcoming the Challenges in IaC and DevOps Adoption
While challenges exist, they can be overcome with proper strategies and approaches. Let’s explore some solutions to address the challenges faced during IaC and DevOps adoption:
A. Strategies for addressing resistance to change
Communicating the benefits of IaC and DevOps: Clearly articulate the advantages of IaC and DevOps, such as faster software delivery, improved collaboration, and increased scalability. Demonstrate how these practices align with the organization’s goals and can positively impact individual roles and responsibilities.
Involving key stakeholders in the decision-making process: Engage stakeholders from various departments in the decision-making process. This fosters a sense of ownership and involvement, increasing the likelihood of successful adoption and reducing resistance.
Providing training and support to employees: Offer comprehensive training programs to familiarize employees with IaC and DevOps concepts and tools. Provide ongoing support through coaching and mentoring, enabling employees to apply their newly acquired knowledge effectively.
B. Managing complexity and technical debt
Implementing modular and reusable infrastructure code: Break down infrastructure code into modular components that can be reused across projects. This promotes maintainability, scalability, and reduces complexity.
Regularly reviewing and refactoring infrastructure code: Encourage developers to review infrastructure code regularly and refactor when necessary. This helps identify and address areas of complexity or technical debt, leading to cleaner and more efficient code.
Using automation tools to simplify deployment processes: Leverage automation tools, such as configuration management and orchestration frameworks, to simplify the deployment and management of infrastructure. Automation reduces the chances of human error and enables more reliable and consistent deployments.
C. Ensuring security and compliance
Incorporating security into the DevOps pipeline: Integrate security practices into the entire software delivery pipeline. Perform regular security scans, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing to identify and address any potential security risks.
Implementing infrastructure security best practices: Follow industry-standard security best practices for infrastructure configuration. This includes implementing proper access controls, encryption, and monitoring mechanisms to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Regularly auditing and monitoring infrastructure configurations: Implement robust monitoring and auditing mechanisms to detect and respond to any unauthorized changes or potential security breaches. Continuously monitor infrastructure configurations to ensure compliance with security policies and industry standards.
D. Training and upskilling the workforce
Identifying skills gaps and training needs: Conduct skills assessments to identify areas where additional training and upskilling are required. Understand the specific roles and responsibilities within the organization and provide targeted training programs to address skill gaps.
Providing continuous learning opportunities: Encourage employees to participate in conferences, workshops, and online courses to stay updated with the latest IaC and DevOps practices. Foster a learning culture that supports continuous improvement and provides resources for self-directed learning.
Encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing: Facilitate collaboration between teams by promoting cross-functional projects and encouraging knowledge sharing. Establish channels for sharing best practices, lessons learned, and innovative solutions to foster a culture of continuous learning and growth.
E. Teaming up with an Infrastructure development company
Teaming up with an infrastructure development company like Alignminds can be a game-changer when it comes to adopting Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and DevOps practices.
Alignminds is among the best Infrastructure development company in India, Kenya and US. They bring a wealth of expertise and experience in building robust and scalable infrastructure solutions. Their team of skilled professionals understands the complexities and challenges involved in IaC and DevOps adoption, and they are well-equipped to guide organizations through the entire process.
By partnering with Alignminds, organizations can benefit from their in-depth knowledge of industry best practices, cutting-edge tools and technologies, and a proven track record of successful implementations. Alignminds provides end-to-end solutions tailored to specific business needs, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition to IaC and DevOps.
With their support, organizations can overcome obstacles, mitigate risks, and accelerate the realization of the benefits associated with IaC and DevOps adoption.
So, what are you waiting for? Book a free consultation today! Contact Now!
Containerization has revolutionized the way organizations manage their IT infrastructure. With the rise of technologies like Docker and Kubernetes, businesses can achieve greater efficiency, scalability, and flexibility in their infrastructure management. Containerization is the process of encapsulating an application and its dependencies into a lightweight, isolated unit known as a container. These containers provide a consistent and portable environment for software to run, ensuring that it behaves the same regardless of the underlying infrastructure.
Efficient infrastructure management plays a crucial role in optimizing resource utilization, reducing costs, and enabling seamless scalability.
In this article, we will delve into containerization, explore how Docker and Kubernetes are reshaping the landscape of efficient infrastructure management and how should you choose the best IT infrastructure management system for your business.
Understanding Docker
Docker is a popular containerization platform that allows developers to build, package, and distribute applications as containers. With Docker, applications and their dependencies are bundled together, eliminating compatibility issues and ensuring consistent behaviour across different environments. Docker provides numerous benefits for efficient infrastructure management. Such as;
Portability: Docker containers regulate on systems that supports Docker and can be easily deployed across various environments.
Isolation: Containers provide isolation between applications, preventing conflicts and allowing multiple applications to run concurrently on the same host.
Scalability: Docker enables horizontal scalability by allowing the replication of containers across multiple hosts, making it easier to handle increased workloads.
Version control: Docker allows developers to manage different versions of an application, making it effortless to roll back or update to a specific version when needed.
Docker has gained widespread adoption due to its versatility and ease of use. It finds application in various scenarios, such as micro services architecture, continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) and development environments.
Exploring Kubernetes
While Docker focuses on container creation and management, Kubernetes takes container orchestration to the next level. Being an open-source platform, Kubernetes automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It offers numerous advantages for efficient infrastructure management. Those are;
Automatic scaling: Kubernetes can automatically scale applications based on resource usage, ensuring optimal performance and resource utilization.
High availability: Kubernetes provides features like load balancing and automatic container restarts, ensuring high availability of applications.
Self-healing: Kubernetes also monitors containers health as well as automatically replaces failed ones, which in return enhances the reliability of the applications.
Service discovery and load balancing: Kubernetes offers built-in mechanisms for service discovery and load balancing, making it easier to expose applications and distribute traffic.
Kubernetes is widely adopted in production environments and offers a robust solution for managing complex containerized applications at scale.
Docker vs. Kubernetes
While Docker and Kubernetes serve different purposes, they complement each other in the containerization ecosystem. Docker focuses on building and packaging applications into containers, while Kubernetes takes care of orchestration and management.
When deciding which tool to use, several factors come into play:
Application complexity: For simpler applications or development environments, Docker alone might suffice. However, as the application grows in complexity and requires scalability, Kubernetes becomes more relevant.
Orchestration needs: If you require advanced features like automatic scaling, self-healing, and service discovery, Kubernetes is the go-to solution.
Combined usage: In many cases, organizations use Docker and Kubernetes together. Docker is used to create the containers, while Kubernetes manages the orchestration and deployment of those containers across multiple hosts.
Efficient Infrastructure Management
Containerization, through tools like Docker and Kubernetes, brings several benefits to infrastructure management:
1.Resource utilization: Containers allow efficient utilization of resources, as they share the host’s operating system kernel and only consume the necessary resources to run the application.
2.Cost savings: By optimizing resource usage and allowing better scalability, containerization reduces infrastructure costs, both in terms of hardware and operational expenses.
3.Flexibility and agility: containerization provides the flexibility to deploy and scale applications rapidly. It enables organizations to adapt to changing demands and seize new opportunities quickly.
4.Consistency and reproducibility: With containerization, developers can ensure that their applications run consistently across different environments, minimizing compatibility issues and reducing deployment errors.
In Conclusion
Containerization, powered by Docker and Kubernetes, has transformed the way organizations manage their infrastructure. By encapsulating applications into containers, businesses can achieve greater efficiency, scalability, and flexibility in their infrastructure management.
Docker simplifies the process of container creation, while Kubernetes handles the orchestration and management of those containers. Embracing containerization can lead to significant improvements in resource utilization, cost savings, and application scalability.
Moreover, containerization has gained traction globally, and several success stories highlight its impact on infrastructure management.
In India, businesses have leveraged containerization to scale their applications and improve time-to-market. Similarly, in Kenya, containerization has enabled startups to build scalable and cost-effective solutions. While, the US has witnessed the adoption of containerization by enterprises, enhancing their ability to deliver reliable and scalable services!
So, if you are also in need of efficient Infrastructure Management in India | Kenya | US look no further than Alignminds!
With our expertise and experience, we can help businesses optimize their infrastructure, embrace containerization with tools like Docker and Kubernetes, and drive innovation.
Whether you are a startup, a small-scale business, or an enterprise, Alignminds offers tailored solutions to meet your infrastructure management needs.
Contact us today and let us empower your business with seamless and scalable infrastructure management solutions.
FAQs
Still have questions? We have listed some of the most frequently asked questions below:
Q1: How does containerization improve infrastructure management?
Containerization improves infrastructure management by providing a lightweight and portable environment for applications to run consistently across different environments. It optimizes resource utilization, reduces costs, and enables seamless scalability.
Q2: Is Docker suitable for small-scale applications?
Yes, Docker is suitable for small-scale applications as it provides benefits like portability, isolation, and version control. It allows developers to package and distribute applications with ease, regardless of the underlying infrastructure.
Q3: Can Kubernetes be used without Docker?
While Kubernetes was originally designed to work with Docker, it can now support other container runtimes as well. Kubernetes relies on the container runtime interface (CRI), which allows different container runtimes to be used interchangeably.
Q4: What are the security considerations for containerization?
When adopting containerization, security considerations include securing the container images, implementing access controls, monitoring container behavior, and ensuring the security of container orchestrators like Kubernetes.
Q5: How can businesses adopt containerization in their infrastructure management?
Businesses can adopt containerization by assessing their infrastructure needs, evaluating suitable containerization tools like Docker and Kubernetes, and gradually migrating their applications to a containerized environment. It is important to plan the adoption process carefully and consider the impact on existing workflows and infrastructure.
Today, we’re here to unravel the true essence of putting users first. In a realm teeming with awe-inspiring digital transformation, it becomes absolutely essential for us to put the needs, dreams, and experiences of the individuals who utilize our products at the top of our list.
So, join us on this exhilarating odyssey as we delve into the realm of crafting user-centric designs that not only enthral the depths of one’s soul but also instigate a transformative paradigm shift in our engagement with technology. Get ready to be inspired, enlightened, and equipped with the acumen required to create products that authentically resonate with their users.
Let’s embark on this adventure together!
Definition of Human-Centred design
Human-centered design is a creative problem-solving approach that accords utmost priority to the requisites, desires, and experiences of people as the pivotal focal point of the design framework. It encompasses a deep understanding of human behavior, affectations to fabricate resolutions that are instinctive, user-friendly, and profound in significance. At its core, human-centered design seeks to enhance the overall user experience and satisfaction by empathizing with individuals and involving them throughout the design journey.
By actively engaging with end-users, designers can uncover valuable insights, uncover unmet needs, and iteratively refine their solutions. This iterative process ensures that the final design aligns with the users’ expectations, resulting in products, services, or systems that truly resonate with and cater to human needs.
Benefits of human-centered design
1. Improved user satisfaction and experience:
Human-centered design prioritzes the needs and preferences of users, positioning them as the paramount focus during the entirety of the design undertaking. By engaging users throughout the design and development phases, products and services can be customized to cater to their distinct requirements and anticipations. This results in improved user satisfaction and a positive user experience. When users perceive that a product or service understands and addresses their needs effectively, they are inclined to actively participate with it, endorse it to others, and become loyal customers.
2. Increased product adoption and market success: When products and services are designed with a focus on the end user, their likelihood of being embraced and assimilated by the target market increases substantially. Human-centered design ensures that products are intuitive, easily navigable, and deliver substantial utility to their users. This increases the likelihood of product adoption and market success. By comprehending the users’ motivations, pain points, and preferences, designers can create solutions that deeply resonate with the intended demographic, leading to increased customer acquisition, retention, and favorable brand perception.
3. Reduced development costs and risks:
Human-centered design helps minimize development costs and risks by involving users early in the design process. By amassing user feedback and iteratively examining and enhancing designs, potential issues and usability problems can be identified and and rectified prior to substantial resource allocation. This approach reduces the likelihood of costly redesigns or product failures in the later stages of development. Moreover, by designing with the user in mind, the likelihood of market acceptance and demand surges, mitigating the risk of investing in a product that may not meet user needs or anticipations.
The Process of Human-Centered Design
A. Research and user analysis: Human-centered design commences with meticulous research and user analysis to gain a deep understanding of the intended users, their needs, and their context. This phase entails administering interviews, surveys, and observations to to gather insights and identify pain points, preferences, and goals.
B. Ideation and concept development: In this stage, designers generate a multitude of ideas and concepts based on the research findings. Brainstorming sessions and collaborative workshops are employed to encourage creativity. Concepts are then refined and evaluated against user needs and business goals to identify the most promising solutions.
C. Prototyping and testing: Prototyping necessitates the creation of tangible representations of the design concepts. These prototypes can exhibit low-fidelity, such as sketches or paper mock-ups, or high-fidelity, such as interactive digital prototypes. User testing is conducted with the prototypes to gather feedback, validate assumptions, and uncover any usability issues or areas for improvement.
D. Iterative design and refinement: Based on the feedback received from user testing, the design is refined iteratively. Designers analyze the data and insights gathered during testing to make informed decisions and make necessary adjustments to the prototypes. This iterative procedure persists until an acceptable resolution is attained, ensuring that the design meets user needs, is usable, and aligns with the overall project goals.
Embracing a Human-Centered Design Revolution: Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the future of human-centered design lies in putting users first, and it is a vital aspect of product engineering. By prioritizing the needs, preferences, and experiences of users in product development, companies can create products that truly resonate and provide value.
Shape a future where technology seamlessly integrates with the intricacies of human experiences by joining us in creating innovative and customer-focused products.
Experience the power of human centered design with AlignMinds, the top product engineering company in India, Kenya, and the US.
In the whirlwind of today’s digital age, where time flies like a rocket, it’s crystal clear that users crave nothing less than flawless and captivating experiences when interacting with applications. But to what degree does the significance of user experience truly prevail?
Well, let the numbers do the talking! A jaw-dropping 88% of internet shoppers won’t give a website a second chance if they have a terrible user experience. And guess what? A mind-boggling 94% of users say bye-bye to a site simply because of lousy design. Don’t fret, though! We’re here to unveil the power of UX and how it creates mind-blowing application support.
It’s time to make your users’ journey an unforgettable one!
Understanding User Experience (UX) in Application Support: A Comprehensive Definition
User experience (UX) in application support alludes to the comprehensive caliber and gratification users acquire from engaging with software or application throughout technical assistance. It encompasses facets such as promptness, user-friendliness, efficacy, and proficiency of the support rendered.
An affirmative user experience guarantees smooth navigation, clear instructions, prompt issue resolution, and an intuitive interface, thus resulting in amplified user contentment and an optimized support experience.
Benefits of Prioritizing UX in Application Support
1. Improved user engagement and adoption rates:
Prioritizing UX in application support leads to improved user engagement and adoption rates. When users are bestowed with a seamlessly integrated and intuitively navigable experience, their inclination to actively interact with the application and consistently employ its functionalities is significantly augmented.
2. customer retention and loyalty:
It also results in augmented customer retention and loyalty. Users who undergo a favorable experience are more likely to remain loyal to the application and its brand, thereby diminishing attrition rates and amplifying the customer’s longevity in terms of value.
3. Positive impact on brand reputation and word-of-mouth marketing: Emphasizing user experience exerts a favorable influence on brand standing and viral marketing. Contented users are more likely to share their positive experiences with others, leading to organic brand promotion and a surge in customer procurement.
4. Amplify business revenue and foster exponential growth:
Focusing on UX in application support can have a direct positive impact on business revenue and growth. Satisfied users are more likely to make repeat purchases, upgrade to premium services, and refer others, ultimately driving revenue growth and expanding the customer base.
A. Conducting user research and usability testing: Understanding the needs and preferences of users is crucial for improving their experience. By conducting user research and usability testing, developers can acquire invaluable discernments regarding user behaviors, grievances, and anticipations, thereby empowering them to execute informed determinations and enhancements.
B. Streamlining the user interface and navigation: A clutter-free and intuitive user interface, coupled with streamlined navigation, can significantly enhance the user experience. Simplifying complex processes, organizing content logically, and ensuring consistency in design elements contribute to a more user-friendly application.
C. Providing clear and concise instructions: Clear and concise instructions aid users in comprehending the intricacies of traversing and employing the application with utmost efficiency. Using plain language, providing step-by-step guidance, and incorporating visual aids, one can alleviate bewilderment and exasperation, thereby fostering a superlative user experience.
D. Offering personalized and proactive support: Tailoring support to individual user needs and anticipating their issues in advance can greatly enhance user satisfaction. Providing personalized recommendations, offering live chat or chatbot assistance, and sending proactive notifications or reminders contribute to a more attentive and supportive user experience.
E. Continuous improvement through feedback and iteration: Emphasizing user feedback and continuously iterating on the application based on user input is essential for long-term success. Regularly seeking user feedback, analyzing usage data, and incorporating user suggestions and trends enable developers to address pain points, introduce new features, and evolve the application to meet evolving user expectations.
Prioritize UX in your application support strategy
In summary, placing utmost emphasis on User Experience (UX) within your application support strategy is paramount for the success of your business. With the ever-increasing competition in the digital landscape, providing a seamless and enjoyable user experience has become a necessity.
By partnering with AlignMinds, the leading application development company in India, Kenya, and the US, you can guarantee that your applications shall be meticulously crafted and bolstered with an unwavering dedication to user-centricity. Their expertise in UX design and website development, coupled with their commitment to delivering innovative and intuitive solutions, positions them as the quintessential option for enhancing your application’s efficacy and user gratification. Invest in AlignMinds to take your application support strategy to new heights and stay ahead in today’s competitive market.
Choosing the Perfect IT Infrastructure Development Company: Factors to Consider
A recent study conducted on businesses revealed that 99% of them reported utilizing at least one digital technology in their daily operations. This represents a significant reliance on technology and proves that IT infrastructure is the backbone of any modern business.
With the growing reliance on technology, it’s essential to have an efficient and reliable IT infrastructure that can support your business needs. But building and maintaining such an infrastructure is not an easy task, and often businesses lack the expertise and resources to do it themselves.
This is where IT infrastructure development companies come in. Choosing the perfect IT infrastructure development company can be a game-changer for your business, and in this article, we will discuss the factors that you should consider before making that decision.
So, let’s get started! Here are the 15 factors to consider:
1.Understanding Your Business Needs
The first and most crucial step in choosing an IT infrastructure development company is to understand your business needs. You must have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve, what your budget is, and what your timeline is. Once you have a clear picture of your requirements, you can start looking for a company that can meet those needs.
2.Experience and Expertise
The experience and expertise of an IT Infrastructure Company.is a critical factor to consider. Choosing a company that has worked on similar projects to yours and has a track record of delivering high-quality work is essential. You can assess their experience by checking their portfolio, reading client reviews, and asking for references.
3.Technology Stack
The technology stacks an IT infrastructure development company uses is another crucial factor to consider. The right company should use modern and up-to-date technology compatible with your business needs. They should also have expertise in various technologies, including cloud computing, architecture, and containerization.
4.Scalability
Scalability is a critical factor to consider when choosing an IT Infrastructure Management company. You want to select a company that can grow with your business and meet your changing needs. The right company should be able to accommodate the increased demand for resources and infrastructure while maintaining performance and quality.
5.Communication
Effective communication is essential for successful IT infrastructure development. You want to choose a company that is easy to communicate with and is responsive to your needs. The company should have clear communication channels, provide regular updates, and keep you informed about the project’s progress.
5.Security and Compliance
Security and compliance are essential when choosing an IT infrastructure development company. The company should thoroughly understand security best practices and compliance requirements, including GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, among others. They should also implement robust security measures to ensure the safety and confidentiality of your data.
6.Cost
Cost is an important factor when choosing an IT Infrastructure company. You want to select a company that offers reasonable rates without compromising on the quality of work. However, it would be best to avoid companies that provide meagre rates as they may compromise on quality or lack the necessary expertise.
7.Support and Maintenance
Support and maintenance are crucial for the smooth operation of your IT infrastructure. You want to choose a company that provides reliable support and maintenance services. They should offer 24/7 support, regular maintenance, and troubleshooting services to ensure your IT infrastructure runs smoothly.
8.Cultural Fit
The cultural fit between your business and the IT infrastructure development company is also an essential factor to consider. You want to choose a company with similar values and a work culture that aligns with your business needs. This will ensure that the company understands your business goals and can work effectively to achieve them.
9.Project Management
Project management is a critical factor to consider when choosing an IT Infrastructure development company. The right company should have an effective project management process in place to ensure the project is delivered on time, within budget, and to your satisfaction. They should have a project manager assigned to your project who can communicate effectively and provide regular updates on the project’s progress.
10.Flexibility
Flexibility is essential when it comes to IT infrastructure development. You want to choose a flexible company that can adapt to your changing business needs. They should be able to modify the project scope, timeline, and budget to accommodate any changes that may arise.
11.Innovation
Innovation is critical for businesses to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced environment. The right IT infrastructure development company should be innovative and constantly explore new technologies and solutions to improve your business operations. They should be able to provide recommendations on how to enhance your IT infrastructure and provide solutions to any challenges that may arise
12.Training and Knowledge
Transfer Training and knowledge transfer are essential to ensure your employees can effectively use and maintain the IT infrastructure developed by the company. The right company should provide training and knowledge transfer sessions to ensure your employees can use and maintain the infrastructure effectively.
13.Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is critical when it comes to IT development. The right company should have a rigorous quality assurance process to ensure the project is delivered to your satisfaction. They should conduct regular testing and checks to ensure that the infrastructure developed meets the highest quality standards.
14.Industry Experience
Industry experience is essential when it comes to IT infrastructure development. The right company should have experience working with businesses in your industry and thoroughly understand your industry’s unique needs and challenges. This will ensure that they can provide solutions tailored to your business needs.
AlignMinds Technologies provides IT infrastructure management services to help businesses improve the reliability, security, and performance of their IT systems. Their team of experienced IT professionals can help businesses design, deploy, and maintain IT infrastructure that meets their specific needs.
AlignMinds‘ IT infrastructure management services include network management, server management, database management, cloud management, and security management. They use the latest tools and technologies to monitor and manage IT infrastructure, ensuring maximum uptime and performance.
AlignMinds can also help businesses optimize their IT infrastructure to reduce costs and improve efficiency. By identifying areas for improvement and implementing best practices, AlignMinds can help businesses get the most out of their IT investments.
Overall, AlignMinds Technologies can help businesses with all aspects of IT infrastructure management, from design and deployment to monitoring and optimization. Their team of experienced IT professionals and focus on quality make them a great choice for businesses looking to improve the reliability, security, and performance of their IT systems.
If you are looking out for the perfect IT Infrastructure Management company in India , Kenya , US, UK or any other country Contact AlignMinds today!
This is why digital transformation services have become an integral part of modern businesses. It involves the integration of digital technologies in all areas of a business to fundamentally change how it operates and delivers value to customers. Although digital transformation services offer numerous benefits, such as improved efficiency and customer experience, there are also significant challenges that businesses need to consider before adopting them.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits and challenges of adopting digital transformation services, but before than let’s understand in brief about Digital Transformation Services
Understanding Digital Transformation Services
Digital transformation services involve the integration of digital technologies in all areas of a business to fundamentally change how it operates and delivers value to customers. This includes the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to automate processes, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experience.
Benefits of Adopting Digital Transformation Services
1.Improved Efficiency
Digital transformation services help businesses automate their processes, reducing manual labor and increasing efficiency. This allows businesses to focus on delivering value to customers rather than spending time on mundane tasks.
2.Enhanced Customer Experience
Digital transformation services enable businesses to provide a seamless customer experience by leveraging data analytics, artificial intelligence, and other technologies. This allows businesses to personalize their offerings and engage with customers in a more meaningful way.
3.Increased Agility and Flexibility
Digital transformation services enable businesses to be more agile and flexible in responding to changing market conditions. They can quickly adapt to new technologies and business models, allowing them to stay ahead of the competition.
4.Better Decision Making
Digital transformation services provide businesses with access to real-time data and analytics, enabling them to make better-informed decisions. This can lead to improved operational efficiency and increased revenue.
5.Competitive Advantage
Digital transformation services provide businesses with a competitive advantage by enabling them to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Businesses that adopt digital transformation services are better positioned to meet the changing needs of their customers and stay ahead of the competition.
Challenges of Adopting Digital Transformation Services
1.Resistance to Change
One of the biggest challenges of adopting digital transformation services is resistance to change. Employees may be resistant to new technologies and processes, making it difficult to implement digital transformation services effectively.
2.Security Risks
Digital transformation services can also pose security risks, especially if they involve the storage and management of sensitive data. Businesses need to ensure that they have adequate security measures in place to protect against cyber threats.
3.Skillset and Talent Gap
The adoption of digital transformation services requires a highly skilled workforce. However, there is often a talent gap, with businesses struggling to find employees with the necessary skills to implement and manage digital transformation services.
4.Integration Issues
Integrating new digital technology with existing systems and processes can be challenging. Businesses need to ensure that the new technology is compatible with existing systems and processes to avoid any disruptions.
5.Cost of Implementation
Adopting digital transformation services can be expensive, especially for small businesses. The cost of implementing new technology and training employees can be a significant barrier to adoption.
Quick FAQs
What is digital transformation?
Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value to customers.
Why is digital transformation important?
Digital transformation is important because it helps businesses remain competitive by providing increased efficiency, enhanced customer experience, and improved decision-making.
What are the benefits of digital transformation services?
The benefits of digital transformation services include increased efficiency, enhanced customer experience, improved decision-making, cost savings, and increased agility.
What are the challenges of digital transformation services?
The challenges of digital transformation services include resistance to change, data security risks, integration issues, cost of implementation, and cultural barriers.
How can businesses overcome the challenges of digital transformation services?
Businesses can overcome the challenges of digital transformation services by providing training to employees, implementing robust security measures, ensuring compatibility
Still have more questions?
If you have more questions or are looking to digitally transform your business, you should consider contacting AlignMinds Technologies. Here are some reasons why:
Experience – AlignMinds Technologies has over a decade of experience in providing digital transformation services to businesses across various industries.
Customized Solutions – AlignMinds Technologies provides customized digital transformation solutions tailored to meet the specific needs and requirements of each client.
Technical Expertise – AlignMinds Technologies has a team of highly skilled and experienced professionals who have expertise in various digital technologies such as cloud computing, IoT, AI, and more.
Agile Approach – AlignMinds Technologies follows an agile approach to digital transformation, which allows for faster delivery and better collaboration with clients.
Quality Assurance – AlignMinds Technologies places a strong emphasis on quality assurance and testing to ensure that the digital transformation solutions delivered are of the highest quality.
Customer Satisfaction – AlignMinds Technologies prioritizes customer satisfaction and works closely with clients to ensure that their digital transformation needs are met.
Overall, AlignMinds Technologies is a reliable and experienced partner that can help businesses achieve their digital transformation goals. AlignMinds Technologies has offered digital transformation services in India, Kenya, US and several other countries. If you want to get going book a free consultation today!
APIs, or application programming interfaces, are a way for different software applications to communicate with each other. APIs enable developers to create applications that are able to share data and functionality with other applications, making it easier to build complex applications.
Laravel is a popular PHP web application framework that is widely used to build APIs. It is known for its elegant syntax, robust toolset, and focus on developer productivity. Laravel provides a powerful set of tools for building APIs, making it a great choice for developers who are looking to create robust and scalable APIs.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into building robust APIs with Laravel. We’ll cover the best practices and tips for planning, building, testing, optimizing, scaling, and securing your API.
Understanding APIs and Laravel
Before we dive into building APIs with Laravel, let’s first understand what APIs are and how they work. An API is a set of protocols and standards that define how different software applications can communicate with each other. APIs enable applications to share data and functionality, making it easier to build complex applications.
Laravel is a popular PHP web application framework that is widely used to build APIs. Laravel provides a powerful set of tools for building APIs, including routing, controllers, middleware, authentication, and more.
Planning Your API
Before you start building your API, it’s important to have a clear plan in place. This includes understanding the goals of your API, the resources it will expose, and the expected behavior of your API.
One of the key aspects of planning your API is to define the resources that it will expose. Resources are the data entities that your API will expose to other applications. These can include things like users, products, orders, and more.
Another important aspect of planning your API is to define the expected behavior of your API. This includes defining the input parameters, expected output, and any error conditions that your API may encounter.
The first step in building your API with Laravel is to install and configure Laravel. This involves installing the required dependencies and setting up your database connection.
2. Routing and Controllers
Routing and controllers are a fundamental part of building APIs with Laravel. Laravel provides a powerful routing system that makes it easy to define the endpoints for your API.
3. Authentication and Authorization
API authentication and authorization are crucial to ensure only authorized users can access the API’s resources. Laravel provides various authentication and authorization mechanisms such as Passport, Sanctum, and JWT (JSON Web Tokens). Please choose the one that suits your requirements and integrate it into your Laravel API.
4. Validation
Data validation is essential to ensure that the data entered by the user is in the correct format and meets the required criteria. Multiple options for validating input data are available during the Laravel development process. Use these validation rules to validate the data entered by the user and return appropriate error responses if the data is invalid.
5. Pagination
When dealing with large datasets, it is essential to use pagination to limit the number of records returned in each API request. Laravel provides built-in support for pagination, making it easy to paginate the results of your API requests. Use the “paginate” method to limit the records returned in each API request.
6. Caching
Caching is a technique that stores frequently accessed data in memory to improve the application’s performance. Caching is an integral part of Laravel, enabling you to cache the outcomes of your API requests while minimising the number of database queries. Use the “cache” method to cache the results of your API requests.
7. Throttling
API throttling is a method whereby a user’s API requests are capped at a certain rate for a given period of tim. Laravel supports for throttling, allowing you to limit the number of requests a user makes within a particular time frame. Use the “throttle” middleware to restrict the number of requests a user makes.
8. Exception Handling
Exception handling is essential to handle errors and exceptions during API requests. Laravel includes exception handling support, enabling you to take variations and return suitable error responses. Use the “try-catch” block to handle exceptions and return appropriate error responses.
9. Proper Error Handling
Proper error handling is essential in any API development project. Laravel has a structured way of dealing with errors and exceptions, and it’s important to use this feature well to make sure that errors are found and handled correctly. Use the “try-catch” block to catch exceptions and return appropriate error responses.
10. Dependency Injection
Dependency Injection (DI) is a design pattern that helps decouple different application components. Laravel’s built-in container can be used to implement DI, allowing you to inject dependencies into your controllers, services, and other features. Using DI makes it easier to test your code and promotes reusability.
11. Middleware
Middleware is a powerful feature of Laravel that allows you to modify incoming HTTP requests and outgoing responses. Use middleware to implement functionality such as logging, authentication, and input validation. You can also create custom middleware to implement your functionality.
12.API Documentation
Swagger and API Blueprint are two of the tools that are included in the Laravel package that can be used to create API documentation. Some of the tools that Laravel offers to make API documentation are Swagger and API Blueprint. Generating documentation helps developers understand the API’s functionality, available resources, and expected responses.
13. Unit Testing
Unit testing is essential for ensuring that your API code works as expected. With Laravel’s in-built testing framework, creating and executing API tests is a breeze. Use PHP Unit to write tests for your controllers, models, and other components to ensure they work as expected.
14. Versioning
Versioning your API is essential for ensuring compatibility between different API versions. You can specify the API version in the request’s URL or header because of Laravel’s built-in support for API versioning. Use versioning to make changes to your API without breaking existing clients.
15. Security Best Practices
Security is a critical concern when building APIs. Use security best practices such as SSL/TLS encryption, input validation, and data sanitization to ensure your API is secure. You can also use tools such as OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite to test the security of your API.
Conclusion
Building a robust API with Laravel requires careful planning, following best practices and tips, and leveraging Laravel’s built-in features and tools. Adopting these best practices and advice can help ensure your Laravel API is efficient, secure, and scalable.
If you want to build a Laravel API, contact AlignMinds Technologies!
AlignMinds Technologies is a software development company that provides a wide range of services, including Laravel development. With years of experience in building web applications, AlignMinds has developed expertise in building robust and scalable APIs using Laravel.
AlignMinds’ team of skilled Laravel developers can help businesses build custom APIs that meet their specific needs. Whether it’s building a new API from scratch or improving an existing API, AlignMinds can provide expert guidance and support throughout the development process.
Being one of the best Laravel development company in India, Kenya, US and other countries they use the latest tools and technologies to ensure that their Laravel development projects are of the highest quality. They follow best practices and coding standards to ensure that their code is maintainable, scalable, and secure.
In addition to Laravel development,AlignMinds also provides other software development services, including mobile app development, web development, and cloud computing. This makes them a one-stop-shop for businesses that need help with all aspects of software development.
In recent years, computer vision has emerged as one of the most important technologies driving digital transformation across various industries. From healthcare to transportation, computer vision is transforming the way businesses operate, making them more efficient, productive, and profitable. In this article, we will explore how computer vision is driving digital transformation, its benefits, use cases, challenges, and future possibilities.
Computer Vision: An Overview
Computer vision refers to the field of artificial intelligence that enables computers to interpret and understand the visual world. It involves the use of algorithms and deep learning models to analyze and extract information from digital images and videos. Computer vision has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s, and today, it is used in a wide range of applications, including object recognition, image classification, facial recognition, and autonomous driving.
The Role of Computer Vision in Digital Transformation
Digital transformation refers to the use of digital technologies to transform business operations and processes, creating new business models, products, and services. In today’s digital age, businesses must embrace digital transformation to remain competitive, relevant, and profitable. Computer vision plays a crucial role in digital transformation by providing businesses with the ability to automate, optimize, and analyze visual data.
By using computer vision, businesses can automate repetitive tasks, such as quality control in manufacturing, inventory management in retail, and patient monitoring in healthcare. This reduces the time and resources required for these tasks and improves overall efficiency. Additionally, computer vision enables businesses to optimize their operations by providing real-time insights into their processes, identifying areas for improvement and cost savings.
Moreover, computer vision allows businesses to analyze visual data in ways that were previously impossible. For example, in healthcare, computer vision can be used to analyze medical images to diagnose diseases, detect anomalies, and identify treatment options. In retail, computer vision can be used to analyze customer behavior, optimize store layout, and personalize the shopping experience.
Use Cases of Computer Vision in Digital Transformation
Computer vision is transforming various industries, and some of the most significant use cases include:
Computer Vision in Healthcare
One of the most promising areas for computer vision is healthcare. Medical image analysis is critical to diagnosis and treatment planning, and computer vision can help automate this process. For example, computer vision algorithms can analyze medical images and identify potential health risks like tumours or other abnormalities.
Digital transformation can also be used in remote patient monitoring, enabling healthcare providers to monitor patient’s conditions from a distance. By analyzing images and videos of patients, doctors can detect changes in their health and intervene before conditions worsen.
Computer Vision in Retail
Computer vision is driving digitally the retail industry. One application is in-store analytics, where cameras track customer movements and behaviours to provide insights into shopping habits. Retailers can use this information to improve the layout of their stores, where they put products, and their marketing strategies. Computer vision can also be used for self-checkout systems. Using cameras to scan products, customers can skip the checkout line and pay for their purchases through a mobile app. This improves the shopping experience and reduces the need for staff.
Computer Vision in Manufacturing
Computer vision is also revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. Quality control is a critical part of manufacturing, and computer vision can help automate this task. By using cameras to inspect products for defects, manufacturers can ensure that only high-quality products reach consumers. Computer vision can also be used in robotics, enabling machines to “see” and “understand” the environment around them. This technology is essential for autonomous robots, which can perform tasks such as material handling and assembly without human intervention.
Computer Vision in Agriculture
Computer vision transforms the agriculture industry through Digital revolution by improving crop yields and reducing waste. Farmers can use computer vision to monitor plant growth and identify diseases or pests early on. They can also use drones equipped with computer vision technology to survey their crops and identify areas that require attention.
Computer Vision in Security and Surveillance
Computer vision technology is used in security and surveillance to identify potential threats and monitor suspicious behaviour. Facial recognition software is used to identify individuals in real-time, while cameras can detect unusual behaviour patterns and alert authorities. Computer vision can also monitor traffic and prevent accidents by analyzing the movements of vehicles and pedestrians.
Computer Vision in Sports
Computer vision drives the Digital transformation through way we watch and analyze sports. Using cameras and sensors, computers can track players’ movements and gather data on their performance. This data can be used to optimize training, improve tactics, and enhance the viewing experience for fans.
Computer Vision in Education
Computer vision has the potential to transform education by providing personalized learning experiences. By analyzing students’ facial expressions and body language, computers can identify when students are struggling and adjust their learning materials accordingly. This technology can also be used for remote learning, enabling teachers to monitor students’ progress in real-time.
The Future of Computer Vision
The potential applications of computer vision are vast, and the technology is improving. With advances in machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks, computer vision algorithms are becoming more accurate and efficient. This technology is also becoming more accessible, with cloud-based platforms and APIs that make it easier for developers to integrate computer vision into their applications.
One development area is augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Computer vision can enable AR and VR systems to track the user’s movements and surroundings, creating a more immersive experience.
Another development area is edge computing, where data processing is done closer to the source rather than in the cloud. This is important for applications that require real-time processing, such as autonomous vehicles or drones.
Experience the Digital Transformation with AlignMinds Technologies
AlignMinds Technologies is the number one partner for your digital transformation services in India, Kenya, US and any other country you may be located at! We guide you with Computer Vision in Digital Transformation by providing expertise in developing computer vision-based solutions that can automate business processes and improve decision-making.
We use advanced technologies like deep learning and machine learning to create custom computer vision solutions that can detect and analyze visual data in real-time.
With our experience in this field, AlignMinds can help businesses unlock new possibilities and drive digital transformation through computer vision. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today!
Web development and design have come a long way over the years, but with that progress comes
an increase in security threats. As a Web development company in Kochi, India, Kenya, US, we
understand the importance of protecting your website from old and new threats. In this blog, we’ll
explore best practices for web development security and emerging threats to watch out for.
Best Practices for Web Development Security
Use HTTPS
HTTPS is one of the easiest and most effective ways to secure your website. It encrypts the
connection between the user’s browser and the server, ensuring that any data transmitted is
secure. This is especially crucial for sites that deal with private or financial information.
Keep Software Up to Date
For security, it’s important to keep the software on your website up to date. Updates often come
with security patches that fix known holes, so installing them as soon as they’re available is
important.
Use Strong Passwords
Using strong passwords is another easy way to improve web development security. Encourage
users to create complex passwords that are difficult to guess or brute-force. Two-factor
authentication could be used to add another layer of security.
Use Content Security Policy (CSP)
Content Security Policy (CSP) is a powerful tool for preventing cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. It
allows trusted content sources like scripts, stylesheets, and images. This helps prevent attackers
from injecting malicious code into your website.
Regularly Back Up Your Data
Regularly backing up your website’s data is essential for disaster recovery. If your website is ever
compromised, a recent backup can help you quickly restore it to its previous state.
Use a Firewall
A firewall is a piece of network security equipment that monitors incoming and outgoing data and
filters it according to predetermined security policies. A firewall can help prevent unauthorized
access to your website’s servers and protect against a wide range of cyber-attacks.
Implement Role-Based Access Control
Role-based access control (RBAC) is a way for an organisation to limit network access based on the
roles of its users. By implementing RBAC, you can ensure that users only have access to the data
and resources they need to perform their job functions, reducing the risk of a security breach.
Use Captcha to Prevent Automated Attacks
A challenge-response test is a type of captcha. It checks to see if the user is a real person. By
requiring users to solve a captcha, you can prevent automated attacks often used to exploit your
website’s security vulnerabilities.
Encrypt Data at Rest
In addition to using HTTPS to encrypt data in transit, you should also encrypt data at rest, meaning
data stored on your website’s servers. This can be done using tools like full disk or file-level
encryption, which can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data during a security breach.
Regularly Audit Your Website’s Security
Regularly auditing your website’s security can help identify vulnerabilities before attackers can
exploit them. This can include performing penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and code
reviews to ensure your website’s security is up to par.
Emerging Threats to Watch Out For
Ransomware
Ransomware is malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands payment in exchange for the
decryption key. This can be devastating for businesses that rely on their website to operate. To
protect against ransomware, it’s important to keep your software up to date, use strong passwords,
and regularly back up your data.
Internet of Things (IoT) Attacks
As more gadgets connect to the internet, the potential of IoT assaults rises. Hackers can exploit
vulnerabilities in these devices to gain access to your website and steal sensitive information. To
protect against IoT attacks, use strong passwords and keep your software up to date.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are a type of social engineering attack in which an attacker tries to trick the victim
into revealing sensitive information. These assaults are getting harder to spot as they become more
complex. To protect against phishing attacks, educate your users on recognising and avoiding them.
SQL Injection Attacks
SQL injection attacks are cyber-attacks where an attacker injects malicious code into a website’s
database. This code can be used to steal sensitive information or to modify, delete, or add data. To
protect against SQL injection attacks, you should use parameterized queries and input validation to
sanitize user input.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks
Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks occur when an attacker injects malicious code into a website that
is then executed by a user’s browser. This code can be used to steal sensitive information or modify
the website’s content. To protect against XSS attacks, you should use input validation and output
encoding to sanitize user input and prevent the execution of malicious code.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks occur when an attacker floods a website with traffic,
overwhelming its servers and causing it to become inaccessible. These attacks can be devastating
for businesses that rely on their website to operate. To protect against DDoS attacks, you should use
a content delivery network (CDN) to distribute traffic and protect against high-volume attacks.
Malware Attacks
Malware attacks are cyber-attacks where an attacker infects a website with malware, which can
then be used to steal sensitive information or gain unauthorized access to the website’s servers. To
protect against malware attacks, you should use antivirus software and regularly scan your website
for malware.
Conclusion
Web development security is essential for protecting your website from many threats. By following
best practices like using HTTPS, keeping your software up to date, and using strong passwords, you
can reduce your risk of a security breach. It’s also important to stay current on emerging threats
like ransomware, IoT attacks, and phishing attacks, so you can take steps to protect your website.
As a Web development company in Kochi, India, Kenya, US, we’re committed to helping our clients.stay secure online. Contact us to learn more about our web development and design services.
Are you tired of waiting for your Laravel application to load? Do you find yourself frustrated by slow response times and sluggish performance? You’re not the only one! Nowadays, users crave lightning-fast website and application experiences. In fact, a study conducted by Google has conclusively shown that a staggering 53% of mobile users will abandon a website if it takes longer than a mere 3 seconds to load. Whoa, that’s alarming!
But don’t worry, there’s hope! With the right techniques and tools, you can optimize your Laravel application for peak performance and provide your users with the speedy experience they crave. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of optimizing your Laravel app for peak performance. We have some real-world stats and examples to back up the best practices.
So, get ready to rev up your app’s performance and take it to the next level!
Techniques for Optimizing Laravel Application Performance
1. Minimizing Autoloaded Services: Autoloading numerous services can potentially result in sluggish performance as each request triggers the loading process, thereby consuming excessive memory and resources. To optimize performance, it is recommended to curtail the count of autoloaded services and limit the autoload only to essential services.
2. Route Caching: Route caching creates a cached version of the routes, which significantly improves the performance by reducing the time spent on route scanning and compilation. To implement route caching, use the command “php artisan route: cache” in Laravel.
3. Switch to the Latest PHP Version:
Upgrading to the latest version of PHP can provide better performance due to the latest features and improvements in the language. Make sure to check the Laravel documentation for supported PHP versions.
4. Compress visual data: The utilization of large images can drastically impede the performance of your application. In order to enhance the efficiency of your system, it is recommended to diminish the size of your images by means of an image compression tool or use Laravel API performance optimization tools.
5. Minimize HTTP Requests: Each HTTP request generates additional overhead, which can slow down the application. To minimize HTTP requests, combine all necessary resources such as CSS, JavaScript files, and images into one request.
6. Enhance the efficacy of database queries:
Database queries that are too slow have the possibility of severely undermining the performance of your application. To optimize your queries, use Laravel API performance optimization tools like eager loading, query caching, and indexing.
7. Utilize the methodology of Eager Loading: Eager loading loads all related data for a specific record, reducing the number of database queries required. This feature can be used in Laravel by using the “with” method on a model.
8. Employ JIT Compilers: The Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler can improve PHP performance by compiling the code at runtime. To enable JIT in PHP, make sure to use the latest PHP version and enable the JIT configuration.
9. Incorporating a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A Content Delivery Network can improve performance by distributing your application’s static content to multiple servers worldwide, reducing the latency and network load on your server. In Laravel, configuring the CDN within your application’s configuration file is crucial to leverage this capability.
Tools for Optimizing Laravel Application Performance
Laravel Debugbar: Laravel Debugbar happens to be a robust package that offers developers instantaneous and unparalleled insight into their application’s performance. It displays debugging and profiling information such as memory usage, execution time, and database queries in a graphical interface. This tool allows developers to identify and fix performance issues quickly, resulting in faster application performance.
Blackfire.io: Blackfire.io is a profiling tool that helps developers optimize their applications’ performance. It provides a deep understanding of the application’s performance by identifying performance bottlenecks and suggesting ways to fix them. The tool integrates seamlessly with Laravel, allowing developers to profile their applications with ease.
LoadForge: LoadForge is a load testing tool that helps developers simulate high traffic to their applications. By testing the application’s performance under heavy load, developers can identify and fix performance issues before they become a problem. LoadForge also integrates with Laravel, allowing developers to test their applications easily.
Laravel Telescope: Laravel Telescope is a debugging tool for developers who take performance seriously. It offers unparalleled visibility into critical aspects of your application, including requests, jobs, and database queries, all in real-time. The tool allows developers to quickly identify and fix performance issues, resulting in faster application performance.
Start Optimizing your Laravel Application Performance
That’s a wrap! We’ve finally reached the finish line of our quest to maximize the performance of our Laravel application. By implementing the techniques and tools we’ve discussed throughout this blog, you’ll be well on your way to creating a blazing-fast web application that your users will love. If you’re on the hunt for Laravel application development in Kochi, Kenya, US, look no further than AlignMind. Contact them now to augment your application’s operational efficiency.
Remember, optimizing your application’s performance is an ongoing process. Keep monitoring and tweaking your code, caching and database settings, and server infrastructure to ensure that your app is running at its best. In the end, it all comes down to providing a great user experience. By following the tips we’ve shared, you’ll be able to deliver lightning-fast response times, minimize downtime, and keep your users happy.
Digital transformation has become essential for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to stay competitive and relevant in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. To transform an organisation’s operations and the value it provides to its customers through the use of digital tools and techniques is known as digital transformation. SMBs in Kochi should consider partnering with a reliable Digital transformation company in Kochi, India, Kenya, US. They will help them unlock the full potential of digital technologies and stay competitive in the marketplace.
Benefits of Digital Transformation for small and medium-sized businesses
Improved Efficiency
Efficiency is one of the main benefits of digital transformation. By embracing digital tools and technologies, SMBs can automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows, saving them significant time and resources. For instance, digital tools can automate customer relationship management, accounting, inventory management, and supply chain management, which can help SMBs reduce costs and improve productivity.
Better Customer Experience
Digital transformation can help SMBs improve customer experience by providing more personalized and engaging interactions. By leveraging data analytics and AI technologies, SMBs can gain insights into their customers’ behaviour and preferences, which can help them deliver tailored products and services that meet their customers’ needs. For instance, businesses can use chatbots to provide 24/7 customer service, online ordering systems to simplify purchasing, and social media platforms to engage with their customers in real-time.
Enhanced Agility
Digital transformation can help SMBs become more agile and responsive to market changes. By embracing digital tools and processes, SMBs can quickly adapt to changing customer needs and market trends, which can help them stay ahead of the competition. For instance, businesses can use social media listening tools to monitor customer feedback and adapt their products and services accordingly. They can also use cloud computing to scale up or down their operations as per demand without significant upfront investments.
Improved Data Analytics
Digital transformation can help SMBs improve their data analytics capabilities, providing insights into their business performance and helping them make informed decisions. By leveraging data analytics tools, SMBs can gain insights into their customers’ behaviour, preferences, and buying patterns, which can help them make more informed marketing and sales decisions. They can also use analytics to track their financial performance, monitor inventory levels, and identify areas of improvement.
Increased Innovation
Digital transformation can foster innovation in SMBs by providing them access to new technologies and business models. By embracing digital tools and processes, SMBs can develop new products and services that cater to the changing needs of their customers. They can also use digital platforms to explore new business models, such as subscription-based services, online marketplaces, and social media marketing.
Improved Collaboration
Digital transformation can help SMBs improve their collaboration capabilities by providing tools and technologies that enable remote working and virtual collaboration. By leveraging digital collaboration tools, SMBs can collaborate seamlessly with teams from different locations, share documents and information in real-time, and collaborate on projects. This can help SMBs reduce costs, improve productivity, and increase efficiency.
Competitive Advantage
Digital transformation can give SMBs a competitive advantage by enabling them to leverage new technologies and business models. By embracing digital tools and processes, SMBs can differentiate themselves from their competitors by offering unique products and services that cater to the changing needs of their customers. They can also use digital platforms to reach new customers and expand their market reach, which can help them grow their business.
Greater Flexibility
Digital transformation can provide SMBs with greater flexibility in their operations. By embracing cloud computing, mobile technologies, and other digital tools, SMBs can work from anywhere and anytime, which can help them reduce costs and improve productivity. Moreover, digital tools enable SMBs to offer more flexible working arrangements for their employees, which helps them attract and retain top talent.
Improved Cybersecurity
Digital transformation can help SMBs improve cybersecurity by providing access to better security tools and processes. By embracing digital security technologies, SMBs can protect their sensitive data and systems from cyber threats like hacking, phishing, and ransomware attacks. They can also use digital tools to monitor their networks and detect real-time suspicious activity.
Better Supply Chain Management
Digital transformation can help SMBs improve their supply chain management by providing access to better data analytics and automation tools. By leveraging digital technologies, SMBs can monitor their inventory levels, track their shipments, and manage their suppliers more effectively, which can help them reduce costs and improve efficiency. They can also use digital platforms to collaborate with their suppliers and partners, which can help them optimize their supply chain processes and reduce lead times.
Improved Financial Management
Digital transformation can help SMBs improve their financial management by providing better financial data analytics and automation tools. By embracing digital accounting and finance technologies, SMBs can track their expenses, manage their cash flow, and forecast their financial performance more accurately, which can help them make more informed business decisions. They can also use digital payment systems to streamline their transactions and reduce costs associated with manual processing.
Improved Sustainability
Digital transformation can help SMBs improve their sustainability by providing access to better environmental data and sustainability tools. By embracing digital sustainability technologies, SMBs can monitor their environmental impact, reduce their carbon footprint, and optimize resource consumption. This can help them reduce costs and improve their reputation among customers and stakeholders.
In summary
Digital transformation can provide SMBs with a range of benefits, including improved efficiency, better customer experience, enhanced agility, improved data analytics, increased innovation, and improved collaboration, competitive advantage, greater flexibility, improved cybersecurity, better supply chain management, improved financial management, and improved sustainability. Therefore, SMBs should prioritize digital transformation initiatives and invest in new technologies and processes to help them achieve their business goals and stay ahead of the competition. One such Digital transformation company in Kochi, India, Kenya, US, a leading software development company that offers a range of digital transformation services, including web development, mobile app development, cloud computing, and DevOps services. They have a team of highly skilled professionals who can help SMBs in Kochi achieve their digital transformation goals and stay ahead of the curve.
The business landscape has transformed in the past few years with the advent of digital technology. The use of digital technology has provided businesses with opportunities to reach out to their customers in innovative ways. Digital transformation company in Kochi, India, Kenya, US is necessary for businesses to remain competitive in the market. Digital transformation is mostly about making the customer experience better. Building a customer-centric business model is a key aspect of digital transformation. This blog will discuss how businesses can build a customer-centric business model through digital transformation.
What is a Customer-Centric Business Model?
A customer-centric business model focuses on meeting the needs and expectations of the customers. In a customer-centric business model, the customers are at the centre of everything the business does. The business considers the customers’ needs and expectations and uses that to inform its products, services, and overall business strategy.
Digital Transformation and Customer-Centric Business Model
Digital transformation provides businesses with an opportunity to build a customer-centric business model. Through digital technology, businesses can collect and analyze data on customer behaviour and preferences. This data can then be used to inform the business strategy and improve the customer experience. Here are some steps that businesses can take to build a customer-centric business model through digital transformation:
Understand Your Customers
Understanding your customers is the first step in building a customer-centric business model. You need to know who your customers are, their needs and expectations, and how they interact with your business. Digital technology can help you collect and analyze customer behaviour and preferences data. You can use this data to develop customer personas and map the customer journey. This information will help you to develop products and services that meet the needs and expectations of your customers.
Use Customer Data to Inform Business Strategy
Once you have collected and analyzed customer data, you must use it to inform your business strategy. This means developing products and services that meet the needs and expectations of your customers. You can also use customer data to personalize the customer experience. For example, you can use customer data to create personalized marketing messages or recommend products based on their previous purchases.
Improve the Customer Experience
Digital technology provides businesses with an opportunity to improve the customer experience. This can be done through chatbots, social media, and mobile apps. Chatbots can be used to provide customers with instant answers to their queries. Social media can be used to engage with customers and provide them with relevant content. Mobile apps can provide customers with a personalized experience, such as offers or discounts.
Embrace Omnichannel Marketing
Omnichannel marketing is the process of reaching customers through many different channels. This includes channels such as social media, email, SMS, and mobile apps. By embracing omnichannel marketing, businesses can reach customers on their preferred channels and provide a seamless experience. Omnichannel marketing can also help businesses collect customer behaviour data across different channels.
Measure and Analyze Customer Satisfaction
Measuring and analyzing customer satisfaction is essential for building a customer-centric business model. You need to know how satisfied your customers are with your products and services. This can be done through surveys, feedback forms, and social media monitoring. You can identify areas to improve and change your business strategy by measuring and analysing customer satisfaction.
Foster Customer Engagement and Loyalty
Engaging with customers and building loyalty is important to building a customer-centric business model. Digital technology can foster engagement and loyalty through personalized marketing messages, loyalty programs, and customer feedback mechanisms. Engaging with customers through social media and other channels also helps to build relationships and foster loyalty.
Implement Agile Processes
Agile processes can help businesses to respond quickly to changing customer needs and preferences. Digital technology can be used to implement agile processes such as rapid prototyping and testing. This allows businesses to test products and services with customers and make changes based on feedback. Agile processes also allow businesses to respond quickly to changes in the market and customer behaviour.
Build a Culture of Customer-Centricity
Building a customer-centric culture is essential for the success of a customer-centric business model. This means that everyone in the organization, from top to bottom, needs to be focused on meeting the needs and expectations of the customers. Digital technology can create a customer-centric culture through training, communication, and collaboration tools.
Continuously Innovate and Improve
Finally, businesses need to continuously innovate and improve to remain competitive and meet customers’ evolving needs and expectations. Digital technology can drive innovation and improvement by enabling rapid experimentation, prototyping, and testing. By continuously innovating and improving, businesses can stay ahead of the competition and build a sustainable customer-centric business model.
Invest in Customer Service
Excellent customer service is critical for building a customer-centric business model. Digital technology can be used to enhance customer service by offering self-service options, such as chatbots and automated responses, and by providing real-time support through various channels. Investing in customer service can help businesses build a positive reputation and loyal customer base.
Empower Employees to Serve Customers
Empowering employees to serve customers can create a customer-centric culture within the organization. Digital technology can give employees the tools and information they need to serve customers effectively. This can include access to customer data, training resources, and communication channels. Empowering employees to serve customers can also build a sense of ownership and accountability for the customer experience.
Collaborate with Customers
Collaborating with customers can help businesses to understand their needs and preferences better. Digital technology can facilitate collaboration through customer feedback mechanisms, online communities, and co-creation platforms. By collaborating with customers, businesses can develop products and services that meet their needs and preferences.
Measure and Analyze Customer Behavior
Measuring and analyzing customer behaviour is essential for building a customer-centric business model. Digital technology can collect and analyze customer data, such as purchase history, browsing behaviour, and social media activity. This data can then inform business strategy and improve the customer experience.
Embrace Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility
Embracing sustainability and corporate social responsibility can help businesses to build a positive reputation and attract customers who prioritize these values. Digital technology can be used to support sustainability initiatives and communicate corporate social responsibility efforts to customers. By embracing sustainability and corporate social responsibility, businesses can build a customer-centric business model that aligns with the values and preferences of their customers.
Conclusion
Building a customer-centric business model through Digital transformation company in Kochi, India, Kenya, US requires a strategic approach that involves understanding customers, using customer data to inform business strategy, improving the customer experience, embracing omnichannel marketing, measuring and analyzing customer satisfaction, fostering engagement and loyalty, implementing agile processes, building a culture of customer-centricity, continuously innovating and improving, investing in customer service, empowering employees to serve customers, collaborating with customers, measuring and analyzing customer behaviour, and embracing sustainability and corporate social responsibility. By taking these steps, businesses can build a sustainable customer-centric business model that meets the needs and expectations of their customers and drives long-term success.
If you’re starting with web development, this post will outline some of the top web development ideas that you can use to make your website stand out.
8 Best Web Development Project Ideas In 2023
Here in this section, we will discuss 8 best full stack web development project ideas that you can try in 2023:
1. Grocery Delivery Website or App
Grocery delivery apps as a top web development project idea gives users a wide range of products and services. They’re frequently integrated with an analytics API. Using free website builders enables adding eCommerce functionality and shipping options. Grocery delivery websites help users compare prices and make payments and save shopping lists. Food delivery apps offer features similar to real- time operations and social sign- ups and customizable payment options. Some offer cash- on- delivery, while others allow credit cards to pay for their orders. The first step in the development process is to set your process flow. This will include defining your target followership, relating the type of app you want to produce, determining the time it’ll take to develop, and assessing the ideal of your final design.
2. Mood-board Creator App
A mood- board creator app is another web development project idea that saves time and money by helping you organize your ideas. This can be especially useful if you’re working with a customer. Creating a mood board can be delightful for sharing your ideas with guests and fellow creators. A mood board can help you find direction in your design process and help you exclude design crimes. Mood boards can come in numerous forms, but a standard format is a digital collage of images, plates and textures. They can also include words or descriptive expressions that capture the overall feeling of a particular design. Whether creating a brand, website, or mobile operation, mood boards can help you develop a sense of style. These can be simple visual plans or complex, organized collages.
3. Image-Sharing App
There’s a lot of talk about image sharing these days, so let’s look at some of the most extraordinary ways you can put your digital creations to good use. One thing’s for sure you’ll have a lot further data to work with in the coming times. One way to do this is by starting with native app development. For illustration, you could use Kotlin for Android, Swift for iOS, and JavaScript for the database. This will enable you to make a largely functional operation in no time at all. To get the most out of this operation, you ’ll need to be more sophisticated in your approach. In particular, you must concentrate on the big picture, i.e., your users and their requirements.
4. To-do List App
You can use the to- do list app as your web development project idea as your first design. If you’re starting with a full stack web development, these apps are a great way to organize and stay on track. The stylish to-do list apps are easy to use and allow you to produce tasks and assign them to others. A to- do list can keep you from getting distracted and make it easier to flash back effects. It also allows you to produce space for other studies. Plus, these apps are mobile-friendly, so they’re great for busy people on the go. When preparing your to- do list app, you’ll need to do some database CRUD operations. You’ll also need to allow users to produce and view timetable views, library systems, and comment on tasks.
5. Invoicing System For Freelancers
A sound invoicing system for freelancers is a game-changer for freelancers in terms of keeping pace with their payment obligations. It can simplify transferring checks and help you get paid promptly. The software should also allow you to track your time and charges to keep your billable hours in check. A tab system that allows you to shoot customized checks will make your billing process more manageable. Some of these systems offer a variety of precious features, similar to automatic payment options. It also offers a free invoicing option to automate introductory invoicing requirements.
6. Video Conferencing Website or Application
Videotape conferencing application is a great web development project idea to showcase your skills. To produce a videotape conferencing app, you need to consider your target followership and the features that will be most useful to them. It would help if you also add many features that will help you optimize your real- time connection. The most pivotal point of a videotape conferencing app is the audio and videotape quality. It is crucial as it can make a huge difference in the number of people that can participate in a call. Additionally, you can add a whiteboard. Some of the more advanced features include automatic adaptations to the video and audio bitrates, which are pivotal to the quality of your calls.
7. Content Management System
Web development involves designing and developing a website with numerous factors. These include your software, customer software, and a database to store data. Content operation systems help manage content. These systems allow users to produce, edit and publish blog posts. They also offer performance monitoring and reporting. A CMS is a more complicated one than a regular messaging app. A full Stack system should be suitable to make the system you need. Whether it’s an e-commerce website or a portfolio website, you will need to learn how to develop the right way.
8. Project Management Tool
Complete mound web development systems involve erecting a website with multiple factors and a database for data storehouse. To make a full stack web development, you need a lot of knowledge of different technologies. Fortunately, several software tools will help you with this. MeisterTask is a Kanban- grounded tool that helps you sort and organize your systems. It has a free version and paid version that includes many features like workflows, custom fields, and more. Wrike is an important design operation tool. It helps you set a timeline, organize tasks, and improve performance. You can also produce interactive maps. It’s available in a free version and a paid version with unlimited users.
Conclusion
Whether you ’re looking to start a new web development project or revamp your existing one, plenty of offers are available to help you get started. We hope our information gives you an idea of which one you should go for. Get in touch with us today to know how you can get any of these projects developed by the hand of our professionals.
Get ready to learn what’s trending in software testing, how you can get ready to make the best out of these trends.
Currently, we witness enormous changes in technological advancements, specifically in terms of digitalization.
Top Software Testing Trends In 2023
Agile and DevOps
Organizations have embraced Agile as a response to the evolving conditions and DevOps as a solution. DevOps involves practices, rules, processes, and tools that help to integrate development, while reducing the time from development to the operations cycle.
DevOps has come as an extensively accepted result to reform software lifecycles right from development to delivery.
The relinquishment of both Agile and DevOps helps to develop and deliver quality software quickly, which in turn is also known as “Quality of Speed”.
This has gained interest over the recent years and continues to grow at an extensive pace.
Test Automation
The next software testing trend to note is test automation. In order to apply DevOps practices effectively, software developers cannot ignore test automation. It is a very important element in the DevOps process.
They need to find ways to replace manual testing with automated testing. As test automation is considered to be an important tailback of DevOps, retrogression testing should be automated.
And the fact that test automation is underutilized, with lower than 20% of testing being automated, there’s a lot of room to increase the relinquishment of test automation. Popular automation tools like Selenium and Katalon continue to evolve with new features to make automation much easier and more effective.
API and Services Test Automation
Segregating the client and server is the trend in Web and mobile design. API and services are reused in more than one operation.
These changes enable testing API and services independent from the operation using them. When API and services are used across customer operations and factors, testing them is more effective and effective.
The need for API and services test automation witness a steady increase. And having the right process, tool, and result for API automation tests is more critical than ever. Therefore it is crucial to learn and employ API Testing Tools for your testing systems.
Artificial Intelligence for Testing
Although applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to address the challenges in software testing isn’t new, the recent advancements in AI/ ML gives new openings to apply AI/ ML in testing.
Organizations will come up with strategies to optimize testing processes in AI/ ML. AI/ ML algorithms are developed to induce better test cases, test scripts, test data, and reports.
Smart analytics and visualization allows us to understand test content, areas of high threat,etc. We hope to see further operations of AI/ ML in addressing problems, test case prioritization, fault bracket, and assignment in the forthcoming times.
Mobile Test Automation
The trend of mobile app development continues to grow as mobile gadgets are more capable now than how they were before. To completely support DevOps, mobile test automation must be a part of DevOps toolchains.
The current application of mobile test automation as a software testing trend is veritably low due to the lack of tools. Using automated testing for mobile apps keeps increasing. This trend is driven by the need for more advanced tools for mobile test automation.
The integration between mobile device labs like Kobiton and test automation tools like Katalon may help in bringing mobile automation to the next level.
Test Environments and Data
The rapid-fire growth of the Internet of Things means further software systems are operating in multitudinous different surroundings.
This places a challenge on the testing engineers to ensure the right position of test content. Indeed, the lack of test environment and data is a top challenge when applying to test in agile projects.
We’ll see growth in cloud-based containerized test surroundings. The operation of AI/ ML to induce test data and the growth of data systems are some solutions for the lack of test data.
Integration of Tools and Activities
It’s hard to use any testing tool that isn’t integrated with the other tools for the operation lifecycle. Software teams must integrate the tools so that multi-source data can be gathered to apply AI/ ML approaches effectively.
For Example, using AI/ ML to describe where to concentrate testing on, needs not only data from the testing phase but also from the conditions, design, and implementation phases.
Along with the trends of DevOps we will see testing tools that allow integration with the other tools.
Conclusion
Watch out for these software testing trends in 2023 and keep track of all the exponential changes to know when to implement the right one for your needs.
Keeping up with these trends would give your testing team the advantage to stay ahead in the industry.
To know more about these trends and to know how to implement these the right way, you need to seek professional help.
Get in touch with our AlignMinds professionals who know the game so they can lead you through the process every step of the way in 2023.
In 2023, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation (DX) concepts are considered key technologies among organizations and businesses. AI technologies give scope to digital transformation through which machines learn from data and adapt to new situations; it allows the automation of various tasks, enhanced decision-making, and improved business outcomes.
Simply put, AI boosts DX initiatives creating overall opportunities and improvements. Artificial intelligence is a key enabler of digital transformation, which refers to integrating digital technologies into all business areas, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value to customers.
The article will explain the correlation between AI and DX and how AI helps businesses evolve through Digital Transformation. And explore the several roles of AI in Digital Transformation.
The correlation between Artificial Intelligence & Digital Transformation
AI and digital transformation are closely correlated, with AI serving as a key enabler of digital transformation.
Have the potential to significantly enhance digital transformation efforts by enabling intelligent automation, improving decision-making, and creating new insights and opportunities for businesses.
Likewise, digital transformation refers to using digital technologies to change how businesses operate and deliver customer value.
It involves the integration of various technologies, such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics, into all aspects of a business.
How Does Artificial Intelligence Help Businesses Evolve Through Digital Transformation?
AI can help businesses leverage the vast amounts of data generated by digital transformation efforts, providing insights and recommendations that enable them to make more informed decisions and drive better outcomes.
AI is critical in accelerating digital transformation efforts, empowering businesses to become more agile, responsive, and competitive in the digital age.
The Several Roles of AI In Digital Transformation:
1. Automation:
AI-based automation technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA) and intelligent process automation (IPA) can automate routine and repetitive tasks, thereby reducing errors, increasing efficiency, and improving productivity.
2. Data analysis:
AI technologies can analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns, and generate insights, which can help organizations make better decisions and improve business processes.
3. Personalization: AI can personalize customer experiences by analyzing customer data and providing personalized recommendations and services.
4. Predictive analytics: AI can predict future trends, customer behavior, and market dynamics, which can help organizations make proactive decisions and stay ahead of the competition.
5. Chatbots and virtual assistants: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can provide instant customer service and support, improving customer satisfaction and reducing costs.
Areas In Which AI Is Transforming Businesses and Driving Digital Transformation:
1. Personalized customer experiences: AI-powered algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data on customer behavior, preferences, and purchase history to deliver personalized recommendations and experiences. For example, Netflix uses AI algorithms to suggest movies and TV shows to users based on their viewing history.
2. Intelligent automation: AI technologies like machine learning and robotic process automation (RPA) can automate routine tasks and workflows, freeing employees to focus on higher-value activities. For example, AI-powered chatbots can handle routine customer support inquiries, while RPA can automate invoice processing and other back-office tasks.
3. Predictive analytics: AI-powered predictive analytics can help businesses forecast future trends and optimize their operations accordingly. For example, a retailer can use AI algorithms to analyze sales data and forecast which products will sell well during certain times of the year.
4. Image and video analysis: AI-powered image and video analysis can help businesses extract insights from visual data. For example, a manufacturer can use computer vision algorithms to analyze video footage of its production line to identify areas for improvement and increase efficiency.
5. Cybersecurity:
AI-powered cybersecurity tools can help businesses detect and respond to cyber threats in real time. For example, AI algorithms can analyze network traffic to identify and block malicious activity
AI technologies will play an increasingly important role in helping businesses become more agile, responsive, and competitive in the digital age. If you want to experience this digital transformation through artificial intelligent technologies in your organization, book a consultation with Alignminds experts!
Want To Experience AI And Digitally Transform Your Business? Consult An Expert!
Alignminds is a digital transformation company that helps businesses leverage technology to drive growth and innovation.
Alignminds offers various services and solutions to help businesses navigate the complex digital transformation process. This includes developing custom software applications, implementing cloud-based solutions, and integrating emerging technologies like AI and IoT into business operations.
Alignminds also provides consulting services to help businesses assess their digital transformation needs and develop a roadmap for success. Our team of experts can help businesses identify opportunities for process optimization, automation, and innovation and guide how to implement digital solutions that drive value.
Overall, Alignminds is a valuable partner for businesses looking to transform their operations and stay competitive in the digital age. Their expertise in technology and digital transformation can help businesses identify and capitalize on opportunities for growth and innovation.
So, what are you waiting for? Click here to call us now!
2023 is a time to look at what the future holds for Kubernetes. This container orchestration system has quickly become the de facto standard for managing containerized applications.
Kubernetes.has been evolving rapidly, and 2023 promises to bring many exciting new features, improvements, and challenges. This article will explore some of the most compelling Kubernetes predictions for 2023 and what they mean for businesses and IT leaders worldwide.
Kubernetes has been a game-changer in the world of containerization and cloud computing. As the adoption of Kubernetes continues to rise, IT leaders must stay updated with the latest trends and predictions to make informed decisions for their organizations.
In this article, we will learn what is next for container orchestration and explore seven real predictions for Kubernetes in 2023 that will help IT leaders stay ahead of the curve.
Before that, let us understand more about Kubernetes & the role of Kubernetes in 2023.
Understanding Kubernetes:
Kubernetes is an open-source platform built by Google to automate, deploy, scale, and manage containerized applications. Now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), it has become the de facto standard for container orchestration, replacing other solutions like Docker Swarm and Mesos.
It provides powerful features for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications, including self-healing, horizontal scaling, load balancing, and automated rollouts and rollbacks.
With Kubernetes, developers and IT operations teams can easily manage containerized applications at scale, making it a popular choice for modern cloud-native applications.
The Role of Kubernetes in 2023:
Kubernetes operators are becoming increasingly important in managing complex applications in Kubernetes clusters. Operators are software extensions that automate applications and infrastructure management within Kubernetes clusters.
In 2023, the role of Kubernetes operators will become more critical as the complexity of applications running on Kubernetes clusters increases. Kubernetes operators will enable IT leaders to manage complex applications and infrastructure more efficiently and effectively.
The 7 Real Predictions About Kubernetes for Futuristic IT Leaders
1. Kubernetes Will Continue to Dominate the Container Orchestration Landscape
One thing is clear: Kubernetes is not going anywhere! Despite the emergence of new container orchestration solutions, Kubernetes has cemented its place as the go-to platform for managing containerized workloads. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 and beyond as more organizations adopt cloud-native architectures and seek to streamline their development and deployment processes.
2. Kubernetes Will Become More User-Friendly
One of the biggest criticisms of Kubernetes has been its steep learning curve. However, efforts are underway to make Kubernetes more accessible to developers and operators of all skill levels. In 2023, we expect to see further improvements in this area, with new tools and interfaces that make it easier to manage Kubernetes clusters, troubleshoot issues, and automate everyday tasks.
3. Kubernetes Will Expand Its Role Beyond Container Orchestration
Kubernetes was initially designed as a container orchestration platform, but its capabilities have expanded significantly in recent years. In 2023, we expect to see Kubernetes continue to evolve as a platform for managing not just containers but also other types of workloads, such as serverless functions and virtual machines. This will enable organizations to run a broader range of applications on Kubernetes and enjoy the benefits of a unified management platform.
4. Kubernetes Will Improve Support for Stateful Applications
Kubernetes has historically struggled in managing stateful applications, such as databases, that require persistent storage. However, recent improvements in Kubernetes’ StatefulSet feature have made it easier to deploy and manage stateful applications on Kubernetes. In 2023, we expect to see further enhancements in this area, including better data backup and recovery support and tighter integration with cloud storage solutions.
5. Kubernetes Will Become Even More Secure
As Kubernetes adoption has grown, so has the need for robust security measures to protect containerized applications and data. In 2023, we expect to see Kubernetes continue to enhance its security features, with improvements in areas such as identity and access management, network security, and container isolation. This will give organizations greater confidence in running mission-critical workloads on Kubernetes.
6. Kubernetes Will Embrace Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Environments
With many organizations now using multiple cloud providers and hybrid cloud architectures, Kubernetes is well-positioned to provide a unified management layer across these environments. In 2023, we expect to see Kubernetes continue embracing multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud scenarios with new features and integrations that make managing applications across different environments easier.
7. Kubernetes Will Drive Further Collaboration and Innovation in the Container Ecosystem
Finally, one of the most exciting predictions for Kubernetes in 2023 is that it will continue to foster collaboration and innovation in the broader container ecosystem. Kubernetes has become a key driver of innovation in the container space. We expect this trend to continue in the coming years with new tools, frameworks, and applications built on Kubernetes.
Conclusion:
Kubernetes is set to have another exciting year in 2023, with many new features, improvements, and challenges on the horizon. As Kubernetes continues to mature and expand its capabilities, it will evolve and become more critical in cloud-native computing.
IT leaders must stay updated with the latest trends and predictions to make informed decisions for their organizations.
By understanding these seven real predictions for Kubernetes in 2023, IT leaders can stay ahead of the curve and ensure the success of their organizations. They may also choose to connect with the IT experts in the industry, such as Alignminds.
Book A Free Consultation:
Alignminds helps companies with cloud computing solutions and IT Infrastructure and embrace newer technologies like Kubernetes.
To stay competitive, IT leaders must offer the best Kubernetes experience, which means providing robust, scalable, and reliable Kubernetes services that can meet the demands of even the most complex applications.
Ask Alignminds experts about Kubernetes to help achieve your goals faster and deliver more scalable, reliable, and resilient applications. Whether you are a small startup or a large enterprise, Kubernetes can help you build a better cloud platform that meets your customers’ needs.
So, what are you waiting for? Book a consultation now! Contact Alignminds now!
Product support services are labor- oriented hardware and software services, which can be performed by the manufacturer of the product or parties other than the seller that created the product. These services can be offered by several types of merchandisers, generally including hardware OEMs like Dell, HP, EMC or IBM; and software publishers, like Microsoft, Oracle or SAP.
Product management, maintenance and support services are also delivered by other independent service providers and third- party support providers. An independent maintenance service provider can and offers a wide range of support services for hardware and software products. And they may have a collaboration with the product manufacturer but not as a primary means to its service business.
A third- party support provider primarily delivers break/ fix specialized support for hardware and/ or software products. And it is now generally aligned with the product manufacturer but may have a relationship in certain specific exceptional cases.
Characteristics of Product Management and Support Services
Most companies in software production and service business offer their clients a combination of the core product and a variety of other miscellaneous services. These services serve as the distinguishing factor that distinguishes successful firms from mediocre ones. Performing well in service delivery requires ultramodern marketers to understand.
What response consumers anticipate from the business is important. And grouping of these actions into core and support service rudiments is also crucial. Estimate how well the association is performing on each one. Redesign present service packages in order to offer clients in each target market. A product offering and delivery system that meets their expectations for performance and value within the constraints of a price is a priority that will allow the service provider to have a permissible profit.
What is product management, maintenance and support service?
Product management, maintenance and support service is an organizational lifecycle function within a company dealing with the planning, predicting, and production, or marketing of a product or several products at all stages of the product life cycle.
In the same way, a product lifecycle management or PLM integrates people, data, processes and business systems. It provides product information for companies and their extended force chain enterprise.
It can not be stated easily as some of the data is distorted, still software maintenance and support of systems was first addressed by Meir M. Lehman in 1969 In an expansive study over a period of two decades, it led to the development of Lehman’s Laws. Some of the significant findings of his exploration conclude that maintenance is really evolutionary development and that maintenance decisions are backed by understanding what happens to systems and software in the long run.
Role of Product Management and Maintenance
Corrective Maintenance:
This type of maintenance involves identifying and correcting faultsin different equipment and software, which are then communicated to the maintenance department by the different users of the same equipment.
Preventive Maintenance:
The goal of this maintenance is to keep a stable position of a certain service on equipment, programming the interventions of their vulnerabilities in the most convenient time. It’s used to be a methodical character, that is, the equipment is audited indeed if it has not given any symptoms of having a problem.
Predictive Maintenance:
Thanks to the power of Big Data, this type aims to constantly know and report the status and functional capacity of the installations by knowing the values of certain variables, which represent similar state and functional capability. For the application of this maintenance , the physical variables and software variables and statistics must be considered.
Zero Hours Maintenance
This is the set of tasks whose thing is to review the outfit at regular slated intervals before any failure, either when the responsibility of the maintenance has gone down largely so it’s perilous to make a decision of product capacity. This review is grounded on leaving the structure to zero hours of operation, exactly as if the outfit were new. These reviews will replace or repair all particulars subject to wear and tear. The end is to ensure a good working time fixed in advance.
Periodic Maintenance
This is the utmost introductory conservation of hardware and software. It consists of a series of tasks like data collections, visual examinations, bug checking, error checking, A/ B Testing Etc. for which no expansive training is necessary, but maybe only a brief training.
Conclusion
In order to understand which particular types of maintenance to implement for your organization, you must know which types of product maintenance and support services that you are using at present versus the maintenance goals you want to achieve. With that, you also should consider your available budget and the various resources.
One of the processes in data science is data visualization, which asserts that after data has been gathered, reused, and modeled, it must be represented in order to draw conclusions. Data visualization is part of the larger field of data presentation architecture (DPA), which strives to find, locate, modify, format, and transmit data in a clear, concise, and efficient manner.
What is Data Visualization?
It is the practice of placing information into a visual framework, such as a map or graph, to make data easier for the human brain to understand and draw conclusions from. The main thing of data visualization is to make it easier to see patterns, trends, and outliers in large data sets. Statistics plates, information visualization, and information tiers are all expressions that are occasionally used interchangeably.
The capability to perceive data is pivotal for virtually every career. Preceptors may use it to show test results for scholars, and computer scientists can use it to enhance artificial intelligence( AI), and directors can use it to communicate with stakeholders. It’s pivotal to big data systems as well. Businesses needed a way to fluently acquire an overview of their data as they gathered enormous amounts of data in the early times of the big data trend.
For similar reasons, visualization is essential to advanced analytics. It becomes crucial to see the outputs when a data scientist is writing advanced predictive analytics or machine learning (ML) algorithms in order to track outcomes and make sure that models are operating as planned.
Why is data visualization important?
Using visual data, data visualization offers a rapid and efficient approach to convey information to all audiences. Also, the practice can help businesses in determining the variables that impact consumer behavior, relating areas that bear enhancement or fresh attention, making data more memorable for stakeholders, figuring out the times and locales to vend particular products, and deals.
Data visualization also offers the following advantages:
An increased perception of the consecutive steps involved must be figured out to improve the organization.
An improved ability to hold an audience’s interest with information they can understand.
An easy distribution of information compiled to increase the opportunity to share insights with the team.
Visualization of data is the capacity to take in information quickly, improve insights, and make decisions more quickly.
Data Visualization and Big Data
The increased fashionability of big data and data analysis systems have made visualization more important than ever. Companies are decreasingly using machine literacy to gather massive quantities of data that can be delicate and slow to sort through, comprehend and explain. Data visualization tools offer a means to speed this up and present information to business possessors and stakeholders in ways they can understand.
Big data visualization frequently goes beyond the typical ways used in normal visualization, similar as pie maps, histograms and commercial graphs. It rather uses more complex representations, similar to heat charts and fever maps.
Big data visualization requires important computer systems to collect raw data, process it and turn it into graphical representations that humans can use to draw conclusions.
Big data visualization requires important computer systems to collect raw data, process it and turn it into graphical representations that humans can use to draw conclusions. While big data visualization can be salutary, it can pose several disadvantages to associations.
They are as follows:
To utilize big data visualization tools to their full potential, a visualization specialist has to work on it. This specialist must be suitable to identify the data sets and visualization styles to guarantee associations are optimizing the use of their data.
Big data visualization systems frequently bear involvement from IT, as well as operation, since the visualization of big data requires important computer tackle mechanisms, and effective storehouse systems.
The operability of big data visualization works only as accurate as the information being projected. Thus, it’s essential to have people and processes in place to govern and control the quality of commercial data, metadata and data sources. Big data visualization can only yield perceptivity that is as accurate as the data being displayed.
As a result, it is crucial to have systems in place for managing and regulating the quality of corporate data, metadata, and data sources.
Data visualization examples
The most popular visualization system was turning data into a table, bar graph, or pie map using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Although traditional visualization approaches are still constantly employed, more sophisticated types are now also available, similar as the following
Infographics
Bullet lists
Fever map
A heat map
Charts of time series
Conclusion
Data visualization tools are increasingly being used as front ends for more complex big data environments as data visualization companies expand the capability of these tools. Data engineers and scientists can use data visualization tools to maintain track of data sources and do simple exploratory analysis on data sets before or after more in-depth advanced analysis.
The world of the internet is constantly evolving, and the latest stage in its development is Web 3.0. Web 3.0 is the next stage in the evolution of the internet, one that promises to be more decentralized, secure, and user-driven than ever before.
It is built on the foundation of blockchain technology, which enables secure, decentralized transactions without a central authority.
This new web iteration promises unprecedented decentralization, security, and user control.
In this article, we will explore some of the new innovations on Web 3.0 that everyone should know.
But before that, let us discover everything about Web 3.0!
Understand what Web 3.0 is.
Explore its key features
Learn the pros and cons of Web 3.0
Explore its key features
Learn the pros and cons of Web 3.0
What is Web 3.0?
Web 3.0 refers to the next generation of the World Wide Web, characterized using advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Semantic Web, and the decentralization of the web through blockchain technology.
The goal of Web 3.0 is to create a more intelligent, connected, and interoperable web where users have more control over their data and the way it’s used. It aims to enhance the overall user experience and make the web more accessible, secure, and equitable.
The 7 Key Features of Web 3.0:
Artificial Intelligence: The use of AI and machine learning to provide users with more personalized and intelligent experiences.
Semantic Web: The creation of a more connected and interconnected web where machines and humans can link and understand data.
Decentralization: The use of blockchain technology creates a decentralized web where data and applications are stored on a distributed network of computers instead of on centralized servers.
Interoperability: Different systems and applications can work together seamlessly, regardless of platform or technology.
User-Centric: A focus on empowering users by giving them more control over their data and its use.
Enhanced Security: Web 3.0 offers security measures to protect users’ data. It also tries to prevent malicious activities on the web.
Improved Accessibility: Making the web more accessible, regardless of physical ability or location.
The Pros & Cons of Web 3.0:
Pros of Web 3.0:
Decentralization: The use of blockchain technology makes the web more secure and resilient, as data and applications are stored on a distributed network of computers.
User-Centric: Web 3.0 lets users control their personal data and gives them more autonomy over how it’s used.
Improved Security: Using advanced technologies such as AI and blockchain helps prevent malicious activities on the web and protect users’ personal information.
Interoperability: Web 3.0 aims to create a more interconnected and interoperable web where different systems and applications can work together seamlessly.
Enhanced User Experience: AI and semantic technologies in Web 3.0 promises to create a more intelligent and personalized web experience for users.
Cons of Web 3.0:
Complexity: The advanced technologies used in Web 3.0 can be complex and difficult for average users to understand and use.
Adoption: Web 3.0 is still in its early stages, and widespread adoption may take time, as it requires significant investments in technology and infrastructure.
Regulation: The decentralized nature of Web 3.0 may create challenges for governments and regulators, who are used to centralized systems and may need help to maintain control over the web.
Implementation Costs: Web 3.0 technologies can be costly and require significant investment, especially for smaller companies.
Interoperability Challenges: While interoperability is a crucial goal of Web 3.0, it may be challenging to achieve in practice, as different systems and technologies may have incompatible standards and protocols.
Blockchain technology is the backbone of Web 3.0, enabling secure, decentralized transactions without a central authority. In a blockchain, transactions are verified by a network of nodes, making it nearly impossible for any one party to manipulate the data. This makes blockchain ideal for use in decentralized applications, where users can interact with each other without the need for a mediator.
Decentralized applications, or dApps, run on a blockchain and allow users to interact with each other directly without the need for a central authority. They’re a crucial part of Web 3.0 and offer a more secure, user-driven alternative to traditional centralized apps.
Decentralized finance, or DeFi, is another critical innovation of Web 3.0. It’s a new financial system built on blockchain technology, and it offers users a more secure, transparent, and user-driven alternative to traditional finance. With DeFi, users can manage their assets, trade cryptocurrencies, and take out loans without needing a central authority.
Web 3.0 is shaping the future of the internet, offering users a more secure, user-driven, and decentralized experience. With innovations like blockchain technology, dApps, and DeFi, the web is becoming more accessible and inclusive for everyone, regardless of location, financial status, or technical expertise.
FAQs About Web 3.0
Q: What is Web 3.0?
A: Web 3.0 is the next stage in the evolution of the internet, characterized by greater decentralization, security, and user control. It is built on the foundation of blockchain technology and decentralized applications (dApps).
Q: What is blockchain technology?
A: Blockchain technology is a secure, decentralized system that enables transactions without a central authority. It uses a network of nodes to verify transactions, making it nearly impossible for any party to manipulate the data.
Q: What are decentralized applications (dApps)?
A: Decentralized applications, or dApps, run on a blockchain and allow users to interact with each other directly without the need for a central authority.
Q: What is decentralized finance (DeFi)?
A: Decentralized finance, or DeFi, is a new financial system built on blockchain technology. It offers users a more secure, transparent, and user-driven alternative to traditional finance.
Q: How is Web 3.0 shaping the future of the internet?
A: Web 3.0 is making the internet more secure, user-driven, and decentralized, offering greater accessibility and inclusivity for everyone. With innovations like blockchain technology, dApps, and DeFi, the web is becoming a more equitable and empowering space for everyone.
Conclusion
The new innovations on Web 3.0 are changing how we interact with the internet, offering greater security, decentralization, and user control. Whether you are interested in blockchain technology, decentralized applications, or decentralized finance, it is essential to stay informed about the latest developments in Web 3.0. As the internet continues to evolve, Web 3.0 will play a significant role in shaping its future.
In 2023 and going ahead, digital transformation is critical and has become increasingly important for businesses. Digital transformation not only makes a business competitive but also ensures that establishments can meet the changing demands of consumers.
By embracing digital transformation, businesses can expand operative efficiency, intensify agility, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation.
Ultimately, digital transformation can help businesses stay ahead of the curve and remain relevant in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
In this article, let we will analyze and understand the following:
What is Digital Transformation? Why do businesses in this day and age need Digital Transformation?
What are the benefits of Digital Transformation?
What are the top digital transformation trends for businesses in 2023?
And lastly, why should your businesses adapt to this wave of Digital Transformation? Why is it so important?
What is Digital Transformation?
Digital transformation is integrating digital technology into all business areas, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value to customers.
It involves adopting and implementing new digital technologies and business models for overall growth!
The goal of digital transformation is to leverage technology to create new opportunities for development and competitiveness and to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Why do Businesses in This Day and Age Need Digital Transformation?
To stay competitive: In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses that do not embrace digital transformation risk falling behind their competitors. The need for digital technologies allows businesses to stay ahead of the curve and maintain their competitiveness.
Improve operational efficiency: Digital transformation can automate manual processes and streamline workflows, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs.
Enhance customer experiences: Adapting to digital technologies allows businesses to create more personalized and engaging customer experiences that further boost customer loyalty and satisfaction.
Drive innovation: Digital transformation enables businesses to leverage new technologies and business models to drive innovation, produce new products and services, and explore new markets.
Cater to market demands: Digital transformation can help businesses quickly respond to changes in the market, stay ahead of customer needs, take advantage of new opportunities, and cater to the changing demands of the market.
Manage data: As the volume of data generated by businesses continues to grow, digital transformation can help enterprises effectively manage and use their data, leading to better decision-making and improved outcomes.
Attract and retain talent: In a competitive job market, businesses that embrace digital transformation can attract and retain top talent by offering a modern and innovative work environment.
The Four Benefits of Digital Transformation:
Increased agility: Digital transformation enables businesses to adapt to market changes quickly, respond to customer needs, and take advantage of new opportunities.
More significant insights and data-driven decision-making: Digital transformation can give businesses access to vast amounts of data and advanced analytics tools, allowing them to make informed, data-driven decisions.
New revenue streams: By leveraging digital technologies and business models, businesses can create new products and services, and explore new markets, leading to increased revenue growth.
Improved collaboration and teamwork: Digital transformation can facilitate better collaboration and communication within and between teams, leading to more effective decision-making and problem-solving.
Seven Top Digital Transformation Trends That Businesses Must Follow In 2023:
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI and ML will continue to play a significant role in automating tasks, improving operational efficiency, driving innovation, and creating new business models.
Internet of Things (IoT): IoT will become increasingly important as businesses look to gather and analyze data from connected devices to gain insights and make data-driven decisions.
Cloud Computing: Cloud technology will continue to play a central role in digital transformation, enabling businesses to access computing resources on-demand and reduce their IT infrastructure costs.
Cybersecurity: As businesses increasingly rely on digital technologies, cybersecurity will become a top priority, with a focus on protecting sensitive data and avoiding cyber-attacks.
5G Networks: 5G networks will offer businesses increased speed and capacity, allowing for faster and more reliable communication and data transfer and enabling new use cases such as autonomous vehicles and augmented reality.
Edge Computing: Edge computing will become increasingly important as the volume of data generated by IoT devices continues to grow, allowing for real-time processing and analysis of data at the network’s edge.
Remote Work: The trend towards remote work will continue, with businesses investing in digital tools and infrastructure to support remote teams and ensure seamless collaboration and communication.
So why exactly should your businesses adapt to this wave of Digital Transformation in 2023, and why is it so important?
Digital transformation is essential for businesses that want to find relevance and be competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Companies should adapt to the wave of digital transformation because it is the need of the hour!
Digital transformation is important as it allows businesses to access newer opportunities, enable better decision-making, attract customers, and retain talent.
In conclusion, digital transformation is not just a trend but a necessary evolution for businesses that want to stay competitive and relevant in today’s digital world. As it prepares businesses for the future, ensuring their continued success and significance in a rapidly developing digital landscape.
Would you like to bring Digital Transformation to your business?
It is simple! Just book a free consultation with the digital transformation experts at
Alignminds
to make your business the next success story!
Alignminds helps you to stay up-to-date with the ever-changing world! We help you to find new ways to make a difference by adapting emerging technologies. For more information, visit our website today
As per research, the global serverless computing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.2% between 2023 and 2028. Serverless computing has been gaining a lot of importance among developers. Want to know why? In this article, we shall be covering all the interesting facts revolving around serverless computing. Stay with us and read on!
Serverless computing
Serverless computing, also known as serverless architecture, is an execution method of cloud computing. The term ‘serverless’ doesn’t mean that there’s no server used. It means that developers can build and run code without managing servers. Serverless architecture tends to offer backend services on an as-used basis. For instance, if you’re a business that gets backend services from a serverless vendor, you are charged based on your computation. You are not required to pay for a fixed amount of bandwidth or a number of servers. With serverless cloud computing, developers don’t need to pay for idle cloud infrastructure.
All the leading cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud provide you with a serverless platform.
How does serverless architecture work?
Managing servers is a complex process requiring business teams to look after hardware, maintain security updates, and create backups. But with serverless computing, developers can save themselves from these responsibilities and invest all their efforts in writing the application code.
Now, serverless computing functions on an event-driven basis. This means a function is executed as soon as an event occurs. In a nutshell, a developer only pays when the function is utilized. Serverless architecture works as per the Function-as-a-service(FaaS) model. It enables developers to execute code without the need for infrastructure instances.
Components of serverless computing
Given below are some of the basic components of serverless computing:
FaaS
It is the primary building block of serverless computing which executes the business logic.
API GATEWAY
It tends to deploy and maintain APIs. An API gateway offers an entry-point to clients to send requests to a service in order to retrieve data.
Backend-as-a-service (BaaS)
It is a cloud-based distributed NoSQL database. Some of the key features of BaaS include user administration, cloud storage, and other essential backend services. BaaS removes the need for administrative overhead.
It is a cloud-based distributed NoSQL database. Some of the key features of BaaS include user administration, cloud storage, and other essential backend services. BaaS removes the need for administrative overhead.
Benefits of serverless computing
Serverless computing can provide you with numerous advantages over traditional cloud-based infrastructure. Here are four reasons you should move to a serverless stack:
Quick deployments
With a serverless infrastructure, developers don’t need to upload code to servers or perform backend configuration to release their applications. All code is updated at once or one function at a time. This way, the application is quickly fixed or updated.
Enhanced productivity
Gone are the times when developers had to spend countless hours managing infrastructure. With serverless computing, developers can only focus on writing code and optimizing their front-end application functionality. They can work better on maximizing business logic.
Simplified DevOps cycles
Another benefit of leveraging serverless computing is that it helps developers save time in defining the infrastructure that is needed to test and deploy code builds. This way, DevOps cycles are more streamlined.
Multi-language development
With serverless computing, developers can code in any framework such as Java, Python, JavaScript, and more.
Reduced costs
Serverless computing works on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis. This means that developers only need to pay for what they use. The code will only run when backend functions are needed and will scale automatically..
Popular use cases serverless computing
Microservices
Serverless computing supports microservices architecture. Thanks to its cost effective pricing model and automatic scaling, serverless architecture has become a popular choice for building microservices.
Data processing
Serverless computing works well with structured audio, image, video, and text data. It also functions well with PDF processing and video transcoding.
API backends
With the help of a serverless platform, a function can be changed into a HTTP endpoint. An API gateway provides you with enhanced security, OAuth support, and more.
Mobile and web applications
A serverless function takes a request from the front end, retrieves all informational data, and then hands it back to the front end of the application or site.
The serverless era is here!
We hope our article helped you gain a fair understanding of serverless computing. Serverless computing is everything that a developer needs. There is no denying that serverless has created a buzz in the software architecture world. Not only is it cost-effective but also facilitates innovation. So, wait no more! Switch to serverless computing and take the next step toward business transformation.
We would love to see you move towards success. Let us know how we may support you. Contact without delay.
Research suggests that the global DevOps market is expected to reach USD 51.18 billion by 2030 growing at a CAGR of 24.7%. DevOps has been gaining a lot of importance among new-age enterprises and tech leaders. In this blog, we shall cover some of the top DevOps trends in 2023. But first, let’s understand what exactly DevOps means. Read on.
What is DevOps?
DevOps is defined as a set of tools, practices, and cultural philosophy that tend to automate and integrate different software development practices. The development and operations teams are not siloed under a DevOps model. It helps you innovate better and optimize business productivity.
Gartner defines DevOps in the following way:
“DevOps represents a change in the IT culture, focusing on rapid IT service delivery through the adoption of agile, lean practices in the context of a system oriented approach.”
Latest trends in DevOps
Serverless computing
It is certain that the DevOps market will witness a rise in the usage of serverless computing. Now, serverless architecture is the method of offering backend services on an as-used basis. It enables flexible use of resources that can be scaled in real-time.
Some of the leading cloud service providers including Google, Microsoft , and others offer serverless architecture to users
With serverless computing, businesses can streamline all DevOps operations – right from software development to deployment. Simply put, serverless computing brings Dev and Ops teams together.
DevSecOps
Research suggests that the DevSecOps market is predicted to reach USD 23.16 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 31.50%.
DevSecOps is the short form for development, security, and operations. It tends to automate security operations at every phase of the software development cycle. It prevents the DevOps workflow from slowing down by automating security gates. In a nutshell, DevSecOps is all about in-built security. Leveraging DevSecOps in DevOps enables developers to protect their code from cyber attacks. With DevSecOps tools, developers can easily identify security vulnerabilities and code issues right in the CI/CD pipeline.
GitOps
GitOps is a code-based infrastructure and is a combination of two powerful technologies – Git and Kubernetes. It helps you solve challenges like server outages, failed deployments, and much more.
Simply put, GitOps is a software development framework. It tends to manage IT infrastructure by utilising Git as a single source of truth. With GitOps, deployments happen within the source code.
One of the best benefits of leveraging GitOps is that it facilitates faster and reliable collaboration between developers and various other stakeholders.
Kubernetes
Kubernetes is also known as K8s. It is an open source system which automates the deployment and management of containerised applications. One of the striking benefits of Kubernetes is that it offers you the platform to schedule and run containers on clusters of physical/virtual machines. It enables you to develop your entire infrastructure as code.
With Kubernetes’ rolling updates and automated rollback features, developers can easily deploy updates to their cloud-based apps. Thanks to its role-based access controls, Kubernetes facilitates better collaboration.
Microservices architecture
Microservices architecture has become one of the most emerging trends in DevOps. It helps businesses break down applications into smaller services. When you leverage microservices along with DevOps capabilities, you can easily replace the traditional monolithic architecture.
Microservices can fix a bug issue without affecting the SDLC of other services. When a microservice faces an error, it never affects the entire application. This is because software development is divided into independent teams. Leveraging DevOps and microservices architecture together can help make your business more productive and agile.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
AI and ML are fast-evolving concepts in the DevOps industry. New age machine learning systems can streamline data generated from various sources and organize it effectively. AI enables smarter software testing.
Now, DevOps involves various testing types and all of them produce huge amounts of data. With AI, you can easily identify data patterns and coding methods that led to the error. AI helps developers make intelligent decisions based on real-time data.
Wrapping Up
We hope our article helped you understand the latest trends in the DevOps market. However, one thing that you need to understand is that DevOps transformation is a never ending process. Every trend will help enhance your business ability to develop, launch, and handle high-quality software. So, delay no more! Implement the latest trends available in the DevOps market and take your step towards improved business agility.
At AlignMinds, we can assist you in effective DevOps adoption. We evaluate your infrastructure and design possible mitigation strategies. We empower developers with automation and enable them to synchronize their work.
If AI is what you are planning to transition to in 2023, then you need to see these AI trends that will revolutionize technology to a whole another level.
Artificial Intelligence is going to be a big deal this year. AI trends are a commodity to look forward to for Artificial Intelligence oriented functionality in 2023. And let us review the top AI trends for 2023.
These are the AI trends that will review technology in the time 2023.
Rule of Predictive Analytics
With operations in multitudinous academic sectors, advancements in Predictive Analytics have become one of the most fascinating areas of artificial intelligence. It predicts the future based on the former data available, statistical algorithms, and machine literacy. The thing is to directly anticipate the future using data from history. Predictive analysis didn’t simply appear overnight; rather, it has been around for quite a number of years before getting popular recently.
Growing Hyper Automation
The term Hyper Automation is used to describe the extension of conventional business process robotization beyond the bounds of specific procedures. Combining artificial intelligence( AI) tools with robotic processes gives rise to the dynamic discovery of business processes, and the construction of bots to automate them ( RPA). Hyper Automation will become more significant in the forthcoming times since it’ll be necessary for any business that wants to keep up with the advancement of digital technology, according to Gartner.
AI and Cybersecurity
The coming natural development in automated defenses against cyber pitfalls is the growing operational need of AI in security operations. Beyond the capabilities of its precursor, robotization, artificial intelligence ( AI) is used in cybersecurity to perform routine data storehouse and protection conditioning. Still, cybersecurity artificial intelligence goes beyond this and supports more delicate jobs. One use is the discovery of ongoing assaults or other suspicious trends using advanced analytics. Still, not all of the news is good. Cybercriminals will be using AI to their advantage, and organizations will be engaged in a no way – ending game of cat and mouse with them. Thus, enterprises who are concerned about staying in business must begin integrating AI into their cybersecurity as soon as possible.
Stoked Process and AI
The role of AI and data innovation in invention and robotization will increase in 2023. Data ecosystems are suitable to gauge, drop waste, and give timely data to a variety of inputs. But laying the foundation for change and fostering invention is pivotal. With the use of AI, software development processes can be optimized, and further advantages include lesser collaboration and a larger body of knowledge. We need to foster a data- driven culture and go past the experimental stages in order to change to a sustainable delivery model. This will really be a significant advancement in AI.
The Rising of AIOps
Over the years, IT systems have become more sophisticated. So merchandisers will seek results that offer visibility across multitudinous monitoring disciplines, including operation, structure, and networking, according to a new Forrester study. IT operations and other brigades can ameliorate their most pivotal procedures, judgements, and conduct with the use of AIOps results and better data analysis of the enormous volumes of incoming information. To encourage cross-team collaboration, Forrester advised IT leaders to look for AIOps merchandisers who integrated the IT operations toolchain, handed end- to- end digital inputs, and identified data.
Machine Literacy and robotization ( AutoML)
The automatic revision of neural net topologies and better tools for data labeling are two promising areas of automated machine literacy. When the selection and enhancement of a neural network model are automated, the cost and time to vend for new results for artificial intelligence ( AI) will be reduced. According to Gartner, perfecting the PlatformOps, MLOps, and DataOps processes will be crucial to operationalizing these models in the future. These sophisticated features are pertained to as XOps by Gartner as a whole.
Expansion of Natural Language Processing
NLP is constantly expanding as a result of the need for computers to comprehend mortal languages more. Startups give NLP- grounded systems that can identify words, expressions, and speech parts. They’re employed by businesses to enhance consumer commerce and carry out expansive exploration.
For example, NLP- grounded smart assistants are being used by businesses in the HR, trip, and consumer goods sectors to speed up response times and offer information related to their products. NLP also makes it possible for machines to speak to people in their own languages. In turn, this scales other language – related jobs into numerous languages, such as digital phone calls, and text analytics.
Prefacing of Virtual Agents
Virtual agents, also pertaining to as virtual assistants, automate routine chores so that staff members can concentrate on further pivotal jobs. Voice assistants with AI capabilities take over client and implicit client dispatches, enhance product discovery, and give product suggestions. Accordingly, they find use in a variety of functions, including retail and food assistance. They also help HR departments with onboarding, analyzing resumes, and opting the most good aspirants for the job. As a result, startups develop clever virtual assistants to automate relations with guests and cut down on time spent on executive conditioning.
Quantum Artificial Intelligence
It’s pivotal to align vast quantities of information where it is a world of quick changes and judgements. The advancement of delicate task optimization results in the extent at which AI enhances marketable operations. High- performance AI is made possible by the immense processing capacity handled by large computers. High- speed data processing that outperforms the limitations of conventional computers is made possible by advances in AI. To broaden the use of AI across diligence, startups produce slice- edge amount algorithms and smart computers. The major demands for AI are in finance, industry, and life sciences.
Edge Artificial Intelligence
Edge computing brings computations closer to data sources, reducing latency, bandwidth, and energy usage. Developers and enterprises can dramatically lower the infrastructure requirements for real-time data processing by using AI at the edge. In order to avoid system failure, smart cities, factories, and automobiles for autonomous driving systems, companies integrate this technology. Edge AI gives businesses
additional information to make wiser decisions in conjunction with other technologies, such as 5G and high-performance computing (HPC).
Wrapping Up
We have listed out the most popular AI trends that are set to rule the AI ecosystem this year. Which one do you think would be the one that is suitable for your business objectives?
There have been different software development methodologies in practice ever since developers started formalizing software development lifecycle to improve quality, efficiency and delivery time.
In a typical waterfall pipeline (the traditional software development model), the development lifecycle span across 6 stages.
Requirement analysis
Feasibility study
Product design
Software development/coding
Testing
Deployment
Even though the model added much-needed “professionalism” into the software development lifecycle, it was far from perfect due to a lack of agility and delay in deployment.
Since testing is performed during the final stages of the development lifecycle, any findings of errors, compatibility issues, vulnerability etc., resulted in a delay in delivery time as the code had to be sent back to the developers for correction.
Another drawback of the traditional model was that it caused wastage of resources. For example, consider that there is a flaw in the product architecture. Product architecture is decided in the early stages of the software development lifecycle. If the fault is identified in the earlier stage itself, the resources and time spent on designing and coding a product that is faulty from the beginning can be avoided.
Due to such flows in the waterfall model, the project heads were forced to find alternative strategies.
What is a shift left approach?
The shift-left approach aims to overcome the drawbacks of the waterfall model.
It advocates that testing should not be assigned to the last stages of the software development lifecycle; instead, it must be moved to the initial stages.
In other words, the shift left approach is nothing but a software development methodology in which testing is performed earlier in the lifecycle. The term “shift left” is used because testing is moved from the right side of the project timeline to the left side (Please refer to the image of the waterfall model).
Why shift left?
The Shift left approach tries to overcome the drawbacks of late testing.
It aims to identify faults in the requirement analysis, program architecture, design, and coding in the earlier stages itself so that wastages of resources and time can be avoided.
The model recognizes and promotes the significance of timely testing.
The model gives importance to the effective allocation of resources.
It advocates that enough resources should be allocated for testing.
The complexity involved in debugging is reduced. (Since quality and performance are checked in every stage of the development lifecycle, testing becomes a linear process rather than a one-time, resource-intensive task. Since every major change and integration are thoroughly scrutinized, it is easier to identify the elements that have an impact on quality, performance and compatibility).
Reduced code coverage and better encapsulation.
Projects are executed and products are released in a timely manner as there are fewer chances for any major reworks.
The quality of the product is increased due to the implementation of better approaches rather than easy solutions.
Due to the efficient use of time and resources, the overall cost of the project is reduced. Also, there are fewer chances for additional costs caused by reworks and late changes in resource allocation.
Since the product is released within the expected time, there are fewer chances for “missed opportunities”.
Since chances for a delay in the product release is very less, business lifecycle (Product planning, product development, product marketing and sales) and business strategies are not affected.
Shift left strategy
DevOps aims at adding velocity to the software development lifecycle without compromising on quality. In a way, both DevOps and Shift left approach aim for the same objectives. So, incorporating both into your product development strategy is a wise choice.
DevOps is a compound of development (Dev) and operation (Ops). Normally you can incorporate testing into the late (Shift right approach) or earlier stages (Shift left) of the development process.
While shift left strategy offer benefits such as better design, fast development time and delivery, better quality etc., better automation opportunities, wider and real-world testing, and better customer experience are the advantages offered by shift right strategy. To improve the effectiveness of both strategies, developers can adopt a common philosophy of “test early, test often and test in silos and production”. This will help the team to find flaws as early as possible, implement continuous testing and have a holistic approach.
Here are a few tips on how to plan and implement the shift left strategy.
How to plan shift left strategy?
When adopting a shift left approach, there are certain things that must be taken into consideration. We can categorize these factors into three categories mainly.
1. Budget
In a traditional model, the budget was not allocated evenly. A major chunk of the budget was spent on design and development alone. This led to apparent negligence of testing and quality assurance.
The shift left approach gives equal importance to each stage of the product development lifecycle. The budget is allocated more evenly, and testing is well taken care of. Here the terms budget and budgeting have a wider meaning. It involves a well-planned allocation of money and time so that every stage of the development lifecycle is strictly implemented.
2. Resource planning
Testing is a broad term. It involves different techniques and methods aimed at achieving different objectives. Examples of different testing techniques include manual testing and automated testing. Both techniques can be further divided based on their objectives such as load testing, unit testing, integration testing, functional testing, smoke testing, performance testing etc. While adopting the shift left approach, you must make sure that resources are allocated for every testing method and maximum testing techniques are implemented.
3. Test strategies
The test strategy should be well planned and documented. There should be a clear understanding of what testing techniques are going to be implemented at each stage of the lifecycle and which team will be responsible for the implementation. It is critical that the strategy is universally applied so that there is no wide swing in the quality of the product between each stage of the development lifecycle.
How to implement the shift left approach?
Plan it from the beginning
Once the requirement analysis is completed, the team should start planning on how to make the whole process shift left friendly. The plan should focus on incorporating testing as early as possible and implement it in a way that is incremental. The code coverage should be minimum, and encapsulation should be implemented while coding to make testing easier to execute. Also, resources should be allocated evenly across the development lifecycle.
Developers’ participation
Developers should test their own codes before pushing them to the main branch or QA team. Version control should be strictly implemented and any merging of codes should not affect the quality and performance of the main module. Since it is easier to test individual code modules, participation from developers ensures that the main branch is cleaner and error-free.
Testers’ participation
Following the same principle, testers should be introduced to common coding standards. They should be familiar with the functionality of the unit they are going to test. That way if they find any small mistakes in the code they are testing, they can correct the code themselves instead of sending it back to the developers. This will help to reduce development time and in fact, this is one of the main principles of DevOps. DevOps encourages developers to take participation in testing and testers to take participation in designing and development. They don’t have to be an expert in everything. However, expertise in one’s own field and a basic understanding of the whole development lifecycle are very much appreciated.
The QA team should also participate in any planning discussions. This will help them to understand the objectives of the projects better as well as the product design. This knowledge will help them to see whether it is the actual design that is being implemented into a final product. The presence of the QA teams in discussions will also help the other teams as testers can give a clear image of challenges that are most likely to emerge.
Early testing
The left shift strategy focuses on implementing testing from earlier stages of the development lifecycle. Instead of pushing testing to the final stages, it should be implemented from the unit level itself. This will help with avoiding common bugs and debugging complexities by keeping testing coverage to a minimum level. Also, since DevOps can heavily rely on automation, early testing is critical for proper implementation.
Readability and testability
DevOps emphasises team collaboration and multilevel participation. This is very much aligned with the principle of shift left approach that encourages testers to participate from the early stages of the development lifecycle. However, for the successful implementation of DevOps and shift left strategies, the dev team should follow certain principles such as code readability and testability. When codes are developed with a concern for their readability as well as suitability for testing, DevOps and shift left approaches become easier to implement. The developers can make use of element IDs, inline comments and notes, and incorporate aesthetics into their code to improve readability. Adopting the principles of encapsulation and lose coupling is one way to improve testability.
Best practices for shift left testing in DevOps
Planning and documentation
The whole development lifecycle should be well planned and documented. There should be participation from every team in the planning and discussions and the documentation should cover requirements analysis, project documentation, supporting documentation (Unit/feature level documentation with test cases) as well as inline documentation.
Universal quality standards
Since testing is pushed to the early stages and there are quality checks across the entire development lifecycle, the need for adopting universal quality standards is very crucial in the left shift approach. However, not every team and team member will be familiar with different quality standards. The QA team should help the other teams by first educating them on common quality standards. They can also create a document to outline various principles and parameters of quality assurance and provide a guideline on how to avoid common mistakes. The document should also help other team members to understand their share of responsibility in terms of testing and quality assurance.
Use Static Analysis
Static analysis or static code analysis is a method of debugging that is performed by examining the code without executing it. The basic code structure is examined thoroughly to ensure that it follows the best coding standards and practices. Static code analysis aims to find programming errors, syntax anomalies, substandard practices, and security issues in the code. Since the process can be tedious, it is better to automate static analysis before pushing it to the QA team. Since automation is involved, chances for false positives are high. So, the QA team should have a basic understanding of the code they are reviewing and should be familiar with various parameters of static code analysis. Proper inline documentation plays a vital role in static analysis.
Continuous testing and feedback
As stated earlier, both DevOps and shift left strategy encourage team collaboration and participation at multiple levels of the product development lifecycle. Program architects, designers, developers, testers and the operation team should continuously participate in the process and give feedback whenever necessary. The benefit of continuous testing and feedback is that the code modules will be cleaner and error-free when it reaches the next team involved in the lifecycle. As a result, the need for easy fixes and code reworks will be less to nil. Also here, the emphasis is put on shared responsibility.
Conclusion
Ever since the software industry embraced agile and DevOps principles, there was an overwhelming demand for ensuring quality in every stage of the software development lifecycle. The introduction of strategies such as MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and microservices etc. further illustrated the importance of executing testing at earlier stages of the development. The shift left approach is a result of various evolution and improvisation that happened in the software development industry.
Are you looking for pre-vetted DevOps engineers for your next projects? Contact our team of experts for a free consultation.
When it comes to application development, there are different approaches you can take up to achieve your goal. However, in recent years, a few approaches like DevOps became mainstream.
The value of the global DevOps market was USD 4,311.95 million in 2020. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.95%. The forecasted market value of DevOps by 2026 is USD 12,215.54 million.
The growth of DevOps is the result of organisations across the globe realizing its advantages. According to studies, DevOps is helping organisations with improving the quality of their software deployments, releasing more software in less time, improving cooperation and collaboration across teams and also improving the quality of code production.
However, DevOps is not a fault-free approach. Even though it integrates software development and IT operations efficiently, it never gave enough importance to application security. As a result, the industry is developing and adopting better versions of DevOps to have a comprehensive approach in terms of the software development life cycle. One such approach is DevSecOps.
DevOps and DevSecOps: What are they?
DevOps
Amazon define DevOps as
“DevOps is the combination of cultural philosophies, practices, and tools that increases an organization’s ability to deliver applications and services at high velocity: evolving and improving products at a faster pace than organizations using traditional software development and infrastructure management processes. This speed enables organizations to better serve their customers and compete more effectively in the market.”
According to Microsoft Azure, DevOps is
“A compound of development (Dev) and operations (Ops), DevOps is the union of people, process, and technology to continually provide value to customers.”
In simple terms, DevOps is the integration of software development and IT operations by following a set of practices.
Under DevOps, Development and operation teams work in tandem. Both the teams will be part of the entire software lifecycle that includes development, testing, deployment and operations. Through automation, the teams eliminate a lot of manual and repetitive tasks and improve the overall efficiency. The use of technology stacks and tools, together with the knowledge of the complete software lifecycle helps team members complete tasks independently without affecting code compatibility.
DevSecOps
Seamless integration of security testing and protection with DevOps practices is called DevSecOps. Here quality assurance and security teams are also part of the entire product lifecycle. In DevSecOps, the “Sec” part denotes the importance it gives to application “security”.
Traditionally, the security of an application was tested only once the product is completed. It was tested by independent teams that have limited knowledge of development, deployment and operations. A separate security testing increased the overall duration of product development, and it also affected the philosophy of continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). Not only that, there was no universal understanding of application security across the teams.
DevSecOps not only solved these weaknesses but also enabled security testing to run seamlessly and automatically. The real-time security testing brought down the production time significantly and organizations started to release more software in a short span of time.
What are the similarities between DevOps and DevSecOps?
Collaborative culture
A collaborative culture is the backbone of both DevOps and DevSecOps. It helps with rapid iteration, continuous testing and faster product delivery apart from reducing the overall duration of the software development lifecycle. A better understanding of the complete application lifecycle is encouraged across teams and as a result, the efficiency and code quality are also improved.
Active monitoring
Both DevOps and DevSecOps encourage active monitoring of data to encourage learning and easy adaptation. Continuous analysis of application data helps teams to improvise the products and adapt the best practices to create better software in the future. Real-time monitoring of data helps the team fix vulnerabilities faster, improvise existing security practices and optimize application performance.
Automation
Automation is vital in DevOps and DevSecOps practices. Automation helps teams eliminate manual and repetitive tasks and improve efficiency. With the use of stacks and tools, DevOps practitioners can reduce the time needed for each iteration and ensure the quality of the production. DevSecOps teams can use automation to run continuous and real-time security checks and avoid the most common vulnerabilities. Usage of Artificial Intelligence techniques like anomaly detection can also help both and such practices are advised when engaging in a complex release environment like distributed or multi-cloud infrastructure.
Encourage learning
Since both DevOps and DevSecOps practices require a collaborative environment, teams are encouraged to learn about the complete lifecycle of an application. Each member is advised to understand the basic practices concerning each stage of the development lifecycle to limit the probability of code conflicts. For example, developers are encouraged to understand common and potential security vulnerabilities, strengths and weaknesses of the deployment environment and how not to burden the operation teams. They are also encouraged to achieve tasks individually with the help of software stacks, automation and tools.
Rapid iteration and faster release
Both the practices encourage collaboration between teams. Traditionally, teams were working in “silos’ and they had to wait for “their turn” to start working on their tasks. However, DevOps and DevSecOps promote the philosophy of shared responsibility. Every team will be working in tandem. As a result, more tasks can be completed in a short time. This helped organisations run more iterations, improve the quality of the applications and also release more products in a short time.
Differences between DevOps and DevSecOps
The main difference between DevOps and DevSecOps is that the former has limited security practices.
A common DevOps software development life cycle is as follows,
Developers write codes and use version control to track changes.
New codes are integrated at the build phase.
Feedback is gathered from all code branches before compilation.
Software is pushed for deployment.
If the application meets all the standards, it is released to production.
If any vulnerabilities are found, the code is sent to developers for fixing and the above process is reiterated.
The delivery of the application is a shared responsibility of every member.
The common practices we can derive from the above process are,
Continuous Integration (CI): Code changes are merged and only the recent version is available to developers.
Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment (CD): Efficiency is increased by automating product releases.
Microservices: Creating a set of smaller applications that work together as single software.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Codes are used for designing, implementing and managing application infrastructure.
However, DevSecOps include a few more practices compared to DevOps. They are,
Threat modelling: Security tests are implemented during the development phase to save time and cost.
Common Weaknesses Enumeration (CWE): Increase the level of quality and security during CI and CD phases.
Automated security testing: Automation is used for continuous and real-time testing for finding vulnerabilities.
Incident response management: A standard framework is created for responding to vulnerabilities.
From the above description, it is evident that the organisations have a good reason, security, to prefer DevSecOps over DevOps. After all, application security is paramount in today’s world. Any compromise on security can spoil the success of the application and stain the image of its creators.
How to integrate security practices into DevOps?
The transition from DevOps to DevSecOps may seem complex. However, it is not enough a reason to justify not adopting the best security practices. Fortunately transiting to DevSecOps is not that complicated. You can start by adopting the following practices.
Shift left
Test early and often. The shift left philosophy encourages adopting security measures in the early stages of the software development lifecycle. Traditionally “security” came at the end of the development lifecycle. As a result, a lot of vulnerabilities that otherwise could be avoided plagued the application products. It is important that every team member who is a part of the development and releases lifecycle should have a decent knowledge of common security issues and how to avoid them.
Establish standards
A lot of security issues can be avoided with the help of strict coding standards. All the parties should follow the best practices in the industry. Also, they should keep themselves updated on this topic regularly. There should be a universal standard for code quality, and it should be possible to implement code changes seamlessly.
Implement the right set of testing methods
There is an overwhelming number of security tests you can adopt and incorporate into your product development lifecycle. However, choosing the right ones would be the best choice. Here are a few examples best testing methods.
Static Application Security Testing (SAST): Helps you identify vulnerabilities by examining the code.
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST): Helps administrators identify vulnerabilities by granting them an attacker’s perspective.
Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST): A combination of SAST and DAST. Application performance can be monitored using software instrumentation.
Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP): Detect and resolve threats as they occur using real-time application data independently of an administrator.
Have a comprehensive security approach
Rather than relying completely on security firewalls, implement security measures within the application to eliminate threats and increase security posture. A shared infrastructure with a common perimeter is an easy target for attackers. By securing the application also from the inside, you are adding more layers of protection and discouraging the attackers. Also, this approach augments the philosophy of “shared responsibility”.
DevSecOps vs SecDevOps vs DevOpsSec: Is there a difference?
You might have come across these names while researching something related to secure DevOps. And, you might have wondered why use different names for the same approach? Or are they different from one another? Let’s find answers to these questions.
Are DevSecOps, SecDevOps, and DevOpsSec the same?
No, they are not exactly the same.
Then what’s the difference between DevSecOps, SecDevOps and DevOpsSec?
There is not much difference between these three approaches. However, the wording of the names gives you an idea of what is sacrosanct in each approach.
DevSecOps
DevSecOps is a widely popular approach. Here the emphasis is given to development since “Dev” is positioned first in the name. Security comes second which means that the software should pass security checks before it is pushed to the operation team. This is a common approach among organisations that lack a security focus but still want to integrate security testing into the software development process.
SecDevOps
SecDevOps is also known as rugged DevOps.
Here security is given utmost importance and all decision including design choice, development standards, deployment platforms etc. are made after factoring in security considerations.
While this is the best approach an organisation can adopt considering how crucial security is in today’s world and age, it demands fair support from all members of the team that participate in the product development lifecycle. The members should have a good understanding of security standards and common vulnerabilities. They should also be able to foresee the impact of their decisions on application security, every time they make one.
DevOpsSec
Compared to the other two approaches, this one gives the least importance to security. While something is better than nothing, this approach is nothing but a normal DevOps approach with some security testing implemented at the end. Since security testing is done only after application deployment, the likelihood of the application and its data getting compromised is very high. Therefore, DevOpsSec is the least popular and less preferred approach among all three.
Conclusion
The transition from the Waterfall software development model to agile and then DevOps offered us tremendous advantages. Incorporating security practices into already popular DevOps is a continuation of this positive trend. DevSecOps is fixing the loopholes of DevOps and gradually taking over its position.
Looking for DevOps or DevSecOps team for your next project? Contact us now!
Around the globe, businesses are migrating to the cloud to reduce IT infrastructure costs. Cloud computing helps them to customize computing based on actual requirements and avoid any wasteful spending.
However, as the popularity of the cloud increased, the cost of cloud computing also increased. This happened mainly due to a small group of mega vendors dominating the public cloud markets. Due to monopoly, innovation became stagnated, and prices became no more competitive due to new entrants having no ability to enter the market. Businesses were forced to discover new opportunities for cost saving without compromising on quality.
This unique situation led to the discovery of a new architecture called multicloud. Nowadays, this computing model has become the de facto standard among organizations.
According to a survey conducted by Flexera, 89% of organizations are following a multi-cloud strategy. Only 2% of organizations are still in a single private cloud. When it comes to the case of a single public cloud, the figure stands at 9%. These figures prove how fast the cloud computing market is evolving and how rapidly multicloud is becoming the new face of the industry.
What is multicloud? Definition and meaning
Multicloud is the use of cloud services from multiple cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Cloud, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure so that the organization will have more flexibility to optimize performance, control costs and leverage the best cloud technologies of the day.
In a multicloud model, an organization can use two or more private clouds, two or more public clouds or a combination of public, private and edge clouds to run their applications and distribute services. Such cloud computing models make use of open source, cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes that are supported by all public cloud providers. The model will also have a “central console” to monitor and manage workloads across multiple cloud platforms.
Multicloud architecture is mainly used for enterprise application development, compute infrastructure, data warehousing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud storage and disaster recovery.
Multicloud vs Hybrid: Are they the same?
Even though both multicloud and hybrid clouds use more than one cloud platform for deployments, they differ due to the kinds of clouds used in the architecture.
There are mainly two kinds of cloud deployment: public and private.
In the public cloud computing model, computing resources and infrastructure are managed by a third-party vendor and shared with more than one user via the internet. Whereas, in a private cloud computing model, the computing resources and infrastructure is dedicated to only a single organisation/user. Usually, it’s an organization that builds and maintains a private cloud themselves. However, they can also seek help from an external vendor to host a private cloud for them.
The difference between multicloud and hybrid cloud models depends on whether they are using private cloud, public cloud or a combination of both.
A hybrid cloud model makes use of two or more types of clouds. In other words, a computing model that makes use of private and public clouds for deployment is known as a hybrid cloud. In contrast, a multicloud model may utilize a combination of clouds that can be two or more private clouds, two or more public clouds or a combination of private and public clouds.
You need to consider various factors before deciding whether you need a multicloud or hybrid cloud strategy for your business.
Cost
Private clouds are costly to set up and maintain compared to public clouds. This is mainly because there are multiple beneficiaries participating in a public cloud model and the cost is shared among them all making it cheaper. Whereas in the case of the private cloud, all costs are borne by a single organization. So naturally, a multicloud model that utilizes several public clouds will be cheaper than a hybrid cloud model that utilizes private and public clouds.
Reliability
The Multicloud model is comparatively more reliable since the model makes use of multiple clouds to distribute the services. Even during peak times when the demand is high, the application will be up and running without any issues as the workload can be distributed to backup clouds or more resources can be allocated. On the other hand, a sudden rise in demand may overwhelm a hybrid cloud architecture since it will be consisting of at least one private cloud and private clouds are not easy to scale generally.
Security
The security element should be evaluated carefully when deciding between multicloud and hybrid cloud models.
Most of the multicloud and public cloud vendors have more resources at their disposal to fight security intrusion, data theft, privacy breach etc. They frequently release new patches to protect the data of the users.
However, if you have access to a private cloud or on-premises data centre that is best in terms of security and management, a hybrid cloud model will be a better choice for you.
Resources
Most public cloud services are fully controlled by third-party vendors. This is an advantage for businesses that want to maintain a small team and avoid unwanted overhead.
On the other hand, an on-premises data centre requires a team of experts to set up, run, maintain and manage the infrastructure. Even if you approach an external vendor to host a private cloud for you, the price will be higher due to service, support and maintenance charges.
Scalability and dependency
Lack of scalability is one of the major issues haunting on-premises infrastructures. Growth will not be possible without upgrading the technologies on a regular basis. Such requirements demand more investments and maintaining a team of experts to manage the infrastructure is also needed. Migrating from legacy systems to the cloud also demands effort, investments and time.
On the other hand, a multicloud environment makes scaling easier for a business. Moreover, a business does not have to depend on a team or vendor in a multicloud environment as they can move to better alternatives without much hassle.
Performance
Public cloud servers can vastly boost application performance and user experience by integrating new computing methodologies like edge computing.
Other benefits of multicloud
Flexibility
The multicloud model provides businesses with an opportunity to choose cloud services from different vendors. An organization can choose cloud service providers based on a combination of price, performance, location, security, legal compliance etc.
Technology advantage
Multicloud enables businesses to have a technology edge over their competitors. Since a multicloud user is not dependent on a single vendor, the organization can move to a better environment that offers advanced technologies.
Reduced outages
In a multicloud environment, an outage on one cloud will not affect other clouds in the same environment. As a result, the application will run smoothly without any interruptions and the organization can ensure a better user experience.
No more monopoly
With the introduction of multicloud, technology gatekeeping and industry monopoly in the IT sector have come to an end. It was a usual strategy followed by several vendors to charge a premium for their services because they were marketed as an “ecosystem” that is easy to use and well-integrated. This strategy is not effective anymore since businesses now have the option to combine services of different vendors and create their own “cloud ecosystem”.
Even with all these advantages, the multicloud model may not be suitable for all businesses. It is mainly due to the challenges posed by it.
Multicloud: Challenges
Management
Since multicloud utilizes more than one cloud, integrating, monitoring and managing them may appear as a challenge to some businesses. The situation becomes more complex when the different vendors are following different processes, methodologies and technologies. Also, data and technology stacks being scattered across different clouds under different vendors may have their disadvantages too.
Latency
When different services are running on different clouds, there will be frequent interactions between clouds to fulfil user requests. This can introduce latency depending on how closely the services are integrated, the amount of data that needs to be transferred, the location of each cloud and the frequency of the interactions. Utilizations of technologies such as microservices and edge computing etc. can solve this issue to an extent.
Risk
When an application is using many software and hardware, it is offering more targets for a cyber-attack. A single vulnerability in any of these components can lead to the complete shutdown of the application and services and sensitive data may end up in unwanted hands. So, a strict security policy should be formulated before adopting a multicloud model.
Performance
Load balancing can become difficult when there are multiple clouds involved. So, a centralized console to monitor and manage resources across all clouds is very crucial in a multicloud environment.
Multicloud management
To utilize the full benefits of multicloud architecture, all the clouds involved must be integrated closely as if they were part of a single cloud. Therefore, a central console to monitor and manage resources and services across all clouds plays a vital role in a multicloud architecture. With the help of the central console, an organization can
Maintain uniform and consistent security across all clouds.
Ensure a universal application of compliance policies.
Ensure consistency across every stage of the application life cycle (Development, staging, testing, deployment, production etc.)
Monitor events and logs from different service components using a single interface.
Configure consistent response to all events.
Implement version control effectively and efficiently.
Keeping the above points in mind, you can choose a cloud management tool or multicloud management platform that
Helps you monitor and control any cloud resource including IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, data storage, networking or deployment resources.
Offers analytical capabilities with the advantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). AI and ML can be used to streamline operations (E.g., AIOps), add elasticity to resource scaling and perform automatic responses to various events.
Helps you implement consistent and universal security and compliance policies.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning can be used in multicloud computing to optimize resource usage and to have better analytics. (Image credit: iqlect.com)
Examples of multicloud management platform
VMware
VMware offers you the vRealize Suite, a central management console, to monitor and control the availability of resources and their utilizations irrespective of what deployment platform you use. vRealize already offers different modules to help you manage resource catalogues, policies, self-service deployment and CI/CD for DevOps organizations. And the number of modules it offers is increasing day by day. For example, in 2018, VMware acquired CloudHealth which can help you with cost management and optimization. It recently acquired SaltStack, an infrastructure automation platform.
VMware stack can run on AWS natively and Azure and GCP via CloudSimple. The VMware Tanzu Kubernetes already works well with AWS. It will start supporting Azure and Oracle cloud very soon.
HyperGrid
HyperGrid is a new kid on the block. It is widely recognized as an “intelligent cloud management platform” due to its full range of capabilities that extend to proactive budget monitoring and reporting, security control, audit readiness, continuous compliance and migration and disaster recovery planning. Gartner considers HyperGrid a “Visionary” in the field. IBM, the US Navy, Synopsys, Henry Schein etc. are a few well-known names in their customer list.
HyperGrid Supports AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and VMware.
Scalr
Scalr boasts itself as the only CMP (Cloud Management Platform) designed for enterprise scale. It enables enterprises to incorporate standardization to resource usage and have better cost control. Another advantage of Scalr is that it allows enterprises to choose cloud platforms that meet their actual needs rather than being restricted to using only the features offered by a specific vendor(s). Scalr helps organizations to avoid vendor lock-ins. Recognizing Scalr’s commitment to multicloud philosophy, Gartner named it a leader in the industry.
Samsung, Gannett, Sephora, the FDA, NASA JPL, Xerox, etc. are a few well-known names in their customer list.
Here are a few features that are offered by Scalr
A single central console to monitor cloud usage.
Option to incorporate conditional security and compliance
Role-based access control.
Smooth integration with various IT and DevOps tools.
Customized provisioning portals.
Morpheus
Morpheus aims to integrate CloudOps with DevOps. It offers a variety of multicloud management tools to link development, IT operations and business processes.
Morpheus offers AI-based reporting tools to optimize cloud costs. It also provides role-based access so that the organization can have better governance of the environment. The self-service tools help with faster provisioning and deployment. And in fact, Morpheus claims that its users can set up and run a multicloud environment in less than one hour. It also supports more than 20 cloud platforms.
McDonald’s, BlackRock, AstraZeneca, Penn State etc. are a few well-known names in their customer list.
Conclusion
By Adopting a multicloud model organizations can now have the freedom to use the best possible cloud for each workload. It helps them to avoid unwanted overhead, improve performance, reliability and security and have a technological advantage over their competitors.
Looking for a multicloud solution for your next project? Contact us now!
Gartner defines edge computing as a distributed computing topology where information processing is located close to the edge where things and people produce or consume that information.
The birth of edge computing can be traced back to the 1990s when content distribution networks were created to serve web and video content from edge servers close to users. Later, edge computing evolved into an advanced version that hosts applications and application components such as shopping carts, ad insertion engines, dealer locators and real-time data aggregators.
Edge computing market revenue worldwide from 2019 to 2025(in billion U.S. dollars)
Source: Statista
The number of papers related to edge computing on Google Scholar was only 720 in 2015. However, it has grown to more than 25,000 in 2020. The number of edge patent filings done as of 2020 is 6,418. This is a hundred times more than the number of patents filed related to edge computing in 2015.
While the edge computing market was valued at 139 billion US dollars in 2019, it is expected to reach 274 billion US Dollars in value by 2025.
Apart from these data and figures, if we investigate the real world, the word “edge computing” is becoming familiar across industries, day by day.
So, what’s the deal with edge computing? Why more and more companies are adopting it and becoming an advocate for this technology?
“Edge computing is a networking philosophy focused on bringing computing as close to the source of data as possible in order to reduce latency and bandwidth use. In simpler terms, edge computing means running fewer processes in the cloud and moving those processes to local places, such as on a user’s computer, an IoT device, or an edge server. “
From this definition, it is clear that edge computing is a distributed computing principle applied by companies to reduce delay in information processing and bandwidth usage by moving computing closer to the source of information.
Since the computing is executed as close as possible to the users, there is minimal long-distance communication between a client and the server. As a result, the users will have a faster and more secure experience when using technology-based services and the service providers will have the benefits of providing the best-in-class user experience.
How does edge computing work?
Traditionally, enterprise computing was done by moving data that is produced at the user’s devices via the internet to enterprise servers, then it is stored and worked upon, and the results were sent back to the user’s device. Client-server computing was the most proven and time-tested approach implemented by most organisations.
However, ever since the internet and digital revolution, the volume of data produced by consumers and shared with enterprises skyrocketed. Sending, storing, and computing such a large volume of data at a centre infrastructure became a herculean task. Also, sending and receiving so much data put a toll on the internet. There was frequent congestion, latency issues even downtime that affected the services.
So, the industry came up with an idea of a decentralized system in which the storage and computing are done closer to where the information is produced. Since the computing is done at this closer point, called “the edge”, this approach is known as “edge computing”.
Edge nodes or Edge servers collect and process data locally. Depending on the business model and architecture, sometimes the results of the process are sent to the principal server that is deployed in the cloud.
To better understand how edge computing works, here are a few use cases for you.
Transportation
Self-driven vehicles are replacing manual-driven vehicles at a faster rate. They are widely used for cargo movements and courier services. Such autonomous vehicles function by aggregating a large volume of data related to their location, physical condition, road condition, climate condition, traffic condition, speed and movements of other vehicles close by. It is by gathering and analysing such data in real-time that the vehicle is able to reach its destination without any accident or shortcomings. To facilitates this “auto-piloting”, onboard computing is very much required as a single self-driven vehicle produces anywhere between 5 TB to 20 TB of data in a day.
Network routing
Latency has a significant role in internet traffic. To ensure the quality of the network, the traffic must be routed via the most reliable and low latency path. Edge computing can help with optimizing network routes by regularly measuring traffic conditions across the internet and choosing the best path for each user’s traffic.
Healthcare
Healthcare has technologised rapidly in recent years. There are countless pieces of equipment that make use of the latest technologies to diagnose and monitor the health of a patent. Such types of equipment collect and process large volumes of data, regularly for a longer period of time. With the help of edge computing and machine learning these data can be used for finding abnormalities and delivering proper treatment at the right time.
Retail
The benefit of implementing edge computing in the retail sphere is manyfold. It can be used for surveillance, stock tracking and refilling, real-time sales monitoring, and analysis, aggregating, sales and customer information, loyalty programmes based on sales data, item procurements etc.
Manufacturing
A product must go through many stages before its ready for sending to the market. These stages include product design, prototyping, production, quality checks, packaging, and branding. By implementing edge computing, manufacturers are able to monitor these activities in real-time and at a large scale and it also enables them to reduce resource wastage and find loopholes in the existing process. Together with machine learning, edge computing helps manufacturers collect and analyse data in real-time. Making the right decision at the right time has become easier for them.
Benefits of edge computing
Speed
Since data is produced and processed at the same point, computing became a lot faster. There is no need to send and receive large chunks of data and there is little to no uncertainty of computing demands. Due to this increased responsiveness, edge computing is better than traditional and cloud computing in so many cases such as IoT, autonomous driving, healthcare, public safety, surveillance, augmented reality etc.
The healthcare industry has already recognized the benefit of edge computing.
Reliability
The distributed topology ensures that reliability is not a concern when it comes to edge computing. Because the data is produced and processed at the edge, and multiple edge nodes are used in the system, failure in one node does not affect the remaining ones. Also, since there is a low dependency on the central cloud server, any disruption in the connectivity between the cloud and edge node will not affect the overall performance. In fact, once the connection is restored, the data can be securely synchronized between the nodes and server.
Efficiency
Since computing is executed at the edge, edge computing offers a sophisticated environment that is fit for the usage of advanced analytical tools, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. We have already seen how this can help certain industries like transportation and healthcare.
The opportunity to use powerful analytical tools also helps the system to optimize itself. The system can regularly monitor the user demands and determine where to execute the computing depending on how resource-intensive the task is. For example, if the edge node has the required capacity, it can execute the task and send back the results to the client device saving up bandwidth, resources, and time. If the task requires additional resources, it can be assigned to the central server, where most resource-intensive but rare occurrence tasks are executed.
Scalability
A distributed system is easier to scale than a traditional one. New nodes can be set up to meet the growing demands and any addition or removal of nodes will not affect the system as a whole. Also, each node can be customized according to demands that are specific to the area it serves.
Privacy and security
Edge computing makes use of special encryption mechanisms to protect data that may travel between client and nodes, nodes and nodes and nodes and server. Using a decentralized trust model, the communication between each node is evaluated and whitelisted. Since edge computing emphasises producing, gathering, and processing data at a single point, data is handled in a better way in terms of security and privacy. For example, a node that is situated in a particular geography can be governed by the local law and the condition of local infrastructure and vulnerabilities can also be taken into consideration while setting up the security measures.
Is edge computing and IoT the same?
It is a common misconception that edge computing and IoT are the same. In reality, Internet of Things (IoT) is a use case of edge computing.
IoT makes use of cloud servers for data storage and computing. It means that IoT totally depends on the internet for connectivity. It also means that IoT implementations are centralized and usually intended for specific purposes only.
However, edge computing is decentralized by design, and it can be implemented independently of the internet since data can be produced, collected, and processed at a single point. An edge computing system can also be generic in nature and the data and processes can be heterogeneous.
In short, IoT can be implemented as part of edge computing. However, both are vastly different.
Edge vs cloud vs fog computing
It is common to compare the new technology with existing ones to find out whether it is justifiable to adopt it for your business. The case of edge computing is not exceptional in this matter. Organisations are already used to cloud and fog computing. There should be apparent incentives for them to adopt the new kid in the block. So, let us discuss how these three are different from each other and what they bring to the table.
Edge computing
Edge computing is the deployment of computing and storage resources closer to where the data is produced or consumed. For example, a retail mall with an indoor traffic system can use edge computing to collect and process traffic data in real-time to facilitate its smooth functioning. If it is a chain business, data can be sent to a centralized data centre for human review. However, if the amount of data collected and processed exceeds the computing and storage capacity, the system will fail until the capabilities are improved.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the distributed deployment of computational resources and data storage over multiple locations. Since computing is available on-demand, cloud computing is highly scalably and affordable at the same time. Since it is a distributed system, cloud computing offers better storage and retrievability of data and there is least to nil concern about data being lost forever.
However, each cloud server can still be far away from end-users. Data is processing at these far away points and the system depends on the internet to share the data between client and server. In other words, cloud computing is nothing but traditional computing implemented in a distributed architecture that depends on the internet. It consumes bandwidth, can be affected by latency and even overwhelmed by a sudden surge in demands if not configured with the right anticipation.
Fog computing
Fog computing or fogging is an improvised version of edge computing. Sometimes, “the edge” become so large that implementing a strict edge computing system will be detrimental to the actual plan. For example, smart cities are producing a large volume of data every minute. These data are heterogeneous in nature and used for different purposes. However, the objective of the whole implementation could be based on a few principles. Setting up several nodes to cover the whole city will not be practical and it will also affect the objective of the whole system. So, such a system makes use of a fog layer that consists of fog nodes. These fog nodes act as a backend to the edge nodes and add additional computing power to the whole system. Fog computing is the combination of cloud and edge computing and aims to mitigate the weaknesses of both.
Conclusion
Edge computing has opened up so many untapped opportunities and several industries have already started leveraging its advantages. However, its true potential is still unachievable due to the lack of compact devices with enough computing power and software that can handle a limitless number of edge devices. Improvised versions of edge computing such as fog computing may be a step in the right direction.
Are you looking for a renowned technology partner to develop a next-generation edge computing solution? Contact our team of experts for a free consultation.
PaaS (Platform as a Service) market is expected to reach 57.15 billion dollars in 2022. Considering that the market value was 49.41 billion dollars in 2021, it is a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 15.7%. At a CAGR of 13.9%, the market is forecasted to reach 96.24 billion dollars in 2026.
If you are new to the term “PaaS”, PaaS or Platform as a Service is a cloud computing model that offers an environment for businesses to develop, deploy, run, and manage applications over the internet without the need for them to build and maintain the required infrastructure. The infrastructure and the related computer resources are provided by the PaaS provider. So, when we use the term “PaaS market” it denotes the total sales from such cloud-based platform services.
Forecast: PaaS Market Value
There are different types of PaaS. We can generally classify them into web applications, computing platforms, business applications and social applications. Some of the popular PaaS providers include Heroku, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure.
In 2021, North America was the largest PaaS market followed by Western Europe. Other markets like Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Africa are also witnessing significant growth in recent years.
Why PaaS: The opportunities it offers
The major reasons why the PaaS market is seeing such growth are manyfold. A PaaS platform can be accessed by multiple users. Businesses can choose computing resources as per their need and scale accordingly when there is a rise in demand. It is easy to run and maintain PaaS platforms as it uses virtualization technology and you do not need extensive system administration knowledge.
Other benefits of PaaS include,
PaaS enables businesses to avoid investing in IT infrastructure and they can invest the budget in their core operations.
PaaS enables businesses to avoid the tedious process of procurement and the need to hire expert personnel for the same.
PaaS enables businesses to save up on office space that otherwise would be needed for storing devices and infrastructure.
Since PaaS is a managed service, businesses can avoid the cost of hiring and maintaining the talent required for building and managing hosting environments and infrastructure.
PaaS enables businesses to reduce their team size. It improves the efficiency as the team will be working only on the core business functions.
Since PaaS offers a way to deploy applications fast and automatically, it reduces complexities and saves up time and money for businesses.
Most of the PaaS providers offer hybrid cloud solutions that are a mixture of private cloud, on-premises computing and public cloud solutions. It enables businesses to innovate, improve efficiency and agility, increase development capabilities and speed and reduce IT costs.
These advantages help businesses and developers in multiple ways.
They can concentrate on developing innovative solutions instead of focusing on external issues.
Developers do not need to start from scratch. They can avoid a lot of repetitive tasks and extensive coding, saving time and money for businesses.
Since PaaS enables developers to solely focus on actual development, the overall development cost comes down. A competitive business can use the saved-up money to better their product by adding more features and implementing creative and user-friendly ideas. They can also use the saved-up budget for market research and better marketing.
In short, PaaS offer businesses an opportunity to develop innovative applications in the most cost-effective and time-effective way. Since PaaS eliminate the need to create and maintain infrastructure and deployment environment, it reduces a lot of complexities and investment.
However, PaaS is not free of disadvantages.
Since PaaS is still an “over the internet” service, it possesses certain risks like privacy and security threats. This is a big concern for corporates since they must protect application data and the privacy of users, especially since there are several regulations in place like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and HIPPA.
PaaS has certain security vulnerabilities that make them a popular choice for cyber-attacks. These vulnerabilities include lax default application configuration, misplaced or lost Linux updates, lost third party patches and holes in secure socket layers (SSL) protocols. Such vulnerabilities can cost businesses money and credibility.
Since PaaS is a managed solution, it takes away control over the environment.
PaaS may have compatibility issues. Certain PaaS supports only specific software architecture and there may be restrictions on the kind of services that can be used on the applications.
Rise of AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Amazon introduced Beanstalk as a solution for system-level development rather than business application development. As a result, Elastic Beanstalk is not a pure PaaS technology. AWS paired Beanstalk with hundreds of cloud services it offers, such as AWS Lambda, to counter the challenges faced by most PaaS technologies.
AWS used its existing stack of services including EC2, S3, Simple Notification Service (SNS), CloudWatch, autoscaling, and Elastic Load Balancers to integrate emerging technologies with Beanstalk. This helped developers to build serverless subsystems directly from the platform and make use of most of the native AWS cloud services and even from outside the ecosystem. Developers can use AWS Elastic Beanstalk to build websites, back ends for both mobile and APIs and for asynchronous work.
Also, Beanstalk integrates well with Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud Container Registry and Docker’s repository. It can use container orchestration tools such as Kubernetes to launch multi- or single-container instances. The platform is compatible with any PHP, Java, Python, Node.js, Ruby, .NET, Docker or Go web applications.
Let’s take a look into the advantages of AWS Elastic Beanstalk and how it tries to overcome the challenges of common PaaS solutions.
The advantages of AWS Elastic Beanstalk
AWS Elastic Beanstalk enables businesses and developers to get access to emerging development opportunities through its advantages.
Faster development and reduce complexities
You can use AWS Management Console, a Git repository, or an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) such as Visual Studio or Eclipse to deploy your code to the platform. When a code is deployed, the platform automatically handles capacity provisioning, load balancing, auto-scaling, and monitoring; thus, the process becomes simple. Since the tasks are automated, it takes only a few minutes maximum for the code to run; so, the deployment duration is also very less.
Easy monitoring
AWS Beanstalk provides a unified user interface for you to monitor the health of your deployed application. The platform tracks more than 40 key metrics and offers you an opportunity to customize the health permission, health checks and health reporting.
You can integrate Beanstalk with Amazon CloudWatch and AWS X-Ray for easy performance monitoring. Using CloudWatch, you can also set up customized thresholds for metrics like CPU utilization, latency etc. and get notified when these metrics exceed the configured thresholds.
Scale on demand
AWS Beanstalk allows you to set up auto-scaling. Once enabled, the platform automatically scales your application based on needs and the configured settings. This feature offers you flexibility in the sense that you can choose any metrics such as CPU utilization to trigger auto-scaling. It also helps you ensure that there is no application downtime, and the cost is directly dependent on resource utilization.
Customize it
Not all businesses have the same requirements. The scope of customization enables a business to leverage every opportunity it has in its hand. Therefore, Elastic Beanstalk is becoming one of the popular choices for businesses across industries.
When using Beanstalk, you can not only choose what AWS resources to make use of for your product, but you can also retain full control of the environment. Beanstalk’s management capabilities make it easier for developers to take control of one or all the resources that are available on the platform.
For example, as a developer, you have the option to choose the type of EC2 instance for your application and what is the optimal amount of RAM or CPU needed for your code to run. You can also customize the default Elastic Beanstalk Amazon Machine Image and configure Beanstalk to use it for your application.
Flexibility and adaptability
Due to feature requirements or better opportunities, a business may choose to use different technologies to develop a product. However, this is not an easy task since combining two or more services may cause compatibility problems.
Fortunately, AWS Elastic Beanstalk tries to help you overcome such challenges. It lets you integrate numerous services that exist in AWS environment, and you can use Docker’s repository or tools such as Kubernetes to develop and launch your application. You can also run multiple services on EC2 and the application you create on Beanstalk will be able to access them efficiently.
Security
The platform automatically keeps itself up to date with new patches and the latest platform versions (minor). The only caveat is that “managed platform updates” must be enabled by you from the configuration tab. Another caveat is that the platform will not perform major platform updates since such updates may include backwards-incompatible changes. But you can perform such updates manually.
However, the true strength of the platform is its “immutable deployment mechanism”. It ensures that the existing environment is safe from any changes caused by the updates by creating a parallel fleet of Amazon EC2 instances that are to be updated with the latest patches. The existing instances are terminated only after the completion of successful installation of updates that are done parallel and independent of the existing ones.
Also, when the updates are being installed, the health of the application will be under scrutinization by the system and in case any conflict occurs, the traffic will be redirected to the unaffected fleet of instances. So, the end-users will not be affected by a faulty update.
Privacy and legal compliance
AWS Elastic Beanstalk follows several criteria including ISO, PCI, SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3 and
HIPAA compliance. So, when using Beanstalk for your applications, you do not have to worry about processing financial or health data. You can also be sure that the applications follow the major security and privacy standards.
Elastic Beanstalk architecture
The above advantages are the result of Beanstalk’s unique architecture. So, let us briefly discuss the architecture it uses.
AWS Elastic Beanstalk architecture consists of several major components. They are,
The environment
All the resources needed to run your applications are contained within the environment. So, it is right to say, the environment is the heart of your application. The moment you create an environment Beanstalk automatically provisions all the resources required to run your application. These resources include an elastic load balancer, Auto Scaling group, and one or more Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances. The CNAME is considered a part of the environment and it will be pointed to the load balancer. Any request to your domain name will be redirected to the CNAME.
The environment will change depending on the software stack you want to use. It is because each software stack requires a different infrastructure topology, and these topologies are defined by a “container type”. To give an example, an environment with an Apache Tomcat container will be using the Amazon Linux operating system, Apache web server, and Apache Tomcat software.
Load balancer
As the name suggests, the load balancer automatically distributes the incoming requests across multiple Amazon EC2 instances to ensure that the resource utilization is optimum irrespective of whether the traffic is normal, high, or lower. This is done with the help of Elastic Load Balancing URLs and the EC2 auto-scaling.
Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling
Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling (Denoted by Auto Scaling Group in the diagram) is a crucial component without which the environment will fail to handle any variation in traffic. It automatically creates new Amazon EC2 instances when there is an increase in the load on the application. When the load decreases, it terminates any unwanted instances to keep resource utilization at an optimal level. Beanstalk allows its users to customize the minimum and the maximum number of instances the auto scaler should create and handle.
EC2 instances
EC2 instances are compute images that process the actual workload. These can be created, handled, and terminated automatically by the platform. However, Beanstalk allows the users to customize these instances to offer better flexibility. By customizing instances, you can change CPU and memory allocation in case you want more control over the environment.
Host manager
Each EC2 instance will have its own host manager. A host manager is a software component that is responsible for
Deploying an application
Aggregating events and metrics for retrieval
Event generation at the instance level
Monitoring application log file for any critical errors
Monitoring of application server
Installing patches for instance components
Publishing log files to Amazon S3
Any metrics, errors, events, or server status that are available via the Elastic Beanstalk console, APIs, or CLIs are reported by the host manager.
Security group
The security group is what defines the firewall for each instance. In other words, a security group allows or restricts traffic to and from an instance. The default security group can be accessed using port 80 (HTTP). While the default one is created by Elastic Beanstalk, as a user, you can create additional security groups to define the traffic to certain instances or from other sources. The best example could be for your database server.
AWS Beanstalk – PaaS components
How to deploy an application using Elastic Beanstalk?
Here is a brief guide on how to deploy an application to AWS elastic Beanstalk.
Preparation
If you are going to use an external database for your application, you must launch an instance of the database to Amazon RDS first. It is safe to choose “multi-AZ MySQL database instance” in the Amazon RDS console since it enables database failover if the instance fails.
Once the above process is completed you can start working on the access rule. Modify the security group to allow downstream traffic to access only a specific port.
Create an AWS Elastic Beanstalk environment
Access the Elastic Beanstalk Console and create an environment using the default settings. By default, Beanstalk automatically creates an EC2 instance, security groups, load balancer, autoscaling group, Amazon S3 bucket, Amazon CloudWatch alarms, AWS CloudFormation stack and the domain name.
Customization and configuration
You can customize the configuration to grant yourself more control over the environment. This includes configuring the minimum and the maximum number of instances for the auto skating group.
You can also create additional security groups to allow or restrict traffic to specific instances or specific ports. You can use the environment properties to configure connection data to the environment. The properties are available on the management page of the environment you created. Also, confirm that the environment is compatible with the Amazon RDS database instance we created in the first step.
Deployment
Use the “Upload and Deploy” option on the management page to upload your code bundle to the environment. Also, confirm the URL for the application.
Congratulation you have successfully deployed your application to AWS Elastic Beanstalk!
Conclusion
PaaS technologies, with their advantages, offer businesses several opportunities. However, there are challenges too. AWS Elastic Beanstalk, with its user-centric approach, better integration, and flexibility, tries to help businesses overcome these challenges and have better opportunities at hand.
Need help with deploying your application to AWS Elastic Beanstalk? Contact our team of experts now!
Digital adoption has been accelerating across the globe ever since the pandemic. IT roles are becoming more prominent in organizations and routine tasks are permanently automated.
According to Gartner, by 2025 half of the world population will participate in at least one IoBs (Internet of Behaviours) programme formulated by private, commercial or government organisations.
Within the next year, 40% of all enterprise workloads will be managed by cloud infrastructure and platform services. Also, 40% of Product and platform teams will be using automated change risk analysis with the help of technology pipelines like DevOps to reduce downtime and risk mitigation.
By the year 2025, half of the total enterprises will have artificial intelligence (AI) orchestration platforms at their disposal.
New terms like IoB etc. are the best example of how technology is advancing into new fields and how automation is becoming a normal part of life. IoB programmes make use of big data and IoT to influence customer behaviour. Such programs can help retailers and manufacturers to find the right price for their products and increase sales.
Adoption of automation is not limited by industry. However, the IT, service, retail, marketing, and manufacturing industry are the major sectors that are adopting automation at a faster rate. In fact, by 2025, the majority of the workforce in the manufacturing industry will be replaced by machines, resulting in 20% of all products produced not being touched by any human being before they enter the market. It is estimated that such transformation in the operational process will help organizations to lower their operation cost by 30%.
If all these data points to one thing, it is that the future of businesses depends on automation. Today, digital transformation is not a convenience. It has become a necessity for businesses that want to survive the fearsome competition and changing market.
By 2025, 50% of enterprises will have artificial intelligence orchestration platforms at their disposal.
Should you adopt automation?
Automation helps you reduce manual and routine processes. As a business, it will help you save time and cost along with improving operational efficiency. The application of automation is not limited to cutting down costs and time.
Since technology is so advanced today, you can use automation to collect data on a large scale, analyse them and make real-time decisions. Such opportunities bring tremendous advantages to a business that is competitive and analytical with its long-term goals. If used in the right way, such strategies will help a business to understand their customers better and reach the right audience to promote their products and services.
Because it is handled by technology, the opportunity to scale with automation is limitless. Manual processes will not only slow you down, but they are also prone to trivial errors. Also, the security of data becomes a bigger concern if there are more people involved.
Automation can be adopted by any business since customer support, invoice generation, payroll management, documentation, record-keeping and tracking, reporting etc. are common to all businesses and there are already stacks and tools available in the market.
What can you automate?
While customer support, invoice generation, payroll management, documentation, record-keeping and tracking, reporting etc. are the most common tasks that gave way to automation, there are other opportunities that vary depending on the objective and the nature of the business.
For example, here is a list of automation opportunities available to different businesses.
Automation opportunities
Batch Scheduling
A batch is a collection of tasks or jobs that are grouped together for execution. Since they are resource-intensive, batch processes are pre-planned and scheduled overnight when the number of other processes is very less. Ever since the technology advanced enough to have more powerful resources in hand, these batch processes are executed frequently by organizations.
The best possible examples are the banking industry and the stock market. Prior to automation, all the documentation and transactions were handled manually and “closing” was scheduled weekly, monthly or even quarterly. As the technology advanced, the interval between each schedule became shorter and nowadays the closing is executed almost daily.
Automating batch scheduling helps organisations to reduce workload and human interaction. It also helps organisations to ensure that the process is executed on time.
Examples of batch process automation tools include IBM workload automation, VisualCron, VisualCron and Redwood RunMyJob.
Business Process Automation (BPA)
Business Process Automation mainly deals with sales, marketing, finance etc. BPA tools are essential for competitive businesses since they help with scaling and growth through digital transformation. Since enterprises deal with file transfer, report generation and distribution, employee onboarding, document approval etc. at a large scale on a day-to-day basis, BPA has become essential in this day and age.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Robotic Process Automation should not be confused with BPA. RPA executes predefined tasks via user interfaces. Each RPA program will have certain rules that it follows to complete the task. Usually, RPA software is trained by a human being to execute the tasks. When ready, such programs can completely replace a human being; hence they are implemented mostly to reduce workload. Recent developments in Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence have enhanced RPA capabilities. Website scraping, screen scraping etc. are the best examples of RPA.
Big Data Automation
Big data automation is implemented to collect, organize, and process large chunks of data in a noticeably short time. It is immensely helpful in dealing with anomaly detection and fraud detection as the data collected can be used to discover patterns. Big data automation along with other technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning can be used to detect fraud in big casinos and the banking industry.
Digital Process Automation (DPA)
Digital process automation aims to facilities end to end flow of information in a business ecosystem. It integrates applications, business operations, workforce and customers of a business to ensure that data is available in real-time to all the parties involved and as a result customers have a better experience. Digital process automation is implemented knowingly or unknowingly by businesses when they undergo digital transformation. However, without due focus, the advantages of DPA will be limited in scope. The customer support portals offered by most businesses are the best examples of DPA tools.
Enterprise Automation
Business Process Automation and Robotic Process Automation etc. can be limited to a single department or workflow. However, enterprise automation aims to create a single, enterprise-wide automated environment. Enterprise automation is the integration of different automation workflows implemented within an organisation. When they work in tandem, the overall efficiency and productivity of the enterprise is improved.
IT Process Automation
IT Process Automation aims to replace manual IT processes with the help of automated platforms and orchestration. It helps IT staffs to deploy, run, manage, and monitor processes using a single platform. For example, a business may implement Business Process Automation to augment its digital transformation initiative. The required IT infrastructure and process can be automated using IT Process Automation.
Infrastructure & Operations Automation
Infrastructure & Operations Automation mainly deals with the hardware and middleware of a business environment. There is a need to regularly update operating systems, tweaks configuration, and maintain optimal resource usage to avoid downtime and ensure security. An automated platform can be used for this purpose.
Cloud Automation
Businesses are moving to cloud environments faster than ever before. However, operating and managing cloud resources can still be a challenge for businesses. They must maintain a team who understands the technology to regularly monitor and configure the cloud resources as the demand and traffic can change at any time. Cloud automation aims to automate these tasks and offer a dynamic cloud environment where any changes in demand will be handled in real-time without the need for human interaction. PaaS services like AWS Elastic Beanstalk can help you with cloud automation.
Recent studies show that businesses are investing more in artificial intelligence.
According to studies conducted by DataProt, 37% of businesses employ AI in their operations. The industry will be earning $126 billion by the year 2025 and the market value is expected to cross $267 billion by 2027.
Another study, conducted by Oberlo, states that 91% of top businesses have already invested in Artificial Intelligence. Also according to them, around 62% of customers are ready to share data if it improves their experiences with a business.
As artificial intelligence and related development are becoming more popular, the programming languages used for developing such software are also becoming popular.
If you are someone who has an interest in developing AI solutions, understanding the programming languages used for AI development will be compelling to you.
Best programming languages for AI development
When it comes to AI development, there are several programming languages you can choose from. Among them, here are major 10 programming languages that are used extensively in AI and machine learning development in 2022.
1. Python
Python is a high level, general-purpose programming language. It uses significant indentation to improve its code readability. Using language constructs and an object-oriented approach Python helps with developing clear and logical code for small to large scale AI projects.
Python was released in the year 1991 by Guido van Rossum. Ever since its inception, the language has been used in desktop apps, web apps, networking apps, scientific computing, machine learning apps and data science applications.
The libraries offered by Python such as Tensorflow, Keras, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, PyBrain and MXNet etc. make it one of the popular choices for AI development. Since Python offers rich text processing tools and uses modular architecture for scripting, it has also become a popular choice for Natural Language Processing (NLP).
A few of the leading companies that use Python include Google, Amazon, NASA, Reddit, Instagram, Intel, IBM, Facebook, Netflix, JP Morgan Chase and so on.
2. R programming language
R is a very popular programming language for statistical programming, especially data analysis and statistical computing. The language was created by statisticians Ross Ihaka and Robert Gentleman in 1993. As of March 2022, R is ranked at 11th position in the TIOBE index.
R is primarily written in C, Fortran and R itself. It comes with a command-line interface and offers support for multiple third-party user interfaces like RStudio and Jupyter.
R’s S heritage enabled it to have best-in-the class object-oriented programming facilities. R supports procedural programming with the use of functions and object-oriented programming with generic functions.
Due to its advantages, R is considered the primary programming language for statistical computations in domains such as biology, sociology, finance and medicine. The advantages of R can be extended through user-created packages that offer statistical techniques, graphical devices, import/export, reporting etc. The packaging system allows researchers to organize data, code and files in a systematic way for sharing and archiving. It is the ease of using such packages that drives the popularity of R as the best programming language for data science.
The alternatives to R programming language are SPSS, Stata and SAS, However, they are commercial statistical packages while R is a free software under the GNU General Public License.
Renjin and FastR used in the Java Virtual machines is a Java implementation of R programming language. The runtime engine “TERR” that is part of “Spotfire” is developed in R.
R is used by most of the leading companies including Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft, Uber, Airbnb etc.
3. Java
Java is one of those programming languages that everyone has heard of.
This high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language was designed in the year 1995 by James Gosling and became popular in the industry due to its write once, run anywhere (WORA) principle. WORA simply means that a compiled Java code can be run on all platforms that support Java without recompiling.
Java is one of the most used programming languages for client-server web applications. Even though it shares similarities with C and C++ in terms of the syntax used, Java has fewer low-level facilities than both.
Apart from web applications, Java is also used in Android apps, Artificial Intelligence and machine learning applications, search algorithms, server-side programming, neural networks and multi-robot systems. Its scalability, low dependencies, platform independence and support for Java Virtual Machines have made Java a popular general-purpose programming language.
When it comes to AI development, Java offers several libraries and frameworks such as Apache OpenNLP, Java Machine Learning Library, Neuroph, Deep Java Library, MLlib and so on.
Java is used by several companies including the noteworthy ones such as Google, Uber, Netflix, Airbnb, Instagram, Amazon, Spotify, Slack etc.
4. Rust
Designed by Graydon Hoare in 2010, Rust is multi-paradigm, a general-purpose programming language designed for performance and safety. Even though it is syntactically similar to C++, Rust guarantees memory safety unlike the former. Another benefit of Rust is that it offers memory safety without garbage collection and reference counting is only optional.
Rust offers low-level memory management as well as high-level features such as functional programming. Since it offers speed, performance and safety, Rust is gaining increased popularity day by day. It has been adopted and implemented by mainstream companies like Amazon, Dropbox, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Discord. Google announced Rust as an alternative to C/C++ for their Android open-source project.
Here is a list of recent adoptions we have seen in the industry.
Microsoft Azure IoT Edge, a platform used to run Azure services and artificial intelligence on IoT devices, uses rust to create some of its components.
The blockchain platform Polkadot is written in Rust.
The Servo parallel browser engine developed by Mozilla in collaboration with Samsung is written in Rust.
5. Prolog
Prolog, which derived its name from “Programming in Logic”, is a logic programming language mainly used in artificial intelligence and computational linguistics. It was designed by Alain Colmerauer and Robert Kowalski in 1972.
Unlike many other programming languages, Prolog inherits first-order logic and is intended mainly as a declarative programming language. The logic is declared in the form of relations represented by facts and rules.
Even though Prolog was one of the first logic programming languages, hence one of the oldest, it still holds its position in the industry. There are several free and commercial adoption of Prolog such as Tabling (used in systems like B-Prolog, XSB, SWI-Prolog, YAP, and Ciao), hashing (used in WIN-PROLOG and SWI-Prolog) and Tail Call Optimization (TCO).
Prolog has been mainly used as a primarily logic language for expert systems, term rewriting, type systems, automated planning, theorem proving and natural language processing. This programming language is best suited for an AI solution that features rule-based logical queries such as searching databases, voice control systems, and filling templates. IBM Watson is one such system.
C++ is one of the well-known programming languages due to the popularity of C, the programming language it inherits from.
Designed by Bjarne Stroustrup as a general-purpose programming language in 1985, c++ has seen significant expansion over the years. Now it supports object-oriented, generic, and functional features besides low-level memory manipulation.
The main advantage of C++ is its performance, efficiency, and flexibility as it was designed as a programming language for building resource-constrained software and large systems. The language is used extensively in building desktop applications, servers (mainly for e-commerce, web search and databases), video games and performance-critical applications such as telephone switches and space probes.
C++ offers several AI and ML libraries such as Caffee, Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit (CNTK), TensorFlow, DyNet, OpenNN, FANN, Shogun and mlpack library.
The popular companies that use C++ include Walmart, Google, Accenture, Twitch, Telegram and Lyft.
7. Lisp
Lisp, a name derived from “LISt Processor”, is the second-oldest high-level programming language still in use and is only one year younger than Fortran. Designed by John McCarthy in 1958, this family of programming languages has a long history with the presence of several distinctive dialects such as Racket, Scheme, Common Lisp and Clojure.
Designed primarily as practical mathematical notation for computer programs, Lisp later became the most favoured programming language for Artificial Intelligence. Several inventions in the field of programming are pioneered by Lisp and they include tree data structure, dynamic typing, conditionals, automatic storage management, recursion, self-hosting compiler, higher-order functions and read-eval-print loop. Apart from these, Lisp offers several features such as rapid prototyping, dynamic object creation, flexibility, garbage collection and information process capabilities.
CLML (Common Lisp Machine Learning Library), mgl, Antik and LLA are the popular AI and ML libraries offered by Lisp.
iRobot, The Mimix Company, NASA (in their PVS), Rigetti Quantum Computing, Grammarly, Mind AI, Carre Technologies, NuEcho, Kina knowledge, Emotiq and Anaphoric are a few examples of companies that are using Lisp in their products or operations.
Logo of Lisp programming language
8. Julia
Julia is a high-level, high-performance, dynamic programming language well suited for AI solutions that deal with numerical analysis and computational science.
Designed by Jeff Bezanson, Alan Edelman, Stefan Karpinski and Viral B. Shah in 2012, Julia supports concurrent, parallel and distributed computing.
Advantages of Julia include
It can direct call “C” and “Fortran” libraries without glue code.
Compiles all code by default to machine code before running it.
Automatic memory management/garbage collection
It uses easter evaluation
Offer libraries for floating-point calculations, random number generation, linear algebra, and regular expression matching.
Julia offers several packages for Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Few of them are Flux.jl, Knet.jl, Mocha.jl, TensorFlow.jl, ScikitLearn.jl, TextAnalysis.jl, MXNet.jl, DecisionTree.jl, Merlin.jl, and LossFunctions.jl. Find the complete list here.
9. Haskell
Named after great logician Haskell Curry, Haskell is a general-purpose, statically-typed, purely functional programming language. Primarily designed for research, teaching and industrial application, Haskell boast of pioneering innovative features like type classes that enable type-safe operator overloading.
According to the number of Google searches conducted for tutorials, Haskell was the 28th most popular programming language in 2021.
The several features offered by Haskell include lazy evaluation, pattern matching, lambda expressions, list comprehension, type classes and type polymorphism. Since Haskell is purely a functional language, functions have no side effects.
Popular applications of Haskell include Agda (proof assistant), Cabal, Darcs (revision control system), Git-annex, Pandoc, TidalCycles, Cryptol, Facebook’s anti-spam programs and Cardano blockchain platform.
10. Smalltalk
This object-oriented programming language was specifically designed for constructionist learning. It is a dynamically typed reflective language which means that using Smalltalk, developers can create software programs that have the ability to examine, introspect and modify their own structure and behaviour.
Smalltalk’s reflective features help developers with advanced debugging in the most user-friendly way. In fact, Smalltalk ranked second in the list of “most loved programming languages” in the Stack Overflow Developer Survey in 2017.
Designed by Alan Kay, Dan Ingalls and Adele Goldberg in 1972, Smalltalk has influenced so many programming languages such as Python, Ruby, Java and Objective-C.
Even though it was created mainly for AI-related studies, Smalltalk lost its position in front of other popular AI programming languages such as Python and R. However, Smalltalk is picking up the pace by introducing more libraries for AI and ML development and natural language processing. For example, Pharo has a numerical package called PolyMath that is almost equal to NumPy of Python.
Due to its conciseness, object purity, simplicity and better OOP implementation, Smalltalk has started regaining the attention it always deserved as an AI language.
Conclusion
The adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning is growing at a fast pace. There are several programming languages used in AI and ML development. However, languages like Python and R are the most popular. To meet the growing demand of the industry, there are several other programming languages that are expanding their capabilities to become the best AI programming language of tomorrow.
The demand for hiring full stack developers is rising every day.
In LinkedIn top emerging jobs of 2020, full stack developer is featured in the 4th position. The role of full stack developers has grown 35 percent every year, compared to 2015.
Many companies are now viewing full stack developers as a critical asset for the company’s core operations. Such companies include software developers, IT and related services, and financial services.
Full stack developers can write both front and back-end code. They know how to create a minimal viable product with little to no support from others. Hiring Full Stack developers can provide a high-level specialty in a variety of technologies. Hiring a full stack developer instead of hiring a team of developers helps you save investment, managerial cost and other indirect costs like benefits and taxes.
What is a full stack software developer?
There is a general disagreement over the definition of full stack. It is somewhat a controversial subject in the technological field. Various organizations have different definition for who is a full stack developer and what kind of skills they should possess.
But all the definitions have something in common.
As per general sentiment, a full stack software developer is someone who knows how to create a fully functioning web application, and their knowledge of both the back end and front end is valuable to the organization. One of the best qualities of full stack developers is the amount of help they need from outside, which is very little.
This is because generally applications would have two major components; back end and front end (also called server side and client side).
While it is the backend that “powers” the applications, it is the front end that helps users to interact with an application. Since the approach, methodologies and technologies varies from front end to back end, their developments parts are assigned to different teams who are experts in their own fields (front end or back end). As a result, a single application would need at least two developers hypothetically.
But, if the same company hires a full stack developer, it can save up cost on human resources since a full stack developer would be an expert in both front end and back-end development.
MEAN stack developer vs. Full stack developer
A MEAN stack developer is someone who has knowledge in a specific technology. The term MEAN in MEAN stack developers refers to MongoDB, Expressjs, AngularJs, NodeJS.
Since these technologies are based on JavaScript a good MEAN stack developer should have extensive JS knowledge. Using these technologies together, a MEAN stack developer can develop a full stack application just like full stack developers. However, the knowledge and exposure of a MEAN stack developer will be limited to these four technologies unlike a full stack developer.
Similarities between MEAN stack and full stack developers
Both MEAN stack developers and full stack developers can create full stack applications. Both will be able to tackle client side and server-side development using their own knowledge and expertise.
Differences between MEAN stack and full stack developers
Area of expertise
A MEAN stack developer and full stack developer will have different set of expertise.
A MEAN stack developer will have knowledge on MongoDB, Expressjs, AngularJS, and Node.js.
Whereas a full stack developer will be an expert on technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Angular JS, PHP, ASP, Python, Node.js, and databases such as MySQL, SQLite or MongoDB, etc.
Framework
A MEAN stack developer uses AngularJS to accept requests and display results to end-user. They use NodeJS to handle client and server requests.
On the other hand, a full stack developer may be using HTML and CSS to power the front end and PHP to power the backend.
Database
Mean stack developers use MongoDB to store data. A full stack developer may use SQL MySQL, or Oracle, etc. to store data.
Scalability and flexibility
MEAN stack development is limited in a sense that it leverages only JavaScript based technologies. So, scalability becomes an issue since to upgrade an application, we must totally depend on JavaScript based frameworks.
On the other hand, full stack development offers better scalability and more flexibility as the developers will have the options to choose from several frameworks.
Popularity
MEAN stack development is less popular compared to full stack development. It is mainly due to the limited flexibility and scalability offered by MEAN stack.
Pros and cons of hiring full stack developers
At first, we will go through all the pros of hiring a full stack engineer.
Pros of hiring full stack developers
Scope of development
A full stack developer can take care of client side and server-side development. Since he has knowledge of both the front end and back end, the application will be simple, less buggy and offer better experience.
Range of skills
A full stack developer will have a variety of skills under his belt. It is mainly due to what the position demands in terms of technology expertise and product planning. Since the same person will be responsible for both front end and back end, he must have variety of skills to complete the application and have a better understanding of the user case and development roadmap to avoid development conflict.
Experience
Full stack software engineers are well versed in multiple phases of software development, covering fields such as front end, back end, testing, QA, and coding. The knowledge in all the areas comes over time, and full stack developers have the experience under their belt, making them more appealing to the companies. They can use the occasion to face challenges quicker without any hesitation.
Framework
Since full stack web developers know multiple technological stacks, they can be put to work on several frameworks instead of hiring different developers for different frameworks.
Cost
Since a good full stack developer can take care of front end and back-end development and even unit testing, hiring them over technology experts are more economical for companies. Hiring full stack developers helps companies to save up cost on infrastructure investment, office space, taxes and benefits and on managerial tasks since the size of the companies can be kept small.
Performance
Hiring Full stack engineers ensures better performance since the responsibilities are well defined. There is less dependability between team members and the complexities due to misunderstanding and lack of teamwork is also less. The project progress can be easily monitored and the performance to progress ratio can be calculated more easily.
Trouble solver
Experienced full stack engineers will adapt to the changes at any stages of the project development. They can easily identify problems and easily overcome them due to their familiarity with different development stacks and programming methodologies. So, by hiring full stack developers, companies can mitigate uncertainty and incorporate more flexibility to their development process.
Cons of hiring Full stack developers
Keeping up with technologies
Full stack engineers have expertise in multiple technologies. However, it become a hassle to be kept updated on all these technologies due to the rapid advancement happening in the software development industry.
Less performance
Being a jack of all trades comes with its disadvantages. A developer who works or specializes in a single technology or platform will perform better than a developer who doesn’t spend too much time on a single stack. Full stack developers have a large area of expertise to justify their profile. Still, a developer who has experience in only one specific field will have better output than a full stack developer.
Switching languages
Suppose a project demands the developer to work with multiple languages. It can be cumbersome for the full stack engineer, as they will constantly have to change the programming language on the fly. They can change the field, but they will need some time to brush up on the small things to get a grip on the language.
Transitioning between programming languages can slow down the process; hiring a specific individual who knows their way around one language will help smooth the transition from one language to another faster, requiring hiring another developer to fasten the process.
Types of Full stack developers
Having expertise in various programming languages makes full stack engineers heavy-on-demand in the market. But the demand and supply vary depending on what type of full stack developer you are looking for. Depending on the use case, we can categories full stack developers into different groups.
Full stack web developer
A full stack web developer is someone who can develop the front end and back end for a web application. The person will be an expert in web related stacks such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, Vue, PHP, ASP, Python, Node, SQL, SQLite, or MongoDB.
Full stack Android developer
If you’re planning to develop a mobile app for the Android platform, a full stack android developer will help you complete the project. Android development focuses on Java, React, Python, HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
Full stack Python developer
A full stack python developer has the expertise in the python suite of language to develop various applications. Python is become popular day by day and a lot of AI and data science related applications are made using Pythons.
Full stack Java developer
Most mobile apps and computer software heavily depend on the Java programming language. Java is a popular server-side programming language for AI development. It is also the native programming language for the Android platform. A full stack Java developer will be able to write codes in Java and help you with developing applications for different use cases.
Full stack JavaScript developer
A full stack JavaScript developer can use programming languages such as JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, or Vue to program the front end and then use languages such as Node.js to create the server side.
When it comes to JavaScript full stack development, you have several options such as you can hire a MEAN stack developer (MongoDB, Express, Angular and Node.js), MERN stack developer (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js) or MEVN stack developer (MongoDB, Express, VueJS and Node.js).
Full stack cloud developer
Full stack cloud developers uses HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Node.js, React, Python etc. to developer cloud applications. He is most likely to be familiar with DevOps practices, containerization, microservices etc. A good full stack cloud developer uses various Cloud Native tools and technologies to develop, deploy, run, and update applications on cloud platforms.
Full stack PHP developer
PHP alone can’t be used to develop full stack application. It must be used with front end languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, or Vue etc. to create a complete application. A full stack developer can also use Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LAMP) to accomplish this task.
Full stack mobile developer
A full stack mobile developer uses several programming languages such as Swift, ObjectiveC, Java, Kotlin, Node, JavaScript, TypeScript etc. They also use software like Android Studio, XCode, Ionic and APIs to complete the development.
Full stack AI developer
A full stack AI developer has extensive knowledge of various technologies related to artificial intelligence and machine learning. Programming languages such as Python, Java, Nodejs, etc., will come in very handy, connecting the machine learning model.
How to hire a full stack software developer?
It has more to do with the qualities than anything else. A full stack software engineer must have an interest or passion for new things, and they should understand different technologies and their best-case scenarios. Their decision-making abilities will also come into play as they must develop complete applications for different use cases and industries.
Depending on nature of employment, we can divide full stack developers to below categories.
Freelance full stack developer
A freelance full stack developer is someone who is self-employed. She creates applications for different clients and get paid based on hours worked, tasks completed, or projects finished. The scope of work, estimate, roadmap, and delivery terms are usually finalized before starting the project.
Pros of hiring freelance full stack developer
Low investment: You don’t have to invest on infrastructure, tools, and training
Fixed pay: Pay only the negotiated amount
Flexibility: You can hire multiple developers to shorten the development time. You can also terminate the agreement once the tasks are completed.
Large pool: Freelance full stack developers are available globally making it easier to hire them.
Cons hiring freelance full stack developer
Limited scope: The resource may not be available once the project is completed.
Compatibility: Not the right choice for huge projects.
Hard to find a quality developer
They will not share the same enthusiasm for the project as the organization.
Hiring in house/full-time developer
A full-time developer is someone who works at a specific role permanently for the company. Along with salary, she also gets other benefits and allowances that is borne by the employer.
Pros of hiring in house full stack developer
They are more likely tool invest time and effort in your idea and work for a better product to ensure a permanent role and better appraisal.
Less likely to bail out
Act as a long-term player
Availability
Cons of hiring in house full stack developer
Tiresome hiring process
Limited pool of talent if you are hiring locally
The time it will take to find the right developers
A lot of indirect cost related to hiring and maintaining talent
Difficult to upsize and downsize the team
You must invest on infrastructure and tools
Outsourcing full stack development
Outsourcing full stack development is the act of hiring an outside party, preferability an agency, to perform the development of an application.
Pros of outsourcing full stack development
Saving money. Outsourcing always leads to a cheaper method to get the work done for a quarter of the cost or less compared to hiring a permanent team.
Short-term commitment.
Away from office noise can help them to work better.
Access to expert talent pool
No need to invest on infrastructure
No indirect cost involved
Cons of outsourcing full stack development
Quality may dwindle
Trouble in communication can hinder the performance
Sometimes it is harder to monitor the progress of the project
The outsourcing agency may be working on other projects at the same time
Outstaffing full stack development
Outstaffing full stack development is the act of hiring remote developers to take up the development. Usually, organizations approach outstaffing agencies to outstaff the work. Such agencies will already have a pool of pre-vetted developers with them. The salary and benefits are paid by the agency to the developers and the organization must make a one time or task-based payment to the agency.
Pros of outstaffing full stack development
Work can get done at a faster rate
The outstaffing agency will be responsible for the quality of the final product
Training is provided by the agency
Pre vetted developers means you are getting the right person for the role
No indirect costs
Affordable
Easy to monitor the progress of the progress
You get dedicated resources
Cons of outstaffing full stack development
Miscommunication
Adding remote employees may slow down your team
It will take time for the developer to fully understand the project
Conclusion
The demand for full stack developers is on rise due to companies seeking an all-in-one solution for their software development requirement. Instead of hiring individual developers for different roles, companies are hiring people with variety of skills and knowledge to take up multiple roles.
AlignMinds has a wide pool of expert full stack developers. We make sure that all our developers have the right expertise, have high exposure to industry standards and ensure best outcomes for simple to complex projects. If you are looking for pre-vetted full stack developers for your next project, contact us now.
The number of people working from home has been rising since 2009.
Over the past decade and so, most industries have realized the benefits of allowing their employees to work remotely. In fact, hiring remote teams to build and scale businesses has become a norm in recent years.
According to Owl Labs, 16% of companies around the globe are fully remote. It may seem like a small percentage. Nevertheless, the trend shows a groundbreaking change happening in the industry. Because at the beginning of this century, terms like “remote teams” and “virtual businesses” were not so popular. Such approaches were often termed as “non-workable models” by most companies.
But at the beginning of the past decade, things began to change. More people choose to work remotely for better work-life balance and better opportunities. Companies also started granting remote work to increase employee retention rate, flexibility and to attract a high talent pool. Today, 85% of managers think that remote teams will become a common practice in their industries.
The trend is more apparent in the IT, financial services, and healthcare (surprise!) industries. In the IT industry, the hiring of remote engineers happens mainly due to three reasons.
It is difficult to find the right talent locally.
It is expensive to hire locally.
More people are preferring to work remotely. Unless companies choose to hire remotely, this talent pool, which mostly consists of experienced professionals, is out of reach for them.
We have seen a 44% growth in remote working over the last 5 years. The rate of growth becomes 159% if we consider a longer duration of 12 years. If these numbers have proven one thing, it is that remote working is becoming the new norm in the industry.
So, as a business, how can you cope with this latest trend and leverage it to your benefit?
If you are looking for an answer to the above question, don’t worry, we have the answer ready for you.
In this article, we are trying to answer three commonly asked questions related to hiring remote engineers. They are
How to build a remote engineering team that fits your business?
How to manage and scale a remote team of developers?
Why should you hire remote engineers?
So, let’s dive into them.
How to build remote engineering teams?
Understand the actual role
When hiring for a position, the hiring team should first understand the position in depth. They should understand what the position demands and how critical the position is for the business. They should also comprehend the existing chemistry between the teams and what work style will suit the environment perfectly. This will also help you as a hiring manager to evaluate whether the position is suitable to hire remotely.
Industry expertise
Along with technical and soft skills, the team should also evaluate the industry expertise of the candidates. A candidate who has enough expertise in the industry is less likely to make mistakes and she will need less supervision throughout a project. Hiring people with expertise will help you to avoid one of the biggest drawbacks of hiring remotely, communication issues.
Industry experience
Experience should be a primary parameter when evaluating candidates for a remote engineering role.
Just like candidates with industry expertise, an experienced candidate will be more familiar with the role and responsibilities. Such candidates can contribute to your business independently and also as a part of a team. The experience they have gained in their career will also help your existing team positively.
Also, keep in mind that remote working does not suit everyone. Hiring candidates who have already worked in a remote position will help you to mitigate the risk.
Availability and communication
Hiring a remote engineering team has its own challenges. When the teams are available on-site, communication is a breeze and availability is not an issue.
However, when hiring a remote engineering team, these two factors can become challenging. When you are hiring from a different time zone, the resource may not be available during a time that is convenient to you and the team. This will negatively impact the quality of the work and the timeline of the project. As a result, the cost of the project will also shoot up.
Thankfully the recent technological advancements have made a positive impact on the communication landscape.
The various communication and team collaborations tools available today can mitigate most of the communication issues arising from remote hiring. However, the hiring team should make sure that the candidates are comfortable working in a different time zone and the tools you are going to use are convenient for them too.
Hire remote teams from existing markets
Outsourcing talent is one of the most revenue-generating industries for many countries.
Countries like India, Vietnam and Ukraine already have a well-established outsourcing industry. This means that the talent in these countries is already accustomed to remote working, its culture and challenges. Moreover, they are more likely to be fluent in one of the international languages, making the language barrier irrelevant.
Since a major chunk of revenue is coming from the outsourcing industries, such countries are also focusing on improving the infrastructure in this field. There are more IT parks emerging day by day and the people in these countries have access to electricity, better internet and higher education already. The lower living cost around this part of the globe warrants that the cost of hiring a remote team of developers is also affordable.
Hire pre-vetted remote engineering teams
The hiring process can be hectic. Especially when you are hiring remotely. You have to make sure that the candidate is right for the role, right for the team, the “cultures match”, and successful hiring will contribute positively to the overall business. As a result, the hiring process can become complex, lengthy, repetitive, and tiresome for every party involved.
Thankfully, hiring pre-vetted remote teams helps you avoid this. A pre-vetted engineer is someone who has already gone through screening, interviews, and tests to prove that he or she is the right fit for a specific role. So, by approaching such pre-vetted developers, you are most likely to find the right candidate.
How to manage remote engineering teams?
Managing and scaling a team of remote developers is different from hiring a remote team. To make it easier for you, here are a few tips on how to manage a remote engineering team, once hired.
Communicate clearly
When working with remote engineering teams, it is better to define a formal communication channel and set clear expectations. Unlike in an on-site work environment where communication is faster and informal, a remote work environment demands a different approach. Since availability, cultural background and language barriers can cause gaps in communication and lead to misunderstandings, it is better to plan and schedule face to face virtual meetings or define a formal channel to communicate. In a remote working environment, formal communication supported with documentation is the right approach.
Build rapport
A remote team should not be unorganized and unengaging. There should be a good connection and better understanding between team members and friendly engagements should be encouraged. When there is a good rapport between the team members, it is easier to come up with innovative ideas and the team will move in the same direction. A supportive environment will transform any challenging task into an opportunity to learn.
Encourage transparency
The number of software that can help you with team collaboration, documentation, project management, task management, incident response, bug tracking, design thinking, review and quality check etc. is higher than ever before. The use of such software not only brings transparency to the team but also helps you with managing the resource most effectively.
Here is a list of the most common software used in the industry.
Communication and collaboration: Slack, Google Hangout, Twist, Zoom
Task management: Todoist, Tick Tick, Microsoft ToDo
Planning and scheduling are most important when managing a team of remote engineers. Every member of the team should have a clear understanding of the project roadmap and the role he is going to play. The task list and schedules should be communicated at the beginning of the project itself and they should be documented. With the right planning, the team will have a way to avoid uncertainty and can work in a stress-free environment.
Convenience and automation
One of the common mistakes everyone makes when dealing with a remote development team is excessive micromanagement. This can be in the form of an excessive number of daily meetings, morning, and evening status reports, using tools that question privacy, or excessive amounts of documentation. As a result, the remote team finds the working environment stressful and there is not enough time to complete the actual work.
So, it is better to schedule meetings only when necessary. The participation should be limited to people who would really benefit from the meeting. Most of the meetings can be replaced by a morning or evening email or with good project management software. Instead of using traditional documentation methods, we can use readily available tools, like the ones mentioned before, to improve team collaboration and track progress.
Why hire remote engineering teams?
Access to the right talent
Hiring the right talent locally can be difficult for so many businesses. There can be various reasons including affordability, lack of local talent, the nature of the business, indirect hiring cost, lack of flexibility or even the nature of the project.
For example, even though it’s rare in occurrence, companies may be forced to work on projects that are outside of their expertise. To fill the gap, they would need a person or a team of professionals who are an expert in a particular niche. If the demand for such expertise was always low in their country, the number of people with the right talent would also be less. It is because people are more likely to choose a career in fields with high demand so that they will never run out of opportunities.
So, if the talent is not available locally, what can the business do?
Of Course, dropping the project will have a negative impact on the business; especially when its growth is dependent on the completion of the project. In such cases, hiring remotely will be the right choice for them.
Affordability
The cost of hiring and maintaining a permanent team is the highest in countries like the USA. However, there are other countries like India and Ukraine where the salary for the same role is only a quarter of what it is in the US. So naturally, if a US-based company hires remotely from India or Ukraine they can save up on costs as they have to pay only an amount equal to the local pay band. This way companies can cut costs and improve their profit margin significantly.
According to Standford, employees that work remotely are more productive than on-site workers. The study also showed that remote staff have a lower attrition rate, and they work more hours per year than their onsite counterpart. This is mainly attributed to the better work-life balance and flexible working hours available to remote workers.
Flexibility
One of the benefits of hiring a remote engineering team is, you can hire them for the short term or long-term depending on the duration of the project. Since remote roles are not treated equally to permanent roles, cutting down or scaling the size of the remote team is easier and less complex.
If you are outstaffing the role, things become a lot easier since the salary, allowances and benefits are handled by the outstaffing agency.
Final thoughts
Hiring remote engineering teams has already become a norm in the industry. It helps businesses to save up costs, add flexibility to the business, find the right talents, and improve productivity. Even though building and scaling a remote engineering team has its own challenges, they can be easily mitigated by using the right methods and tools that are readily available.
AlignMinds has more than 12 years of experience in working on web, mobility, cloud, and AI technologies. We are offering a wide set of services including outstaffing and remote development. If you are looking for a pre-vetted team of remote developers, contact us now!
Striving to get your IT projects done effectively and efficiently?
Well, most of the IT projects get stuck because of numerous difficulties and complexities resulting due to a lack of development capacity.
IT companies require their staff to be updated, vigil, fast, and super talented. An IT company that faces the issue of lack of development capacity might face hefty losses in business and profit.
However, to avoid these issues, big corporations prefer to work with outstaffing their IT projects and strive to upgrade the effectiveness and efficiency of their core operations.
With Outstaffing their work, organisations are reducing their expenses up to a substantial amount along with improving their scalability and flexibility.
The majority of the organisations require IT specialists, temporarily or based on project requirements. In such a scenario, employing IT professionals for a permanent role can be a costly affair for the company.
Therefore, assigning the projects to an outstaffing company and entrusting them with management and developments of the same can be a smart decision for them.
To understand the concept of IT outstaffing services, let’s discuss its various aspects in brief.
Trends and statistics of outstaffing in the industry
Since the year 2020, there has been an unprecedented level of increase in the sector of remote working.
Remote working is also commonly known as hybrid working. Due to the devastating spread of Covid-19 majority of the organisations have adapted the culture of remote working to continue the core operations of the company smoothly.
Major organisations are concentrating more on their core business and prefer to assign complex tasks to professionals who are specialised in the respective fields. They are also boosting their work processby inducing their operations with RPA (Robotic process automation) to eliminate the repetitive tasks processes.
Most organisations are moving to cloud-based technologies for better scalability and security. The majority of companies prefer to outsource or outstaff all their infrastructure-related work.
Companies are looking for IT professionals that are specialists in building complex and advanced products. If the right talent is not available locally, they are open to hiring globally.
The substantial growth of Artificial Intelligence in the industry makes major organisations infuse themselves with this advanced technology. Therefore, such companies are looking to outstaff AI-centric projects to IT professionals who are specialised in automation and AI.
After the pandemic, more people are preferring to work remotely. Organizations are finding headhunting more tiresome, less fruitful, and most of the time the right talent is out of reach for an onsite job.
Several organizations are finding it difficult to maintain their talent pool and it is affecting their productivity. Since human resource plays a vital role in business growth, they are looking for innovative ways to attract and maintain talent.
Definition: What is outstaffing?
For a better understanding of the concept of Outstaffing, let’s discuss it in brief.
IT outstaffing is a concept where big corporations, companies, or organisations collaborate with IT professionals and hire them to work for them as independent developers. Hiring an IT developer or a team of developers to do remote work on the IT projects of the companies is known as IT outstaffing.
These IT developers are directly employed by an IT outstaffing agency, but they ensure to perform all tasks for your organisation and submit it on time. The IT outstaffing company also has the entire responsibility of paying wages, bonuses, and other employment benefits to the employees.
To be clear about this concept, you must know that outstaffing and outsourcing are two entirely distinctive concepts.
Outstaffing is a concept that allows you to gain access to hiring an independent development team. Moreover, in Outstaffing, the chain of communication is not complex and is simple because you can directly contact them for the status of the projects. It also eliminates the complex process of communication in the form of hierarchy.
Furthermore, in IT outstaffing services, you can also instruct the development team to work on multiple projects at the same time according to the work agreement conditions.
Outsourcing Vs. Outstaffing
The concept of outsourcing and outstaffing is commonly confused with one another.
Indeed, both the concepts are a bit similar in some aspects; but if you will try to understand it in brief they are entirely different.
Let’s clear your confusion regarding both the concepts and help you gain a clear understanding of the same.
Advantages of outstaffing
Outstaffing is a popular concept of getting work done by independent IT specialists without enrolling them as an employee in your company.
Besides the easy culture of getting work done, there are numerous other benefits of outstaffingas well. The various advantages of IT outstaffing services are as follows:
Smooth model of hiring
Outstaffing is one of the best forms of getting your IT projects done by IT specialists and professionals.
With the benefits of IT outstaffing services, the company can have their own permanent staff and also can hire independent professionals who are specialised in certain fields and technologies from other companies temporarily.
The features that makehiring outstaffing services beneficial for your company as well as for your hiring model is that this way, you can maintain a flexible team and can have full control over cost and resource management. You can make a onetime payment to the outstaffing service provider and the wages or salary of the IT specialist along with bonus and benefits would be handled by them.
Full control over the development project
Another benefit ofIT outstaffing servicesis that your projects and work is handed over to the hired development team, which means that the work will be done by the partner company employees. However, the control over the development projects remains with you.
While deciding whether to outsource or outsaff software development, you must keep in mind that with outstaffing, you will have a dedicated team of IT staff to work on your project.
By choosing IT outstaffing services, the companies will get a chance to vet the professionals before hiring and since she will act as a dedicated staff to your company the project will be delivered on time with the expected quality.
Full access to the resource
The prime reason why most organisations are choosing outstaffing is that this way, they will have full access to the day-to-day management decisions as well as resource management. If you have a project manager, she can assign the day-to-day task to the hired professional or you can also a hire team of IT professionals that include designers, developers, project managers, testers etc.
Substantially low costs
The cost of outstaffing is substantially low compared to hiring permanent employees. You do not have to pay any bonuses, benefits to the IT specialist you hire through outstaffing and you also get a dedicated employee to the team. Also, there is no labour penalties for downsizing your outstaffed team.
Moreover, if you are on a “pay per hour” contract, you will get a precise report on how much time each task is taking, and you can also request the staff to work on more specialised tasks.
Overall, the expenses spent on a permanent employee are substantially higher than making a single time payment to an outstaffing company. Furthermore, if the company is more careful and attentive in working effectively and efficiently, outstaffing will be the right option.
Cons of outstaffing
Outstaffing models are beneficial for companies in general, but every hiring model does have its loopholes as well. The outstaffing model has a few shortcomings or challenges that are as follows:
Communication gap
Since the hired professional will be working remotely or independently and separate from the entire development team, this might result in some communication gaps between the team of IT staff. Such communication gaps between the team might result in misunderstanding, complexities, and non-quality work.
However, today, due to the advancement in technology and communication, this can be mitigated by using the right communication tools.
As the project management team of the company, you must ensure a smooth communication channel with all the developers of the development team that are part of the outstaffing company. Moreover, you must also make sure that the entire team of the project is connected and updated with the required details of the projects.
The reporting and work status must be transparent and should be shared with the corporate team managing the IT project.
Responsibility of the project
Hiring anIT outstaffing company to provide the IT projects to them can raise a question relating to the responsibility of the projects. Indeed, the final responsibility of the project is within the hands of the outstaffing company only; however, it is fair enough to say that the responsibility must be shared.
It is always recommended to curate the contract based on all the aspects of the projects including responsibility and resolution.
What types of business will benefit the most from outstaffing?
Outstaffing is a common work model that is incredibly famous in the entire corporate industry.
It has various benefits such as cost-effectiveness, saving time and effort to find the right talent, quality of work, flexibility and more.
The concept of outstaffing is a common concept that is not linked with any particular industry or business. However, as per the popular trends of the market and survey reports of various experts, we can say that the concept of outstaffing is highly beneficial to small businesses who like to manage their resources more efficiently.
IT outstaffing is also beneficial to the companies who want IT projects to be done by professional developers without going through the pain of hiring them as direct employees.
This hiring model is also suitable for businesses that need people who are specialised in certain fields or technologies only for a particular project or temporarily.
Where to outstaff?
There are numerous outstaffing companies available across the globe. However, the cost associated with outstaffing varies depending on the living standard in these countries. If you are looking to outstaff software development with a minimum cost without compromising on quality it will be better to hire from developing countries like India, Eastern Europe, Vietnam, the Philippines etc.
But always vet the professionals before making a hiring decision. Also, it is recommended to check the history, vision, experience, expertise, and reviews of the IT outstaffing company before making a partnership with them.
Final thoughts
The outstaffing model is incredibly famous, beneficial as well as productive for organisations that want to implement IT projects. If you are aiming to develop complex or high-quality IT products without increasing your employment budget, then IT outstaffing is the best option for you.
AlignMinds has more than 12 years of experience in the field of web, mobility, DevOps and AI. We have a pool of specialised talent with the experience of working on small to complex projects for several verticals from media to government. If you are looking for an IT outstaffing company for your next project, contact us now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IT outstaffing?
Outstaffing is a form of indirect employment of a developer, development team, or professional. In this hiring model, a company hires a dedicated and specialised professional temporarily through an outstaffing service provider to ensure better resource management, flexibility, and quality of work.
What are the advantages of it outstaffing?
There are numerous advantages of IT outstaffing. Some of the most beneficial pros are as follows:
IT outstaffing is more affordable.
Full control of the management aspect of the IT projects.
Full control over the resources hired.
Access to the vetting process.
Decrease of a burden on the corporate team in regard to talent hunting and management.
Saves time and promotes flexibility.
Access to the best talent and specialised professionals.
Promotes working on complex or multiple projects simultaneously.
Should I outsource or outstaff software development?
Outstaffing the development project can help the company to have access to the right talent with minimum cost and effort. It provides you with dedicated resources without the need to go through the complexities of hiring and maintaining talent.
On the other hand, outsourcing helps with getting the work done by an outsourcing company without any worries or additional effort from you.
How much does outstaffing software development cost?
As compared to the outsourcing model, the outstaffing model is comparatively cheaper and more cost-effective. However, the exact cost will depend on the speciation and experience of the resource. For an estimation, please contact us.
What is the best country to outstaff software development?
If you are cost-conscious, outstaffing IT projects to any developing country that has the right talent pool will be the right option for you. Since the cost of living is less in such countries, the project cost will also be less. However, male sure that the country and the organization has the right infrastructure, suitable working culture, experience in working on similar projects before outstaffing.
Microservices architecture has become the new trend in the software development industry. Big companies like Amazon and Netflix are also favouring microservices architecture as it offers several benefits like improved scalability, better data security and compliance, future-proofing, business agility and faster development.
According to research, 73% of firms are using or planning to use microservices as it helps them build next-generation services and applications. Around 63% of organizations surveyed are already building some or all of their applications using microservices.
According to Allied Market Research, the microservices architecture market is projected to reach $8,073 million by 2026 from an estimated market size of $2073 million in 2018. That is a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 18.6% from 2019 to 2026.
All these statistics are pointing to one thing; microservices are the future. However, if you are a business that is yet to adopt the new trend, trying to understand the benefits of microservices will convince you to do so.
But before listing out the benefits of microservices architecture, let’s start with understanding what is microservice architecture.
What is microservices architecture?
Microservices architecture, commonly known as “microservices”, is an architectural style for developing applications. It allows a large application to be separated into smaller independent parts, with each part having its own realm of responsibility. As a result, a microservices-based application can call on many internal microservices to compose a response to a single user request.
“A microservices architecture is a type of application architecture where the application is developed as a collection of services. It provides the framework to develop, deploy, and maintain microservices architecture diagrams and services independently.”
Microservices are typically used to speed up application development. Website migration, data processing, transactions and invoices, media content storage and retrieval etc. are the other usages of microservices.
Microservices vs Monolith
Traditionally developers followed a monolithic design approach. In a monolithic architecture, components share a common memory space and work together as one cohesive unit. As a result, such applications are self-contained, and their components are interdependent. To make changes to a single component, developers must rebuild and redeploy the entire software altogether. This is a big drawback for businesses who want to add new features to their applications frequently. The monolithic architecture limited their rate of technology advancement, took away their competitive edge and constrained their growth opportunities.
On the other hand, the microservices architecture allows an application to be divided into a set of individual and autonomous services. Each of these services can be implemented in a different language on a different platform. Yet, it won’t affect the quality of the application as a whole. Moreover, each service is robust, flexible and complete on its own. So, adding a new feature to the application or removing an outdated feature is no more a difficult task. Since you can make changes to a particular feature without affecting the remaining part of the application, the cost of development and maintenance also went down.
Overall, microservices architecture offers more benefits than monolithic architecture to businesses that want to be competitive in the industry.
What are the benefits of microservices architecture?
Scalability
Microservices run independently. That means each microservice can be added, removed, updated, and scaled without affecting other microservices that comprise the application. During an increase in demand, you only have to allocate more resources to the concerned microservice(s) to meet the demand. As a result, an organization can save costs on server resources.
In 2008, Netflix had to ditch their monolithic design and adopt microservices after a three-day service failure caused by a major database corruption. The migration helped them to serve a wider audience in 2016 as the numbers of streaming members went up by eight times and the overall viewership tripled in those eight years! Their viewership is growing ever since and moving to microservices architecture became one of the best decisions they have ever made as a business.
Data security
Microservices architecture supports secure APIs. Developers can use them to connect with microservices without security concerns as APIs ensure that the data is accessible only to authorized parties.
iPaas (Integration Platform as a Service) providers like DreamFactory can help you build secure APIs in minutes using their automatic API generation tools.
Legal compliance
Since APIs provide a secure way for developers to handle and safeguard the application data, following legal policies and data and privacy rules are no more an issue. Microservices along with secure APIs help developers to meet various legal compliance including HIPAA, GDPR and other security standards.
Future-proofing
One of the main advantages of microservices architecture is that it supports CI/CD/CD (Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, Continuous Deployment). It enables you to quickly deploy core microservices as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and continuously update it with additional microservices to make it a full fetched product in the future.
Also, as technology advances, new features may be introduced in the market and it is much easier to add them as microservices. Besides, a higher level of application security can be maintained all the time by adding a new security feature to the application as new security threats arise.
Conflict free
Compatibility and conflict are two major nightmares for every developer. Compatibility issues can lead to service outages and bring down the quality of the user experience. However, if you are using microservices, you don’t have to worry about such issues.
Due to its pluggability, microservices architecture offers faster and easier application development and updates. Since each microservices in an application will be functioning autonomously, making changes to a microservice or adding/removing a microservice to the application will not conflict with other microservices. As a result, there are fewer chances for coding conflicts and server outages due to the compatibility of codes.
Fault isolation
Along with being conflict-free, microservices architecture also offers circuit breakers that prevent cascading failure and server resource depletion. As a result, dependency related shutdowns are least to nil in a microservices architecture-based application.
Developers can also avoid using Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) between microservices to prevent cascading failures. Furthermore, fault tolerance libraries like Hystrix help you to build fault-tolerant microservices so that you can totally avoid cascading failure and enable resilience in your complex application.
Business agility
The market is ever-changing. Businesses need to cater to different demands that may not be permanent in the market. However, making changes to their applications frequently to fulfil user’ demands was always a difficult task for businesses. New features had to be designed, developed and tested before they are integrated into a live application. The whole process cost them time and money and even then the results were not promising.
With the introduction of microservices, agility became no longer an issue for businesses. An application that is based on microservices architecture is comprised of several microservices that work independently and enable certain feature sets in the application. To enable a new feature, you just have to integrate a new microservice into the system, and thanks to its autonomous nature, you don’t have to worry about any dependency failures. Thence, businesses can now easily integrate new features to an existing application and roll back to the previous version if the new feature doesn’t work out.
Focused teams
A microservice is small enough for a single team to build, test and deploy it. In Amazon’s terms, a team that is small enough to be fed by two pizzas can manage everything related to a microservice. By keeping the size of the team small, they noticed that the work efficiency improved, there was more ownership, teams were easier to manage, they achieved their goals faster and the quality of the end results were often better.
Since the teams are working independently and there is a good rapport between the team members, fostering creative thinking and innovative ideas becomes spontaneous. Moreover, there will be a positive relationship and trust between the team members and the teams will be highly motivated.
How to implement microservices architecture?
Decentralize
Microservices replaces monolithic design thinking. In a microservices based application, everything from code to teams is decentralized. Small autonomous teams shall be responsible for designing, developing, testing and deploying services and there should be no sharing of code or data schemes.
Business-focused design
Microservices should be designed around the business domain. Each business microservice should have a single cohesive domain model. Depending on the scenario, a business microservice can be composed of several physical services that share a single domain model. However, the domain model must capture the business language, rules, behaviours and constraints of the business microservice it represents.
Ownership of data
A microservice should be totally independent. This rule is applicable in the case of data storage too. In a microservice-based application, data ownership lies with the service that handles the data; so the data storage should be private to that particular service.
Use APIs
All service communications should be handled using secure APIs. The APIs should be modelled around the domain not the internal implementation of the services.
Use gateways
Simplify application development by offloading cross-cutting services such as SSL certificates and authentication etc. to a gateway.
Decouple
Coupling between services should be avoided to make each service independent. So that any changes you make to one service will not affect any other services that comprise the application. This is applicable to communication protocols and even shared database schemas.
Functional cohesion
Functions that are serving a single purpose should be packaged and deployed together to avoid tight coupling.
Tight coupling is a sign of low cohesion. When there is low cohesion, a change in one service will affect other services in an application. Therefore, you will be forced to make changes to other services when updating a particular service. So, the focus should be to create services that are loose coupled and have high functional cohesion.
Fault isolation
The purpose of microservices architecture is to design reliable applications. You should implement fault isolation along with a resilience strategy to avoid cascading failure and dependency related shutdowns.
Adopting microservices: The Netflix and Amazon stories
Netflix and Amazon identified the potential of microservices and leveraged it to their business advantages earlier than any other in the industry.
Netflix
In the beginning, Netflix was using monolithic architecture for their application. In 2008, due to a major database corruption in their servers, the services of Netflix were unavailable to their customers for three days. Around the same time, the company also realized that the vertically scaled model was hampering its growth. They were not able to meet the demand of their growing customer base with the then-existing model.
Around 2009, Netflix started moving their services to microservices architecture. They began by moving to distributed cloud systems that are highly reliable and horizontally scalable. In 2016, Netflix expanded their services to more than 130 countries and became a global service provider. Their API gateway handled more than 2 billion requests daily around the same year. Now Netflix has more than hundreds of microservices instead of a single monolithic application.
Amazon
The growth of Amazon started in the early 2000s. As they were growing, more issues related to scaling started to interrupt their operations. The company quickly recognized that a single model that acts as a master product will not help them in the long run. So, they started to create independent teams that are small enough to be fed by two pizzas and assigned them the responsibility to develop autonomous services that are complete on their own.
The idea was to use microservices to power every feature of their platform and the term “microservices” didn’t even exist at that time! These microservices together would give the impression of a big, single application and communicate with each other via secure APIs. The developers would be fully responsible for the services they build and that includes coding, testing and deployment.
However, a lot of operational work became repetitive, and it slowed down the process. With the introduction of AWS (Amazon Web Services), Amazon was able to automate these operational processes and it helped them to scale the services depending on the demand and business needs.
Conclusion
It is true that moving to microservices architecture requires a paradigm shift. But the benefits of it will depend on the nature of the business and its long-term goals. For large enterprises, adopting microservices is a necessity due to the complexity arising from their large-scale operations and the magnitude of demands they must fulfil. For startups and small-scale businesses, microservices architecture may not seem attractive now. However, if you are a growth-oriented business, choosing microservices architecture will benefit you in long run.
N.B.: AlignMinds has more than 12 years of experience in developing trendsetting yet cost effective solutions for startups and enterprises alike. If you are looking for a microservices developer for your next project, contact us now!
2021 saw many technology trends as a continuous response to the COVID pandemic that emerged in 2020. Industries were in shock during the first quarter of 2020. But towards the end of the year, most of the industries were able to take control of the situation and we saw somewhat an accelerated growth during the year 2021.
In 2021, most industries optioned for technology adoption and it helped them tremendously. The industries that took advantage of digital transformation included manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, education, financial services, media, and retail. Since customers were mostly confined within their homes, we saw some big jumps in emerging technologies in industries like education, media, retail, and healthcare.
2021 is already over and we are now in 2022. Most of us will be wondering what to expect this year especially in technology industry since it was the driving force behind all emerging trends for past couple of years. To help the curious minds, we have curated a list of emerging technology trends for the current year, 2022.
Major technology trends to watch out for in 2022
Automation
The word “automation” is not new to any of us. We have been hearing about automation and how different industries are adopting it to improve their productivity, efficiency, cut costs and boost profit margin. However, as different industries are seeking out more ways to adopt automation, automation is also seeing a diversification.
In the beginning, it was the manufacturing industry that recognized the benefits of automation. Later, the service industry also adopted automation in the form of CRMs, inventory management software, payroll software, invoicing software and so on. These days automation has reached every nook and cranny of a business. People have become familiar with terms like self-driving vehicles, autopilots, smart wearables, smart home notifications etc. We are also seeing an increase in consumer numbers for IoT devices as they are becoming more affordable and convenient.
“By 2025, more than 50 billion devices will be connected to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), generating 79.4 zettabytes of data yearly.”
We can expect more growth in the field of automation and IoT in coming years as the potential is limitless and we have only touched the tip of the iceberg.
Metaverse
Facebook renamed itself to Meta in October last year. The tech giant rebranding itself after a decade and a half reflects the potential of metaverse. While AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) are not a new trend in 2022, the coming together of physical, augmented, and virtual world to form a single and seamless entity, where people can hang out with friends, meet new people and places, do shopping, participate in entertainment and professional activities alike, is something new and yet to experience. Of course, the idea has been lingering around for a while and we even had a chance to see few demos and experimentation, the Metaverse was still in its conception stage. But we can expect some breakthroughs soon especially since trillion-dollar companies like “Meta” have recognized that it is the future.
Here’s the full video of our Walmart VR store concept demo! Almost 5 years later, this demo is proof of how experimental VR once was and how far it has come today!
The pandemic forced so many physical stores to close down. Businesses around the globe, irrespective of their industry, discovered that it is difficult to find customers in traditional ways since movement of the people are mostly restricted. It forced businesses to migrate from offline business model to an online business model with a focus on websites and apps to connect with their customers.
However, the results were not promising since most businesses were out of reach for the customers. Their websites and apps failed to show up in search results and were undiscoverable for potential clients. It forced businesses to put more focus on search optimization and become discoverable for their customers.
Due to the comfort and convenience it offers, people are still preferring online shopping even after the restrictions are lifted. We can expect the trend to stay the same for a while at least until there is some incentives for customers to prefer the traditional way for shopping. So, currently businesses are forced to find new search and discoverability strategies to attract sales.
Decision intelligence
Decision intelligence is a new discipline that can help such organizations with their organizational decision-making process. It can support and enhance human decision-making using intelligence and analytics to inform, learn from and create a set of processes to find the right decision. It combines various disciplines like data science, engineering, social science, decision theory and managerial science. We will be seeing decision intelligence in action more often in the coming years.
Distributed business
A distributed business or distributed company is a business that has a remote workforce and consumers connected via digital technologies. It is a digital-first, remote-first business model that encourages hybrid workforce and virtual services to improve employee and consumer experience. Ever since the pandemic there is an apparent shift in employee and consumer preferences and distributed business model can help companies to meet the expectations of both.
Cyber AI
Hacking, breaches, data theft etc. are becoming widespread despite technological advancements. Hackers are leveraging the advancement in technology to find loopholes in systems and create novel ways to get access to them. In 2022, businesses need to be proactive than ever to counter such cyber threats.
Thankfully, artificial intelligence and machine learning help to build models that can learn their own and detect novel patterns in a system. Processes like “Anomaly detection” etc. are a big step towards achieving this goal. Such models can not only detect an unusual pattern, but they can also contain them, notify about such events to concerned parties and use the data to improve themselves.
Distributed ledger and Blockchain
Decentralization is happening in all fields. Data storage and processing are also undergoing a major transformation. The traditional, centralized databases are giving way for distributed ledger (shared ledger or DLT) and blockchain models that are more secure and safe.
Industries like finance and banking are taking full advantage of these technologies as they offer more efficient transactions. The transactions and their details are recorded in multiple places at the same time making them impossible to be lost.
DLT is still an emerging technology if we compare its potential to the current rate of adoption. Since it can help to deter issues like hacking, unauthorized access, data theft etc., we can expect it to become an emerging trend in 2022.
Cloud
Businesses are moving from legacy environments to the cloud at a faster rate. The necessity to go virtual and remote forced most businesses to ditch legacy models and find alternative solutions.
Since the tech industry foresaw the rise of cloud a long time ago, most of the new solutions like productivity tools, businesses suits, even games and media services are already cloud-based. Along with the necessity to go for a decentralized and distributed model, the potential for much better compatibility and integration are forcing companies to build their infrastructure and solution using cloud tech.
Wordless Passwords
Are you someone who always click on the “forgot password” button every time you try to log in to a platform? If yes, here is good news. The traditional, character-based passwords are giving way to more sophisticated biometric passwords. The use of fingerprint, face recognition, iris scan and voice authentication etc. are becoming popular as an authentication mode. They are not only secure but also convenient compared to traditional passwords that are based on alphabets, numbers, and special characters that we always manage to forget.
Also, service providers like Google etc. are moving towards more convenient authentication methods like signing in with your phone or authenticator app where you do not have to remember any password or code but to tap on the matching code that appears on your device/app.
Fewer keys
The introduction of the Apple Pencil was revolutionary. Even though stencils were in use for a long time, Apple Pencil offers something more than a pencil. They are integrated very well with the devices and designed in a way that is convenient to users. It can undertake different functions based on pressure, tilt, the application that is currently open, double-tap, or for navigation and everything else including notetaking and drawing.
In short, we are moving from an era of keyboards and input tools to a new era that enables us to interact with devices just like how we interact with other human beings.
Immersion
Technology is moving its focus from experience to immersion. Until now each component in a system had its own set of functions that focused on delivering a specific experience to users. However, the recent technology trends are moving towards immersive experience where each component is designed in a way to offer a realistic, more enjoyable and wholistic experience and eliminate any chances for interruptions. The vision is to narrow the border between the virtual and real world and deliver the experience the users want rather than they need.
The two industries that are more focused on this emerging trend are gaming and media. It is because these industries were always struggling to deliver “the right experience” to their users especially when the users’ interests span across history, science, and fantasy. For example, it always was a challenge for game developers to offer the experience of living in space or a treasure hunt in ancient times to its users even though the storyline and models were of the best quality. The fault was not in the quality of the design but the delivery of the experience.
Ever since AR and VR became more mature and there are significant improvements in rendering, physics, display and audio technology, the experience has become much better for the users. In 2022, we can expect this trend to become widespread and more industries adopting it to improve customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
There are some exciting technology trends we can expect in 2022. Some of the names associated with these tech trends may seem familiar to you. Even if they are familiar, we are yet to see the adoption of such technologies on a scale that is large enough to make an impact on our day-to-day life. 2022 seems like to be the year we are going to experience them in our regular life.
AlignMinds is an award-winning technology consulting company that specializes in product engineering in mobility and cloud platforms. We offer best in class consulting in web and mobile app development, AI, AR, IoT, cloud, blockchain and cybersecurity. Are you looking for a technology partner for your next project? Contact us now!
Imagine one day you discovered an app called “MobileApp”.
The app helps its users to find rides that are economical by letting you share the occupancy with other users who want to travel in the same direction. You were not sure about the practicality of what it offers, so you tested it on a weekend night when you were not in a hurry. Fortunately, the app worked perfectly. You were able to find a ride quick enough and save some money too.
You have been using the app for a while now. All your rides, including the one to your office, are handled by the “MobileApp”. Like on any other morning, you woke up, got ready, took your mobile and opened the app to book your ride today too. To your horror, the map is not loading, and the app keeps on freezing even after several reboots.
You open Play Store to see whether there is an update pending. But alas, you found nothing! However, you notice that most of the recent comments are about the similar issue and seems like it is happening for a while for most users.
But you got no time at least enough time to read all those comments. You must hurry now or be prepared to reach your office at the wrong time. luckily, you discover one of your colleagues lives just nearby and he will be able to offer you a lift for the day. Now you are feeling ashamed of yourself for trusting a mobile app and depending on it too much enough to bring you trouble. You lost trust in the whole technology thing itself.
This is what happens when app developers don’t take care of application maintenance. The trust and image that built over time is just lost within a minute. The existing users are lost mostly forever, so are most of the potential users who see those feedbacks on Play Store. Revenue, hard work, development, and everything else went into vain.
What is application maintenance?
Application maintenance is the process of continuously monitoring, analyzing, evaluating, updating, and upgrading part of an application or application as a whole to offer the functions and features as intended without any interruption or lack of usability for the end-user.
Application maintenance comes at later stages of app development. But it plays a vital role in deciding the success of an application.
Due to evolving market needs, competition, new technologies and technology adoption, change in business strategies, and other external factors like government policies and latest events in the industry, an application need regular modification to maintain its relevancy among customers. It is irrelevant whether you are developing the app in one go or the development is scheduled in several stages, maintenance and technical support are very crucial from the moment the app goes live.
Why is application maintenance important?
There are several reasons why application maintenance is so important.
Ensure application functions
An application’s functions and features are what make it unique. They offer an advantage over its competitors and play a crucial role in whether the app is going to be successful in the market.
However, due to technology advancement and some of the existing technologies getting outdated, the app needs to be modified and updated in regular intervals to ensure that all its functions and features are still available to the users. Otherwise, the app will lose its functionalities and its place in the market. It will become obsolete within a short span due to how fast technology is evolving.
Technology adoption
Technology is evolving at a fast pace. Existing ones are replaced by faster, modern, and safer technologies. Businesses and applications that leverage the latest technologies will have the upper hand in competition because it will help them offer an enhanced experience to their customers.
However, most applications are not able to leverage upon latest technologies due to the wide gap between the existing one used in the application and the latest technology. Either they must recreate the whole application once again or compromise on what they can improve to offer a better experience to their users. This often happens when an application missed maintenance for a while increasing compatibility issues.
New features
Since applications that are devoid of maintenance for a while will have compatibility issues, such applications are more likely to be at a disadvantage when it comes to integrating new features. Most of the new, trending features are powered by the latest technologies. It is due to the lack of these technologies earlier applications failed to include these features during their launch. So, it is clear that to integrate any new features that depend on the latest technology, application maintenance is a must.
Security
As technology evolves, more and more vulnerabilities and security threats are surfacing. Hackers try to exploit loopholes in an application to get access to sensitive data. These loopholes are the product of outdated codes and technologies the application still uses. Also, there are other threats like malware, ransomware, data breach, etc. because the application is not up to date and has not deployed the latest security measures. To ensure security alone, application maintenance is critical for any application.
Legal compliance
Governments across the world are identifying more user rights like the right to privacy, right to option out, right to accessibility, right to request for the removal of information etc. They are not only identifying but also legalizing them to ensure that these rights are respected by tech companies. For example, new policies like GDPR forced most tech companies to change their way of collecting data or withdraw from the market. So, to become compatible with ever-changing market needs and legal obligations, application maintenance is a must to follow.
User satisfaction
User satisfaction is a critical factor in deciding the success of an application. However, there are many factors, like the ones stated above, that are contributing to user satisfaction. In other words, to ensure user satisfaction, an app should take care of security, its functions and features, legal compatibility, user experience, the addition of new features version wise etc., which are not possible without application maintenance.
Trust and brand image
Remember the story at the beginning of this article? Trust is hard to build but easy to lose!
Nowadays applications are focusing on certain niches. They are trying to help the users with one specific action. It can be booking a ride, booking a table in their favorite restaurant, trading in the stock market or trying their luck in online dating. Whatever it may be, once a user becomes familiar with the application and its usage, it is more likely that he or she is going to use it on a regular basis making the app a part of their day-to-day life.
When you are interacting with something on a regular basis, there will always be some emotional bonding. In other words, applications are taking over the place of other human beings in one’s life. Not a long time ago, you used to book tickets from travel agencies. If you are one who is frequently travelling, you mostly have an emotional connection or even friendship with the ticket agent. However, these days such positions are slowly replaced by mobile applications.
But the point is that, due to the same emotional connection, when an application fails to do its job or totally mess up, the user feels like they are being cheated and the trust is broken forever. And often they share their experience with friends and family circles just like how they used to recommend the ticket agent when everything was going well. And when something goes wrong? The negative news spread faster!
Application maintenance services
Now you might have understood why application maintenance is so critical. It is as important as application development and can solely decide the future of the application.
Thankfully when it comes to application maintenance, there are several options available to you. Most of the application development companies offer app maintenance as a standalone service or as part of their application development service.
Approaching a single company that offers both app development and app maintenance has its own benefits.
It is easier to create a solid and comprehensive roadmap if you are approaching the same agency for app development and maintenance.
When maintenance and support are included as part of the whole package, it becomes more economical.
Since application maintenance is a long-term service by nature, it is more likely that the agency and you will have a long-term relationship, which in turn offer you the opportunity to negotiate.
When the app development company is also responsible for maintenance and support, the probability of bugs and errors will be less since they understand the system very well. Also, they will be able to resolve issues faster if in case one arises, and the application development will be futureproof.
You will have more control over the budget due to the opportunity for negotiation. Also, companies that offer both development and maintenance services mostly have flexible pricing plans.
You have more control over the future of the application. For example, since it is the same agency that developed the application, they will already have a team that is familiar with the architecture and infrastructure of your application, the strength, and weaknesses of the system, and how to migrate to an upgraded environment in future to integrate more features to the existing system.
Whether you are looking for an agency that offers both development and maintenance services or planning to purchase app maintenance services from another company, the important thing is that you must plan and create a roadmap for application maintenance at the beginning stage of product development itself. It will help you allocate enough resources for the maintenance part and play the long game.
Cost of app maintenance
The cost of app maintenance depends on so many factors like how the pricing is calculated, the location of the team, nature of the work, the complexity of the work, technologies to work with etc.
Pricing model
There are different pricing models available. For example, some companies charge per hour, some others charge per new version release or as a monthly retention plan.
Location
If you are from a developed country and looking for application development or app maintenance services within a minimum price range, hiring an offshore company from geographies like Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe will be the best choice. Tech companies from these parts of world have a more affordable rate compared to companies from developed countries like the US.
Nature of the work
Are you approaching a different company for application maintenance or are you planning to purchase both development and maintenance services as a package from a single company?
Are you also looking for technical support from the same team?
Do you want them to just fix the bugs or release a new version with more features periodically?
Do you want to migrate the application to a better environment when there is a better opportunity available?
As you see, the nature of the work can vary from project to project. So, it is important that the nature of the work is well identified in advance to calculate the cost of app maintenance.
The complexity of the work
The cost of maintenance will change depending on how complex the work is. More complex work demands more resources and the involvement of an expert team. A complex work also demands more time unless more resources are invested. These factors will increase the cost of maintenance to a certain level.
Technologies involved
Even though there is a team involved in the development and maintenance of applications, each team will have members who are an expert in specific fields or technologies. Some technologies are easier to work with and there is a lack of experts in some fields. In other words, when more technologies are involved and it is difficult to find the right expert for the project, the cost of maintenance will be on the higher side.
Usually, an experienced developer or a developer from a developed country like the US may charge $30 and above per hour for their services. Whereas in a developing country like India, the price starts from $15. However, these prices will vary depending on the above factors mentioned.
Conclusion
Application maintenance plays a vital role in deciding the success of an application. So, it is important to plan and allocate enough resources for the maintenance services at the beginning stage of product development. AlignMinds has more than 12 years of experience in developing trendsetting yet cost-effective applications for various verticals. We have successfully implemented application maintenance and app management for thousands of projects throughout these years. If you are looking for an expert team to take care of app development or maintenance for you, Contact us now!
DevOps consulting services are becoming popular day by day. The estimated value of the global DevOps market was USD 4,311.95 Million in 2020. It is expected to cross USD 5,114.57 Million by the end of this year. Considering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.95%, experts have forecasted that the value will reach USD 12,215.54 Million by 2026.
The reason why DevOps has become so popular is that it promotes a culture of trust and risk-sharing between team members. It motivates teams to continuously work together, experiment and shares knowledge to reach a common goal, i.e., make a software product ready as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The statistic shows the importance of DevOps in scaling software development. Courtesy: Statista
As it promotes team play and encourages communication and mutual support, the uncertainty regarding the quality of the end product is minimized. As a result, so many businesses are adopting DevOps at a fast pace to eliminate uncertainty and improve the quality of their products.
“DevOps is the combination of cultural philosophies, practices, and tools that increases an organization’s ability to deliver applications and services at high velocity: evolving and improving products at a faster pace than organizations using traditional software development and infrastructure management processes. This speed enables organizations to better serve their customers and compete more effectively in the market.”
“A compound of development (Dev) and operations (Ops), DevOps is the union of people, process, and technology to continually provide value to customers.”
The above definitions make it clear that DevOps is not just a method or technique. Rather, it is a combination of principles, practices, methodologies, values, and philosophies that are shared between teams to help them achieve a common goal of creating software with maximum value.
Benefits of DevOps
DevOps offer so many benefits to a business. But what makes DevOps more popular is how crucial these benefits are to a business.
High collaboration
Communication between teams is crucial when developing a product. Developing a web or mobile application is not a simple process. It involves a set of processes such as market study, product conceptualization, product designing, development, deployment, and maintenance. The quality of the final product will depend on the level of mutual collaboration, communication, and integration across various teams who are part of the whole process.
DevOps encourages an environment where the boundaries between each team are reduced. There is a free flow of information and mutual support between teams to ensure that the quality is maintained at each stage of product development. Did your IT team have to send back the module your development team had worked tirelessly for the last few months as there was a conflict between the code and the deployment environment? DevOps will save you next time!
Early conflict detection
DevOps encourages knowledge sharing between teams. Each team will have a clear idea of what must be done and what are the requirements at each stage. These requirements are clearly communicated to other teams. The automated, continuous monitoring along with rigorous testing eliminates the chances for any conflict. And even if a problem arises, it is identified and mitigated in the initial stage itself.
Innovation
DevOps promotes collaboration between teams. When a group of talent comes together, the chances of finding something disruptive is much bigger.
Also, DevOps streamline the whole process of product development starting from market study to deployment and maintenance. The roadmap, automation, rigorous testing, and continuous monitoring help with eliminating extra work and reworks. The teams are more relaxed and there is a good work-life balance that promotes a fresh mindset and innovative thinking.
Faster delivery time
Automated processes, an environment that discourages conflict, quick feedback cycle and continuous delivery models help with transforming software development into a smooth and fast process. Effective communication and continuous testing ensure that quality is not lost in any stages. As conflicts and rework are less to nil, the projects are completed within deadline and with maximum efficiency.
Better quality
From the above points, it is clear that DevOps directly improve the quality of the end product. Rigorous and continuous testing, mutual collaboration, effective communication, continuous feedback cycle and automation are a few of the many factors that contribute to the quality of the product.
Reduced cost
Most businesses wonder whether they can afford DevOps services. This doubt arises from the misunderstanding that the budget can be reduced without affecting the list of features or quality of a product. Chances are, if you are opting for the traditional development process, the cost may increase due to conflicts and reworks. You may end up spending more than forecasted.
DevOps consulting services
To get all the benefits of DevOps, you must find the right DevOps consulting company. However, finding the right one may seem difficult due to the variety of options available in the market. Also, there are certain parameters you must check while choosing a DevOps consulting service. These factors not only help you to find the best DevOps consulting company but also you will be hiring the right one for your requirement.
Finding the right DevOps consulting company
Here is a list of things to check while hiring a DevOps consulting firm.
Identifying your requirement
The first step in choosing a DevOps consulting firm is to identify your requirement. Ask yourself questions like
What are your requirements
How are you planning to meet these requirements?
What is the available solution for your requirements?
What are the pros and cons of each available solution?
Which are the solutions that match your budget and timeline?
For example, if your requirement is to develop a complex product that demands certain technical expertise and faultless implementation, hiring a DevOps expert will be better than hiring a full stack developer.
If you are planning to hire an external agency instead of hiring a team in house, DevOps will be a better choice since it offers a robust feedback cycle along with ensuring that the product is ready as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Expertise
DevOps consulting firms should be an expert in software development and IT operations.
A DevOps consultant usually works on complex projects. Without having a better understanding of the process, technology stacks, methodologies, and operation constraints it will be harder for them to implement a project and achieve the results that are intended.
Also, since a DevOps engineer is most likely to work with an external company, it should be easier for them to understand the current technologies used by the said company, what are the strength and weaknesses of these technologies, and how to improve them to match the actual requirement without increasing the cost to an exorbitant level. The best DevOps companies are a maestro in doing research, analysis, evaluation, and planning.
Communication
Communication plays a large role in any DevOps project. In fact, it is one of the core aspects of DevOps project management.
Since DevOps demand mutual collaboration and knowledge sharing between teams and there is a continuous feedback cycle involved, communicating in a clear and precise manner is very important. Not only that, but a DevOps expert should also be well versed with popular communication and project management tools since most of the communications and monitoring will be done through technology platforms.
Support mentality
What DevOps tries to achieve is a rapport between different teams in the same project. It helps with finding innovative ideas and helps with avoiding conflicts and glitches in product development.
While elimination is a reactive process, avoiding a conflict altogether will need a proactive approach. The approach demands proactive communication and a supportive mentality between team members and different teams. For example, the IT team can help the development team to understand the strength and weaknesses of the client’s IT infrastructure and help them develop codes that are fully compatible with the existing environment. This also demands that each team has expert knowledge and adequate experience in their own field.
Being friendly
Only a friendly environment can promote team collaboration and communication. When team members feel intimidated or not valued it will negatively impact the whole process. It will also add certain biases to the product development cycle and the quality of the final product will be below the bar. So, a DevOps Expert should be friendly in her approach and promotes friendly gestures and expression of gratitude whenever possible.
Professionalism
Friendly yet professional. That should be the description of a DevOps expert.
While friendliness encourages communication and feedback, overdoing it may add certain biases to the product development cycle. For example, as a DevOps professional your duty is to ensure that a software product is ready as quickly and efficiently as possible. It demands keeping up with deadlines, monitoring resource allocation, monitoring the status of tasks assigned to team members and checking and verifying quality at every stage of the development. These duties demand an honest approach towards identifying problems and solving them as early as possible. But biases due to lack of professionalism and being overfriendly may result in overlooking these issues and the quality of the product will suffer.
Willingness to learn
A good DevOps expert never stops learning.
Most likely that a DevOps engineer will be continuously exposed to different problems and different teams each time they take up a project. Since the core philosophy of DevOps is to work as a single team trying to achieve the same goal, each member of the team should have a proper understanding of the whole project. They should also understand why certain things must be done in certain ways and how not following the guidelines will jeopardize their team or the next team in the product development cycle.
Empathy and patience
Software development is a complex process. It involves different stages, continuous feedback, and several iterations. Not all members of the team will be familiar with the scope of the project especially when there is a junior member involved. Since DevOps demands different teams, who may be an expert in their field but lack knowledge in other aspects of software development, to work together, it is likely that some members have some catching up to do. They may need more time for getting familiar with the project or need occasional technical assistance from an experienced member.
A good DevOps consultant will take notice of this and try to solve it in the most effective way possible. It is because she understands that when it comes to teamwork, there are no individual problems but problems that are common to everyone as a team. This is also why a good DevOps engineer can easily help their clients with solving the technological challenges they are facing.
Conclusion
The popularity of DevOps is increasing day by day. It is mainly due to the advantages DevOps is offering compared to other product development methodologies.
Hiring DevOps consulting services helps businesses to develop software products as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, the success of the projects will depend on factors like whether the business was able to hire the right DevOps consulting service. AlignMinds has more than 12 years of experience in working with projects that are varying in scale, technology, and complexity. If you are looking for a DevOps expert for your next project, contact us.
In 2020, global revenue from mobile apps crossed 318 billion U.S. dollars. This was a big jump from 60 billion U.S. dollars in 2019.
The mobile games segment topped the chart with a revenue of over 200 billion U.S. dollars. Social networking mobile apps created revenue of around 31 billion dollars and came second on the list.
Due to high earning potential and the chance to capture a huge market share, mobile apps are becoming popular in all segments. Statista reports that as of the first quarter of 2021, over 3.48 million mobile apps were available on the Google play store.
As mobile apps became popular, the demand for mobile app development services also saw a huge rise. Businesses and entrepreneurs recognized the importance of finding the right mobile app development services, so they can maximize the potential for growth and revenue.
However, as the demand for mobile application development services increased, the industry also saw significant growth. Countless mobile app development companies came into existence across the globe to tap on the opportunity.
As a result, finding the right app development companies from the plethora of options become a difficult task for most businesses.
The number of available apps in the Google Play Store from 2nd quarter 2015 to 1st quarter 2021. Courtesy: Statista.
Resources required for mobile app development
You may think the new-age businesses like mobile games and social media etc. are different from traditional businesses. Their business strategy and resource allocation are something new that traditional businesses can never relate to.
However, this is a false notion.
Just like a traditional business, any technology-oriented business also has the strategies set out almost similarly. The resources are invested in market research, competitors’ analysis, consumer behaviour study, planning of solutions, implementation of the solution, marketing, and post-purchase services. The major segments where a new-age business invests its resources are listed below.
Market Research
Before you start building your app, there are a few steps you must complete. The first one on the list is “market research”.
Try to find answers to questions like
Who is your target audience?
What are the problems they are facing?
How the solution you are going to develop will help them?
What are the current options in front of your target audience?
How can your solution help the audience better?
Business strategy
You have to strategize how the mobile app you are going to develop will help you as a business. For every business, profit and growth are the ultimate goals. So, any investment they make should bring them returns in terms of profit or growth.
At this step, a business should strategize whether the mobile app is part of their growth plan or a source of revenue. For example, a construction business can create a mobile app as a media consumption platform where they share the latest designs, DIY tutorials or general tips and guides on construction and design. Here the strategy is to help their brand name reach a larger audience, so it will be easier to sell to the same audience later.
On the other hand, a revenue-oriented solution will be a platform where a business connects with their customers and sell products and services directly to them. eCommerce websites are a suitable example of this.
The other things a business should decide include how are they planning to implement this strategy. Are they planning to generate revenue via ads, subscription offers, in-app purchases, one-time payments, upgrade plans or any other modes? If the strategy is to increase their brand reach, what types of content they can utilize? How frequently the content should be updated? Should the content be available in multiple languages?
Consumer study
To be honest, this one should be a part of all the stages of app development. The targeted audience will come into contact with a business in several instances. Each time, the interaction will provide more data about the targeted audience. As a business, you should leverage this information to improve your products and find better and efficient ways to reach the target audience.
In the preliminary stages, you can make use of direct surveys and market research to build a customer profile. Once the app is live, you can leverage the data from the inbuilt analytics or third-party tools. More information can be collected from customers directly once they have directly engaged with your business either during a business transaction or post-purchase.
The collected data can be used to improve existing products, introduce new products, improve your marketing efforts etc.
Building the app
The app can be built in house or by hiring external agencies who are experts in mobile app development.
While building an app in-house will offer you more control over the whole process, it may increase the cost of the process and may delay the launch of the app. You have to invest in technology, infrastructure, human resources and set methodologies and quality standards all by yourself. You also must take care of app deployment and post-deployment strategies. All these will build up cost and hiring the right resources and setting up infrastructure etc. will take time.
If you are hiring a mobile app development company, they already have the right resources and methodologies with them. So, the development cost and time may be less compared to developing an app in house.
If you have no prior experience in this field, has budget constraints or need to launch the app as early as possible, hiring an app development agency will be the right option.
App launch and post-deployment
Whether it is an iOS app or an Android app, your app should follow certain guidelines and quality standards to become eligible to be featured on respective app markets. For example, this is a guideline offered by Apple. And, this is one of the guidelines offered by Google. There are several such guidelines and tips available for both App Store and Play store.
However, submitting your app to the app store or play store won’t be enough. Even if the app store optimization is done right, the success of your app can’t be guaranteed at this stage. You have to promote your newly launched app to your target audience and for that implementation of a well-planned marketing strategy is necessary.
You should also update your app periodically to meet new technology standards and keep it secure and bug-free.
Should you hire mobile app development services?
As you just read, mobile app development is a complex process of combining business strategies and technological innovation. It demands market and technology expertise. The resources needed for developing a mobile app is demanding and you should plan it carefully to not waste your investment.
Thus, unless you have prior experience in developing a mobile app, it is always better to hire mobile app development services so the result can be somewhat guaranteed. The good thing about hiring a mobile app development company is that the right one will have enough experience and expertise in the industry to help you out with the whole process starting from market research and product conceptualization to app launch and app marketing.
But the question is how do you find the right mobile app development services?
Finding the right mobile app development services
Definition of “right mobile app development services” may vary from one business to another. There are different factors that decide whether a mobile app development service is suitable or non-suitable for a business.
Price
First and foremost, the cost of hiring an app development service should be affordable. Unless the services are available at a price range you are able to meet, hiring becomes futile since the project will never be completed or you may lose ownership of the final product.
The best way to find affordable app development services is to hire globally. For example, the cost of developing mobile apps is comparatively less in south-east Asian countries like India or Eastern European countries. If you think hiring from these countries won’t handicap you in terms of communication and quality, this will be a wise decision to make in terms of investment.
Pricing model
Often app development agencies will have different pricing models. For example, some agencies charge you per project, some charge you based on services offered and some others may charge you based on resources. There are also app development agencies that offer you a flexible pricing model.
Experience
Hiring an experienced app development agency will be the right decision for most businesses as it will reduce risk.
When hiring a mobile app development company check whether they have any previous experience in developing similar mobile apps or a mobile app for the same market or industry. Check how the apps are performing in the market. If they have prior experience in developing a similar app, they might be familiar with the industry, business model and target market. So, they can leverage their experience in each stage of development such as user experience, choosing the technology platforms, payment integration, data security and legal compliance etc.
You must also check the performance and quality of the mobile apps they have developed by downloading a few of them and using them on a device. You can also check the ratings and feedbacks their previous customers have given them.
Expertise
Mobile app development is a complex process. It involves different stages and each stage demand expertise in certain disciplines.
For example, the first stage of app development can be identified as product conceptualization. This stage involves planning the product you are going to develop, what are its strength and how it will help you as a business and how it will help the targeted audience with their problems. Here, the expertise should be related to market research and business planning.
The next stage of app development deals with product design. It involves the process of transforming the product concept into design in terms of wireframes, icons, typography, and images. Here, creativity and design capabilities are the expertise called for.
In the next stages, experts are needed for
Finding the right technology platforms,
Maintaining coding standards,
Understanding quality parameters,
Following legal and security guidelines,
Meeting app store eligibility
Promote the mobile app
User analytics etc.
If your plan is to hire an agency to take care of the whole mobile app development process, you should check whether they have the expertise to manage each stage of the development cycle. Lack of expertise in even a single stage may negatively impact the success of your mobile app.
Location
If you are hiring from outside the country, you should be careful about communication and cultural differences.
If there is a big difference in time zone, it may negatively impact the communication since the team you hired may not be available at a time that is convenient for you. So before hiring, you must check whether support is available around the clock or during the time that is convenient to you and your team.
You should also check whether the team can communicate in a language you are comfortable with. Miscommunication will lead to misunderstandings. It will cause unnecessary delays in the development and may impact the functions of the final product negatively.
Quality standards
The quality of a mobile app is necessary due to several factors. First and foremost, the app should provide a good experience for the end-user. It should meet security standards to avoid any legal proceedings from authorities or the users who think the app has violated their basic rights. The quality should be kept in check to become eligible to be submitted to App Store and Play Store, the most popular app markets currently in the market.
So, while looking for mobile application development services, you should check whether the service provider has any understanding of these quality standards. Normally any professional app development agency will have a document that states the quality standards they follow, what are the measurements they take to ensure the mobile app quality and how they mitigate any issues that arise related to this matter and details of contact points who are responsible for monitoring and maintaining the quality of the product they develop.
Before hiring, you should check whether the agency can share any such documents. If no such documents are available, you should check what options are available to check what quality standards the agency follows.
Property rights and Disclosure
Have no doubts. If you are the one paying for the services, you should be the owner of the product idea and final product. A proper non-disclosure agreement should be signed between you and the app development agency in the preliminary stages of communication itself and the agency should respect the product as intellectual property of your business.
Security
Security standards are compulsory for any app product. The app should be safe and secure to use, it should be protected from unauthorized access and the data should be stored securely following all data policy and data security standards set up by security experts and legal authorities.
Any failure in this department will not only impact the business negatively but also cause additional costs in terms of fines and compensation and tarnish the image of the business in front of the public. It may even force the business to shut down its operation and the parties involved may have to undergo legal scrutiny.
Delivery management
Hiring mobile application development services doesn’t mean that you are handing over the whole process to the agency and left waiting until the final product is ready.
The agency should keep you updated periodically as the development progress and seek frequent feedback from you. You should not be left out as an external party but should be respected as part of the team. Regular meetings should be scheduled, and you should have ways and means to raise your concerns and share your feedback.
The delivery management standards and guidelines should be documented and shared with you in the preliminary stages of communication itself. As a client, you should also have the details of contact points at different levels so that if an issue arises, you can seek for remedy immediately.
Deployment
Deployment is the process of launching the final version of a mobile app and offering a way for the actual users to access it.
Generally, apps are deployed on app markets like App Store or Play Store depending on the technology and platforms. To be eligible for deployment, each app market has its own guidelines and quality standards. The app will be approved only after the review of the same. The agency should be familiar with all these guidelines and ensure that the app is deployed as preplanned. They should also take care of all the App Store Optimization(ASO) techniques that will help the app to reach more users.
Post-deployment services
Post-deployment services are mainly app maintenance services. It includes bug fixes, releases of the new versions, adding new functionalities and features, user analytics, data on acquisition etc.
Most companies charge based on hours or a monthly retainer fee for post-deployment services. But this will wholly depend on their business and pricing model. As a business, you should try to hire the best post-deployment services as they will have a direct impact on uptime and the user experience.
Conclusion
Finding mobile app development services is not difficult in this day and age. However, finding the “right” application development services may be difficult for most businesses as the definition of “best app development services” vary from one to another. As each business is unique, you should find an app development agency that understands your industry and business goal and share the same business values as yours.
AlignMinds has more than 12 years of experience in developing mobile apps for startups and enterprises alike. We have developed several trendsetting yet cost-effective solutions for multiple verticals throughout the years of our existence. If you are looking for an experienced mobile app development agency who is also an expert in this field, contact us now!
Cloud migration services are becoming popular day by day. As more businesses are optioning for cloud technologies, the industry has seen a sudden growth in recent times. The surge in demand for infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) is an example of this.
According to Gartner, worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is forecast to grow 23.1% in 2021 to total $332.3 billion, up from $270 billion in 2020. Flexera 2021 State of the Cloud Report states that enterprises are continuing to spend on the cloud and most of the respondents are leveraging multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies.
Cloud migration: The driving force
The COVID pandemic has had a significant impact on the pace of cloud adoption. However, the trend was much noticeable even before the pandemic. Organizations that recognized the benefits of cloud technologies were the first to move from traditional environments to cloud ones. In other words, the benefits that are offered by the cloud environments are the driving force behind this trend. The pandemic has just fastened its pace.
Why migrate to the cloud?
The main advantage of the cloud is that it offers growth and scalability. Since these two are the major goals of any business, most of them saw the emergence of cloud technologies as an opportunity to turn their ambitions into realities.
The major benefits of cloud include,
Cost
Setting up and maintaining technology infrastructure will drive up the total cost of ownership. You must spend on purchasing the components, hiring experts to set up the system, place proper authorizations and security measures, enable hardware and software compatibility, and update the system as technology and industry advances. It is your responsibility to train your staff or hire an external team to periodically evaluate the strength and weaknesses of the system, make it up to date and running. These are the major drawbacks of any legacy systems.
However, ever since companies like Amazon and Microsoft started offering cloud services to thousands of customers, companies could opt for infrastructure as services and pay only for the usage. Since the cost is divided among a large customer base, the price of the services has become affordable.
Resources
To set up, run and maintain legacy systems, businesses have to invest on human resources. The systems are maintained by dedicated staff who need to have adequate knowledge on how the system works and how to make it compatible and future-proof.
However, when a business is optioning for infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS), they are also getting expert support as part of the service. The service provider will take care of staffing, training, maintenance and updating of the system. So, the businesses can fully focus on their core functions.
Security
The security of data was a big headache for businesses. Even now, it remains a major concern for them and their end-users. The introduction of cloud systems couldn’t change it. However, ever since businesses have started adopting IaaS, businesses could worry less and spend less on this area as the infrastructure providers also offer security as a part of the overall package.
During the time of legacy systems, businesses must allocate a portion of their profit to security and threat prevention. They are also compelled to periodically evaluate whether their infrastructure has any vulnerabilities, and it can withstand the latest threats. Many small businesses find it difficult to allocate funds since the profit they are gaining is already marginal.
However, the introduction of cloud as services brought new concepts like the “shared responsibility model” to the industry. The services provider, for example AWS, will be responsible for the hardware, network and other facilities needed to run the systems and you will be responsible for encrypting the data and authorization.
The benefit is that businesses no longer have to invest in research and development and maintenance of the infrastructure. The responsibility and cost of the same will fall on the service providers. Since their whole business model depends on the quality and security of what they offer, it is more likely that they will invest in these areas, and they are more than capable to do so compared to businesses depending on legacy systems.
Accessibility and Authorization
Legacy systems are more vulnerable to data theft and similar threats as the data are stored in local premises. Anyone who has access to such premises may have access to the stored data whether it is in raw form or encrypted form. So, companies had to take extra precautions to ensure data security when it comes to legacy systems.
On the other hand, data are stored safely and remotely in a cloud system. Often the services providers demand that the data should be converted into encrypted form to avoid any data leakage. They also offer several features to enable multi-level authorization where not everyone can access the whole data and often systems are in place to track who is accessing what.
Collaboration
Cloud enables several people from different locations of the world to work on a platform at the same time. This not only increases productivity and communications but also enables companies to hire from across the globe. Sometimes it is difficult to find the right talents locally or the cost of hiring locally may be higher. Using cloud technologies, businesses now have a way to overcome these challenges.
Speed
As cloud platforms leverage the advantages of latest technologies, they are often fast and more responsive compared to legacy systems. Also, cloud service providers have a good portion of their budget allocated to research and development of the platform to increase speed, compatibility, and uptime.
Should you migrate to the cloud?
For most businesses, migrating to the cloud will bring at least one or more benefits mentioned above. However, cloud migration has its own challenges. Often the process is considered troublesome and demands support from experts. Sometimes, the existing system may not be supported on the cloud and a new solution have to be developed from scratch.
Legacy application migration: Challenges
To understand the challenges of legacy application migration to cloud, we first must understand what a legacy system is.
Legacy systems
Legacy systems are self-managed applications deployed within a company’s on-premises. Typically, the pieces of equipment and facilities are owned by the company and the system is maintained by the company staff. This type of system requires huge cost to set up and run as the companies must invest in space, equipment, licenses, post-purchase services, hiring and training staff, maintenance and replacement, security and periodic evaluation etc.
What are the problems with legacy systems?
Legacy systems are sometimes considered as a hindrance to growth as businesses must find capital to invest in the infrastructure to enable scaling. Without uninterrupted cash flow, it will be difficult to invest in infrastructure and resources at each stage of growth. It becomes more challenging when the growth is sudden, or the business is not confined to one market.
How do you deal with legacy systems?
When it comes to dealing with legacy systems, there are mainly two ways.
You can maintain the legacy system
Or modernize the legacy applications
Maintaining legacy systems
Businesses choose to maintain legacy application to avoid cost involved with modernizing their applications. Be it maintaining, adding additional features, or replacing the existing applications with new one, it all demand additional investment in terms of money, resources, and time. However, most businesses consider maintaining the existing systems cost less money as compared to replacing it. So instead of investing on new technologies and methodologies, they will allocate a portion of total budget to maintain the existing system.
However, maintaining legacy applications become problematic for most business in long run. They must ensure frequent cashflow for maintenance, hire and train expertise to maintain the systems, replace outdated or failed components with new ones, and the uptime may go down causing a dissatisfaction among the end users. Maintaining legacy applications become more challenging when the industry is too narrow, where finding the expertise and replacing components are difficult and costly. When the applications are not modernized for so long, compatibility issues may arise, and it may force the business to replace the entire systems causing heavy investments.
How do you modernize a legacy application?
Through containerizing, rehosting or re-platforming businesses can maintain a legacy system. Amazon states that GE Oil & Gas reduced their TCO (total cost of ownership) by 52% by rehosting hundreds of applications to the cloud as part of a major digital overhaul.
With the help of containerization, businesses can improve the efficiency and portability of their legacy applications. It involves encapsulating software code and all its dependencies in order to make it suitable to run on any infrastructure. In simple terms, containerization helps applications to be “written once and run anywhere.”
Other ways of modernizing legacy applications include
Rehosting
Rehosting is moving the applications components to physical, virtual or cloud infrastructure without modifying the functions, features or structure of the applications.
Re-platforming
Migrating the entire system to a new platform to make the system compatible and futureproof. The system may undergo small modifications to make it fit for the new platform. However, the basic functions and features stay the same.
Restructure
Change the code of the applications and make it optimized for the current time. It is mainly done to make the applications more compatible, remove outdated methodologies from the code and incorporate efficient coding methods to the system.
Rearchitect
Change the entire architecture of the applications. It is mainly done to improve the capabilities of the application or make is compatible with a new platform. Sometimes it become costly as restructuring the entire code may also be involved in the process.
Rebuild
Rebuild specific functions of the application from scratch or rebuild the entire applications. The challenge is the process requires right planning and more investment.
Replace
Replace the legacy applications with modern systems. For example, the number of businesses moving from legacy applications to cloud based modern ERP solutions are increasing.
When it comes to modernizing legacy applications, the best way is to evaluate your situation and choose the path that is more efficiency, affordable and future-proof.
What is legacy cloud migration?
For most businesses cloud migration of legacy systems is the efficient and cost friendly way to modernize their systems.
In simple terms, cloud migration of legacy applications is a process of moving existing applications and its components from a on-premises infrastructure to a cloud based one. With the help of cloud migrations, the businesses will gain benefits like better scalability, security, efficiency, speed, team collaboration, less upkeeping cost and better end user satisfaction. As the legacy application is not replaced but only moved to a new platform, the functions and features of the systems remains almost the same.
However, businesses will also have an option to add additional features to the system as the new cloud platform will be more compatible with latest technologies. Since we are not replacing the entire system, the overall cost of modernizing legacy application is less compared to replacing it with a new one or rebuilding it entirely. It is also beneficial than maintaining the legacy application as the compatibility, uptime, and the cost of upkeeping of legacy systems will be on a downward trend each day.
How are applications migrated to the cloud?
Often, application migration to cloud is implemented in a systematic way.
Process of moving legacy applications to the cloud
Evaluation
The first step is to evaluate why you must migrate legacy applications to cloud. Often though it is adopted as a part of an organization’s long term digital strategy. As strategies are solutions to problems that may arise in the future, an organization will evaluate its current state and future trends in the industry periodically. The main objective of this evaluation involved doing a SWOT analysis of their existing systems and whether they can meet the businesses long term ambitions. Most businesses find legacy applications as a hindrance in long term as scaling and growth will be slowed down due to the characteristics associated with legacy systems and the cost involved with maintaining and upgrading such systems is also high.
Planning
Planning mostly involves identifying the systems that to be migrated, how much resources can be allocated for the process and when it can be implemented. The objective of the planning is to reduce the overall cost of migration by either migrating only the necessary components of a system or do it in a way as the resources needed for the process is bare minimum. This step also involves the process of deciding the right time to implement the migration to avoid any negative impact on the ongoing businesses functions. During this step you may also list down the objectives of cloud migration and what are the things you as a business trying to achieve from the process. The success of cloud migration will depend on whether you are able to meet these objectives and a reevaluation will be necessary at the end of the process.
Choosing the right cloud environment
Each cloud environment will have its own strength and weaknesses. You must evaluate each opportunity and identify which one is best suitable for your businesses case. Here the objective you set in the previous step become handy. The strength of a cloud environment can be anything like its price, unique development opportunities, uptime, customer support, compatibility features, futureproof or even marketing potentials.
More focus should be given to businesses core values and its long-term goals like end user satisfaction rather than short term objective like keeping the budget of the process under control. You may need the help of an expert to choose the right environment and to avoid making any mistakes. Please keep in mind, choosing the wrong environment will force you to spend more in future.
Choosing the right tool and expertise
There are numerous data migration tools available in the market. Since you are migrating an existing system, there will be data that is already stored in the system that have to be migrated safely and securely.
Just like different cloud environment, each these data migration tool has its own functions, strength, and weaknesses. So, a single tool cannot be used in all business cases. You must choose the one that is compatible with your existing infrastructure and the cloud environment you are planning to migrate to. Different data migration tool has different pricing. However, you should choose one considering factors like data loss prevention, efficiency, safety and compatibility, and security.
Reevaluation
As a final step, you as a business must evaluate whether moving to cloud has helped you to achieve the things you are intended. You must consider whether the new environment is helping you to overcome the weaknesses of the old system and how efficient it is in helping you achieve your businesses goals. You can also compare the results of the whole process with the list of benefits you had curated on step 2 (Planning). Only if the result of revaluation is positive, we can say that moving of legacy application to cloud was a successful endeavor for your business.
Conclusion
Moving legacy applications to the cloud offers several benefits that are crucial to you as a business. However, the migration must be planned and implemented carefully which may requires the help of a cloud migration expert. AlignMinds has more than 12 years of experience in working with legacy applications, cloud environments and cloud migration. If you are looking for a technology partner to plan and implement the entire process for you, feel free to contact us.
Hiring remote developers enables you to meet your business’s objectives a lot faster and efficiently. However, organizations find the process of hiring remote developers troublesome and tiring. This article will help you understand why you should hire remote developers for your projects and how to hire them.
Remote developers
Remote developers, as the name suggests, work remotely. They are not physically present on the premises of the organization, but they are part of the organization’s process and contribute towards its business goals and objectives.
The main benefit of employing remote developers is, you can hire them globally based on talent, market expertise, industry, or cost. In fact, these are the four main parameters organizations are using to scale whether a candidate is a right fit for a remote role.
Talent
Just like any other industry, raw talent is invaluable in the software industry too. Be it coding, designing, testing, deployment, management, or any other skill relating to software development, there is always a high demand for talent that can make the implementation of projects fast, smoother, efficient, and trouble-free. One of the reasons why outsourcing development becomes popular is because of the non-availability of talent in an organization or even in particular geography and organizations as a supplier of software development services is forced to find talent to meet their clients’ expectations.
Usually, the best talents are found in developed and developing countries as they have better access to new technologies. Also, since the industry existed there for so long, the human resources in such countries have gained massive experience due to either being a part of the industry or working under an experienced organization or mentor. Exposure to different methodologies and working culture has helped them to become familiar with most of the challenges in the industry and it has boosted their creativity to find unique solutions to challenging problems.
Market expertise
Ever since globalization, the border between markets has narrowed and even faded away. However, there is still a demand for products and services that are tailored to fit a specific market. Developing such tailored solutions demand insight into the target market and what type of solution would be better suited for them. So, the demand for people who can understand the market, find the best possible solution and implement it in a way that meets the goals effectively arises. A demand such as this forces organizations to hire workers who are more familiar with the market even if that means hiring them remotely.
Cost
Cost is a bigger factor that’s in play when it comes to hiring developers. Hiring a developer internally and long term may increase the overall cost for an organization. They have to account for the cost of infrastructure, allowances like travel expenses and rent, etc. So many companies, especially the one that manages short-term projects prefer to hire developers remotely as they can be employed short-term until the project completes. Hiring developers remotely also allows them to hire from a large talent pool. Also, there are countries where the cost of living is less compared to other countries, and you can find developers who charge less from these countries.
Industry expertise
Just like market expertise, industry expertise is also an important factor when it comes to hiring remote developers. Since different industries have different problems that are unique to themselves, companies need developers who can think differently to address such problems in the most efficient way. For example, a solution targeting the logistics industry needs to address several issues like tracking, cost, the time needed to deliver items, pick up and schedule, space allocation, etc. However, developing an e-learning platform demands a different approach since it has at least no nil presence offline.
Why hire remote developers?
The main reasons to hire remote developers are productivity, the right talent, low investment, less legal work, and experienced candidates. Let’s discuss the reasons one by one.
Productivity
Remote working allows developers to work from an environment that enhances productivity. They can work from the comfort of their own home, or from their favorite coffee shop. Some companies do away with regular 9-5 schedules and employees are allowed to work during the time convenient to them. The only expectation is the compilation of work assigned to the employees. Due to these benefits the developers will be working with the comfort of mind, there are fewer chances for error, and the work will be completed faster as there will be fewer creativity roadblocks.
As mentioned earlier, sometimes it is difficult to find the right talent locally. This is especially true for companies who work in niche markets or the ones from developing or underdeveloped countries. Since developed countries are spearheading technology innovation, they have enough talent who are already familiar with the latest technologies in the industries. They might also have people with decades of experience in an industry and it is most likely that the industry is pioneered by them.
Low investment
Remote developers work independently. They are less dependent on company infrastructure since they are working away from the official premises. So, companies who hire remote developers can save the cost of infrastructure and space and may be able to allocate the budget to find the right talent in the global market.
Quality
Hiring remote software developers is one of the ways to increase the quality of work for many companies. Since they are no longer restricted to limited geography to hire from, the large pool of talent available at the global level helps them hire skilled developers who also have experience in the industry and the market. Right skill along with optimal experience directly contribute to an increase in the quality of the work.
Less legal work
Hiring internally, especially from abroad, demands excessive paperwork. The process undergoes excessive legal scrutinization, making many companies think double while hiring globally. For example, when hiring a foreign nationalist as a regular employee there is a need for official documents like passport, background check, application of VISA and approval of the same, etc. As result, the overall cost increases as allocation of more resources are needed for the extensive documentation and the onboarding process will become longer since VISA approval takes time.
However, if you are hiring remote developers, you can avoid such hurdles without compromising on finding the right talent.
Availability
Being available to clients around the clock is one of the challenges faced by software companies. It becomes more of a challenge when their client base is spread across different time zones. So, companies are looking for a way to create multiple shifts with different rosters. This challenge also forced companies to hire from the same time zone as it will also help them with narrowing cultural and communication barriers with their clients and market.
Employee retention
Employees, especially millennials and gen Z, are moving towards a good work-life balance rather than job security and higher-paying jobs. Unlike previous generations, they are quick to change jobs and more likely to choose a job that gives them comfort in terms of quality of life and convenience. Most of them prefer remote jobs as it offers them an option to choose how they work and their working environment. According to this report by Gartner, “By 2020, organizations that support a “choose-your-own-work-style” culture will boost employee retention rates by more than 10%.“
Cost
Hiring remote developers is one of the best ways to reduce operational costs. Apart from the reasons like low infrastructure investment, no need to pay allowances like transport expenses, rent, etc., the availability of options to hire from countries where living expenses are less is another contributing factor to the reduced cost. Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Vietnam, and some east European countries can offer great talent at a reduced cost.
Daxx reports that hiring remote developers from India will cost you around $19–$40 per hour. Wherein if you are hiring from Eastern Europe the rate can be anywhere from $30-$65. However, you should consider the skills and experience of developers when evaluating the cost of hiring.
Challenges of hiring remote developers
Even though the benefits of hiring remote development teams are known to most organizations, they are hesitant to hire remotely due to many reasons. The challenges they are afraid to face are,
Tracking productivity
Many organizations are afraid that working remotely will make developers become less productive. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has already proven it wrong. In fact, reports like the one from Great Place to Work® show that working remotely improves productivity.
Communication
Another challenge they are afraid of facing is the communication barrier. Since software development involves collaboration between different teams and members, a gap in communication can increase the cost of development due to quality issues and fixes, and it can also extend completion time. However, if developers are using the right tools and methodologies, such worries are just imaginary. Apps like Asana and Slack, virtual meeting solutions like Google Meet and Zoom, and productivity suites like Google sheets and docs, etc make communication between teams, and between developers and clients, smooth and effective.
Time zone
The difference in time zones can become a potential challenge when it comes to remote hiring. However, it is more of a planning and communication failure than anything else. As mentioned above, with the right tools and methodologies, organizations can avoid emergency situations and employees will not have to worry about odd calls.
You can use certain techniques and procedures to hire remote developers. This will allow you to hire the right people and avoid any trouble.
Define requirements
This is most important. To find the right developers, you first have to define your requirements clearly. Start with understanding the project and its requirements. Find what skills and levels of experience are required to meet the requirements. If you are totally new to the industry, you may need help from an experienced person to define the requirements.
Usually, the requirement listing starts with identifying the problem you are trying to solve and the features of the solutions you are trying to develop to solve the said problem. Then you must choose a platform that makes the development of such solutions easier and future-proof. Once the platform is confirmed, you can break down the features into a set of requirements and identify what level of skills and experience is required to build these features. This step may not be possible without choosing a platform as different platforms have different strengths and weaknesses, and each may follow different approaches and methodologies.
Once all these are well defined, you can look into the cost and timeline required to complete the projects. The quality of the solution can break or make how successful it will be in the market. So, cost and time should be considered as an elimination method rather than a primary requirement when it comes to software development.
Search for candidates
Start looking for eligible candidates and share requirements online and offline. You can share the details with your professional and personal circles and also create a list on the various job listing websites.
Another way to find talent for your requirement is to search the internet, especially B2B websites Clutch and GoodFirms, freelance websites like Upwork and Fiverr, and also make use of your connections on LinkedIn.
Screening
Once you have a list of potential candidates for the job, start screening based on eligibility and the nature of the requirement.
You can check the candidates against various parameters like,
Expertise and experience
Check whether the candidate has the right skills and enough experience to do the job. He should be an expert in his field and also have a basic understanding of the technologies and methodologies that are going to be used for the development of the solution. Since software development requires an interdisciplinary approach, a lack of basic knowledge of the overall process may cause conflict during the development. Another point is to note that, while hiring the most experienced candidate may seem like the best approach, it will shoot up the cost unnecessarily. So, hire only for the required role.
Location
The location of the candidates has an impact on the development process as people from different geography may have different cultural backgrounds. It is always better to make sure that their values and ethos are aligned with that of your organization.
Even though you can give importance to time zone, it is not as important as we usually think as most remote developers are already prepared to work during the time the client prefers. In fact, some of them may be looking for remote jobs due to the flexibility it offers.
Cost
It is better to screen out candidates who are outside of your budget. Make it clear how much you are willing to pay them and negotiate if possible. But do not expect them to lower the price significantly. Keep in mind that you need someone who is eager to take up the job and complete it with the same enthusiasm.
Work set up
Even though as important as any other factors mentioned above, this one is usually neglected by hiring companies. Even if the candidates have eligible skill sets and experience, they will not be able to complete the required tasks without the right tools. If you are willing to pay for the setup they are going to use for your project, communicate it in the very beginning itself or even on the descriptions of your listing. There may be potential candidates who are not interested in applying for the position as they think the job demands a costly setup. Stating your willingness to pay for the cost may make more developers interested in the job.
Interview
Conduct a virtual interview with the selected candidates. Make sure that the interview is scheduled for a time they are also comfortable. If possible, give them the time required to understand your project and requirements. This will help you to weed out candidates who are not so serious in their approach.
During the interview, check their communication and technical skills. You can also discuss the challenges they faced during previous remote works, how they overcame them, and what are the challenges they are expecting to face during your projects. If it is required, you can also conduct a machine test along with the interview.
Contract
Once you have decided who fits for the remote job, make it formal by requesting them to sign a contract. The contract should clearly state the nature of the work, requirement, nature of employment, the pay and payment mode, and how the work will be delivered to you. The contract should also protect your intellectual property rights.
Conclusion
Hiring remote developers may be the right choice for many organizations. It will help them reduce costs and legal work and hire the right talent for the required job. The best thing is that hiring remote developers is not as difficult as many people think. The latest development in technology and communications has made it trouble-free and transparent.
If you are looking to hire remote developers, AlignMinds offers On-Demand Talent with a wide range of expertise and experience. To know more, contact us now.
The software development industry has seen a lot of changes in the last decade. It is predicted to continue changing at an exponential rate, with technologies like AI and IoT becoming more prevalent. As software becomes more complex, the need for highly skilled developers will grow exponentially. Even though there are many skilled developers out there today, it’s still difficult to find qualified candidates that have all the skills needed to fill these positions.
Software development in 2021
The markets for IoT, data, telecom services and system integration grow to $520 billion in 2021, almost double the spent in 2017. The IT sector is recovering in the post-pandemic period and will return to the growth trend line soon with an estimated 5% CAGR. The employment of software developers is expected to improve 21% between 2018 and 2028.
(Information Technology (IT) services spending forecast worldwide from 2008 to 2022. Source: Statista)
Software development continues to be a critical component of any company’s ability to compete on a global scale, as new technologies continue to transform the way we work and live. The advancement and innovation of technologies such as cloud computing, mobile applications, and artificial intelligence have contributed greatly to the growth of these industries over time.
Software development outsourcing trends
Software outsourcing services help organizations to get software developers they can afford and depend on for high-quality results. It also helps them to be more competitive in the marketplace by leveraging expertise from other parts of the world where labor costs are cheaper than they would be at home.
(Recent IT outsourcing trends. Source: Statista)
Almost 60% of companies believe software outsourcing services allow them to completely focus on their core business programs. Outsource app development is the popular IT function in 2021. One among two technology companies is doing application development outsourcing because of its immense benefits.
What are outsourcing and offshore software development company?
Outsourcing and offshore software development are terms that have been popular in the business world for years. An offshore software development company provides outsourced services to businesses. Outsourcing is when a company hires outside talent or programmers located overseas (typically in countries like India and China) to complete their projects or tasks rather than hiring employees internally. This may not only save money on salaries but it also provides access to specialists that might not otherwise be available locally or even regionally.
Software outsourcing services and offshore software development companies are excellent choices when you need help developing an app or website that is too complex for your current staff or budget. You can also use them if you’re running short on time and need a project done quickly without compromising quality.
Benefits of hiring an offshore software development company
Small businesses are always looking for ways to save money without sacrificing quality, and hiring offshore software developers is an effective way to do just that. Outsource app development can help companies cut costs in excess of 50% when compared with on-premise development teams.
The best part about it is there’s no need for your company to relocate overseas or send employees abroad – you’ll have the same access to the team as if they were an in-house group! Software outsourcing services provide a number of benefits including cost savings, high productivity rates, 24/7 customer service availability, reduced risk due to geographical distance from key business operations, increased innovation potential due to cultural diversity within the project team.
Cost savings
In the modern business world, companies are looking for ways to cut expenses and increase productivity. In fact, a recent survey states that 62% of CFOs plan to outsource IT services in order to save on costs. An outsource mobile app development company is a cost-effective way to hire the best talent without breaking the bank.
Hiring offshore software development companies can help you save up to 50% or more on labor costs, as compared with hiring in-house teams. As the offshore software development industry continues to grow, it will become more important for companies to cultivate their offshore relationships as they look for ways to reduce IT costs, improve quality of service, and increase agility in decision-making.
High productivity
The offshore organizations hire expert developers who are great at work. They have experience working on small to large-scale projects, so they are able to provide their best work; no matter the size of the project you assign to them. Outsource mobile app development companies improve productivity by utilizing the latest technologies to create software applications that are innovative and user-friendly.
Round-the-clock business operation
With the current state of business and society, it’s important to have a 24/7 support system with people who can cover your needs at any time. Since there are more developers from different geographical areas, the business will remain operational all the time. This enables the timely completion of the app development process.
Stay focused on core business function
Offshore software development is a form of software outsourcing service that enables companies to stay focused on their core business functions. It allows businesses to free up their resources so they can focus on innovating or expanding their current product offerings instead of being stuck by maintenance tasks.
A dedicated outsource app development team is a great way to scale your business as per the requirements. Since these professionals come with experience from different industries such as IT or engineering they know all about making sure their clients’ needs continue being met no matter where they may be located across the globe.
Improved security
Outsource app development and software development improves security by allowing the software development team to work remotely. This allows for a more secure environment, as company secrets and data are not shared with the offshore business partner. Additionally, offshore teams typically have fewer employees than on-site teams which decreases the risk of sabotage.
Access to the newest technologies
The offshore software development companies specialize in creating high-quality, cutting-edge programs that address your needs. They use their time wisely by learning new skills and improving existing ones to create something perfect for you as soon as possible! The small business owner can now finally afford all these technologies at an affordable cost.
Offshore software development service providers of dedicated specialists can help you get better results. A software outsourcing service provider brings new insights to the work, improving your overall product development lifecycle with their knowledge in a range from engineering through design and production.
Reducing liabilities and improving opportunities
Offshore software development services are a reliable way to reduce business liabilities and take on more important projects. The offshore development team has a dedicated team that works on one particular project instead of working with multiple projects. This means they can ensure high-quality service and fewer errors, which is something you want from your business partner!
Cost comparison of hiring offshore development services
Offshore employees are always less expensive than onshore ones if you’re a business based in any of the developed countries. Businesses located in Europe or North America find it lucrative to hire virtual workers for outsource app development projects paying like $30 per hour but those who choose to do their work through an experienced local developer may end up spending upwards of $100K annually!
In 2021, the virtual work ecosystem will be a reality for businesses. It’s important to consider that this decision should not be taken lightly as it can have consequences on your budget and timeline in hiring an offshore employee or onshore recruit – so make sure you’re ready before diving right into these types of recruitment methods!
The best countries to outsource software development
Software development outsourcing is now a major global industry, with countries such as India and China becoming centers for outsourcing app development. Many companies outsource to save money but there are other advantages as well. The best countries to outsource software development will depend on the needs of the company and the budget.
You should also consider whether or not the country is a good fit for your business and if it will be easy to work with their team remotely.
India
India offers affordable talent with a high level of education and English proficiency, making it easy to find employees who are both qualified and capable of communicating effectively with clients from all over the world. India has lower rates than others, ranging from $15 to 30 per hour. This is an attractive option for many businesses who want to outsource their work but are not able or willing enough themselves with the project management aspect of things possible in India which includes quality assurance as well!
China
The number of app development jobs outsourced in China alone has increased by over 50% since 2017. Other reasons include lower rates for labor and better-qualified employees with a stronger work ethic.
Russia
With its abundance of skilled labor and low production costs, Russia is an ideal country for outsourcing software development services.
Ukraine
Ukraine is home to many skilled programmers who enjoy lower living expenses than their Western counterparts and can work more hours per day due to fewer time constraints on weekends and holidays.
Choosing an outsourcing partner for web and mobile app development
Finding the right software outsourcing service partners to outsource app development can be a daunting and often costly process. These tips will help you find the perfect fit for your business.
Do online research
Take your time to evaluate offshore software development companies carefully by checking out their website, reviews, testimonials, and portfolios. Look at their website and see if they have a page dedicated solely to describing this aspect of doing business with them. It is important to make sure they work in a field that matches your industry or the scope of your project.
B2B directories and listings
B2B directories provide an excellent way to find the perfect vendor for your company’s needs. These directories are a valuable resource for finding offshore software development companies that can offer the services you need at an affordable price. They offer detailed information about each vendor, including testimonials and reviews from other companies that have hired them before. You can search by industry or by location, which is great if you need someone close by.
Check out the portfolio
Look at projects that are similar to yours and see if they have experience working with other companies like yours. If their work looks good then it’s worth asking them for more information about what they can offer you.
Get references
References are a great way to get an idea about the organization and culture within any given company. They can provide insights on what services you will be working with, how communication is handled between partners or clients of those companies and all sorts of really valuable points that might otherwise take some time to find. Ask about recent clients who have had similar needs as you so that you can get feedback from people who have actually used this service before.
Review contracts
Never sign anything without reviewing it thoroughly first with an attorney or other trusted advisor. Be wary of any contract that has terms that are not clear or states something you do not agree with. This could lead to problems down the road when things go wrong between the parties involved in the project.
Explore the case studies
Case studies show how the selected outsourcing partners have handled various challenges they met when developing customer products and solutions. They mention which technologies were used, tools that helped them test out their applications for smooth running in order to create outstanding user experiences.
Things to consider when hiring outsourcing software development companies
There are a lot of options when it comes to hiring offshore software development companies. It can be overwhelming and difficult to figure out who is the best fit for your needs. There are some factors that you should consider before making a decision on which company to hire. It includes the type of services they offer, their pricing structure, experience level, and how quickly they can complete the job.
Another thing you need to look at before hiring an outsourcing software development company is their history as well as their customer reviews. These two factors can make or break your decision in terms of how good they might be for your business. Hiring an offshore software development company can make the business process easier.
Final note
Hiring an offshore software development company will save you time and money. Whether your business needs a mobile app or website, it can be costly to hire local developers with the best skills for all of these different tasks. An offshore team is capable of developing any type of application that suits your budget and timeline.
Choosing to work with an offshore company for your app development needs may be the best decision you ever made. With so many benefits, it’s hard to find a downside. You can get more done in less time and at a lower cost than if you did everything yourself or hired someone locally.
Are you looking for an offshore development company for your next project? Contact us now!
Cross-platform applications are critical for any business enterprise and it is the most popular development trend in 2021. Recent studies and surveys say that Flutter is the most preferred choice for developing cross-platform applications as it speeds up the app development process and reduces the cost.
According to Statista, Flutter is the second most popular cross-platform technology in 2021 with a massive 532% growth over the last two years. Google confirms that half a million developers are using Flutter each month. This framework allows us to build high-performance, attractive, and customized solutions in a short span of time.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source mobile user interface software development kit from the world’s largest tech giant Google. It helps to develop cross-platform applications for Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows, and the web from a single codebase. Flutter is the most advantageous framework in mobile application development.
Courtesy: Flutter.dev
Flutter combines the ease of application development with native performance while maintaining visual consistency across various platforms. Since it is open-source and completely free, Flutter is preferred by developers all over the globe. Also, it is amongst the top and most powerful frameworks as compared to various other languages. Flutter is set to dominate the market with its reduced code development time. This cross-platform application development framework reduces the development efforts without compromising on the user experience.
Why Flutter for mobile application development?
Mobile applications are becoming an integral part of our life today. The total number of mobile applications launched on Android has exceeded the 100K per month mark with another 30K iOS app releases. Since the post-pandemic period, app development services have become accessible even to small companies located in remote areas of the world, every business is launching new apps. Selecting the most suitable framework with improved performance is the most decisive factor in deciding the success of a mobile app.
Comparison of cross-platform technologies
Flutter from Google
Since Flutter uses Dart programming language instead of JavaScript, the app developers can see modifications in real-time. So, it is easy to avoid mistakes and build complex applications in comparatively less development time.
React Native
Just like Flutter, React Native is also an open-source framework for cross-platform mobile application development. However, it uses JavaScript and a small amount of native component APIs. Here a developer should strictly define the sequence of actions that describe how the application should work and turn the design into a real-world application.
Percentage of developers who are interested in continuing to use the same technology they are using. Flutter ranked 3rd while React Native stand at 10th position. Courtesy: insights.stackoverflow.com
Xamarin
Xamarin is another popular cross-platform application framework for iOS, Android, Windows, vOS, watchOS, and macOS. It uses C # and .NET. Since a variety of APIs is available, Xamarin developers can easily integrate many native hardware components into the solution which could, in turn, improve the user experience further. However, the user interface development is time-consuming.
Benefits of Flutter app development
Flutter helps with developing and maintaining mobile applications for both Android and iOS in a single code base. Let’s discuss the major advantages of using Flutter for application development.
Large community support
Flutter is an open-source project developed by Google. It is not only free, but the framework gets frequent updates and bug fixes. Google organizes meetup events and conferences to help companies learn how Flutter can help them to strengthen their businesses. Since they are open to collaboration, it is easy to create solutions and you can even modify the framework to suit your project requirement.
The total number of apps launched in various periods. Courtesy: Statista.com
Cost-effective and fast development
Code then compile is the common procedure followed by both Android and iOS developers. However, with Flutter, developers can check the results immediately after every modification in code and roll them back if necessary. Thus, the probability for bugs and errors is less in the case of Flutter app development. As a result, hiring a Flutter app developer makes it less time-consuming to launch your business apps into the market and utilizing minimum human resources.
Organizations using Flutter can quickly create well-tuned applications for their business and with an innovative UX design. Since Futter is using Dart programming language, debugging is also a comparatively easier process.
Web application capabilities
The Flutter framework has destroyed the traditional approach of developing separate solutions for web and mobile. With Flutter, you can build apps for iOS, Android, and the browser from the same codebase and offer the same experience to end-users.
Customized and attractive user interface
The layered architecture provides faster user interface rendering to produce personalized designs. It is also equipped with packages that contain custom widgets for both Android and iOS operating systems. Even a smaller development crew can build a beautiful mobile app using the Flutter framework.
Easy integration with the existing applications
Flutter offers a trouble-free integration facility with the existing business applications. You can try Flutter technology on an existing mobile application running on native code with least to nil compatibility issues.
Top 5 applications built with Flutter framework
Flutter is gaining popularity among developers and in the industry. This feature-rich developer-friendly framework has aided in the creation of many modern applications.
Google Ads
The mobile application for Google Ads allows you to manage the paid advertisement campaigns directly from your smartphone. The application’s feature includes campaign statistics and real-time updates on campaigns. This helps advertisers and marketers with real-time monitoring of campaigns and effectively manages them to meet their adverting goals.
Xianyu by Alibaba
Flutter helped the eCommerce giant Alibaba to come up with Xianyu. It is the online retail platform of Alibaba Group. This application is used by more than 50 million users to buy and sell various products.
Reflectly
This Flutter app allows users to create stories in a personal journal with artificial intelligence support. Reflectly adopted Flutter recently to overcome the issues faced with its React Native counterpart.
KlasterMe
KlasterMe is the first social media platform built with the help of Flutter framework. This application enables users to share creations with their friends. Users can build dedicated pages, add images, and create blog posts.
Hamilton Musical
Flutter framework supports the official application for Hamilton – the award-winning Broadway musicals. This application updates its fans with all music news and provides access to merchandise.
Lunching
Lunching is a Flutter app that facilitates the delivery of food online. Flutter helped Lunching with an easy and elegant design, smooth animations, and a rich user interface.
Factors to consider when hiring a Flutter developer for your project
Technical and professional expertise
A Flutter developer should familiarize themselves with the best practices in the industry. They should have a good understanding of common development methodologies, quality guidelines, cross-compatibility, and update themselves with the latest trends in the industry. Someone who has prior experience in working on similar projects or markets may have a visible advantage over other developers.
Geographical proximity
Traditionally, the best choice was always to hire someone from proximity. The common notion was it helps with avoiding conflicts that might arise from differences in time zone and culture. However, modern innovations have made remote working a viable possibility and it is time to make the best use of it.
Service cost
Flutter framework helps in bringing down the development cost. However, you should be careful about the development cost since it usually varies across the world. For example, developers from countries like India may charge less compared to someone or some agencies from USA. Also, you should be careful about the service model and how the agency will charge you.
Innovation and technology update
The domain of application development is very dynamic. Upgrading your technology can help you work better and more efficiently. The Flutter developer should be self-motivated and innovative. This not only helps them to have greater flexibility but also make them a great problem solver which is an essential characteristic for a developer.
How to hire a Flutter developer?
Agencies
Certified agencies provide full-time engagement and it is beneficial for long-term projects. You can rely on their expertise and professional skills.
Freelancers
You can easily find specialists offering services on various freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Hiring Flutter developers from the same time zones can help with easy communication. However, it is better to focus on quality and affordability when hiring a Flutter developer.
Outsourcing
Outsourcing combines the benefits of both in-house hiring and freelancers. You can collaborate with Flutter application developers around the globe. There are also reputable outsourcing agencies you can partner with to discuss and implement your project. Such agencies will mostly have the right talent for your requirement since they are employed full-time in the agency, and they are hired only after professional evaluation. Also, such agencies will also have the infrastructure to support the app development process from start to end.
How to find the best Flutter app development company?
Work portfolio and customer retention
A successful company will showcase the previous work details on its website. You must be attentive to the details as it will show you what you can expect from that particular Flutter service provider. Give special attention to the scale of the work, nature of the work, the timeline of the project, the technologies used, and also check the final product by trying it out by downloading it from the app store or visiting their client’s website.
Expertise and cost-effectiveness
Make sure you find someone who can work within the set budget without compromising on the quality. If you are cost-conscious, it is better to hire someone from countries like India where you can find the right expertise for comparatively less cost.
Reviews and client testimonials
Most app development companies will have active profiles on platforms like Clutch and GoodFirms. Such platforms feature client reviews, ratings, and testimonials provided for their Flutter development services. By assessing their profile, understand whether the app developer was able to meet their client expectations and what are the strength and weaknesses of the agency.
Flutter for app development in 2021
Flutter is one of the most used technologies in the mobile app development industry in 2021. Flutter mobile application programmers can develop cross-platform apps that run seamlessly on several operating systems. Flutter framework poses minimal risks to you as a business and so it should be your first choice for cross-platform app development. If you need to know more about Flutter development, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Place and time. These are the two main barriers men have always despised. Ever since the adoption of technology, we as humans have been somewhat successful in breaking these barriers.
In recent times, one of the industries that are seeing the fastest growth due to the elimination of these barriers with the help of technology in the education industry. Learningnews reports that the e-learning market will exceed USD 375 billion in 5 years. According to Global Market Insights, the e-Learning Market size is set to exceed USD 1 trillion by 2027.
The below graph shows the size of the global e-learning market in 2019 and 2026, by segment in million U.S. dollars
“In 2019, the global online e-learning market was sized at approximately 101 billion U.S. dollars. During that same period, learning management system market generated roughly 18 billion U.S. dollars. By 2026, the total market for e-learning worldwide is forecasted to grow exponentially, reaching over 370 billion U.S. dollars”.
The reason for this exceptional growth is now people are looking to learn from the comfort of their home or they have very limited time that they can invest in learning and looking for something flexible so that they can learn whenever they have free time. Also, the pandemic has boosted the growth of the e-learning industry since people have no option to go out and there are restrictions put down by the government in so many countries. So many EdTech companies tapped into this opportunity and invested heavily in e-learning solutions to meet the demand.
A learning system based on formalised teaching but with the help of electronic resources is known as E-learning. While teaching can be based in or out of the classrooms, the use of computers and the Internet forms the major component of E-learning.
However, not just computers, students and teachers are using other devices like smartphones and tablets that support connectivity to participate in an e-learning system. In fact, smartphones have become one of the strong pillars of e-learning systems due to them being more affordable and mobile. Almost all e-learning systems have a native version for at least the major mobile platforms, Android and iOS.
What is an e-learning app?
An e-learning app is an application that is built specifically to impart knowledge, encourage creativity, and most importantly encourage healthy dialogues between teachers and students to simplify the process of learning.
As mentioned earlier the process of E-learning is performed through an application like a mobile app which can be easily downloaded through your Android and or iOS devices. It is a closed-end system ensuring effective privacy and security to both teachers and students ensuring a safe environment for all the participants. The interface used in the app is simple and easy to use making it a comfortable place for students to learn each topic.
How to create an e-learning app?
There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that the e-learning app is the future of learning, the pandemic has further solidified this observation. e-learning apps are a global phenomenon, and it is the right time to capitalize on the same. As per Reuters, the e-learning App industry is expected to touch $275 billion globally.
Now, the billion-dollar question of 2021 is how to develop an e-learning app, e-learning app development consist of five steps they are as follows:
1. Identify and develop the concept
The next step in how to create an e-learning app process is to further develop your concept. This stage can be defined with the help of six key product dimensions they are as follows:
Target audience
The first step in the process of developing an e-learning app is identifying the target market. The biggest question to be answered in this stage is who is your app catering to? For example, is it for elementary school students or for bachelors’ students, masters, STEM field, architect, or just a general portal that provides diverse educational material?
The right target group must be identified as it influences the e-learning app development process. If the target audience is elementary kids, then the fonts used in the app will have bright attractive colours and a lot of animation to capture the attention of the children.
Public vs Private
The next important factor to consider is will the app be available to the public or will the information be accessed only to a close group. For example, if your e-learning mobile app development is for an educational institution like school or college then it is important to make the app private.
Geographical scope
Is the app directed for specific geography like India or is it for a specific economic area like the EEA? such decisions will play a vital role while developing the app. Each country has its unique grading systems, class structures, and so on, which are very important considerations while developing an e-learning app.
Customizability
Is your product flexible enough to be customized as per the requirement of each organization?. Is it possible to add or delete certain functions in your app to suit the requirements of each customer or is it a non-flexible product targeted at a specific crowd? Clearly, an important topic to consider.
One way vs two-way communication
Does the e-learning app have two-way communication enablers like video telephony, videoconferencing, voice call, and so on? Two-way communication is especially useful for universities and schools that might require frequent student-teacher interactions. Does the market require one-way communications like lectures, pre-set audio files, slides, and so on? It is important to keep this aspect in mind while developing the e-learning platform.
Price
Price is arguably one of the most important dimensions while identifying the scope of the app. Will the app be paid or unpaid? and if it is paid how do you expect to get paid, is it a monthly subscription, or it is based on the modules, contents consumed, and so on. A perfect price strategy can determine the success of the product.
2. Competitor analysis/Feasibility study
The research phase is an important phase in the e-learning mobile app development process. In this phase, the individual concerned will have to do extensive research on the competitors. It is very important to be aware of the latest developments in the industry and to be updated about the same. Once thorough research is performed it is safe to move to the next stage, selecting a development partner.
3. Selecting a development partner: e-learning app development company
Selecting a development partner for developing your e-learning project is very essential to ensure timely delivery of the product. While selecting the e-learning app development company it is important to look at their past projects and judge based on their success. You could also contact their previous clients to know more about the quality and performance of the e-learning app development company. Associate with a company only after you are 100% satisfied with identifying who they are and what their capabilities are.
4. Promotion and advertisements
Even though this step cannot be counted as a core aspect of how to create an e-learning app, nevertheless it is a very important step. No product however good it may be will not survive without proper promotions and advertisements. It is important to engage with potential businesses across the spectrum through both conventional as well as new-gen advertisement platforms. Promotion and advertisements are a must-do in today’s dynamic environment to get the best ROI for your buck.
The essential character of e-learning app
e-Learning apps usually has a unique set of characters that makes the product flexible, dynamic, and user-friendly. Some of the most important characters of the e-learning app include the following:
1. User-friendly and intuitive interface
The e-learning website should be user-friendly, clear, and easy to operate. The functions in the dashboard should be marked clearly with clear fonts. There should be a logical flow of functions making the system predictable. All these factors enhance the functionality and the ease of operation of the product making it accessible to a wide array of audiences.
2. SCORM compliant
SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) compliance enables learning software, e-learning material to be compatible with SCORM compliant LMS. It is the industry technical standard that ensures efficiency and standardization within the overall ecosystem. Hence if you are looking to develop e-learning solutions it is important to comply with internationally accepted standards to ensure competitiveness and future proof.
3. Easy dissemination of Information
The platform should offer easy upload and dissemination of information for its users. The users should be able to upload different document formats like pdf, words, jpg, along with video and audio formats depending upon the requirements. Furthermore, this information should be easily available to the selected group. The platform should have the capability to offer selective viewership of the information along with selective editing capabilities and view-only modes to ensure a seamless experience.
4. Scalability
e-Learning platforms need to be scalable, depending on the user requirements. The app should have the necessary infrastructure to handle heavy traffic as and when required seamlessly. Scalability is not limited to the number of people it can cater to but also functionality, this makes the app future-proof. Scalability plays a vital role in making the product versatile, efficient, and relevant in today’s world.
5. Integrability, documentation, and reporting
In most probable cases e-learning platforms are not sold as a separate unit rather it is sold along with a fully integrated CRM system. This ensures data is transferred from one system to another with minimum effort. Documentation function helps e-learning platforms to document day-to-day functions, results, grades of students, subjects’ wise information, and so on to create functional information that can help identify the performance of an individual. This information can be reported to the appropriate authorities, parents at ease with a well-connected and integrated e-learning app.
6. Learning automation
e-Learning apps should have significant automation of rudimentary and repetitive tasks that otherwise consume a lot of time. The users should have the capacity to send reminders, information to any number of people with a push of a button. These functions help bring flexibility and efficiency to the learning process helping instructors to fully devote their time to the core aspect that is teaching.
How much does it cost to develop an e-learning app?
The cost of creating an e-learning app depends on the specification and functionality of the app. The specification and functionality of the app can be further divided into four major parts they are as follows:
1. General specification and functionality
General specifications and functionalities for an e-learning app usually include things like user-friendly interface, push notification facility, multiple device sync facilities (for example mobile, laptop, tablet, and so on), multimedia content support capability, graphical designs, and so on.
2. Students and parent specification and functionality
Let us look at student specifications and functionality in the first paragraph. Some of the key specifications and functionality required for students include registration for a course or a specific optional subject, course information, course structures, assessment upload portal, assessment marks and exam marks portal, payment portal receipt generation, and downloading facility to name a few.
In the case of a parent, they should have the ability to develop a profile for themselves so that they could monitor the progress of their children, pay fees, and so on.
3. Teacher’s specification and functionality
Teacher’s Specification and Functionality include the following: Editing course materials, submitting and sending new documents, sending and receiving information with the class (including all audio, video, document formats), being able to mark assignments, send push button notificat
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