What Is Mobile App Localization?

The process of software localization is no longer limited to merely text translation, as it was common decades ago. Instead, modern-day localization is a complex set of measures aimed at adapting a software product to different markets and cultures. Usually, the localization plan is detailed long before the product release, and the software development process takes this plan into account.

The core of the localization process is still the translation of text throughout an application. This includes the app’s interface, text on images and videos, and on any external resources, for example, PDF files or web pages that have links leading to them from within the app. This is the case, for example, when various documents, such as a user agreement or license, are presented as external files. This way, it is easier to amend them when necessary without extracting the required text from the application.

Cultural peculiarities are very important for localization. For example, this involves the support of different types of script, such as Latin, Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, and Japanese characters, and so on. Even the same language may still have large and small differences in various countries. They include spelling, the meaning of words, and other linguistic features created throughout the history of a particular language variant. Developers must also take these differences into account. That’s why, for example, Google Play supports seven variants of the English language, three variants of Chinese and Spanish, etc.

Another important element of localization is the choice of measurement units. Nowadays, the Metric system is generally adopted worldwide. However, three countries, including the USA, still officially use the Imperial system. Several states, such as Canada and India, occasionally use the Imperial system in certain contexts. For example, even though such countries adopted the metric system, inches are used there to measure the diameter of pizza, wheel rims, pipes and tubings, etc. This cultural feature may be important if a software product is targeted at those markets, especially in the case of online shopping or other retail apps.

If an app has audio speech resources, they may be localized as well. For most purposes, modern text-to-speech engines provide sufficient quality at a relatively low cost. Real voice recording is expensive, especially when it is performed by professional actors in specialized studios. Usually, only large development companies that release AAA-class mobile games, such as Activision Blizzard or miHoYo, have budgets for several voice-over language options. Their strategy is to offer users the best possible experience in their preferred language and maximize customers’ satisfaction that can lead to higher profits.

Localization also involves adapting software to those methods of payment and delivery services that are popular in the target region. For example, Mastercard, Visa, or Paypal may not be available in some countries, so an application must substitute them with local equivalents. The format of postal addresses also differs in many countries, which is important for retail applications.

And last but not least, in the case of mobile software, localization must include adapting software to the relevant requirements of Google Play and Apple Store. This process includes a translation of in-store titles, descriptions, and text on screenshots, adding keywords, and so on. If done properly, this will increase the ranking of the localized application, which will lead to more downloads.

Why It’s Important to Localize Your App for Different Markets

Localization is essential to make a software product available in its target markets. If a mobile application supports many languages, it can cover larger audiences, earning more money. Moreover, it offers a better user experience and makes it much more comfortable to use the application. And a handy application is likely to become preferred among users and gain a competitive advantage over rivals.

Additionally, a well-performed localization shows users that the owner of an app decided to adapt it specifically for them. This means the owner increased the app’s budget to improve the experience of potential users as a sign of respect, to acknowledge the importance of that audience. This way, potential customers feel that this particular software is targeted at them and its owner is interested in their appreciation and support.

Benefits of Mobile Application Localization for Businesses

Software localization is a reasonable investment that greatly improves the final product and offers valuable advantages. They can be presented as three main benefits:

• Ability to reach a wider audience.
• More market coverage.
• Better user experience.

Together, these perks lead to more downloads and higher user count. Better user involvement leads to more profits from sales, advertising, or other monetization strategies utilized by an app. If it is an enterprise-oriented application, localization may improve productivity and interactions between offices and branches of a multinational corporation.

Technical Aspects

Localization (often shortened to “L10n”) is more effective if it is planned in advance together with internationalization (i18n). Here, internationalization refers to designing a future application in such a way that allows easy adaptation to different languages. That is, i18n is the development approach that promotes the L10n of an application without engineering difficulties.

Software developers have to foresee the necessity of editing the localized resources after the release. So, they have to find a way to extract only the required part of those resources, such as one string of text or one image. Additionally, specialists need to implement the possibility of integrating new localized resources into the existing application in a fast and seamless manner.

Extracting the text is just a part of the process. To make localization easier and more effective, it is necessary to maintain the original structure in the extracted text. This way, the localizing specialists will be aware of the context throughout the translation process. This is especially true when the interface has a lot of options, dialogue windows, or separate text elements, such as labeled buttons.

If software has a lot of text, especially in the case of mobile games or educational apps, developers need to ensure the consistency of terminology. This means the same specialized term or a proper noun must have the same translation throughout the whole text. Otherwise, users will be confused, for example, if they notice that the same interface menu is referred to as “Options,” “Settings,” and “Preferences.” One of the most effective ways of working with terminology is the use of translation memories and termbases that are stored in the cloud.

Tips and Best Practices of Localization for Mobile Applications

Here are a few tips to consider before planning localization for your mobile application.

1. Research and select your target markets carefully. Extending the market coverage of a mobile application is tempting, but it is also costly and time-consuming. As a potential owner of a future mobile application, you need to devise its strategy. So, first of all, you have to decide whether you want to focus on one local market, several markets, or go global.
2. Choose languages for your software. Usually, those are the languages of your initial and potential target markets. If you intend to launch your mobile app globally, you should consider covering at least five or six most spoken languages: English, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
3. Prepare your software for localization. The ability to add localized resources must be provided by the design of an application. If this feature is implemented properly and in advance, it allows extending the market coverage of your mobile software even after its release.
4. Choose a mobile app localization service provider depending on the budget. The process of software localization has changed a lot over the past years. Nowadays, it involves far less manual labor and more automation of routine and time-consuming tasks. This includes analyzing the software design and determining the resources that must be localized. Then, specialists need to extract those resources carefully to preserve their structure. The localization may be performed by the development company that builds your software if it has a relevant team. Otherwise, it may be done by a separate company that specializes in localization services. Crowdin, Onesky, Trados, and POEditor are among the most popular translation providers these days.
5. Ensure the quality of localization. Quality assurance also applies to localization and should not be neglected. Translations should be approved by skilled editors and native speakers. The user experience of localized versions should be on the same level as in the original application.

Conclusion

Adapting software to different markets involves a lot of steps, so this brief article described just the tip of the iceberg. The process of localization is rather complex, even with the help of modern automated tools. It requires dedication and knowledge. It involves the hard work of translators, copywriters, editors, and other localization specialists.

To fully enjoy the benefits of mobile application localization, you need a competent team. Intellectsoft specializes in mobile development services and has experience in delivering software solutions for worldwide or local audiences. If you need a top-notch mobile application with the potential to go global or focus on a particular market, contact us.

The post Mobile App Localization: Definition, Advantages, Methods appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Like many industries, the banking sector wasn’t immune to the tsunami of instability – quite the contrary. Covid-19 was only the start of uncertainty. It may have been the catalyst for rising interest rates, inflation, and political disruption, but what has become unquestionable is the fragility of financial institutions.

So, where does this leave commercial and business banking? To understand the challenges it faces, one needs to identify the threats.

Accelerated digital banking, a surge in cyber hacking, geopolitical threats, and climate change are all disruptive forces that can potentially reshape the sector.

According to The Banking in 2035: global banking survey report, about 76% of banking executives surveyed believed the industry has an obligation to address societal needs and issues, while 82% were of the opinion that financial services organizations can simultaneously better society while pursuing profit.

How do banks go about doing this? By prioritizing client needs without compromising on profit. In this article, we’ll take a look at the future of business banking and how adopting certain business models can help you be at the forefront of future banking trends.

Future Business Models and Competitive Arenas in Business Banking

In the ever-changing business landscape, banking institutions have to fight to stay relevant. According to EIU’s financial outlook 2023 report, fintech and cryptocurrency sellers will find it harder to weather the storm.

Adapting to your new reality isn’t always easy, but adjusting your business model is one way of keeping abreast of the latest developments.

Banks that are open to change can benefit directly from disruptions “by combining their unparalleled domain expertise, reputation, and relationships with innovations in technology and a client-centric approach,” said Dr. Christian Thun while writing for Moody’s Analytics Risk Management: The Decade Ahead.

“Fortunately, the business banking sector has proven its resilience over the past decade by bolstering their capital and liquidity positions, and leaving behind non-core activities and markets,” EIU’s financial outlook 2023 report found.

It also sets up the sector for benefiting from future trends by improving digital services, becoming more financially inclusive, and investing in sustainable banking services.

So, what will business banking look like in the future?

Accenture’s Global Banking Lead Michael Abbott’s predictions could soon become a reality. According to him, business and corporate banks’ innovative products could mirror that of the Amazon Prime model.

Just like mobile platforms, banks will take a dip into the metaverse, which will open a world of possibilities, but Abbott warns this won’t be without risk.

As a way of outperforming their peers, banks must help their clients solve their problems rather than increase their customer base. This taps into the notion of “life centricity”, whereby institutions take a holistic approach to customer wellbeing.

Abbott also believes data should be viewed as a product “that has the potential to transform the foundations of banking.”

The Banking in 2035: global banking survey report mirrored Abbott’s predictions when listing its most important outcomes for banks over the coming decade, with improved cybersecurity and data protection leading the pack with 46%.

The Impact of Data and Money Regulation on Business Banking

Banking regulations are a way of enforcing rules to protect the client, ensure financial stability and prevent financial crime. By design, they ensure sound banking practices.

Who regulates the banking system? In the US, four federal agencies have been tasked with this duty, namely the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve System, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Easier access to data has become a building block for successful business practices, and a way of doing this is via application programming interfaces. APIs have been utilized in the banking sector for years, even more so in recent times.

But like other innovations, data sharing raises questions around privacy and regulations in the digital market.

The 2007-2009 financial crisis was a huge eye-opener for banks, prompting governments to install their own initiatives.

OECD cited an example of this with the 2015 EU Payment Services Directive II (PSD2) – a regulation that aims to enhance competition by granting open access to certain types of customer banking data for nonbank licensed providers.

During its research into Digital Disruption in Banking and its Impact on Competition, the NPO mentioned how Japan revised its Banking Act in 2017 to include provisions encouraging banks to open their APIs and facilitating banks’ acquisition of or collaboration with FinTech firms.

Nonetheless, banks can leverage their digital technologies in response to regulatory authorities’ questions by improving both regulation and supervision and, in turn, helping regulators and firms decrease the costs of compliance, OECD recommended.

Implementing Digital Transformation for Business Banking

Customer expectations are growing, and so too should your business if you want to grow with them.

Digital transformation is a given when it comes to business banking. By taking advantage of the huge data pool, businesses can automate processes and reduce costs.

Simple changes such as AI, cloud technology, and automation can help improve services and functionality, resulting in customer loyalty.

Below are the key drivers to consider when going digital:

Customer Needs

Here’s where data aggregation takes the lead. It can be challenging at times, but analyzing it leads to a clearer understanding of who your customer is and your targeted audience.

When segmenting your strategy, consider the following: Which products are generating the most profit? Which of your digital services mostly appeal to your customer? Which new offerings could encourage growth?

The intention here is to offer digital services via targeted marketing.

Cloud-based Systems

Previously, business banking was only sought out by big corporations and brands. It was associated with companies that had clout behind their names. Today, the environment is fast-changing and becoming accessible and inclusionary.

With a complete cloud-based system, banks can close the socio-economic gap by offering full access and functionality to clients, from loan applications to international money transfers.

However, there are setbacks to using this type of technology. Old legacy software systems might not be adaptable to comply with new software. The challenge coming with this is the huge costs involved to ensure a fully integrable system.

Thankfully, there is a workaround – some cloud-based technologies are consumption-based, meaning clients can experiment with them before doing a complete rollout.

Compliance Ready

Regulatory requirements are growing steadily, and to make sure your systems are compliant, you need to keep up-to-date of the latest rules and regulations governing the banking sector.

Dismissing these could lead to costly repercussions, which could easily have been avoided.

Security

In June 2022, Flagstar Bank, one of the USA’s largest financial providers, fell victim to a massive data breach whereby the Social Security numbers of almost 1.5 million customers were leaked.

Initially, the bank failed to disclose how cybercriminals hacked into the system, but investigations showed that the attack may have happened as early as December 2021, highlighting the urgent need for ransomware protection.

The Credit Sussie data leak from February 2022 saw the details of accounts linked to 30 000 of its clients leaked. This resulted in one of the world’s biggest private banks having to do brand damage control after it was discovered some of its clients built their wealth on drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption.

Building the Future of Banking

Overall, banks should future-proof themselves by investing in products that give them a competitive edge. This doesn’t only apply to business banking; commercial banks are finding themselves in the same boat, jostling for a larger clientele.

Major trends are reshaping the industry, forcing the sector to evolve instead of fighting against the current. The good news is that digital business banking has embraced rapid change, considering the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns the world is currently experiencing.

Australian author James A. Gardner poured his years of experience as a career innovator into his book ‘Innovation and the Future Proof Bank: A Practical Guide to Doing Different Business-as-Usual.’ In it, he discusses in detail how banking institutions can become future-proof by “leveraging the power of the new to establish unexpected revenue lines, or make old ones grow.”

Steps to Success in Digital Business Banking

According to Statista, about 27% of Americans use an online-only bank, and 60% of consumers say they are very interested in using digital banking in the next year.

If your company is not using innovation and the latest technology to snag customers, you’re setting yourself up for failure. How do you go about rewriting your success story?

For starters, by hiring a reliable and professional fintech software development partner, you’re already halfway to reaching your goal.

Intellectsoft is a financial software development company that helps clients accelerate innovation by creating tailor-made software solutions.

Why Choose Intellectsoft?

Specializing in banking and financial institutions, Intellectsoft has a proven track record. Our clients include some of the most prominent brands in the world, including the NHS, Universal, and Jaguar.

Some of the financial software development services we offer are online banking, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, digital wallets, AI and ML, trading and securities, and robotic process automation (RPA).

To Sum Up

One positive that the pandemic produced was the uptake of digital payments. About two-thirds of adults worldwide now make or receive a digital payment, resulting in growing developing economies from 35% in 2014 to 57% in 2021, the World Bank found.

One could look at it as purpose-driven banking, a social responsibility of sorts, which we may add, has been predicted to be another big banking trend in the next decade. Banks that are more engaged with societal issues could have the biggest positive impact.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella once said, “Longevity in this business is about being able to reinvent yourself or invent the future.”

It’s fitting words, considering the world is always in flux. Reinvention is the name of the game. Ask yourself, can you afford to be left behind? If the answer is negative, get in touch with us to get the most efficient digital business or commercial banking solution.

The post The Future of Business Banking appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

What Is Mobile App Security?

In the context of mobile applications, security refers to a specific set of measures, standards, and practices. Some of those are generic and apply to all types of devices and applications. Others are designed specifically for mobile devices and focus on their unique features, such as the presence of cameras, various sensors, GPS, etc. Mobile security features are designed to protect both hardware and software from unauthorized access, data theft, and various other threats.

Common Types of Mobile Security Threats

Considering the importance and highly personal nature of data on mobile devices, it has become the priority target of various criminals. Nowadays, smartphones are often less valuable than information that can be accessed via them. Mobile platforms usually keep users logged into their accounts even when mobile devices are turned off or put aside. This applies to most mobile applications installed on smartphones or tablets, such as email and social network clients, messengers, streaming or shopping apps, and so on.

If a thief manages to crack a password on a stolen device, such sensitive data may be used to steal the owner’s identity or simply to blackmail them, harm their reputation or try to drain their bank accounts. The same problem exists when a person loses their mobile device and a finder decides to keep it. Moreover, the information may be stolen even when the mobile device is not: a malicious software program may secretly transfer private data to a hacker.

Engineers define several categories of threats depending on their origin or targets. For example, one of the basic classifications involves passive threats and active threats.

Passive threats are vulnerabilities left in the code of a mobile application or operating system. They are potential entry points for a hacker to perform malicious actions. For example, if an application sends data without encryption or uses an outdated security protocol, it presents a potential risk.

Active threats are tools in a hacker’s arsenal. Malware, spyware, viruses, phishing web pages, and scripts are among many instruments to actively breach mobile security and steal information. They can mask themselves as harmless software or websites or may remain hidden on devices and leak personal data for months.

The Importance of Security in Mobile Applications

Considering the importance of personal data, mobile app developers put great effort into maximizing the security of their software. The adherence to mobile app security standards enhances the safety of user data. In its turn, this offers numerous benefits, some of which are listed below as examples.

5 Main Advantages of Mobile App Security

1. Better protection against identity theft. To steal someone’s digital identity means to get digital copies of identification documents, a social security number, passwords to essential accounts, and other means of authentication. All this data may be obtained from a person’s mobile device, for example, by checking the internal and cloud storages or by bypassing a two-step verification using the victim’s phone number. Mobile applications designed and tested according to the newest standards have specific means to prevent this from happening.
2. Higher safety of banking information. Many mobile apps that provide access to goods and services store payment information, such as credit card numbers, delivery addresses, order lists, and so on. So, a software client of your favorite taxi service, fast food chain, or online shop may potentially leak this confidential information if an app has security flaws. Proper approaches to Quality Assurance minimize such risks.
3. Enhanced privacy of personal media and messages. Users usually keep many personal photos and videos directly on their mobile devices or in cloud storage accessible from said devices. If such visual media falls into the wrong hands, it can be used for blackmail or to embarrass people just out of spite. The same is true for messages that in modern mobile applications can also be in the form of photos, videos, or text. Mobile app security ensures that personal communication is encrypted and media files are hidden from intruders.
4. Improved resistance to massive infrastructure breaches. Over the last decade, there have been several large-scale online breaches in global corporations where millions and even billions of data records were stolen. Usually, such enormous databases are sold in the Darknet and lead to smaller, personalized attacks, most likely scamming, phishing, and so on. As a rule, corporations are very reluctant to admit that such breaches take place, so for a while, users do not even know that their data is compromised and their privacy is in danger. Again, software built and updated according to security standards has a much higher chance to avoid data leakage during such massive events.
5. Increased protection against hardware hijacking. As mobile devices become more and more advanced, they get better sensors and chips combined with powerful AI features. This makes them incredible spying tools if someone controls them remotely. They can record and transmit audio and video data, current geolocation, and other information about the device’s surroundings. Moreover, mobile devices infected with malware may become a part of a botnet that can be used for various malicious purposes, from spamming to DDoS attacks. During the cryptocurrency frenzy, smartphones and tablets were used for mining, though this tendency has declined but never disappeared completely. Mobile app security ensures that software can successfully fend off attacks and recognize infected files or malicious links to inform users in advance.

Ultimately, security in mobile app development aims to prevent all types of threats and keep users’ data and devices as safe as possible. If a mobile application is created according to modern security protocols, its users would prefer it over other similar solutions that are outdated or have known safety flaws. A secure mobile app is much more appealing because it satisfies one of the basic needs: people want to feel safe not only physically but also in terms of their privacy and finances.

Ways to Improve Security in Mobile Application Development

Mobile app security is an ongoing race. Hackers’ methods and tools have become more sophisticated, and security measures have to evolve to match those. Such measures are adopted by the software development community and include specified standards and methods to organize the development process. So, the best way to ensure the safety of a mobile app is to follow the existing guidelines and satisfy the standard requirements.

By far, the dominant security standard in the field of mobile app development is provided by the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP) foundation. It is continuously amended and improved by a worldwide community of professionals. The OWASP Mobile Application Security initiative includes three components.

The Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) lists numerous requirements for mobile software. The testing guide (MASTG) describes the proper procedures, methods, and tools for mobile applications security testing. Conveniently, this guide comes with several illustrative test cases as references. The mobile app security checklist is a handy tool that is available in the form of PDF files in various languages. It lists all 80+ requirements of the MASVS and matches them with the appropriate test cases of MASTG.

Such an impressive amount of criteria means that the standard is very strict. Developers have to put a lot of time and effort to satisfy all the requirements and maximize the security of their mobile applications. Generally, it is better to start with a few basic improvements that have a great positive effect on security, such as the following:

1. Enforce software updates. Nowadays, the majority of mobile app updates improve security rather than add new functionality. An outdated application is potentially more vulnerable. It is the developers’ duty to maintain the security of an app with updates or patches and deliver them to user devices as soon as possible.
2. Make sure that an application complies with local laws and industry regulations regarding security. For example, it is a widespread policy that users’ data must be kept on servers in their respective states. This means that no country should store the personal information of other countries’ citizens.
3. Ensure that an application handles sensitive data with the utmost care. First and foremost, it means using encryption and secure protocols while transmitting such information. A user interface of an app should conceal private information, such as passwords or PIN codes, by default. Sharing such data with third parties must be strictly forbidden unless it is required by an app architecture. No logging of personal information must be allowed. Sensitive data must be stored in an encrypted form preferably remotely or in a “sandbox” within the app.
4. Enable two-factor authentication. A combination of two different means of authentication has become a de-facto security standard for a good reason. A password and an SMS code, or a biometric scan, such as a fingerprint or face scan, and a PIN code are among the most popular combinations that are widely used in mobile devices.
5. Make sure that an application recognizes tampering and end-of-session events. After a predetermined number of failed authentications, an app must lock and prevent any further attempts of breaking in. An application also must “log out” a user after a predetermined idle period.

Ensuring top-notch security in mobile applications is possible with the help of effective QA practices and comprehensive security testing. The process is exhausting, but the established standard and checklist make it somewhat easier.

Why You Should Hire Intellectsoft to Ensure Mobile App Security

Ensuring mobile app security is a highly important task. That’s why it should be assigned to skilled engineers who have the required experience and testing tools. Intellectsoft has such experts who work in well-coordinated teams and offer a wide range of mobile app development services. We perform careful, comprehensive testing and ensure the highest standards of quality and security throughout the whole development life cycle. Contact us to get a mobile software product built according to the leading quality and security standards of the industry, including OWASP, ISO, GDPR, HIPAA, and others.

The post Mobile Application Security: Definition, Practices, Benefits appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

What Is a Dedicated Development Team?

When a business needs to build and maintain a software application, it generally chooses one of two ways. The first one is creating and running a specialized software development department. The second way is hiring a dedicated development team. Both choices are viable under certain circumstances, which will be described in detail a little later in this article. But first, let’s define what a dedicated development team is.

The term “dedicated development team” is rather self-explanatory. It means a group of software engineers, including developers, testers, designers, and other types of specialists. This team works under a contract and dedicates its resources to perform the specified tasks within the set time period. However, the team does not become a part of your company’s staff, which offers several potential benefits that will be discussed below.

Technical specialists that make up the team are employed by a software development company. This company temporarily “leases” them to your business but remains in control of all administrative affairs. The number and types of developers in a team are chosen according to the complexity of your task, deadline, and other factors. Usually, they are set strictly, but sometimes the contract may permit their change over time. This way, the team ensures that your software meets the quality and security criteria and is delivered on time.

Why Do You Need a Dedicated Development Team?

If you want to get a high-quality software product within a reasonable time and budget, consider hiring a dedicated development team. It is a more rational and efficient alternative to managing your software development department. Here are some of the most important advantages of a dedicated development team in terms of business values.

• More cost-effective work;
• Less time to get the result;
• Reduced need for management.

More Cost-effective Work

Hiring a dedicated team saves you money for several reasons. First of all, you get the exact number of specialists needed to complete the job within the deadline. If you had your own department of programmers, you would have to pay all of them, whether they currently have a task or not. You also do not have to deal with paid vacations, bonuses, and other incentives for the team members.

Additionally, you do not have to buy expensive equipment for software development if you hire a team. A dedicated team has the required set of devices for building and testing software. Moreover, this equipment has been properly set up and combined together into a working infrastructure. Its operability and performance are controlled by system administrators from the contracted company. This way, you do not have to hire additional staff to check and maintain the work computers.

Note that a dedicated development team cost can be high, but you get much more in return for your initial investments.

Less Time to Get the Result

As a rule, the dedicated team is highly skilled and has experience of working as a single unit. This means that the internal processes and communication within the team are well-established and tuned to maximize efficiency. Moreover, because of the contract, the team itself is interested in delivering the product as fast as it could without compromising the quality.

Additionally, you save time by getting a premade team of specialists ready to work whenever you sign the deal. You personally or your recruiters do not have to assemble the team by contacting each developer separately and holding interviews.

As an extra benefit, your contract may allow you to alter the time needed to complete your project. If you want to get your software product sooner and you are willing to spend extra money, you may ask to allocate additional specialists to the team. Then the managers will look into the possibility of fulfilling your request if it is physically possible to speed up the working process. And vice versa, if your budget is limited, but you have some extra time to spare, you may negotiate to reduce the number of developers to a minimum. This way, you can ensure that your software product is released at the most favorable time for business.

Reduced Need for Management

The dedicated team comes with their management, who oversees the work progress and reports to you. It is up to you how closely you want to monitor the teamwork. Usually, the optimal variant is letting the professionals work without your interference.

A good team understands that you, as a customer, want results, not excuses. So, when they know what you want, they will deliver the result as set in the contract.

An experienced team is self-governed, meaning it has the means and people to handle the working process. Its supervisors prevent any unexpected situations or deal with them, should they occur. Usually, the team manager provides you with regular updates on the progress and shows preliminary results after each stage of the development process. This way, you still remain in control and check that your requirements are fulfilled.

To sum up, the main benefits of contracting a dedicated team come down to three points: less money, less time, and less fuss. You describe to managers precisely what you want, and they make sure the team delivers it on time.

Advice on Hiring a Dedicated Development Team

A dedicated development team is responsible for delivering you the product built according to your demands. However, it is your responsibility to carefully choose a capable and trustworthy team. Here are a few factors that will help you to decide whether you should hire a dedicated team from a particular software development company.

1. Experience and reputation
2. Range of available specialists and provided services
3. Communication ability

First and foremost, check how long the development company has been around. Do some research, visit its website, and read about its previous cases. Check the mentions, comments, and other references about your potential contractors. Become acquainted with the company even before you contact it.

A good company maintains a bustling online activity. It adds new cases to show on its website, makes posts on its social network accounts, and publishes articles in its blog. You should get the feeling that the company is a live community with real people working in it. Generally, it is a positive sign that the development company can offer a dedicated team of motivated specialists who love their work and are worth your money.

Last but not least, contact the representatives of a development company. Ask all the questions you have regarding the available specialists, their experience, the task you are offering, etc. Note if it is easy for you to communicate with them because it would have a major impact in the future.

Though there are many nuances in hiring a dedicated development team, using a thoughtful approach and common sense will help you immensely. The three factors described above are merely the essentials, and it’s up to you whether to add other choice criteria.

Overall, choosing an active company that has been around for several years and has a good portfolio is a good start. Contact the managers to ensure they have an available dedicated team with the necessary specialists and skills. Then, make sure that you have no misunderstandings by making a detailed list of requirements for your desired software.

Reasons to Choose Intellectsoft

As you can see, selecting a dedicated development team is vital for your business. The future of your software product depends on the team skills and, incidentally, on your careful choice. Keeping that in mind, consider Intellectsoft when you decide to hire a dedicated development team. Here are some reasons in our favor:

• We have been constantly proving our skills in the IT field for over 16 years.
• World-leading brands from various industries trust our expertise and are satisfied with the results.
• We assemble scalable dedicated teams to fit the scope of your task.
• Our specialists are highly skilled and motivated to deliver the best performance.
• You will always keep in touch with the dedicated team thanks to daily, weekly, and monthly reports.
• Our company offers teams for a wide range of projects, from startup software development to a full-scale digital transformation of an enterprise.
• We have experts in most of the modern technologies for software development: languages, frameworks, etc.

Both our dedication to digital technologies and our passion for software development help us to deliver amazing products to our customers. We continue working hard even after we have built our reputation and expertise in the market of software development services. Our dedicated teams fully understand their responsibility to deliver top-quality solutions and maintain the company’s good name. Contact us and see for yourself.

The post 3 Reasons Why a Dedicated Development Team is a Good Investment appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

This is why understanding custom software advantages and disadvantages is necessary. By doing this, you can weigh the advantages and disadvantages to determine whether or not customized solutions are appropriate for your overall business needs.

You can choose the best option for your brand using certain prerequisites. This includes the size of your organization, the difficulty of your work, the types of customers you serve, your plans for scaling up, and the profitability of the solution.

In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of bespoke software. But first, let’s examine what custom software entails and why business leaders should give careful consideration to this choice.

What Does Custom Software Mean?

The process of developing custom-built solutions involves creating, designing, launching, and maintaining applications specifically for a set of end-users, functionalities, or brands. Comparatively, commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) is a tailored solution with features adapted to generic market needs.

Businesses occasionally require specialized solutions to handle challenges peculiar to their processes or sector. While it may be easier to deploy, COTS just doesn’t solve those problems.

This is why bespoke software has become popular for small-scale businesses and enterprises. However, there are many more custom software benefits beyond customization.

Advantages of Custom Software 

Are you planning to solve a problem in your market? Building a custom-made solution might be your best chance. Below are some benefits of custom software development:

Personalized Solution for Your Brand Only

This is one of the notable advantages of custom-made software over off-the-shelf software. Bespoke solutions allow you to build exactly what your business wants or needs.

This means you can solve a specific problem rather than respond to a generic market. As such, you will differentiate your business and have a competitive edge. You will also have full control over the software, meaning you can make changes at any time, add key features, and implement customer feedback.

More Customer Personalization 

The modern user wants a personalized experience, not a generic-looking service. In fact, 80% of customers are more likely to patronize a business that provides a tailored experience. This is because customers want to feel like they’re being treated as a person.

With customized software development, you can provide more personalized solutions and add value to the business-customer relationship. This is bound to increase customer loyalty, retention, and satisfaction.

Better Return on Investment

Although high cost is one of the disadvantages of custom-made software, there is a better ROI in the long run. You won’t have to pay for unnecessary hardware or pointless features you don’t need. If your software is worth the value, it’s a smart investment regardless of cost.

Scalability and Flexibility

Every business wants to grow. However, using off-the-shelf solutions is as good as setting yourself up to remain stagnant for a long time.

Scaling ready-made solutions to meet company growth or new market demands is almost impossible. They can’t be manipulated at will, and you may infringe licensing contracts if you do.

However, custom software development grows with your business to meet future needs and requirements. You can make changes at any time based on customer feedback, upgrade based on emerging technologies, and conduct regular maintenance.

Seamless Integration

If your business has existing tools or technologies, building custom software facilitates seamless integration. You might want all business systems to communicate with one another or need to create interfaces that make data exchange smoother.

These functionalities are often challenging to find in a ready-built tool, especially due to arbitrary APIs. However, this compatibility can be included in a custom-made application. Although there may be some alternatives for off-the-shelf software to merge with other programs, this integration may not be as seamless as you might prefer.

Enhanced Security 

Since you’re building from scratch, you have control over software security by creating it in. Off-the-shelf software is notoriously easy to hack because they use open-source code and are available to everyone. This means attackers already know the vulnerabilities of such software.

On the other hand, custom-made software is a closed-source project. In addition, your developers can observe secure DevOps even before writing the first line of code.

Improved Software Support

Custom software has the assurance of a reliable technical support team involved during the development life cycle. They can deal with any problem because they are familiar with your software.

You’ll get a swifter response and resolution time as long as you include Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in your contracts.

Note that support is usually out of your hands with ready-made solutions.

Disadvantages of Custom-Made Software

Bespoke software solutions aren’t all roses. There are a few drawbacks to note before you begin development.

Let’s look at the disadvantages of custom software:

High Upfront Cost

Perhaps the biggest flip side to bespoke software is the initial investment. Developing customized software can be expensive because you’re starting from scratch.

While this upfront cost may yield better ROI in the long run, it can be challenging for certain organizations without sufficient finance.

However, the increased productivity your employees will experience, the competitive edge for your business, and the personalization for your customers will rapidly compensate for the expenditure.

Longer Time-to-Market

Custom software can take time to develop and deploy into the market. This can be a problem for businesses that want to get a solution into the market quickly. Depending on your needs and project specifications, it takes around 4-9 months while off-the-shelf software is ready to use.

Bespoke software requires organizations to invest time into providing specific requirements to the outsourcing vendor or in-house development team.

Time will also be dedicated to developing and testing software from a user’s perspective. This may include multiple iterations and bug fixes before getting the desired results.

Risk of Choosing the Wrong Vendor

There is the risk of choosing a wrong outsourcing company to develop your custom software. Unfortunately, picking an unprofessional vendor might cost you even more. This is because you would have invested time and money into a project that won’t be completed or won’t be built to satisfaction.

Choosing a reliable software development partner to outsource your project is essential for the best outcomes.

Why Choose Intellectsoft for Custom Software Development

Intellectsoft is a best-in-class software development company with over 16 years of experience in custom software development across different industries. We have a track record of the world’s leading enterprises and Fortune 500 companies.

At Intellectsoft, our professional services cover software engineering, consulting, and outsourcing. We understand that pricing can be a concern in bespoke software development. As such, we provide a competitive and reasonable pricing model that fits your budget and business needs.

We consider time-to-market, so we provide a dedicated team for your project. Our team of skilled developers is happy to get to work immediately after signing a contract.

You can also check out our client success stories involving small-scale businesses to enterprises. We have provided custom-made solutions to companies in oil & gas, transportation, entertainment, fintech, construction, tourism, and healthcare, among many others.

Final Words

Each organization has unique requirements. Most of them are aware that commercial software won’t live up to their expectations or solve the problems their customers face.

You know your customers’ pain points more than anyone because they are the center of your business. Once you understand the problems your customers face, you’ll be able to develop custom software solutions that address those issues.

As a rule of thumb, you should have software that can accommodate your company’s requirements, which is not always the case with off-the-shelf solutions. This is why businesses hire a development team to build unique applications that satisfy their needs and requirements.

In addition, bespoke software provides customers with more personalization. This is likely to generate higher customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention.

Ultimately, the pros of customized software outweigh the cons. Building bespoke software is your best chance to succeed if you want a competitive advantage and make a real difference in the market.

Do you have a big idea in mind? Then you should get the best hands for the job. Our team of experts at Intellectsoft is more than happy to discuss your project.

Regardless of industry or company size, you can trust us to successfully implement your business requirements. Contact us today, and our managers will answer any questions you may have.

The post Custom Software Advantages and Disadvantages appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Why IT Consulting Is Important

Even highly successful enterprises can end up losing their dominance in the market or going bankrupt because they have failed to make proper use of digital technologies. One of the most illustrative examples of such a fall is the story of Blockbuster. In addition to bad financial decisions and unsuccessful business models, the company was too late to realize the potential of online services and make them appealing to customers.

On the other hand, Netflix turned essentially the same DVD rental business into an online empire that both distributes and produces digital content. Its success was shaped by the agile business strategy combined with the work of IT experts who advised, planned, built, and enhanced the required infrastructure. Now, thanks to timely IT consults, among other things, the annual revenue of Netflix is about 31.6 billion US dollars, and its users have convenient access to the impressive video library from their mobile devices, smart TVs, etc.

The lack of IT consulting caused many promising startups to crash and burn, burying great ideas and losing investment money. Still taking the video streaming industry as an example, Quiby and LeSports are two well-known failed startups that had the biggest funding. Each of them lost about 1.7 billion dollars of their respective investors’ money.

Any startup or enterprise should take into account the recommendations from both types of experts and treat them as equally important for future success.

Just like business advisors evaluate the financial perspectives of an enterprise, IT consultants focus on the practical implementation of digital technologies. Any startup or enterprise should take into account the recommendations from both types of experts and treat them as equally important for future success. So for the sake of business, it is simply not wise to follow financial advice and disregard the opinion of IT specialists, or vice versa.

What Are IT Consulting Services?

As the name suggests, IT consulting services are when a client turns to software development experts for advice. These specialists usually have significant experience and skills to deal with the hardest questions in their field. They analyze the needs of a client’s business and suggest the most efficient way to solve the existing problems, ensure productive operation, and chart the course for future development. This is a complex process that includes several stages with specific consulting on each of them.

A good IT consulting company always researches the needs and capabilities of each particular client before suggesting a course of action. For startups, for example, a simple mobile or web app might be enough to showcase their features, provide basic functionality, and draw first customers without going overboard with the budget.

For large-scale enterprises, it depends on how “digitized” they want to become. For whatever reasons, some of them intend to remain as “traditional” as possible and stick to “analog” methods with minimum essential digital technologies. Most likely, such businesses will need the same basic services as many startups, unless the consultants persuade them to make more drastic changes in order to fit better in the modern world.

However, many modern companies are not afraid to undergo a complete digital transformation and integrate IT solutions into all stages of operation. This task involves building a complex infrastructure that allows remote monitoring and management. It also binds all activities and departments into one robust network. Correspondingly, the scope and complexity of IT consulting services required for such customers increase greatly.

Stages of IT consulting

As a rule, the process of IT consulting has a certain flow, meaning different sets of services take place in a predetermined order. Generally, experts recognize four main stages of IT consulting:

1. Requirements analysis and feasibility investigation. At this stage, IT specialists take a close look at their client’s idea and define what it is going to take to turn the idea into reality. The experts determine whether it is physically possible to realize the client’s wish and how to do it effectively given the current state of technology. They also estimate the rough budget of the future endeavor to correlate it with the investment fund and intended profits.
2. Solution specification and structure development. After it has been determined that the client’s idea can be realized within the given budget, it’s time to elaborate on its implementation. The IT consultants plan and specify the architecture and structure of the proposed solution, whether it is a single application, several apps integrated into a common platform, or a complex work environment comprising several systems. The experts also determine the optimal tech stack for a solution or for all its parts, if needed. According to the determined set of technologies and the scale of the projects, the IT consultants can also estimate the number of team members required to deliver the solution.
3. Scalability and integration research. Depending on the scope of a project, the consulting specialists should suggest implementing the scalability feature. This way, the delivered solution can be extended and upgraded as the business grows. IT specialists can also foresee and provide the requirements for the future integration of a solution into a system that unifies several modules or applications into a single work infrastructure.
4. Modeling and simulation. When the structure and scale of the solution are outlined, tech specialists can evaluate its behavior under various conditions. These IT consulting services involve careful modeling of the proposed solution taking into account the scale of the business, the stack of technologies, and other factors. Then, this model is tested by simulating possible stress situations to find the vulnerabilities. Ultimately, the IT consultants come up with measures to make the solution more secure and robust against malicious attacks, heavy loads, or other threats.

It should be noted that a customer may order any particular stage separately if they are sure that the rest of the consulting services are not needed. However, it is more beneficial when the whole process is performed without omissions.

Benefits of IT Consulting Services

Now, when we have defined IT consulting services, let’s see how they can benefit your business.

1. You will get a sensible evaluation of your business concept. If you come up with a new business idea, you may be biased and overconfident in your insights. That’s why it is always better to get an outside perspective from a group of experts. This can prevent a financial disaster at the earliest stage before it leads to heavy losses.
2. You will get comprehensive technical advice on the optimal ways to realize your business concept. Simply put, the IT consultants will tell you exactly what types of software and tech you need to get an effective solution. Whether you need a mobile app, a web app, an enterprise management system, or any other software product, the experts will tell you what technologies are optimal for building it and how many developers should be involved.
3. You will get estimated budget calculations. Based on the tech stack and the size of the development team, IT consultants will draft an approximate budget. Depending on your needs, it may include development, deployment, and post-release support.
4. You won’t have to worry about the quality and security of your software solution. IT consultants will recommend putting it to extensive tests to detect weaknesses and find ways to fix them. Usually, the consulting specialists work alongside the skilled developers who will perform this task at your request. Sometimes, IT consultants themselves have the required skills and experience to provide both consulting and development services. If so, they can suggest testing, perform tests, and fix the found flaws in the software. This way, your digital infrastructure will be fool-proof, robust under load or during accidents, and protected against unauthorized access. As a result, your enterprise will have a safe and smooth flow of operations and tightly secured documentation and other sensitive data.
5. You won’t fall behind your competitors due to outdated technologies. The consultants will suggest the ways and the tech to modernize your existing environment with minimum downtime and a reasonable budget.
6. You will increase the productivity of your business. Switching to modern technologies under IT consultants’ guidance will boost the performance of your existing business and processes. New tech requires investments but gives much more in return: higher efficiency, lower costs, less maintenance, and as a result – more potential revenue.

Why Choose Intellectsoft for IT Consulting

Considering the risks and the impact of decisions, IT consulting should be performed by highly experienced specialists who take full responsibility for their advice. Over the last 15+ years, Intellectsoft has gathered a skilled team of professionals to provide a wide range of consulting services, including:

1. Enterprise architecture consulting;
2. Digital strategy consulting;
3. Software requirements consulting;
4. Data security consulting;
5. Emergency recovery consulting, etc.

So, if you need comprehensive research, reasonable opinions, and expert advice, contact us. Our specialists will help you to get a head start with the new business, perform a digital transformation of your existing company, or develop a custom IT solution from scratch for any given task.

The post All You Need to Know about IT Consulting Services in 2023 appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

The Current Situation and Main Tendencies in the IT Industry in 2023

Recent years were full of historical events, and the latest software development trends reflect how the IT field adapts to those phenomena. Technological breakthroughs, climate changes, and local conflicts are among the many reasons that constantly change the preferences of the coding community. Let us review the most popular trends, observe their dynamics and find the reasons behind their current popularity.

The Revolution in Artificial Intelligence.

While Artificial Intelligence was one of the top trends in software development over the last few years, the situation changed completely in December 2022. When Open AI launched its ChatGPT, the digital world experienced one of the biggest revolutions in its history. The immense scope of abilities of this chatbot is shocking and slightly frightening. It can maintain a meaningful dialog with the user, write an article or even a thesis on a given topic, and much more. For example, GhatGPT can write computer code based on a user’s request.

Naturally, program developers around the world started to investigate and exploit this opportunity. This feature allows a person with little to no knowledge of programming to create a basic-level software product or module. The more this chatbot learns, the more advanced its skills become. It seems inevitable that before long the AI will both write programs and teach programming languages to junior developers. Such industry giants as Microsoft and Baidu have already integrated AI chatbots in their search engines, browsers, and other solutions.

Other brilliant examples of interactive AI are Midjourney and DALL-E 2. These tools use deep learning to generate images based on the written description. The rise and evolution of such self-developing models have already caused concern among professional designers. As a related trend, Tensorflow is still the dominant platform for machine learning, thus retaining its popularity over the last few years.

New Horizons for Big Data Analysis.

All modern IT “whales” are deeply involved in Big Data and successfully turn it into immense profits and influence. Google, Meta, Twitter, Amazon, and other huge companies gather tremendous amounts of information and analyze it to create user behavior patterns. This way, they can provide personalized services, such as advertising, selected content, services, and so on by predicting customers’ needs.

The related trend that has appeared just recently is called the Internet of Behavior (IoB). It combines the Internet of Things (IoT), predictive analytics, and behavioral research. This concept involves gathering data from a variety of smart devices, including wearable gadgets and household appliances. Then this data is combined with various information regarding online activities, such as search history, watched content, played games, ordered wares, and much more.

Ultimately, an IoB platform can create a concise database that summarizes the preferences and behavior of a particular person. This extensive structured information can be used for providing a variety of personalized online content, including ads, news, articles, videos, and much more. The increasing popularity of IoT devices greatly speeds up the development of IoB solutions. Overall, the Internet of Behavior will certainly remain one of the dominant trends in the foreseeable future.

Alternative Approaches to Programming

The preferences regarding programming languages among software developers generally remain unchanged in relation to the last few years. According to the TIOBE index, Python is still number one in the world, and C is still the runner-up. Rust and Scratch are gaining popularity and rose by 4 points in the index, while Swift has dropped by 3 points over the last year.

While the developers keep using the same programming languages, the situation around coding approaches has changed drastically. A few new ways of creating software have sparked massive interest among specialists. One of the hottest trends in this industry nowadays is no-code development. A step forward from visual programming languages and low-code development platforms, this concept reduces the requirements for developers’ skills even further. Such services as Bubble, Webflow, or Adalo offer advanced functionality and various templates to create mobile and web applications without writing any code.

Naturally, the no-code approach will not seize the whole software development industry. However, it allows more people to express their ideas and create program products in an extremely easy fashion. The same purpose is one of the main reasons why AI-assisted programming also gets increasingly popular. Nowadays, virtually anyone can ask an AI bot like ChatGPT to write a fragment of code to solve a given problem. Of course, the no-code and AI-assisted methods do not meet many quality and security requirements. This way, they are not suitable for creating software for startups and businesses.

As an example of an ongoing software development trend, microservices remain very popular. Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are still the top three players in the field of cloud computing. Their reputation and demand have not declined over the years, and they remain trusty platforms for providing a large variety of computing services and resources.

High Demand for Security and Decentralization

One of the new trends in software development is the novel concept of the World Wide Web called Web3. The idea involves making the Internet more decentralized and secure, mainly through the use of blockchain technologies. While nowadays blockchains are generally associated with cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), tech specialists believe that this situation will change soon.

Decentralization is believed to be the potential solution to one of the biggest concerns in the IT industry. Some corporations have gained too much influence over the digital world and have almost monopolized several essential services and environments by suppressing their rivals. The software development community is actively looking for effective ways to minimize the dependence on those corporations and their products.

In the field of software development, the decentralization trend also refers to the structure and operation of an application. This approach focuses on ensuring the autonomous and uninterrupted work of software. For example, if one software module malfunctions, the rest of the platform should work. If several servers go down due to a sudden power shortage, the remaining part of the infrastructure should remain operational.

IT Services Outsourcing

The situation with human resources in the software development industry is extremely volatile. It seems just a few months ago, there was a dire shortage of tech specialists, and nowadays, the situation has reversed. There were massive layoffs by major IT companies, including Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Twitter, and several others. The numbers are shocking: more than 70000 employees of the largest tech enterprises have lost their jobs, and new waves of layoffs are expected.

These measures show the new tendency when more and more companies resolve to outsourcing rather than having massive development departments. Businesses are desperately looking for ways to minimize their losses, and outsourcing is a very viable and cost-effective way of doing this. That’s why the rapidly rising demand for outsourcing services is the latest trend these days.

Why It Is Important to Monitor Trends

Modern software development trends represent the current needs and changes in the industry. If a company keeps a close eye on them, it understands and predicts the desires of its customers more accurately. That’s why Intellectsoft realizes the importance of researching and following the latest tendencies.

Knowledge of trends allows us to learn and use advanced software development tools even before they become mainstream. To maximize the efficiency of our work, we combine cutting-edge tools with time-proven technologies, thus uniting modern trends and conventional means. This allows us to create secure and effective custom software solutions for businesses operating in various industries.

For example, our knowledge of the IoT and security trends allowed us to create a solution for smart fridges with RFID tags and other peripherals. The recent trend regarding cryptocurrencies also did not catch us off-guard. We have developed a secure yet simple blockchain wallet to manage operations with Bitcoin and Ethereum. Overall, the information about modern trends allows our company to remain competitive and able to deliver effective solutions. It also challenges our specialists to master new tech and skills.

Last But Not Least

The developers in Intellectsoft take a keen interest in various new trends in software development. Learning about new tendencies, tools, and methods allows us to improve our skills and remain in demand as tech professionals. If you want to implement the latest trends in a custom-built software solution, contact us. Our specialists will find efficient ways to embody your idea using modern tendencies in programming.

The post Top Software Development Trends in 2023 appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

14 Reasons Why Businesses Need Mobile Apps

Let’s face it: people have become addicted to smartphones. There is no other type of portable device that has achieved similar popularity. That’s why many companies use the opportunity to reach potential and existing customers by creating mobile applications. The advantages described below will help you realize the immense importance of a mobile app for business and possibly persuade you to invest in developing an application for your enterprise.

Since the list of positive effects is rather big, it has to be divided for better understanding. While all the listed features will ultimately benefit a company, they are aimed at two groups: business managers and customers.

Mobile App Benefits for Business Management

Companies that have invested in their custom mobile applications may fully employ a number of highly useful perks. These benefits help in gaining a competitive advantage in the market by making the business more productive and flexible. In competitive markets, your company needs to seize every opportunity to be ahead of your rivals. A high-quality mobile app will provide a range of such opportunities.

• Reaching out to larger audiences. This benefit comes from the fact that people spend most of their days with smartphones in their hands. It means that people would have access to your services or goods virtually anywhere. More importantly, customers would easily make an order using a mobile app whenever they are in the mood or feel the right impulse. If your business has a mobile app, in some cases you don’t even have to open “offline” offices to cover new areas. Generally, it is easier and more cost-effective to reach a partnership with a trustworthy delivery company to expand your business to new territories. Larger coverage leads to increased sales and bigger profits.
• Optimized sales. The use of a mobile app makes it easier for your sales managers or consultants to reach customers and confirm their orders, set delivery dates, or provide useful information. For example, we have developed app for Harley-Davidson that helps turn exhibition visitors into customers. It is also an efficient way to deliver information about new goods in stock, new features of the app added in the latest update, and so on. Generally, such mobile applications also provide search functionality that allows customers to find required items without communicating with shop consultants.
• Better statistics gathering. Mobile operating systems offer a lot of ways to collect information related to the interaction between the user and your software. Personal data is useful to learn customers’ preferences, predict their future needs and suggest an optimal way of delivery. For example, if a person buys a baby crib, your app may suggest other wares for toddlers during the same or the next interaction with this client. Depersonalized data is invaluable for business analysis in order to build and alter management plans, marketing strategies, and so on.
• Easier promotion. Your company can announce new merchandise, services, discounts, and other offers much more effectively using the potential provided in every smartphone. Your software can use push notifications to inform users in a less intrusive way than, for example, pop-ups on a website. We have implemented similar functionality in our custom solution for a major clothing retail chain. Another mobile app business opportunity is the ability to promote your services or engage customers via in-app suggestions powered by analytics algorithms.
• 24/7 availability. Unlike offline shops or offices with specified working hours, mobile apps can be accessed at any time. This means that your company’s services or goods are available for browsing and ordering. This way, you will not lose clients when your offline outlets are closed. Even when your staff is not at work, the application can use a specially trained chatbot to communicate with customers and relay information to respective departments.
• Better image. A company-branded mobile app is a certain milestone in business development. If a startup releases a mobile software product, it declares that it has both funds and tenacity to expand its presence on the market. Building and maintaining a mobile application requires a well-planned budget and a thorough business strategy. That’s why it strengthens your reputation and makes your position among rivals more formidable.
• Enhanced security. Websites are notoriously vulnerable to hacking or DDoS attacks. Mobile applications are additionally verified by Google and Apple before appearing in their respective app stores. This way, your business operations and interactions with customers are better protected from malicious activities of botnets, viruses, or other digital threats. Additionally, smartphones have built-in means of security, such as face recognition, fingerprint authentication, etc. Those features will make customers feel more secure when using your mobile application, so they will potentially spend more time in it and make more orders.

Benefits of Mobile Apps for Customers

Mobile software will also help your company by offering numerous positive perks to your clients. This will lead to better customer satisfaction and increase their loyalty and trust in your brand. Your clients will love a convenient application that works fast and has a user-friendly interface. Their positive impression of the app will transfer to your brand’s image in general. Simply put, a good mobile application will make users like your company more.

• Time saving. A mobile app will ensure easy and fast access to goods, services, and customer support from a smartphone or a tablet. For instance, instead of spending hours browsing shelves in warehouses, users can go through your entire assortment in mere minutes. Similarly, if you are in a car rental business, clients can easily use an application to check the whole selection of vehicles available to them.
• Convenience and new experience. Mobile applications are designed to use smartphone hardware to provide a unique customer experience. For example, with the help of a camera and augmented reality technologies users may be able to try on clothes virtually. Regardless of the industry, it is hard to overestimate the potential perks of digital technologies provided by the combination of modern hardware and mobile apps in business.
• Delivery monitoring. Using their smartphones, customers can check the status of their orders as they are being processed and delivered. This gives users the feeling of control and assurance that they would get what they want and when they expect. An application can schedule a push notification to appear on the device screen on the delivery day.
• Easy access to loyalty programs. After logging in to a mobile app, eligible customers can see and utilize the perks for regular clients. Those perks include rewards, bonuses, discounts, and other tactics to build long-term clientele. For example, your app may recalculate the prices automatically and apply the discount earned by a particular client who uses the mobile device.
• Personalization. To increase customer engagement by providing personalized deals and offers, the application may utilize data analysis and targeting algorithms. This will make users believe that your company cares about their needs and may even predict them to a certain degree. The research conducted by Google showed that 58% of mobile users prefer when a company’s app “remembers” them. The software can also have several color schemes to appeal to the personal preferences of each particular user.
• Offline interaction minimization. Many people dislike offline shopping because they associate it with long queues, crowded and noisy environments, as well as tedious waiting for their spouses. A mobile application can become a blessing to introverts or anyone who is not overly fond of human interactions. This advantage turned out to be extremely important during the COVID pandemic. The use of mobile apps allowed many businesses to continue their work while minimizing personal contact.
• Ability to give and receive feedback. Users of a business mobile app may view comments and responses from other clients. The software may automatically mark the reactions from verified clients and hide messages from unconfirmed users. This way, both positive and negative feedback can only be provided by real customers. This measure will prevent spam attacks where fake users attempt to leave numerous negative comments regarding your services or goods.

Conclusion

As you can see, mobile app benefits for business are numerous and indisputable. They can create an appealing user experience, increase brand loyalty, and make your company more recognizable and trustworthy, in addition to many other advantages. With the help of a mobile application, your business will be able to reach more customers and answer their needs with greater accuracy and care.

However, those positive effects involve certain expenditures and provisions. To make an informed decision, you also need to know how mobile applications can affect the business process in a negative way. Poor-quality mobile apps may discourage your customers from using them. For instance, customers won’t be able to buy from you if your mobile app doesn’t allow them to add items to their cart. And it is only one example from many when something may go wrong.

That is why you need a highly qualified team to develop, test, release, and support your mobile software. Intellectsoft has 15+ years of experience in this field and provides custom solutions for businesses in many industries, like eCommerce, Fintech, Real Estate, Healthcare, and others. Our company offers a wide range of mobile app development services: from initial consulting and prototyping to maintenance and support.

If you want to fully enjoy the business benefits of a custom-made mobile application, contact us. Intellectsoft will deliver you an optimal software solution tailored specifically to your needs.

The post 14 Main Advantages of Mobile Apps for Business appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

In this article, we are going to show how to choose a software development company that matches your needs. Here, you will find all the main steps that will help you start a fruitful collaboration and get the required software. Let’s get started.

Reasons You Should Partner With an Outsourcing Software Development Company 

Before we are going to explore the main steps to choosing the software development partner that matches your requirements, let’s find out how you can find candidates. As you probably know, hiring an in-house team is very costly and time-consuming. Nowadays, more and more companies are opting for outsourcing companies to entrust them with custom software development. The benefits of partnering with outsourcing companies are immense.

First of all, it’s a proven way to reduce costs. In fact, it’s worth noting that 70% of companies decide to outsource with the main goal of minimizing their expenses and, at the same time, receiving top-notch services from a vendor.

There are plenty of destinations to outsource, however, the most popular countries that deliver software development services of the highest quality are Eastern European countries like Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, and Bulgaria. They offer the most reasonable prices for projects of different complexity.

Another advantage of outsourcing is the unique access to a wide talent pool of specialists. Unlike choosing from a limited number of local developers, you can access specialists with different expertise from all over the world. You can choose a team that matches your budget and tech requirements to start working on your project.

Moreover, if you outsource your software development, most likely all you have to do is to track the team’s progress. Usually, outsourcing vendors are responsible for the full development lifecycle and your only job is to make sure everything goes smoothly and according to your plan. Therefore, outsourcing is the best solution for many businesses to get all things done effectively.

Enquire about the most suitable and cost-effective outsourcing model for your project here. 

11 Steps to Understanding You Start the Collaboration With the Right Partner

What are tips for choosing a software development company? Now, let’s dive into the effective strategies that will help you select a trusted and reliable partner and ensure your collaboration will be successful.

1. Define your business needs

Before you start looking for a partner, it’s crucial to clearly define your business goals and vision for the future. This is the first step to building a successful collaboration. Once you do this, you will understand what things matter for your company and what you need to pay attention to while contacting potential software vendors.

If you require some extra help in defining your business goals and vision feel free to reach out to Intellectsoft’s managers and they will assist with all your questions as well as how to find a great software development company.  

2. Establish selection criteria

Now, having your business objectives in mind and having an understanding of what software or application you need, you can establish software vendor selection criteria that critical for you while searching. It’s important to know what exactly you are looking for. Think of the details that will be decisive for your final choice like budget, location, number of employees, market expertise, industry focus, track record with similar companies, etc.

3. Create a list of matching partners

With the partner criteria established, you can do some research online and create a long list of companies that meet your basic to advanced requirements. The longer list you will make, the more options you will have to consider when you trim down to the essential candidates to pick the best one.

4. Make sure they specialize in what you need

Be extra careful when reviewing the websites and services of the potential vendors from your list. Sometimes while choosing the right software development company it can be a perfect match but a company doesn’t have the relevant experience in your specific industry or never worked with the technologies you want to implement. Usually, all the core info is posted on a website so make sure they have all the expertise needed.

5. Shortlist the companies

Once you are through all the previous steps, it’s high time to narrow down your potential partners and shortlist companies you have. Pick around 5 outsourcing software development companies and contact them to discuss your project. Afterward, it will be possible to compare their offer and decide what’s the best option.

6. Analyze portfolio and case studies

In order to see the tech scope, and project complexity a company has worked with it’s paramount to take a close look at its portfolio. Therefore, you will be able to evaluate what projects the company completed, how they dealt with the challenges presented, as well as what solutions they delivered.

View all client success stories at Intellectsoft here and see how our specialists solved business challenges through effective software implementation.  

7. Read reviews and testimonials

Everything you see on a website like a portfolio is great but you should also pay extra attention to the honest feedback directly from their clients. Usually, they share their transparent opinion regarding the overall partnership and end results. You don’t have to limit yourself to one resource as there are a lot of platforms where you can find reviews about a certain outsourcing company.

We encourage you to get familiar with reviews that our clients left on Clutch. 

8. Check their awards

Another pretty important aspect you should pay attention to is  awards. A qualified and trusted company usually has not just a track record of clients and projects but also rewards. Some of the main platforms that assess software development providers are Inc.500, The Manifest, Good Firms, Clutch, IT firms, and others.

9. Request their security practices

While collaborating with an outsourcing company, you will share a lot of sensitive information. And your main priority is to see what safety and security measures a potential partner puts in place to protect your ideas and product.

In addition, don’t forget to sign a non-disclosure agreement even before you start all the processes. It will enable you to ensure all the information you share will be safe and protected.

10. Assess their cultural fit

The cultural fit of a team also matters. If you decide to outsource your project it means you will have to collaborate with people from a different culture which means dealing with a different mentality, potential language barrier, cultural differences, etc. Take into consideration the way a company you consider communicates and research their values. If this information is not available on the website, you can think of the set of questions you want to ask and conduct a small interview before hiring them.

11. Make a final choice

You are one step away from starting your partnership with the right company. Take into account all the details on how to choose the right software development company and don’t rush with the choice. It’s better to take your time and thoroughly analyze all the data and make a well-informed decision that will define the future of your business.

Why Intellectsoft? 

If you want to outsource your next project and build quality software that will help your business grow then Intellectsoft can be a matching partner you should certainly consider.

Our team has operated in the software development market for over 15 years already and has an impeccable reputation among our clients. Intellectsoft has delivered dozens of successful projects to international businesses and renowned Fortune 500 companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Eurostar, E&Y, Guinness, Harley Davidson, AF Gruppen, and so many more.

We have experience in building custom software development projects of different complexity levels. Intellectsoft offers a wide range of professional services in the field of software development, consulting, and outstaffing. The level of expertise of our team is outstanding and you can entrust us with your ideas so we can help your company grow exponentially and fully benefit from digitalization.

To learn more about the projects we delivered — check out the list of client success stories. Find out what business challenges Intellectsoft solved through high-end software development.

Don’t hesitate to contact us and our managers will reach out to discuss your project in detail and offer you an effective implementation plan as well as budget estimates.

Conclusion

Choosing the best software development company ain’t easy at all. However, in order to build long-lasting relationships and develop a software project that will enable your business to grow, it is crucial to pay extra attention to searching for one. We have presented the most effective tips for choosing a software development company to select the most suitable outsourcing vendors as well as to choose the one you will start a collaboration with. Now, you are one step closer to starting your successful and promising digitization journey.

The post 11 Steps to Collaborate with the Right Software Development Partner  appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.