More and more different software development methodologies are introduced within the tech industry. In most cases, all of those were first presented during the past decades, when a particular case required the use of a new development model that can fully meet the project’s characteristics, requirements, and goals. And, all the innovative approaches used were to make the development more productive and boost the desired results.

By the end of 2023, IT spending on enterprise software is expected to reach over $755 billion worldwide. As a substantial amount of these costs are invested in the software development branch, developers are now looking for the most optimized and effective software creation methods.

Different types of methodologies in software engineering can significantly eliminate the time, resources, and costs needed for project realization. However, due to the vast number of these methodologies currently existing, it becomes more and more challenging to pick up the best model for each specific case.

In this article, Intellectsoft’s best experts will analyze all the available different software development methodologies within the industry, as well as define their strong sides and possible drawbacks so you could come up with the most beneficial yet efficient software development models that ideally fit your project.

Let’s get it started!

What Is a Software Development Methodology?

To understand the types of development models existing, it’s important to learn the project development basics first.

The software development methodology refers to the development SDLC (software development life cycle) model, which is focused on organizing beneficial yet effective project development processes from the idea and planning to front-back & back-end development, testing, and software launching.

In other words, it is a so-called app development lifecycle that applies different formats, approaches, and techniques and helps to:

• Effectively organize the workflow
• Eliminate time for the project development
• Reduce the costs needed to develop a software
• Track the process of creation
• Provide a set of norms for the effective communication
• Improve the quality of the final product and more

Today, there are 12 standalone types of software development methodologies that introduce different models of project creating. However, each of those has its unique advantages and possible drawbacks, so it’s essential to analyze the core gist of your project as well as learn the pick up the most effective

As for 2021, one of the leading technological approaches practiced for software development is DevOps methodology, which is used in every third project (35.9%), says Statista.

But, in practice, it’s more efficient to review all the options available on the market and define which of the software development methodologies can fit your program best.

Types of Software Development Methodologies

As you already know, there are various types of different software engineering methodologies aimed at improving SDLC.

However, having reviewed them you can find out there’s no one outright winner – for each specific case, the strategy will be different based on the project’s characteristics, requirements, main goals, core features, and more.

Thus, the detailed comparison of software development methodologies can simplify the choice and help you to define the most winning option for each app development project individually.

Here is a list of software development methodologies we’ll look into:

1. Agile Software Development Methodology

The main focus of this methodology of software development is the project/product itself. That is why, it presupposes various constant alterations based on users’ and customers’ feedback, as well as internal changes related to the work of engineers.

The agile software development methodology is free of rigid frameworks on the one hand. While, on the other hand, the software development process is divided into short time boxes, thus offering real results and feedback truly fast.

Major Benefits

• Problems are detected and fixed at the early stage
• Higher flexibility to the plan and easier adapting to different project changes
• Eliminated time of project deliverables
• Enhanced communication with the clients, and their close engagement to each stage of the software development process
• Top-notch quality of the final product
• Mostly fits smaller, young companies that are more flexible and open up for the active communication

Possible Drawbacks

• Lack of understanding the solution specifics before their implementation
• The high risks of ignoring the project documentation and requirements
• Insufficient predictability of the budgeting, marketing plans, sales, and more
• Requires immediate responding to issues and feedback in real-time
• Easy to get lost in details and be pulled off the project course

2. Waterfall Development Methodology

The absolute opposite of the previous approach, this methodology is strict and linear. A new stage can only be started if the previous one is completed. In other words, each phase gradually flows into the next one.

What is more, there is no going back to the previous stage. This approach is easy to understand as it presupposes a strict sequence of completed tasks. Waterfall software development methodology is often regarded as a classic representation of software development.

Major Benefits

• The project plan is simple and straightforward, with all the goals, requirements, and important aspects defined before the software development process
• All the processes are easy to understand
• Enforced discipline and better keeping the timelines
• All the steps of testing scenarios are planned in advance
• No financial risks due to the high planning accuracy
• The outcomes are easy to predict, as they meet all the requirements and criteria outlined in project documentation, so the companies get exactly what they were expected to develop

Possible Drawbacks

• The planning stage can be too challenging to organize the entire process
• Low flexibility and inability to implement the changes once the software development process is started
• The immediate changes to the project can result in additional spendings that are usually enormously high
• A longer time of delivery
• Weak for long or ongoing projects

3. Extreme Programming Method

One of the software development approaches is suitable for unstable projects, as it implies engaging with the customer as much as possible. What is more, it presupposes considerable flexibility.

Extreme programming methodology is believed to boost the quality of software owing to its ability to adapt to dynamic changing demands. In addition to that, constant feedback and communication is the key to an efficient and happy team environment.

Major Benefits

• Significant customer involvement results in high-quality products
• Stable final product due to the continuous software testing
• Pair programming eliminates the errors that may occur during the software development process
• High level of flexibility and the ability to immediately implement the changes
• Code stays clear and comprehensive
• No rush to keep the timelines – developers work at their own pace

Possible Drawbacks

• Efficiency is much dependent on the people involved
• Vague and unknown future results
• Clients must always be engaged in the software development process
• Comparatively large time and high costs investments
• Is too challenging for the small teams, as they might not possess all the necessary skills and knowledge

4. Lean Development

Value for the client is the essential core element the whole approach revolves around. If something is worth it, it should be done immediately; if not, it should be removed.

The lean software development methodology is one of the software design methods which focuses a lot on loss reduction. That is why the whole project is examined significantly beforehand to eliminate any wasted time or money. As value is the core component, feedback plays a crucial role itself, so that the actions are taken fast.

Major Benefits

• Perfect for a low-budget project and rigid time limitations
• The team is focused on delivering on-demand tasks
• Provides fast deliverability by eliminating waste and useless processes
• Is easily scalable – ideally fits for large projects, unlike most of the other software development methodologies
• Cutting out tasks allows getting more time for the core processes and implementing the high-value features to the final product
• Enhanced teamwork enables focusing on meaningful and impactful work with a greater sense of purpose

Possible Drawbacks

• Success is much dependent on the working capacity of a team
• Low experience and lack of expertise might not work if the team works independently
• Cutting too many things can lead to a loss of project focus
• Risks of the delays due to certain bottlenecks or low resource levels
• Requires excellent documentation to ensure all the aspects are developed correctly

5. Prototyping Methodology

Based on the waterfall approach and having a significant focus on customer feedback. There are some initial requirements, developers provide samples, and only after customers evaluate the functionality of samples, the final development begins.

The gist of this software development methodology lies in the name itself – prototype methodology. In other words, before getting down to business, there will be painstaking research and prototyping to avoid unnecessary risks.

Major Benefits

• The prototype model can become a great information source for UI/UX improvements
• Enhances the system functionality by analyzing the actual look and feel of the system being developed
• High involvement of clients and final consumers during the developing process
• Easier and more effective detection of errors and issues
• High flexibility of the app developing process, that enables adding the missing functions or redoing the existing ones
• Reduced time and costs due to the early detection of the critical issues

Possible Drawbacks

• Too much client involvement can affect the process by slowing it down
• Possible budget increase, as the management cost may go beyond the money limit
• Increased complexity system that can enlarge beyond the original plans
• Developers can reuse the existing prototypes that don’t always meet the client expectations instead of creating the new product from a scratch
• The risks of the development overdoing with too much effort, time, and costs invested

6. Dynamic Systems Development Method

There are two main focuses: a strict time frame and an assigned budget. The idea is to manage to provide successful and effective software within a particular time limit and not exceed costs. Users’ involvement is of high importance as well. The dynamic systems model presupposes continuous feedback to deliver maximum functionality within the agreed requirements.

Major Benefits

• Time-boxed yet predictable project deliverability
• Developing processes are delivered at a standard level of quality, that can be improved through the analysis of documentation, software testing, and periodical reviewing of the outcomes
• Great communication between developers and clients
• Reaching the needed functionality as fast as possible
• Producing enough design work upfront (EDUF) to get a more concrete idea of what product client needs
• High control under each stage of the project development

Possible Drawbacks

• Requires considerable costs for development
• The approach will not fit and meet the needs of a small organization
• Doesn’t stimulate the developer creativity
• Projects are mainly focused on complying with the documentation and standards while can neglect some of the more sophisticated options available
• Requires an experienced team of developers with deep expertise in both business and technical aspects

7. Feature Driven Development

Features are regarded as a sort of user feedback. Planning, designing, and building are all feature-based. This approach involves iterations to boost functionality and deal with varied complexities. Feature-driven development aims at organizing the work of a large number of teams within a big organization.

Major Benefits

• Mostly fits large-scalable, long-term, and ongoing projects
• Provides a detailed understanding of the project’s scope, major goals, and context
• Breaks the feature sets into smaller chunks and regular iterative releases, thus reducing the risks of errors and enabling delivering the specific features in shorter time frames
• Utilizes the pre-set standards to simplify the developing procedure
• Enables any developer with appropriate experience and expertise to handle the tasks
• Based on a user-centric approach, where the outcome depends on the user opinion

Possible Drawbacks

• Cannot be applied by small organizations and for smaller projects
• Requires several experienced developers to monitor the process
• Difficult to guarantee a strict deadline
• Doesn’t provide the written documentation for the clients, only the communication among the developers during the project launching cycle
• Is more focused on individual code ownership instead of the shared team model

8. Rational Unified Process

The idea of this approach lies in having four stages of the developing process. ‘During each of the phases, all six core development disciplines take place – business modeling, requirements, analysis and design, implementation, testing, and deployment’, according to study.com.

The main focus of this software development methodology is to craft effective software of high quality without expanding the budget and missing the time frame.

Major Benefits

• Provides reliable, accurate, and strict documentation
• Eliminates the risks by taking into consideration the clients’ evolving needs
• Requires less time for integration when completing the software development life cycle
• The reuse of components allows reducing the time of project completion
• This development model can be studied through the online pieces of training and tutorials available on the Internet
• Incorporates the most effective practices of Waterfall by combining them into a more iterative process that is more flexible for changes

Possible Drawbacks

• Requires an expertized yet well-trained developer for this methodology to ensure the project success
• It May be too difficult to make the head or tail of the rational unified process model
• This development model doesn’t allow to reuse of the pre-made components
• Not effective for the big projects with multiple development systems, as it can cause more issues and confusion during the testing process
• The delivery process may be too time-consuming for certain types of projects

9. Spiral Development Model

The main idea is to eliminate the risks at the early stage of the project. The developing procedure goes from smaller levels to the big ones gradually. This approach combines waterfall ideas with iterations.

Each stage involves setting goals and receiving feedback from a client. Moving from one phase to another in a spiral model implies completing and removing the risks before moving forward.

Major Benefits

• Best fits mission-critical and long-term projects which require professional risk analysis and thorough control
• The process of the estimation of the costs is pretty easy yet straightforward
• Features the fast achievement of progress
• Repeated development helps to eliminate the possibility of risks and effectively control the system quality
• The specific functions or changes can be implemented at earlier and later stages
• Leaves a lot of improvement opportunities taken from the customer feedback

Possible Drawbacks

• Not suitable for small organizations and projects
• The danger of failing to meet the agreed budget and time limit
• Requires accurate following the spiral model project development protocol
• Demands a strict risk assessment expertise
• The correct risk analysis can be conducted by the expertise developers only

10. Joint Application Development

This approach implies significant interaction between users, designers, and developers. There are workshop sessions to facilitate and increase the development process. During the session, the following people are involved: a facilitator, end-users, developers, observers, mediators, and experts.

What is more, in joint application development there is a considerable focus on eliminating errors at the early stage, thus saving the expenses needed to correct the mistakes later on.

Major Benefits

• Valuable information is achieved within a short period
• Immediate elimination of errors and resolving the differences, which greatly boosts the software quality
• Features accurate project requirements focused on improving the system quality
• Reduces the time and costs needed for the project development
• Enables close communication between the team members and client, which greatly speeds up the development process
• Allows team members to push each other for faster yet high-quality deliverables

Possible Drawbacks

• Can be quite a time and energy-consuming model when it comes to planning
• Requires significant budget for the project launching
• Needs highly experienced and expert professionals
• Depending on the project size, it can be more difficult to align goals and maintain the overall project picture
• The clients usually make a huge laundry list of demands with making them all “high-priority”

11. Scrum Development

Easy to understand and effective when it comes to achieving results. The working process is divided into sprints. All the assignments for each sprint are set beforehand and are then discussed after this period.

Thanks to this approach, it is easy to get a response to emerging problems early, and as a result, solve them immediately. Scrum software development methodology is by far the most flexible. For this reason, it easily deals with projects having changing requirements.

Major Benefits

• All the stages and processes are clear and transparent
• Light control goes together with constant updating that keeps all of the team always on guard
• Removing the errors and project issues becomes much easier
• Implies high engagement of clients
• Enables frequent updates of the progress, which are proposed on the regular meetings
• Clients can trace the various project processes and measure the development performance

Possible Drawbacks

• The costs and time needed can often be uncertain
• No deadlines for the product delivery
• Big projects cannot be managed with this approach
• Only expert professionals that are constantly up to the tasks can be involved, with no beginners
• The test team must conduct regression testing after each sprint, which is one of the most notable difficulties of this methodology

12. Rapid Application Development

It is clear from its name that the main goal of this approach is to achieve fast results. To do so it uses the assistance of other development methodologies. It focuses on fast prototype releases and iterations.

As a result, quick feedback is received, errors are eliminated and the desired results are reached. It is as flexible and adaptable as possible. The main focus is to adjust so that the software is crafted, functional and effective fast. Rapid application development methodology includes 5 stages: analysis and quick design, prototype cycles, testing, and implementation.

Major Benefits

• The client is encouraged to take fast reviews and constant feedback for the improvements
• Enables easy change of the core functions when the software is in the testing phase
• Minimizes the risks since the early stages of development
• Reduces the time of development by setting the deadlines for the project completion
• Is mainly focused on delivering the business problems important for the end-users
• Applies the use of automated tools that allows creating the prototypes easier and much quicker

Possible Drawbacks

• Not suitable for small projects
• Requires highly expert developers and a strong collaboration between the teams
• The stages are not strictly defined, which impacts the overall project structure
• The development costs are comparatively high
• All the requirements should be outlined before the development process starts

Why Should You Adhere to a Software Development Methodology?

Following concrete software development methodologies can significantly impact the quality of your final product, its usability, and the profits gained after the software release. Additionally, the most beneficial software methodology can impact the time and costs of the specific project development.

Having analyzed the detailed software development methodologies list, you can now have a more concrete idea of which models could fit your project best and deliver a high-quality yet feature-rich software product after implementation.

Whatever type of software methodology you’ll choose, you can always have a clear understanding of the project flow and provide the most effective updates in time.

How to Choose the Appropriate Software Engineering Methodology

As you can see, there are so many various enterprise software development methodologies, and it’s not very easy to choose between them. Each model has its own pros and cons that are important to take into account. Now, let’s take a look at a few very effective tips that will help you choose the right one between the variety of IT methodologies.

1. Evaluate Your Flexibility

In this particular case, flexibility refers to your ability to easily adapt to new requirements. Before deciding on your future software development methodology it is important to define the level of flexibility of your software requirements and specifications. For instance, web and app development can be very unpredictable with frequent requirements changes. In this case, Agile can suit perfectly. If your team values predictability and stability, Waterfall is the most suitable solution.

2. Define End-Users of Your Software

Knowing well your end-users as well as their expectations will help you pick the right methodology. It’s important to understand if the needs of your clients are fixed and consistent or if they vary a lot. If they are fixed then a non-iterative approach will be the best. A more collaborative approach will be better in case the needs of your end-users can fluctuate and they might require new features after the product launch.

3. Keep in Mind Project Size

An important characteristic such as project size and complexity can also determine the matching methodology. If you have an ambitious project that requires a lot of resources you can consider Agile methodology. In contrast, Waterfall will be suitable for smaller teams that require fewer people involved in the development process and can fully benefit from this option.

4. Determine Software Development Time Frame

Timeline also plays a paramount role while choosing the software development methodology. For example, if you have a long-term project you have to ensure that the chosen methodology can account for the potential staff turnover and infrastructure changes that should be accommodated. In case no strict deadline is determined, Waterfall can be one of the suitable options. If you want to work through sprints with defined deadlines, Agile or any other iterative-based approach can be perfect.

5. Take Into Account Team Location

Last but not least, is the importance of your software design and development team location, especially when you work with an outsourced team. In this case, the Waterfall methodology will be one of the best to achieve smooth process coordination and coherence but you don’t have to limit yourself. On the contrary, Agile methodology requires constant meetings and discussions which won’t be convenient with remote developers and will be more suitable if you have local engineers.

How We Work at Intellectsoft 

Intellectsoft has years of experience delivering software solutions to clients from all over the world. We have established our own Software Development Life Cycle that we follow with our clients to ensure clear expectations and top-notch results.  There are 7 main phases that we stick to, and it starts with project planning. Our team conducts the initial planning that includes budget projections, creating a schedule with KPIs and milestones, and defining team composition as well as the scope of each development phase.

Once the first stage is over, Intellectsoft’s business analysts analyze all project requirements and write software specifications to meet business objectives and performance requirements. After, UI/UX professionals work on software mockups while our solutions architect designs the solution infrastructure.

The development phase is led by a Project Manager throughout all development stages. It’s worth noting that Intellectsoft uses Scrum methodology in most cases.

We put together and deploy a development team with a dedicated Project Manager that works with the Client in accordance with the project plan throughout all development phases. Development is performed in agile sprints according to the Scrum methodology. Our experts prefer this software application development methodology as it is easy to understand and it helps to achieve tangible and accurate results. No matter what issue appears in the middle of the development process, we are able to detect and address the problem effectively thanks to the Scrum development method. Our team also appreciates its flexibility, clarity, and transparency.

When the development phase is over, our QA team conducts thorough software testing to eliminate errors and ensure the highest quality level. Only when it’s done, we can tackle software deployment so the solution is available to end users. In addition, Intellectsoft is committed to building long-lasting partnerships, therefore, we offer software maintenance even if a client might require some new features or changes.

Consider Intellectsoft Youк Trusted Software Development Partner

At Intellectsoft, we know how important it is to plan each stage of the project development to achieve the best product quality. That’s why our team of developers provides an individual approach to each client’s idea and dedicates lots of time to thinking over the slightest details that can improve the overall product performance.

Intellectsoft is a software development and IT consulting company that has already been in the software development market and is ready to implement the best practices and experiences for our client’s growth.

We’ve got deep expertise in launching projects within different industries and are now ready to provide a variety of software development services for delivering the best outcomes for each of our clients!

Our team collaborated with dozens of renowned companies all over the world as well as Fortune 500 businesses. Check out our most prominent client cases to see what software solutions we built as a response to our customer’s business challenges.

Do you already have the concept we can start working with? Don’t hesitate to share your ideas with us as we are ready to assist you in your digitalization journey.

Contact our team today to get a professional consultation regarding your project and discuss what benefits you can gain from day one!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are different types of software development methodologies, with each of those having its unique characteristics, valuable benefits, and possible drawbacks to be aware of.

Having learned the most important qualities of the development methods available on the software market today can not only eliminate the time, effort, and resources needed to get the project completed but also can radically improve the overall process of app creation.

Moreover, knowing the software methodologies list in detail can provide you with a better understanding of which of the models can be the most winning option for each specific software development project of yours!

The post 12 Software Development Methodologies: When, Where and How to Use Them appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

However, it goes without saying that a comprehensive digital transformation also requires specific skills and professional expertise to ensure the business needs are aligned with the technological solutions envisaged. Therefore, the role of an IT solutions architecture is integral to making it all happen.

In this article, we will explain in-depth what a solutions architect’s role is, what the required skills and responsibilities are, their average salary as well as why having a solutions architect is critical for organizations and projects.

Before we dive into the topic, let’s clarify who is a solutions architect in general.

An IT solutions architect is an expert and one of the most significant and client-facing roles in the IT industry. Its importance is nonetheless often overlooked or even completely ignored by companies at both ends.

For a software solution to work effectively, scale, and meet the set business needs, it needs to have a well-thought-out architecture that accounts for numerous technical and customer nuances. Put simply, the long-term success of any IT project relies on the input from a solution design architect, who needs to have:

• wide-ranging technical expertise
• business analysis skills
• project management skills, etc.

What Is a Solutions Architect’s Role in a Company?

A solutions architect is responsible for creating a comprehensive architecture for a software solution and providing strategic direction throughout the development process.

This person needs to ensure that the new solution fits into the existing enterprise architecture from technical, business, user, and other perspectives.

They cooperate with all the teams involved in the development process and need to know how every product and service works in architecture. An IT solution architect needs all this knowledge to oversee a successful delivery of a quality end product to its end users.

What Does a Solutions Architect Do?

Having a clear vision for the project, and a clear understanding of the client’s business needs, a solutions architect maps out the parts that will constitute the software solution and how they are going to work together.

A solutions architect starts very early in the project, laying out what is to come. Their tasks usually begin with choosing the right technology for the business problem(s) and managing architectural concerns to ensure more productive and effective outcomes.

A solutions architect is responsible for translating the vision for the project to the development team and plays a pivotal part throughout the entire systems development lifecycle. They are also involved in future updates to the solution.

Solution architect certification

One crucial thing that we also want to mention related to the IT solution architect is their certifications which are needed to validate their skills and qualifications. The certifications are aimed at assessing the overall knowledge, abilities, and experience of an IT solutions architect and at proving their proficiency.

There is a big variety of certification platforms available that offer training, access to plenty of learning materials, tests to practice the knowledge, etc. Nevertheless, the exam can be taken without any previous preparation in case a professional has a deep understanding of the architecture principles along with solid experience in the IT industry.

It’s worth noting that there are different certifications available for IT solution architects and down below we will provide a brief overview of the most popular ones:

• AWS certification. This certification targets professionals of different levels of seniority who work with AWS technologies while developing apps and systems. The exam lasts 130 minutes and requires a registration fee depending on the exam type. The minimum experience needed for this test is at least 1 year working in the field. The certificate is valid for 3 years and requires recertification once expired.
• Azure certification. This specific exam will be suitable for specialists working with Microsoft Azure and possessing advanced knowledge of Azure infrastructure. The price for the certification varies from one country to another.
• ITIL certification.  It’s a well-recognized set of qualifications that consists of 5 different levels to fit different experiences and seniority levels. This exam will be suitable not only for IT solution architects but also for people who want to obtain managerial positions in the IT field.  The costs for this exam as well as for training depend on the country.
• Google cloud certification. This exam will be suitable not only for solution architects but also for any experts dealing with Google cloud technologies. The exam lasts 2 hours and requires a registration fee. According to Google’s recommendation, it’s better to take this exam with at least 3 years of experience. In addition, it’s also crucial to do the recertification every 2 years.

Solutions Architect Responsibilities & Detailed Role Explanation

As the job title implies, a solutions architect primarily focuses on solution-level decisions and evaluation of their impact on a client’s overarching business objectives and outcomes.

In most cases, a solutions architect’s responsibilities revolve around ensuring that the software solutions align with a client company’s resources, risk identification, and planning. Here are some of the main responsibilities of a solutions architect:

• Creates and leads the process of integrating IT systems for them to meet an organization’s requirements.

• Conducts a system architecture evaluation and collaborates with project management and IT development teams to improve the architecture.

• Evaluates project constraints to find alternatives, alleviate risks, and perform process re-engineering if required.

• Updates stakeholders on the status of product development processes and budgets.

• Notifies stakeholders about any issues connected to the architecture.

• Fixes technical issues as they arise.

• Analyzes the business impact that certain technical choices may have on a client’s business processes.

• Supervises and guides development teams.

• Continuously researches emerging technologies and proposes changes to the existing architecture.

Core Solutions Architect Skills

To successfully design, create, and lead the development of a software solution, a solutions architect needs to have a certain skill set.

Let’s take a closer look at the most important skills of a solutions architect below:

• Superior CommunicationBeing able to communicate effectively with stakeholders, project managers, developers, and software vendors involved in the software development process is essential for a solutions architect. As the architect has a central role in any project and leads every team on it, ineffective communication can lead to big bottlenecks. So, a solutions architect should be able to clearly explain, understand everyone’s point of view, listen, advise, and influence.

• Project and Resource Management. Although a solutions architect is not directly involved in project development, they still need to ensure that project resources are being used efficiently and impactfully. They should be business-minded, capable of identifying the most effective solution at every turn, for every part of the architecture. It is their responsibility to focus on business goals, including hiring new people, and understand how to achieve them in the set timeframe and within the given budget.

• In-depth Analysis. Software architecture and systems integrated into it are numerous details that work together. A solutions architect needs to be very attentive to those details, as overlooking something may hinder the development process, lead to breakdowns, or make the software solution inefficient. They also should be able to understand the technical specifications of many different software solutions and hardware and perform analysis of different business layers. The solutions architect is also responsible for the project context from the very beginning to the current moment. He or she needs to remember all the details of the projects and ideas to validate and approve them on time.

• Risk Identification and Management. A solutions architect must be capable of analyzing and identifying potential short and long-term risks that may cause technical issues and impede business operations in the future.

• Technical Skills. Expectedly, the role of a solution architect requires technical education and hands-on experience across all major areas of the software development process as well as hardware engineering expertise (for software projects that rely on hardware).

Thus, a solutions architect should have at least 6 to 8 years of experience in the following areas:

• Business analysis
• IT infrastructure
• Software architecture design
• Cloud development
• DevOps

Enterprise Architect Vs. Technical Architect Vs. Solutions Architect

There are three different architecture-related roles in the IT industry. Each of these roles is equally essential for the success of a project they are involved in and cannot be replaced by any other positions:

1. Enterprise Architect
2. Technical Architect
3. Solutions Architect

Now, let’s learn more about these roles and how they differ from one another.

Enterprise Architect Vs. Solutions Architect Role

An enterprise architect is responsible for overseeing a company’s entire enterprise ecosystem. Enterprise architects focus on constructing and managing complex solutions that solve the company’s critical strategic issues.

The overarching goal of an enterprise architect is to ensure that the company has smooth development lifecycles and uses available resources for every enterprise application effectively.

Meanwhile, a solutions architect has a much more practical role. They take the business requirements and turn them into new software solutions that use a company’s emerging technology.

Technical Architect Vs. Solutions Architect Role

A technical architect chiefly oversees the software architecture, technical engineering, and implementation technology. Their main task is to provide technical leadership and make decisions regarding the most vital parts of the system that is being developed.

They work closely with development teams to communicate IT strategies and outline practices that are meant to be followed throughout the project. The main difference between a technical architect and a solutions architect these two roles is that the first focuses primarily on the engineering side.

Here’s an image that gives a general perspective on how these three roles differ:

Source: eapj.org

Importance of Solutions Architect In a Company

One of the main reasons why a company should employ a solutions architect is to successfully design and develop new technology solutions that align with its business needs, as well as fill in the communication gap between technical and non-technical experts involved in an IT project.

As the process is always heavy on the budget and highly risky, every company should have a solutions architect to implement new solutions and scale them successfully. A solutions architect can be introduced to a company’s enterprise structure through software architecture consulting services.

Solutions Architect Salary

Now, you probably want to know what the salary of a qualified Solutions Architect is. According to job search sites, the average salary for a Solutions Architect role can vary widely depending on the location, education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years in the profession, etc.

This position requires at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or software engineering. Although experience is not always required, several years of network administration experience is beneficial.

Salaries vary from one country to another so let’s take a closer look to compare. This will help you to make a well-informed and cost-effective decision for your business.

How Intellectsoft Can Help You

A solutions architect is responsible for building and implementing IT systems architectures that meet the set business requirements. Their role starts with gathering the requirements, understanding the specifications, evaluating the systems that are in place, and working closely with stakeholders to deliver the right solution.

In general, the solutions architect’s role is to explain the business requirements to the development team and lead them in building a product that can solve real business issues effectively. The position is very responsible and requires wide-ranging IT skills and knowledge. With companies increasingly relying on software and emerging technologies, the role of a solutions architect will continue to gain weight.

At Intellectsoft, we have gathered the best specialists including accomplished IT solutions architects. Our company has more than 15 years of experience in the outsourcing market and a track record of successful collaboration with international businesses and Fortune 500 companies.

We offer a wide range of services starting from software, mobile, and web app development to outstaffing and IT consulting services. Intellectsoft has extensive experience across various industries such as healthcare, logistics, construction, fintech, and others.

Feel free to see the list of top client cases to see how our team has solved the business challenges of our clients and how custom software solutions can take operations to the next level.

Contact us today to discuss your software development needs and our manager will be happy to assist with any questions you may have.

The post Role of a Solutions Architect: Importance, Required Skills, Responsibilities appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

The web application market is an environment that is continuously evolving, incorporating new technologies and increasing safety standards.

In this regard, the proper attention to the foundational design of a web app contributes to maintaining the required robustness, responsiveness, and security of this software. In a web app, this is what solid web app architecture is responsible for.

The definition of web app architecture is broad and depends on the focus of building web applications.

A web application architecture is a model of interaction between web application components. The kind of architecture for web application strictly depends on the way application logic will be allocated among client and server sides.

Technically, it’s the skeleton of a web app, including its elements, databases, systems, servers, interfaces, and all the communication happening between them. In more abstract terms, it indicates the logic behind responses to client and server requests.

When it comes to business benefits, web application architecture is related to the process of creating web applications and planning for their needs in terms of speed, scalability, and security.

This article will provide an overview of modern web application architecture, including its key components, types, and models so that you can invest in this type of architecture with confidence. Let’s get started!

Importance of the Web App Architecture

Improved customer satisfaction: Investing in web application software architecture, or a solid blueprint of its functioning, is needed from the standpoint of user experience.

Being an important part of developing any web app, it makes sure your design is efficient and scalable, which means it will work well under a variety of conditions and avoid downtime. Otherwise, a business app will irritate users with numerous bugs and turn them away from cooperating with it.

Greater business results: The right web application architecture can save your company time and money over the long term, making sure that your website operates at its optimal capacity and runs smoothly without any problems.

In particular, web application system architecture allows web developers to create websites that scale well as traffic increases; it also provides features such as offline access (e.g., Google Docs) that are increasingly expected by today’s consumers.

Better app performance: A solid web app architecture introduces a great degree of flexibility, meaning its adaptiveness to dynamic market fluctuations and customer demands.

The vision on the overall structure makes it easier for developers to work on an app in several modules and introduce new features without interrupting the web app’s work.

Enhanced app security: By envisioning a web app as a system of several blocks, modern web application architecture protects each of its structural elements separately.

This way, overall security increases, making the software stand all the common safety threats like malicious attacks. Thanks to the solid structure, adding new elements won’t ruin the achieved security level.

How Does It Work?

The exact way how web application architecture operates differs between projects, as many of its aspects aren’t dictated by technology but by your project’s needs and business objectives. In other words, web app elements can be adjusted or changed entirely without affecting the overall success of your web app.

At the same time, the typical process of communicating with web app architecture is the following:

1. You as a client type an URL in the relevant browser field.
2. The browser sends the request to the Domain Name Server to recognize the IP address.
3. If successful, the browser sends a request to the server to respond.
4. The server directs the request to the data storage to locate the page, request data display.
5. If successful, the initially requested data appears in your browser.

In this web application architecture diagram, you can see 3 main sides of the process:

• Client-side, or the frontend for user interaction
• Database server, or an extra component for sending client’s data to the server
• Server-side, or the backend storing business logic, processing requests, and sending responses

Web Application Architecture Diagram

What is a web application architecture diagram? Simply put, it’s a framework that is aimed at simplifying the interaction between components. It’s a client-server application that contains various user interfaces, insights, databases, and so on. Now, let’s take a closer look at the basics of this diagram.

1. DNS

The abbreviation DNS stands for the domain name system. It’s a key element that searches IP addresses and domain names. In this way, a certain server receives a request sent by an end user.

2. Load balancer

It directs incoming requests to one of the multiple servers, which means it sends an answer to an end user. Generally, web app services exist as various copies mirroring one another to enable all servers to process requests in the same manner. Also, the load balancer is an element that distributes tasks in order to prevent them from overcharging.

3. Web app servers

This component is basically an app deployment descriptor. What does it mean? It means that it processes the user’s requests and sends JSON//XML docs back to an initial browser. To make it happen, it refers to the backend infrastructure including the database, job queue, cache server, etc.

4. Database

The meaning of this component is pretty much straightforward. It offers a big variety of instruments to perform, delete, organize, and update computations. Mainly, web app servers interact with job servers without any intermediary.

5. Caching service

The component grants easy and quick data storage and search. When the user receives the info from the server, search results will be cached. As a result, future requests will be returned much faster.

These are the scenarios when caching is efficient:

•  Slow or repeated computation
• When a user receives similar results for a specific request

6. Job queue (optional)

This one has two components in it which are a job queue and servers that process those jobs. Many web servers operate a big number of jobs of minor importance. A job that has to be fulfilled goes in the queue and will be operated according to the schedule.

7. Full-text search service (optional)

There are plenty of web apps that support search by text feature. After this, an application sends the relevant results to an end user. The whole process is called a full-text search and it can find the requested data by a keyword among all the documents available in a system.

8. Services

Services will be built in a form of a separate application once the web app attains a specific level. Those won’t be super visible among the rest of the web app components, however, web apps and services will interact with them as well.

9. Data warehouse

It’s a way of storing and exchanging data online through the Internet. This element is usually used for storing different types of files like images, videos, etc. The data is sent to a firehouse for its processing, after that the additional data will be sent to cloud storage, and finally, it all goes to a data warehouse.

10. CDN

The abbreviation CDN stands for the content delivery system. This system sends HTML/CSS/JavaScript files and images. Basically, it delivers content taken from the end server around the globe so users can load sources.

Web Application Architecture Components

The applications differ in complexity and functionality, and the number of layers and components changes accordingly. It may happen that an app is so simple that it works as a monolith storing all the web application design architecture in one place.

Nevertheless, a typical web app will consist of multiple components (or tiers) that interact with each other. Usually, the two major groups for web application architecture are user interface and structural web components.

User Interface Components

This group of components composes a visual interface and has no ties to the architecture itself. Being a part of the interface layout design, the set of UI components includes activity logs, dashboards with analytics, and notifications.

Structural Web Components

Client components: The frontend part that appears in the browser and serves as the field to interact with a web application. The client components are developed with HTML, CSS, and Javascript and don’t need an operating system or device connectivity to operate. Simply put, these components are the web app representation.

Server components: The backend part of the web application architecture that is built using Java, Python, .Net, NodeJS, PHP, and Ruby on Rails to create app logic. Also, server components compose the database, meaning a control center for data storage.

A 3-Tier Architecture Overview

The majority of web apps are created through the separation of their principal function into layers/tiers. Respectively, this enables you to quickly and effortlessly replace or upgrade those layers independently. It is called a multi- or a 3-tier architecture.

In a 3-tier architecture there are three layers/tiers:

• Presentation (client) layer
• Application (business) layer
• Data access layer

It’s possible to say that this architecture is the safest and most secure one. It can be explained by the fact that the client doesn’t access the data directly. Application servers can be deployed on multiple machine providers which enable higher scalability, increased performance, and better efficiency.

Each tier can be scaled independently, therefore, this architecture can be scaled horizontally. In addition, it also significantly improves the overall data integrity as data will go through the app server which is the one that decides exactly how and by whom data will be accessed. This amazing perk is an easy and cost-effective solution in case of new company management.

Layers of Modern Web Application Architecture

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the three web application architecture layers.

When we are talking about the presentation layer we imply the front end of an app. This layer includes such elements as static content and dynamic interface that are visible to end users.  The environment of this layer is any browser. Among the technologies that are used in this case, we can name HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. The potential frameworks to choose from include Angular, React, and Vue.

Speaking of the business layer which is also referred to as the application layer, is a part of the app backend. The web app’s backend determines business logic and responses to browser requests that are sent to the presentation layer. It consists of the core application logic and outlines all internal flow for data and requests. The most convenient environment in this case is servers, serverless cloud platforms, or PaaS. Among the programming languages that are used in this case, we can name PHP, Java, Python, Ruby, or JavaScript. The potential backend frameworks to choose from include Django, Express, Spring, and Laravel.

And the last but not least layer is the data access layer. The data access layer is closely linked with the business layer as it gets needed information from the servers. In its turn, the data service layer separates business logic from the client side while processing requests.

It is an app backend part that contains databases and  DBM ( database management systems) that collect, manage and store data. The environment can be the same as the application layer. Among the Database management systems, we can name MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and so on.

All the layers work independently and communicate with each other through the relevant components.

Models of Web Applications

Enterprise web application architecture models differ based on two criteria: the number of servers and the number of databases. To pick the best one, you should carefully revise your aims and constraints and find the most appropriate one for the current stage of business development.

One Web Server, One Database Model

• The simplest: You have only one server and one database for all the requests and responses.
• Relatively unreliable: If the single server goes down, your app will shut down immediately.
• Relevant for testing: These days, one web server, one database model is too old for real apps. However, it’s a great way to test your web app idea and overview the fundamental design of your web app as an MVP.

Multiple Web Servers, One Database Model

• Stateless architecture: There is no single web server for data storage. When a client inputs information, the relevant server writes it to the sole database managed outside.
• Relatively reliable: As there are more than two servers in the model, a backup server is always available.
• One database availability: Dangerous in terms of possible website crash.

Multiple Web Servers, Multiple Databases Model

• The most efficient: No single point of failure, as there are several web servers and databases.
• Flexibility: You have at least two options for database storage, so you can choose to keep identical data in all of them or distribute information.
• Some information can be lost: In the case of a crash, you won’t lose your entire web app. Nevertheless, some data will be lost. To prevent this scenario from happening, it’s better to install load balancers.

Types of Web Application Architecture

A web application architecture type is a particular pattern under which the components interact with each other. In other words, it shows the way app logic lets the client side and server side communicate.

To make the right choice here, it’s also relevant to check your business requirements, along with technical information about features, functionalities, and the desired app logic.

Single Page Application Architecture

This web application architecture is designed to show relevant content only. To make this happen, it first loads the relevant web page and then dynamically updates the representation of its content with the requested information only.

In other words, it doesn’t refer to the server for loading new pages but sends requests for the needed parts of the webpage only.

Single Page Applications contribute to smoother performance and a more intuitive user experience.

Pros of single-page app architecture:

• Faster performance
• Improved flexibility of UX

Cons of single-page app architecture:

• Increased testing time
• Possible loss of unsaved progress
• Slower first-load speed

Microservice Architecture

Being the frequent alternative to an unreliable monolithic web application architecture, microservices disperse the functionality to deliver small and lightweight services separately.

In particular, they are loosely coupled and use APIs for communication if a sophisticated business problem arises. This peculiarity eases the developer’s life since it’s possible for individual service components to be built in different programming languages.

Thanks to its flexibility and stability, microservice architecture has gained popularity these days, with businesses like Amazon, eBay, and Netflix adopting it for their complex needs.

Pros of microservice architecture:

• Easier scaling up
• Better fault tolerance
• Simple-to-understand code base
• Independent module deployment

Cons of microservice architecture:

• Difficulties with testing and debugging
• Complex deployment

Serverless Architecture

In web application development, this architecture type, you outsource both server and infrastructure management to a third-party cloud service provider. This way, a web app logic execution won’t intervene in the infrastructure running.

Choosing a serverless architecture is good for companies that want to delegate server and hardware management to a reliable tech partner and concentrate on front-end development tasks instead.

Also, this web application architecture type allows working on small functions in apps. The service providers that assist in server management are Amazon and Microsoft, among others.

Pros of serverless architecture:

• Absence of server management
• Highly scalable
• Minimized latency
• Speed and flexibility

Cons of serverless architecture:

• Security concerns
• High complexity

Progressive Web Apps

Being among the most promising web app trends since 2019, progressive web apps offer a convenient and effective user experience available from any browser and device through a shared URL.

The application of progressive web apps is wide, including industries like entertainment, finance, and eCommerce. Their key benefits include lightweight, cost-effectiveness, cross-device nature, ability to attract web traffic, and a fully functioning app experience.

Pros of progressive web app architecture:

• Browser availability
• Mobile-first approach
• Increased traffic
• Effective offline performance

Cons of progressive web app architecture:

• Restricted browser support
• Narrow utilization of native APIs

Web Application Architecture: Best Practices and Tips

Here, we’ve gathered the top 5 recommendations for business owners to consider while working on web app architecture for their projects and building cooperation with tech partners.

1. Think of a proper web application architecture at the earliest stages

Without a comprehensive structure, your application will turn into a labyrinth of messy elements and components that are too hard to handle.

2. Don’t copy somebody’s success

The top mistake is to pick a web application architecture of a successful company and simply replicate it. In reality, a successful architecture is one that corresponds with your business goals and ideas, not theirs.

3. Pay attention to your technical limitations

It’s not always possible to get the best and most successful elements in your web application architecture. However, with the proper attention to quality attributes and realistic business expectations, you will get the maximum from all the components you have.

4. Eliminate the problems right away

Don’t wait for the web app release to fix the problems in its architecture. The earlier you address the issues, the more reliable core features it will have.

5. Create a checklist of successful web app features

To make sure your web app has achieved its goal, it’s good practice to note your expectations from it at the very beginning and discuss their possibility and measurable KPIs with your tech partner.

The possible checklist may include these features:

• Overall system flexibility
• Components can be reused
• Well-written code
• Ability to scale
• System stability
• Easy bug detection
• Sticking to security standards
• Fields to work with user feedback
• No crashes
• Easy-to-use
• Responds fast
• Can be deployed automatically

Consider Intellectsoft Your Trusted Web App Development Partner

So, the success of web development services is always closely connected to its architecture. In this regard, we recommend each business owner and their software development team dedicate attention to picking the best architecture design for the project.

In the future, the time spent on this stage will lead to thousands of dollars and lots of time and nerves saved on fixing errors in the core app functionality.

If you need high-level assistance in building a secure and modern web application architecture, we’re here to help! Contact the Intellectsoft team, and we’ll build together the software solution that perfectly fits your exact business needs.

The post Web Application Architecture: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Unfortunately, the notorious events in Ukraine that started in February 2022 after the beginning of the full-scale war between Ukraine and Russia made their own effect on the IT outsourcing market.

In the last decade or so, Ukraine has been quickly growing in popularity as a software development outsourcing destination among the world’s leading companies compared to other countries. As its software outsourcing market keeps expanding, more and more IT-focused organizations, technology startups, and fully-fledged Research & Development (R&D) centers of global companies emerge in Ukraine.

During the past 6 months, the situation in the country destabilized the market a little bit but versatile Ukrainian professionals adapted quickly to the new reality and wouldn’t let the circumstances undermine our international image as the top outsourcing destination in the world.

In this article, you will find the freshest information that will show how the market of IT outsourcing services has changed in Ukraine after the Russian invasion. You will be able to get familiar with the latest salary updates for software developers as well as will get first-hand priceless tips on how to hire Ukrainian software engineers and what are the possible risks. Let’s get started!

Ukrainian Software Development Talent Pool

Software development in Ukraine is growing and enhancing year by year. On the territory of Ukraine, there are approximately 5000 IT companies.  The number of dedicated Ukrainian software developers in 2022 has reached 240k. It’s worth saying that this number grows 25-30% annually.

The country is becoming a popular destination for software development outsourcing due to its beneficial and promising technical environment, effective education, and devoted employees.

100 out of Fortune 500 corporations already have offshore development teams in Ukraine.

20% of the world’s IT leaders choose Ukraine over other popular outsourcing destinations in Europe (Poland, Hungary, Romania, etc.).

The following aspects influence the decision to work with the Ukrainian IT market:

• Qualified and experienced professionals
• Lower salary rates
• High-quality of delivered products and solutions
• Convenient time zone
• Easy communication

It is no surprise that companies like Google, Samsung, ABBYY, NetCracker, eBay, Skype, etc. employ engineers to work on their projects.

Risks of Outsourcing to Ukraine in 2022  

Needless to say, the great advantages of hiring dedicated developers in Ukraine carry some risks as well. Ukraine is one of the biggest destinations for IT outsourcing, but there are still some overarching risks that should be considered when recruiting Ukrainian developers, especially after the Russian armed invasion.

• Work disruption

Taking into account the situation in the country, there is a possible risk of disrupted telecommunications and energy supply networks. In addition, access to the Internet might also be occasionally interrupted.

Nevertheless, these risks are mitigated by IT companies. Most companies have relocated their specials overseas or to safe regions, but the probability that something might go off track is always present, and not only in Ukraine.

• Possible violation of deadlines

Again, the war in Ukraine undermined the emotional condition of many employees. It goes without saying that there are certain project deadlines and clients expect everything to be done on time but sometimes there could be possible delays as personal factors always play a significant role.

However, companies including Intellectsoft implemented our best business continuity plans to keep the processes smooth and deliver results in a timely manner.

• Team composition alterations 

Generally, the team composition is discussed at the beginning of the collaboration between an offshore vendor and a client. During the discovery phase, an outsourcing partner defines the number of people who will work in the software development team in Ukraine including developers, designers, and project managers.

These are people who are going to work on a project to build the requested software. And many business owners are concerned about the potential mobilization of specialists.

It’s crucial to mention that this outcome is unlikely. Only if the employee has their own desire to stop working, your team can be possibly recomposed to substitute the missing specialist with the required qualifications.

Even though Intellectsoft experiences a lot of pressure because of the war between Ukraine and Russia, we still make it our priority to follow our mission and put effort into digitizing businesses and implementing their solution ideas into reality.

We do all possible to support in all possible ways our software developers and other employees as their well-being is the basis of an effective business. As we have mentioned before, we have ensured a safe working environment for our colleagues.

During the past months, we were able to deliver all the planned tasks and our clients stay happy with the results we deliver and don’t plan to stop our partnership.

To make it possible, we invested a lot of resources to improve the emotional well-being of employees through psychological training. Everyone can work in a remote way from any place in the world so everyone stays productive and comfortable.

Intellectsoft also makes everything possible to make our own contribution and we regularly support the Armed Forces of Ukraine to stimulate victory.

Why Is Ukraine Good In Software Development?

Outsourcing software development in Ukraine is a major IT trend thanks to its highly skilled developers with outstanding ingenuity and problem-solving skills, cost-effectiveness, and a favorable geographical position. The main cities of Ukraine boast well-established tech centers, seasoned developers, and a constant influx of new talent, all thanks to its excellent level of technical education.

10 Reasons to Hire Developers in Ukraine

In this section, let’s explore the many reasons why Ukraine has become an attractive country for IT outsourcing and why world-famous companies recruit Ukrainian developers for their important projects:

1. Extensive talent pool

A vast talent pool is a major reason why software development outsourcing is booming in Ukraine. After the U.S. and India, Ukraine has the highest number of IT employees.

In 2021, there were approximately 200,000 tech employees in the Ukrainian IT market and in 2022 this number has grown to 240,000.

What’s more, the software developers pool in Ukraine is expected to cross the 200,000 mark in the coming years. According to SkillValue, Ukraine holds the eighth spot on the list of the world’s top countries with highly skilled programmers, with an average score index of 91.26%.

2. Skill diversity

Apart from general college or university education, Ukrainian software developers pay much attention to self-education and always keep up with the latest industry trends. You can find here specialists who use the following languages in coding:

• JavaScript
• Java
• C#
• Python
• PHP
• C++
• TypeScript
• Swift
• Kotlin
• Ruby

These languages are among the most popular ones.

Software companies that offer their services to outsource usually have experience working for companies that come from various industries, including eCommerce, Healthcare, FinTech, Retail, Hospitality, Game development, etc. They have all the necessary resources to complete projects of any complexity level and provide suitable solutions.

3. Reasonable rates

Ukraine is one of the most cost-effective IT outsourcing countries in the world across different software development categories. Compared to neighboring countries like Poland, Belarus, and the Czech Republic, Ukraine offers more affordable outsourcing rates and a more diverse tech talent pool.

If you want to hire a highly skilled software developer while saving a significant amount in development costs, Ukraine is a great choice. Ukrainian developers charge between $25-$50 whereas developers with the same skill sets in North America or Western Europe will cost a project at least $100 per hour.

4. Convenient time zone

Ukraine’s time zone is one to two hours ahead of most European countries. This makes Ukraine a convenient destination for nearshoring as well as offshoring. European clients can work and communicate comfortably with Ukrainian developers due to insignificant time differences.

If the client company is located in the U.S., Canada, or Australia, they can still get in touch with the developers without any impact on their own working schedule. Simply put, Ukraine’s location allows for better monitoring and easy project communication and control as compared to other outsourcing destinations like India, the Philippines, or Vietnam.

5. English proficiency

English is not widely used in Ukraine, but many people are fluent in it, and the number only keeps increasing. Approximately 80 percent of software developers in Ukraine have an Intermediate or higher level of English.

Also, it is worth mentioning that the vast majority of software development companies in Ukraine offer free in-house English lessons that help their employees improve their English skills and vocabulary on a regular basis. So, the level of English of Ukrainian developers lifts the language barrier and enables them to work on any international project.

6. Education

Every year, over 36,000 students graduate from local universities in Ukraine with IT-related degrees. They are obsessed with technical innovations and technologies including Ruby, Python, C++, C#, PHP, and JavaScript.

Additionally, the World Economic Forum has listed Ukraine among the top 10 countries worldwide for producing around 130,000 graduates annually in engineering and tech-related fields. In Ukraine, students are offered various educational opportunities to join the tech community. In collaboration with local IT companies, regional IT markets frequently launch educational programs at universities and colleges.

7. Culture fit

It seems that every nation can find a common language with the Ukrainian developers as they are tolerant, all-rounded, and have excellent communication skills.

As Ukraine is situated in the central part of Europe, it combines western and eastern values that give the way for easy communication.

8. R&D centers 

Nowadays there are over 100 R&D (Research and Development)  Centers in Ukraine and their number keeps growing.

Ukraine is one of the largest R&D partners in the USA. The main areas of expertise are connected with Big Data, AI, eCommerce, Cloud computing, telecommunications, etc.

9. Fertile environment for startups

Taking into account the above-mentioned info, Ukraine has a comfortable environment for a startup ecosystem. 500 new entrepreneurs appear each month that offer challenging ideas and projects, complex tasks, and a chance to contribute to product development.

Startups attract talented engineers who can use their knowledge and ideas, receive investments, and close profitable deals.

The list of the top Ukrainian startups includes the following companies: Grammarly, Petcube, Clickky, Kwambio, Augmented Pixels, SolarGaps, GitLab, TripMyDream, Cardiomo, etc.

10. Quality

Quality is another advantage you get when you work with local IT services.

Offshore teams consist of experienced, skilled, and educated employees who do their best to suit customers’ requirements and deliver products or solutions of the greatest quality. No wonder Ukraine ranks among the top countries for international outsourcing.

Ukrainian Software Development Hubs

Leading IT companies in Ukraine are located in big cities. The biggest IT hubs are Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa. They host not only big, medium and small outsourcing companies but also startups, R&D centers, and other IT-related organizations.

Let’s take a closer look at every city that contributes to the progress of the IT industry in Ukraine:

• Kyiv. The capital and most populous city of Ukraine, Kyiv has the biggest number of IT experts (40 percent) in the country. Kyiv, together with Lviv, is home to almost half of Ukrainian developers. It is said that 43 out of the 50 biggest Ukrainian IT companies have their development centers in Kyiv. Kyiv is one of Ukraine’s fastest-growing cities and has the highest level of business activity among Ukrainian cities. Major global companies have their offices and R&D centers situated in Kyiv

• Kharkiv. Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine and has a long-established engineering tradition, which includes building software systems. The country’s important business hub has a well-developed IT outsourcing industry with over 25,000 IT professionals and almost 450 active tech enterprises.

• Lviv. A big and beautiful city located near the borders of Europe’s developed countries, Lviv is one of the most popular cities among Ukrainian software developers and IT outsourcing companies. Of 800,000 people living in this city, over 20,000 work in the IT industry. There are around three hundred and seventeen IT companies in Lviv that offer software development services to clients located in Western Europe, the U.S., UK, and many other countries. Also, a lot of conferences focused on the IT field take place in this city.

• Dnipro. Another big IT hub in Ukraine is Dnipro. It is home to nearly 12,000 IT experts and over a hundred and seventy software development companies. The city boasts a highly educated and experienced IT talent pool.

• Odesa. The southern city of Ukraine offers great opportunities to tech-savvy people who also want to work in close proximity to the sea. What is surprising is that Odesa offers higher salaries to software developers than other Ukrainian cities, making it a quite popular destination for IT talent. It is estimated that the number of IT professionals in Odessa has grown from 6,000 to 10,000 in recent years.

10 Steps to Hire Developers from Ukraine 

Following are the 10 steps that should be performed to hire top Ukrainian software developers. If you have a big project or plan to scale, it is better to delegate the hiring duties entirely to a trustworthy outsourcing partner.

1. Select a company

Make a primary analysis, and then narrow down your list to 2-3 options. Select a company based on client reviews and what your partners/associates have to say. Top managers usually have many connections and can easily acquire an informative overview of a range of potential IT partners.

2. Inquire about the chosen vendor

Before the commencement of communication, it is important to find out as much as possible about your vendor. This includes inquiring about the vendor’s how many years the vendor has been operating in the industry, pricing, procedure for candidate selection, skills, etc. If several vendors fit your initial requirements, find out the information regarding their services and prices and compare them.

3. Provide enough project/job details

Try to provide as many details as possible regarding your project or position you need to fill. The more details, the better the outcome.

4. Set up a dedicated team structure

If you have an approximate team structure for your project, discuss it with your partner. In reality, you may need more or fewer developers for your project.

5. Familiarize with your recruiter

Once the negotiation stage ends and you sign a contract with the chosen company, you get a recruiter for your project. To know that you and your recruiter are on the same page and can develop a long-term work relationship, you need to communicate your requirements/preferences to them to get an effective result.

6. Check your email frequently

Knowing that the Ukrainian IT market is growing fast, most of the candidates have numerous job offers to choose from. So, once you have contacted the recruiter, you need to check your emails regularly. The candidates’ resumes or any questions asked by the recruiter may need to be reviewed/answered as quickly as possible so that the candidate is not hired by any other organization before you make a decision.

7. Interview candidates

Enlisting an IT recruiting company has its own benefits. If you work with an IT outsourcing provider, you will have a recruiter assigned to your project. In any case, a recruiter arranges a fitting schedule for you and your candidates to conduct an interview. You can then determine the duration of the interviewing process, completion criteria, etc.

8. Provide feedback

Needless to say, both the recruiter and candidate expect to receive feedback from you. If anything goes wrong, the recruiter should know what needs to be adjusted.

9. Recruit developers

Before you make a decision, double-check whether a candidate fits the position but don’t take too long as the candidate may accept the offer from another employer.

10. Get started

Once you hire the right candidate for your project, it is time to introduce him to the rest of the team. Like the in-house staff, do the briefing, share the responsibilities, and introduce the working toolkit.

Average Salaries for Software Developers in Ukraine

The average salaries of software developers in Ukraine range from two thousand dollars for junior positions to more than five thousand dollars for senior-level positions. The salary depends on the level of expertise, technologies, demand, and location. Let’s take a look at average monthly/yearly salaries.

Consider Intellectsoft Your Trusted Software Development Partner

There is a very high chance that hiring a Ukrainian from a reliable outsourcing partner may be the most effective and impactful move your business has made in years.

Intellectsoft is a trusted programming service that has operated in the market for more than 14 years already. Our main goal is to help companies across various industries digitize their operations and achieve exponential business growth through technology implementation.

Our company has a big number of professional engineers who have extensive experience and possess a wide range of technical skills to fit your needs and build a software solution that will transform your business’s future.

We have collaborated and successfully delivered more than 300 projects for our clients throughout the globe. Intellectsoft works in such industries as healthcare, fintech, construction, hospitality, and others.

Our team has been working on both short- and long-term projects of different complexity. Of course, we have encountered a few challenges as well such as time zone differences, but with our dedication and professionalism, we are able to make everything possible to ensure smooth communication with a client and ensure high-level efficiency.

We have an extensive talent pool that includes engineers with unique niche skills, and regardless of project size and scope, you can stay cost-efficient.

Each employee brings their qualifications and best practices to the table to deliver the most quality services and support the solution even after its launch. You can hire app developers with specific skills that match your goals.

Take a look at our portfolio to see what solutions we have created for different companies across industries. In addition, get familiar with an exhaustive list of services offered by Intellectsoft.

If you are interested in a long-lasting partnership and want to give life to your software idea, feel free to get in touch with our experts to discuss your idea and start implementing it into reality with Intellectsoft.

The post Hiring Ukrainian Developers in 2022: What are the Risks? appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Want to cope with all the books striving for your attention or find interesting ones quicker? Read our guide to find the perfect app for a book lover such as yourself.

How to choose among different apps for book lovers

Apps for book lovers serve different needs. So, before diving into their variety and choosing your best bookmate, ask yourself a question: “What do I expect from an app?” What matters are your wishes, the platform, and the frequency of usage. If you know your preferences, this guide will be of use.

Here’s a list of the top 14 apps for book lovers, ranged by your possible interests:

• Goodreads, #1 among the best apps for book lovers,
• Libby by OverDrive, the connection with your library to read the best free books for iPhone offline,
• Wattpad, the communication platform between writers and readers,
• Inkitt, our recommendation among the best book apps for Android,
• Litsy, the great combination of social media and reading in the range of the best Android book apps,
• Shelfie, the representative of the best iPhone apps for book lovers for managing notes,
• Blinkist, the easiest way to master non-fiction and one of the best iPhone apps for book lovers,
• Audible, the top choice among the best book apps for listeners,
• Epic!, the representative of the best book apps for youth,
• ComiXology, the top choice among the best apps for book lovers if you’re a fan of comics,
• Scribd, a top subscription-based choice among apps for book lovers (Android and iOS),
• Serial Reader, a bite-size reading among Android apps for book lovers,
• The Paris Review, the top lit-crit choice and one of the best iOS apps for book lovers,
• Amazon Kindle eBooks, the leader among best Kindle apps for book lovers.

Free reading apps

1. Goodreads

The leader in the list of free book apps for book lovers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android, browser.

Top choice for everybody interested in books.

Interesting feature: mobile barcode scanner that allows adding paper books to your digital “to read” list.

Goodreads is the first platform in many rankings of best free reading apps for book lovers. Why so? It has plenty of information for various purposes: recommendations for you, recommendations from your friends, different collections (like Best Books 2019), a list of quotes, and a field for reviews. Also, it unites authors and readers, with 90 million users in general and more than a billion books.

2. Libby by OverDrive

The compilation of the best free books for iPhone from your public library.

Available platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon.

Top choice for true old-fashioned bookworms who miss their public libraries.

Interesting feature: Enter your library card information to feel the complete process of borrowing a book.

If you miss your favorite public library, you’re welcome to look through epub versions of its books in Libby! This app from OverDrive awesomely digitalizes the process of borrowing books, so it takes just a couple of seconds. If you use Libby in connection with Amazon, you can also enjoy the collection of audiobooks from your public library.

3. Wattpad

One of the best iPhone apps for book lovers and storytellers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android, web.

Top choice for amateur writers.

Interesting feature: You can join a niche to connect with your special interest club.

Wattpad is much more than just an app; it’s the entire community. On this platform, you can share your talent in writing and make friends with other people interested in reading and storytelling. It’s one of the best iPhone apps for book lovers.

4. Inkitt

One of the best Android apps to read books (iOS-friendly).

Available platforms: Android, iOS.

Top choice for people who love reading and writing.

Interesting feature: Has a huge library of free books in different genres.

Inkitt is an app from a publishing house that allows accessing numerous books online for free and keeps them in your offline digital library. Besides, it encourages the self-promotion of new authors. The great design and usability make Inkitt one of the best Android book apps.

5. Litsy

A social media for book lovers.

Available platforms: Android, iOS.

Top choice for extroverts who love reading and sharing their thoughts about books.

Interesting feature: You can create groups with other users enjoying this top Android app for book lovers. Also, it supports hashtags.

Litsy is an app where each feature is developed to help you socialize. You can see the “reading moments” of your friends, favorite authors, and popular influencers. This in-app community makes you feel connected with other people while reading. And of course, you can share your thoughts about books with them instantly!

6. Shelfie

The digital version of your bookshelf.

Available platforms: iOS, macOS.

Top choice for people who want to arrange and categorize their bookshelf.

Interesting feature: Simply point your camera at a book — and let this representative of top iPhone apps for book lovers work its magic!

If you’re the type of person who always buys books in each bookstore, this app is just for you! In Shelfie, you can browse books and arrange your already bought samples and reading notes in one place. The app syncs your library with other devices, so you can instantly access it anytime and stop yourself from buying something that wasn’t on your list.

[Contact us to arrange Android app development and iOS app development together]

Book reading apps with monthly subscriptions

Let’s find out the top 7 reading applications with monthly subscriptions.

1. Blinkist

One of the best iOS novel reading apps for book lovers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android.

Subscription price: $7.49/month or $89.99/year with a 7-day free trial.

Top choice for iOS users who want to turn reading into a daily habit and lovers of non-fiction.

Interesting feature: Listening and reading mode — you’re free to choose the most comfortable format for you.

Blinkist is the top choice for people who’ve just started to read during this quarantine. Also, it’s an awesome pick for those wanting to increase their professional skills on the go. The collection of books features more than 5,000 bestsellers. In short, Blinkist is fully packed with revolutionary ideas that can change your life.

2. Audible

One of the best book apps with audio content.

Available platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle, Fire TV.

Subscription price: $14.95/month with a 30-day free trial to download one audiobook.

Top choice for fans of audiobooks.

Interesting feature: You can hear how an author reads his/her book. Alternatively, Amazon invites a Hollywood star for this.

Audible is the top recommendation for audiobooks. No wonder: the size of its library and the compatibility of its service are incredible. Audible is a frequent host in lists of best book apps thanks to its Audible Originals, the creative series product of the Amazon team. Besides, the app is compatible with plenty of formats — smartphones, smart home devices, Amazon products, tablets, computers, and mp3.

3. Epic!

The top choice for comics lovers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android.

Subscription price: $9.99/month and Free for educators.

Top choice for young readers.

Interesting feature: Quizzes at the end of each book for better learning and entertainment.

Epic! positions itself as the top digital library for readers younger than 12 years old. It has everything to become one of the best apps for book lovers in this category: the age-based library range, books for learning languages, and materials in audio and video format. It’s a great choice for parents who want to get their children into reading!

4. ComiXology

The top choice for comics lovers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android.

Subscription price: $5.99/month with a 30-day trial.

Top choice for manga lovers and fans of comics from Marvel and DC.

Interesting feature: For greater readability, the developers have included the abilities to zoom and focus on the interesting parts of the comics in the app.

ComiXology has a library of over 100,000 comics, which is a true gift for the fans of this genre. Specifically, you can find graphic novels, digital comics, and manga in this one of the best iOS apps for book lovers.

5. Scribd

The top reading platform that offers useful apps for book lovers (Android, iOS, cloud, etc.).

Available platforms: Android, iOS, web.

Subscription price: $9.99/month with a 30-day free trial.

Top choice for bookaholics who use various devices and read in various formats.

Interesting feature: The huge library that contains not only books but also magazines, documents, sheet music, and audiobooks.

Scribd is a comprehensive book app that will expand your reading far beyond the limits of books. If you’re interested in expert opinions, piano playing, and discovering news—this offering is for you. The massive library combines the best features of Audible and Kindle Unlimited. And the result is one of the leading apps for book lovers, Android- and iOS-friendly.

6. Serial Reader

15-minute reading in one of the best reading apps for Android.

Available platforms: iOS, Android.

Subscription price: Free with more sync opportunities for $2.99/month.

Top choice for Android users who want to turn reading into a daily habit.

Interesting feature: You can sync your reading progress with your Goodreads account.

Serial Reader is one of the best book apps for Android. It offers the same service as Blinkist but adopts it to classic literature instead. The digital library contains only 850 books but all of them are divided into easy-to-digest 20-minutes-max bites. With this download, you can fill the gaps in your school education hassle-free.

7. The Paris Review

The digital version of a top lit-crit magazine.

Available platform: iOS.

Subscription price: $30/year.

Top choice for people who are interested in literature criticism.

Interesting feature: Browse the magazine archives.

The Paris Review, one of the leading lit-crit magazines, has a digital version you must see! In its collection, you can browse any issue and look at your favorite book from a professional point of view. If you want to understand books better, subscribe to this app and you won’t regret it.

1-time payment book apps

And finally, let us introduce a 1-time payment reading solution.

Amazon Kindle eBooks

The representative of the best Android book reading apps for book lovers.

Available platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Blackberry.

Subscription price: Free from your Amazon account, but the price for books is different.

Top choice for people who shop books on Amazon.

Interesting feature: Page Flip — the navigation feature for working with bookmarks and viewing your book from a bird’s eye.

Amazon Kindle eBooks is the ebook app that is a perfect match for your Amazon profile — especially if it’s connected with Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Prime Reading. The app has many features for convenient reading: you can highlight text, search for meaning and translation of words in dictionaries, and change the font and size of the page. According to the rankings of Lifehack and Android Authority, Amazon Kindle eBooks is the top pick among the best Android apps for book lovers.

Summing It Up

We at Intellectsoft empower companies and their workforce with cutting-edge transformative solutions and data-driven insights. Are you and your organization ready to shift the mindsets and get the most out of innovations?

Our team always stays up to date with emerging technologies and market news. Talk to our experts and find out more about the topic and how your business or project can start benefiting from it today! You can also learn more about our mobile app development services.

[Create high-end software solutions for your company with Intellectsoft]

The post 14 Best Reading Apps for Book Lovers: Get Millions of Free Books appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Therefore, technology-driven innovation in healthcare has the enormous potential to improve patient service, enable the delivery of more convenient and personalized care, and create an annual value of $350 billion–$410 billion by 2025. In addition, the telemedicine market size is expected to exceed $130.5 billion by 2025 and even more in the future.

As you can notice, the implementation rate of software solutions for healthcare industry as well as for pharmaceuticals is growing exponentially and the process of digitization will only pick up the pace.

However, it’s worth noting that the majority of medical organizations lack experience in working with healthcare software solutions. For this reason, we’ve collected everything you need to know about healthcare software development and provided recommendations to help your company or organization benefit from evolving technologies.

Healthcare Software Development Definition

In essence, healthcare software development covers the huge amount of activities directed at solving the problems within organizations in the healthcare sector and the relations between caregivers and patients. The industry involves clinical services, hospitals, medical equipment providers, financing for medicine, and research centers.

Software development for healthcare systems establishes an entire ecosystem where healthcare services gain higher quality and accuracy.

This technological innovation comes in the form of machine learning in healthcare, Big Data, and e-health and creates an opportunity to enhance the patient experience and equipment involved.

Main Types of Healthcare Software Development

Medical Practice Management Software

This technology is requested for maintaining clinical workflow and optimizing everyday operations. It assists in keeping medical records, setting appointments, managing finances, and accounting activities.

Electronic Health Record Software

The design allows the maintenance and management of patient data in electronic records. The reports stored include information about allergies, laboratory conclusions, medical history of a patient, and demographic statistics. It’s worth noting that EHR can be integrated into an ERP system for healthcare that will grant even wider functionality for any healthcare institution. 

E-Prescribing Software

It’s the technology that allows sending medical prescriptions directly to drug stores and pharmacies. It strengthens the connections within the healthcare industry and serves the patient’s comfort.

Urgent Care

This healthcare software category unites numerous apps that help patients get emergency aid without attending the doctor’s office.

Hospital Management Software

This set of technologies optimizes hospital management. These solutions assist in billing, assigning insurance, managing patient information, and administrative work.

Healthcare CRM

This software type works with customer management. The main task is to maintain better relations with clients — meaning better care quality, contact management, and accurate performance reports.

Cost of Software Development in Medical Field

Before you even begin the process of clinical software development for your organization, it’s paramount to estimate the cost of the project so you can define and plan your budget properly. The price for software development in the medical field can start from $50 000 to $500 000 and more, and the cost depends on multiple factors such as complexity, project specifications, length of collaboration with the vendor, etc. Down below we will dwell on these factors so you can get a better understanding of what affects the final price.

1. Type of Collaboration

First of all, it’s important to decide what type of team you want to work with. If you have enough resources, it’s possible to hire an in-house team that will work by your side. However, the most convenient solution is to pick an outsourcing team of software engineers who will deliver the software of the same quality but for significantly less price.

2. Team Composition

Another factor that shapes the development cost is team size and expertise. Take into consideration that all the details such as the number of employees, their experience and skills, and a technological stack of software developers involved in the project might also affect the final price.

3. Project Complexity

First of all, the cost will be defined by the type of software or medical website you want to develop. Second of all, such details as design complexity as well as the number of features that you want to include will play a crucial role in the final budget.

4. Development Timeline

This one is directly connected to the software development complexity. The more complex your software is, the more time-consuming and, respectively, costly your healthcare development project will turn out to be.

5. Team Location

If you opt for an outsourcing team of software engineers, the price will also vary depending on the region. If you want to get the best quality-price balance, it’s recommended to consider Eastern European outsourcing destinations.

What Do Healthcare Software Development Companies Do

The greater demand for technological solutions in the medical sphere caused the appearance of narrow-specialized healthcare software development companies.

They offer assistance to non-governmental organizations, hospitals, and medical schools through a wide set of optimization services. At the same time, the requested enhancement range calls for finding a truly reliable software development partner.

From the standpoint of medical institutions, the reason to introduce IT solutions is mostly cost-oriented. Among all, a hired software development company should solve the task of greater financial efficiency through cost optimization.

And here, the technologies can provide data to control financial KPIs, emergency analytics, and client behavior. With these parameters, the spending on a healthcare software development company becomes justified.

3 types of services that healthcare software development companies offer:

1. Healthcare software — all the technologies to assist data management and improve care quality,
2. Healthcare apps — the mobile solutions for tracking and communication on health state,
3. Custom solutions — task-oriented software or a mobile solution designed specifically on the customer’s request.

Healthcare software development companies mainly focus on task-oriented solutions — to provide the most accurate result and ensure client satisfaction. Nevertheless, the highest aim of any technological introduction is to establish an all-in-one healthcare ecosystem. And so, a high-end software development company always offers a comprehensive set of services for healthcare organizations — involving IT consulting, mobile/web development, cloud technologies, and IT outsourcing.

While there is still a lot of uncertainty and challenges around the digital transformation in the Healthcare Industry, our expertise allows us to consider a variety of technologies, use cases, and solutions for a software consultancy.

Intellectsoft has strong domain expertise for advising the right solutions to solve particular business challenges and avoid pitfalls while delivering and deploying them. Find these and other answers to your questions by getting in touch with our healthcare experts.

What Is a Custom Healthcare Software Development

Healthcare institutions are different and offer various solutions. That’s why custom healthcare software development appeared as a customized solution to the needs of a client. Among various advantages, it can help medical entities establish a unified platform for storing medical information. As a result, each applicant can get results of higher inclusiveness, performance, and scalability.

In general, clients request custom healthcare software development when they need a specific solution to one of these problems:

• Optimizing the work with patient records
• Facilitating communication between caregivers and patients
• Ensuring the smooth formation and interchange of individual health plans and strategies
• Providing a better accuracy of diagnoses
• Cutting extra expenses

If you have any of these requests, you can request a custom solution.

Nearshore Software Development for Healthcare

When it comes to the specifics of the software development healthcare industry, it’s better to work under a cost-effective nearshore model.

Among all, this approach allows reaching the top developers and disregards the distance limits to a certain extent. Moreover, each country has different economic conditions, enabling healthcare clients to choose among various pricing models. Moreover, the nearshore solution accelerates the requested technological change.

When choosing the exact nearshore partner for your healthcare software, ensure this provider has these abilities:

• To protect intellectual property
• To ensure the safety of your app
• To give you real value-for-money
• To overcome the cultural differences caused by a distant business environment

The Specifics of Healthcare Software Application Development

In the sphere of healthcare, software developers dedicate significant attention to creating user-friendly and attractive apps. In the contemporary smartphone-obsessed world, the development focus on mobile apps had nothing but show up.

With this solution, the list of exact areas for improvement may include an appointment system, a platform for laboratory control, and a mobile nutrition app. However, the exact appearance and number of features depend on the sophistication of the design and the concrete needs of the client.

Reaching smartphone functions enriches the quality of medical service an app can provide. In particular, mobile healthcare apps’ features can include GPS navigation to the hospital, push notifications about the upcoming medical examination, and file sharing through electronic libraries.

The classification for medical apps includes such groups of solutions:

• For doctors — automation of medicine prescriptions, patient visits, and personnel communication
• For patients — options to make online appointments, get laboratory results and get push notifications
• For clinics — control over finances and equipment, service quality, and data flow
• For self-care — fitness and nutrition tracking apps to help people maintain a healthy lifestyle
• For health control — the set of mobile health applications that assist in tracking the main body parameters and treatment progress

What Are the Advantages of Healthcare Apps

Among the benefits top healthcare apps offer, medical organizations become able to guarantee the improved quality of service and boost client satisfaction. In particular, software solutions include electronic recording, enterprise content management (ECM), various kinds of CRM, and patient portals.

All these tools provide digital playgrounds for communicating complaints and suggestions, suggestions, resulting in greater transparency and instant responses to problems that occur. Here is the list of concrete advantages custom healthcare software development has:

1. Better synchronization and awareness of the health system for building individual patient plans
2. Wellness-centered approach
3. Meeting the growing demand for virtual health services
4. Improving the accuracy of treatment
5. Ability to address the problems of population health
6. Increasing consumer engagement
7. Improving security and control management of essential data
8. Getting access to the advanced technologies and alternative revenue sources they promise

Software Development Life Cycle for Healthcare

The specifics of healthcare call for adjusting software development practices for its needs. Here are the common steps for leading the medical software development process:

1. Requirements setting: collecting all the information around the healthcare organization to determine the needs to address
2. Prototype development: conducting assessments and gathering details to propose a raw solution
3. Design and programming: establishing a technological solution
4. Software testing: verifying the absence of errors, bugs, and other problems
5. Final adjustments: validating the software solution and delivering it to a healthcare institution

If your task is to create custom healthcare software, the action plan slightly changes:

1. Select the target audience — identify the tastes, preferences, and typical behavior of clients
2. Sketch the software architecture — establish the detailed idea of healthcare IT solutions that meets the needs and demands of your target audience
3. Elaborate UI/UX design — the customized solution requires closer attention to the usability and intuitiveness of an app
4. Protect the technology — involve encryption for data protection
5. Integrate the software — the customized solution is always a part of the IT infrastructure of an institution

What’s the Future of Software Development in Healthcare

According to Deloitte, the future of the healthcare sector is in working towards prevention and early treatment, not in dealing with symptoms of diseases. In this dimension, healthcare custom software development deepens this progress by creating space for open communication between patients and doctors. In the near future, we will witness the greater trust and effectiveness of the medical service provided.

This direction especially strengthens the human-centered approach in healthcare, meaning dedicating a huge effort to create value. In this case, patient portals are very promising. They link numerous advantages of solutions in the area, including optimization of treatment plans, easy tracking of health progress, and availability of online professional consultations.

Moreover, these benefits lead to a value-based healthcare system. From the standpoint of business, this approach results in greater brand management, reputation increase, and better service delivery.

The key trends of software development in healthcare are:

1. Focus on self-care and online communication (via a patient portal, especially). People become more interested in maintaining healthy without medical involvement and staying in touch with their doctors remotely,
2. Involvement of blockchain innovation. This technology contributes to democratization in the sector significantly. Specifically, blockchain safely discloses internal operations, making the exchange more transparent, trustworthy, and collaborative.
3. Expanded EMR software. In the new reality, each medical record will become digital and link all the specialties separated currently.
4. Telemedicine. This innovation creates close remote connections between physicians and patients, eliminating all the traditional barriers between them.
5. AI. The technology increases the accuracy of diagnoses and treatment plans.

Even though the perspectives of healthcare IT solutions seem bright, there are still some shortcomings that may arise. Among all, the introduced software should dynamically meet safety concerns, since this challenge is one of the most common for contemporary digital solutions. Moreover, Big Data causes problems with its management — which is, again, a serious challenge for software maintenance.

How Can Intellectsoft Help You Overcome the Greatest Challenge in a Software Development Project in Healthcare

Intellectsoft offers high-quality assistance in the design and development of various kinds of healthcare software. By referring to us, you can be sure the solution provided will serve you long, integrate into your digital ecosystem successfully, and manage the data accurately.

We empower companies and their workforce with cutting-edge transformative solutions and data-driven insights. Are you and your organization ready to shift the mindsets and get the most out of innovations?

Talk to our experts and find out more about the latest healthcare technologies and how your business or project can start benefiting from them today!

The post Healthcare Software Development: Industry Guide for 2023 appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

We read the Gmail app notifications, order food delivery on UberEats, chat with colleagues on Teams or Slack, and follow the people we like on Instagram.

All these things became available with the frameworks – the multicomponent tools that enable developing plenty of applications for mobile use.

By 2026, the global mobile app market size is expected to reach $407.31 billion at a CAGR of 18.4%, which is mostly caused by the rising number of Android and iOS smartphone users and the new technologies and services delivered to the app market.

Intellectsoft’s best experts will introduce the essential insights to know about the application frameworks and how they’re used for creating different app projects.

As a part of our discussion, you’ll uncover the top 10 most popular tools for Android framework development, the features they offer as well as the projects they’ll best fit too. This knowledge will help you to figure out which of the Android frameworks will work perfectly for your upcoming projects.

Let’s get this started!

What is an Application Framework?

As you might have already figured out, an application framework is a specific tool that provides pre-made templates, components, and structure for application development. It is mainly focused on building various types of application’s architecture, including:

• Native applications (the OS-specific apps for iOS, Android, etc)
• Hybrid applications (multi-platform apps, usually written on JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5)
• Web applications (accessible through a web browser).

Android framework features a component structure and customizable interface, provides the possibility to reuse the app design and code, and centralize the base code under one location. With all these features stated, we can summarize that the core idea of the Android framework is to help programmers create the app structure and write the code much faster.

According to Statcounter’s statistics, over 70% of the overall market share of mobile operating systems refers to Android OS.

Needless to say, the vast popularity of this niche has stimulated the development of different Android frameworks that can standardize yet speed up deliverability for Android devices.

Ionic Framework, Framework7, Xamarin Framework, NativeScript Framework, React Native Framework – these are only a few popular options developers can now choose from.

For sure, getting focused on the most popular Android frameworks is a key point for finding the right tools to create first-class Android OS applications. So, now let’s analyze the best framework for Android app development in detail, and which of those will help you to create competitive products for Google Play!

Top 10 Android Frameworks that Are Worth You Attention

Depending on the tools you’ll choose, the final choice of the Android development framework can vary for each specific project, its requirements, and major goals. Let’s now analyze the most popular yet effective Android frameworks for 2022 and uncover their most valuable features the developers can surely make use of.

Ionic Framework

Ionic is a free and open-source Android framework certified by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and allows developers to build progressive hybrid apps with the help of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. Ionic has become one of the most famous frameworks for Android development due to its cross-platform functionalities and the ability to integrate AngularJS.

This Android framework hosts a simple CLI (Command-line Interface) that facilitates features like emulators, live reload, and logging. Being Cordova and Angular-based, Ionic has already gained a large community.

Around 4 million Ionic-based apps were built, with more than 5 million developers in over 200 countries worldwide using the framework. Moreover, it integrates with many services, including Google Play, Instagram, and other platforms.

Taken from: https://www.brainvire.com

Key features of the Ionic Android framework:

• Cross-platform mobile application development
• Default user interface with native experience
• Cordova plugins
• JavaScript components
• Released under the MIT license
• Framework compatibility with Angular, the latest JavaScript frameworks, and most of the front-end frameworks including React.js and Vue.js.

This tool is primarily designed for developers to build hybrid and interactive mobile apps. Today, the Ionic Android framework can be used by different startups and web development companies for launching mobile, desktop, and web applications for fast-growing companies and agencies from the pharmacy, health race, and insurance industries to hospitality IT and plenty of other different scopes.

Flutter Framework

Designed and maintained by Google, Flutter is a multi-platform mobile app SDK that can be used to build applications, but in a way that is different from other Android frameworks.

It simplifies the cross-platform development process and is written in the Dart language. When it comes to selecting a framework, Flutter is the best choice for hybrid app development.

Google’s Flutter Android framework uses a 2D rendering engine called Skia for visuals that are similar to material design and the Cupertino style.

Flutter also serves as a solid testing framework, enabling developers to perform UI, unit, and functionality tests. Moreover, Flutter has best-in-class hot-reload functionality, which allows for seamless testing without the need to restart the application.

Taken from: https://habr.com

Key features of the Flutter Android framework:

• Single codebase
• Huge widget library
• Optimized code development time and increased time-to-market speed
• Own rendering engine for rendering itself onto a platform-provided canvas
• Allows sharing the code between the target platforms
• Perspective to grow to a full-blown cross-platform development tool for Android, iOS, Web browser, Windows, macOS, Linux, and other platform-specific devices.

The Flutter Android framework is mostly used by creators who want to establish themselves in hybrid app development. For this reason, it’s now used by the world’s largest corporations including Google, Alibaba, eBay, and others, that use this Android framework for launching their mobile applications.

Corona SDK

Developed in 2009, Corona SDK is a perfect software development kit for building speedy apps and games. This general-purpose, cross-platform framework enables 10x faster development than other Android frameworks.

Corona achieves this by integrating Lua, a lightweight and multi-paradigm programming language, which is itself layered on top of C++/OpenGL and allows high speed, usability, and flexibility.

Highly popular among game developers, Corona is free and available on both Mac OS X and Windows, with real-time testing support.

In addition, this Android framework has native UI support, over 500 APIs, and a dynamic advertising platform built for developers. Its API suite features are feature-rich, with graphics, networking, widgets, particle effects, and more.

Simple to understand and integrate into Android, Corona SDK has gained notable popularity among Android app developers. As for the time of writing, this Android framework is known as Solar2D – a cross-platform engine for mobile, desktop, and TV app development.

Taken from: https://coronalabs.com/

Key features of the Corona SDK Android framework:

• Really easy to get started with
• The built-in library with over 1000 API’s and plugins
• Cross-platform development, applicable for other platforms
• Ability to call any native library, including C, C++, Obj-C, Java, or else use API
• Real-time device testing saves up tons of time for developers
• As it doesn’t provide an integrated development environment (IDE), it features different other plugins to access the specific platforms per demand

Being known as one of the best options for game developers, this Android framework is a solid tool for delivering general-purpose apps for Android OS. The most notable projects where the Corona SDK has been already implemented are Warcraft, Angry Birds, The Lost City, Hopiko, Civilization, and others.

Framework7

Being nearly the newest framework for Android development on the market, Framework 7 is one of the most effective open-source MIT-licensed Android frameworks that comes with various useful features for fast yet convenient app launching.

It features nearly all the basic and extra Mobile UI that can be effortlessly implemented in different projects. The great features developers like are the infinite scroll, Lazy loading, Pull to Refresh, Swiper Slider, and more.

Most developers say that Framework7 is the best Android framework for creating a PWA (Progressive Web App). Besides, it can easily integrate with Cordova to build hybrid mobile apps with the use of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript languages instead of standard Android languages, such as Java, Kotlin, and XML.

Also, the Android framework features a simple, user-friendly interface, has a large user base, and is getting updated to the newer versions on a regular basis, which is essential for ensuring a stable, non-disruptive workflow.

Taken from: https://blog.framework7.io

Key features of the Framework7 Android framework:

• Features plenty of ready-to-use UI elements and useful plugins
• Easy to learn and customize
• Offers a jQuery syntax, that enables a quick start without delays
• Flexible Router API enables the dynamic loading of pages from the templates
• Built-in helper libraries
• No license fees

This Android framework is a perfect option for developers that have already worked with HTML and CSS, and have some knowledge in JavaScript. Though Framework7 is not compatible with all the platforms, it’s still focused on the iOS and Google Material concepts to deliver simple yet feature-rich app solutions for mobile devices.

React Native Framework

Backed by Facebook, React Native is a powerful open-source framework that offers ample support to other development tools and their IDEs. It is based on React, a JS library for web solutions.

Companies like Instagram, Walmart, Airbnb, Tesla, as well as many other Fortune 500 companies, use the framework to develop native mobile apps.

As most of the React Native APIs are cross-platform, developers can write code once and then run it anywhere, which improves development speed and helps cut costs.

React Native uses building blocks similar to the ones employed in most Android development frameworks. With the hot-reload option in React Native, developers can link updated files while retaining the current state of the app. The developer community of React Native has been growing much faster than Facebook’s expectations.

Google Trends indicates that the Android framework has been gaining more and more traction in the past few years. As of today, around 1600 developers have used the Native framework.

Key features of the Native Android framework:

• The app design and development is created within a single interface
• Code Push feature – an option that helps to push out the app updates immediately, without the user having to consent and reload the app on his Android device
• Supports incorporating external third-party plugins
• Spot the bugs much easier with the use of the declarative programming approach
• Hot Reloading feature speeds up building new features and bug fixing
• The possibility to share non-UI dependent codes

This tool is perfect for launching customized apps much easier and faster. At present, it has already been used in thousands of apps launched with the world’s largest companies like Tesla, Meta, Bloomberg, Uber, Walmart, Yahoo, and more.

Taken from: https://nebel.co.in

jQuery Mobile Framework

The jQuery Mobile framework for Android development is one of the HTML5-based cross-platform frameworks that is also known as the most straightforward tool for launching mobile and web applications.

The main hallmark of jQuery Mobile is that it enables “writing code once” and then executing it on various platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, Symbian, and Blackberry.

Another great feature developers like about this Android framework is that the complete basic app interfaces can be built in HTML, with minimal or even without using the JavaScript code at all!

Moreover, it’s one of the most popular tools for traversal and manipulation with the HTML DOM tree. The jQuery Mobile Android framework can greatly simplify various event handling, CSS animation, and Ajax.

It also features an in-built theme system so developers can customize the application styling for each project to ideally fit the colors, tastes, and preferences. Compared to other Android frameworks, Mobile jQuery’s size is extremely lightweight (about 40KB when minified), which makes it one of the most preferable frameworks on the market and helped it to establish a large community.

Taken from: https://designsmaz.com

Key features of the jQuery Android framework:

• Comes with various plugins, including Pop-Up Boxes, Image Slider, Content-Slider, etc
• Compatible with other mobile iOS, Windows, and Android frameworks
• ThemeRoller feature enables easier drag-and-drop functionality
• Simplifies the common manipulations with JavaScript
• Employs CSS syntax
• Lightweight, compared to other Android frameworks

An ideal user of the jQuery framework is any mobile developer aimed to create solid yet highly branded applications that will work on different smartphones, mobile devices, and desktop platforms.

Appcelerator Titanium

The best Android framework according to some developers, Appcelerator Titanium is an open-source platform for building native apps with a single JavaScript codebase. Titanium became popular as it allows for creating multi-platform mobile apps using around 60%-90% of the existing code. The framework employs the JavaScript programming language to ensure the high performance of applications.

Titanium can be used to develop solid games, while mobile apps built with Appcelerator Titanium can utilize hardware-specific features like Android menu buttons, OS-centric controls, and platform-appropriate notifications.

Currently, over 345,577,760 apps run through this Android framework. Also, it provides many other useful functions like automated testing on mobile devices, application monitoring, and performance regulation.

Taken from: https://githubplus.com

Key features of the Appcelerator Titanium:

• Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS
• A free, open-source, software development kit (SDK)
• Apps are built in JavaScript language
• Rapid & flexible prototyping facilitates the app development process
• High level of code reusability (from 60 to 80%)
• Immediate support for the new OS releases

Built for the developers that work with different types of projects within multiple scopes, this Android framework features super-fast app development using a single JavaScript codebase.

Basically, it provides the same performance as the mobile apps built with native APIs. Moreover, Appcelerator Titanium enables access to native APIs for the systems like Android, iOS, Universal Windows, Web, and more.

Xamarin Framework

Owned by Microsoft, and one of the top Android frameworks, Xamarin offers an advanced toolset that enables developers to build native apps for multiple mobile platforms on a shared C# codebase.

With Microsoft’s cloud testing service, the apps built using Xamarin can be tested on numerous devices. Moreover, its code-sharing feature makes it a developers’ favorite as it reduces coding time and the number of bugs in the software development process.

Compared to other Android frameworks, Xamarin is one of the oldest cross-platform frameworks and is already used by 1.4 million developers across 120 countries.

Xamarin became a part of Visual Studio IDE, which made large companies in industries like healthcare, and energy shift to using this framework. Xamarin has been around for a while, but the number of developers using it has increased a lot over the years as compared to other Android frameworks.

Taken from: https://www.wildnettechnologies.com

Key features of the Xamarin Android framework:

• Native user interfaces, no switch between environments
• Single C# language
• Allows adding the components to apps right from the IDE using Xamarin Component Store
• Enables sharing from 60% to 95% of code across diverse mobile development platforms with Xamarin.Forms interface
• Offers comprehensive testing approaches, as well as tracking app performance and UI with Xamarin Test Cloud and Xamarin Test Recorder tools
• Continuous technical backing and fast issue resolving with Microsoft support

This tool is perfect for the developers that need sharable yet reusable code solutions, that can be tested across different platforms, as well as create cross-platform Android apps in C# language within a single interface.

NativeScript Framework

Listed as a top framework for hybrid app development, NativeScript is a free open-source framework that enables developers to create applications using Vue, TypeScript, and Angular. This Android framework is backed by a Bulgarian software company Telerik. From Gradle to CocoaPods, developers can easily reuse a wide array of plugins directly in the projects with NativeScript.

The framework enables web developers who are well-versed in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, as well as Native UI markup, to build outstanding progressive apps with NativeScript.

One of the biggest reasons to choose NativeScript for Android app development is that it offers UIs with the native platform’s offering engine, which results in native-like UIs and performance. With JS running on the UI thread, NativeScriptenables high-performance on all native platform APIs.

Taken from: https://www.folio3.com

Key features of the NativeScript Android framework:

• Easy authentication with different sign-on options
• Simultaneous usage of LiveSync and Webpack
• Employing various types of frames in an app
• The implemented platform-specific APIs from JavaScript allows eliminating the need to learn Cordova plugins
• Automatic generating icons and splash screens based on high-resolution images
• The ability to work with the third-party libraries

This framework for Android development is perfect for the specialists who want to launch multiple apps within different platforms with saving up on time and costs. This framework has been used mostly by various B2B-oriented tech companies and businesses, like Symantec, Xerox, Dell, Microsoft, and others.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, at present there are plenty of Android frameworks to choose from, with each of those providing its specific features for any sort of app project. Being used by the world’s largest tech giants, any of these options can become the best Android app development framework exactly for your idea development.

However, to successfully launch your app project, it’s not only enough to consider the framework for Android development you’ll use. In nearly all cases, you’ll also need the assistance of mobile app development services that will help you to implement all the creative ideas and most efficient features within a single app product for Android devices.

We, at Intellectsoft, keep our clients in the loop about the latest trends and innovative solutions in the app development field. Our team of developers is always ready for new challenges and exciting app development projects. Do you have the idea to put it into effect?

Contact our team and uncover how to launch your best Android app development project today!

The post 10 Best Framework for Android App Development in 2022 appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

In 2017, we at Intellectsoft had a customer who asked to make an MVP (“minimum variable product”) on Flutter, a commercial cross-platform app development kit from Google.

The decision to invest in MVP is a common stage in software development, serving as a proof-of-concept and an early app version with the main features included. Our task was to create an MVP to show off to competitors, not accelerate the development process or cut expenses.

Flutter was new to the market, so the app development experienced inevitable challenges. In conversations with the client, we mentioned the rawness of the development language, problems with possible scaling, and lack of tech talents acquainted with this development platform. But the customer still wanted to try.

Unfortunately, all the predicted challenges came to light. The project was hard to scale and lacked the required resources due to low business priority.

For Intellectsoft, the takeaway from this case is straightforward: technology is not an end in itself. The well-built development strategy brings business benefits. And so, the choice between native and cross-platform tools depends on your business aims too.

5 Main Differences of Native vs. Cross-Platform App Development

1. Responsiveness. Since native code accesses the device’s internal resources directly, native apps generally demonstrate better performance.
2. Value-for-money. Cross-platform apps are made faster and cheaper.
3. App stability. In a long run, native apps demonstrate more stability and work well for long-term projects.
4. UI/UX design. Generally, native apps are more attractive and effective in terms of user interface and user experience.
5. Safety. Native app development deals with encrypted and obfuscated infrastructure, while cross-platform apps need extra measures to ensure security.

What Is Native App Development?

This type of app development deals with the platform’s native language and native APIs/frameworks to link to internal functions, meaning Java or Kotlin (with its JDK) for Android and Obj-C or Swift (on its SDK) for iOS.

Thanks to these specifics, native apps provide a better user experience, demonstrate higher performance, and can be personalized. Moreover, access to the devices’ features allows building complex yet stable and secure functionalities.

7 Advantages of Native Development

1. Smooth work. Native technologies connect with the device’s functionality, which makes processing fast and steady.
2. Compatibility. Thanks to seamless integration with hardware, native apps can take photos, track locations, and add events to the calendar.
3. Safety. The minimum of layers and technologies make native apps secure.
4. User experience. In terms of UX design, native apps can have sophisticated layouts, greater personalization, and engaging animations users like.
5. Easy-to-use SDK. For developers, native app building possesses numerous tools that make the process faster and cheaper. In this regard, software development kits are extremely helpful and streamline the development process with up-to-date and mostly ready for implementation parts of code and libraries. In case something is not clear, it’s easy to find and understand the technical guides and official documentation.
6. Optimization. Native apps don’t overload the battery with complex processing, and users can use them longer.
7. Maintenance. Updates like AI, IoT, and adding extra features and easy to implement on native apps.

3 Disadvantages of Native Development

1. Expensive to start. Although native apps possess value-for-money in a long run, the initial cost of their development is high. Each platform requires separate investment, and the development expenses are generally 30-40% higher than going for the cross-platform app development option that covers all the devices at once.
2. Time to market. Native development is complex and requires more attention on each stage, which delays the date when the app is ready to launch.
3. Different codebases. Android and iOS app development are completely different, and the developers need to duplicate each feature by using two separate codebases. Because of this, native app development requires two separate teams at times.

Best Cases of Native Apps

Thanks to its benefits and efficiency indicators, native app development is highly popular these days. You can find native apps among games, messaging platforms, and navigation tools.

Among the loudest examples of native apps, there are:

• Spotify
• Waze
• WhatsApp
• Pokemon Go
• Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg initially invested in a hybrid app, but soon recognized the mistake and build a native version for iOS)

What Is Cross-Platform Development?

You need a single database to build a cross-platform app running on several devices. Due to this advantage of repurposing, the development itself becomes faster and cheaper. The majority of code, meaning 70-95%, can be reused in another platform, which makes building for Android and iOS smooth.

In this regard, React Native, Flutter, Ionic, and Xamarin cover the most tasks for both operating systems. According to Statista, Flutter is the leading framework for cross-platform development, covering 42% of the market. Next is React Native, possessing 38%. It’s a perfect technology to build an app so feel free to hire dedicated React Native developers. The full picture is shown in the table below.

Source: Statista

4 Advantages of Cross-Platform Development

1. Repurposing of code. Cross-platform apps are easy to adapt to multiple devices thanks to 80% of code that can be reused.
2. Cost-effectiveness. Cross-platform development cuts costs and saves time on the development stage, compared to native development.
3. Fewer developers are needed. The development is not complex, so you won’t need to recruit separate teams to build Android and iOS apps.
4. Access to a broader audience. Cross-platform apps are the best option to showcase your app to more people and/or the new market.

4 Disadvantages of Cross-Platform App Development

1. Unstable performance. The general usability of the codebase comes at its cost. The lack of specification sometimes causes delays.
2. Simplified UX. Compared to native apps, some features and layouts are unavailable for cross-platform apps. In this situation, the elaboration on the cross-platform user interface is very important for getting satisfactory results in terms of user experience.
3. Relying on external libraries. As there is almost no support to SDKs, developers can face difficulties in integrating new features.
4. QA is a must. Without several rounds of testing, cross-platform apps are likely to disappoint users with numerous bugs, safety issues, and incompatibilities.

Best Cases of Cross-Platform Apps

Many famous brands go for cross-platform app development when there’s no need to concentrate on a single platform. Among the well-known examples, there are:

• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• VLC
• Adobe Reader
• OpenOffice

How to Choose between Native and Cross-Platform App Development?

After clarifying the key features and functionality behind each development type, the question of picking the most appropriate one is easier.

Factors to Consider Native Apps:

• Mobile-first service
• Plans to make money with an app
• Strong competitors in the niche
• Your business is big
• Your app is a game
• Your app will have complex features and needs access to the device’s hardware
• You care about top UX

Factors to Consider Cross-Platform Apps:

• Minimal budget for development
• Need to enter both Android and iOS
• Testing ideas
• Quick launch to market
• You are a startup
• You build an MVP with minimum features

The post Native vs. Cross-Platform App Development: How to Pick? appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

In 2021, the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) in their annual ranking of the world’s best outsourcing companies has named eleven tech companies based in Ukraine, considering customer reviews, certifications and awards, solutions approach, and the basic social responsibility projects of each.

Being listed in these and lots of other international rankings, Ukraine is now one of the most attractive yet prospective outsourcing destinations for the world’s largest and most renowned corporations. The level of proficiency and comprehensive list of tech skills obtained by its developers makes more and more companies switch to Ukraine software outsourcing.

The latest analysis by the State of European Tech has shown that Ukrainian tech raised around $571 million of investments in 2020, and due to the increasing demand in digital transformation, these numbers will only rise further.

In this article, we will uncover why IT outsourcing in Ukraine is so beneficial to businesses, what scopes the Ukraine developers are best for and how to find a reliable outsourcing vendor and hire the best software developers in Ukraine.

Let’s get it started!

The Emerging Popularity of Ukrainian Outsourcing: International Rankings

As we mentioned before, Ukraine has been recognized as one of the world’s best IT outsourcing centers.

By 2025, the overall number of Ukraine developers will reach 250,000, with an overall IT market value of $8,4 billion.

At present, the country had gained compelling positions in numerous international tech-related rankings, including:

• 20th position in the AT Kearney Global Services Location Index
• 2nd rank in the 2020 Global Innovation Index by Wipo
• 1st position for Science & Technology in the Good Country Index
• 1st position for Innovation Input to Output Performance in Global Innovation Index 2020 

These are only a few software development outsourcing Ukraine statistics that justify the tremendous popularity of its professional specialists on the global IT market.

Main Services to Consider for Outsourcing Software Development in Ukraine

Before we’ll dive into the pricing of outsourcing software development in Ukraine, it’s critical to investigate whether or not its developers can fully correspond to all the needs of your company, organization, or business.

Needless to say, it’s no use hiring developers that are experienced in creating the software for the hospitality industry for your eCommerce business. Furthermore, bad hires like choosing the wrong software vendors can result not only in time or progress loss but also can cost millions of dollars for contracting authority!

So, what basic projects can Ukraine developers be hired for?

Custom Software Development

First of all, the strong side of IT outsourcing in Ukraine is developing powerful software solutions for nearly any business from any industry. Do you need the proof? Then, you might check out the famous startups like Petcube, Grammarly, DepositPhotos, and more – originally created in Ukraine, these software solutions are now widely known all over the world.

Whatever project you’re planning to launch, with Ukrainian software developers you’ll surely get the stablest, feature-rich yet effective applications you’ve paid for.

Internet of Things

Any type of IoT device always implies the usage of personal data, which traditionally needs comprehensive protection to minimize the possible threats. Unlike the other outsourcing vendors, Ukraine developers are more competitive in the global outsourcing market because of their extensive experience in working with the personal data of EU, UK, and North American citizens.

Along with governmental personal data regulations of Ukraine (ISO), each company tracks the regulations of the client’s country, ranging from GDPR (EU), PIPEDA (Canada), and HIPAA (USA). At the same time, clients can also initiate the additional data protection requirements: how it’s collected, stored, accessed, and transferred.

One of the well-known IoT projects of Ukraine developers is Ajax System, an IoT security ecosystem that provides wireless security equipment for private and business use.

AI Technology

In 2020, Ukraine has become one of the leading countries by the number of Artificial Intelligence providers in Europe. According to Clutch, at present, there are over 150 organizations targeted on Artificial Intelligence development, which precedes the number of AI companies in most technologically advanced EU countries like Poland, Estonia, Belarus, Germany, and more.

So far, there are over 30,000 software developers in Ukraine specializing in AI & ML development. The Ukrainian software developers have a strong knowledge of Scala, Hadoop and Python technologies, which are considered to be an integral part of Data Science and Machine Learning.

Mobile App Development

If you’re looking for good, experienced app developers, outsourcing software developers in Ukraine may be the right option for you. These programmers perform exceptionally well in creating solid, feature-rich yet functional mobile apps according to all the requirements and your business needs.

Besides, these services are delivered at comparatively low prices: with the average hourly rate starting from $20 to $60, the cost of making an app with the basic features starts from $5,000. In contrast, the same in the USA will cost you from $10,000 – 20,000 and around $18,000 – 20,000 in Great Britain and Western Europe.

Additionally, Ukrainian software developers feature the best ratio of quality and price, provide flexibility in communication and cooperation, and offer innovative solutions that exactly fit your business needs and goals.

Blockchain

At present, blockchain is a comparatively new and innovative technology that requires building solid and functional solutions and is now used in a wide range of fields: financial industry, supply chains, government, healthcare, retail, and more.

However, if choosing a non-experienced vendor for the project in any scope, companies can fail in blockchain technology implementation and get a serious loss of the investments and even the critical data as well.

Hiring blockchain software developers in Ukraine can enhance the security of any type of data, as they have:

• the in-depth knowledge of the major blockchain services
• vast experiences in working with different platforms, such as Bitcoin, Etherum, HyperLedger Fabric (for private corporate networks), and EOS (introduced by Smart Contracts)
• blockchain development language skills, including Go, Rust, Python, C++, and Solidity

With this technology implemented, your business will get more transparency and enhanced traceability for your data, reduce costs and eliminate transaction speed.

Rates for Outsourcing Software Development in Ukraine

Being one of the leading IT outsourcing centers in Eastern Europe, hiring Ukrainian software developers can be a winning strategy for a variety of businesses from different industry scopes. The most popular industries they are involved in include insurance, healthcare, hospitality, finance, eCommerce, construction, and more.

Another great plus of the Ukraine developer is the solid software knowledge, fluent English proficiency, and reasonable price for the IT services. For instance, the average offshore development rates for this region range from $30 to $60 per hour.

However, the overall software development outsourcing Ukraine rates may vary according to the work experience of a certain candidate:

• Hourly rate for Junior Software Engineer: $19 – $25
• Hourly rate for Middle Software Engineer: $26 – $38
• Hourly rate for Senior Software Engineer: $39 – $60

Compared to the rates of countries based in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, you’ll get top-of-the-line innovative software solutions at an affordable price.

Additionally, Ukraine is a home country for over 200,000 professionals, and their number increases with more than 36,000 graduates within this scope annually. These factors make it one of the most attractive options for starting outsourcing software development in Ukraine.

Main Reasons to Hire Ukrainian Software Developers

After you know the overall information about IT outsourcing in Ukraine, let’s now discuss why you should consider hiring Ukrainian developers.

#1 Largest IT outsourcing Market in CEE

Ukraine is the 2nd largest tech hub in Central Eastern Europe, with over 200,000 programmers located in the 5 biggest cities: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odessa. Furthermore, compared to Poland, it offers more attractive outsourcing rates at the same or even higher quality.

Additionally, it takes 11th position in the rating of top software development outsourcing countries in the world. According to recent research, over 90% of IT services in Ukraine are outsourced, while the remaining 10% develop their own programming products.

#2 Solid Educational Background of Developers

There are around 450 technical universities and colleges with advanced programming courses, and over 36,000 new graduates annually enroll in the IT market. Most of them start practicing their programming skills after the 2nd or 3rd course of their bachelor’s degree, which makes it even more beneficial to be hired after graduation.

Furthermore, nearly all the Ukrainian developers can fluently speak English at the Intermediate (more than 37%), Upper-intermediate (over 35%), or even Advanced levels (around 13%).

This ensures smooth communication yet more productive cooperation between the certain organization and outsourced team of Ukrainian software developers.

These are only a few qualities that significantly stimulate the demand for outsourcing talented Ukrainian developers.

#3 Plenty of IT Service Outsourcing Companies

Most IT outsourcing companies in Ukraine offer Flexible cooperation models within only 1-2 hours away from most European countries. At present, there are over 1,600 companies that provide the core web technologies for software development, including JavaScript, Java, C#, Python, PHP, C++, TypeScript, and more.

Most of these tech companies are founded by entrepreneurs with a global mindset, such organizations are mostly focused on delivering the best results to their contractors and facilitating their success as well.

#4 Impressive Value/Cost Rates

By offering the most beneficial yet attractive prices for the services, Ukraine has already become one of the best IT outsourcing hubs in Europe. It features lower average rates for the services provided and has much more programming specialists within any industry. So, it’s more than possible to hire:

• Junior-level programmer for $570 for 1 month
• Middle-level Ukraine developer for $1800 per month
• Senior-level specialist for around $3000 for one month of work

And, we can reassure you, the software products developed have not only the same quality as those created in other CEE countries. Ofter, Ukrainian software developers provide even better technological solutions for specific cases than can be offered in most international leading IT hubs!

#5 Convenient Location and Time Zone

The geographic proximity makes Ukraine one of the most attractive locations for both nearshoring and offshoring. Placed in just 2-3 hours of flight time from most of the European countries, it allows sharing 7 of 9 business hours with the majority of them.

Additionally, there are always direct flights from Ukraine to the most popular European tech hubs including Berlin, Amsterdam, London, and more. And, the flight ticket can be purchased for as little as $15 – 19.

#6 More Working Hours Per Week

An average full-time developer works around 33 hours per week, in the UK these numbers can barely reach 36 hours, which is not too far from the US workers (37.5 hours per week).

In Ukraine, the majority of developers in tech-related outsourcing companies spend between 40 to 60 hours at work per week. Furthermore, your company can benefit from the public holidays too: there are only 11 paid public holidays in Ukraine, which is 2-7 days less compared to most EU countries.

Of course, that might not be too notable at first, but such a slight working hour difference can enhance up to several months in certain cases of project completion.

How to Find the Reliable Outsourcing Vendor in Ukraine

For sure, when it comes to IT outsourcing, Ukrainian software developers are one of the most beneficial options to choose. At the same time, it’s still critical to learn the most important aspects to consider when choosing the software developing company for hire.

This can prevent the loss of time, efforts, and investments for your organization, and ensures you won’t need to start the outsourcing organization research from scratch.

So, what are the core things to pay attention to when choosing the right IT outsourcing vendor in Ukraine?

• Uncover the local IT industry landscape and the top vendors you can hire Ukraine developers from
• Ask for the portfolio and existing case studies of your potential candidate, explore the major scopes/industries and companies the IT company cooperated earlier with. Remember, you should look not for the company that features the best technological solutions, you should find the one that can provide the exact software products your business or company needs
• Analyze the awards, certificates, and compliances to define whether or not this software vendor can be trusted. As a rule, the outsourcing companies have certifications from the leading tech providers within the same scope (if you’re looking for cloud solutions development, you should probably look for AWS or Google Cloud partnership). Other great certifications to look for are ISO 27001:2013, ISO 9001:2015, PCI DSS, GDPR, HIPAA, and more.
• Define the strong sides of your potential IT outsourcing vendor and why it’s better than other competitors. You should also pay attention to the price/value rate to avoid low-quality outcomes. Additionally, browse the official website, corporate blogs, and social media of the outsourcing company to get a more concrete idea of what types of projects they have already done and what was the quality of their final results.
• Contact the software vendor and estimate whether or not they’re open for communication. For instance, the modern outsourcing companies in Ukraine like Intellecsoft invite for an expert consultation regarding the project or problem you have to get the overall idea about it and whether or not they can help you with the exact services you need.

Of course, that’s only a general list of what should be checked when choosing the best IT outsourcing vendors in Ukraine. Nevertheless, with having all these aspects checked, you can be more than certain about getting the best software solutions for your business.

Conclusion

To sum up, onboarding software developers in Ukraine is one of the most beneficial ways for companies and businesses to obtain innovative technological solutions and approaches at a reasonable price.

The outsourcing companies in Ukraine cover nearly all the scopes within any industry and are able to effectively perform different tasks and provide cost-effective strategies that can not only be identical to the ones offered by local developers but also provide more valuable benefits for your business.

And, you can be sure that with the experienced dedicated development team every new project for your business will surely help it to improve and develop beyond the competition.

At Intellectsoft, our best IT experts empower various companies and their workforces with the latest solutions and innovative approaches. Are you interested in outsourcing software development Ukraine?

Talk to our experts and uncover basic insights regarding any topic of your interest and how your business can benefit from it today!

The post Outsourcing Software Development to Ukraine – A Complete Guide appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.