Explore Our Blog

According to data from the Precedence Research resource, the worldwide SaaS market is estimated at USD 358.33 bln in 2024 and is expected to grow up to USD 1,251.35 bln by 2034 at a CAGR of 13.3%. Such demand is due to the ease of deployment of such solutions (instead of local installation, access to them is possible from any device with a purchased license where there is an Internet connection), as well as often extensive customization options. If you would like to launch your own SaaS solution, but are not yet sure about the final list of features, you should consider the SaaS MVP development option. 

What Is MVP in SaaS?

A minimum viable product (MVP) in the context of SaaS development is a version of a product where only the key functionality is implemented – that is, the one that determines the value of a specific SaaS solution for the end user. The goal of a SaaS MVP is to reduce development time by cutting down on secondary functionality, and to obtain user feedback to determine the course of implementation of a full-fledged SaaS version. 

SaaS MVP Development Benefits

What are the benefits of SaaS MVP development? Let’s find them out right now.

Ability to competently plan a budget and attract investments

Compared to implementing a full-fledged SaaS solution, MVP development is cheaper, since its task is to allow the target audience to test its key functionality in practice, without any excesses in the set of features and user experience (UX) design. This simplifies budget planning, too, as it does not require colossal expenses from the project owners from the very beginning. Also, thanks to this approach to development, its speed increases. Therefore, the working product can be presented to potential investors a few months from the start of work, and it will not just be a business plan in the form of a presentation, but a functioning software solution that can be applied to solve specific tasks. Usually, negotiations regarding further investment in such a project with this strong attribute (an MVP) are successful.

High productivity of the development team

Since an MVP has a limited number of features, your team will be freed from optimizing user interface. Therefore, work on the MVP will proceed faster. In addition, when developing such a software version, your team may gain valuable insights that were initially overlooked – they can also be implemented over time. Finally, when the solution’s functionality is limited, it is easier for developers to identify possible areas for improvement and, thus, address them in further development cycles associated with the launch of a full-fledged SaaS version.

Reduced time to market

An MVP approach allows you to release your solution first. Indeed, given the rapid development of the global SaaS market, this would be a wise move. A couple of months delay needed for implementing a full feature set could cost you the fact that your product's analog will appear and win the audience's favor first. At the same time, by launching your product as early as possible, you will also be able to start refining it earlier, too, ultimately receiving a SaaS platform with a lot of functions and advanced user experience after 9-12 months from the start of work on the project.

Common Challenges of Building a SaaS MVP

Along with all the benefits, it is also worth considering the possible challenges associated with SaaS MVP development.

Impossibility of applying the MVP concept to absolutely all products

It is worth starting with the fact that MVP development is not a universal approach, and not all products allow for feature prioritization. In particular, this applies to the ones in which all functions are interconnected, and it is not possible to single out the most priority ones among them.

Breaks in development cycles

It is important to understand that the release of the MVP in its first version is not always followed by the development of a full-fledged product. Sometimes, the team has to implement one or two more solutions with limited functionality before its participants come to a full understanding of the concept of the SaaS solution. Since the collected feedback may relate to non-overlapping functions of the product, the preferences and dissatisfaction of real users may not be fully covered in the full-fledged product.

The need to adopt new approaches to software development

Quite often, the development of MVP is accompanied by the introduction of radically new practices, such as Agile development and DevOps. In the long term, iterative development and other methods can increase the team's productivity by about a third, but the adoption and training can also take a lot of time for the team.

Possible issues with the program code stability 

Typically, MVP development of a cloud-based solution implies speeding up each development stage (in particular, the one related to testing the program code and its optimization). In this regard, it often happens that teams pay insufficient attention to the code stability, and the MVP solution itself becomes susceptible to hacker attacks. That is why, regardless of the chosen development approach and methodology, developers are still better off adhering to generally accepted standards for user data security and using proven authentication/authorization methods, reliable encryption protocols, access rights delimitation, etc.

Difficulty of scaling

Even though the MVP is initially hosted in the cloud, its computing power may not be enough if the product becomes really popular. In this regard, when choosing a cloud provider to ensure a scalable architecture, it makes sense to initially focus on options that allow automatic scaling as the workload on the software changes. Today, such type of service is provided by AWS, Microsoft Azure, and some other cloud vendors.

Problems with long-term budget planning

Lack of a clear understanding from the very beginning of what set of functions will be present in the final solution can provoke difficulties with budget planning, which, in turn, carries certain risks for investors. Therefore, it is important for you as a product owner to discuss with them all possible risks and prospects of your MVP launch strategy at the early stages of your interaction.

How to Build a SaaS MVP

So, how to build SaaS product – you may ask. Therefore, let’s consider the main steps you have to perform to develop an MVP. 

Defining the target audience

First, you will need to understand who the target audience of your SaaS solution is and what they expect to get from it. In fact, you will have to collect demographic and behavioral data about your product users to determine the most important functionality for the MVP and provide them with the most comfortable ways to interact with it.

Market research

To give your SaaS solution a unique selling proposition (i.e., to make it stand out from the competition in some way), you will need to conduct preliminary research that will determine both market trends in general and help identify the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors.

Identifying core functionality

Now, you have everything ready to determine the functionality that is the highest priority for your SaaS solution. Usually, this is the functionality that allows you to solve one or two key tasks assigned to your product (that is, without it, it will lose its value for the end user).

Choosing a business model

At this stage, you need to come up with ways to monetize your product. Note that in the context of SaaS, this is most often the purchase of either a license for a certain period of use or access to advanced functionality.

Building a roadmap

Now, you can create a step-by-step plan for implementing your solution, from MVP to launching and supporting a full-fledged SaaS product. Note that this is necessary not only for presenting the prospects of your project to investors and stakeholders, but also for the technical team to make them understand in which direction to move.

Creating an MVP

At this stage, your technical team can begin to build MVP, i.e., implement its user interface, server requests, database requests, alpha testing, etc.

Deploying an MVP and collecting user feedback

Once your team is confident that the MVP meets the previously defined specifications and everything works as intended, you can deploy it to the production environment and begin beta testing – that is, testing it on real users to gather feedback on possible improvements. After that, you will have to prioritize the aspects highlighted by users and plan to implement them in subsequent development cycles.

How to Accelerate SaaS MVP Development

Finally, let’s consider a number of best practices that will help you speed up the SaaS MVP development process:

• Use Backend as a Service (BaaS) and low-code solutions to reduce the amount of work for your backend and frontend specialists, respectively;
• Choose a time-tested technology stack that all members of your development team are familiar with;
• Delegate individual tasks within your project or the entire project to an outsourcing service provider to eliminate the need to urgently search for talent with the necessary skills;
• Establish processes for collecting feedback from users from the very beginning of work on your project.

SaaS MVP Development with Darly Solutions

Would you like to build an MVP as a Service solution and are looking for a seasoned team of developers who will bring your business idea to life? In this case, feel free to contact us. MVP as a Service is one of the key areas of our activity, which you can see for yourself by requesting our portfolio. You can also entrust us with individual tasks within your project, such as QA testing or, for example, UI/UX design. Whatever the list of our services you choose, rest assured that you will be satisfied with the results of our cooperation!

The mobile apps market is rapidly growing. According to Grand View Research, the global mobile app market was evaluated at approximately USD 253 billion in 2023 and is going to grow with a 14.3% CAGR by 2030. That’s why the need for qualified mobile development specialists is so relevant today. 

At the same time, one of the key features of a competent specialist is knowledge of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and which of the existing models is best to use in a specific project. The following article will overview the most popular SDLC models and explain where to apply them for the best results. 

What is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

The software development lifecycle is a methodology that guides the development team during the app creation process. Each of the development life cycle phases has its aims, timeframes, and challenges. Yet, a systemized approach toward software development ensures that the final product is of the highest quality. 

In comparison, there are other approaches to software development. For example, development teams can choose from the following options: 

• Application lifecycle management. It has a broader scope outside of the actual development process. It can include several SLDC development life cycle stages inside. 
• Software testing lifecycle. This method emphasizes debugging and elimination of possible errors in the product. 
• Product development lifecycle. This strategy includes market and product promotion after its development is complete. 

What Is the Purpose of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

The SDLC’s clear division into development cycle stages ensures that software is developed in a controlled environment. The systematic approach helps to avoid such challenges as: 

• Budget breaches.
• Project overruns and crunches 
• Failure to meet the requirements 
• Expired deadlines

Creative freedom is important during the software development process. Yet, the SDLC approach ensures that all the creativity and revolutionary solutions are channeled constructively. 

While following the life cycle of software development, each team member knows what task they should do and its deadline. 

What are the 7 Phases of SDLC? 

There are seven common SDLC phases: 

1. Requirements analysis 
2. Planning
3. Design 
4. Development
5. Testing
6. Deployment
7. Maintenance

Let’s consider them in more detail.

Requirements Analysis 

It is the initial stage at which the developer's team evaluates the required features for the app. It defines how long the app will be in development, the budget’s size, and the deadlines. 

This step answers such questions as: 

• What is the objective of the app? 
• Is it an upgrade or a brand-new software? 
• What are the expected results? 

Planning 

The project can be planned after its goals and desired results are established. Planning in SDLC defines the technological stack and project roles. The project roadmap is also developed during the planning phase of SDLC. 

Design 

The software blueprint is created during the design stage. Ideas turn into features, architecture, and UI/UX design. Designing also includes consideration of the software's platforms and security as a part of SDLC processes. 

Design can undergo several iterations before reaching its final look. During this phase, teams usually create a software prototype to see how all the features work together. This phase concludes with design document specification — a text description of the app’s functionality to share with stakeholders and within the team. 

Development 

Development is the long-lasting of the SDLC steps. During this stage, the team implements planned features and functionality into actual software. Tools for progress tracking and version control, such as Git, are common in the software development stage.

Testing 

Testing comes after the implementation phase in SDLC. It is a rigorous process during which all software elements are evaluated. Testing can include: 

• Performance testing
• Security testing
• Integration testing
• Alpha and beta testing, and so on 

The result of the testing and debugging software development cycle phases should be a product meets its specifications and is ready for the commercial environment. 

Deployment 

Usually, the apps undergo testing and development in a secluded, special environment. Deployment implies transferring the software to the commercial space. The deployment phase includes final testing of the working product and gathering feedback from a limited audience. 

The product is ready for full-fledged commercial use when the software development stages are over. 

Maintenance 

Maintenance is the final stage of the SDLC cycle. It includes software updates, security, and performance optimization. An upgrade or upscale of the software may be required in the future. In this case, the SDLC begins from the first stage, and the major update undergoes all the steps mentioned. 

Most Common SDLC Models 

The SDLC standards are common across the industry and development teams. However, there are different SDLC models. Each model serves its own purpose and offers a different order in which the different phases are performed.

SDLC Agile Model 

The Agile SDLC model is the hallmark of modern industry. This model implies dividing the bigger tasks into smaller chunks and working on their implementation. The Agile method emphasizes communication between cross-functional teams and stakeholders. 

Agile also implies frequent feedback gathering and analysis. Rigorous quality control is also an integral part of the Agile model. 

SDLC Big Bang Model

The Big Bang model is an almost informal approach to the SDLC cycle. It ignores any planning or assessment and jumps straight into the coding. Such an approach is more risky than others. However, the model works best if delivery time is critical. 

The Big Bang model can work for you if you wish to experiment or test waters in new markets. 

SDLC DevOps Model

DevOps is a combination of development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams to streamline the delivery of software products. The combined practices require service providers of highly skilled specialists. The main DevOps principles are continuous integration and delivery at the enterprise software development level. These methods help automate the process and streamline management tasks. 

The DevOps model can strain the budget. However, the result is worth the cost. The DevOps SDLC cycle ensures that the product is in a deployable state and can be swiftly modified. 

SDLC Iterative Model

An Iterative model is another representative SDLC cycle. Unlike the Agile model, iterative SDLC does not require continuous customer involvement. Besides, the iterative model has a more defined structure. 

The Iterative model implies iterating the software and making changes between the cycles. Such an approach works well for expanded teams and allows the desired results to be achieved without failing deadlines or breaching the budget. 

SDLC Lean Model

The Lean model is one of the oldest SDLC cycles that has persisted until today. It aims to achieve maximum efficiency in resource management. Unlike Agile, it focuses on the highest possible quality instead of close and consistent communication with the client. 

It also takes a broader than Iterative model approach and improves the overall development process rather than the product itself. Lean is more philosophy than a precise model. As an SDLC model, Lean will ensure the quality of the product and client satisfaction before everything else. 

SDLC Spiral Model

The Spiral model is a combination of Iterative and Waterfall models (this one will be discussed below), taking the best features from both approaches. The model consists of spirals, and each spiral has the following steps: 

• Planning 
• Risk analysis 
• Development 
• Testing

Such an approach allows risk mitigation at the early stage of the project. While being time-consuming, the Spiral model can be a fail-proof net for your project. 

SDLC Waterfall Model

If you are looking for something straightforward and easy to manage – the Waterfall model is your choice. It takes the SDLC structure at face value and follows each step consecutively. The Waterfall model has its risks. It is rigid, and if changes or feedback appear in later stages, it will be hard to implement them. At the same time, the Waterfall model struggles with scalability. 

On the other hand, it can spare the headache of complex management and task delegation. 

Conclusion 

Software development is a complex process that requires structure and precision. The Software Development Lifecycle provides such a structure. In seven steps, a software development team can clearly see goals and meet the client’s requirements. 

Various SDLC models fit different needs and project scopes, and we know how to work with all of them. If you need specialists for custom software solutions, we are ready to answer your call and create a high-quality product. Contact us to discuss your project in detail.

According to Statista, in 2020, there were 6.9 billion mobile users. The number will increase to approximately 7.5 billion in 2025. Businessmen, students, housekeepers, gamers, readers, and sportsmen – everyone will need an app to satisfy their needs, and the demand for mobile app developers is high accordingly. 

Yet, not every app finds its faithful audience. Only the best and highest-quality applications win the competition. Such applications require proficient mobile app development specialists. So, which skills distinguish a professional mobile app developer from a novice in 2024? 

Stick to the article and learn what relevant skills you should look for in a full stack mobile app developer. 

Top Hard Skills for Mobile App Developers 

Hard app developer skills are the backbone of any mobile app development process. They define professional competence and allow developers to bring ideas into working digital solutions. 

The most common hard skills for a mobile app developer are: 

• Proficiency in programming languages for mobile app development (Java, C++, or Kotlin for Android, Swift or Objective-C for iOS, or JavaScript, Dart, or some other that is used for cross-platform development);
• Frontend development skills (SDKs and frameworks knowledge, understanding platform requirements, ensuring compatibility with different devices and OS versions, etc.);
• Backend development skills (database management, performance optimization, ensuring security measures, experience with backend frameworks, etc.);
• User interface (UI) design (including knowing the specifics of Google Material Design and iOS Human Interface Guidelines);
• Knowledge of RESTful APIs;
• Performance optimization and memory management skills;
• Experience in working with version control systems;
• Knowledge of app stores’ and other software development standards (like GDPR, HIPAA, etc.).

Top Soft Skills for Mobile App Developers 

Hard skills are an essential but not the only necessary part of a developer’s competence. Soft application developer skills also play a critical role in CVs as they refer to knowledge and proficiencies related to communication and analytics. Also, they help organize the working process, solve problems, and build communication. When two developers with the same background in hard skills compete with each other, the one with stronger soft skills wins.

Top soft skills for a modern mobile app developer include the following: 

• Problem-solving 
• Team collaboration
• Project management
• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Creativity in app design

Most Important Mobile Developer Skills in 2024

Trends constantly change, but the demand for high-quality mobile applications remains the same. This block will explore the critical mobile app developer skills you should look for in a mobile app developer. 

UI and UX Design

It's all about creating what users see on their screen and how they will interact with it. Usually, specialists follow generally accepted design rules (for example, Nielsen Norman's Heuristics), taking into account the requirements of the specific mobile platform for which development is being carried out. At the same time, native development tools provided by Android and iOS in particular, Jetpack Compose and SwiftUI significantly simplify this task, so experience working with them in the list of the most-wanted mobile developer skills will be highly preferable.

Frontend Development Skills 

If we are talking about native development, the modern software engineer must have good programming skills in Swift for iOS development and Kotlin for Android development. However, some projects may also require knowledge of Objective-C, C++, or Java (for example, those that were developed a long time ago and need support), JavaScript or Dart (for cross-platform projects), or some other languages. Accordingly, the developer must have the necessary experience in frameworks for front-end mobile development, such as React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, SwiftUI, XCode, Android Studio, Native Development Kit, etc.

Backend Development Skills

The visual part of an app ensures the user’s engagement and experience with the app. The backend component is where the magic happens. A proficient back-end developer should know how to implement desired logic and manage the app’s inner data efficiently. A list of programming languages expands to Java, C#, Ruby, and Python, which are some of the most popular for backend development. Besides, a good backend developer should know how to work with mobile databases via SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. Backend development also includes knowledge of API integration, which streamlines data exchange between an app's frontend and backend components. 

User Security 

Data safety and user authentication deserve additional attention. Knowledge of safe coding principles and best practices (i.e., using data encryption protocols, following the OWASP standard, and so on) is a marker of a skilled mobile app developer. Mobile developers must also have skills in conducting static application security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST). 

Knowledge of Mobile Platform Guidelines 

Due to the influx of applications to app stores, moderation has become stricter. Knowledge of the marketplace’s guidelines increases the chances of an app’s success. Actually, that’s why the list of iOS developer skills should include the knowledge of Human Interface Guidelines. He or she also should be familiar with Material Design guidelines for Android development. Knowledge of the review process should also be part of the developer’s competence. 

Mobile App Developer Skills by Experience Level 

The job market of mobile developers is versatile and can offer different levels of qualification. That’s why, if you are looking for a mobile app developer, you should also take into account a potential developer's performance. 

Junior-Level Mobile Developers 

Junior mobile app programmers are prospective specialists with no more than 2 years of experience. At this level, a specialist should be familiar with: 

• UI/UX design principles 
• Programming languages for mobile app development 
• Mobile app development frameworks 
• Version control systems and databases

It is important to understand that hiring a junior does not mean that you will have to supervise the entire project to get a good result in the end. These specialists can easily be entrusted with simple tasks (which will save you from overpaying for specialists with higher qualifications), up to 50% scope of work. 

Middle-Level Developers 

These are specialists with 3-5 years of experience. A middle-level developer's main focus is learning how to scale an application and ensure its security and operational stability. The following mobile application developer skills needed to reach mid-level app development proficiency are essential:

• Specifics of integration with third-party services and APIs
• Cross-platform adaptation
• Knowledge of the best security practices
• Asynchronous and multithreading programming
• Knowledge of popular architectural patterns like MVVM, MVC, MVP, etc

Vital Skills for Senior-Level Developers 

Senior developers usually have 5+ years of experience and lead development teams. They take on the most challenging and responsible tasks within a project and know how to solve them in the simplest way. Also, they can be experts in certain technologies, like AI, IoT, augmented reality, etc. Actually, here's why the knowledge of blockchain in mobile apps can be required for them. 

Senior developers help the rest of the team with ongoing tasks and can take on some managerial duties. Therefore, the CV of a senior mobile app developer would benefit from the following soft skills:

• Leadership
• Interpersonal communication
• Teamwork
• Time management

Most Underrated Skills for Mobile App Developers 

Technical prowess is paramount for cross-platform app development. Still, certain skills are often overlooked when hiring a mobile development specialist. 

Critical Thinking 

Critical thinking is a cornerstone of every other mobile developer skill. It lies in the base of problem-solving, code optimization, and debugging. A critical approach is the ability to remain flexible and tackle challenges from unexpected angles. 

It is hard to measure critical thinking in hard numbers. Yet, even a junior developer with strong critical thinking and analytical skills can greatly benefit a team. 

Creativity 

Creativity is an elusive but vital skill for a mobile developer. Successful applications become popular not only because of flawless technical execution. They innovate and solve users’ needs like nothing else. From AI in mobile apps to IoT integration, there are numerous ways in which new technological advancements can be used in mobile app development. 

There are numerous tasks that mobile apps can solve and help people with their everyday lives. A mobile developer's ability to be creative, innovate, and find what can be optimized is valuable at any professional level. 

Learning and Adaptability 

Constant technological advancement requires professional developers to update their skills. They should familiarize themselves with new technologies. Even senior developers have to keep up with the market evolution. 

If a developer has an open mind and is ready to learn new methods and software, they will be a valuable asset to your project. 

Conclusion 

A professional mobile developer combines several important skills. He or she knows both the backend and frontend aspects of mobile app development. They also know the programming languages and tools to implement app ideas in the most cost- and time-efficient way. Most importantly, a mobile app developer keeps an open mind. They think creatively and approach problems from unusual angles. Darly Solutions is ready to assist with your project if you need such professionals. Contact our dedicated team to learn more details.

Most likely you have used these digital tools at least once – Google Docs, Dropbox, and Azure. They are based on the SaaS model. Apart from this widespread one, there are other variations of cloud application services, such as PaaS and IaaS. You will find out about their differences in this article, so keep on reading it. ‍

IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS: Pillars of Cloud Services at a Glance

The highlighted models – IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS – are aimed at delivering digital tools and services to end users through the cloud on the subscription basis.

According to each aforementioned cloud model, end users don't have to pay for these services and tools one time – instead, as they are owned and supported by a specific vendor, the users are provided with entry credentials as they pay for a subscription. Only a steady web connection is needed to start using such a cloud application. At the same time, entire maintenance efforts in terms of cloud services remain on the provider's side. Even more, users are allowed to optimize their own facilities by offloading apps. Thus, they get more space while specific info is stored remotely on a secured server. 

Let's take a deep look at each of these variations:

• IaaS – stands for Infrastructure as a Service and implies access to demand compute, storage, and networking resources, according to the pay-as-you-go pricing model. In this case, we speak about the IT infrastructure used to arrange the operation of diverse tools and regular processes in the remote, end-user’s office outside the vendor’s premises. 
• SaaS – means Software as a Service and supposes that the cloud-based software vendor deploys it on its computing premises, supports it, and provides users with access to it as a ready-made web service. 
• PaaS – stands for Platform as a Service and consists of providing end users with a ready-to-use cloud platform for developing, testing, and deploying their own applications, from simple cloud services to end-to-end industrial systems.

Let's check these cloud service models in more detail.

IaaS Is about Infrastructure

When the IaaS access option is requested, users get numerous facilities –  servers, storage capacities, as well as network options, among others, –  to leverage them as if those could be available physically within their own premises. Overall, the IaaS meaning lies in ensuring steady connection between the end users and IT facilities; the latter ones are located in remote spots.

SaaS Is about Services

This is the most sought-after offer that supposes using apps that are hosted remotely. Based on individual credentials, end users obtain access to such tools to cope with regular personal or business tasks. In return, they pay a predefined price for a timeframe of leveraging SaaS (usually, this is one year or one month). Thus, SaaS meaning is to guarantee straightforward access to specific software under remote and subscription terms.

PaaS Is about a Platform 

It is a remote, cloud-hosted, platform aiming to produce, leverage, and support the operation of diverse apps. The facility holder owns all types of assets that guarantee steady operation. This is an all-in-one option comprising apps, systems, storage facilities, frameworks, functions, safety arrangements and protocols, backup copies, etc. PaaS meaning lies in forming a remote space where users can create, test, and run applications with specific functionality. For an oblivious reason, the PaaS variation is far cheaper in contrast when a user ensures all similar arrangements independently.

Public vs Private Cloud

But what about public vs private cloud – which of these options does each of the above models provide? A private option is entirely controlled by a single service provider without sharing the facilities with others. A public counterpart is offered to an unlimited number of external subjects who only intend to utilize specific offers. Most of the cloud providers are categorized as ones belonging to the second type.

But are there any intermediary options? Yes, there are hybrid cloud solutions, too, that are created and maintained on the so-called “edge” locations, i.e., thanks to both private and public facilities. 

SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS: Distinct Features to Know

Each approach from the SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS trio is associated with distinct peculiarities. We will look at them from the user’s perspective:

Choosing the Right Model for Your Case

When the story comes to making a choice, there are numerous pitfalls to take into account:

Bottom Line 

Leveraging software as a service is an efficient approach. It frees the assets owned by an end user and reduces one's expenses drastically. The single point is to have a clear overview of the project for which you request these external services. Therefore, you have to make a perfect match by saving this info with the comparison of sought-after models. 

If you require further assistance in selecting personalized solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team possesses a vast portfolio that includes cases of bringing multiple IT solutions of different complexity into life. Just share with us your individual preferences and requirements, and get a custom solution in return.

You've probably experienced some inconveniences while navigating any web or mobile app, and this irritated you a lot, especially, when you were limited on time, right? A similar situation may occur to your app’s or website’s users if your development team makes these most popular mistakes.

Case #1 — Skipping User Profile

If you are aiming at crafting a truly bad UI design, don’t even try to figure out who your target audience is. And vice versa, if you wish to produce a good outcome, do make sure you have ascertained the user's preferences, needs, and the so-called “pain points”. If you address the customer's headache to the point, you will get positive feedback in return.

Consequences you should avoid:

• poor designs that may fail to address the expectations and encourage people to switch to another website or app;
• time wasted by users because they were unable to meet their needs through your solution.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• in-depth customer research, including interviews;
• creation of user personas;
• regular usability checks and testing (both alpha and beta) to make sure each element and user flow is as convenient as possible.

Case #2 – Complex, Complex, and a Bit More Complicated

There is a reverse effect, too. When developers strive to incorporate as many features as possible, especially the advanced ones, in the end, they may build bad interfaces.

Consequences to avoid:

• disorientation – the user may wander from feature to feature;
• lots of time needed for app/website onboarding and achieving an “expert” navigation level;
• low conversion rates.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• simplicity is above all, especially in terms of hierarchy design;
• templates must be consistent, so make interactive elements and the overall navigation coherent.

Case #3 – Ignoring Accessibility

Ensure that your app is easy to use by everyone, including people with disabilities.

Consequences to avoid:

• ethical and legal issues – non-compliance with the basic norms may lead to fines and blocking of the application/web resource;
• users with disabilities are excluded from the pool of the target audience;
• forming a negative brand appearance.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• adhere to the generally-accepted norms and best practices (you can find them in the WCAG 2.0 guidelines);
• utilize semantic markup;
• test your solution thoroughly before its launch.

Case #4 – Mobile Apps Appear in a Ban

As people use smartphones and tablets throughout the day, ignoring the peculiarities of mobile app development may become a catastrophic mistake.

Consequences to avoid:

• it is easy to lose a significant part of your potential users in a few seconds, as soon as they find out there is no mobile app on app stores;
• lower audience engagement score;
• poor navigation experience.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• develop a flexible UI/UX design that operates smoothly on multiple screen sizes;
• adopt a mobile-first design approach;
• test an app on devices with different form-factors.

Case #5 – Forgetting about the Balance between Appearance and Functionality

It is more than bad if you compromise one of these aspects. In fact, your app should solve the users’ tasks and be beautiful at the same time.

Consequences you have to avoid:

• building a reputation of a brand with “that poor design and bad user interface”;
• frustrated customers who like some aspects and hate other ones.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• prioritize functionality over appearance a bit – emphasize responsive designs;
• make sure these two aspects are coherent.

Case #6 – Following the Trends Blindly

There may be many trends. Still, be mindful when using them and pick only those that are coordinated with your solution’s concept.

Consequences to avoid:

• making your app too flashy;
• creating a solution that is similar or even identical to another one, especially a very popular one.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• develop your own personalized interaction design and follow it;
• be mindful and balanced when following some mobile design trends;
• avoid copyright issues – this is actually one of the most severe UI problems.

Case #7 – Overloading Users with Lots of Irrelevant Info

Trying to provide as many details as possible may sometimes have an adverse effect.

Consequences you should avoid:

• breaking your users’ minds with the irrelevant and unnecessary information;
• confusion because of numerous conflicts between the datasets;
• mistakes in the descriptions and other blocks of information.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• ensure there is a visual hierarchy between the separate information blocks;
• make sure it contrasts the rest of the space well;
• include relevant information solely;
• keep it brief, polite, and to the point.

Case #8 – Misleading Customers with Numerous Buttons and Links

Any excessive features will only worsen the overall impression a customer may have. Make sure you double-check that when the story comes to buttons and redirects. Keeping all the things as simple as possible is among the primary usability principles.

Consequences to avoid:

• including too many links and buttons, among other duplicating ones;
• providing irrelevant links.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• limit the number of redirects and buttons.

Case #9 – Pop-ups Bombarding

It is difficult to find something more irritating than pop-ups. When a developer foresees dozens of such features appearing once a user accesses an app, the situation turns into a nightmare.

Consequences to avoid:

• confusing users with unnecessary information and features;
• making them leave.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• be mindful about adding pop-ups – make sure they look well, and their number is not excessive;
• avoid those pop-ups that are difficult to close once they appear – let your users decide, they will be grateful only.

Case #10 – Avoid Any Upgrades and Optimization

If your customers are experiencing any interface issues, and you, as a service provider, prefer not to notice their complaints and respond to them, that is the right way to a failure. The issue is especially urgent if the interface is slow and lacks responsiveness. 

Consequences to avoid:

• you leave your customers dissatisfied and make them switch to using a more user-friendly alternative;
• lower conversion rates.

Solutions to fix the problem:

• regularity test and fix UI issues as they appear;
• optimize features and images to make them load smoothly.

Bottom Line

The 10 most widespread mistakes listed in this article commonly adverse the overall user navigation and even make clients leave. Save this article to check the things to refrain from. If you would like to request proficient help with fixing these UI design mistakes and other possible drawbacks, get in touch with us. Our developers are keen on excelling in designs and functionality, so they will elaborate on truly effective solutions for your product. 

Digitalization fosters the development of all sectors of the economy, making them simpler and more responsive to people's needs. If previously customers and services interacted mostly in person, spending a significant amount of time on each side, now it is possible to shorten the distance to effective solutions. AI developments make it possible to solve typical problems quickly and effectively. In fact, only complicated and non-standard issues are left for a support department.

Many users and business owners are still a bit skeptical about AI developments. In this overview, we will cover the widespread and effectual AI instruments that can strengthen engagement shortly, provided that they are arranged properly. Let's take a deeper look at how two of the most popular AI instruments function. In addition, we will also cover why the apps fit nearly any commercial enterprise. It is definitely now already – the future belongs to them as well.

What is a Chatbot?

This is a specialized software app designated with the purpose of ascertaining the intent of a person's message and picking the most relevant answer in return. Thanks to the conversational interface, chatbot analyzes any input provided by a visitor and highlights the core phrases that mark the user's intent. If you have doubts about whether this is possible to make accurately, there is a simple point here. Statistics and analytics help to shortlist the most common requests and elaborate on the responses to the point. This is the basic original approach. 

The further tech development enabled the creation of a separate AI enabled chatbot system. It is trained on extensive volumes of data and implements machine learning (ML). The latter allows these apps to “brainstorm” an extended range of non-scripted, organic replies to the requests that visitors input. This advancement is coherent with other hardware and apps that a company utilizes.

What Is Conversational AI?

A conversational AI is actually a comprehensive development that includes chatbots too. This means that it covers text and voice altogether. A conversational bot is frequently treated as an upgraded version of a classical textbot.

In addition to ML, conversational AI has implemented natural language processing (NLP). It helps the tools to figure out the viewer's intent correctly and proceed with a deep interaction, respectively. The core advantage of integrating conversational AI is the possibility to emphasize and expand maximally the essence of the message conveyed. That is a point that classical chatbots fail to deliver under any terms. If a company devotes extra resources to enhancing its AI instruments, the latter operates maximally close to human behavior.

Overall, the classification of types of conversational AI fully illustrates the highlighted points:

• AI textbots – handle a textual conversation with the visitors;
• Voice assistants – more intelligent dialog that stands on a spoken language procession;
• Virtual assistants – all-inclusive support with resolving multiple assignments, with an emphasis on textual and voice inputs jointly.

Chatbots (CB) vs Conversational AI (CAI): Brief Comparison

While exploring the nature of the said technological upgrades, it is worth noting that there are far more differences between them that do not lie on the surface.

A classical chatbot and a conversational bot pursue the common aim of optimization and, therefore, guarantee a positive effect on dealing with the website viewers. However, an AI voice bot upgrades the overall communication with the visitors since it adds a voice in addition to the textual support. Therefore, the second one guarantees extra positive outcomes, unlike typical chatbot apps.

Why Choose Conversational AI Over Traditional Chatbots

On balance, a conversational AI-based bot obviously can guarantee extra positive outcomes compared to classical tools, including:

• Better engagement in the communication with the visitors – classical textbots will fail to show the answers outside the scope of the databases of replies; CAI will proceed and succeed with addressing all the inquiries; in other words – CB is rigid while CAI possesses more flexible algorithms.
• Contextual analysis – CB will fail to do this again limiting its effort to the intent only, CAI will cover both equally well. The latter tool delivers customized replies.
• Multitasking – typically, users input several issues to solve and want to know everything at once. Under such terms, CB will recognize one intent only, typically, the first one, but it fails to do so with the rest of the issues. On the other side, CAI will analyze and reply to all the intents that a user indicated in one's message, attributed to the essence of what has been communicated. 
• Scalability – CB is not integrated with the remainder of the tools that a company uses, therefore, they may operate a bit haphazardly. On the other side, CAI is more integrated into the entire IT architecture that a company has built. In addition, it is possible to assess CAI's performance results more precisely.

There is also one scalable and impressive outcome – it is estimated that chatbot conversation apps have facilitated getting the retail sector extra $12 billion in 2023.

Which Solution Suits Your Business Best

It is not likely possible to craft a one-fits-all conversational chatbot solution since, in this case, we survey a very flexible technology. Indeed, it can be modified, highlighting the goals and tastes that a business communicates. This tool can truly address effectively all the challenges that a service provider may face while interacting with its customers. 

Overall, there are several filters to apply when building an AI solution tailored to your actual needs:

• Commercial plans – typically, AI solutions are requested when it is necessary to (i) upgrade the current level of user happiness, or (ii) enter a new level of operation. AI developers address each case individually to make the tech solutions 100% workable as owners think this fits best. 
• Nature of dealings with the visitors and clients – pre-evaluation of the client database and preceding dealings are always made before integrating tech solutions. To this end, it is worth noting that for standard requests and straightforward dialogs with visitors, textbots may suffice. Variable and compound dialogs will demand conversational AI, of course. 
• Viewer's profile – a target audience should be assessed precisely in this course. Nuanced and contextual dialog is very important for better user satisfaction. 
• Budget – it is crucial to find a balance between the funds needed and the earnings AI tech solutions promise to bring.
• Measurable outputs – textbots are rough to measure the effect of their performance on a business. Conversational AI solutions succeed in turning the statistics into gains, which are scalable, of course.

Closing Line

Almost any instrument can be both helpful and irritating. The way the work is arranged always affects the AI's performance and results. If this is done well, AI chatbots and conversational AI can work wonders and make your visitors love you.

Merely brainstorm ideas; perhaps they may even inspire the next developments within the IT sector, ensuring the next upgrade of user engagement. We are ready to ease your life if you find that a bit complicated. Our vast expertise and impressive portfolio enable us to elaborate on and bring to life even the most extraordinary solutions that perfectly align with a business's nature and purpose. Contact us, and we will offer some truly fitting ideas for your business to help it grow further.

The healthcare industry is an area that strongly needs innovations at all times. Diseases constantly evolve, and the care methods should go one step ahead. Infrastructure in healthcare and streamlined communication are not the last points in fostering positive swifts in this industry. These two elements, in conjunction, create favorable conditions for bringing innovations or merely positive changes. The more automation and advancements are introduced, the more effort can be devoted to curing and preventing diseases. That is why the Medical Internet of Things is so emphasized nowadays. Its role is impossible to overestimate, indeed.

Essence and Aim of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

IoMT stands for a tech advancement that envisages the mutual coordination of various elements inside the health system, such as medtools, apps, and other arrays that facilitate steady and ongoing data circulation. The pillar objective of the IoMT is to foster and ease the non-stop collection, handling, transmitting, and sharing of the medinfo among the interested subjects. Most typically the latter ones are state authorities, hospitals, and other members of the healthcare industry. 

Among the main deliverables that IoMT ensures are multiple options to track and manage the state of patients on a real-time basis. It also makes possible timely cure and disease prevention. Variable IoMT devices are already utilized for these purposes – health monitors, intelligent implants, remote diagnostic tools, and patient tracking systems, to mention a few.

How IoMT Works at a Glance

This tech approach is aimed at connecting multiple physical devices, including sensors and implants, through the Internet networks, most typically Wi-Fi. This endeavor is accomplished in order to grasp and transfer the most up-to-date info regarding the patient’s state. 

IoMT also makes it feasible to collect a large scope of data and ascertain the outcomes of treatment as well as the tendencies of disease evolution. At a glance, the said technology is about multiple devices, software, informational systems, algorithms, and storage facilities. All of these elements are related to each other instantaneously and deliver error-free info about the things that fall under the survey. 

Based on that info, medical personnel and other interested subjects highlight measures that have to be taken for the effectual care of the patients. IoMT is also in charge of elaborating on the list of actions that are needed to be accomplished to prevent similar cases from appearing in the future. Any information obtained during such an operation is extremely valuable and derives numerous benefits. 

Benefits of IoMT

This tech advancement is definitely under the stage of its next development and upgrade. Therefore, the number of benefits may be higher in the short-term perspective. As of now, it is proven that IoMT guarantees these positive swifts across the industry:

• Bolstered efficacy of performance within a healthcare institution – the work of the medical personnel becomes more effective and coherent enabling quick decision-making which is especially crucial in emergency cases. 
• Better and easier identification, including across multiple institutions – people don't need to input the same data many times. Once they have done that, it is transmitted through the internal channels of communication between the medinstitutions.
• Enhanced surveyance – IoMT software ensures timely and correct treatment as well as further post-medical support. The info is collected and processed steadily allowing the interested parties to make relevant conclusions regarding the efficacy of the chosen methods.
• Tackling diseases – collecting the info regarding the reasons why patients suffer from certain diseases enables scientists to elaborate on findings that are very precious for disease prevention. Most typically this is made by eliminating the conditions for such diseases to occur. 

IoMT issues and challenges

On balance, the adoption of the considered tech advancement is associated with specific threats and risks:

• Coherent interaction of various medsystems – frequently, such medsystems have multiple peculiarities of operation since different independent producers develop them. Making all the integrated systems not only joint but also coherent may be quite challenging sometimes.
• Effective information management – this covers clinical data monitoring, storage, and processing. The outputs have to be accurate, relevant, and up-to-date.
• Secure data handling – since the info processed is very sensitive in nature, it requires more advanced measures to be implemented. Fairly saying, this type of data is very nourishing for cybercriminals. Still, encryption and specialized IoMT security software can substantially decrease, even eliminate at all, the risk of data leaks. The goal of ensuring robust data protection is required not from the ethical perspective solely – this is also a compulsory rule among the norms applicable within the industry.
• Alignment with the regulatory standards – the applicable legal rules are quite strict, taking into account the essence of services. To this end, a failure to comply with such often leads to severe fines and other sanctions, up to the liquidation of a medical institution. In addition, the applicable regulatory framework is frequently updated, resulting in the need to take other measures allowing to remain compliant.

What Prospects Does the IoMT Have?

IoMT in healthcare definitely opens wider perspectives, among others, thanks to the following tech advancements:

• AI&ML implementation – these two elements are equally good at bolstering analytics and personal care approaches. This can be achieved through automation in decision-making. Most common cases will not require excessive time to ensure correct treatment – these technological advancements, like AI platform for clinical diagnostics, will handle them quickly, efficiently, and at lower costs.
• Bolstering the quality of wearables and implants – upgraded serviceability and preciseness will deliver more faultless data regarding the patient’s state, particularly one’s life parameters. The advancement will also enable quick and more productive feedback in response to possible changes, especially adverse ones.
• Automated internal arrangements – monitoring the inventory and machines plays a pivotal role in ensuring the straightforward operation of any medinstitution. The less time medical personnel devote to routine assignments, the more time caregivers have for their visitors. Even more, optimized internal flows reduce associated costs drastically as well. The quality of medservices is not sacrificed but boosted under such terms.
• Utilizing big data benefits – IoMT ensures the effective and timely handling of large volumes of medical information for multiple purposes: tendencies, patterns, typical treatment outcomes, opportunities for innovations, etc.
• Quality and upgraded involvement methods – future IoMT will facilitate far more effectual involvement of patients and their awareness of the medcare applied. Informing, consent giving, and providing the updates will be made automatically and faultlessly, preventing any unreasonable delays or discrepancies.
• Effectual dealing across the healthcare sector and the remainder of the sectors concerned – IoMT architecture opens another room for diverse independent service providers, financial institutions, and state authorities to interact and exchange data with each other swiftly and straightforwardly. As a consequence, the interested subjects can drastically bolster their performance and the speed of decision-making.

Conclusion

The Internet of Things medical application is a powerful tool on the way to ensuring top-rated services within the industry and effective disease prevention in the future. It already offers multiple benefits, such as on-time and effective performance, multifunctional diagnostics, disease treatment and prevention, cost-effective operation, and, finally, more accurate forecasts. This tech advancement will undoubtedly bring even more opportunities in the short term since it is evolving steadily. 

So, it was definitely a wise decision to incorporate such tech upgrades in a business yesterday. Now, they have already become compulsory things to have in possession. Our company is a reliable service provider experienced in custom medical software development. We will facilitate you to take the next step ahead by rendering top-notch services swiftly and at a reasonable cost. Enjoy the condensed expertise gained through the years.

In recent years, healthcare IT outsourcing has become a top solution for healthcare organizations in the United States, and even in 2024, it still holds positions. Actually, the U.S. healthcare IT services market was worth $11.44 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $52.59 billion by 2033. This occurrence continues to grow because of the huge demand for solutions like Electronic Health Records (EHRs), telemedicine, healthcare data analytics, cloud computing solutions, AI-driven diagnostic tools, etc. It is essential for healthcare organizations of different sizes and types, like clinics, labs, fresh startups, and medtech companies that develop hardware. 

Outsourcing helps organizations to allocate their resources more efficiently and enables them to invest in other critical areas such as patient care and service expansion. It also helps them avoid any issues connected with strict regulations, because outsourcing companies have expertise in building secure systems for data protection and privacy, so they stay updated with upcoming changes, and implement necessary updates to maintain compliance. 

Generally, healthcare organizations in the USA often rely on IT outsourcing for solutions such as:

• secure hospital management systems;
• telemedicine platforms;
• medical billing software;
• data analytics tools;
• remote patient monitoring;
• mHealth apps;
• system integrations;
• secure cloud storage for sensitive data.

As the healthcare industry evolves, the necessity for improvement and expansion of IT services grows. This is where web and mobile app development, quality assurance testing, software development, and UI/UX design help meet this demand and improve patient care. 

Moreover, AI is being integrated into healthcare technologies, providing advanced predictive analytics and automation. This means providers can streamline administrative tasks and improve patient outcomes. 

It is more effective to combine the integration of technology and design simultaneously, so when a company handles both development and UI/UX design, it ensures smooth collaboration between teams, helps to detect early issues and reduce the risk of rework or delays. This approach keeps the project on track, improves cost efficiency by minimizing operational expenses, and provides flexibility for adjustments based on client needs. Plus, it helps to match the final product with the original design vision.

If you are looking for outsourcing companies, we suggest you take a look at the top 10 IT outsourcing companies in the USA, with a wide selection of services that focus on healthcare organizations.

Top 10 healthcare IT outsourcing companies in the USA

1. Darly Solutions

Darly Solutions stands out in healthcare IT outsourcing because our full-cycle approach covers everything from UI/UX design to software development and quality assurance. Darly Solutions supports a wide range of healthcare providers, from medical startups to SMEs, including clinics, labs, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and diagnostic centers. Additionally, we provide software for medical hardware, such as CT scanners, mammography machines and other diagnostic equipment. 

Our company ensures smooth communication between teams and fast project delivery. We can create reliable healthcare solutions such as EHR/EMR, telemedicine platforms, mHealth apps, SaMD, medical billing software, custom MVP solutions, AI-powered healthcare tools, patient portals, hospital management systems, and more. 

Our ability to combine development and UI/UX design reduces project costs and speeds up delivery timelines. We also offer mobile app development for both medical professionals and patients so that you can enjoy your experience across iOS and Android platforms, too. 

Moreover, we provide project management services such as managing remote teams, overseeing software development, and more to help healthcare providers maintain a seamless development process. 

We guarantee high quality, innovative IT solutions, and reliable cooperation by providing a full range of services for the healthcare sector.‍

2. Lifepoint

With years of experience in the industry, Lifepoint offers healthcare software development services that improve the efficiency of medical operations. Their expertise covers areas like cloud-based systems, data management, and healthcare compliance solutions, which help healthcare organizations monitor processes while maintaining high standards of patient care. Lifepoint's technology ensures seamless integration across multiple platforms, which can help clients boost outreach and guarantee regulatory compliance.

3. Bitcot

Bitcot offers a range of healthcare software development services. They specialize in AI and automation to streamline data management and predictive analytics. Moreover, the company provides consulting and strategy services, they guide clients through technology choices and implementation plans ensuring compliance and security of all healthcare needs. Their system integration services unify disparate systems, while legacy software modernization improves performance and security. 

4. Binariks

Binariks provides healthcare software development services and offers custom solutions like telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and cloud-based infrastructure. They focus on developing SaMD and hospital management systems, as well as EHR/EMR and CDMS software. Binariks also builds healthcare insurance solutions, automating interactions between insurers, healthcare providers, and governments.

5. Ntiva

Ntiva offers healthcare IT services that help healthcare providers meet regulatory requirements like HIPAA compliance. They ensure secure, compliant IT solutions and thoroughly understand best healthcare industry practices. Ntiva also improves multi-location workflows by consolidating systems for secure, centralized access across multiple offices. Additionally, they offer data backup and recovery services to protect patient information and maintain business continuity.

6. Scopic

Scopic is a healthcare software development company that has over 16 years of experience. They offer custom solutions for the healthcare industry and use an 8-step workflow to deliver their projects. The process starts with gathering project requirements through a free consultation, then they analyze, make a detailed planning, and go through execution, testing, deployment, and ongoing support. They also offer digital marketing services to improve outreach in the healthcare sector.

7. Glorium Technologies

Glorium Technologies suggests healthcare software development services and focuses on mHealth applications, mental health and meditation app development, medical device software, and IoT healthcare solutions. Their expertise supports healthcare providers in creating digital health tools to improve wellness and streamline medical device functionality. 

8. Interexy

Interexy develops healthcare mobile apps for medical professionals and patients. Their solutions integrate seamlessly into the broader healthcare ecosystem and work with pharmacies, prescription systems, and EHR mechanisms. Interexy delivers custom app development to improve homecare and medical services.

9. Velvetech

Velvetech supports a huge list of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmaceutical companies. Also, they help medical device manufacturers, biotech, and life science companies accelerate product delivery through innovative software and hardware solutions. For diagnostic centers and medical research, Velvetech offers tools to streamline data management and research efforts. They also provide IT solutions for dental providers and medical education centers. 

10. Enterbridge

EnterBridge offers solutions for custom healthcare software development, like Robotic Process Automation (RPA), to automate manual tasks and reduce human error. They also provide tools for mobile workforces, particularly for in-home care, and enable seamless connectivity and centralized data access for better patient care.

Conclusion

When you choose an IT company for outsourcing, we recommend to focus on service providers that offer flexibility, quick delivery, seamless integration, and full-cycle development.

If you need a reliable IT partner for healthcare software development, contact Darly Solutions and get solutions that meet your business needs.

‍

IT outsourcing has established itself as a usual part of operation for many companies worldwide. It delivers multiple benefits. These are optimization, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and, of course, access to special-purpose knowledge and skills. At the same time, choosing a service provider is far from easy, even if you resort to the help of outsourcing management software. That’s why we decided to shortlist the best IT outsourcing countries and cover the possible pros and cons of each option.

Key Industries That Outsource IT Processes in 2024

Nowadays, a business that drives innovations or simply wants to grow faster opts for external IT services. They help to reach the goals set faster. In this context, outsourcing software development for startups is worthy to highlight since proficient IT services facilitate bringing innovative ideas into reality. Overall, in 2024, IT services were widely requested by the entities operating in the following sectors:

• Fintech – fintech software outsourcing helps to elaborate on effective solutions for users’ payments and transaction monitoring. Professional IT services enable many existing entities and startups to be well-informed about the latest developments. 
• Healthcare – bolstering the remote interaction between hospitals and patients benefits the industry a lot. For example, healthcare software outsourcing can contribute to remote patient monitoring, predictive analysis, diagnostics, nanomedicine, and so on.
• Telecommunications – the primary point for applying IT advancements is to boost the speed of connection, ensure the network's resilience, facilitate data processing and storage, as well as implement effective billing.
• Cybersecurity – third-party experts can respond to emerging threats and help to smoothly address the existing ones. Advanced IT algorithms they implement help to detect fraudulent transactions and prevent customers from losing their money.
• Education – advanced IT algorithms are now widespread across many universities worldwide. The latter can arrange steady and effective remote interaction with their students. 

Checklist on How to Choose a Country to Outsource Software Development 

Having plenty of IT outsourcing services offers to choose from is surely good. Where competition is intense, the quality is always good. At the same, the prices are balanced under such conditions. On the other side, choosing among multiple offers is a bit time-consuming. The below criteria will help you to sort all the available options out faster:

• Quality is a primary aspect to take into account. Cheaper never means better. In fact, it may turn out that low-quality products may take even more funds, especially, when it comes to corrections. However, the complexity of the task should be kept in focus as well. For more complicated assignments, the quality of outputs has to be superb.
• Tech education – the specialist you would like to assign should have sufficient tech background and skills. Emphasize whether a provider draws attention to the ongoing training. In addition, true IT experts should be ready to address the specifics of your projects effectively as well. Therefore, take time to discuss this aspect in advance.
• Cultural aspects – this nuance is often underestimated, however, it plays a great role. There are jurisdictions that are closer to the Western standards. However, some states are more keen on preserving their local specifics. Make sure you understand it well while being on the shore.
• Timezone – the perfect option in this case is nearshore software outsourcing. When your state is adjacent to the neighboring one where you decide to hire developers, it is always possible to arrange a closer collaboration. If you consider developers from the other part of the globe, make sure you have at least 3-4 hours of overlap.
• English proficiency – price and quality can mean nothing if there is a significant language barrier. While choosing your service provider, ensure developers have sufficient English level. Upper-Intermediate will work well for projects that do not require your constant supervision. However, more complicated ventures, especially innovative ones, will definitely require a more advanced level. 

10 Best Countries to Outsource Software Development

There is a list of 10 top technology countries where you will be able to find the best IT experts:

1. Ukraine

This country is a worthy place to hire developers. The reason is simple. It ensures price-quality balance without sacrificing the latter by any means. The state has a truly impressive pool of skillful workforce. Even more, lots of local talents are spread across the globe. 

The rates are much lower than in the vast majority of the European jurisdictions. Such prices are determined by the affordable costs of living in Ukraine. At the same time, the local talents improve their level of education regularly. Also, they fully immerse themselves in the Western approaches. That's why the quality of their products is bolstered steadily. These endeavors make Ukraine probably the best option for software development outsourcing in Eastern Europe. 

Although there is a huge time gap with the USA and Canada, local developers are also flexible at this point. Many of them are often ready to tighten their work to another time zone. The level of English is well here, both written and spoken.

If you need to hire someone who can elaborate on innovative tech solutions, you can find the right professional here as well – Ukrainians are capable of thinking outside the box. 

Ukraine fosters advancements and investments in this industry. There is even a separate Ministry of Digital Transformation in charge of ensuring a favorable landscape. Ukrainian specialists are also aware of and apply Western and European standards, including GDPR.

Hourly rates: $20-55

2. Poland

This is the EU location that ensures optimal price-quality balance. The rates are slightly higher compared to Ukraine since living in Poland is much more expensive. 

In this country, the greater emphasis has been placed not on state regulation but on market self-regulation. Here, you can find probably the largest software outsourcing companies in Europe. The scope of available services is comprehensive. English proficiency is very decent here, both written and spoken. This country also facilitates tech education. 

Poland is a definitely great option for bringing large IT projects to life, where a level of complexity is above the average. On the contrary, this country is not too keen on promoting innovations. It adopts those that come from other European or North American states. However, the culture and approaches to doing business in Poland are Western overall.

Hourly rates: $35-55

3. Bulgaria

This is another European country that is a good destination for IT outsourcing. Bulgaria has gained a reputation as a reliable IT hub with a highly skilled workforce. In this jurisdiction, a special emphasis is placed on robust IT education and ongoing training. 

The local professionals provide a comprehensive set of IT services. Bulgarian IT professionals can ensure the quality of the products at a good level. The prices of their services are even a bit higher than in Poland. 

The level of English is sufficient for communicating with foreign partners. Bulgarian IT specialists have a mindset focused on Western standards and problem-solving. The local timezone greatly overlaps with the USA and Canada, for instance.

Hourly rates: $40-90

4. Switzerland 

This country is famous for its professionalism. Local specialists excel in most spheres, including IT. Due the standards of living are more than high here, this determines the high costs of outsourcing software development, including high salaries for developers.

Switzerland has an extremely favorable legal and regulatory landscape. It greatly fosters innovations and high-performance standards.  Switzerland may also be characterized as a calm place with political stability and democracy.

The English level is extremely high, both written and spoken. Ensuring worldwide collaboration is easy here since the time zones with the USA and Canada greatly overlap.

Hourly rates: $100+

5. China 

Dealing with Chinese developers is both an opportunity and a challenge. On the one hand, this country ensures a high level of tech education and training. At some points, this education is considered to be among the best ones in the world. Following the Confucian lifestyle, local people are very hardworking and dedicated. Hiring Chinese developers is a good option from the point of pricing. 

On the other side, there are too severe cultural differences. This makes it difficult to deal with the Chinese developers at many points. Another drawback is the time difference. Arranging real-time collaboration with local specialists can be challenging. Finally, the level of English is a bit below the average level. This is probably the main obstacle on the way to the sufficient integration of Western standards in the Chinese IT industry.

Hourly rates: $35-75 

6. Philippines

This is probably one of the fastest-growing IT outsourcing markets. The IT sector is one of the most developed in this country. However, the rates for the IT services are reasonable. That is mostly because of the affordable living costs that characterize this jurisdiction. The scope of services is diverse here.

Speaking about the collaboration, it is generally easy to implement. English is the official language in the Philippines. Local IT specialists have excellent knowledge of IT terminology common to the Western world. This country also had a long history of dealing with the USA. This enabled it to absorb American business standards immersively. Finally, time zone differences are slight. 

Hourly rates: $20-60

7. Colombia

If you are interested in outsourcing to low cost countries, Columbia may be the right choice. In general, this is a growing market. The rates are below the average ones in the market. But it happens that the quality of services can be decent. 

At many points, it implements and shares the standards common for the North American states. It is also convenient to work with locals since the time zones of the USA and Canada are very close. Still, the level of English should be better for more effective communication.

Hourly rates: $30-50

8. Mexico 

Mexico is not a widely known option, but it is still a good destination for IT outsourcing. First of all, it has lots of skilled professionals who are dedicated and flexible. The level of IT education in this country is high. Even more, close proximity to the USA makes it possible to share common business standards. Mexicans are keen on agile software development. The level of English among the Mexican developers is Upper Intermediate and higher. 

The prices for IT outsourcing services vary depending on the complexity of the project. However, the local rates are a bit below the average in the global market. 

In terms of cooperation, there are some cultural aspects to consider. Mexicans prefer close face-to-face communication. Given that this country is in the same time zone approximately as the USA and Canada, establishing communication has no difficulties.

Hourly rates: $30-100

9.  India

This is one of the top tech countries which remains a global leader in this context. It has a vast pool of skillful tech professionals. Moreover, this state ensures balanced, even say, low prices for the IT assignments done. The level of English is high. In fact, India is among the states with the highest ratio of people speaking English. 

Having a population of around 1.5 billion people, it is possible to bring to life large projects here (even more, this means that in India, you can find the cheapest developers in the world). As for the prospects, this country invests a lot in tech education. Overall, the Indian business framework is mature given its historical bounds with the West. 

Speaking about the drawbacks, a variable quality should be mentioned in this first turn. Cost optimization in this case can be made by sacrificing the quality of the final product. Another downside is the time difference. It may greatly impact real-time interaction in certain cases. Unfortunately, there may be only several hours of overlap with the USA and Canada.

Hourly rates: $15-50.

10. USA

This is probably one of the best countries for software engineers. It is open and encourages innovations and advancements in all terms. The level of technical expertise among developers here is very well. 

The USA not only follows the strictest standards for software development. It also upgrades them and introduces new ones. The USA gave to this world plenty of advanced technologies, AI is the latest one. Also, it is worth highlighting UX design outsourcing, as the USA has the biggest talent pool of designers in the world. Therefore, this country can be considered the right place to implement complex ideas.

Still, the prices for the services are pretty high. However, depending on the complexity of the tasks you want to assign, it may be worthwhile to outsource them exactly in the USA.

Hourly rates: $40-80

Final Words

Summing up the above, the complexity of the project determines the choice of the service provider. Of course, for the high profitability of a project, it is reasonable to save as much as possible. Still, this should be made without sacrificing the quality by any means. Attempting to save a lot may have a reverse effect – you may have to pay more than intended initially. Correcting a poor-quality product is always a far more expensive endeavor. 

If you want to find the perfect ratio between the quality of services provided and their cost, you can consider our company. We will implement your ideas in the most cost-efficient way without compromising its viability and competitiveness, just contact us.

With the never-ending evolution of digital technologies we can see in the last years, businesses can discover more opportunities and options to make a profit, reduce the cost of their operations, and attract/retain customers than ever before. Specifically, this thesis can be applied to the financial industry, one of the leading areas of which is lending.

For example, the independent source Global Data claims that the global digital lending services market will grow at a CAGR of 22.1% until 2030. At the same time, one of the most effective ways of providing such services is by using the Lending as a Service format. Below, we will explain what it is, how such solutions work, what their advantages are, and what impact they can have on the financial sector in the future.

What Is Lending as a Service (LaaS)?

In a nutshell, Lending as a Service is the delegation of all operations related to providing loans to its customers to a third-party provider.

The convenience of SaaS lending technology is obvious even at first glance: instead of independently learning how to manage risks and generally studying how the financial sector and related legislation work, businesses get the opportunity to remain focused on their key operations while expanding their range of services and making them more convenient and accessible to consumers. This approach also reduces the costs associated with the implementation of financial lending services without reducing their effectiveness.

How Lending as a Service Works

From a practical point of view, LaaS is usually presented in the form of cloud solutions that can be adapted to the individual needs of a particular business. Their functionality is available in real time, which means that businesses that have chosen this format of cooperation do not experience any inconveniences associated with delays and downtime.

At the same time, such solutions take on much more than just issuing loans according to the rules and restrictions pre-established by a particular company – they allow these companies to fully automate credit lending services and even speed them up compared to how it could be if they did it personally. 

Benefits of Lending as a Service

So, let's formalize the advantages of fintech lending solutions for businesses.

• Less time and overhead expenses. Companies that do not have the opportunity to pay attention to the implementation of lending can significantly benefit from outsourcing loan management. They will also not be forced to deal with tasks related to maintaining their credit platforms since all this will be the responsibility of their suppliers.
• More information about customers. Any average Lending as a Service platform provides businesses with analytical data about their consumers, which can give them valuable insights into their income level, preferences, and other characteristics important for attracting and retaining them. In this way, businesses can significantly boost their efficiency.
• Fewer risks associated with unreliable customers. Typically, the implementation of a lending service is accompanied by the development and deployment of internal Know-Your-Customer (KYC) policies, which may require businesses to become more familiar with how the lending industry works in general and what laws and rules govern it. Conversely, by entrusting all this to a third-party provider, businesses can gain time to solve more pressing problems.
• Wider coverage of the target audience. The rapid implementation of lending services, which LaaS platforms can provide, allows companies to enter new markets and do this much earlier than their competitors. Thus, they gain an increased competitive advantage without the need for a radical modernization of their internal digital infrastructures.
• Accelerated access to advanced IT achievements in the financial sector. Sometimes such a fintech innovation becomes a starting point for more serious updates in the IT infrastructure of a particular business. Indeed, by regularly interacting with LaaS solutions, companies learn more about new digital technologies and the possibilities of their application in a specific business niche, which, in the long term, can give them new ideas for automation and increase the efficiency of their other business operations.

Impact of LaaS on the Financial Industry

It is worth noting that LaaS has an impact not only on individual businesses that have decided to implement such solutions but also on the financial industry as a whole.

Since they actually connect financial institutions (banks), fintech companies, businesses engaged in sale of services/products, and consumers themselves, this interaction chain opens up colossal potential for benefit for each of its links. Indeed: banks get even more clients, companies involved in the development of fintech startups get useful knowledge that allows them to implement standard-compliant solutions, businesses get increased efficiency and adaptability, and consumers themselves get the opportunity to purchase previously unavailable goods and services.

In the long term, all this can lead to the obsolescence of traditional lending models and the opening of new opportunities for cooperation between all the above-described participants in the lending procedure.

Conclusion

If you are considering the digitalization of financial operations in your business and are looking for a reliable service provider providing fintech development services, feel free to contact us. We will create a custom digital banking solution adapted to the standards and generally accepted regulations of your business niche to ensure your company’s sustainability for many years to come.

In terms of IT, design means much more than just creating visuals for a digital solution. Specifically, while the concepts of UX and UI design have long been familiar to anyone who is at least a little involved in software product development, the "product design" term is a relatively new one. Based on its name, we can already make a preliminary conclusion that the work of product designers involves something more than creating a visual for a product, but what exactly? Let's figure it out right now.

What Is UX Design?

UX design is everything that is aimed at the end user getting a certain experience/impression from interacting with the interface of your solution. Its quality can be measured by whether the user manages to achieve the specific goal, and how easy and pleasant it is for him/her.

Usually, the UX design process includes the following stages:

• End-user research;
• Building information architecture;
• User flow creation;
• Creating visuals;
• Ensuring the convenience and accessibility of the created solution.

Let's dwell on these stages in more detail.

Key Elements of UX Design

So, below we will consider the above stages (elements).

• End-user research. It all starts with a survey of the target audience representatives to understand their needs, desires, and pain points. Then they are provided with raw prototypes for testing so that specialists can identify typical problems and imperfections in their concepts.
• Building information architecture. The next step of UX product development is to build low-fidelity wireframes that demonstrate the hierarchy of the product’s elements and functions. After that, designers build an information architecture, which implies dividing the content into categories that simplify the search for information.
• User flow creation. Now, everything is ready to recreate the sequence of steps that the user must take to achieve the goal with the help of a specific product. After the main steps are reproduced, microinteractions have to be implemented – we mean system feedback that improves the quality of the user experience. Additionally, the product is analyzed in accordance with the WCAG 2.0 guidelines – this is necessary for its accessibility for people with disabilities.
• Creating visuals. At this stage, specialists create the visual part of the user interface including the color palette, icons, typography, etc., and also ensure consistency with the previously created templates.
• Ensuring the convenience and accessibility of the created solution. To assess the convenience of the created solution, designers usually use a heuristic approach. Also, they check compliance with the required WCAF 2.0 level. If significant deficiencies are detected, the product is returned for optimization.

Why Is UX Design Important?

UX design services are primarily focused on ensuring end-user satisfaction with the product – that is, it means that the product is comfortable to use and intuitive, and, in general, allows users to quickly complete the tasks assigned to it. In the long term, a properly created UX design can provide a boost in business revenue, an expansion of its consumer base, an increase in competitive advantage, a reduction in the expenses on regular business operations, and many other things. Ultimately, it is important to understand that all this is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the product success.

UX vs. UI Design

Many people don’t understand the user experience vs design difference. However, while UX product design is aimed at creating a positive user experience when interacting with a product, the UI design is about creating a certain, aesthetically attractive appearance and conveying specific feelings to the end user through it.

What Is Product Design?

Now, let's talk about product design: it is a much more comprehensive term than UX and UI design. It ensures that users do not just enjoy dealing with a specific software solution – instead, they should help the owner of this solution achieve specific business goals through this interaction.

Key Elements of Product Design

To better understand the product design vs UX design difference, we suggest, as in the previous case, to consider the key stages of the first term.

• Planning. It starts with comprehensive market research: analyzing its trends, identifying competitors’ advantages and disadvantages, defining the target audience, etc. After that, specialists must align the client's business goals with the collected information and develop a product roadmap (this is performed in collaboration with other project team members).
• Ensuring end-user focus. Now, having information about the target audience at hand, specialists can create user personas by using their demographics, behavioral patterns, pain points, needs, etc. After that, they begin to build user flows and optimize them through testing.
• Interface design. This stage of the product design process involves creating medium-fidelity prototypes that not only describe user interactions with individual interface components but also contain microinteractions and visual detailing.
• Interaction with the project team. Typically, product designers work in teams that work according to the cross-functional methodology – here, they are encouraged to work closely with specialists from other areas. This allows them to reach alignment on goals and their achievement. At this stage, they use prototypes, which, as their details are agreed upon, specialists optimize into a full-fledged product design.
• User feedback analysis and optimization. Finally, the completed solution is presented to end users (depending on the stage of development, these can be representatives of a focus group or real users) to obtain and process their feedback. After that, the obtained insights are gradually implemented through optimization of the presented version.

Why Is Product Design Important?

Its importance is hard to overestimate: product designers collaborate with other members of the project team throughout its life cycle, thereby ensuring the joint achievement of the goals set by its owner. Even though, as in UX design, the convenience of the user’s interaction with the product also plays an important role, it is perceived as something more global – something that is aimed at solving specific problems within one business.

UX Design vs. Product Design: the Differences

From all of the above, we can conclude that the main goal of product design services is to create a comprehensively successful product: that is, one that surpasses its competitors in some way and satisfies the client's business needs, the specifics of their business niche, the needs of the target audience, market trends, etc. This, in turn, imposes on product designers the need to participate in all stages of product development.

As for UX design, its task is to make the product user-oriented, without covering or only partially covering the business aspects declared by the product owner. Thus, without thinking about the need for product design and implementing the UX design stage only, you can lose sight of the factors that hinder the long-term product’s viability on the market (in particular, this often happens with startups and projects with a non-standard approach to solving ordinary problems). 

Conclusion

Now, knowing the difference between the two above concepts, you can understand who exactly your team needs – a UX/UI service provider or a product designer. Whichever option is closer to you, you can always contact us, and we will select a specialist according to your project requirements or assemble a team that will accompany you from collecting project requirements to its launch and optimization.