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Specifically, according to the Exploding Topics resource, in 2024, Android has a 70.93% global market share while iOS only has about 25% of it. However, both platforms are undoubtedly popular, and each of them, with the right approach to development and promotion, can provide product owners with a stable income. Below, we will reveal the differences and similarities between iOS and Android development, paying special attention to security and customization options.
Android vs. iOS App Development: Key Differences
Let's first look at the fundamental differences in Android and iOS development.
Programming languages
When it comes to native development, the most popular Android development language can be considered Java or Kotlin (they are both officially supported by Android’s original IDE, but the last one is preferable for new projects). As for native development for iOS, here, developers will need knowledge of Objective-C or Swift (generally speaking, this is the best option for new projects, while Objective-C is mainly used to support existing solutions that were originally written in this language).
Development environment
As the primary development environment for the Android platform, Android developers use the open-source Android Studio IDE, although in some cases their choice may also fall on Visual Studio, Eclipse, and some other development environments. At the same time, iOS developers usually resort to the help of Xcode with the integrated iOS SDK.
Differences in design
iOS development requires following the platform’s own principles for user interface design listed in the Human Interface Design Guidelines (the main aspects of which are color variety without shadows (Flat Design Depth), minimalism (Clarity), and content-first approach (Deference)). In the case of Android development, these are the recommendations for recreating Material Design (the main aspects of which are expressing the hierarchy of elements through their size, colors, and shadows (Metaphoric Nature), using bold typography to highlight important elements (Bold Graphical Design), visualizing reactions to user actions (Meaningful Animation), as well as adapting the design to devices of different form factors (Adaptive Design)). Also note that Android allows the development of applications for operation in Kiosk Mode – this will be useful for businesses presenting their services and/or products through software installed on corporate Android-based devices.
Hourly rates
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary of an Android developer in the US ranges from $91K to $135K, while for an iOS developer this range is from $101K to $174K. From this, we can conclude that, on average, the iOS app development cost (if you stick to the hourly rate for specialists) will be somewhat higher compared to the Android app development cost, all other things being equal (in particular, the same number of supported device formats and OS versions).
Complexity of development
It is worth noting that native Android development tools and iOS mobile app development tools are quite easy to deal with and, in general, have a low entry threshold. That is why the complexity of implementing software for a particular platform should be considered primarily from the point of view of ensuring compatibility. The fact is that if you are planning Android development to cover as many user devices with different form factors as possible, your team will have to spend a lot of effort and time. Also, there is the need to provide compatibility with earlier versions of Android and, accordingly, adapt the software for devices that support them. Therefore, the development process for Android can be much longer than in the case of iOS, a platform that is characterized by a relatively small number of compatible user devices. On the other hand, for iOS development, the entire team must be equipped with macOS-based devices — only then will they be able to build the software and successfully test it in an emulator.
iOS vs. Android: Security and Privacy
The main difference between iOS and Android in terms of security lies in the fact that iOS security is more focused on providing strong software protection (which is facilitated by its closed nature and limited number of supported devices), while Android focuses on a combination of software and hardware protection (due to its initial open source nature, which can still be violated by individual vendors creating their own Android-based OSes, as well the variety of supported user devices). In the end, it is impossible to say that one of these operating systems is more secure or, on the contrary, more vulnerable, since by following the standards and generally accepted rules of secure development, you will be able to achieve optimal compliance for your software as well.
Which Platform Has a Bigger Market Share?
At the very beginning of this article, we indicated that Android is the undisputed leader in the mobile software market, with almost 71% market share. However, it is worth noting that the ratio of market shares between platforms may vary depending on the business niche for which the application is created. Moreover, there is rather old research that owners of iOS devices are more willing to download paid applications, while owners of Android devices prefer free software. As a result, this factor can determine your monetization opportunities for your app, too.
Which Platform Has More Customization Options?
In terms of customization options, Android gives developers more flexibility due to the open nature of the platform. Thus, they get more space for creativity, which allows them to implement non-trivial designs and functionality. In turn, the iOS platform is a closed ecosystem with its own strict compliance rules. This concept is aimed at maintaining uniformity of user interfaces, so it will not be possible to create something too non-standard on its basis.
Android vs. iOS App Development: Which One to Choose
Ultimately, we cannot say that development for any one of the platforms, be it iOS or Android, is more profitable. Everything depends on the niche for which the software solution is being implemented, its localization, and many other factors that determine the size of the target audience.
Additionally, it is important to be aware of app store fees for paid software and software with in-app purchases. In particular, iOS paid apps, in-app purchases of digital goods or services, and/or linking out to purchase digital goods and services on your website are subject to a 17% fee (or 10% If you're enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program/the Apple Video Partner Program/News Partner Program or renew a qualifying auto-renewal subscription beyond one year); also, if you use App Store payment processing and related commerce services for in-app purchases, you will be charged a 3% fee. As for Google Play, here, the fee is 15% on the first $1 million in annual revenue (or 30% on annual revenue exceeding $1 million), 15% on products with an auto-renewing subscription (regardless of annual revenue size), and 15% or less for developers who qualify for the Play Media Experience Program.
By the way, if you find that the ratio of potential users for each platform is approximately 1:1, you can consider the cross-platform app development option, which involves creating a single code base for iOS and Android platforms. In this case, you can save about 30% of the budget compared to developing two native applications, and also bring the launch date of your mobile solution closer. The only thing is that, like any other type of software development, this one also has some restrictions.
Regardless of whether you are considering cross-platform or native mobile app development, you can always choose us as a reliable service provider of custom mobile solutions. We will implement your business idea with the minimum possible budget without compromising its quality and select the best approaches and tech stack to ensure its competitiveness and profitability over the long term.
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.
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:
- Requirements analysis
- Planning
- Design
- Development
- Testing
- Deployment
- 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.
If your website has existed for a long time, this is a reason to think about redesigning it. The fact is that web development trends are constantly changing, and the things that attracted users around five years ago may seem high and dry today.
In particular, several years ago, the independent web resource GoodFirms conducted a survey among designers to find the reasons why users leave their websites. It turns out that about 40% of respondents were sure that this was due to the outdated design. Do you need to look for more explanations as to why you need a redesign? If you don’t, this article is for you.
What Is a Website Redesign?
Website redesign is a modernization that involves changes in the design, content, and functionality of a specific web resource. There may be not only a change in color scheme but also in the website’s structure, which also implies a certain optimization of the HTML code.
Redesign can be done every two years, or less often, every three or four years. However, when the appearance of your website remains the same for five years or more, your users are likely to begin to believe that your business is idle and, therefore, will likely choose a more successful competitor.
Why Is a Site Redesign Important?
Let's imagine that when you launched your website first, it generally satisfied its visitors. However, after a few years, its traffic began to gradually decline, although the quality of your service and/or goods did not decrease. Most likely, the problem is that your website’s design is outdated. Although this may seem to be the only reason why you need a redesign, there are several other reasons that also lead to it:
- You are going to migrate your website to a new engine;
- Despite regularly taking SEO measures, your website is not ranking well in search engines;
- You are planning to expand your audience reach and scale your business;
- Your company has rebranded, and now, this should apply to your website as well;
- You are entering a new market;
- Your product range or the concept of its promotion has completely changed.
Why You Need a Website Redesign Project Plan
In general, there are many goals that you can achieve through a redesign. The benefits of website redesign include improving the user experience, rebranding, increasing reputation, optimizing traffic indicators, conversions, etc., involving the website in marketing campaigns, and so on.
At the same time, whatever goal you pursue, its achievement must be consistent, and each step must be justified from the point of view of business and available resources. Otherwise, you will act chaotically, and the result of these actions will most likely not live up to your desires. To prevent this from happening, you actually need a project plan for website redesign.
How to Redesign a Website: Applying Key Principles for Success
Now, it's time to find out what five sequential phases the correct redesign strategy includes.
Setting Clear Objectives
Any well-thought-out project plan for website redesign implies matching goals and needs to redesign tasks to be completed.
Understanding the Need for Redesign
At the very beginning, you will need to correctly identify the reasons for the redesign. For example, this could be an outdated design, a not-mobile-friendly user experience, the functionality update and complicated website structure related to it, etc. You need to describe all these reasons as precisely as possible to make it easier for your team of designers (and possibly developers) to decide on the scope of work.
Defining Your Goals
Once the reasons are clear, you can define SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals. Special cases of such goals may be increasing traffic, achieving better conversion rates, improving user experience, etc.
Research and Preparation
At this stage, you will have to complete more complex tasks that will lay a solid foundation for your team's further work. They will also help you understand how competitive your website is at the moment and which aspects of it have the highest priority.
Analyzing the Current Website
Your website is probably already connected to some analytics system where you can evaluate the dynamics of its traffic, conversion rates, abandoned carts, and so on. Thus, you have to collect this data, evaluate its changes for better or worse over the last year, and compare these changes with seasonal and local trends in your niche to get the most objective assessment of your website.
Competitor Analysis
You will also have to analyze the websites of your main competitors to understand in what they are good at and what needs optimization. Through this analysis, you will be able to prioritize the tasks that your technical team will have to deal with.
Target Audience Identification
Refine your audience data – this is especially important if you're looking to enter new markets or scale your online business. However, even if your goals are less ambitious, you'll still need to refresh information about your potential customers – their demographics, pain points, goals, needs, etc.
Content Audit
Finally, you should conduct a global content audit – for this, you'll probably need the help of SEO experts. Specifically, if your website's main problem is low search engine rankings, it's likely due to poor-quality content that will need to be optimized or replaced with a new one.
Planning and Strategy Development
Actually, you are left with the last steps before you hand over your website rebuild project to your technical team.
Site Structure and Navigation
Based on the key indicators of your website displayed in the analytics, you will be able to determine which of your website’s navigation elements and structure components need to be changed.
Visual Design Considerations
If your current website seems visually outdated, you will need to identify relevant examples from your competitors and indicate which graphical aspects of their websites you like the most.
Technical Requirements
If you find that your website's performance is suffering or, for example, the website itself is not fully displayed on some mobile devices, optimizing these aspects will require the participation of web developers.
SEO and Content Strategy
If the problem is the poor quality of the content (lack of necessary keywords in the texts, low-quality images, outdated data, etc.), you will need to involve SEO specialists in the project as well.
The Design and Development Process
Now, it’s the practical part of your website redesign roadmap, which requires the involvement of technical specialists and the designers themselves.
Wireframing and Prototyping
Now that the project is in the hands of the designers, they can start creating wireframes according to your requirements for the updated version of the website. As your requirements become more detailed, they will build prototypes based on these wireframes.
Design Mockups
An intermediate stage between the development of wireframes and prototypes can be the creation of mockups. Essentially, these are medium-fidelity sketches of your project that, like wireframes, schematically demonstrate the main components of the website but already have a pre-defined color palette and some graphic objects. Typically, this intermediate stage is necessary for websites with a complex and/or non-trivial structure.
Development and Coding
If your site requires migration to a new CMS or you have discovered problems in the previous stages that can only be solved through changes in its program code, you will have to involve developers to eliminate these bottlenecks.
Testing and Quality Assurance
And, of course, don’t forget to staff your project team with quality assurance specialists who will check if the updated version of your website works correctly before it goes public.
Launch and Post-Launch Strategy
Finally, you can begin preparing for the website relaunch.
Preparing for Launch
If your updated website looks the way you like and all the inconsistencies have been ironed out, it makes sense to check its effectiveness on the representatives of its target audience. This way, you may get additional insights about optimization that can still be implemented before your website’s launch.
Launching the Website
Now, developers can upload a new version of the website to the hosting. It may require you to choose a new hosting provider or a new tariff plan from the old one – this makes sense if you plan to expand the reach of your audience.
Post-Launch Activities
This stage will last exactly until the next redesign. In particular, you will have to monitor the analytics of your update to see whether the new key indicators meet your original business requirements. You will also need to constantly work on your website's SEO by regularly uploading new, relevant content.
Conclusion
We hope that in this article, we have helped you understand how to website revamp, and now, you can begin this procedure as consciously as possible. If you are looking for specialists ready to take on not only the planning task but also the implementation of your redesign project, feel free to contact us, and our team will bring your most ambitious goals to life within your budget and timeline.
What is a SaaS product?
SaaS (Software as a service) is a software distribution model in which a cloud provider hosts applications and makes them available to end users over the Internet. Therefore, SaaS applications are not set up and maintained by companies. A monthly subscription fee gives users access to the ready-to-use software. To make an analogy, the SaaS using process is like renting a vehicle, for which the lessor pays the price and uses it on demand. Nowadays, SaaS presents not as a service but as a necessary element at the center of the functioning of every second business.
Here are some statistics referring to SaaS software:
- The global SaaS market was valued at $237.48 billion in 2022, with projections to reach $908 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 18.7%.
- Over the last seven years, the SaaS industry's size has increased by approximately 500%.
- The U.S. SaaS market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.64% from 2023 to 2028, reaching over $186 billion by 2028.
- By 2026, it's anticipated that public cloud spending will constitute over 45% of total enterprise IT expenditure.
- Large companies (with over 1000 employees) use about 150 different SaaS products, comprising 70% of their total software usage.
Top Industries
Leading industries in SaaS adoption include healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and retail. This trend highlights the importance of cloud-based solutions in driving business efficiency and innovation.
- Manufacturing: Projected to surpass $19 billion in SaaS market value by 2026, with increased adoption of cloud solutions for supply chain, inventory, and production planning driving growth.
- Web and Video Conferencing: Expected to reach $7 billion by 2026, driven by remote work practices and advancements in IoT, AI, and video compression.
- The healthcare SaaS market: Is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.5% by 2028, driven by ongoing digitalization efforts, including the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and telehealth solutions.
- CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.43%, reaching $59.4 billion by 2027, driven by higher adoption among SMEs, cloud-based solutions, and a focus on customer engagement.
- EdTech (Educational Technology): Projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.1% through 2028, spurred by increased demand for virtual learning platforms and educational content.
- HR (Human Resources): Anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 15.8% up to 2028, with growth fueled by the need for efficient management systems, talent acquisition tools, and advanced analytics.
- Property Management: Expected to see a CAGR of 15.5% until 2028, driven by demands for automated rental management and enhanced tenant experiences.
Top Players
To get a clearer idea of what a SaaS product is, here is a list of the biggest SaaS companies known around the world:
- Microsoft Corporation;
- Adobe Inc.;
- Figma;
- HubSpot;
- Trello;
- Zoom;
- Slack.
Suppose you have experience using one of the above products. In that case, you can imagine how it works, why it is convenient, and how important it is to implement such SaaS platforms in your business.
Our company also deals with similar SaaS development services. We implemented the latest technology to build an innovative financial CRM system and booking beauty appointment platform, according to SaaS approach.
Benefits of using SaaS products
So, what are the benefits of this system for you? If you clearly understand what function SaaS products perform and your business purpose, you can formulate precise requirements for the end result of using this service. This section will list the main things that SaaS providers can offer for B2B and B2C businesses.
- You pay only for the resources and functionality that the company actually uses. There is no need to pay for the full range of services that a SaaS provider offers you. You're free to choose the necessary and critical features for your business and pay only for them.
- Economic benefit. This point can be viewed from two angles. First, you know exactly how much you'll have to pay for the subscription period, and you won't have surprises with the increased cost of the resources you've already paid. Second, you won't risk your investment in such a subscription. If your business needs a more powerful or extensive platform to deploy your capacity. You'll end your subscription to one product and switch to another without losing money.
- Accessibility to your team from anywhere. Any device your employees use - PC, laptop, mobile phone, tablet - can use the SaaS product.
- Shared use of the software by the entire team. There is no need to buy a subscription for each user within the same company; the only exception may be the limit of connected users.
- Centralized software updates. There is also no need to worry about updating the paid platform manually; the providers will do everything for the customer.
Business prospects with SaaS products
Enterprises incorporating SaaS products into their business concept are uniquely positioned to benefit from this growing trend. Here are some key business prospects with SaaS products, supported by statistics and numbers:
- Cost savings: SaaS service reduces businesses' need to invest in expensive hardware and software, which leads to cost savings. As a result, companies can save up to 20-30% of their IT costs.
- Scalability: According to 68% of companies, scalability is one of the main benefits of using SaaS. Therefore, a company can quickly increase or decrease its use of software as needed.
- Security: SaaS products offer enterprises advanced security features to reduce the risk of data breaches, including encryption and multifactor authentication. 94% of enterprises report a noticeable increase in security after implementing SaaS.
- Competitive Advantage: 74% of companies claim SaaS gives them an advantage through the quick and cost-effective deployment of innovative software.
Summary
As you have already understood, SaaS products are not only an opportunity to effectively manage business processes and business as a whole but also a practical necessity, without which it will be easy to optimize work processes and implement large-scale projects without a platform for necessary control.
By understanding what working principles SaaS is based on, you can maximize the potential of SaaS in your business and achieve greater success by 2030 and beyond.
Firstly, an interesting fact: there are almost 700 programming languages, but we bet that most developers know and use nearly 15% of the list.
Different programming languages are suited for various projects (mobile and web applications, game development, distributed systems, etc.). Also, it is important to identify the most appropriate language specifically for your project.
In this article, we will look at each of the most popular programming languages according to PYPL and TIOBE rankings in detail — helping beginning developers and entrepreneurs select the right language for starting their digital projects.
Programming Languages Ranking
We tried to find out the most popular programming languages in the year 2024, using official information from PYPL, TIOBE, and GitHub rankings.
- PYPL – The more a language tutorial is searched, the more popular the language is assumed to be. The raw data comes from Google Trends.
- TIOBE – The ratings are based on the number of skilled engineers worldwide, courses, and third-party vendors. Popular search engines are also used to calculate the ratings.
- GitHub – The ratings are created using a yearly review of programming languages’ popularity.
PYPL Ranking 2024
The PYPL (PopularitY of Programming Language) Index is created by analyzing how often language tutorials are searched on Google.
The more a language tutorial is searched, the more popular the language is assumed to be. The raw data comes from Google Trends.
The PYPL index can help you decide which language to study, or which one to use in a new software project.
According to PYPL, 5 most popular programming languages are:
The TIOBE Ranking 2024
The TIOBE (The Importance of Being Earnest) index is an indicator of the popularity of programming languages. The index is updated once a month. The ratings are based on the number of skilled engineers worldwide, courses, and third-party vendors. Popular search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Amazon, YouTube, and Baidu are used to calculate the ratings.
It is important to note that the TIOBE index is not about the best programming language or the language in which most lines of code have been written.
According to TIOBE, 5 most popular programming languages are:
The GitHub Ranking 2024
GitHub is one of the biggest code repositories that boasts a massive developer community spanning across the globe. The repository is also growing at a blazing speed. Nearly 70% of global Fortune 50 companies have lately made contributions to GitHub’s open-source codes.
GitHub also shares a yearly review of programming languages’ popularity. Here are the dynamics of changing the popularity of different languages according to the latest GitHub report:
Top 5 Most Popular Programming Languages in 2024
Understanding programming is crucial for advancing technology across sectors like IT, data analytics, and engineering. As technology evolves, certain programming languages emerge as essential due to their functionality, ease of use, and adaptability.
So, which programming languages will continue to be in demand in 2024 and beyond? We turn to the PYPL index for insights, which ranks languages by learning interest. Here's a quick look at the top 5 according to PYPL, focusing on why they stand out.
1. Python
PYPL rating — 28.59%
- Pros. Python is regarded as the easiest programming language to learn, because of its simple syntax, a large library of standards and toolkits, and integration with other popular programming languages such as C and C++. It is a popular programming language, especially among startups, and therefore Python skills are in high demand.
- Cons. Python’s cons include slower speed than compiled languages, limited concurrency with the GIL, high memory use, and complex debugging due to dynamic typing. It’s also less suited for mobile, embedded, and real-time applications, where efficiency and low latency are critical.
- Common Use Cases. Python excels in AI, data science, and financial sectors, with frameworks like TensorFlow making it a top choice for machine learning. It's behind major platforms like Instagram and Pinterest and powers apps such as Dropbox and Spotify, showcasing its wide applicability from cutting-edge tech to core web services.
2. Java
PYPL rating — 15.79%
- Pros. Java is a classic choice of many backend developers throughout the world and the only official language for Android app development. Java is designed to be a loosely coupled programming language, meaning that an application written in Java can run on any platform that supports Java. As a result, Java is described as the “write once, run anywhere” programming language.
- Cons. Java's downsides include less efficiency in cloud versus server settings and slower performance compared to languages such as C++. It also uses more memory, which can be a drawback in limited-resource situations. Moreover, Java's detailed syntax can result in longer codes, potentially extending development timelines.
- Common Use Cases. Java is widely used for creating business and Android apps, and it supports major websites like LinkedIn, Amazon, and Twitter. It's also used in server applications, handling big data with Hadoop, and web development using JSP and servlets, highlighting its wide-ranging use in software projects
3. Javascript
PYPL rating — 8.7%
- Pros. JavaScript is essential in front-end development for building interactive websites. With Node.js, Javascript can be used to power server-side content, supporting game and communication applications app development in the browser. Javascript has a lot of frameworks that allow stress-free integration with third-party apps.
- Cons. Internet browsers can disable JavaScript code from running, as JavaScript is used to code pop-up ads that in some cases can contain malicious content. Additionally, its dynamic typing system can complicate debugging and maintenance.
- Common Use Cases. JavaScript is used extensively in website and mobile application development. Node.js allows for the development of browser-based applications, which do not require users to download an application. Popular apps built with JavaScript frameworks include Slack, Netflix, GitHub, Facebook, Skype, Uber, LinkedIn, Tidal, and more.
4. C#
PYPL rating — 6.77%
- Pros. C#, developed by Microsoft, is widely used in developing Windows applications, web services, and mobile apps. C# is also known for its strong type system, making code more robust and error-free. Thanks to its object-oriented nature, it's highly preferred for enterprise-level applications. Regular updates from Microsoft ensure it remains relevant and efficient for modern software development.
- Cons. While C# is incredibly powerful for Windows platform development, it's less versatile for programming applications on other operating systems, although .NET Core has made significant strides in cross-platform development. Some critics argue that C# can be less efficient for certain types of low-level programming compared to languages like C or C++.
- Common Use Cases. C# is key for creating desktop, web (via ASP.NET), and mobile applications (using Xamarin), especially for Microsoft products. Popular apps like Visual Studio IDE, games such as "Pokémon Go" and "Monument Valley" developed with Unity, and parts of Microsoft Office showcase C#'s versatility in software development.
5. C\C++
PYPL rating — 6.76%
- Pros. As one of the first programming languages ever developed, C has served as the foundation for writing more modern languages such as Python, Ruby, and PHP. It is also an easy language to debug, test, and maintain. C++ is an extension of C that works well for programming the systems that run applications, as opposed to the applications themselves. C++ also works well for multi-device and multi-platform systems. Over time, programmers have written a large set of libraries and compilers for C++.
- Cons. C/C++ has complex syntax and many features that can make it complicated for new programmers. C++ also does not support run-time checking, which is a method of detecting errors or defects while the software is running. C is not suitable for more modern use cases, such as websites or mobile applications.
- Common Use Cases. C++ has many uses and is the language behind everything from computer games to mathematical simulations. C is often used to program hardware, such as embedded devices in automobiles and medical devices used in healthcare. C/C++ is a basic programming language used for creating most existing operating systems, web browsers, and basic Microsoft products.
How to Choose a Programming Language for a Project?
Choosing the right programming language depends on what you need to achieve with your project. Don't just go by how popular a language is. It's better to ask for advice from developers who have worked on similar projects. They can help you pick a language that fits your project's needs, including how it works, its safety, and how it can grow.
Thinking about which language to use? Feel free to contact us today to make a smart choice for your project's future.
The HealthTech inductry is developing rapidly: according to Statista, by the end of 2024, its global capitalization is expected to reach a record 610.20 billion US dollars. This growth is driven by increasing demand for advanced healthcare solutions, especially as the number of digital offerings in this sector rises. With this growth comes intensified competition, pushing organizations to focus on building user loyalty by enhancing the quality of their services. In the healthcare context, providing a top-tier user experience (UX) becomes essential for driving user satisfaction and engagement. This article delves into the principles, challenges, and best practices for crafting exceptional UX in MedTech, telemedicine, and digital health solutions.
HealthTech Market Overview
One of the largest segments of the medtech market is medical equipment, which is projected to reach $511.20 billion in capitalization by 2024. Key areas of development include:
- Diagnostics and intervention: Innovative tools for early detection and treatment of diseases.
- Genetic research: Advanced solutions to decode and leverage genetic data.
- Patient mobility: Technologies that improve access and convenience for patients, especially those with chronic conditions.
This evolution is largely influenced by an aging global population, which drives sustained investment in healthcare technology. To remain competitive, medtech companies must integrate cutting-edge systems and focus on wearables, telemedicine, and personalized healthcare UX design to deliver unparalleled user experiences.
The Role of Telemedicine in Healthcare UX
Telemedicine has transformed healthcare delivery by enabling remote consultations, diagnosis, and treatment through digital platforms. Its success depends heavily on intuitive UX design, ensuring that both patients and healthcare providers can interact seamlessly.
Key UX Considerations for Telemedicine:
- Real-Time Accessibility: Patients and doctors must connect effortlessly through video calls, chats, and data-sharing interfaces, regardless of their device or location.
- Intuitive Navigation: Complex interfaces can delay care. Clear layouts and straightforward workflows are essential for urgent medical situations.
- Security and Compliance: Telemedicine platforms must protect sensitive health data, adhering to HIPAA, GDPR, and other regulatory standards.
- Integration with EHR/EMR Systems: To provide seamless care, telemedicine solutions must integrate with electronic health records, ensuring real-time access to patient histories and reports.
- User Support: Telemedicine systems should include built-in assistance features, such as chatbots or FAQs, to guide users through the platform.
In turn, a well-thought-out medical UX design can speed up the execution of targeted actions by users, minimize the risk of errors, and generally reduce the cognitive load that new users of a particular digital solution face the first time.
Digital Health and Personalized Care
Digital health encompasses a broad range of solutions, including fitness apps, chronic disease management platforms, and AI-driven diagnostic tools. Personalization is at the heart of digital health, enabling tailored care for individual patients.
Key Elements of Personalization in Digital Health UX:
- Adaptive Dashboards: Dashboards that adjust to display metrics relevant to specific users, such as glucose levels for diabetics or activity levels for fitness enthusiasts.
- AI-Powered Recommendations: Leveraging wearable data and patient history to provide personalized health insights, such as medication reminders or lifestyle adjustments.
- Behavioral Nudges: Notifications and reminders based on real-time data from wearables, such as prompts to stay active or alerts for irregular heart rates.
- Collaborative Tools: Features that allow patients to share health progress with their healthcare providers, enabling more informed decision-making.
- Data Visualization: Simplified visuals, such as graphs and heat maps, to help patients understand complex health data without requiring medical expertise.
Integration with Wearables
Wearable devices are enabling real-time data collection and fostering proactive patient care. These devices, including fitness trackers, smartwatches, and specialized medical wearables, provide essential metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, sleep patterns, and oxygen levels.
To stay relevant in the modern healthcare ecosystem, medtech systems must:
- Seamlessly integrate with wearables: Facilitate data synchronization from devices to centralized healthcare systems.
- Enable flexibility: Support compatibility with various devices to cater to diverse patient needs.
- Enhance real-time insights: Convert wearable data into actionable metrics that healthcare providers and patients can use to make informed decisions.
Integration with wearables empowers healthcare providers to:
- Monitor patients remotely, reducing hospital visits.
- Leverage AI-powered analytics to predict health deterioration.
- Tailor personalized care plans based on real-time patient data.
What Is HealthTech UX Design?
Healthcare UX design focuses on creating digital healthcare solutions that are functional, visually appealing, and accessible to all users, including patients and medical staff. A well-executed healthcare UX design reduces cognitive load, minimizes errors, and speeds up workflows in stressful environments.
“When designing for the Healthcare industry, it is crucial to keep in mind that every solution you create affects your users’ health – therefore, you cannot afford to produce half-baked or generic solutions as it puts someone’s well-being at risk. Cater to your users, make your design accessible, and ensure that your solutions are consistent and flexible across all mediums – that’s how you create a truly excellent and literally life-changing product”
Ivan Hohanov, Head of UX
Providing a premium user experience should be one of the fundamental goals in any business sector. However, when it comes to the provision of medical services, often the achievement of this goal is the only possible option to provide some patients with a specific service, which can be explained either by temporary restrictions in mobility or by the presence of permanent mental or physical disabilities. This actually causes the need to create digital solutions according to the principles of simplicity, intuitiveness, and ergonomics.
It is noteworthy that medical personnel are no less in need of advanced user experience in healthcare software products, as they are often forced to act urgently in stressful situations and follow error-free decisions.
Key Principles of HealthTech UX Design
Let's look at a few fundamental principles underlying effective UX design for healthcare:
- Accessibility: patients should be able to fully use the functionality of a particular digital solution, regardless of their physical and mental disabilities.
- Conciseness: the user interface should not be overloaded – instead, it should demonstrate only those functions that the user currently needs.
- Mobility: users must be able to access at least some of the services provided by a particular healthcare organization remotely.
- Consistency: the functionality of a specific digital solution must be presented consistently and logically.
- Control: user actions within a specific digital solution must be controlled to prevent errors.
- Context: the interface of digital solutions must be context-sensitive so that users can intuitively perform targeted actions in it.
Best Practices in HealthTech UX Design
In this paragraph, we suggest that you consider a number of best practices that will help you bring HealthTech UX design to life.
Focus on the end user
Before you start working on a design, you will need to try to perceive it from the point of view of the end user to understand what possible problems they may encounter and what solutions will be optimal for them. Design thinking methods such as user research, as well as creating user personas and user flows based on surveys, personal data, etc., can help you with this.
Don't overload your screens
You should not place all the functions that have to be presented in your digital solution on the same screen. Instead, try to create a convenient, context-sensitive hierarchy and, according to it, divide the functionality into groups, placing each of them on a separate screen.
Create intuitive navigation
Your users must understand intuitively how to perform this or that action. Typically, the “rule of three” is used for this – that is, to complete a particular task, the user must complete no more than three steps. If this is not possible, make sure that your product contains clear and unambiguous hints leading to the goal.
Maintain balance
The visual component of your product also plays an important role: in particular, the user interface should look well-balanced, harmonious, and have a consistent style without being annoying.
Ensure compliance with data security standards and regulations
Make sure that while using your product, consumers cannot accidentally leak personal data (that is, every operation requiring their personal data must be performed by them consciously, after obtaining their consent). To do this, you will need to focus your design development process on FDA recommendations, HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 62366.
Provide alternative control and navigation tools
Your users may have certain limitations in using the vast majority of digital solutions, so your main task will be to help them overcome them within your product. In particular, we are talking about ensuring product usability and accessibility by providing alternative navigation and control tools (for example, through voice input). More information on how to achieve accessibility in interaction design can be found in the WCAG 2.0 guidelines.
Consider implementing responsive design
If you consider launching your solution on multiple platforms (for example, on mobile and desktop devices), you will need to implement a responsive medical app design that will scale the screens of this solution to the dimensions and orientation of a specific user device.
Base on user feedback
As you complete the prototyping stage and/or launch new versions of your ready-made solution, you need to collect feedback from real users and optimize the UX design in accordance with their complaints, needs, goals, and wishes.
Challenges Of UX Design For HealthTech
Along with following the principles described above, you should also understand what challenges you will have to overcome during the UX design implementation.
Bringing complex workflows into the digital plane
Many workflows in the healthcare sector are multi-step and require the participation of multiple parties. In this regard, one of the most difficult tasks of UX designers is to transfer them to the digital plane, accompanied by simplification and reducing the risk of errors. As for overcoming this challenge, most often, teams have to start their work on a project by creating its tree-like architecture - this is the easiest way to remove unnecessary steps and correctly group functionality that requires the same actions on the part of the end user.
Ensuring regulatory compliance
When designing a user interface, designers must take into account standards that ensure the protection of private user data and prevent its abuse. The same applies to providing accessibility for solutions that patients with disabilities can use. After work on the project is completed, it will need to obtain a certificate of conformity from an independent authority authorized to issue such certificates.
Data visualization
If a particular digital solution operates on large volumes of data and generates analytical conclusions based on them, UX designers may well encounter difficulties in presenting them in a simple and understandable form for the end user. Usually, this problem is solved by testing several visualization options: charts, line graphs, pie charts, etc., and choosing the one that seemed most convenient for the vast majority of respondents.
Final Thoughts
We hope that now, you understand the differences between the process of developing a UX design for a medical sector and the usual one. That’s why it’s so important when looking for a UX design healthcare contractor to turn to specialists who already have experience creating digital products in this niche. In particular, you can contact us, and we will bring your idea to life in accordance with all standards and regulations accepted in your region.
In web development, selecting the right platform is key. Webflow and WordPress each offer unique advantages tailored to different needs. This article compares these platforms to help you make an informed decision for your project.
Webflow
Webflow is an innovative platform that allows designers and developers to create impressive and responsive websites without the need for extensive coding knowledge. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface offers a refreshing approach to web design, allowing users to visually craft layouts and interactions.
Advantages and Key Features of Webflow
Webflow is designed to empower designers and developers with its comprehensive suite of tools. From crafting visually stunning layouts to managing content and e-commerce effortlessly, Webflow simplifies every aspect of web creation:
- Visual Design Capabilities: Offers a user-friendly interface for creating pixel-perfect layouts and custom styling without extensive coding.
- Responsive and Interactive Design: Creates designs that automatically adjust to different devices and allow adding customized interactive elements and animations.
- Integrated CMS and E-commerce: Offers comprehensive tools for managing content and building online stores, supporting dynamic, content-rich websites.
- Clean Code Generation: Produces clean, efficient HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, enhancing site performance and SEO.
- Simplified Hosting and Publishing: Makes website deployment quick and efficient, directly from the platform.
Drawbacks of Webflow
While Webflow is a powerful tool for website design, it comes with certain limitations that might affect its suitability for some projects:
- Pricing: Webflow may be costlier than alternatives like WordPress, especially for hosting and advanced features, which could strain the budgets of smaller projects or independent creators.
- Learning Curve: Despite its user-friendly design interface, Webflow can be challenging to master for those new to design principles or who need to use its more advanced functionalities.
- Limited Extensions: Webflow has fewer third-party integrations and plugins compared to WordPress, potentially restricting its ability to meet specific customization needs or add unique functionalities.
- Scalability: While suitable for medium-sized projects, Webflow may not offer the same level of flexibility for hosting or scaling up large websites as some other platforms.
Webflow Websites Examples
Webflow's powerful design tools are used by a diverse range of businesses to improve their online presence and make digital interactions more efficient. Here are some examples of big companies from different areas using the power of Webflow:
- Dell Design System - An online resource for designers and developers, providing Dell-branded design assets, patterns, and guidelines to ensure consistent and high-quality user experiences across Dell's products.
- DropboxSign - An electronic signature platform that offers intuitive signing, sending, and managing documents online. Integrates with tools like Google Drive and Salesforce, maintaining high security and compliance standards.
- Michael Kors - A luxury fashion brand utilizing Webflow for the presentation of their seasonal collection. Features include Runway videos, a detailed Lookbook, and a direct link to their e-commerce site.
WordPress
WordPress is a long-standing leader in the web development landscape. It offers a dynamic ecosystem of themes, plugins, and customization options, addressing a wide range of website requirements, spanning from blogs to corporate portals.
Advantages and Key Features of WordPress:
WordPress stands out for its flexibility and wide range of functionalities that cater to diverse website requirements. Here we highlight the platform’s main features that enable users to effectively tailor, manage, and enhance their websites:
- Flexibility: WordPress's extensive library of themes and plugins provides incredible flexibility, enabling users to tailor their websites to specific needs.
- Content Management: WordPress excels as a content management system, making it ideal for bloggers and content creators.
- E-commerce: With the WooCommerce plugin, WordPress can handle e-commerce needs effectively, and its vast plugin directory allows for various functionalities.
- SEO Optimization: WordPress offers plugins and features that facilitate search engine optimization, helping websites rank better in search results.
- Large Community: WordPress boasts a massive community of developers, designers, and users, ensuring ongoing support, updates, and resources.
Drawbacks of WordPress
While WordPress is a flexible and powerful platform, managing it effectively comes with certain challenges. These drawbacks can affect the efficiency and security of websites, especially if not properly addressed:
- Security Issues: WordPress sites can be vulnerable to security threats if not properly maintained, especially due to outdated plugins or themes.
- Performance: Without proper optimization, WordPress sites can suffer from slow loading times, particularly as the number of plugins and customizations increases.
- Maintenance: Keeping a WordPress site updated with all the latest plugin and theme updates can be time-consuming and requires regular attention.
- Plugin Overload: While the vast number of available plugins allows for extensive customization, relying too heavily on them can lead to compatibility issues, potential security vulnerabilities, and a decrease in site performance.
WordPress Websites Examples
WordPress empowers a wide variety of businesses and organizations to manage their online content effectively. Here are some standout examples of how leading organizations use WordPress to manage and enhance their digital presence:
- TechCrunch is a leading technology news site that uses WordPress to manage and publish extensive content efficiently.
- Sony Music represents how major corporations use WordPress for content-heavy websites with a need for robust content management systems.
- The TED Blog uses WordPress to manage its rich content, including articles and TED Talk summaries, effectively integrating multimedia elements to engage a global audience.
Summary
In conclusion, when considering Webflow or WordPress, your choice depends on your specific needs. If you're a designer seeking a seamless blend of creativity and functionality, Webflow stands out. Its responsive capabilities, dynamic interactions, clean code generation, and user-friendly hosting make it a prime choice for creating websites that captivate and engage visitors. While WordPress's content management system versatility and vast ecosystem are valuable, Webflow's focus on elevating the design process and simplifying development workflow make it the preferred platform for those aiming to craft visually stunning and interactive websites without diving deeply into coding intricacies. Whether you're an experienced designer or a novice, Webflow empowers you to bring your web design visions to life.
In today's fast-paced world, managing apartment complexes requires efficient and optimized processes. A custom apartment management system can provide the perfect solution to address the unique needs of your property. Today, we will dive deeper into the process of building a custom apartment management system, including a review of existing systems, an exploration of useful features and an analysis of the potential integration of ChatGPT for enhanced functionality and renter satisfaction.
In order to create an effective custom apartment management system, it is crucial to thoroughly assess the specific requirements of your property. Consider factors such as the number of units, tenant communication preferences, rent collection methods, maintenance management needs, accounting processes, and reporting requirements. By gaining a deep understanding of these needs, you can design a solution that addresses them efficiently.
Existing Systems and Notable Features
Before starting the development process, it would be quite useful to review existing apartment management systems. This step allows you to gain insights into industry standards, best practices, and successful functionalities. Here are several popular systems worth considering:
1. Buildium: It’s a widely recognized property management platform that caters to various property types, including apartments. It offers a comprehensive suite of functionalities, including tenant portals, online rent collection, maintenance tracking, accounting tools, and robust reporting capabilities. Its user-friendly interface and intuitive design make it a popular choice among property management professionals.
2. AppFolio Property Manager: It’s a cloud-based property management platform that supports apartment management needs. It provides tools for online rent collection, lease management, maintenance requests, and accounting. AppFolio is recognized for its intuitive interface, mobile accessibility, and ability to optimize various property management tasks.
3. Yardi: It’s a leading provider of property management software with solutions tailored to multifamily apartments. Their software includes features such as vacancy management, lease tracking, maintenance scheduling, financial reporting, and integration with popular accounting software. Yardi is known for its scalability, industry-specific expertise, and wide adoption in the real estate industry.
By reviewing these systems and understanding their features, you can identify elements that align with your complex's requirements and incorporate them into your custom apartment management system. Conducting thorough research, reading user reviews, and consulting with industry professionals will help you make an informed decision and create a tailored solution for your apartment management needs.
To ensure your custom apartment management system maximizes efficiency and meets the needs of your project, consider incorporating the following trending features:
4. Tenant Portal: A secure online portal where tenants can access lease agreements, submit maintenance requests, view payment history, and communicate with the management team. This feature enhances convenience, improves tenant satisfaction, and fosters efficient communication.
5. Rent Collection Automation: Integrate online payment gateways and automated reminders for rent collection. This streamlines the process, reduces manual effort, and minimizes the chances of payment delays. It ensures consistent cash flow and improves overall financial management.
6. Maintenance Request Management: Implement a system that allows tenants to submit maintenance requests online, tracks the progress of requests, and provides real-time updates. This feature ensures prompt resolution of issues, reduces administrative burden, and enhances tenant satisfaction.
7. Accounting and Financial Management: Incorporate features for tracking rent payments, generating financial reports, managing expenses, and automating accounting tasks. This functionality simplifies financial management, ensures transparency, and facilitates efficient budgeting.
8. Document Management: Establish a centralized repository for storing and managing important documents, such as leases, contracts, and tenant records. This feature ensures easy access to essential information, reduces paperwork, and enhances overall organization.
9. Communication and Notifications: Integrate a system for sending automated communication and notifications to tenants. This can include reminders for rent payments, maintenance updates, community announcements, and emergency alerts. Effective communication strengthens tenant relationships and promotes a sense of community.
Stage of Development
When it comes to constructing a custom apartment management system, it’s important to carefully choose a programming language that aligns with your specific needs and even more important to find a proficient developer team. With a large selection of developer tools and technologies available, it's essential to select those that have consistently demonstrated maximum productivity. Drawing upon our extensive experience, we take great pleasure in presenting a thoroughly chosen array of highly efficient technologies that have repeatedly proven their relevance and usability over the years:
1. JavaScript: It’s is essential for front-end development and can be used with frameworks like React or Angular for building interactive user interfaces.
2. PHP: It’s a server-side scripting language commonly used for web development and has frameworks like Laravel that provide a solid foundation for building complex applications.
3. Database Management Systems: Selecting the right database management system (DBMS) is crucial for storing and managing data in your apartment management system. Some popular choices include:
- MySQL: An open-source relational database management system that is widely used due to its performance, scalability, and ease of integration.
- PostgreSQL: Another powerful open-source relational database system known for its robustness, extensibility, and support for complex queries.
- MongoDB: A popular NoSQL database that offers flexibility and scalability, making it suitable for handling large volumes of data and accommodating future growth.
4. Frameworks and Libraries: Utilizing frameworks and libraries can significantly speed up development and provide a solid foundation for your apartment management system. Here are a few examples:
- Laravel: A PHP framework known for its elegant syntax and extensive feature set, making it ideal for building complex web applications.
- Angular: It’s a JavaScript framework for building dynamic web applications. It offers a modular architecture, reusable components, and built-in features like routing and form validation. It's a versatile choice for complex front-end development.
- Bootstrap: A front-end framework that offers a collection of CSS and JavaScript components, enabling you to create responsive and visually appealing user interfaces.
5. API Integration: Integrating with external services and APIs can expand the functionality of your apartment management system. For example, you might consider integrating payment gateways, geolocation services, or messaging platforms to enhance tenant experiences and streamline operations.
6. Version Control Systems: Utilizing version control systems like Git or Mercurial can help you manage and track changes to your codebase effectively. This allows for collaboration among developers, easy bug tracking, and the ability to roll back to previous versions if needed.
7. Cloud Services and Hosting: Consider leveraging cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform for scalable and reliable hosting of your custom apartment management system. Cloud services offer benefits such as easy scalability, high availability, and robust security measures.
The Potential of Integrating ChatGPT
One exciting possibility for enhancing your custom apartment management system is the integration of ChatGPT. It can serve as a virtual assistant within your system, providing various benefits.
Tenant Support and Assistance
ChatGPT can handle common renter inquiries, provide information about complex policies and procedures, and offer assistance with general questions. This feature reduces the burden on property management staff, provides instant responses, and enhances tenant satisfaction.
Language Translation
With ChatGPT's language translation capabilities, renters with different language preferences can communicate effectively. It can translate messages, notices, and announcements into multiple languages, ensuring comprehensive and persistent communication.
Maintenance Request Sorting
ChatGPT can enhance the efficiency of the maintenance request process by assessing and prioritizing incoming requests, gathering necessary information from tenants, and categorizing the requests based on their level of urgency. This enables property managers to effectively manage and allocate tasks, leading to quicker response times.
Rent and Payment Assistance
ChatGPT can assist renters with questions related to rent payment methods, due dates, and payment history. It can provide automated reminders, generate payment receipts, and address payment-related concerns, improving the overall rent collection process.
Conclusion
Building a custom apartment management system tailored to the specific needs of your project is a worthwhile investment. By thoroughly assessing your requirements, reviewing existing systems, and incorporating trending features, you can create an efficient, user-friendly and comprehensive system. Choosing the right programming language, finding a proficient development team, and integrating technologies like ChatGPT can further enhance capacity of your project. With a custom apartment management system in place, you'll have the means to effectively manage your property, improve tenant satisfaction, and achieve overall success.
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses and individuals constantly seek innovative ways to optimize their processes and enhance productivity. One key solution that has gained significant attention is custom-made software. Tailored specifically to meet unique requirements and objectives, it offers a large number of benefits compared to off-the-shelf alternatives that can limit your business's growth potential. Today, we are diving into the world of custom-made software, its advantages, and how it can revolutionize how businesses and individuals operate.
Understanding Custom-Made Software
The purpose of custom-made software is to offer a unique solution that aligns precisely with your needs and goals. Unlike standard software, which provides general functionality for a wide range of users, custom computer software is designed to align perfectly with unique workflows, business models, and user preferences. It is created from scratch, allowing complete control over its features, design, and integration capabilities.
Custom software can grow and evolve with your business. It can be designed to handle increased workloads, incorporate new functionalities, and seamlessly integrate with existing systems, ensuring long-term scalability and adaptability.
As for the user experience, it’s also optimized for your specific needs. Custom application software enhances efficiency and productivity by focusing on usability, intuitive design, and personalized workflows, leading to higher user satisfaction and engagement.
Mass-market software often includes unnecessary features and complexities, making it less efficient and harder to learn. Custom-developed software overcomes these challenges by offering user-friendly interfaces, streamlining processes, and automating repetitive tasks, significantly boosting productivity.
The advantages of custom-written software are that it offers enhanced security measures, guarding against potential vulnerabilities and ensuring heightened data protection. That is achieved through the implementation of strong encryption, access controls, and user authentication mechanisms, enhancing the security of sensitive data in custom-made software.
Planning Your Project and Managing Costs
Outline the Project Parameters
Clearly define the scope of your project by identifying the key features and functionalities required. Prioritize the must-have features and separate them from nice-to-have ones. That helps manage costs and ensures the development team focuses on the most crucial aspects.
Finances
Determine a realistic budget for your custom-made software development project. Consider complexity, development time, resources required, and ongoing maintenance costs. Discuss your budget with potential development partners to ensure alignment and feasibility.
Development Approach
Consider adopting an Agile development approach, such as Scrum or Kanban. Agile methodologies emphasize iterative development, allowing flexibility, frequent feedback, and continuous improvement. This approach helps manage costs by delivering software incrementally and adjusting priorities as needed.
Collaboration
Maintain open and transparent communication with your development team throughout the project. Regularly discuss progress, address concerns or changes, and provide timely feedback. Effective collaboration ensures that the software aligns with your expectations and minimizes the risk of costly rework.
Consider Long-Term Maintenance
Discuss post-development support options with your development partner and consider the need for future updates, security patches, and feature enhancements.
Unlike ready-made software that may require additional licensing fees or customization, a custom software tailoring solution that eliminates the need for unnecessary features and ongoing expenses. By partnering with a reputable development team and strategically planning your project, you can ensure the successful delivery of a custom-made software solution that meets your specific needs and unlocks new opportunities for your business.
How to Choose a Developer Team
When searching for a custom-made application software development partner, it is crucial to consider their knowledge, background, and previous work when evaluating their suitability. Look for developers with a deep understanding of your industry and a proven track record of delivering successful custom software solutions. Collaborating with an experienced development team will ensure a smooth and efficient process, resulting in a tailored software solution that meets your requirements and exceeds expectations.
Define Your Requirements
Clearly articulate your goals, functionalities, and budget before approaching a developer team. That will help you communicate your needs effectively and evaluate potential partners.
Look for Relevant Experience
Seek a developer team with experience in your industry or a similar domain. They will understand your unique challenges and have the expertise to deliver a solution that meets your specific requirements.
Check Portfolios and Client Feedback
Review the portfolios of custom-made software development teams to assess their previous projects and the quality of their work. Request references and reach out to past clients to gain insights into their experience working with the team.
Evaluate Technical Expertise
Assess the technical skills and proficiency of the developer team. Look for certifications, proficiency in relevant programming languages and frameworks, and a track record of successful software development projects.
Additionally, when considering developer teams for your custom software project, it's worth noting that specialists from Eastern European countries such as Ukraine or Poland are renowned for their high qualifications and expertise. For the reason that IT industry in these countries has experienced rapid growth and development over the years, resulting in a rich talent pool of skilled professionals.
Here are some reasons why specialists from Eastern Europe can be a valuable choice for your custom software development needs
High-Quality Expertise
Eastern European specialists are known for their strong technical skills, proficiency in programming languages, and up-to-date knowledge of industry best practices. They often possess advanced computer science and engineering degrees, ensuring high expertise.
Cost Efficiency
While offering exceptional skills and expertise, Eastern European specialists generally charge lower rates than their counterparts in North America or Central Europe. This cost advantage can be significant when working within a tight budget or seeking to maximize the value of your investment.
Communication Skills
English proficiency is widespread among IT professionals in Eastern Europe. That makes communication with the development team efficient and effective, ensuring smooth collaboration throughout the project.
The Development Process: Steps to be Followed When Building a Custom-Made Software
Requirements Gathering: Clearly define your goals, objectives, and functionalities. Discuss your vision with the developer team to ensure a shared understanding of the project scope.
System Design: The system design phase begins once the requirements are established. That includes designing the database structure, determining the architecture, and mapping the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) elements.
Coding and Implementation: Qualified software engineers write the code, ensuring that the software meets the design specifications and incorporates any necessary integrations.
Backend Development: The backend is the "behind-the-scenes" part of the software that handles data storage, logic, and interactions with the frontend. Common technologies used in backend development include Node.js, PHP, and NestJS.
Frontend Development: The frontend is the visible part of the software users interact with. Technologies such as JavaScript, ReactJS, Angular, and Vue.js are commonly used for frontend development. These frameworks enable the creation of dynamic, responsive, and user-friendly interfaces.
Design: Design encompasses both the UI and UX aspects of the software. UI design focuses on the visual elements, while UX design ensures a seamless and intuitive user experience. Good design enhances usability and engagement.
Quality Assurance (QA): It involves thorough testing to identify and fix any bugs or issues. That ensures that the software functions correctly and meets the defined requirements. Testing is conducted at various stages of development to maintain high-quality standards.
Project Management: Project management ensures that the development process stays on track and meets deadlines. It involves effective planning, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
Deployment and Maintenance: Once the software has undergone thorough testing, it is deployed and available for use. Ongoing maintenance and support are provided to address any future needs or updates.
Here is a List With Brief Descriptions of the Key Technologies in Custom Software Development
Databases (DB): DB store and organize data used by the software. Popular database options include relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Firebase).
React Native: UI software framework for building cross-platform mobile applications. It allows for code sharing and rapid development across iOS and Android platforms.
ReactJS: ReactJS is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It allows for component-based development, reusability, and efficient rendering, resulting in fast and responsive web applications.
Angular: It’s an efficient JavaScript framework for building scalable and feature-rich applications. It provides a comprehensive set of tools and features for building complex frontend applications.
Vue.js: It’s a progressive JavaScript framework known for its simplicity and flexibility. It allows developers to adopt its features and scale applications as needed incrementally.
Node.js: Runtime environment that enables server-side JavaScript execution. It provides a scalable and efficient platform for backend development.
PHP: Widely-used scripting language for server-side development. It is known for its simplicity, extensive library support, and compatibility with various database systems.
Ionic Framework: Popular framework for building hybrid mobile applications using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It offers a single codebase for multiple platforms, reducing development time and costs.
Summary
In summary, custom-made software offers unmatched benefits in today's technology-driven world. By carefully selecting a competent developer team and following a well-planned development process, you can create a cost-effective solution that meets your unique needs, improves efficiency, and enhances user experiences. By following these guidelines, you can access the total capacity of tailored solutions for your business and unlock the full potential for growth and success!
Developing a web or mobile app gives a business great opportunities and provides benefits in the form of additional dividends and audience loyalty. Having a clear understanding of the end goals, it is essential to define the main functionality of the future application to achieve the business goals and effectively perform setting tasks.
How to identify core functionalities for your web/mobile application?
Before developing an application, businesses must understand what features should be included in the finished product. The efficiency of the application itself and the speed of achieving the set KPIs depend on this. What may work for one company does not resonate with the business goals of other companies. In this list, we cover what you should consider when compiling a feature list:
1. Define your business goals
What goals do you want to achieve with the app? Make a clear list of the problems your app will solve, what target audience will use it, and what preliminary results you expect.
2. Research the market and competitors
Analyze the market in your niche to understand what functionality your competitors already offer. Research and analyze their applications to understand what advantages they offer and disadvantages their products have. That will help you determine relevant features for your app to stand out in the market.
3. Make a preliminary list of features
Before development, list those features that will help you achieve your goals. Divide them into core and optional features. In the core features, list the ones without which your app won't be able to function efficiently and solve the users' problem. In the optional ones, list the ones which are not essential to the basic functionality but can add value and competitive advantage.
4. Prioritize features
Determine which features in the application are most important to achieve your initial goal. Prioritize and determine which features can be added later in later app versions. That will help you focus on developing the more essential components.
5. Conduct user research
The research will help you understand the needs and preferences of your target audience. Conduct surveys, interviews, focus groups, or analysis of user behavior in your niche. Use this data to refine and tailor your feature list to your users' needs.
6. Create user scenarios
Develop different user scenarios to better understand how users will interact with your app and what features they need to achieve their goals. For example, define how users will sign in, log in, perform specific tasks, make purchases, or interact with other users.
Top-9 Core functionalities for every web/mobile application
Multi-Device Synchronization
It is a process in which different devices work together and exchange information so that the data and settings on all devices are the same or consistent.
When devices synchronize, they usually use the Internet to exchange data. For example, you might sync your smartphone with your laptop to update contacts, calendars, and photos on both devices. When you make changes on one device, those changes are automatically transferred to other devices so that all appliances have up-to-date information.
This makes working on multiple devices as easy as possible, gives you a significant advantage in the app market, and guarantees more users.
A User-Friendly and Responsive Interface
In addition to a functional set, it is vital to think about a pleasant design and clear navigation for the user's enjoyable and convenient use of the application. In this way, interaction with the application is easy and effortless.
The user-friendly interface has clear and easily accessible buttons and menus, well-organized information, and clear instructions. This allows you to perform the necessary tasks without unnecessary complications.
The responsive interface ensures that the system responds quickly to user actions. When you press a button or perform an action, the responsive interface responds instantly and without delay. Or when you scroll through a web page or type on the keyboard, the responsive interface displays changes instantly and smoothly, with no visible delays.
The success of an application is directly related to its loading speed and the attractiveness of the interface. This is what users look for when choosing a user-friendly app.
A Search Option
This feature allows you to find the information you want in the app or on a website. When you enter keywords or phrases related to what the user is looking for, the app scans its database or content to find relevant results.
The search option saves time and effort by helping to search for specific items or information the user is looking for instead of having to browse everything manually. This option is handy on significant marketplaces to search for a particular item.
Push notifications
Push notifications typically appear on the screen of any user's device in the form of small messages or icons, including text, images, or sounds. They are designed to get your attention and notify you of updates or social media activity.
They are convenient and essential because they help you stay informed and ensure you get all the important information. However, if the user receives too many notifications, they can become intrusive or distracting. Therefore, it is crucial to provide the ability to customize their settings, which the user will set independently according to their preferences.
Offline Capabilities
With offline access, users can browse the app's content even when the device is not connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network. For example, you can view and edit documents, listen to music, or watch videos without the Internet.
It is often the case that you cannot connect to the Internet or have no network, for example, when traveling in regions with poor coverage or when saving data traffic. Therefore, this feature will be a great advantage for those users who want to use the application offline.
Analytics Tools
Analytics tools in a web or mobile app can track various user actions, such as app launches, page views, button clicks, interaction with interface elements, and other events.
Using this data, you can make informed decisions, make changes, optimize your app, and improve its functionality to meet user needs and increase the effectiveness of your app.
Security
Security refers to the measures and mechanisms built into the application to protect data and keep users safe. This process includes data encryption, protection against unauthorized access, and user information storage in secure locations.
This is a basic but important feature that will not only keep each user's data secure and protected but will also increase trust and loyalty to your app.
Online Payments
Online payments allow you to purchase in online stores, pay bills for services, send money to others, and much more. It is convenient because the user can make payments at any time and from any place with Internet access. To do this, it is necessary to connect an electronic payment system through which the payment will take place.
Due to the growing number of online stores, stores, and food delivery companies - the need to implement this function is increasing.
Integrations
Integration refers to the creation of links and interactions between different software components. This allows them to exchange data, transfer information, and use each other's functionality.
For example, suppose you have a hotel booking site. In that case, you can integrate it with maps and geolocation systems to offer users the nearest available hotels and show them on a map. Integrating various features and services into web and mobile apps makes the user experience easier and better.
Integrations help create more useful and powerful apps, extend functionality, and enable easy data exchange with other systems or services.
Summary
Mobile and web apps allow users to access information, interact with others, shop, automate workflows, simplify daily activities, and more through a user-friendly interface and unique features.
Which features you choose depends on your business, its needs, and the app's purpose. Everything is tailored individually. Combining all of the above features can be the perfect modern app to meet the needs of your customers. But if, for some reason, one of the items doesn't work for you, use something that will definitely increase the efficiency of your product.
In today's world, social platforms have become an integral part of our everyday lives. They provide the opportunity to communicate, share information and create communities, making them a powerful tool for business. Their popularity and influence on modern society have led many companies to realize the potential of social platforms in the context of B2B solutions.
Let's break down the process of implementing such social platforms step by step:
- Defining goals and requirements
The first step in developing social platforms for B2B businesses is to define specific goals and requirements for your project. You need to be clear about what features and capabilities should be available on your social platform. These include user profiles, sharing features, instant messaging, community building, and more. Determine what specific goals you want to achieve, such as expanding your network, attracting potential customers, or strengthening customer relationships. Understanding your goals will further guide your overall strategy and implementation. Prioritize and develop an action plan to address all the requirements of your B2B business.
- Choosing the right technology platform
The next step is to choose the right technology platform for developing a social platform. Many frameworks and tools can help you in this process. For example, you can use popular open-source frameworks such as Ruby on Rails, Django, or Laravel or choose ready-made social platforms such as BuddyPress for WordPress or Sharetribe for developing marketplaces. The appropriate choice of technology platform depends on your needs and your company's capabilities.
- Designing the architecture and database
After choosing a technology platform, it is essential to design the architecture of your social platform. This includes creating the database structure, defining modules and system components, and establishing interactions. A modular approach is recommended to ensure the flexibility and scalability of your social platform. Divide functionality into modules such as authentication, user profiles, messaging, community management, and others. This approach will simplify your platform's development, testing, and support.
- Designing the user interface
The user interface is a key element of any social platform. Designing an attractive and intuitive user interface will help attract and retain users on your platform. Remember your company's brand identity when designing and ensure user-friendly navigation and clear and attractive interface elements.
- Implementing functionality
At this stage, you can start implementing the basic functionality of your social platform. Provide the ability to customize user profiles, set access rights, filter content, and other features necessary to ensure the platform's security and usability. Create modules for registering users, creating profiles, sending messages, forming communities, and other elements that meet your requirements.
- Integration with external systems
Integrating with external systems is a crucial step when implementing a social platform in a B2B business. Enable data exchange between the social platform and external systems to provide a unified flow of information and improve the efficiency of your business. These can be CRM systems, electronic payment systems, analytics tools, and other applications your company uses.
- Testing and launching
Conduct thorough testing before launching your social platform to detect and fix possible bugs and issues. Perform functional testing, compatibility testing with various browsers and devices, and security testing. Once testing is successfully completed, you can begin launching your social platform. Install the necessary server resources and configurations, and configure the security and scalability of the system. As you launch, monitor the process and ensure all components work correctly.
- Support and update
Developing and implementing a social platform is just the beginning. It's essential to continue to provide support and updates to your platform as needed. Regularly release updates, fix bugs, and add new features and enhancements to meet the needs of your audience. Provide timely support to users, answer their questions, and guide how to use the platform.
- Analysis and optimization
Integrating social platforms into B2B solutions provides an opportunity to collect valuable data and metrics. Analyze this data to understand which features are used most often, what issues arise, and what improvements can be made. Use analytics tools to measure the effectiveness of your social platform and make informed decisions to optimize it.
Summary
Incorporating social platforms into B2B solutions can significantly benefit your business. However, for this process to be successful, you need to properly plan, design, and implement a social platform, taking into account your company's technical aspects and requirements. By following the steps outlined above and paying attention to detail, you can create a powerful tool to help strengthen your business connections, expand your customer base, and make your company more competitive in your business domain.
In today's world, companies are actively seeking ways to automate and optimize their business processes with the help of software. When choosing how to implement such solutions, the question arises is whether to create custom software or buy a ready-made solution. Both approaches have their cons and pros, but each has its own application for a specific purpose. The final decision on the choice between these approaches will depend on the client's individual needs and the business goals.
Let's look at both approaches in more detail, which may help to choose favor of one of them.
Build custom software
The essence of this approach is that the company orders software product development from an IT company's specialized development team. It has a clear plan of action and a list of requirements for the future product. Also, a digital product created from scratch can fully automate specific business processes of the client company, taking into account the specifics of the industry.
Pros of the approach
Tailored to individual needs
The company will receive a solution fully customized to its unique needs and requirements. That can be registration forms, buttons, visual elements, individual blocks, custom graphics or dashboards, unique designs, and more. The company can also define the required functionality, architecture, design, and integration with other systems according to specific business processes.
Flexibility and scalability
The customer company controls the whole development process and can make changes and expansions as needed. That allows them to respond quickly to changes in business requirements and scale the system as the company grows.
Security
Developers can implement data protection mechanisms and use advanced encryption methods to ensure high security in the finished system.
Ability to integrate
The development of a digital product from scratch provides the ability to fully integrate with the company's other systems. That allows for efficient data exchange between different systems and increases the overall efficiency of the client's company.
Ownership of intellectual property
The company has complete intellectual property rights associated with the created product. That gives the company control over it and the ability to develop and monetize it further.
Cons of the approach
High price
The development of any product usually requires a significant financial investment. A company must consider the cost of hiring experienced developers, conducting requirements analysis, designing, developing, testing, and supporting the product. That can lead to significant costs, especially for smaller companies with limited budgets. Nevertheless, a business development investment quickly pays off for the company.
Development duration
Creating software is a lengthy process, especially for complex and large-scale projects. The time required for requirements analysis, design, development, and testing can be significant, which delays the implementation and use of the finished product in the business.
When a business needs custom development from scratch
Customized needs
If a company has unique business needs that cannot be met by ready-made solutions on the market, developing a customized digital product allows them to create a solution that fully meets the requirements and goals of the company.
Competitive advantage
A unique software solution created specifically for a company can provide more efficient and innovative functionality, an engaging user experience, or improved processes, which helps stand out in the market and attract new customers.
Long-term strategy
Instead of relying on third-party vendors and ready-made solutions, a company can create a product that it can control, develop and scale according to its needs and changes in the business.
Business process optimization
Specialized software allows companies to automate routine tasks, improve interaction between departments and increase the company's efficiency as a whole.
Buy ready-made solution
Ready-made software solution usually has a wide range of functionality that can be applied to various business tasks. That allows companies to save development time and start using the software almost immediately after purchase. When choosing a ready-made solution, a company should carefully evaluate its functionality and flexibility to ensure it meets its basic requirements.
Pros of the approach
Customizable functionality
That includes adding modules, integrating with other systems, and customizing program parameters.
Time-saving
Digital turnkey products are already developed, tested, and ready to use. Purchasing this product saves the company's time they usually spend on requirements analysis, development, and testing solution.
Fast start-up
Ready-made digital products have already been developed and tested, allowing companies to use and benefit quickly. The company can quickly incorporate the product into its business processes and get results without waiting for development to be completed.
Low costs
Buying a ready-made digital product is usually cheaper than developing a solution from scratch. In this case, the company avoids the high costs of hiring developers, requirements analysis, and the development process, which can significantly reduce costs and improve budgetary performance.
Proven solution
Ready-made digital products are usually thoroughly tested and have a proven track record. By purchasing such a product, a company gets a proven solution that has already been used by other customers and has demonstrated its effectiveness.
Cons of the approach
Business process mismatch
The turnkey solution may not meet the company's exact needs or require additional customization and integration with existing systems. In some cases, the company may need help adapting the turnkey solution to specific business processes, which can result in a loss of time and resources.
Limited customization and integration
Ready-made digital products may offer limited customization and integration with other systems or applications to meet unique customer requirements, which may require additional modifications.
Vendor dependency
Buying a ready-made product can create dependence on the supplier of that product. The company will rely on the vendor for support, updates, and bug fixes if any are encountered. If the vendor is unable or unwilling to continue to develop and support the product, the company may find itself in a quandary.
High licensing costs
Buying a ready-made solution can incur significant licensing costs, especially if the company plans to use the product on several workstations or for a large number of users. That can impact the company's budget and reduce financial efficiency.
When a business needs to buy a ready-made digital solution
Urgency
When a company has urgent needs for a specific functional solution, buying a ready-made product can quickly meet those needs. That is especially true if there is no time or resources to develop their solution.
Limited budget
If a company has a limited budget to develop its digital solution, buying a ready-made product can be more cost-effective. It avoids the cost of development and hiring developers and reduces the risks associated with budget and development time.
No need for unique features
Buying a ready-made digital solution may be enough if a company doesn't require specific features and capabilities only available when developing its solution. If the solution offers all the features the company needs, it can avoid developing and testing its product.
Narrow specialization
Some industries have specialized, ready-made digital solutions designed for specific vertical markets or industries. In such cases, buying such a solution specifically tailored to the needs of an enterprise may be preferable because it already meets that industry's specific requirements and standards.
Summary
Ultimately, choosing between creating custom software and buying a ready-made solution depends on a company's specific needs and goals. If a company has unique business processes or needs full software customization, custom software creation may be preferable. That will allow the company to get a solution that best meets its requirements and contributes to optimizing business processes.
However, ready-made software may be the best option if a company requires a faster, more cost-effective solution. It is essential to carefully study the market for this kind of solution to choose the one that best meets the company's needs and is flexible enough to adapt to individual requirements. It's also important to consider company resources, budget, and timeline.
Ideally, companies can combine both approaches, using ready-made solutions as a foundation and complementing them with custom development to meet unique needs. For example, a company might purchase an off-the-shelf customer relationship management (CRM) system and complete it with the custom development of a module specific to its industry or business process. That strikes a balance between efficiency and flexibility.
The year 2023 is when technology continues to overturn the existing order of things in the digital environment. Developers look for new ways to push development boundaries every year. From web development to machine learning, the languages we'll discuss today offer a wide range of possibilities and allow developers to turn their creative ideas into reality.
The most popular programming languages in 2023
Languages, once considered groundbreaking, are becoming the standard, while new versions are constantly emerging to meet the needs of the most demanding projects of all sizes. The rapid development of the digital world in all areas of business and industries leads to a constant demand for powerful programming languages that can be used to create innovative products that simplify the work processes of any business. And also increasing the level of efficiency through the automation of work processes.
In this dynamic programming landscape, some languages are rapidly gaining popularity because of their strengths and ability to meet modern developers' needs. At the same time, some traditional languages remain relevant and continue to play an essential role in the programming world. It is important not to lose the balance between "classics" and new languages that complement the development process and make it more straightforward.
We analyze the top programming languages shaping the technology landscape of 2023 and enabling developers to build high-performance applications, create intelligent algorithms and machine learning, develop web applications, and process massive amounts of data.
Whether you're a seasoned programmer or just starting out in the development world, these popular languages offer you the opportunity to explore new horizons in technology. Let's take a look at what programming languages are worth learning and using in 2023 to stay at the forefront of innovation and successfully implement your projects.
- Python continues to hold its position as one of the most popular programming languages. With its simple syntax, Python is ideal for developing web applications, data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. With an extensive ecosystem of libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, it provides powerful tools to solve diverse problems.
- JavaScript remains an integral part of web development and continues to hold an important place in the programming world. Because of its versatility and widespread use in frontend and backend development, JavaScript is a significant component for creating interactive user interfaces and web applications. Frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, and Vue.js make developing JavaScript web applications effortless.
- Java is one of the most popular programming languages, especially in enterprise environments. Because of its reliability, portability, and extensive support from the developer community, Java is used to develop scalable applications, web services, and mobile applications on the Android platform. Java also offers a rich selection of frameworks, such as Spring, that simplify application development and management.
- TypeScript, a programming language built on top of JavaScript, will continue to gain popularity in 2023. It adds static typing to JavaScript, which helps developers identify errors at compile time and create more robust code. TypeScript is widely used to develop large projects and applications. Its support in popular integrated development environments (IDEs) such as Visual Studio Code makes it an attractive choice for many developers.
- Go (or Golang) is a relatively new programming language gaining popularity in 2023. Developed at Google, Go provides simplicity and efficiency, enabling the creation of high-performance applications and services. Because of its competitive performance and ability to scale quickly, Go is often used to create web servers, micro-services architecture, and big data processing.
Summary
These five programming languages are leading the development world this year. They provide developers with powerful tools for creating various applications and solutions, including web apps, mobile apps, and large-scale digital projects. The choice of programming language depends on the specific needs of the project and the developer's preferences. Still, these five leaders provide a solid foundation for success in today's technology environment.
The technological landscape is constantly changing, and programming languages are also evolving. New languages emerge, and existing ones are updated and adapted to changing needs. Therefore, developers need to remain flexible, adapt to the rapidly changing technological environment, keep abreast of the latest trends, and learn new technologies and programming languages to successfully implement projects of any complexity.
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