Technological innovation in the mobile industry has paved way for
an exponential growth worldwide. With a large subscriber base with nearly 440
million smart phone users, this industry is still heading forward. These
figures showcase the demand for mobility among the new age customers and their
need to stay socially connected. Further, the power of the smartphones and the
computing tablets have also paved way for the growth of mobile workforce and
virtual offices, shopping malls and libraries. However, to stay ahead in the
competitive environment, organizations need to device ways and means meet the
ever-changing digital life of the customers.
Today’s IT industry is busy developing mobile applications, operating systems and platforms for a boundary less working
environment. Adoption of such applications will facilitate enterprise
mobility and allow corporate houses and business establishments to connect to
their workforce, clients and suppliers anytime irrespective of the location.
However, to get the most of the enterprise mobility, the industry leaders in
product R&D services need to develop applications that are intuitive and
user friendly, support various operating systems, devices and carriers, with
ability to integrate with backend systems while being compliant to the
corporate security policies.
However, in today’s complex technology landscape and availability
of various frameworks, a distributed software development that supports
collaboration and network outages will prove beneficial for the modern
enterprise environment. Distributed software development actually refers to the
development of software solutions and applications either through nearshore
development services or outsourced from offshore development teams.
Irrespective of working in a heterogeneous development environment and being a
part of nearshore development
services or offshore development
services, this process requires active participation by every team member.
Communication is an important aspect for the distributed software
development teams and needs to be in constant contact irrespective of
geographical boundaries. These distributed and networked teams make use of
emails, threaded discussions, instant messaging and web conferencing to stay in
touch. However, industry leaders of mobile technologies have developed best
breed of technology stack to provide the developers the freedom to integrate
various technological frameworks. These providers not only help the
developers to gain the advantages of distributed Agile development
but also facilitates the use of features such as continuous
integration, issue tracker, repository code and repository browsing besides
providing clarity and transparency across the breadth and depth.
However, the distributed software development teams are fast catching up today to meet up to the customers
demands for software projects. With newer modes and innovative ways for
information exchange, these teams collaborate easily. Further, the availability
of web based repository-centric development tools have given these offshore
development teams real-time accesses to update themselves.
Also read on - agile
lifecycle management, Product R&D
Services
An agile methodology can be of great assistance when the customers’ necessities go through a change and the enterprise is not in a position to act in response to the new requirements in time. Agility is the need of the hour and is the most important component responsible for positive developments in business. Your enterprise needs agility to be capable of addressing the risks and concerns effectively to ensure smooth operations and efficient performances. With its ability to respond efficiently to the ever evolving requirements, the agile methodology provides immense benefits to the enterprise.
Agile methodologies promote a project management process that encourages stakeholder involvement, feedback, objective metrics and effective controls. For best distributed software development, the solution needs to have the ability of facilitating effective communication across distributed teams. It also needs to also be ready to offer absolute transparency into project health monitoring, risk management and progress tracking. An agile lifecycle management ensures that there are no gaps in communication and understanding of the customer’s requirements, as there is an incessant and steady communication with the customer. Specific documentation and delivery of best quality also makes agile lifecycle management significantly important among enterprises.
The various project teams of enterprises can employ agile lifecycle management solutions to avail of benefits that consist of the generation of timely and actionable reports, ability to track several projects precisely, identifying potential risks, getting real-time information, easy and effective reporting abilities. With new technological developments in mobile applications, embedded systems, cloud-computing processes, product testing and quality assurance have become the critical components for organizations in maintaining a competitive edge. Invest in a solution that provides a complete traceability matrix and continuous integration framework. The solution must also enable product owners to align a product to real user needs and adapt the development process accordingly. It must significantly reduce code defects by enforcing excellent coding practices.
William A. Foster once quoted “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skilful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” It is therefore essential to adopt a solution that can quickly adapt to changing requirements while maintaining product quality and successfully meeting launch deadlines. Enterprises that get the get the agile solution advantage allow their project team managers to gain crucial visibility into different projects. An effective agile lifecycle management solution enables clients to balance innovation, cost, time-to-market and product quality by relying well-defined roles, artifacts and communication models.
Related Links: mobile application development, nearshore development services
The
innovations in the world of technology have prompted the need for
advanced products and services. Globalization led to increased
business needs that has placed in demands for enhanced software
applications and IT infrastructure. The large number of processes
flowing in a networked business environment Has brought with it
complexities. Further, with businesses carrying out a number of
interrelated functions, the need for high rate of accuracy in
developing software applications also high.
With
globalization comes expanse of business across wider locations.
The
leading IT giants in their attempt to meet the customer requirements
and organizational objectives have now forayed into distributed
software development. Further, with IT market booming in to meet
the challenges of the competitive business world there number of
software developing teams and individuals also who work either as
freelancers or have formed up as small and medium enterprises.
Besides the corporate giants in the IT industry, these small and
medium level software developers either take up work orders of
customer
research.
However
the new trendsetters in the industry are the software development
companies which take up application development as offshore
development teams to help organizations to meet their requirements
of various software applications. These offshore development
companies with good
industry
expertise
use
wide variety of business
intelligence tools
to
develop cost effective and quality software solutions. Such solutions
facilitate organizations to enhance customer engagement and
retention.
Outsourcing
of software development has a number of advantages because of which
this has turned into a booming industry sector on its own. The
software development companies with their industry expertise across
verticals ensure continuous improvement as they develop solutions for
all markets and business needs . With good customer research
and
innovation as the key, these teams work out unique solutions
customized for each organization. All the software service providers
work with an aim to building trust and strengthening their
business relationships with the clients, thus ensuring amazing
returns on the investment for the clientele.
The
providers of
offshore
development services
ensure
that the critical data and network are secure from all vulnerable
threats. These distributed software development teams work out
solutions to maintain the security and confidentiality of the data
and network. Today with technological advancement leading to cloud
services, these software development enterprises make use of the
cloud services to provide their clientele with an automated,
flexible and convenient storage space that is accessible anytime from
any locations.
Related
links: offshore
product engineering,
android
application development
Customer research is more than a process. It is often known as a reality check that organizations need to have for formulating future product expansion strategies. It challenges the status quo and offers few odd surprises here and there. Customer research is an effective way to find out what your target customer is really thinking. You get actual feedback when someone outside the sales process is conducting it.
Why customer research is important?
Most companies that have been actively involved in customer research have been surprised many times by the consumer trends that the research highlighted. Effective customer research programs allow you to locate the need for product innovation, assess partnering opportunities and get access to valuable competitor information.
However, the actual value of customer research can be experienced when the data is collected systematically by an expert researcher or a service provider. This data is further used to distinguish the trends prevailing that otherwise can be termed as hearsay without much evidence. When the trends are identified with adequate evidence it acquires a strategic dimension allowing organizations to arrive at smart business decisions.
Industry Offerings in Customer Research Solutions
Today leading brands in Product R& D Services have come up with new age customer research solutions. This enables an organization to achieve a better understanding of their consumer's psyche. These companies with their new age methods and able project execution engineers offer users with the very basis for continuous collaboration if used regularly. In addition to that, other incorporated procedures help clients to engage their respective stakeholders in product planning and outline new product features through the development lifecycle. Some of the core focus areas are listed below:-
- Customer Requirements
- Product Requirements
- Product Usage / Features
- Future Products
- Pricing Models
Customer Research and Marketing Initiatives
One of the popular definitions of marketing defines it as the “process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual (customer) and organizational objectives". The central point here is the role played by an individual and his association with a particular service and product. To know what the customer associate with a brand and its offerings customer research is the key element. It helps enterprises to understand what factors contribute to brand loyalty.
Read on - software development company, android application development
Our mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. It has acquired a greater dimension than just being a device to make and accept calls and texting. With added features such as social gaming, GPRS, internet connectivity, browsing and social networking we cannot imagine our life without a mobile phone. No wonder, that there has been a significant growth in the mobile application development industry. Furthermore, with the latest iPhones and Android enabled phones, the demand for specific applications have gone up.
Seamless development of Android and iPhone mobile applications
The potency of the modern day smart phones and computing devices have resulted in making several virtual offices, movies theaters, shopping malls and libraries that go anywhere and everywhere where consumers go. Leading mobile technology players such as Android and Apple have activated various devices in a single day. To keep functioning in a market without any boundaries you need to always keep evolving to cater to your consumer’s changing digital life trends. It is thus important to ensure that people are connected to their social networks and businesses.
Innovative iPhone and Android Application Development Solutions
Leading companies specializing in product R&D services have developed a deep understanding about the dynamic and evolving mobile environment, especially in Android and iPhone application development. These companies have the expertise in mobile technology than spans across various mobile devices, platforms and operating systems. They have experimented on each and everything from a single mobile chip to a total application. They also develop, design, test, implement and assist both organizations and consumer mobile applications for the following technologies:-
Mobile Devices
· iPad
· iPhone
· Motorola
· LG
· Samsung
· Motorola
· Microsoft
· Nokia
· BlackBerry
· Sony Ericsson
Mobile Operating Systems and Platforms
· Android
· iOS J2ME
· BREW
· Windows Mobile
· Palm
· Symbian
· BlackBerry
Whether you are looking for a new product launch or want to develop a new iPad application for your mobile component, adapt Android mobile application processors, eminent product R&D companies help you attain all your objectives. With simple and easy to use applications you are able to customize your mobile applications that you want in a cost-efficient way.
Latest market reports and studies have indicated that the mobile application development industry is slated for long term profit. This is because, with every new mobile technology innovation, an application will become a necessity. Furthermore, mobile manufacturers today aims to come up with affordable handsets having the latest technologies.
Related Links: Open source software development, Mobile app development
With the ability to empower development-intensive companies to implement and enforce best practices across the organization, Application lifecycle management (ALM) solutions can make a big difference. Although it is an integral part of the lifecycle of any software application that helps the development team manage the processes, ALM is not really synonymous with Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Application lifecycle Management improves instant communication and information-sharing among all key stakeholders. An application lifecycle management solution presents numerous remarkable advantages to all development-intensive businesses, like those that design, build, and sell software to customers and other third-parties. Businesses can boost productivity, cost-efficiency, and quality with application lifecycle management solutions in place. Application lifecycle management offers many dramatic benefits to all development-intensive businesses, such as those that design, build, and sell software to customers and other third-parties, or companies that assign in-house IT teams to develop proprietary software for internal use by employees.
The actual benefits can be enjoyed by both business owners and IT, only when ALM is executed correctly. Individual tools that are not integrated can get cumbersome and be far less economical to use. To ensure the best results, ALM tools need to be integrated with other tools within the organization. As they allow companies to quickly and efficiently design and build new software applications or enhance existing ones, application lifecycle management software systems offer the agility and flexibility needed to instantly respond to changing customer requirements. One of the main advantages of application lifecycle management is that teams can concentrate on existing business necessities, reduce rework, improve development processes, and make quicker, better decisions. This in turn leads to high-quality products that are delivered on time.
Investing in the right ALM solution can also empower product managers with the tools and technologies that are essentials to restructure the whole software product development process. A good Application Lifecycle management solution ensures end-to-end traceability between work items that begin from business requirements and extend all the way to final test execution results and release decision support.
Decide on an ALM solution that supports and encourages collaboration regardless of role, organization, or geographic location. A good service provider will have the industry expertise that allows companies to maximize their investment in employees, technologies, and other resources. They ensure that resource skills or capabilities are accurately matched to the requirements of each particular task, activity, or phase in the development lifecycle. This, in turn, can reduce development-related costs and increase efficiency.
Also read on - Product lifecycle management, business intelligence tools
Technology is always progressing and developing in leaps and bounds. In the recent past, there have been significant changes taking place in the field of technological applications. Mobiles today are the most widely used devices and a must for the youth. This is more so because of its additional applications and allied features such as gaming, browsing, social networking, emailing and the like. Today it is the popular surge of demand for mobile application that encourages technical professionals to strategize the future of mobile application development.
According to a study conducted by the renowned Global Intelligence Alliance the main three causes as to why enterprises opt in for native mobile applications are:-
- They are able to set up high quality user interface
- They can leverage popular established application store distribution channels
- There is a requirement to access device hardware
Apart from this, the other three essential reasons as to why businesses and enterprises opt in for specific web technologies in case of mobile application development are as follows:-
- To be able to establish high end user interface
- Cost benefits of providing one interface available on numerous environments
- Having direct control over the distribution having no requirement to have a third party approval
Today eminent Product R& D Services companies are well equipped with the appropriate tools, procedures and other required experience and expertise to set up mobile applications quicker and cost-efficiently. Few of their focus areas are:-
- Presence & Social Networking
- Mobile VoIP
- Gaming
- Location-Based Services (LBS)
- Messaging & Syncing
- Mobile Media Streaming
- Mobile Advertisement & Ad Engines
These solution providers also have the experience and skill for partnering with Level A enterprises and supporting them with valuable product lifecycle management solutions. Some of the important mobile application development facilities offered by them are:-
- Developing mobile applications in J2ME, BREW, Android, iPhone, Symbian, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry
- Conceptualizing mobile applications and eliciting requirements, for instance UI design, prototype, wireframes, user stories
- Designing, developing and testing applications
- Porting mobile applications between platforms and devices
- Developing server-side and infrastructure, including for location & mapping services
- Integrating third-party components on the server side, for instance SMS/MMS, billing, feeds, ads, content and many others
- Integrating carrier, SMSC and billing systems, for instance LBS platform for location determination
- Coordinating with carriers and device manufacturers for mobile application testing and certification, for instance NSTL, Java Verified
- Launching and distributing mobile applications
- Carrier Catalogs and Storefronts
- Providing maintenance and support services
With such innovative services mobile application development industry is bound to expand and grow in the years to come, making it possible for numerous market players to make profit.
Read on - Advisory services, Application lifecycle management