DEV Community: Fively

How to Build Cross-Platform Mobile Apps

Alexey Kalachik — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:31:56 +0000

In the struggle for mobile customers, businesses aim to cover as many formats as possible. Segmentation is a good thing but sometimes you don’t have resources for making separate solutions. It doesn’t mean you have to reject one platform or another, though - make your app omnipresent. Here we’ll tell you more about that.

A cross-platform application is aimed at functioning on several platforms. You can attract more customers due to such compatibility that is a cost-effective strategy. Apart from that, cross-platform development is a reasonable choice when:

a native app would have any limitations;
business logic is constantly changing and entails app adaptations;
an app is needed in a short term

General Recommendations for App Building

There are certain standards steps for app making, regardless of the platform you’re going to use:

Define your goals and the app’s benefits to its users
Make a customer roadmap
Describe the features to add
Find a contractor
Choose a development way
Build an MVP
Launch, test, and learn
Make improvements until you get a full-fledged product
Create your app
Test, release, and learn
Upscale

Mobile cross-platform development, though, has its own peculiarities. Let’s learn more about them.

Exploring Tools

According to Statista, React Native, Flutter, Ionic, Cordova, and Xamarin are the most demanded tools among the cross-platform development companies in 2020. Looks like they cover a large scope of tasks and meet the needs for functional apps. Let’s check that.

*React Native* takes first place in the list of popular tools as the most widely-used. It’s an open-source framework that allows reusing pieces of code, maintaining a single codebase for iOS and Android, and creating a native-like UI. This makes the workflow smoother and lets users enjoy the ultimate variant of an app.

*Flutter* can also boast a single codebase but its real thing is unique widgets. Actually, everything in Flutter is a widget that allows making changes quickly and creating a solution cut out for customers’ needs.

*Ionic* is a toolkit with pre-designed UI components for web and mobile apps. It is famous for dynamic user interfaces and robust apps. If you want to cover Android and iOS and put an emphasis on a web browser, look at it.

*Cordova* involves web technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. It has strong community support, opportunities for debugging and offline development. Giant enterprises use it to benefit from the rich experience of the products.

*Xamarin* is a part of the .NET ecosystem. It’s a highly trusted framework with native interface access. Xamarin has libraries for common patterns and streamlined Visual Studio support.

Why is it important to know about cross-platform development technologies for you as a business owner? First, we bet you want a solution built with the help of the most popular tools with a developed ecosystem and support. Second, you will acknowledge the technical part better and will be able to recognize what you pay for. Third, it will be easier for you to hire cross-platform developers.

Conquering App Stores

Since Apple and Google control more than 95 % of the app store market, you should concentrate efforts on App Store and Google Play. App marketplaces have their rules and you will have to play by them to get approval.

App Store guidelines deserve your special attention as they cover business, safety, design, performance, and legal issues. App Store is very strict when it comes to violent or pornographic content, and copyrights.

Google Play policies emphasize user trust so you must be especially careful with user data and user-generated content. Violence, drugs, pornography are also restricted.

You can also try using alternative app stores like Aptoide, GetJar, or Amazon App Store. Planning simultaneous releases on several platforms demands a carefully planned development schedule, so organize it in advance.

App store approval is one of the most stressful parts for any product owner. The process takes up to two weeks and reminds a black box system as it’s not that transparent as we would prefer it to be and the feedback is quite limited. As a result, you just face the verdict - approved or rejected. Rejection means missed business opportunities, so it’s important to learn the rules of app stores and prepare oneself mentally.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

Finding the Right Developer

Now you know more about the technical part of the process and will pay attention to the tools offered by coders. However, finding a specialist or a team can be far more challenging than you expect. We recommend you to use the following criteria:

experience and portfolio;
rates and price;
recommendations and ratings;
communication style;
your impression

We also recommend you to check our guides ‘Good Developer. How to Find and Identify’ and ‘How to Find the Right Freelancer on UpWork’ if you want to discover more about using talent marketplaces and job boards.

In case you’d like to skip this step and get down to mobile app development now, drop us a line.

Web Performance: Why You Should Care

Alexey Kalachik — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:27:39 +0000

Cloud infrastructure and platforms, modern programming languages and smart architecture designs - all these things are superb, but worth nothing if your website performance is slow. If you make users wait for 3 seconds to browse your page, they won't do it for the second time, but rather search for a better experience at your competitor. In our short review we sorted out the most important benchmarks of your website performance quality and collected 14 front-end optimisation techniques to make it better.

What Metrics to Benchmark

There are numerous tools to check web performance. The most simple and popular way is to run Chrome Development Tool by pressing F12 key, where you should choose the “Performance” tab and press the button “Record”. The tool will show you the overall website speed, elements that slow down performance and bulky pieces of code, while the “Networking” tab can even highlight problems with the server and hosting. If you get a speed test result that is higher than 3 seconds, then it indicates slow web performance.

But for a more sophisticated website performance test you should use special tools like Chrome User Experience Report, Lighthouse, Sematext Synthetics, Website Speed Test, etc., which indicate different web performance benchmarks. According to Google, there are three most important website performance benchmarks:

*Largest Contentful Paint*: measures the time a website takes to show the user the largest content on the screen;
*First Input Delay*: shows the time from when a user first interacts with your site;
*Cumulative Layout Shift*: quantifies the impact of layout shifts on your site.

There also some other important web performance metrics we recommend you to benchmark:

*TTFB*: time to first byte, tells you how fast your server responds with the first package;
*Page size*: the total size of all CSS, javascript, images, HTML;
*Number of requests*: total number of requests to load all the elements;
*First Contentful Paint*: the moment when your hero section is fully loaded;
*TTI*: time to interactive, that is the moment the site can respond to user input;
*Page speed and load time*: the moment when every resource is fully loaded and can respond to user input.

With the help of these benchmarks you can not only evaluate the quality and speed of your web performance, but also highlight the hidden pain points and see the page with the users’ eyes.

Reasons of Slow Performance

Before we list the ways to improve the web performance, let’s look at the factors that slow it down:

*Heavy CSS and JavaScript use* - when more pieces of code are loaded than are actually used on the page;
*Poor server/hosting plan* - sometimes the chosen hosting plan is too small for the needs of the website;
*Large image sizes and absence of browser cache* - not using pictures compression and browser caching;
*Too many widgets and plugins* - bulky designed websites cause difficulties to its proper work;
*Hotlinking resources from slow servers* - use of side resources with slow website performance.

Start web optimization with elimination or at least decreasing of the above mentioned mistakes and you will already get better performance test results.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

Frontend Tips to Fix Website Performance

Here we collected 14 web performance optimization strategies that will help to speed up your page in no time:

*Compress and minify your code files:* use Gzip and Brotli to compress heavy HTML, JS and CSS code files, plus Webpack to minify them;
*Remove unused CSS and JS:* reduce the pages size by only shipping the needed code using the coverage tool in Chrome Development Tool;
*Load JS asynchronously*: setting the async flag on the <script> tag will let the browser load the script asynchronously, parsing the page while the script is loaded;
*Reduce the number of HTTP requests:* each request need time to perform, so eliminate the unnecessary ones and optimize what’s left by compressing;
*Switch to HTTP/2:* switch your website from HTTP/1.1 to HTTP/2 protocol, which can send multiple files simultaneously, cutting the number of requests;
*Reduce the number of plugins*: leave only those that are actually needed;
*Optimize images and videos sizes:* use tools like Optimus, MozJPEG and Guetzli for pictures compressing, and HTML5 or AV1 format for video optimization;
*Use responsive image techniques and WebP:* with the help of srcset, sizes, and elements you can deliver differently scaled images based on the size and resolution of the accessing device, and simply converting the image into WebP format makes it up to 30% smaller than a JPEG one;
*Use website caching*: store a copy of the asset that a user has requested and later accesses the cached copy instead of the original one, reducing bandwidth consumption, latency, and the workload of the server;
*Use prefetch, preconnect, and prerender techniques*: tell the browser that a certain domain name will need to be resolved to an IP address before the browser actually sees resources from it. The same method is used in preconnect and prerender techniques;
*Choose a content delivery network ([CDN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_delivery_network)):* it allows to reduce the physical distance between a user and the website’s hosting server using a version of the content in different geographical locations;
*Write mobile version of the page:* optimizing the desktop website for mobile can be a painful process which slows down performance on these devices, so try to write for mobile first or simply write a lighter mobile version of your page;
*Minimize time to first byte:* concentrate on reducing the server processing time by optimizing its hardware, logic and the way its queries databases;
*Set the right hosting plan:* shared hosting is the cheapest and slowest one, virtual private server uses multiple machines for one user, dedicated is the most expensive as you rent the entire customizable machine, and serverless is when you don’t need a server at all. Switch the hosting plan depending on your needs.

Using these FE techniques as well as eliminating the slowing down factors can greatly speed up your web performance and take user experience to the next level. We hope that you enjoyed this article, and if you want to find out more about web performance optimization strategies, feel free to contact us here.

10 Questions To Ask Before Developing an App

Alexey Kalachik — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:21:18 +0000

Developing a good app requires careful scoping, strategic planning and hiring a top-notch development team. It’s also extremely important to have a good idea of the end product you would like to receive. To get these things together, we compiled a list of 10 questions to answer that will help you in this process:

How would you validate your app idea?

Before you get alpha and beta versions of the app, it should go through the proof of concept (POC), prototype and minimum viable product (MVP) development stages. First helps to answer the question of feasibility of your idea, second shows how your app will function and the last reveals app core functionalities and value proposition. Using these validation strategies will help to see the areas for improvement, elicit new features or development strategies, and increase the likelihood of your app success on the market.

Do you have a project description?

Brand new project, takeover of the existing project or updating legacy apps - each of these three different types of projects need individual project description. To get one you need to describe what you already have, validate an idea of the final result, enumerate the features and functionality you want to get and set the timeline for the development.

What is your app target audience?

Realise which people will use your app and find out as much as you can about their behaviour. What do they have in common and what do they struggle for? Think about their desires, needs and possibilities, for example how often they use the Internet or where they choose to shop - these facts will help you to build an app that will successfully take its place in the market.

Do you have competitors, and why are you better?

Market competitors analysis is the basis of the product research and the shortest way to set your own strategy of product promotion. Find out as much as you can about competitors’ products in your region or market, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Then compare your app with their products and try to make it better.

How would you like your app to be developed?

Your app can be native, cross-platform and hybrid, and each type has its advantages. In order to choose one you should decide on which devices your app will be available, estimate the complexity of the operations it will perform and calculate your budget. For example, if you want your app to be available both on Android and iOS platforms, you can either develop it natively for two different platforms, which is more expensive but gives you flawless user experience, or use one of the mentioned combination approaches, which can economize your time and budget. Read more about how to create a mobile app here.

Have you considered ergonomics in the app design?

How are the buttons and elements displayed in your app? Are they comfortably arranged? For example, can a user navigate through the app using one hand? What about fonts and colours? Remember that ergonomics is the basis of functionality and user experience, and most of the users choose the app due to this factor.

Do you need to outsource the app development?

Whether to hire a development team or not depends on your available resources, project complexity and time needed for its implementation. It’s better to outsource your project if you have any of the following factors:

app development is not your company’s primary business function;
you need to invest in side infrastructure to accommodate app development;
your IT department is busy with existing tasks;
your development team doesn’t have the required skills;
you can’t commit to the long-term management of maintaining and updating the app;
you would like to spread some risks.

How will you measure the success of the product?

Before your app is launched, it’s important to have metrics that will help to realise the success or failure of your product and take certain measures. Take into consideration the metrics provided below to compile your individual list:

income earned - does it match expectations?
number of users - does the growth of users go as expected?
session length - how long each user uses your app?
app rating and reviews - how do end-users estimate your app?
retention rate - how many % of users prefer your app during a certain period of time?
churn rate - how many % of users stopped to prefer your app during a certain period of time?

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

How will your app make money?

Your app can be completely free of use or have a monthly payment system, but in any case you should have a list of resources and tactics for making money, such as pay per download, up-sales, ads, in-app premium features or subscription. Analysing the needs of your target audience and choosing the right app monetization model will save your time and resources in future and guarantee flawless user experience.

How will you maintain your app post-launch?

Launching an app isn’t the end, but rather the beginning of its development. You will need to release some updates, fix arising bugs, add new features, and constantly improve its functionality. Beyond that, think in advance about organizing app support or a call centre to handle arising problems of users. You should also monitor analytics to determine how to expand your product and optimize lifetime value.

We hope that these questions will help you to build an app that can hit the charts and become the top 1 choice of your target audience. If you want to get a further consultation or have a fresh app idea to develop, feel free to contact us!

The Use of AI in Cyber Security: Benefits, Risks and Best Practices

Alexey Kalachik — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:58:55 +0000

Artificial Intelligence is a fast-developing technology that can be applied to almost every business sphere, from customer engagement to workflow optimization. In this article, we will explain the role and use of AI in cybersecurity. In a nutshell, the role is huge.

Monitoring all activity 24/7, without stops and delays, never getting tired and always ready to take action – these things are impossible for humans but easily achievable when you are using AI in cyber security.AI market size, 2021 to 2030 (Source: Fively)

Cyber attacks are constantly evolving and spreading across different networks and devices, and in 95% of cases, this happens because of human mistakes, which means that companies need automated detection of threats and quick response to them.

This is how AI can help in cybersecurity, successfully replacing a software-driven approach and providing more accuracy.

AI Technologies Used In Cyber Security

There are many subsets of AI tech for companies to take advantage of – neural networks, machine learning, expert systems, etc. Let’s look closely at some examples and see why AI is beneficial for solving many common problems.
Neural networks are programs inspired by the human brain and emulating its work. As a result, they can “learn” to interact with people and provide more accurate information in the form of text, audio, image, etc. Neural networks illustrate the benefits of AI in social media, streaming services, and other subsets of the entertainment industry.

Expert systems can work with narrow tasks and challenges, imitating the way human experts work to analyze and solve industry-specific problems. Data science specialists can train these computer systems to find answers to the most difficult questions. Expert systems illustrate the benefits of using AI in healthcare, science, and similar fields.

Machine learning is a method of “teaching” a computer system to analyze big amounts of information using patterns, algorithms, and other statistical things. ML can illustrate many benefits of using AI in business – for example, for constant monitoring and finding suspicious actions.

Deep learning means using ML techniques to go much further inside the data to find connections that are deeply hidden and not obvious. DL illustrates the many AI benefits in education, healthcare, customer service, autonomous transportation, etc.

It is possible to name each of these technologies to describe the benefits of Artificial Intelligence in cyber security, because protecting networks and devices can be a complicated job that requires as much resources and expertise as possible.

There is a significant rise of AI adoption globally, because more and more businesses realize the possibilities of it. The world’s largest technology companies became the early adopters. For example, Google has been using machine learning for filtering in Gmail for about 20 years. Another example is IBM which was among the pioneers of utilizing AI-driven solutions for threat detection.

What are these advantages that attract companies from various industries to use Artificial Intelligence solutions for protection?

The Benefits of AI in Cyber Security

Predicting data breaches, analyzing most common threats, keeping accurate inventory of devices and user profiles, controlling the effectiveness of security measures, providing in-depth reports – these and many other security operations can become faster and more accurate with modern technology. Different levels of digital security may use certain AI benefits and improve from them.The Benefits of AI in Cyber Security (Source: Fively)

24/7 Protection
Artificial intelligence provides lots of technical capabilities for constant monitoring and Identity-Access Management Automation. Why is it important? Cyber criminals work from different time zones or can attack organizations at night, when human specialists are not available. However, the use of AI in cyber security provides constant monitoring, quick threat detection, real-time reporting, and timely response.

If you compare technological solutions to IT specialists working in shifts, you will see that the first approach is more productive, allows quick diagnostics and response, brings less errors, etc.

How does cybersecurity AI work on a daily basis?
It starts with an intelligent application monitoring your systems and performing diagnostics. Then, if a threat appears, the app takes certain automated actions (for example, blocking a user) or simply reports to your IT team.
People can investigate the problem further and choose the individual solution.

This is how AI helps cybersecurity – not by replacing human resources but by supporting the specialists’ efforts.
There is a common misconception that using AI in cyber security is extremely expensive and unaffordable for most users. In reality, third-party AI applications can be cost-effective even for a smaller company, since they are usually available for a monthly fee.

Learning About New Threats
Hackers are constantly developing new types of attacks to catch security systems off guard. Criminals can also aim at new types of devices, for example, IoT or smartphones. A new technological era gave way to innovative attacks such as cryptojacking.

All things considered, the use of AI in cyber security provides opportunities to predict and classify threats by swiftly processing enormous data sets. This allows security departments to prepare better and protect companies from innovative, unknown attacks.

Identification of Security Threats
Machine learning is a subset of Artificial Intelligence and one of the most popular cyber security development solutions for business. ML algorithms can study how your systems work normally and then start monitoring for unusual activity.

This is one of the best advantages of AI in cybersecurity – the ability to learn about known types of attacks, even if this particular company never faced them, and detect potentially dangerous activity. This helps companies take action quickly and get ahead of hackers.

Processing Big Data
Shared files, visited websites, email data, third-party applications, common activity patterns – all of these things belong to big data. Analyzing all of these important pieces can be the key to protecting the company’s systems from both outside and inside threats.

One of the best advantages of Artificial Intelligence in business is the ability to go through large amounts of diverse information that for a human specialist would be too much to handle. At the moment, machine learning experts concentrate their efforts on teaching AI how to distinguish more accurately between suspicious and normal activities.

Need a Project Estimation?

Let's calculate the price of your project with Fively.

Estimate a project

The Challenges of Using AI in Cyber Security

Despite the fact that ML, neural networks and other AI-related technologies can perform tasks beyond human capabilities, there are several serious risks associated with these new technologies. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of using AI in today’s world.

The capability to process through lots of data is not always used by the people with good intentions. Cyber criminals can take advantage of innovations, for example:
Create effective malware that bypasses detection systems;
Plan sophisticated phishing attacks with original scenarios making them hard for AI systems to recognise;
Building deepfakes for successful social engineering attacks;
Collecting and analyzing sensitive data quickly with the help of better hacking tools.

There are many other risks of using AI for digital protection of organizations.
Biased decision-making: if you don’t check the sources of information for objectivity or use inaccurate algorithms, the results will be incorrect and lead to serious mistakes and real-life consequences for customers or employees.
Algorithms are not transparent enough: AI is a developing technology and its decisions may not always be clear and transparent. This can sometimes make the results hard to understand and open to manipulation.
These risks may be critical when complicated processes take place – for example, security scanning, credit card fraud detection, inner System Integration, employee productivity monitoring, customer preference research, AWS and Google Cloud migration, and many other use cases.
All in all, it’s up to human experts to correctly filter learning data for ML solutions and to build expertise for correct interpretation of the results.

Best Practices for Using AI in Cyber Security

Keep in mind all the risks and consider leveraging AI-driven solutions with caution. Here are some best practices to begin with.

Set definitive goals: having clear objectives allow you to utilize available resources more effectively and securely.
Use high-quality data: utilizing correct and unbiased data means you can teach AI solutions to provide the best results that can be verified to avoid false positives or negatives.
Apply various algorithms: using AI in cyber security means more than one algorithm, because it’s the only way to spot all kinds of malicious behavior and potential vulnerabilities.

Monitor AI performance: regular monitoring will help you to verify results and make sure that they are still accurate.
Combine AI solutions with human expertise: it’s important to understand that using only one approach is never enough and that all the advantages of using AI may become insignificant if you don’t rely on people to check the results and make your processes more secure and compliant.

The importance of AI in cyber security is that Artificial Intelligence provides technologies, methods and tools to make the most of digital information that companies receive and manage every day. It is up to you whether to use this opportunity or wait for the further development of AI and miss possible value today.

How Fively Can Help with AI-Driven Cyber Security

We clearly understand all the benefits of AI in cyber security, because our company’s mission is to develop and implement effective solutions for businesses, including cyber security applications.

In-house teams at Fively use the vast expertise in machine learning, neural networks, expert systems and other subdivisions of AI to provide custom software development for companies working across different industries, including:
MedTech;
FinTech;
EdTech;
Marketing;
Entertainment, and more.

We engineer efficient solutions that can solve various security challenges that our clients face. Would you like to discuss how AI-related applications may help your company become more confident in the digital world? Reach out today and talk with our cyber security experts.

Serverless Databases: The Future of Data Management

Alexey Kalachik — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:36:14 +0000

In our data-driven world, businesses need databases that are not only scalable but also cost-efficient and easy to manage. Traditional databases often require heavy lifting when it comes to provisioning, scaling, and maintenance — tasks that slow down innovation and add unnecessary overhead.

Enter serverless databases. Built to handle infrastructure management automatically, these databases let developers focus on building applications instead of worrying about servers, configurations, or scaling. With on-demand pricing, automatic scaling, and seamless integration with modern apps, serverless databases are quickly becoming the go-to choice for startups and enterprises alike.

They represent a new era of data management — one where simplicity meets performance, empowering teams to move faster without sacrificing reliability. Today, we’ll dive deeper into the world of serverless databases, defying their pros and cons, use cases, and some of the top market players. Here we go!

Overview

In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about serverless databases — from what they are to their pros, cons, and use cases. You’ll also find a comparison with traditional databases and insights on how to choose the right solution for your business.

Key Takeaways:

Benefits: Scalability, cost efficiency, less management, reliability, and security;
Drawbacks: Vendor lock-in, data privacy concerns, and variable performance;
Use Cases: Variable workloads, SaaS applications, enterprise fleet management, and scaled-out distributed systems;
Popular Types: Relational (Aurora, CockroachDB) and NoSQL (DynamoDB, MongoDB, Fauna);
Best Serverless Databases for 2026: CockroachDB Serverless, Amazon Aurora Serverless, Amazon DynamoDB, MongoDB Serverless (Atlas), FaunaDB;
How to Choose the Database that Fits You Best: data model and structure, cost model, performance and latency, ecosystem and integrations, security and compliance.

What Is a Serverless Database?

A serverless database is a cloud-based database that automatically manages all infrastructure tasks — such as provisioning, scaling, patching, and backups — without requiring developers or administrators to handle servers directly.

Unlike traditional databases, you don’t need to pre-configure capacity or worry about managing hardware.

Instead, serverless databases operate on a pay-per-use model, where costs are based on actual consumption (queries executed, storage used, or compute time) rather than fixed server resources.

Key Characteristics:

Automatic Scaling: The database scales up during high demand and down during idle times without manual intervention.
No Infrastructure Management: Developers don’t handle servers, instances, or clusters — the cloud provider does.
On-Demand Pricing: You only pay for the queries, compute cycles, or storage you use, making it cost-efficient.
Seamless Integration: Fits naturally into serverless and microservices architectures, where applications scale dynamically.

In essence, serverless databases let teams focus on applications and data rather than infrastructure, enabling faster development cycles and reducing operational overhead.

We created a cutting-edge auction platform that allows you to rank, compare, and buy the largest collection of heavy equipment listings worldwide 100% online and secure.

Top Benefits of Serverless Databases

Adopting such a database means gaining the flexibility of modern cloud systems while reducing operational overhead. Here are the key benefits:

Scalability

Serverless databases automatically adjust to workload changes. Whether handling a sudden traffic spike or quiet periods, they scale up or down seamlessly — ensuring consistent performance without manual intervention.

Cost Efficiency

With a pay-as-you-go model, you only pay for what you use — queries executed, compute cycles, or storage consumed. This eliminates the cost of idle resources and makes serverless databases ideal for both startups and enterprises.

Less Management Required

No more manual provisioning, patching, or capacity planning. The cloud provider manages all infrastructure tasks, freeing teams to focus on application development and business logic instead of database maintenance.

Reliability

Built-in redundancy, automatic backups, and failover mechanisms ensure high availability and stability. Even during unexpected failures, serverless databases maintain uptime and protect data integrity.

Highly Secure

Security is handled at the provider level with advanced encryption, identity management, and compliance with industry standards (like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS). This guarantees that sensitive data remains protected at all times.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

Disadvantages of Using a Serverless Database

While this type of database offers flexibility and cost savings, it also comes with limitations that businesses should carefully consider:

Vendor Lock-In

Most serverless databases are tied to a specific cloud provider. Once you’ve built your system around their infrastructure, migrating to another provider can be complex and costly, making long-term flexibility harder to achieve.

Data Privacy Concerns

Because data is stored and managed by third-party providers, sensitive information may raise compliance and privacy challenges. Businesses in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government) need to ensure providers meet strict security and regulatory standards.

Variable Performance

Serverless databases scale automatically, but that can sometimes lead to unpredictable performance. Cold starts, query latency, or throttling under high load can affect applications that require consistently low response times.

Why You Should Use a Serverless Database

Serverless databases are quickly becoming the preferred choice for modern applications because they offer the agility and cost structure businesses need in today’s competitive landscape. Here’s why they stand out:

1. Faster Time to Market

With no infrastructure to provision or manage, development teams can deploy applications faster, focus on innovation, and deliver features without being slowed down by database administration tasks.

2. Pay Only for What You Use

Instead of over-provisioning resources “just in case,” serverless databases charge based on actual usage. This makes them ideal for startups, seasonal applications, or unpredictable workloads where demand may vary significantly.

3. Effortless Scaling

As user demand grows, the database scales automatically to handle spikes in traffic and contracts during low usage periods — keeping performance consistent and costs optimized.

4. Built-In Reliability and Security

Cloud providers ensure redundancy, backups, and compliance-grade security by default. This gives businesses peace of mind that their data is both protected and always available.

5. Perfect Fit for Modern Architectures

Serverless databases integrate seamlessly with microservices, APIs, and event-driven systems, making them an excellent choice for organizations adopting cloud-native or serverless application models.

In summary, you should use a serverless database if you want a solution that is flexible, cost-efficient, scalable, and future-ready — without the overhead of traditional infrastructure management.

What Are the Use Cases of a Serverless Database?

Serverless databases shine in situations where workloads are dynamic, unpredictable, or large-scale. They are especially useful for businesses that want to cut infrastructure overhead while maintaining performance. Here are some of the most common use cases:

1. Variable Workloads

Applications with unpredictable or seasonal demand — such as retail websites during holiday sales or gaming platforms during new launches — benefit from automatic scaling. The database expands during peak usage and contracts when demand drops, ensuring performance without overspending.

2. Enterprise Database Fleet Management

Large organizations often run hundreds of databases across departments or regions. Serverless solutions simplify management by automating provisioning, patching, and scaling across the fleet. This reduces administrative overhead while maintaining standardization and security compliance.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS) Applications

SaaS platforms often onboard new customers rapidly and serve diverse workloads. Serverless databases allow each tenant to scale independently, ensuring consistent performance and cost efficiency across the customer base without constant manual intervention.

4. Scaled-Out Databases

Serverless databases are ideal for distributed applications that require high throughput and fault tolerance. With automatic scaling and cloud-native architectures, they can handle millions of queries per second, making them well-suited for analytics platforms, IoT ecosystems, and real-time applications.

Popular Types of Serverless Databases

Serverless databases are available in different forms depending on how data is structured and accessed. The two most common categories are relational and NoSQL, each suited for different types of applications.

Relational Serverless Databases

They follow a structured, table-based model (rows and columns) and use SQL for querying. They’re best suited for applications where data consistency, relationships, and transactions are critical.

Examples: Amazon Aurora Serverless, Azure SQL Database Serverless, Google Cloud Spanner (serverless mode)

Best for:

Financial systems
ERP/CRM applications
eCommerce platforms with structured product and order data

NoSQL Serverless Databases

These databases provide flexible schemas and support document, key-value, columnar, or graph data models. They’re optimized for scalability, high throughput, and handling unstructured or semi-structured data.

Examples: Amazon DynamoDB, Azure Cosmos DB (serverless option), Firestore (Firebase)

Best for:

Real-time apps (chat, gaming, IoT)
Content management systems
Applications requiring global scalability with low latency

We successfully fulfilled a SaaS case study that combines AI-based web activity analysis and search result personalization, bringing users a distraction-free browsing experience.

Best Serverless Databases for 2026

With more businesses adopting serverless architectures, several databases stand out as leaders in 2026. These platforms combine scalability, performance, and flexibility, making them strong choices for modern applications.

CockroachDB Serverless

A distributed SQL database built for resilience and global scalability. CockroachDB Serverless automatically balances workloads across regions, offers strong consistency, and eliminates the complexity of managing clusters.

Features:

Distributed, fault-tolerant architecture
Strong ACID transactions at scale
Multi-region deployment with automatic replication
PostgreSQL compatibility

Best for: Global applications requiring ACID transactions and high availability.

Amazon Aurora Serverless

Part of AWS’s managed database service, Aurora Serverless offers automatic scaling for MySQL and PostgreSQL. It adjusts capacity based on demand and integrates seamlessly with other AWS services.

Features:

MySQL and PostgreSQL compatibility
Autoscaling based on actual demand
High availability with replication across AWS zones
Pauses when idle to save costs
Seamless integration with AWS ecosystem (Lambda, S3, CloudWatch)

Best for: Applications needing relational integrity and tight AWS ecosystem integration.

Amazon DynamoDB

A fully managed NoSQL database known for millisecond response times and virtually unlimited scalability. DynamoDB is widely used in real-time applications, IoT, and gaming platforms.

Features:

Millisecond latency at any scale
Automatic scaling with on-demand or provisioned capacity
Multi-region replication for global apps
Built-in security, backup, and restore
Streams + Lambda for event-driven applications

Best for: Use cases that require high throughput and low-latency global performance.

MongoDB Serverless (Atlas)

MongoDB Atlas offers a serverless option that provides flexible schemas, automatic scaling, and cost-effective operations. It’s ideal for developers who need agility with JSON-like document models.

Features:

Schema-less, JSON-like document model
On-demand scaling of compute and storage
Fully managed by MongoDB Atlas
Advanced indexing and aggregation pipelines
Global clusters for low-latency access

Best for: Agile teams building content-driven apps, CMS, or user-centric platforms.

FaunaDB

A globally distributed serverless database with a strong focus on developer experience. Fauna provides a document-relational model with GraphQL and FQL (Fauna Query Language) support.

Features:

Document-relational data model
Native GraphQL and custom query language (FQL)
Strong consistency with global distribution
API-native, serverless-first design (no infrastructure to manage)
Built-in security and role-based access controls

Best for: Teams needing API-native, serverless-first databases with strong consistency guarantees.

A Comparing Table for Popular Serverless Databases for 2026

When evaluating serverless databases, it’s important to consider their data model, pricing structure, real-world applications, and unique advantages. Here’s how the top options stack up:

Fively tip:

If you need relational structure with global resilience, go with CockroachDB.
For relational AWS-native apps, Aurora Serverless is the best fit.
If you need speed at a massive scale, DynamoDB dominates.
For flexible document apps, MongoDB Serverless shines.
And for API-native, developer-centric projects, FaunaDB is the most forward-thinking option.

How to Choose the Right Serverless Database

Selecting the right serverless database depends on more than just features — it’s about finding the best fit for your application, workload, and long-term strategy. Here are the main factors to consider:

1. Data Model and Structure

Relational databases (like Aurora Serverless or CockroachDB) are best if your application requires transactions, relationships, and strict consistency. NoSQL options (like DynamoDB, MongoDB, or Fauna) are better for flexible schemas, unstructured data, and scalability at massive volumes. Your choice should match the way your application organizes and accesses data.

2. Cost Model

Serverless pricing is consumption-based, but the cost drivers differ between platforms — some charge by capacity units (Aurora), others by read/write operations (DynamoDB, MongoDB), or API calls (Fauna). Consider your workload patterns (steady vs. spiky traffic) and estimate long-term costs to avoid surprises.

3. Performance and Latency

If your app demands low-latency global performance, choose a provider with multi-region replication (CockroachDB, DynamoDB, Fauna). For workloads where transactional consistency is more important than speed, relational serverless databases are the safer choice. Always match the database to your performance expectations.

4. Ecosystem and Integrations

Your database should fit seamlessly into your existing cloud provider, DevOps pipelines, and tech stack. Aurora integrates tightly with AWS services, MongoDB Atlas is cloud-agnostic but developer-friendly, while Fauna is API-native and built for modern serverless stacks. Consider how well each option works with your current and future architecture.

5. Security and Compliance

For industries like finance, healthcare, or government, compliance is non-negotiable. Look for built-in encryption, identity and access controls, and certifications such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. Some platforms (Aurora, DynamoDB) are backed by enterprise-grade compliance from major cloud providers, while Fauna and CockroachDB also provide strong role-based security.

Wrapping Up

Serverless databases are reshaping the way modern applications store and manage data. They bring together the best of the cloud: on-demand scalability, reduced operational overhead, cost efficiency, and enterprise-grade security. At the same time, businesses must weigh potential trade-offs such as vendor lock-in, data privacy, and variable performance.

The choice between traditional and serverless databases ultimately depends on your goals. If you need total control and predictability, traditional setups may still make sense. But if your business is looking to innovate faster, cut infrastructure costs, and scale seamlessly, serverless databases are the future-proof choice.

At Fively, we help companies harness the power of serverless services — from database selection and architecture design to full-scale implementation and ongoing support. Whether you’re building a SaaS platform, managing global data workloads, or simply aiming to modernize your stack, our team ensures you get a tailored, reliable, and cost-effective solution that grows with your business.

The future of data management is serverless — and with Fively, you can get there faster. Contact us now and let’s build something great together!

MVP Development in FinTech: The Beginning of a Captivating Journey

Alexey Kalachik — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 22:14:05 +0000

Well, you've finally arrived at the point of building an app for your business. Way to go! MVP development is just the right place to start and slowly but surely augment it to the standards of a full-fledged native or web app. Even though it may seem like there is no need for an MVP in banking or finance sectors, we want to prove otherwise and show why building an MVP is the most reasonable solution for large enterprises, startups, or small companies.

Actually, the last two ones benefit from MVP development the most, especially considering that everyone around keeps intimidating aspiring entrepreneurs by revealing terrifying statistics about how many of their comrades failed.

Failure Rates of All New Businesses

At this stage, it may appear that any extra spending can lead to failure. And if you’re also appalled by the amount needed to invest in a full-scale application development, consider addressing an MVP development company to prepare your FinTech company for putting money into big software projects without doubts or second thoughts.

Now, let’s learn how to build an MVP and the goals you can achieve with it.

What Is MVP and Why Build It

An MVP (minimum viable product) is a piece of released software, a so-called prototype of your future app, built with only the most important features and functionalities to:

assess the feasibility of your business ideas;
study your target audience, gain an understanding of their needs, and receive honest feedback;
learn empirically what tools will be most necessary for the final version of the product;
identify the issues that can arise and solve them before launching the full-fledged app;
quickly introduce an app to the market;
attract investors by demonstrating the value of your app.

What Is an MVP?

It’s recommended to focus on only one or two goals in order to avoid falling into the trap of attempting to hit every possible target only to eventually end up confused with no profound results. So, take your time to identify what exactly needs to be tested in your idea, and then go for a specific variety of MVPs accordingly.

How to Build a MVP in Finance: 5 Types to Choose From

So, the type of MVP you choose can determine whether the business goals for MVP development will be achieved.

The name implies that only several or even a single feature will be embedded in the MVP, but that doesn’t mean that an MVP is some handicapped version of a regular app. You can make it as complex as necessary and add any features that require initial assessment. Here are some of the minimum viable product examples you can consider:

1. Concierge and Wizard of Oz MVPs

These types of MVPs fulfill all the primary functionalities, but the background processes are not automated and are instead performed by human workers. Its aim is to evaluate whether the software will be in demand without investing into the creation of a complicated backend system.

The only difference is that with a concierge MVP, users know that there’s a human standing behind the services, whereas the Wizard of Oz MVP aims to imbue clients with the feeling that no direct manual labor is involved.

2. Fake door MVP

A less complicated way to gauge how popular your app will be is to create an MVP in the form of a landing page that says something like "Thank you for your interest. The app will be available soon."

An example of a fake door MVP (Source: RST Software, Buffer)

3. Pre-order MVP

The purpose of this one is to ask users to order your product in advance and build capital for actually creating it. This type of MVP can be risky if you are aware of the possibility of failing customers with the bad quality of an end-product or your inability to produce it at all.

An example of a pre-order MVP (Source: Dribbble.com)

4. Single-feature MVP

It’s an app that has one single functionality that you deem to be the most important for users to test and validate. One of the minimum viable product examples of this type is the initial version of Facebook that was used for adding friends only. A single-feature MVP in banking can offer, for example, only the services of transferring money or arranging one’s finances.

5. Piecemeal MVP

It’s a good way to evaluate your idea by making an MVP integrated with ready-made third-party solutions or even building it on one of the existing online platforms without starting from scratch. However, such MVPs can be difficult to scale, and once you’ve raised enough money to launch a wholescale app, you can start marketplace development or build any other app with every integration and API fully custom.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

What Is an MVP in Business Finance, or Plan Your Future App in Advance

Whether you want to embed some FinTech features into your online shop or create an app to conduct financial transactions only, read our ultimate eCommerce development guide to get some valuable advice that can be well applied to a FinTech industry app. Actually, there is not a lot of difference between a modern app developed to be leveraged within the finance industry, eCommerce, or, let’s say, medicine.

While each obviously has its own unique characteristics in terms of content and functionality, every software product should adhere to the best security practices, be useful to clients, and bring pleasure with an excellent UI and navigation experience.

So, be it an MVP for finance or online commerce, it’s important to have a clear picture of the app you’ll end up with in the long run. Take a look at some of them:

Web app

Web apps are on the rise now, as they can be accessed from any browser and don’t require downloading. For instance, Fively has developed several solutions for Identity-Access Management automation including a cloud-based web app. You could start with an MVP and then turn it into a web app for tracking personal finances or international money transfers.

Fively developed an insurance workflow automation solution that combines all steps from purchasing a policy to filing a claim and makes it a 5-minute procedure.

Web portal

The hallmark of every web portal is personalized content for each client, as they need to enter their credentials to access a website. Within the medical industry, it can look like a personal page for every patient with anamnesis and take the form of insurance web portals in FinTech.

The team of business analysts and engineers from Fively participated in the creation of a B2B blockchain powered platform for mobility providers.

Web extension

Extensions for browsers, also known as plug-ins, are ready to be leveraged regardless of the website a user is currently on, as the only thing they need to do is tap on an icon in a browser. It can be an extension for invoice workflow processing, or the one that generates virtual credit card numbers to provide clients with an extra level of security.

Fively created a chrome extension for invoice workflow processing that provided customers with a personalized experience and allowed to increase sales up to 77%.

Native app

Native apps remain the best way to deliver clients an impeccable user experience, even when they access your app in offline mode. It’s possible to build an MVP for an Android, iOS, or cross-platform app for monitoring the stock market, managing cryptocurrency, and a lot more.

A developed from a scratch financial management accounting system that automated the business owners’ workflow by 70% and helped CEOs make data-driven strategic decisions.

Software for Remote Monitoring and Management

According to 2022 statistics, 16% of companies are doing completely remote work, and 40% have adopted a hybrid model combining online and offline work.

Workflow Companies Applied in 2022

Hence, the need for tools for monitoring the progress of workers, tracking the ongoing projects, and the general workflow inside a company is crucial to improving performance and scaling the business up. You can try MVP development services to test your unique solution for online collaboration and project management.

Human Resource Management Software

Whether you wish to streamline the processes of the HR department in your company or launch an app to further capitalize on it, you can give your idea a shot with MVP development for HRM. Working with Fively, you can automate and simplify tax documentation, payroll, and onboarding processes.

Our engineers developed modern HR compensation software that automates HR surveys, speeds up calculations, and provides real-time data reports and visualizations.

A lot of renowned companies embarked on their business treks with MVPs. One of the prominent minimum viable product examples is Amazon at the start: the founder bought a book himself every time it was ordered online via the MVP. Today it’s one of the largest corporations in the world. So, ponder the idea of your ideal app with care until you understand the most effective path towards success.

How Long to Build MVP and How Much Does It Cost

Even though MVP development requires much less financial investment and time, you shouldn’t rush into it and properly consider every little detail. Keep in mind that good-quality products are worth waiting for, especially when their main aim is to attract clients and, thus, profit.

After you’ve mapped out the vision of your MVP and defined business goals, it’s important to arrange all the financials and determine the size of the budget to prepare for the project. While the average time for MVP software development is 4-5 months, the process may last for a longer period, and, as well as the cost, it depends on the following factors:

Tech Stack

It’s the main expenditure on your list, as you need to choose the tools and a platform to build your MVP. At this point, you should understand if the future app will be cross-platform or if you want a Safari or Google Chrome extension; whether your app will process large amounts of data and be integrated with a payment gateway; and so on.

Features

Consider in advance the features you’d like to test, adding them to your MVP in finance. It can be some of the following:

AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants;
QR codes;
NFC payments;
One or several payment gateways;
Peculiar dashboard;
Enhanced encryption methods.

Team size

The final price for MVP development services depends on the number of people involved. You can find several freelancers to do the job or hire an MVP development company that has a full development team with project managers, designers, and software engineers on board.

How to Build an MVP App in 8 Steps

Even the most simple of all problems can seem insurmountable at the start of a business journey. But with all the personal experience and the successful background in providing assistance to small businesses, we know for sure that the answer to "how to build a MVP" is very straightforward and manageable when broken down into specific steps.

Thus, successful MVP development involves the incremental pursuit of the following steps, and we can guide you through each of them:

Determine your goal and the type of a future full-fledged app;
Find the right team to collaborate with;
Conduct the market research to identify what apps and features are in demand;
Choose the type of a MVP;
Work out the UX/UI;
Perform all the necessary QA tasks and launch your MVP;
Once you have fine-tuned all internal processes and received positive feedback from your target audience, proceed to full-scale app development.

It’s no wonder why so many failed businessmen claim that software development is the high road to failure for startups. If only somebody had told them that MVP development becomes the launchpad for buoyant business growth when supported by a masterful strategy and a team of experienced software engineers.

That’s why don’t hesitate to contact us and receive even more insights about how to build an MVP in finance or turn it into fully-featured applications created with the best cybersecuirty methods.

List of 10 Top AI Consulting Companies in 2026

Alexey Kalachik — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:57:09 +0000

As the global business landscape continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, the demand for strategic guidance and expert analysis has never been more critical. In 2026, the AI consulting industry stands at the forefront of innovation and strategic development, helping organizations navigate complex challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Top 10 AI consulting firms in 2026. Source: Fively

In this article, we will explore the top consulting firms that are not only leading the charge in transforming businesses but also shaping the future of industries worldwide. From venerable giants to dynamic specialists, these firms exemplify excellence in consulting services, offering unmatched insights and solutions that drive substantial business growth and operational efficiency. Are you ready to see the future? Here we go!

How We Compiled a List of Top AI Consulting Firms

In our quest to identify the best AI consulting companies for 2026, we established a set of criteria to ensure it reflects the true leaders in the field, focusing on the following key factors:

Client Reviews and Feedback: we assessed the volume and positivity of client reviews, which serve as direct indicators of client satisfaction and service quality;
Expertise in AI Methodologies: a deep understanding and application of advanced AI methodologies was crucial for inclusion, ensuring that the firms are capable of delivering cutting-edge solutions;
Ethical Standards: compliance with ethical principles and industry standards is essential, reflecting the firms' commitment to responsible AI deployment;
Industry Partnerships: we looked for firms that have established long-term partnerships across various industries, demonstrating their ability to adapt and deliver value in diverse contexts;
Revenue Impact: success stories where firms have significantly boosted their partners’ revenue were particularly noted as they indicate direct business impact;
Technical Proficiency: the technical expertise to implement AI solutions effectively was a critical criterion, ensuring that the firms not only strategize but also execute;
Reputation and Leadership: overall reputation in the AI market and thought leadership were considered, identifying firms that are not just participants but leaders in their field;
Market Experience: demonstrated experience and a proven track record in the AI sector were essential to gauge the firms' long-term reliability and expertise.

Top AI Consulting Companies in 2026

10. Fively

Website: Fively
Average Hourly Rate: $50 - $99/hr

Fively is a top-notch custom software development company that creates high-tech solutions for businesses all around the globe. Our engineers deliver award-winning software for your business to grow.

Fively stands out with its deep expertise in custom software tools and complex solutions for various business industries. With a track record of 5 stars out of 5 at Clutch, and a high proficiency in modern tech stack, including AI-driven technologies, it helps businesses automate their operations, enhance data-driven decision-making, and boost customer satisfaction. Known for its user-centric approach, Fively tailors AI solutions to fit the unique needs of each client, ensuring technology not only meets but exceeds business goals.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

9. LeewayHertz

Website: LeewayHertz
Average Hourly Rate: $100 - $149/hr

LeewayHertz is equipped to deliver cutting-edge, scalable custom AI solutions.The firm provides end-to-end ai development services, from the initial concept to deployment, focusing on delivering innovative solutions that solve complex business challenges. With a robust portfolio that includes work for startups to Fortune 500 companies, LeewayHertz is equipped to deliver cutting-edge, scalable AI solutions.

8. QuantumBlack

Website: QuantumBlack
Average Hourly Rate: $200 - $300/hr

QuantumBlack, a McKinsey company, leverages advanced analytics and machine learning to improve performance outcomes for leading organizations. The firm specializes in extracting actionable insights from data, transforming operational models, and accelerating development processes through AI and data science. QuantumBlack is particularly noted for its rigorous approach to predictive analytics and decision-making tools, enhancing client capabilities in competitive sectors.

7. Infosys

Website: Infosys Website
Average Hourly Rate: $50 - $99/hr

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, driving innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. With a strong focus on AI and machine learning, Infosys empowers businesses to explore new opportunities, operate with greater efficiency, and deliver breakthrough innovations. Their comprehensive AI consultancy includes everything from strategy and design to deployment and maintenance, ensuring clients receive full lifecycle support.

6. Deeper Insights

Website: Deeper Insights
Average Hourly Rate: $100 - $149/hr

Deeper Insights is a boutique AI and data science consulting firm known for its ability to turn complex data into actionable insights. They specialize in developing custom AI models that drive decision-making, with a focus on delivering scalable and sustainable AI implementations. Deeper Insights excels in providing clients with the tools they need to achieve a deeper understanding of their data, enabling strategic decisions that propel businesses forward.

5. EY (Ernst & Young)

Website: EY
Average Hourly Rate: Information not typically disclosed

EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world, known for its high standards in auditing, consulting, and advisory services. In the AI domain, EY helps organizations harness the power of artificial intelligence to streamline operations, mitigate risks, and foster innovation. Their generative AI solutions focus on creating long-term value and adapting to regulatory challenges, ensuring that businesses not only survive but thrive in the digital age.

4. Accenture

Website: Accenture
Average Hourly Rate: $200 - $300/hr

Accenture is a global professional services powerhouse known for its extensive capabilities in consulting, technology, and outsourcing. With a strong emphasis on AI, Accenture provides transformative solutions that integrate artificial intelligence to improve business processes, innovate products, and enhance customer experiences. Their robust AI practice helps clients implement smart technologies at scale to drive growth and efficiency.

3. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Website: BCG
Average Hourly Rate: $300 - $500/hr

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a top management consulting firm globally, renowned for its strategic approach to AI and digital transformation. BCG leverages AI to help clients reimagine their business models, accelerate innovation, and drive competitive advantage. Their AI solutions encompass a range of services, from strategy and design to implementation, with a focus on sustainable growth and long-term value creation.

2. Deloitte

Website: Deloitte
Average Hourly Rate: $200 - $300/hr

Deloitte is a global leader in consulting and advisory services, providing a broad spectrum of AI consulting services aimed at transforming business landscapes. Deloitte's approach to AI focuses on ethical AI use, operational effectiveness, and innovation. The firm excels in integrating AI to optimize customer engagement, streamline operations, and foster decision-making backed by robust data analytics.

1. IBM

Website: IBM
Average Hourly Rate: $150 - $200/hr

IBM is a pioneer in the technology space, offering a wide range of AI solutions under its Watson umbrella. Known for its deep industry expertise and cutting-edge research, IBM helps businesses integrate AI into their operations to enhance productivity, automate complex processes, and gain predictive insights. IBM's AI services are tailored to specific industry needs, making it a leader in creating intelligent enterprise solutions.

How to Pick the Right AI Consulting Service for Your Project

So, how to choose the right AI consulting company? The ideal top ai consultants should not only align with your strategic goals but also amplify your capabilities to implement AI-driven solutions effectively. To assist you in choosing the top it consulting companies, consider the following crucial criteria:

Expertise and Specialization: Evaluate the firm’s technical expertise and specific areas of specialization. Ensure they have a proven track record in the AI technologies relevant to your project’s needs, such as machine learning, natural language processing, or robotics;
Reputation and References: Look into the firm’s reputation within the industry. Ask for case studies, client testimonials, and references. This will give you insights into their reliability, the success of previous projects, and their ability to deliver on promises;
Maintenance and Support: Post-deployment support is crucial for the ongoing success of AI projects. Check whether the firm provides robust maintenance and support services to handle future updates, troubleshooting, and potential enhancements;
Data Privacy: With AI, data is often a core component of your strategy. Ensure that the consulting firm adheres to stringent data privacy and protection laws relevant to your industry and geography. Understanding their data handling and security protocols is essential;
Transparency in Pricing and Processes: Clarity on pricing and the consulting process is critical. The firm should provide a clear and detailed contract that outlines all costs, timelines, and deliverables. Transparent pricing and structured processes reduce the likelihood of unexpected costs and project delays.

How to pick the right AI consulting firm for your project. Source: Fively

Why Choose Fively as Your AI Consultant?

Selecting the right AI consultant is crucial to navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence integration into your business processes. Fively stands out as a leading AI consulting company for several compelling reasons:

Proven Expertise and Innovation: Fively has a team of AI experts who are not only versed in the latest AI technologies but are also pioneers in developing innovative AI solutions tailored to specific industry needs. Our team's depth of knowledge ensures that your AI projects are grounded in the latest research and best practices.
Customized AI Solutions: Unlike one-size-fits-all solutions, Fively focuses on creating customized AI strategies that align with your unique business objectives. We understand that each business has its own set of challenges and opportunities, and we tailor our approach to meet these specific requirements.
Comprehensive Support: From the initial stages of defining your AI strategy to the implementation and maintenance of AI systems, Fively offers end-to-end support. Our commitment to your success is reflected in our continuous monitoring and optimization of deployed AI solutions to ensure they deliver the expected value.
Ethical AI Implementation: Fively is committed to ethical AI practices. We ensure that all solutions comply with the highest standards of data privacy and ethical guidelines, safeguarding your company against risks and building trust with your customers.
Transparent Collaboration: Transparency is at the core of our operations. Fively ensures that all stakeholders are kept in the loop with regular updates and detailed reports on project progress. Our clear communication and project management practices help prevent misunderstandings and keep your project on track.
Industry Recognition and Trust: Fively is recognized across the industry for its excellence in AI consulting. Trusted by leading global companies, our reputation is built on consistent delivery of exceptional results and transformational impacts on our clients' operations.

Why choose Fively as your AI consultant company? Source: Fively

AI Consulting Essentials

AI consulting has become indispensable for businesses aiming to leverage artificial intelligence to enhance their operational efficiency and competitive edge. As an evolving field, AI consulting goes beyond mere technology implementation - it serves as a strategic guide to transform business landscapes.

AI consultants and machine learning consulting companies help in navigating the complex landscape of AI integration. They provide a multitude of services that extend from developing bespoke AI strategies that align with specific business goals to the hands-on implementation of solutions designed to optimize operations and decision-making. With expertise in cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, and advanced data analytics, AI consultants equip businesses with the tools to innovate and excel.

The investment in AI consulting can deliver substantial returns, enhancing business processes and creating new avenues for revenue. The average salary for AI consultants is around $65,819 per year, reflecting the high value and demand for these experts in the industry. Moreover, many top firms recognize the importance of demonstrating value upfront and may offer free initial consultations.

Choosing Fively for AI consulting means partnering with a leader in artificial intelligence integration. Our approach is tailored to your specific business needs, ensuring that each AI strategy is meticulously crafted and implemented to maximize your investment and propel your company forward.

With Fively, your journey into AI adoption is in expert hands, ready to unlock new potentials and redefine what’s possible for your business. Don’t hesitate to contact us and let’s build your dream project together!

20 Top AI Software Development Companies

Alexey Kalachik — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:24:30 +0000

As we all know, artificial intelligence (AI) is now standing at the forefront of technological breakthroughs, reshaping industries and revolutionizing how we interact with technology. With an increasing number of businesses seeking to integrate AI into their operations, the demand for skilled AI development companies is at an all-time high. From automating routine tasks to driving innovation in data analysis and customer interactions, AI is unlocking new potential.

AI is unlocking new potential in software development. Source: Fively

In this article, we spotlight the top AI development companies leading the charge in this dynamic field. These firms are not just developing AI solutions - they're shaping the future of how businesses leverage technology for growth and success. Do you want to see who’s in the lead? Let’s get started!

Fively

Employee number: 50-249
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $25,000+
Visit Website

Based in the dynamic city of Warsaw, Poland, Fively stands at the forefront of high-tech innovation, implying sophisticated AI and data science algorithms in their projects. Since its establishment in 2018, Fively has already made its special mark in the industry, evolving into a leader in custom software development in 2023 according to Clutch, with deep-rooted expertise in web solutions coupled with proficiency in AI & ML technologies.

At Fively, AI and machine learning are more than just buzzwords; they are integral to creating advanced, bespoke solutions tailored to the specific needs of startups, small, and medium-sized businesses. Fively excels in developing sophisticated AI-driven chatbots, data management platforms, and customer apps, ranging from complex data analysis platforms to intelligent automation in supply chain and rental management services.

Their AI services, as well as expertise in other modern technologies like Python, React, Typescript, and Ruby on Rails, have proven invaluable across various sectors, including Fintech, Real Estate, Insurance, Healthcare, and eLearning. Each project at Fively is a testament to their commitment to blending technical ingenuity with strategic thinking and domain expertise.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

Achievion Solutions

Employee number: 10 - 49
Average hourly rate: $100 - $149
Min. project size: $25,000+
Visit Website

Achievion Solutions focuses on harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to foster innovation and enhance productivity for small and medium-sized businesses. Based in the thriving tech hub of the Washington, DC metro area, Achievion has been at the forefront of AI solution development since its inception in 2013.

Their unique AI-focused delivery process, dubbed ACHIEVE, is designed to guarantee the success of every AI project we undertake. As a recognized player in the "Silicon Valley of the East," Achievion Solutions has a proven track record of creating sophisticated and impactful solutions for a diverse range of clients, from startups to government agencies.

Yellow

Employee number: 10 - 49
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $25,000+
Visit Website

Yellow, having been empowered with software solutions for more than 250 businesses in nine years, excels in delivering AI and ML solutions. Their expertise spans Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Chatbot Development, and UX/UI Design. Known for transforming complex tech concepts into business-driven solutions, Yellow's approach goes beyond typical software development solutions to reshape operational efficiency and market competitiveness for their clients.

In every project, Yellow brings a blend of innovation, strategy, and design, ensuring that each solution is not just technologically advanced but also aligned with your unique business objectives.

BlueLabel

Employee number: 50 - 249
Average hourly rate: $100 - $149
Min. project size: $75,000+
Visit Website

BlueLabel is a pioneer in crafting visionary products and services for a future-ready world. As an independent agency specializing in generative AI, they have been a bastion of innovation for years, partnering with bold leaders and innovators. With a deep commitment to generative AI, BlueLabel is unlocking a realm of new possibilities, creating experiences that meet genuine human needs.

Their approach seamlessly integrates human insights with AI capabilities, enabling organizations from various industries to forge transformative value and achieve unparalleled clarity in their operations.

Azumo

Employee number: 50 - 249
Average hourly rate: $25 - $49
Min. project size: $10,000+
Visit Website

Azumo emerges as a distinguished nearshore AI mobile app and web development services company, renowned for its proficiency in data science, web, mobile, and Cloud solutions. Their expertise has garnered acclaim across industries, attracting a diverse clientele that ranges from venture-backed startups to Fortune 500 giants like Facebook, Omnicom, United Health, Discovery Channel, and Wolters Kluwer.

With a deep-rooted understanding that intelligent solutions are pivotal for contemporary businesses, Azumo stands out for its ability to deliver high-quality development teams.

S-PRO

Employee number: 50 - 249
Average hourly rate: $25 - $49
Min. project size: $25,000+
Visit Website

S-PRO is driving digital innovation and creates top-notch AI software solutions, propelling fast-growing businesses and enterprises into the future. Established in 2014 in Ukraine and now headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, S-PRO has expanded its global reach.

Their commitment to delivering top-tier services results in not just functionally robust solutions but also systems that are aesthetically elegant and intuitively easy to navigate, consistently surpassing client expectations in the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence development.

InData Labs

Employee number: 50 - 249
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $10,000+
Visit Website

InData Labs stands as a beacon in the realm of data science and AI-powered solutions. Being one of the top AI companies worldwide, and committed to empowering every business with the transformative digital solutions, InData Labs caters to organizations of all sizes, offering tailored solutions to propel growth.

Since its inception in 2014, InData Labs has successfully embarked on over 150 projects worldwide, spanning diverse industries like AdTech, E-commerce, Supply Chain, Logistics, Computer Games, FinTech, Healthcare, and Manufacturing. Their status as a Certified AWS Partner further exemplifies their commitment to excellence in the field of AI and big data.

Geniusee

Employee number: 50 - 249
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $10,000+
Visit Website

Geniusee stands as a dynamic force in the realms of web and mobile software development, blending tech expertise with ai consulting. Catering primarily to clients in the USA, UK, and EU, their 200-strong team of certified professionals is renowned for delivering exceptional service.

Proudly bearing the status of a certified AWS Consulting and AWS Advanced Tier Service Partner, they have a track record of over 150 notable projects across various sectors, especially in FinTech, EdTech, and Retail, underpinned by a philosophy of innovation, acceleration, and shared growth.

Innowise Group

Employee number: 1000-10000
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $10,000+
Visit Website

Innowise Group, an international powerhouse in full-cycle software development, boasts key delivery centers across Europe and a global office presence. With a rich history marked by over 850 successfully delivered projects, Innowise Group has made significant strides in a variety of sectors including FinTech, MedTech, eCommerce, eLearning, Real Estate, and others.

Their unique blend of advanced expertise, technical skills in ML and Data Science, as well as deep business insight, allows them to navigate projects of varying complexities and scales with ease.

ThirdEye Data

Employee number: 50-249
Average hourly rate: $25 - $49
Min. project size: $10,000+
Visit Website

Established as a one-stop-shop for comprehensive Data Sciences, Analytics, and Engineering services and products, ThirdEye Data has spent a decade honing its skills to deliver technical solutions to Fortune 500 companies and startups alike.

Serving a diverse range of industries including Information Technology, Retail, and Energy, ThirdEye Data has established itself as a beacon of innovation and strategic prowess in the realm of data-driven solutions. Their data analytics services are geared towards helping businesses boost revenues, enhance operational efficiencies, and adapt swiftly to market trends for a competitive edge.

Master of Code Global

Employee number: 50-249
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $25,000+
Visit Website

Master of Code Global, established in 2004, is at the forefront of crafting world-class digital experiences. Specializing in web and mobile solutions, and AI-powered conversational chat and voice solutions, Master of Code Global has an impressive track record that includes collaborations with renowned brands and enterprises such as T-Mobile, Live Person, MTV, Burberry, and Estee Lauder, along with successful startups like the Golden State Warriors and World Surf League.

A testament to their product mindset and innovative approach is their suite of apps designed for the Shopify eCommerce platform, which is currently empowering over 10,000 stores globally.

Olive

Employee number: 50-249
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $100,000+
Visit Website

Olive, an outsourcing powerhouse based in Israel and the UK, specializes in empowering tech companies with top-tier software development, Data Science talent, and comprehensive business solutions.

Their services are tailored to enhance business effectiveness, encompassing project management in development and offering crucial cybersecurity compliance solutions. Olive’s commitment to facilitating seamless business operations makes them a trusted partner for tech firms looking to scale efficiently and navigate the complexities of growth in the tech industry.

CognitiveScale

Employee number: 50-249
Average hourly rate: Undisclosed
Min. project size: Undisclosed
Visit Website

CognitiveScale offers Augmented Intelligence software tailored to address complex business challenges in financial services, healthcare, and digital commerce. Renowned for its groundbreaking solutions, CognitiveScale's award-winning software is trusted by industry giants like USAA, Morgan Stanley, NBC, JPMorgan Chase, ExxonMobil, and MD Anderson.

Their software excels in enhancing user engagement, sharpening decision-making, and fostering self-learning and self-assuring business processes, which makes them a go-to partner for businesses looking to leverage data science and Blockchain for substantial, scalable impact.

CloudMinds Technology

Employee number: 50-249
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $1,000+
Visit Website

Founded in 2015, CloudMinds harbors a bold and futuristic vision: to make helpful humanoid robots accessible to the average household by 2026. This innovative AI app development company combines creative talent with strong financial backing to redefine the robotics landscape.

CloudMinds is committed not only to technological advancement but also to forging a new kind of venture with a distinct international character, one that garners and maintains the trust of people and markets globally. Their dedication to making smarter robots is a testament to their pioneering spirit in the realm of robotics and AI.

H2O.ai

Employee number: 250-500
Average hourly rate: Undisclosed
Min. project size: Undisclosed
Visit Website

As a trailblazer in AI cloud technology, H2O.ai is on a mission to democratize AI, making it accessible to everyone. Their flagship H2O AI Hybrid Cloud platform empowers users to swiftly create, operate, and innovate, enabling them to tackle complex business challenges and foster the discovery of novel ideas.

H2O.ai has become the choice for over 20,000 organizations worldwide, including industry giants like AT&T, Capital One, and PayPal, as well as over half of the Fortune 500 companies.

LogRocket

Employee number: 250-500
Average hourly rate: Undisclosed
Min. project size: Undisclosed
Visit Website

LogRocket stands out as a top-rated solution for session replay and a leader in various domains like product analytics, bug tracking, and performance monitoring. They focus on uncovering significant problems through a blend of technical insight and user experience analysis.

Utilizing AI, LogRocket enables users to detect and quantify the impact of technical and UX issues, offering a clear path to resolution. Their robust and insightful platform has earned the trust of major clients like IKEA, SwissLife, and CISCO, highlighting LogRocket's effectiveness in delivering comprehensive and actionable insights.

Veritone

Employee number: 250-500
Average hourly rate: Undisclosed
Min. project size: Undisclosed
Visit Website

Veritone, distinguished in the NASDAQ as VERI, excels as a pioneer even among enterprise artificial intelligence companies. Catering to both commercial and regulated sectors, Veritone offers a blend of software, services, and industry applications that streamline data management.

At the core of Veritone's offerings is their expansive AI platform, aiWARE™, which is designed to convert audio, video, and various data sources into actionable intelligence. Leveraging a robust network of partners and offering both professional and managed services, Veritone is adept at devising AI solutions that not only address current challenges but also pave the way for future innovations.

Vention

Employee number: 1000-10000
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $25,000+
Visit Website

Vention blends exceptional engineering talent with innovative vision to build the software solutions of tomorrow. Their expansive team encompasses over 3,000 engineers, consultants, and specialists, whose expertise has been instrumental in facilitating over $13 billion in acquisitions and 21 client IPOs, benefiting companies like Classpass, Freshly, and Dealcloud.

Vention isn’t just a custom AI development company - they struggle to deliver software that not only meets the highest standards of innovation and security but also stands the test of time in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

DataRobot

Employee number: 10-49
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $10,000+
Visit Website

DataRoot Labs, based in Ukraine, stands at the forefront of tech innovation as a dedicated AI R&D Center. Their core expertise lies in developing bespoke AI solutions, building and recruiting specialized R&D teams, and offering comprehensive venture services for startups.

With a keen focus on nurturing the startup ecosystem, they collaborate with a myriad of startups and startup accelerators, fulfilling their needs for AI component development, either wholly or in part. They also have DataRoot University, where they empower the next generation of AI experts, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to drive future innovations.

10 Top Web Development Companies in Singapore

Alexey Kalachik — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:11:37 +0000

In the digital era, a compelling online presence is not just an accessory but a necessity for businesses aiming for sustained growth and visibility. Recognizing this imperative, companies worldwide are in constant pursuit of the perfect ally to craft their digital identity.

For enterprises based in or looking for quality in Singapore, the search for a premier web design and web development partner is paramount, given the country's burgeoning status as a tech hub. To streamline this quest, we, as an international software company with an office in Singapore, meticulously curated a list of the top web development companies. Dive in, and embark on a journey toward a transformative digital partnership!

Web Development Companies in Singapore

Fively

Employee number: 50-249
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $25,000+
Visit Website

Established in 2018, Fively has carved its niche in innovative web solutions, making waves with its technical prowess and creative spark. Specializing in transforming ideas into reality with the help of Python, React, Ruby on Rails, AI&ML, and other trending tech, Fively assists small and medium enterprises in navigating the digital landscape with tailor-made software and top-notch web apps like eCommerce platforms, AI-powered chatbots, supply chain, rental management services, as well as numerous solutions for real estate, insurance, healthcare, and eLearning domains.

Orfeostory

Employee number: 10-49
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $5,000+
Visit Website

Orfeostory, since its inception in 2011, champions the blend of creativity and technology in web and mobile app development. Known for delivering a prolific user experience with the use of PHP, Java, and .NET programming languages, they cater to both burgeoning startups and established firms in creative arts, retail, and technology domains. Their solutions span from dynamic websites to interactive e-commerce platforms, all crafted to meet global standards.

Octal Info Solution

Employee number: 101-250
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $10,000+
Visit Website

Octal Info Solution, founded in 2004, stands as a beacon of tech excellence in Angular, Node.js, and Swift, offering comprehensive web development services in Singapore for businesses from education, transportation, and other domains. They house a team of seasoned web developers committed to implementing cutting-edge technologies that drive business transformation and growth, positioning clients at the forefront of their industry.

Atta Systems

Employee number: 10-49
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $50,000+
Visit Website

Atta Systems, born in 2015, is a digital powerhouse known for its robust React, Vue.js, and Kotlin web solutions. Their tech experts are adept at crafting bespoke software that embodies client visions, pushing the boundaries of online presence in the information technology, real estate, and manufacturing domains. Their strength in integrating tech innovation with business objectives sets them apart.

TechTIQ Solutions

Employee number: 2-9
Average hourly rate: $25 - $49
Min. project size: $50,000+
Visit Website

TechTIQ Solutions, founded in 2017, excels in offering superior yet affordable software mobile app and WordPress website development services globally, catering to startups and established businesses alike. Renowned for timely, budget-friendly solutions, TechTIQ's offshore team boasts proficiency in various technological realms, including mobile app development across fintech, consumer products, and hospitality companies, extending from burgeoning startups to Fortune 500 stalwarts.

WebriQ

Employee number: 10-49
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $10,000+
Visit Website

WebriQ, established in 2016, is synonymous with adaptive JAMstack, Gatsby, and Next.js web solutions, as well as e-commerce excellence. Partnering with tech stalwarts like ZOHO and BigCommerce, they excel in SEO-centric designs and CMS systems tailored to client specifications. Their proprietary JAMstack technology enhances digital customer experiences, reaffirming their reputation in industries like media, non-profit, and entertainment.

Webdorks

Employee number: 2-9
Average hourly rate: $25 - $49
Min. project size: $1,000+
Visit Website

Webdorks burst onto the scene in 2020, revolutionizing the tech space with quirky, out-of-the-box Drupal, Magento, and Shopify web solutions. Their creative approach to software development and design distinguishes them within the sector, catering extensively to eCommerce, Fashion, as well as food and beverage businesses looking for a fresh digital identity.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

Plexial

Employee number: 2-9
Average hourly rate: Undisclosed
Min. project size: $1,000+
Visit Website

Since 2020, Plexial has been a trailblazer in hybrid digital solutions, merging aesthetics with functionality using blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and other trending tech. Their forte lies in creating user-friendly interfaces backed by strong technical foundations, ensuring their clients from security, legal, and Fintech domains stand out in the digital crowd.

Design Start

Employee number: 2-9
Average hourly rate: $100 - $149
Min. project size: $1,000+
Visit Website

Design Start, founded in 2018, excels in delivering sleek, best web designs and UI/UX development solutions. Their streamlined designs are not only visually appealing but also strategically structured to enhance user engagement and conversion rates in the advertising, marketing, and public relations domains.

Yellow

Employee number: 50-249
Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
Min. project size: $25,000+
Visit Website

Emerging in 2015, Yellow is recognized for its vibrant, dynamic CMS Development, as well as SEO and digital marketing web solutions that embody the spirit of innovation. Their expertise spans various industries, such as health and wellness, travel and leisure, automotive, and others, delivering a blend of visually rich and technically sound web platforms that resonate with the brand ethos.

Creating a Real Estate App

Alexey Kalachik — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:16:08 +0000

Will a real estate enterprise thrive or not depends entirely on how fast it will adopt new technology. That's why it's high time to create a real estate web app based on recent technological advancements.

Today, we want to share with you how to build a real estate website, how to profit from it, and what features it must include to keep up with the demand.

Whether you own a real estate agency or want to create a platform where people can sell their housing, read the article to know all the peculiarities of building a real estate website.

How Did It All Start?

The industry of real estate relies heavily on new technology. The message about new and fashionable mansions being vacant had to be spread fast at all times. Initially, the newspapers did their job. But with time, even they couldn't manage to keep up with the pace at which new ads started to emerge. And here, once again, we will pronounce a eulogy on the internet.

Obviously, the main accomplishment of the internet was reinvigorating the real estate market. People find renting, selling, and buying online a win-win deal.

The National Association of Realtors conducted research that showed that 97% of all homebuyers in 2020 searched for available accommodation options online. 51% of the respondents found the home they eventually bought through the internet, while only 28% resorted to the help of a real estate agent.

The popularity of real estate websites can be explained by the simple fact that it’s much more convenient.

Let’s look from the perspective of a tenant or a homebuyer to figure out what they value most while using an online real estate platform.

Why Do People Use Real Estate Platforms to Find a Property?

Whether it sounds like grandma's grumbling or not, new technology has isolated us from each other. So we, having become individualists, don’t want to waste any more time on poor real estate agents who can be, to put it mildly, quite annoying. We want to click on the icons on the screens, and within seconds, start to scroll through the most suitable housing options.

But here is the first issue we encounter: there can be thousands of them, and we don’t want to see everything available on the market, but only, let’s say, one-bedrooms unfurnished with a monthly rate of around a thousand dollars. This takes us to the need for an advanced search filter to get appropriate results quickly.

Then, we naturally expect a website we use to be fast, pleasant to use, and safe. Very safe as we want to ensure it with our personal information.

Last but not least, we need an inordinate number of photos and videos from different angles to assess the aesthetics of accommodation.

Reminisce on your personal experience of looking for a flat online. You've probably wanted something similar to this.

It’s always a good idea to first look at the situation from a user’s point of view. That’s how we can shape the image of the perfect final result. The profit of our venture utterly depends on how useful it will be for our clients. That’s why they should be our first priority.

Now, keeping this in the back of our minds, we can start choosing the type of real estate website we want to build.

Types of Real Estate Platforms

To build a profitable real estate website, we need to get a comprehensive picture of all the viable options and possibilities lying ahead of us. There are five types of real estate websites that can be created.

*Real Estate Investing Websites*

What do investors do? They find something to capitalize on to gain a profit from it when the venture succeeds. Thus, real estate investing websites are also built to help investors to find the right property into which it’ll be more reasonable for them to put their money. To do this, they need to keep track of all the modern trends and changes in the market.

Before the advent of the internet, they relied solely on real estate agents. Today, they can go to a real estate website, do some research, and render a decision.

Actually, a non-specialized real estate website can also include functions to assist investors in finding the most profitable option, and there are a few websites designed specifically for investors. But we will cover the topic a little bit further, so bear with us.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

*Real Estate Marketplaces*

This one is a middle ground between buyers and sellers, tenants and renters. The concept boils down to the opportunity for people and companies to list a housing and search for it in one place.

Airbnb is one of the most popular real estate websites (Source: Airbnb website).

The most popular real estate websites that pop up in our minds are exactly the marketplaces: Zillow, Airbnb, Booking. Multi-vendor website development allows us to fill them with a huge number of features so that they stand out from the rest of the websites.

*Property Management Apps*

These ones are built for property owners to manage rent collections, deal with accounting and payments, track expenses, and supervise other tasks that are usually needed to be handled by multi-family property owners or people who rent several housings and want to keep everything well-managed.

One of the features that can be embedded in such a website can be the possibility of online rent payments and notifications for tenants about upcoming payments.

*Property Listing Websites*

Don’t confuse them with multi-vendor marketplaces. Property listing websites became the first response of real estate agents when the popularity of their services started to shrink. Having adapted to the new reality, they also went online and started to list estates on special websites. Surely, property owners can do it here as well. So users just scroll through various accommodation options and connect to the ones who sell them.

*Promotion Website*

These types of websites are built to promote the services of a single company. Here, they may publish the property that is available for rent and for sale, write blog posts pertinent to the real estate world, and inform visitors of the latest offers.

*Mixed Model Platforms*

Even though the formal typification of real estate websites exists, it doesn’t mean that you can’t build one that combines the functionalities of several types. It can be a website for buying and managing property. Or take booking.com, it went its own way, and now allows people to rent and pay not only for accommodation but also for airline tickets.

Booking is a mixed model real estate website (Source: Booking website).

So muse on what services you would like to provide to your users on the website. Sometimes the boldest ideas can be brought to life with the right approach and a team of creme de la creme engineers. Custom real estate software development will always beat a mediocre off-the-shelf product.

Real Estate Web Application Development: Solutions With a CRM

Regardless of what type of real estate website you ultimately opt for, Customer Relationship Management systems, or CRM, are necessary for any of them.

In the real estate business, interaction with clients is of great importance, and a large database of clients is a valuable asset. CRM will help you to collect information about every client and keep track of all their transactions so that you can send them personalized and automated letters and reminders. CRM provides you with an opportunity to understand your target audience and make reasonable decisions based on the information gathered.

Integration of a Real Estate Marketplace With MLS

It's highly recommended to embed an MLS, a multiple listing service, into a real estate website. It's actually a huge database that encompasses a number of regional databases.

Real estate agents and brokers incessantly add various listings into the database, usually with a precise description of all the peculiarities of the property. Having MLS integrated into your website will provide potential homebuyers with a much larger set of listings, and homesellers with the opportunity to get their property the most eyeballs.

The concept of MLS is closely connected with the concept of IDX, or Internet Data Exchange. In layman's terms, it’s a guideline, adherence to which allows for the usage of MLS sources across various platforms.

So integrate MLS into your website via IDX to showcase not only your listings, but everything available on the market.

Features of a Real Estate Platform That Can't Be Ignored

Although this article is slowly turning into an ode to perpetual technological advancement, we want to point out once again that this is exactly what allows us to keep our real estate business growing. We won’t spout some platitudes about the importance of high-quality photos and complex search filters. Instead, let’s focus on the features of real estate websites that will make the process of real estate web development a creative journey.

Still, remember, these are just bare bones that can be morphed into something much bigger with your creativity and business acumen.

*Live Chat*

Remember when we mentioned that a lot of young people don’t want to interact with a real estate agent? It’s true, but we never said interaction with an online form of a human. You can integrate a chat into the website, and a human, under the disguise of an online assistant, will help a user with questions regarding the rules of living in a condominium, financial particulars, or other inquiries that not-experts-in-real-estate expect to be answered, without bouncing to other websites to find the info.

*Calculator*

Buying, selling, and renting are always big deals that can result in great pecuniary loss. To provide a user with another layer of security, consider embedding a calculator while creating a real estate website.

It can be a mortgage calculator that will help a visitor calculate what their approximate monthly payments will be.

An example of a mortgage calculator at Zillow (Source: Zillow website).

For those who are trying to sell a house, you can introduce the feature of estimating property value. With the help of machine learning techniques and big data, a user will be able to see the cost of their housing according to its location, neighborhood, number of rooms, and other factors.

A calculator can show not only how much a person can net from selling their property but also the amount to be spent on bureaucratic matters.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

*Blog*

When creating real estate marketplaces or other types of a website, add a blog section. Anyone who has ever been engaged in selling or buying a house knows that during this time, your eagerness to learn all the traps and pitfalls is as high as ever. Confide in a visitor the biggest secrets of the real estate business, share some insider tips with them, and they will soon become your regulars.

Having a blog is also a good way to improve the SEO rankings of your real estate website. We bet you want search engines to put it among the first in the list.

*Registration*

If someone visited a real estate website, most probably, it was for a reason. Whatever this reason might be, we have to ensure that a person will come back to our website, or, at least, won’t forget about its existence. That’s why the registration feature can allow you to have a user’s e-mail and keep them updated on new housing options by sending them personalized letters, that is possible, by the way, with the help of CRM.

But you should be careful with this one. Sometimes, extra steps and hassle can backfire, and a user will just take a French leave. Make the registration step optional and as smooth and fast as possible.

Extra tip: add a block of text to the pop-up registration box emphasizing the benefits of registration for the user.

*Maps*

Some consider the feature redundant. Some believe that building a real estate platform without a map is absurd. We suggest including the feature to be sure that map-lovers will love our website. At the end, with their help, people may check local coffee shops, traffic, and streetlights.

*Integrated Payment System*

Allowing users to pay rent to their landlords, or some up-front costs for booking a flat can make your venture even more lucrative by charging fees for the transaction held through your website. Users also benefit from it, as paying in advance will serve to ensure the place won’t be sold to anyone else.

*Calendar*

This feature will provide users with the opportunity to make plans without leaving your website. It allows booking flats by simply tapping on the dates. Calendars may show a renter what dates are already booked.

If a user wants to look over the chosen property, they may check a real estate agent’s or owner’s availability, and plan their visits accordingly. To add even more convenience, you can synchronize it with Google Calendar.

*Real Estate Apps*

The real estate industry has come a long way from spreading the news about vacant housing by means of offline communication to reaching out to a global audience through the internet. It was clear that advertisements promulgated through an online medium have much higher chances of reaching out to a broader audience, but it turned out that one online channel is often not enough.

Real estate apps are extremely popular in App Store and Google Play.

That’s why building a real estate mobile app to complement a real estate website has become another way to boost the bottom line and attract clients.

Apps allow users to search for housing options on their phones or check how many views and offers their listings have received. You may invest money in native mobile app development, but keep in mind that you will have to build at least two different apps in two different programming languages. If you have a mature company that can afford native mobile app development, go for it.

If you are a new player in the field, it’s a great chance to start with real estate web portal development from the very beginning. Do you have any idea about what this is? Let us give you a hint: they’re running on all types of browsers and devices. But we will elaborate on this trend in real estate website development a little bit later.

*Calls To Action*

Having multiple strategic call to action buttons on the website increases the conversion rates. They may be as simple as "Contact us" and "Read more," but they incentivize users to interact with a website, explore it, and finally make a purchase, which in our case is renting or booking housing.

By the way, this is not the only way of making money on a real estate website. Surprised?

How Do Real Estate Platforms Make Money?

Everyone is rambling about real estate websites' being lucrative, as if it were something that goes without saying. Some people actually believe that financial gain is only received through the transactions conducted on the website, but it’s only one of the possible ways to earn money. Without further ado, let us tell you all the financial benefits that creating a real estate website can bring.

*Advertising*

It’s one of the most popular monetization models for websites. If you know your target audience, it will be much more profitable for you to leverage the space on your website to sell advertisements (hinting at the importance of CRM once again).

Still, you should be careful with this one. If the ads are relevant to your audience, they simply won’t click on them. Hence, companies won’t place ads on your website.

You should also choose the proper space for placing ads; be sure you’re not placing an ad for your competitor and there aren't too many of them.

Extra tip: include advertisements in your blog posts to promote your affiliate company's services.

*Premium Features*

It usually goes like this: all the features of a real estate website we enlisted above reinvigorate your desire for making a real estate website with a set of unique features. You put a lot of financial and mental resources into them, and your brain child is finally here. You feel that it would be unjust to let everyone use all its features for free. That’s why you only give access to the full package of features to the premium users who paid for it. The rest will only use the basic set.

Give new users a free trial period so that they can feel how advantageous these features can be. For example, it can have the feature of boosting a listing. Once the free trial ends, a user won’t want to receive a much smaller number of views and will be more prone to paying for access.

*Subscription*

Every real estate agent wants to list their property on a real estate platform. You can offer them different pricing plans to allow them to post as many listings as they need. The more convenient and popular your platform is, the bigger amount you can charge.

The cost of pricing plans can vary not only according to the number of listings available, but also the access to some of the features.

Just like "Buy five beers and get french fries for free" but where beers are listings, and french fries is a real estate app for property management. Get it?

*Featured Listing*

Under the competitive climate of real estate marketplaces, one of the biggest sources of income is providing featured listings to real estate agents and homeowners. Basically, you’re just putting their listing on the homepage or at the top of the search results, so that their offering attracts a much bigger number of views than the ones who decided not to pay for becoming a local celebrity.

Software Development Trends In Real Estate

Like in any other industry, real estate solutions have their own trends, including technological ones. Let's take a closer look at them!

*Augmented And Virtual Reality*

COVID-19 made it impossible for us to visit a property physically. But we’re longing to walk around the apartment, assess the quality of wallpaper, and look through a bedroom window.

An example of wise use of AR tech in the real estate industry (Source: Realtor.com website).

That’s why many real estate business owners enhance their websites with AR and VR technology that allows people to take virtual tours around a property. And with the most advanced VR technology, we can even take a bike tour around the neighborhood!

*The Internet of Things(IoT)*

IoT devices have shifted the real estate industry to a whole new level. In a nutshell, the technology is inserted into the usual objects that gather and receive information from the internet and analyze it.

The Internet of Things helps the real estate industry with monitoring buildings for abnormalities, such as detecting smoke, high pressure, and other hazards. Moreover, they can identify if some house components need urgent repair and check them for other inconsistencies. It allows real estate agents to offer clients accommodation that is safe and warn homeowners about possible risks.

One of the latest innovations is placing beacons around the property on-sale. When a potential buyer who has a company’s mobile app installed visits the property, passing by the beacon will trigger the mobile app, which, in turn, notifies a client about a special discount or gives them a piece of interesting information about the housing.

VR tours, by the way, have also become even more realistic with IoT sensors providing real-time photos.

*Cloud Apps*

Today, more and more real estate business owners are opting for cloud application development rather than usual apps. It provides much greater scalability as an app is mainly connected to a cloud infrastructure and not physical hardware. As it’s built with the cloud environment, business owners won’t have a need to hire special engineers to maintain servers as this job is done by big cloud infrastructure providers.

*Web Portal Development*

Finally, we’re here. Remember, we promised you to tell you about web portal development?

Web portals run smoothly on different types of browsers and devices, and you won’t need to waste a huge sum on building several apps for different platforms.

The benefits of web portals (Source: Fively).

The main difference between web portals and average websites is that the first provides only personalized information for a particular user, depending on their needs. And this is the reason why only registered people have access to a web portal’s content.

So basically, web portals are used to provide every user and customer with a customized experience and content on any device.

Check web portal pricing if you feel that this solution will be helpful for your real estate business.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

Final Thoughts on Real Estate Platform Development

Let’s face it, at the beginning of our journey towards any goal, we all look up to the most prominent players on the market. In the real estate domain, deep down, we want to create a website like Zillow. But take a minute to think about it. Why have another Zillow online when we have a great chance to show the world something one of a kind?

Whether you want to develop a real estate website,a web portal, build a real estate web app, or a multi-vendor marketplace, stand by your personal views and perceptions.

Our team values innovation and will do everything possible to turn your vision of an ideal real estate website into reality. We will not leave you once the development phase is over. Fively provides technical support and maintenance so that bugs or issues have a zero chance of occurring.

So determine the type of real estate portal you need, what kind of functionality you want to include, and bring your craziest projects to us to deal with the rest.

A Small Guide on Building an MVP

Alexey Kalachik — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:06:46 +0000

Nearly 37% of startups die due to a lack of profitability or capital. The good news is that there is a way to test an idea’s viability and avoid wastage. We mean MVP development. If you are interested in this effective and straightforward methodology, this blog post will help to sort out the details.

What is an MVP?

Imagine you have to create and launch your product immediately and with no huge investment. What features would you add by all means and what are the options to be omitted? This simple version though saving the basics of your idea is the Minimum Viable Product. Its mission is to validate your idea and collect maximum feedback with minimal effort.

This approach to product launch has many supporters because:

It helps you to test a hypothesis with minimum resources involved;
It helps you to identify the early adopters of your product;
It helps you to get feedback in the short term;
It creates your reputation;
It helps you to test pricing models;
It protects you from making mistakes and budget losses

Thus, your minimum viable product may become your most valuable player.

How to Build an MVP

Even though making a product minimum means adding fewer features, there are some things to be worked out. To make it easier, we would like to offer you a structured process that we recommend to our customers at Fively.

1.Identify Your Market Needs

You may think that your idea will rock the market but without analysis and data, it’s merely your opinion. Before launching any product you should make sure that there are people who want and are going to like your solution.

We recommend you analyze your potential customers and their pains. Market research, surveys, open data resources will help you with that. Besides, do not forget to look at your direct and indirect competitors. Make a comparative table or a SWOT analysis to make sure your offer will stand out.

These measures will help you to formalize a concept or give it up without time and money waste.

2. Define Your Product Value

Formulate a clear statement that will deliver the information on the benefits of your offer. If the users don’t catch the idea immediately, they won’t adopt your solution.

A good value proposition should be supported by facts, formulated with the help of customer logic, and focused on a specific audience segment.

A unique value or selling proposition will help you to define the pool of features to be included in the MVP. In addition to that, you can use it for further marketing campaigns.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

3. Design Your Customer Journey

The customer-centric approach is your indispensable assistant. Look at your solution from the customers’ perspective and describe possible scenarios of interacting with your product. It’s useful to record every step from opening your app to accomplishing the ultimate goal and/or closing the app.

You’ll get a user flow and understand what tasks your solution should carry out. This approach is far more effective than the attempts to invent and describe certain features that may be detached from reality. A user flow is a way to customers’ satisfaction and higher conversions.

4. Rank the Features

List all the features you want to add to your MVP. Then think about them in terms of priority - which ones are necessary and which ones can be omitted. Classify your features as high-, medium-, and low-priority ones. This is an important step before the actual development works.

If you can’t quite decide, try the following criteria. Think about the impact of a feature and its urgency for the ultimate solution. When both indicators are high, you should definitely include this feature in the top-priority part and in your future MVP as well.

5. Choose the Right MVP Developers

In fact, you may start with this step and get back to the unique selling proposition part and other analytical work when you find a contractor. However, from our past experience, we can state that it’s much easier for both parties when we can deal with data and plans rather than with vague ideas.

You can pick up between hiring an in-house developer or a freelancer, or outsource MVP development. If you aren’t familiar with the process, we recommend you to look at our blog posts ‘How to Decide Which Outsourcing Provider to Work With’ and ‘How to Find the Right Freelancer on UpWork’.

In general, offshore MVP development will cost you less and there is a pretty good chance that you will find high-class professionals.

6. Create a Prototype

Once you understand customer flow and high-priority features, get a prototype created. It should be clickable and demonstrate the UX/UI that you are going to use hereafter. It’s a great way to validate your design, attract early adopters and investors. A prototype is an MVP for a real MVP. Skipping this stage can lead to a sales failure as it happened to Steve Jobs during his work on the Apple Lisa.

7. Create, Test, and Learn

Once you have done the things above, it’s time to start the development. When the first version is ready, pass it to the hands of QA engineers. Then it’s time to show your product to your inner circle - so-called alpha testing. After that, show your product to the public in the format of beta testing. These steps are important for making improvements and usually take up to two weeks.

After the testing period, gather user feedback and consider what else can be improved. Adopt those improvements and go back to the learning stage. Ultimately, you’ll get a complete product that your customers will love.

Are you standing on the threshold of building a new product? Let’s create your MVP success story together!

5 Steps to Make a Mobile App Idea Happen

Alexey Kalachik — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:45:06 +0000

So, a brilliant idea came to your mind, and now you want to know how to develop an app. Congratulations! You’re at the beginning of a thrilling adventure. To make it safer, we’ve pointed out the steps you shouldn’t miss to get things real. Without waiting any longer, let’s open the door to the dream and discuss what to do with an app idea to make it work.

Describe It

So, you're probably thinking something like "I have an app idea, where do I start?" First things first, frame a mobile app idea in writing. Without this step, it’s only a vague dream in your mind like "I have an idea for an app", but no certain criteria. When you note down a concept, you’ll structure it, and make your app idea development more precise and detailed. Ask yourself the following questions:

What are my clients like?
What problems do my future users have?
How will my app meet these needs?
What will it look like?
Who are my competitors? What kind of advantages do they have?
Can I offer any unique options?
How to sell my app idea?

The answers will serve to understand a unique selling proposition and get a clear representation of the final application.

Think About Investments

As a matter of fact, even a great idea for an app can die unborn without financing. To prevent that from happening to you, think about money in advance. You may use some personal savings, take a loan, use crowdfunding, or, what is common, find a partner, a co-founder, or an investor. If you aren’t planning only to count on yourself, you’ll need a clear business plan to explain to other participants the future benefits hidden in your mobile app idea.

Find a Developer

Proceeding from the previous actions, you got a clear understanding of the project. It means you’re supposed to wonder how to develop an app idea and look for the right developer for a mobile app. It can be either a freelancer or a company. Check their portfolios, ratings, reviews, and get ready to share your vision. If you plan to protect the idea from being shared with third parties, ask to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). The specialist will help to validate the idea, as well as give some tips on how to get an app idea developed quicker.

🔥 Need a Project Estimation?
Let’s calculate the price of your project with Fively.
👉 Estimate a project

Get Ready for the Launch

While the development team is doing the job, prepare the ground for the release. It’s highly recommended to decide in advance, on what platform you’d like to place the app. It will predetermine the stack and algorithm of deployment. Also, inform the future users that you've got an app idea. Send emails at least to friends and colleagues. You may find relevant communities on Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, and inform their members about your idea for a buyer app. It’s also a good idea to pitch bloggers and website editors to get a promo. The marketing part is crucial in selling app ideas. Spend some time and money for it, otherwise, the application will stay unnoticed.

Keep on Improving

It’s not over when you launch an app. Do not forget that the market is constantly evolving as well as your clients’ demands. Even the brightest mobile app idea may depreciate without timely updates. You might have heard about Kaizen, a Japanese concept of constant improvements. Work with a ready app clearly demonstrates this idea - you take small but consistent steps leading to a big upgrade. So, you should follow mobile app trends, analyze the clients’ feedback, make use of new tools when there’s an occasion. If you've run out of good thoughts, you can even Google something like "how to copyright an idea for an app", and stumble upon really good insights this way.

Now you’re not only inspired by your idea but have an action plan what to do if you have an idea for an app. The first step is always the hardest. Do not be afraid though. Try to gain support and find a trustworthy mobile development company like Fively. The app market is changing every year and probably you’re the one who will make a difference.

Need Help With A Project?
Drop us a line, let’s arrange a discussion