<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
  <channel>
    <title>DEV Community: Rachael Ray</title>
    <description>The latest articles on DEV Community by Rachael Ray (@rachael_ray018).</description>
    <link>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018</link>
    <image>
      <url>https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F101190%2F6af0eedf-78f1-4d64-bcc4-aa3ee810a8fc.jpeg</url>
      <title>DEV Community: Rachael Ray</title>
      <link>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018</link>
    </image>
    <atom:link rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="https://dev.to/feed/rachael_ray018"/>
    <language>en</language>
    <item>
      <title>Top 10 Benefits Of Blockchain Technology For Business</title>
      <dc:creator>Rachael Ray</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2022 05:48:05 +0000</pubDate>
      <link>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/top-10-benefits-of-blockchain-technology-for-business-3jfp</link>
      <guid>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/top-10-benefits-of-blockchain-technology-for-business-3jfp</guid>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Since Bitcoin catapulted Blockchain into the limelight and it's been widely touted for its potential to transform the industry, there is no denying that small businesses can use blockchain technology to transform themselves.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The benefits of Blockchain technology are far-reaching — no matter your industry, and it is predicted to expand into a &lt;a href="https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/blockchain-technology-market-90100890.html#" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;$39 billion industry&lt;/a&gt; in the next four years.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;So it would be most reasonable to consider the power of Blockchain technology and understand more about casting your business model into the future with broad scope for easy optimization and operations with the support of &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/companies/blockchain-development-services" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Blockchain technology&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  What is Blockchain Technology, and how does this technology work?
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;So first thing first. Blockchain technology is not a cryptocurrency; however, Blockchain technology supports cryptocurrency transactions. Some people also confuse blockchain with machine learning or artificial intelligence. Finally, it's not a programming language, and it's also not a cryptographic codification.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;A blockchain is an ever-growing list of digital data records. Such a list comprises many data blocks, organized in chronological order, and linked and secured by cryptographic evidence. By nature, it's a digital ledger of economic transactions, capable of documenting all types of transactions as they occur — and they are not just financial data. Blockchain technology virtually records anything of value.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Transactions recorded on Blockchain do not need any form of validation or authenticity. This implies that one can store anything on the Blockchain without ever changing it, making the information unchangeable.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Benefits of Blockchain Technology for Business
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Blockchain Technology is incredibly diverse. It's so diverse that it can be applied in almost any business today—businesses like e-commerce, mining, logistics, transport, and healthcare. The list is inexhaustible.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Understanding Blockchain technology can help the business owner understand and assess how it can benefit their business. Let's look at the top 10 benefits of Blockchain Technology for business:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Greater Transparency &amp;amp; Openness&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The transaction data are recorded identically in multiple locations with pre-approved access to view. The members can view the transaction history as the recorded data has time and date stamped. This is one of the most notable features of Blockchain, and its ledger is available for viewing by the public.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Each organization must keep a separate database if they don't have blockchain technology. While blockchain uses a distributed ledger; data and transactions are recorded identically in numerous locations.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Increased Efficiency&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Blockchain ends the need for intermediaries or a third party by replacing the manual processes. It has made managing transaction processes much faster than old methods. However, the speed of blockchain-based systems may depend on various factors, such as network traffic, data block size, and more. Still, specialists believe that Blockchain boosts faster transactions.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;When the business follows traditional trading practices, everything is a time-consuming process prone to human errors and often requires intermediaries. By simplifying these processes with Blockchain technology, transactions can be conducted faster and more efficiently.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Improved Traceability&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;If a company deals in products through a complex supply chain on a daily basis, one must know how hard it can get to trace an item back to its origin through inventory.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;On the other hand, transactions of goods are recorded on a blockchain, and the audit trail indicates where an asset came from and every stop it took throughout its journey. This transaction data record will help the business verify the authenticity of assets and their whereabouts and prevent fraud.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Blockchain tech makes an audit trail of the asset with the date and timestamp of its journey. In an industry troubled by counterfeiting and fraud — this assists in providing the evidence. Tracing data can also expose weaknesses in any supply chain management process.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Finer Security&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Record-keeping of Blockchain is more secure than any other record-keeping system. However, the transactions must be agreed upon before transactions are recorded in the Blockchain. The data is encrypted and linked to the previous transaction as the transaction is approved. Information is stored over a vast network of computers instead of a single server, making it hard for hackers to compromise transaction data.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Protecting sensitive data is crucial in any industry — Blockchain has an opportunity to change how vital details are shared by helping prevent fraud and unauthorized activity.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Fraud Control&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;A system in which the data is kept in multiple places instead of one is immune to hackers' attacks. It's not easy for hackers to access the information, and even if they get access, the data can quickly be recovered.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Fraudsters use various methods to hide their criminal activities, including deleting or altering information in a company’s systems. But using an interconnected &lt;a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/financialsector/brief/blockchain-dlt" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;digital ledger&lt;/a&gt; can help reduce fraud. It raises the transparency and visibility of the transactions made throughout a supply chain and between business network associates.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Reduced Costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;As per the study by &lt;a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/blockchain-beyond-the-hype-what-is-the-strategic-business-value" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Mckinsey&lt;/a&gt;, the 70% value of Blockchain has been referred to as cost reduction, followed by income generation and capital relief. This can change the flow of value by capturing lost revenue and creating new revenue for &lt;a href="https://www.goodtal.com/blockchain-developer" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Blockchain service providers&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Organizations using Blockchain can bring down expenses associated with third-party vendors. There is no inherited centralized player, and there is no need to pay for vendor costs. Furthermore, less interaction is required when validating a transaction, removing the need to invest more money or do basic stuff.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Blockchain Technology can have the disruptive potential of being the basis of unique operating models. However, its initial impact will push operational efficiencies. It will allow removing costs associated with infrastructure and operational parts of the energy sector.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Unchangeable&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;It's one of the main attributes of Blockchain. It tells that once recorded; data cannot be deleted or modified. All trades are immutably recorded in the Blockchain with timestamp and date-stamp, creating a permanent record.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;It also presents a secure and reliable information audit used to track the data over a period.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Automation&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Blockchain enables the transaction to be automated as it raises the efficiency and pace of the process. It automatically runs the next step of the transaction once the last transaction is completed.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Automation in Blockchain lessens human intervention and reliance on third parties to certify the contract terms.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Decentralization&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Blockchain operates on the decentralization approach, which means its operation decision-making duties are split into a hierarchy.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For example, it is used in supply chain management, where there is a system chain from suppliers to producers, distributors, and retailers. There is no party in the center acting in Blockchain as it enables sharing of data within the business ecosystem.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;- Innovation&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Business leaders of diverse industries keep exploring new ideas and technology that can provide them with overall solutions. Blockchain-based techniques can assist organizations in working smarter and innovating faster. And enforcing blockchain technology in the system fixes many solving obstinate questions.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Blockchain technology is valuable in almost every industry. Many businesses are actively executing this tech for assistance in their processes. Now that you have realized the potential of this technology, you can make well-informed decisions for your business.&lt;/p&gt;

</description>
      <category>blockchain</category>
      <category>webdev</category>
      <category>programming</category>
      <category>beginners</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How Leveraging Artificial Intelligence Could Be A Game Changer For Businesses</title>
      <dc:creator>Rachael Ray</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2022 08:36:30 +0000</pubDate>
      <link>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/how-leveraging-artificial-intelligence-could-be-a-game-changer-for-businesses-2p16</link>
      <guid>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/how-leveraging-artificial-intelligence-could-be-a-game-changer-for-businesses-2p16</guid>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Artificial Intelligence(AI)&lt;/strong&gt; has been used in computing for more than a couple of decades and has been advancing as sophisticated technology. Data collection, analytics, and machine learning now drive Artificial Intelligence. All companies, whether big or small, no matter what the products/services they sell, can leverage Artificial Intelligence to propel themselves.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  What is Artificial Intelligence?
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Due to cut-throat competition, businesses need to use state-of-the-art technology to survive &amp;amp; thrive. Artificial Intelligence is the answer to the question of how to automate several routines as well as unique tasks. The technology is becoming more brilliant &amp;amp; more reliable with every passing year, and business houses look forward to incorporating AI. Thanks to AI, humans now can focus only on tasks that cannot be done by machines or software, reducing burnout and long working hours.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Facts &amp;amp; Figures about the use of Artificial Intelligence by corporates:
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The Global Artificial Intelligence market is expected to grow to USD 190.61 billion in 2025(&lt;a href="https://www.semrush.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-stats/" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Source: Semrush&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;In 2022, companies are expected to have 35 Artificial Intelligence projects in place(&lt;a href="https://www.semrush.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-stats/" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Source: Semrush&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;A majority of employees(54%) have stated that there has been an increase in productivity due to AI(&lt;a href="https://www.semrush.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-stats/" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Source: Semrush&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Juniper Research has predicted a growth of 230% in Machine Learning spending between 2019 and 2023(&lt;a href="https://connect.comptia.org/blog/artificial-intelligence-statistics-facts" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Source: Comptia&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;By 2024, over 8 billion voice assistants will be used(&lt;a href="https://truelist.co/blog/artificial-intelligence-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Source: Truelist&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Companies can leverage Artificial Intelligence for the following business areas:
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Operations&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Artificial Intelligence has been used for making routine decisions related to operations like inventory management, logistics, and the purchase of raw materials. Managing production in large factories is a complicated task, and that is why they should make use of &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/artificial-intelligence" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Artificial Intelligence&lt;/a&gt; in the form of software or robots. In the case of repetitive tasks, the chance of human error is very high, but making use of Artificial Intelligence can eliminate this possibility.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;General Management&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;AI can analyze massive amounts of data in little time, a feat not achievable by humans. Collecting data is of no use if it is not investigated and decisions are taken based on the analysis. Artificial Intelligence has the ability to make informed decisions regarding operations, inventory, logistics, and internal communication. A &lt;a href="https://www.goodtal.com/app-developer" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;mobile app&lt;/a&gt; can also be developed to be used as an &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/artificial-intelligence-software/" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Artificial Intelligence tool&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sales &amp;amp; Marketing&lt;/strong&gt;   &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Sales &amp;amp; Marketing generate a lot of data, which can be analyzed to make decisions related to Marketing. AI can be used for the personalization of websites, sending notifications, and recognizing faces on social media. Making use of chatbots to interact with clients and promote new products/services is already in vogue. AI can also be used for digital marketing and Search Engine Optimization.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Accounting&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In accounting, several tasks can be automated by making use of AI-powered tools. These tasks include payroll, tax planning, invoice generation, and making post-dated payments. AI eliminates human errors caused due to repetitive tasks and can detect patterns to help businesses save funds. Accountants can dedicate their time to performing tasks that are not possible with Artificial Intelligence.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Customer Support&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Every business tries to keep its customers happy, and in the case of large corporates, the number of customers is so huge that it is virtually impossible to stay in touch with them and interact with them personally. There are voice bots and chatbots, making it easy to answer routine queries, relieving executives to solve more complex issues. The consumer is the King no matter what business it is, and Artificial Intelligence makes it possible to be in touch with every consumer. Many corporates go for &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/platform/app-development" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;mobile app development&lt;/a&gt; for customer care.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Human Resources&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For large firms, there are always job vacancies that need to be filled. In the case of reputed companies, the HR department receives thousands of applications, which need to be screened. It is not possible for HR executives to go through them personally. AI-powered bots can screen this application in a matter of minutes and provide a list of candidates, who can then be contacted for further rounds of the screening process. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Data Analysis&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Data is something that everyone is looking up to for insights into their operations, marketing, and turnover. Data Analysis can be a cumbersome task as a huge amount of data is generated every second in the case of large businesses. Artificial Intelligence can help analyze data and come up with a detailed report, which can then be used to make important decisions. AI will be a game-changer for companies as data-driven decisions are more likely to be correct.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;We can see that AI can be used in all fields of business, beginning from operations to Data Analysis. It requires an initial investment, but once the right tools &amp;amp; technologies are selected, it will provide a good return on investment. Any business that does not use Artificial Intelligence will find it difficult to compete with other companies.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Artificial Intelligence &amp;amp; Machine Learning are good career options as well, and with many universities and institutes offering their courses, there is a good talent pool. Business houses can hire these professionals to leverage Artificial Intelligence to scale up their operations and boost growth. The technology will only get smarter over time and become more accurate and less expensive. Small businesses which cannot afford to acquire this technology can also outsource their requirements. To conclude, the use of Artificial Intelligence tools is the need of the hour to keep up with the competition and grow simultaneously. So, go for it…&lt;/p&gt;

</description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Launching an app for your small business? Try Flutter</title>
      <dc:creator>Rachael Ray</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2022 10:06:41 +0000</pubDate>
      <link>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/launching-an-app-for-your-small-business-try-flutter-1215</link>
      <guid>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/launching-an-app-for-your-small-business-try-flutter-1215</guid>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Gone are the days when only businesses with substantial budget to spare would choose to go for mobile app development. In the current market conditions, it has become almost essential for businesses of all sizes to have mobile apps. However, it is easier said than done. Getting a mobile app developed can be financially straining for small businesses and startups. This is where cross-platform app development comes into the picture. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Businesses around the world are choosing this option to save considerable time and money. In fact, &lt;a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/869224/worldwide-software-developer-working-hours/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20survey%2C%2042,mobile%20developers%20use%20native%20tools." rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;42%&lt;/a&gt; of developers use React Native (a cross platform app development framework) as a core technology for their mobile apps. If the developers are using cross platform technologies, then certainly there is a demand for it. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Now that you know a bit about the benefits of cross platform development, let’s come to the focus point of the article - Flutter. It would not be entirely wrong to say that Flutter has managed to capture the attention of developers’ community and business world alike since its launch. Before we get into details of how Flutter is a boon for startups, it is necessary to understand the two development methods ie. native and cross-platform app development from the perspective of startups. Only then, you can better understand what &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/frameworks/app-development/flutter" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Flutter app development&lt;/a&gt; will bring to the table for startups. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A Common Dilemma for Startups: Cross-platform vs Native App Development?&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Today, mobile apps are surely a great way to attract and retain customers. But money is a major concern in &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/platform/app-development" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;mobile app development&lt;/a&gt;, especially for startups. Not to forget that the market is highly competitive with &lt;a href="https://get2growth.com/how-many-startups/" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;305 million startups&lt;/a&gt; coming up every year. In that case, startups need a quick and robust solution. Enter - cross platform app development! &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;While startups may be inclined towards native apps given their performance, building two separate apps for Android and iOS is tiresome and expensive. As a result, fan following of the cross platform approach is on a rise. Still not convinced? The following reasons to opt for cross platform development will change your mind! &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Lesser development effort&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Less time in testing &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Quicker development &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Easily accessible plugins &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Lesser development cost &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Reusable code &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Shorter time to market&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Flutter is Trending: Why Startups Need to Take a Note
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Flutter’s tagline ‘build beautiful native apps in record time’ conveys everything there is to know. If this is not enough, Flutter is the second leading language to develop cross platform apps as per &lt;a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?cat=31&amp;amp;date=all&amp;amp;q=React%20Native,Flutter,NativeScript,Xamarin" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Google Trends&lt;/a&gt;. Moreover, as per a &lt;a href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2019#technology-_-most-loved-dreaded-and-wanted-other-frameworks-libraries-and-tools" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Stack overflow survey&lt;/a&gt;, it is the third most loved frameworks, tools, and libraries. If these are not enough, check out some other &lt;a href="https://dev.to/flutterfyi/flutter-learning-resources-for-beginners-5719"&gt;reasons why Flutter&lt;/a&gt; is the best choice for startups! &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Flutter Offers Powerful Design Experience&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Small businesses or startups usually struggle to find investors for their app. The first thing that catches the eye in an app is its design and user experience. Flutter enables developers to create brilliant and intuitive designs. It’s possible because of the customized widgets for Android and iOS and other UI features. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;As compared to other cross platform tools, Flutter offers a wider variety of widgets. Also, Flutter has Material Design for Android and iOS widgets or Cupertino for iOS applications that helps developers make responsive apps. When developers leverage the full potential of Flutter, they can create spectacular applications, which, in turn, offer an unparalleled user experience. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Flutter Enables Faster Development&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;As Flutter is a cross platform development tool, an app created with it can be uploaded on multiple stores. The app gets more exposure and reaches a wider audience. The end result is an increase in the number of downloads. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Usually, in developing cross platform apps, UI/UX is compromised because JavaScript is not a feasible option. Some of its features are browser dependent and some need to be implemented differently across browsers. But with Flutter, the developers can take the ‘code once’ approach and create a native experience. All of this means faster development and time-to-market too. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3. Flutter Increases Developer’s Productivity&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;One of the best features of Flutter is ‘Hot Reload’. If there is &lt;a href="https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/5-top-app-development-mistakes-to-avoid-in-2022-14oo"&gt;any error during development&lt;/a&gt; then the developers can fix it immediately with the help of this feature. There is no need to recompile and deploy the code again. Basically, they can continue from where they left off. Furthermore, developers can see the changes in code in real-time. So, the team can quickly add new features, experiment, and fix bugs. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Hot reload also increases productivity in the sense that it improves collaboration between &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/platforms/top-web-design-companies" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;designers&lt;/a&gt; and developers. Be it the look or feel of the app, any change can be done and effects are visible immediately (within a few seconds). &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;4. Flutter is Integrated with Firebase&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Firebase is backed by Google and provides a collection of services like real-time databases, hosting, cloud storage, cloud functions, and much more. The benefit for startups here is that they don’t need to invest in a backend. They can use Firebase as it will not only make the infrastructure server less but also scalable. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Firebase also comes with a collection of common tools which further makes the development process easier. To achieve consistent delivery in the project, developers have the option to combine Firebase with tools to automate the app development process. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5. Lastly, Flutter Development is Pocket-friendly&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Every startup will look for budget friendly options for their app development project. Native apps are expensive because developers need to &lt;a href="https://dev.to/solutelabs/a-developer-s-guide-to-flutter-37f1"&gt;write separate codes&lt;/a&gt; for different operating systems. This also means separate testing for different apps. Not to forget, developers with the required skill sets for the specific platform need to be employed too. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;On the other hand, with Flutter, all it takes is a single codebase for apps to operate on multiple platforms. It reduces the testing requirements, app maintenance cost, and a single &lt;a href="https://www.goodtal.com/app-developer" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;team of developers&lt;/a&gt; to do the job. The end result is saving a lot of money that every startup will appreciate. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The idea of startups using Flutter for app development is definitely a beneficial one. Flutter continues to evolve and the community is growing as well. But just like everything else, there is a flipside to Flutter too. For instance, some third party integrations and internationally agreed architectural approaches are missing. However, these drawbacks are understandable as the framework is relatively new. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The tech world is quite optimistic that Flutter will continue to make a mark in the world of mobile apps, given its advantages. Therefore, it is time startups give a chance to Flutter and leverage it to realize the full potential of the business. &lt;/p&gt;

</description>
      <category>mobile</category>
      <category>flutter</category>
      <category>programming</category>
      <category>webdev</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>5 Top App Development Mistakes to Avoid in 2022</title>
      <dc:creator>Rachael Ray</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2022 12:05:24 +0000</pubDate>
      <link>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/5-top-app-development-mistakes-to-avoid-in-2022-14oo</link>
      <guid>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/5-top-app-development-mistakes-to-avoid-in-2022-14oo</guid>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Investing in &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/platform/app-development" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;mobile app development&lt;/a&gt; will help your brand get a competitive edge over your rival. Mobile apps can help you build your brand awareness, boost your company's revenue and provide better support and services to your customers. Also, it lets you forge brand loyalty and increase customer engagement and satisfaction. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;So, it comes as no surprise that apps have massively inundated businesses. Just check out these interesting stats to see how apps have effortlessly weaved into the fabric of our lives:  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Mobile app downloads &lt;a href="https://sensortower.com/blog/app-revenue-and-downloads-q3-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;have grown 23.3%&lt;/a&gt; since the pandemic. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Mobile app downloads will reach 258 billion by 2021. &lt;a href="https://www.appannie.com/en/insights/market-data/app-annie-2017-2022-forecast/" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;That's a 45% increase since 2017&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Customers have spent &lt;a href="https://www.emarketer.com/content/average-us-time-spent-with-mobile-in-2019-has-increased" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;3 hours and 45 minutes&lt;/a&gt; on their smartphones daily by 2020. It's a 9-minute increase compared to the previous year. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Mobile apps account for &lt;a href="https://www.marketingcharts.com/digital/mobile-phone-111093" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;70% of all digital media time&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;a href="https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/app-and-mobile/what-users-want-most-from-mobile-sites-today/" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;48% of customers&lt;/a&gt; admitted that an app helps determine brand credibility.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The point is that developing a mobile app for your brand will be one of the best decisions for your company. Although, people make many mistakes when building one, which leads to failure of their application. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;We don't want that to happen to you. So, through this post, I will be sharing what mistakes you should avoid when building your mobile app. Let’s get started.  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Mistake #1. Failing To Understand Your Customer’s Requirements
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;People often assume that everyone will love their mobile app. They don't conduct any research regarding their customer's requirements and needs. Such endeavors always end up as a disaster. Always determine your target audience before you start working on the project. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;User research is essential. Conduct a thorough understanding of your customer's motivations, personas, behavior patterns, and demographics. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ask yourself the following questions before commencing the app development: &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Is your mobile app’s solution valuable and sustainable? &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Is the app designed as per the latest market trends? &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Are the features well-executed and user-friendly? &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Is the app idea original? Are the markets oversaturated with similar ones? &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Both marketing and the development of a mobile app depend on user research. Hence, you cannot rely on assumptions regarding consumers' behavior and needs. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Also, determine what your competitors are doing and how you can be different from them. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Good research will save you lots of time and energy in the long run. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Mistake #2. Underestimating the Total Budget
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;You have to consider the resources required to develop the mobile app. It's not like you have a dream of owning an application one fine day and immediately start building it the next day. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Every resource will require an investment. Hence, creating a budget is essential before starting the mobile app development.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;There are multiple online calculators to determine the mobile app development cost upfront. We will share with you the best one. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;We will share with you the &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/resources/cost-to-develop-an-app" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;GoodFirms survey report&lt;/a&gt;. It will help you determine the cost of developing a mobile app.  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Mistake #3. Poor User Interface
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;First impressions matter! Pay close attention to the user interface of your mobile app. There are abundant applications at the app stores. People don't hesitate to remove apps from their devices if they don't find them interesting.  The point is: User retention is more important than ever now.  So, if you want your app to be downloaded in the first place make sure it’s UI is user-friendly. Hence, prioritize the &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/blog/effective-tricks-mobile-app-designing" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;mobile design process&lt;/a&gt; to build an application that users will love to use. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Keep the following points in mind when designing the application UI: &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Design an app flowchart first before you start working on the application &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Focus on resolution. Avoid designing for low resolution. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Don't add animation in the intro. People are impatient, and an unskippable one will lead to the uninstallation of the app.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Ensure that the animation used in indicating the loading time keeps customers engaged. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Add a gesture-based interface to your UI.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Allow users to navigate easily via shortcuts and also reverse their actions quickly. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The UI design should be consistent. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Provide informative feedback &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Design dialog to allow closure&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Prevent errors as much as possible&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Mistake #4.  Adding Too Many Features
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Adding too many features won't make the user appreciate your mobile app more. Nowadays, the word "&lt;strong&gt;feature-rich&lt;/strong&gt;" gets frequently used by marketers, &lt;a href="https://www.goodtal.com/app-developer" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;developers&lt;/a&gt;, and companies. They believe it to be a positive quality of their application, but it's a common mistake.   &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Having too many features can make a mobile app cumbersome. Adding those extra features means you will have to spend more time, resources, and effort during mobile app development. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Hence, go for the main feature and add only those side ones that support the application's purpose. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;If you check out the Zomato app, here are all its features: &lt;br&gt;
Adding food to the cart&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Location detection for address &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Payment portal&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Order tracking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Help and support&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;All these side features fulfill the essential purpose of the app. None of them feels extra. That's how your mobile app should be too.   &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Mistake #5. Focus on Downloads Instead of Retention
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;One major blunder most app entrepreneurs make is focusing on the total no of downloads instead of retention. They consider it as proof of their app's success. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;It is not always the case that high download rates mean that the application is a hit. Nonetheless, the app's true strength and quality depend on the user retention rate. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Regardless of this reality, People spend thousands of dollars on user acquisition and completely ignore user retention. But then that’s not how it should be, as existing app users can bring in massive ROI (return of investment) if they are correctly engaged. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Loyal consumers not only repeat purchases but also give quality feedback and word-of-mouth advertising.  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Here I will share some tips for improving user engagement and app retention:  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Create a pleasant onboarding experience.
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Add push notifications in the right way. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Use branded in-app messages. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Attract people with different offers, discounts, and loyalty programs.
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Encourage and reward feedback from your customers. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;User retention will save you a lot of money that you are spending on marketing. A truly successful app will generate both high downloads and retention rates.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Avoid the above Mistakes to give your App a Strong Start and a Long Lease of Life
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;A mobile app will aid you in promoting your business products and services to customers from anywhere and at any time. To ensure its success, keep the following points in mind: &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Have a thorough understanding of your customer's requirements. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Properly plan your budget.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Add only those features that are relevant to your application's core purpose.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Focus on retention rate. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Make the UI of your mobile app user-friendly.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;If you are ready to start working on your mobile app, head over to Goodfirm's &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/platform/app-development" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;mobile app development service companies&lt;/a&gt;, and from there, you can choose which of the companies is ideal for transforming your app idea into a reality.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;a href="https://dev.tourl"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I hope this blog helps you in launching a successful product in the market. Keep these five points in mind, and your app’s success will be inevitable.  &lt;/p&gt;

</description>
      <category>mobile</category>
      <category>programming</category>
      <category>android</category>
      <category>ios</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>5 Challenges In Business Intelligence Mobile Application Development</title>
      <dc:creator>Rachael Ray</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2021 11:05:59 +0000</pubDate>
      <link>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/5-challenges-in-business-intelligence-mobile-application-development-51ic</link>
      <guid>https://dev.to/rachael_ray018/5-challenges-in-business-intelligence-mobile-application-development-51ic</guid>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;In modern times, data being produced by organizations is in massive numbers. Every small to large business is generating data consistently and taking the investigation to the next level. It also involves making an informed decision for the company, allowing you to focus on its core competencies. However, it is not yet adopted on a universal level. There are numerous challenges that organizations face while integrating the new methods of functioning with BI. These challenges include data management issues, different data infrastructures, tracking new BI capabilities as per market updates, and varying levels of data literacy required in the workforce.  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Moreover, on the one hand, BI teams are required to ensure that the data holds strong security and is governed accurately to avoid any malware activity. On the other hand, the experts need to exhibit how BI can prove beneficial for the employees and the fewer data literate ones.                 &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Nonetheless, you can outsource a group of experts from the top data analytics companies to ensure you manage and analyze the data without any hassle and meet business needs accurately. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Challenges Faced While Developing Business Intelligence Mobile Application&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Let's take a look at the common challenges in detail that companies came across while developing a business intelligence mobile application. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lack of Adoption Company-Wide&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The biggest challenge in BI is the failed universal adoption and mismanaged BI practices. Therefore, it is crucial to consult employees and stakeholders about the new functioning methods to bring everyone together on the same page. You are required to curate a practical and realistic business plan with realistic goals to achieve. While developing a plan, you need to consult everyone in the firm, like the IT team, finance management team, marketing team, and sales and operations team, to ensure they can fathom the new business objectives. Predetermined key performance indicators and accurate goals will help your company to adopt BI successfully.  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Moreover, for small businesses, it might be challenging to adopt BI for enterprise functionalities. The small teams will not be able to &lt;a href="https://dev.to/designcoders/benefits-of-business-intelligence-for-retail-stores-inetsoft-2ffi"&gt;understand the benefits of BI&lt;/a&gt; the first time. The organizations may be discouraged due to lack of time, resources, and data awareness, which reduces the employees' excitement to adopt BI. Therefore it is essential to make them understand that the adoption costs outweigh the advantages of BI.              &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The BI tools in action will help the team function with enhanced efficacy. These tools allow the enterprise to connect with the users quickly, interact effectively, visualize and communicate the data without any difficulty. However, you can connect with professionals from top business intelligence (BI) app development companies to empower your staff to adopt BI to manage, understand and store complex data within the given time.    &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highly Expensive&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Budgets are a significant concern for small to medium enterprises when adopting a new functioning method like BI. Due to the higher prices, the small and medium-sized enterprises hold back investing in beneficial software. It also makes the companies hold back searching for experts for various functions like data science experts, IT professionals, and BI experts. These issues further discourage the enterprise from building expensive infrastructure investments required to deploy BI software. Moreover, entrepreneurs are shifting to BI to enhance the company's operations and save money to hire an expert team of operational managers. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;If you find the right business intelligence tool, then it becomes easier and quicker to earn ROI. A BI tool's primary benefit is to reduce the costs of implementation compared with other tools like training, infrastructure, and IT support. Robust dashboards can be quickly implemented, enabling you to save and earn profits with the accurate slicing of the correct data. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;However, the data is still being analyzed by experts, but by using a long process. Therefore, to fathom BI accurately, you can gain assistance from professional teams from &lt;a href="https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/country/app-development/in" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;mobile app development in India&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Difficulty in Delivering Mobile Based BI&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The changing market scenario shows increased use of mobile phones rather than computers for various activities like planning and sharing information, developing work, or holding meetings for an urgent collaboration meeting. The sudden shift into the smartphone era means there's never been a higher demand for BI solutions for mobile applications. Nonetheless, various challenges are emerging as business intelligence-based demands increase in the enterprise industry. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Seeing the fast-paced work environment of the businesses due to the cutthroat digital landscape has made it essential to produce data-driven information within 24 hours and deliver it to your audience within the timeline. When you develop mobile-based BI solutions, it may seem challenging to find the proper functionalities to offer a smooth working platform. However, with the right interactive BI platform, you can quickly come across valuable and invaluable information from smartphones without hampering other features and functions of the mobile phone.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Examining Data From Different Sources&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;It becomes challenging to keep track of every piece of information that comes your way when businesses must analyze and report multiple systems. No matter the size of your company, it is still focusing on collecting data from different networks to extract the correct information. The challenge here is that the data is stored in other systems like CRMs, ERP systems, excel spreadsheets, and databases. Thus, finding the data later becomes a difficult task for the users. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The enterprises, therefore, are shifting towards innovative BI tools to reduce the time in fulfilling the project. These tools can efficiently merge datasets without having to restructure the databases or set up a data warehouse. Thus, it allows SMEs to function effectively without depending on external sources to manage the data. Moreover, you can outsource from a list of top mobile app development companies to find the best solutions for data-driven sources.  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Managing the Issue of Poor Data Quality&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;With the consistent multiplying of the information across the globe, it is essential to manage the data and find accurate information from the bulk. Every time you find golden data from the load of data you hold, you come one step closer to success in the competitive marketplace. However, the critical data is buried deep into the systems, platforms, and applications of the other data collected every day. You also find various sources delivering inaccurate data, wasting time and money while slowing the process of data mining. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Hence, you can outsource from the top &lt;a href="https://www.goodtal.com/app-developer" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;mobile app development companies&lt;/a&gt; in India to strategize ways to enhance the organization's quality of functionality and fulfill business needs and objectives. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;To Summarize!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;BI is not an indulgence that only large enterprises can afford. It is an investment in today's time to function effectively and sustain the brand value created by every business. There are several challenges when you shift from the old methods to the latest trends of BI. Still, it is crucial to adopt BI solutions to earn profits with the upcoming digital age without any difficulty. Moreover, you can always outsource from the best mobile app development company in India to efficiently gain accurate business intelligence insights and efficiently fulfill your business goals. &lt;/p&gt;

</description>
      <category>mobile</category>
      <category>ai</category>
      <category>android</category>
      <category>programming</category>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>
