DEV Community: Shruti Bansal

How React JS is Rewriting App Development?

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 07:57:31 +0000

React JS or React Javascript was launched in 2013 and since then, it has been a bestseller and one of the most favored frameworks of developers. The framework is maintained by Facebook and the developer community together and it has been used as a framework for more than 32,000 websites. In addition, the world’s leading brands such as Apple, Paypal, and Netflix are already using React JS app development. It is one of the oldest Java Scripts that is still in use and is reestablishing new standards of app development.

How React JavaScript App Development is Changing the IT Landscape:

React JS becomes a must for single-page applications that are required to be fast, responsive, and error-free. The framework can be considered ‘One Size Fits All’ as the developers can use it to develop a wide base of applications and still it works just fine. The versatility of React JS can be understood by taking a look at the companies that use it. It is just as useful for Fortune 500 companies as it is for startups. Here is a look at how React JS is rewriting app development.

Reusability for Enhanced Productivity and Easy Maintenance
Applications follow complex logic, and changing algorithms for one portion may affect the other. This usually creates a fussy situation while creating and launching updates. React JS has the ability to reuse system components which is a boon for developers and designers.

Reuse of assets i.e. digital components is a common phenomenon and they usually reemploy digital objects such as checkboxes, buttons. React JS allows developers to reuse a vast majority of digital components that range from highly specific components to root components. This is less time-consuming and ultimately promotes productivity.

A good example would be Walmart which has numerous branches, subsidiaries and sister concerns that have their own online presence. However, their core processes such as image carousel and payment systems are the same. Here, reusability eases up the overall developing process as the developers can use the same components over and over to attain reliability in the process that will also ease-up the maintenance.

A Virtual Document Object Model (DOM)
Developers clearly understand how a heavy application that also has a high-load will impact the app structure. DOM has a tree-like structure and it is complexly connected to the multiple layers of the application. Even small changes in the upper layer can affect the whole interface and high-end app engines cannot ensure that such a phenomenon would not exist.

However, React JS mobile App Development excels in this situation as well. It has a virtual DOM that allows the developers to make virtual changes and test them. Once they have tweaked the changes with the help of diff algorithm they can implement the changes in the actual DOM tree.

React JS is a must-go framework for heavy apps that require faster loading. This feature of React JS ensures that the process does not become time-consuming and the changes are done without any errors.

React JS App Development is SEO-Friendly
Common or local search engines often fail to read apps that have heavy JavaScript. This does not mean that the developers should not create heavy JavaScript apps. In such situations, developers prefer to React JS as it can run on the server and it can render and return the virtual DOM to the browser as a standard webpage.

Although large enterprises such as Google have improved their algorithms to rectify this scenario, less popular browsers such as Bing, Yahoo, etc. are still unable to detect JavaScript-heavy apps.

Developer Toolset
Developers that are surrounded 24/7 by work cannot afford to learn new technologies every now and then. It requires careful implementation of new tools and techniques along with a hefty amount of time to create a sustainable learning environment.

However, not every framework or library comes with an exclusive toolset that suits the needs of a specific project. React JS comes with an exclusive toolset that contains capable design and debugging tools.

In addition, it also includes browser extension for developer tools that work with both Chrome and Firefox. It allows developers to inspect their current state, and compare parent and child components with ease.

Native Model for React JS App Development
Developers call React JS a ‘Learn Once – Write Anywhere’ library due to its functionality. React JS uses the same design patterns and transition process for both web and native app development. This works for mobile app development as well. Developers can combine React with plain JavaScript and develop native apps with rich UI for both Android and iOS.

Some other features that aid developers in native app development are real-time reload, ability to reuse components, modular architecture, portability, generous ecosystem and open-source. Social media giants such as Instagram and Facebook were innovators and early adopters of React JS including other prestigious brands such as Skype, Airbnb, and Tesla.

React JS is one of the best frameworks for developing both small and large-scale applications that require dynamic data. In addition, the developers are also blessed with perks that allow them to create an interactive and smooth UI/UX. All these factors make it a must-have for both small and large-scale organizations.

If you are looking for enterprise mobile app development or custom chatbot development, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

The Rise of Chatbots in Supply Management and Why You Should Care

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 07:46:15 +0000

AI chatbots have gained their foothold in the modern digital space as a majority of industries use chatbot for enhanced, insightful, and efficient customer engagement. AI-based chatbots are available 24/7, they are intuitive and they do not make mistakes. Almost every internet user interacts with some type of chatbot every day. ‘Hi Siri!’, ‘Ok Google!’ and ‘Hey Alexa!’ are some common phrases that people are familiar with.

With such a wide global acceptance, the implementation of chatbots in supply management is inevitable and bot-developers have come up with solutions that can simplify or even revolutionize the supply chain management process.

Chatbots in supply management can be categorized as per specific parameters.

Chatbots in Supply Management: Consumer-Oriented Practices –

Chatbots are not industry-specific but they can be outfitted with industry-specific information so they can connect to the consumers and clients who are most familiar with industry jargon and variables. Nonetheless, chatbots are an easy way to communicate with consumers.

Here, a good example would be of UPS bots that can talk to customers via ‘Google Home’ and provide delivery-related information. The bot uses additional software for personalized planning and tracking. Chatbots can handle many low-level operations that would otherwise require customer support personnel. Some features of the modern chatbots in the overall supply management perspective are given here.

Delivery Requests
This is quite similar to shopping or booking a service. Customers can request deliveries through a logistical chatbot and it can also handle all the additional information such as pickup and delivery address, delivery schedule, insurance, and delivery speed. Additionally, the chatbot can also process the order and issue a receipt that contains necessary details.

Tracking and Order Related Issues
, The Rise of Chatbots in Supply Management and Why You Should Care
In any case, the customers may require amending the order such as adding or removing some products or even cancel the order. A supply-chain chatbot can process their requests by using the information such as tracking numbers in the database and integrating it into the unique customer ID.

In addition, chatbots can also provide assistance in shipment tracking which can be better than the tracking feature available on the websites. With a chatbot, the customers have to enter the tracking ID only once and they can refer to the details anytime they want.

Providing Information
Frequently asked questions will not be a problem anymore as the chatbots can respond to the common questions through pre-programmed answers and follow-up questions and answers. Thus, the need for human intervention is minimized as it is needed only in situations where information is needed in detail.

Feedback & Surveys
Another important aspect of customer-oriented operations is feedback and surveys. Businesses can ask for customer feedback regarding their services or delivery through the chatbot. The whole process remains automated where customers only have to rate the service and/or explain their thoughts in the comments.

In addition, brands often conduct surveys for categorizing their customer base and gain insights about their personal habits and knowledge of other brands. Chatbots can be extremely helpful in conducting surveys as the customers do not have to fill online forms and they can get involved in a voice chat with an AI or just tick mark the checklist.

Chatbots in Supply Management: Supply-Chain Practices –

Chatbots in logistics can assist with the operational aspect of a business where the data comes from multiple sources. Chatbots can help in collecting the data from multiple sources while simplifying and automating processes at the same time.

Managing Orders
Managing customers’ orders is a big task as a different state of orders can present a big challenge in collecting and managing all the data.

Managing new orders, orders in progress, canceled orders, delayed orders, unclaimed orders, and orders for replacement/change can be tiresome for managers but not for the chatbots. They can send the collected data directly to the databases that are again automated for classifying the information accordingly.

Warehouse Issues
Warehouse matters are another important aspect that requires adequate management. Using automation in warehouse management can be helpful in dealing with inventories, expected deliveries, floor plans, and tracking information.

Here, the chatbots can be deployed for potential and existing clients/suppliers who can check the warehouse location and additional details so that they can maintain clear communication.

Fleet Management
The information about delivery/supply fleet such as the number of vehicles, vehicles on the route, idle vehicles, vehicles under maintenance, and vehicles that are out of order can be updated on automated terminals that provide such information.

The company can also add a limited-access feature for security purposes. Chatbot can fetch this information and offer assistance directly to the potential/existing clients and customers. Such an automated approach will also be helpful in managing and maintaining the company database for every single order.

Employee Management
, The Rise of Chatbots in Supply Management and Why You Should Care

In the supply-chain management, companies rely heavily on drivers for delivering and bringing-in the products/goods. Here, internal chatbot that can access driver information such as persons on sick leave/vacation, currently working, or standby can be vital as they can offer vital information to the managers who can then manage deliveries as per the available manpower and vehicles.

Chatbot comes with specific perks such as reduced costs, improved availability for customers along with better time-management and proactive responses. However, to achieve the desired results, chatbot development should incorporate advanced technologies such as AI, voice recognition and Natural Learning Process (NLP)

If you are looking for mobile app development or custom chatbot development, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

How Much It Costs to Develop a Coursera like App?

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 06:53:43 +0000

Online courses or online classes are web-based courses that aim to teach aspirants in the form of distance learning. Online courses allow students to learn the subjects of their choice or pursue a specific course as per their convenience.

These have become a hit for the students who cannot afford to visit foreign universities that offer specific courses. Many courses usually involve high education fee that is not feasible for everyone.

In addition, many working professionals cannot attend full-time or part-time courses and these are an excellent option for enhancing knowledge and improving their skills.

Coursera – Analysis
Coursera is such an app that has gained amazing popularity due to some exceptional benefits among distance learning students. The app offers a range of distance learning programs that include skill mobile app development coursesto university degrees across the globe.

The price range starts from as low as $29 to as high as $25,000. The app focuses on 3 key areas viz. skill development courses, specializations/professional courses, and university degrees. The coursed are facilitated regardless of an aspirant’s location and available time-slots. A vast majority, of course, is available 24/7 and students can access them at any possible point of time as per their convenience.

It started in 2012 as a small idea of providing education to people across the globe at low fees and grew into a multi-million dollar business. Therefore, the business model of Coursera should be a subject of study for entrepreneurs who wish to establish a similar enterprise in the online education industry.

In addition, to understand the cost to develop a Coursera like an app, they must pay attention to a number of factors such as why they need to build a similar app, how Coursera makes money, and ways to develop a Coursera like an app.

The online education industry is witnessing a drastic positive shift in the current global scenario and increased digitization across the globe is a major cause of this phenomenon. Entrepreneurs can capitalize on this sector as it is growing at a rapid rate.

They can implement innovative marketing techniques to promote their business and attract students from all over the world. However, this industry requires serious trust-building activities as the future of an aspirant entirely depends on the quality of the learning that he or she is recovering along with the services of the portal.

Coursera has set new standards in this sector as it has become one of the most trustworthy portals for online education in the whole world.

How Coursera Makes Money?
Coursera is a for-profit organization that has partnered with several private and government universities and organizations across the globe. It does not create any educational content and instead, it outsources courses and facilitates it to the students.

The portal offers more than 1,000 courses and works in collaboration with approximately 100 institutions and organization worldwide. The information transferred in the form of video lectures, slides, assignments, study material, and tests and quizzes.

cost to develop a Coursera, How Much It Costs to Develop a Coursera like App?
Coursera collect its majority of revenue from its 3 types of courses that are signature courses, specialization courses, and university degrees.

The other sources for review include selling university-branded certificates for the respective course, access to human tutors for specialized approach, corporate version of Coursera for training and development, and advertisements. This clearly shows how dynamic a single organization can be and in how many ways it can earn money.

Ways to Develop a Coursera like App and the Cost to Develop a Coursera like App
The exact cost to develop a Coursera like an app depends on a variety of factors and the amount of personalization that a business wants. Some of the important aspects are given here that should be kept in mind while developing as these can also be helpful in estimating the cost to develop a Coursera like an app.

Target Audience: Entrepreneurs have to be sure about the individuals that they wish to target as their customer base. Only then they can determine the courses they wish to offer, educational institutes that they wish to collaborate with, and their charges. In addition, their target audience will also determine the online marketing strategy and their partner that they wish to include.

Ease of Use: Regardless of the platform, the online education app should be easy to use and navigate. It should include proper information about all the courses and services offered by the organization. The app should have an intuitive UI and UX for an improved understanding of the content. Business owners should also focus on other issues such as loading time, payment methods, video playback, etc.

Range of Services: Online education apps must have a wide range of services that can be helpful for both the aspirants and the organization. Value-Added services can be a good source of revenue and profit generation. For instance, Coursera offers a range of value-added services that include special lectures and assistance from tutors who specialize in their respective fields.

Such services can be a great help to students who need extra attention. An aspiring business can also implement similar ideas such as lectures for differently-abled individuals for increasing their range of services and customer base.

If you are looking for mobile app development company or custom chatbot development, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

Why You Should Invest in a Citizen Engagement Platform?

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 06:49:01 +0000

Citizen engagement or civic engagement is a process that is focussed on addressing public issues. This is about citizens or communities coming together for protecting social values or changing the existing challenging scenarios. Citizen engagement platform allows people to take action for the betterment of the community and civic engagement is also a key component of a functioning democracy.

Despite being an initiative for the common people, it can be either a government or a completely crowd-funded initiative for both political and non-political reasons. The same concept is now being implemented in the digital universe where online civic engagement platforms are emerging that focus on the betterment of the society in democracies.

Citizen Engagement Platform – Analysis
Discussing social and political issues on various popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor are common. However, these are more on the commercialized part and some of the true global-civic platforms include Reddit, OpenGov, ClearGov, Socrata, Bang the Table, mySidewalk, LiveStories, etc.

These citizen engagement platforms do not include traditional social media concepts. These platforms are more mature that involve positive discussions among people from the same or different communities on common interests.

However, the discussions that take place are not always result-oriented but constant discussions on social or personal issues definitely lead to betterment in society and in the lives of the people.

Such initiatives on the digital spectrum are not new but these are less popular due to non-commercialization in countries like India.

Why Citizen Engagement Platforms & Civic Engagement is Gaining Popularity?
Citizen engagement or Civic engagement in the digital spectrum has never been as popular as it is today. A major reason for that is the increased digitization and the increasing number of smartphones on a global level.

Manual civic engagement through the government on a physical level has never been possible for both the citizens and the authorities.

The government has to spend huge amounts of money for even small gatherings, programs and initiatives while the people cannot afford to dedicate their time for such initiatives. Therefore, both parties had to come up with ideas that are feasible and result-oriented.

The expanding digital resolution has empowered people across the globe so that they can speak their minds and discuss and ask for better management from the government and local authorities.

The concept is gaining popularity on a global level where citizens from all over the world can think about the furtherance of their society. In addition, emerging economies and developing countries that are witnessing digital revolution can practice civic engagement on various online platforms.

Why Corporate Entities are Investing in Citizen Engagement Platform & Civic Engagement?
Corporate entities are also a part of any democracy and a democratic practice such as citizen engagement has huge potential to change the overall industrial scenario in any nation.

Entrepreneurs should invest in this prospect not just for high revenues and profit but for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) that can build a bridge between the government and the people so that they can communicate their priorities to each other.

This can be a revolutionary scenario for emerging economies and developing countries where digital platforms can be used for holding governments accountable, communicating their agendas, information sharing, and employing new technology for the systems.

Despite all the good things that have come out of the citizen engagement platform, the reason why corporate entities should be interested in this prospect is data gathering and maintaining a balance between the people and the government.

However, to support this initiative, a business should opt for a people-oriented approach that prefers the betterment of society and then focuses on profit generation.

Citizen Engagement Platform, Why You Should Invest in a Citizen Engagement Platform?
How Citizen Engagement Platform can Help MICE Industry?
Meetings Incentives Conferencing Exhibitions or MICE refers to the travel-related industry that facilitates planning, booking, conferences, and seminars in the travel industry.

The purpose of implementing a citizen engagement platform in the MICE is to communicate better, reduce costs, crisis management, and build public trust. This can do wonders for the MICE industry where consistent communication aimed towards engaging tourists and visitors from foreign nations.

Citizen engagement platform has a huge potential where local people and communities can promote their culture and history on citizen engagement platforms. This type of civic engagement can also benefit related to local businesses such as clubs, restaurants, hotels, etc.

This is an all-encompassing phenomenon that can affect a region in a variety of aspects such as opinion polls, surveys, local food businesses, local hospitality businesses, local development projects, environmental issues, crisis management, etc.

Social media and online citizen engagement platform are not only there for sharing memes and meeting people. These can be utilized in integration with innovative platforms for the development of society. These can be used for engaging people for improving their lifestyle, encouraging their culture, and addressing their issues with constant communication with the government and local authorities.

If you are looking for mobile app development company or custom chatbot development, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

Why Healthcare is Turning to AI & Chatbot for Patient Care?

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 06:44:25 +0000

In today’s world of instant gratification, people want quick solutions and healthcare is not an exception. They do not want to wait in long queues outside the clinic or hospital and they need a platform that keeps them updated on their issues 24/7.

Therefore, AI and AI-enabled chatbots for healthcare are integrated into apps and websites and they are becoming a preferred choice for both the healthcare service providers and patients. Here is a look at why the healthcare industry is turning to AI and chatbot for patient care.

AI and Healthcare
AI and chatbot have taken many industries by storm and like all the other industries, healthcare is going to witness paradigm shifts. Chatbot and healthcare apps have already minimized human intervention in the hospital registration, advice, and billing process in many parts of the United States.

This is already a great relief to the elderly patients and kids who can and should only visit the doctor when in dire need. Also, in today’s fast-paced life, the wait is unacceptable. Therefore, chatbots are being implemented in the majority of doctor appointment apps and self-medication apps such as WebMD, Epocrates, and First Aid – American Red Cross.

Mobile Prescription and First Aid
Patients are referring to mobile prescription platforms where the doctors can advise them on the basis of their symptoms through video calls and texts. However, this is only the case with non-serious issues such as common infections, fever, small injuries, etc. In the case of severe diseases and accidents, doctors can directly visit the patient, send an ambulance, or prescribe certain tests for better diagnosis and care.

Even in the Indian subcontinent, patient apps like Practo, DocsApp, BookMyDoctor, and Qikwell are rapidly changing the healthcare sector. Many of these apps offer information about a doctor’s availability in a specific hospital/private facility, appointment scheduling, and online prescriptions. The apps collaborate with qualified doctors across all the major cities in the country.

On the other hand, healthcare apps like First Aid – American Red Cross offer first aid information on fingertips. The app is focused on informing the people about safety tips in extreme weather along with the first aid in everyday life and in the case of accidents. The app also has an emergency feature that can directly facilitate calls to 911 and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The app has gained huge popularity in the United States and has more than 100,000 confirmed installations.

Self Medication and Drug Use
Another aspect of mobile AI is focusing on individuals who are already well-aware about their health and well-being. Such individuals prefer to avoid a disease by detecting the symptoms and changing the lifestyle and taking medication accordingly. This is a good approach in many situations and it helps people in maintaining a healthy lifestyle as well.

Certain apps focus on this aspect and provide information that is relevant and useful. WebMD is a big name in this facet as it largely caters to the information-oriented audience by providing comprehensive information on healthcare and diseases. The app features a symptom checker, doctor dictionary, drug interaction checker, and many other tools that can help patients and people in general.

The Healthcare industry has always struggled between seamless patient engagement and issue management. Increasing consumerism and the rise of AI and AI-enabled chatbots have reduced the differences in both the aspects and it has helped patients to not be forced to choose between cost and efficacy.

If you are looking for mobile app development agency or custom chatbot development, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

Trending Smart TV Apps – Redefining the Viewing Experience

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 06:34:16 +0000

Smart TVs have built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet ports that allow users to directly connect to the internet. However, even TVs that do not have built-in ports can connect to support devices such as Amazon Fire TV Stick and Chromecast, and mobile phones for using the internet.

This has triggered a major shift in the smart TV mobile app development the industry as companies are also focusing on the apps that support television interface. Some of the trending smart TV apps and how they are changing the industry are given here.

Netflix
One of the most popular online platforms across the globe, Netflix has become a giant in the recent decade. Of course, the credit goes to the subscribers but several features of the platform play a key role in its popularity and reach.

Whether it is movies or series, Netflix offers a wide base of choices to everyone. It includes classic 90s Hollywood and Bollywood movies while it also features popular series such as One Punch Man, Naruto, etc.

The success of this platform is due to some amazing features such as unlimited access to the content regardless of its genre or segment.

Netflix does not limit its access as per the subscription amount, and subscribers can watch anything they want. Instead, Netflix has different subscription charges as per the display quality, number of devices a consumer wishes to use, and the tenure of the subscription.

The minimum charges for subscription are Rs. 500 that allows a user to access content on the registered mobile phone. However, the platform charges more for content in high quality such as 1080p, Blu-Ray, Ultra HD along usage on multiple devices simultaneously such as tablets, desktop, and television.

Youtube
An online video giant, Youtube was the world’s first online video platform and it is also one of the first smart TV apps at a global level. This is also the world’s most preferred online video platform that supports every type of content such as video podcasts, documentaries, movies, TV shows, and whatnot.

This is also one of the simplest smart TV apps to use. Users only have to type their preferences in the search app and they can watch anything without any charges. They only have to pay for selected movies and Youtube premium that provides ad-free content.

Facebook
The platform does not need an introduction as it is the most popular social media network on the face of the planet. Apart from traditional devices such as mobile phones/tablets and personal computers, Facebook can also be accessed on smart TVs through the application.

This has extended the reach of the platform as the users can access it from the comfort of their homes. They do not have to stick to their mobile phones or desktops and they can use it from their couch.

The app offers all the major features such as sending and receiving friend requests, viewing and updating status, etc. However, complicated features such as creating pages and managing campaigns are still not available like the smart TV apps development has its limitations due to the restrictions of the TV itself.

Twitter
This is another social media giant that has gained popularity in quite a short amount of time. Twitter is also available on smart TVs where the users can use and manage all the basic functions such as creating accounts, making tweets, likes, comments, etc.

Woman showing a Twitter icon
The app allows users to navigate through the TV remote control. The app is quite intuitive and designed specifically keeping the limitations of the television in mind.

It has a logical UI and a slightly different UX that allows easy navigation. However, the app does not offer access to complicated features such as campaign management, attaching images, downloading tweets, customized pop-ups, etc. similar to the Facebook smart TV app.

Hotstar
This is an Indian giant that has become a household name in India. It started as a mobile and desktop platform and is now available on smart TVs. The platform was free to use and it offered free access to almost every type of content. However, it introduced its premium ranges of services that are subscription-based.

The charges for the services range from Rs. 299 to Rs. 999. The Rs. 299 plan is valid for one calendar month whereas the Rs. 999 is charged for the annual plan.

The content catalog of Hotstar is quite big as it offers movies, TV serials, Live TV, and live sports coverage. The Hotstar smart TV app offers similar features as its mobile or desktop version. The app has become quite popular and many new and established productions are using it for launching their TV shows and movies.

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon is a global brand that requires no introduction and its growth in India in the last 5 years shows its popularity in the country. Prime Video is available on all platforms including mobile, PC, and smart TV.

The app does not require a separate subscription as all the Amazon Prime members can use it without any trouble. The app facilitates both exclusive and generic content including movies, documentaries, anime, TV series, and online-only shows.

Many productions from both India and abroad use Amazon Prime for their content and it has a huge user-base as well. Similarly, the smart TV app supports 4K Ultra HD, HDR, and HD playback on Samsung smart TVs and offers almost every feature apart from signing up as it requires Amazon Prime subscription which cannot be accessed on smart TV yet.

The whole purpose of developing and distributing a Smart TV app is to create a brand image and connect the consumers to the brand. In addition, some industries are also getting benefits from the popularity of smart TV apps. Both smart TV app development industry and electronic appliances (TV) industry are the primary beneficiaries whereas consumers and the content providers can be considered as the ultimate beneficiaries.

If you are looking for mobile app development or enterprise ai chatbot solutions, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

Why Healthcare Enterprise is Betting High on App Development?

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 06:25:29 +0000

Dull, ailing faces of patients and long queues used to be common sights in a hospital or a clinic in the recent past. With rising consumerism and technological innovations, the global healthcare sector is changing rapidly. Healthcare mobile app is there to help both the doctors/therapists and patients.

Here is a detailed explanation of the factors responsible for medical app development becoming a necessity and why the healthcare sector is relying on such apps.

Healthcare Apps as a Boon
Healthcare apps have successfully reduced the time and effort it used to take for general consultation and visits. Patients can now book appointments and consult with their physicians or non-serious issues. This is especially helpful in the case of elders and babies as it is not easy for them to visit and wait for an appointment at a clinic or hospital.

Medical app development has emerged as a boon for healthcare professionals as well. They do not have to worry about the patients that are waiting in queues as they can talk to the patients through video call or chat with them and prescribe OTC medicines or even send online prescriptions.

Healthcare mobile app development are also cost-effective as these can save a considerable amount of expenses on both sides. Doctors and hospital staff do not have to arrange for waiting patients and they can perform their jobs more efficiently. On the other hand, patients can save on conveyance and lodging expenses as many patients come from far places and they have to stay at hotels only to meet the doctor/specialists.

Increasing Consumerism/Establishing Brand Value of a Healthcare Business
Consumerism in the healthcare industry is rising and businesses are focusing on establishing themselves as a brand. Therefore, engaging people across various touchpoints and proving a great overall experience is becoming a priority.

Aggressive Medical app development is a result of the same phenomenon where the comfort of the customer/patient is the first priority. This helps in both easing up the experience for customers and instituting the brand value of a healthcare business.

Reaching Out to Potential Seekers in Remote Areas
Healthcare apps are helping people in remote areas the most. Areas that lack connectivity and where healthcare services are not easily available and people have to reach out to the nearest metro city, healthcare apps can do wonders people do not have to travel far distances merely for some advice on general health. They can contact a physician or a therapist directly through a mobile app and discuss their issues.

Personal Health Tracking
This has already been a focus of medical app development as apps such as Fitbit have set a benchmark in personal health tracking. Modern healthcare apps can go a step further by implementing this phenomenon in hospitals and personal care centers.

Patients can be given wearable devices that are programmed for monitoring specific biomarkers to constantly monitor their health and well-being. It will reduce the workload from the staff and enable remote tracking. It can also be extended to the point of tracking biomarkers where people can monitor their health and detect potential diseases and illnesses. This is s great way to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding potential diseases.

If you are looking for mobile app development solutions or enterprise ai chatbot solutions, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

Future of Travel & Tourism Apps: What to Expect?

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 06:22:36 +0000

Travel app development, Future of Travel & Tourism Apps: What to Expect?
The travel industry is highly dynamic and it has witnessed many changes in the distribution landscape in the recent past. The credit goes to technological innovations and a number of positive disruptions, and changes that will play an important role in future transformation. Here is a detailed explanation of tourism & travel app development technologies that are shaping the future travel industry.

Cloud Computing
This is shared computing services and resources on personal devices for handling processes and applications. The travel industry is leading in the adoption of cloud computing due to its scalability, mobility, and security.

Being a seasonal industry, it requires flexibility in services and standard local servers cannot handle high demands in specific seasons. These can increase the storage capacity of travel servers and help in better management of processes.

Machine Learning and QTrace
Thanks to technology and mobile application development solutionsTravel is becoming simpler and more enjoyable with the implementation of machine learning. Machine learning creates a roadmap for implementing AI in everyday processes such as customer handling, travel assistance, disruption management, etc. On the other hand, QTrace can handle the tech part by resolving complex network and subscriber issues, rapid issue recognition, and recording voice call for legal interception and quality checks.

Robotics, Voice Search and AI
The travel industry has already adopted AI, voice search and robotics that have automated processes and minimized the need for human intervention in many departments of travel app development such as front desk assistance, issue resolving, customer support, and services management. Many industry leaders have already implemented such technologies in their chain whereas new players are also slowly incorporating the technology for reducing manpower costs.

These 3 technologies have completely changed the industry. Modern apps and software readily use technologies such as QTrace and AI, and they do not require local servers as these work through cloud computing. Here is a look at the aspects that maximize the outcome from the implementation of these technologies.

Travel Satisfaction and Safety
Travel companies store payment details and customer data for personalizing the experience and delivering complete satisfaction. In such a situation, cloud computing can deliver easy and scalable storage solutions that are secure. On the other hand, other technologies such as AI and robotics can be used for tracking and information assistance and the safety and comfort of the users

Geographic Distribution of Services
Smart technology such as AI can sort products and services as per the demographics data and cater to the customers accordingly. The data is usually gathered through various AI terminals in the hotels and chatbot communication on the website and app. Businesses can use the data for offering the services according to the demographics and personal preferences of their consumers.

Increasing demand for Experiential Travel and Luxury Travel
AI has taken up repetitive, rudimentary tasks in the travel industry. AI chatbot can communicate with customers in their preferred language and resolve both basic and complicated travel queries. It can be from customizing the appearance/theme of their suite to automating their food preferences according to their past orders/travel details.

AI can collect such data about loyal customers and try and cater to them as per their affordability and personal habit. This approach cab is highly beneficial for the travel businesses that offer experiential and luxury travel as they can precisely identify the demands and wishes of their customers.

Not that the AI apps will replace human intervention but it can locate a type of fried chicken restaurants in Kentucky and it can also access the medical records of a customer to see whether a specific place/weather is going to be alright for a client or not. Nonetheless, travel in unpredictable and AI cannot resolve real-world issues but it can gather and use the information to assist travelers in different situations.

If you are looking for mobile app development solutions or enterprise ai chatbot solutions, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

Travel Desk Management System: Why Companies should be Concerned?

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 05:58:33 +0000

Companies are dedicating more resources to their travel needs. In developed economies such as the United States, the number of business trips in a calendar year has reached approximately 500 million.

Such a scenario pushes the need for an effective travel management system that can systemize the whole process of travel management and offer a number of benefits. Here is a look at how capable travel management systems are changing the corporate traveling scenario.

Streamlining the Processes with a Strategic Approach
Finalizing a travel request is not as easy as the concerned individuals have to initiate multiple rounds of requests. This is not an efficient process as it loses both time and control in many aspects.

However, the process can be simplified through certain specific approaches and it can also become relatively more cost-effective. Modern travel desk management systems can allow the employees to book their own trips within the company guidelines. This gives an overall satisfaction and freedom to the employees and increases autonomy.

Dedicated Expertise
A simple travel booking process has many variables that are more than just flight or hotel booking. The process has to be coordinated in every aspect such as airport transportation, baggage restrictions, hotel room booking, flight availability, and so on. Working with a dedicated partner or an expert agency can be quite beneficial in these situations.

With the help of a mobile app development agency, and Dedicated agencies are updated about the itineraries, changing flight fares, and travel needs. Such experts help businesses stay updated about the information so that they can prioritize, arrange and manage their requirements accordingly.

Centralized Information Storage
Businesses now prefer to opt for dashboard-based systems for better decision-making. In every global aspect of the business such as marketing, finance, and sales, dashboard-like systems are replacing manual systems like these can offer a brief and easy to understand the view of many scenarios that can ultimately help in real-time decision-making.

Similarly, such tools and apps are used for corporate travel management. These tools ensure streamlined operations along with enhanced tracking and informed management.

Organic Corporate Travel Data and Auditing Reports
Strategic travel management induces best practices such as accountability and tracking across the organization. Both aspects are quite necessary for being prepared for budgeting and external tax laws.

Travel expenses are huge but these are usually fragmented, and lack of tracking and small discrepancies can affect a company’s budget. Corporate travel desk management can help a business by setting accountability through auditing and facilitating effective management of these expenses.

Endorses a Cost-Conscious Culture
An automated travel dashboard that is continuously tracking and monitoring all the expenses and activities endorses a cost-conscious culture where employees resonate with business objectives and try to control their expenses.

Many reports suggest that companies that allow employees to spend on their own and then reimburse their travel expenses, tend to allocate more money in their overall travel expenses which also results in revenue leakage.

The companies are focusing more on digital travel solutions that offer more visibility in terms of travel management. In addition, travel management tools are also developed by keeping the company requirements, policies, and constraints in mind.

Travel desk management tools gather and analyze tons of data such as flight costs, travel frequency, hidden charges, and many more. Such data can be utilized for better allocation of funds, crack better deals and achieving the true purpose of corporate travel.

If you are looking for mobile app development services or enterprise ai chatbot solutions, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

Biggest Challenges That IoT Face in 2019

Shruti Bansal — Fri, 29 May 2020 05:54:36 +0000

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a relatively new concept that’s impacting us in new ways every day. The term itself refers to the interconnectivity of our devices which are becoming smarter than ever before. Devices are able to collect information, receive information, and act on this information.

As you can imagine, the development of the IoT is a big area of research, but it’s not without its challenges. By 2020, we could have as many as 50 billion connected devices. While a few years ago this would have been a cause for celebration, many people think it’s a cause for alarm.

What’s the main problem here? While most consumers have a few connected devices, perhaps a smartphone, smart TV, or even a Google Assistant, this number is expected to just grow and grow. Soon, consumers might have over a hundred household devices that are bundled into the IoT.

The problem arises when connectivity is no longer optional, and people might feel uncomfortable with the way their data is being harvested by companies. In this guide, we’ll explore the biggest challenges that face IoT in 2019 so you can decide for yourself how businesses should continue moving forward.

, Biggest Challenges That IoT Face in 2019

Stronger AI Attacks Attacks against the IoT are far from new. Cyber attackers today are stronger than ever. What happens if they can take control of unsecured connected devices to target DNS providers and tech companies? What if they steal user information?

While these things might sound far-fetched, they’ve actually already happened. In 2016, the Mirai botnet took control of many unsecured connected devices, bringing the internet to a bit of a standstill. This is just one example of what can happen when unsecured devices are attacked, but it hasn’t stopped here.

Attacks are becoming more sophisticated and multi-stage. They’re more advanced, and as we see the IoT spread to new industries, it only becomes more important to protect this information.

Cloud Attacks Speaking of cyberattacks, what happens to all of that data stored in the cloud? Cloud providers will likely become one of the new targets moving forward. Cybercrime is simply expanding too rapidly. There aren’t enough resources to strengthen cloud security yet.

With massive amounts of data being stored in the cloud in real-time, this could be catastrophic if it’s not handled quickly. Recent studies show just how powerful this type of attack would be. A takedown of one of the country’s top three cloud service providers for at least 3 days could lead to losses of over $1.4 billion for the retail and wholesale industry alone. That’s only a single example of how widespread and expensive this type of breach could be.

Consumer Perception Believe it or not, one of the biggest problems with the IoT is consumer perception. Consumers simply don’t trust the security of their devices. With breaches from big-name companies and recent scandals with social media platforms, it’s unlikely the industry will be able to reclaim this confidence any time soon.

In the State of IoT Security Report from 2018, a reported 65% of consumers are worried about a hacker controlling their device or data being leaked. As we learned from the two points above, these aren’t unfounded concerns.

The reality is that many users simply don’t understand how their devices stay so connected, and they don’t always understand exactly how their data is being used. It’s up to businesses to communicate more effectively and focus on developing their security protocols if they want to gain consumer support.

, Biggest Challenges That IoT Face in 2019
Image via Unsplash

Lack of Logging Logging is how data companies, software, and tech devices keep track of their real-time status. Things can go wrong quickly in the digital world. When problems do happen, they’re difficult to diagnose and take time to recover from.

As we saw with the statistics above, time is of the essence when billions of dollars are at stake. There needs to be a push for more mobile application development logging and monitoring, particular with logging as a service. A Papertrail product is attempting to focus on this area, so it’s a sign that we’re moving in the right direction.

Limitations of AI Finally, there are limitations to the power of AI or artificial intelligence. There tends to be a focus on all of the amazing benefits of AI, but there’s still the fact that AI is still not ready to handle large amounts of information. AI has limits. While these tools can identify associations in large volumes of data, they still are no match on human understanding.

With Smart IoT, we need smarter AI that can fight security challenges and solve problems. As of right now, that doesn’t exist. Hopefully, it’s the next big thing on the horizon.

The Future of the Internet of Things
While it’s true there are many problems with the IoT, it’s also true that this is a relatively new technology. It’s just reaching its adolescence years, so it’s not a surprise that developers have a long list of problems to solve before moving forward.

What we do know is that connectivity is a major part of modern life. It’s here to stay, whether consumers want it to or not. Only time will tell how we’re able to fight back against cyber attacks, and also how consumers will react to the rise of the IoT. If we’re lucky, this technology will evolve rapidly, fitting seamlessly into our lives in new ways.

If you are looking for mobile app development or enterprise ai chatbot solutions, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com

Things to Know Before Conceptualizing a Retail Application for Your Store

Shruti Bansal — Sun, 24 May 2020 09:07:10 +0000

The retail industry is booming and having a mobile app for a retail business is more than just advantageous. It puts a business in a better position than its rivals. Almost every global retail brand has a mobile app for the convenience of customers. However, having a personalized retail app is not as far-fetched as it used to be.

Many small retail enterprises are opting for retail mobile app development that serves a variety of purposes. Here is a brief explanation of the features that are must-haves in a mobile application development for a retail store.

Customer Account/Registration

In today’s digital landscape, account creation and customer registration have become mandatory. However, only incorporating a customer account accretion and registration process is not enough.

The features have to be quite simple and fast for a hassle-free experience. Customer loves a registration process which is simple, fast and easy. Any application which demands too much information and trivial details from its customers is usually a less preferred choice for a majority of customers.

Search Option with Filters and Sorting Utilities

An e-commerce app development without a search option is not worth consideration. Retail stores keep a vast variety of products that may include from groceries to even hardware. Dealing in one category like groceries inevitably includes hundreds or maybe thousands of different products.

In such a packed scenario, a retail app must have a search, sort and filter option. Such utilities help customers find specifically their desired product and better explore the range of products.

A Continuously Updated Product Catalogue

Customers have their choices in terms of their everyday requirements and the majority of modern consumers do not compromise on their choices/preferred products. Therefore, a retail app development must include a product catalog that is continuously updated.

The updates can be determined as per the supply of products, maybe on a weekly or a bi-weekly basis. However, frequent fluctuations in the supply of everyday stuff suggest that the products should be updated on a daily basis.

Home Delivery and Checkout

A retail store that delivers orders to customers’ addresses is usually a preferred choice. It’s not about the minimum order amount or the number of products, but it is about convenience. Retails stores can deliver products to the addresses that lie in the close proximity of a specific area.

The services can be enhanced and improved when they become more popular in a city or region and they choose to ship products to far places as well.

Availability of Different Payment Methods

This is another important aspect of retail app development often overlooks. In the modern world of wired transactions and varied methods of digital payment, the availability of different payment methods such as debit/credit card payments, UPI, mobile wallets, and similar mediums matter a lot.

Not every customer has the same payment gateway and payment preferences. Therefore, offering multiple payment mediums is a plus as it can garner a huge customer base simply due to extra convenience.

Customers are using retail apps more aggressively than ever. The reasons are lack of time for routine shopping, home delivery, and offers such as cashback, discounts, and convenience. Nonetheless, businesses have to be more careful about the features along with an easy and simple UI in their retail apps.

If you are looking for mobile application developmentsolutions, contact us.

Must-Have Application Features to Automate Your Manufacturing Plant

Shruti Bansal — Sun, 24 May 2020 09:01:06 +0000

Manufacturing plants involve complex processes that include raw materials, finished goods inventory and workforce management. Here, maintaining efficiency in the process is the only way to ensure better profit margins and effective management. Manufacturing businesses must be aware of all the possible aspects for better execution of processes before implementing any new system such as automation.

Here is a list of a few must-have features in a manufacturing automation software.

Inventory Tracking
Thanks to mobile application development companyRaw material and finished goods inventory are integral components of a manufacturing plant. Managing and keeping a track of all the aspects is essential for maintaining efficiency in the processes and avoid wastage. This may seem like a regular operation but merging and managing multiple processes simultaneously can be quite tedious.

Integrating a robust automated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to the processes eliminates redundancy and saves manual labor. In addition, automated applications will also reduce wastage and increase profitability by effective tracking and seamless flow of operations.

Distribution Requirement Planning
Regardless of the type of business, manufacturing business needs forecasts and relevant data for estimating future production needs. Specific personnel also have to access the data several times for analysis and data processing.

Therefore, any smart manufacturing automation software must generate sufficient data and automated analysis alongside business intelligence features to ensure efficient inventory management and delivery schedules.

Quality Control
It is one process that requires serious monitoring at all times. Even small defects in products may cause severe harm to a business including both monetary and loss of goodwill and reputation. The automation software must-have features that resonate with quality control standards and objectives. The software can be integrated into the machines and devices controlled by the employees.

Managers and authorized personnel can get alerts about any issues that the software detects in a product. In addition, the defects can be dealt with in advance. Such decisions are easy to make and implement before the production cycle is finished.

Project Life-Cycle Management:
Manufactured products or even manufacturing projects have a life cycle that involves several stages such as ideation, conceptualization, prototyping, testing, production, quality control, and distribution. Organizations have to manage all these aspects with almost no errors. A capable software/ mobile app development services designed for monitoring and managing project life-cycle to achieve specific objectives.

The objectives include enhanced product quality, fast identification of issues, maintaining cost-effectiveness, quality management, and optimization. Such a competent application can empower businesses that can help them survive and surpass the market competition.

Complete Process Automation:
Automating a manufacturing plant with cutting edge software and machine technology can be quite beneficial for a business. It can minimize the time it takes to monitor and analyze processes. On the other hand, the quotient of human error is reduced to minimal in every integrated process.

A carefully implemented process automation can include multiple production aspects such as the Bill of Management (BOM), purchase, sales records, and other core processes. Such a highly approach allows businesses to gain control over the majority of practices in a production enterprise.

Manufacturing is not just using raw materials and making a finished product. Instead, it is comprehensive that involves many complex operations. A process automation application equipped with amazing features is the best fit for such a business.

If you are looking for Mobile Application Development agency, drop us a line at enterprise@affle.com