Android is a growing platform, but do you have the right resources?

Sakshi Sharmaandroid app developmentLeave a Comment on Android is a growing platform, but do you have the right resources?

Did you ever go hiking, lose your way, and panic only to remember that you have a smartphone that would take you home? Imagine a world without Google Maps eons ago.

Smartphones have reconfigured the way we live, function, and even maintain relationships. Powered by the android operating system (based on the Linux kernel), the range of possibilities in smartphones has increased exponentially.

Let’s assume you are a trekking professional. You want details of your hiking trips to be accessible to interested participants on their mobile phones. All you need to do is hire an android developer to ensure that the data you have on your website is available on a mobile application too.

Android assures you of a near-perfect interface and user experience. Your website may generate traffic but how well does it fit on small screens? Trust an android programmer to get the job done.

The application is preferred

So, how do you find android app developers who understand what exactly must be done with the app? There’s a significant demand for Android developers in the job market. Zippia.com claims there are over 10,569 android developers currently employed in the US.

According to Gs.statcounter.com, as of September 2022, a whopping 71% of people use Android as their preferred operating system.

Medium.com reports that Android powers over 3 billion smart devices globally. The average Android owner uses 10 apps daily and almost 30 each month.

According to recent data published by Statista, consumers downloaded 230 billion apps on their connected devices, up by more than 63% from 140.7 billion app downloads six years ago.

Services like video calls, gaming, and music have already created a huge market for android developers. Moreover, Android applications run on numerous devices as opposed to their iOS counterparts.

Generally, a wide range of customers use android applications because of the free download options and reach.

Demand for a personalized and unique experience is growing by the day. Nowadays, experts in android app development are armed with the latest set of comprehensive tools like Android SDK, which answers every complex question. Now, do you have a basic guide on how to hire an Android developer?

While there is no specific rule to hiring android app developers, a few steps should be followed.

    • Create a specific, yet detailed job description.

    • Simple coding tests are better than time-consuming interview processes.

    • Tests could be conducted online which could save you and the candidate’s time.

    • Organize simulation-based coding tests that will help you measure the programming skills of candidates at every level.

    • Try the iMocha’s android online test to assess junior programmers.

    • Ask situation-based questions to gauge the candidate’s experience.

    • Have a broad set of questions like ‘what is Context in Android’ or ‘how to run Python on Android’ rather than getting too technical.

    • Clarify if you need developers only for the initial development or for long-term app maintenance purposes.

    • Don’t assess candidates merely on technical skills. Problem-solving abilities and creativity are often ignored attributes.

    • Select candidates who have passion for the job and not just those who apply for the money.

    • Know how well the developer thrives in a team environment.

    • Mention all the requirements and compensation clearly.

While hiring android developers, you must not agonize too much over the cost. Think of the long-term benefits of having a resource who has worked in the best android development company.

When you know how to find android app developers and eventually finalize the best candidate, you will enjoy the enormous benefits which come with their expertise. It could be top-notch security features, integration with Geographic Information System (GIS) features, payment gateways, optimal battery consumption, periodic debugging, and what not.

Errors are costly

However, you should avoid the common errors organizations generally make when they hire android developers:

    • Have clear objectives. Like Dr Strange altering the memory-wipe spell in the Spider-Man movie, changing the objectives frequently can derail the project.

    • Don’t be tight-fisted with finances. As the popular saying goes, “If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”.

    • In this age, one can hire developers from anywhere around the world. Have options from a broad range of talent pools.

While hiring android programmers who have worked in top-rated android development companies can appear expensive, it should bear fruit in the long term. Developers who have sharpened their skills in the most-reviewed and reputed mobile application development companies would know the nitty-gritty of security, debugging, spotting malware, integrating platforms, and offering an uninterrupted user experience.

Android programming, a customizable and open-source mobile operating system, is a fast-moving area. The candidates you hire should be keen learners, willing to adapt to changes in the market, and receptive to ideas.

But your projects can’t be kept on hold even if you don’t have the right android resources. Our mobile application development company has a team of sharp and experienced programmers who will get the job done within the deadline, meeting the highest industry standards. Don’t hesitate to call us at +1.408.621.8481 or drop a line at team@sdi.la.

Did you ever go hiking, lose your way, and panic only to remember that you have a smartphone that would take you home? Imagine a world without Google Maps eons ago. Smartphones have reconfigured the way we live, function, and even maintain relationships. Powered by the android operating system (based on the Linux kernel), the range of possibilities in smartphones has increased exponentially. Let’s assume you are a trekking professional. You want details of your hiking trips to be accessible to interested participants on their mobile phones. All you need to do is hire an…

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Want To Upscale Your Web Business? Hire PHP Developers

Sakshi SharmaWeb DevelopmentLeave a Comment on Want To Upscale Your Web Business? Hire PHP Developers

The year 2004 can be remembered for many things: NASA’s space exploration projects of Mars and Jupiter, the release of the movie Spider-Man 2 starring Tobey Maguire and Alfred Molina, and the US Federal Elections. It is also known for being the foundation of Facebook, the site that has redefined social media and the word ‘friend’. If you are a millennial, your Facebook account would have seen every version from the very first user interface to the updated one. And since 2004, another thing has remained unchanged: Facebook’s programming language, PHP.

Old is gold

PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, is a platform-independent, open-source scripting language that is mainly known for generating dynamic page content. If you plan to create a website, you would want to make it more interesting and interactive than static, wouldn’t you? That is precisely why you must use PHP web development for your projects.

It remains the most reliable and popular programming language for web development, preferred by over 75% of websites. According to Zend.com, 59% use PHP for business-critical applications, 81% for APIs, and 41% for the backend of mobile applications. Altamira.ai, citing data by W3Techs, notes that 78.8% of websites are using PHP for their server side. PHP’s attributes of scalability, high speed, security, and cost-efficiency continue to be growth drivers.

It adds that the hourly rates of PHP developers are 15% less expensive than that of Python developers or Ruby developers. It means PHP developers are easier to hire.

On the shoulders of giants

PHP is as old as Pulp Fiction, and just like the movie, it can be considered a classic. Facebook is not the only website that uses PHP. Another giant in the World Wide Web, a database that contains over 4 billion words as of today, the best friend of students and the arch nemesis of teachers, Wikipedia, too, uses PHP as its programming language. WordPress, the go-to platform for bloggers, uses it as well. Such sites can be accessed across all platforms, and PHP provides flexibility.

Pick and choose

A major advantage of PHP programming is that it’s an open-source language. It means the language is not proprietary; it can be modified in a manner that is open to the public.

This makes PHP development easier to learn, practice, and apply. If you want to hire PHP developers or PHP programmers, consider the following:

    Ø Innate curiosity and a great eye for detail.

    Ø Excellent problem-solving skills.

    Ø Ability to connect the dots and apply learned skills across various platforms.

    Ø A healthy respect for resources, especially time.

It’s imperative to hire dedicated PHP developers to have the desired output.

Leave it to the experts

If PHP is an open-sourced language which is easy to learn, why outsource the programming process? Why should you hire PHP programmers? Would you rather do it yourself? Wrong. It would be a penny-wise but pound-foolish move not to hire experts for a platform that works on PHP. That’s because a skilled PHP programmer will use his/her expertise to work in sync with other languages to produce a result that has compatibility and combinability.

What does a PHP programmer do?

The job description for a developer includes:

    Ø Writing the source code for the website.

    Ø Testing the code across multiple platforms for compatibility.

    Ø Troubleshooting the code by identifying and resolving bugs.

    Ø Constantly updating the code to sync it with the updates of the platform.

But even the top-rated, best PHP programmers pour over pages and pages of code, constantly tweaking and debugging it.

A fly in the ointment

So, there are a few downsides to using PHP. Data security is a critical feature that needs to be implemented and PHP tends to fall just a bit short here. And although PHP is dynamic, it’s not that effective in handling multiple features at a time. Thus, it’s essential to hire PHP experts who are knowledgeable and experienced.

However, from 30 vulnerabilities in 2018 to four in 2022, PHP has vastly improved its security features, gradually working its way back into gaining a stronghold in programming.

The iconic line of Alfred Molina’s character in Spider-Man 2, “The power of the Sun… in the palm of my hand”, can be analogous to smartphones and the relative power it bestows upon us. Today, a smartphone with an internet connection is all that is needed to leapfrog into technology. But mobile applications need the right programming language too that’s interactive, flexible, user-friendly, compatible with cloud services, and platform-independent. And this is where PHP scores.

You might want to hire PHP programmers to create a robust and future-ready web application. If you need experience and skills rolled into one, you must contact us here at SDI. Get in touch with us to give your mobile application or website the much-needed flare it deserves. Call us at +1.408.621.8481 or drop us an email at team@sdi.la.

The year 2004 can be remembered for many things: NASA’s space exploration projects of Mars and Jupiter, the release of the movie Spider-Man 2 starring Tobey Maguire and Alfred Molina, and the US Federal Elections. It is also known for being the foundation of Facebook, the site that has redefined social media and the word ‘friend’. If you are a millennial, your Facebook account would have seen every version from the very first user interface to the updated one. And since 2004, another thing has remained unchanged: Facebook’s programming language, PHP. Old is gold PHP,…

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The ‘virtual’ reality of hiring developers in India

SakshiUncategorizedLeave a Comment on The ‘virtual’ reality of hiring developers in India

Remember the days when you would commute to work? While nobody would miss traffic jams and overcrowded public transport systems, our offices offered the intangible perks: camaraderie, organized structure and gossip near the coffee-maker. But now, remote working and freelancing have become widespread. You definitely don’t want to miss the vibes of entrepreneurship either.

Let’s be honest, you probably desire to have control over your life and, as they say, be your own boss. The Covid-induced lifestyle has changed the very definition of ‘normal’.

The Indian scenario

Now, multiple opportunities have opened up for both employers and potential candidates. For instance, you can start a tech firm from the comfort of your home and appoint your own staff without setting up an office.

Essentially, it means you can hire the best resources from anywhere in the world. If you are recruiting software professionals, you would know there is no shortage of programmers in India. According to Statista, on average, over 900,000 students enrolled in computer science engineering in 2020. Remember, this was the peak of Covid.

India has carved a niche for itself as a digitally advanced country, with 24-hour outsourcing services, cutting-edge technology and software solutions. Several top-rated Indian programmers are skilled at a wide range of software languages and cross-platform development. The country also has a massive pool of experienced software developers in core technologies such as PHP, Swift, Python, Java, JavaScript and C/C++.

Indian developers adapt to new technologies faster, work with a global mindset and generally maintain a high quality of deliverables.

IT is considered one of India’s top five priority industries. Liberalization policies like eliminating import duties on technology products and reducing trade barriers have made India a formidable IT nation, which is highly favorable for outsourcing. The IT industry has been attracting numerous foreign direct investments in the country. The IBEF reports that “India’s IT and business services market is projected to reach US$ 19.93 billion by 2025.” As employees, Indians are generally perceived as ready to adapt to different work cultures and even willing to relocate if working remotely is not part of an organization’s culture. Additionally, Indian graduates from top-rated institutions have the advantage of proficiency in English, work flexibility and offer high value for relatively low wages.

Their aptitude for subjects like math, science, logic and exposure to working in startups early in their careers make them all the more employable. No wonder many multinational companies are happy to hire Indian developers. Now that remote working is becoming more prevalent, hiring developers in India is fairly easy for both Indian and overseas employers, for it saves time, money and reduces the lengthy recruitment processes. Since India has access to a wide range of Internet services, hiring remote developers in India is not a cumbersome process.

Know what you want

Hiring Indian developers, or any developer needs a practical outlook. You must have a clear understanding of what you want as you hire Indian coders.

Are you interested in potentially hiring freelancers or full-time employees? Do you have the bandwidth to have each candidate vetted and selected before they are given access to your work? Most importantly, do you have a competitive pay structure?

Connect the dots

Now, let’s talk about the specifics. You want to hire PHP developers in India. What would you look for in your potential employees? The profiles of fresh candidates might appear quite similar in the areas of education, grades, projects and academic feats.

Then what sets your preferred candidate apart from the rest? It’s the ability to connect the dots and the knack of offering real-world solutions to complex issues rather than run-of-the-mill answers.

Test it out

A sample interview test for a candidate could involve one or two coding assignments and a few technical tasks, but the real tests should be on skills, aptitude, attitude and passion. Qualities like work ethics take time to develop. Don’t let it be a barrier to hiring the best candidate.

Finally, as the time-worn cliché goes, an underlying thread of trust binds recruiters and employees. Contrary to popular belief, outsourcing is not easy. You might think it would be a lot easier to do the job yourself rather than hand it over to someone else. This approach might work with a blog or a personal website, but not if you are managing mega projects.

The pandemic has turned the tide in the favor of work flexibility, so we might as well cash in. It makes absolute business sense to hire developers in India.

‘How to hire developers in India’

Intelligent, ambitious, eager-to-learn, well-trained, hardworking and cost-efficient resources are available in abundance in this country. To find them you can get online and search through ads and various companies in India. There are also companies like SDI who are a US company but have a huge team in India. You can easily learn about the team and pick who you want to work on your project.

If you need programming expertise for your website and are eager to work with the best Indian brains in the business, don’t hesitate to contact us. Call us at +1.408.621.8481 or drop an email at team@sdi.la.

Remember the days when you would commute to work? While nobody would miss traffic jams and overcrowded public transport systems, our offices offered the intangible perks: camaraderie, organized structure and gossip near the coffee-maker. But now, remote working and freelancing have become widespread. You definitely don’t want to miss the vibes of entrepreneurship either. Let’s be honest, you probably desire to have control over your life and, as they say, be your own boss. The Covid-induced lifestyle has changed the very definition of ‘normal’. The Indian scenario Now, multiple opportunities have opened up for both…

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Why The Finest Mobile Apps Need The Best Language

Heather StugenHealth and Fitness AppLeave a Comment on Why The Finest Mobile Apps Need The Best Language

You’ve had a painful breakup. Didn’t you see it coming? Someone else has had a seductive hold on your life. Your object of obsession has been eating up your waking hours, lying snugly under your bed sheet and even accompanying you for a run.

On a lighter note, you would have guessed this ‘sweet disruptor of relationships’ is your smartphone. How many times do you check your phone in a day?

The Importance of Smartphones

According to a Statista survey conducted on US citizens last year, almost half of the respondents spent 5-6 hours on their phones daily. Statista claims there are 3.3 billion smartphone users in the world. This figure is estimated to skyrocket to 3.8 billion in the next three years.

Think of the way smartphones connect the dots in our lives. That itch to respond to tweets feels incurable. The sensorial experience of Instagram and YouTube seems hard to resist. Loners find companionship in WhatsApp communities.

Our phones streamline work. They’ve become the medium for virtual meetings. Stock market updates on these 7 cm wide and 15 cm long devices regulate the heartbeats of brokers.

Our phone is a book, a bank statement, a payment device, and a pocket encyclopedia.

But it’s smartphone apps that have a say in our lives. Designed to perform specific tasks – online shopping, ordering food, watching movies, ordering a cab and whatnot – they’re an integral aspect of our day.

Do you know you can create the best smartphone apps too? All you need is the right guidance and understanding of the best language for mobile app development.

Welcome to the fascinating world of app programming. First, which is the easiest language for app development?

Java, the name matters

Java is one of the most-reviewed languages in android programming. Don’t be overawed by the name Java which has a ring of grandeur to it. Java is quite easy to learn, compile and debug.

All you need is basic web knowledge to understand this flexible, general-purpose language. Being object-oriented, you can create reusable codes and modular programs on Java. It can run on different systems and is also platform-independent both at the source and binary levels (Source: IBM.com).

How about trivia here? Modern lore has it that the name Java was derived from Java coffee. The name fits since programmers, who stay up nights, are known to consume a lot of java (or coffee if you like).

JavaScript, in comparison, is a lightweight programming language that makes web pages interactive. According to a recent survey from Coursera, JavaScript is the most popular language among developers, with around 69.7% of users. Called a client-side script, and it connects to servers in a quick time. No wonder, developers take a liking to JavaScript’s easy structure.

But there’s a catch to it. Although most mobile browsers support JavaScript, they tend to interpret the script differently. A lack of debugging facility and not-too-strong client-side security could be JavaScript’s limitations. Yet, the benefits outnumber the concerns. Software developers trust the language so much that they can access different resources for app development with JavaScript mobile app frameworks.

If JavaScript features among the five very best programming languages for mobile app development software, then Python applications may not be far behind.

Solving complex problems

Like Java, Python is easy to write, and understand and equipped to handle complex problems. While Python doesn’t have in-built mobile development capabilities, it offers packages to create mobile applications. Kivy and PyQt are examples of multi-platform application development frameworks for Python.

This high-level, multi-purpose programming language can be used on various platforms such as Windows phones, Android, iOS, and desktops. Of course, no language is perfect.

Python applications are slower at runtime compared to C++, Java, JavaScript PHP, and Swift. That’s because of the presence of the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) that allows only one thread to execute at a time. Swift-ly done

Meanwhile, a new language (Swift) is making itself heard in the mobile app development world. Inspired by Apple’s engineering culture, it’s a secure, fast, and interactive programming language. Swift combines the features of old programming languages with its originality.

The simplicity of codes, minimal errors, and short and standardized syntax make Swift the language for the future. It has emerged that Google is contemplating making Swift a first-class language for Android according to Ideamotive. For the record, Instagram, one of the finest downloadable apps, uses Swift.

Kotlin, not far behind

Swift has competition from other dynamic and compact languages. This language is called Kotlin, and it too takes little time to write and can be deployed quickly.

The features:

• Interoperable with Java codes.

• Provides stable codes in production, so reduces bugs.

• Combines the best of functional and procedural programming.

• Kotlin and Java have similarities but App developers just can’t make the switch seamlessly.

• Android apps developed with Kotlin don’t need as many lines of code as opposed to Android apps that are created using Java.

Now hold on, a conversation on mobile apps and web application development is incomplete without PWA.

PWA, bringing a paradigm shift

Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are developed with established web technologies like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. One of the most popular languages for app development, they deliver native-app experiences. For the unversed, a native application is a software program for a particular platform or device.

The characteristics:

• Allows you to surf your favorite online store offline via a cached webpage. As soon as you’re connected to the internet, order processing is done.

• Offers push notifications. Customers can re-engage with items stored in carts.

• Has a loading time that is quick.

• The user has enhanced security.

• Does have high maintenance costs.

Web.dev claims that businesses that launched PWA have witnessed a remarkable turnaround. Twitter, for example, saw a 65% increase in pages per session, 75% more Tweets and a 20% decrease in bounce rate. Nikkei experienced 2.3 times more organic traffic, 58% new subscriptions, and an increase of 49% daily active users. Hulu saw a 27% increase in return visits after switching to PWA.

Creating your own mobile app can give you an immense thrill if you learn the top-rated languages. But why not make life even easier? The world’s best mobile app developers are just a call away. Talk to one of our experts to make an award-winning mobile app. Call us at +1.408.621.8481 or write to us at team@sdi.la.

You’ve had a painful breakup. Didn’t you see it coming? Someone else has had a seductive hold on your life. Your object of obsession has been eating up your waking hours, lying snugly under your bed sheet and even accompanying you for a run. On a lighter note, you would have guessed this ‘sweet disruptor of relationships’ is your smartphone. How many times do you check your phone in a day? The Importance of Smartphones According to a Statista survey conducted on US citizens last year, almost half of the respondents spent 5-6 hours on…

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Why Language Matters For Website Development

Heather StugenWeb DevelopmentLeave a Comment on Why Language Matters For Website Development

In the age of data, businesses need an online presence to be visible to the world. Every business owner, tech-savvy or not, must understand the basics of the World Wide Web (WWW) to survive in these rapidly-changing times. As someone aptly said: “The longer you travel without visibility, the shorter your business success will be.”

Visibility is the key to opening the gateway for the outreach of one’s brand. But visibility is not a surprise gift granted by a generous magic genie, it has to be worked towards. Having a website is the first step.

Essentially, a website is a collection of e-text documents found on either a public or a private network. The e-documents require a specific set of guidelines to process the input and render the output as an easily accessible interactive platform. Those sets of languages are collectively called programming languages. So, what’s the best programming language for web development?

There are different languages based on the type of function performed by each, such as assembly languages, coding languages, scripting languages, etc. While you can always hire web developers and get the job done professionally, it’s essential to learn how to build basic pages and stay on top of modern web designing. You’ll need to know the popular programming languages and those best suited for a website.

    • HTML: HyperText Markup Language is a standard text-encoding system for web documents. One of its major components is the HTML element, which ensures the document is well-constructed, making the user interface smooth and legible. HTML is usually used with CSS and JavaScript. While HTML is fast and easy to learn, it requires lengthy codes and the security features are limited.

    • CSS: Cascading Style Sheets is a style language used to present a document in an intended way, ensuring that the document’s visual and design aspects are separated from the core material. The ‘Cascading’ refers to the priority of the element that must be prioritized while presenting the document.

    • JavaScript: It’s one of the core elements of web development embedded in multiple websites and software systems. It enables a dynamic interface that makes the webpage more interactive and engaging. It is fast and has shorter codes, but technical glitches tend to cause many bugs in the program.

    • PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor is a platform-independent, open-source interpreted server-side scripting language that can be embedded into any webpage, enhancing the functionality of the page. While it’s extremely cost-effective and flexible, it’s not recommended for high-security documents.

    • Python: It is a high-level language which is used to perform a variety of webpage functions. We can translate codes from various programming languages to Python via online python compilers that translate various languages to create an executable program. While it has dynamic semantics and a low level of syntax constructions, which makes it easier to use, Python scores low on mobile applications since it consumes time.

    • C language: C is a structured, procedural programming language with an increasing use in operating systems and drivers. It has influenced languages such as C++, D, C# etc. As an efficient and portable language, C has a unique ability to extend itself. However, it does not support Object-Oriented Programming – it organizes software design around data or objects) and exception handling – thus making it unusable on many pages.

According to a study conducted by Statista.com, JavaScript and HTML/CSS are the most popular programming languages so far this year. More than 65% of respondents said they used JavaScript. Over 55% preferred using Python, HTML/CSS, SQL and TypeScript.

In another study published by Statista.com in 2022, over 40% of recruiters prefer people with Javascript and Java skills. Python was ranked third, with 38% of recruiters preferring this skill.

All programming languages are unique. To create high-performance web applications, you need to connect the isolated chunks of information about websites, programming languages, and other related computer jargon and map them to the actual purpose of the website. This will ensure that the best programming language is chosen for web project development, enabling a better platform for the enterprise.

If the intended webpage is static or stationary, languages that support this feature such as HTML can be used. For dynamic or live webpages, a Common Gateway Interface can be produced using scripting languages such as JavaScript, PHP, Perl, etc.

For mobile applications, you want to focus on an easily accessible user interface, fast-loading time, and minimal bugs. Java has been the most preferred language. Kotlin is now a popular choice for Android applications. If the webpage needs to be accessed across multiple operating systems, the best choice would be Python, C++, JavaScript, and Swift programming language.

Clarity about the website is paramount, irrespective of whether you develop it yourself or outsource it. In this cut-throat competitive world, it’s not a bad idea to unabashedly clamor for attention. Your website could do with that magnetic pull to draw people in. If you need professional assistance for any web development project, use our programming expertise to enhance your visibility. Call us at +1.408.621.8481 or write to us at team@sdi.la.

In the age of data, businesses need an online presence to be visible to the world. Every business owner, tech-savvy or not, must understand the basics of the World Wide Web (WWW) to survive in these rapidly-changing times. As someone aptly said: “The longer you travel without visibility, the shorter your business success will be.” Visibility is the key to opening the gateway for the outreach of one’s brand. But visibility is not a surprise gift granted by a generous magic genie, it has to be worked towards. Having a website is the first step.…

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Using Airkit to Create an Advanced Customer Experience

Ananya STech StartupLeave a Comment on Using Airkit to Create an Advanced Customer Experience

You are on the lookout for a new couch to replace the one your dog tore apart. So, what exactly do you do? Open up your laptop, type ‘couches near me’ into the search bar, or you visit a website you might be familiar with, such as Ikea or HomeGoods. When you are browsing the website, pesky little chat pop-ups appear, asking if you need assistance, and when you close them, you run into other problems such as coupon pop-ups that stay on your monitor screen incessantly, or your shopping cart taking longer than expected to load, all-the-while hitting essential roadblocks that prevent you from making the final purchase.

Due to frustration and annoyance, now you have completely abandoned looking for a new couch online, dissatisfied with the online experience. A negative customer journey experience is the term for the procedure you’ve been put through. It’s the overall experience a customer gets while communicating with a brand. It’s the entire customer journey, from brand discovery to purchasing and beyond. The customer journey focuses on how a customer feels after interacting with a brand and not just the transactions. In our example, due to the company’s broken website and features, you have probably reconsidered purchasing from that said company again.

The Problem

So how do we resolve this issue? The main problem lies in the back-end of the customer journey experience. It is fundamentally messed up as most customer journeys today are anything but seamless. They’re slow, painfully manual, and devoid of any context. Everything we create should be adaptable to the circumstances in which our customers find themselves. What most businesses fail to consider is that not every client interaction is represented equally, whether it’s securing a sale or responding to an emergency. They need to focus on a customer’s most essential moments and individualize the customer journey to build a long-lasting relationship with the customer for future purchases.

Customers have every right to expect that earlier interactions, such as their orders, requests, and phone conversations, will be remembered by the company at all times. And now thanks to technology advancements, this level of personalization for a customer’s journey can now be produced seamlessly, and Airkit provides quick and effortless multi-level solutions to address and alleviate these customer journey concerns.

The Solution

Airkit creates digital, low-code customer experience (CX) automation solutions that enable Fortune 500 and large firms to reduce expenses, improve customer satisfaction, and grow revenue by providing tailored cross-channel interactions. Customers can create data flows, construct custom APIs, leverage a selection of pre-built or custom connections, manage cross-channel customer journeys, and develop apps using pre-built components and templates utilizing the company’s platform.

Security and Data Encryption

Airkit provides its users the ability to build their own interactions easily by using drag-and-drop elements such as data, forms, controls, triggers, user interfaces, user actions, data manipulations, conversational channels, and more using Airkit’s templates. Besides a personalized experience, Security and Data Encryption are also services offered by Airkit. Data, including data transferred between Airkit and third-party applications via API calls, is encrypted both at rest and in flight. With SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) 2.0 single sign-on, customer apps, and data are stored in distinct secure logical domains per enterprise. Snapshots of application and client data are saved in authentication-protected, encrypted storage on a daily and ongoing basis.

Digital Self-Service

Airkit also provides solutions to Fortune 500 companies and leading Enterprise brands to quickly construct digital customer experiences across the web, text, chat, and voice. This is provided through Airkit’s cloud-based Customer Experience Automation platform which connects potential leads to a company’s sales team, automates self-service appointment settings (and reminders), and enables smart data collecting. Here is a quick breakdown of the various solutions Airkit delivers for Digital Self-Service

1. Call diversion to digitized self-service

This can help your business manage excessive call volumes. Customers have the option of remaining on hold or receiving an SMS with a link to schedule a callback.

2. Schedule

Allowing customers to select a time and date for their appointments automatically.

3. Business Hours

Option to customize your business’s working hours, holidays, and any other special dates that may arise.

4. Omnichannel nudging

You can reduce no-shows using omnichannel nudging (email or SMS) for meeting reminders or retries.

5. Self-service

No matter where your consumers are (online, email, voice, or chat), they will have access to digital self-service tools like scheduling work orders (installation, maintenance, and repair).

6. Client Data

Capturing client data digitally using smart, reflexive digital forms (e.g., service issue or in-person service request) and delivering personalized views based on the customer’s profile.

7. Integrations

Integrate with your existing systems to automate customer experiences, monitor requests, and connect with third-party partners based on system data.

8. Customer Service?

To monitor and enhance client satisfaction, you have the ability to send follow-up customer surveys after each in-person service.

These are just a few examples of how Airkit provides its customers with a cutting-edge digital customer experience. The company has made inroads into various industries including finance, healthcare, eCommerce and retail, insurance, and even energy utilities. This is just the beginning for Airkit as the start-up has enamored many businesses, is growing rapidly and is set to be the vice of the new future for customer experience enhancement.

You are on the lookout for a new couch to replace the one your dog tore apart. So, what exactly do you do? Open up your laptop, type ‘couches near me’ into the search bar, or you visit a website you might be familiar with, such as Ikea or HomeGoods. When you are browsing the website, pesky little chat pop-ups appear, asking if you need assistance, and when you close them, you run into other problems such as coupon pop-ups that stay on your monitor screen incessantly, or your shopping cart taking longer than expected…

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Appdome: a solution to avoid mishaps

Ananya SUncategorizedLeave a Comment on Appdome: a solution to avoid mishaps

Early Saturday morning, Robert downloaded a new gaming App on his Android phone and started playing. Soon he levelled up, and now it had asked for a credit or debit card to be able to get to the next tier. He made a small debit transaction, and now he was a Premium player.

Later that night, he noticed that his card had been charged multiple times, and to his horror, he realized his bank balance was almost drained. After exchanging multiple frantic emails with the App’s publisher, he was told that a third-party malware on his phone had siphoned off his financial information, and the publisher was helpless to recover the money. Out of sheer frustration, Robert wrote a scathing review in the App store and rated it with one star.

This is not an isolated incident. Malicious codes and bots attack and hijack personal and financial information of millions of App users without the users ever being aware of such thefts.

It is critical that App developers and coders incorporate strong preventive measures to counter the mounting online threats. Banking, e-commerce and other financial-based Apps are particularly susceptible to malware attacks, consequently compromising their data and security.

Being able to create a fast and seamless protective shield around their App can enhance the publishers’ reputation and keep their user base and monetary stream intact.

Appdome provides quick and effortless multi-level solutions to address and alleviate these mobile security concerns.

No-Code Security Platform

For the uninitiated, Appdome is a mobile App development platform that adds security to Android and IOS apps without the need for additional coding. Both IOS Apps and Android are ably supported.

Though many current startups and companies are creating a framework to support App security, Appdome has over a decade of development and security expertise and serviced hundreds of small to enterprise-level clients. They have developed a quick one-button solution to convert a vulnerable and hackable App into a hardened and malware proof one without the need for any coding or including an SDK (Software Development Kit).

Multi-Layered Services and Protection

Customers can choose and implement each discreet security feature, or bundle of features.

Appdome’s mobile application shielding or hardening solution ONEShield is a runtime application self-protection feature that prevents hackers from reverse engineering or tampering with the App. It blocks static and dynamic attacks and thwarts malicious code from debugging tools.

TOTALData encrypts the App, code and data using advanced App specific AES-256 encryption or FIPS 140-2 cryptography. This ensures that malware and breaches cannot access data, files or App resources.

Appdome prevents hacking and reverse engineering by using TOTALCode Obfuscation. This feature creates a protective layer of App code, binaries, classes, libraries, SDKs (Software Development Kits) and debugs information.

There’s another useful tool that protects mobile Apps from piracy and Trojans by preventing cloning and modifications. Apps that can be compromised are often released with malicious code and Trojans that not only change user experience but can also steal user data.

The Fraud Prevention Solution detects and blocks ransomwares, game cheat engines, speed attacks, hacking frameworks and malware bridges. Methods like code and script injections, function and method hooking, memory editing all contribute to the mobile Apps being compromised and taken over. This solution from Appdome preserves and maintains the integrity of the Apps.

Appdome’s Certified Secure offers verification to mobile App developers and publishers. All the builds and releases are protected by the security and mobile fraud prevention features. This certification at each stage of the build and release reduces code scans and ensures that the development process is always secured and protected.

How Does Appdome Work?

Over the years, Appdome has built a massive body of knowledge based on thousands of implementations across multitudes of Apps. This knowledge base is leveraged when a customer’s App is submitted to Appdome’s Build My App service. The AI-based engine scans and checks the development framework and maps the App’s structural and logical elements, its features and functions.

After performing a gap analysis between the App’s capabilities and the requested security services, it uses a pre-built and reusable micro-services architecture of thousands of security plugins to dynamically assemble and generate a new App binary using the adaptive code generation engine.

So, without any code or SDK changes, the new App now includes all the new security layers and functionalities. The Appdome technology automatically adds the relevant framework and logic to the App. As more Apps are processed and implemented, their knowledge base and functionalities are continuously enhanced, resulting in streamlining of processes and inclusion of new security vulnerabilities and threats.

The Future of Apps

As Apps continue to grow in size and complexities with enhanced functionalities and user experiences, keeping track of emerging and ever-changing threats becomes a resource-consuming and a costly chore for the App developing teams. Hackers, bots and malware are continuously enhancing and changing their modes of attack.

Leveraging third-party security services like those provided by Appdome can help the App coders, developers and publishers focused on their development and builds while keeping their Apps safe, secured and protected.

Early Saturday morning, Robert downloaded a new gaming App on his Android phone and started playing. Soon he levelled up, and now it had asked for a credit or debit card to be able to get to the next tier. He made a small debit transaction, and now he was a Premium player. Later that night, he noticed that his card had been charged multiple times, and to his horror, he realized his bank balance was almost drained. After exchanging multiple frantic emails with the App’s publisher, he was told that a third-party malware on…

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TikTok Advertising is the New Go-To Marketing Tool

Ananya SMarketingLeave a Comment on TikTok Advertising is the New Go-To Marketing Tool

TikTok is now the seventh-most used social media platform, and it has taken the world by storm. The viral-video building platform is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese multinational internet technology company. The app has completely changed the social media game and given everyone a safe space to become an internet phenomenon overnight, as well as allowed companies and businesses to market their ideas in a unique and curated manner.

Secondly, the app prevails dominance against other look-alikes on the market due to its ongoing trends, dance challenges, and use of popular filters. The culture that envelops TikTok is the level of Youtube and Instagram edited videos combined in a bite-sized quality that keeps users transfixed to their phones over the content created in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

TikTok’s customer base spans several ages from young to old, from various professionals to even celebrities. The app is loved by many including businesses such as Amazon, Chipotle, The Washington Post, and even the NBA. Most companies that use TikTok explore the advertising option as one of the best ways to leverage their advertisements to reach a larger audience.

Advertising on TikTok helps companies reach a young, energetic audience that loves to share great content but there’s more to than meets the eye. TikTok presents an enormous opportunity for its users to advertise on its platform.

Let us break down the rules of advertising on TikTok to leverage it to your business’s best abilities.

1. Budget your Advertisement

TikTok is a good advertising solution for big brands like Nike, Disney, or Grubhub, but it can be challenging for small businesses. The app doesn’t publish ad prices but large campaigns range anywhere from $25,000 to $150,000 depending on the type of campaign your business chooses. For self-service ads, TikTok requires a minimum budget of $500 for overall campaigns, with a $20 minimum for ad groups. This minimum amount allows you to see results and ensure that your ads can reach your objectives.

So ask yourself if your business can suffice the budget TikTok requires to advertise your content. Don’t feel discouraged from the get-go if budgeting is tough as the platform has allowed small to midsize businesses to thrive immensely.

One such example is the company mangopeople, a beauty brand that sells cosmetics made from fruit and vegetable pigments. The company has garnered a lot of recent fame due to its TikTok advertisements and the official TikTok page being updated every week. TikTok ads have allowed companies like mangopeople to become more well-known among the thousands of already-established and/or upcoming small businesses.

2. Create a TikTok Ads Account

Now that you’ve decided to go ahead and advertise your business, the first step is to create a TikTok Ads Account. To see if your business qualifies, you can contact TikTok Ads directly. After you submit your information and submit the form, a representative from TikTok will get in touch with you to set up your TikTok Ads account. It can take up to 48 hours to receive your account. Once you do, the process for creating ads is relatively straightforward.

3. Select your Ad Choice

TikTok offers several options for advertisers to reach their target demographic and customer base. Browse through the ones mentioned below to select the best type of advertisement for your business.

• In-Feed Video: Ads appear in the news feed of TikTok on the For You page. These range from $25,000 minimum per campaign to $30,000 daily maximum.

• Brand Takeover: Ads appear when TikTok users open the app and completely take over the screen for a few seconds before turning into an In-Feed Video ad. Users have the option of skipping these ads as well. These cost $50,000 per day.

• Hashtag Challenge: Ads appear on the Discovery page which encourages users to participate in user content creation challenges. These cost $150,000 for six days.

• Branded AR Content: Ads appear as branded lenses, stickers, and other 2D/3D/AR content for TikTok users to use in their videos. These range from $80,000 – $120,000 based on the complexity of the lens design.

• Custom Influencer Package: Ads appear as part of sponsored content created by a TikTok user with influence in your market. An example is a popular influencer marketing a brand-name beauty product for his/her audience. The price for these depends on the influencer’s popularity as well as the campaign chosen to run, but most range between $600 – $1,000 per post.

4. Create a TikTok Ad Campaign

Once you’ve finished setting up your TikTok Ads account, on the dashboard click the Campaign tab at the top of the page and then click the Create button. This will allow you to begin creating your desired advertisement. Next, choose a campaign objective and you will be given three options: Campaigns, Ad Groups, and ads.

• The top tier is the campaign. You will define your campaigns with one main objective and budget.

• Under a campaign, you will find one or more ad groups. You will define ad groups with ad placements, target audiences, budget, and schedule.

• Under an ad group, you will find one or more ads. You will create video content ads to reach your target audience for your ad group.

5. Select your TikTok Ad Placement, details, and Target

The next step is to create an ad group for your campaign and choose your placements and targeting. This refers to the placement of your ad and TikTok makes it very user-friendly by giving an option for automatic placements, where TikTok determines where your ad would perform best thus choosing the perfect placement. Another useful feature of the TikTok Ads dashboard is the selection of the platforms your business would like to run its ads on. These include not only TikTok but also other apps such BuzzVideo, News Republic, and others.

Once you’ve selected your preferred placements, follow the prompts to enter all of the details necessary to start running your ad, including any relevant URLs, display names, images, and categories. You can also select up to 20 keywords to describe your website or app in its best proximity, which will then help determine how to place your products with the right audience.

The Targeting section lets you define the target audience for your ads. You can set parameters for location, age, gender, language selection, interests, devices, and more to attract the right audience for your ads.

6. Set Your Schedule and Budget

Now that you’ve created a campaign, you are ready to select your budget and scheduling options for your ad. We touched on this briefly before but remember that you can choose either a daily budget, the amount you’re willing to spend each day, or a total budget, the total amount you’re willing to spend for the duration of the schedule of your ad. You can also pace your budget to better fit the results you want to achieve by determining the speed at which your budget will be spent.

You also get to schedule the duration for your ads, how long do you want them to run. There is an option called Dayparting which allows you to select specific times of the day or week on which to run your ad. It’s similar in the way Twitter and Tumblr work with their queue of tweets and posts to be posted.

7. Select your Metrics

This is the golden key, it’s time now for you to choose the right optimization goal to reap the results of your TikTok ads. You can choose to optimize your ad group for Conversion, Click, or Impression and your bidding will be optimized based on the goal you select. One of the more popular options is Conversion and if chosen, your ad will be displayed to people who are most likely to convert to your product or service, leading to revenue gain for your business. TikTok Ads automatically adjusts bids based on your bid settings, helping the cost of your campaign equalize closely to your target price.

8. Optimizing Your TikTok Ad

There are several ways to optimize your TikTok Ads and TikTok does a great job in providing a guide here. In summary, TikTok provides levers such as paying key attention to Target Audience, Account Structure, Optimization events, Bid & Budget, and a few more, but here are some other ideas to help you optimize your TikTok Ad.

• Focus on one main call to action so customers are aware of the action you want them to take. For example, if you ask users to download your app as well as unlock a subscription feature by punching in their email, you might confuse some viewers by redirecting them to your app’s download screen and the slot to enter their email might not pop up.

• When you want to use in-app display ads, ensure you are using high-resolution images so the visuals can fit the user’s entire screen and be highly visible at the same time.

• TikTok ads are not big on lengthy descriptions and they are limited to 80 English characters, so if you’re selling a more complex product or service, incorporate the right keywords using the Video Creation Kit.

• Take big advantage of the built-in ad tools at your disposal. Alongside the Video Creation Kit, there are several others such as the Automated Creative Optimization tool which allows the user to upload up to 10 images or 5 videos, 5 ad texts, and 1 CTA. It then produces your creativity into multiple ads. It tests a variety of sample ads throughout your campaign and ultimately presents the best possible combination to your target audience.

The conclusion is that TikTok is on the rise, has become a great tool for go-to marketing for most businesses and companies, and gives a comprehensive offering of design and automation tools to create wonderfully creative ads. There doesn’t seem to be a decline in the usage of TikTok amongst audiences of all ages, and it provides a great advertising tool to help leverage businesses to their best abilities.

To gain a larger understanding of how TikTok has become the leading social platform for advertisement as well as entertainment, our team at SDI specializes in website and mobile app development. With our help, you too can create the next powerful social media platform such as Tiktok, just give us a call at 408.621.8481 or email us at team@sdi.la

TikTok is now the seventh-most used social media platform, and it has taken the world by storm. The viral-video building platform is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese multinational internet technology company. The app has completely changed the social media game and given everyone a safe space to become an internet phenomenon overnight, as well as allowed companies and businesses to market their ideas in a unique and curated manner. Secondly, the app prevails dominance against other look-alikes on the market due to its ongoing trends, dance challenges, and use of popular filters. The culture that…

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How To Avoid Malware and Ransomware Attacks On Your Website, Apps, and Software Infrastructure

Raj SrivastavApp DevelopmentLeave a Comment on How To Avoid Malware and Ransomware Attacks On Your Website, Apps, and Software Infrastructure

Ransomware attacks are on the rise and have been getting more dangerous in recent years. An attack can cost businesses thousands or even millions of dollars. Valuable and irreplaceable files can be lost and hundreds of hours may be required to get the systems working again. Ransomware like any other malware can affect your websites, apps, or any other software infrastructure.

How does ransomware work?

It usually begins with malicious software being downloaded onto an endpoint device like a computer or a smartphone. One common method of distributing malware is through phishing attacks. An attacker attaches an infected document or URL to an email disguising it as legitimate to trick users into opening it. Once opened it will install malware on their device. Another method of spreading ransomware involves disguising ransomware as legitimate software online and then infecting devices after users install this software.

Why is ransomware so successful?

Ransomware can be incredibly damaging to businesses because it can cause a loss of files and data. That can mean hundreds of hours of work or data that is critical to running an organization. What ends up happening is that many businesses feel they have no choice but to pay the ransom, although it is highly recommended not to pay. Reports suggest ransomware generates more than $25 million in revenue for hackers every year.

How can you stop ransomware?

It is important to ensure that you have strong protections in place to secure your business from ransomware attacks. Be very proactive in your security approach to prevent malware from infecting your systems.

Here are some important tips which you can follow to protect your websites, apps, and software infrastructure from cyberattacks.

Websites

1. Software should be kept updated

To keep your website secure it is imperative that all software is up to date. This applies to both the server operating system and any other software you may be running on your website. While using third-party software, apply all the security patches quickly.

If the websites have been developed by companies like SDI then you don’t need to worry as they will ensure that security updates are applied regularly.

2. Prevent SQL injection

An SQL injection is when a hacker uses a URL parameter to gain access to your site by manipulating your database. This is easy to prevent, always use parameterized queries. Most web languages have this feature and it is easy to implement.

3. Protect against XSS attacks

An XSS or cross-site scripting attack injects malicious JavaScript into your pages which then can change page content or steal information. The best way to protect against an attack is for your web application to use an advanced SDL, security development lifecycle. Another way is to make your users re-enter passwords before accessing certain pages on your website.

4. Secure your email transmission ports

An email has always been a prime target for hackers. Always communicate through IMAP Port 993, SMTP Port 465, or other similar ports which are secured via encryption.

5. Watch your error messages

Don’t provide full exception details to your users or else they may leak secrets on your server and make attacks like SQL injection far easier. Show users only the information they need, nothing more.

6. Don’t allow direct file uploads

Allowing users to upload files to your website is a security risk. They may contain a script that will open your website to hackers. The best solution is to stop direct access to any uploaded files to your website.

Mobile apps

1. Avoid third party stores

Download apps only from the recognized app stores such as Google Play Store or Apple App store as these have mechanisms built in to screen new apps for any malicious code. Downloading from third-party app stores is risky with some of them being a haven for malicious apps.

2. Visit secure websites

Visit only websites that contain HTTPS in their URL. These carry the most up-to-date malware defense and the ones carrying only the HTTP are not secure anymore. Also, run only default OS browsers rather than third-party ones which may not issue security certificates to individual websites.

3. Use popular security apps

Download antivirus apps from established companies. These apps screen your phone for malware regularly and disable them before they can cause any damage.

4. Set a strong password

Setting a strong password is the best way to prevent others from accessing your information without your permission. Nowadays you can protect your smartphone by activating a fingerprint sensor or iris scanner which is much harder to crack.

5. Update your operating system

Update your operating system as soon as a new version becomes available. Never delay the download of security patches for OS, apps, and plugins. This not only protects your smartphone but also keeps it running in the best state.

Software infrastructure

1. Software audit

Running periodic security audits will help identify gaps on your network and help fix them. Experts in IT services like SDI can not only perform a security audit but also create a blueprint for keeping your software secure.

2. Security policies

You should come up with a set of policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures(SOPs) which your employees need to follow. It is essential that all the employees are aware of cybersecurity measures to protect your software architecture.

3. Strong password

Include a strong password policy in your guidelines. You can choose secure passwords with the help of password management solutions.

4. Encryption

Data encryption is a simple and efficient method to protect your company’s information and other sensitive data. Data should be encrypted both at rest and in transit.

5. Data backup solution

A robust data backup solution can help in your data recovery efforts if your software infrastructure becomes compromised. Backup copies can allow a business to recover fast from a malicious attack.

6. Firewall

A firewall acts as a barrier between your internal network and incoming traffic from external sources. It effectively blocks malware and other viruses. Choose next-generation firewalls(NGFW) as they are better equipped to block malware from entering a network.

7. Implement a hosted DNS solution

End users can unknowingly expose your IT infrastructure to malware by visiting malicious websites. If this happens the company’s entire network may get affected. A hosted domain name system(DNS) can block these types of websites from loading so that none of your computers get affected.

8. Audit your servers

Servers should be periodically audited to determine the current level of your server’s security, identify vulnerabilities, and create an action plan to fix those vulnerabilities.

9. Install anti-malware application

An anti-malware application can scan all the systems on your network and prevent malware from infiltrating. This gives an important layer of protection against malware.

Failure to plan your software security strategy can lead to huge losses. A company like SDI can take care of all your software security needs. We can come up with very effective security solutions for your business. Having more than a decade of experience we are experts at developing very secure mobile apps and high-quality websites.

To know more on how to protect your organization from ransomware, call us at 408.621.8481 or email us at team@sdi.la

Ransomware attacks are on the rise and have been getting more dangerous in recent years. An attack can cost businesses thousands or even millions of dollars. Valuable and irreplaceable files can be lost and hundreds of hours may be required to get the systems working again. Ransomware like any other malware can affect your websites, apps, or any other software infrastructure. How does ransomware work? It usually begins with malicious software being downloaded onto an endpoint device like a computer or a smartphone. One common method of distributing malware is through phishing attacks. An attacker…

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How AI Robotics are Transforming the Health Care Industry

Raj SrivastavArtificial IntelligenceLeave a Comment on How AI Robotics are Transforming the Health Care Industry

Robotics technology is rapidly changing health care. The impact it is having on the field of medicine is significant. The potential for both AI and robotics in healthcare is vast. From patient care to drug discovery methodologies, AI is transforming the entire healthcare industry.

Artificial intelligence systems are getting increasingly sophisticated. They are able to efficiently conduct tasks that were traditionally done by humans at a much lower cost. AI and robots are increasingly becoming a part of our healthcare ecosystem. The AI sector in healthcare is expected to reach $36.1 billion by 2025.

If used properly AI integrated with MI can do wonders for healthcare. Here are some of the ways AI and robotics are advancing the healthcare sector today:

1. Personal assistants

There are numerous AI-powered healthcare apps on the app store. These apps can provide educational materials, resolve health queries, provide medication reminders which can act as personal assistants for users. Some apps now have the voice assistant feature that can enable the user to converse with the application. Users can always stay connected with their personal assistant for any health-related questions.

2. Chatbots

Hospitals and other healthcare providers are increasingly replacing phone-call-based customer service with chatbots. AI integrated into chatbots can solve patient questions 24 x 7. Users can schedule their appointment with the doctor and the chatbots will analyze the calendar of the doctor and provide the appropriate time to the patient. Every service including billing is processed much faster by chatbots.

3. Supplementary robots

There are instances in hospitals where multiple patients need immediate help, this is very common in times of epidemics and pandemics. In such cases, the team will have to attend to the patients rather than carrying out other jobs. This is where supplementary robots come in. They can quickly focus on tasks such as restocking, cleaning, clearing the garbage, disinfecting, and more. An example of a supplementary robot is a UV light disinfectant which provides a measured dose of UVC to disinfect spaces in hospitals.

4. Precision

Robots can perform tasks with intense precision. Supported by AI these robots can be utilized to do micro-surgeries like unclogging blood vessels. Robotic systems do not have feelings, will not get tired which means there is never a slip of attention. They can bridge the gap between humans and machines. Micro-robots can go precisely where they are needed and deploy drugs etc.

5. Diagnostics

Artificial intelligence systems can detect patterns that describe various conditions by studying healthcare records and other data. They can scan thousands of cases and look for correlations between hundreds of variables. They can provide a clear picture of the different anomalies that once remained unclear, anomalies that the human eye cannot detect. In some areas, they can even surpass the best doctors.

6. Remote treatment

The merging of microbots and AI have turned healthcare upside down. Healthcare technology is reshaping hospitals. Remote technology is being used more where patients can be monitored at their homes by medical staff. AI-enhanced imaging devices enable them to do so. This can drastically change the hospital environment, with only critical patients being admitted and others taking treatment at home. This can be very useful during times like now, where people are scared to visit hospitals. Another type of remote healthcare robot is a simple bot-pill that performs an endoscopy in a much more comfortable way. The pill will send pictures of your intestines as it travels and later can be eliminated naturally.

7. Assisting patients and doctors

Some robots are made to help patients. They can help paralyzed patients walk again and be independent of caretakers. This helps the doctors and other healthcare personnel concentrate on other facets of the hospital. Prior to the arrival of AI and Robots tasks such as helping the patient walk, helping the patient to get his/her checkup was all done by the staff. These were very time-consuming. Now, these can be automated and completed quickly by machines. Today robots are assisting people from small surgeries to highly complex ones. Another application is a smart prosthesis. These bionic limbs have sensors that can make them more reactive and accurate than the original body parts thus providing the consumer more comfort.

8. Augmenting mental health

Robots can perform human functions like making elderly patients feel less lonely. Companion robots can help patients stay positive which is especially helpful to depressed patients. In times like this where there is an epidemic of loneliness, conversational robots with built-in personality and sentiment analysis capabilities can play a vital role in providing company and improving the mental health of sick patients.

9. Research

One of the recent applications of AI in healthcare is drug research and discovery. AI is being used to streamline drug discovery and repurposing which has a great potential to cut the time to market new drugs and also costs can be brought down. Leading pharmaceutical companies have started using AI to find drug solutions. For e.g. Pfizer is using IBM Watson, a system that uses AI to power its search for immuno-oncology drugs.

10. Training

AI allows medical staff in training to go through naturalistic simulations in ways that simple computer-driven algorithms cannot. The ability of an AI computer to draw instantly on a large database of scenarios helps in more effective training. Training can also be done anywhere with the power of AI embedded on a smartphone, the trainee can catch up on sessions even while traveling or after a tricky case in the clinic.

11. End of life care

As we approach the end of life we are dying in a different and slower way than previous generations from conditions such as Parkinson’s, dementia, etc. It is a phase of life that is often plagued by loneliness. AI and robots can revolutionize end-of-life care, helping people remain independent for longer and reducing the need for hospitalization and care homes. Humanoid robots can have conversations and other social interactions thus helping to keep the aging minds sharp and free from depression.

Moving forward

As seen above healthcare is witnessing tremendous benefits from the applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics. It has enabled clinicians and healthcare providers to automate their services and deliver world-class treatment. The future of AI and robotics in the healthcare industry is quite promising.

If you would like to know more about robotics software development contact us at SDI. We build unique and proprietary AI solutions that will enhance the value of your healthcare industry. Call us at 408.621.8481 or email us at team@sdi.la

Robotics technology is rapidly changing health care. The impact it is having on the field of medicine is significant. The potential for both AI and robotics in healthcare is vast. From patient care to drug discovery methodologies, AI is transforming the entire healthcare industry. Artificial intelligence systems are getting increasingly sophisticated. They are able to efficiently conduct tasks that were traditionally done by humans at a much lower cost. AI and robots are increasingly becoming a part of our healthcare ecosystem. The AI sector in healthcare is expected to reach $36.1 billion by 2025. If…

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How Tech Can Save The Agriculture Industry

Sakshi SharmaBusinessLeave a Comment on How Tech Can Save The Agriculture Industry

Technology has changed every industry across the globe. It has also reached the most traditional of them all, agriculture. Agriculture was a field largely unaffected by digitalization but things are changing fast. Farmers increasingly depend on information technology for many things. E-farming is a new phenomenon and it is here to stay.

The agriculture industry is ripe for change and there are a lot of opportunities for agriculture technology companies. Let’s go over how technology has led to an agricultural revolution and the positive impact this is having on farmers.

1. Online resources

The farmers now have unprecedented access to a wealth of valuable resources and information thanks to the proliferation of internet technology. The internet has innumerable production and planning tools to help them in their farming. Moreover, there are several forums where the farmer can exchange ideas, be involved in useful discussions, and seek support from groups.

2. Crop sensors

Sensors are being increasingly used by farmers to apply fertilizers in an effective manner. Optical sensors are able to see how much fertilizer a plant may need based on the amount of light reflected back to the sensor. They can be used to reduce environmental impact and conserve resources. Sensing technology helps in precision agriculture wherein the farmers can change their approaches based on environmental factors.

3. Ultrasounds for livestock

Ultrasounds are being increasingly used to discover the quality of meat found in an animal before it goes to the market. Also, testing of DNA can help identify animals with good pedigrees which can be used by the farmer to improve the quality of herds.

4. GPS

GPS is playing a huge role in agriculture development. In fact, the entry of GPS has taken agriculture technology to a much higher level. GPS provides precise location information at any point near or on the earth’s surface and this helps farmers to maximize their efficiency at that location. Tractors equipped with GPS technology are used to improve the placement of seeds thereby reducing costs and waste. GPS-guided drones are also being used to spray pesticides and for livestock monitoring.

5. Monitoring crop irrigation via smartphones

The advance of mobile technology has helped to farm in myriad ways. Farmers have access to several mobile apps that can help them monitor crop irrigation. They can control them through their smartphone without driving to each field. It is also possible to check the level of moisture present at certain depths in the soil.

6. Mobile technology

Mobile apps have been real game-changers. Using mobile apps farmers are able to collect information on their fields, get weather updates, and receive other relevant and updated data. From strategy formulation to tracking progress, farmers are in the driver’s seat thanks to these apps. They also help them to create farm maps, facilitate the use of drones and in general improve their productivity and efficiency.

7. Management systems

A farmer has to monitor crop conditions, plan properly, prioritize daily, work full time and attend to a lot of other tasks. A farm management system will make this process much simpler. A single app can help the farmer stick to the plans far more easily than in the past. This is particularly useful if you have a huge farm with a lot of employees. Using an app you can ensure that all the employees understand their short-term and long-term goals. This type of technology increases productivity greatly.

Opportunities

There are a lot of opportunities for agricultural tech companies. From monitoring technologies to data analytics the field is wide open for startups. Some technologies will need to be developed specifically for agriculture, while other technologies already developed for other areas could be adapted for agriculture such as AI and autonomous vehicles. You can also build farmer-to-consumer platforms which will help farmers connect directly to the consumers.

Building a digital agriculture platform to make the agricultural supply chain more efficient and transparent is another good idea and is definitely welcomed by consumers.

Exciting days are here for agricultural tech companies. If you would like to start one, we strongly suggest that you get in touch with our experts. SDI has the reputation of creating world-class mobile apps and we have the right one for your business needs. Whether you want an app for crop irrigation or a platform to connect farmers to consumers, we are here to help you. Our experts can go over all the options available so that you are able to make an informed decision.

For the right agricultural solutions call us today at +1.408.621.8481 or email us at team@sdi.la

Technology has changed every industry across the globe. It has also reached the most traditional of them all, agriculture. Agriculture was a field largely unaffected by digitalization but things are changing fast. Farmers increasingly depend on information technology for many things. E-farming is a new phenomenon and it is here to stay. The agriculture industry is ripe for change and there are a lot of opportunities for agriculture technology companies. Let’s go over how technology has led to an agricultural revolution and the positive impact this is having on farmers. 1. Online resources The farmers…

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How to take advantage of opportunities to create a unique home business

Sakshi SharmaBusinessLeave a Comment on How to take advantage of opportunities to create a unique home business

People are discovering the benefits of remote work with their headquarters at home. There are a lot of unique business opportunities available from home for people who are inclined to really do something different. One of the most successful home-based businesses is Beside which is run by a young entrepreneur. The pandemic had destroyed her retail business, but she was able to innovate and sell more than 3400 pieces, mostly masks, from home last year.

There are many advantages of starting a home-based business. Let’s take a look at some of the top ones:

1. Overhead costs are less as you don’t need to pay money for rentals and warehousing. You can always start a business that needs a low investment.

2. You can save a lot of time and money because it cuts down on your commute.

3. It offers a lot of flexibility and you can choose the hours you would like to work.

4. The risk is less as you may need less start-up money.

5. Running a business from home can also help you save money on taxes.

Before looking into the various opportunities and making a decision you should consider the following points:

1. Gap in the market

Is there a gap in the market? Is there any product or service that was not available when you wanted it? If so others may also want the same, and this may turn out to be a unique business opportunity.

2. Scope for improvement

Have you ever felt that a product or a service that you access frequently can be improved? Maybe you can improve on it and offer a better service.

3. Passion/skill/hobby

It makes a lot of sense if you can start a business based on your passion or hobby. You can indulge in your passion and also make money out of it.

In today’s connected world, where technology offers us a lot of opportunities and flexibility on how and where we work, home-based businesses come in a variety of forms.

Here are some of the businesses which can be started successfully from home.

1. Become a translator

If you are fluent in more than one language, this is the ideal business for you. You can explore providing translation services that can help companies translate documents and establish effective communication channels with customers and other organizations. If you have the required skills you can specialize in providing technical translations also. There is a pretty high demand for quality translators who can offer error-free services.

2. Data entry specialist

The pay may not be as high, but this is a job that is easy. Also, you can get a huge volume of work that is widely available. You can also do this in your spare time along with other businesses.

3. Create homemade goods

If your hobby is to create crafts like quilts, candles, etc. you can start a successful business based on your passion. You can start a website of your own and sell your items online. You can also sell it via platforms such as Etsy.

4. Start a home-based organization business: If you like reorganizing closets for fun, you can turn that into a business and offer services to disorganized individuals and businesses. You definitely have a good chance of getting a lot of clients and having fun while making money.

5. Buy products and sell them online

You can buy products in bulk and sell them individually for a profit. Maybe you have come across a niche and know exactly what your customer wants. Find products that are easy to store and ship and you are sure to have a solid business on your hands.

6. Become a personal trainer

If you have a love for fitness and like to help others, becoming a personal trainer should come naturally to you. You can offer services online for customers, who can access them from anywhere in the world. You can sell your services via an app or website and help people achieve their fitness goals.

If you want to start a successful home-based business, it would be a good idea to get in touch with us. SDI has helped establish numerous online businesses which are all thriving in the market. A highly functional and friendly app will do wonders for your business. Our apps and websites have been very successful in offering unique experiences to the users thereby boosting sales.

Call us at +1.408.621.8481 or email at team@sdi.la and allow us to help your business grow.

People are discovering the benefits of remote work with their headquarters at home. There are a lot of unique business opportunities available from home for people who are inclined to really do something different. One of the most successful home-based businesses is Beside which is run by a young entrepreneur. The pandemic had destroyed her retail business, but she was able to innovate and sell more than 3400 pieces, mostly masks, from home last year. There are many advantages of starting a home-based business. Let’s take a look at some of the top ones: 1.…

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Why New Apps and Websites Should be Built as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Sakshi SharmaApp DevelopmentLeave a Comment on Why New Apps and Websites Should be Built as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

What is PWA?

It was around 2015 that progressive web apps came into existence. Progressive websites are basically websites with a few key additions. PWA will make a website look and feel like a native mobile app. It is an amalgamation of all the best features of websites and native apps. These apps can make the online experience smoother and easier.

If you key in a website URL in a mobile browser and the link opens like a mobile app without asking you to download an app, it is actually a progressive website app in action. Twitter is an example of a great progressive web app.

Reasons to Build a Progressive Web App

There are enormous advantages to building a PWA. Let’s go through some of the major ones.

1. Connectivity and faster page load

Many users will abandon a website that takes more than a few seconds to load. Speed is very crucial for your business. With pre-caching, PWAs load fast even with poor connectivity on mobile devices. By keeping all the minimum things and eliminating the rest, PWA gives much faster response than a native app. The better the page load, the more time the user will spend on the page.

2. Reduces data needs

Caching reduces the data transfer needs of the app. Fewer API requests will reduce the need for server capacity and bandwidth to support the application. So your customers will need to use less of their mobile plan. Also, PWAs take less storage space, so users are more likely to download them.

3. Keeps updating on use

The more times the web app is used the experience gets better for the user as PWA keeps updating itself.

4. Better for SEO

Search engines view PWAs as websites and fully index them. PWAs is just a website, so users can share their links. That combined with an optimized backlinking strategy can boost SEO rankings considerably.

5. Easily discoverable

Search engines can easily find your content due to service workers. As PWAs aren’t downloaded via app stores, there is less friction for users to install the app. There is no need for you to build and submit for review to market separate apps for iOS and Android etc. It is easier for the users to also install a PWA.

6. Reduces development costs

PWAs use standard web technologies like CSS, Java, HTML. These can be easily done by front-end developers. Also, it is much cheaper to upgrade your existing website with PWA features than creating a native app from scratch. Any updates you make are instant without needing a review from google or apple.

7. Responsive website and cross-platform availability

PWAs are designed to work on whichever devices users have from tablets, desktops, or phones. Since PWAs are built on the idea of progressive enhancements, they focus first on core content and features. More advanced features are available if the user’s browser and internet connection meet the necessary conditions.

8. Can send push notifications and alerts

PWAs can send push notifications once the users allow them. Notifications can be sent at any time, even if the web browser isn’t open. These can help improve customer engagement, generate repeat traffic and drive sales.

9. Credential management API

It is difficult to remember a lot of passwords. No one also has the time to sign up on a site, fill in all the details, wait for authentication, and so on. To avoid all these, users can now be auto-sign in every time the user opens the web app. Once you sign up on a website and save the credentials, it automatically opens your account when you open the website on any other device.

This is possible since the credential management API saves the credential API and automatically authenticates and allows you to sign up on different devices without typing.

10. Simplify web payments processing

With native apps, eCommerce stores are limited in choosing a payment provider but with a PWA you can take advantage of the APIs which are available under the open Web Payments standard. This simplifies the payment process for the customers and allows you to choose a payment service of your choice.

11. Website security

PWAs communicate over HTTPS by having an SSL certificate installed on their server. The SSL certificate creates a secure and encrypted connection between the app and the server. This ensures security and keeps the user information safe and secure.

SDI can play a vital role and build a PWA for your eCommerce store. Our team is quite well versed and has created numerous apps for varied businesses all of which have been quite successful in the market. We would like to help your business by developing a progressive app that is a winner.

Contact us today to help your business achieve its full potential. Call us at +1.408.621.8481 or email us at team@sdi.la

What is PWA? It was around 2015 that progressive web apps came into existence. Progressive websites are basically websites with a few key additions. PWA will make a website look and feel like a native mobile app. It is an amalgamation of all the best features of websites and native apps. These apps can make the online experience smoother and easier. If you key in a website URL in a mobile browser and the link opens like a mobile app without asking you to download an app, it is actually a progressive website app in…

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Integrate Affirm or Klarna Into Your Website

Sakshi SharmaWeb DevelopmentLeave a Comment on Integrate Affirm or Klarna Into Your Website

Millennials generally do not like to use credit cards because they are afraid of getting into debt. According to surveys, just one out of three millennials carries a credit card as compared to the majority of older Americans. They may never grow as comfortable with credit cards and debts as previous generations. Both Klarna and Affirm arrived as an alternative to financing without paying upfront.

Klarna

Klarna is a prominent player in the buy now pay later market. They have partnered with thousands of businesses in almost twenty countries. This platform offers two ways to make repayment. They are known as “slice it” and “pay later”.

In slice it, customers can pay for purchases in four installments over six weeks, while in pay later, consumers receive a bill for the full amount after a month. The payments are mostly interest-free. Klarna is also known for its “try before you buy” model. This helps you to try on purchases before you buy.

Affirm

This platform supports small everyday purchases with interest-free payments split over weeks or months. It also provides interest-free loans to make significant purchases or needs. The consumers can spread out the payments, usually, the time allowed is from 6 to 18 months. Affirm also does not charge any fees including late and repayment fees. You can also open or close an account without paying a fee.

Both the services have racked up millions of users and are very popular with younger consumers.

Benefits of integrating Klarna or Affirm into your business

A store owner can derive a lot of benefits from integrating these systems. Some of them are:

1. You get upfront full payments

While the customer gets the option to pay later, you will get paid immediately. You don’t need to worry about delayed payments for your products.

2. Liberty to choose payment options

There are variable payment options and you can choose which one to offer. You can also choose how many installments to allow for any given product.

3. Responsibility of collecting money

You don’t have to do any of the work when it comes to collecting money because the service does all of it for you. This gives you more time to concentrate on customer retention.

4. You can increase your sales with this system

Consumers are more likely to make a purchase when they can spread out payments. Consumers may also be willing to buy expensive products as they can split the payment into manageable chunks.

5. You can attract new customers

Consumers are increasingly choosing this payment option. Customers have actively started looking for stores that offer buy now, pay later options. If you have one of these services integrated it will be a lot easier to convert potential customers into actual ones.

6. Trust

This system can help you build trust with the customers. The customer can test your product without committing to the purchase. If they like it they will pay for it or if not they will return it. These returns may cost you more in the short term but in the long term, they will help you in building customer loyalty. For the returned items you can also set up a recommerce section which will not only help you recoup most of the cost but customers can buy at a discounted price.

7. You can decrease cart abandonment

A lot of cart abandonment is caused due to a lack of payment options. You can see a decrease in your abandonment rates if you can include a buy now, pay later option. Also, the checkout process is much easier. Consumers don’t need to enter card details or a billing address. They just need to log in with their Klarna or Affirm account.

8. You may lose customers if you do not integrate

If you fail to meet customer demands, you will inevitably lose customers. Customers may move over to your competitor who uses this system. As mentioned previously, the buy now pays later option is very popular especially among the younger consumers. However, even if your target audience isn’t younger you could potentially increase your customer base by including these services.

9. Affordable finance solution for consumers

This system is a much safer form of debt than credit cards or payday loans for customers. Credit cards can have double-digit interest rates, while payday loans can trap them into a spiral of debt. By giving them this option your chances of attracting repeat customers are quite high.

Conclusion

To meet customer needs it is essential that you provide different payment options. By integrating Affirm or Klarna you can decrease cart abandonment rates and build trust. You can also attract new and retain current customers.

If you want to learn more about these services and get them integrated into your website, reach out to our team at SDI who will be able to guide and help you arrive at a decision. Our skilled team can easily integrate a buy now pay later option into your website at an affordable rate so that you can have all the benefits mentioned and become a top player in the market. Call us at +1.408.621.8481 or email us at team@sdi.la.

Millennials generally do not like to use credit cards because they are afraid of getting into debt. According to surveys, just one out of three millennials carries a credit card as compared to the majority of older Americans. They may never grow as comfortable with credit cards and debts as previous generations. Both Klarna and Affirm arrived as an alternative to financing without paying upfront. Klarna Klarna is a prominent player in the buy now pay later market. They have partnered with thousands of businesses in almost twenty countries. This platform offers two ways to…

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