Changes to Expect in iOS Development for 2023

2023 is going to be the year of opportunity for iOS developers. Development teams who work frequently with iOS will see plenty of new bells and whistles in its OS functionality. In turn, these advancements will unlock new potential for creativity among programmers. Tech trends such as 5G, AR (Augmented Reality), and VR (Virtual Reality), along with the updated features from Apple, are among the major contributors to growing this margin for potential. 

Before we get into what this means for developers in 2023, let’s take a look at some of the changes revolutionizing the iOS landscape for developers:

5 of The Year's Most Exciting Technology Trends:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI and ML)

This technology is something we’ve commonly seen utilization of for identifying patterns/algorithms and predicting outcomes based on them. What’s unique about this technology is that it performs in this way without being directly programmed to do so.

Software that handles data whether it be storing, tracking, or predicting and personalizing has generated itself into a multi-billion dollar industry. For developers, this technology is great for quickly creating apps and improving their performance. Of course, this is in addition to its mass appeal to end-users who companies will be working hard to impress this year.

5G

In the world of mobile networks and connectivity, this is the latest and greatest technology for handling data in terms of performance and transferability. 5G (the 5th generation of mobile connectivity) is going to be the minimum standard for Apple and other companies' devices. 

Users can expect to see applications download and operate much faster, a decrease in latency, and an increased ability for connectivity among devices. This is one of the fastest technologies we’ve ever seen and it will be used to enhance other technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

Beacons

Retail businesses and consumers are going to love these devices. A wireless Bluetooth transmitter that sends relevant information to smartphones nearby is one of the biggest innovations in retail marketing. Imagine walking into a store and automatically receiving offers for coupons that you can opt-in to collect. This is the premise of a Beacon.

M-Commerce (Mobile Commerce)

This technology has risen in response to the demand for mobile shopping through apps rather than a website. Users want the ease of shopping on the go especially when geographical limitations are a factor. Even though their experience is digital, they want an application meant for mobile devices and don’t want to have to go through a website that was mainly meant to be accessed through a computer.

This solution gives businesses extended access to their market. The widespread adoption of M-Commerce presents plenty of opportunities for businesses and application developers to dominate a highly lucrative new market.

IoT (Internet of Things)

IoT Technology is simply adding smart technology to everyday objects such as a smart fridge or home security. These devices then send data that is stored and tracked in an app so the user (in this case the homeowner) always has access to it.

Wearables

There are over a billion connected wearable devices which include everything from smartwatches, rings, or clothing that can be linked to an app. These apps are the most important component because they enhance the experience of wearing the devices. People love being able to track their activity. 

Over 70% of Americans claimed they would wear a device that tracked their fitness if it reduced their health insurance. Of course, based on the trends we’re looking at here, we could see that being a real thing in the future.

The Tool Box For Developers

If a development team is going to reap the rewards of what’s trending in tech this year, they must be aware of the following new features:

• Fresh APIs: Apple developers have access to new capabilities through UI/UX API. These include live text, widgets displayed on lock and home screens, focus filters, MapKit, live activities, WatchOS 9, and more.

• Innovations to Xcode 14: The enhancements brought to Xcode 14 have been designed specifically for boosting productivity. All devices can access the application and it has its icon as well as improvements in editing and language.

• Xcode Cloud: This is already embedded in Xcode and it is a cloud service that works through constant delivery and integration for Apple developers to work in the cloud. Specifically, they can construct applications in the cloud as well as test and deliver them in a far more efficient way.

• WhetherKit: With this new feature, developers will be able to display weather forecasts in applications. WhetherKit can be accessed through REST APIs and native Swift. Additionally, an Apple Developer Program membership can get you access to API calls.

• Advancements in gaming: Who doesn’t love new ways to make iOS gaming experiences better? The latest graphic framework for Apple is Meta 3 which enhances performance, loads resources faster through new APIs, and gives access to a dashboard where activities can be seen. Oh, and it should also be noted that Metal FX is included for input rendering.

What’s next for iOS Development in 2023?

As a developer or a software outsourcing business, there is a lot to look forward to in 2023. Opportunities are popping up left and right, especially for both desktop and native application development. Anyone looking to deliver the highest quality product needs to make a game plan for using iOS to capitalize on those opportunities.

Written By Ben Brown

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ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

11 Ways to Reduce Software Development Costs

Too often, a company will go into a software development project with a murky idea of what needs to be accomplished by the end of it. This can slow down communication on the requirements and ultimately delay the entire process. If developers don’t know what needs to be done, you’ll wind up paying for more of their time and adding up months or even years of extra work time.

While the cost of custom software development varies from project to project, there are 11 ways to minimize the risk of additional costs.

1. Confirm there’s a need for your application

While it may be tempting to jump head-first into what feels like a revolutionary app idea, resist the urge to invest your money in a project until you’ve done some preliminary research.

As someone creating a tool, it’s imperative that you think backwards from the user end of your solution. Think thoroughly about the issues and obstacles facing the people who will ultimately be using your completed software application. Make a comprehensive list of things to consider and determine if the market truly does need your application.  

No one wants to invest thousands of dollars in something only to find out that no one really has any use for it. This is why a market study could save you (and make you) a lot of money. Completing thorough research on your target audience can not only show you that there’s a need for your project, but it could also help you identify key elements that should be included in your product. It’s always a better idea to start with the end in mind.

2. Finalize your project requirements

Now that you’ve determined there is a need for your application, you should have enough information to form a fleshed-out plan for your project. Being as clear and specific as possible on your requirements will give your software project a massive boost. With clear requirements, the right IT team can make your idea shine in less time and with fewer complications. The simpler the process becomes, the more money you save on your project. Plus, it saves developers the headache of guessing what it is you need.

If you bring a clear plan to the table, your software development team will also be more inclined to go above and beyond since you’ve removed unnecessary complications from the get-go.

3. Consider the pros and cons of where you outsource your software development team

There are a few ways to get a software application made, but the most popular way among companies is to outsource—you can read why this is the best option here.

When outsourcing, a vital factor is the location of the company you choose. Offshore outsourcing is when you hire a company abroad, often reducing the cost of hired work. However, doing so can also reduce the quality of the work you receive. The phrase, “You get what you pay for” always holds true. You may get cheaper labour, but due to time differences and communication barriers, the product may suffer as a result. These complications can also delay fixes that would otherwise be solved sooner with nearshore companies. 

Nearshore outsourcing is when you hire from neighbouring countries. This can be more expensive, but it can also increase the likelihood of success for your end-product thanks to sharing a time zone and language. A mistake that’s been made can be fixed within the day rather than having to wait in eight-hour shifts to get it resolved. 

The trick here is to determine the flexibility of your budget and time investment and find a company that can give you a high-quality project for a minimal cost.

4. Choose the right kind of contract

The first step is so critical to the success of your project that it will make a difference even in choosing a contract style with a third-party development team. How complex is your project? How many people will it take to build? How many additional changes or features are you factoring in?  

If your idea is small in scale and fairly simple, you’re safe opting for a fixed-price contract. This is when you agree to pay a certain price to get the project done. This is comfortable, since you know there won’t be any surprises when the bill comes in. A straightforward project makes this kind of contract possible and desirable.

If your idea is more complex and requires flexibility, you’ll want to choose a T&M (time-and-materials) contract. A project of larger scope will need flexibility in time and budget since it’s nearly impossible to create an accurate estimate for something with many moving parts. Making the mistake of choosing a fixed-price contract for a complex project will result in a poorly built solution that may or may not work as expected. This is a quick way to drain money, as you’ll be left with a low-quality outcome.

Having flexibility can result in a bigger expenditure than expected, but that’s why planning and organization will have profound effects when it comes to minimizing project costs.

5. Choose the right software development team

You might be surprised how a team with a good culture can impact the development of your app. A positive workplace culture is a must for any business, but this is especially true for software development work, which requires an above-average level of teamwork and synergy. There are multiple pieces going at any given time, and with a crunch for deadlines, you want a team that can rely on each other to get the work done and pass the baton on time.

A bad work culture can lead to miscommunications, mistakes, and missed deadlines. Additionally, a team like this can just be awful to work with. A combination of bad attitudes, a lack of camaraderie, and minimal discipline will produce less-than-desirable results. This is why it’s important to be thorough in your search for a development team. Here are a few key things to look out for when in the hiring process:

• There is clear leadership in place

• They have solid recommendations from reputable past clients

• Team members seem eager to hear about the project and find solutions for it

• The company has a set of values that they work by

• The company prioritizes the health and happiness of their employees

The general feel of the people you first interact with will hint at the inner workings of a company; pay close attention to how they talk to each other and about other colleagues.

6. Value clear communication above all else

From the moment you get an idea for an application to the day it launches, if you hold communication as your #1 priority, the in-between will be a positive, enriching and fulfilling process. It’s up to you and everyone involved in the process to keep a strong chain of command, and one way to ensure this is by understanding the value chain.

The value chain is a practice that details the proper way to pass a task along. Each person in the chain is responsible for their own task, but the emphasis of the value chain dictates that each person must follow up with the next person in the chain in order to confirm that they have received what they need to complete their task and that they are doing so. This should repeat from the beginning of the process all the way to the end. If there is something pending, the value chain will help ensure every critical task is completed on time, and any blockers that come up are resolved.

7. Determine the best methodology for your project

There are several methods available that software development teams use as a way of organizing their efforts and implementing changes in the plan as it is being developed. Here is a brief rundown of some of the top choices:

Waterfall

This method follows rigid steps: determine the project’s requirements and scope, analyze those requirements, design, implement, test, deploy and finally, maintain. 

Feature-Driven Development (FDD)

Similar to Waterfall, FDD is viewed as an older methodology, a sort of precursor to modern Lean/Agile implementations. FDD still focuses on the goal of delivering working software frequently and is an especially client-centric approach, making it a good fit for smaller development teams. 

Agile

Agile is a process by which a team can manage a project by breaking it up into several stages. Constant collaboration with stakeholders and continuous improvement at every stage is the focus of Agile. This works by breaking projects down into little bits of user functionality called user stories, prioritizing them, and then continuously delivering them in short two-week cycles called iterations.

Scrum

Scrum emphasizes decision-making from real-world results rather than speculation. Time is divided into short work cadences, known as sprints, typically one week or two weeks long. At the end of each sprint, stakeholders and team members meet to see a demonstrated potentially shippable product increment and plan its next steps.

Find more info on software methodologies here.

8. Use a pre-built software foundation platform instead of starting from scratch

A solution to limited time and budget is to use a foundation platform that already has basic features built in. Depending on the nature of your idea, a solution like the ISU Core could save you up to 70% of the implementation cost of your project.  

A large percentage of software projects share the same requirements. Custom software developers have to rebuild these requirements on every new project, leading to a loss of time and money that can be avoided. With the main structure already set up, you will have the first version of your application in record time. This works for a wide range of projects, from simple solutions all the way to Enterprise applications. You can rest assured your needs are covered no matter the scale of your project. The ISU Core is used to create modern cloud, mobile and SaaS solutions/products, so consider using this if you’re looking to get started on a project of similar scope.

9. Invest in learning about software development 

Having a baseline understanding of how software development works can help you get the most out of your project. One vital concept to keep in mind is another methodology called DevOps.

This term comes from the combination of development and IT operations. DevOps is a set of practices and tools that aim to reduce the length of the software development life cycle, streamlining your project while keeping high quality and high output volume. This method complements Agile, as it emphasizes rigorous testing and re-assessment of the project as it is being developed. This certifies that the end product fulfills the requirements that were set out from the beginning.

When you outsource a project, knowing these strategies can help you communicate about them with your chosen team and ensure that best practices are being implemented throughout your project lifecycle.

10. Don’t be afraid of launching a minimum viable product (MVP)

Launching your product with only the essential features can allow you to receive crucial feedback on your project. There are no better people to receive feedback from than your target audience.

Doing this can give you a trail of evidence that will lead to your project’s success, as you’ll have access to data that will give you the positive and negative aspects of your application so far. This can help you pivot your development toward creating the tool that your audience wants. You can also determine more accurately if your project is worth pursuing. If no fish bite the hook, reeling it back in can save you the extra time and money that comes with keeping it in the water, so to speak.

11. Don’t get too caught up in design

While it may be one of the more exciting aspects of building an application, focusing too much on the look of the app can be a detriment to the usability of it. Keeping a balance between beauty and usefulness is an art, and both are important for your end user. Your app must be modern and inviting to your user, while also being intuitive and logical. The best way to strike that balance is to work with a team of experts with experience in creating stunning designs with top-notch useability.

In The end

Each step when done together can save you thousands in the long run. It’s entirely possible to avoid the potential turbulence every software project could face. Remember, clear requirements, thorough communication, brushing up on software knowledge and methodologies, and knowing the best outsourcing practices for your project can all contribute to a smooth and successful launch. Give your idea the expertise it deserves by hiring experienced professionals.

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

Written by Natalie Mansilla

FinTech Going Green: 7 Companies Built on Promoting Environmental Sustainability

Social movements are powerful and heavily influential in this day and age of innovation. Social justice communities are arguably the loudest they’ve ever been with the help of social media platforms and news-sharing outlets. 

People can express their thoughts and ideas to audiences on these platforms, allowing interactivity. It could be argued that as a result of this acceptance, justice and initiative are now the public's language. With activism comes brands aiming to connect with consumers by taking a position. 

Among the major initiatives of today is eco-friendliness, which in 2022 contributes to the majority of consumers' desire to support a brand or product. There is a genuine desire to save the planet that brands can materialize by promoting and creating opportunities to fund sustainability. 

Recently in Canada, for example, the government has said they’re going to require every vehicle sold in 2035 to be entirely electric. Another example is big players like Google, Apple, and Amazon, who promised to take drastic measures to minimize their carbon footprint. One last example is The Climate Clock in New York City at the Metronome which counts down how much time there is until damage to the climate becomes irreversible.

Environmental sustainability is a factor that is increasingly prevailing as a pillar of businesses' survival during this time. More than 65% of executives deem it “necessary” for market survival in 2022. It’s non-negotiable then for financial institutions to contribute to this movement and “go green”. 

We could say that this is one of the greatest approaches to public relations an organization could take at the moment, but that would be rather redundant in contrast to what some of these companies have done and are doing. With that being said, here are some initiatives from businesses in the FinTech realm that have based their approach on some form of environmental sustainability:

1. TreeCard

This unique initiative focuses on reforesting areas worldwide while simultaneously eliminating plastic. A TreeCard is a credit card made of wood. The business model works through the company taking a fee on a per-usage basis from the merchant. 

This accumulation of fees then goes to planting trees on behalf of the customers. It should be mentioned that typically, this fee would be taken as profit, but TreeCard puts 80% toward their replanting initiative. 

2. Stripe Climate

Stripe is a major entity in the financial industry. They launched Stripe Climate as a way for businesses to donate 1% of their profits to fund the development of carbon removal technologies. 

From a business perspective, this is brilliant, especially since participating organizations will receive a badge from Stripe for their clients to see (which we could even dare to call free marketing).

3. Joro

This app hit the mark for its target audience beautifully through its slogan, which states “build a solution as big as the problem”. Joro partnered with FinTech giant Plaid to reduce the impact of carbon emissions. 

They make this possible by tracking users' purchases and displaying graphs in the app for users to see where their spending is going and how it impacts their carbon footprint. Someone using Joro will effectively be able to steer their spending habits in an environmentally friendly direction.

4. Raise Green

Many people love to support their local communities as opposed to something global. Raise Green allows users to find businesses nearby that have green initiatives (this technology is backed by IBM). 

Once someone has found a cause that interests them, they can invest and own a piece of that project. Users enjoy the transparency of this platform; once they’ve invested, they can watch their investment generate clean energy (that is measured in kWh).

5. Trine

The first thing that sticks out about Trine’s branding is the one-liner that goes “For people, for the planet, for profit”. This ethos is perfect for their brand since the goal is to be transparent while spreading awareness of their product in addition to environmental issues that users can support. 

The business model is constructed as a peer-to-peer loan platform that aims at supporting solar energy initiatives. Users can get involved by investing in these projects starting at a minimum of $25. In 2022, the platform has seen investments from more than 10,000 people. 

6. Treelion

Here is an organization that beautifully exemplifies what it means to be a sustainable FinTech company. Their product is providing a decentralized network for businesses to track and manage their digital eco-friendly products through blockchain. 

Their product effectively becomes an enabler for the creation, development, and flow of capital, among green digital economies and ecosystems.

7. Aspiration

This platform is a doubleheader. One that solves the needs of the planet through reforestation, and one that supports people’s future by providing an IRA (Individual Retirement Account). 

Both features are made possible by using an aspiration card which rounds up every dollar spent and uses spare change to plant trees. The IRA is created by users investing in sustainable businesses, allowing you to save on taxes by opting to defer them until you retire. 

The Benefit of Green Finance

Digital banking is already more beneficial to the environment in comparison to traditional banking, which one can glean from the sheer elimination of driving to the bank, paper statements, and delivery of statements. If we’re going to state that FinTech is paving the way to an environmentally sustainable future, we need to step back and realize why that is.

First of all, finance is the only way people can function in the world day-to-day, nonetheless building a future. So, this is something everyone uses. Imagine if something every person uses was directly benefiting the sustainability of the world. This is a necessary movement. This is not to say that every business should base their model on it, but to have options aligned with this movement would be the ideal situation.

What’s Next?

In this section, we saw some green FinTechs that worked to create sustainability using B2B and B2C approaches. At this point, these businesses have strides to make before they become profitable. It is a new approach for FinTechs that shows promise for the future in terms of business and environmental sustainability. What matters most for organizations looking to get started in this sector is having the right software to support their efforts.

Written By Ben Brown

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ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.