ben brown

January 27, 2023

Business

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Mobile App

ben brown

January 27, 2023

Business

Since mobile apps were first introduced in the 1990s, people all over the world have wanted a version that fulfills their interests. This has led to the creation of millions of mobile apps that do more than just entertain. It’s estimated that the average smartphone user spends around 3 hours every day using apps which presents lucrative opportunities for the app owner but even more so for the programmers who materialized the platform.

App development is expensive, there’s no denying that. Though prices vary heavily if you’re looking to build something decent, be ready to spend a minimum of around $40,000. However, be open to the fact that the ROI on building that app could be dramatically higher. Now the price of development is of course enough to scare most curious creators away. However, in those cases, it’s likely the person is simply not ready to take on the responsibility or lacks a clear vision of what the app will bring.

There are several examples of companies that owe their success to integrating mobile apps such as Uber, YouTube, Facebook, Google, and so on. This is not to say that success is imminent for everyone in this case but the principle is simple. These companies had a foundation that was ready to take on the mobile market and when they did they took it by storm.

The mobile app development market is already worth hundreds of billions of dollars and further growth is inevitable. While competition is fierce, those with a strong team, clear vision, and solid platform can still succeed. However, it's important to be aware of these 5 common misconceptions to avoid on the path to success:

The work ends when the app is released: Many fail to take into account the work that comes after a mobile application is created. This includes (but is not limited to) consistent maintenance, updates, bug fixes, and user support.
As well, marketing and promoting the application needs to be a priority after the release to attract new users and keep the app visible. Developers need to have a plan in place for the work that comes post-release to ensure the app is successful long-term.
Features are enough to make an app successful: While the features of an app are important, they will not single-handedly make your app a success. A solid user interface, user experience (UI/UX), performance, and reliability are the primary aspects that contribute to a successful mobile app.
How would you feel about an app that had all these great features but performed horribly and was difficult to navigate? You’d probably feel like deleting the app right away.
You can stop at iOS: iOS devices account only for a little over 26% of all mobile operating systems. While it’s great to have your app made for iOS devices and the market will be very good for organizations, there’s a big chunk of the demographic being excluded. Ultimately, this is going to depend on the needs/goals of the business.
It’s cheaper to build an app than a website: We’ve already gone over a bit about the kind of prices to expect, but this is a key area to be aware of. Again, every project is going to vary in terms of cost so it’s not possible to put a price tag on an app or website. However, when it comes to comparing the two, there may be misconceptions about which is more cost-efficient.
Because apps are designed for specific platforms, devices, and screen sizes, while websites need to be compatible with a variety of all three, some may assume that apps are cheaper to build. However, it's important to note that both apps and websites require maintenance, updates, and testing. With this in mind, it's important to consider all of these variables for both when deciding which type of project to pursue.
Not thoroughly testing the app: Don’t make the mistake of being so anxious to get your app out to people that you fail to prioritize the testing phase. This is where you can identify and remove bugs, evaluate performance, how it looks, and how it functions across various mobile operating systems.
Problems that app creators don’t identify and rectify will come as complaints from users which will hurt the app's success in the early stages. In short, get ahead of the curb, make sure the app is what you envisioned and that nothing is left to chance.

The Takeaway

To succeed when creating a mobile app, developers must take strategic approaches that focus on quality. This starts with a clear vision, is fueled by setting meaningful goals, and assembling a strong team that can deliver a user-friendly platform that will be around for the long haul.

By avoiding these mistakes, you won’t have all the answers but you will have a bit of an edge along the journey.

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.

ben brown

January 23, 2023

Business

What is Technology Debt?

ben brown

January 23, 2023

Business

Businesses love innovation and making things simple both for the organization and the customers whom they serve. Technology was built on that premise and it’s the reason we have so much variety in the selection of technology providers and services in 2023. However, just like the businesses that use technology to enhance their operations, the providers of the technology are running a highly complex operation and working hard to continuously make it profitable.

As technology providers continue to innovate and improve their products and services, they may also accumulate “technology debt”. This can happen when they rush the launch of a new product or feature, use shortcuts to solve problems, or simply neglect to properly maintain and update their systems. It’s normal to see prices rack up but not making it a priority to have paid off is dangerous.

Why is Technology Debt so Detrimental?

The biggest issue with technology debt is that it can make it harder for the provider to continue innovating and improving their technology, in addition to making it more difficult for their customers to fully utilize the technology's capabilities.

Technology debt is like when you use your allowance money as a kid to buy something you want now, but then you don't have enough money to buy something else you need later.

When a company or organization uses shortcuts or quick fixes to solve a problem, they can get things done faster in the short term, but it can make it harder and more expensive to fix or update things in the future. So just like saving money, it's crucial to keep on top of technology debt so it doesn't become a bigger problem later on.

Last year alone, nearly 70% of organizations struggled with rising tech debt costs which was primarily attributed to the pandemic. As a result, many companies are making efforts to reduce their tech debt and invest their cash in more cost-effective solutions. These solutions include:

Open source software: This software is free to use, simple to modify, and distribute. It can make for a cost-effective alternative to proprietary software, which typically requires a license or subscription fee.

Cloud computing: Companies only pay for the computing resources they use, lowering initial costs and providing flexibility in usage and scaling.

Outsourcing: This provides access to specialized expertise at a lower cost than that of maintaining an in-house team.

The main concern with tech debt in this sense is the expense of maintaining, updating, and modernizing technology in the long run. Again, using the pandemic as an example, many companies had to quickly adopt new technical methods to support remote work and online operations alike.

This sudden increase in technology usage and adoption led to a dramatic rise in tech debt for many organizations. As a result, organizations began turning to alternative solutions like the ones listed above.

We’ve done a lot of talking about what tech debt is, but the real question is: how can your business avoid becoming part of the 70%? The answer is simple: stay on top of your technology debt. It may seem like a daunting task, but updating your software systems can save you a lot of trouble in the long run which is a key reason to invest in IT systems.

Aside from the obvious risks and headaches that come with accumulating debt, 6 of the main consequences of not managing tech debt include:

Difficulty in attracting and retaining top talent: Engineers may be less willing to work on a system that is difficult to maintain or update.
Reduced flexibility: The codebase may be difficult to understand or modify, limiting the ability of the organization to adapt to its own changing needs.
Difficulty in integrating new technologies: Branching off the above point, the existing codebase may not be compatible with newer technologies.
Security vulnerabilities: Code that hasn’t been updated may not have been written with optimal security measures.
Hard to scale: The codebase may not be designed to handle increased usage or traffic.
Maintenance costs: It becomes more and more expensive to maintain and update the affected systems, which may result in reduced productivity and higher costs for the business.

Managing The Issue

One of the sure ways to stay on top of your technology debt is by working with a trusted provider who can help you assess your current systems, identify areas of improvement, and, most importantly, implement cost-effective solutions. By being proactive, you can ensure that your organization is well-positioned to take advantage of new technology as it becomes available.

At ISU Corp, we understand the importance of staying ahead of technology debt. That's why we offer a range of services to help businesses like yours assess, manage, and reduce their technology debt. From open-source software and cloud computing to outsourcing, we have the expertise and resources to help you stay ahead of the curve. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your organization stay on top of tech debt and overall improve your bottom line.

Written By Ben Brown

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Natalie Mansilla

January 18, 2023

The Top 3 Ways AI is Changing the World: An Overview of ChatGPT

Natalie Mansilla

January 18, 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a thing of science fiction. With the advent of advanced language models like ChatGPT, AI is rapidly changing the world in ways we never thought possible. In this blog post, we'll take a look at the top three ways that AI, specifically ChatGPT, is changing the world.

OpenAI, the company that created ChatGPT, is a leading artificial intelligence research organization that aims to promote and develop friendly AI in a responsible manner. Founded in 2015 by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Wojciech Zaremba, and John Schulman, OpenAI has quickly established itself as a major player in the AI industry.

Increasing the evolutionary speed of technology

One of the most significant ways that AI is changing the world is by increasing the speed of technological evolution. With the help of language models like ChatGPT, the amalgamation of knowledge is happening at speeds beyond human capability. Insider’s guide explains that large language models like ChatGPT “not only tap into a vast amount of vocabulary and information, but also understand words in context. This helps them mimic speech patterns while dispatching an encyclopedic knowledge.”

OpenAI released ChatGPT in November of 2022, and has seen a massive increase in users since its launch. Those still waiting to try and interact with the language model may come into some trouble, as the high volumes have created problems for the platform. In the last week, users have complained that a message pops up informing them that the language model is at capacity. As OpenAI keeps up with demand, those interested in testing it out may be able to get access here.

One question I had for ChatGPT was if it would be possible for the language model to make coders obsolete. It’s fully capable of writing functioning code, but still needs prompting and input from a human. This language model can help create the puzzle pieces, but it’s up to human coders to form the big picture and know what to ask for, so developers are in the safe for the time being. However, the fact that this AI is already so powerful that it can conjure up code in seconds or less holds larger implications for the advancement of technology as a whole.

The development of technology has been exponential since the 1970s, and ChatGPT is the marker of the next wave of technological evolution. 2023 will be the year of AI, as other companies race to be in the competition of the artificial intelligence wave. Google has been working on AI for years; recall the headlines about a Google engineer that was placed on administrative leave for claiming that LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications) had developed consciousness. As far-fetched as it may seem, AI may be advancing faster than the public may be aware of.

Farther into the future, it’s entirely possible to see AI so advanced that it’s able to build new versions of itself. This isn’t a new concept; the idea of a machine created with the ability to self-replicate is a concept coined by John Von Neumann back in 1948, but this is still just speculation for now.

Enhancing education

Another way that AI is changing the world is by enhancing education. There are concerns of how easily students may be able to cheat using NLP technology (Natural Language Processing). After all, essays can be written in minutes in a writing style that could go undetected by teachers or even plagiarism detectors like Turnitin.

However, despite what some may believe, AI is not stunting education but rather helping it to evolve. A system that has been outdated for some time now may be forced into adapt along with technology. With the help of advanced language models like ChatGPT, students can access a wealth of information and resources that would have been impossible to access otherwise. This is especially true for students in remote or underprivileged areas, who may not have access to the same resources as their peers.

Having grown up as a student in the 2000s and 2010s, it was already common practice to teach students that intelligence was not necessarily defined by what you could memorize, but by how efficiently you could search for high-quality and accurate information using critical thought. This was a result of the widespread use of the Internet at the turn of the century.

Only time will tell how the developments in artificial intelligence will further push the way we teach students. While AI is capable of taking on a wide array of tasks, it opens up the possibility for “students to develop agency to make a change in tomorrow’s world, which will require the ability to identify problems, generate creative solutions and work collaboratively across multi-cultural teams”. This brings us to the next point; AI’s ability to automate tasks frees up time for humans to make the most of their own time and abilities.

Improving quality of life for humans

NLP is just a branch of AI. The ability for humans to be able to interact and communicate with AI in a natural way is an exciting development. It will also make it possible to implement this new technology across many areas of life, including:

Healthcare: AI can help doctors diagnose diseases more accurately and develop personalized treatment plans for patients.

Transportation: Self-driving cars and intelligent traffic systems can reduce accidents and make transportation more efficient.

Assistive technology: AI-powered devices can assist people with disabilities or mobility issues to perform daily tasks.

Home automation: AI-powered devices can control lights, temperature, and other aspects of the home environment, making it more comfortable and convenient

Smart cities: AI can be used to optimize the use of resources such as energy and water, and to improve public services such as waste management and traffic control.

Finance and customer service: AI can be used to improve the speed and accuracy of financial transactions, and to provide customer service that is faster, more accurate and more efficient.

Research and Development: AI can be used to analyze large data sets in research and develop new products, drugs, and technologies.

As AI continues to improve, we can expect to see even more profound changes in the world. Technology like ChatGPT will become even more accurate and versatile, allowing for even more use cases. However, it's important to remember that AI is still in its infancy and that there are many ethical and societal issues that need to be addressed.

Written by Natalie Mansilla

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