Novi Sad, 17. februar 2025. – Za mesec dana počinje novi ciklus jednogodišnjeg online školovanja, koje organizuje FTN Informatika. Program je osmišljen tako da studentima obezbedi znanja i veštine koje savremena industrija softverskog inženjerstva zahteva i namenjen je početnicima u svetu programiranja. <h2>Jednogodišnji online program za buduće full stack web developere</h2>U okviru programa, studenti prolaze kroz tri tematska modula. Prvo se savladavaju osnove programiranja i objektno-orijentisanog programiranja u C# programskom jeziku. Zatim se prelazi na osnove web programiranja i izučavaju se fundamentalni koncepti i tehnologije za izradu web aplikacija. U završnom modulu, kandidati rade na projektovanju i implementaciji full stack web aplikacije, koristeći ASP.NET i React tehnologije, uz naglasak na timski rad i praktičnu primenu.Kreator programa prof. dr Nikola Luburić ističe: „Kod svakog obrazovnog programa je neophodno analizirati dva ključna pitanja – Koje sposobnosti student treba da ima po završetku programa? i Kako najbolje da razvijamo te sposobnosti tokom programa, uzimajući u obzir početnu tačku studenta i resurse kojima raspolažemo? Za odgovor na prvo prvo pitanje intervjuisali smo partnerske IT kompanije, kako bismo precizno definisali skup znanja i veština koje kandidat za poziciju full stack developera mora posedovati da bi uspešno prošao proces selekcije. Za odgovor na drugo, iskoristili smo višedecenijsko iskustvo rada sa studentima i rezultate istraživanja iz oblasti obrazovnih tehnologija, kako bismo kreirali napredan obrazovni sistem, koji za godinu dana razvija ciljane sposobnosti“. <h2> </h2><h2>Glavne prednosti programa</h2>1. Kombinacija fleksibilnosti i strukture. Na nedeljnom nivou, od studenta se zahteva da prođu određene materijale i zadatke. Svako može samostalno organizovati vreme u toku nedelje, uz smernice FTN Informatika tima o najefikasnijim metodama učenja. Ovakav pristup osigurava kontinuiran napredak, a istovremeno ostavlja dovoljno prostora za ostale aktivnosti.2. Inteligentan tutoring sistem. Rezultat petogodišnjeg istraživanja obrazovnih tehnologija jeste specijalno kreirani softver koji omogućava interaktivno savladavanje teorije i razvoj praktičnog znanja. Svake nedelje, kandidati pišu veći broj programskih zadataka, čime se temeljno uvežbavaju programerske veštine i jačaju radne navike.3. Redovne konsultacije sa timom i mentorom. Studenti se na nedeljnom nivou sastaju sa grupom kolega radi međusobne razmene iskustava i izrade softverskih rešenja. Pored toga, svaki kandidat dobija povratne informacije od mentora koji prati izradu programa i napredak, te pruža smernice za dalji rad i profesionalno usavršavanje.Jednogodišnji program FTN Informatika otvoren je za sve kandidate, bez obzira na prethodno radno iskustvo ili smer studija. Neophodni preduslovi obuhvataju osnovnu informatičku pismenost i visoku motivaciju za usavršavanje u oblasti programiranja. Organizatori ističu da su posvećenost i kontinuirani rad presudni za uspeh u ovom obimnom i intenzivnom programu.Sve dodatne informacije o nastavnom planu, rasporedu časova i prijavi, kao i pregled sadržaja modula i konkretnih kompetencija koje se razvijaju, dostupne su na zvaničnoj stranici programa: <a href="https://ftninformatika.com/it-skolovanje-ftn-informatika/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ftninformatika.com/it-skolovanje-ftn-informatika/</a>Zainteresovani kandidati mogu se priključiti nedeljnom online sastanku namenjenom informisanju o školovanju i razjašnjavnju nejasnoća ili se prijaviti popunjavanjem jednostavnog online formulara na gore navedenom linku.<h2> </h2><h2>O FTN informatika</h2>FTN Informatika je proistekla sa Katedre za informatiku, Fakulteta tehničkih nauka, Univerziteta u Novom Sadu. Od 2014. godine, osnovna delatnost kompanije je neformalno obrazovanje u oblasti informacionih tehnologija, a prethodnih deset godina posebna pažnja posvećena je intenzivnim kursevima namenjenim osposobljavanju za poslove u IT sektoru. Promena uslova na tržištu rada od 2023. godine dovodi do potrebe za razvojem naprednijeg nivoa početnih kompetencija. Kao odgovor na situaciju FTN Informatika kreira jednogodišnji online program za full stack inženjera web aplikacija, koji je prilagođen aktuelnim potrebama IT kompanija.Početkom 2019. godine na Katedri je formirana i grupa za istraživanje obrazovnih tehnologija, sa namerom da se studentima ponudi što kvalitetnije obrazovno iskustvo. Od 2020-2022 godine grupa dobija podršku Fonda za nauku Republike Srbije, za izgradnju inteligentnog tutoring sistema, koji danas podržava nastavu na fakultetskim predmetima, a od 2023. godine se koristi i na pojedinim FTN Informatika kursevima. Inspirisana iskustvima polaznika, kompanija je odlučila da program jednogodišnjeg online školovanja, podrži ovom tehnologijom.Za sve dodatne informacije i prijavu, posetite zvaničnu internet stranicu na adresi:<a href="https://ftninformatika.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> www.ftninformatika.com</a>

Novi ciklus FTN Informatika školovanja za full stack web developera - prilika za ulazak u svet programiranja

Many business owners whose business grows at a fast pace need to launch a mobile app. This is usually the case with ventures in eCommerce, communication, and some fields of marketing. Pressurized by the demands of their business, some entrepreneurs go for a fast, open-source solution for their mobile app.&nbsp;While this can be a purposeful move, rushing an app can turn out to be completely counterproductive. As a result, it could cost you more time and money than building an app from scratch in the first place.&nbsp;In this article, we’re going to analyze what you get by using open source as a starting point vs. building an app from scratch.&nbsp; <h2>Building speed vs. usability</h2>Let’s say that you’re an eCommerce entrepreneur and you’ve used Facebook for your work so far. However, now you want to make a step forward in your career and create your very own online shop. In that case, you can use one of the <a href="https://www.ecommerceceo.com/open-source-ecommerce/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: transparent;">open source eCommerce platforms</a>. You can use anything from Woo Commerce and Magento to numerous alternatives. They require either no coding or just some technical modifications of the existing code.&nbsp;What’s more, most of these tools come with a ready-made mobile app. So, once you launch the platform, you’ll already have a mobile app, as well.&nbsp;While this is a fast and efficient way of getting an app for your business, it also hides some potential issues. If the open source platform you opt for is a reliable, high-scale solution, the number of potential problems is lower. Still, even in that case you might not be satisfied with the scope of the features that you get here.&nbsp;As opposed to that, you can choose a less known open source option that has more practical elements for your business. Although there are thousands of app-developing teams trying to come up with such useful free solutions, they’re more likely to contain some bugs and malfunctions (the solutions, not the developers).&nbsp;Building an app on a versatile but incomplete platform can result in wasting more time and money on fixes than you expected.&nbsp;The takeaway: if you already have to build an app on short notice, go for mainstream open source platforms and give up on some elements on account of reliability and quality.&nbsp; <h2>Price vs. durability</h2>In the previous paragraph, we illustrated a situation in which a business owner is hurrying to launch an app. However, urgency isn’t the only reason why entrepreneurs would give advantage to open source apps over those made from scratch.&nbsp;Simply put, some business owners, especially new ones, can’t afford a full-scale, tailor-made app. They have no or little money, which is why their budget dictates the choice they make. In most cases, new kids on the business blog are forced to use open source apps.&nbsp;However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t hire a team of app developers to improve your app once you make a budget for that purpose.&nbsp;In a way, this is a reasonable set of events. When you’ve just launched a business, an open source app should meet your demands. Then, as your profits are growing, you can turn that app into a more advanced solution with a large number of features. It will add to the durability and usability of that app, as well as improve the entire online experience that the customers have with your venture.&nbsp; <h2>Quality vs. instantaneity</h2>Obviously, an app created on an open source platform can be completed instantly. For some types of businesses and business owners, its functionality will suffice to the given moment.&nbsp;What’s more, if the open source software used for making an app is developed and updated by skilled developers, you can even use that app for a longer period of time.&nbsp;However, it’s highly likely that you won’t be able to compete with the rivals that have wide-scale apps built from scratch. In some specific fields, like the aforementioned eCommerce, each and every second wasted on app load time or any glitches within the app lead to lower conversion rates.&nbsp;So, although your open source app serves its purpose for a longer period of time, you can’t expect that it will stand the test of time when compared with other apps on the market, made from ground zero.&nbsp;The bottom-line when talking about quality and instantaneity regarding mobile app development is that building an app from scratch is a more logical option for full-blown, long-term operability.&nbsp; <h2>Maintenance in open source and scratch apps</h2>You don’t have to be an app-developing genius to conclude that maintaining an open-source app is cheaper than handling your own app. Here you don’t have to pay developers to come up with custom-made updates and plugins. You simply rely on the additions developed and implemented by the community on the platform you’ve chosen.&nbsp;But if you have a fast-growing project that demands constantly adding new features to your app, this is something that no open source community can follow. They have their closed set of features and updates which you can’t change.&nbsp;As opposed to that, building and running your own app means that you can change it frequently. What’s more, if you collaborate with experienced and well-organized app developers, you can have those things added at the spur of the moment.&nbsp;Therefore, for quickly-evolving ventures that will constantly need some additions, making an app from scratch is a more appropriate choice.&nbsp; <h2 class="ql-align-justify">The final word</h2>When you’re at the crossroads and you have to choose between an open source app and its counterpart made from scratch, take into account our considerations from this article. Even if your budget is sufficient enough for a fully custom-made app, don’t waste your money unless that app will pay off through your business. Contrary to that, if you don’t have enough money to build an app from scratch but your venture desperately needs one, try to find a way to finance it. In a nutshell, your current and future business needs are the major criteria that should be used when making this decision.&nbsp;If you’re still in two minds over this question, our developers can advise you and give you even more details about each of these two options.&nbsp;

Mobile App Development: Starting from Scratch vs. Using Open Source as a Starting Point

The field of online communication has a large potential for further development. Logically, many entrepreneurs and business owners try to get their share of this huge market. Although it might seem that it’s saturated by large players, such as What’s App, Skype or Viber, there’s always room for new chat apps. After all, each of these brand names were once just an idea.&nbsp;In this article, we’re going to discuss the key challenges that building such an app include. Also, there will be some potential solutions and shortcuts that will help you overcome those obstacles.&nbsp; <h2>The major considerations</h2>Let’s say that you’ve been using all of the mainstream communication tools in the last few years and you’ve identified their major drawbacks. Now you’ve come up with an idea how to improve those communication services. Basically, you’d probably include most of their elements in your chat app but it would contain that one special ingredient which would make your solution stand out from the crowd.You’re aware that you’re competing with some of the greatest business players in general. Some of them have been in this game for more than a decade.&nbsp;On the other hand, there are numerous <a href="https://opensource.com/alternatives/skype" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: transparent;">open source chat apps</a> and some of them have a substantial number of users.&nbsp; <h2>Launching an open source chat app</h2>That may be a nice way to put your business idea to practice – you launch an open source app and see how people will react to its elements. It could be a nice reality check of the special features that make your concept unique.After you’ve invested some time and money in the open source communication tool, you might realize that there aren’t many rounded-off open-source solutions. In turn, if the free chat app you’ve launched doesn’t meet the basic standards of the industry, such as smooth customer experience and customer support, you won’t be able to compete with the big names.&nbsp;Also, if your communication solution isn’t less expensive and more practical than household names in that field, users won’t even consider using your app.&nbsp; <h2>Conducting market research</h2>Now let’s assume that you didn’t follow the path that would take you to the dead end of an ineffective, futile open-source chat app.&nbsp;An idea that doesn’t pass the reality check is just a mere thought. Therefore, make sure that you conduct market research before you make any other move regarding your chat tool.&nbsp;Since market research is a pretty broad category, let’s narrow it down a bit. For starters, it’s always best to use free tools to gather the information you need. You can use <a href="http://storybistro.com/target-market-research-facebook/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: transparent;">Facebook polls or other Facebook tools</a> to check if the audience you’re targeting likes the idea of a new chat app at all. It’s important to ask the right questions in that poll. Some of them have to refer to the elements you’d like to add to that tool which don’t exist in other similar apps.&nbsp; <h2>Calculate the profits</h2>If your target audience has responded positively to the idea of launching an app with those special features, move on to check the potential profit you can make. At this point, it’s vital to decide whether or not your app will be completely free of charge. For instance, you can allow free access to all the features of the app for a limited period of time. After that, you can start charging for the most advanced features.&nbsp;However, if you lock those unique, special elements that make your chat app better from the rest, why would anyone continue using it? Therefore, think about generating profits from ads in the app and giving up on charging for any of its features.&nbsp;On the other hand, if people have shown their interest in your app and its innovative bits, they would probably be willing to pay for some of them. But they really have to make a huge different in comparison with the existing apps and be more affordable. Hence, you have to think through this process and make sure that you don’t make a move that could ruin the entire effort.&nbsp; <h2>Gather knowledgeable developers</h2>Regardless whether you’re planning to form a team of developers or work with another business, you should work only with experienced developers. Of course, some people might object that juniors and beginners should be given a chance, as well. This is true, but it’s the app-developing companies that should recruit and train them.&nbsp;A business party that wants simply to put a business idea into practice should communicate and collaborate only with senior developers. According to <a href="https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Mobile_App_Developer/Salary" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: transparent;">PayScale</a>, the average salary of a senior app developer in the US is about $67,000. Even if you decide to hire individuals from other countries, you’ll have to spend a substantial amount of money on their payments.&nbsp;This is why collaborating with a team of experienced app developers from another company or agency is the most logical option here. You have the money and the idea(s), while they possess the experience and the commitment necessary to put them into action.&nbsp;It’s also important to prepare for some differences in the estimated costs and the final price of the project.It’s important to ask in advance whether the team in question supports the ‘release early, release often’ strategy or whether they like to finish the entire project first. Our two cents: it’s better to participate in the entire project and ask the developers to keep you posted on their progress on the go. It would be great if you could test some aspects of your chat app as soon as possible.&nbsp; <h2>The final word</h2>If you think that you’ve identified a soft spot in the existing communication tools, you should try to push the idea forward. Of course, don’t do it head-on but develop a certain strategy and follow its steps. In case that it turns out that other users also think your idea could be useful, apply the tactics from this article to overcome the obstacles along the way. Also, you can talk to our app developers whenever you want and get some practical advice on this matter.&nbsp;

The Challenges of Building Communication Apps

When a successful software developer decides to launch their own startup, it doesn’t mean that this person will automatically be a great business owner. Being a knowledgeable and efficient professional is one thing. Becoming a renowned entrepreneur is a completely different kettle of fish. What might have worked when you were a mere employee most probably won’t be useful in this new role you’ve taken. In order to protect developers who are planning to start their own business from some potentially fatal mistakes, we’ve put together this guide. It should help you dodge some common problems in this field in order to run your venture with the instinct of a vulture. <h2>Don't guess,test</h2>In one of our previous posts, we explained why we support the ‘release early, release often’ philosophy. It definitely helps developers reduce the potential number of misunderstandings with their clients.When talking about bad habits in startup management, we can say that presenting the results of your work only at the end of the project is a dangerous thing to do. No matter how experienced you are as a developer, it’s not up to you make decisions instead of your clients. In line with that, don’t predict and don’t guess, but present and test. The sooner you show the client your progress, the sooner they’ll be able to give you feedback. It will either confirm your concept or force you to make the necessary changes on time. Hence, it will be invaluable for your future work on that very project. <h2>Don't bite off more then you can chew</h2>Running a software development startup opens loads of business opportunities. Still, you should under no circumstances spread yourself too thinMany startup owners have been there: you form a diligent team of committed professionals thinking that you can finish a large project. So, you take that big job and make a promise to the client. However, since your workforce and your finances are limited, you miss the agreed deadline. As a result, you lose that client, which leads to further financial difficulties. What’s more, you could also get a bad reputation, especially if you focus on your local community. For all these reasons, don’t overestimate your current abilities. Rome wasn’t built in a day; neither was Apple. You have time to gradually develop your business but it takes patience and some rational thinking. <h2>Analyze the audience and the market demand</h2>Software developers who launch a particular software product could make an erroneous estimate about the audience for that very solution. You invest your time, energy and creativity believing that the audience you have in mind will be using that solution and then reality paints a completely different picture.Because of that, you should conduct research even before you start working on your product. Some might even say that this analysis should be done prior to launching the startup. You can start with a simple online survey that will help you find out more about the market need for your potential software solution. Social Media Examiner provides some <a href="https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-use-facebook-ads-for-market-research/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: transparent;">practical tips</a> for conducting market research via social media. Furthermore, <a href="https://www.business.com/articles/entrepreneurs-love-these-13-tools-for-conducting-market-research/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: transparent;">SEMrush and other research tools</a> will help you identify and segment your target audience at the drop of a hat. <h2> </h2><h2>Find an experienced UX team</h2>Your software tool can be the best thing since bread came sliced, but it’s crucial that its UX elements live up to users’ expectations. And user experience doesn’t only refer to the images and the font you use for your solution, as some may think. The <a href="https://www.userzoom.com/blog/fascinating-stats-about-ux-and-usability-testing-to-help-your-business-case/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: transparent;">overview</a> of some interesting UX stats on the UserZoom website shows that allegedly 65% of Internet users won’t register a website form if it requires too much personal information. Moreover, many mobile users find enlarging a screen to open a link a frustrating feature, while as much as 97% of mobile users say that the ease of use is the key element of user-friendly apps. As you can see, making a software product smooth and practical for your audience is impossible without professional UX designers. They’ll know how to polish the bits that might be rough around the edges and improve the overall design and functionality of that solution. <h2>Focus on substance, not the form</h2>Many business professionals invest a lot of assets in marketing and PR. Indeed, publishing posts on social media on a regular basis and adding new completed projects to your portfolio is a must. However, turning into a narcissist business owner who neglects substance on account of form is strictly forbidden. First of all, you shouldn’t waste your already limited budget on excessive marketing campaigns. As a small software startup, you should concentrate on work, further education, and your clients. If you release some features of your product early and the client likes what they see, this is already a great promotional tactic. In addition to that, if the completed project is a bug-free and user-friendly solution that makes a difference on the market, you won’t have to spend too much time on promotion. Such products speak for themselves. Their practical features is what sells them best. Contrary to that, if you just splurge your money on marketing without committed work, you’ll bring your business to its demise. <h2>The final word</h2>Needless to say, you need to have some experience in business management before you launch a software startup. In other words, an ordinary employee in a large software company who has a brilliant idea should think twice before embarking on a startup business journey. However, a head of a certain department in that same company has better references to fork off and start their own venture. You need both knowledge and experience to give your very own software startup and its products the right shape. Apart from the tips in this piece, our developers can always provide some other valuable information regarding software startups and their proper growth. Therefore, feel free to contact us in case you need any advice.

How to Avoid Destroying Your Startup? 

Many contemporary business owners need some sort of software development services. From native mobile apps and website solutions to productivity-tracking options, there’s a vast number of reasons why someone might need such services. If you’re in that position, it means that you’re standing at the crossroads where one sign can direct you to freelancers, while the other one nudges you to choose a software development agency. In our opinion, working with an agency will yield more benefits. Stay us for the rest of this article to find out why. <h2>Agencies are more reliable and resourceful</h2><h6>Getting an accurate estimate</h6>When you contact a software development agency and tell them about your needs, they’ll come up with an estimate. This document will contain key milestones for the project in question, such as the specific deadlines by which each of the stages will be complete, as well as the costs of each segment.Also, they’ll probably ask you whether you’d like to pay after each milestone is done or make the total payment at the end of the project. Our two cents here: it’s not bad to opt for milestone payments because that will motivate them to keep up the good work. <h6>Enough staff in case of emergency</h6>What’s also better if you work with an agency is their resourcefulness. Most agencies have several teams of developers that collaborate on their projects. If one of the developers in your team is ill, they can easily replace that person with a developer from another team. Furthermore, if you decide to eliminate some aspects of the software solution you’ve ordered, it will lead to the decrease in the number of work hours. As a result, a freelance software developer could neglect your project and take other, more lucrative ones. On the other hand, if you decide to increase the number of features, it might be difficult to add another freelancer to the project. All these details are part of a larger image of what makes a software development agency a better choice for business owners. <h2>Work efficiency and adaptability</h2>At first glance, freelancers might be given an advantage over agencies when it comes to adaptability and work efficiency. However, this is only the first impression. While it’s easier for a freelancer to adapt to new changes and requests that you might have during the project, only one person will be working all the time. Whereas they can implement your changes fast, they won’t be able to meet all your demands at equal pace if you come up with a variety of new ideas. An agency, in contrast, will probably seem much more inert during negotiations. Also, they might not always be able to implement your changes at once. However, if you choose an agency, you have a team of developers able to improve your project even after it’s finished. They can ensure smooth customer support, regular updates, and continuous maintenance of your software solutions. A freelancer can manage to cover some of these bases, but most certainly not all of them. Even if this professional finishes everything on time, it’s highly likely that you’ll have to hire another person for additional updates, maintenance, etc. In turn, this would cause additional overhead expenses, which isn’t something you’d be looking forward to. <h2>Project organization and pricing</h2>Most software development agencies have several levels of programmers, from beginners and junior developers to those most experienced, senior professionals. Because of that, an agency can give a more competitive offer than a freelancer. When you have different kinds of professionals on your payroll, you can distribute the workload to get the most of the work process at an affordable price for your clients. Freelancers, on the other hand, don’t have so much room for maneuver in terms of pricing. If you opt for this kind of service for your software, you usually get a one-price-fits-all-tasks professional. <h6>Competitive prices with high quality</h6>Hiring an agency means that you’ll have juniors (whose rates are lower) perform the less demanding development tasks under the supervision of senior programmers. Such work organization will bring a two-fold benefit. On the one hand, the price will be more acceptable. On the other, the quality of the work will remain high. <h6>Support from multiple sources</h6>What also speaks in favor of development agencies is their experience and established procedures for solving potential problems. These business entities usually have HR-professionals and project managers. Both of these staff members can come in handy if you aren’t satisfied with the way your project is being managed. By establishing smooth communication with all the agency employees included in your project, you can always count on getting help from different sources. <h2>Access to cutting-edge technologies</h2>Development agencies are business parties. As such, they need to make sure that all the software tools they need are legal. In theory, freelance software developers should also work only with legal software. In practice, however, this doesn’t have to be the case. So, if you for some reason opt for a freelancer, check if they use proper software solutions. Since agencies are usually well-funded ventures, they can get access to cutting-edge technologies much easier than freelancers. They’re well-aware of the fact that updated tech solutions are their bread and butter. That’s why they always stay tuned with the latest tools in their niche. Clients also benefit from such a work policy, since improved software often makes the entire workflow much faster. If the agency you’ve chosen has immediate access to every new update of the software used on your project, your business could get ahead of the curve. Your rivals might not be able to count on such quick updates, which means they would fall behind. <h2>The final word</h2>It’s great to know that the freelance market is growing. In many cases, hiring a freelancer is a perfectly fine decision. However, when you need to get the more demanding software development projects done, agencies offer more value for money. You can count on an established know-how and experienced professionals who can adapt their work to your specific needs. Even when your project is done and delivered, they will still be able to provide you with improvements and updates that can make a significant difference in your field of work. For all these reasons, we strongly feel you should opt for a reliable development agency with an established reputation.

Why Choose a Software Development Agency over a Freelancer?

Every business uses dozens of different software tools for their daily tasks. In the last couple of years, the number of online apps and cloud-based software features have increased, providing an ever wider range of options for every business owner. However, you can take your business to a whole new level if you opt for custom software. This custom-made solution for your particular needs could improve your productivity, reduce your expenses, and improve your collaboration with clients. In this article, we’re going to illustrate how custom software can breathe new life into your business. <h2>Centralized reporting</h2>Reports are an inseparable part of every business, regardless of its size. The process of creating, collecting and storing different business reports is a strenuous and stressful one. This becomes even more complicated if your teams or employees are scattered around the globe. While you can use the benefits of cloud solutions for this purpose, you do leave a lot to chance if you keep all your eggs in one basket. However, with a custom-made reporting tool, you can accelerate the entire procedure. Since this tool can collect and store data on the go from the very start, you and your employees can get any piece of information you may need at any time whatsoever. As a result, the employees that used to gather data for business reports can now be given some more practical roles so that they can realize their full potential. <h2>Seamless communication</h2>Saying that smooth communication is crucial for any sort of business is an understatement. In this day and age, when remote businesses collaborate on various projects, communication is everything. Luckily, the creators of communication tools are following trends. These days, the major project management tools come with some great built-in communication add-ons. You can also communicate quite efficiently via some already old-school means of communication, such as Skype, or some newer tools, like Zoom or Blizz. But as time goes by and your business keeps growing, at one moment you’ll realize that you need top-notch communication software that will meet all your demands. That’s the right moment to get in touch with reliable developers and have them prepare a personalized tool for seamless business communication. There are two options you choose from: they can either create a tailor-made solution for your business from scratch or use an existing tool and adapt it to your specific requests. The former choice is usually pricier than the latter one, but it will pay off for larger business entities with a large number of employees. <h2>Handling business on the go</h2>The<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/220149/total-worldwide-mobile-app-advertising-revenues/" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/220149/total-worldwide-mobile-app-advertising-revenues/" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">global in-app advertising revenues</a> will reach $117 billion by 2020. This means that every business owner who doesn’t take their venture for granted has to start using the potentials of this market. Knowing that more and more people are doing everything they can on the go should also nudge you toward thinking about their mobile needs. In the B2B field, a growing number of players is targeting their potential clients and partners via mobile advertising. What’s more, many employees now work via their smartphones. As the number of smartphones and gadgets will continue to increase, the potentials of this market are only going to grow. All these trends speak in favor of getting custom software tools for your business that will help you reach out to those shiny happy people on the go.&nbsp; <h2>In-depth planning</h2>Business planning is the foundation of business progress. Without an in-depth business plan, it’s not possible to make a single move in the modern business world. To come up with a thorough business plan, it’s imperative to keep all the information at a click of a mouse. This is exactly where custom software comes on stage. With the aforementioned reporting and communication solutions, your business planning process will be much easier. However, you can go the extra mile by ordering yourself a versatile and customized project management tool. If made with user satisfaction in mind, this solution will enable you to create, track, and store tons of information about your projects, employees, and clients in the most efficient way. When you have all this data in one place, you can save a lot of time and money that would otherwise be wasted on finding these bits and putting them all together. What’s more, planning will be smoother than ever before if you and your team can access any information you might need in a matter of seconds. <h2>Dodging security risks</h2>Every major software developing company takes great care about the contemporary security threats. Also, buying a licensed software tool means that you’ll be getting security updated on a regular basis. Nevertheless, when developers commit themselves to a bespoke software tool, adapted specifically to your special requests, the entire story about security is taken to a whole new level. In line with that, you can get some additional security features that aren’t usually included in mass-produced versions of those tools. Furthermore, you can ask developers to increase the protection level within your own business so as to reduce the risk of data leaking from your own employees. While it might sound a bit paranoid, businesses in some fields, like automotive industry, need to take all the precautions to prevent data leakage or theft. This is where custom software features can help a lot. <h2>Conclusion</h2>Using licensed and legal mass-produced software products will meet most of your business demands. These solutions come with certain protective features and you’ll keep getting updates regarding security and usability. Custom software tools can give your business that special ingredient that will make you faster or more efficient than your rivals. If you can collect all the data about your previous client in a matter of minutes because you have everything stored in your tailor-made software, you’ll use the chance to work with that party again. And that’s only one of a number of possibilities that having your very own, personalized software brings. Therefore, feel free to contact us if you have any dilemmas on getting a custom-made software solution.

How Can Custom Software Breathe New Life into Your Business 

Modern business owners, besides having website to spread the word about their business, often need to have a mobile app to support their business, as people are getting more and more mobile themselves. These two features will provide you with faster services and put your venture on the map of tech-savvy enterprises.After you figured out that you need a mobile app, and before you have your mobile app made, you should learn more about different types of mobile apps. In this article, we’ll clarify these differences. <h2>What are native apps?</h2>They’re made in native programming languages for every platform and thus restricted to a particular platform. For instance, apps for Android are usually made with Java (or recently Kotlin), while their iOS counterparts are developed using Swift (earlier Objective-C). In other words, you have to opt for one operating system at a time, or get two teams of app developers to work on your apps. This might require longer development time than building a hybrid/cross platform apps, but the options that you get with a native app might be worth&nbsp;trying. <h2>What are hybrid apps?</h2>HTML5 hybrid mobile apps are cross-platform apps that render the user interface using an embedded web browser, as well as leveraging HTML, CSS and Javascript.Hybrid apps have a browser element called a web view, which makes it possible to launch your (existing) Web app inside a native app. What’s taken from the native-app realm is the wrapper, which establishes communication with the web view and the native platform. It’s important to emphasize that these solutions are neither made nor launched by Android or iOS, but they’re usually built by third parties. This is good to know if you’re new to the world of apps and platforms. <h2>What are cross-platform mobile apps?</h2>Those apps are trying to combine the two aforementioned approaches - building native mobile apps using the common JavaScript language similar to hybrid apps. Developers claim that this way you’ll get an app indistinguishable from a native app at the price of a hybrid app. These apps are usually built on the React-Native framework. <h2>Pros &amp; Cons</h2>Establishing developmentIf you decide to take the plunge and build your mobile app on your own, it will include a lot of learning for you or your team. Even if you do possess enough determination and energy for that app-building endeavor, be ready to spend as much time on repairing glitches and bugs in its functionality to reach perfection. None of these approaches to app development will give you fast results here. FeaturesFirst and foremost, if you have a feature-rich, complex app on your mind, it might be better to go native. Native apps tend to be a more practical choice for mobile apps that include videos, chat add-ons, or custom maps. If you want to take into account the special features of each particular platform, as well as enhanced user experience, then this is the right choice for you. If you aim for proof of concept apps with simplified features, cross-platform or hybrid solutions should definitely be taken into account. App architectureAnalyze app requirements very carefully! More and more, apps are relying on third-party libraries to speed up the development process. If your project requires complex, third-party libraries, you might be limited to use only a few approaches, sometimes even only one. So far, those libraries usually have better support for native solutions as a result of native solutions maturity. Look &amp; feelHybrid apps have a tendency to be platform agnostic and thus make apps for different platforms look alike. Cross platform apps are closer to native solutions in terms of design, but still sometimes might contain that “web app look and feel”. In native apps, most features will look original and custom-made for that very platform. If your app design is made to be platform agnostic rather than to emphasize a platform specific behavior, it will add extra work to the native development process. MaturitySince native apps have been in use longer than cross-platform or hybrid tools and ReactNative – there’s a lower risk that developers won’t be able to implement special or non-common features. Also, you might be able to find good developers for native apps easier. MaintenanceAnother thing that might be useful for the sake of calculation are iOS and Android OS updates, bringing new features (and rules) available for mobile app development in general. You can count on quicker updates and faster implementation of these new requests if you have native apps, since it takes more time for changes to spread through cross-platform or hybrid platforms. Of course, native app require more detailed maintenance. CostsLike we’ve already said, cross-platform or hybrid development can cost less than native apps, due to the reduced development time. On the other hand, debugging native apps is much easier and faster than hybrid or the cross platform ones. Experts say that native apps development usually requires 1.5 times longer development time than building a cross platform or hybrid apps. Of course, this is not a strict rule - it depends on requirements and available resources. Therefore, analyze everything as carefully as possible. <h2>Mobile apps distribution</h2>Apple Store has strict terms and guidelines for accepting and distributing mobile apps. You can read more about these cases on their <a href="https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/rejections/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: transparent;">website</a>.When it comes to Google Play, they have a more open-minded policy than Apple Store. This is mainly due to the different character of the Android OS. Also, all apps have equal chances to be accepted and published on this platform, regardless of the development platform they’re built on. Nevertheless, bear in mind that they’ll notice careless app design which could result in lower conversion rates for your business. <h2>The final word</h2>A business without a mobile app can be a perfectly suitable solution. A business with a mobile apps can take you closer to your potential users and get you ahead of the curve.The tough choice you need to make here is whether it’s going to be a cross-platform, hybrid or a native app. Mostly it depends on the choices listed here. We tried to explain how each of these types of apps work, as well as to highlight their advantages and drawbacks.In case you’re still in two minds, we’d be happy to help you choose the best type of app for your needs. Feel free to schedule a free 30-min appointment with us and figure out the best solution for your business app. <h4> </h4>