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How To Build a Successful On Demand Taxi Booking App For 2024?

The way we live our lives has greatly been influenced by digitalization and taxi booking needs have not been any different. Over the years, a number of taxi booking apps have popped up in the market, showing the way out to conventional taxi services.

As per the report of Mordor Intelligence, the online taxi booking sector is expected to reach USD 388.79 billion by 2028 while forecasting a growth at a CAGR of 8.95% for 2023-2028 period.

 

How does an on-demand taxi booking app work?

 

A taxi booking app lets the passengers choose the rides available in the local region by using GPS technology. There are a few steps involved in the process and they are: 

 

  1. Registration 

To start using the taxi booking app, the app user should start with the registration process. They need to provide personal information including their name, payment details and phone number.  

  1. Ride booking 

Once the user is registered, she/he can then start requesting a ride by entering the pickup and drop-off locations. The GPS in the app will identify the location of the user and will find the nearest driver for the ride. 

  1. Ride acceptance by driver 

Driver can choose to accept or reject a ride request that they receive. The user will be notified about the details of the driver along with the estimated time of arrival if the driver accepts the ride.  

  1. Tracking the ride 

The app comes with a map feature. The user can track the location of the driver using the map in real-time. The map also provides the estimated arrival time of the driver.  

  1. Payment 

On the completion of the ride, the user can pay the driver the fare through the app by selecting a payment method. The user can also provide feedback on the ride and rate the driver through the app.  

  1. Driver gets paid 

The driver receives the payment through the app. The app pays the driver after taking a commission for the ride.  

 

What are the key features of an Online Taxi Booking App?

 

A typical online taxi booking app development involves covering three important panels and it covers developing an admin app, a passenger app and a driver app. Together, they simplify the whole process of the taxi booking application. So, let’s see the key features required to develop each app segment.  

 

Admin panel 

    • Managing drivers: Admin can track the rides and ratings of the drivers using this feature and maintain service quality.  
    • Managing passengers: Admin can manage the account details of the passengers using this feature. 
    • Managing discounts, coupons and promos: This feature lets the admin manage discounts and promo offers for each ride without any complications.

 

    Passenger Panel 

      • Login and signup: This feature lets app user to login into the app using their Gmail or social media account or phone number.  
      • Create profile: This feature lets passengers edit their profile details including their information, passwords and credentials. 
      • Add location: Passenger can either add a location automatically or manually using this feature. To make that happen, Google Map API can be integrated into the app.  
      • Payment methods: This feature lets passengers choose from different payment options added in the app as per their preference. 
      • Location tracking: Once the ride is confirmed, the passenger will get the estimated time of driver arrival along with real-time location tracking.  
      • Live maps: This feature will display a live map that shows the locations of nearby available drivers.   
      • Select driver: This feature will display the list of drivers that are available in the same locality once the passenger requests a ride.  
      • Select a ride: This feature lets the passenger book a cab and add in the destination. While placing the request, the app will also show the estimated time and cost of the ride.  
      • Rating system: This feature lets the passenger give reviews and ratings to the driver based on their ride experience.  
      • Notifications: Now keep passengers updated with their ride confirmation, offers, payment, estimated travel time and much more using this feature.  
      • In-app chat/call: Passengers can get in touch with the driver once the ride has been accepted using the in-app chat or calling feature without having to make their number public.  

     

      Driver Panel 

        • Registration and login: Driver can register and then login to the app using the same credentials. The driver needs to verify the details of his/her car registration here.  
        • Driver profile: Driver can add and edit his/her personal details including name, car details, phone number, etc. here.  
        • Availability status: Drivers can mark their availability by entering their duty hours with this feature.
        • Geolocation: This feature will let the users to quickly spot the location of the passenger and reach their destination through the fastest route.  
        • Navigation: This feature lets drivers select the best route that can help them take the passenger to their destination within less time.     
        • Accept/reject requests: This feature lets the drivers accept or reject ride requests based on their availability.  
        • Notification: This feature sends alerts to the passengers regarding trip information, road details, payment status, cancellations, etc. 
        • Earnings: Drivers can access this feature to get a complete report of their monthly trips and earnings. 
        • Ride estimation: With this feature, drivers can calculate the total cost of the trip along with discounts.  

       

        Additional features to have in a Taxi Booking App 

         

        Apart from the key features, on-demand taxi booking app development can include some additional features and they are: 

        • Dynamic pricing 

        This feature lets the app set the fares of the ride based on availability and demand. This will ensure the ride is always available for the passengers.  

        • Shared rides 

        This feature lets passengers save money on their rides by sharing it with people who are travelling in the same direction.  

        • Scheduled rides 

        This feature lets the passengers use the app for scheduling rides for future plannings. So, whether it is about arriving on time for a doctor’s appointment or needing a ride to the airport, this feature can help. 

        • In-app payments 

        This feature lets the passengers to quickly and conveniently pay for their rides directly through the mobile app.  

        • Corporate accounts 

        This feature lets corporates to manage ride expenses for their employees by creating and managing their accounts.  

         

        Step-by-Step Guide to Build an On-Demand Taxi Booking App 

         

        Building a successful app requires proper planning in place. Here are the steps included in on-demand taxi booking app development: 

        1. Market research 

        The first and foremost step in online taxi booking app development is to conduct thorough research and, based on that, gather all requirements. After analyzing your target audience and your app model, the feasibility of your app idea is tested. Now this includes: 

        • Studying your target audience and their requirements. 
        • Choosing a good business model after identifying your competitors. 
        • Choosing a favorable revenue model 
        • Calculating the cost of your app development 

         

        1. Brainstorming ideas 

        Before starting the work on taxi app development, the experts on the development team look for various possibilities. Based on the finalized outcome, a blueprint for the project is developed. 

         

        1. Requirement gathering 

        Based on the decided scope and timeline of the project, the required features, functionalities, design and tech stack for the project are decided.

         

        1. Prototyping 

        In this step, the MVP of the app is designed by the team. Based on the areas of improvement, changes are made to the app design.  

         

        1. UI/UX design

        Based on the finalized MVP, the designing of the app starts in this stage. The UI/UX team starts by designing an intuitive and attractive user interface for the app by including amazing graphics, motions and realistic visuals.

         

        1. Development 

        Once the UI/UX designing is done for the app then it is time to work on the app backend. The features and functionalities for the app are developed by the developers by writing code in the selected programming language.

         

        1. Quality Analysis 

        It is important to ensure the developed app project is bug-free and error-free. To make that happen, the QA team carries out in-depth testing of the app and fixes issues in the process.

         

        1. Deployment 

        Once the quality of the app is checked and it is optimized for different aspects then it is time to launch the app on the various app stores and on your server. Once this process is completed then it is time for the company to run its taxi business. 

         

        1. Support & maintenance 

        Launching the app is not the end of development and the start of a successful taxi business. To keep up with the changing market needs, customer demands and to ensure the app works optimally, it is important to carry out support & maintenance.  

         

        Cost of developing an On-Demand Taxi Booking App

         

        When thinking about starting a taxi business, the first thought that comes to our mind is about what will be the taxi app development cost? The answer for this is not that straight as it feels. You need to think about a few things apart from just money. It includes the number of features included, location of the app, scope of the project, complexity of the functionalities, etc.  

        It is important to carry out enough research and decide on the above-mentioned factors as per your business needs before you hire an app development company. Also keep in mind that the technologies you choose also affect the cost of app development. 

        Building a taxi booking app involves a lot of complex features and different modules. This means you will need a skilled development team with enough years of experience for the job and this can increase your app development budget too.  

         

        Conclusion 

        Now that you know the essential features you need to have in your taxi booking app and its process, it is time to plan and invest in online taxi booking app development that suits your business. 

        When going for a taxi mobile app development, you need to consider a few things for sure. This includes the time and cost involved in the app development and choosing the right mobile app development company.  

        Being a leading mobile app development company in the market, we are committed to offering you top-notch app development services. So, get in touch with our team and we will ensure to give the best shape to your app idea. 

        Categories
        Blog Mobile App Development

        How to Hire the Right Flutter Developers for Your Project?

        Planning to hire Flutter app developers to build a mobile application for your business? If yes, then this article will definitely interest you. Flutter is a flagship project of Google which is used to build high-quality cross-platform applications. The speed, simplicity and cost-effectiveness, apart from other features, that it brings to the table is what has made it a popular framework for cross-platform app development.

         

        Why are Flutter Developers high in demand? 

         

        One of the main reasons for increased demand and popularity of Flutter app developers is because of the role of the framework in developing powerful cross-platform applications using a single codebase. Flutter comes with a rich set of UI components, hot reload functionality and faster development cycles, making it an ideal solution for startups and small businesses. Flutter developers can come up with high-performing and visually appealing applications for Android and iOS platforms using the framework.

         

        Why is it beneficial to invest in Flutter app developers?

         

        Whether it is from a business or developer point of view, Flutter offers a few good benefits for sure. They are: 

        • Cost Savings

        With Flutter, developers can simultaneously build applications that work on different platforms, unlike building individual applications for Android and iOS platforms. Again, use of single codebase reduces the development expenses drastically. 

        • Faster Development

        With Flutter, you can develop mobile applications quickly using widgets and can be assured that it will be compatible with 6 different platforms. Moreover, Flutter is popular among the developer community for being an effective tool for developing MVPs.

        • Hot Reload

        One of the popular features of the Flutter framework is Hot Reloading. With this feature, the state of the app can be maintained while the code is being modified. 

        • MVP Development 

        Flutter now has a new tool named Flutterflow. The tool can develop prototypes within a few hours and thus save startups with their MVP development costs. Such a solution will help the business to receive funding or verify user experience.

        • Support from Google 

        Flutter is the flagship project of Google and is built on the programming language named Dart that has been developed by the same company. This indicates that solutions developed using Flutter can be easily accommodated by Google services and integrated into its APIs.

        • Support for Website Development 

        It is easy to build and maintain websites developed with Flutter. Flutter developers can come up with native-like PWAs with interactive features. Moreover, it has been found that Flutter can be used to build content-driven websites that accommodate dynamics designs.

         

         

        Things to consider when Hiring Flutter Developers for your Project

         

        hiring Flutter developers for your project


        There are a few things you need to consider when you plan to hire Flutter developers for your project. They are as mentioned below:

        • Be clear about your Goals and Requirements

        Before getting ahead with the process of finding Flutter developers, you need to be clear about a few things first. You should have maximum information on your project requirements. If you have any specific requirements, then you should mention them in the requirement document along with your project goal.  

        • Be clear about the budget and Project Deadline 

        Be clear about your budget and limit of spending along with an estimated timeline. You should also consider the bottlenecks that come your way. You can get in touch with a reliable Flutter app development company to get a proper estimate of app development.  

        • Prepare your checklist for screening Flutter Development Team 

        Be clear about a few things like the seniority of the developers and their experience in this specific industry domain. You should also consider the mode of communication you prefer along with the additional languages that you expect the developers to speak. The time zone of the developers as well as their knowledge of different tech stacks should also be considered. 

        • Select a reliable Flutter App Development Company 

        Check client reviews on popular sites like Clutch, ask for customer references and portfolios, know more about their development process, inquire about their communication and update practices, etc.  

        • Get an NDA and a contract signed

        It is important that both parties sign an NDA to keep all sensitive information secure and respect the terms of the agreement. The document should take care of all the project details including specifications, timeline, etc.

        • Be clear about project management

        It is important to have a project manager in place to take care of your Flutter app development. So be clear about who will be managing it for you. Do you have a PM in-house or need one from the development team? Together you both can decide the reporting process and project progress.


        Conclusion


        Apart from building cross-platform applications, Flutter helps businesses to save a lot of time and development costs on app development. This is the reason for increased demand for Flutter developers. However, it is important to take care of a few things when you are looking for Flutter developers for your business project.

        Categories
        Blog Software Development

        What is Application Migration? Complete Guide with Cost Factors! 

         

        The process of moving applications among different computing environments is termed application migration. Now these computing environments can include servers, laptops, clouds, scanners, data centers, etc. Compared to migrating applications run on hardware, it is easy to move the ones based on virtual architecture. However, the migration team can face new challenges when moving an application to a new environment. 

        It is a tough job and requires cross-functional collaboration, communication and patience. Here in this article, we have explained the whole application migration process step by step.

        Stages for Application Migration

         

        To manage the process efficiently, it is important to have effective application migration strategies in place. Based on the needs of businesses, different app migration plans will be created by each organization. However, it is important to take care of a few basic things and they are:

        Analyzing the background

         

        Analyzing the background

         

        When you plan to get ahead with the application migration, you need to start by reviewing the toolset you have at hand. You need to conduct a change impact analysis and know the technology stack that you have at hand. The information needs to be collected in terms of migration impact on:

        • Infrastructure 
        • Integrations & plugins 
        • Performance & scalability 
        • Compliance & security 
        • The application 
        • Business

        The bigger the project, the more time will be required to collect such information. The effort and time required to gather this information will affect the overall migration cost.

        Before you get any further, there are a few things that you can ask, and they are:

        • How big is the planned migration? 
        • What value will the whole process add to the business? 
        • How much time and money will it require? 
        • How much data needs to be moved? 
        • How can this data be secured?
        • What tools and resources do we need to ensure a successful application migration? 
        • Should we keep the process flow by moving all the apps to the same hosting option? 
        • How can different systems be integrated? 

        The next thing you need to do is to convince your stakeholders about the purpose of application migration. You should also explain to all stakeholders what the positive outcome of the process will be. Also try to give some rough estimate of the migration in terms of budget, timelines, dependencies, etc. as it can be important.

        Assessment and Planning

         

        Assessment and Planning

         

        Once you have the approval, it is time to collect needed requirements from all stakeholders and end-users, to get a clear picture regarding the involved processes about app performance. Come up with a final document that is acceptable to all parties. Gathering all documents will help the team to know how, what and when of the migration process. Also concentrate on the cost factor to let them know about money they will have to spend on the process.

        Coming up with a Migration Project Plan

         

        migration project plan

         

        Now that we have everything, it is time to map the existing functionalities with the collected requirements. You need to be clear about everything before the migration process starts. Moreover, it will help you identify any potential issues and resolve them before things get started. 

        For successful application migration, you will need a dedicated team, and a cross-functional one would be better. The kind of team you need to set up for your application migration process depends on the complexity of the infrastructure and architecture you have in place. Having skilled people on board is key to ensure that the migration completes as per the expectations. 

        Based on the required migration goals, you can choose from different types of application migration strategies. Now this can be a full migration, a partial one or a phased one. 

        Once you are clear about what you want to migrate and who will be doing it, you will be able to come up with a rough timeframe and budget. Keep in mind that the time and cost estimation will depend on your selected migration strategy, the level of customization required, number of users involved, time. 

        Once all the migration changes are planned, the same can be communicated to the stakeholders and the company. You should also plan the post-migration training before getting ahead.

        The Migration Process

         

        migration process

         

        The migration process should start by documenting all the features, plugins, and configurations that need to be migrated. At this stage, the focus should be more on ensuring data integrity by getting rid of unnecessary configurations. It is good to create file directories and app backup databases. This should be followed with each migration phase, so that if anything goes wrong, migration can be stopped, and the app can be rolled back. 

        Once the application is migrated, we should test it to get familiar with its process. We should also consider any downtime and potential issues and fix them as they come up. The application migration should be tested within the test environment to ensure everything works as expected. The migration should be tested for integration, performance and functional perspectives.

        Application Launch

         

        Application Launch

         

        Once everything is tested, then it is time to launch the product. The right date should be selected by communicating with all stakeholders. It is always recommended to avoid peak hours as well as any important software updates.

        Post-Migration Activities

         

        Post-Migration Activities

         


        Migrating the application is not the end. There are a few things that you need to care of once the application is migrated:


          • Keep collecting the data to ensure everything works well after the migration. 


          • Disable the previous application that is no longer in use. 


          • Keep the test environment created for the migration process as it may be later required for testing changes and customizations. 



        Conclusion


        Application migration is a complex task, and many things can go wrong. To ensure everything goes well, it is important to have a proper plan and a good execution strategy in place. Based on different projects, these things can change. To ensure the migration process is completed on time and within budget, it is important to have clear communication with everyone involved.  


        At Shaligram Infotech, we have been helping businesses worldwide improve their presence by offering technology-driven solutions. Whether it is about application migration or building a solution from scratch, we offer you the best solution that matches your IT needs by analyzing your business well.

         

        Categories
        Blog Software Development

        What are the Software Development Trends in 2024?

        Every year, the software development industry expands to new limits with new and revolutionizing technological advancements. As per a report of Statista, it is said that between 2022-2027 the global software market is expected to see a CAGR of 5.78% which means the market revenue will reach around $ 806 billion by 2027.  

        Latest technology trends play a key role in confirming growth and expansion of businesses over the digital platform. Apart from helping them build a strong hold on the digital arena, it helps businesses easily connect with their customers.   

         

        Let’s check out some of the Software Development Trends in 2024 that will be driving business success.

         

        Low-code/no-code development will gain popularity

         

        Low Code/ No Code Development


        One of the top software development trends in 2024 is low-code/no-code development. The popularity of low-code and no-code development has increased tremendously fast for developing software applications. The platforms for low-code and no-code let developers to easily create mobile and web applications even with complex features without having to go through the pain of writing codes. For businesses, this means they can have their product developed in exceptionally low time with reduced costs. This helps them to improve their products to the taste of their customers quickly through multiple iterations.


        More businesses to move to Cloud Services

         

        businesses to move to cloud Services


        Soon, more software development companies will be seen moving towards cloud services. It helps developers with efficient development, communication and team management. Again, it simplifies remote work for developers and serves as an effective tool for software industry growth. Moreover, distributed cloud services let businesses host their backed services on different cloud providers rather than keeping them all on one single cloud server. This helps the team ensure zero downtime error.

         


        DevSecOps Model will Resolve Security Concerns

         

        DevSecOps model

         

        For the last few years, DevOps has improved the software development process by manifolds. It created a platform that combines development and testing teams and allows them to together build quality products. Right from the beginning, developers and testers can take up the responsibility to build quality products by following best practices.  

        However, even with everything in place, something these products missed was the focus on security features. It made them easily vulnerable to cyberattacks. By adopting DevSecOps model for development, developers were able to bring security to the core area of development. It helped developers easily implement security practices into their development work. This way, the security team will be able to be part of the development process right from the beginning. Thus, helping developers and testers to improve their processes right from the beginning.

        Rise of the Internet of Things

         

        Rise of the Internet of Things

         

        The rise of Internet of Things (IoT) will be one of crucial software development trends that will be witnessed in 2024. The way people live have greatly changed by connected gadgets, cars and appliances. For businesses, IoT plays a major role in preventing malfunctioning of equipment, collecting large volumes of data, managing inventory efficiently, carrying out different operations, and helping with cost-savings.

         

        Blockchain no more Limited to Cryptocurrency

         

        Blockchain

         

        Though cryptocurrency made blockchain popular in the market, its demand is said to increase in the software development field in the coming years. With blockchain, it will become possible for developers to create more transparent and secure software systems. Blockchain helps them integrate high-end security features into business solutions that involve monetary transactions.  

        To ensure secure transactions, blockchain comes with key features like decentralized systems, data replication, and public-key cryptography. It helps developers build new revenue streams and business models. As this technology is growing, we can expect developers to explore more possibilities to incorporate it into the arena of software development.

        Growing demand for Progressive Web Apps

         

        Progressive Web Apps

         

        Progressive Web Applications helps you offer native-like web experience to your mobile application. PWAs can be quickly downloaded on the smartphone directly from the website, thus saving users from the pain of downloading the app from the app store.  

        PWAs come with small size, advanced features, offline functionality, and push notifications. PWAs are the best option for startups and small businesses that want to create a digital presence on web and mobile platforms without spending much. In the coming future, several startups and small businesses will be seen investing in Progressive Web Apps. 

        Software outsourcing demand will increase

         

        Software outsourcing demand

         

        Outsourcing software development is also part of the latest technology trends followed by businesses. Companies that want to control their spending on the development team go for outsourcing software development first. Apart from the headache of maintaining an expensive in-house team, it is not always convenient for companies to find IT professionals with the desired expertise for the selected sectors.  

        Moreover, with outsourcing, companies can easily meet their changing tech stack needs without having to go through the hiring process. Such outsourcing companies work with businesses from different niches, which helps them get better insights into the technology needs of their clients easily.

        Mixed Reality Adoption to increase

         

        Mixed Reality Adoption

         

        Mixed Reality is one of the software development trends that will be visible in 2024. Mixed Reality is formed by the combination of virtual and reality worlds like VR and AR. It creates an immersive environment with interactive digital and physical objects for the users. The gaming and entertainment industry is already using augmented and virtual reality for building different applications. In the coming years, the use of these technologies in software development is going to increase as developers are looking for different ways to explore their unique skills and capabilities. 

        These technologies have the power of transforming software solutions by offering excellent immersive user experiences. So, whether it is about conducting training to enabling remote collaboration, establishing better shopping experience to engaging buyers, these mixed technologies have the power of improving the way in which people interact with software.

        Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

         

        Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

         

        Currently, the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is high across the IT sector. These technologies provide businesses with an upper hand to stay competitive in the highly volatile digital marketplace. It has been fueling applications like data filtering, chatbots, text/image recognition software and machine learning algorithms.  

        AI applications help businesses to offer customized user experiences by making informed decisions. That is the reason why many of the tech giants as well as small startups are investing in this technology and reaping huge profits. 

         

        Conclusion

         

        Currently, the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is high across the IT sector. These technologies provide businesses with an upper hand to stay competitive in the highly volatile digital marketplace. It has been fueling applications like data filtering, chatbots, text/image recognition software and machine learning algorithms.  

        Categories
        Blog Software Development

        A Complete Guide For Custom Healthcare Software Development

        • Telemedicine software 
        • Electronic Health Records software
        • Appointment scheduling software
        • Hospital management software
        • Medical inventory management software
        • E-Prescription software
        • Remote monitoring software

        Process of healthcare software development


        Process of healthcare software development
        • Know the problem you wish to solve
        • Define your target audience base
        • Come up with a scalable design
        • Decide the tech stack and build your team
        • Build an MVP
        • Test and release
        • Carry out maintenance as required
        Features of Custom Healthcare Software Development
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        Awards Blog

        Shaligram Infotech recognized as the Winner of 2023 Clutch Champion Awards

        Categories
        Blog Mobile App Development

        A sneak peek into Swift’s Async/Await Concurrency Model

                   func method1() async {         //Do Something.     }         func method2() async {         //Do Something.     }

                await method1()         await method2()  

                 Task.init {             await method1()             await method2()         }  

            //Declaration    func method1(_ completion: @escaping (String) -> Void) {        //Do Something.       completion(“value”)    }        func method2(_ name: String) {       //Do Something.    }        //Execution    method1 { name in        self.method2(name)    }    

        Now with the help of async/await, we can directly get the value from the first method, await for that value, and then continue the execution.



               //Declaration     func method1() async -> String {         //Do Something.         return “Value”     }         func method2() async {         let name = await method1()         print(name)     }         //Execution     await method2()

         

        Conclusion

        In this blog, we saw, what the async/await feature is, why it should be used, and what we used to do before having it.

        Async/await is good for our processing chips. Here every asynchronous method separates its thread. So, the main thread does not get so much pressure. Moreover, it saves time for users that was otherwise spent waiting for any method to complete its execution.

        Categories
        Blog Microsoft

        ERP vs CRM: Which One Is Right For You? 

         

        The rising trends in technology have paved the way for two automation tools that can help businesses achieve efficiency. They are CRM and ERP systems. At first glance, both may seem to be more or less similar to the general audience. However, if you try to know them better, you will understand that there are some deep differences in their functionalities.  

        Here in this article, we will try to understand both these systems and their features in detail.

        What is ERP? 

         

        ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning is a powerful system that is used to streamline business operations. It centralizes business data thereby managing and optimizing the everyday processes. For businesses, it can also help with a reduction in overhead and labor costs.  

        A typical ERP solution is composed of different modules which take care of different operational areas of the business. An ERP system will come with a module for inventory management while another module will manage employees. There are modules to manage financial transactions and another one to manage transportation. 

        Together all these modules work in sync with each other to provide a comprehensive view of all departments at the organizational level. This helps in achieving better communication and data sharing among the departments.  

        ERP system is either deployed on the cloud or on-premises. Such a solution can be beneficial for both small businesses and large enterprises and help them boost their efficiency and profitability. It helps businesses make quick decisions while reducing the chances of errors. 

        Features of ERP

         

        • Supply chain management

        The main reason why manufacturers prefer ERP system is because of the support it offers in inventory management, production plans, and data analysis. All these together help the business use resources wisely and enhance the responsiveness of the supply chain. 

        • Financial management 

        This module helps in the management of general ledger and financial accounts. It tracks all the costs linked with the business, like salaries and benefits provided to employees, office rent, utility bills, the budget set for procuring raw materials, etc. Such comprehensive financial data helps businesses streamline their spending and reduce any bottlenecks by forecasting spending accurately. 

        • Customer relationship management 

        Some of the ERP solutions in the market offer CRM functionalities that help in monitoring customer interactions and data. It helps to make better marketing and sales efforts by having a better understanding of the preferences and needs of customers.  

        • Human resource management 

        The ERP system helps human resource teams to automate different time-consuming repetitive tasks. Most ERP systems manage the data of employees, develop training programs, evaluate performance, monitor benefits, and post job listings.  

        • Project management 

        This module in the ERP system makes resource allocation, handling task assignments, and tracking projects simple and easy. It is also possible to find and avoid bottlenecks in the project workflows using this system. 

        What is CRM? 

        ERP has been developed in a way to focuses on business and its activities while CRM is focused on achieving customer satisfaction. CRM or Customer Relationship Management system automates and improves interactions of an organization with its existing customers and potential prospects. CRM system is designed in a way that it can serve any kind of business to improve its core performance keeping customers in mind. 

        An ideal CRM system improves the performance and efficiency of your sales and marketing team by saving their time and resources. CRM collects different data related to customer interactions, purchase history, demographics, etc. to draw conclusions. The collected information is analyzed, and it is used to plan out tailored marketing efforts, boost customer service, and find sales opportunities.  

        CRM helps businesses to track and follow customer communications and respond to their requests and queries at the earliest. It automates different sales processes in a business, like generating and nurturing leads, and forecasting sales which eventually help in boosting profits and team productivity. 

        Features of CRM 

         

        • Lead/opportunity tracking 

        This feature helps in managing and tracking any of your potential sales opportunities. Your sales team can prioritize the potential leads and plan follow-ups right from initial contact to final conversion.    

        • Contact management 

        This feature tracks communications and interactions of clients to come up with a segmented database. To personalize messages sent to individuals based on their specific position on the sales funnel, sales and marketing teams make use of the customer data.  

        • Sales forecasting 

        This feature helps you know whether your sales efforts are effective or not. It will indicate if it is time for you to try out a new approach. With it, it will become possible to analyze past performance and predict revenue based on that and also to plan out future sales activities.  

        • Marketing automation 

        With this feature, it becomes possible for marketers to target their potential customers strategically at the beginning of their buying journey. Based on their position in the sales funnel, the marketing team can trigger different messages and keep analyzing their results to enhance the effect of the campaign.  

        • Integration 

        CRM allows integration with third-party tools like accounting software, email, and project management systems. Moreover, to chat with customers and to track visitors’ activities on the website, it provides integration of chat and web analytical tools.  

        • Analytics and reporting tools 

        This feature tracks important metrics like sales performance, customer acquisition and retention, and the effect of marketing efforts. Access to the tool can be given to multiple users. 

        To what extent are CRM and ERP similar? 

         

        CRM and ERP – both are business applications that are used to store and analyze data. Such data is present in a relational database. Both of these solutions are either delivered on the cloud as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or on-premises the traditional way.  

         

        When do you need a CRM? 

         

        When you plan to invest in a software system like CRM, it is important to be clear about whether you need it for your business or not. A CRM system can be suitable when: – 

        • You are planning to take your business to the next level, and you want to have a system in place that can boost your revenue.  
        • When your sales baseline is low. It requires you to have more information on the goods or services offered by your business. Departments that are facing customers need to have more data on existing customers and prospects.  
        • You have a disorganized sales process. Your leaders are not able to come up with an effective strategy targeting positive accounts or regions.  
        • You are not able to retain your existing customers. Apart from keeping your current customer loyal, it becomes expensive for the company to acquire new customers. 

        When do you need an ERP? 

         

        Sometimes, your above-mentioned answers may not get resolved by a CRM system and you may have to think about ERP. An ERP system can be suitable when: –  

        • You are spending more on your business operations than is required. 
        • Your business is not able to respond to customer demands and market trends accurately and quickly because of data silos. 
        • Your business needs help to stay compliant with the industry-specific regulations or to manage risks.  
        • You want to expand your business in new industry domains or regions. 
        • You want to find out about the efficient workflows and industry-level best practices to save time and money. 

        What to choose – CRM or ERP? 

         

        Both ERP and CRM are exceptional business solutions and come with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Whether you need a CRM or ERP completely depends on the requirements of your business. CRM helps you improve your front-end processes while ERP helps you strengthen your backend. CRM can help you make more profits while ERP helps you reduce your overhead costs. So, depending on your business size, its requirements and future growth plans, choose CRM or ERP as suits.

        Categories
        Blog Mobile App Development

        Android Vs iOS App Development – Which is Right for Your Business?

         

        For ages, it has been always difficult for businesses to choose between Android or iOS platforms for their mobile app development needs. If iOS is said to bring in more revenue, then Android is said to enjoy the largest market share. Both platforms are unique in their own sense.

         

        Android vs iOS – Understanding the Mobile Technologies 

         

        Over the last few years, the mobile app development arena has grown significantly. For businesses, this means there are many opportunities to consider. However, the most common dilemma that businesses face is choosing the right mobile app development platform between Android and iOS. Now this can be hard as both of them come with their own set of pros and cons.  

        With more businesses turning mobile-centric, it would be good for them to know which mobile platform can benefit them more as compared to another one.  

        Here, in this post, we will see both Android vs iOS platforms in detail and then decide which can offer you more benefits as compared to the other one. 

         

        What is iOS app development?  

         

        iOS is a mobile app development platform that has been developed and maintained by Apple. This operating system had been specifically developed for Apple’s devices like iPhones and iPods. To develop applications using iOS, developers used C, C++, Swift, and Objective C programming languages. Of all these, Swift was used the most.

         

        What is Android app development? 

         

        Android platform is used to create applications that run on Android-powered devices. Android applications are developed for various purposes and for different industries. These applications are developed using programming languages like Kotlin or Java.

        User Demographics and Market Share

         

        It would be wise to know about user demographics and market share of Android and iOS apps. A better understanding of these things will help app developers and marketers to pinpoint and reach their target audience effectively. Here, we will see how market share and user demographics impact the success of an iOS and Android app.

        User demographics of Android and iOS apps 

         

        There is a significant difference in the user demographics of Android and iOS users. In the general case, the users of iOS devices are wealthy, young, and more educated while Android users cover larger demographics and usually belong to lower income groups as compared to iOS device users. 

        Market share of Android and iOS apps 

         

        As per statistics from Statista, Android is the leading mobile app platform even in 2023’s second quarter and it enjoys a market share of 70.8%. Now if we look at iOS, it enjoys a 28.4% market share for the same quarter. However, if we look at the market share region-wise, iOS enjoys a higher rate in regions like the United States.

        How is an app success influenced by user demographics and market share? 

         

        It is crucial for app developers and marketers to have a clear idea of the user demographics and market share when they are trying to reach their target audience base. If you are looking for an app that targets a larger mass with low-income groups, then you should consider Android app development and plan out your marketing efforts accordingly. Now, on the other hand, if your app is targeting a wealthier, young crowd that believes in easy spending, you should invest in iOS app development and plan out your marketing strategy accordingly.

        Languages Vs. Tools Used App Development 

         

        Android and iOS are different mobile operating systems that make use of different languages and tools for carrying out app development. So, to help you out in selecting the right app platform for your business, let’s compare the tools and languages used for Android and iOS app development.

        Languages used for Android app development

         

        Java is the most common language used for Android app development. Apart from that, Kotlin is used in the modern-day to build Android apps. Compared to Java, Kotlin is more expressive and concise.

        Tools used for Android app development

         

        Android development is majorly carried out using Android Studio. It is an IDE and is built on IntelliJ IDEA and comes with debugging tools, a code editor, and an Android emulator. To design user interfaces, Android Studio comes with a graphical layout editor.

        Languages used for iOS app development

         

        Swift, which has been developed by Apple, is specifically used for carrying out iOS app development. As compared to Objective-C, which was previously used for iOS app development, Swift is faster, safer, and easy to learn and apply.

        Tools used for iOS app development

         

        Majorly, iOS app development is carried out using Xcode. It is an IDE that comes with debugging tools, a code editor, and an iOS simulator. To design user interfaces, Xcode comes with a graphical tool named Interface Builder. 

        Security And Privacy Features

         

        Whether to choose Android or iOS has always been a point of debate. The selection of platforms also depends on the security and privacy features they offer.  

        iOS security and privacy features 

         

        iOS comes with robust security features. Apple follows a strict review policy when it comes to publishing the apps on their App Store. Moreover, iOS ensures that the apps follow secure connections for data transmission by having a feature called “App Transport Security”. Apart from that, the “Sandboxing” feature of iOS limits apps from accessing the resources present on the device.  

        Just like security, Apple gives equal importance to privacy. For the same reason, Apple implemented a feature called “App Tracking Transparency”. This feature made the apps request the permission of users to track their data over websites or apps. Moreover, developers were made to disclose the kind of data they collected and used from the users by introducing a feature called “Privacy Labels”. 

        Android security and privacy features 

         

        Over the years, the security features of Android have been updated multiple times. Similar to that of Apple, Google has also implemented an app review process before publishing one on the Google Play Store. Again, to check apps for security threats and malware, Google has introduced the “Google Play Protect” feature. Furthermore, Google also restricts the kind of information that is accessed from the devices by introducing “Application Sandboxing.” 

        To scan apps for privacy threats, Google has implemented the “Google Play Protect” feature. The “Permissions” feature of Android lets users control what amount of data can be accessed by the apps.

        Integration With Third-party Devices

         

        Different approaches 

        When it comes to integration with third-party devices, Android and iOS have different approaches. iOS lets you build applications for a limited number of devices as it has a closed ecosystem. On the other hand, Android lets you build applications for many devices with variations as it is an open ecosystem.  

        Device compatibility 

        Before going ahead with development, investigate the third-party devices into which you want to integrate your app. Check whether developers have access to the API or SDK of the devices or not. Knowing that will help to know whether it will be easy or difficult to integrate the app into the device.  

        Framework selection 

        Whether it will be easy or tough to integrate an app with third-party devices can be known by the framework you choose. For iOS, mostly Apple’s Core Bluetooth framework is used as it let applications seamlessly communicate with Bluetooth-enabled devices. In the case of Android, Android Open Accessory Development Kit is used as it helps have easy communication with Bluetooth and USB devices. 

        Stay up to date with changes 

        Android and iOS go through constant changes and upgrades. Such changes will affect the integration with third-party devices. This means it is important to regularly look for updates and check for APIs or SDKs if they are available.

        Pros & Cons of Android and iOS App Platforms 

         

        Pros & Cons of Android and iOS App

         

        In a nutshell of Android vs iOS App Development

         

        Currently in the market, Android and iOS are considered to be the two major mobile operating systems. Android is an open-source platform and so is available on a variety of devices coming from manufacturers like Google, Samsung, etc. While iOS developed by Apple is limited to its iPhones and iPads.  

        When choosing a platform between Android and iOS, you need to consider a few things. Android offers many customization options and is more flexible as compared to iOS. The devices with Android are available at different prices. As compared to iOS devices, Android devices have more battery life too.  

        iOS devices, on the other end, have strong hardware, are more secure, and offer unmatched user experience. It is used by many businesses as it easily integrates with a number of productivity apps like Keynote, Pages, and Numbers.  

        Ultimately, whether to choose iOS or Android completely depends on the preferences and requirements of the business.

        Categories
        Blog Cloud Computing

        Why Should Businesses Adopt Cloud Computing? 

         

        Cloud computing is no longer a buzzword in the market as it has now been present here for almost the last two decades. Whether it is about the competitive advantages it offers or its cost-effectiveness, many businesses out there are still operating without implementing cloud computing services

        Industry leaders and tech-savvy businesses have understood the benefits offered by cloud computing. Apart from keeping up with this trend, they are using it to run their organizations efficiently, boost profit margins, and serve customers better. Here are the reasons for the growth of cloud computing companies.

         

        Reasons for the Growing Popularity of Cloud Computing Services among Businesses

         

        In a nutshell, cloud computing offers some distinctive benefits to businesses, and they are:

         

        Cloud Computing Services help in Cost savings

         

        One of the main reasons why businesses go for cloud computing is the cost-effectiveness that it offers. It is true that cloud migration can be expensive. However, when you are focusing on saving costs, you should not be stressing much about migration. Rather, you should be considering and comparing the expenses that your company is spending on IT services right now and how much you will be putting into cloud services.

        It will not be possible to calculate the cost of your cloud services as it will depend on the solution/project required by your business. For the same reason, it is recommended to go for a cloud partner to get an estimation of cloud service cost.

        Scalability

         

        Cloud computing comes with scalability, and it is one of the main reasons to go for it. For any business, it would be nice to have an IT solution in place that can scale immediately as needed. 

        It was not possible for businesses to easily scale in the past as it was much restricted to the hardware setup and its processing power. Earlier there was no possibility of an on-demand scaling environment. Things have changed now with Cloud as it has revolutionized the way IT resources are utilized by businesses.

        Increased Collaboration

         

        The work processes within the organization can be made efficient with cloud computing. Organizations will be able to boost collaboration among employees to a greater extent by leveraging cloud technology. This way users get to access required information even when they belong to different departments.  

        Users get to overcome geographic restrictions and set up an infrastructure using cloud technology that can be accessed from anywhere. This helps the teams working from different locations to collaborate efficiently and contribute towards the growth of the business.

        Additionally, when such cloud technology is combined by businesses with managed services, information-sharing efficiency increases. It also reduces the chances of human errors. Moreover, it also helps in boosting the decision-making process and improves the productivity of the team focusing on core matters.

        Innovation

         

        When we talk about business growth, innovation comes into the picture. An organization will not get a chance to try new solutions or deploy any of the new solutions for scalability experience if they keep hanging to legacy systems.  

        For web applications, handling backend bad performance can be a main issue. When you implement cloud infrastructure, your business will be able to witness reduced costs, improved performance, and enhanced agility. Cloud computing helps companies to innovate, create and launch world-changing products at a faster pace.

        Improved Security & Compliance

         

        Enterprises that are cloud service providers make it a point to focus on compliance, security, and data protection standards. Moving important apps safely to the cloud is the main concern of businesses around the world. Keeping that in mind, cloud service providers around the world invest a major part of their resources into creating high-level security protocols and keeping up with compliance/regulatory needs. To keep up with data integrity, many of the critical industry niches like defense, healthcare, government, etc. stress the need to come up with applications that are compliant with their industry.

        Flexibility

         

        One of the main reasons why businesses go for cloud computing is the flexibility it offers. Cloud provides a flexible infrastructure for businesses by helping them build future-proof models. 

        The technology field is ever-evolving. For businesses, this means adapting itself to the change is no longer an option but a compulsion. Earlier, business expansion was considered a costly affair as it involved investing a lot of money and resources.  

        Things have changed rapidly, and now organizations can easily scale their business as per the changing market demands. It is through cloud computing that businesses get to enjoy such capabilities of on-demand flexibility.

        Disaster recovery

         

        The way businesses store and retrieve data has greatly changed with the cloud. This becomes more important when businesses have to recover from any disaster quickly. Many studies have pointed out the fact that a big chunk of businesses fail to survive even for a year because of the non-retrieval of data after a disaster. 

        With the increased threat of physical damage and ransomware attacks, businesses need to be ready with a solution in case of any disaster. Businesses can save themselves from any downtime and quickly recover their data with cloud backups.

        Conclusion

         

        Cloud computing has turned out to be one of the fastest-implemented digital solutions around the world. It has helped businesses to have a flexible and scalable IT infrastructure at affordable costs. By partnering with custom cloud computing solution providers like Shaligram Infotech, you won’t have to go through the complexity of implementing and managing the company’s IT infrastructure and can focus completely on core business areas.