Topic: Thoughts
We share some thoughts and reflections about software development, its challenges, requirements, and solutions.
Mobile App for a Chemical Plant
We got a request from a large chemical industry company that produces mineral fertilizers. The main focus of the company in recent years has been on digitizing their processes. They have a company-wide ERP system in place managing finances, suppliers and staff. But there are other areas which could benefit from modern technology. This particular request was about plant equipment maintenance and repairs. The company owns several chemical plants. A major concern is losses due to equipment downtime during repairs. The repair team spends most of its time working at the…
Why We Communicate With Our Customers Every Day
So, one might ask, why do we do this? Let me share a story from my own experience. Picture an app owner coming back from a month-long mountain trip, only to realize that the newly introduced app feature appears and functions differently than anticipated. This misstep has already affected the user engagement metrics they monitor within the app. The questions arise: How come? Didn't they clearly outline the intended feature specifics in the task description they provided to the developers? Didn't they appoint a company manager to supervise the development process? Let's investigate these…
How to Meet the Deadline in the App Development Project?
In reviewing the projects where our company's developers encountered challenges in meeting deadlines, an unexpected conclusion arises. The recurring cause behind project delay does not seem to be directly related to time planning and management. A vivid example comes to mind. In one of my projects, the application development was split into two 4-month phases. The initial phase went smoothly, strictly adhering to the timeline. However, during the second phase, we found ourselves in a continuous time crunch, struggling not to miss the deadline. The…
Workflow Optimization With Million-Dollar Effect Nobody Expected
It was my first major project in my career as a developer. Joining the team, I found a well-established real estate platform that had thrived for over a decade, with a massive user base and unrivaled dominance in a major US city. My primary assignment revolved around optimizing the premium listings placement workflow. The platform relied on Google Ads contextual advertising service for publishing premium listings. This required duplicating a significant number of listings in two separate databases - the platform itself and the Google Ads system. Moreover, since Google Ads incurs costs,…
Unveiling the Power of Intangible Assets in Business
This article unveils the captivating transition from tangible to intangible assets in the business world, using the story of Sweetwater Saloon as a compelling example. Additionally, it delves into the influence of intangible assets on consumers, business expansion, and service excellence. As I immersed myself in Alan Murray's interview with the CEO of Fortune Media, I couldn't help but be astounded by the striking transformation in the makeup of Fortune 500 companies and others alike. The tangible assets that once held an imposing 80% of their total value now stand at a mere 20%.…
How Are App Users Supposed to Tell What They Need?
The article discusses a client's request to make product images clickable in the shopping cart, revealing insights on user behavior. It emphasizes the value of user behavior tracking tools over traditional user reviews in understanding user needs and optimizing applications. One day, a client approached our team with an unusual inquiry regarding the e-commerce platform we had developed for them. **The client's marketing team made an interesting observation: many users were making futile attempts to click on the product images in their shopping cart, not realizing that the images were not…
Customer Reviews - the Crucial Pillar of Business Success
Using the example of a specific project, the article explains why it is so important to involve customers in the application development process. Imagine this: You're searching for a new restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. Your mind buzzes with questions. Will the food be exceptional? Will the service be impeccable? More often than not, in this quest for answers, customer reviews become our trusted companions in making our decisions. Considering this, I would like to rephrase the famous quote by Bill Gates - *"If your business has reviews with a ranking lower than 4 or has no…
Exploring the Clash of PPC and SEO Promotion
The article narrates a teenager's attempt at quick online earnings through PPC contextual advertising, resulting in financial setbacks. Then he shifts to SEO, recognizing its sustainable and cost-effective nature. As I stepped into my buddy's house, a thick cloud of tension filled the air, reminiscent of a high-stakes poker game. The moment my flustered friend, Matt, caught sight of me, he immediately busied himself with brewing tea. Meanwhile, his brooding teenage son appeared consumed by despair, silently conveying the message, "Dude, I've witnessed happier times." I felt sorry for…
Application for Tailors
This text has been created to show which benefits a favorite business can enjoy if it moves to the digital world. Very often, people can’t imagine how to automate business processes. They have a lot of new ideas but can’t implement them because the main business processes take all their time. In this text, we can see that a small consultation with a professional programmer can open new ways for free time and new business possibilities in web app development. A store bell rang. Mark raised his head from the cutting table, adjusted his glasses, and looked…
Learning App Development From Nature
The article compares application development to nature, offering insights through analogies. Topics covered include resource allocation, interface testing, legacy code, code accumulation among others. In this article, I would like to show that many problems or ideas we encounter in the process of developing new applications and resources have existed alongside us for millions of years. Nature itself shows us that some mistakes lead to astonishing successes, while some improvements result in failures and defeats. [The development of an…
