TechTrendsIT- Software Development Company: June 2014

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

The Importance of Software Requirement Specification in Software Development

Due to the high cost involved, it is common to outsource software development to an external developer. The cost of hiring programmers is really high in high-cost economies and this they control through outsourcing from abroad to countries like India, where highly qualified and competent people can produce software at cheap prices.

Though on the face of it, outsourcing may appear to be simple, facts are otherwise. Companies at both ends – buyer and vendor, need a lot to do before software is successfully implemented and run. It begins with the customer identifying a need and finally ending in successful implementation. The key to satisfying a customer is in understanding all their needs and the vendor defining the requirements.

Once a preliminary understanding has been reached, the development process commences in earnest after an agreement has been reached. However, the complexity of the game begins when software requirement specification (SRS) is written. Without an agreement between the vendor and customer, the chances of a project going bad are high. SRS is therefore an inevitable process. It lays the foundation for redressing grievances during the currency of an outsource application development.

The Principal Components of an SRS

Here are some of the main components of SRS.

Definition of functional requirements of the application
Definition of performance requirements of the application
Definition of human interface design
Operational requirements
Resource requirements in case third-part software is involved
Verification process to check the different performance parameters
Acceptable performance levels
Testing requirements in specified environmental situations
Documentation requirements for the project
Fixing quality specifications for the project
Fixing safety and security issues
Reliability specifications and controls
Maintenance requirements for the applications

In writing the SRS, both parties to an agreement should ensure that the agreement is complete in all respect, wordings in the agreement are consistent, problem areas are traceable, the agreement is unambiguous in all respect and every performance parameter is verifiable. The agreement should necessarily provide for an arbitration process as well to avoid costly litigation.

Potential Areas of Conflict

Here are some potential areas of conflict when the agreement is not consistent –

Multiple descriptors – multiple descriptors are potentially very damaging to the SRS. So ensure that the same word is used in every instance or situation.
Ambiguous use of words – this must be avoided as far as possible. If it is practical, each and every technical term used must be defined in the definition part of the specification itself. Another way to ease the situation is accept a well documented procedure as the basis for future use.
Keep notations as transparent as possible – this is particularly important for the vendor. It is also a good idea to define what each notation means exactly as it is visible on the human interface of the application. If not properly documented, notations can cause heartburn to the users and lead to implementation failures.
As far as possible vendors and customers must adopt standards prescribed by software development regulators. The advantage is, they are easy to interpret and inferences can be adopted from past decisions.

It is also important to predefine how the vendor will use information that customers provide for application development. Data security should be ensured when they are critical to developing an application. Another often ignored aspect in SRS is the human safety issue. That too should receive due attention.

If the customer is not forthcoming on SRS, it is the avowed duty of the vendor to stress its importance in their own interest. Repeated complaints from customers can result in the vendor acquiring a bad reputation.

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TechTrendsIT is a growing technology and strategic outsourcing company consisting of more than 1000 engineers providing reliable solutions on Business Intelligence, Big Data, Cloud Mobility, Independent Testing, Application Lifecycle Management, UX Design, Research and Social Return on Investment, thereby developing a strategic technology for its clients.

TechTrendsIT combines platforms, solutions, accelerator and enablers with research and custom development to offer innovative solutions to its clients and provides a strategic advantage which helps them to stay ahead of its competitors.

How Can Big Data Analytics Transform Your Business And Give It A Lead In The Market?

Big Data Analytics is the process of putting together large sets of data and organizing them in a way to gain insightful knowledge and also to identify patterns in the information. It helps to better understand vast amounts of data that is gathered and identifies the data that is most important to a business in running its operations.

The Importance Of Big Data Analytics

Now there is an increasing need in organizations to find answers to various business questions because the business environment has become challenging and complex. A good data analytics platform can increase sales, efficiency and improve the way in which operations are carried out. By carefully analyzing the data, possible business risks can be mitigated. Data related to customers can be analyzed for better customer service. All this can make a huge difference in the way an organization performs and its position in the market and that’s why they are turning to a big data service provider for the solution.

Every year an organization generates huge volume of data, in terms of billions or millions of data stores in various formats. Most people would think that using high performance analytics is the only way to learn about what such data stores contain. That not the truth. Conventional analytics cannot really manage such information. What is necessary is Big Data Analytics. Organizations seeking to gain better of the competition and come up with innovative means of servicing their customers need it to achieve their business goals. Big Data analytics makes use of advanced forecasting, text mining and optimization techniques to give management information that helps make powerful decisions and innovate on their services.

How To Big Data Analytics Vendors Help Businesses to Grow?

The top big data companies are 10Geb, IBM, Yarc Data, Platfora, SiSense and much more. They enable clients to gain the best benefits big data analytics by providing them with cutting edge solutions that give access to intelligent information like never before. They show technologies through which companies can determine areas where money can be saved, thus cutting down expenses. This money can be put into improving their services. They provide new technology to customers through which they can meet their growing demands. By using their big data solutions, their decisions will be sharper, enabling them to keep a tab on the pulse of their business environment, working as fast as it does in cater to consumers and in providing innovative solutions for their needs.

Big data analytics vendors offer solutions through which customers are able to get key information from the massive amount of data that bombards them from various sources. This information can come from customer’s social media, sales transaction, customer feedback, buying decisions and much more. All of them are analyzed using big data solutions to get useful information that enables companies to take smart decisions. Various industries that have benefitted with such solutions include insurance, healthcare, communication, entertainment and much more.

Big Data vendors will define the strategy for implementing a big data analytics solution in your organization. They will evaluated the best technology based on your organization’s business environment and various stores of data. They will create a solution that meets your organization’s needs and will implement it. The turnkey solution helps to simplify so many big data activities, giving vital information resources in the hands of your management that helps them make powerful and strong decisions that lead to positive outcomes. This is because it has the functionality to take data from any source and turn into insightful analytics for your business. It is indeed surprising how it is able to assimilate disparate and complex data into a catalog of information that is ready for analysis.

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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

The 6 Cardinal Principles of Effectively Communicating in Offshore Software Development

Developing software and deploying them in your business is not a simple task. There is the price factor to consider, the returns it will bring in the immediate future, how fast it will go obsolete and the cost of maintaining it and making changes from time to time. Yet another factor that should not be lost sight of is the human angle to software. People within the organization need to be trained in its use. Without proper training the software is as good as thrash.

The high cost of developing software is one of the reasons why businesses in developed companies leave its development to software companies offshore. Offshore software development has big advantages – it is possible to develop them at low prices, quality can be ensured, specialized skills can be availed, and still more benefits too are available. For many software companies in the high cost economies, the offshore software development process route is the best way to make big profits.

Offshore development may look simple on the face of it, but it has its risks. Unless properly managed, costs can go up and there will be unacceptable time delays. Most businesses that managed the process well are a happy lot however. The key to a successfully outsourcing program therefore lays in how it is managed. There is no dearth to coders/programmers or resource centers in top software development countries like India for example.

Here are some cardinal principles to follow in managing offshore outsourcing.

Before work on the project begins, set up a communication channel with the vendor companies. That means you and the vendor will have to sort out the language issue first. When you outsource to countries like India, you may not feel difficult in communicating but the understanding can sometimes be fatal. It is therefore important to switch to text communication and keep verbal to its minimum.
Make text communication the primary channel for transfer of ideas, day to day contact and for transferring details. The reason why text is better is that you and your vendor get a record of what was and what was not communicated. It lends well to reexamining. It is fine for taking corrective steps at the earliest possible. Yet another advantage is that the developer will be able to use records for documenting the software in the future.
When you assign or take up an offshore, request or send clarification at the earliest possible time. It will reduce the time required for communicating itself by leaving the developers to what they are best at – writing the codes impeccably.
Set the time for interacting with the vendors. This is particularly important because offshore vending often happens in different time zones across the world. There are of course countries that have time advantage. For example if you live in the US, you will find countries like India very comfortable because it is work time in India when it is time to retire for the day in the US. It means you will be able to monitor progress during working hours and issuing instructions for people working in the other half of the world.
Understanding how developers work offshore is important. When you understand the work culture, you will be able to communicate much better and in a meaningful way. You will know what to tell and what not to.
Be open to new ideas. It is always possible that the developers have something better in their mind for the working environment of the software. Rather than sticking to your own premonitions and misplaced ideas, it always helps to hear what coders have to say at the other end.

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Android Development Company: An Overview

Smart phones are changing the life of people in a tremendous way. If you would have asked a person in the early 90s, if there is going to be a device which could be used to connect with people in any part of the world anytime, send emails, browse the internet, pay bills, shop for things and that too in the palm of the hand, no one would have believed. But this has become a reality today and people are dependent on these small devices to make life much easier. Instant messaging services allow people to send texts I an instant. SMS services have become outdated and unreliable as the application in smart phones have a number of features integrated with texting like the last seen time of the recipient and even shows when they are online.

The smart phones have applications which go beyond browsing, emails and texting. There are applications which can be used to get the latest news. Instant pop up messages and alerts help the user to get the latest news and updates immediately. In places where there is a drastic weather condition, the mobile phone apps help them to know what the day ahead is going to be like. The applications seen in smart phones are a great innovation in itself. When mobile phones were introduced in the market, every mobile phone brand had its own software and there were only limited applications which the user can use or download. Today the applications are done by people and firms from all over the world which includes games, tools and applications for every activity like keeping women safe and shopping. The applications are made in such a way to meet every need of the people. A phone is used more for the apps than for making phone calls. This is the level of impact the apps have made in today’s smart phone generation.

The iPhone application development which we see in phones today is integrated along with the hardware of the phone and provides so many uses which do not come by default in the phone. These applications also help to make business people to get their everyday work done efficiently. They are able to get the latest information whenever they need it through email from clients and others or any information from the internet which could give them an idea about how to go about on a particular venture. The person is also able to make a number of analyses for the businesses using graphs and other functions. The speed of the smart phones today enables the apps to perform at their highest potential.

Maps are a great example as the person is able to locate himself or find route for a new destination in just an instance. The network providers too are aiding the growth of smart phones with their fast network speeds which make the world a smaller place with all the information in the palm of the hand. Phones are not the only gadget which is popular today. Tablets have become substitutes for laptops as it has a bigger screen than the smart phones and easy to access. iPad application development is quite similar to the iPhone and uses the same scripts. If you are having an interesting app in mind it is high time you made it a reality by creating the mobile app. Blackberry application development is used to create apps for mobile phones made by Blackberry. Whatever the brand it maybe, we cannot deny the impact the mobile phones are continuously making in the society for the better.

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Application Management - New Success Mantra in the Age of Softwares

In a world that is more software centric than ever, the information technology infrastructure is the backbone of organizations. As such, designing the development infrastructure and its applications to meet the desired business outcomes is never enough for deriving the best performance from the system. Instead, things that are expected of a robust IT development structure are high availability, seamless performance and high quality of service. Deriving the best performance at within stringent deadlines and at optimal cost is the key challenge faced by most IT firms in the present day. In the wake of such circumstances, application management can ensure that an organization is able to manage and operate its applications round the clock for a high performance and secure platform for business.

With competition becoming stiff day by day, adopting application management services at some level of operation or the other has become inevitable for organizations. Alignment of governance structures with advanced sourcing and portfolio can prove to be an efficient strategy for application management. Essentially, there are three trends which affect the design of an application management infrastructure. These are increase in outsourcing in the recent times, significant shifts in the competency of the information technology departments and finally, the ever increasing role of IT in creating fruitful links between customers and suppliers. As such the companies are faced with a dilemma of identifying which competencies to retain internally and what to outsource so that the end result is more profitable and the time to market is reduced. Application management services trends reveal that such practices have evolved to cover all the strategic, operational and managerial activities needed for development, operation as well as maintenance of an application environment and the organization that it supports. It is an effort at systematic optimization for better resource utilization to derive more efficient applications. Application management manifests itself into two distinct goals. They are:

1. To provide various data processing, transmitting and storage functionalities that are required either today or are anticipated to be of need in the future. This is achieved through the development, operation, maintenance and the sourcing of applications, at an adequate cost and quality and in a scheduled and timely manner.

2. To continuously enhance an organization’s potential to keep itself in sync with the rapidly evolving markets and to react to the changing demand for quality, innovation and efficiency in a business.

In order to achieve these goals, different organizations opt for varied techniques. But, all of these efforts can be broadly classified into three broad sections. These are application portfolio management, sourcing and governance. An intelligent design of these three together forms an efficient application management services framework. One significant benefit of having such frameworks operational is that they provide for a better responsiveness to customer requirements through the effective management of various service level agreements. Such methodologies also encourage code re usability and the utilization of well defined, repeatable and consistent development processes. Thus reduces the development time and also decreases the glitches commonly faced in a development process. All of this finally boils down to better efficiency and more profits. This sudden shift in focus of organizations towards various optimization efforts signifies how important resource management for success in the present day is. Unlike the past, where the goal was effectiveness, present markets mandate that efficiency coupled with effectiveness is the sole success mantra. For an application management strategy to be successful, in the wake of concentration of core competencies and due to an increase in the degree of sourcing, it must be well communicated through the length and breadth of the implementing organization. All this can be easily achieved by having a defined framework with is made operational with the consent at various levels of the organization.

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Integrating with Social Media for Best Results

Social media is now an integral part of most business strategies. Whether it is a small local service company or a multinational company with a global footprint, it cannot be ignored. Social media may seem to be a simple place, but over the years it has matured both in reach and power. The single most important reason to embrace it is that it is cost effective, and of course the other reason is that the competition is already working there.

Need for Social Media Integration

The days of a simple presence has given way to more complex engaging situations in the social media space. Due to the complexities involved it is important to leave it to a professional company with expertise in this domain. The chief purpose of leaving the task to a professional is you need to integrate your business with the social media. There are many social integration services companies that can do a great job for you.

Working of Social Media Services Companies

Here is how a typical social media integration services company goes about with its job.

When you assign a job to a social network integration services company, the first thing they do is gather information about your business. This is commonly known as listening or feeling the pulse. The company will scour the internet and more particularly the top few social media websites, to see what people are saying about your brand and the quality of experience they received in dealing with it.
Once enough intelligence has been gathered, the services company reports to the principal. This report will contain all the details your business needs to work out a social integration services program. The program will contain a strategy on the steps you will need to take, the social media that is best suited for your business and a budget you need to approve. Once you are assured of good returns on your investment, the implementation commences.
Then comes the time for the company to join the ongoing conversations. This is one of the most important stages in integrating with the social media. The main objectives of the exercise include: negating a poor opinion about the company’s brands, replacing negative conversations with positive opinions, starting a new line of conversation on the brand’s image and finally finding new leads for promoting sales and marketing.
In the Social media space there are many uncertainties making it difficult to measure the benefits that accrue to the company. This is however overcome with using the right methodologies to measure success. Your service provider will tell you what the right metrics to use to make an accurate measure. It can possibly result in – improved sales figures, fewer complaints to handle, new leads generated, reduced cost of selling and improved payment recoveries, and more.
Building a community of followers is an integral part of any social media endeavor. The more positive followers your brand is able to recruit, the easier it gets to push up sales. This is however easy said than done. It means remaining in constant touch with the community. You will need to constantly remind your patrons the improvements you are making to products and services, and how you go about doing it. All this again needs expertise that you can hire from the service provider company.

Before you embark on a social media through a company, define your objectives in no uncertain terms. Decide where you aim to be in the next few years, how much you are willing to invest and what your expectations will be. This is how you can bring social media success upon your business.

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