How Technology is Changing the Future of Logistics By James Tredwell on April 1, 2022 Rapid technological evolution will lead to major changes in logistics industry in 2022 and beyond. To meet this need for solutions, logistics technology trends in 2022 are likely to be characterized by the success of companies wholeheartedly embracing technologies such as bitcoin blockchain, IoT, AI, ML and Big Data. for regulation. In 2022, logistics and transport organizations will need the services of reputable logistics software development firms to implement state-of-the-art technologies to develop and support tomorrow’s supply chain solutions. As new technologies flood the logistics and transportation sector, now is the time to innovate to optimize supply chain efficiency. Technology will continue to define the supply chain and logistics industry in 2022 and beyond. By 2022 and beyond, autonomous vehicles and devices are likely to increasingly become a major trend in the industry. By 2022, companies are expected to increase the level of logistics automation by replacing repetitive manual processes with automated transportation and storage systems (AS/RS) that can make decisions to manage the supply chain. With customer experience in mind, companies will move from integrated legacy systems to multi-channel platforms shared by manufacturers, dealers and logistics providers to increase visibility into their supply chains, streamline delivery processes and deal with rising pressures. An “anytime, anywhere” delivery model developed in collaboration with a top-notch software development company is probably going to carry the day for organizations operating in the sector. The same technology that raises customer expectations creates new opportunities for companies to optimize their logistics operations in innovative and profitable ways. Connectivity and the proliferation of social media are raising customer expectations, with increasing emphasis on the strength of a company’s logistics operations to meet, if not surpass, consumer demand. As more and more players take advantage of new and emerging technologies for their logistics operations, it will be supply chain leaders who are unwilling to modernize their processes that will find themselves obsolete and obsolete. Increasing logistics challenges Logistics challenges will not decrease in 2022 and may actually get worse before the current situation starts to improve, but with innovative digital solutions, companies can successfully address these challenges and make their supply chains more resilient, flexible and staff friendly. Our research shows that for any business, especially competing with large logistics multinationals, process optimization, efficiency and relationship building will be key in 2022 and beyond. This can start with something as simple as route optimization for last-mile logistics, a process that can significantly reduce fuel consumption, but should also include a more holistic approach to identifying and eliminating supply chain inefficiencies in 2022. Eco-friendly products produced under fair working conditions, coupled with growing supply chain regulations, have finally made sustainable logistics an integral part of business. Here we list few important technological advances that are changing the future of logistics and the logistics industry. We also look at how a quality provider of logistics software development services can help you leverage the technological advancements to gain competitive advantage in the marketplace. Autonomous Trucks and Drones A fan of those big-budgeted sci-fi Hollywood movies must have seen many times on the screen a self-driving vehicle taking a person in a jiffy from one place to another. To see that this is possible today may look the stuff of dreams. But the fact is that this is completely true and happening in real world. Another thing that looks straight out of a science fiction movie but is absolutely true is packages being delivered at the doorstep from a flying unmanned aerial vehicle. Drones and driverless vehicles possess the capacity to completely overhaul the last-mile deliveries. A report by PwC reveals that the overall drone industry is close to $130 billion, with the market for logistics industry currently standing near $14 billion. Organizations today are combining the power of drone technology with mobile-enabled applications to seamlessly manage their inventories. Robotics Delivery Quality providers of AI development services had already made robots hugely player. However, the pandemic and the social distancing measure it enforced gave a solid thrust to robotics delivery making it an integral part of future of logistics industry. After the chaos unleashed by the pandemic in the Wuhan province, China became one of the first countries in the world to make extensive use of robotics delivery to deliver products under severe lockdown conditions. Robots are also being extensively used to deliver medicines to patients thus eliminating human contact and subsequently negating the possibility of infections. As technology continues to revolutionize logistics, services that get your vehicle parts shipped have become more streamlined and reliable, ensuring that auto parts reach their destinations faster and more efficiently. Upgraded Cybersecurity Systems The amalgamation of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) into the logistics industry has led to the generation of mammoth amount of data. Now, it would be a massive challenge for the organizations to protect this data from misuse and unauthorized access. Extensive use of drones, autonomous vehicle and robotics delivery means that nagging doubt of data vulnerability will always be present. Even a minor flaw within these systems can often lead to tragedies. For example, imagine a scenario where a hacker breaks into the computer system of a self-driving vehicle. The miscreant can ram the vehicle anywhere with tragic consequences. What this means is that the future of the logistics business is closely associated with implementing ways and means of protecting data from unauthorized access by enhancing existing security standards. It also means that the logistics sector along with help from well-established logistics software development company should concentrate on developing new protocols, that would prevent misuse of data by sophisticated hackers and cybercriminals. Conclusion Rapid technological innovations are pushing the envelope and completely altering the way trade is carried out in the modern world. The growth of e-commerce and online shopping at the expense of brick-and-mortar stores has made organization to rethink their logistics strategies. Online e-commerce giants like Amazon can quickly deliver a package at your doorstep, while you are completely aware of the location of the product you have ordered. Top of the line software development company in conjunction with the logistics industry has enhanced the efficiency and efficacy of the logistics industry thus allowing organizations to deliver products and services at a quick, safe, greener and a convenient way.
What are the Crucial Steps to Build a Brand That Can Compete with Market Leaders? By James Tredwell on January 25, 2022 A strong brand is what distinguishes your competitors. And your brand is more than just a logo and a name. The more recognizable it is, the more trust consumers put in it. A Nielsen study shows that 59% of consumers choose to buy from established brands that they know. Therefore, stronger brands bring in more sales. As a business owner, you’ll likely find yourself competing against the big names on the market, brands with unlimited marketing budgets, and dedicated customers. That’s why you have to find your own brand identity, your own way to stand out. You can do that by building a strong brand. Now, let’s say you live in Chicago and need professional services. Don’t hesitate, do your research and hire local experts from a web development chicago company. Here’s what brand building is and what steps are crucial in making your business successfully compete with the market leaders. What is a brand? A brand is what identifies your goods or services as different from those of other businesses. It’s defined by the way a customer perceives your business and services and is made up of a name, logo, design, and other features unique to what you sell. In the modern oversaturated market, a successful brand is determined by consistency. It must show a unified front in advertising (online and offline), content, visual design, packaging, and internal applications. So, building a brand requires a strategy and time. But the effort and investment can result in a long-lasting relationship with your clients. A consistent brand can have positive effects on your leads, sales, and reach. A few words on brand building The brand building uses campaigns and strategies to increase your brand awareness. Its ultimate goal is to create an original and long-lasting image for your business in the marketplace. The key elements of brand building are strategy, identity, and marketing: Brand strategy is the foundation of your business’ branding efforts. Creating a brand strategy includes determining your target audience, researching your competition, and summarizing your brand’s mission. Brand identity is how you visually present your business. It includes elements like logo, name, website design, brand voice, and personality, as well as colors and fonts. You apply these elements everywhere your brand is featured ‚ online, offline, in ads and packaging, and so on. Brand marketing is how you strategically promote your brand. You do it by implementing SEO and content marketing strategies, email marketing, social media marketing, and paid advertisements. By implementing each one of these elements when building your brand, you will be prepared to take on your competition. Here’s how you can build your brand step by step. 1. Find a purpose behind your brand Your brand’s purpose will be at the very core of your brand strategy — defining it will be the first step of the brand-building process. To define it, ask yourself why you created your business, what makes it different, what issues it solves, and why the audience should turn to you. 2. Know your competitors To compete with market leaders, you have to know them and their strategies. You shouldn’t imitate them, but you should keep an eye on what they do and how they do it. Your goal is to be unique and different from your competitors. That’s why you should research what the building blocks of your competitors’ brands are, from names to colors and fonts. Check to see how consistent their visual identity is, how they market their products or services and what their quality is. Customer feedback and reviews are important. Is there anything you can learn from your competition’s social mentions? For better results, choose up to 4-5 competitors, local businesses, or even market leaders, and research them well. 3. Find a target audience for your brand An important step in brand building is finding your target audience. Focus on certain niches to make sure your message is loud and clear for that specific type of customer. Create a buyer persona by considering your potential customer’s age, gender, income, location, and education level. You’ll want the right person to find and purchase your products or services. Regular consumer behavior analysis keeps you on top of your game and keeps your consumers happy. If you fail to “read” your consumer’s minds, your competitors may find ways to steal them. 4. Choose a brand name, voice, and story After you figure out who your customers are, you can choose a brand name. It’s basically how customers recognize you online and offline. Choose your brand name wisely — remember, it will appear on all your products, communication channels, and promotional materials. Work on your brand voice — while it doesn’t define what you will communicate to your prospective clients, it defines how you communicate it. You can choose between types of voices, like professional, friendly, or promotional. You’ll want a voice that resonates with your brand and your audience. Your brand story gives customers a brief idea of who you are. Tell your story and purpose by using the brand voice you choose. Define who you are, what you offer, and why customers should choose you. The brand story is a way to communicate and make an emotional connection with your prospective clients. As such, you should keep the language simple and clear. 5. Establish the specific benefits your brand offers After determining how you will present your brand to your customers, focus on the reason they should choose your brand. Your brand is unique, so you should highlight your services and products. Focus on how they can benefit your clients. Show prospective customers why they should choose you. Your service might be more affordable or faster, or you might have better customer support, for example. Find something specific to your business that improves your consumer’s life and highlight it. 6. Choose brand visuals The most important brand visuals are the logo, fonts, and colors. Fortify your brand by integrating a strong color palette, logo, fonts and typography, image style, iconography, brand voice and personality, and other web elements. Your goal is to make your target customer instantly recognize your business by your logo. So, invest time and money in creating something that truly represents your vision and stands out. If you need help creating a logo, look for a professional designer or an agency that can build your brand identity with you. Make sure these visual elements are consistent throughout your branding. Packaging, ads, business cards, online webpages, or social media accounts – they should all follow the same guidelines. Visual consistency is key to making your brand recognizable. Keep the same font, the same colors, the same logo, and the same taglines on your website and on your social media profiles. It will be easier for clients to recognize you just by seeing your visual identifiers. 7. Connect with your customers Emotion has a huge role in sales. So, creating an emotional connection with your audience can improve sales and reach. One way of achieving that is through color and imagery. For example, color blue represents calmness, while green invokes environmental topics and red attract attention and invoke urgency. Even typography can predict emotions. Different font styles have different meanings. And they carry distinct emotions. For example, Serif fonts are considered stable and practical, whereas Script fonts are seen as feminine and casual. You can build a rapport with your customers through your website, too. If you’re located in Chicago, hire one of the best companies specialized in web development new york has to offer to help you create an up-to-date website. 8. Keep your brand consistent As soon as you establish a brand image and voice, use them for everything you create. Refrain from making constant changes because you can confuse your clients. And you can hinder long-term brand building, too. Make changes only if consumer response leans that way. Go back to your brand strategy whenever you feel the need to make a change in marketing strategy. Create a brand guidelines plan and send it to your teams. They can use it as a reference when it comes to design or customer support. They will understand your core brand better, so they’ll be able to communicate your core values to prospective clients. 9. Focus on local and global markets Market leaders adapt their strategy to local markets. In fact, every business that keeps an eye on competitors must try to expand locally and globally. In other words, trying to conquer the global market can be easier to do if you have a strong online presence. You can’t underestimate the power of local markets. 10. What leads to brand failure? Brand strategy is not infallible. Here are the four reasons why some brands fail at their brand strategy: They don’t focus enough on a long-term vision Their creative efforts are not consistent Their brand identity and message are not solidified enough They didn’t work enough to understand their ideal client. Conclusions The brand strategy continues to evolve and adapt to new market conditions. And so does your business. By implementing a good brand-building strategy, with a focus on researching and understanding your customer, you can conquer local and global markets. Of course, you must also work on your brand identity, story, and visuals. Author bio Travis Dillard is a business consultant and an organizational psychologist based in Arlington, Texas. Passionate about marketing, social networks, and business in general. In his spare time, he writes a lot about new business strategies and digital marketing for DigitalStrategyOne.
Reasons Why React is Extremely Popular with Developers Today By James Tredwell on December 4, 2021 The world of software development has progressed with time to reach the heights that it stands at today. It is no secret that React has had a huge role to play in the software development of so many projects. We have seen time and time again that React has extensively helped in the success of development platforms and software solutions. While React is the talk of the town today, it is until fairly recently that React positioned itself as one of the best frameworks and libraries on JavaScript. While the demand for both React developers and React development solutions has peaked recently, many businesses are still coming to terms with React as a framework that they can implement within projects. React can be used for a number of things, which is what makes it the perfect resource for business leaders and startups. Interestingly, React has also won developer support, as developers have rated it to be the most convenient and easies to work on. In this article, we look to jump deep into the popularity of React JS in the market and the reason behind this popularity. Once we delve deep into this popularity, we also shed some light on how these reasons can determine the future growth of React and the developers associated with it: Simple to Read and Use As we have discussed above as well, React JS is extremely simple to read and also easy to use for experts working on it. This trait is what makes React one of the most popular libraries and frameworks today. The K.I.S.S mentality is extensively followed by software development libraries, and React happens to be the perfect proof of it. The simplicity of reading and using made React extremely easy to implement and understand. Businesses can hit the ground running with React and can build the solutions they require in no time. The talent pool for React developers has grown extensively over time and is now bigger and better than the talent pool for any other platform today. React has an Intuitive User Interface React comes with an intuitive user interface, which can come in handy in the long run. The framework makes it feasible for developers to work on applications and declaratively describe user interfaces. What the simple user interface does is to take the heavy lifting out of the coding process while eventually making the code seemingly easier for everyone to not only read but understand. React is known to make interactive UIs that can change the components of the DOM almost virtually. As elaborated in this article, React creates a more intuitive UI, which can lead to simple results for complex tasks. Users working on React can also rely on the library that it has to offer. The React library is based on interactive solutions that stand out and make for a better user experience. Users working on the React library can work to create simple solutions and debug issues within the underlying library used across the board. The declarative issues with React can, however, make debugging a much simpler process to carry out. Increased Productivity React does an incredible job of increasing the productivity of all users working on it. As we have already studied and discussed in this article, React can significantly increase productivity for all members of the team, as the simple code makes for perfect UI and design. One of the many reasons why developers over the globe prefer React is that it comes with reusable components that can make development easier. React can reuse codes across the application to give users a free get out of jail card during tough times. All developers would agree that adding and creating new codes all the time can be a repetitive and tedious task for all involved. By ensuring the addition of reusable components, React allows all users to maintain a consistent style and ensure readability across the board. Virtual DOM React is known to be extremely fast. As developers would know, a superior page experience is one of the many hallmarks of a good website application. A virtual DOM contributes to the superiority of the page and leads to results that last for a long duration. React allows developers to work on the application and only implement necessary changes. The document object model on React allows developers to implement key changes to speed up loading times and ensure monotony across the board. Scalable This is perhaps one of the most exciting benefits going in favor of React. The React library is a dream come true for developers that want their applications and websites to be scalable. Libraries on React can easily scale to hundreds and thousands of exciting components without even breaking a sweat. React helps ensure monotony in operations and does not create any unnecessary barriers that may hinder operations for users working on the platform. React also makes no assumptions about the rest of the technology used within your stack. The framework is known to be extremely versatile in nature and can be integrated with all frameworks and libraries present within your tech stack. React also works to cover the V within the Model-View-Controller, which is an extensively used architecture for backend frameworks and developments. React Native also works seamlessly with the React framework to assist in the creation and maintenance of cross-platform applications. These applications help develop and ensure touchpoints that can be grown as the website scales further. Easy Maintenance Having talked about the simplicity of use, React is also extremely easy to maintain over time. The platform is host to amazing components that are reusable and can give quality outcomes. You may wonder about these reusable components. Well, they are basically coded elements that can be used across different projects and multiple apps at the same time. Small reusable components include stylized dropdown menus and custom buttons, which can be reused later without any additional hard work. The features of reusable components become extremely necessary as the project moves on and as the developers on the project enter a new phase. This feature becomes extremely crucial as the project moves forward. Developers want to repeat certain features across the length of the project and are aided by the fact that they can reuse certain components. Robust and Dynamic React is, on itself, an extremely robust and dynamic solution. The platform is host to multiple innovations and allows users to create interactive and dynamic applications without compromising on the robustness of the infrastructure or any other factor in any way whatsoever. The dynamic outcomes generated through React are on display when it comes to the web, iOS, Android, and even all IoT platforms. The framework and the associated library provide key outcomes that users can apply for key results. The platform helps you to build dynamic and interactive applications that do not compromise on infrastructure or the dynamic outcome of the app in any way. The Platform is SEO-Friendly Perhaps one of the best benefits and features of React is that it can leverage the benefits of Search Engine Optimization or SEO and relay it to customers in the way they expect. All websites and web apps today are required to be good at SEO or search engine optimization so that they are able to rank well on Google. By using React as their programming language and library of choice, businesses can work on outcomes and delays to significantly reduce page load times and rank higher on search engines around them. All search engines, including Yahoo, Bing and Google, rank web pages made on React higher than others. This is done on the back of the similarity in code for the server-side and client-side of the application. What this means is that almost all websites working on React have a speed advantage. They are able to bring in positive outcomes and come with long-lasting solutions. Easy Testing Perhaps the one important factor that makes React so popular is that the platform can be easy to test. All React-based applications and solutions are extremely easy to test. Well, applications on React treat their views as functions coming from a specific state. This allows React engineers to work with developers and testing professionals to find out and notify of any movement across React View. Developers can monitor the output from the code and the functions to ascertain whether the application is working as it should. Mobile Development Revolution React Native Development is accredited with leading the revolution in the mobile development industry as well. React Native changed mobile development ways and came out with interesting solutions. It is easy to see why React is still making the headlines in 2021. The platform was recently voted as the second largest framework, only listed after jQuery. The popularity of React will ensure that the framework stays around for the years to come. React Native is extremely popular with users today and rightfully so because of the solutions it offers. We hope you have studied these reasons in detail and appreciate the benefits of React as well. Author Bio:- Jyoti Saini is a Digital Marketing enthusiasts who comes with avid experience of 6 years in this field. She has Worked with renowned IT organizations and is currently working as a Digital Marketer with Programmers.io, a leading IT organization that offers various IT services including end to end software and web development with expertise in .Net, Java, React.js,Node.js, etc.
What is Trending technology in Android 2021 By James Tredwell on March 22, 2021 The mobile app development market changes rapidly and you have to learn about the changing mobile app development patterns to succeed and succeed in this new Darwin age. Today, mobile changes corporate models, operational models, and economies at an unprecedented pace. The smartphone application industry is forecast to generate $693 billion in sales by 2021. However, 9,999 in 10,000 smartphone applications crash according to the previous forecast of Gartner, which nearly happened. Only having a mobile presence is not enough in today’s constantly changing and diverse terms. In this post, we will have a look at the technologies that are trending in the Android domain in the year 2021. An Android app development company can help you in leveraging any of these trending Android technologies to enhance the feature set of your Android application. Trending Android Technologies in 2021 It is important to determine the mobile app development patterns that rule the market to compete effectively with your rivals in the Android app development industry. IoT The Internet of Things is a network of interconnected intelligent gadgets. Brands such as Amazon and Google used this invention to complete and enhanced IoT competition by launching the “Echo” device line and Google Home Voice Controller. Google’s decision to buy Fitbit for $2.1 billion and its partnership with Nest, a maker of the home surveillance camera, indicates the company’s rapid usage of Internet Stuff. Continuing supply chains in retail, intelligent homes and intelligent health care schemes are no longer science fiction but are now born. Increased demand for IoT devices and systems will simultaneously raise demand for IoT-enabled software as well, which includes the top growth trends in smartphone applications in 2021. Developing foldable apps Samsung’s foldable OLED screen enables operating systems to make use of this technology to enrich the interactions of the smartphone. Google formally revealed its ‘display continuity’ API for foldable support on Android phones in 2018. Hundreds of common Android applications built by reputed Android app development companies, such as Amazon Prime video, Twitter, Spotify, Facebook, VSCO, and Microsoft Office, were tailored for Galaxy Fold. Samsung reports. As “foldable phone” was the motto of 2020, the mobile app-development approach needs to be planned so that it can work smoothly on pliable devices, which may prove a daunting theme for mobile applications developed by an Android app development company in 2021. Video streaming and gaming applications may take advantage of foldable devices simply by increasing their screen size or by providing additional details and controls with additional space. The development of software that has the show in mind is, therefore, one of the main development patterns for mobile applications in 2021. AR & VR AR and VR technologies are some of the leading smartphone developments. These are not just the preparation and enhancement of high-quality spieling applications. Tons of new cases of AR are now revolutionary by technology leaders like Apple and Google. E.g., Google is about to launch a new Google Maps AR tool, giving users real-time information on their cameras. Thus, convergence into AR in 2021 is one of the most important developments in mobile application growth which would shape the mobile industry through a smooth user interface. Machine learning & AI Ever after they’ve been brilliantly used by artificial intelligence, FaceApp has gained fame over the past night (AI). It applies a user’s picture to filters that indicate how aged, youthful, etc. they would appear. The gross sales of the app were $1 million as of October 2019. In recent years AI and ML have been among the leading trends in mobile app growth. Apple also welcomed the latest iteration of its machine learning model architecture, Core ML3, at the WWDC 2019, aimed at helping iOS developers to integrate AI smart products into their applications. Chatbot integration More than 50 percent of purchasers want to expedite the online ordering of more customer service (DIY) equipment. And chatbots are a fine way to expand this sort of handling of customer relations. In 2021, chatbots are being integrated into smartphone applications by an Android app development company and are transitioning from rude to heavy-handed. As a result, the Google Play Store now has over 2.5 million downloads and the Apple App Store has about 1.8 million. You’ll be shocked to find out that only a few applications have chatbots deployed and make it easier to use UI/UX services. It is a real market opportunity to incorporate a chatbot into your mobile app with 80% of companies expecting chatbots in 2021 and consumers seeing quick and accurate responses. This is one of the major developments to be looked at in Mobile app growth in 2021. Wearable app integration & development Wearable technology is rising all over the world. Statista estimates that in 2017 there are 453 million linked wearable devices and by 2021 they could reach 929 million. We should expect wearable applications to quickly play an important role in our daily lives through technological advancements. Apple revealed its WatchOS update recently at the WWDC meeting. Apple Watch users won’t need an iOS version and will get their own App Store. This means that wearable technology is rising — one of the biggest developments in smartphone app growth in 2021. Apples also increased the standing of the Apple Watch as an autonomous unit, which consumers can use for their digital needs, with software running separately from the iPhone. In other words, software creators and organizations need to be armed for programs that provide Apple Watch customers with an outstanding digital interface and therefore achieve a strong edge on people that don’t. Mobile payment solutions With the ubiquity of smartphones, mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet will certainly pick up by 2021 with users’ intent to move to smart payments. This will lead to an increase in demand for mobile wallet applications (the main theme for mobile product growth in 2021). Big brands like Samsung, Apple, and Google use mobile wallets to deliver safe and easy money transaction and bill payment options to their customers. Robust security measures Yeah, we know it’s nothing new, but as Uber steps out of the metaphorical closet and acknowledges the hacking debacle and both Facebook and Google realize their security vulnerabilities, corporations may continue to spend more on cybersecurity, since this is directly related to data privacy regulations. Data protection then emerged as one of the leading trends in 2021 mobile app growth. The industry’s finest minds will need to raise the foreground to draw insecurity about mobile applications. Even Apple sought to fix the safety problem by presenting a new feature called ‘Check in with Apple,’ with its announcement at the WWDC. The aim is to prevent unauthorized data sharing when logging in to the app. Beacon based technologies For some time now, Beacon’s technology has been around and will strengthen its presence in 2021. Beacon-based alerts enable many companies and sectors to communicate more closely with their clients. As phone technology is one of the major developments in the growth of Smartphone apps in 2021, we are more likely to see it than ever in the form of light-fit airports, mobile payment phones, or even digital personal light bulbs. The use of lightning technologies will help ensure more customized interactive tours and better and safer knowledge sharing. Instant applications Instant Apps can be developed by an Android app development company. These are indigenous smartphone devices smaller than common apps, more user-friendly, and incredibly simple as they just don’t need to be downloaded. They can be downloaded immediately, as their name implies, without any updates. The new applications are still popular among iOS and Android app developers as they help them achieve a higher conversion rate relative to the standard smartphone apps. Instant apps are not just phenomena among customers. ‘Instant Applications’ are therefore in our list of the most important developments in mobile device growth. With consumers constantly seeking improved user experience and shortened load times, instant applications developed by an Android app development company are also the smartphone app growth theme that 2021 would welcome. Robust cloud storage methods Cloud infrastructure integrated by an Android app development company is also seen as a future-oriented trend with 54 percent of UK businesses going on without a cloud-based approach in mind. However, this will no longer be the case in 2021. In developing Android instant applications, cloud technology plays a major role. Besides, iOS, in some applications often uses cloud databases. Cloud connectivity integration allows smartphone applications to easily store a vast number of data and do sophisticated work, as well as making it economical and extra-safe. Streamlined service, lowered hosting costs, improved storage, and load capability, and increasing retention of users are some of the many benefits of creating mobile apps over the cloud – one of the top developments in mobile applications in 2021. Conclusion For industry leaders to keep abreast of the new developments and innovations, to distinguish themselves in the increasingly competitive mobile app development market. Mobile devices will continue to advance their developing architectures, emerging backend systems, and microservices in tandem with modern hardware capabilities. However, it is crucial to choose your Android app development company wisely to leverage these technologies effectively. This article is contributed by Hannah Cuthbertson – is a technical writer at Maxtra Technologies
14 UX Design Tools For Easy Prototyping By James Tredwell on December 16, 2020 Testing the product is a wise habit of organizations before the launch. The same is the application of using prototyping tools that offer a design the ability to test run the design before deployment. A prototype can save you from uncountable (or unproductive would be a more relevant word, here) meetings. Because you can present your vision and get approval from the client with a prototype design on the go. To suggest to you the best prototyping tools in 2020, we’ve compiled this handy list to pick the right platform. Come, let us introduce you to the FREE prototyping tools that can create as many mock designs as you want to get the faster approval and start with confidence. Prototyping Tool Usage: If it’s your initial days as a designer (and you don’t know much about UX) then you must start from the very basics. So…why would any designer opt for a prototyping tool? Primarily, a prototyping tool is used for creating a structure (or you can say a blueprint) of the whole design project. This basic structure provides you a roadmap to execute the whole project as the designer. Suppose, you’ve to explain the website layout and connection between each page with the index of the website. How’d you do it with words (unless you make a prototype of that website)? Having a prototype of the website would give you (and your client, too) an insightful view of how the project would look upon completion. You can incorporate (not just) images and text but you can also apply CSS effects on your design to show your client how the dropdown menus would behave. In short, you can run a trial version of your project before making it live for avoiding big blunders that are visible later when the project is accessible to the world. Prototyping Tool Selection: There are plenty of great options to make your next prototype. But how would you make the perfect selection with the right features? Follow this short, handy, list of selected parameters, and make your work easier than ever! For any prototyping tool to be selected, it must be extremely easier for a new user to understand its functionality. As a designer, you know the major (and minor) design concepts and tools so it shouldn’t be taking long you to find each tool (right when it’s needed). Second, the prototyping tool should accept the major designing software file formats. For instance, if your design is saved in PSD (from Photoshop), the prototyping tool should accept this format to make your work timesaving. Does your prototyping tool offer you different stages in terms of project complexity? From a simple social media post design to a full app layout, you need to understand the limitations of the tool before making the final selection. Start with your project needs and seek this feature in the prototyping tool that you’re considering for jotting down the blueprint of your project. Then, comes the most important selection parameter for prototyping tools, sharing ability. After you create the basic structure of your website, mobile app, or design work, how would you show it to your client? Seek the sharing format (or supported platforms) in your prospective prototyping tool before finalizing one. And one more criterion! Is it free or is there a monthly subscription to use your shortlisted prototyping tool? This is because you might be on a tight budget and paying for a paid tool might disturb your funds a little. So, always seek if the tool is free or has a price. Best Prototyping Tools (2020): Now is the perfect time for introducing you to the best prototyping tools in 2020 to make your initial steps easy and timesaving. Below, you’ll find prototyping tools that are either online, can be downloaded, are free, or have a monthly subscription. Let’s start and see what’s the best option for you! Sketch Sketch is one of the best prototyping tools that you can opt for creating storyboarding and website layout, too. The only downside here is that this platform is designed for macOS users which makes its userbase limited. Apart from that, this platform is like a heaven for designers and developers who want to test their design before uploading it to the server. You can add links to your images, create dropdowns, and more using Sketch and understand the practicality of your design. There’s a $99 one-time payment or if you’re on a budget, you can opt for a monthly $9 (per contributor) option, too. Invision Studio Invision Studio, an all-time favorite prototyping tool for creating layouts, app interface, and storyboarding on the go. Other than offering a prototyping facility, this platform has a few more design options that make the collaboration easy between teams. It offers a very clean interface that helps you understand it and master it in minutes if you’re a new user. You can use Invision Studio at $0 cost for personal projects (one project at a time) and if you’re running a team and want to collaborate, there are different paid packages. Adobe XD Sensing the growing competition in the design world, Adobe released its Adobe XD a year back. It offers more than just a designing facility and the prototyping feature is just the perfect one of all. You can test your layouts in Adobe XD and see how your menus, banners, and main content section interact with each other. Since it’s from Adobe, you can connect Photoshop and Illustrator with it and export files directly from within the software. Figma Launched in 2016, Figma created a buzz for its innovative design and animation templates. Along with offering design tools to designers, it also lets the creators run a prototyping test on their designs. It offers the real-time experience of your eCommerce website and let you know how your products would appear (along with price tags). Plus, you can customize the fonts, grids, and frames according to your preference and see how your whole design picture appears. UXpin If you’re seeking a prototyping tool that lets you see the results as you code, UXPin is the perfect option for you. Add interactive elements, create conditional expressions, and various components swiftly to see how the final result appears. The best part is that you can try it for free if you’re not sure about the tool. If you think it meets your expectations, you can buy a paid version for just $19/month. Zeplin Zeplin has earned a good name for its prototyping feature that has a clean interface and a sidebar containing all necessary tools. Simply click and drop the elements, readjust them, and remove if something feels unnecessary or rather odd in the design. Start free with 1 project limit and if you want to add your team, you can pay $10.75/month and create unlimited projects on Zeplin. Balsamiq If you feel more comfortable with drag and drop patterns while designing the prototypes then Balsamiq could be a perfect tool for you. Founded by an ex Adobe engineer, Balsamiq offers you a short but handy interface for creating website layouts and app interfaces for smartphones and tablets. It’s available for both Mac and Windows users and costs around $89 only. Proto.io In case your project involves animation and moving objects, you can use proto.io that lets you create your design flawlessly in minimum time. No-fuss no muss! Just drag and drop the elements and see them moving as you visualized them. The minimum license costs around $24/months with 5 project limits. Moqups Moqups is another smart option for design, prototype, planning, and collaborative endeavors between teams. This prototyping tool enables you to see your thoughts on screen with its powerful prototyping features having all the necessary design tools in one place. You can design sections, full website layout, or test a specific feature before uploading it to the website. Enjoy all that in just $16/month only! Adobe Illustrator If you don’t want to use an online prototyping tool, you can turn to Adobe Illustrator for testing the final design before sharing it with your client. Yes, Adobe has configured prototyping capabilities in its most powerful design software, Illustrator. And the best part is that you don’t have to pay extra for availing of these features. Just complete your design and see if it’s perfect for uploading or sharing with the development team. Affinity Designer Just like proto.io, Affinity is another great option for creating prototyping projects and run a final test before submission. In short, it’s a tool packed with multiple features to empower designers for creating better projects on the go. It works perfectly both on macOS and Windows and costs only $47/month. Adobe Photoshop Just like Illustrator, Photoshop does more than offering you design tools. Before the online prototyping tools era initiated, Photoshop was the first approach of designers to evaluate their designs. And you can still perform the prototyping tests using your Photoshop software if you’re not interested in buying a license to an online prototyping tool at the moment. Marvel Marvel has earned a devoted userbase due to its fantastic interface and the ability to draw and test forms on the go. In short, Marvel makes designing and testing easy and understandable for you and costs only $0 for single users. Canva Known for empowering non-designers, Canva is also a great platform for creating storyboarding and vertical prototyping projects. Plus, you can take help from its un-ending template list, too, that harnesses your design process. Just like Marvel, you can use Canva for free (but with limited features) and unlock the full access for $12/month. We hope this handy list would help you in picking the right one from the best prototyping tools in 2020. Comment below and let us know which ones you’ve used already (and why it’s your prime choice). This article is contributed by James Warner – an authority on custom logo design, shares his views on different aspects of graphic design world via his words.