April 2017

In today’s ever competitive business climate, many companies include mobile apps as part of their overall marketing strategy to ensure an extended reach to capture a wider market as well as provide an enhanced level of service to existing clientele to further strengthen client loyalty. Despite mobile apps excellent utility, its development can be arduous and costly process for those not specializing in same. The following are some of the reasons why most companies choose not delve blindfolded into complex world of mobile app development and wisely chose to outsource for their development needs: 

Time is a precious resource to any business. Outsourcing a company’s mobile development allows a company to obtain their desired vision sooner as many of the steps that a non-technology company will need to plan, organize, and execute are eliminated. A mobile development firm will be able to hit the ground running developing a mobile app for a client far sooner than a company looking to create their mobile app internally. 
A company outsourcing the development of their mobile app not only saves time but they also reduce costs. The core objective of every business is to make profit: the only two methods to maximize profits is to increase profits and reduce costs. As such, if a company has multiple options on the methods of developing a product or providing a service, a business will select the most cost-effective means provided that the end product is the same. Developing a company’s mobile app would invariably require the additional utilization of a company’s resources to hire, train, and supervise employees that have the skills and experience to develop mobile apps. . This presents significant challenges to a business not operating in the business of developing mobile apps or at least within the realm of technology. For instance, management will not have the experience or necessary insight to hire employees with a skillset, educational background, and work experience far different than their own. Moreover, management will have tremendous difficulty in terms of project management: Management will experience challenges with aspects such as defining the scope of work in ensuring the desired outcome is realized,  
Additionally, a company would likely need to periodically update their mobile app, which would mean for ongoing and unnecessary expenses to maintain software developers, thus leading to spending inefficiencies.

For companies not specializing in the business of developing mobile apps, attempting to develop mobile apps internally has the effect of divesting interest, focus, and time away from their core business and their source of revenue. As mentioned above, a company will have to hire, train, and supervise a new set of employees in an area of unfamiliarity for the company. Moreover, a company is at the mercy of the new staff because a company will not have the ability to accurately determine project management elements such as timelines and costs. Given the heavy investment of both financial and human capital, the emphasis placed on a new unknown project, and not only the anxiety of the outcome and the fear of any failure, management will likely focus more effort in overseeing the process, hence diverting their attention from their core business. Additionally, as mentioned above, a company would likely need to periodically update their mobile app meaning that a company will have to regularly divest their interest and focus away from their core business. On the other hand, outsourcing mobile development relieves a company of much of the burden since it entrusts the process with a specialist operating within their core competencies. In turn, outsourcing affords management the opportunity to remain focused on their main business operations and the serenity that the project will be done correctly.

Attempting to produce a product that is not within a company’s core competency has two main risks: poor quality and increased costs (as addressed above).  Companies trying to delve in area that they maintain no expertise, let alone knowledge, is a considerable risk given they have no sense of the project needs, constraints, risks, and best practices. Moreover, despite the resources funneled to a project, there is no guarantee that the end product will be as advertised or envisioned. However, outsourcing mitigates this risk because a company has the ability to rely on the already established expertise of a mobile app development firm. Not only will the mobile app development firm be able to share its knowledge and expertise in having a company’s vision materialize, but any reputable mobile app developer will guarantee the end product or at the very least, expose themselves to potential legal liability. Mobile app development firms have a pool of highly qualified programmers that are always up to date with changes in the technological world,

​Outsourcing will reduce, if not minimize, mobile development costs while allowing a company to maintain laser-like focus on the development of their products and delivery of their services directly related to their core competencies. In our quickly moving technological climate, it is unlikely that a non-technology based company will be able to efficiently and effectively develop technology as opposed to outsourcing their needs. As such, it is wise to outsource mobile app development to save money maintain bonus focus, and mitigate risk.
 

​In current times, individuals are inseparable from their connection to the internet, regardless of whether it is a cell phone, laptop, or a tablet. As evidence of the growing reliance on internet services, in December 2016, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ruled that broadband internet with download speeds of at least 50 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps will now be considered a “basic telecom service.” Still, technology companies have developed and are continuing to develop wearable technology further fostering interaction and reliance on technology. Thanks largely to the smartphone’s success, chips and sensors have become less expensive and more miniscule. This has helped wearable technology (technology that has been incorporated in every item that individuals wear) transcend from fantasy and fiction to everyday reality. The following are a few reasons as to why wearable technology is the next big trend in mobile app development:

1. A new exciting industry
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Early adopters are excited by the novelty of wearable technology. Users of wearable technology are finding the devices easy to use, functional, and an aesthetically pleasing merger of technology and fashion accessories. Wearable technology may have originated with a simple wristband or wrist watch but the depth of the technology and scope of the devices have transcended far beyond simple wrist-worn devices. Today, wearable technology can be found through rings, eye wear, helmets, smart shoes, apparel, clip-on accessories, augmented and virtual reality headsets and so on. Despite the expansion of the scope of wearable technology and its growing demand, smartwatches and wristbands currently still dominate the wearable technology market.

2. Wearable technology for specialized professional use

Although certain wearable technology such as Google Glass is not widely worn, such wearable technology may garner more wide usage within specialized market segments through the development of more specialized apps. For instance, Google Glass has been incorporated by some medical professionals within their medical practice to tap into the benefit of a hands-free source of medical information. Similarly, the DAQRI Smart Helmet is a helmet that displays work instructions right on their visor so that a worker can observe exactly what needs to be completed. The helmet also contains a 360 navigation camera with HD video recording, photography, 3D mapping. The Smart Helmet also provides the potential for data mining, compliance optimization, and maintaining construction records.  Another example of wearable technology is the ProGlove, which is a wearable glove benefiting production procession. The goal of the glove is to enable quicker and more efficient handling by integrating working steps into the natural movement of your hands.

3. Using wearable technology for collecting personal health data

With wearable technology like the new Apple Watch, a user has the capacity to collect personal health information such as sleep-related information, heart rate, calories burned, steps walked and so on. This information provides users with an accurate and objective measurement of personal health information that will allow a user to create the change they wish to see in themselves, hold themselves accountable for achieving targets, and to track their progress. The utility and ease of use of such wearable technology makes monitoring personal health both fun and convenient helping to facilitate better commitment and more informed health and lifestyle decisions.

4. The augmented reality headset for education and practical training

Irrespective of whether it is educational material or hands-on tasks, simple or complex matters, and the age of users, augmented reality sets are establishing to be difference makers in education and training. Augmented reality headsets have been utilized to unlock a child’s imagination, transport a child to new and undiscovered worlds, and teach children lessons through role play. For young adults and professionals, augmented reality apps have a wide array of utility spanning innumerable industries. Educational material and practical hands-on training can range from biology students and professionals dissecting anatomy, chemistry students and chemists delving deep in studying, manipulating and combining elements, structural engineers building simulated prototypes of various architecture, surgeons performing various surgery, and pilots learning through flight simulation. The learning and training possibilities are virtually limitless.

5. Headsets for recreational activities

Patrons of movie theatres have long cherished the pastime of catching a movie on the silver screen. Nonetheless, the experience of attending a movie theatre was enhanced with the introduction of 3D glasses. Moreover, movie theatres later revolutionized the theatre experience with technological advances to allow viewers to enjoy 4D experiences. Similar to movie theatres, roller coasters have also continuously evolved to delight thrill seekers. Today, theme parks have elevated the thrill of roller coasters by combining the roller coaster experience with virtual reality headsets. As riders speed through the roller coaster with their body jostling side to side, they observe their natural surroundings enhanced through the headset, which display unique attributes such as frightening creatures jumping out at the rider or the rider being placed in a fighter jet within a battle scenario.
The Reacon Head-Up Display is another example of wearable technology enhancing an already cherished activity. This headset looks no different than standard headsets worn by skiers and snowboarders. However, the headset provides a display that allows skiers and snowboarders to stay connected while on the slopes. Moreover, the display reveals the user’s speed and allows the user’s to keep track of one another on a map.
 
With the booming growth of wearable technology, wearable technology is bound to become an integral part of one’s everyday life either in addition to smartphones or perhaps eventually in lieu of smartphones. Companies would be wise to creatively tap into this industry to gain advantage and stay ahead of market trends to not only secure a new revenue source but to also benefit from the advantages of incorporating wearable technology in facilitating employee productivity, safety, and advanced learned and training.