Uncategorized

Blockchain has been disrupting the tech and financial market since the past 5 years. Blockchain was originally created to support the Bitcoin but soon the tech community has started using this technology for other purposes.
​
Blockchain is the brainchild of a person or a group of people known by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. In 2017, the global Blockchain technology market is predicted to reach 339.5 million U.S. dollars in size and is forecast to grow to 2.3 billion U.S. dollars by 2021.
Reference Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/647231/worldwide-Blockchain-technology-market-size/   

An article in Forbes states, “One of the most notable changes was the increase in vibrant conversation around Blockchain, which is being introduced to broaden the market’s transparency, track ownership and provenance, and provide an infrastructure for the tokenization of fractional artwork sales.” But the question is, why is the Blockchain technology being leveraged above all the other technological upsurge?
Reference Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zoharelhanani/2018/12/17/how-Blockchain-changed-the-art-world-in-2018/#480288a23074
 
Blockchain’s Key Feature: Secured Database

Blockchain has its database in more than one location, with hundreds, thousands, even potentially millions of duplicated records around the world, all updated every 15 minutes and unchangeable, immutable. 
Furthermore, this technology is considered to be a secure system because cryptology is used to ensure that nobody can intermingle with the timestamps or blocks. If somebody does so, there is digital evidence in the system. This makes it ideal for handling data structure and to keep track of records of anything that is valuable, such as financial transactions.
Hence, Blockchain technology is being widely adopted by sectors who need a secured database for financial transactions. Let’s take a look at how Blockchain is being used in the Auction Industry.

Blockchain: Auction Industry: Real Estate

As we know, that real estate forms a big part of the Auction Industry. It touches the lives of just about everyone, but we also know that real estate transactions can be complicated for the parties involved; buyer, seller and sometimes the agent.
An article in Biz Journals states:

“Blockchain is now being used to list and sell properties as I wrote about here at Business Journals for a recent “Packer’s House” in Greenbay, Wisconsin. Now it is being used for a first-ever real estate auction in Rome Italy for the renowned Palazzetto Hotel.
This is listed and being serviced by Propy, a real estate firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. In a recent interview I spoke with the CEO, Natalia Karayaneva, and CTO, Alex Voloshyn, about the ramifications of this for buyers, sellers, and for real estate professionals.”
Reference Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/technology/2018/07/how-Blockchain-can-change-real-estate-transactions.html

Real estate in the Auction Industry is one of the perfect examples that could benefit from adopting Blockchain. For the buyer, seller and the agent, it can:

• Save money (taxes, service fees, etc.)
• Increase security in transactions
• Make the processing time faster than ever

A significant benefit of Blockchain in real estate, out of the above, is an immediate reduction in service fees. You need to involve a professional (ideally, who would charge a good fee) for a real estate transaction. But what if we said that Blockchain can make a smart contract that would take care of the following:

• Prepare a detailed, thorough, extensive contract that would lay out what is needed to be done, and when
• List the nitty-gritty in important details and didn’t allow funds to transfer until specific requirements were met
• No interference in exchange of funds due a third-party or ‘a bad actor’ once they have been verified as completed

Great, right!? This technology is changing the workings of the real estate world, especially people who
have won the auction on a house.

Blockchain: Auction Industry: Art

Another sector that is popular in the Auction Industry is the art world. According to an article in Forbes:

“The art world witnessed an extraordinary auction on November 13th at the Christie’s Auction House in New York. Not only the collection of the late Barney A. Ebsworth raised over $300 million, setting the new world auction records for Edward Hopper and Willem de Kooning, but also for the first-time-ever, the results of the major auction sale were recorded using Blockchain technology. To do so, Christie’s has collaborated with Artory, the leading independent Blockchain-based registry for the art market built on Ethereum Blockchain.”

​Reference Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elenazavelev/2018/11/26/is-Blockchain-the-right-solution-for-the-auction-houses/#70b4d2a31bf8

Artory’s Registry, built on the public Blockchain, creates a system for vetting, memorializing and protecting transactional data, while simultaneously allowing the artwork’s owner to stay completely anonymous. One of the striking features of Artory’s Registry is that the company uses third-party vetted service providers, such as auction houses, to supply the data for their registry, creating a reputational guarantee that the information is correct.

Weeks before the auction Richard Entrup, CIO at Christie’s, commented in a press release: “Our pilot collaboration with Artory…reflects growing interest within our industry to explore the benefits of secure digital registry via Blockchain technology.”
​
Reference Source: https://news.artnet.com/market/christies-artory-blockchain-pilot-1370788

The art world wasn’t very open to a decentralized database technology, but as we are approaching a new era of online transactions, Blockchain would benefit the younger collectors who want to partner with notable brands and establish relations with living artists.

Another reason of the art world excepting Blockchain is because of the success of Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Jason Bailey, the founder of Artnome and an advisor to Portion suggests that, “the lack of good data has led to a major problem with forgery and misattribution”, and the fact that Christie’s used “Blockchain for the Ebsworth collection is an early step towards data transparency and improved provenance.” Bailey also suggests that “the art market currently fails to support most working artists in any meaningful way.”

Reference Source: https://coinspectator.com/news/1084395/is-blockchain-the-right-solution-for-the-auction-houses

​Future of Blockchain in the Auction Industry

Now, that the world is opening up to a decentralized database for secured transactions, we are to see if all auction houses will now add Blockchain tools to record auction data routinely.
Real estate professionals at Propy state their opinions on how it will affect the industry in an interview recorded: https://steemit.com/blockchain/@terrybrock/blockchain-first-ever-auction-in-real-estate-what-it-means-to-you

The art industry’s growing interest in blockchain was made evident by its presence in the media. There was a noticeable increase in art and blockchain-related news, and a number of conferences were dedicated to the subject. 2018’s Ethereal Summit, a global conference about blockchain technology, placed emphasis on the art world, even concluding the event with a live auction.

Reference Source: https://www.etherealsummit.com/

A lot will depend on the extent to which the big art market players, will adopt this technology in their operations and we are yet to observe how long it will take. If you need more information on Blockchain, you can get in touch with the App Scoop mobile application development Vancouver team: https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html

How many times have you been not able to obtain information or receive help from an app because of network issues or no network? We have become so dependent on our smart devices that when they don’t work, we feel helpless; like time has come to a halt and we are back in the 90s. In order for the user to retain your app, it should also work offline. Apps with GPS navigation, medical facilities/information and banking apps should be programmed in a way that they can also work offline.

Some of the advantages of offline working apps include:

• No internet connection
• Quick information download
• Not draining the phone’s battery

Let’s take a look at how to create an app that can be built for offline use.

Deciding on Offline Features
​
Let’s begin by listing down the steps that will help the company/organization to decide on offline features for the app:

• Firstly, it is important to have your app plan in place which includes listing down the core purpose of the app, analyzing the workflow of the app and jotting down the features that need to incorporated to build the app.
• The next step would be to prioritize the features (must-haves, good to have, etc.) for the app.
• After deciding the features that are the most essential for the app, the same needs to be communicated to the developer so that they are able to understand the business goals and plan a well-tailored solution.

The Eisenhower Decision Matrix can be used to help you see more intrinsically on what features are important and which are not. 

In order to fill the matrix:

• List the features that need to be available offline in your app
• Based on user vote and research, determine how important each feature is for them while using your app
• Decide the difficulty level of incorporating each feature
• Fill the matrix with the collected information and prioritize

For instance, if your app offers taxi service, there will be multiple features in it, such as map, costing, location of the driver, location of the customer, customer contact number, etc. Hence, the next step will be to decide which of these features need to be available offline and how difficult would it be to incorporate them offline.

Key Technologies that Allow the App to Work in Offline Mode

Mobile apps can be built with two core capabilities:

1. Local storage/database
2. Data synchronization 

 
Local Storage/Database
When the app works offline, the data will need to be stored on the client’s device, so that it can be used when its offline. Offline data storage can be done using different methods (and different for different platforms). Let’s go through them.

Local Caching and Cookies
​

 

• If web technologies are used to build a mobile app, the browser application uses cache and cookies. In order to make the data available offline to the user, the developer will need to program a cache manifest, i.e. a simple list of essential files. In this manner, the browser can use pages that have already been downloaded rather than displaying an error to retrieve the page when there is no longer a network connection.

 

• The other approach is to retain browser cookies. This is one of the most basic approach but is very limited because cookies only tend to store 4KB of data. A disadvantage of using this method is that cookies are re-sent to the server with each HTTP request, which results in a waste of a lot of bandwidth to re-send the all offline data even when it is not needed. Storing data in cookies is only recommended only for simple storage.

 
Tools for storing data in the web browser:

• “IndexedDB is a low-level API for client-side storage of significant amounts of structured data, including files/blobs. This API uses indexes to enable high-performance searches of this data. While Web Storage is useful for storing smaller amounts of data, it is less useful for storing larger amounts of structured data.”

Reference Source: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/IndexedDB_API
 

• The service worker is like a shared worker in that it runs in its own global script context (usually in its own thread). It isn’t tied to a particular page and has no DOM access. Also, it can run without any page at all, can terminate when it isn’t in use, and run again when needed (i.e., it’s event-driven) and has a defined upgrade model.

Reference Source: https://github.com/w3c/ServiceWorker/blob/master/explainer.md
 
Shared Preferences 
For platforms such as Android and iOS, there is a certain mechanism that allows storing of user’s preferences (pieces of information saved persistently and used to configure the app) which allows the app to work in offline mode.
 

• Android platform provides SharedPreferences, APIs that can be used to save a relatively small collection of primitive data in key-values pairs. To simply put it, a SharedPreferences object is a reference to the file that contains key-value pairs and APIs provide simple methods to read and write preferences.

In this case, you have a key that can only be the string type, and the appropriate value for that key. In turn, the value can be one of the following types: boolean, float, int, long, or string.
 
Each of the SharedPreferences files is managed by the Android platform and is internally stored as an .xml file in a private directory. An app can have multiple SharedPreferences files and, ideally, they are used to store app preferences.
 

• iOS Platform uses the NSUserDefaults class in order to save and update user’s preferences. The NSUserDefaults class provides a programmatic interface that permits an app to customize its behavior to match a user’s preferences.

 
For instance, users can save a profile image offline or add a feature that saves documents automatically. These preferences are recorded by the app in what is known as the iOS “defaults system.” In this way, information is cached, which helps avoid the opening of the user’s defaults database each time you need a default value.
 
The iOS defaults system is available within all of the code in your mobile app, any saved to the defaults system data will persist through app sessions. What this means for the user is that after the app closes or reboots, the saved data will still be retained.
 
Reference Source: https://dzone.com/articles/how-to-make-mobile-app-work-offline
 
Local (Internal/External) Storage 
An Internal/External Data Storage method is used specifically for those situations that need to store data to the device filesystem which doesn’t require relational database capabilities. Furthermore,

• It allows very fast storage of data.
• It is easy to use.
• All of the data that was stored using the Internal Storage method is thoroughly private to your app, and after your app is uninstalled, the data is deleted from the device.

 
SQLite Database

Majority of mobile platforms, such as Android, iOS, and Windows Phone, provide support for apps to use SQLite databases for data storage, although database managing is specific for each platform. SQLite is an open source database system which works great on mobile devices as its storage offers an app the speed and power of a full featured relational database. SQLite uses a single file to store all the data to make management of data simple. It is an easy and simple to use alternative for queuing or caching information.
 
Reference Source: To read more, https://dzone.com/articles/how-to-make-mobile-app-work-offline
 
Data Synchronization 
​
Performing some action in offline mode and then synchronizing it with a central repository is one of the core features of an offline app. Generally, an app has both client-side storage and server-side storage, and the app manages the flow of data between the server and the client. The offline mode feature allows the user to edit information on the server-side and, at the same time, on the mobile side. 

With this approach, the synchronization logic should ensure that after successful synchronization, data will be up-to-date on the mobile and server side at the same time. This can be achieved by adding certain “audit” fields to each object that should be synchronized between mobile and server, and vice versa. These fields can be like these: ‘last_updated_on’, ‘created_on’, and if the data isn’t physically removed: ‘deleted_on’.
Reconnecting too often might drain the battery, hence, slots need to be defined that are good for downloading data. It is necessary to determine different synchronization cycles for different data according to the needs of the business. It is better when small data packages require high-frequency updates.

Summarizing
​
In today’s time, the user expects offline services from apps and hence, it can no longer be ignored. The mobile app’s user experience will improve leaps and bounds, if majority of offline scenarios are implemented. If you wish to incorporate an offline mode for your app, but need help or clarification, you can get in touch with the App Scoop mobile app development team and developers : https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html
 

In this fast-paced tech world, the convenience of the user or customer is held in high regard. Hence, we’ve seen a number of e-commerce companies and apps that are dominating a space in the market. This disruption in the market has changed caused by e-commerce has had a direct impact on the freight industry. The shipments have become smaller but the number of shipments has grown immensely. 

The majority of shipments aren’t enough for a Full Truck Load (FTL) and hence, more retailers are relying on less than truckload or Less Than Load (LTL) shipments to deliver the purchased product by the customer to their location. As per statistics, LTL vehicles only carry 1000 pounds worth of freight through a tedious route.
​
Reference Source: https://www.supplychain247.com/article/what_is_ltl_shipping_and_why_is_it_important_to_corporate_america

The growing demand for LTL shipment has brought about a demand in technology that helps optimize and automate transportation processes through the whole supply chain – i.e. fleet management, report generation and communication between all three parties. Some of the major LTL carriers include FedEx, DHL and XPO Logistics.
​
Importance of Technology in the LTL Industry
​
In order to operate the LTL industry smoothly, technology comes in as a big help! Let’s take a look at the few advantages it offers. 

​Algorithmic Pooling

Imagine how LTL efficiency will increase if the goods on a truckload need to travel in the same direction. A company, Flock Freight, earlier known as AuptiX, uses machine learning and automation which helps in algorithmic pooling. This technology smartly combines shipments from several customers who are on the same route (finds the best route) and unloads it into one truck.
Also, as per Flock Freight, it says that the shipment doesn’t leave until it’s delivery time which gives it time to add more products (if any) during the waiting period. This type of approach reduces the risk of damage by 21.2% compared to traditional LTL methods.
Reference Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190808005115/en/AuptiX-Modernizes-LTL-Shipping-Industry-Algorithmic-Pooling 

Mobile Applications

​There freight apps that LTL sectors will benefit from – for example, Uber Freight and GoShare.
Uber Freight is an app that connects the drivers with shipping companies that have goods to move. During the two-month pilot, truck drivers left more than 10,000 reviews about the companies that use them to transport freight. It allows the truckers to choose the kind of cargo that they want to deliver and view the reviews and comments from other truck drivers about how the particular company is when it comes to communication, payment, etc.

Reference Source: https://www.businessinsider.in/Uber-Freight-is-helping-combat-a-1-3-billion-problem-that-the-trucking-industry-has-ignored-for-years/articleshow/67776734.cms

​On the other hand, GoShare connects clients and drivers who are ready to transport the cargo. The clients can pay the drivers for their services through the app. They can also track the movement of the cargo in the app.
Apps that deal with LTL, can also notify the customers by updating them with real-time notifications, time definite requests, for instance calling the customer before delivering the goods. It can also give them visibility by allowing them to verify when certain shipment milestones are met and when a person needs to sign the confirm receipt. 
Reference Source: https://www.rockfarm.com/clarity-ltl-notifications/

Artificial Intelligence-Based Pricing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers great potential for LTL shipments. XPO is the second largest provider of LTL transportation in North America. Mario Harik, chief information officer of XPO Logistics, said, “Our technology is spurring growth across all the services we offer. We’ve pinpointed four high-impact areas where we can lead the LTL industry in transforming traditional approaches to serving customers. Two of these innovations – dynamic route optimization and linehaul bypass – are already in pilot. Given our capacity for innovation, our opportunity for creating value in LTL is nearly limitless.”
Reference Source: https://news.xpo.com/en-us/news/1841/xpo-logistics-announces-four-new-technology-initiatives-for-ltl-optimization/
XPO has AI-driven pricing tools that help predict elasticity. AI companies are looking to understand historical data and emerging trends which will help them respond to customers faster and they are also looking to develop algorithms to forecast future marketplace conditions.

Robotic Process Automation

Companies are looking to incorporate cost-effective ways to categorizing incoming files. Manual labour takes a lot of time; hence, they are focusing on technologies that can streamline data. Polaris Transportation, a Canadian LTL company, focusses on cross border freight. It recently started using robotic process automation to streamline entering details about new orders.
The robotic process automation tool can handle about 85 percent of the customs process and the paperwork that comes with it, it also pulls system data from incoming emails. It saves workers 2-3 hours in a day.
Reference Source: https://www.ccjdigital.com/polaris-transportation-using-bots-to-automate-cross-border-freight/

Predictive Analysis

Improving pricing methods is another milestone that LTL wishes to achieve. XPO recently started using predictive analysis – it tracks how workers perform and then compares the output with the desired performance targets.

​Incorporating the Right Features and Functionalities
Let’s take a look at few features and functionalities that would benefit LTL companies.

​Transportation Management System

A Transportation Management System (TMS) with shipment planning functionality can facilitate logistics by automatically turning orders into shipments and determining the most suitable truck for their transportation.
A TMS system should have a shipment database that must include:

• Information on planned and actual shipments
• Orders
• Shipping details of products
• Individual products in those orders

Fleet Management

GPS technology should be incorporated in each product, so that the customer gets a real time view of when and how the package is going to be delivered. The company that ships their product will also be able to monitor the truck and shipment locations in real time, changes in shipment size and destination and the driver’s performance. Based on this information, they will be able to penalise the right people in case of any complaints.

Reporting and Analytics Functionality

The TMS system should have a reporting and analytics functionality:

• A dashboard should provide consolidated information about shipment statuses for managers
• General actionable reports should include carrier scorecards, distributional patterns, financial analytics and shipment trends which would improve the level of service.

RFID Technology

RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology can be used to manage logistics and inventory problems faced by LTL companies. RFID tag scanners automate the verification of sorting and pooling within a terminal which reduces delays, as it enables faster creation of waybills and delivery notes, ensuring smooth sorting of shipments.
To use RFID technology, an LTL carrier’s terminals need to have RFID readers and software installed and also implement tagging capabilities to tag new shipments and follow them through the LTL network.

Convenient Working Conditions

A feature-rich driver app would help retain the good staff in the company. The app should include:

• Advanced search and filtering which would enable carriers to search for and accept shipment requests in the nearby area.
• Route optimization that would direct the drivers the most optimal routes in a few taps – this would save you time and petrol costs.
• To eliminate time on tedious writing, implement a convenient check-in feature that automatically creates a QR code with a gate pass.
• When the package is delivered to the client, an e-signature would be the proof of delivery; drivers just ask the client to verify receipt by signing for shipments right on the driver’s mobile device. This allows recipients to sign faster, increasing drivers’ productivity and simplifying the delivery process.
• A driver dashboard should provide all details of a driver’s delivery history in one place, which include earnings and miles driven – consider integrating with management tools for accounting, payroll, payments, and time for transportation tracking.

Wrapping It Up

It is recommended that each freight company create their own app instead of using the off-the-shelf solutions. Sure, it saves time, but it does not work effectively.
For instance, a poor UX can make the application to complex for the user, which in turn requires experts to train the staff on how to use the app. Also, TMS vendors offer apps that have a standard functionality and your company would need to customize the app – purchasing the app and customizing it would come up to the same cost as making a new one.
Forward thinking businesses are giving these modern technologies a try so that they can benefit from the LTL business. If you wish to learn more about incorporating a system to help your LTL business, email the App Scoop Vancouver mobile app developers : https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html

Companies want to develop apps as soon as there is a market demand. The tech world in the 21st century operates on lightening speed. It’s not the time to dwell over your app for months before you release it. Gone are the days where the developers needed to develop time-consuming codes for different platforms. Cross-platform development of apps does not only make it quicker and easier for the developer to build the app but also cheaper.

But the question remains which app development cross-platform to choose – Flutter or React Native? Let’s compare the lead market players to identify which framework would best choose the company’s app idea.
​
Introduction to Flutter ​

Flutter is a portable UI toolkit that was built by Google to build natively-compiled apps across mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. The programming language used to build this platform is Dart. Some of the apps that are developed in Flutter include Xianyu app by Alibaba, Hamilton app for Hamilton Musical and Google Ads app.
Popularity: 68,000 Stars on Github (June 2019)
Reference Link: https://flutter.dev/

​Introduction to React Native 

React Native is a framework developed by Facebook for building native applications using React. The programming language used to build this platform is Javascript. Some of the apps that are developed in React Native include Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Ads, Skype and Tesla.
Popularity: 78,400 stars on Github (June 2019)
Reference Link: https://facebook.github.io/react-native/

Flutter v/s React Native 
​​
User Interface
New and old version apps that are built using Flutter have the same up-to-date operating systems. Since, it has only one codebase, the apps look and behave identically in Android and iOS.
Flutter has two types of widgets which conform to specific design languages: Material Design widgets implement Google’s design language of the same name; and Cupertino widgets imitate Apple’s iOS design. Hence, the Flutter app looks and behaves naturally on both the platforms imitating their native components, for instance, a button will have the same look and feel on iOS, as well as Android.
Reference Links:
 https://flutter.dev/docs/development/ui/widgets/material
https://flutter.io/widgets/cupertino/

Flutter uses the Skia Graphics Library, which means that the view changes each time the UI is redrawn (be careful so as not to cause redrawing of those elements of the view whose data has not changed). Most of the work is done on GPU (graphics processing unit); that’s why Flutter UI is smooth and delivers 60fps (frames per second).
Reference Link: https://skia.org/

On the other hand, React Native uses native components. The app’s components will get instantly upgraded after any OS UI update. In order to give the same look to the app across platforms and older versions, the developer would need to consider using third party libraries which will enable you to use Material Design components, in place of native ones.

Sharing Codes

Currently, Flutter uses a single code base between iOS and Android on mobile. Although, the long-term vision is to allow developers to write one code for desktop, mobile and for the web. Flutter for web (only preview available) and desktop are currently in the nascent stages.

On the other hand, React Native have select libraries that allows the developers to use the same code to build iOS, Android, web, and Windows10 apps. They can also extract shared code in mobile, desktop, and web apps, to a separate repository; treat it as a separate project; then inject it in the same way as another dependency. Hence, the developer can just focus on writing code for a specific platform and be assured that it will be compatible with the other.

Time-Frame to Develop the App

When developers make changes to the codebase in Flutter or React Native, they are immediately reflected in the application. This is the so-called Hot reload feature, and it typically takes (milli-)seconds for changes to show. Hence, developers can add features, fix bugs, and experiment with new ideas in an instant. It is also is very handy when it comes to developing designer collaboration.
From the developer’s perspective, Flutter offers a more dynamic and faster app development. React Native uses bridge and native elements which may require separate optimization for each platform which makes it longer for the developer to make it market-ready.

Performance

Flutter employs the C/C++ library, which is much closer to machine language and delivers superior native performance. All the components, including the UI, are compiled using C/C++.
Whereas, React Native compiles UI components using their native equivalents, and the JavaScript acts as a bridge that connects to each native module and performs the required actions.
The performance of Flutter is more efficient than that of React Native.

Competitive Advantages

Flutter offers:

• Rich widgets which enhance the look and feel of the app
• Popularity and a growing community base
• Easy to understand documentation with strong support from the Flutter team
• Fastest development time

React Native offers:

• Stability (it has been in the market for almost 5 years) and reliability
• Successful and known market players such as Facebook and Instagram
• Code can be reused for both, web app and desktop app development.
• Mature and vast community
• Plenty of tutorials and libraries makes it easy for the developer to understand

Drawbacks/Limitations

Both, Flutter and React Native apps have their own limitations when it comes to incorporating certain elements in the app.
Flutter doesn’t allow:

• The use of 3D touch (although, it is in the pipeline for future development)
• Design elements to be platform specific
• The app to have multiple interactions with an OS or rare native libraries
• Significant usage of phone hardware, in case the app needs a minimal UI
• To create an instant (small-sized) app

Native React doesn’t allow:

• Less common, or ultra-specific tasks (like calculations) in the background
• Custom communication via Bluetooth
• To create an Android app only

The Future – Flutter or React Native?

Both, Flutter and React Native are constantly trying to improve and refine the tool. Both these platforms have their own competitive advantages and drawbacks, so they are both here to stay!
Flutter is trying to make improvements – using a single codebase to create not only mobile applications but also web and desktop apps. They are also working on implementing the use of 3D touch.

React Native is currently focussing on a large-scale re-architecture of the technology. They have included Support for the community to create an open environment. The developers will be able to suggest changes to the framework’s core functionalities through an RFC process that uses a dedicated GitHub repo.

Reference Links:
https://github.com/react-native-community/discussions-and-proposals/issues/
https://facebook.github.io/react-native/blog/2018/11/01/oss-roadmap
​
If you have any further doubts or questions on Flutter or React Native frameworks, you can contact the App Scoop mobile app developers or the  Vancouver app development Team: https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html

In the year 2019, our phones have more personal data than ever! From banking apps to social media apps to official apps – we all have sensitive data on our smartphones. Our phones in the wrong hands could result in an apocalypse in our life. Did you know that the top 100 paid Android apps on Google Play Store have been hacked, and more than 56% of the top paid iOS apps have been hacked?
Reference Source: https://www.arxan.com/press-releases/arxan-discovers-top-100-android-apps-hacked-in-2013

Surveying the Mobile App for Security Issues
​
The most common mobile app that handles information insecurely are e-commerce apps. The major areas where a data breach occurs is:

• Storage data in a location that other apps can access
• Unintended data leakage
• Poor authorization
• Handling of sessions
• Broken cryptography

With the right strategies, there is a possibility to safeguard this information. So, the question remains, how can we enhance mobile app security? Let’s take a look at 8 steps that will help us protect our sensitive information. 

1. Cautiousness While Dealing with API 

The secret language between mobile apps are called Application Programming Interface (API) – this interface needs to be secured because it is the most vulnerable to get attacked.
 
The ways to make APIs more secure are:

1. To use authorized APIs in the application code which means that each API must have a key to modify or interact with another app
2. Embedding an API gateway
3. Adding a firewall for web apps or conducting code reviews
4. Using API keys to monitor use and metrics – which also gives you a built-in analysis

 
2. Protect Network Connections 

Another factor that contributes to breach of environment are unstable or not secure. These kinds of network connections lead to unauthorized access by other (cloud) servers. Let’s take a look at the different ways that we can protect our phones from being hacked due to network connection issues.

1. Employ penetration testers who would detect the vulnerabilities and offer solutions.
2. Incorporate a process called containerization where the app is bundled with its libraries, dependencies and configuration files that run in several computing environments. This process is considered to be bug-free. This process ensures that every document’s data in a secure encrypted container.
3. To ensure additional layers of security, encrypt database through SSL (secure sockets layer), TLS (transport layer security (TLS), or VPN (a virtual private network).
4. Another method to secure the mobile app is to disperse resources across different servers and separate key resources from the users. This method is called federation.

 
3. Encrypt Local Data 

The data that is more vulnerable to attacks is the data stored by the user (local data) in the smart device. Encrypting a whole lot of data might affect user experience, hence, it is advisable to encrypt only sensitive information stored by the user, for instance, credit card details, passwords, etc. It is important for the developers to design the app in a way that this information doesn’t get stored in the device.
 
Mobile database can be encrypted using the following methods:

1. Use of Ciphered Local Storage Plugin while working with OutSystems – this is used to encrypt local storage database
2. SQLite module by the Appcelerator program
3. Protect data on a file-by-file basis known as file-level encryption to encrypt at-rest data

 
4. Create Unique Source Codes 

Obfuscating codes meaning creating machine code or source code that is difficult for the hackers to read. There are strategies that can be used to ensure that the hackers cannot reverse engineer a software program. Sirius, DashO, and TotalCode are examples of obfuscation tools that are available in the market.
 
Some ways to create unique source codes are:

1. By removing non-essential metadata and debugging information, manually
2. To add meaningless labels to use variable and class names
3. Use dummy codes in a way that they do not affect the working of the app
4. To inject anti-tamper protection into the source code where in case of tampering the application shuts down automatically and notifies the concerned authorities

 
5. Checklist of Possible Weak Spots 

Before making a mobile application, it is good to make a checklist of threats and weak spots. Involving all team members is a wise option as it ensures security at each stage while creating the mobile app. Some common weak spots include:

1. Server-side controls
2. Data leakage
3. Authentication
4. Data transmission
5. Point of entry
6. Data storage

 
6.Test for Bugs and Vulnerabilities  

Examining data security issues is one of the most important process during the testing process before releasing the app in the market. The best way to do that is to perform a beta-testing on the app to find out if there are security ruptures present.
 
Here are some tips to help in testing the security of your app:

1. Create a dummy DDMS file and provide a mock location. This helps in ensuring that drivers are unable to send mock GPS location from their smart device
2. Ensure that all the app log files don’t store the authentication tokens
3. Check whether the data specific to a driver is visible after login
4. Check whether the drivers are able to view data as per their access rights
5. For web service, check the encryption of login authentication token

Some of the security tools that can be used include Android Debug Bridge, iPad File Explorer, QARK, Clang Static Analyzer, Smart Phone Dumb Apps, and OWA SP Zed Attack Proxy Project.

7. Using an Updated Library 

One of the common elements that is likely to be compromised are libraries. While working on the mobile application, remember to use the latest version of the libraries to avoid any breach of security.
 
“All categories of applications tend to use third-party libraries to accelerate the development process. Based on analysis of the Central Repository (one of the largest open source code repositories), Sonatype estimates that 90 percent of all software development requires the downloading of components. While most critical vulnerabilities in third-party libraries are disclosed as Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), it is disconcerting to note that the applications that use them are not updated in a timely manner. Also, CVEs do not represent all of the vulnerabilities found in third-party software, and other unidentified weaknesses may exist.”
 
ReferenceSource:https://techbeacon.com/security/third-party-libraries-are-one-most-insecure-parts-application
 
8. Impose Access Policies 

Mobile app development must be in sync with the corporate policies of the organization’s IT administrators. Also, it should comply with the Google Play Store and iStore (Apple). It is possible to reduce the attack surface of your application by using secure frameworks.
 
Reference Source: https://www.techaheadcorp.com/services/mobile-application-development/
 
Wrapping Up
 
If all the security measures stated are incorporated, it will be almost impossible for the hacker to phish data. It is important to stay updated with the latest security tools and techniques to further secure the mobile app making it a seamless experience for the user. Also, it is important to keep a tab on the different techniques that are used by hackers to compromise the security of apps.
 
If you wish to know mobile app security tools and techniques, you can contact the App Scoop mobile app developers and Vancouver app development team on: https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html

 
The tech world has been evolving rapidly since over a decade now. People want information and services at their fingertips, and mobile app technology is constantly catering to their demands. Mobile app development has witnessed just over 28 billion downloads, which is a year-over-year increase of 11.5 percent in 2019.
Reference Source: https://demo.sensortower.com/sensor-tower-q2-2019-data-digest?src=blo

As per Statista, mobile app revenue is predicted to grow from 69.7 US Billion Dollars in 2015 to 188.9 Billion US Dollars in 2020.
Reference Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/269025/worldwide-mobile-app-revenue-forecast/

Trends in 2018 till mid-2019
​
Experts in this field believe that mobile app industry will rapidly grow because the end user is always demanding more “convenient services”. Let’s take a look at the top mobile app trends that have rocked the market in 2018-2019. 

Some exciting developments in the mobile application development industry in 2018 till the mid 2019 have been:

• Augmented Reality
• Virtual Reality
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cloud-Oriented Mobile Apps
• Blockchain
• Personalization
• Android Instant App
• On-Demand Apps
• Accelerated Apps
• Mobile Payments
• Application Security
• Internet of Things

​Although the above trends have dominated the market, there are a lot of improvements and added features and functionalities that can be enhanced. Let’s take a look at the predicted 5-top priority mobile app development trends for the year 2020.

5-Top Priority Mobile App Development Trends
​
​1. 5G Networks  
4G network is soon going to be replaced with 5G which means that the user can download content faster – if it takes them 5-10 minutes to download data on 4G, 5G will allow them to download the same data in seconds, even if the app is bulky. Motorola Product Vice President, Dan Dery, says in an interview with Digital Trends that “5G will deliver lower latency, higher bandwidth, faster data sharing, and speeds up to 10 times faster than existing wireless technology.”
 
Reference Source: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/2025-how-5g-changed-our-lives/
 
A group of the business pioneers are excited to introduce 5G in their smartphones. For instance, Samsung and Verizon plan to dispatch gadgets with 5G-skilled chips in 2019. LG wants to join the pattern as well and even beat the contenders toward the start of 2019. Once the technology is fully released, smartphone users will have access to noticeably increased connectivity speeds of roughly 10 gigabits per second.

The benefits of 5G will also include:

• Shortened transmission latency for private companies (i.e. it can create immediate connectivity between devices on a network)
• Prioritize specific data transmissions over others
• Provide multiple opportunities for innovation
• Automate core processes and deliver improved mobility tools for presenting, capturing, and sharing essential data
• Create business processes where the physical and digital are efficiently interconnected, in real-time

 
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Chatbots 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is definitely the next big thing in the tech market. It already has its jaws firmly placed in the industry but there is a huge scope to innovate. Developing machines to human tasks is not new – we all know about Siri, Google Assistant and Cortana. AI helps us in almost everything like listening to playlists, managing schedules, ordering food, etc. If you get lost on a road, Google Maps will help you steer in the right direction giving you the best route option.
 
Machine Learning (ML), a hand-in-hand technology with AI, makes mobile apps smarter than humans by allowing the app to make a decision on behalf of the user as per their preferences. ML is being used almost everywhere like to predict the traffic, online product recommendations, fraud detection, etc.
 
Chatbots, which is a mix of AI and ML, is the perfect example of the magic capable in the tech world. Chatbots are being highly used in the banking sector, online stores, travel portals, Government institutes for providing seamless customer service. For instance, most travel companies can help you with your booking with the help of chatbots. Let’s take a look at the acceptance of AI-powered Chatbots by customers worldwide in 2017.

3. Deep Linking 

Mobile deep linking is not a new trend in the market – personalized site-to-app, app-to-app, and even things-to-app experience is going to be upcoming mobile app trend in 2020. Ambient interfaces, sometimes referred to as “zero-UIs” are allowing people to interact with technology more freely and with fewer direct actions. For instance, digital assistants and voice technology delivers information in real-time.
 
Digital assistants connected to the user’s home appliances, smartphones, smart cars, wearable devices, etc. will listen and observe in the backgrounds of their lives and collect information. Hence, when the user needs assistance they will use this information in their ‘search’. These technological advancements will require more personalized and relevant deep linking practices.
 
For example, if the user has been looking at Maldives as a vacation destination since a past few days, he/she will be intimidated of flight offers, hotel offers, news about Maldives, pop-ups in case of a bad weather forecast, etc. The search engine will also advertise options of other beach destinations which are cheaper or luxurious depending on the data gathered from the user and from the other apps on the appliance.
 
By using user’s information, it will be easier for a business to understand the situations users want information from you and how and take users from site-to-app, app-to-site, or app-to-app will entirely depend on the user’s search behaviour and context.
 
4. Moment Marketing 

In 2015, Google coined a movement called ‘micro-moments’ and right-time marketing, which focusses on harnessing a real-world consumer intent, with mobile as a natural gateway; for example, choosing the right context to interact with users, sending place-based coupon redemptions and dynamic offers to increase engagement, reduce UX friction and jump sales uplift.
 
Personalizing a mobile app has been the key experience for app companies. But in 2020, there will be an increase in its level of depth and one-to-one precision when it comes to understanding and mirroring app users.
 
According to Plot Projects, building user-profiles and surfacing content just based on online or in-app behaviour is no longer enough to engage users and keep them around. In fact, in the year 2018, the open-rate of messages which are sent based on where someone is (and what they’re doing) generated twice the engagement of personalized messages.
 
Reference source: https://www.plotprojects.com/
 
For example, many companies spend money to boost their app downloads, not realising that about three fourth users never return to the app after their first visit. Moment marketing helps businesses by generating marketing campaigns to remind the users about the app or offer them discounts or new services. “Engagement platforms help brands increase their share of highly engaged customers by 37 percent and the number of users who make in-app purchases in the first 30 days alone by five times.”
 
Reference Source: https://www.leanplum.com/
 
5. Wearables 
​
As per Statista, the Wearables devices sales revenue is expected to reach around $33 Billion by the beginning of 2020.
 
Reference Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/610447/wearable-device-revenue-worldwide/

Wearables are definitely the next trend in the market. They are the most convenient form of technology innovated – receive phone calls, emails, messages, access to social media, listen to music, use AI technology just by wearing a watch – it is surely as convenient as it could get. Mobile applications these days are programmed to comply with wearable devices.
 
For example, Apple Watch connected with an iPhone can monitor your health-related issues, manage business transactions, help in communicating, listening to music, sending notification on Smartphones about your BP level, paying for a transaction through Apple Pay, or sending an important voice message. Further, companies like Zomato and Uber are also investing in wearable app development so that they don’t miss out in targeting the increasing wearable users these days.
 
Summarizing Possibilities of Mobile App Trends in 2020
 
Mobile users are looking for speed, features and high-end security for their data. They are demanding apps that make it easier for the user to shop, book tickets, taxi, and saving money. Although the patterns never stay steady and keep changing as per the user’s demands and other variants there are a few trends that can be predicted to cause a stir in the tech marketing in 2020.
 
Users want access to hyper-personalized, real-time, contextual content seamlessly connected across each of their device and new and creative ways to create and share experiences with their mobile devices.
 
If you wish to know more about mobile app development trends in 2020, you can contact the App Scoop mobile app developers or the Vancouver app development team on: https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html
 

​In this competitive market for apps, how do you attract a user’s attention to your app? What does it take to make the user download your application from the plethora of apps that are on the app store? – the answer is through a powerful App Preview. Your next question might be, ‘how do you attract the customer in 30 seconds?’ Well, let’s find out! 

​The creation of an app preview can be the most daunting stage post the app creation process. Let’s take a look at the few points to keep in mind while creating an app preview:

• Constructing a strong storyline (in 30 seconds)
• Creating a Storyboard with an audio-visual script
• Finalizing the production process
• Ensuring that the video has your app’s brand and design
• Giving your app the WOW factor

What is an App Preview?

An App Preview is a 30-second video that gives the users an idea of what the app is all about. The core functionality of the app needs to be highlighted in this video. It should:

• Introduce the app’s brand to the user
• Demonstrate how the app’s user interface works
• Skimming through the app’s core feature

​For example, Uber’s App Preview would:

• Firstly, introduce the brand logo
• Then skim through the process of how to book a cab
• Lastly, state that the cab is now at your doorstep

As we know how the famous saying goes, “First impression is the last impression” – in this case your app’s preview is the first impression that you create of your app in the user’s mind. Ultimately the aim is to make sure that the first impression becomes a conversion from a customer to a user.

​Creating a Storyline in an App Preview

Let’s take a look at the steps that you can follow to tell your app’s story:

Step 1: Highlighting the Core Functionality

The uniqueness of your app should be showcased while making your app preview. Then, we need to make value props based on their critical importance, their level of engagement and how easy they are to understand visually. For instance, Uber app features which should be included in the app preview are:

• Setting your location
• Map
• Duration for the cab to reach the destination
• Price for the journey
• Book function

Remember, you do not need to over complicate or try and show all the features in the app preview – you can definitely leave out the non-pleasing visual aspects.

Step 2: Create a Story

You can use screenshots to convey the story to the user but ensure that is placed in a cohesive manner so that the storyline shown is tight. When mapping out the concepts, keep it simple – use post its, charts, etc. to pan out the entire plan before creating the story. A storyboard that consists of different columns for audio, images, text, etc. should be created. If you think that you don’t have time to show the entire story, then you can always go back to it and try to shorten a few parts, see if you can combine them or omit them entirely.
“You can create a second or third preview to highlight additional features or specific content that users might not know about. When you have multiple previews, make sure that each video shows users something new about your app.”
Reference Link: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/app-previews/

Step 3: Work on the Preview Visual

In this step, you need to bring out the design, animation and graphics to visualize the story that you have written. It is recommended that you use the visuals in the app while making the preview, so that the customers are not misled or disappointed when they download your app for use. The visuals should be stunning, clean and easy to understand for the users. For example, instead of just showing a man/woman sitting in a cab, show how he/she needs to actually book it. 
Use text to reinforce the point. Show easy touch buttons and visuals of someone easily navigating from one section or another. Show how easily menus open when summoned and swiftly move out of the way when done.
Another way to convey the essence of the app is choosing the correct poster frame, also known as a thumbnail. So, if the default frame from your footage doesn’t convey the right message, then you can select a different poster frame.
Also, consider overlying the musical score of your app as the soundtrack of your app preview to establish continuity even when one scene cuts to the next. In this manner, you will be able to capture the sound effect of your UI  in the app preview footage to reinforce functionality in your app.

Step 4: Take Tips from the Connoisseurs in the Market

As the saying goes, “Imitation is the best form of flattery” – similarly, check app previews that have taken the market by storm is a good way to understand if your app preview is well aligned and crafted.
We recommend that you make your notes and a sample AV script before you take a look at these app previews. Don’t try and look at many apps, just check the top 10 and note down pointers that you like in each app preview. Incorporate these points while finalizing and summarizing your app preview script. Spend some time viewing best app previews such as Calm and Waze to see how you can make your script and visuals even more precise, edit them better, craft your story better and overall, learn and adapt.
Reference Links: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm-com/id571800810
https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id323229106

Step 5: Set Realistic Expectations

Being honest about what your app offers is the most important factor while creating an app preview. It is just like a trailer to the movie. Don’t over promise and under deliver – this will lead to disappointments, the users installing your app but deleting it in 30 seconds, and bad reviews online.

Wrapping It Up

Creating an app preview is pressurizing for most, but if done right it can be a lottery that drives you to the bank. With hundreds of apps being developed every week, it is challenging for your app to outshine and convince users to download it. Show off the attractive features of your app and highlight the ones that are unique and exciting. If you have got the user’s attention with the app preview in 30 seconds, then there is a high likelihood that the user might install it.
If you wish to build an app preview and don’t know where to start, you can contact the App Scoop Vancouver Mobile App Development Team: https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made quite a buzz in the technological field. It is a system that has the ability to mimic intelligent behaviour and make independent decisions based on the data gathered. The tasks that AI performs ideally should require human intelligence, such as situational or environmental analysis, problem-solving, reasoning, learning, and comprehending languages. Personal assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri are examples of AI mobile applications. As per the International Data Corporation, the global spending on AI systems will grow from $35.8 billion in 2019 to $79.2 billion in 2022.
​
Reference Source: https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44911419

Further, AI technology when merged with mobile applications could create a world of new possibilities. AI allows applications to procure more revenue for many businesses. A more intuitive and responsive a mobile application is, the personal user experience is more seamless and profound. AI when used as a strategy becomes a business advantage – as per studies 72% of the leaders cite it as advantage.
Reference Source: https://cmo.adobe.com/articles/2017/5/15-mind-blowing-stats-about-emerging-technology-tlp-ptr.html#gs.ymtlsv
​
Impact on Business – Artificial Intelligence on Mobile Application Development
​
AI-powered solutions create an impact on mobile app development. 

Delivering User-Centric Expectations

AI gathers data which is user specific which in turn helps the user. It becomes convenient for the user because it shows products that the user has searched. For instance, if the AI gathers that the learner has watched Narcos on Netflix, then the user will get Narcos-based merchandise adverts. AI remembers!

Time-Saving

AI in mobile applications makes it easier for the developers to perform and finish the development part easily in the organisations.

Predictable Content

Mobile applications like Amazon and eBay are able to predict the customer’s needs. AI helps the user’s needs by recording their data and driving user behavior to alter the mobile features.

Artificial Intelligence Algorithms

Major tech companies are integrating AI algorithms into various products. This helps businesses to deeply engage with the users, provide an incentive-based approach to their services, for example, Amazon’s Prime delivery service that pairs well when using the Echo. By incorporating AI in mobile applications, businesses can leverage the data apps are collecting via point-of-sale machines, online traffic, mobile devices, and more to strategically improve the user experience.

Using Hardware Technology for AI Applications

As we know, smartphones are equipped with certain features such as GPS tracking, location finder, microphone, camera, voice notes, etc. With the user’s permission, combining the data collected from all these features with AI technology makes apps more relevant and personalized. For instance, Apple revealed that the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR will include an A12 Bionic chip featuring a neural engine built to utilize AI hardware in previously impossible ways.

Creating Seamless User Experience

Another way in which AI is used is when the user himself/herself commands the device to store or find data which results in the app engagement and the increase in ROI. There are three easy ways in which the user experience can be enhanced with mobile AI.

The first one is personalization of data – the user has their own personal assistant. Based on the user’s past choices, options and preferences, the apps forecast a suggestion which helps the user to make a decision faster.
For example, Starbucks has come up with an AI mobile app called “My Starbucks Barista”. The user just needs to place their order via a voice message, and all he/she needs to do is collect their choice of beverage as soon as they enter Starbucks.

The second is a voice-based search – all the user needs to do is speak out. The AI stores their current data and helps to predict the outcome in the future.
For example, Amazon’s Alexa is more than just a voice recognition device – it has various utility factors such as predictive messaging and context-aware computing. Google Home also excels in predictive and contextual computing and is capable of answering more questions than Alexa-enabled products.

The third is the blend of machine learning and AI. It helps the companies to monitor the markets and measure the growth of a particular company. Machine learning can be enhanced with chat-bot interaction which leaves a lasting impression on the user’s experience. It is enhanced in such a way it knows what customer action will be while interaction at any platform.

For example, Tommy Hilfiger’s chatbot allows users to browse their latest collections or get a behind-the-scenes look at the most recent fashion show. It uses interactive and simple language to reply customer queries and also offers style advise and product recommendations to its users. The bot provides the user with a questionnaire that helps it gather the user’s style and make an outfit suggestion based on the data gathered.
​
Wrapping It Up

The benefits of building a mobile app with AI technology is undisputed. The growth of AI is opening a whole new side of mobile app possibilities. The combination of machine learning and AI is stirring the market with revolutionary ideas. Developers, businesses, and users are constantly evolving and thinking of ways to have intelligent interactions within mobile applications.
If you wish to develop an AI mobile app to give a boost to your business, you can contact the App Scoop app developers Vancouver Team – https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html

There has been an upsurge in mobile technologies – not only in a person’s personal life, but also in business. In today’s time, being a part of the digital world is one of the top priorities for companies. One of the major steps to upgrading to mobile is the development of an enterprise mobile application. ​

What Does an Enterprise Application Development Mean?
Enterprise mobile applications make the process within the company easier, and at the same time create a comfortable climate to create interaction and involve the employees. It helps the business to operate more efficiently by providing turn-key solutions for several critical tasks:

• Employees having access to operational data even when they are out of office.
• Employees would have transparency for all current processes within the organisation.
• Having a single platform for all work processes, such as, scheduling, communicating, reporting, etc. which reduces time to solve complex problems.
• Improving the interaction between different departments, and the employees and top management.

An enterprise mobile app has become a powerful business tool not just for big corporate companies but also for small businesses. But there are some challenges that come with an enterprise mobile app, as it is relatively new and fundamentally different from web development. Let’s take a look at a few challenges you may face:
​
The Right Team and Development of Time-Bound Application

The biggest challenge for developing an enterprise mobile application is getting together a team of resourceful people. The team members need to have diverse skills and capabilities to find the right people to work with. Some of the key people in the team include software and hardware engineers, developers, designers, testers and at least one project manager.

If the team member is working from a remote location, he/she needs to be given a download from the internal team about all the processes and features of the app. A dedicated representative should be in regular contact with the outsourcing team, if any.

Further, streamlined procedures can be adopted by implementing the low code approach to enterprise mobile application development. What does a low code approach mean? – it is a process of creating apps from reusable components which makes it easy for the developer to build a new app in a shorter amount of time. These low code approach apps can be created by a drag and drop methodology, making the app creation automatic. App creation can be done in a very short duration, if it is equipped with pre-configured business models, pre-connected technology components and a design studio with hundreds of designs to choose from – all you need is to drag your pick and drop it!
This methodology helps enterprise mobile applications overcome the slow development of a solution; rather the result is a fully customisable app that is scalable, cheap, secure and reliable. 
​
Integrating the App with Back-End Resources

After developing the enterprise mobile application, it is a significant challenge to integrate it with the back-end resources. To overcome this challenge, there are tools made for smooth integration. Also, some apps come featured with an inbuilt enterprise administration backend to help the business administer to create a reporting engine that provides real-time analytics. It includes a communication framework for chat and notification, a scalable infrastructure for future integrations and in-built security features.

Cross-Platform Enterprise Mobile Application

One of the challenges that has cropped up while developing an enterprise mobile application is to customise the mobile app with the various platforms that are being used, such as iOS, Android and Windows. The company needs to invest in an enterprise mobile application that is compatible with the existing platforms or that can be customized. Companies can overcome this challenge if this process is automated.
​
Security

With any form of technology comes the threat of data breaches and cyber-attacks. This poses a threat to customer data, as well as internal business security. A single security slack could cause trouble for the entire organization.

Furthermore, the rule of Bringing Your Own Device (BYOB) has created more security concerns:

• According to IDC research, about 95% of modern employees already use at least one personal device for work purposes.
• The results of a study by Poppulo show that 41% of employees are not satisfied with the tools their companies provide them with.
• Another IDC survey shows that more than 53% of workers in the US believe that using their own devices makes them more productive.

Reference Source:

https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US44001418
https://www.poppulo.com/blog/from-byod-to-byoa-what-the-workplace-app-explosion-means-for-internal-communicators/
https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US44001418

These security threats can be controlled if enterprise mobile applications provide the means and guidelines for testing security standards and keeping them up-to-date.

• Encryption of data while creating the mobile app is crucial. The data shared in the app is vulnerable to attacks from another smart device, and the data being vulnerable to breaches and attacks. The data can be easily achieved using a secure container, which will protect the enterprise apps when devices are lost or compromised.

 

• Authenticating credentials like login and password has to be implemented for safe and secure authentication routine. To solve this problem, it is important to integrate with the enterprise’s LDAP directory as it will ensure you a proper and accurate authentication. It also delivers a suitable single-sign-on (SSO) across all enterprise applications.

 

• Impersonation to obtain information from employees of companies poses a great threat to breach of security. This information is obtained by bombardment of pop up ads or ads on the host system. To overcome this security challenge, there are some low code rapid app development platforms that can be implemented.

​Final Thoughts
Developing enterprise mobile applications comes with a myriad of challenges. Enterprises must develop natively so that they can meet the customer’s demands. Technology is continuously upgrading itself and hence, there will always be challenges faced by enterprise apps to keep innovating and evolving as new technology enters the market. Ensure that there are enough flexibility in the app to keep up with this change.
If you wish to develop and deploy tailor-made industry-best solutions to deal with and overcome these developmental challenges of enterprise mobile applications, please do contact the App Scoop mobile app developers and app development Team: https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html

​The market is constantly churning out new mobile applications each day. With the ever-increasing demand of mobile applications, companies are trying to build mobile apps that are engaging, effective and that can transform their business. They want their next app to take the market by storm! However, there are times when the app curated in the mind cannot be developed by an in-house team – they require experts! Hence, many companies outsource their mobile app development rather than dumping it on their internal team. This not only saves time and money, but also ensures that the app is bought to life by experts, rather than a team that would work on a trial and error basis. 

Outsourcing mobile apps most times is a good idea except in certain scenarios. Let’s take a look at 5 mistakes companies make while outsourcing mobile app development.
​
Mistake 1: Background Search of the Outsource Company
In a hurry to develop the app and outsource it, sometimes the company does not conduct a thorough background search. While researching the outsource company, one must gather the following data:

• Is the company recommended? Are there enough positive and credible reviews online?
• How many and which apps has the company created? What is their app portfolio?
• What are the qualifications of the team?

If you are unsatisfied with any of the information provided, the safest thing to do is move on to another company with more credible sources.

Mistake 2: Unclear Idea for the App
Just thinking about an app doesn’t make the app successful. An idea is just the first step towards creating a mobile app. Once the idea is created, it is necessary to refine, fine tune and note down all the important features of the app. Although, there are some companies that do not freeze the base concept of the app before outsourcing it to another company. This leads to an app that doesn’t meet its true potential.
It is important to make a layout, define the purpose of the app, make a timeline and budget the app. Once these details are finalized, it can be outsourced to another company. Post which there needs to be a round to clear doubts and communicate with the third-party app developers.

Mistake 3: Rushed Timeline
Rushing through an app will not do good to anyone. If the app is complicated, then developers need to have an appropriate timeframe. Some companies believe that just because they are outsourcing mobile app development to a third party that they are supposed to deliver the app sooner than their internal team.
It is always safer to go with experienced developers who might take some time but who would deliver an app that has lesser bugs and issues – who ensure that the end product is worth the wait.

Mistake 4: Cost Over Quality
In this competitive world, remember that there are several developers in the market that are willing to develop apps at a cheap rate. But obviously only developers that are out of work or have just entered the market are willing to work for less money. Most companies do not understand that the outcome of this could be dreadful.
It is always suggested that the companies must choose between the top 3 mobile app developers rather than looking for cheap or discounted offers. Comparing detailed breakdown of estimates from several developers will be very insightful once you look at budget components, such as planned hours, pricing for individual features, and so forth. You can then easily spot that one of the developers simply isn’t accounting for a lot of the details that others are budgeting for and those costs or delays will probably come up later in the project.

Mistake 5:  Shoddy Project Management
Even though you have outsourced the app, the company needs to appoint an internal project manager to take account of the development of the app on a daily basis. After each milestone, the project manager should test the product and ensure that the standards are being met. Check if your development partner would be open to providing you access so that you don’t limit your interaction to just emails and phone calls.

To Conclude

Hence while outsourcing a mobile app, ensure that you’ve done enough research on the app that you wish to create and the company that you are outsourcing the app to. Do not fall under the trap of discounted prices and quick deliveries. Make sure that you go through enough companies before choosing one. Like any technical project, a mobile app has a lot of moving parts. You will still need to invest in project management time when outsourcing app development.
The advantage of outsourcing the app development work is that it gets you immediate access to a well-trained team and with the right partner, a high-quality outcome along with insights from external expertise. If you wish to outsource your mobile app development, you can contact the App Scoop mobile app developers and the app development team: https://app-scoop.com/contact-us.html