Top Healthcare Digitalization Trends To Look For In The New Normal

Healthcare digitalization is reshaping the way we interact with healthcare professionals, share medical data or make decisions related to treatment and outcomes. There are plenty of examples that substantiate the digitalization of healthcare today, such as Artificial Intelligence-powered medical devices, telemedicine, blockchain, remote-patient monitoring, and electronic health records.

The main aim of healthcare innovation is to streamline the medical professionals’ work, optimize medical software systems, reduce human errors, improve patient outcomes, and lower costs through integrated web and mobile experiences.

Read more: The Application and Impact of Information Technology in Healthcare

Healthcare

Let’s look at the state of healthcare digitalization in 2024 and beyond:

1. On-demand Healthcare Will Grow

With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting many people to remain indoors, more and more patients seek on-demand healthcare. It is convenient as it helps patients seek guidance at their own time and from anywhere they need it.

DMN3 reveals that patients obtain online medical information primarily for the following reasons:

  • 77% for booking medical appointments
  • 47% for searching information about doctors and healthcare professionals
  • 38% for searching information about hospitals and medical facilities

That said, on-demand healthcare is rising due to the growth of the gig economy. Here, freelance professionals from various industries hire themselves out per job or ‘gig’ instead of sticking to one company.

Read more: Patient Engagement Platforms: 7 Must-have Features

patient engagement platform

Many online healthcare marketplaces link doctors directly with short-term tasks, making it easier for physicians to deliver patient care in specific circumstances based on their expertise and schedule. Simply put, doctors are becoming on-demand healthcare providers to meet the changing needs of their patients in a better way.

2. Big Data Will Be Used To Improve Healthcare Management

Big data is the information gathered from various platforms such as eCommerce, social media, online transactions, and financial transactions. It helps identify patterns and trends for future use.

Read more: 5 Ways Big Data is Changing the Healthcare Industry

For healthcare, big data offers benefits such as:

  • Reduced medication errors: Patient record analysis allows the healthcare software to flag any inconsistencies between a patient’s health and drug prescriptions. This alerts the health professionals and patients in case there is a potential risk of a medication error.
  • Simplifying preventive care: Many recurring patients stepping into emergency rooms are “frequent flyers.” These frequent flyers account for up to 28% of clinical visits. Big data analysis helps identify these recurring patients and create preventive plans to keep them from returning.
  • Improved staffing: Using big data’s predictive analysis, hospitals and clinics can estimate future admission rates enabling these facilities to allocate proper staff to deal with the patient. This will help save money and reduce emergency room waiting time, especially when a facility is understaffed.

Case Study: How did a data analytics solution help NHS gain financial, clinical, and geographical insights to improve visibility over their KPIs? Read Now

Big data analytics, visualization, and insights generation can improve healthcare operations management and transform the patient experience.

3. Virtual Reality Will Transform Medical Training & Care Delivery Models

Virtual Reality is one of the most outstanding healthcare digitalization trends that change the way patients are diagnosed, and medical residents are trained.

  • VR in medical diagnosis & treatments: VR is increasingly used in treatment segments in healthcare, such as patient education, robotic surgery, physical and psychological therapy, etc. For instance, medical professionals can use VR to construct a 360° patient-specific video detailing how the surgery will help the patient cure and the consequent results. Virtual Reality has been found effective in treating anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and stroke.   

Case Study: Find how Fingent developed a unique mixed reality application for a leading university that enables users to identify people using facial recognition.  Download Now!

  • VR for medical training: Other uses of VR technology include doctors and medical residents using VR simulations to hone their skills (learning in near-real situations) and safely plan complicated surgeries. In addition, VR headsets are used post-surgery to encourage patients to exercise and follow physiotherapies. The technology also enables autistic children to learn and navigate the world.
  • Growth of VR in the medical field: From startups to established pharma companies, everyone recognizes the role of VR in healthcare. Experts estimate that by 2025 the global virtual and augmented reality in healthcare will reach $5.1 billion market value. So, if you’re a healthcare company wanting to improve your digital marketing strategy, you should consider investing in VR.

Read more: How Virtual Reality Improves The Standards Of Medical Education And Training

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality technology offers a powerful communication channel that allows you to understand customers’ needs better and virtually engage them with your products and services.

4. Wearable Medical Devices Will Enjoy A Wider Market

Another major healthcare digitalization trend is companies collecting their health data from medical devices such as wearables. Previously, most people would check in with their doctors only when something went wrong and were used to undergoing physical check-ups once a year. However, technology is changing that. Today, people highly focus on preventive maintenance and are interested in knowing about their health status frequently. This trend forces several healthcare companies to invest in wearable technology devices that allow patients or family members to track health vitals and seek medical aid when needed. Wearable medical devices enable up-to-date monitoring of high-risk patients and determine the likelihood of any severe health risk.

Experts estimate that the wearable medical device market value will cross USD 27,200 mn by 2023.

Following are some of the widely used wearable devices:

  • Exercise trackers (Google Fit, Fitbit, etc.)
  • Heart rate sensors (Samsung Heart Rate Sensor, Pulse Sensor, etc.)
  • Sweat meters: to monitor blood sugar levels of diabetics
  • Oximeters: to monitor the amount of oxygen carried in the blood

Wearable devices in healthcare offer the following benefits:

  • Personalized healthcare experience: Medical devices help patients improve their health and give them a sense of ownership regarding personal healthcare management.
  • Insurance pricing: Wearable devices provide insurers with insights that enable them to rate a patient’s risk for illness more accurately.
  • Insurance incentives: Wearable devices allow patients to take preventive measures to improve their health. Such patients are more likely to obtain lower insurance premiums.
  • Gamification opportunities: Fitness watches can help create competitive goals for users to achieve through diet, nutrition, and exercise.

Case Study: Read more about how Fingent helped create a fitness Regimen app for trainers.

5. Healthcare AI Investments Will Increase

By 2025, the healthcare AI-enabled tools market is expected to exceed $34 billion globally. This indicates that healthcare AI investments will peak soon as Artificial Intelligence is set to transform various segments in medicine.

AI-powered chatbots and virtual health assistants fulfill many roles in the healthcare industry, such as customer service representatives, diagnostic tools, or even therapists. Hence AI in healthcare is gaining immense popularity. According to a report published by MarketsandMarkets, the global healthcare chatbots market is estimated to reach $314.3 million by 2023.

Read more: 5 Leading Chatbot Use Cases Explained with Real-life Examples

Chatbots

That said, we can witness the real power of AI in diverse areas such as medical imaging, drug discovery, precision medicine, and genomics. For example, the first-ever drug designed by AI is showing some promise to help patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. The AI-made drug molecule, DSP-1181, is in clinical trials currently. Researchers and scientists expect that the use of AI will make drug development faster and more efficient.

Overall, AI is projected to bring USD 150 billion by 2026 in annual savings for the US healthcare economy. As start-ups are lapping up the opportunity, the number of active AI start-ups has increased 14 times since 2000.

Why Keep A Close Eye On These Healthcare Digitalization Trends

These five healthcare digitalization trends will spill over in the future as the industry will innovate and adapt to meet the patients’ demands. As a result, organizations that embrace healthcare digitalization will see dividends sooner.

Fingent top custom software development company, helps you navigate the digital healthcare space and adapt to the ‘Next Normal’ with our transformative experiences. Our custom healthcare software solutions have helped many of the leading healthcare providers worldwide. Contact us to learn more about how your healthcare organization or clinic can leverage healthcare digitalization effectively.

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    About the Author

    ...
    Tony Joseph

    Tony believes in building technology around processes, rather than building processes around technology. He specializes in custom software development, especially in analyzing processes, refining it and then building technology around it.He works with clients on a daily basis to understand and analyze their operational structure, discover (and not invent) key improvement areas and come up with technology solutions to deliver an efficient process.

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      Business Intelligence in Finance becomes the most trusted aide of the modern CFO. Here’s how BI helps finance teams to leverage insights and drive the business forward.

      Business Intelligence In Finance: A CFO’s Most Reliable Tool

      In 2020 alone, 64.2ZB of data was created or replicated by many industries. However, 73% of the enterprise data is left unused for business analytics and intelligence. Several studies prove that business intelligence in finance enables enterprises to reap ROI and profitability and boost customer retention. In one of its recent reports, Tech Jury reveals that effective utilization of big data allowed Netflix to save $1 billion per year on customer retention.

      Is Business Intelligence worth putting time into? If you’re a CFO, then it might be a good idea to investigate this further. After all, time is worth money, and BI does come with costs.

      In our experience, we know that it is worth it. A CFO can use BI to harvest business-critical insights and drive value through process improvement. This blog presents some key facts that show why Business Intelligence in finance is crucial for CFOs.

      Read more: How Odoo ERP Helps Leverage Business Intelligence and Data Analytics

      Odoo ERP

      What Is Business Intelligence?

      Business Intelligence is a tool that is often misunderstood and usually underutilized by finance organizations. Business Intelligence in banking uses analytics software to create interactive data visualization. BI covers a broader range of functions that include querying, data mining, data preparation, and so on.

      Data thus collected is an invaluable asset that allows finance organizations to understand themselves better and make informed decisions.

      Read more: Business Intelligence 101

      Why Must CFOs Understand The Significance Of BI In Finance?

      As financial organizations recover from the devastating blow of COVID-19, CFOs must look beyond managing costs to discovering new opportunities to plan business. CFOs can pursue these opportunities with the help of BI solutions.

      Financial services are awash by terabytes of data pouring in each day. To manage a financial organization successfully, CFOs must understand that data quickly and in a targeted manner. Business Intelligence tools can draw data from internal and external sources for centralized and comprehensive data management and analysis.

      A Business Intelligence (BI) tool will help CFOs infer the potential market and business opportunities, identify value drivers for growth opportunities, and then track KPIs against those. A well-implemented BI tool can assist CFOs in handling real-time data quickly and precisely. Business intelligence in finance enables CFOs to correlate between investments and profitability across multiple dimensions of your financial organization.

      Such analysis will help CFOs further strategize on valuation or growth optimization. As a result of that solid proof, the finance organization can improve overall services and create future go-to-market strategies.

      By focusing on strategic value through BI, CFOs can enable their organization to become resilient and agile. These traits are crucial now than ever before, given the need to mitigate risk while navigating potent disruptors like a global pandemic.

      Read more: Business Intelligence in SAP: How It Helps You Become a Data-driven Organization

      Business Intelligence in SAP

      How BI Can Enhance The Role Of The CFO

      Business Intelligence combines proactive data management with process automation and business analytics. By using this combination, CFOs can make several critical improvements within their organization, such as:

      1. Clear and Complete Data

      The CFO needs to know what is happening in the company to help him develop and implement refinements. BI tools can help CFO and his team to:

      • Integrate and standardize existing software environment
      • Eliminate human error
      • Automate key processes that boost speed and accuracy
      • Eliminate data silos
      • Perform advanced data analysis tasks

      The BI tools use ML to bring data together in a secure, well-managed data warehouse. These tools will clarify and organize your information, assisting CFOs to make the best decision possible. BI can benefit:

      • Real-time working capital analysis and management
      • Advanced budgeting and forecasting
      • Preparation and distribution of critical financial statements

      2. Data Visualization

      CFOs need to make crucial decisions in real-time. However, looking through pie charts or reams of printouts can be time-consuming and delay the process of decision-making. Finance leaders can tackle this challenge easily with the help of business intelligence tools.

      Read more: How Fingent Helps CFOs Gain New Insights and Reliably Enable Key Decisions

      CFO

      Business Intelligence uses data analytics to make insights available faster and with greater clarity. Hence, it can generate concise visualizations that bring additional value to the process. Such data visualizations help CFOs examine the connection of seemingly disparate data sets.

      The CFO can use visualization to develop new products that will attract a key demographic and increase their average spend. Also, it will help them identify saving opportunities in the supply chain. BI uses advanced technologies to create heat maps, interactive augmented reality applications, and data dashboards. These will assist in tracking business performance and strategizing effectively to reduce the risk or increase profitability.

      Read more: How Data Warehousing Adds Value To Data Visualization & Reporting

      3. Risk Mitigation

      The banking and finance sector faces unprecedented business disruptors creating uncertainty in business growth. With the help of BI tools, CFOs and their teams can organize all their data for real-time access and analysis.

      Finance professionals can use these metrics to monitor and evaluate internal processes and detect and reduce fraudulent activities to minimize risk. This provides context and clarity and helps companies identify invoice fraud and improve internal compliance.

      Business intelligence tools can be integrated with analytics capabilities to measure, identify, track, and analyze operations.

      Read more: Transforming The CFO into a Business Value Creator and Role Model

      SAP S/4HANA

      4. Operation and Performance Management

      Synchronizing the organization to build resilient operations has never been easy. The efficiency of management alone will not suffice. A well-known business benefit of BI tools is performance management capabilities. This will help you identify your business performance at every level. You can conduct a performance and operational health check regularly.

      5. Identify Potential Weaknesses in Business

      Growth will suffer if a business’s weakness goes undetected. A CFO and their team can identify incomplete or inconsistent data with the help of accurate and comprehensive data. This will reveal potential flaws in specific controls and processes.

      6. Improved Customer Service and Retention

      Finance organizations must understand why their customers might be inclined to move to the competition to stay ahead of the competition. BI tools reveal customer requirements because they identify the customers spending patterns. This data helps organizations to improvise and provide services that procure customer loyalty.

      7. Predict Future Trends

      A smart CFO will always have their gaze fixed on the future. Therefore, the CFO will want to explore and make predictions about future trends and prepare their finance organization with the future in mind. Instead of relying on old methods, CFOs can use BI tools to make predictions for the future of their organization and deliver clear plans that find sure success.

      Read more: Reimagine Your Business Intelligence With Dynamic Visual Storytelling Using SAP Analytics Cloud

      SAP Analytics Cloud

      Make Better, Intelligent, Informed Decisions – Starting Now!

      Equipped with valuable data, a CFO can make intelligent, informed decisions and help their financial organization stay ahead of the curve. They can also ensure that their organization remains resilient under disruptive circumstances. Thus, they can enable their business to maintain momentum with new developments, detect market changes, and measure the effect of changes on customer requirements. If you are a CFO, you need to get on board with the best way to maximize your Business Intelligence. Custom software development experts at Fingent can help you understand how. So give us a call, and let’s get talking.

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        About the Author

        ...
        Vinod Saratchandran

        Vinod has conceptualized and delivered niche mobility products that cater to various domains including logistics, media & non-profits. He leads, mentors & coaches a team of Project Coordinators & Analysts at Fingent.

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          Revolutionizing Home Improvement Business With 3D Web Configurator Technology

          COVID-19 pandemic’s impact has ushered in a dramatic shift in the behavior and preference of customers. However, this shift was not restricted to customers alone. Social distancing and isolation protocols put industries like home improvement in a state of dilemma, as their business depends highly on showcasing products to customers in a physical space, preferably in-store. Almost overnight, businesses like interior designs and home decor had to adapt and adjust how they presented their products. Today, home improvement companies are increasingly relying on 3D web configuration technology to ensure that their customers gain personalized product experiences and can shop from the comfort of their quarantined couches.

          Forbes reports that by replacing static 2D images with interactive 3D models, businesses have gained a 40% increase in online conversion rates and a 30% improvement in average sales prices. Moreover, they also managed to reduce online returns by 80%.

          As a customer begins experiencing the ease, personalization, and speed of online shopping, there is no going back. Businesses can leverage this cemented habit when they use a 3D web configurator. In the world of e-commerce, 3D web configurators are already a breakthrough. Unquestionably, it is the need of the hour!

          Like e-commerce, the home improvement industry is also a crucial beneficiary of 3D web configuration. This article discusses how the home improvement industry uses 3D web configurators to enhance customer engagement and accelerate business growth.

          How the Home Improvement Industry is Utilizing 3D Web Configuration

          According to Statista, the projected total home improvement sales in the United States will touch 510 billion USD by 2024. Such an exponential increase is only made possible by the power of 3D web configurators. From sofas to paints and bathroom essentials like faucets and sinks, there are various configurations available today.

          3D visualization software can help customers project a 3D model of the product against the background of any room. This does not mean a customer must invest in special equipment. Instead, they can view using their phone camera.

          For instance, if a customer wants to see how a beige wardrobe would appear in their bedroom, they can simply point the phone camera and project that wardrobe onto the background. Plus, a 3D configurator allows customers to customize the product before they click on the “purchase” tab. So it is no surprise that 3D visualization software can build your customer’s confidence in their purchase.

          Read more: What are 3D Web Configurators? How do they Boost E-Commerce Sales and Drive Customer Satisfaction?

          3D web configurators

          3 Ways 3D Visualization Helps the Home Improvement Industry Thrive

          3D visualization gives your customers an overall impression of their living room. It can provide an in-depth view of both real and surreal aspects. In other words, it will help you increase professional accuracy as you incorporate your customer’s requirements.

          Here are the three advantages that 3D visualization can bring to the home improvement industry:

          1. Color Match

          Most people tend to research products online before buying. Besides, homeowners prefer to select their wall color from the comfort of their homes. An excellent 3D configurator case that can influence a consumer to move from the consideration stage to the purchase stage is Dulux. Using 3D visualization helped them to provide a better user experience across various channels and devices. In addition, it benefits both the customer and the consultant as they can pick and choose from all available colors.

          The primary goal of 3D configuration is to help customers visualize how they can decorate their homes using various combinations. It generates accurate visualization of the selected paint on the walls and ceilings. Plus, it allows a shopper to import, tweak, process, view, and save the final visualization. This is an excellent feature for tradespeople and DIY renovation enthusiasts as they spruce up their homes.

          2. Engaging Visualization

          Home improvement businesses can use 3D configurators to educate customers about their products. It enables them to blur the lines between the consideration stage and point-of-sale decision-making. For example, 3D web configuration technology will let shoppers measure what size of furniture would look best in their living room. Once they decide on the size, the configurator could narrow it down to other furniture features and help customers make purchase decisions.

          A 3D web configurator can do more than sell a product. It enables a business to be transparent and open about its products in detail. This assures the potential customer and increases decision-making comfort whether they commit to buying or not.

          When customers cannot visit a store in person, they may want to inspect the purchase in detail. Having 4k zoom on your product page allows your visitors to scrutinize your products, feel the texture, and choose the right shade of color. This can be made easy when you add 360-degree images. Interactive 3D models can significantly improve your web session duration.

          Typical case: Timothy Oulton

          Timothy Oulton is a British handcrafted leather furniture brand. From 360-degree views to detail shots, it uses various 3D configuration features to create an engaging product page experience.

          3. Interactive Imagery

          With more people shopping online, having a 3D interactive website has become increasingly important. It can give your shoppers a degree of interactive imagery that photographs cannot render. You can achieve this by combining the background and the product to create an in-context image. Those combinations will help you convey a certain quality, tone, or mood that will influence a shopper’s perception of your product.

          True, you can have multi-angled images, but you cannot rotate them. However, 3D product rendering enables immersive interaction between the customer and your product. Now, a shopper can rotate, enlarge, or shrink the product to view it from all directions. Such context enables shoppers to visualize how your product looks in a real-life setting.

          Typical case: Neptune

          A British interior design and lifestyle brand, Neptune, designs and creates furniture, lighting, and accessories for the entire home. They use context images to tell a story. Their product pages are filled with high-quality room scenes that highlight the beauty of their products.

          Tangible Results of Implementing 3D Web Configurators

          3D rendering is a distinctive way to present your home improvement products to your customers. It is less expensive in part because it can be used throughout the process of design and sale. Plus, it nudges them along in their buying decisions.

          3D web configurators can help increase your customer engagement, boost online sales, and reduce returns. Thus, more businesses are likely to embrace the power of 3D configuration to ensure business continuity during the pandemic and beyond. So, yes, product visualization is the new reality of the future. But, are you ready for it? If your answer is yes, get in touch with us software development experts and help us give you a 3D view of your business’s success!

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            About the Author

            ...
            Venkatesh Alagarsamy

            With exceptional expertise in AR, VR, and MR, Venkatesh has worked in the conception, design, development, delivery, and implementation of solutions catering to the needs of industries like Automobile, Oil and Gas, Medical Simulation, Heavy industries, Mining, Archeology, Retail, Soft Skills Development, and Education. Venkatesh has vast experience in developing multiplayer solutions for leading large-scale sectors across the globe. When not working on projects, Venkatesh likes to keep himself updated on the latest technology advancements, because he believes that's what helps him provide top-notch solutions for his customers. Connect with Venkatesh via LinkedIn today, and know more about how your business can benefit from Extended Reality technologies!

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              A comprehensive guide to web application development in 2021

               

               

              Introduction

              A decade ago, web pages were mostly static, with a few images and videos thrown in here and there. In 2005, however, thanks to Ajax, it made it possible to create better, faster, and more interactive web applications.

              In 2021, though web application development has reached its peak of fame, web apps have become so common that they often go unnoticed. With a reputed web application development partner like Fingent, you can develop intuitive and custom web applications that simplify your day-to-day operations.

              Read more: Fingent Ranked as India’s Top Software Developer for 2021  

              top software developer

              Web apps help integrate the tailored experience of native apps with easy access on a website browser from any device. LinkedIn, Basecamp, MailChimp, or even Facebook, all have web apps that provide immersive and tailored experiences like the native apps directly from the browser. That is why web application development is gaining a lot of popularity in almost all industries, including banking, eCommerce, education, healthcare, and more.

              What is a Web Application?

              Also known as a web app, a web application is nothing but a computer program that uses a web browser to perform a specific function. Contact forms, for example, are web apps present on many websites.

              As a web application is a client-server program, it has a client-side and a server-side. Here, the client refers to the program the individual uses to run the application. It is a part of the client-server environment where many computers share data. A typical example of a web application is the database. Here, the user enters data through the client-side (front-end), while the server-side (back-end) of the application stores and processes the information.

              Both enterprises and individuals develop web applications to fulfill different purposes.

               

              Case Study: How we built Ambit AI, a light-touch AI-powered web application for processing workers’ compensation claims. Download Now!

               

              What is Web Application Development?

              Web application development refers to the process of using client-side and server-side programming to develop an application that is made accessible over the web browser.

              In the initial phase of the web application development process, the developer tries to find a solution to a specific problem and then designs the web app by choosing the appropriate development framework. Later, the developer tests and deploys the web app.

              Read more: The 101 Guide to Web Application Development 

              Web Apps vs. Mobile Apps

              While web apps and mobile apps are similar in many ways, both are different in many ways.

              Mobile apps are made exclusively for mobile gadgets and are suitable for Android, iOS, and Cross-platform operating systems. Usually, mobile apps are mobile-first, meaning they work effectively on smartphones, tablets, or other handheld mobile devices. Most mobile apps work offline too. Examples include Google Maps, Amazon Kindle, Uber, etc. On the other hand, web apps function only when you have internet connectivity. A web app functions in real-time in a web browser with CPU resources. As long as you have adequate internal storage, you can download a mobile app from an app store or play store.

              Read more: How are Mobile Apps Different from Websites  

              web app Blog cover

              Types of Web Applications

              Typically, web applications are classified into three categories based on the tools and technologies it uses.

              1. Client-side web application

              Client-side refers to everything the user sees at the end-user side, such as text, images, videos, forms, and the other UI. Client-side web applications are written using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and they work in a web browser. Angular js, Vue js, Ember js, Backbone js, Node js, etc., are some of the popular JavaScript libraries used for front-end development.

              You can consider client-side web app building when you don’t need to preserve the user information for more than one session. It is perfect for easy games or image editors. Google Earth is a leading example of a client-side web application.

              2. Server-side web application

              These are web apps that can be coded in several programming languages such as Python, C+, Ruby, PHP, etc. If you develop an app with just the server-side, then the outcome of any changes in the form submission, sections, and data updates will create a new HTML file and cause the web page to reload.

              Server-side programming is beneficial if you want your web application to deliver information tailored for individual users. For instance, e-commerce applications like Amazon use server-side programming to create product search results, offer product suggestions based on past buying habits, enhance user experience, and simplify the purchasing process.

              3. Single-page web application

              Single-page applications are designed to work in a browser and do not require reloading while in use. Most of our daily apps, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google Drive, Gmail, etc., are single-page apps. Single-page web applications offer an unmatched user experience as the user doesn’t have to wait for page reloads. Single-page applications are highly responsive to user queries as they do not depend heavily on client-server communication.

              Read more: A Detailed Guide to Types of Software Applications  

              types of software

              Technology Stacks for Web Application Development

              The following web development technologies enable you to create a high-performing, fast, and advanced web application.

              1. Database technologies

              Due to its simplicity and multifunctionality, MySQL is one of the most preferred databases utilized for web application development. Other popular database technologies include Oracle Database, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, MongoDB, and RavenDB.

              2. Front-end technologies

              To develop the client-side of an app that the users interact with, you can choose highly efficient front-end JavaScript frameworks such as:

              • React JS: This is a robust and most widely used JS framework for developing large-scale and complex dynamic web apps.
              • Angular JS: A popular front-end framework by Google, Angular JS is suitable for building dynamic web apps, using HTML for static web pages.
              • Vue JS: Fairly new, this JS framework does wonders for applications. Vue JS provides an ecosystem of assisting libraries and an accessible primary library for applying huge complex page apps.
              • Backbone JS: This lightweight JS library has a RESTful JSON interface that follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) application design standard. Backbone JS helps develop and structure the client-side applications that run in a web browser.
              • Node JS: It is a cross-platform, open-source JS runtime that runs on the V8 engine and is designed to build scalable network applications.
              • Ember JS: It is an open-source JS framework ideal for developing single-page applications.

              The above list features only some of the leading JavaScript frameworks used for client-side programming.

              3. Backend Technology

              Frameworks such as Go, Ruby, Java, Django & Python are some of the most powerful back-end development technologies.

              • Ruby: Ruby is an open-source, general-purpose, object-oriented programming language used to build highly secure and fast web applications.
              • Java: A multi-purpose programming language, Java is leveraged for Android app development, desktop apps, and web app development. Java offers excellent security and stability.
              • Django & Python – Python is flexible, advanced, and has a low learning curve. This programming language covers back-end web development. Python, along with its framework Django, can meet back-end development tasks efficiently.
              • Go: Designed by Google’s developers, Go is an open-source programming language that is fast and statistically compiled. It helps build simple, reliable, and concurrent web applications.

              Read more: Top 6 Stacks That Reign Software Development in 2020  

              Benefits of Web Application Development

              • Speed and cost: Web application development is faster and more economical than building native apps. If your primary goal is to accelerate time-to-market, then web application development is the best choice.
              • Cross-platform capabilities: Web applications can be programmed to run on any operating system. Due to their cross-platform capabilities, web applications can adapt well to Android, iOS, Mac OS, and Windows phones. Device responsiveness of web applications helps you get rid of OS dependencies.
              • Browser compatibility: A web application runs on the device’s browser using an accessible URL. Modern web applications are compatible with all browsers, such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Bing. So, you don’t have to face software compatibility challenges.
              • No downloads needed: Web apps don’t need to be downloaded from app stores such as Apple’s App Store or Google Play. This helps save money since having a direct link through a web app is free.
              • Easy to update: Updating web applications is easy, as only the server(s) would require upgrades.
              • Cut operating costs: Web application development is a great way to cut operating costs. You can eliminate unnecessary expenses such as hardware purchases, frequent device updates, and maintenance of numerous systems.
              • Custom web applications: Custom web application development offers several benefits as you can tailor the features for the users. These applications are easily accessible via browsers with a stable internet connection. Custom web apps help cut unnecessary expenses and save time as you only need to develop the required features.

              Read more: Custom Software Development is The Ideal Way to Build Business Apps in 2021  

              Custom software

              A custom web app can significantly improve your business traction, brand awareness, communicate your brand ideology and help you gain a competitive edge in the chosen target market.

              Web Application Development Process

              Here is an overview of the steps we follow at Fingent for developing web applications.

              1. Conceptualize

              The first step is to define the problem you want to solve with a web application and collect all the relevant information needed for app development. A well-defined problem will give an excellent head-start to the project and help you identify the best solution. Next, clarify the purpose as well as the end goals of the application.

              Ask these questions during the planning phase:

              • What app do you want to build?
              • What features and functions should it include?
              • What is the audience of your product?

              2. Design and build

              The designing phase involves creating a wireframe for communicating the solution to target users. Then, the developers can consider designing elements that will provide an enjoyable user experience to the target audience.

              Post-design, the next step is to build (develop) the application. The following steps will happen in this phase.

              • To create a database for storage, the developers need to determine what data and data types are required for the application to perform well.
              • Based on the elements approved by the users during the wireframing process, developers will create the front-end application. For this, the developers need to identify the best frameworks for front-end development.
              • Developers will create interaction between the user and the server.
              • Developers can either code from scratch or use front-end and back-end frameworks to develop the web app.
              • Based on the application type, that is, client-side/ server-side/ single-page, programming is done.

              3. Test and implement

              Whether it is an automated or manual web application, testing for the web application is an ongoing process throughout the software development lifecycle.

              • The Testing (QA) team will have to test the app for usability, compatibility, functionality, security, and performance to eliminate bugs and ensure that the application works without any glitches.
              • Testing also helps identify any possible improvements and upgrades to make in the future.
              • Once the testing is completed, you can finally implement the application in your company or customers.
              • When using it for your company, you will have to train your employees to use the app productively (if the app requires training).
              • For customers, you will have to create a communication strategy and decide on the appropriate timing to launch the application in the market.

              At Fingent, we help you perform all the mandatory software and usability testing to ensure that your web app functions seamlessly. We also provide training and support to use the apps effectively.

              4. Hosting and Maintenance

              You must buy a domain and choose a hosting provider to create a server location for the app. We help you choose shared hosting, dedicated hosting, or cloud hosting based on your requirements.

              We also help you maintain the web application. Some of our application maintenance services include:

              • Ongoing QA testing
              • Bug fixes and improvements
              • Addressing changes and adding features based on user feedback
              • Providing regular updates and technical support

              Read more: Cloud Service Models SaaS, PaaS, IaaS: Choose the Right One for Your Business  

              Web Application Development Validation & Deployment

              Once your web app is developed and ready to be launched, remember it must be tested to ensure that the app functions correctly before its deployment. Bug fixing alone is not sufficient. Testing is vital to web application development.

              We perform standard web application testing, such as:

              • Usability Testing
              • Performance Testing
              • Application Security Testing
              • Quality Assurance Testing and Bug Fixing
              • Browser Compatibility Testing
              • Responsiveness Testing (Responsive Web Design)

              After completing the quality assurance process, your web app is ready for launch. You can use GitHub, Beanstalk App, and Bitbucket App to deploy the web app to your servers. Any new features, changes, and improvements to the deployed application are implemented according to the user’s feedback.

              With over a decade of experience in web application development, Fingent helps you cover all these processes.

              Read more: Offshoring Software Development: Here’s All You Need to Know  

              Offshoring software development

              Stay up to date on what's new

                About the Author

                ...
                Vinod Saratchandran

                Vinod has conceptualized and delivered niche mobility products that cater to various domains including logistics, media & non-profits. He leads, mentors & coaches a team of Project Coordinators & Analysts at Fingent.

                Talk To Our Experts

                  Progressive Web Apps: New Cutting-Edge Trend in Web Development

                  Speed and convenience have become crucial in keeping online shoppers engaged. Progressive Web Apps development is a solution that allows the shopper to enjoy an app-like experience via a website (using web browsers). Users can install the PWA application from the browser window and access it just like a native app. In addition, progressive web apps improve the quality of your web applications, making them reliable, fast, and engaging.

                  Are you considering PWA for your business growth? Is it worth exploring this option? This blog will help you take a closer look at why Progressive Web Apps are turning to be the new cutting-edge trend in web development.

                  What is a Progressive Web App?

                  Frances Berriman and Alex Russel coined the buzzword “Progressive Web Apps” in 2015. To date, PWA has been a big player in this mobile-first world. Progressive Web Apps (PWA) have caused digital marketers to rethink how they design and deliver sites.

                  Progressive Web Apps can deliver a blazingly fast and slick app-like shopping experience to the end-user. It combines the best of two worlds: your website and the native application. It can be called a hybrid app as users can now browse your website on their mobile. Besides, PWA promises to solve two vital issues:

                  1. Performance and usability
                  2. Mobile-web conversion rates

                  Read more: Native Apps vs. Web Apps: Choosing the Best for Your Brand

                  Native vs web app

                  Business Benefits of Progressive Web Apps

                  Several companies that focused their efforts on PWAs instead of having a separate native app have experienced increased conversions. A best case in point is the world’s largest online B2B trading platform, Alibaba.com. Alibaba.com increased its conversion rate by 76% across browsers after upgrading its website to PWA.

                  Here’s how your business can benefit from PWA:

                  1. High-performance rate

                  Response time is crucial for audience engagement and better conversion rates. PWA responds quickly as the browser uses caching to save the elements of the layout that are repeated in the template. This improves the speed of downloads and reduces page load time. Subsequently, better performance leads to a better user experience, which in turn increases customer retention rates.

                  2. Ease of use across multiple devices

                  Progressive Web Apps are built with a responsive layout in mind for an improved user experience. A responsive design will fit into any size of the screen with ease. In other words, PWA will adjust the experience as per the device screen size. You can further improve the user experience with a PWA manifest file that controls the full-screen view.

                  3. Seamless browsing experience

                  A traditional website is virtually useless without a stable internet connection, but not a Progressive Web App. PWA can be easily viewed offline as service workers automatically cache important application features and information from the user’s last online access. This way, the user can access it without any network. Plus, you can add a brand logo, product descriptions, and few advanced features to your offline page.

                  This is an additional incentive for shoppers to choose businesses with a Progressive Web App over those that use native apps. Such a seamless browsing experience rewards you with better engagement rates and customer retention.

                  4. Resembles native-built applications

                  PWAs can be designed to look and behave like native apps, or they can be designed to let users know they are browsing the Progressive Web App. Regardless of the developer’s choice, it can contain a complete set of traditional app functionalities with database access. The best part is that you can seamlessly integrate the application into an existing website or an app.

                  Watch Video: Fingent software development experts can help you choose the right mobile app development approach by evaluating your requirements.

                  5. No installation is needed

                  Shoppers can download your app directly onto their devices. Once downloaded, it gets its own icon on the screen, just like a traditional mobile application. This will avoid the slow and complex installation process, improve user experience, and reduce user abandonment.

                  Here is another way it can benefit you: users can easily access the PWA via a URL. In other words, a user can easily share this link with a friend contributing to increased leads.

                  6. No manual updates are required

                  Native apps must be updated periodically through mobile internet or a WIFI connection. Such updates can consume large amounts of data, which may be costly for some users. Fortunately, Progressive Web App updates are performed “on-use,” much like how a website is updated.

                  7. Low development cost

                  Developing a mobile app can be a costly process, especially for small businesses and startups. Thankfully, PWA development is much cheaper than traditional app development but provides a better option for companies to generate a positive ROI.

                  Read more: Mobile app development: 4 tips to consider 

                  Mobile app development

                  8. Wide range of features

                  The most prominent feature of PWA is push notifications. Publishers and developers can use this feature to implement creative advertising solutions. As the push notifications appear on a shopper’s device screen, it is read more often than emails or updates on social media. This can lead to valuable brand awareness and promote products or services.

                  9. Improved app and data security

                  Security has been a concern for both users and developers. According to new standards of web design, all customer information must be moved to HTTPS. So it is highly convenient to launch Progressive Web App within a safe environment. Moreover, it builds customer confidence in the security of their personal information as they enter sensitive data into your PWA.

                  10. Low data and low storage

                  Data is costly in some developing nations. That is why it is a bonus that Progressive Web App consumes only a fraction of data usage compared to native apps. Moreover, it does not take up significant storage space on devices, so users are more inclined to use a lighter app on their smartphones. Also, it contributes to better performance.

                  Read more: Building a Business Mobile App in 2021? Here’s What You Need to Know 

                  Mobile App

                  Progress with Progressive Web Apps

                  Progressive Web Apps are the future of web-hosted apps as they can overcome the inherent limitations of web performance and insufficient or unavailable internet connections. Since PWAs can run on any modern platform, soon they will overtake truly native apps. Yes, PWAs have the potential to change the way the web works. However, Progressive Web Apps will not replace websites and mobile apps altogether. It is still in its infancy. To know which option is best for your business, have a chat with the technology experts at Fingent.

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                    About the Author

                    ...
                    Sreejith

                    I have been programming since 2000, and professionally since 2007. I currently lead the Open Source team at Fingent as we work on different technology stacks, ranging from the "boring"(read tried and trusted) to the bleeding edge. I like building, tinkering with and breaking things, not necessarily in that order.

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                      Dynamic visual storytelling using SAP Analytics Cloud can reimagine your business intelligence, analytics, and reporting with real-time data. Here’s how. 

                      “Storytelling is our obligation to the next generation. If all we are doing is marketing, we are doing a disservice, not only to our profession but also to our children and their children. Give something of meaning to your audience by inspiring, engaging, and educating them with story. Stop marketing. Start storytelling.” These impactful words from Laura Holloway, Founder & Chief of The Storyteller Agency, sets the tone for this article.

                      Business storytelling is a powerful communication tool. It is a process and approach that helps establish a brand’s identity by making its message meaningful and memorable.

                      SAP Analytics Cloud helps you create this impact by creating visual stories with your brand or product in the spotlight. Moreover, it can help your product or brand stand apart in its essence and what it stands for. Visual storytelling contributes to your brand’s alignment with customers who ascribe to the same beliefs.

                      This blog discusses how SAP Analytics Cloud helps analysts create dynamic visual stories and how businesses can benefit from the same.

                      What is SAP Analytics Cloud?

                      SAP Analytics Cloud is a solution in the SAP portfolio to meet the needs of data visualization in the cloud. It enables analytics (analysts) to create storyboards about your products and services faster. SAP Analytics Cloud empowers all businesses to shape their ideas in the form of fun-filled, illustrative stories.

                      Interestingly, studies have revealed that the human brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than text. Defining products and services has always involved long functional specifications. As a result, they are easily misinterpreted and cannot be validated by the users. On the other hand, SAP Analytics Cloud can help analytics create dynamic visual stories that show the value of your ideas and product vision making messages more memorable and understandable.

                      SAP Analytics Cloud is delivered as an all-in-one, SaaS-based product. Its primary function is to create data reports that originate from various sources such as real-time data, budget forecast data, or data formatted as an MS Excel table. This solution is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing users to produce reports of varying complexity with complete autonomy.

                      Analysts understand that data can be a powerful influence only when it is presented in the right way. Mind-numbing spreadsheets or uninteresting charts can be turned into powerful and appealing stories with the help of SAP Analytics Cloud. Undeniably, data has a lot of potential. With an expressive storyline, you can unleash the potential of the data making it convincing and remarkable.

                      Read more: 8 ways business intelligence in SAP serves as your centralized suite for data reporting  

                      Business Intelligence in SAP

                      Top 5 benefits of SAP Analytics Cloud

                      SAP Analytics Cloud is a pre-configured ready to deploy true cloud solution. It is convenient, secure, and can scale with a business of any size. Consider 5 top benefits of SAP Analytics Cloud.

                      1. Gain insight into what drives your business

                      SAP Analytics Cloud is powered by augmented analytics features driven by AI and ML technologies. So, you can automatically gain insight from any level of detail and use those key influencers of past results to predict future scenarios and outcomes.

                      2. Create dynamic visual stories for better decision making

                      Hasty decisions made on assumptions can have disastrous consequences for your business. Conversely, you can make informed decisions by interacting with visualization as you can create dynamic visual stories based on your critical business areas with trusted data. Furthermore, this solution allows you to investigate thoroughly and answer essential questions of business on the fly.

                      3. Simplify analytics landscape

                      As SAP Analytics Cloud seamlessly integrates with your data and planning solutions, you can connect to data from multiple sources. This simplifies your analytics landscape, enabling you to get the complete picture and make better decisions.

                      4. Drive better business outcomes

                      Your organization can gain complete alignment across all business aspects by aligning financial, strategic, and operations planning in SAP Analytics Cloud. Subsequently, you can now predict future scenarios and outcomes with collaborative enterprise planning in one simple cloud solution.

                      5. Strategize with business growth in view

                      Strategic planning ensures business growth and helps businesses to remain resilient despite challenges. Collaborative enterprise planning empowers you to create a fact-based plan for your business’s success. Moreover, it allows you to modify your planning data when required to drive better budgeting, forecasting, and analysis for your business growth.

                      Read more: 7 crucial business challenges solved by SAP Analytics Cloud

                      SAP Analytics Cloud

                      SAP Analytics Cloud help analysts tell a story with your data

                      Just as in writing or speaking, analytics must keep their data design simple, crisp, and to the point. Telling a compelling, dynamic visual story requires both common sense and imagination. Here are some best practices to follow:

                      • Consider your target audience and identify what they already know about the subject.
                      • Ensure the colors and style are unique to your story to avoid confusion.
                      • The arrangement of the dashboard must be self-explanatory and user-friendly.
                      • Use symbols, icons, and pictures to help your audience understand the story at a single glance.
                      • Do not just beautify the visuals. Instead, explain the data.

                      Read more: Healthcare analytics reaches new heights with SAP HANA  

                      Healthcare

                      Use cases of how SAP Analytics Cloud helped create dynamic visual stories

                      Use case 1: A conservation society in Australia improves its operations with data-driven decisions

                      Taronga is a non-profitable organization that works to create the next generation of conservation champions. With the help of cutting-edge technology by SAP Analytics Cloud, Taronga is leveraging its data to improve operations and expand its impact. It is experiencing transparency, flexibility, and scalability while streamlining and digitizing all its business processes.

                      SAP Analytics Cloud provided Taronga access to real-time reporting that enabled the organization to make data-driven decisions which in turn contributed to a positive impact on wildlife conservation and enhanced visitor experience.

                      Use case 2: A dairy cooperative in Belgium makes informed decisions with real-time financial reporting

                      Milcobel is the largest dairy cooperative based in Belgium. It is a vast company that processes and commercializes 1.8 billion liters of milk from 2,400 dairy farms. The larger the organization, the greater the volume of data. So, Milcobel chose to implement SAP Analytics Cloud along with other SAP solutions. This implementation resulted in the reduction of time-consuming manual processes.

                      Moreover, it provided real-time data to the financial team to better understand the product margins and profitability of each of its dairy plants. Thus, the leaders can now trust that they are confidently making informed decisions based on up-to-date data. In addition, SAP Analytics Cloud ensures that all users have access to real-time data. Consequently, Milcobel has control and flexibility over their data quality and can benefit from an end-to-end strategy that combines data volume, quality, and usage to create data value.

                      Read more: SAP S/4HANA journey: 8 ways C-level leaders and executives can derive business value 

                      SAP S/4HANA

                      Beyond visual storytelling

                      The capabilities of SAP Analytics Cloud go far beyond just visual storytelling. As an SAP Silver Partner, Fingent has worked with many clients globally and helped them bring out the best from their business using the SAP Analytics Cloud landscape.

                      Read more: How Fingent helps CFOs gain new insights and reliably enable key decisions   

                      Fingent top software development company will help you create a cloud-first business environment, provide data visualization and reporting solutions, and empower your company with unparalleled business intelligence while leveraging your existing cloud and on-premise data solutions. What more could you ask for? Well, there is a lot more, and Fingent can help you tap into it all. So give us a call, and let’s get talking.

                      Stay up to date on what's new

                        About the Author

                        ...
                        Ashok Kumar

                        Ashok leads Fingent’s SAP Consulting practice for ANZ, SE Asia, The Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and other global clients. More specifically, he helps companies improve operational efficiency by enhancing their digital cores and improving their application integration. Ashok has amassed over 20 years of leadership and consulting experience having worked with Global giants like SAP, IBM Consulting, Capgemini, & Oracle in his previous assignments. Connect with Ashok via LinkedIn and learn how your business can excel with recent SAP trends.

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                          Custom patient engagement platforms improve caregiver-patient interactions today. Here’s how. 

                          With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting face-to-face engagement, patients have started using telehealth (telemedicine) technology and other digital channels to receive healthcare services. The growth of digital healthcare will increase the demand for healthcare technologies in the future. 81% of people (patients) want healthcare providers to know them individually and deliver more personalized and meaningful experiences.

                          While support programs like teleconsulting do not replace the physical presence of healthcare providers, they offer valued information, which is the need of the hour. With stay-at-home mandates, social distancing, and lockdowns, telemedicine is the vital care model that boosts patient engagement today. Personalized patient engagement fosters trust among patients and ensures continuity of care. So, in times of pandemic and beyond, patient engagement platforms will play a crucial role.

                          Read more: 5 ways to optimize the revenue of your medical practice and clinical processes 

                          Medical Practice

                          Patient engagement and its growing significance

                          In simple terms, patient engagement is a concept where patients are actively involved and considered important decision-makers in their care.

                          Engaged patients are:

                          • Informed- as they understand their health status and the treatment.
                          • Empowered- as they believe they can change their health outcomes.
                          • Heard- as they can communicate with their providers better and participate in shared decision-making.

                          What is a patient engagement platform (PEP)?

                          A patient engagement platform is an application that enables patients to interact with healthcare providers via their mobile device, tablet, or computer. The patient engagement platform keeps the patients involved beyond the four walls of the hospital.

                          When implemented effectively, patient engagement platforms can help streamline access to medical records, provide appointment reminders, enable self-scheduling for patients, and deliver patient education or awareness.

                          How do patient engagement platforms help?

                          Patient engagement platforms (PEPs) can help automate the following processes.

                          • Send reminders to patients regarding their postoperative treatment protocols
                          • Allow patients to update mobility reports and pain score
                          • Deliver educational content
                          • Manage images of wounds
                          • Record and monitor health vitals like BP, FBS, BMI, etc.

                          Read more: 7 major impacts of technology in healthcare

                          healthcare

                          What are the benefits of a patient engagement platform?

                          1. Ease the patient engagement process

                          A customized patient engagement platform helps improve your patient experience by assisting them in scheduling medical appointments. It can also help notify patients about their next visit to the clinic, or when they need to check their health vitals, or when their current medication course will be over. In addition, caregivers can use the patient engagement platform to track a patient’s medical history and use the data to channelize treatment plans when the patient pays a second visit.

                          2. Enable caregivers to focus on core competencies

                          With a patient engagement platform in place, patients can fill in medical forms, electronically scan their insurance cards, and consent from their mobiles, laptops, or computers. It will allow healthcare providers to focus on their core competencies and saves patients from standing in queues or long wait times. In addition, it can expedite the care delivery process during an emergency.

                          Case Study: Fingent partnered with Casenet’s Advanced Solutions Group to develop TruCare Insights as a reliable population health management platform. Download Now!

                          3. Empower care providers to make informed decisions

                          Healthcare organizations can use information like satisfaction scores, online appointments, wait times, and ROI to make informed decisions related to staffing and identify opportunities for improvement. Custom patient engagement platforms allow clinicians to track all this information effectively. It goes a long way in supporting clinical decision-making.

                          4. Optimize healthcare throughput

                          Patient engagement platforms allow online registration that ensures patients have less waiting time in the clinic. It enables healthcare providers to attend to more patients in a given time and improve data accuracy and demographics. In addition, patient engagement platforms spare medical professionals from time-consuming and manual data management processes so that they get time to receive advanced medical training. Nurses, physicians, administrators, and other hospital staff members can streamline their communication, increase staff satisfaction, and utilize data analytics to make strategic decisions.

                          Benefits to the patients:

                          • Patients are aware of the next steps, such as diet plans, exercises, medication plans, or next clinical visit
                          • Consistent and transparent care will be available 24/7
                          • Augmented patient engagement and experience
                          • Improved communication lowers preoperative stress and anxiety

                          Case Study: How did a data analytics solution help NHS gain financial, clinical, and geographical insights to improve visibility over their KPIs? Read Now

                          What to look for in a custom patient engagement platform?

                          Given the changes in patient behavior, expectations, and changing healthcare landscape, healthcare providers will have to ramp up patient engagement strategies and implement the latest engagement technologies. Patient engagement platforms must enable providers to determine the best ways to deploy their expertise and services to their patients.

                          Read more: Digital tools reshaping the healthcare industry

                          So, make sure the patient engagement platform has the following capabilities.

                          1. EMR integration

                          The patient engagement platform should integrate with Electronic Medical Records (EMR). For example, the platform should receive data from the EMR, such as a referral or recall, and revert to the EMR.

                          2. Sentiment analysis

                          The main aim of patient engagement is to understand patients on a deeper, emotional level. So, it is crucial to leverage sentiment analysis technology. This will enable providers to recognize when a patient is happy or frustrated and respond accordingly.

                          3. Real-time and interactive patient communication

                          The platform must encourage bidirectional communication, specifically text-based messaging. In short, patients must be able to communicate with their health system easily.

                          4. Chatbot functionality and keyword actions

                          The use of chatbots and keywords in patient engagement platforms is trending. It helps reduce human intervention. So, the patient engagement platform should allow for automated responses to common questions such as “where are you located?” The platform must also enable keywords to trigger automation, such as scheduling a ride for patients who need a lift.

                          Read more: 5 leading chatbot use cases explained with real-life examples

                          Chatbots

                          5. Patient on-boarding

                          The platform should drive patients to the patient portal and help them register quickly and conveniently to get medical support on time.

                          6. Integration with other vendors

                          A single app can’t solve it all. It is just not feasible and is also not in your patient’s best interests. Make sure that your patient engagement platform integrates seamlessly with your other vendors. For example, the platform can offer billing features or even integrate with medical billing software, medical invoice management software, etc.

                          7. Boost employee adoption

                          Your staff must like and accept the patient engagement platform. If they don’t appreciate the new technology, it won’t fulfill its potential. In addition, you must ensure that the patient engagement platform enjoys enterprise-wide adoption and has a user-friendly UX and UI.

                          8. Offer multilingual support

                          As not all patients speak English, you will have to ensure that the platform supports different languages used or spoken widely by your patients.

                          Read more: 5 essentials to an effective healthcare application 

                          Why should you adopt a custom patient engagement platform?

                          A custom patient engagement platform is specifically developed for your organization to cover your unique healthcare requirements and cater to your internal processes.

                          As such a platform is built from scratch, it gives you the freedom of choice for technology. Additionally, you can easily integrate this platform with third-party systems because you get to control the code entirely. Also, you will have full ownership of the final product and customize the software according to any relevant changes in your organization.

                          Benefits of a custom patient engagement platform

                          • High scalability
                          • Seamless integration to your existing infrastructure
                          • Enables integration with any new services you are willing to include in your medical practice
                          • Freedom to choose the technology
                          • Gain full ownership of the resulting solution

                          Custom patient engagement platform is best suited for medical practices that:

                          • Offer a wide range of services
                          • Plan to expand in size and services
                          • Have rigid workflows that are difficult to adapt
                          • Want to integrate the new solution with the existing system

                          Read more: The application and impact of information technology in healthcare

                          Healthcare

                          Develop your custom patient engagement platform with Fingent

                          At Fingent, we have the expertise and work closely with you to build a custom patient engagement platform to suit your business needs. Our software development experts help you select the best web development frameworks, database and backend technologies, data visualization formats, and leading front-end technologies to develop your patient engagement platform or any medical software that you would require.

                          Fingent helps you develop healthcare application platforms tailored to your needs, with top features like appointment scheduling, medical billing, patient feedback management, payment processing, chatbot, and fundamental to in-depth analytics. To know more, please get in touch with us.

                          Stay up to date on what's new

                            About the Author

                            ...
                            Vinod Saratchandran

                            Vinod has conceptualized and delivered niche mobility products that cater to various domains including logistics, media & non-profits. He leads, mentors & coaches a team of Project Coordinators & Analysts at Fingent.

                            Talk To Our Experts

                              Why migrate your legacy ERP software to Odoo ERP?

                              COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic disruption have made many businesses consider the benefits of legacy application migration. Migrating legacy enterprise applications or systems to new technology platforms is one of the cheapest and fastest methods to ensure business continuity in today’s volatile market.

                              Read more: Why modernize your legacy systems? What’s the best approach to legacy systems modernization? 

                              Legacy system modernization

                              Technavio estimates that the global ERP software market will grow by $18.91 billion from 2019-2023, with a CAGR of 9%. This report only highlights the growing demand for ERP software across various businesses.

                              Odoo ERP implementation is an all-in-one solution befitting your particular business requirements. Odoo ERP system is flexible and easy to deploy. It can replace your outdated legacy system and augment the overall business process. For example, Toyota uses Odoo ERP to streamline material handling processes. Even for a complex project, the shortest implementation span has helped Toyota create additional value in just six months of Odoo integration.

                              Reasons leading to an increase in demand include the need for digital transformation and to keep up with the ‘new normal’ thanks to the rise of eCommerce, mobile shopping, and providing a seamless experience to customers. In addition, the changing business scenarios are compelling businesses to adapt to new technology and platforms for facing the challenges and making the migration from one environment to another inevitable.

                              This has necessitated migration to the latest platforms such as legacy ERP systems to the new, web-based, Cloud, or On-premise Odoo ERP or from old Odoo ERP to the latest version.

                              Read more: Top 6 reasons to migrate to a cloud-hosted ERP

                              Cloud Hosted ERP

                              Legacy System vs. Odoo ERP

                              Currently, many organizations are operating under the legacy system, and some even continue to stay within that comfort zone. However, decision-makers will have to look into new technology and methods, as legacy systems need better functionality to facilitate daily business operations and accommodate the growing customer base.

                              Migrating to Odoo ERP system is the best way to adapt and meet the ever-evolving market demand. In addition, Odoo ERP migration reduces manual labor and improves business productivity to a great level. It is less time-consuming and cost-effective than going for a total replacement of your legacy enterprise application.

                              Why is legacy application migration needed?

                              1. Eliminate maintenance and security risks

                              A legacy system is inefficient and outdated and can cost you more than a total replacement, especially if the system is older. It can result in IT businesses spending more on its maintenance, leaving little of the budget to address business challenges that are getting complicated day by day.

                              That said, old and outdated software systems are more prone to cyber-attacks and security risks. Also, when such an obsolete system is near its end of the life cycle, support will be stopped leaving organizations operating on those legacy systems vulnerable.

                              In many cases, companies may lose data and information when legacy systems fail. Also, it could be tough to find people who know those obsolete programming languages to repair the system. Outsourcing the maintenance work may also become more expensive than usual as the professionals may not be well-versed with such a system. This is where a legacy application migration expert like Fingent can help. We help migrate your legacy on-premise systems to advanced, cloud-hosted infrastructure so that your business can scale as it grows.

                              Read more: 5 ways application modernization enables your business to reap ROI during a pandemic 

                              Application Modernization

                              2. Gain improved access to relevant data

                              Most of the legacy systems were built during times when customers would still shop from traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Also, these systems would not store business data from each department in a central place.

                              So, organizations looking to continue operating on outdated applications or systems will naturally miss out on better opportunities and scaling up. It will limit their business mobility and flexibility as well. Additionally, legacy systems lead to data duplication. The data itself could be inaccurate, outdated, and incomplete. These inefficiencies will hamper your business growth and even slow down the competitive edge.

                              On the other hand, web-based cloud ERP systems like Odoo allows businesses to access their data from anywhere and anytime from various operating systems and mobile devices.

                              Simply put, Odoo migration provides organizations with more innovative ways of operating a business while offering technological developments allowing them to maximize value creation across assets and operations lifecycles, eventually improving ROI.

                              Read more: Odoo Migration: Why is it crucial and how to do it seamlessly

                              Odoo Migration

                              Benefits of legacy application migration to Odoo

                              Odoo migration allows you to move your legacy applications from their existing tech stack to the latest software platform. Legacy application migration to Odoo ERP is one of the best ways to augment software performance by leveraging the latest technologies. Here’s what legacy system migration to Odoo offers you:

                              1. Improved operational efficiency

                              Odoo offers both Cloud and On-premise ERP solutions that enable organizations to address the needs of their customers. Cloud-based ERP is more popular as it offers improved flexibility, accessibility, security, and better operational efficiency. The cloud-based application is also accessible across different devices such as laptops, smartphones, desktops, and tablets. However, you will need a reliable internet connection and a compatible device to access the application anytime and anywhere. Migrating to Odoo will also reduce hardware dependency and is easily accessible.

                              2. Cost-efficiency

                              Odoo migration is cost-effective and gives you better control of your operational expenses. You can utilize Odoo’s dedicated financial management, invoicing, and accounting modules and customize them according to your business needs. More importantly, Odoo migration reduces infrastructure complexities and maintenance costs. Also, its flexible nature allows you to pay for the features you are using.

                              3. Robust data security

                              As legacy systems include obsolete software configurations and outdated technologies, they are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Odoo offers exceptional features such as 256-bit SSL encryption, PBKDF2+SHA512 encryption, RPO/RTO-based backup, and disaster recovery techniques in addition to top-notch network defense against DDoS attacks, SQL injections, and malware attacks.

                              4. Overcome compatibility issues

                              Many organizations are likely to face compatibility issues while upgrading their legacy applications due to old software configurations. In addition, given the underlying software architecture, the legacy system also makes integrating new technologies very challenging.

                              So, legacy application migration seems to be the only option to overcome the apparent limitations and vulnerabilities. As the entire tech is upgraded while moving data to the Odoo ERP software platform, it becomes fully compatible with several applications, enterprise modules, and software technologies. You can also benefit from the multiple, feature-rich modules offered by Odoo ERP to manage various business functions.

                              Read more: Why your business needs Odoo ERP

                              Odoo ERP

                              In addition to the above benefits, Odoo ERP enables search integration, social networking, and other latest technology functions. Moreover, migrated systems are less likely to become outdated as they can be continuously updated to on-trend technology.

                              Migrate your legacy ERP to Odoo with Fingent

                              Odoo ERP caters to the business needs of enterprises of all sizes, and legacy application migration to Odoo will provide you with a string of benefits. These benefits will future-proof your organization regardless of its diverse functionality.

                              Read more: Why choose Fingent as your Odoo ERP partner

                              Odoo ERP

                              We, at Fingent, provide end-to-end Odoo ERP solutions for industry-specific business needs. We specialize in building custom enterprise applications for varying business needs and render complete support for Odoo ERP integration and legacy application migration to Odoo ERP. To know more about our Odoo ERP migration services, contact us right away.

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                                About the Author

                                ...
                                Yaseen Shareef

                                Yaseen Shareef has been developing solutions with Odoo since 2013 and currently manages Odoo projects for Fingent's clients, making business functions more productive. Outside of work, Yaseen enjoys vlogging, traveling and catching up on the latest action movies.

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                                  How Various Industries are Leveraging AR, VR, and MR Today?

                                  Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality(VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) may sound the same to many of us. But do you know that each one is different? AR, VR, and MR are different tech concepts with characteristics that differentiate each from one another.

                                  Here’s what you need to know about each of the technologies, along with a few examples.

                                  Augmented Reality

                                  Augmented Reality uses computer vision along with mapping and depth tracking to show the appropriate content to the user. This functionality allows the cameras to collect, send and process the data to show the appropriate content to the user.

                                  AR is designed for unrestricted movement while projecting images or other objects that you are looking at and enhances the user’s physical environment with contextually relevant digital content in real-time. A user can experience Augmented Reality with a smartphone or special hardware.

                                  Watch Video: Augmented Reality in Education Transforms Learning Experience

                                  Some of the interesting real-world examples of AR

                                  1. AR in Gaming

                                  Games like “Pokemon Go” project a Pokemon on your screen, on top of whatever your mobile camera focuses on. Augmented Reality has beautifully combined the real world with the favorite Pokemon characters.

                                  2. AR in Medical Training

                                  Augmented Reality is finding its virtue in medical training today. For example, students at the Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University are learning human anatomy using AR headsets or glasses. AR allows them to examine the human body without the need for dissecting cadavers or watching live operations.

                                  Read more: How Augmented Reality in Healthcare is set to Transform the Industry in Future

                                  Augmented Reality in healthcare

                                  3. AR in Retail

                                  The retail sector also has been taking advantage of AR to help customers have a more enjoyable and interactive shopping experience. For example, Harley Davidson has developed a unique mobile app for its customers that allows them to view a motorcycle in-store using AR and customize it by adding accessories, changing paint jobs, etc.

                                  IKEA, the leading retail conglomerate, has rolled out AR-powered retail apps that allow customers to “try on” clothing remotely before buying them online.

                                  Read more: How Top Brands Embrace Augmented Reality to Offer Immersive Customer Experiences

                                  augmented reality

                                  4. AR in Manufacturing

                                  Augmented Reality enables the manufacturing industry to gain a competitive edge by helping companies improve quality and productivity. Workers can get assistance from AR gadgets to save time, reduce errors and increase efficiency. Some of the world’s biggest brands like Boeing and General Electric are already using AR in their manufacturing processes.

                                  Using AR glasses allows Boeing’s technicians to easily view the wiring renderings in the aircraft fuselage without external distractions.

                                  Augmented Reality enables GE mechanics to be more productive as the technology offers them step-by-step instructions and visuals directly within their line of sight. They also get alerts in real-time through AR smart glasses so that they can inspect every step before moving on.

                                  Read more: How Augmented Reality Simplifies Equipment Maintenance

                                  equipment maintenance

                                  Virtual Reality 

                                  Virtual Reality Environments (VREs) allow users to experience real-life scenarios via simulated counterparts and gain practical knowledge that would otherwise be difficult to comprehend in a real environment.

                                  As the main focus of Virtual Reality is on simulating the vision, you will have to wear a VR headset such as Oculus Quest or HTC Vive Cosmos in front of your eyes that eliminates any interaction with the natural world (avoids distractions). Typically, two autofocus lenses are placed between the screen and the user’s eyes. The lenses adjust based on the individual eye movement and positioning. To render the visuals on the screen, you can use an HDMI cable connected to the PC or mobile phone.

                                  Virtual Reality uses speakers, goggles, and even handheld wearables to simulate a real-world experience. You can also employ visual, audio, and touch simulation to create a more immersive reality.

                                  A few real-life applications of VR

                                  1. VR in Education

                                  Virtual Reality can make learning more engaging and immersive. In addition to schools and universities, virtual experiences can help businesses train their staff. Currently, Unimersiv is offering VR educational content for institutions and companies.

                                  Case Study: Using 360-degree VR simulations, the University of North Carolina offers an immersive campus touring experience to aspiring students. Download now

                                  2. VR in Real Estate

                                  For years, real estate agents have used photos and graphic designs to showcase properties to prospective buyers. Today, Virtual Reality has transformed real estate property tours, making them more personalized, immersive, and close to reality. Being an immersive technology, VR enables potential buyers to experience a 3D walkthrough and understand better what each property has to offer even before scheduling a physical site visit.

                                  For example, Sotheby’s, one of the world’s leading luxury realty brands, offers Virtual Reality home tours and videos to its clients. Potential buyers can view properties and spaces from the comfort of their homes using a web browser, or a smartphone, PC, laptop, or through a wearable headset.

                                  Read more:How Virtual Reality can Transform Your Real Estate Business

                                  Virtual Reality

                                  3. VR in Marketing

                                  VR is helping businesses reach out to their audiences by launching immersive and engaging marketing campaigns. With the COVID-19 pandemic compelling people to shop online and companies to transform digitally, Virtual Reality is gaining more popularity as it is helping people get a feel for products without leaving their homes.

                                  For example, IKEA has introduced a VR app that enables users to experience kitchen remodeling. Using the VR Kitchen app, you can explore the virtual kitchen and interact with the objects using a VR headset.

                                  4. VR in Healthcare

                                  Virtual Reality helps doctors understand their patients’ needs better as it provides an in-depth look into human anatomy. Today, VR is extensively used in surgical training.

                                  An educational project conducted by the University of New England (UNE) successfully used VR to teach empathy to medical and health profession students. The project used a VR tool called “Alfred Lab app” – to teach students about macular degeneration and hearing loss from a 74-year-old African American man’s perspective. Realizing an aged and ailing patient’s thoughts and concerns enables the residents to develop empathy towards such patients.

                                  Read more: How Virtual Reality Improves the Standard of Medical Education and Training

                                  Virtual Reality

                                  5. VR in Travel and Hospitality

                                  The travel industry is facing the hardest time ever in its history. However, vaccination rollouts on a global scale and international travel relaxations now give a fillip to travel, tourism, and hospitality. An early adopter of digitalization, the travel industry has already forayed into Virtual Reality. Travel businesses attract tourists and even promote holiday destinations through virtual staging and tours. Virtual Reality also allows people to explore the world virtually, especially those who cannot afford to travel.

                                  Google StreetView is one of the best examples of how VR is being used in the travel industry. In addition to viewing panoramic images on a computer, it allows users to enable Google Cardboard mode for a Virtual Reality experience.

                                  Mixed Reality

                                  Mixed Reality, sometimes known as hybrid reality, combines the elements of both AR as well as VR. However, here the virtual content is not only overlaid on the actual environment but is fixed to and interacts with that environment. In simple terms, Mixed Reality lets you see virtual objects just like Augmented Reality, but these objects are capable of interacting with the real world. In simple words, Mixed Reality is more like immersive and interactive Augmented Reality.

                                  MR is still in its nascent stages and may take time to create an impact like the other two technologies. One of the most remarkable Mixed Reality apparatuses is Microsoft’s HoloLens.

                                  Opportunities provided by Mixed Reality

                                  1. MR in Education

                                  Mixed Reality allows students to see both the real world as well as the holograms. MR offers an immersive learning environment enabling students to understand better.

                                  Case Study: Find how Fingent developed a unique Mixed Reality application for a leading university that enables users to identify people using facial recognition. Download Now!

                                  Facial Recognition

                                  2. MR in Manufacturing

                                  Mixed Reality provides workers with real-time assistance, thereby facilitating manufacturing processes. The technology allows workers to see holographic instructions, so they know what to do. This minimizes human errors and improves quality significantly. Mixed Reality is also helpful for repairs and maintenance, especially in industries that require precision and expertise.

                                  For example, Renault Trucks integrates Mixed Reality into its manufacturing process for enhancing engine quality control at one of its factories.

                                  The blurring line between physical and virtual

                                  While Virtual Reality takes you to the virtual world from wherever you are, Augmented Reality adds to the reality by projecting information on top of what you see. Mixed Reality combines both AR and VR. All these technologies, though powerful, are yet to make their mark with consumers. That said, they can completely change the way we use computing devices, gadgets, and technology in the future.

                                  If you are eager to offer your customers immersive virtual experiences that surpass physical encounters, look no further than Fingent, a top custom software development company. Get in touch with us now!

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                                    About the Author

                                    ...
                                    Tony Joseph

                                    Tony believes in building technology around processes, rather than building processes around technology. He specializes in custom software development, especially in analyzing processes, refining it and then building technology around it.He works with clients on a daily basis to understand and analyze their operational structure, discover (and not invent) key improvement areas and come up with technology solutions to deliver an efficient process.

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                                      Add More Zest to Your Ecommerce Marketing and CX with 3D Web Configuration

                                      Having a digital infrastructure is inevitable, but it just isn’t enough to keep up with the competition. Achieving business success is about “wowing” your e-commerce buyers. In the post-pandemic world, businesses must find engaging and innovative ways to increase customer satisfaction and experience. A recent Frost & Sullivan study showed that by 2020, customer experience would overtake price and product as a key brand differentiator. True to this, business in 2020 was entirely driven by customer experience. 

                                      View Infographic: Business Technologies to Boost Customer Experience and Satisfaction

                                      Local shoppers switched to online shopping, door deliveries were encouraged, telemedicine became more popular, mobile and internet banking users increased, and even classrooms became virtual. 

                                      So, how do you “wow” your customer in this age of online shopping? By giving them as close to the real experience as virtually possible! 

                                      How do you do that? With a 3D configurator! 

                                      A 3D product configurator allows your customers to see exactly how your product looks, acts and feels. It gives them a personal connection with their potential purchase. 3D configurators have become an integral part of the sales process and rising customer expectations during the pandemic, making it vital for specific industries. 

                                      This blog helps you understand what a 3D web configurator is and how it can help increase your e-commerce sales and boost customer satisfaction.

                                      Read more:How Custom Retail Software Solutions Help You Gain a Competitive Advantage?

                                      retail software solutions

                                      What is a 3D Web Configurator?

                                      In the past, customers were satisfied to see a static photograph that they could easily zoom in and out. However, with the changed circumstances and digital development, customers would like to view how various product designs or features would look in real-time, allowing them to spin, zoom, scroll, and rotate. That is precisely what a 3D web configurator allows your customers to enjoy. 

                                      A 3D web configurator is defined as an interactive tool powered by 3D models that lets your customers personalize a product to their specifications in real-time. Plus, it allows them to choose custom options and watch them transform instantly, and receive estimates of the costs based on their customizations. 

                                      This service gives your customers the feel of being at your store because it gives them the ability to get the feel of the product, such as the color, texture, and other aspects of your product. Customers can watch it from any device without using plugins. 

                                      Essentially, 3D configurators are not just for retailers and car companies. All industries that sell customizable products can benefit from letting their customers see how their products look in real-time. Once this service is implemented, you can increase your ecommerce sales and boost customer satisfaction.

                                      Read more: 6 Ways to Accelerate Business Growth and Success in 2021

                                      Business Growth

                                      How does a 3D Web Configurator Work?

                                      A 3D web configurator accomplishes two pertinent e-commerce goals:

                                      1. A detailed exploration of your products
                                      2. The ability to customize the product to a customer’s specific needs

                                      When your customers have not zeroed in on a particular product, your 3D configurator steps in to display different combinations and options for that product to inspire them to make an informed decision. In effect, your 3D configurator will help them check out the colors, styles, material and combine them in different ways until they create a personalized product. Then, as they mix and match their specifications, your configurator will allow them to see their combinations in 360-degree, in real-time mode, along with the price. Such precise control over their product will encourage them to make a purchase.  

                                      Read more: How Top Brands Embrace Augmented Reality to Deliver Immersive Customer Experiences

                                      augmented reality

                                      How 3D Web Configurators Boost E-Commerce Sales and Customer Satisfaction?

                                      1. Enable omnichannel experience

                                      As mentioned at the outset, 3D configuration solutions do not require a third-party plugin which limits the number of customers who can view your product. Above all, it can be formatted for events or used in interactive stores as it can also work offline. Such interaction encourages your customers to participate in your productions, ensuring you understand their choice and budget. 

                                      2. Grow your e-commerce sales 

                                      Your customers will have proactive control of what they want to buy as 3D configuration solutions allow them to try out various combinations virtually. Once you know their exact requirements, you can minimize errors, misunderstandings, and mistakes between you and your customer. 

                                      3D web configuration reduces barriers to the market as you will be able to release the options to your customers during the first stage of product development. Thus, you can grow your e-commerce sales as your customers know that you understand them clearly and provide them with quality products. 

                                      3. Save costs

                                      3D web configurators can redefine and shorten the sales cycle as real-time customer responses/ reactions can help you create better outcomes. This allows you to track consumer behavior in real-time. Also, you can reduce the quantity of raw materials you need to stock as you will now create products as per request.

                                      Furthermore, you can minimize significant expenses incurred in logistics and storage to a great degree. You can also personalize this unmatched 3D technology to become as responsive as the rest of your website. 

                                      4. Place your customers behind the wheel

                                      As the factory floor entered the digital age, brands must let their customers take the driver’s seat for tremendous success. Only then will you precisely understand what your customers want. Knowing that will help you meet their demands accurately. The 3D web configurator allows your customers unparalleled freedom to bring their dream product to life, ensuring their satisfaction. 

                                      5. Distinguish your brand with a “wow” factor

                                      Consumer attention has created intense competition between brands, forcing them to spend billions in an attempt to find the magical ingredient that will capture and retain the attention of their customers. 

                                      What determines whether their attention sticks or moves away is the “wow” factor that keeps them returning for more. A 3D configurator will help you ensure that your customers are “wowed” each time they visit your website because they would have truly enjoyed the experience. Your configurator can boost customer satisfaction by delivering the experience needed to attract and amaze your customers repeatedly.

                                      6. Boost sales

                                      3D web configurators increase conversion rates and revenues as your customers can make informed decisions without delay. It gives them all the information they require to make a quick purchase. For example, it offers details such as customization of the product, price, immediate and direct contact with the salesperson, detailed descriptions, and a strong call to action. Additionally, you can avoid cart abandonment scenarios through increased engagement.

                                      Make 3D Web Configurators Your Launching Pad 

                                      Customer engagement and interactive product visualization can customize a product of choice and provide a tangible in-store experience to your online customers. It can become a launching pad for increased growth, higher sales, and conversions. Would you like to experience the power of a 3D web configurator and don’t know where to start? Get in touch with our software development experts right away. 

                                      Stay up to date on what's new

                                        About the Author

                                        ...
                                        Tony Joseph

                                        Tony believes in building technology around processes, rather than building processes around technology. He specializes in custom software development, especially in analyzing processes, refining it and then building technology around it.He works with clients on a daily basis to understand and analyze their operational structure, discover (and not invent) key improvement areas and come up with technology solutions to deliver an efficient process.

                                        Talk To Our Experts

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