3D Web Configurator Tech: Run Your Home Improvement Business Safely During The Pandemic

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?

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 at Fingent and help us give you a 3D view of your business’s success!

Streamlining SAP S/4HANA Migration with Selective Data Transition

Though the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates digital adoption among industries, the journey towards Intelligent Enterprise can be complex. Typically, this begins with establishing an intelligent core like SAP ERP. However, even migrating to a new system is more than just a simple upgrade for many companies. With several years of historical business data across complex system landscapes, companies will have to adopt a specific migration approach to SAP S/4HANA. A well-defined migration approach will help businesses ensure business continuity, embrace innovation, and stay relevant and competitive. This post will look at SAP S/4HANA Selective Data Transition Engagement and how this approach accelerates SAP S/4HANA migration.

Read more: Deploying SAP S/4HANA: Tools and Methodologies to Adopt

Two Popular SAP S/4HANA Migration Methods

There are two popular methods to manage SAP S/4HANA migration.

1. Greenfield migration

The first option is the Greenfield approach or a complete re-engineering (new implementation). However, the limitation of this approach is that you cannot migrate your historical data and so cannot take advantage of the latest intelligent features you need for your company’s historical data to work.

2. Brownfield migration

The second option is the Brownfield approach that allows migrating high volumes of historical data (system conversion). However, moving a vast amount of historical data could leave you with more data that could be non-compliant with data privacy laws. Also, this approach could leave you with a lot of irrelevant data in your newly configured system.

As both these options offer certain limitations, SAP formed a brand-new approach, the SAP S/4HANA Selective Data Transition Engagement, that makes your data migration to SAP S/4HANA a lot easier.

What is Selective Data Transition?

Selective Data Transition, also known as Hybrid Approach or Landscape Transformation, is an alternative to the New Implementation approach (Greenfield) or System Conversion approach (Brownfield). It allows you to consolidate several ERP systems to one central SAP S/4 HANA system. Selective Data Transition is vital for companies moving from an existing SAP ERP solution to SAP S/4HANA on-premise or SAP S/4 HANA cloud (private edition).

Just like an inland river delta flowing into the ocean, Selective Data Transition allows you to migrate only a relevant selection of your existing ERP data to SAP S/4 HANA. So, if you’re on SAP ECC planning for transition to SAP S/4HANA, then selective data transition is one of the best approaches to move to SAP S/4HANA.

Case Study: Thermo Pads partners with Fingent to migrate from ECC 6 to SAP S/4HANA. View Case Study

Business Benefits of Selective Data Transition Approach

• Selective data transition avoids business disruption when moving to SAP S/4HANA and enables you to go live according to your business needs. In general, this approach allows for a single go-live, moving several organizational units or roll-out in multiple phases, for example, by country.
• This approach enables you to migrate only your relevant historical data and retain a consistent process chain while leaving behind obsolete data, for example, outdated company codes.
• Selective data transition helps you define your speed and combine single projects such as a new go-live implementation, finance management, etc. while moving to SAP S/4HANA in a single step or a phased approach.
• With SAP S/4 HANA, you can introduce new business processes and manage your historical data while protecting good practices and previous investments.
• The near-zero downtime approach restricts the technical downtime to just a few hours.
• Selective data transition can help change your landscape by either splitting or consolidating existing systems.

Read more: 7 Tips to Ensure a Seamless Transition to SAP S/4HANA

Customize Your Selective Data Transition Approach with Fingent

Selective Data Transition Engagement is a great way to balance between redesign and reuse. It can happen across various scenarios for companies of different sizes to support a smooth transition to SAP S/4HANA. This approach provides a suitable IT landscape for every company’s unique needs. Selective data transition goes beyond the standard implementation as it offers several options for customers to choose from, based on their current landscapes and future needs.

You can work with Fingent and define the appropriate structural changes that need to be considered during data migration, along with any business processes that may need to be modified or redesigned. Our tailored approach has helped many of our customers to increase their flexibility to adapt data and processes in just one step.

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

With Selective Data Transition Engagement, companies can even take advantage of select innovation and modify their business processes to facilitate the use of the latest tools and functionality without the need to start from scratch.Companies having mature SAP landscapes can clean up their environments while retaining those investments that matter most and lower their transitions by bypassing preparation projects.

Selective data transition can even help split some of your projects between the cloud and on-premise. It also allows you to restructure and consolidate your environments as you want. But, most importantly, this approach helps you save time by combining all tasks in just one step.

Read more: 6 capabilities of SAP S/4HANA that will help you become an intelligent enterprise 

So, if you are interested in learning how the SAP S/4HANA Selective Data Transition Engagement can help your organization accomplish successful migration, don’t hesitate to contact Fingent. We are an SAP Silver Partner and have the expertise in this area to expedite your intelligent enterprise journey.

A comprehensive guide to web application development in 2021

• Introduction
• What is a Web Application?
• What is Web Application Development?
• Web Apps vs Mobile Apps
• Types of Web Applications
• Technology Stacks for Web Application Development
• Benefits of Web Application Development
• Web Application Development Process
• Web Application Development Validation & Deployment
• Web Application Development Trends
• The Cost of Developing a Web Application
• FAQs About Web Application Development
• Develop Your Web Application with Fingent

A comprehensive guide to developing mobile apps in 2021 and beyond!

• Introduction
• What is Mobile Application Development
• Types of Mobile Applications
• Mobile Application Development Platforms
• Mobile Application Development Process
• Mobile Application Front-end and Back-end
• End-to-end Mobile App Testing
• The Cost to Develop a Mobile App
• Five Reasons Why Mobile Apps Fail and How to Prevent The Let-down
• Tips for Building Successful Mobile Apps
• Develop Your Mobile Application with Fingent

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

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 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 

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 

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.

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  

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 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  

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 

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 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.

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? 

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

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 

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

Are you thinking about delivering immersive virtual experiences to your customers that can overtake physical encounters? Talk to our reality tech experts today.

What are the benefits of implementing SAP ERP software into your business?

With businesses transforming themselves digitally, SAP ERP systems saw a rise in popularity for the past few years, especially since 2019. What makes the system so unique? For one, SAP ERP can be implemented by all businesses, big or small, and reap the benefits of the software. That said, SAP software is providing solutions that are helping businesses adapt to the ever-changing technology landscape.

Read more: SAP for Business: 9 Ways to Maximize Business Performance 

What is SAP ERP?

SAP stands for Systems, Applications, and Products in data processing. SAP is the market leader among ERP software providers. SAP ERP comprises several modules that help companies gather, maintain, store and interpret data from functional areas such as;

• Sales and distribution
• Financial accounting
• Manufacturing and material management
• Logistics and warehouse management
• Supply chain management
• Business intelligence

In other words, the SAP ERP system produces a precise process that offers a complete perspective (internal and external) of your business.

Read more: 8 Ways Business Intelligence in SAP Serves as Your Centralized Suite for Data Reporting

What are the uses of SAP ERP software?

With over 230 million cloud users and more than 100 solutions covering all business functions, SAP is the largest cloud portfolio provider in the ERP market.

SAP facilitates effective data processing and information flow across organizations. Also, software like SAP S/4HANA leverages in-memory computing to process vast data volumes and simultaneously supports advanced technologies such as machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Read more: 6 capabilities of SAP S/4HANA that will help you become an intelligent enterprise

SAP software connects different parts of a business, such as finance, accounting, sales, supply chain, assembly line, HR, etc., into an intelligent business suite that is entirely digital. You can purchase or customize any module based on your business needs.

Simply put, SAP software can manage almost all your departments, revolutionizing the way your business operates. Also, it helps organizations eliminate the redundancy and duplication in data. This can help organizations to run even more efficiently.

If you’re new to SAP and looking for an SAP consultant, get in touch with us, and we will assist you further.

Case Study: Fingent helped a real estate giant reduce manual work, improve TAT, and increase profitability by integrating multiple role-based mobile apps into their SAP ERP system. Download now!

Business benefits of implementing SAP ERP software

1. Offers innovative technology

SAP ensures you are equipped with the right tools and technology that will help you prepare for the future. SAP software also provides you with future-proof cloud ERP solutions that will power the next generation of your business.

Read more: Create Intelligent Organizations with SAP Model Company

2. Improves cost-efficiency

SAP ERP software reduces the administration and operation expenses by using accurate and real-time information. In addition, the software enables manufacturers to control operations and avoid delays in production and break up information, which eventually allows the management to make decisions effectively.

Additionally, SAP offers complete power to the administrators over the breakdowns of crucial company processes and future disturbances.

3. Advances data management

Performance metrics and measurements help businesses assess their performance and set future objectives as well. However, as the business expands, it will become difficult to manually measure the profit ratios, sales margin, and other metrics.

SAP ERP helps automate processes and allows the staff within the organization to view shared data without retaining manual records. It also helps in generating synchronized reports on essential company metrics. Immediate access to such information will augment decision-making.

Read more: What are the benefits of adopting SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation (IRPA)

4. Avoids duplication and upgrades transparency

As all your business information is stored in a single database, the possibility of duplicate records and data entries is reduced. In addition, the system will automatically report the present system records. It improves the quality of the data and lets you create exact pictures in most cases.

Additionally, SAP software upgrades the transparency of your business to a new level. The ERP system will screen and monitor every marginal operation and task from an inventory product level, purchase orders, or billing and delivery. This will provide a clear view of the performance of all the tasks.

5. Integrates other members of the value chain

SAP ERP helps bridge the gap between the suppliers and customers by integrating other value chain members. This allows your organization to gain a competitive edge by engaging in the design and development of new products that add value to their experience.

SAP ERP is a great tool that helps you get more information and improve quality. For example, the availability of up-to-date data lets you adjust production orders and purchase according to your requirements. Also, you can get a segmented database of your customers, making it easier to carry out your marketing campaigns targeting specific segments.

6. Enables better analysis and forecasting

In most cases, it is difficult for a person to provide accurate information evaluation along with reports. SAP ERP system eliminates information risk as there is no duplication of data. In addition, the system provides real-time reports of even the minor business tasks that serve risk assessment and generation of performance reports.

The ERP system reviews purchases and changes in the inventory as they happen. It provides customers and, most notably, managers with the tools and resources needed to make accurate forecasts.

Read more: Why is SAP Commerce Cloud a Complete Digital Business Solution 

7. Allows effortless scaling

If you are a prospective start-up organization and aspire to become a more prominent and successful company in the future, you will have to handle the expansion. It is required to extend your company operations.

Right from the development stage, you will have to consider the machinery, workforce power, and extensive data. SAP software is designed to suit all the fundamental market criteria. Initially, you can do some simple integration and then scale up according to the precise industry specifications.

8. Enhances data security

The SAP ERP system improves data quality and security. The software provides better data protection using built-in security systems and firewalls. 

Additionally, SAP allows you to access the relevant information to allocate and limit data usage to every employee or a group of individuals.

Read more: What is business process expertise in SAP and why you need it

Fingent offers SAP ERP consulting and implementation services

SAP has an extensive portfolio of programs designed for all major roles, including project teams, IT administrators, key users, and end-users. Fingent is a certified SAP Silver Partner authorized to deliver a broad range of ERP services across the wide spectrum of solutions offered by SAP. We enable our clients to customize and implement SAP ERP solutions to accelerate their digital transformation journey. We also provide continuous support, SAP AMS, and quality management services to monitor your ERP environment.

Feel free to contact us for any SAP consulting requirements. We are committed to quality and innovation to help deliver optimal results for your business.

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?

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

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

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 us right away.