Undoubtedly, data is what we see almost everywhere, and it is enormous. And it doesn’t stop there, it is growing continuously at a level beyond imagination! Let’s have a look at how it has changed over the years.

A look into how Data and AI transformed in years!

In the 1950s, when there were fewer technological developments, companies would collect the data(offline) and analyze it manually. This was also backed by limited data sources that made it time-consuming in obtaining the results.

The mid-2000s paved the way for changing the world for the better and it was during this time the term “big data” was coined. Almost every business that had something to do with digital infrastructure started looking for ways to use the large data and come up with meaningful insights.

This era also saw the invention of tools like Data mining, OLAP, etc., taking technological advancements to the next level. In general, the internet gained immense popularity not only for organizations but also for households. During this time, technology became more advanced and provided automated options for managing data, and data analysts could analyze data, trends, etc., and provide better recommendations.

Google, Amazon, Paypal, and others also made a mark causing the volume of data to reach newer heights. However, all this posed a storage and processing problem.

The late 2000s to early 2010s saw a surge in Facebook, Twitter, Smartphones, and connected devices. The companies used improved search algorithms, recommendations, and suggestions driven by the analytics rooted in the data to attract their customers. Enterprises also realized that would have to deal with unstructured data and so they got familiar with databases such as NoSQL. New Technologies were introduced for faster data processing and machine learning models were used for advanced analytics.

Now, businesses are a step ahead and using automated tools using cloud and big data technologies. With cloud platforms, it is now easier to enable massive streaming and complex analytics.

Read more: 5 ways in which big data can add value to your custom software development

Having seen how data has evolved over the years, let’s have a look at how Artificial Intelligence has transformed in the last generation.

In 1950, a British mathematician and WWII code-breaker- Alan Turing was one of the first people to come up with the idea of machines that could think. To date, the  Turing Test is used as a benchmark to determine a machine’s ability to think like a human. While this notion was ridiculed at the time, the term artificial intelligence gained popularity in the mid-1950s, after Turing’s death.

Later, Marvin Minsky, an American cognitive scientist picked up the AI torch and co-founded the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AI laboratory in 1959. He was one of the leading thinkers in the AI field through the 1960s and 1970s. It was the rise of personal computers in the 1980s that sparked interest in machines that think.

That said, it took several decades for people to recognize the true power of AI. Today, Investors and physicists like Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking are continuing the conversation about the potential for AI technology in combination with big data could have and how it could change human history.

AI technology’s promising feature is its ability to continually learn from the data it collects. The more the data it collects and analyses through specially designed algorithms, the better the machine becomes at making predictions.

Impact on business

AI and big data have an impact on businesses like never before. Whether it is workflow management tools,  trend predictions, or even advertising, AI has changed the way we do business. Recently, a Japanese venture capital firm became the first company ever to nominate an AI board member for its ability to predict market trends faster than humans.

On the other hand, data has been the primary driver for AI advancements. Machine learning technologies can collect and organize a large amount of data to make predictions and insights that otherwise cannot be achieved with manual processing. This not only increases organizational efficiency but reduces the chances of any critical mistake. AI can detect spam filtering or payment fraud and alert you in real-time about malicious activities.

AI machines can be trained to handle incoming customer support calls thereby reducing costs. Additionally, you can use these machines to optimize the sales funnel by scanning the database and searching the Web for prospects that have similar buying patterns as your current customers.

Read more: The Future of Artificial Intelligence – A Game Changer for Industries

Artificial Intelligence

5 trends in data and artificial intelligence that can help data leaders.

1. Customer experience will be the key

Supply chain and operating costs will mean nothing if you are unable to hold on to your customers. Today, businesses have to be more connected with their customers to be on top of the game. From in-person and digital sales to call centers, companies will have to collect data to have a holistic view of the customer. Businesses must consider other forms of interaction such as using voice analytics to understand how customers interact with call centers or chatbots.

2. Leveraging External data

External data can provide early warning signs about what’s going on. To make external data work, companies must start with a business problem and then think about the possible data that could be used to solve it. That said, companies might need to modernize data flows to leverage external data.

While many businesses have started leveraging external data, some companies haven’t leveraged it yet as they are either too focused on internal data or finding it difficult to transfer data.

A prime example of brands that used external data is Hershey’s Chocolates. It leveraged external data to predict an increase in the number of people using chocolate bars for Backyard S’mores and a decline in sales for smaller candy bars for trick-or-treating.

3. CDOs leading the way towards a data-driven culture

Introducing any new technology without training your employees to adapt and figure out new skills and processes will not be effective. According to Cindi Howson, chief data strategy officer at analytics platform provider ThoughtSpot, Chief Data Officers (CDOs) need to take the lead and empower their employees and the organization to gain time and efficiency with data.  Also, CDOs will have to make sure to upskill employees to take full advantage of new technology.

4. Multi-Modal learning

With advances in technology, AI can support multiple modalities such as text, vision, speech, and IoT sensor data. All this is helping developers find innovative ways to combine modalities to improve common tasks such as document understanding.

For example, the data collected and processed by healthcare systems can include visual lab results, genetic sequencing reports, clinical trial forms, and other scanned documents. This presentation, if done right, can help doctors identify what they are looking at. AI algorithms that leverage multi-modal techniques (machine vision and optical character recognition) could augment the presentation of results and help improve medical diagnosis.

5. AI-enabled employee experience

Business leaders are starting to address concerns about the ability of AI to dehumanize jobs. This is driving interest in using AI to improve the employee experience.

AI could be useful in departments such as sales and customer care teams that are struggling to hire people. Along with robotic process automation, AI could help automate mundane tasks to free up the sales team for having a better conversation with customers. Additionally, it could be used to enhance employee training.

Read more: 9 Examples of Artificial Intelligence Transforming Business Today

Artificial Intelligence

Conclusion

Leveraging data and Artificial intelligence has grown due to the pandemic and businesses are digitally connected than before the lockdown.

At Fingent, we equip business leaders with insights, advice, and tools to achieve their business goals and build a future-proof organization. To learn more about how we fuel decision-makers to build successful organizations of tomorrow, contact us.

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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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      With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry is spiraling at an unexpected speed and is continuously inventing healthcare solutions to drive streamlined operations. Medical organizations are now largely depending on custom healthcare software solutions to maintain medical history, electronic health records, patient’s personal information, and other medical data to provide better patient care and health services. This blog will take you through why your healthcare organization needs to invest in custom healthcare software development, and how it’s beneficial to outsource it!

      What is custom healthcare software development?

      Today, healthcare is driven by technological innovations such as big data, electronic patient record systems, interoperability, and machine learning. The need for this is to provide better patient experiences and improve health outcomes. To achieve this, there is a need for professionally designed tools and solutions that can help healthcare providers to deliver patient-first and cost-effective care.

      Custom healthcare software development is the process of creating web or mobile apps for medical professionals so they can interact with patients better, use medical data analytics, and access patient health records.

      Examples of how custom software development has transformed the healthcare industry include;

      • Tools such as Hospital Management Systems (HMS) or Hospital Information System (HIS) are comprehensive integrated solutions that handle different aspects of hospital or clinic’s workflow efficiently.
      • An Electronic Health Record (EHR) system collects a patient’s data and history and stores it in a digital format that makes sharing across different healthcare systems easy.
      • Mobile apps and wearable devices are serving several health aspects.

      Read more: Augmented Reality in Healthcare: The Industry Future!

      Augmented Reality in healthcare

      Key benefits of custom healthcare software

      1. Tailor-made solution

      Software solutions built specifically catering to your organizational needs help deliver better customer services. Especially when it concerns providing patient-care services, it is always recommended to invest in custom or tailormade solutions. An off-the-shelf or packaged solution, in comparison to a custom software solution, may or may not be able to meet your organization’s requirements or even work well within a specific type of facility. A custom software solution will help solve your business-specific complexes and will help meet your business goals.

      2. Streamline processes

      Undoubtedly, technology enables us to get our work done efficiently and more accurately. A custom software solution can have a far-reaching impact. It frees your staff to allow them to focus on patient care.

      3. Personalized care

      Today, patients want to understand their health on their own and expect personalized services from their healthcare provider. This is why there is an increasing demand for telemedicine, at-home testing kits, and health apps.

      4. Enhanced security

      Custom healthcare software solutions are built in compliance with the industry standards and guarantee that personal data stays secure and confidential. An app must comply with Open Web Application Security Project standards and other certifications, to be approved.

      When it comes to creating custom healthcare software, organizations can;

      • Leverage any open-source platform to create a customizable solution without the need for coding
      • Outsource the entire custom software development process to a reliable development agency.

      Read more: Why Healthcare Prefers Prescriptive Analytics Over Predictive Analytics

      Advantages of outsourcing healthcare software development

      1. Economical and effective

      By outsourcing to a third-party offshore company, you can save a lot of costs. It helps save largely on the cost of developing application infrastructure, recruiting professionals, training the recruits, and deployment and pre-installation set-up costs. Most service providers use advanced technology that would fit your budget.

      2. Experienced team

      While some projects require a large pool of software developers others may not. In such cases, it may be difficult to hire software developers and then relieve them after completing the work as it involves a huge cost to hire, set up infrastructure, and team. Therefore, outsourcing custom healthcare software development gives you the leeway to scale up or down resources as per your project requirements.

      3. Agile and scalable solutions

      In-house healthcare developers are usually burdened with several other tasks which cause them to lose focus and compromise on the delivery of the app. Collaborating with a third-party agency will provide you with the flexibility of managing the resources and whenever you need them. This will also help you include scalable software developers to build an app that is more agile and consistent.

      4. Quick time to market

      Outsourcing the custom development task will give you access to experts from healthcare domains to develop your applications. This will ensure your app be superior,well-grained, and reach the market faster so patients can be treated faster.

      5. Increased productivity

      As offshore developers are qualified and talented enough to develop your app, you won’t have to burden them with briefings and preparations. This will allow you to focus on improving the critical and core healthcare services of your organization thus improving the results significantly.

      Read more: Healthcare Analytics Reaches New Heights with SAP HANA

      Healthcare

      Cost of outsourcing custom healthcare software development

      When it comes to the healthcare industry, the average cost of an experienced developer is not cheap. That is why 59% of global companies outsource software development. While the costs vary from country to country, you will still save about 40-70% of the total costs. For example, the average hourly cost for a software developer in the US is $65–$130 per hour while the hourly cost of offshore developers in Asia and Africa is $20–45.

      Why choose Fingent?

      If you need custom healthcare software for your organization, Fingent is your trusted partner.

      • We have a pool of experienced and skilled developers who can help you identify the right solution for your business complexities.
      • Our agile methodology of development ensures client involvement at every stage so that the solution is scalable, cost-effective, as well as caters to specific client requirements.
      • We offer transparent offshore development services in terms of overhead costs and recruitment fees.

      In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for custom healthcare software development cannot be denied. Our developers are not only affordable but can add much value in terms of talent and skill to your organization. Connect with our experts today!

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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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          “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

          Profound words that underline the importance of business planning. Business planning is the right strategy to ensure business productivity. With business getting more complex and planning tools filling up shelves, enterprises need a more straightforward way to manage business plans and improve sales. Only a few of the many products available have a holistic end-to-end approach to information analytics services.

          SAP Analytics Cloud is a distinct analytics tool. It integrates analytics throughout the business process and across every level of an organization. It is an impeccable and compatible solution for enterprises that are involved in sectors like manufacturing, finance, and sales. This is an effective cloud-based tool that can analyze the data irrespective of the size of your firm. Plus, it allows you to transform this data into charts, tables, graphs, and more.

          This article will help you determine how SAP Analytics Cloud enables enterprises to improve business planning. Read on to check out the features that will let you boost your business and help you stay competitive.

          Top Two Features Of SAP Analytics Cloud For Effective Enterprise Planning

          SAP Analytics Cloud is the first and the only tool in business intelligence that caters to all aspects of the business. It assists you in organizing and managing your data visualization, business planning, and predictive analysis.

          Here are the SAP Analytics Cloud core planning features:

          1. Augmented Analytics

          Augmented analytics capabilities can help existing AI-powered analytics to offer business insights in real-time. You can add these capabilities to business planning and workflows. This contains an enhanced ‘Search to Insight’ capability allowing users to ask questions about data in natural language. Further, it can automate insights that include values and simulations.

          The ‘Smart Predict’ feature can help train models to predict future outcomes without manual intervention. This enhances user experience allowing business analysts to predict future outcomes more accurately and automate decisions, preventing time lapse. Ultimately, SAP Analytics Cloud smoothens the process and improves business management.

          Read more: SAP Analytics Cloud: Creating Dynamic Visual Stories

          SAP Analytics Cloud

          2. Enterprise planning

          Collaborative enterprise planning ensures one version of the truth across the enterprise. Thus, it brings users together to align with the plan leading to better business outcomes.

          The zero-based budgeting feature helps allocation of resources efficiently. The embedded collaboration tools ensure that every member of the finance team is aware of relevant information while they discuss finance issues. Plus, all the relevant budget templates are recorded and saved for the quick action and enhanced productivity.

          SAP Analytics Cloud allows its users to analyze, plan and predict at one location. This can speed up planning cycles and help make informed decisions. Built-in features such as financial modeling, automated reporting enable enterprises to make better end-to-end planning decisions.

          Planning and consolidation applications allow businesses to connect complex planning processes to the cloud. Thus, enterprises can create business plans and adjust them within the SAP Analytics Cloud. This allows enterprises to extend and align their plans across the organization leading to better outcomes.

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

          Business Intelligence in SAP

          Features That Improve Agility In The Enterprise Planning

          1. Data and data visualization

          Data visualization represents your entire business process. It is this important to find all the possible ways of viewing and understanding the data at a glance. This is where SAP Analytics Cloud can help. It can help make your data highly visible. These analytics offer quick answers to critical questions that can improve your business decisions.

          Businesses need to gather enormous amounts of data each day from all their departments and other sources in sales. The next challenge is storing all this data in a secure place. SAP Analytics Cloud is the perfect place to store your data as it is most secure and easily accessible to all relevant people in your organization.

          Read more: 7 Crucial Business Challenges Solved by SAP Analytics Cloud

          SAP Analytics Cloud

          2. Models

          You do not need technical expertise to create a model from unrelated data sets of your company. It is quite similar to adding data to a story. Depending on the type of data, your models can either be simple or complex.

          In any case, models help you organize present your data so that you can gain insights into your business. The models in SAP Analytics Cloud organize and present the data in rows and columns. This offers a unique, clear view of your data that is ready for analysis.

          3. Stories

          Stories occur in two phases: data view and pages. These two capabilities can enable you to gather data and connect it to create a model. This model is refined when you add data to make a story. These stories can empower you to make quality decisions for the success of your business.

          What Are The Benefits Of SAP Analytics Cloud?

          SAP Analytics Cloud offers many benefits for enterprises that are on the SAP. Here are a few:

          1. Access data on the fly

          SAP Analytics Cloud can be integrated to work both on Android and iOS devices alike. It allows your users to manage all their business activities even on a small screen from anywhere, at any time.

          In today’s fast-moving world, your finance team needs the ability to create viable forecasts at a moment’s notice. Using SAP Analytics Cloud will enable your business process to remain proactive, not reactive.

          2. Real-time insights

          SAP Analytics Cloud functionalities allow all relevant users to generate instant insights to enhance decision-making and improve business outcomes.

          3. No more silos

          SAP Analytics Cloud allows for integrated planning across your organization. This means you can rest assured that all those involved in the decision-making process have the whole picture, not just a small part.

          4. Customized dashboard

          Enterprises are always on the lookout to improve data visualization, which helps in having a better interface for successful operations. Thankfully, SAP Analytics Cloud allows its users to customize their dashboards to help them navigate through the system and offer a personalized look. This way, business owners have relevant data on their interface just the way they like it.

          5. Increased efficiency

          SAP Analytics Cloud facilitates easy collaboration across your organization. This allows for quicker approvals, contributions, and comments. Plus, automation and ML helps in creating plans that are more productive, leading to faster results.

          6. Minimize errors

          Integrating SAP Analytics Cloud with SAP S/4HANA will allow the enterprises to minimize or eliminate errors that occur while making changes on multiple files on the cloud. You can make changes without manual intervention in the source system.

          Read more: SAP S/4HANA Journey: 8 Ways C-level Leaders & Executives Can Derive Business Value

          SAP S/4HANA

          Power Charge Your Business

          SAP Analytics Cloud is unique. It offers businesses real-time data to manage their resources effectively. Their tools keep getting newer updates to make it more reliable. As an SAP Silver Partner, Fingent has the expertise necessary to help you make the best use of this power-packed tool. Let us discuss your business and see how SAP Analytics Cloud can help you. Call us.

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            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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              Technology is getting better and better each day. Several technologies and architectural patterns have emerged and evolved during the past few years, and it only gets better with time. Microservices architecture or microservices is one of those patterns. It emerged from the world of domain-driven design and persistence.

              In this article we will cover:

              • What is microservices architecture?
              • The difference between microservices, monolithic architecture, and service-oriented architecture (SOA)
              • The benefits and examples of implementing Microservices Architecture.

              What Is Microservices Architecture?

              Microservices architecture is a specific method of designing software systems that can structure a single application as a collection of loosely coupled services.

              Microservices architecture is made up of several components in their own individual compartments in the software. This makes them independently upgradeable or replaceable.

              Microservices architecture simplifies the process of building and maintaining certain types of applications by breaking them down into many smaller pieces that work together. Though this increases the complexity, it offers greater advantages over the monolithic structure.

              Now you may wonder: Isn’t Microservices just another name for monolithic architecture and service-oriented architecture (SOA)?

              Let’s clarify that for you!

              Read more: Progressive Web App Development: 10 Benefits

              Progressive Web Apps

              Microservices Architecture Vs. Monolithic Architecture

              In the current age of Kubernetes, Monolithic architecture faces many limitations. Please note a few:

              • Monolithic architecture is a single application. It is generally released once a year with the newest updates. Whereas, Microservices architecture is cloud-based and can be updated as required.
              • Monolithic architecture is slow. Modifying a small section may require complete rebuilding and deployment of the software.  Microservices on the other hand are faster to deploy and quick to isolate any defects.
              • Monolithic architecture is harder to adapt to the specific or changing product lines while individual models of Microservices architecture enable scaling and development.

              Microservices Architecture Vs. SOA (Service-oriented Architecture) 

              Microservices architecture is distinct from SOA. Here are a few differences:

              • SOA model is dependent on ESBs and so it is slower. Whereas, microservices is faster as it leverages faster-messaging mechanisms.
              • SOA focuses on imperative programming style, while microservices focuses on a responsive-actor programming style.
              • SOA has an outsized relational database. But Microservices architecture tends to use NoSQL or micro-SQL databases.

              Read more: Ways To Accelerate Business Growth and Success in 2021

              Business Growth

              Business Benefits Of Microservice Architecture

              Microservices architecture can help your business grow quicker, increase productivity, and innovate better to deploy competitive products into the market. Here are some specific benefits of the Microservices architecture:

              1. Better organization for efficiency

              Microservices architecture organizes business applications. It can extend those applications to support plugins for new features, devices, etc.  You can easily add more features to each of those popular applications to generate more revenue.

              2. Increased scalability

              Microservices architecture divides applications into smaller modules. Each of these modules can operate independently enabling businesses to scale applications up or down, as required. As these modules operate independently, a fault in the single module does not mean disruption of the entire system.

              If one module fails due to outdated technology or the inability to further develop the code, developers can use another module. In other words, the applications continue to function even when one or more modules fail.

              This capability allows developers the freedom to build and deploy services as needed without having to wait for the entire application to be corrected.

              3. Easy to maintain

              It is easier to maintain and test a single module as opposed to an entire system. Since each module has its own storage and database, organizations can build, test, and deploy all the modules with less complexity.

              4. Faster development

              Since all modules are loosely coupled, change in one module does not affect the performance of the other. This means you can update a single module at a time leading to faster development.

              5. Enhanced performance

              Microservices architecture can enhance the performance of the application. It reduces downtime while developers take their time to troubleshoot the issue and bring the system back to normalcy.

              6. Dynamic yet consistent

              The individual modular approach in Microservices architecture is easy to replicate. This allows for consistency in applications, which in turn makes managing these modules simple and easy.

              Prominent Examples of Successful Microservices Implementation

              Prominent examples of Microservices architecture are Amazon, Netflix, Uber, and Etsy. Over time these enterprises refactored their monolithic applications into Microservices-based architectures. This move has helped to quickly achieve scaling advantages, greater business agility, and unimaginable ROIs.

              1. Amazon

              In the early 2000s, untangling dependencies was a complicated process for Amazon developers. It faced development delays, coding challenges, and service interdependencies.

              However, Amazon assigned ownership to each independent service team. This allowed the developers to identify the bottlenecks and resolve issues more efficiently. Also, it helped them create a very highly decoupled architecture.

              2. Netflix

              Within a year of starting its movie-streaming service, Netflix was suffering from service outages and scaling challenges. It experienced major database corruption and was on standstill for three days! That is when it decided to move towards more reliable, horizontally scalable systems in the cloud.

              First, Netflix moved its movie-coding platform to cloud servers as an independent microservice. This allowed Netflix to overcome its scaling challenges and service outages.

              3. Uber

              Uber, the ride-sharing service faced growth hurdles. It struggled to launch new features, fix bugs, and integrate its global operations. Besides, it became increasingly difficult to make minor updates and changes to the system.

              Uber then decided to move to cloud-based microservices. This allowed its developers to build individual functions like trip management or passenger management. This boosted the speed, quality, and manageability of their services. Among other things, they achieved more reliable fault tolerance.

              4. Etsy

              Etsy experienced poor server processing time. However, with the help of Microservices architecture, Etsy created a variety of developer-friendly tools and went live in 2016. From that point forward, Etsy benefits from a structure that supports continual innovation, faster upgrades, and more.

              Read more: Enterprise Resource Planning Software: A Complete Guide!

              How Fingent Can Help You Implement Microservices Architecture

              Microservices architecture supersedes SOA and monolithic models. However, it has its challenges. This is where Fingent comes to your assistance.

              Fingent can help you implement Microservices Architecture correctly to improve your productivity and ROI. Designing your architecture is not just a technological option. It is a necessity! It is a business decision that can directly affect your business growth. Fingent can help you take care of the technical aspect while you concentrate on your business goals. Give us a call and let’s get talking.

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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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                  In the current circumstances where industries are experiencing periods of intense change, organizations need a new paradigm. They need a product that must be capable of reframing the problems which were addressed by previous solutions or that targets a new set of problems. They also need a partner who can effectively deploy the solution and provide assistance whenever there is a need. SAP created a solution that addresses a set of existing problems through the method of reframing them, thereby presenting a novel way of addressing these issues in the form of BTaaS-Rise with SAP. Rise with SAP helps enterprises gain digital efficiency and flexibility.

                  Do you feel this pathway to intelligence is formidable and elusive? If so, rest assured that we, at Fingent, understand the challenge you face. This blog will help you understand what the benefits of the initiative are, how we approach it, and how we can help you deploy these services.

                  What is BTaaS-Rise with SAP

                  BTaaS (Business Transformation as a service) Rise with SAP is a suite of services and products. It is designed to accelerate the transformation into creating an intelligent enterprise. It is a direct response to the challenges in the steady acceleration of change in all areas of business.

                  As BTaaS, Rise with SAP can help businesses remain resilient and adapt to digital transformation quickly despite cutthroat competition in their respective industries. It offers these five components to build an Intelligent Enterprise:

                  1. Technical Migration tools and services
                  2. S/4 HANA cloud
                  3. SAP business technology platform
                  4. Business process intelligence
                  5. SAP business network starter pack

                  Read more: Ensure Business Continuity with SAP S/4HANA Selective Data Transition Approach

                  How Can Your Business Benefit from Rise with SAP?

                  Rise with SAP allows you to be in control. You can choose where to begin your journey and you can design a suitable strategy that fits your business.

                  Let us now examine the twofold benefit of Rise with SAP:

                  Value from differentiating business capabilities and outcomes

                  This value has a significant impact on shareholder returns. This impact ensures long-term sustainability with purpose. Here are the top three benefits for your business:

                  • Top line: This includes your strategy, employees, and your products. You can improve your top line by innovating and establishing new revenue streams and business processes.
                  • Bottom line: You can improve operational efficiencies by eliminating repetitive tasks. You can save time and resources by allowing intelligent ERP to function as a co-pilot providing you with suggestions based on business process patterns and employee behavior.
                  • Green line: Rise with SAP will help you understand, monitor, and optimize environmental and social impact throughout the value chain. This will help minimize wastage, improve safety, build supplier compliance, and attain resiliency.

                  Value-driven from cloud delivery capabilities

                  This is essentially the incremental value. It allows enterprises to maximize value, minimize transformation risk, and reduce cost to the extent possible. Explore the top three benefits for your business:

                  • Facilitates process excellence: Using process discovery reports, migration tools, and services and other capabilities your enterprise becomes transformation ready.
                  • Improved service experience: Rise with SAP is a Business Transformation as a service; a simpler support model. Thus, you have the benefit of an improved service experience.
                  • Operational resiliency: You can hyperscale infrastructure with inbuilt full-stack security.
                  • Lower TCO: It allows you to use flexible user-based subscriptions and leverage hyperscale economics to lower TCO.

                  But what do you need to gain these capabilities? Well, you need these three things:

                  1. Technology that can support your company processes
                  2. A cloud provider
                  3. A capable and efficient partner who can help you take greater advantage of Rise with SAP

                  Read more: It’s Time To Transform Your Business For The New Digital Age – Rise With SAP

                  Rise with SAP

                  Role Of Fingent in Leveraging These Services

                  Fingent is geared to work with enterprises under the framework of Rise with SAP. As SAP’s Silver Partner, we have a credible background in helping enterprises uncover business inefficiencies and redesign their processes to fit their needs. With deep domain expertise, we help them align and achieve organizational goals at optimal costs.

                  We understand the difficulties some organizations face in making decisions with regard to business transformation. Our program is designed precisely for such organizations. As a trusted Silver Partner, Fingent is here to guide you through every step of this exercise.

                  We start by developing a deep understanding of your business and your objectives. We then use our expertise in SAP to devise a strategy for a comprehensive business transformation strategy. As a seasoned SAP Silver Partner, Fingent combines its expertise with a deep understanding of user experience to maximize your operational efficiency.

                  Our approach can analyze complexities around your business processes and adopt a user-first approach. This can drive a successful implementation of Rise with SAP that leads to increased user adoption.

                  As suggested by Rise with SAP program, our engagement starts with a process and system audit. This will form the backbone for subsequent phases of the transformation process. Fingent will be with you at every step. We work with your business leadership, key stakeholders. We involve key influences to ensure the successful completion of your business transformation.

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

                  CFO

                  We Can Help Your Business RISE!

                  Rise with SAP is another possibility for us to empower clients with the help of the SAP portfolio. In close coordination with SAP, we create tailor-made solutions that increase the value of this initiative for you.

                  To do this, we combine SAP capabilities with products and services that we have developed ourselves to individualize for your specific needs. This is how we at Fingent ensure that you receive a truly customized solution – one that addresses specific challenges in your specific environment. This will generate the best possible value for your business.

                  You can rely on us as your sole contractual partner and thus avoid needless complexities. We offer everything from advisory services to application management. All this can be done at your own pace, with your budget, and according to your business needs.

                  We can smoothen the path of transformation for our existing customers. For our new customers, we can leverage the full potential of Rise with SAP and customize it for your advantage.

                  Talk to our experts at Fingent and together we will find ways to make the best out of Rise with SAP for you!

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                    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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                      Everyone in the manufacturing world faces the fear of going bust if they do not adopt digital transformation. That is a given and yet we can all agree that digital transformation doesn’t happen overnight.

                      Currently, enterprises encounter several challenges on their digital transformation journey. One among them is to learn to create and use data through a product life cycle that creates flexible manufacturing processes. Such processes can respond instantly to changes in demand at a low cost to the firm without damage to the environment.

                      Are you a manufacturer with global aspirations? Do you need to accelerate lead times and product customization? If so, then you may encounter these common business challenges:

                      • Need for critical infrastructure in remote locations.
                      • Need for tailored and full-custom design with high quality and ruggedness that fit your specific requirements.
                      • Need for a simplified supply chain that enables you to get to market quicker and realize faster time to revenue.
                      • Need to maximize efficiency in the supply chain and ultimately reduce lead time.
                      • Need to ensure product longevity by providing the same time-zone technical support. And to provide personal support services with the ability to decrease lead times.

                      Technologies such as 5G, edge computing, and cloud have been pushed further into the limelight especially over the past year, in the wake of the pandemic. As enterprises react to the changing world, these technologies are now emerging at the forefront as a necessary component of network infrastructure.

                      Read more: Take a Look at How 5G is Reinventing the Way We Work

                      5G

                      How Do 5G, Cloud, And Edge Computing Unlock Enterprise Opportunities?

                      5G, cloud, and edge computing have become major areas of interest and investment at the enterprise level. They provide real-time insights, analytics, and business benefits that can be used once mission-critical latency issues are resolved.

                      5G, Edge Compute, and Cloud technologies are an emerging set of solutions. When orchestrated together these can enable a spectrum of benefits that are contingent on industry, maturity, and technology. These are complementary technologies that work together for most use cases.

                      What unlocks the enterprise opportunities is to marry new and existing technologies to create machinery that is as proactive and predictive as the best workers. Edge computing, cloud, and 5G connectivity can be combined to supercharge real-time decision-making and improve quality assurance throughout the supply line.

                      How would you like it if you can predict the future? Or if you could see the possible problems and correct them before they happen? 5G, edge computing, and cloud promise to give you that ability! These technologies are in a symbiotic relationship.

                      Cloud contains unlimited resources. Powered by 5G, AI models can continuously update and adapt to situations within the enterprise. This virtuous feedback loop delivers real-time results. Plus, it delivers ongoing improvements over time, as the entire system across the enterprise learns and improves from prior experiences.

                      This can greatly improve the productivity of your employees. Also, it can save costs tremendously as it can reduce downtime. Here are some specific ways in which 5G, edge computing, and the cloud can benefit the industry.

                      Read more: How 5G Will Boost Enterprise Investment In Cloud

                      Cloud For Responsive Resilience 

                      In the past when enterprises needed to deploy applications using their equipment, they had to ensure that their server, memory, and processing power were equipped to run the application efficiently. Any misjudgment could have a cascading effect throughout the enterprise. However, the cloud provides infinite opportunities.

                      What enterprise opportunities does this provide? It provides what all enterprises need more than ever: increased speed, resilience, and flexibility.

                      Bringing cloud intelligence to their IT networks can be very beneficial in performing preventive maintenance, making decisions in real-time, and keeping data more secure. It allows for automated decision-making while saving bandwidth costs.

                      By leveraging cloud capabilities, enterprises can reduce overall costs. They can benefit from automated one-click deployment and realize higher value from data. This contributes to resilience. Resilience is more important to enterprises that are struggling during major disruptions like the pandemic.

                      Read more: Why It’s Time to Embrace Cloud and Mobility Trends To Recession-Proof Your Business?

                      Cloud and Mobility

                      5G Can Help Process Information Across The Enterprise

                      5G technology enables enterprise connectivity, remains powerful, and is constantly updated. 5G enables all the machines and modules to function at the same speed, reliability, and security as we expect from our phones. In other words, it prevents loss of time due to hanging or buffering associated with the mobile networks.

                      5G will deliver multiple benefits to those who adopt it:

                      • Provides ultra-reliability and security. It is far more efficient than any wireless mechanism.
                      • Since 5G eliminates the need for wired connectivity, it enables a high-speed environment with higher flexibility and lower latency.
                      • Provides the ability to handle mass customization and personalization.
                      • 5G augments IoT capacity to support device density and data volume
                      • Improves productivity as it reduces failure rates.

                      Read more: Top Business Drivers that Boost Legacy Cloud Migration

                      Cloud migration

                      Edge Computing Can Help Deploy Technology With Unhindered Network Performance

                      Edge computing can reduce pressure on data centers and service provider networks. Plus, it preserves bandwidth and brings real-time processing close to users and their devices. Here are specific ways in which edge computing can prove advantageous:

                      • Maintain competitive edge: Edge computing can provide the ability to use data from various machines, processes, and systems to adapt the manufacturing processes in real-time. It can support precision monitoring of the production line. This enables swift operational responsiveness to unforeseen events. Additionally, it can gather data from connected systems and devices in real-time. Hence, manufactures can now analyze data at the point of creation leading to faster and more informed decision-making within the enterprise.
                      • Helps seize the opportunities that data and performance-intensive technologies present: Edge computing can empower employees and streamline workflows. It can enable smarter supply chains and improve employee safety and productivity.
                      • Documents at fingertips: Edge computing can provide workers easy access to documents, new workflow instructions, real-time videos and images, and new product updates. This can increase greater efficiency despite social distancing protocols in the current scenario.

                      Gain a Competitive Edge with Next-Gen Technologies

                      With IoT deployment on the rise, enterprises are increasingly adopting 5G, cloud, and edge computing. These technologies provide a competitive advantage by reducing unexpected downtime issues. Hence, the enterprises enjoy improved overall efficiency.

                      The convergence of these technologies can increase agility and resilience. These technologies can be leveraged to establish enhanced productivity, customer satisfaction, and increased ROI. Hence, 5G, cloud, and edge computing technologies must form an important part of any post-pandemic strategies. You must be eager to get started on gaining that competitive edge. Let’s get talking and make that happen!

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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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                          Digital transformation was already happening across every industry, but the pandemic has accelerated the pace. Unfortunately, while many organizations have embraced the reality of rapid change, some of the companies have been slow to adopt new technologies.

                          Looking specifically at cloud solutions, companies that migrate some or all of their digital assets to the cloud can achieve transformational results. It is helping companies to innovate faster, modernize outdated infrastructure, get better insights from their data, scale globally, and restructure the existing business models to create better customer experiences.

                          Cloud migration allows easy access to data and applications from anywhere, making business functions smoother and simple to operate. This blog will help you understand why you need cloud migration now and the drivers that boost legacy cloud migration.

                          Why should you consider migration to the cloud?

                          Cloud migration can improve the performance and competitiveness of your organization. Often, system performance is poor, and maintenance costs are high. Any incompatibility with new technologies can cause problems when altering these systems as they cannot keep up to date at the same speed at which your business needs to innovate and scale. Additionally, lack of vendor support and regular updates for old systems can compromise the data security, making application migration to the cloud imperative.

                          Read more: Cloud Migration Strategy: 7 Steps to Accomplish a Flawless Transition

                          Cloud Migration

                          Common challenges associated with cloud migration

                          Cloud migration can be complex and risky, and many organizations face challenges during the transition.

                          1. Poor strategy and planning

                          Many organizations migrate to the cloud without proper planning or a good strategy. For a successful cloud implementation, organizations must plan well. As every application and dataset has different requirements, they will need a different approach to cloud migration. So, enterprises must have a valid business case for every workload it migrates to the cloud.

                          2. Vendor lock-in

                          This is a common problem faced by organizations that adopt cloud technology. While cloud providers offer many services, these services sometimes cannot be extended to other cloud platforms. Many organizations that start using cloud services often find it difficult to switch providers if the existing provider does not suit their requirements.

                          3. Data security and compliance

                          Data security and compliance are major obstacles to cloud migration. Cloud services often use a shared responsibility model in which they take the responsibility of securing the infrastructure while the organization takes responsibility for security data and workloads. It means you are responsible for configuring the security measures correctly and ensuring that all services and applications have proper security controls.

                          4. Cost Management

                          Many companies don’t have clear KPIs to understand what they plan to spend or save after migration, making it difficult to know if the migration was successful from the cost point of view. Additionally, as the cloud environment is dynamic, the costs can change as new services are adopted, and application usage grows.

                          Read more: A Comprehensive Guide To Modern Cloud Application Development

                          Cloud application development

                          What are the drivers that encourage cloud migration?

                          1. Hassle-free digital transformation

                          With recent advances in cloud computing, leaders can digitize their core functionalities such as SAP, CRM, data analytics, and more. From innovating to improving productivity to unlocking new sources of revenue, the cloud provides endless opportunities to enterprises that migrate away from legacy systems.

                          2. Accelerate growth

                          Whether it is organic expansion, mergers, or acquisitions, technology is accelerating organizational growth. Organizations leveraging the cloud can integrate new acquisitions seamlessly with the existing platforms and also scale rapidly using auto-scaling functionality and flexible data management services.

                          3. Better Security

                          Data security is turning significant. By migrating to the cloud, enterprises can update their IT infrastructure according to the latest practices and protect their applications from malicious hacking attempts.

                          While many leaders mistakenly think that the cloud itself makes an organization secure, in reality, it empowers groups to implement governance, strict security policies, and compliance guardrails needed for their operations.

                          4. Improve business agility

                          To stay ahead of your competitors, you must be agile. It means you need to have access to flexible and on-demand IT resources. With the cloud, over 99% of resources are available on-demand. Also, enterprises don’t have to wait endlessly for any hardware component and installation. They can lease valuable capabilities from their cloud providers and get to the market faster.

                          5. Reduce costs

                          Yet another reason for businesses to migrate to the cloud is to reduce IT costs. You can easily find the right-size resources in the cloud according to your business needs and cut unnecessary costs. Also, companies can adjust capacity needs whenever the need arises and eliminate unnecessary hardware.

                          6. Merge data centers

                          With cloud computing, companies do not have to manage their own on-premises data centers. Instead, they can outsource back-end responsibilities to their cloud providers and use their resources for higher-value activities. Additionally, companies can consolidate their operations and distribute cloud services whenever needed, improving efficiency.

                          7. Leverage modern technologies

                          Migrating to the cloud allows businesses to leverage new technologies. For example, companies can take advantage of AI and machine learning which are not feasible on-premises. They can also take advantage of complex cloud-native technologies such as Kubernetes containers and data lakes easily.

                          Read more: 6 Reasons Why The FinTech Industry Should Embrace Legacy Cloud Migration

                          Legacy Cloud Migration

                          Conclusion

                          To avail of the migration benefits, you must successfully move your on-premises IT infrastructure to the cloud. As a cloud expert, we help understand the challenges and help you make a smooth transition without disrupting your current operations.

                          At Fingent, we offer a single control plane for the performance and security products to ensure seamless legacy cloud migration. In addition, we enable easy integration with public, private, or hybrid cloud. So connect with our experts today, and know, how we can help you take your business to new heights with seamless cloud migrations.

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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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                              The pandemic has derailed the global economy, impacting businesses across the world. If organizations wish to keep up with the lightning pace of app and platform improvements while staying cyber secure, they must rely on DevOps. DevOps is crucial to business success more than ever.

                              But before you start your journey with DevOps let’s take a look at what DevOps is. What are the advantages of DevOps? How can you maximize its potential for your business? Read on to find out.

                              What Is DevOps?

                              DevOps is a term derived from combining “development” and “operations.” According to Gartner, “DevOps represents a change in IT culture, focusing on rapid IT service delivery through the adoption of agile, lean practices in the context of a system-oriented approach.”

                              In simple terms, it is a coordination of best practices that automate and integrate the processes between software development and the IT teams. This cross-disciplinary practice enables enterprises to create and improve products faster than traditional software development methods.

                              Implementing DevOps allows enterprises to have a competitive edge in value and value management. It allows teams to adapt to the changing market and address their customers’ needs effectively.

                              Read more: DevOps: The Catalyst to Efficient Project Development and Delivery

                              Tangible Benefits of DevOps

                              1. Maximizes efficiency

                              DevOps ensures the quality of application updates. Armed with the logging and monitoring mechanism of DevOps, developers can now oversee the real-time performance of the products.

                              This will help them make any necessary changes or improvements ensuring the efficiency of the software. Continuous testing enhances the software quality. Plus, it will be more reliable to function consistently and seamlessly.

                              2. Better communication and cooperation

                              A DevOps software development culture contributes to happier and more productive teams as its primary focus is on performance. This team spirit helps in building trust that leads to unitedly working to innovate more effectively.

                              When teams work together with DevOps, they do not wait for a different team to solve problems. Instead, they work toward a common goal focusing on bringing the product to market or production.

                              3. Faster Innovation

                              The success of an enterprise depends on its ability to innovate faster than its competitors. Since DevOps collaborates both development and operation efforts, the development cycle is shorter and the applications are ready faster.

                              4. Reduced implementation failure

                              Implementation failure can occur due to programming defects. Since DevOps promotes frequent code versions it is easy to detect defects early. This reduces the number of implementation failures. Additionally, recovery is much faster as the teams share ideas and together tackle the challenges of both teams.

                              5. Cost-effective

                              Automated testing and CI/CD aid in efficient bug-free codes. Hence, it eliminates the need to combat network downtime and avoid spending additional costs on other related issues.

                              DevOps automation accelerates the software release pipeline and cuts down on manual interventions. Thus, it minimizes software release costs. Moreover, early detection of defects saves consequent financial damages. Subsequently, DevOps increases profitability while reducing both direct and indirect costs.

                              Read more: Test Automation In DevOps For Expediting Software Development

                              6. Customer satisfaction

                              Customer satisfaction is crucial for businesses to thrive and profit. The constant flow of feedback mechanism of DevOps allows customers to rate the product and its updates. Their feedback will help developers to improve the product.

                              Besides, customers can keep tabs on the progress of the application with the help of loop feedback. This contributes to customer satisfaction as they now can see the agility in the software development process. As a result, your business can and will gain a competitive advantage in your sector.

                              Key Features Of DevOps

                              • Code: Everything in DevOps is version-controlled as code along with data.
                              • Continuous: Emphasis is on continuity of integration, deployment, and testing.
                              • Collaboration: Strong collaboration between the operations, development, and security teams is at the heart of DevOps.
                              • Fail fast: Robust automation, tooling, and processes in DevOps help in identifying problems faster preventing delays in the rollout of new features.
                              • Automated environment provisioning: This enables consistency across deployment ensuring reliable release.
                              • Security: This involves all security measures ranging from static security code analysis to vulnerability management.

                              DevOps Lifecycle

                              DevOps consists of multiple phases that collectively become the DevOps lifecycle. These phases ensure DevOps optimizes all development processes. Here is a phase-wise break-down of the DevOps lifecycle:

                              1. Continuous development

                              This is the first phase where planning and software coding takes place. The planning involves understanding the project and developers begin developing the code for the application. Though planning does not require any tools, maintaining code requires a number of tools.

                              2. Continuous integration

                              In the phase of continuous integration, new codes are built and integrated into the existing code. The source code is modified several times on a weekly or daily basis. The continuous integration of new code helps reflect the changes that the customers experience with the updated code.

                              3. Continuous testing

                              At this stage, the developed software is continuously tested for bugs with the help of automated tools. This phase can be repositioned around the continuous integration phase as well.

                              Testing helps developers save effort and time that is usually lost in manual testing. Plus, reports generated help them improve the test evaluation process. This ensures flawless functionality and inter-networking of the application.

                              4. Continuous feedback

                              Continuous feedback allows for further analysis of the improvements. The feedback from customers is assessed promptly enabling the developer to release new versions of the software application.

                              5. Continuous monitoring

                              This phase is of key importance for application developers as it sustains the availability of services in the application. Continuous monitoring helps determine the root causes of recurring system errors and helps resolve security issues and other problems.

                              6. Continuous deployment

                              Although continuous deployment takes place before continuous monitoring, developers ensure that this phase remains active throughout the DevOps lifecycle. Containerization tools are used to achieve continuous deployment. This nullifies all sorts of production failures and system errors.

                              7. Continuous operations

                              This is the shortest of all phases. The continuous operation allows developers to automate the process and accelerate the time-to-market for the application.

                              Use of DevOps in Different Industries

                              Manufacturing industries: The use of DevOps in car manufacturing can help manufacturers identify errors early on in the production process.

                              Online financial trading companies: DevOps reduces the overall process time and increases the customer base. DevOps contributes to a drastic reduction in regression testing time which in turn reduced the funding period.

                              Read more: Prepare for the Future of Digital Innovation with these 10 Services From Fingent

                              digital innovation

                              Get Faster, Bigger, and Better with DevOps

                              It is clear that the DevOps strategy benefits enterprise software development in many ways. DevOps take the legwork out of the software development process and has emerged to be a crucial component for the growth of a business. DevOps provides a wide range of benefits that are measurable and real in implementation.

                              DevOps can create an astounding long-term impact for internet-based businesses. All businesses need DevOps for faster testing and implementations.

                              If you are not adopting DevOps practices in your technology projects, then you are increasing the risk of delay on your technology projects and increasing technical debt. The longer you wait, the more effort is required to implement DevOps into your workflow. So, if you are considering implementing DevOps, act quickly! Call us today.

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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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                                  The greatest business challenge of our time is the steady acceleration of change in all areas of trade. The pandemic has only accelerated these digital shifts. Transforming your business is necessary to stay relevant and competitive.  The scale of digital challenges can be daunting to businesses. Understandably, some businesses may feel lost in the current digital maze. But, to stay agile and competitive, business leaders must strategically transform their business. Early this year, SAP announced a new service called “Rise with SAP.” This blog attempts to clarify what is included in Rise with SAP and how it can transform your business.

                                  What is “Rise with SAP”?

                                  Rise with SAP is a BTaaS (Business Transformation as a Service). The objective of this product is to accompany and accelerate business transformation step by step.

                                  Rise with SAP is a single subscription contract. It provides access to a variety of tools and services that focus on assisting with your business transformation efforts. It is a new way to redesign processes for better business outcomes.

                                  Rise with SAP can help your company to adapt business processes on your timeline and your terms. It helps them continuously unlock new ways of running businesses to stay ahead of the competition. It can speed up the otherwise sluggish adoption of SAP S/4HANA.

                                  Read more: SAP S/4HANA: Redefining End-To-End Solution

                                  SAP S/4 HANA

                                  How Is “Rise With SAP” Transforming Businesses?

                                  Rise with SAP can holistically transform your business with a fast time to value, regardless of your starting point. Rise with SAP is like a moving company that provides a checklist, packers, containers, and services like replacing old appliances and installing new ones. It provides a blueprint that a company can implement on its own terms and at its own pace. What is the benefit? One contract and one responsible party for all services. It simplifies your journey in four simple steps.

                                  Step 1: A business model redesign 

                                  This step helps businesses redesign and optimize business processes and implement the best practices in their verticals. In other words, it is a way to analyze how your business processes perform and obtain tailored recommendations.

                                  A successful digital transformation project requires IT and business leaders to work together. This is why this analysis motivates all in your business to adapt to new business models.

                                  Step 2: Alignment with customer journey

                                  This is the key element of Rise with SAP. SAP realizes that each organization requires a unique path forward. Here are four starting points for digital transformation:

                                  • Digitally grown startups and other innovators that need to scale with speed
                                  • Companies that began their journey into the new world of modular ERP cloud applications are now ready to go further
                                  • Organizations that have started digital transformation at the outer edges, now need to focus on their core
                                  • Companies with a long heritage and history with a complex on-premises system

                                  Realizing the fact that each of these starting points requires a unique path, Rise with SAP provides a highly customizable, subscription-based model.

                                  Step 3: A technical migration

                                  Rise with SAP includes technical services that ensure painless migration to a standard, modular, and flexible landscape. Such a flexible landscape with a consistent data layer enables businesses to react faster to ever-changing business demands.

                                  This includes essential services from SAP and their partners. These services help eliminate modifications and custom code. Besides, it aids in harmonizing and governing a company’s data layer. Such accurate data will help businesses make informed decisions and strategize their business processes for greater advantage.

                                  Step 4: Build an intelligent enterprise

                                  Each company’s roadmap to success may vary but the destination is to become a digitized and intelligent enterprise. Quickly adopting S/4HANA is the key to reach that destination. To that end, Rise with SAP offers a powerful solution to get there by eliminating roadblocks and enabling its customers on their journey.

                                  SAP believes that their customers can realize the value of their investment with up to a 20% reduction in TCO over five years as compared to a traditional ERP deployment. Definitely worth looking into, wouldn’t you say?

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

                                  Components of Rise with SAP

                                  An ideal business transformation process requires a selection of coordinated components. Rise with SAP consists of five such components that serve as the basis for transformation.

                                  • Business process intelligence: It helps in understanding, visualizing, and transforming your processes.
                                  • SAP Business Network “starter pack”: The intelligent enterprise “starter pack” includes SAP Business Technology Platform. This platform provides a single semantic layer across your organization. It serves as the basis for business transformation.
                                  • Cloud credits: The “starter pack” also includes an ERP system with built-in intelligent technologies. This enables your business to transform with intelligent automation.  Plus, the starter pack also provides credits for accessing SAP Business Network. This allows companies to better manage their supply chains and react quickly to market changes.
                                  • Embedded tools and services: Ensure pain-free business migration to the SAP S/4HANA Cloud.
                                  • SAP S/4HANA Cloud: Rise with SAP provides access to the company’s modular cloud ERP solution.

                                  How Can Fingent Help Leverage These Benefits?

                                  Rise with SAP provides access to a comprehensive bundle that can help streamline your business transformation. However, for successful implementation, you will also need an experienced partner that can provide advisory, implementation, or application management services.

                                  Here is where Fingent can help you. As an SAP Silver partner, Fingent has acquired a wealth of experience to provide you with a structured set of services that complement Rise with SAP.

                                  1. Advisory services 

                                  Before you embark on business transformation, you need to assess several aspects. These include trends in your industry, assessment of your business, your existing technology environment, and opportunities for future business growth. Working with an experienced partner such as Fingent can make all the difference. Our strategies can eliminate obstacles to unlock new business value.

                                  2. Implementation services

                                  As an SAP Silver partner, Fingent can provide a range of implementation services. We can tailor implementation strategies to help you achieve your business objectives quickly and efficiently.

                                  3. Application management services

                                  Fingent offers a full set of solutions that move beyond tactical efficiency gains. We provide flexibility and the latest strategic capabilities that smoothen business transformation and innovation.

                                  Read more: How Fingent Enables e-Invoicing for SAP Users to Stay Compliant with GST India Regulations

                                  Over to You

                                  Rise with SAP is likely to galvanize the market to be the most cost-effective way to move to SAP S/4HANA. It will help overcome many hurdles that SAP ERP customers are facing. Give us a call today and let’s get talking on how to get you on to this new dynamic tool asap.

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                                    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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                                      The cloud approach is gaining immense popularity amongst businesses due to its scalability, enhanced productivity, and cost-effectiveness. According to Cisco, in 2021, over 94% of workload and computing processes will be hosted on the cloud. While many firms are already implementing and thriving with the Cloud, a few still remain to deploy this technology. This blog is a simple guide to help you understand every aspect of the Cloud, and how your business can drive success with Cloud Application Development!

                                       

                                      What’s Ahead?

                                       

                                      Knowing the Cloud!

                                      In simple terms, the cloud refers to software or service that is accessed over the internet. The cloud uses data centers to store data, which enables easy access of files and applications from anywhere and from any device.

                                      For businesses, leveraging cloud technology can immensely reduce IT costs and overhead, eliminating frequent updates and maintenance of servers. Cloud computing can also simplify international operations for companies by allowing seamless access and control of files and data from anywhere. Google Drive, Dropbox, Apple iCloud, and Microsoft OneDrive are some widely used cloud services today.

                                      Read more: Why It’s Time to Embrace Cloud and Mobility Trends To Recession-Proof Your Business?

                                      Cloud and Mobility

                                       

                                      What is a ‘Cloud-based Application’?

                                      In the last decade, cloud computing has experienced a tremendous investment. By the end of 2023, the global cloud market is estimated to reach over $ 623 billion.

                                      Typically, a cloud-based app is an Internet-run program having its components stored online with some or all of its processes carried out in the cloud. These on-demand services allow you to access computer networks, storage, or resources using the internet.

                                      Cloud-based solutions help businesses augment capacity, scalability, and functionality while at the same time reduce maintenance and cost for computer infrastructure or in-house teams.

                                      Common solutions provided by cloud-based applications may include;

                                      • Email
                                      • File storage and sharing
                                      • Order entry,
                                      • Inventory management
                                      • Word processing
                                      • Customer relationship management (CRM)
                                      • Data collection
                                      • Financial accounting features

                                       

                                      Benefits of a Cloud App

                                      The cloud is creating a huge impact on businesses. According to Gartner, over 60% of companies will majorly rely on the cloud for their operations by 2022. Of course, this means that the cloud has some huge benefits to offer for businesses. Here are a few to highlight.

                                      1. Improved data sharing and security

                                      The data stored in the cloud is easily and instantly available to authorized users. Since the cloud offers easy availability of data, security and privacy are often a concern. That is why the advancements in cloud technology have majorly focused on providing enhanced data security. Many cloud providers now guarantee improved data security, making the cloud the best source for secure storage. Also in case of disaster recovery is inevitable, the cloud provides a streamlined solution to restore and back up data.

                                      2. Improved collaboration

                                      Cloud-based apps and software enable organizations to make collaboration an easy and effective process. These applications provide easy data sharing and editing options allowing employees to work effectively on projects remotely and in real-time. Role-based access control enables better monitoring of tasks, and improves team management, especially when operating remotely. Improved collaborations can help enterprises to reduce time-to-market and enhance customer service. InfinCE is a prime example of how enterprises can use a cloud-based app to improve team collaboration. The app provides centralized management, enhanced visibility, and easy communication that drives operational efficiency and productivity.

                                      3. Cost-effective

                                      The cloud space can be scaled up or down depending on your business needs. Cloud service providers allow you to pay per usage of the cloud infrastructure allowing you to only pay for the services you need. Most cloud providers offer seamless concierge support and regular maintenance, which in turn immensely helps reduce the stress and cost of maintenance. Moreover, there is no need to invest separately on devices to store data, as the cloud ensures safe and secured data storage. Put simply, cloud-based apps help enterprises reduce the upfront cost of the IT infrastructure and hence are a cost-effective solution.

                                       

                                      Types of Cloud Application

                                      To proceed with cloud application development, you will have to decide what type of app you would want to create. One way to classify the categories is about the differences in the app architecture.

                                      SaaS – Software as a Service

                                      SaaS serves both cloud apps as well as individuals. These apps run on third-party hardware and not on the user’s device. Also, the software is hosted remotely. A big advantage of SaaS is that you don’t have to spend on additional hardware or buy licenses for every software update.

                                      IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service

                                      This type of product often requires middleware and app support from the clients. The customer may have to create a custom programming bridge between the application and its operating system.  However, with IaaS, one can develop a customized product without building the basic components from scratch.

                                      PaaS – Platform as a Service

                                      This cloud-based app development requires the application code from the customer. PaaS providers allow their customers to use their hardware and basic development software. As this software is updated constantly, developers can use only its latest version. PaaS is flexible and lets the users scale the product as per their needs. Cost efficiency and flexibility are some of the major benefits of PaaS.

                                      Read more: Cloud Migration Strategy: 7 Steps to Accomplish a Flawless Transition

                                      Cloud Migration

                                       

                                      Key Features to Consider When Developing a Cloud Application

                                      The Cloud is a powerful technology, which if leveraged the right way can do wonders for your company. That is why it is imperative to be clear and sure of what benefits you need exactly to derive out of the cloud application development. Here are a few things to consider when fixing the features of your cloud application.

                                      One of the most eminent features of the cloud is that it provides ample space for flexibility and scalability. With the cloud, one can empower safe storage of data that can be expanded as per convenience.

                                      Most users prefer the cloud because of its storage facilities. However, its security is always a concern. When investing in cloud application development, one must highly prioritize app and data security by ensuring a code-based architecture for improved security.

                                      Although the cloud delivers unlimited benefits, cloud hosting comes with a cost. Thus, data size optimization and condensed user requests should be the top priorities while developing a cloud platform.

                                      To ensure you attain maximum benefits from these and the many other features of the cloud, it is imperative that you partner with developers who are highly aware and experienced with the diverse cloud platforms so that you attain software that perfectly suits your business needs. Moreover, following an agile method of development would allow you to collaborate better with your developers, programmers, designers, data architects, and QA managers for improved development efficiency. At Fingent, we ensure client participation at every stage of app development.

                                       

                                      Some Examples of Cloud Application

                                      Most of the apps we use today, utilize the cloud in one way or another. Cloud application development has given birth to some amazing tools and services that make operating businesses a little less stressful. Here are a few to point out!

                                      • InfinCE: Provides streamlined and simplified IT Infrastructure, centralized management, enhanced work collaboration, access to unlimited productivity tools, all under a single platform.
                                      • Dropbox or Google Drive: This allows you to store your files on the cloud easily and help others access them from anywhere.
                                      • Figma: This powerful cloud-based design app is gaining popularity due to its collaborative nature.
                                      • Miro: This provides a virtual board that enables you to work with other users in creative and fun ways.

                                      The possibility to collaborate with users from all over the world, even in real-time is one of the biggest advantages of cloud apps.

                                      Read more: InfinCE – Untangling Technology for Businesses

                                      InfinCE

                                       

                                      Developing a Cloud Application

                                      Cloud application development involves different stages, each of which matters to enable your app to hit the market. Most cloud application development teams use DevOps practices and tools such as Kubernetes to ensure an effective and successful project.

                                      At Fingent, we analyze your business needs and custom-build apps that solve your business complexities. We can help you seamlessly transit to the cloud and efficiently deploy its benefits to achieve greater business growth and value.

                                       

                                      A Look at the Tools to Build Cloud-based Apps

                                      A wrong tech approach can slow down your business development, so the technological stack is of utmost importance when developing cloud-based apps. You can choose a cloud service vendor from market leaders such as;

                                      • Amazon Web Services(AWS) – In 2019, it obtained a 32% market share and became the leading provider. AWS includes over 140 flexible and integrative services. This allows you to build almost any custom app.
                                      • Google Cloud Platform – As a PaaS, it offers you cloud computing, API services, advanced analytics, storage,  NoSQL database service, and even virtual machines. It is flexible, affordable and a great platform for start-ups.
                                      • Microsoft Azure- Its solutions are designed for enterprises looking for scaling or having many web products. Its services may include ML modules, mobile back-end, database services, and virtual machines.

                                      Cloud-based app structure 

                                      • Another aspect to consider when cloud application development is the data architecture. A cloud app operates as a collection of interconnected services or APIs. So, to get maximum benefits of cloud services, you will have to connect them and at the same time understand the kind of components you have while ensuring that those services are integrated.
                                      • Next, you must consider data organization. Remember, the app architecture must instruct the cloud services about how to decouple the data. This will help you store the app components either on a public or private cloud. As a result, your business will become flexible and enable you to make your web performance better.
                                      • You must develop a communication logic between the data and services of your app. The app components should communicate instantly. If the logic is not well-designed, the customer experience could be poor due to slow loading speed. So, optimize the communication and apply either single-channel streaming or system message grouping.
                                      • Scaling is something you must think of in advance. Create a margin of safety for your operational channels and consider future traffic extensions. Make sure to build an operational model to help back-end components and storage server customers especially in extreme situations.
                                      • The last issue to think about is the security algorithm. Banking, retail, or healthcare have their dedicated standards so make sure your tools meet their expectations. Make sure to check the security algorithms for any vulnerabilities of your cloud-based solutions and the encryption is strong. Also, implement a cloud identity and access management (IAM) approach, to ensure your product is secure and cost-effective.

                                      Read more: 7 Reasons For Enterprises To Implement Multi-Cloud Strategy In 2020

                                       

                                      Challenges of Cloud-based Application Development

                                      When you decide to opt for a cloud-based software solution you should figure whether your company can be a cloud provider (SaaS, IaaS, or PaaS) or build an app based on third-party cloud solutions.

                                      If you decide to be the cloud provider, you will have to think of issues such as the data processing logic, hardware, and service security as you will have to host your service and provide the users with a cloud network. If you decide to develop your app on a third-party cloud, you will have to consider the integration and so you will have to choose your provider carefully.

                                      Here are a few challenges that you may come across during cloud application development.

                                      • Reliability: Your cloud software design includes critical operations that need to work if you want your customers to benefit from the solution. Avoid using a cloud framework that cannot maintain important processes. You can consider backup data and operations with a private cloud.
                                      • Scalability: You must ensure to provide a scalable solution with the service you have chosen. If a product can’t be scaled or it falls over due to sudden traffic surges or you are unable to deliver services to a large audience regularly, you are bound to lose potential profits to your business.
                                      • Performance: More data centers mean the better your app will perform. Global providers place their servers in such a way that users can experience the same page loading speed from any location. If the number of servers is less or the custom UI needs more than three seconds to load, the app customer experience is likely to be poor. More loading time means less conversion. The app loading speed is defined by a Content Distribution Network(CDN) which is a part of the cloud app infrastructure.
                                      • Interoperability: The cloud environment should be able to run your app on different devices and integrate other cloud services into your infrastructure. However, as all cloud systems do not communicate with each other, you may not have a chance to mix components from different services.
                                      • Security: Security especially client-side along with storage protection will remain challenging for developers. Security is the biggest challenge when it comes to adopting cloud computing. Cloud apps may include API integrations. These apps also must be easily accessible for users. To raise the security level of your cloud-based app, you will have to leverage strong data encryption, SSL, and reverse proxy.

                                       

                                      A Few Common FAQs

                                      1. What are cloud-based technologies?

                                      These technologies are applications, services, or resources that are made available to users on-demand via the internet from cloud computing providers’ servers.

                                      2. How do cloud applications work?

                                      To process logic, a cloud-based app relies on remote servers. This is accessed through a web browser using the internet.

                                      3. What are the different types of cloud computing?

                                      There are three types of cloud computing; public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud.

                                      4. What are the different types of cloud services?

                                      Cloud services are of four types – serverless, infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS).

                                      5. What is the difference between a web application and a cloud application?

                                      A web-based application requires some or all the software to be downloaded from the web every time it is run. On the other hand, a cloud-based application function within the cloud and is similar to a web-based application as well as a native desktop application.

                                       

                                      Conclusion

                                      From cost reduction and scaling opportunities to higher accessibility of the final product. Cloud application development offers a host of benefits to businesses. However, cloud application development has its own set of complexities if not carried out the right way. A custom software development partner plus a trusted cloud service provider like Fingent can help you seamlessly transit to the cloud with 24/7 concierge support and consultation. Get in touch with us today to discuss your project!

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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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