Category: Development

This is How AI’s Developing Trends Will Change E-Commerce in 2023 and Onward

Miley on May 17, 2023

In the past year, we’ve seen significant advancements and developments in e-commerce. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in e-commerce enables companies to enhance operations and boost sales because it makes use of technologies like computer vision, NLP (natural language processing), and machine learning. It can be applied to raise customer satisfaction, optimize pricing, and give customers a more tailored shopping experience.

Are you interested in using artificial intelligence to transform your company? Where can AI make buying more enjoyable? In this post, we’ll look at how this machine-demonstrated intelligence can support your professional objectives, from tailoring your consumers’ purchasing experiences to automating customer service inquiries. AI in e-commerce can significantly speed up your business processes and increase revenues. In conclusion, the use of AI in e-commerce is extending the capabilities of online retailers.

To learn more about how artificial intelligence is used in e-commerce, keep reading.

AI in E-commerce: Transforming the Online Retail Sector

The most cutting-edge algorithms are provided by artificial intelligence, which has made life easier for people. We must break down AI into three parts in order to comprehend its comprehensive concept. These three consist of:

Machine learning: To solve a problem, machine learning employs a layering of algorithms. The algorithms try to understand by using prior knowledge or by giving instances.
NLP: This approach relies on how the machine understands and communicates with human language.
Data mining: It assists in gathering all relevant data (both current and past) in order to make precise predictions.

AI gives us a cutting-edge tool that has the potential to completely change our lives and the way we operate. In truth, it has already begun to have an effect on us. Many of us spend some of our days interacting with AI. Whether it be through the facial recognition capabilities of our smartphones or our reliance on search engines to give us practically all of the information we need.

We must acknowledge that technology plays a significant role in our online life. similar to how the development of electricity altered our way of life. In general, AI is essential to the transformation of e-commerce and helps it become more effective, personalized, and profitable.

Use of AI in E-Commerce Is Required

The fourth wave of industrialization has been referred to as artificial intelligence. Now, it has begun to ingratiate itself into numerous industrial sectors. It’s nearly ubiquitous, from airport security screenings to connecting household appliances with Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

Giving humanity the ability to complete complex activities more quickly and effectively is one of the key goals of AI. A McKinsey analysis also claims that AI could increase marketing and sales value by US$1.4 to US$2.6 trillion. Without a doubt, AI won’t get bored, need a nap, or need a rest from its work like humans do. As a result, the proportion of human mistakes in the process will decrease. In reality, a lot of businesses employ AI in e-commerce for examining the shopping habits of their customers based on their past data and purchases. They may increase their rates of conversion and more effectively design their shop tactics thanks to this analysis.

However, the use of AI within e-commerce nowadays is capable of much more than this. Artificial intelligence can, for example, be used to improve chatbot services, evaluate consumer behavior, provide tailored services, and many other things that we will cover in the sections that follow.

The complexity of the tasks in various positions can be greatly reduced by the usage of AI in e-commerce, from managing all of the systems and procedures without any malfunctions to organizing enormous amounts of data. With more pertinent search outcomes and improved customer service made possible by artificial intelligence and machine learning, you can convert more visitors into customers.

In conclusion, for now, we can claim that the innovative application of technology has significantly aided internet firms in their pursuit of better prospects. Several brick-and-mortar businesses are expanding their interaction and engagement thanks to digital connections.

The Benefits That AI-Powered E-Commerce Offers

The creation of AI applications for e-commerce has exploded in recent years. You may now streamline operations via automatization that would require you hours to perform and have them finished in minutes.

Online retailers will eventually be able to maximize their consumer experience thanks to the application of AI in e-commerce. We may achieve this by simply gathering consumer and corporate data to make better predictions and judgment calls.

Let’s examine the advantages that AI-powered e-commerce offers online shops in more depth.

Targeted Advertising and Marketing

Giving clients a personalized experience is a company’s top objective for success. But few actually take the necessary actions to fully put it into practice. Yet, using AI in e-commerce allows you to concentrate more on having personalized, one-on-one conversations with your clients. According to a study by Adobe, programmatic advertising powered by AI may boost conversion rates by 20% and the return on investment by 30%.

Simply put, the application of machine learning enables deep personalization techniques to provide customers with a tailored experience. It gathers and examines intricate information on customer histories and interactions. The stuff that consumers actually want to see is then sent to their feeds. Research by Accenture also showed that businesses employing AI for targeted marketing experienced a 20% sales spike compared to those who didn’t.

Customer Retention Rates Rise

Offering your consumers a personalized experience as well as a tailored selection can enhance customer retention as well. According to McKinsey’s omnichannel personalization research, omnichannel personalization techniques have the potential to boost revenue and customer retention by 10% to 15%. Additionally, it noted that improved data insights contribute to the creation of additional value along the entire value chain.

Additionally, a different Epsilon study discovered that tailored email campaigns powered by AI had click-through rates that were 41% and 29% higher than those of non-personalized efforts.

Continuous Automation

Automating processes with AI technology ultimately aims to make difficult repetitive tasks simpler with the least amount of human involvement. This merely indicates that repetitive chores that can be mechanized don’t require much effort on our part.

For instance, using technology to hire qualified candidates, make product recommendations, or use Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to schedule emails. Above all, the advantage of seamless automation is that it now frees up your employees to concentrate on more crucial responsibilities.

A Productive Sales Process

As was also previously said, using AI in e-commerce helps your online marketplace efficiently gather customer data to support more effective sales. The automatic data is also useful for following up on questions about abandoned carts. Also, it offers more specialized chat services to draw in clients. As a result, clients are encouraged to interact with your store more. According to a survey by Salesforce, AI-powered chatbots may enhance customer satisfaction by 100% or more while lowering customer support costs by 70%.

A brief conclusion: It’s important to keep in mind that these are broad advantages and that actual statistics may vary based on implementation and the sector you work in. Nonetheless, AI may often benefit e-commerce companies significantly in the area of marketing and promotion. Also, it’s obvious that AI may offer e-commerce organizations considerable benefits when it comes to marketing and promotion.

AI Application in E-Commerce

Artificial intelligence is used to help e-commerce businesses with a variety of tasks

Indeed, there are many instances of AI being used in e-commerce, whether on purpose or accidentally. We’re simply unaware that the technology being employed was actually constructed before AI. Artificial intelligence could help businesses with a variety of tasks. In fact, there are several ways that e-commerce’s artificial intelligence can now help online retailers.

We’ve highlighted a number of applications for AI in e-commerce below.

Price in Online Stores

According to market requirements, competition, and other considerations, AI in e-commerce aids in real-time price optimization. E-commerce pricing is a complex and ever-changing process that takes into account a variety of elements, including supply chain costs, market demand, and rivalry.

Dynamic pricing is one of the key ways AI may be applied to e-commerce pricing. In order to alter pricing in reaction to variations in demand and competition, algorithms are used. For instance, the algorithm is capable of automatically increasing prices when product demand is strong while decreasing prices when demand is low. This makes it easier to make sure the company is always charging the best price for each product.

Price optimization is another way that artificial intelligence in e-commerce aids with pricing. This entails determining the most profitable rates for each product using data and analytics, taking into consideration elements like costs associated with the supply chain, marketing costs, and consumer demand. Businesses may make better pricing decisions and boost their bottom line by utilizing AI in e-commerce to help evaluate data and discover the most profitable rates.

Moreover, AI-powered e-commerce has the advantage of keeping track of competitor prices and adjusting rates as necessary to keep the firm competitive and able to draw in new clients. All things considered, AI is an effective tool for e-commerce companies trying to maximize their pricing models and boost sales and profitability.

Fraud Mitigation

E-commerce fraud prevention is essential for preventing losses for both customers and organizations. Artificial intelligence is used in e-commerce to help identify patterns and abnormalities in monetary operations, such as odd spending patterns, significant transactions, and shady account activity.

The application of AI in e-commerce could spot potential fraud by examining transaction data and alerting organizations to take the appropriate actions. AI in e-commerce, for instance, will assist in flagging payments that have a significant possibility of being fraudulent, such as those conducted with credit cards that were stolen or those that exhibit blatant signs of money laundering.

Additionally, by combining AI with e-commerce, facial, fingerprint, and behavioral biometrics can be utilized to confirm clients’ identities during the purchase process. This use of artificial intelligence in e-commerce can aid in preventing fraud and other crimes like identity theft. In general, AI-powered fraud protection can assist e-commerce companies in reducing losses and safeguarding their clients against fraud.

Simulated Media

Artificial intelligence algorithms are used to create simulated media, commonly referred to as computer-generated media or synthetic media. Artificial intelligence-powered e-commerce uses synthetic media to enhance a product’s aesthetic appeal and increase its attraction to potential customers.

Generating product photos is one method synthetic media may be utilized in e-commerce. Even though the product has not yet become physically available, the use of AI in e-commerce would provide photos of things that look high-quality and lifelike. This can assist businesses in marketing goods before they are offered for sale.

Making clips of products is another way artificial intelligence-powered e-commerce can employ synthetic media. The use of artificial intelligence for e-commerce can make movies that show products in activity, like an item of clothing being dressed, or domestic appliances being used. Customers may gain a better understanding of the product’s appearance and functionality as a result.

For interconnected AI and e-commerce networks, synthetic media can also be used to build virtual reality, as well as augmented reality experiences that will enable buyers to better perceive the product and make more educated purchasing decisions. Synthetic media is, all things considered, a potent tool for e-commerce companies trying to enhance the aesthetic attractiveness of their goods and boost sales.

Savvy Product Recommendations

A system known as intelligent product suggestion uses AI in e-commerce to suggest items to customers depending on their surfing and purchasing history, as well as related products they have expressed interest in. Proposing appropriate products to clients can assist firms that integrate AI and e-commerce in growing their sales and improving customer happiness.

By examining each customer’s browsing and purchase history as well as other aspects like demographics, location, and interests, AI-based product recommendations additionally give them a tailored experience. As a result, AI usage in e-commerce could help boost the likelihood that customers will make a purchase because they are more probable to have an interest in the suggested products.

Moreover, cross-selling and upselling can be accomplished using AI-based product recommendations by suggesting related or more expensive products to clients who’ve previously made a purchase. The average purchase frequency value and income for e-commerce enterprises can thus be increased with the use of artificial intelligence in e-commerce. Overall, by offering relevant and customized products to customers, intelligent product suggestions offer a strong tool for AI and e-commerce organizations wanting to boost sales and enhance customer happiness.

Smart Search

The implementation of artificial intelligence in online commerce, or “smart search“, aims to increase the precision and usefulness of search engine results on e-commerce websites. This may help shoppers find the things they’re seeking more quickly and enhance their purchasing experience in general.

Simply put, the use of AI in e-commerce can evaluate information from a variety of sources, including social networks, search engine information, and the demographics of the client, to forecast the behavior and preferences of the latter. This can assist companies in making more educated choices regarding which products to market and to whom.

Smart search powered by AI can be used to decipher the customer’s intent and deliver more precise search results. For instance, it can recognize synonyms, rectify spelling mistakes, comprehend the context of said search, and deliver results that are pertinent. In order to customize search results, AI-based smart search may also be employed to evaluate consumer habits, such as the goods they have previously browsed and purchased. This may increase the likelihood that customers will find the things they seek and raise the likelihood that they’ll make a purchase.

Moreover, AI systems in e-commerce can be used to comprehend the website’s design—built via Wix and its pricing plans, which have appealing promotional rates for the first year of subscription—and the commodities and produce more accurate client navigation. They may find the items they’re seeking more quickly as a result. In general, smart search has the potential to be a potent tool for eCommerce companies trying to increase the precision and relevance of search rankings and make it simpler for consumers to locate the products they’re looking for.

Specific Customer Experience

As a customer interacts with an e-commerce platform, their interactions are personalized to reflect their distinct characteristics, needs, and behaviors. AI in e-commerce assists in customer data analysis and personalization of the user experience by making product recommendations, presenting tailored offers, and tailoring web content and its appearance for specific users.

Hence, implementing AI in e-commerce can boost consumer satisfaction and loyalty as well as sales. In order to make sure you understand, artificial intelligence in e-commerce can look into a customer’s purchase history and browsing to produce tailored product recommendations and adverts. Better conversion rates and consumer satisfaction may result from this.

The utmost prosperity of an Internet store is necessary to execute any highly personalized purchasing experience. According to a Retail Dive survey, businesses that used AI-powered personalization saw up to a 30% increase in sales. The use of AI in e-commerce allows for the analysis and identification of customer data. As a result, it makes it possible for technology to anticipate consumers’ shopping habits and offer products based on their preferences.

NLP

The branch of artificial intelligence known as Natural Language Processing (NLP) focuses on how computers and human languages interact. NLP is useful in e-commerce for comprehending client inquiries, product reviews, and ultimately and unavoidably, feedback.

Artificial intelligence in e-commerce is made possible by NLP to comprehend consumer intent and produce more precise and pertinent customer responses. Additionally, it may examine client comments and draw out insightful information that can be used to enhance the customer experience. Moreover, NLP enables the integration of chatbots, virtual assistants, as well as other AI-based systems with e-commerce applications of artificial intelligence to deliver a more seamless and effective customer service experience.

In conclusion, in relation to NLP, AI in e-commerce can increase performance and ROI by optimizing many elements of advertising and marketing initiatives, such as targeting, messaging, and ad placement. Also, many repetitive marketing and advertising operations, like ad generation, targeting, and budget allocation, can be automated by AI applications in e-commerce, releasing resources for further strategic projects and initiatives.

Virtual Support and Chatbots

AI-powered systems are used in chatbots and virtual assistance, which enables AI applications in e-commerce to help and support customers on e-commerce websites. These solutions can be integrated with the internet to offer a more effective and tailored customer support experience.

They can also help with processing orders and tracking, customer service, and answering commonly asked questions. In conclusion, chatbots and virtual support can help organizations conserve time and resources while enhancing customer satisfaction through prompt and accurate responses.

Inventory Control

Tracking and controlling a company’s product inventory is a part of inventory management. AI in e-commerce can increase supply chain efficiency, forecast demand, and manage inventory levels.

In order to be clear, AI-based systems for managing inventory may analyze data like past sales, buyer behavior, and industry trends to predict demand. They can also maximize inventory levels to make sure that products are always available when customers need them. Thus, AI applications in e-commerce could aid in cost-cutting, elevating client contentment, and boosting revenue.

Using E-commerce to Remarket to Potential Customers

This feature gives a method for locating potential customers who’ve already expressed interest in a good or service but haven’t made a purchase yet using AI. These people then target targeted marketing initiatives designed to win them over as clients.

The use of artificial intelligence in e-commerce enables the analysis of customer data, such as purchase history and browsing, and the use of this data to discover future customers and customize marketing campaigns to their individual interests. So, applications of AI in e-commerce can aid in boosting sales and enhancing the return on investment of marketing initiatives.

Segmenting Customers

The technique of grouping consumers according to their traits, including behaviors, purchasing history, and demographics, is known as customer segmentation. E-commerce AI solutions aid in the analysis of consumer data and the grouping of customers into various categories that can be targeted by particular marketing efforts.

For instance, a company could divide its clientele into groups based on age, wealth, and region and then tailor marketing campaigns to each group. Sales may rise as a result, and marketing activities may become more effective.

Combating Fake Products

Combating counterfeit goods entails finding and removing them from e-commerce sites while also defending the rights of those who own the intellectual property.

By contrasting them with the actual product photographs and spotting any differences, AI in e-commerce assists in the analysis of product images and the detection of counterfeit goods. So, this can aid e-commerce enterprises in safeguarding their reputations and preventing monetary losses brought on by fake goods.

Management of Big Data

The process of gathering, examining, and exploiting enormous quantities of information from multiple sources is also included in big data management. We do this to enhance performance and business decisions. AI is being used in eCommerce to analyze massive volumes of data, including sales, marketing activities, and consumer interactions. This aids in spotting trends that firms may use to streamline processes, boost revenue, and perform at their peak.

Finally, the use of artificial intelligence within e-commerce allows for the speedy analysis of vast volumes of data. It can also make decisions more quickly than people can, which increases the effectiveness of marketing and advertising.

Future of E-Commerce Driven by AI

E-commerce and AI — Schematic representation of the importance of synergetic of AI and E-commerce

Without a doubt, we can state that AI will continue to change the e-commerce sector. The store benefits from enhanced interaction and efficient management for both consumers and vendors as a result of AI and e-commerce integration.

By 2020, according to a Business Insider report, AI will likely manage about 85% of consumer interactions. Furthermore, according to a different Tractica analysis, the use of artificial intelligence in e-commerce increased sales at online retailers by up to $59.8 billion. And we can easily see these statistics holding true as automated emails, calls, and chatbots become more prevalent.

Simply said, it’s likely that AI-powered e-commerce will continue to gain popularity in the future.

Development

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Dedicated Development Team

Miley on January 18, 2023

For those businesses that want to launch a software solution but do not have enough in-house resources for building the necessary app, the question of how to hire software developers is one of the most crucial ones. Though an answer to onboard the required talents seems to be the most obvious one, we should admit that quite often it is not the best idea. Of course, if you have a software development business, expanding your team with new talents can be a sign of the growth and health of your company. However, even in this case, it is necessary to evaluate the feasibility of this approach.

But when you manage a company that has nothing in common with software creation, you definitely need to consider other options. With the growing interest in custom software solutions from the side of non-tech companies, the demand for outsourcing services is increasing as well. Today, there are a lot of companies that rely on software tools in supporting the growth of their businesses (for example, they can implement AI tools for boosting their sales or start using CRM systems for optimizing and managing interactions with customers) but they do not want to make software development their core activity. Given these factors, it will be rather senseless to sign long-term contracts with programmers. But an option to hire dedicated development team may look quite appealing. In general, the IT outsourcing segment is continuously growing and in 2023, it is expected that its revenue will reach $430.5 billion. And hiring a dedicated development team is one of the most popular outsourcing models.

What is a dedicated development team?

Let’s make sure that you clearly understand what companies can get when they hire dedicated development teams.

The idea behind this model is that companies need to establish cooperation with an outsourcing agency that will create dedicated teams instead of dealing with all onboarding and recruitment questions on their own.

It means that if you have a dedicated development team, all team members officially won’t be your employees. You will need to sign a contract with an outsourcing company and all your dedicated programmers and other specialists (such as designers, project managers, and QA engineers) will be employed by that entity. Nevertheless, the created team will be fully focused on your tasks and will be managed by you.

Why do businesses hire dedicated development teams?

Software is being tested by the development team

As you can understand, the popularity of this model is explained by all the benefits that it offers to the companies. Let’s have a look at the most important of them.

By working with dedicated developers you can find the expertise that is lacking in-house. Though usually those companies that do not have in-house development departments turn to the service of dedicated developers, even software development firms use this option when they do not have enough skills on board.
This cooperation model helps to forget about borders. You are not obliged to look for the necessary talents locally. Your outsourcing partner should have access to a global pool of talent.
Even if a project scope is not clearly defined, you can establish cooperation with a dedicated team. This model allows companies to introduce changes to the team composition even after the start of the development process.
You can enjoy a full scope of software-related services. Dedicated teams can offer not only software development and design services. They can also improve, modernize, change, scale, support, and maintain your software product.
This model is a perfect one for long-term projects. According to Good firms Research, the average time required for building a full-scale software product can take around 4.5 months. And even for such a term, it can be rather challenging to hire freelancers (it is better to work with them when you have just a small task) but at the same time, it is not worth onboarding an in-house programmer if you have just one project to build. However, a dedicated team will be a good solution. The team will be concentrated on your project but as soon as all the tasks are fulfilled you can terminate your cooperation and save your budget.

Final word

As you see, hiring a dedicated development team has a lot of advantages. And if you want to develop a software product for your business needs but there are not enough in-house resources for it, you can consider this cooperation model. But do not forget that one of the main conditions for the project’s success is finding the right outsourcing agency that will support you.

Development SaaS

How AI can Help Software Testing

Miley on January 4, 2023

Software testing is an essential part of the software development process, as it helps ensure that the developed software is of high quality and meets the requirements of its users. However, manual testing can be time-consuming and error-prone, making it necessary to explore other options to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of software testing. One such option is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in software testing services.

AI has the potential to revolutionize the way software is tested, as it can automate many of the tedious and repetitive tasks involved in testing, freeing up testers to focus on more complex and challenging tasks.

AI can be used to automate the following aspects of software testing:

Test Case Generation: AI can be used to automatically generate test cases based on software requirements and other relevant information. This can help ensure that all the critical scenarios and edge cases are covered during testing, leading to more comprehensive testing.

Test Case Execution: Once the test cases have been generated, AI can be used to execute them automatically, freeing up testers to focus on other tasks. AI can also monitor the execution of the test cases, providing real-time feedback on the progress of the testing.

Test Case Evaluation: AI can automatically evaluate the test cases’ results, identifying any failures or issues that need to be addressed. This can help testers quickly identify and fix any problems, improving the overall quality of the software.

In addition to automating the various tasks involved in software testing, AI can also help improve the accuracy and reliability of the testing process. By using machine learning algorithms, AI can learn from previous testing experiences and adjust its approach accordingly, leading to more accurate and reliable results.

Overall, the use of AI in software testing company has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process. By automating tedious and repetitive tasks, AI can free up testers to focus on more challenging and complex tasks, leading to better-quality software and a more efficient testing process.

Using AI with software testing can greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process. By automating tedious and repetitive tasks, AI can free up testers to focus on more challenging and complex tasks, leading to better-quality software and a more efficient testing process.

Software development — A schematic representation of the software development process

One way AI can be used in software testing is to automate the generation of test cases. This involves using AI algorithms to automatically generate test cases based on the software requirements and other relevant information. This can help ensure that all the critical scenarios and edge cases are covered during testing, leading to more comprehensive testing.

Another way AI can be used in software testing is to automate the execution of test cases. Once the test cases have been generated, AI can be used to execute them automatically, freeing up testers to focus on other tasks. AI can also monitor the execution of the test cases, providing real-time feedback on the progress of the testing.

AI can also be used to automatically evaluate the results of the test cases. This involves using AI algorithms to analyze the results of the test cases and identify any failures or issues that need to be addressed.

Development Insights

Gaming in the Office: Pros and Cons for Businesses

Miley on September 19, 2022

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many new trends have been introduced to the workplace, including remote work and gaming. Remote work took a while to implement because we’ve had hundreds and hundreds of years convincing ourselves that our physical presence was required for every kind of work. But gaming in the office is something that many of us already do under the desk, during lunchtime, or inside the office toilet cubicle. It is one of the guilty pleasures of the workplace. So to have it as a growing trend is no small deal, and many employees are jumping on the idea as they have never jumped before.

But apart from the fun, what are the benefits of allowing video games in the workplace? And apart from being a distraction, what are the detriments? Let’s find out.

Pros of Gaming for the Business

1. Relaxation

When carried out repeatedly and over 3 or 4 hours at least, practically every kind of work becomes monotonous. And because the human mind was not designed to horse around with monotony, stress sets in. The mind then begins a quest for anything and everything exciting. And if you keep forcing it back to the monotonous task at hand, it triggers fatigue in the body until you are ready to stop working or find something else in the environment to pacify it.

This is the kind of struggle that most workers deal with every day. But they have found ways to alleviate stress, including a quick snooze or a 5-minute break to play a game on their phones. So why not make it official and allow periods of genuine relaxation with video games installed in the workplace?

When gaming is allowed in the workplace, it becomes a relaxed environment and employers become used to that relaxation. They can refresh themselves more efficiently. So, there’s a subtle message to every employee: Are you tired? Nothing that playing Angry Birds on your phone can’t fix. Come one, come all! Refresh yourself!

Gaming provisions alleviate the stress of long, difficult, or monotonous work. It is a healthy way of decompressing and maintaining a spirit of happiness in the workplace.

2. Improved Muscle Flexibility and Motor Skills

For businesses that revolve around tech, video games have the potential to juice up the employees’ speed of work. The majority of video games require a strong command of the eyes and the hands, and sometimes the ears. Each of these senses is constantly bombarded with effects and changes that facilitate training the sense of coordination. So, video games can be used to improve muscle activity among employees, as well as better train their sense of coordination.

Of course, even non-tech companies and employees can benefit from video games in this fashion. Employees with slow typing skills can improve dramatically after getting accustomed to video games that require a keyboard. With the fun element included, the learning speed will be astronomical when compared to similarly purposed video programs like Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.

A video game like Call of Duty: Cold War is good for training muscle movement and motor skills. Available on PC and Xbox, installing it in the workplace removes the need to procure the assistance of typing experts to help employees.

3. Boosted Memory

Games are engaging in a way that social media is not. Oddly, the mind can be bogged down by the monopoly of obligatory work but not by games. While gaming, our memories are more active because there are usually many elements to work with, each distinctive and captivating. The colorful squares and ellipsoids of Candy Crush, for example, can fix themselves in your mind long after you play the game. So, video games are great for helping employees boost their recollections.

Added to this boosted memory is the fact that video games are usually engineered to help people solve puzzles. What is the point of a game that is only fun but not challenging in any way? So having video games in the workplace improves employees’ ability to process a lot of information with incredible mastery.

Consider the racing game available on Xbox, Burnout Paradise, for example. The racing game quickly gets gamers adjusting their minds to the various curves and edges of the interface. Even after shutting their eyes, memories of their gameplay still flash under the eyelids of employees. So, with video games, employees’ eyes are put to great use—as an open window to memory.

4. Bursts of Inspiration

Video games are great visual places to get bursts of inspiration. Even cartoonish and classic video games have aspects that are designed to promote thinking in the gamer. The more you play such games, the more you are forced to consider visible and unseen variables, especially considering that the game interface does not show you everything at once.

Anybody who has played Super Mario Bros. would be familiar with the simple and exciting narrative. The obstacles are generally easy to overcome but how you do so determines the points you get. As a result, the game’s substructural edge is that it forces players to be innovative in a simple way. This is an area that is overlooked but has significant implications for inspirational value in the workplace.

Video games consequently stimulate creative thinking, assist employees in testing possible implications of introducing new variables into their gameplay or making adjustments to the existent, and inspire them to try new methods. They can then subliminally gather this creativity and apply it to their work whenever they have to deal with difficult tasks.

5. Employee Engagement

Lap top — A person is showing another person something on the laptop

Having video games installed in the workplace can get employees more committed to the workplace objectives and big picture. In cases where these games require teams to play them, the odds of increased social cohesion among employees are not small. Employees that play video games together are bound to have better communication than others. So in introducing gaming into the workplace, we are making it more convenient for employees to form communities, run tasks with teamwork effectiveness and with few complaints, and easily get behind company policies.

This is especially important for workplaces that are still remote and virtual. For these places, getting together over the weekend for a picnic might be taking it too far. But a meeting in the virtual world of gaming is just appropriate. These employees may decide to play Call of Duty and Burnout Paradise during particular times.

Playing these kinds of games together helps employees learn together. For instance, both of the aforementioned games are available on Microsoft Xbox. This game console is one of the very best because it is a Microsoft production and can easily integrate with all the other Microsoft stuff. Moreover, using it can help employees learn a lot of new things, like fixing login issues on the Xbox app.

6. Easier and Speedier Decision-Making Processes

A visualization is an important tool for presentations for a reason. It is easier to convince people with pictures than without. In the same vein, video games are all about visuals, from the colors and textures of these games to the different modes and characterization that they have. These visuals, as we explained earlier, have a way of sticking out in the brain so that they become impressions. They also loosen the areas of our minds that want to work through every decision-making process.

So, through video games, an employer can help foster a mental culture of faster decision-making among their employees. Because these employees are forced to make casual decisions while gaming, those who are usually very demanding and rigorous with pipeline tasks would be forced to relax. Over time, this will allow them to form a culture of speedier thinking and processing of information in a more natural manner. This results in the culture creating a capacity for efficient decision-making in every employee in the workplace, thereby minimizing the headaches that team managers get from having overdependent employees.

Cuphead is a good example of a game that fosters decision-making among employees.

7. Improves Collaboration and Leadership Skills

Another prominent advantage of having video games installed in the workplace is that it improves collaboration and leadership skills. Team managers can test-drive the leadership skills of workers to determine improvements over the years. Directly, managers can use video games in the workplace to engender trust in leadership and enhance the relationships of supervisors and department heads with their team members.

The direct materialization of oneself in the form of a game character allows a kind of liberation that is rarely obtained any other way. But as employees kick up their heels to have a good time, they are unconsciously leaning on their self-governing sides which makes the game more enjoyable as they make decisions themselves and see the implications of their choices. They consequently get more confident with every passing moment. This is probably why gamers who are otherwise shy any other time of the day are fierce and self-possessed once attached to the console.

Employees can also be taught leadership by letting them lead teams in video games. This helps them reinforce necessary leadership qualities and become used to doing so at any other time. Portal 2 is a fine example of a video game that fosters such qualities.

Cons of Gaming in the Workplace

1. Distractions

The biggest minus to allowing video games in the workplace is that they can easily become distractions. It takes a disciplined mind to stay focused on the task at hand without needing the rush of excitement that video games offer to players. This kind of discipline is difficult to maintain when there are provisions for fun and entertainment just a few feet away.

So, unless gamification is effectively managed, introducing it to a workplace can collapse the structure of task allocation and delivery. Employees might become lazy and cultivate a habit of missing targets and deadlines.

2. Displacement of the Big Picture in the Workplace

Video games tend to take over the human mind. Once again, the mind is not so responsible that it can be left unattended in the face of fun. This means that employees with access to video games in the workplace may unconsciously suppose that the game is an incentive for better work. Even though this is not a false observation, taking the games as rewards for good work rather than taking them as incentives are two different things. One has gamification in the workplace as an objective while the other has it as a tool. The latter case leads to increased productivity while the former breeds unintentional laziness and the misplacement of work values.

3. Possible Splintering of Employees into Factions of Ardent Gamers and Non-Gamers

They may be exciting, relaxing, and absolutely enjoyable, but video games are not for everybody. Some individuals will only indulge because they have nothing else to do, while others will not do so even if they are compelled to with a gun to their heads. So providing gaming in the workplace can trigger schisms that never existed before, with the workforce breaking into factions of ardent gamers and passionate non-gamers. Such situations trigger unrest, disband social cohesion and reduce productivity.

4. Impending Rigidity and Loss of Value and Meaning

Nobody wants to repeat a game continually. Given enough time, games that used to be exciting can become monotonous, forcing managers to think up new ways to make the enterprise perpetually attractive. But this can get expensive, not to mention that it was never the goal in the first place. So, gaming in the workplace is not sustainable in the long run because it can get rigid and lose value and meaning.

In Closing…

Ultimately, gamification in the workplace can be a good idea. It helps employees bond more easily, make decisions more quickly, and cut down stress more naturally. There are also a lot of transferable skills attached to the inclusion of video games in the workplace. However, this inclusion requires the integration of strategies that focus on promoting a healthy workplace culture—rather than negligence and unfavorable gaming habits—among employees.

Development Insights

The 7 Biggest Cloud Computing Trends in 2022

Miley on June 28, 2022

Want to add cloud computing trends to your business to do massive growth…????

We are here to help you know the most significant cloud computing trends in 2022. As you know, work scenarios have gone in a different direction after the pandemic situation. Companies want smooth workflow with the use of efficient cloud services.

So, to get the benefits of cloud computing, you need to know what’s going on in the world of cloud services. This field is constantly updating and you should stay ahead of all to get the maximum benefit. So, we have your back and covered the biggest cloud computing trends in 2022 for you. Before jumping to know the trends, let’s know the evolution of cloud computing in this digital world.

Advancement in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a technology by which your whole computing environment is in both hardware and software applications online. You just need remote central servers for this computing service. There is a continuous evolution of the cloud trends after the pandemic situation worldwide. The evolution is based on the modified needs of society. The service is just like having computer services on rent. The first idea behind this came in the 1950s. The revolutionized cloud computing has its feet on the five previous major technologies, after that the cloud computing service is what it is today!

The previous five techniques are:

Distributed services with its Peripherals
Virtualization
Web 2.0
Service Orientation
Utility Computing

After this, Cloud computing evolved and you can see this as one of the latest trending cloud computing services. But still, it has been evolving as per the industry needs, So there are various trends related to it. So, let’s get started with these trends of 2022…!!!!

The Biggest Cloud Computing Trends

Artificial Intelligence

The market for Artificial Intelligence is very vast in the coming years. The expected projection value of the market will be $850 billion by 2028. Cloud computing plays an important role in delivering artificial intelligence technology services. The development and evolution of the AI and cloud are interrelated. In the coming time, AI will consist of strong algorithms that can enhance the accuracy of machine learning to understand human language. So, Cloud computing will play a crucial role in delivering the services as well as the needed infrastructure to the consumers.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning need high processing power and bandwidth that can be budget-friendly by using cloud technology. Cloud computing basically plays a big role in the development of two AI trends:

Creative Algorithms to train artificial intelligence programs and enhance the usage of machine learning.
Language Modelling transforms the way computer systems interact with the users.

Thus, cloud computing will play good support to deliver these two services to the users. Every size company can get benefit from cloud technology to get the top AI solutions.

If the smaller companies will not get affordable cloud services then it will be difficult for them to work with advanced ML and AI services. Big support of cloud computing helps all business size companies to fetch the benefit of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Serverless Cloud Computing

Serverless computing means the consumer doesn’t have to bother with server infrastructure management. In this scenario, the cloud provider handles the required infrastructure and resource allocation. There are so many benefits of serverless cloud computing, Some of them are:

Don’t spend on a fixed amount of storage or bandwidth. Using pay-as-you-go service usage is the best option.
No need for an extra team to handle server management.
Lessen the risk of back-end failures.
No need to provision complex server clusters, Instead spend time on coding and development.
Automatic scaling of serverless platforms.
Less investment of significant resources.

These benefits of serverless computing make cloud technology more accessible. So, The trend of serverless computing continues to boost. This strategy helps to reduce the risk and the cost. In the coming time, demand for serverless computing will grow from 2022 to around 23% by the year 2026. The main helping hand in this technology will be the small companies that adopt this strategy to reduce the cost and burden of managing the servers. Be more flexible in terms of bandwidth and storage capabilities with this trend.

Cloud Security

One of the most important concerns of companies for cloud deployment is the Security of the data and compliance. So, in return cloud providers are thinking deeply about the security concerns to be given. They have created a huge demand for the given practices:

Secure Access Service Edge (SAAS)- It helps users to manage and control access to cloud applications and end-user devices.
Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery (DR)- It assists a company to back up the data and having a stand-by IT environment to help if the primary environment goes down.

Security should be the most considered step for a company as any breach of it, can cost the company millions loss of money and reputation. Making a secured IT environment as per possible requirements takes strong security measures. The above two given practices support flexible security measures for the company from web filtering to the prevention of credential stealing. SASE especially helps to reduce the cost of the projects while lowering the IT workloads and preventing thefts.

Hybrid and Multicloud Environment Support

There are two traditional options for opting for cloud services: One is a private cloud and the other is a public cloud. Private means storing the data on a customizable private cloud where data is saved in the private spaces to give fast data speeds and lower the downtime. The second one is public which means storing the data on a pay-as-you-go common cloud space where there is a third-party server making it possible to reduce the infrastructure costs for the company. The latest one is the combination of the two presenting the hybrid environment.

The combination of the two offers the companies to get the best of the cloud services. The client-sensitive information can be privately held and the most used files required on a need basis can be taken to a public cloud like Azure or AWS cloud consulting services. That’s why organizations are opting for multi-cloud environments. Which in turn is a combination of all the three: Private, Public, or Hybrid.

On-premises operations with services that run on any public or hybrid cloud combine with each other to get the advantage of multi-cloud support. Various benefits of having the support of a multi-cloud environment:

Less downtime
Performance Optimization
Control over costs

To achieve the given advantages and a flexible working environment, you can use hybrid or multi-cloud technology. It’s also possible to create a customizable technology environment to meet your business goals.

Edge Computing

Edge computing is an optional approach to feeding data in the cloud environment. This trend involves creating localized data centers for computing and storing the data near the data gathering point instead of being in a centralized location that is miles away. Cloud computing and Edge computing complement each other very well. The combination provides the benefits of the cloud services with the following in IT environments:

Fast data processing
Less bandwidth usage
Reduced volumes of transferred data
No latency in response time

This kind of separate and broadcasted infrastructure enhances the application’s performance. The data and resources can be refined locally as they are nearer to the end user’s device.

Cloud computing data is not time-sensitive whereas Edge computing is the reverse of that. Runs the complemented technologies increase the speed of the data processing and privacy support. Every edge server has variable computing, storage, and network capabilities, So each device can perform functions of network switching and Load balancing. Edge computing will be on the heights as there are numerous benefits.

Keep an eye on sustainability

Sustainability is important in all aspects of life whether it is personal living or technology. Sustainability is considered with innovation in this era. Maximum cloud computing organizations use renewable energy to operate their services.

One of the major advantages of this can reduce the volatility with good environmental performance. The reason here for the sustainability of cloud computing is to reduce the usage of carbon and physical waste. Move to software usage rather than paper-based work. So, cloud-based computing is the best to do this.

Most people hate to work with companies that violate environmental rules. They consider sustainability above all while choosing any technical company for the services. When a normal business application and data switches to the cloud, it easily reduces the energy consumption which results in much lower energy costs and reduced carbon footprints.

Grow With Cloud Gaming, AR, and VR

Direct streaming of the video games to the user’s device from the remote servers is Basically Cloud Gaming. Anyone can play the game on any device such as laptops, systems, or smartphones without having any expensive console. Multi-players can play without the hurdle of existing platform requirements. You don’t need to have the given:

Exclude the need of having storage space
Any need for special hardware
Delay-free experience
The problem of any privacy concern

Some big giants in the world of cloud gaming are Mircosoft, Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung, etc. The future of advanced gaming entirely depends on cloud gaming technology, virtual reality, and augmented reality. This can be one of the most emerging trends of cloud computing in 2022.

Final Takeaway: Grow the business With Trends in Cloud Computing

That’s all for the topic!

This year can be the most emerging time for cloud computing services. To stay ahead of the competition, your company should not lack cloud services. It has changed the way of traditional businesses. After the pandemic, it has become a necessity for IT businesses to grow worldwide.

Its flexibility and cost-saving advantages are the top reasons to be a part of cloud trends. With the emerging powerful technologies of cloud computing, Without a doubt, Cloud computing is the future.

If you have any other big trend of cloud computing in mind, then drop your idea here. Still, have any other queries, Feel free to connect with us….We will be happy to serve you!

Hope you enjoyed the reading….!!!!

About the Author:

Naveen Kumar is the marketing and product head at JoomDev. He loves to convert his ideas into reality by developing products to make your online business successful with his WordPress plugins like Mighty Addons for Elementor, which helps her power Elementor’s page builder.

Development Insights

Student’s Guide: How to Start Learning Coding

Miley on April 14, 2022

The technology industry is one of the most important industries in the world. We use technology daily to keep us better connected, yet we know little about how it’s all created. As much as it may seem like magic, it was actually made by coders, programmers, and other computer science geniuses.

In this fast-growing industry, you might be wondering how you can get started and become part of it? It may seem difficult to find your initial bearings, but once you make that leap, it will be life-changing.

Why Learn to Code?

There are many benefits to learning to code, here are a few that we think should spark up an interest;

It is a booming industry so a lot of related jobs are in demand. Whether you are looking to work for a company or freelance, there are lots of opportunities.

When coding you’ll find new challenges and be continuously learning. This really boosts your problem-solving and logic skills, giving your left side of the brain a proper workout.

It’s fun! Nothing is more rewarding than seeing your technological creations come to life before your eyes. After you’ve passed the initial stages of getting started you can delve into specific parts you are more passionate about and be more creative.

What Languages are Best for Beginners?

Coding is a vast subject, where there are hundreds of different coding languages, each with a different purpose to what they can do. It’s not always easy to figure out what’s the best one to start with and that’s really because there is not just one answer. There are multiple different languages that work well in the beginning, but it’s best to start with the one that fits in with your coding goals. Below are some coding languages that beginners often start with and a little summary of how they can be helpful.

HTML – used as a foundation of the internet, and can set up content for web pages. HTML is a great starting block for beginners and often you’ll find even when you are more advanced you’ll be referring back to HTML.

CCS – HTML and CSS go as a nice pairing, so often you can learn them together. However, CCS handles the colors, sizing, fonts, and layouts of web pages. If you want to sparkle up a page, this is the one for you.

JavaScript – JavaScript helps make web pages more interactive. You can learn how to add videos, maps, and animated graphics.

Python – Python is another good option to start with as a lot of its code reads more like English so it’s easier for beginners to get a good grasp of. It isn’t built for a specific task, it instead helps build websites and software, automate tasks, and conduct data analysis.

Don’t feel that you have to keep to just one of these, you can switch between a few, and in the next section, you’ll learn more about how best to learn these.

Coding Tutors

The best way to learn to code thoroughly and quickly is with your very own coding tutor. In a one-to-one environment, your tutor can focus on key areas specific to your needs, track your progress, and you will be able to learn at your own pace. Tutor House, a top online tutoring platform, provides online coding lessons for students. Their tutors are highly experienced in many coding languages, and you can opt-in for a free trial call to find out how they will help achieve your goals. Learn at a time convenient to you and get personalized feedback to see a positive improvement.

Online Tutorials

If you prefer to go the longer route and be self-taught, there are numerous online coding tutorials and resources out there for you to pick up on. Tutorialspoint is a coding channel that carefully explains concepts to you and provides beginner tutorials for many different languages such as HTML, CCS, and Javascript. Self-teaching can be tricky, so make sure you go through these tutorials and resources at your own pace and practice each point thoroughly before moving on to the next. This will move you in a positive direction where you can track your own progress.

Books and Podcasts

There are many books and podcasts that can help educate you on topics on coding. Books are a great way of learning more about coding history and how people have developed in the tech industry. Podcasts can inform you on current and specific topics on coding; such as cyberwarfare, and the socio-economic impact of artificial intelligence. This will help you have a deeper understanding of your discipline and find interests in particular areas in your free time. It’s especially useful to read about topics that are difficult and it helps you see things from a different perspective.

Mini Projects

Most importantly, learn coding by doing. Start yourself up on a mini project and challenge and see how well you can adapt. Whether that is through your lessons with a tutor, an online course, or learning with friends. Sometimes it’s easier to learn when you have a particular motivation to create. The more action, the better the results, and it builds up your problem-solving skills along the way.

Have You Learned The Secret Language Yet?

Like with traditional language learning, to learn a coding language, you need to be passionate, you need to be patient, and you need to practice. There is so much you can do and learn in the coding world, you’ll never get bored. That’s why often coders, new and old, can learn from each other as each person learns with a whole new perspective. Coding is worthwhile to learn – don’t miss out!

Development SaaS

Why Unit Testing is Important in Software Development?

Miley on March 2, 2022

So finally you have decided to delve into the software development world, great start! I hope you won’t miss out on the penultimate step that is supposed to be taken before the launch of the software product to the market. I am talking about none other than software testing!

Of course, till now it has been pretty common for businesses to ignore this step due to enormous reasons such as it is not budget-friendly or it’s fine what we need is a properly developed software. More or less, I have heard many people saying that this would lead to no major consequences. Well, what you may miss out on is software testing is a must-do thing as it offers a plethora of benefits ranging from enhanced product quality to improved security, detect compatibility with different devices and platforms and a lot goes more.

However, I am not going to get into the details of what software testing is or why one must look into finding relevant software testing services as I am pretty sure there are many posts written on a daily basis. The following post focuses on what unit testing is and why unit tests are a significant aspect of the software testing space. So without any further ado, let’s begin!

Define Unit Testing?

As the name implies, unit testing can be considered as a subset of software testing where components are being tested individually. In any software testing life cycle model (STLC), unit testing is the very first level of testing and it comes prior to integration testing. In other words, I would say that unit testing is a white-box testing method mainly performed by the developer. However, this is not true for each and every case as of now, developers due to time restraints are unable to conduct relevant tests due to which QA engineers have to barge in.

As mentioned earlier, unit testing emphasizes individual units of the software being tested separately. For example, one can test different computer modules to ensure whether they are fit to use or not. This is mainly done to check whether it’s the developer’s mistake or not. Moreover, you can consider it an approach to check how functionally appropriate these modules are individual.

So what is the main objective behind conducting unit tests?

A part of code can be separated
To check whether the code is correct or not
Thorough check through functionality for smooth procedures
Fix errors and easy debugging process to save time, money, and energy
Enhance code reusability

Types of Unit Tests

The ultimate objective of unit testing as mentioned above is to double-check whether things are working as they are supposed to in the first place. But this type of testing is more detailed checking every module individually. You see, the entire system works wonders only if the individual parts are working in great condition. Now there are two types of unit testing: one is manual testing and the other is automated testing.

Now what happens is software testers most of the time tend to choose the automated method. The reason being it’s quick offers accurate results and best when it comes to performance. Here developers are initially asked to write a specific section of test code so that functions can be tested automatically. On the contrary, The manual approach is a bit time-consuming as here one needs to follow a specific procedure for everything to work effectively.

Importance of Unit Testing in Software Development

Now, why is unit testing important? Well, unit testing offers a wide range of benefits in the entire software development process. Hereby performing unit testing software developers won’t be just going through the components of the software individually but also can spot errors in the unit testing phase. Further in case of any error occurs, developers can debug it right away!

Now many of you often get confused between unit testing and test-driven development. Well, there is a difference! There is no specific way of conducting unit tests. I mean one can write them before the code is implemented and even after that. Now when it comes to test-driven development, many of you have this misconception that it is a testing technique. It’s not! This can be considered as a software development practice where different tests are being implemented just to define the code functions. These codes haven’t been written yet! Unlike unit tests, the main goal of test-driven development is to improve the code right on during the development process. Not to mention that unit testing ensures the creation of bug-free code. Now without any further ado, let us begin why it is important to conduct unit testing

1. Unit Tests enhances the code quality

Software developers generally do is they write unit tests first and then write the code. This happens most of the time while conducting test-driven development. And you know what’s the best part, if the code somehow doesn’t meet appropriate requirements or specifications then the code won’t be added. Moreover, here developers can easily modify the code. Yes, even after such modifications there is no change in the functionality of neighboring units. Everything stays the same yet different.

In case, if something happens to the code, nothing can stop developers from identifying the root cause in the given time. Yes, they no longer will be asked to unwieldy go through the codebase to spot the issue. This is the pure magic of unit testing. Now does this mean the code adheres to specified standards? Absolutely!

2. Makes the Agile Software Development Process

Another crucial advantage of unit testing is it makes the development process more agile. Now in a general scenario what happens is when developers try adding more and more features just to make the software more attention-grabbing, they likely or unlikely are asked to change old design and the code. Now, this is a lose-lose situation. On one hand, you are changing the code and on the other hand, you are running out of your budget. As a solution, to refactor things accurately, it is advisable to conduct unit test cases in place.

Unit testing and agile programming are more like chocolate and peanut butter. So to conduct safe refactoring, choose this combo right away!

3. Documentation

Of course, documentation is extremely important whether it’s unit testing, integration testing, or any other software testing type. And unit testing offers very detailed documentation to assist professionals conducting the software development process. In case, if the developers get stuck or misguided, the developers can go through the document at any point in time.

4. Early Detection of software bugs

Issues found at an early stage are the best way to conduct the development process. Now since unit testing can be conducted before and after code is implemented. It becomes pure bliss for developers as they can find issues, fix them and all this happens without interfering with other pieces of code.

5. Changes and Integration Made Easier

Refactoring the application code, Another crucial benefit worth considering here. Here, once unit tests are conducted by professionals can decipher the code that might be hindering the overall app development procedure. By conducting unit tests, the scalability and maintenance of the code automatically improve.

6. Software Is Tested Prior to Delivery

As a developer what is the prime need while writing the code? To ensure that it operates in the best manner possible. And Unit Testing is one such way that can make this happen!

7. It significantly lowers development costs

Now have you ever wondered what happens if the errors are detected later on? Of course, first of all, high loss of money! Then you have to make several system changes. It may quite interest you to know that the price of detecting an error in a unit test is way lower than the price of doing everything right from spotting to fixing errors on other levels of testing. Performing unit tests is all about high-end savings whether it is in the context of time, money, and energy.

8. Design

Psychologically speaking, writing the tests compels a developer to think hard. Most of the time, the life of developers becomes monotonous and they just start working on the process before writing the code. Unit tests won’t let this happen! Apart from making them think, developers can focus more on creating intimidating designs. You only get to know its worth unless it is being tested in time. Similarly, what is the code’s responsibility? This should be your prime concern before you even begin developing.

9. Unit Test improves Performance

What would any business expect from software? That it has to be best in regards to performance, right? And conducting frequent unit tests definitely results in enhanced performance of the product.

10. Provides a Chance for Continuous Integration

Software development is a continuous process where we see a team of software developers working on several features which are cross-cutting concerns. Now if by any chance a developer makes a breaking change and other members are unable to figure that out what could happen? Fortunately, we have a CI server.

CI servers are pretty much beneficial because it not only handles the merging and compilation precisely but also can run your tests whether it’s a functional, unit, integration, etc.

Conclusion

Again I would say all about the software testing realm is very subjective though it does have a brighter side there are certain situations where it might not be a good fit. At the end of the day, it’s the way you make things work. So that’s all for now! In case you have any doubt or issues, feel free to mention that in the comment section below.

test code, unit test cases, unit testing phase, unit testing ensures, code unit testing, documentation unit testing

Development Insights

Exit Interviews to Reduce Employee Turnover and the Role of Leadership

Miley on February 23, 2022

1 in 4 people quit their job in 2021. The number continues to grow and is not likely to subside this year.¹ As the “Great Resignation” upsets companies across every industry, employers are searching for ways to reduce employee turnover.

The interest in turnover is more relevant than ever. Unemployment levels and job openings returned to pre-pandemic levels. Losing trained workers requires the organization to invest significant time and money to recruit, interview, train, and onboard new hires. Turnover disrupts an organization because it requires managers, peers, and human resources to divert resources and takes time away from the organization’s primary service goals.

As the pandemic played a huge role in upheaval, more workers now cite on exit interviews the desire to stay working remotely as a reason to resign. The contrast is universal. Many worked increasingly long hours at home. At the same time, higher numbers than ever claim less work-life balance as a result of being “always-on”. The lack of opportunity and growth many employees experienced contributes to the mass exodus from current employers. Whatever their specific reason for leaving, workers are confident enough in their job prospects to try something new. What more than 50% don’t want to change, is going into the office.

How has workplace culture changed today?

The days when managers simply “command and control” employees are gone. Organizations have changed. Employees bring different needs, wants, and expectations than just two years ago. As people rethink what work means to them and how they are valued, how they spend their time has greater consequences. There are not enough people to replace the retirees that permanently left the workforce. The common goal for any company today is to retain the valued employees they have. Managers, even unknowingly, can create an environment that cultivates or hinders employee morale, undermining the investment HR or leadership makes in benefits, reward programs, and training.

Managers are hired for both their subject matter expertise and also their “soft skills”. As stressors rose for them as well, some were not able to translate those valuable assets into managerial communication or employee motivation. A study by Life Meets Work found that 56% of American workers claim their boss is “mildly” or “highly toxic”.² The staff enduring high-stress situations can suffer from emotional exhaustion and recurring anxiety, significantly decreasing performance, creativity, and problem-solving. With strong exit interview reports that compare and contrast microculture experiences, disconnects are clearer to see. A microculture is a mix of demographic and organizational aspects that form a unique cultural envelope for a given population. A single company can have dozens of unique experiences that exit interview analysis reveals.

For example, when employees feel supported at work, they are more likely to indicate a highly fair work environment. According to Gartner, creating a better employee experience will be the most important initiative for HR executives in 2022. “To do this, organizations need to go beyond policies and develop philosophies.” (Brian Kropp, Chief Researcher) One of the challenges is not knowing if these manager breakdowns exist, or where they are most prevalent. Organizations that conduct exit interviews with meaningful exit interview questions about direct supervisors, can unlock hidden insights.

Exit interview — Schematic representation of the procedure of the exit interview

Consider…How well do existing employees trust their manager?

How do those same employees feel about your “employer being a good place to work”?

The negative correlation is high. Employees that don’t trust their manager are less likely to promote that employer to others.

What manager insights are built by conducting exit interviews?

Why do so many great employees leave their job?

Only 27% of those who say they have “good managers” are thinking about quitting in the next 12 months, versus 63% of employees who have a “bad manager”. Manager relationships can more than double the intention to leave.

So, the best exit interview questions include and inform specific manager actions and unearth areas for which an underperforming manager can see gaps to develop. Most helpful on an exit interview template include:

Accessibility
Fairness and equality
Trust
Respect / Appreciation
Nature of feedback
An inclination for career development

The role of supervisors is key to an employee’s job experience. They control the degree of structure and potential conflict in the work itself. Managers provide informal and formal feedback to staff on their work behavior and control rewards and even the job security that the employee may enjoy. All these parts of the job experience are particularly important to employees who are trying to adjust themselves to a volatile environment.

Millennial employees are especially less tolerant of mismanagement. Those who feel stifled by their manager are far more likely to quit. They desire an environment that allows them to grow, accept, and use their ideas. Millennials desire greater freedom and trust, and consistently quit jobs when they don’t feel that with their manager.

Managers must be sensitive to the desires of all generations of workers, not just millennials, and must treat all fairly and with respect to avoid issues such as age discrimination.

How can you prevent staff turnover with exit interviews?

What can exit interviews do to slow staff turnover and retain top talent? Those exit interview questions are a crucial step in the offboarding process. An employee’s experience contains valuable information and is the cornerstone of any long-term retention strategy. Good exit interview questions anchor the data that can drive specific changes across:

Benefits
Compensation
Staff Training
Recruiting
Recognition Programs
Manager Coaching

Exit Interview Action Items

Employee turnover triggers a complex chain of events within organizations. When similar exit interview trends are reported across departments, titles, locations, divisions, we have a compelling argument for change. How do the managers of those departments or locations compare?

Learning the precise gaps in management skills allows leadership to fill those gaps with targeted training and support tools. Helping managers to master interpersonal skills gives them the ability to hone their positive influence as well as curb negative impact. Increase the chance that your managers are one of the 27% who is “good managers”.

Author Bio:

Reka Barna is a Senior Talent Management Associate at Retensa, the world’s leading innovator of employee retention strategies, that provides the tools to predict and prevent breakdowns across the Employee Lifecycle. Her work at Retensa focuses on supporting retention consulting projects on staff turnover, employee engagement strategies, and composing Talent Management research. She is a graduate of Touro College School of Health Sciences, New York, and pursuing her master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

References:

Viser. (2021). Outsmart. Retrieved from Four Things We Learned About the Resignation Wave- and what to Do Next: https://www.visier.com/blog/trends/four-things-we-learned-about-the-resignation-wave-and-what-to-do-next/
Abbajay, M. (2018, September 7). Harvard Business Review. What to Do When You Have a Bad Boss: https://hbr.org/2018/09/what-to-do-when-you-have-a-bad-boss
Retensa. (n.d.). Blog. Avoiding Managerial Dysfunction in your Workplace: https://retensa.com/blog/avoiding-managerial-dysfunction-in-your-workplace/

Everett Spain and Boris Groyberg ( 2016, April) Harvard Business Review. Making Exit Interviews Count: https://hbr.org/2016/04/making-exit-interviews-count

Development Insights

How Technology Can Help Your Business Stay Environmentally Friendly

Miley on January 6, 2022

Globalization embodies growth and progress but it also has major negative impacts on the environment. The production, importation, and exportation of goods produce waste, carbon emission, and pollution, and consumers are being alarmed by this matter, now more than ever. This amplifies the need for conversation and action towards becoming environmentally friendly, from the smallest ways to bigger commercial and industrial-scale initiatives.

From a macro perspective, major corporations have been making pledges to be more environmentally friendly, especially in cutting their carbon emissions. But the pressure is also on smaller startups, who must consciously work to avoid increasing the carbon footprint. Ambitious goals like going green can be costly but have become a necessary consideration for businesses to serve customers in a way that does not harm the environment.

How Technology Can Help Businesses Stay Environmentally Friendly

Go Paperless

About 399 million metric tons of paper was consumed globally in 2020, and these numbers are projected only to increase yearly. As wood is required for more paper production, going paperless and saving trees can help reduce emissions.

Going digital can be a huge adjustment for any company considering the time, cost, and learning curve. But it doesn’t have to be a major leap. There are simple tools and solutions for a business to transition from paper to paperless. Starting with easy-to-use web-based project management and customer relationship management systems can help reduce the need for paper forms and files.

There are also communication solutions that leave minimal physical paper trails in processes, especially cloud-based telephony systems or VoIPs. To learn more about how VoIP is used in business, a quick search on what is VoIP lists its numerous advantages.

Work Remotely to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Almost 25 percent of the global carbon emission comes from the transport sector, and among the major contributors are cities with business districts and heavy traffic. One way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint is by considering remote work—even if it’s once a week. Eliminating the need to commute to work also reduces the usage of office facilities and energy while also empowering your employees to support a significant cause.

Use Renewable Energy

Any business in almost all industries requires power to operate and produce products or deliver services. However, electrical energy, which is commonly used globally, negatively affects the environment, but there are several alternative sustainable energy sources.

Renewable or clean energy basically comes from sustainable sources or materials that do not deplete. This includes solar, wind, water, and biomass. These energy sources generate electricity with lower carbon emissions. It may need a significant investment, but switching to clean energy is an ideal step if the goal is to be eco-friendly on a larger scale. It can also help cut costs on energy bills, generating a long-term benefit for a business.

There are renewable energy systems that can be used in today’s businesses, like wind, solar, and geothermal power, but this will depend on your business’s location. It is also important to note that some jurisdictions require regulatory and legal permissions before using or installing renewable energy technology. So be sure to plan and research what renewable energy will work best for your business.

Improve Office Recycling

Among the most known ways to be environmentally friendly is the “3 Rs”: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Even in business, this still applies and must be employed. Prioritize implementing responsible waste disposal and strengthening recycling initiatives in the workplace. You can invest in waste management technology, like bins with sensors, and this can make recycling more interesting for employees, encouraging more enthusiastic participation.

Using recycled products like pens and notepads for your daily business needs also encourages the eco-friendly efforts of others. It just needs mindful planning and research to find the materials that will work best for your business.

Committing to becoming an eco-friendly business requires long-term efforts. More than the potential positive impact on your brand, making your business more environmentally friendly is also a social responsibility. Studies suggest that environmental and climate issues will only progress as time passes. The combined efforts of individuals and businesses can drastically slow down climate changes. And as you grow your business, relish the opportunity to be part of the solution in facing and addressing environmental issues today.

Development Martech Products

Five Ways to Learn More About Tech

Miley on December 29, 2021

Are you in the technology business? Do you simply want to learn more about technology to improve a business that doesn’t involve tech directly? Whatever you are doing, learning about technology, engineering, and mathematics is always helpful. It can really supplement your overall knowledge and open the door to new opportunities. Technology is the future of our society. It is changing the way we live and augmenting modern life. Below are five ways you can learn more about technology.

Learn about Computer Programming

When it comes to computer programming, you can learn a lot on your own. You don’t need to go to college to learn how to program. First, think about what you are doing and how knowing a little bit about programming will help you grow and improve. You can take an online course, read up on blogs, and practice coding and programming at your home. Some people don’t need to know how to program, but it will facilitate your life if you are working in the business of technology.

Take Online Math Courses

If you are like a lot of people in the United States, you didn’t get a great education in mathematics. When you are in technology or are trying to get into the business of it, you should know more about math. There are plenty of options for learning mathematics. Taking a linear algebra online course will supplement your knowledge on the subject. Whether you’re a physicist, an engineer, or a technologist, knowing math is pivotal. Even if it doesn’t directly apply to what you are doing, taking online math courses will facilitate the process of learning more about technology.

Work with Engineers

Technology takes a lot of engineering. If you aren’t trained in the field, you should work with engineers and learn from them. It’s imperative to learn more about engineering if you want to learn about technology. There are all kinds of sectors in engineering. Employ engineers, network with them, and ask them questions. If you’re an engineer yourself, you know that it’s invaluable to gain knowledge from engineers in other areas of the field. Whether you’re trying to become a huge technology company or are specializing in a niche, working with engineers is very important.

What About Marketing?

Technology and marketing are colliding, converging. Marketing is no longer simply tangible; it is increasingly digital. Search engine optimization (SEO) is becoming more and more vital in the age of digital marketing. SEO is the process of creating content and using metadata to land web pages as high up on search engines like Google and Bing as possible.

By using keywords, hyperlinks, and engaging copy, companies of all kinds can inform their customers, direct them to contact and purchase hyperlinks and use keywords to be seen when people type them in on search engines. If you are in tech, you should use it to learn more about who is successful and why. SEO provides education in all that is technology marketing. It will teach you a lot.

Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Network — Schematic display of the network

Finally, if technology is our culture, machine learning and AI are at the forefront of it. The ability for machines to teach themselves new things without humans is incredibly valuable. Can they automate on their own to produce results and find new solutions to problems? Your whole company and outlook on tech can be changed by this. When you are interested in tech and know a lot about it, the final frontier is AI and machine learning. If you learn about these subjects, you will be able to create success. A good place to start? AI writing software and apps that can make your life easier.

Technology is evolving. Life is changing. Things are moving. Whatever you are interested in and whatever you do for work, learning about technology will enable you to get more done. Whether you want to create a game-changing tech business or want to use tech more effectively in your non-tech company, doing your best to learn more about it will do you a lot of good. What are you waiting for? If you need to learn more about technology, it’s time to get started. It is the future of modernity and, as they say, the future is now. The longer you wait, the more of an uphill climb it will be.