According to the APEC organization, small businesses play a significant role in the APEC region, contributing between 40 and 60 percent to the GDP of most economies while employing around 60 percent of all workers across APEC’s 21 members. Despite the clear benefits of digitization, many Digital MSMEs are still struggling to keep up with the pace of technological change.

As experienced digital consulting services, we have seen the challenges MSMEs face in digitization. Many obstacles can prevent MSMEs from fully embracing digital business practices. We’ll explore the key benefits of digitization for MSMEs, their challenges, and the best practices for overcoming them.

Understanding Digital Business Practices

Adopting digital practices is crucial for businesses to improve efficiency, reach new customers, and gain a competitive advantage. Digital MSME business practices involve:

• Using digital technologies and tools to conduct business operations
• Communicating with customers
• Delivering products and services

Cloud computing, e-commerce platforms, social media marketing, mobile apps, and more are all examples of digital business practices.

Businesses should identify their digital needs and goals, assess their technological capabilities, and seek expert advice from digital transformation services to understand digital business practices.

Benefits of Digitization for MSMEs

Digitization has become a crucial success factor for small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs). MSMEs may have access to a wide range of advantages that can boost their productivity, expand their client base, and save expenses using digital business practices. Here are some key benefits of digitization for MSMEs and enterprise software development as well:

Increased Efficiency and Productivity

• Automation of Processes: Digitization enables MSMEs to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows, freeing up time and resources for more strategic activities.
• Reduction in Manual Errors: By reducing manual input and automating processes, MSMEs can significantly reduce the risk of errors and improve accuracy.

Improved Customer Service

• Access to Customer Data and Analytics: With digitization, MSMEs can offer their customers access to customer data and analytics, allowing them to gather insightful knowledge about customer behavior and preferences.
• Personalized Customer Experiences: MSMEs may design personalized customer experiences by adjusting their products and services to their customer’s specific requirements and preferences.

Enhanced Marketing and Sales

• Digital Marketing Channels: MSMEs can use digital marketing channels, such as social media, email, and search engine marketing, to expand their consumer base and strengthen their brand.
• Improved Visibility and Reach: MSMEs may enhance their visibility and reach by utilizing digital marketing channels and product consultancy services, calling a larger audience, and producing more leads and sales.

 Cost Savings

• Reduced Expenses on Physical Infrastructure: By adopting digital business practices, MSMEs can reduce their expenses on physical infrastructure, such as office space and equipment.
• Efficient Resource Utilization: Digitization enables MSMEs to use their resources more efficiently, reducing waste and increasing productivity.

Improved Collaboration and Communication

• Real-time Collaboration: MSMEs can collaborate with remote teams and work on projects in real-time, regardless of their physical location.
• Streamlined Communication: Digital tools and technologies enable MSMEs to communicate with their team members, customers, and vendors quickly and easily, reducing communication barriers and improving overall productivity. 
• Enhanced Data Security and Privacy

• Secure Storage: Digitization offers specific data and information storage solutions, lowering the possibility of data breaches and cyber-attacks.
• Improved Data Privacy: MSMEs may use digital technology to secure their customers’ personal information better and ensure that digital consulting services follow privacy laws.
• Better Decision-Making

• Access to Insights: Digitization offers MSMEs valuable insights and analytics, allowing them to make data-driven choices and remain ahead of the competition.
• Faster Decision-Making: MSMEs can swiftly collect and analyze data thanks to digital technologies, allowing quicker and more well-informed decision-making.

Flexibility and Adaptability

• Scalability: Digital MSMEs may scale their operations up or down as needed, adjusting to changes in demand and market circumstances.
• Agility: MSMEs may remain ahead of the competition by adopting digital technologies that enable them to adapt rapidly to shifting market trends and client needs.

Additional Benefits of Digitization for MSMEs

There are some additional benefits of digitization for MSMEs, such as:

• Improved Collaboration: Better decision-making, more effective processes, and quicker problem-solving are all made possible by digitization, which enhances communication across people, teams, and departments.
• Access to Global Markets: By utilizing digital marketing channels, online marketplaces, and e-commerce platforms, digital MSMEs may access worldwide markets.
• Better Inventory Management: MSMEs may benefit from digitization by tracking inventory levels in real-time, which lowers the chance of overstocking or stockouts and enhances inventory control.
• Enhanced Data Analysis: Digitization enables MSMEs to gather and analyze customer data, revealing insights into consumer behavior, tastes, and requirements to develop individualized marketing campaigns, enhance goods and services, and promote company growth.
• Increased Agility: Digitization allows MSMEs to respond quickly to changes in the market, customer demand, and industry trends. They can partner with digital transformation services that enable them to stay competitive and adapt to changing business environments.

Challenges in Digitization for MSMEs

Lack of Technical Know-How

• Importance of technical expertise: Digitization requires technical expertise, and many MSMEs need more skills and knowledge to implement digital business practices effectively.
• Hiring tech experts: MSMEs can overcome this challenge by hiring tech experts or partnering with digital agencies like ValueCoders to get technical support and guidance

Limited Resources

• Financial constraints: Due to the high cost of digitization, many MSMEs need more funds to invest in the required infrastructure and technology.
• Need for proper planning and allocation of resources: MSMEs must prioritize digitalization activities, make thoughtful plans, and spend resources wisely to overcome this obstacle.

Data Security Concerns

• Importance of securing data: As MSMEs digitize their business processes, they face the challenge of securing and protecting sensitive data from cyber threats.
• Measures to ensure data security: Digital MSMEs can overcome this challenge by implementing robust data security measures, such as encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular data backups.

Resistance to Change

• Fear of the unknown: Digitization requires MSMEs to embrace new technologies and business methods, which can be intimidating for some.
• Importance of change management: To overcome this challenge, MSMEs must prioritize change management and communicate the benefits of digitization to their employees and stakeholders.

Lack of Standardization

• Fragmented technology landscape: It might be challenging for digital MSMEs to select the best tools and platforms because the digital business ecosystem is highly fragmented and offers a wide selection of technology and solutions.
• Need for industry standards: MSMEs can develop best practices and guidelines for digital business practices in collaboration with industry groups and standards bodies to address this issue.

In summary, digitization poses several challenges for MSMEs. One can overcome these challenges by establishing the best practices and guidelines mentioned above.

Also Read: Know All-New Digital Transformation Strategies

Best Practices for Digitization in MSMEs

Digital Transformation Strategy

• Importance of having a clear strategy: Digitization is a complex process that requires a clear strategy to guide decision-making and ensure that efforts are aligned with business objectives.
• Setting achievable goals: Digital MSMEs should set achievable goals that align with their overall business strategy and prioritize efforts based on their expected impact.

Cloud Computing

• Benefits of cloud computing: MSMEs may benefit from increased scalability, flexibility, and cost savings thanks to cloud computing, enabling them to access computer resources on-demand without needing physical infrastructure.
• Types of cloud services: Depending on their requirements and financial constraints, digital MSMEs can pick from a variety of cloud services, such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS).

Cybersecurity Measures

• Importance of cybersecurity: MSMEs are more vulnerable to cyber threats, such as data breaches, malware, and phishing attempts, as they digitize their business operations.
• Best practices for cybersecurity: Digital MSMEs may use best practices, including strong passwords, encryption of critical data, routine software and firmware updates, and staff cybersecurity training.

Automation

• Benefits of automation: MSMEs can benefit from automation by reducing manual labor, improving efficiency and accuracy, and enabling them to focus on more strategic tasks.
• Types of automation: MSMEs can partner with digital consulting services to automate various processes, including customer service, sales, marketing, and accounting, using chatbots, email automation, and accounting software.

Digital Marketing

• Importance of digital marketing: Digital marketing may help MSMEs expand their audience, raise brand recognition, and boost sales and income.
• Best practices for digital marketing: MSMEs may use best practices for digital marketing, such as developing engaging content, utilizing social media and data analytics to track performance, and improving campaigns.

In summary, MSMEs can benefit from digitization by implementing best practices. By following these best practices, digital MSMEs can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase revenue and profitability.

Why Choose ValueCoders?

Choosing the right technology partner can be critical for the success of MSMEs in their digitization efforts. Here’s why you should choose ValueCoders for your digitization needs:

• Expertise: We are a software development company with over 18 years of experience. We have a team of over 450 professionals in various technologies, including cloud computing, cybersecurity, automation, and digital marketing.
• Cost-Effective Solutions: ValueCoders provides cost-effective digital transformation services for MSMEs tailored to their specific needs and budget, ensuring they get the best value for their investment.
• Quality and Reliability: We provide high-quality solutions to our clients that satisfy industry standards and exceed their expectations. They adhere to a strict quality assurance approach to provide trustworthy, bug-free solutions.
• Timely Delivery: ValueCoders understands the importance of timely delivery for digital MSMEs and ensures that their solutions are delivered on-time and within budget.
• Customer-Centric Approach: Our solutions are tailored to digital MSMEs‘ unique demands and goals since we value establishing long-term customer relationships.

Overall, choosing ValueCoders can help MSMEs achieve their digitization goals with expertise, cost-effective solutions, quality, reliability, timely delivery, and a customer-centric approach.

Also Read: Top 20 Digital Transformation Companies You Must Consult

Conclusion

Digitization is no longer simply a choice for MSMEs; it is necessary for success and survival. Digital MSMEs may save costs significantly while enhancing marketing and sales, increasing efficiency and production, and improving customer service. 

But digitalization also comes with several difficulties, including a lack of technological know-how, a need for more funding, and worries about data security. MSMEs could follow best practices, such as creating a plan for digital transformation, using cloud computing, and putting strong cybersecurity measures in place to overcome these obstacles.

As a leading technology partner for MSMEs, ValueCoders is committed to helping businesses achieve their digital transformation goals. Our expertise, cost-effective solutions, quality and reliability, timely delivery, and customer-centric approach have helped numerous MSMEs succeed in their digitization efforts. So, if you’re an MSME looking to digitize and transform your business, contact ValueCoders today and let us help you achieve your digital transformation goals.

The post Digitize to Succeed: How MSMEs Can Benefit from Digital Business Practices appeared first on ValueCoders | Unlocking the Power of Technology: Discover the Latest Insights and Trends.

Hence, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your project. This article will explore some of the most popular software development methodologies and offer tips and tricks for choosing the right one for your project.

Software Development Methodologies: A Brief

Software development methodologies are rules, guidelines, and procedures that you follow as part of the software development process to ensure you can create quality code on schedule and budget. Enterprise software development methodology is constantly evolving.

Let’s Have A Quick Look At The Latest Statistics

The average Enterprise software development project takes 18 months to complete.

• • As per Business Intelligence Market, only 29% of Enterprise software development projects are considered successful.
  • According to CIO, 71% of Enterprise software development projects are delayed, over budget, or both. The most common Enterprise software development methodology is the waterfall model.
  • Agile methodology is gaining popularity, with 61% of Enterprise software developers saying they use agile methods.

• • • As per the Infoworld survey, the top three Enterprise Software Development challenges are requirements gathering (38%), integration (36%), and testing (34%).

Why Do Businesses Need Software Development Methodology?

To be productive and successful in your business, you need to know exactly what you want to accomplish and how you plan to do it. Without clear goals and a concrete plan, it’s easy to lose focus, which results in wasted time and resources. 

Img src: Google

Luckily, software development methodologies can help you create this framework that will keep you on track throughout the project’s lifetime. Here we have elaborated on the reasons why your business needs software development methodologies:

1) To Make Sure Everyone Is On The Same Page

When a team is creating software, all members must have a common understanding of how things will be done. For example, if you’re working on a project intended to process transactions as fast as possible, everyone needs to know what as fast as possible means. 

To ensure team members understand their roles and responsibilities, they should be provided with detailed requirements and objectives that outline project specifics.

2) To Ensure There Are No Miscommunications

Communication acts as a two-way street: as much as you want your team to understand what you want, you also need to understand what they need. To get their input, ask open-ended questions that don’t force them into yes/no answers; ask what if? Questions that leave room for multiple scenarios; and brainstorming together. Don’t be afraid to give constructive criticism, too—the best solutions are often created through an iterative process.

3) To Make Sure You Deliver What You Promise To Your Customers

All too often, businesses fail to deliver what they promise to their customers. In many cases, companies don’t start with a clear roadmap of what they need to do. By developing a methodology for software development, you can create an organized and consistent approach for building your product or service.

4) To Help You Avoid Costly Mistakes

Software development methodologies provide a set of rules for development, which are documented and enforced. They help you create easy-to-read and test code, ensuring accuracy and consistency. They also let you work with your team members in an organized way, minimizing duplication of effort. 

These things can help prevent costly errors that would otherwise arise throughout software creation. You don’t want bugs to make it into production—it’s simply not good for business!

5) To Ensure You Meet Deadlines

A deadline is a must when it comes to software development. If you don’t have set deadlines for your project, it could easily be delayed and never finished. Deadlines not only force action but also help you stay on track by giving you something to aim for and get excited about. 

Moreover, they provide clarity of purpose: When everyone knows what they need to accomplish within a given time frame, there’s no question about what needs to be done.

Example: A software development company uses an agile methodology, emphasizing fast-paced and continual innovation within each project’s time limit. Agile projects are organized in smaller timeboxes called sprints, each with a specific goal.

6) To Promote Collaboration

A good methodology will encourage collaboration between different teams and individuals, improving communication and ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goal.

7) To Increase Customer Satisfaction

By using a methodology that focuses on quality and efficiency, you can help to increase customer satisfaction with your software. This can lead to more repetitive business and improved brand loyalty.

Also Read: A Comprehensive Guide on Software Development

The Curated List Of Top Software Development Methodologies For Enterprises

1. Waterfall Methodology

In waterfall methodologies, every step or goal needs to be met before moving on to the next part. For example – if you have five tasks that need to be completed but only three are done while one is left undone, the project can’t continue until it’s been completed. 

This system has several pros compared to other ones out there- for instance, it doesn’t require too much thinking and planning, which helps save time, and because it has steps laid out beforehand, there’s less room for error.

The main advantage of the waterfall model is its predictability. Because each stage is completed before moving on to the next, tracking progress and identifying potential problems early on is easy. 

The main downside of the waterfall model is its inflexibility. Once a stage of the process has begun, it’s difficult to make changes without starting the whole process over again from the beginning.

A spiral methodology is also called waterfall because it follows a linear pattern without backtracking. Unlike its predecessor, though- it offers more flexibility in prototyping so that we can test new ideas earlier on in the process instead of making costly mistakes later on during the development stages.

Pros

• The phases (generally described as Requirements, Design, Implementation, Verification, and Maintenance) are easy to understand and manage.
• Ideal for less experienced teams and managers as confusion is minimized.
• Simple rigid model keeps things clear and easy to test.
• A significant amount of time is saved.

Cons

• Only focuses on precise needs.
• Does not work well for maintenance software development projects or long-term projects.
• There is no way to know the project’s outcome in advance.

2. Rapid App Development Methodology

Rapid Application Development provides an ideal way to take maximum advantage of software with minimal investment costs. This condensed model allows quick adjustments that speed up results, and you repeat user design/construction phases until project requirements finish (stages include: requirements planning; construction). 

However, there’s no need to go back through all four again once something has been changed in one stage.

Pros

• More useful for projects with well-defined objectives and user groups.
• Best for small to medium, time-sensitive projects.
• Facilitates the development process by developing high-quality projects faster.
• Take customer feedback for improvements and specific results.

Cons

• A stable team with experienced developers need for this methodology to work.
• Requires highly skilled developers to design complex problems.
• Does not work for small budgets.

3. Agile Methodology

This methodology makes it possible to develop software by working in small increments called iterations. It helps improve efficiency because you can find problems early on and fix them before they become bigger issues later. 

It is known as “reducing risk” or reducing uncertainty, among other things, through testing scenarios during each stage of development (user stories).

The main pros of agile software development is its flexibility. Because teams can adjust their plans, agile methodology is best for projects with rapidly changing requirements.

The main disadvantage of agile software development is that it is difficult to track progress and estimate deadlines since the project’s scope may change during the development process.

Pros

• The model adapts to changes quickly.
• Direct and regular communication maintains clarity about the project and goals.
• Defects and differences in expectations are detected early, so they can be corrected before they become significant problems.

Cons

• Focusing on the details and losing sight of the “big picture” can cause the project to drift.
• Real-time communication requires massive engagement with users and colossal manpower investment on the part of developers.
• May not work for larger organizations (a hybrid approach with another methodology may be useful).

4. DevOps Deployment Methodology

DevOps deployment methodology is a game-changing approach that improves all aspects of project management. It has been proven to lower the time it takes for projects and software releases, reduce failure rates overall as well as help developers be more efficient with their work producing better results in less amount of downtime or wasted resources.

Pros

• Significantly reduces time to market.
•  Improves customer satisfaction and product quality.
• Increases productivity and efficiency of employees.

Cons

• May require ongoing system updates that customers do not want.
• DevOps may not work for some industries that need testing before moving to operations.
• When working with departments, some undetected problems may go unnoticed.

Also Read: Why The Involvement Of DevOps In The Business Process Is Important?

Have A Look At The Infographic: A Brief Of The Above Points

Benefits Of Using Software Development Methodologies

There’s no question that software development methodologies can be extremely beneficial for enterprises. By following a set of best practices, enterprises can ensure that their software development projects are more efficient, organized, and successful.

Here we have listed the main benefits of using software development methodologies:

Improved efficiency

When software development projects are properly organized and managed, they tend to be more efficient. This means that enterprises can get their products to market faster and save money in the long run.

Greater accuracy

Using a software development methodology can help reduce errors and improve the overall quality of the final product. By following best practices, enterprises can avoid costly mistakes and deliver a product that meets customer expectations.

Better communication

Methodologies can help improve communication between all stakeholders in a software development project. By having a clear plan and well-defined roles, everyone involved will know what their responsibilities are. This can help reduce confusion and conflict and make the project run more smoothly.

Increased transparency

When enterprises use software development methodologies, they can provide greater transparency into the project for all stakeholders. This can help build trust & confidence in the enterprise and keep everyone on the same page.

Overall, using software development methodologies can be extremely beneficial for enterprises. By following best practices, enterprises can improve the efficiency, accuracy, and communication of their software development projects. Additionally, using methodologies can help increase transparency and build trust with all stakeholders.

No matter which software development methodology you choose, there are some general tips and tricks that can help ensure your project’s success:

• Define your objectives early on and be sure everyone involves in the project understands them.
• Create detailed plans for each stage of the software development process.
• Make sure you have a clear idea of who is responsible for each task and when it needs to complete.
• Establish regular checkpoints throughout the project to track progress and identify potential problems.
• Prepare yourself to adjust your plans as the project progresses. Unexpected changes are inevitable in any software development project, so it’s important to be flexible and adaptable.

The above tips would surely help in ensuring that your software development project is successful, no matter which methodology you choose.

What does The Future Hold for Advanced Software Development Methodologies?

The future of software development is looking bright, with several advanced methodologies set to take the industry by storm. Hence, we can expect to see more of the following:

Collaboration between developers and other stakeholders

To create successful applications, it’s important to understand the needs of those who will be using them. It means that developers will need to work closely with other stakeholders, such as product managers, designers, and user experience experts.

Focus on automation

Automation is key to efficiency in software development. By automating tasks like build processes and testing, developers can free up time to focus on more important tasks.

Emphasis on delivering value to users quickly

In today’s fast-paced world, users expect to regularly see new features and updates. It means that developers need to be able to deliver value quickly without sacrificing quality.

Advanced Software Development Methodologies

The software development landscape is constantly evolving. New methodologies comes, and old ones refine.

Here are just a few of the exciting new approaches that developers will be using in the years to come:

Model-based design

This methodology focuses on creating visual models of software systems, which can then use to generate code automatically. Hence, this approach can lead to more efficient and accurate development and a better understanding of complex systems.

Component-based development

This methodology takes a modular approach to software development, building individual components that can reuse in different applications. It can save time and money during the development process and make it easier to maintain and update software systems.

 Agile development

This iterative approach to software development is more flexible and responsive to changes, making it ideal for rapidly evolving projects. Also, agile methods can also help improve communication and collaboration between developers and other stakeholders.

DevOps approach

This methodology emphasizes collaboration between developers and operations teams. It helps in speeding up the software development process by making it more efficient and streamlined.

Behavior Driven Development

BDD aims to make it easier for businesses and developers to understand what to develop. Using a language you choose (e.g., Gherkin), BDD lets you write what your app should do before writing any code. It makes your specifications clearer, so there’s less back-and-forth between business and engineering teams later on.

Conclusion

So, which software development methodology is right for your business? Hopefully, this article has given you a good starting point and some ideas on what to consider when making your decision.

Always remember that the best methodology is the one that fits your company’s culture, processes, and goals. Hence, you can even try to experiment with different methodologies until you find the one that works best for you.

In my opinion, if you’re working on a large, complex project with ever-changing requirements, the agile methodology can be the right choice for you. However, waterfall may be a better option if you’re working on a small, predictable project with well-defined requirements.

Moreover, you need to keep an eye out for new developments and prepare to adapt as needed. For any query, you can always consult with our expert software developers @ValueCoders. We have been a leading software development company in India since 2004. 

Related FAQs

What is enterprise software development?

Enterprise software development is a term that refers to the process and methodology of developing software for large businesses and organizations. This type of development typically follows a more formal and rigid set of guidelines and procedures than other types of software development, such as web or mobile development.

The enterprise software development process often begins with requirements gathering, in which analysts work with stakeholders to understand the needs of the business. A team of developers will create a design based on those requirements. Once the design is approved, the actual coding and implementation of the software will begin.

What are the 5 software development models?

The question of which software development model to use is fairly important, as it will decide only the success or failure of a project. Here are five popular software development models to use:

-Waterfall

-Agile

-Spiral

-Lean

-DevOps

What is Agile software development methodology?

Agile software development is a newer methodology for developing software that focuses on speed and flexibility. Agile developers aim to finish projects, in short, intense sprints instead of the longer, more drawn-out process of traditional software development. Hence, it allows them to rapidly test and iterate on new features, which is especially important in today’s fast-paced business environment.

A few key concepts are important to understand with agile development. The first is the “Agile Manifesto,” which emphasizes individuals and interactions over processes and tools, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, working software over comprehensive documentation, and responding to change following a plan. This philosophy is what informs the entire agile process.

What is the difference between Agile and Scrum methodology?

Agile is a software development methodology that encourages continuous improvement and iteration, while scrum is a specific framework that helps teams work in an Agile way.

Scrum regularly delivers short bursts of functionality called “sprints,” while agile allows for more flexibility in how teams approach their work. Many teams use scrum in conjunction with agile, as it provides a structure for team communication and accountability.

Is DevOps different from Agile?

DevOps is a qualitative approach to software development that stresses communication, collaboration, and integration between software developers and IT professionals. It acts as a merger of the best aspects of agile software development methodology and operations management.

The agile software development methodology is a flexible approach to software development that allows for rapid changes and adaptations to requirements as the project progresses. It relies on regular, frequent communication between team members and close collaboration between developers and users/customers.

The post Tips To Pick The Right Software Development Methodology For Your Enterprise appeared first on ValueCoders | Unlocking the Power of Technology: Discover the Latest Insights and Trends.

Java programmers are often the unsung heroes of enterprise-level software development. While everyone else is getting all of the glory, they are quietly working behind the scenes to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

Without Java experts, your business would be unable to create software that meets the high demands of today’s marketplace.

JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Python, SQL, and Java are the top 5 programming languages used by developers worldwide. (Statista)

In this blog post, we will discuss the important role that Java developers play in enterprise-level software development. We will also explore some of the challenges they face and additional things related to enterprise application development with Java!

Let’s Start With Knowing About Enterprise-level Software…

What Is an Enterprise-Level Software?

Enterprise-level application software is one that has many users, massive amounts of data, and large-scale processing needs. It also contains complex rules for managing access to this data as well as security requirements such as authentication or role-based authorization mechanisms.

Typically, this type of software is used by large businesses or organizations. It can be anything from a customer relationship management (CRM) system to an enterprise resource planning (ERP) suite.

– Java is employed by 3.7% of all the overall websites & 4.7% of all the websites that rank in the top 1,000,000. (w3techs.com)

In order to develop leading enterprise-level software, you can avail of Java web development services. This will allow you to focus on your core business.

Also Read: Importance of Java For Software Development & Its Applications

The Role Of Java Developer In Enterprise-level Software Development

Java developers are responsible for developing and maintaining enterprise-level software.

A Java developer has to work with many other professionals, such as project managers, testers, designers, and analysts while creating something that can help millions of users around the world!

Developers also consider things like security issues or compatibility with other systems when creating new programs.

Moreover, Java programmers are also responsible for designing and implementing APIs that allow existing applications to interact with each other easily.

Something which is crucial in any enterprise-level software development project where communication between departments requires on an ongoing basis throughout the lifetime; of your business operations!

How Does A Java Developer Help You Develop Enterprise-level Software?

Java developers are the backbone of your software development team and can help you to create a product that is both efficient and effective.

Java developers have the experience and skills necessary to develop software that meets the high standards of enterprise-level businesses.

Additionally, they can also provide valuable advice and guidance when it comes to choosing the right tools and technologies for your project.

Here know how Java developers can help you with enterprise-level software development:

Understand Your Requirement

A Java developer is someone who can understand your requirement and work accordingly. They are not just limited to developing software using Java but can use other languages too as per your need.

Provide Suggestions For A Better Solution

While working on a project, if you face any situation where you don’t have a proper solution, then the java developer can provide you with better suggestions that can help solve any problem related to your software development.

Choose Better And Suiting Tools & Technologies

Java developers can help you choose better and suiting tools & technologies, which will help in developing robust software that performs well and has all the necessary functionalities.

Develops Robust & Scalable Enterprise-level Software

Java developers are experienced in developing robust and scalable software. They know how to write code that is efficient, easy to use, and can handle huge loads without any issue.

Thus, if you’re looking for someone who can help you with enterprise-level software development, get connected with a Java web development company to hire Java developers.

Perform Testing

Java developers are also responsible for the testing of software. They make sure that all the features work properly and there is no bug in the code.

Moreover, they also suggest changes or improvements that can be made to the software during the testing phase.

Launch Software In The Market

After testing the software and making sure that it works properly, Java developers help in launching the software in the market. They make sure that all the necessary documents are ready and everything is in place before the software is launched.

Update & Maintain The Software

Java developers are responsible for ongoing updates to ensure the smooth functioning and performance of the software. They also provide support whenever required in case there is any bug or issue reported by users.

Thus, we can say that Java developers are the unsung heroes of enterprise-level software development and play a critical role in ensuring the success of your project.

Challenges Java Developers Encounter While Working On Enterprise-level Software

Apart from the challenges faced by all software developers, Java developers also face certain specific challenges while working on enterprise-level software. Some of these challenges are as follows:

Maintaining A Balance Between Meeting Deadlines & Ensuring High Quality Of Work

Enterprise-level software is complex and takes a lot of time to be developed. As such, it becomes difficult for Java developers to meet deadlines while also ensuring that they provide high-quality work.

Huge Code Base

Enterprise-level software has a huge code base and requires extensive testing before being launched in the market. This can be challenging for a Java developer since he/she needs to test all the features properly and identify any bug that might exist in the code.

Ongoing Updates And Support

Enterprise-level software needs constant updates with new features and fixes. Java developers are responsible for carrying out these updates, which can be challenging at times.

Security Issues

Enterprise-level software requires high levels of security, and this is one of the biggest challenges for Java developers. They need to implement all the necessary measures to ensure that company data is safe from hackers and other activities.

Thus, Java developers face several challenges while working on enterprise-level software. However, Java experts are capable enough to handle these challenges and deliver high-quality work on time.

Why Hire Java Developers For Developing Enterprise-level Software Development?

There are many reasons to choose Java developers for enterprise-level software development. Some of the most important reasons include:

Deep Understanding

Java Developers, who are typically specialists with years of experience, have a deeper understanding of software systems than those who primarily have a business background.

They typically know how a database works, and they know how application servers are implemented; so they can make adequate decisions about tools to be used during development.

Additionally, they understand the technical constraints of a project because they also think in terms of implementation details instead of just thinking about features and functionality.

The complex nature of enterprise-level software makes it extremely important to select people with technology backgrounds.

And Java developers, who work in Java platform, have solid technology background when compared to other general software professionals like C# or .NET programmers.

This will ultimately give them more understanding of architecting critical parts required for an enterprise system design and development.

Robust Solutions

Java developers offer robust solutions to clients. The solutions which Java developers provide are highly scalable and can be easily integrated into the existing infrastructure.

Moreover, Java developers are proficient in the use of open-source frameworks and libraries, which allows them to create solutions that meet the specific needs of their clients.

Flexible

Java developers are flexible and can easily adapt to changing requirements and deadlines. They are also able to work independently as well as in a team environment.

This makes them an ideal choice for projects that require a high degree of flexibility.

Experienced

Java developers have experience in working with large codebases and complex systems. This makes them well-suited for projects that require a high degree of complexity.

They understand the importance of quality control and testing, and they are familiar with the tools and techniques required to ensure the quality of their code.

Expert In Handling Error

Java Developers are experts in handling errors. They know how to debug and troubleshoot code, and they have the skills required to fix problems quickly and efficiently.

Additionally, Java experts are familiar with the Java tools and techniques which help them optimize code and enhance performance.

Faster Development

Java developers can develop enterprise-level software quickly and efficiently due to its object-oriented nature. Faster development helps businesses save time and money, which means more profits for them.

No wonder, then, that most of the big businesses today prefer hiring Java developers in comparison to any other programming language or framework.

Also Read: .NET Vs. PHP Vs. Java Vs. Python – Which Language Is Better For Web Development?

Cons Of Hiring Java Developers For Enterprise-level Software Development

Here view some of the cons of hiring Java Developers for Enterprise-Level Software Development:

High Cost: Java developers are typically more expensive than other software professionals. This is because they have a deep understanding of the Java platform and the skills required to develop enterprise-level software.

This can be a major deterrent for businesses that are on a tight budget.

Less availability: Java developers are in high demand and can be difficult to find. This may require businesses to search for them in other countries or regions.

Require more time: Java developers typically take longer to complete a project than other software professionals. However, the end result is usually worth the wait.

Requires specialized knowledge: Enterprise-level software is complex and requires a high degree of specialization. Not all software professionals have the required skills to develop such applications.

Therefore, it is important to select Java developers who have the right skills and experience.

Ending Words

Java is a popular choice for enterprise-level software due to its efficiency, robustness, and scalability. As you’ve seen in this article, there are many ways that java developers can help improve your company or organization’s software development process.

It may be worth considering how the right developer could make all of the difference with respect to success rates when it comes to developing enterprise-level applications.

In a Java web development company (ValueCoders), you can find experienced Java programmers who can work diligently on your project from beginning to finish.

The post Java Developer: The Unsung Hero of Enterprise-Level Software Development appeared first on ValueCoders | Unlocking the Power of Technology: Discover the Latest Insights and Trends.

In 2018, the software market revenue was registered at $456.1 billion and now expected to reach $507.2 billion in 2021. Moreover, the COVID outbreak raised the situation of economic downturn and allowed companies to keep a small budget for software solutions, resulting in market contraction in 2020. However, the pandemic teaches companies to address the urgency of digital transformation and make it part of success.

How Vast is The Digital World Ecosystem?

Software Development & Developers Market

The rapid advancement of technology makes this digital world more buzzing and more dynamic. And, software development acts as a fuel that drives our IT services at high speed. Most of the software market is covered by enterprise software that faces a decline in 2020 due to COVID, but soon it resumes its growth in 2021 as per Statista Forecast.

Image Source: Statista.com

As always, the outline of software needs utmost attention to the end-user experience. However, digitalization compels industries to step forward to adopt cloud application services or SaaS (software as a service) to amplify user engagement. Although, the market still opens for other forms of software.

According to the Statista Technology Market Outlook, the central part of worldwide software revenue comes from Enterprise software, which is calculated as over 200 billion U.S. dollars in 2020 and is expected to reach good heights in upcoming years.

The calculation of Evans Data Corporation estimates 26,4 million software developers in the world in 2019 and is expected to touch 28.7 million in 2024. Quite interesting, India will overtake the U.S. as the largest developer population center in 2024.

Industrial Revolutions in a Digitally-enabled Ecosystem

CyberSecurity and cloud-based applications are some of the significant aspects of the industry’s rapid development. Now, it is termed Industry 4.0 and brings drastic changes into our lives, from mechanical manufacturing facilities to cyber-physical systems.

ValueCoders’ software outsourcing services are dedicatedly working to make a more secure digital enterprise. We focus on catering smart connected solutions through IoT (internet of things) and advanced app development.

More connectivity to cyber amplifies the significance of data security. In the case of data handling, telecom operators are one of the few entities to focus on. Also, data is a fundamental element of B2B2C models to sustain the growth of the telecom industry in India. While advancing the digital framework in the telecom ecosystem, one has to include key players such as mobile apps (WhatsApp, Skype), Internet Service Provider (ISP), App developers, Communications Service Providers (CSP), and Device manufacturers. Here, more engagement raises the concerns of data privacy that needed to be expanded beyond the I.T. Act.

Industry 4.0 is widening the digital ecosystem by adding smart solutions into the market and leveraging user experience.

Software requirements after COVID pandemic

COVID 19 pandemic unfolded the urgency of digital transformation to meet software requirements. Companies need to address the new face of this information world. Recent research of IBM Institute for Business Values demonstrates the shifting interest in digital transformation from other core elements such as cost management, customer retention, etc.

Image Source: IBM

59% of companies accelerated digital transformation, and the remaining 66% have finished the previously encountered resistance. Organizations are reshaping their strategies and investing in the latest technologies such as IoT, blockchain, etc., as an active recovery of a pandemic. This paradigm shifts the attention of companies into the following matters:

• Software product engineering emerges as a new software development model to build customer-facing and market-oriented software.
• COVID-19 High-Performance Computing (HPC) Consortium is joined by top companies Amazon, Google, and Microsoft for computational research programs.
• A business partnership is a new success strategy to excel the business ventures and expansions.
• More attention is shifted to hybrid cloud and taking business functions to the cloud.
• Security thefts in Software Engineering

Cybercrime Data analysis

More user engagement makes data security more vulnerable and raises the concerns of cybercrime. 43% of cyber attacks center on small businesses with a worth of $2.2 million a year. All these cybercrimes keep data security at stake. On the surface, cybercrime is conducted in data theft, identity fraud, ransomware attacks, phishing campaigns, copyright infringement, etc. The consequences of these attacks can lead to data breaches.

On average, the cost of a data breach is about 3.86 million U.S. dollars in 2019, and the prominent victim is the healthcare sector with 7.13 million dollars. A complete analysis of statista talks about financial repercussions in business based on region and size of companies.

Image resource: statista.com

Every type of cybercrime leads us to data breaching, and hacking is one of the most common criminal activities on the internet. Hackers exploit a weakness in online communication or digital networks, computer systems and spread malware or gain unauthorized access to data for pursuing their criminal activities. All actions uplift the urgency of a robust defense system to stop cyber attacks.

While discussing data breaching, social media also is a massive center of attraction. However, many users are skeptical about the data being used. Giant social media platform Facebook received 61,262 law enforcement agency requests from the U.S. and 40,300 data requests from India to know about user information. Indirectly, it raises questions over the maximum use of social media.

Web applications vulnerabilities and threats

Misconfiguration in web application code allows hackers to get control over your website. That’s why the security of software development raises concerns to address web applications vulnerabilities and threats. The US government’s National Vulnerability Database (NVD) shares the case studies of cybercrimes of prominent organizations.

According to Tenable’s 2020 Threat Landscape Retrospective Report, about 22 billion data were exposed in data breaches globally in 2020. For more insights on ransom attacks, go through the pick points of Check Point Cyber Security Report 2021

• Increment of 20% in email-based attacks from 2019 to 2020 as compared to web attack vectors.
• In 2019 and 2020, Emotet was the most heavily distributed malware family. It is a botnet responsible for the distribution of Trickbot, Qbot, and more, in some cases resulting in a ransomware attack.
• XMRig is the most attacked cryptominer, whereas Lucifer is a self-propagating, multi-platform malware targeting Linux, IoT devices, and Windows web servers.
• Hiddad or ‘Hidden Ad’ tops the chart of mobile malware global analysis. Through this malware, attackers can easily fetch the details from victims’ mobile by displaying ads. During COVID, the malware disguised itself as a coronavirus information app for Arab speakers.
• In 2020, a team of developers took 280 days to identify a cyber breach that led to the loss of nearly $4 million.

How To Approach Secure Software Development?

Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL)

Cyberattacks and enhanced data security directs companies to think about secure software development. ValueCoders is a leading software IT outsourcing company in India that continuously addresses defects to make secure software and reduce vulnerabilities. Divide software development lifecycle into different segments starting from requirements and move to other steps, designing, implementation, and testing.

The Software Engineering Institute developed the Team Software Process (TSP), allowing software developers and developer teams to create software under a definite process. This process wants companies to focus on:

• Use common sense software engineering practices
• Tackle defects throughout the software product development lifecycle
• Use proper measurement to control the process
• Track the process and address defect prevention as well as removal
• Apply predictive measures for remaining defects

Another significant example demonstrated by Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) practices. SDL practices support security assurance and compliance requirements and also reduce the severity of vulnerabilities in software development. As per Microsoft, software developers are suggested to follow various practices:

1. Providing training
2. Define security requirements
3. Define metrics and compliance reporting
4. Perform threat modeling
5. Establish Design requirements
6. Define & use cryptography
7. Use third-party components to manage the security-risk
8. USe approved tools
9. Perform Static Analysis Security Testing (SAST)
10. Perform Dynamic Analysis Security Testing (DAST)
11. Perform Penetration Testing
12. Establish a Standard Incident Response Process

Offshore Software Development Services

Maintaining software security favors offshore software development services for enhanced data security. Costing and quality services are the main focus areas of IT outsourcing services. The market for outsourcing services is enormous. In 2019, the global outsourcing market registered as 92.5 billion U.S. dollars and was expected to reach over USD 98 billion by 2025. It’s gaining popularity because of offering the latest technologies such as cloud computing, blockchain technology and expanding the digital transformation.

About us:

ValueCoders is a top software outsourcing company in India and is making an effort to provide an enhanced digital experience via secure software development. After stepping the foundation stone in the technology era in 2004, this software development company successfully maintained 97% client retention and has delivered 4200+ projects so far.

With business domain knowledge, proven methodologies, and technology expertise of 450+ skilled software professionals, ValueCoders delivers IT outsourcing services worldwide. Build a dedicated development team with the right technology stack at ValueCoders.

The post A Guide to Security in Software Development – White Paper appeared first on ValueCoders | Unlocking the Power of Technology: Discover the Latest Insights and Trends.

This especially applies to the usage of technology in an enterprise, where leaders desire to leverage software technology to bring improvements in efficiency and performance to their businesses.

Say, an enterprise using conventional centralised technologies to record and maintain data is suddenly met by a demand to use new technology such as blockchain for the same.

In such a case, the need for using new technology will be more out of the fear of lagging behind in the latest technology trends, rather than out of necessity.

There are several problems such as these that create challenges in Enterprise software development. The need for seamlessly integrated enterprise software is gradually increasing as enterprises delve deeper into understanding demands at a deeper level and attempt to solve problems rarely thought about.

There is a good reason why the enterprise software industry is expected to grow by up to 10.5% in 2020, and why it is the fastest-growing segment in the entire IT industry. With new advancements and emerging technologies coming into play, enterprises have begun to realize that human capital simply isn’t enough. 

If you need evidence for the same, have a look at the chart below.

Forrester Research forecasts show that Global businesses and Governments are investing heavily in Enterprise-grade Software, Tech Consulting, and Systems Integration services. Source: Global Tech Market Outlook For 2020 To 2021

The above charts show investments in tech goods and services between the years 2016- 2021. Notice something here? Investments in Enterprise Software, Tech Consulting & Systems Integration Services have increased at the highest rates since 2018. Predictions from Forrester Research echo my points- businesses are increasingly relying on technology consulting and software to enhance business processes and adapt to the modern information era.

To solve the new-age issues, businesses require enterprise systems that get routine work done in an instant, help allocate work and allot time to objectives that meet the goal of profitability and sustainability. 

Enterprise software development in the present day is about finding problems nobody thought of before, and creating solutions using technologies and its integrations that remove all boundaries and seamlessly integrate all functions across an enterprise.

But just like one challenge I mentioned above, there are several other challenges on the road to enterprise software development that most CIOs fail to see, or just decide to hit the iceberg despite having seen it from miles ahead.

1. Creating an immersive Enterprise App without affecting Costs & ROI

(The above video shows how Boeing is using AR to create an immersive software application for technician training)

Consumer Apps of the modern-day are all about enticing customers into using apps with immersive UI that deliver experiences users simply wouldn’t want to get out of. A right swipe on a smartphone app is just a navigation gesture used to enable specific functions. But it means so much more than that on an app like Tinder.

While enterprise apps don’t need such levels of form-over-function approach as in the case of consumer-oriented apps, there is a growing demand for features that make the task of using such apps engaging. 

Navigating through an off-the-shelf ATS (Applicant Tracking Software) software that gives you bland notifications on suitable job candidates can get boring after a time. But adding a human element to it, say with a hyperactive AI bot that provides such information in a conversational way changes the entire experience.

But can immersive experiences with enterprise software justify the costs potentially incurred to add such features?

Not in the short term, but definitely in the longer run. A one-time focus on creating a seamlessly integrated design of the entire systems ecosystem adds to the enterprise value. 

If an employee is used to operating one enterprise system software (which has an immersive, engaging UX) for their job-related purposes, they’ll find it much easier to adapt to other enterprise software that’s part of the organization ecosystem.

This fact is already proven in the realm of consumer software and apps. If you use an Apple iPhone, you’ll likely find it easier to navigate through other Apple devices such as an iPad or a MacBook. If you use an office application suite such as the Google G Suite or Microsoft Office 365, then you’d know how easy it is to recognize, understand and navigate through their individual apps owing to the familiarity in them. 

This practice of making users addicted to an ecosystem works so well that a Forrester report estimated revenue generation of  $100 for every $1 spent on UX in consumer-focused apps!

But enterprise software is an entirely different ball game where each feature, each addition is meant to enhance productivity and increase efficiency rather than entice its users, i.e., those working for the enterprise.

That is why things are a bit rough if you consider increasing costs to build immersive experiences in enterprise software. Increasing costs is only justified if a new design approach helps in achieving certain objectives. 

There are some great examples of enterprises that have managed to do this.

Take for instance, how Boeing achieved a 40 percent increase in productivity by using AR for providing electrical installation training to employees. Or how Walmart increased its employee retention rates by 10% after introducing VR-powered employee training programs.

By leveraging AR and VR into their employee training software ecosystem, these two companies (Boeing & Walmart) highlight how investing in an immersive enterprise application using emerging technologies can justify costs involved and result in significant ROI at the same time.

2. Understanding the long-run approach

Surveys such as those done by Apple’s subsidiary FileMaker suggest that enterprises are witnessing increased ROI from their custom apps

As I have mentioned before, enterprise systems and software are particularly meant to enhance organizational productivity and performance across the entire internal business environment. But obviously, it is an expense, and expenses need to be recovered sooner or later.

In the case of Enterprise Software, getting any ROI out of the project is only possible in the long-term. That’s because their benefits do not take shape immediately after deployment. They take time. In fact, an enterprise may require further investments to train employees on using the new software, especially if the software is integrated across multiple departments of the organization.

But if the market trends are any indication, most enterprise software is likely to generate decent ROI in the longer run. Market research by FileMaker (a subsidiary of Apple) in the years 2016 and 2018 revealed an interesting trend. 

In its research in the year 2016, over 60 percent of enterprises reported positive ROI after investing in custom enterprise software. 

In 2018, the percentage increased to 76% with enterprises reporting significant ROI after integrating custom software across their business line. 

The fact that enterprises are able to justify their expenses on custom enterprise software is surprising given the fact that custom software development is generally an expensive affair as compared to using off-the-shelf software.

This brings me to define another challenge in Enterprise Software Development, which is…

3. Choosing between Custom Enterprise Software Vs. Off-the-Shelf Software

Information Source: Spiceworks State of IT report- 2020

Off-the-shelf software is a highly convenient solution for CIOs aiming to solve a few inefficiencies and integrate a few functions using enterprise software. However, they come with their own share of drawbacks too.

1. Firstly, off-the-shelf software may come with a lot of redundant features that may never be used by an organization. 
2. Second, a business using off-the-shelf enterprise software has to formulate its functions centered around the software instead of the other way around.

I have seen some enterprises fall victim to the second drawback I just mentioned. One firm I worked with had to design their entire employee attendance policies around an off-the-shelf attendance tracking software! That happened only because they weren’t able to customize the software configuration as per their policies.

Sure, some off-the-shelf enterprise software comes with heavy customization capabilities, but those only add up to the size they take and consequently require more hardware resources to perform at the optimum level.

On the other hand, there are certain advantages when using custom enterprise software:

1. With custom enterprise software, an organization can add and deploy only the required features and build the enterprise system centered around the internal business environment.
2. A custom enterprise software’s biggest advantage I feel is in terms of security. Every popular off-the-shelf enterprise software is used by hundreds of companies. So if a security vulnerability is exploited on one installation, it could potentially put all enterprise systems using the software at risk! 

A custom enterprise software could be as unique as it gets, gives the enterprise a solid security foundation while keeping it secure from contagious security attacks as they happen with off-the-shelf software.

The main drawbacks of custom enterprise systems come in the form of the costs involved in software development, as well as the time it takes to build, test and deploy the final product.

Regardless of whether you choose to work with an off-the-shelf application or a custom enterprise software, there is one challenge in development that requires support outside the IT realm.

4. Synchronization between Operational Units and IT

FileMaker’s State of the Custom App report suggests findings that 46% of businesses are looking forward to integrate other systems with their enterprise software

In research conducted by Harvard Business Review in 2014, it was discovered that the major challenge preventing businesses from pushing for innovative enterprise software was a lack of integration/partnership between operational units and the IT Department. The other major challenges faced by enterprises were related to the lack of skilled IT Resources and project budget constraints.

One point I have stressed upon from the start of this article is the need for enterprise software to be integrated across all functions of the business. Well, that starts with the task of maintaining harmony among the IT and operational units.

Successful enterprise software is one that seamlessly integrates all functions of an enterprise into a single medium of access. No business would prefer working with multiple software each for covering different functions such as Recruitment, Accounting, Payroll, among others.

This is another case where a CIO faces a challenge between choosing an off-the-shelf or custom enterprise software. An off-the-shelf application can never have the potential of completely seamless integration as is possible through a custom one.

Let’s take an example here. Say, an ATS application used by an enterprise tracks recruitment data perfectly. It provides information about potential job candidates, helps in screening resumes, and lets an HR in om important information about future employees. 

But if this ATS isn’t integrated with the main HRM software, then all data about the prospective job candidates would have to be re-written into another software! A seamlessly integrated custom enterprise software saves an HR executive from this hassle. 

In a similar pattern, enterprise systems can bring a whole new level of efficiency and productivity when perfectly integrated with both IT and non-IT functions of an organization.

5. Setting the right Priorities

One of the greatest challenges in enterprise software development comes well before the start of a project. Setting the right priorities for enterprise software goes a long way in determining the potential of the end product.

This is where the role of a CIO and other IT leaders becomes so crucial. Technically, it is the CIO’s role to manage the whole cycle of enterprise software development. However, who he/she reports to can have a huge role to play in how the project takes shape.

If the IT leader or the CIO reports to the CFO, the priorities might lie in reducing costs, enhancing the financial output or ROI out of the project, etc. If the CIO reports directly to the CEO, the priorities might be of a much broader scope, which is necessary considering how an enterprise software affects an organization’s functioning.

Consider this analogy: the Enterprise software is a movie. The CIO is the producer of this movie, and the one whom he reports to is the director and holds the responsibility to direct this project towards an objective. 

The higher the position of the reporting manager of the CIO, the greater the chances are of it being wider in terms of scope and implementation. If the reporting manager has a specific position in the company, say as I mentioned in the above example about a CFO- then chances are that the project would be headed towards fulfilling an objective fit for the overseer’s functional role. 

In a Deloitte Insights survey of over 500 CIOs in 2018, it was found that 46 percent of enterprise CIOs report to the highest levels of their company (CEO). This is an upward trend when compared with data two years prior. In 2017, only 45 percent of CIOs reported directly to the CEO, whereas the percentage was even low at 41 percent in 2016.

While the data at hand suggests an increasing trend of CIOs reporting to the highest levels of authority, this should be moving closer to becoming a norm in 2020 as enterprise software development is more significant in value than ever before.

Answers to some general questions about Enterprise Software Development

1. What are the examples of Enterprise Software?

Enterprise systems are mainly classified into three different types of software applications:

• Enterprise Resources Planning Systems (ERP)
• Enterprise Planning Systems
• Customer Relationship Management Software

Enterprise Resources Planning Systems (ERP)

ERP software refers to software applications that help manage all the core activities of an enterprise. ERP software is essential for the integration of multiple functions of a business and makes processes seamless and efficient. All types of Payroll Software, HR Management Software, Inventory management software, Accounting Software, etc., come in this category.

Enterprise Planning Systems 

Enterprise planning systems differ from ERP software in the sense that they help in building strategic plans with data of both internal and external business environments. Examples of Enterprise Planning Systems software are Business Intelligence tools, Project management software and Performance measurement/evaluation software available in the market.

Customer Relationship Management Software (CRM)

Unlike the other two types of enterprise software, CRM software deals with the management of customers of an enterprise. This is why it does not involve the aspects of integration with the business environment, and does not affect the functioning of an enterprise in a direct way as the other two. CRM software includes applications used to take feedback from customers, keep track of customer data, analyze and use the same for their retention, among other customer-oriented use cases.

2. Should I outsource Enterprise Software Development to another firm, or should I get it done in-house?

TL;DR: Outsourcing software development is the best option if your core business isn’t associated with the technology sector. Developing software in-house is best if you already have a skilled workforce or human capital capable of handling such a project.

But if you’re in for a verbose answer, here goes:

In 11 years of my career as a Technology expert and Consultant, I have worked on both in-house and outsourcing software development projects. 

From that experience, I can tell you what you’re getting into in both these cases.

Should you opt to start with an in-house enterprise software development project, there would be a huge load of things to look over as an IT leader.

• You will need to hire skilled developers and Project managers to work through the entire project.
• An investment in hardware resources to develop the software will be necessary. These won’t be huge problems if your enterprise is already into the High Tech industry but would be incredibly worrisome for a company not associated with the IT industry in any way.
• Since you’re creating an entirely new in-house team for the project, there will be no clear way to define or analyze the cumulative experience of your team in handling the problems at hand.
• On the positive side, you will have more control over an in-house team and can regulate the pace of the project as necessary.
• Communication with teams will be effortless with an in-house development team.

On the other hand, outsourcing your project too comes with its own share of pros and cons:

• The best thing about outsourcing software development is that your project will be at the hands of people who know their job well. A software development firm’s experience plays a huge role in maintaining a smooth project workflow. 
• An enterprise wouldn’t have to waste its time hiring new people and investing in hardware resources.
• Yes, communication with the remote development teams will be a tough affair. 
• When outsourcing software development, you get to choose the type of developers you want for your team. 
• Not all business leaders are supposed to be fully aware of the details about new, existing and emerging technologies. Outsourcing a software project lets you coordinate with experienced project managers who can fill any knowledge gaps, thereby saving your project from potential roadblocks.

If you’re budget conscious, then an in-house project could perhaps save some of your expenses in software development at the cost of taking away the business’ focus from its core expertise. Outsourcing, while being costlier also lets your enterprise focus on its core expertise while letting a software development firm take the workload of the project.

3. How do you think Enterprise Software will evolve?

Today, data and emerging technologies such as AI and IoT are taking center stage as the drivers of innovation. Businesses and governments are now understanding the need to collect data, analyze and leverage it for meaningful purposes. 

As it is already highlighted in the Forrester Global tech purchases report of years 2016-2021 that I shared above, enterprises are investing huge amounts of monetary resources to understand the modern technologies. They’re trying to find use cases that create change and bring efficiency in tasks where we never thought of an alternative.

I believe the evolution of enterprise software will be led by data and the pursuit of getting the data right. Data is the crucial component to some of the most important technologies we’re surrounded by today. It is the fuel that drives the future.

If you ask me for the ideal path where you would want to take your enterprise software- my advice would be to make it as data-oriented as possible. As far as finding opportunities for business or profitability is concerned, my bet would always be on data-oriented approaches to find the right solutions 99 times out of 100!

Over To You

The total IT spending on enterprise software will reach $503 US Dollars by the end of this year. Considering that it’s the fastest-growing segment in the IT industry, enterprises need to gear up and see how they can leverage enterprise software by addressing challenges such as those I just mentioned.

Most of the enterprise clients I have worked with throughout my career have faced these challenges. I’ll honestly tell you, some of these, even select Fortune 1000 firms were on a completely wrong track with their goals for enterprise software development! 

This is why while handling my duties at ValueCoders, I work with due consideration to ensure none of the enterprise leaders we deal with run-up into any of these challenges. In fact, giving a clear view of potential roadblocks in the development cycle is a crucial part of the project onboarding process for our custom software development services.

Let’s summarize this post. We understood how immersive enterprise software can actually justify higher development costs (when using select technologies that make something easier). I explained how investment in enterprise applications can only deliver significant ROI in the long run.

Additionally, we saw why the lack of integration between IT and non-IT functions in enterprise software development is such a challenge. Finally, the last challenge points to the fact that the direction of an enterprise software project depends on the one overseeing the CIO, the greater their position and guidance, the higher the scope for the final product.

The post 5 Key Challenges in Enterprise Software Development for CIOs appeared first on ValueCoders | Unlocking the Power of Technology: Discover the Latest Insights and Trends.