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The Key to Brand Differentiation

Since times the immemorial price has been a key, if not the only brand differentiator in this beautiful sub-continent of India. With the rise of e-commerce, this has become even more evident if it wasn’t already. A shift in shopping trends towards buying online at lesser prices is a trend that has picked up by the Indians. Cash burn rates of players like Snapdeal, Jabong, Paytm and Flipkart have floored prices for products to levels that were previously unheard of.

But when the competition is between Big players with deep pockets, Price and even the Product sold is no longer a differentiator. The product you see on Flipkart will be the same as the one available on Snapdeal and Amazon at approximately similar prices.

With heavy discounts leading to faster cash burns, e-commerce giants are shifting to “Plan B” which stresses focus on the customer experience in using their service. You may have noticed the multiple advertisements by Flipkart and Amazon, reassuring their customers of Guaranteed returns, Original products, Seamless service. It is an awakening of sorts where these giants take a step back and realize that they could fight this out in one of the two ways, either get in to a price war with cash burn rates that are unfeasible, or enhance customer experience and try to create a certain brand loyalty which has been lacking in this industry.

Morgan Stanley’s new valuation of Flipkart is an eye-opener for these players that their “Plan A” is not a sustainable form of operations and a shift to a more customer experience-oriented approach as opposed to a price-oriented approach is the need of the hour and key to sustainability and success.

This inevitability has led to a shifting trend in brand differentiators in the eCommerce platform from price to customer experience. In an industry that was originally meant to ease the life of its customers and allow them to shop from the comfort of their homes, the prodigal sons seem to be finding their way back to this very core principle.

A brand is quite simply defined as Trust. Trust is built based on the experience received. The experience received will result in a certain Brand Loyalty. And finally, this Brand Loyalty will inturn strengthen the brand. This is a simple cycle that needs to be at the forefront of your operational strategy!

Why is it Beneficial to Outsource your Mobile App Development Project?

Why is it Beneficial to Outsource your Mobile App Development Project?

The domination of mobile apps across diverse industries has reached the highest levels in the previous decade. Businesses have understood the importance of having mobile apps for reaching the smartphone community and making profits. Hence, it is almost impossible to reap success without getting a mobile app for your business. But while it seems to be straightforward to have an idea, the mode of development seems to be a tricky one. The catch is between having an in-house app development team or outsourcing it to a mobile app development company. A wrong move in this approach can make or break the ability to attain success in the competitive market. Why do many businesses choose outsourcing as their option? Continue to read the blog for more information.

Benefits of outsourcing the mobile app development:

Rapid start:

If you are confident about the app idea, then you would love to begin the project as early as possible. Not only will you be able to give a clear shape to the app idea but also help in reaching the market on time. Several businesses are still working remotely after the outbreak of Covid-19 showed the world that it is possible with no worries. In such times, a fast beginning can create wonders in being on the right track of the process at all stages. This is possible when you have a partnership with a clever mobile app development company with all resources.

Time to market:

As a continuation of the previous point, when outsourcing the project to a smart mobile app development company, you can ensure the right time to market. They will have a team that is well-versed in working according to the deadline commitments. Further, the app development agreement involves penalties for not being able to meet the timelines. Hence the outsourcing company will be on top of the project for the completion of the venture.

Access to a diverse talent pool:

If you are having an in-house mobile app development team then you will have limitations in accessing a diverse talent pool. But when you outsource the app development project, then you can have the services of wider talents across various areas. Further, you can choose to have the right talents for your requirements and business motives. This option will help you to think creatively and yield spectacular results in the long run.

Team coordination:

Stable mobile app development firms have a dedicated team for all tasks and specializations. The team members have worked on similar projects previously and have good coordination between them. You can be sure of getting the best solutions for your app idea as the complete team will be knowing the way of operation across the peers.

Saves cost and time:

The app development team will be equipped with all the required infrastructure to execute the project. Hence, there will not be any additional cost involved in looking for options in the process. Moreover, with the entire team in coordination, the overall time required to execute the project will be much lower when compared to otherwise. Also, you will not have to hire and train new employees if the need arises in between the process. As mentioned earlier, the time to market will be on the course since the team will be clear about every execution. This will have a direct impact on the overall time taken to develop the app which is again impacting the cost of development.

Data security:

An expert mobile app development company will have a proven security strategy throughout its system. The mobile app will involve the data of both customers and businesses which makes it highly important to safeguard it. You would never want it to fall into wrong hands that may cause irreversible issues. With the advancements in technology, even hackers are employing advanced ways to break a system to steal data. Hence, an expert mobile app development company would be well aware of sensitive areas that could lead to breakpoints. They will have a strong security plan that will shield the data from malicious attackers.

Clear communication:

A full-fledged mobile app development team will have clear communication levels throughout the journey. The dedicated team will have exclusive sessions coupled with emails and calls to update the proceedings of the project. Being a business owner, you would love to have this aspect to be sure about the process. You will be exactly aware of the work while checking the progress of the project at all stages.

Scalability:

Scalability is also one of the crucial advantages when you outsource the work to an expert mobile app development company. With advancements in technology, you will need to up the ante in your app. To start the process, your app must have the provision to be scaled in the later stages. When this is done, you can ensure you have a bigger user base that will create a difference in the competitive market.

Risk Management:

Whenever you are in the competitive market carrying out a business, then risk will be a part of the process. Even though you plan all the steps accurately, there are chances of facing problems at any stage. Hence, you must have a partner who can mitigate the risks and face them with optimal challenges for meeting the deadlines. A skilled mobile app development company will have previous experience working across several types of ventures. This will come in handy to manage the situations smoothly without impacting the customers and business operations having a big impact on the success rate.

To wrap up:

If you’ve decided to outsource mobile app development, the next step is to find a professional mobile app outsourcing company that will be fit to meet your requirements. Adopt a thorough process to make an intelligent choice and finalize your mobile application outsourcing partner.

What are the Security Issues Mobile App Developers need to take care of?

What are the security issues mobile app developers need to take care of?

The use of mobile applications is swelling every day as users are becoming addicted to smartphones and apps. Not only is it employed for completing their routine activities but also to entertain them in their fast-paced life. With the increase in demand for mobile apps, one issue that is being faced by developers is the security of mobile apps. As there are unbelievable advancements in technology, even hackers are employing advanced ways to break the system and steal information. Hence, mobile app developers need to be extra cautious in identifying security issues early to negate the effects some of which are described in this article.

Weak Data Encryption:

The security of the app is highly dependent on the way your data is dealt with. Security may be compromised largely if data is stored or transmitted without encryption making it easy for hackers to steal the data for use in an unfair manner. Developers must concentrate on developing apps with advanced security aspects along with basic things like not storing sensitive user and business information on the device directly. If the data is stored, then it should be in encrypted format at all levels of the app. With this even if the hackers get a chance to steal the data they will not be able to make use of it offering maximum security for the app.

Use Of Unauthorized APIs:

APIs are Application Programming Interfaces that help in the communication of two diverse apps and form a crucial aspect in the development of apps regardless of the niche. Several developers make the mistake of employing APIs without determining their sources. Employing unauthorized APIs in the app could lead to serious risks as all transactions performed on a mobile app makes use of APIs. Hence it could be an easy pathway for hackers to get access to your system and steal the information. There will be an easy compromise to both business and user information when the AP is originating from a vulnerable origin. As the mobile apps will be residing on the smartphone, if the hackers can enter the device, then they can easily crack the system to snip the data. If the developers want to negate this situation, then developers must be careful about selecting the APIs they employ in the app. If you fail to ensure this element then it could prove costly to your business information and user data.

Missing server-side security

Regardless of all the other security aspects taken care of by app developers, if they fail to offer optimal security on the server side, then the app is still vulnerable to hackers. There are several such instances in the past that have led to the loss of important information related to business and users. To start with, ensure that APIs are verified with advanced security aspects and offer access to only authorized users. Moreover, the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) should be certified while dealing with big data to negate any compromise of the information regardless of the type. If you neglect this aspect then long-term impacts are more devastating for the business. If the attacker can find a minor mistake in the server security they can utilize the opportunity in several ways.

Compliance problems:

While you take care of all the security aspects concerned with the mobile app, if you fail to meet compliance lists, then you are at a huge risk. Not only will you be vulnerable to attacks from hackers but also chance of facing legal battles that can make you incur huge losses. Several compliance documents require you to have specific security guidelines that should be followed by businesses. Moreover, you can lose customers if they get to know about the shortcomings causing an irreversible dent in brand image.

Inefficient Testing:

Another important reason for the app’s failure in security issues is the failure to have an efficient testing strategy. The team needs to ensure that they have an optimal testing strategy that will be executed with every minimal change in the app. Further, with evolving technology, developers need to be updated with the latest trends in the security aspects of using them in the app. Every change in the app has to be dealt with with appropriate care and authority as minor lapses could risk the security of the app. Developers must be aware that any app is not always secure as it has to be updated with regular advanced elements. Never neglect to test the app even in the case of tight deadlines. Make use of the best approaches to find the loopholes existing in the app at any level. Updates in the app with new versions or updates must be accompanied by security patches. Running the tests will help in finding the risky areas that need immediate attention and avoid any malicious activities.

Educate the employees and users:

The app development team must educate their peers and users about the security aspects. They should be aware of some important things to be safe from attackers in the online world. This is possible only when developers provide them with the knowledge to stay safe while following certain mandatory measures without fail. Having a robust mobile strategy concerning educating will help in quickly resolving any issues. Users will feel safer making them stay connected with the app for a longer time.

To wrap up:

The security of the mobile app is an area of worry for both app developers and users across the globe. If the users experience the issues of security in any part of the app, there is a huge risk of it being abandoned with irreversible damage to the brand value. With growing concerns, businesses are finding more comfort in associating with skilled mobile app development firms to develop a secured app product.