Many small and mid-sized businesses are looking into automating their mundane processes, to free up time and save money.  However, it is not as easy as it may seem to start the automation process for your business. There are several important things to consider before embarking on this journey, but having the patience to do so can bring you great results.

Start by deciding where the process should start: Which functional area in the business requires more involvement from employees? Which departmental processes are repetitive? Which of these repetitive tasks can be automated? The answer will mostly depend upon the existing infrastructure and app landscape within the company. For example, if employees are heavily dependent on pre-built forms within their CRM for managing leads or sales opportunities, an automation project that converts manual input into self-updating records will help reduce data entry errors and make reporting easier. An automation project that helps take care of repetitive tasks within an existing app can diminish the time employees need to spend on basic, mundane activities.

Once you have decided what areas of your company can be improved with automation, it is time to contemplate the pros and cons.

Automation Pros

• Automated systems often help reduce labor costs. Some forms of automation, such as a robotic process automation (RPA) system, do not require human involvement to operate. The use of automation technology also frees up employees’ time to work on more valuable activities that they are better suited for, increasing productivity in the workplace.

• Many forms of automation can be implemented within an existing IT infrastructure with little or no disruption to the rest of the business. This allows cost savings from automation to be achieved without having to invest in new hardware or software solutions.

• Automation technology can also help reduce mistakes and human error, which often lead to costly business errors and low levels of customer satisfaction.

• Automating business processes can increase the speed with which tasks are completed, as well as dramatically improve efficiency, enabling a company to take on more work. This helps a company grow its bottom line over time.

• In some cases, automation can improve customer satisfaction by reducing the amount of time it takes to provide a service. For example, automated phone systems are often able to direct customers to the correct department and wait times for callers are reduced. This improves the perception that a company is efficient at handling calls from customers in need of assistance with an issue.

• In many instances, automation technology offers numerous benefits over other solutions that do not involve technology . A prime example is robotic process automation (RPA), which leverages software robots or ‘bots’ that act as employees. RPA helps automate an organization’s high-volume, pre-defined tasks that are routine and transactional in nature.

Automation Cons

• Some automating requires employees to have a solid understanding of the processes they will be working with. If applications or systems used for automation purposes do not offer a thorough understanding of how business operations work, it can lead to costly errors on the part of employees when they attempt to enter data or make any changes to existing business processes.

• Automation technology may cause job losses over time as companies cut costs by reducing the number of human resources needed to perform various tasks. Certain types of businesses, such as those that rely heavily on customer service staff who handle repetitive calls from customers, could see significant layoffs if automated solutions replace manual methods.

• Unless specifically designed for use by both humans and machines, many solutions can be difficult to use, which may erode employee morale and productivity.

• Automation systems have an increased level of complexity compared with manual systems and can therefore be more prone to errors or malfunctions than a manually operated system. It is important that automation solutions are tested thoroughly before being implemented in the workplace.

• Automation solutions often require an initial investment to purchase the automation software and put in place the automation environment. This cost may be difficult for small businesses to afford.

• There is also a danger that automation will be implemented too quickly, without properly considering how it can impact on other areas of a business, leading to undesirable outcomes and increased costs.

• Automating key processes may give employees a false sense of security about their jobs, which could lead them to perform less effectively or even engage in malicious behavior out of fear they’re going to lose their job if they don’t work hard enough. 

• Some solutions require frequent updates to keep them working effectively. Regular updates may also pose a security risk if not applied correctly or with due care and attention.

• Automated systems do not always work perfectly, and there is a chance that automation technology will fail altogether. Since automating processes often relies on software, bugs may prevent the automation solution from working as expected. In some cases, an automating may require manual intervention to overcome these issues.

• Different solutions have different capabilities and levels of sophistication, meaning they do not all offer the same level of automation. The greater the number of business processes that are automated, the harder it becomes to manage this process over time. This can lead to inconsistent results or missed objectives when deploying automation technologies across different business units or departments within a company.

Facts About Automation

• Small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the US are predicted to invest $1.6 trillion on automating technologies over the next 10 years, according to a recent report by Allied Market Research.

• 57% of SMBs are planning to invest in automating technologies within the next 12 months, according to another recent Allied Market Research report.

• As many as 50 million new jobs could be created globally by 2030, according to a report by McKinsey Global Institute.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

By creating hundreds of guided meditations on various topics, Headspace has been able to create a mental health app experience that is both powerful and widely appealing.

In order to create such an app, one must look at how Headspace has done it so far and try to replicate those methods in creating a similar product for mental health purposes.

What Is Headspace?

Headspace is a meditation app that helps users learn and improve mental health by creating customized guided meditations for particular problems or interests. With over 180 million users, Headspace has made itself one of the most influential meditation apps on the market today.  Because there are so many ways to learn about and improve mental health, creating an app platform that allows for this is beneficial to users.

To understand how Headspace has been so successful in creating a meditation app, one needs to look at the process by which it was created.

How Did Headspace Start?

Headspace began as a book written by Andy Puddicombe. The book was written as a way for Puddicombe to improve his own mental health after suffering from depression and anxiety symptoms. After writing the book, Puddicombe found that it helped improve others’ mental health as well when practicing meditation at home.  In order to take this experience to the next level, Puddicombe and co-founder Rich Pierson created an app that would create a standardized meditation environment.

When creating this app, it was important to make sure each program offered in the app proved effective and beneficial in improving mental health.  This is why creating programs such as 10% Happier was important for creating an app that provides value to its users.

The most popular program offered is the 10% Happier program, which many customers and reviewers agree has been beneficial in creating daily meditation habits.  Because Puddicombe himself struggled with addiction and depression when he first began meditating, his programs often have more of a personal connection for users.

While creating the app was important, the personalized meditation experience is what makes Headspace truly unique in its field.  Because building programs through a standardized process has been shown to be both valuable and effective in creating positive changes, it’s safe to say that developing an effective mental health app will have similar results as Headspace has.

Keeping A Standard For Meditation Programs

When making a mental health app, creating various programs that are useful and beneficial to specific problems is essential for an effective application.  By creating personal programs like 10% Happier, the meditation experience presented in the app becomes much more personalized and true to its users’ interests. Similarly, creating programs that are much more specific and targeted for different issues related to mental health would offer users a wide variety of meditation experiences through an application.

How to Create an App Like HeadSpace

In order to create such programs, determining which type of meditation works best for specific problems is essential in building such an application.

Step #1 : Research

The most important thing in creating a mental health app like Headspace is research. Conducting research on the various ways meditation can improve mental health is essential.  By looking at how creating meditation-based programs helps improve mental health, you will likely increase the chance that the application will be used.

Step #2 : Create Programs

Based on the research done, creating programs that target specific needs for improving mental health is important.  This can be done from creating a customized program like 10% Happier or with more specific programs for developing meditative habits, improving focus or having a general “chill out” mood through meditation.

Step #3 : Create A Great Visual Design

The incorporation of great visuals is also important for the success of such an application.  Creating great visuals can be done by hiring high-quality designers who can create a great user experience that is both attractive and intuitive to use.

Step #4 :  Provide Feedback Loops

Another important aspect of mental health apps is receiving feedback is by having a personalized meditation tailored to the individual’s needs. By creating feedback loops to better understand how users use the app, you can receive a great deal of helpful information.  This type of feedback loop is essential in creating an application that will be used consistently by its users.

Step #5 : Testing

Testing the application is essential to creating a mental health app like Headspace. By giving the program to users and collecting feedback based on their experiences, you can figure out what needs to be improved on.  Along with traditional app testing methods by developers, many companies launch beta versions of their apps before launching the final product. At the same time, creating different programs can take into account user preference when creating meditation programs that target specific problems in order to create the most effective programs.

Step #6 :  Promote And Market The Application

Once your app is ready, promote it! Creating buzz through marketing is important for generating positive results. Read up on articles that give tips on how to properly promote your app in the app stores and elsewhere. Make sure you have a set marketing budget for this so you do not overspend.

Step #7 :  Make Sure To Keep Improving The App

Creating an app to improve mental health is not finished once an app has been launched.  Make sure to keep improving the application in the future based on users’ needs.

Cost To Develop a Mental Health App

The cost of developing a mental health app can be anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 per program you create. Of course, this depends on many factors. These factors include the type of app you’re creating, your market reach and more.  This is a good general range for creating programs, which can help you to guesstimate the average cost of your app. It’s also important that once a program has been created, it will require further development every couple years or so as technology improves and society changes.

The Future of Mental Health Apps

The future of creating a mental health app like HeadSpace looks bright. Apps are highly customizable and can help improve mental health. If creating and marketing an effective app can be done, the future of mental health apps such as HeadSpace is limitless.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development company, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software..

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

The internet is one of the greatest inventions, providing information and services to billions. Unfortunately, along with this comes risks, threats that can be a nightmare. The threats are very real; your data could be stolen or compromised in many ways – these dangers don’t just impact individuals…they impact businesses as well. Everyone needs to secure their online data in order to protect their personal information, privacy and finances.

Tips to Protect Personal Data

Choose a Secure Password

A strong secure password is one that has special characters (for example &, @), numbers (for example 1, 3 or 5), upper and lower case letters (for example A, B C) and does not contain any personal information (such as your name, age or date of birth). Also, although it is hard, try to choose different passwords for different websites, so you do not sacrifice all of your logins if your password for one site is somehow exposed to hackers.

Avoid Storing Details Online

If you need to store secure details regarding accounts (for example credit card numbers), then avoid putting them out in the public domain. Instead, use encrypted secure data storage devices such as a flash drive that can be kept secure.

Send Secure Emails

When sending emails, ensure that you use a secure email client (such as Gmail or Hotmail) that has been created for the purpose of private communications. It is also recommended to create secure passwords with a variety of letters and numbers before setting up your account, as mentioned in the first tip.

Use Secure Websites

When visiting websites that involve payment of any kind, always look for a secure sign to be displayed in the address bar.  If it does not contain a secure certificate then you should avoid making the purchase. You can also check if the website has an SSL certificate installed by clicking on More Info while you are on the site and looking at the details.

Prepare for the Worst

If you secure your online data in advance, then should a threat occur you will not have left yourself liable. Keep back ups of all important files that are stored on computers and external hard drives. It is also essential to secure back up copies of essential documents that include your identity, such as birth certificates and passports. These locations could be anywhere, including storage vaults or lockers at the bank to secure fireproof safes in your homes.

Tips To Protect Company Data

Single Sign-On (SSO) & Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Both of these secure authentication solutions protect user logins across the enterprise, with SSO reducing help desk calls & MFA preventing unauthorized access by bad guys.

SSO has been the solution of choice for organizations to secure user logins & access to IT resources since the turn of the millennium. With SSO, an organization’s employees use access an application via a secure authentication server. This method also acts as a backup authentication in case user passwords are lost or forgotten, enabling access with a password reset utility.

In addition, SSO can be integrated with key enterprise software applications such as a CRM (Customer Relationship Management), HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems) and an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning).

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a secure authentication solution that uses a combination of two or more secure factors to prove you are who you say you are. MFA is commonly used in financial services & healthcare organizations as well as government agencies, all of which need the highest levels of security to protect sensitive information.

With secure MFA, the user provides an additional form of authentication when signing in –  usually with something you have (ex. your smartphone) and something you know (security questions).

Typically, users log into a web portal using their password at the first stage of login. At the second stage, the user enters a secure password or secure biometrics in order to gain access to company systems and resources. Multi-factor authentication is used by many individuals as well, not just companies.

Unified Access Management (UAM)

Unified Access Management allows secure access to multiple applications and data resources using access points such as web servers, virtual private networks and secure remote desktops.

While UAM also offers SSO capabilities, it acts more as an enterprise access management solution, which increases overall security by managing access to a company’s multiple homegrown and SaaS platforms.

Unified Access Management gives administrators control over access to all of the applications and data resources in its enterprise environment, including remote access. In addition, it provides authentication for users by using secure tokens that can be used on devices such as mobile phones and smart cards.

UAM also gives administrators the option to enforce authentication by using secure multi-factor authentication, biometrics, or PINs in order to gain access to enterprise resources.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

Data services and computing infrastructure are becoming more and more dependent on cloud computing and remote servers. 

Compared to traditional on-premises data centers, cloud computing provides a cloud-based alternative. All computing infrastructure, as well as management software, is provided by public cloud vendors. It could be a virtual machine, web server, or cloud-hosted database engine in this case. These cloud services are leased by cloud provider customers as needed.

You can deploy Azure infrastructure only for what you need at any time, and scale it up or down as needed. In order to meet this performance need, developers have focused on scaling out by deploying additional compute nodes. 

Although this requires some consideration in designing an appropriate software architecture, it has now been proven that scaling out cloud services over expensive hardware is more cost-effective.

What Is Microsoft Azure Used For?

Platform and Infrastructure as a Service is offered by Azure. Data centers, which contain a large amount of resources, are located around the world and can be accessed by people and companies from anywhere on the globe. Azure is not just a platform for storing and assembling databases, but also for offering advanced Platform services, which makes Azure a unique product in this market. 

Azure Development Services

A number of datacenters have been deployed by Microsoft around the globe, with more being planned. Furthermore, Microsoft is extending its sovereign cloud capabilities to Germany and China. Data Centers of this size are typically only deployed by global enterprises, so Azure deploys services close to the customer’s location for any enterprise of any size. 

Azure is an affordable option for small businesses, and users will be able to scale quickly as their computer needs increase. This provides a flexible approach to architecture, allowing systems to be redesigned as needed without a large capital investment. As a startup grows rapidly and fails fast, cloud computing is a great way to scale.

Azure Cloud Service (Classic)

Azure’s cloud computing platform provides many services. A subscription to Azure includes Azure resources such as compute, networking, data, and app hosting services. A virtual machine, storage account, or SQL database are some examples of resources. 

An Azure service is composed of many resources. In an Azure virtual machine, there may be a VM, a storage account, a network adapter, and a public IP address. Each of these is a separate resource. Creating, managing, and deleting resources can be done individually or in groups.

The Azure cloud services platform is available throughout the globe, thanks to around 20 datacenter regions located around the globe. There is a data center in every region of the cloud. In contrast, Google has five. Amazon has ten. It was not a matter of better or worse to have more than doubled the capacity of computation and storage in a short period of time, but about the investment we have made and how much more we will invest in the future.

Microsoft Azure Cost

Pricing for Azure is affected by a number of factors, such as the type of service, the capacity, location, and the level of management. You can use Azure for free for your first year, and you can use Azure services for life.

Most Azure services can be paid on a usage basis, so users will only be billed when they use them. Furthermore, Azure offers significant discounts for both reserved instances and spot instances.

Advantages of Microsoft Azure

Data storage, application development, resource management are all unique needs specific to each organization. 

For smaller companies that do not collect customer data, a flexible and agile testing environment is probably more important than a massive amount of storage space. 

Azure integration takes a lot of attention to detail, so organizations need to do their homework before signing up.

Providing World-Class Cybersecurity

Azure data centers are equipped with multiple levels of authentication, proxy card readers and biometric scanners, and Microsoft’s data is encrypted via advanced encryption. 

As long as Azure’s security tools are used in conjunction with an existing cybersecurity strategy and policy, you can maintain the privacy, integrity, and availability of sensitive information for your customers. 

As a result of its multi-layered security approach, Microsoft enables organizations to ward off data breaches, malware, DDoS attacks, and other evolving threats.

High Availability

Microsoft Azure provides redundancy and high availability across its entire data center infrastructure, unlike many of its competitors. 

Microsoft Azure is available in 140 countries and operates in 55 regions around the world, making it an excellent choice for businesses that operate globally. 

No On-Site Hardware Required

A company’s IT budget can be severely squeezed by the costs associated with owning and operating on-premise data storage equipment. Cloud computing allows organizations to eliminate the need for on-site hardware by enabling them to store data, applications, and computing processes in the cloud. 

Several of your processes can be kept on private servers, whether you have compliance or convenience concerns. With Azure’s advanced networking features, hybrid cloud environments can be created.

Microsoft has learned to rely heavily on strong and adaptable compliance controls during its years of operation. Implementing Microsoft compliance tools, configuration management features, guidance resources, and more, allows organizations to stay on top of evolving regulatory guidelines like HIPAA, ISO 27001, GDPR, and more.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

It’s all about building something quick. It’s about building it fast; building something that doesn’t take much time and money, building something just enough to be able to get enough results. Building of a minimum viable product (MVP) is about cutting features and developing the bare minimum to deliver something fast, get answers, and adjust accordingly.

In building an MVP, building a product without thinking it all out is not a good idea. You have to keep the end goal in mind so you can get to that point. 

So what exactly is an MVP?

A minimum viable product (MVP) is the initial basic product with all the needed features that help it serve its purpose, without being too complex. The MVP helps solve a certain goal and is just enough to be able to get feedback and adjust from there.  

In other words, an MVP is an application or a product with only the main features, not any extra bells and whistles.  Building too much either in one project or across a lifetime can be costly, time-consuming and a burden to changes.

Examples of MVPs

• A social media application:  The MVP in this case would be the bare minimum to get that app launched and in the hands of customers, and get a decent amount of users to start playing around with the app and interacting with others.
• Basic website: A website with a few links, pictures and some information is building something minimal.  The idea behind building it this way is so that you don’t have to spend too much time working with the complex features involved in a good website. You can launch the site to your customers and adjust from there on their likes, dislikes and what they want to see for easy navigation and more.
• A file-sharing or file creation application: A simple application, whether its web or mobile, where you can upload documents, create docs and files, enter information, share data files, and a place where you can manage that content is building an MVP.  

How to Create an MVP Step-by-Step

Step #1 :  Know the Problem

You need to solve a problem for the market you’re building the MVP for, and identify your target audience as well. Let’s take the example of the file-sharing application. If you are building an application to upload files or create documents, then you want something that will help your customer store files and work on them from wherever they are.  It doesn’t have to be a website or an app and it could very well be building  something portable for customers to use that can store data and create files on the go.

Step #2 :  Understand Your Customer’s Needs and Wants

Once you have identified your problem and the target audience, you have to recognize your customer’s needs and wants.  You need to know exactly what you are building for them. Once you have identified what your customer needs, building an MVP that is needed to solve their problem and its functionality will be easier to plan out and execute.

Step #3 :  Identify Your Key Features

Now you have to identify your key features. What makes you different from your competitors?  What is the basic building block or components of building a great product that users would want to use and recommend to others? You need to ask yourself these questions in this step. Be sure to not overstuff the features; keep it basic and to the point.

Step #4 :  Define Your MVP

Once you have the key features identified, define what your MVP will look like.  For example, if building a mobile app, then create a mockup and make sure it has all of the features that you listed for building an MVP in step #3.

Step #5 :  Build Your Minimum Viable Product

Now you have to build your MVP.  If building a website, then building the MVP would include building out the main components of what is needed for building a simple website.  

You need to be sure that everything works and is up and running by following all basic standards, making sure it has all the key features are included, and that it can scale without a problem.

Step #6 :  Test the MVP Out

After building your MVP, you need to test it out.  You want feedback from customers and end users on what they think of it, how well its working for them, what new features they might want to see in the future. 

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

As project managers, we have to juggle timelines, appointments, and deadlines. With project-related information scattered across multiple organizational tools and project management apps, it becomes difficult for PMs to keep track of work assignments and schedules. Project management app software helps project managers manage team workload, schedule meetings, assign tasks, and track progress.

Here, we have listed out the top project management apps based on project management functions. These tools not only keep all project information in one place but also allows PMs to manage multiple tasks from their smartphone. Note that while some project management tools are available for free, there is a good chance of limited features unless you upgrade to paid plans.

1.  Asana

Asana is one of the top project management apps available for Android as well as iOS mobile devices. The app, designed to handle project workflow and team collaboration, lets project managers assign tasks to project members or delegate responsibilities. Asana comes with a project overview screen that shows details such as tasks assigned to the PM along with the progress made by them.

2. Wrike

Wrike is a cloud-based project management app for teams that allows managers to manage tasks, notes, reports, files and project calendars from one management software tool. You can schedule appointments through the Wrike app and managethe project budget as well. The project management software offers a video conferencing feature which allows you to have virtual meetings and discussions via a webcam or smartphone camera with project team members.

This graphic was created by Crazy Egg.

3.  Basecamp

The Basecamp app lets you manage time and tasks from your mobile as well as desktop computer. Apart from this, Basecamp also offers a file sharing feature that allows project team members to collaborate on files. The project management tool lets PMs share photos, documents and videos with the team. The app also provides project guidelines that can be shared with team members.

4. ClickUp

ClickUp is a collaboration tool that allows project managers to create, view, and edit task lists. The project management app offers a user-friendly interface with project team members to discuss project priority, tasks and schedules. PMs can set reminders for project due dates and manage budgets through ClickUp. The project collaboration software also offers a video conferencing feature which allows you to share project screenshots, files and chat with team members during virtual meetings.

5. Trello

The Trello project management app allows project managers to manage tasks, files and attachments from one place. Trello offers a set of built-in features like task boards, checklists for team communication, due dates, and reminders to keep track of project progress. This popular project management app lets you chat with project team members to discuss project details, including the time frame for tasks and ideas related to the project schedule.

Conclusion

With project management tools such as the ones listed above, project managers can manage all important tasks, due dates and more from a single dashboard. Project managers need to track all of this important info very often, and so many PMs are in need of an app that can be easily accessible for management purposes.  And since project management is such a data-heavy profession, project managers tend to rely on project management apps more than any other tools.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated environment created by computer technology. This environment can be combined with real life experiences and it has the ability to simulate physical presence in places of the virtual world. Because VR creates an immersive experience that resembles real life, many organizations are using VR as part of their training programs. This emerging technology is starting to rule various industries, and companies are starting to incorporate VR to offer more effective and memorable training. Here are five situations where virtual reality can be used for training.

VR Medical Training

The healthcare sector is continuously conducting medical training for different tasks. VR can be used for such healthcare training and virtual surgical simulation. This technology is being used to make the virtual environment as close to the real world as possible. Medical students can learn how to perform surgeries and other procedures on virtual patients without putting anyone at risk of injury. They can practice these complicated maneuvers while receiving instant feedback from their mentors or teachers.

Medical VR training offers the benefits of virtual training with the realism of real-world scenarios. Because virtual reality provides an unprecedented amount of control when creating virtual environments, it allows users to create various virtual training simulations that would otherwise be possible only in the real world.

VR Military Training

As VR becomes more popular, the military is also starting to take advantage of this technology for training. Imagine a virtual environment where soldiers can safely train in an immersive virtual landscape that is otherwise just too dangerous or expensive to create in real life. At present, the United States Army has already started using virtual simulations for training and recruiting new members. Some virtual reality companies have also done military training including virtual reality training for the US Army.

Military VR training offers numerous benefits to all parties involved. Soldiers can receive necessary training before they are deployed, and virtual reality allows them to rehearse dangerous combat situations more safely and efficiently than in real life. Virtual environment technology also helps improve soldiers’ overall situational awareness.

VR Sports Training

Virtual reality is also used in sports training. With virtual coaching, VR can help athletes train and improve their specific skills more efficiently than if they were to practice these skills on a real field or court. Coaches are able to observe the athlete’s movements when practicing techniques to make sure that they have proper form and technique. These virtual coaches can also conduct training to help athletes improve their performance and hone their skills in areas such as stamina, speed or power.

Virtual reality helps sports players prepare for real life competition by allowing them to practice more efficiently. It also promotes team building in the form of virtual practice sessions that give teammates a chance to interact and work together in a simulated world environment.

VR Employee Training

Companies are also using virtual reality for employee training. VR employee training offers several benefits over traditional training, and it can help the employees learn faster with virtual reality training tools.

Employee VR training uses virtual technology to improve employees’ overall job performance by providing them with virtual training environments that resemble the real world job environment. Virtual reality is also used to support teamwork and collaboration among employees, which can help them work together more effectively in the future.

Virtual reality employee training can be tailored to the specific needs of a company, helping employees learn faster about different aspects of their job role or even helping them learn about new job roles. Employee virtual reality training can be more effective in teaching employees because VR technology provides an immersive environment that is closer to the real work environment than any other type of training available today.

VR Automotive Training

Automakers are also using virtual reality for automotive training or VR crash testing . The virtual experience allows driver trainees to gain experience before they move on to the real world where crash tests are conducted in real-time. The virtual reality driver training helps drivers become more aware of risks and how intense situations can help them learn to respond effectively when faced with a dangerous situation.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

#1 – Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

In general, developers are moving towards the inclusion of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (machine learning) in their apps because it is one of the top trends of 2021. The use cases normally involve intelligent chatbot systems with natural language processing capabilities as well as virtual assistants. Because of the increasing popularity, businesses should implement these functionalities in their apps to make them smarter.

One of the top trends for 2021 is that AI will be utilized to generate insights about the user’s behavior and preferences as well as their general demographic profile by gathering data from different sources. AI will enable businesses to offer personalized content, features or functionality based on these insights.

#2 – App Personalization / Conversational UI

Developers are increasingly focusing on the creation of apps with personalized experiences for users. This trend will expand further in 2021, and businesses will create apps which can be modified based on user behavior or preferences.

Many developers are also looking forward to leveraging new technologies like AI/ML to create conversational interfaces that respond intuitively and naturally to the user’s input. 

This trend will be a crucial piece of an enterprise app strategy in the years to come because of various benefits like delivering top-quality customer experiences, reducing time-to-market for new products/services as well as reducing costs by decreasing development and maintenance efforts in general.

#3 – IoT Integration

Current top trends signify a rise in the use of internet-of-things (IoT) devices and integration of such solutions with top enterprise apps. 

Initially, this top trend can be expected to affect multiple industries such as healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, supply chain/logistics, etc. However, top mobile app developers are expecting this trend to spread to other areas as well such as retail and travel/hospitality. 

To deliver top-notch user experiences, top businesses will look at leveraging mobile app development services in order to create combined solutions which connect various IoT devices (such as printers, photocopiers, cameras, etc.) with top enterprise apps.

#4 – Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) offer plenty of opportunities to develop innovative applications for top industries like manufacturing, healthcare, etc.

With AR/VR solutions becoming more accessible and affordable with time as well as mobile app developers focusing on quality apps in general, we can expect this technology to gain popularity rapidly over the next two years.

#5 – Instant Messaging Apps Integration

One of the top trends in mobile apps is to integrate seamlessly with instant messaging apps like WhatsApp or Kik and help users finish a desired task, such as placing an order or sharing data. These apps also provide additional functionalities to the user such as tracking their package delivery status or receiving a promotional coupon offer from top businesses. 

This trend will continue to evolve in 2021 and is expected to become even more prominent in the coming years.

#6 – Blockchain Technology

Industries like finance and healthcare are looking at leveraging blockchain technology for top enterprise apps. Additionally, blockchain is also being used to create functionalities which record and store data securely as well as enable users to share or exchange data with others across the internet without any effort from their side. 

Blockchain technology is expected to boost mobile apps in the coming years as it is one of the top trends that can help top businesses deliver secure and transparent user experiences. 

#7 – Mobile Payments

Mobile payments are set to make a huge impact on top enterprise apps, as businesses are constantly trying out different methods for integrating mobile payment solutions with top enterprise apps. This trend can be expected to benefit multiple industries ranging from travel to retail to finance. 

#8 – Cloud-Based Solutions

There is a general trend towards cloud-based computing which has major implications for mobile apps.  In such an environment, businesses are increasingly focusing on enterprise apps which can access cloud-based services and add more value to the end-user.  

Mobile applications which make use of top cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services, IBM Bluemix and Microsoft Azure are expected to benefit greatly from this trend, and this is a great opportunity for budding entrepreneurs as well as existing companies.

#9 – Cognitive Computing

Cognitive computing refers to computers that learn from data and execute various tasks based on top-notch algorithms. Using cognitive computers has immense potential, in various situations such as customer service automation and predictive maintenance. By 2021, mobile app developers will leverage cognitive technology to build apps which act as catalysts for innovation and allow businesses to generate better returns on investment.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

Machine learning is machine training that provides computers with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. Statistical learning involves applying math and statistics to complex problems. Machine learning can be applied to any area where information has been digitized (e.g., images, sound, text) and machine learned models built from basic machine learning algorithms can be used in a wide variety of tasks requiring pattern recognition or predictions.

The following is an overview of machine learning vs statistical learning.

Machine Learning

In machine learning, machine learners are supposed to tolerate uncertainty or ambiguity; machine learners do not need to be certain of the solution. Machine learning focuses on extracting knowledge from data and includes techniques for concept formation, pattern detection, automated feature selection methodologies such as clustering, regression analysis etc. Automated machine learning includes the following steps:

1. Data collection: Data sets are selected to be used for machine learning; ML algorithms use these data sets
2. Data analysis: It is essential to do an exploratory analysis of the machine learned dataset as it helps in understanding the complexity of machine learning problems at hand and also helps in developing appropriate ML algorithms.
3. Learning & making predictions: Algorithms can help machines learn and make predictions by extracting features from data.
4. Model evaluation: Model performance is evaluated using validation methodologies such as holdout method, cross validation etc.

The machine learning process may involve these steps when this model is used for predictive or classification purposes. Machine learning has a wide scope and huge applications in today’s world.

Statistical Learning

On the other hand, statistical learning has more focus on data analysis and modeling. The main purpose of statistical learning is to understand patterns in data and aims at providing insights into the data by developing models that explain the underlying process causing these observations.

Unlike machine learners, statistical learners need to be certain of the solution; statistical learners are intolerant of uncertainty.

Statistical learning is not new and has been around for centuries but with advancements in technology it has gained popularity. It has a strong foundation in probability, and machine learning algorithms are based on statistical machine learning techniques.

A Deeper Understanding of Machine Learning and Statistical Learning

For machine learning, it does not matter if the automation process can answer a question. As long as it can give an accurate estimate with reasonable accuracy, machine learners are happy.

Different ML techniques have different capabilities and carry different advantages; this is the reason machine learning is very popular in many applications today. Machine learned models built from basic algorithms can be used in a wide variety of  tasks requiring pattern recognition or predictions. Statistical machine learning involves applying ML models and concepts to statistical problems where models/algorithms are uncertain about the underlying process causing observations.

Machine learning is not new; it has been around for centuries but with advancements in technology it has gained popularity and its scope of applications have increased very rapidly. 

Machine learners (ML) make use of ML algorithms and statistical learning algorithms but statistical learners (SL) make use of simple linear regression (SLR), generalized linear models (GLM) etc. ML problems can be solved via coding (e.g., linear regression) whereas for SL it is easier to solve using simple algorithms that do not require any pre-programming. With statistical learning, we can make use of mathematical models which have stochastic components, such as generalized linear models (GLM).  ML is a branch of computer science, at the heart of which lies algorithms; SL is a field that deals with data analysis and modeling. Machine learning makes use of both supervised and unsupervised machine learning models whereas statistical learning only uses conventional statistical models. ML algorithms are not designed to capture the real-world assumptions that go into creating a statistical model. Statistical learners are concerned with how well their model fits the data rather than what it would look like. ML is more related to computer science and statistical learning is a part of statistics.

Conclusion

Based on the above discussion we can say that both statistical learning and machine learning are used on different occasions. Machine learning and statistical learning are two different fields where both are based on statistics; however, they differ in several aspects such as methodology of studying data, applications, etc. The scope of machine learners is wider than that of statistical learners since ML has a larger set of algorithms, whereas statistical learners only use traditional statistics. Machine Learning is based on the randomized search technique while statistical learning involves performing regression analysis and building models which allow us to predict future events.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

By now, you probably know that remote work and remote teams are here to stay.

They’ve become more popular ever since the pandemic—with studies showing remote workers report greater job satisfaction, fewer headaches, and higher levels of effort compared to their in-office colleagues. This shouldn’t surprise anyone who has worked on a remote team before; Remote workers enjoy the freedom to work anywhere they want when their work schedule is flexible.

That freedom has many remote workers reporting higher levels of effort on the job as well. That’s why remote jobs often have longer interview processes; companies want to ensure that remote candidates aren’t just remote because it’s easy for them, but because they love it.

However, while remote workers have fewer headaches and report higher levels of effort, remote teams as a whole can still face problems. Let’s go over some of these pain points, and how they can be resolved with technology.

#1 Communication

Communication is most often cited as the top problem remote teams face—that’s why 37% of remote team leaders use video conferencing tools in order to stay in touch with remote workers. In fact, video conferencing is the top choice for remote communication of all kinds; remote team leaders even report that face-to-face meetings are more useful than in-person ones.

Virtual teams also benefit from technologies that facilitate remote meeting scheduling, such as workforce automation software. Automating remote meeting scheduling helps remote workers feel more a part of the team and helps remote teams to better coordinate their schedules.

Remote workers also depend on meeting software to help schedule online meetings that actually work for everyone involved, which is why some remote workers prefer video conferencing or virtual meeting software to an in-person one—they communicate with remote colleagues every week, rather than just the occasional meetings.

#2 Work/Life Balance

Work-life balance is another problem cited by remote team leaders , with 22% indicating it is their biggest remote work issue.

One of the challenges in remote work is that you can’t jump into a coworker’s office to talk. This means it is more difficult for remote teams to get their employees invested in the job and therefore want remote employees to feel as much of a part of the team as possible.

Remote team leaders report that virtual work can be more challenging to balance than in-office work if remote workers aren’t given the right tools and technology. However remote work is still becoming more popular—with remote workspaces like WeWork popping up all over the place.

Workplace flexibility or remote work isn’t for everyone, but small tweaks like working from a space other than your home office make it easier to get work done.

#3 Management of Remote Workers and Teams

The third most popular problem remote team leaders face is management of remote workers and remote teams.

Remote team leaders report finding the management of remote teams particularly difficult, with only one-in-four remote teams reporting that they’re effectively managed.

If companies want remote work to keep growing, this has to change. Remote teams need the right communication tools and management support too.

Remote managers can help workers feel a greater part of remote teams by helping them to understand the importance of remote work—by asking how they feel about remote work fairly often, for instance. They can also provide the right tech support, to help employees solve all issues in a timely manner.

#4 Remote Communication and Collaboration Tools

The people in remote teams are not the only problem, as the use of remote communication and collaboration tools can have its own limitations—with only half of remote team leaders saying they are using them effectively.

Remote teams need communication and collaboration tools to better communicate with one another when it comes to projects or tasks . The best remote communication software will make talking to a remote colleague as easy as talking to a coworker in the office.

Remote teams should use communication tools that are compatible with remote work and remote managers should be sure to help workers test out the collaboration platforms to make it easier for employees to use them effectively.

#5 Employers’ Attitudes Toward Remote Work

Employer attitudes toward remote work is another problem team leaders cited as part of their remote work problems . Employers need to understand how important telecommuting can be so that they’re willing to invest in remote communication tools and resources for virtual workers. Remote teams need those resources so they can find job satisfaction —so they don’t feel like just cogs in online workspaces.

Employer attitudes toward remote work also have to change because remote workers can actually be more productive than their office-based counterparts . The right remote collaboration software and remote communication platforms will help remote teams overcome some of the other remote work problems remote team leaders cited—by making remote communication feel just as easy as talking over the phone, for instance.

Remote workers shouldn’t be feeling like they’re missing out on perks that in-office employees get. They should feel motivated and satisfied with remote work, like it’s a perk itself . When employers understand this, they’ll stop having negative attitudes about remote work and start investing in tools that make life easier for both the employer and the worker—they may even become fans of remote work.

#6 Remote Work Is Inflexible

Remote work is inflexible when remote workers can’t find work that fits their schedules. Some remote teams find this a challenge, as well. They need to be flexible because remote workers may have different needs and wants than office-based coworkers. Remote managers can solve this problem by using telecommuting policies that are more flexible in terms of time off requests and remote working hours. Flexibility is essential in remote teams, remote management and remote leadership.

Remote workers need managers who understand that remote workers may work different hours, days or even weeks than in-house workers. By using a scheduling tool, employees can easily communicate their availability to their boss and maintain a remote work schedule without feeling like they’re missing out on anything.

#7 Not Understanding Telecommuting Tendencies

Finally, one of the most common remote team problems is an understandable one: misunderstanding telecommuting tendencies of individual remote employees and not getting enough information about how each remote worker works best when it comes to telecommuting policies. Remote management can require some adjusting—especially when it comes to telecommuting preferences. Sometimes these differences make it harder for remote workers to feel remote from remote workspaces, remote coworkers and remote management.

Remote workers need remote managers who understand that not all remote workers will choose the same working schedule. Some may prefer a remote work schedule that allows them to take weekends off. Others may want to telecommute during their lunch hour or only in the late evening—whatever works best for them and is achievable with network latency, time zone differences and other factors that can affect communication when it comes to remote work.

Employees may also have remote communication preferences. Some remote teams are distributed across the world, so they need team leaders who understand that remote workers may prefer a different type of remote working platform or meeting software. If remote employees feel like their boss doesn’t listen to their preferences and just forces them into a remote workspace where they don’t feel productive, that will lead to major issues in their productivity. That is why it is crucial to take time and evaluate each employee to see what works best for them.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.