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 The right software or web application can efficiently run your business and allow you more time to focus on in your business. Custom software is designed around your business and you don’t need to waste time with all the hassles with purchasing an out of the box software that falls short of expectations. Selecting the right development company is the first step in the critical path to develop custom software for your business. 

There are several key areas to focus on when interviewing a custom software development company. Consider the following points below before making the decision that will affect your company for years to come.

Experience

It’s not just years of experience in the industry but does a company have experience within that type of software that you are trying to develop. They do not need to be experts in your business field, but need to have a proven track record to developing software with similar features and functions. A company must be competent in understanding customer needs and requirements, and then providing insight to translate them into an workable solution for your business.   

Portfolio of Work

All portfolios are not equal. A company’s portfolio will show a lot about their skill in design, development and how complex of projects they have worked on in the past.  Companies that you want to work with will have a wide variety of sample work spread among many industries and will allow you to get an understanding of what you will receive if selecting a particular company. Anyone can say they can do it, but the question is have they done it before?

Project Methods

Checking on a company’s project workflow as well as the work methodology followed will allow you to understand what you will be dealing with on the project and will save you from the unnecessary worries and troubles. Those companies following unorganized and complicated workflows will demand your time, delaying design and development projects unnecessarily. Talk to them about their working methods and go with a systematic and simplified one. This will save your time and money, ensuring timely completion of assigned projects.

Reputation

Gauging the reputation of a development company is probably one of the trickiest tasks. Just doing a quick online search will not get you the needed information to make the correct decision. Go through the company website, check their clientele and accomplishments and don’t miss out on their client’s feedback or reviews. Unlike the State Farm commercial, not everything you read on the internet is true. Most satisfied and repeat customers don’t waste their time posting amazing reviews about a company all over the internet. They spend their time making money.

No company can nor will make every client happy, so take with a grain of salt any poor reviews before understanding the context of the complaint and if it is accurate. There are also many companies posting fake reviews about their competitors online. Ask the company explain any complaints before making any rash decision. If not, you may wind up with an undesirable French model that posted fake “positive” reviews about themselves.

The easiest way is to ask for at least 3 customer references who have worked with the company on similar projects. Also, ask for demos of recent work so you know a company is not just stealing someone else’s portfolio. Then you will be able to successfully gauge a company’s credibility.

Cost effectiveness

This is another important factor that goes into selecting the best web or software development company. It is vital to measure the cost effectiveness of the company’s services to what they will provide.  Check whether your investment is worthy or not and for that you can even ask for free quotes. Since custom software is done by man hours, don’t expect all quotes to be in the same ballpark. You will find a large gap between the highest and lowest bid for the same project.  Project pricing is based on the company’s years of experience, skill sets, project relativity and complexity. The most qualified companies will fall within the middle to middle high range of the proposals submitted.

The above mentioned points will surely help you in finding and deciding on the right company for your project. Good luck in your search.

The quick development and growth of information technology within business is providing unique challenges and opportunities each day. This has and will continue to become a large task for companies to manage and keep up with the development trends of 2013. Below are some of the trends.

It is a huge challenge for designers and developers to develop such a module having a multi-device design aspect.  Device specific design is dead. It is not just web, desktop and mobile anymore, but web, desktop, mobile, couch, TV and more.

This form of design is mostly applicable for website development. In the recent times, there has been a significant rise in the number of Smartphone and iPhone users with a push for accessing businesses from mobile devices. Unlike the traditional approach of building two versions of the same website (a desktop and a mobile), responsive and adaptive websites automatically adapt to the screen size and capabilities of any device.  The cost benefits are clear: one version of the website to build and to maintain.  

The best thing about minimalist (simple) website layouts is that they challenge you to throw away what’s unnecessary.  Simple design is better because it is more effective in communicating important messages without the “noise”.  Expect to see simpler one-color icons, text-based navigation, and LOTS of empty white space. Leaner also means better performance.

Adobe Flash is no longer the king of animation and interactivity.  While there are still many legacy websites making use of Flash, in 2013 we will see that number dwindling.  We predict an ever growing number of websites proactively replacing Flash with JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3 for dynamic and interactive experiences that work universally well across platforms and don’t require any special plug-ins or software.

One more trend is HTML5. In the past, designers used flash players for attractive banner ads or headers. But after the introduction of HTML5, it was designers who mainly preferred to use it. Flash is preferably used in web games or desktop games and much more.

In designing process, building blocks will be a new trend in 2013. A website would have more structured layout in 2013. By creating modules and blocks, web maintenance process will be made easier and economical.

The main trend in 2013 is that web standards will be followed by web developers. There will be a negative impact if web developers do not follow these standards.

When selecting new custom software for your business, you may find yourself torn between selecting web-based or desktop software programs.  Every company is unique and will have different selection criteria. The best choice for your company will typically depend on your business's goals, needs and the location of your staff. Below are some of the main differences between desktop and web-based software.

Accessibility

To work with a desktop-based program, you must typically use a computer on which the program has already been installed. If multiple users are needed to access the same application then a network implementation is needed where the database is installed on a local server. Then the thin client would then be installed on each local computer and connected through the network to the server.   The downside of a sharing network for your office computers, is remote access would have to be managed by another software typically known as VPN.  In addition, custom business software designed for a desktop may be compatible with Mac, Windows, or both. When choosing a desktop software program, you must make sure that it will be compatible with all of your computers.

Web-based software, on the other hand, is much more accessible. A web application can be accessed from any location that has internet service. From the road or even a local coffee shop, staff and clients alike can access the application by just an internet accessible browser. This is more convenient for customers, as well as for remote employees. With web-based software, an employee can work on office task from home or while on a business trip. However, if your business doesn't have a reliable internet connection, this can be problematic. Furthermore, web-based applications sometimes operate slower than desktop-based software.

Maintenance and Upgrades

If your business uses desktop applications, you must install the program individually on each computer you will be using. When you upgrade a desktop software application, you must manually upgrade the software on each computer. If you upgrade your operating systems, the program may need a special update, or it may stop working altogether. This is the case with new versions of Windows operating system.

Conversely, custom web applications require only one installation. In addition, such applications are typically hosted and maintained by third party web hosting companies. If the application needs maintenance or an upgrade, it won't be your responsibility. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why web-based applications have become so popular. However, these automatic upgrades can also be problematic. If your company doesn't want or need the upgrades, they will occur anyway. Furthermore, problems with the host can disable the program for all users.

Security

In terms of security, desktop-based applications are usually better. No matter how secure a web-based application claims to be, there are always inherent risks when you work with data online. Whether or not the convenience of web-based applications is worth the risk often depends on the software's intended use. For example, an application designed to keep track of sensitive financial information may require the extra security of desktop software.

Cost

Web applications are usually more expensive than the desktop variety because they involve a recurring fee for services. However, they are often upgraded and advanced more rapidly. Unlike a desktop application, a web application will last for a long time and is unlikely to go out of style. Desktop applications are purchased with a one-time payment, but they must be replaced when they fail to meet the business's needs.

Making a Choice

By comparing the pros and cons of each type of software, you can decide which model is best for your business. For example, if all of your employees are in one office and you don't need remote access to your software programs, desktop applications may be better for your business. Desktop software may also be better if you can't afford any downtime, or if you need extra security. Conversely, if your employees need to access your applications from outside the office, or if your customers need to access the applications, web-based software is the best choice.

Every business entity is built on its own principles and unique features. It has its own way of processing ideas and thoughts that form the core of its foundation, thereby making it exclusive to its business. This means that every business enterprise has its own set of personalized needs and specifications for growth and thus works best with solutions that are customized or tailor made for the business. Your business is successful because it is unique. How can your unique business fit the model of a 3rd party software built for the masses? A custom software solution will increase efficiencies and grow your business.

Developing custom software refers to addressing the requirements of these business enterprises and providing a unique solution that is perfectly suited to business process. For any successful business, it is important that you provide solutions that are quick and accurate in order to ensure greater productivity and more profitability.

We no longer live in a world where one solution fits everybody. We live in a world full of cut throat competition where the only thing that keeps companies and individuals ahead of their rivals is a personalized strategy. Every company requires a software solution that meets its unique specifications. A good software development company will ensure that its customized product will run effectively on the customer’s system in the manner it was meant to function and operate.

In this competitive world there is a growing need for custom software to stay ahead in the rat race. Sensing this, there are many software development companies that provide customized solutions and services to customers at prices which are very affordable. Be careful, as most are not qualified to do the work and try to sell you with smoke and mirror tricks. You need to find a company that has analyzed your business thoroughly and did a lot of research on your competition in order to include the various features into the software that will help you take on the competition and stay ahead of them.

There are many companies which compromise by going in for generic solutions when there is a need for a customized solution. It is better to invest a little more money up front and get a customized solution for your business than going in for solutions that will not match up to your requirements. This means that you will have to scale down your requirements according to the software. Further, you will find that there are other companies also who are working on the same software and that there is nothing to distinguish your business from the rest. However, custom software will enable your company to perform better than competitors as the software is fine tuned to match the requirements of your business. Finally, custom software will ensure greater business performance and higher customer satisfaction. Contact Custom Software Lab Today for a free quote at 1-888-728-8125.

Application development can improve your business in a variety of ways

Web applications greatly facilitate business decision making, and improve many aspects of how business is done today. The Web is not just a marketing tool for businesses anymore, appropriate use of software can also significantly cut down your business expenses. Web based business applications are software applications that can escalate the reach, integration and efficiency of your business processes. The companies that are employing application development are reducing operating costs, increasing their revenues, and gaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Web applications have the power to streamline business functions, with automatic business generation, supply chain management, database management, and more. It enables businesses to present users with a dynamic website that is capable of delivering the ultimate in customer service. Providing ecommerce store solutions and the effective management of online business, companies can attain a global reach and expand exponentially.

Every business has huge amount of data and information that needs to be stored, managed and retrieved. Systematic management and maintenance of the data has become essential. A custom database web application enables data to be stored and retrieved whenever and wherever. In addition, new approaches to effective business management have been derived from using databases.

A content management system is an application that makes the authoring and delivery of content easy. You no longer need to have separate software to update your site content, as you can easily make changes in website content with an internet connection. The system facilitates users in building, arranging and maintaining content rich websites with efficiency. Simplifying the web publishing process, content management systems eliminate the need for costly site maintenance, empowering you to manage content by yourself.

Enhancements, customizations, end-to-end implementations, and integration of application development are made possible by the use a software framework. Frameworks are designed to support the development of dynamic websites, applications, and web services. Commonly used platforms such as PHP, Java, .NET, and RIA web application frameworks are highly effective and provide many advantages.

Like any developing process, website development requires proper professional planning from the start. Custom Software Lab can help assess, plan and design the web project of your dreams with small business to enterprise web application consulting. Web based business applications consulting by Custom Software Lab will facilitate your business in a multitude of departments, including marketing, sales, human resources, and many other functional areas. Custom Software Lab is a specialized web development company with vast experience in providing web-based business application services using the latest and most reliable technologies.

The team of experts at Custom Software Lab has a wide range of experience, and an understanding of the finer nuances of all aspects of web development. Understanding your need to improve efficiency to stay competitive in the global market, Custom Software Lab makes sure that the web-based business applications become a valuable tool for your business. A highly skilled web application engineer at Custom Software Lab can provide you with proficient and scalable solutions according to your business requirements. With a firm foundation in a variety of web application platforms, Custom Software Lab is your one-stop shop for quality and cost effective web application development.

Custom Software Lab enables you to use multi-tier applications, and ensures your need for tiered architecture will be managed by professionals who can create effective and scalable multi-tier applications based on your requirements. Custom Software Lab specializes in creating multi tiers, such as the front end web server that serves static content, application servers such as Java EE,ASP.net, PHP platform, and a back end database web application which consists of a database management system.

The application integration solution designed by Custom Software Lab makes sure that your current investments in legacy remain unharmed. This is made possible through integrating information with new systems, technologies and custom applications. Custom Software Lab installs a high impact integration solution that will ameliorate the speed and quality of consumer response. Quick response is crucial in today's marketplace, and with legacy application integration provided by Custom Software Lab, you can also be the first to market your products and services.

The broad range of application services provided by Custom Software Lab include:

• Web-based database programming

• Multi-tier applications

• Legacy application integration

• Web based business applications

• Content management systems

• Advanced online stores

• Supply chain management

• Interactive learning

• Remote data integration

• Secure intranets and extranet's

• Supply chain management

• Customer relationship management

• Inventory management

• Enterprise collaboration

• Maintenance and support

• Idea execution

Contact Custom Software Lab today at 1-888-278-8125 to enhance and grow your business.

MOST OF US COME ACROSS INEFFECTIVE WEBSITES EVERY DAY - HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU VISITED A WEBSITE AND ABANDONED THE SITE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY?

In too many cases, businesses make it difficult for their Website visitors to engage with them and they in turn suffer the consequences..  The below five strategies can help you ensure that your target customers have a positive experience on your Website.

1.  Lead with a clear message and Make them want to learn more

Remember that Web users scan design and content before they commit to a deeper site visit, and they leave in about five seconds if they have not connected in a meaningful way or do not like the design.  It’s critical that site visitors instantly validate that your company offers the products/services they are seeking.  Look at the lead statement on your home page.  If you were to ask someone less familiar with your business to read the statement, would it give them a clear indication of what your company offers?

2.  Provide simple, intuitive navigation

Look at your Website’s navigation and ask, “If I were one of our target customers, would I immediately know where to click to find important information on my site?”  Use clearly-labeled navigation links that are understandable and relevant to your site users.  Then, apply this navigation in a consistent manner throughout your Website. Consider conducting some usability testing with users less familiar with your business.  Give them some basic tasks to accomplish on your site, then observe them as they interact with your site.  Is the navigation clear to them?  Where do they struggle to find key information or action steps?

3.  Offer compelling calls to action

From each page of your Website, visitors should be able to answer the question “what now?”  Once they read about your products, services, or capabilities; they should be presented with prominent on-page calls to action throughout your Website, such as:

• Request a Quote

• Ask an Expert

• Download a White Paper

• Read a Case Study

• Find a Dealer

• Sign up for our Newsletter

• Watch a Video

• Follow us on Twitter

• Share via social networks

4.  Maximize your reach on search engines

It’s critical to leverage the power of search engines like Google to connect with customers.  Research how your target markets search online for the products/services you offer.  Use these words within the content of your Website, particularly in page titles and headings.  Also, look for opportunities to acquire links to your Website from other sites.  Consider engaging with a professional SEO firm to help you maximize your results and enhance your learning.

5.  Measure your results

Using Web tracking tools, you can evaluate the success of your Website and identify areas for improvement.  Google Analytics is a powerful, free tracking tool that provides detailed reports on your site traffic sources, keywords, conversion actions, and more.  Look beyond the quantity of traffic and focus on the quality of visits.  How many visitors are spending time on your site and taking meaningful actions (completing a contact form, requesting a quote, placing an order, downloading information, signing up for a newsletter, etc.)?

Most importantly, adopt a mindset of continual improvement.  Your Website is never really “done.”  It’s a dynamic marketing tool that should be consistently updated and improved.

LOOKING FOR A NEW WEBSITE WITH A SUCCESSFUL ONLINE MARKETING STRATEGY? 

These days more than ever it pays to have a professional partner on your side…Look no further thanCustom Software Lab servicing clients since 2001.  We’ve partnered with hundreds of companies from coast to coast and across the globe to develop successful websites that work. Contact Us today at 1-888-278-8125 and transform your website into a online money making tool.

Mobile Applications are offering a multitude of business utilities and are thriving in the marketplace today. They can no longer be ignored as a mission critical need for every business in order to stay ahead of the curve.

Mobile applications have helped to expand the use of wireless technology immensely in today's business world. Applications have revolutionized the capabilities of the mobile phone, to include a variety of functions, including internet browsing, movie players, games, music and much more. The dramatic increase in mobile application sales has also increased competition in the industry. With ever changing technology and increased demand for more advanced applications, innovation in the field is key to success.

Mobile applications can increase the reach of your business, bringing more traffic to your website. Mobile application software can also improve the productivity of businesses, providing applications such as spreadsheets, interactive calendars, calculators and more. End-to-end mobile/wireless solutions can include content delivery systems for mobile devices that can publish a range of information valuable for businesses. Mobile applications are available for endless uses, such as:

• Managing everyday to-do lists and check lists for shopping, travel, and more

• Delivering real time and instant information on topics such as weather, news, stock quotes, company headlines, market news, dictionaries and more

• Translation services that convert the written word into the audible pronunciation

• Business and Social Networking

• Video Conferences

• Organizing, saving and encrypting your various user names and passwords

• Keeping track of monthly bills

• Managing your checkbook and everyday financial transactions efficiently

• Interactively obtaining medical and fitness information, and more

A mobile application developer can even create a unique, custom application for your business that is capable of becoming the next top application embraced by mobile users. A professional mobile application software development firm specializing in developing applications for mobile and wireless devices can isolate components in an application that may impede development, and provide thorough testing and solutions. Creating a cutting edge mobile phone application is within the reach of your organization, with the help of a firm that has expertise in mobile application development platforms such as:

• iPhone Mobile Applications - Companies are developing iPhone applications that are being used by thousands of consumers varying from enterprise users to mass consumers.

• Android Mobile Applications - Android offers popular software for mobile devices that consist of an operating system, middleware and key applications.

• J2ME Mobile Applications - J2ME is a JAVA platform that creates powerful applications with the ability to process large amounts of information. 

• Windows Mobile Applications - Development includes platforms such as windows mobile 2003, windows mobile 2003/SE, Windows mobile 5.0, Window mobile 6, Window mobile 6.1, Windows CE, Pocket PC 2002, 2003, and Net Compact Framework.

A mobile phone application must be user-friendly, useful and secure in order to attract a following and help ensure that the competition does not introduce its' own perfected version of your idea. A reputable web application development company that specializes in software application development can develop mobile applications to integrate your business transactions through mobile or wireless devices and content delivered systems. A mobile application developer with a solid background in project analysis, documentation, test planning, and project maintenance can help you on the way to your creating revolutionary mobile applications. Contact Custom Software Lab for all your web development and mobile solutions needs today at 1-888-278-8125

Search Engine Optimization or SEO as it is abbreviated, is not a passing fad; it is here to stay. The basic definition of Search Engine Optimization is ‘a technique through which content of a website is designed, manipulated and improved such that the unpaid traffic is increased, thereby increasing the website’s visibility and popularity among users’. By unpaid traffic, we mean those users who search for particular thing and are directed to the most relevant website by the search engine. It does not mean those users who click on a link (although they have none but idle interest or curiosity in it) because it proffers some attractive prize or intriguing fact – this is paid traffic because the owner of the website pays for such advertisements to be cast in popular virtual space like news or auction websites.

Search Engine Optimization has several algorithm based techniques for increasing the visibility of a website. Search Engine Optimization consultants recommend that a website built on a particular topic should contain near to exhaustive information about that topic so that it provides all the details on that subject that a potential visitor would look for. Since it is not possible to load all the details on the homepage, it is recommended that the website is designed in such a way as to provide details stage by stage through hyperlinks and back links. This means each page needs to have relevant content to what is trying to get across to the visitor. This makes it easy for a visitor using the website to sift through information and get to what he or she is looking for. This is a highly valuable Search Engine Optimization technique because search engines find this type of structure to be most suitable for indexing. And the better a search engine perceives a website to be, the better the chance of the site getting a good page rank while being indexed.

Search Engine Optimization is particularly important for e-Commerce sites such as e-retailers because their profits and success depend on the number of hits (visitors) the website gets, the number of such hits that actually get converted into sales and the number of satisfied customers among them who would come back to make a repeat purchase or recommend the site to their friends and family. For this to be possible, e-retailers realize that Search Engine Optimization has to be backed by other support strategies such as viral marketing. Viral Marketing is responsible for the promotional messages and advertisements we get on our e-mail as well as show up on our Facebook homepages. It is very important to define a overall internet marketing strategy when working with a website as it is the lifeline to your success.

Article written by Custom Software Lab