Optimized and automated operations are the essences of successful business practice. This rule is easily applied to the healthcare industry as well. Implementing the latest software solutions is crucial for any medical institution or business as it boosts efficiency and solves a wide range of challenges this industry faces daily.

Among the most common challenges healthcare providers face are the difficulty in finding patient and doctor management tools that will enable them to reduce paperwork, improve efficacy, and enhance patient care while reducing the overall budget expenses.

More and more organizations have started adopting medical ERP software with exceptional functionality that fits perfectly in every hospital.

It is one way to enhance any healthcare organization’s efficiency. For hospitals of different sizes, the enterprise resource planning system helps to overcome operational challenges, provide better efficiency of the services, and correspond to the needs of the modern market.

In this post, we’ll provide a detailed overview of healthcare ERP solutions, including their types, benefits, and implementation peculiarities.

What Is ERP and What Is It Used For?

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a modular software solution that centralizes the organization’s information, optimizes connections, and facilitates data sharing between enterprise departments. With its help, a company can establish end-to-end connectivity of all the running business operations, including the relations with vendors and customers.

The ERP system brings together multiple modules and facilitates cooperation between various departments of the company. This way, distinct business units can constantly communicate, interact, and share data while dealing with daily operations.

Even more, the ERP system stores all the relevant information and enables automation of collecting and using corporate data for the business’s benefit. In this regard, ERP systems harmonize the decentralized workflow which usually adds some hurdles to process management.

6 Ways ERP Software Benefits Healthcare Business

ERP system for healthcare is a multifunctional software tool that adds value to hospitals in a number of ways, including cost savings, improved efficiency, enhanced collaboration, and optimized patient management.

The exact list of advantages of medical ERP includes:

1. Improved patient care

The first core benefit of ERP systems in hospitals is enhanced patient care. As the system minimizes paperwork for doctors, and reduces their time spent on finding the patient data, they significantly improve the patient service quality as doctors can focus on patients more than on redundant administrative tasks.

2. Better finance management

ERP systems are perfect for managing hospital finances as well. It will make it so much easier to process and control all patients’ payments as well as hospital operating expenses. It also minimizes administrative errors to avoid any unnecessary costs.

3. Virtual data storage

Enterprise healthcare systems allow organizations to store effectively all their strategic data related to their patients and business operations. The system can enable full privacy and confidentiality so you can be certain no data leakage is possible. In addition, it’s very convenient for employees as it allows easy data access for anyone as all data will be stored in one system.

4. Enabled strategic planning

Enterprise healthcare software will be very useful for owners and hospital managers to make well-informed strategic decisions. It’s easy to analyze all core success indicators of the hospital to improve the overall results in the future.

5. Simple integration

It’s worth noting that some hospitals still use very outdated systems that are super challenging to maintain. A medical ERP solution is a nice way to streamline all the operations. This software enables the integration of all the departments including HR, finances, and inventory to improve the efficiency of work in the hospital.

6. Business intelligence

Medical ERP system is an important tool for those who run hospital operations. It’s an integrated solution that provides better business intelligence and enables generating more financial value for an organization by assessing the hospital’s performance and detecting areas for potential improvements.

All in all, ERP increases productivity and efficiency; introduces interconnection between various departments, suppliers, vendors, and provides storage for data-driven insights.

As for the possible limitations of healthcare ERP software, companies should be ready to address these three factors:

• Prices: You’ll need to cover the expenses of ERP consultants, server providers, in-house IT specialists, and software implementation.
• Maintenance: As technologies develop, the system should be constantly updated and enhanced in order to maintain the level of compatibility of the company.
• Training and Education: You should show your employees how to use the system and notify departments about new tools and functions added.

Types of ERP Systems in the Healthcare Industry

Over the years of deployment, ERP systems have developed and grown in their number. Nowadays, they can be classified according to the implementation process and a number of functions.

Nowadays, there are three types of ERP classified by implementation:

• On-premise (for large healthcare institutions)
• Cloud ERP (for small healthcare institutions)
• Hybrid (for developing healthcare institutions)

1. On-Premise ERP System

On-premise software requires in-house installation and maintenance, meaning its availability on the organization’s computers and the presence of an internal IT team.

There is no need for an Internet connection to get access to the information stored on-premises. Servers are owned by the organization, and an IT team takes care of the software and constantly updates it. Large businesses can consider this type of ERP software implementation, as having a license for the program means having control over every module and aspect.

2. Cloud-Based ERP System

Companies can purchase cloud ERP from third-party vendors on a monthly or annual basis. It grants access to the data anytime and anywhere via an Internet connection. 

There is no need to employ IT specialists, as cloud ERP will be maintained by the vendor. That’s why it’s important to find a reliable tech partner. Generally, this software type is cheaper than the on-premise one and suits the needs of small businesses more.

3. Hybrid ERP Systems

Hybrid ERP is a combination of on-premise ERP and cloud-based ERP. It perfectly suits the needs of companies that occupy a specialized niche.

The cost of hybrid enterprise resource planning maintenance depends on its sophistication. Usually, businesses turn to a hybrid ERP system when they need to integrate cloud-based modules into existing on-premise software as they grow. So, data is split into two parts — on-premises and on-cloud.

If you don’t know what type of healthcare ERP system would suit you most, you have to define your needs first. If you are a small developing organization in the field of healthcare that strives to optimize the internal processes, then a cloud-based option will be a more reasonable choice for you.

Speaking of healthcare giants that want to digitize their businesses and innovate — on-premise ERP software will be more suitable. It will be more costly and time-consuming but at the same time, it will enable exceptional personalization and system customization based on their specific business goals.

The hybrid option can be a good match for many organizations as it’s a combination of both and incorporates all the best practices of both on-premise and cloud-based systems.

Healthcare ERP Solution Components

ERP systems combine a number of modules and sub-modules that are interconnected and distinguished by serving a particular hospital area. Each module contains several sub-modules or tools that manage different tasks and projects. Combined together, modules cover all organizational operations, both internal and external.

Usually, each ERP task is collaborative, meaning that employees from different departments can be added to manage and complete the request on time.

Usually, ERP systems consist of Human Resources, Sales, Finance, Logistics, and Inventory modules. Other modules can be added to the system if your organization has specific needs and wants to automate certain operations.

• Electronic health record: An ERP system can be easily integrated with an EHR that can significantly boost your operational efficiency. It will allow you to control the supply chain of your hospital as well as analyze and predict the needs of patients and suppliers.
• Human Resources: This module handles employee management tasks such as enrollment, offboarding, timesheets, and benefits administration. HR components can automate payments calculation, thus reducing human error and time spent on monotonous tasks.
• Patient Relationships Management: CRM module stores and stacks generated patient data. It will help you easily store, access, and manage all relevant patient information including health records and payments.
• Business Intelligence: This module helps to solve issues related to hospital data collection, analysis, and report delivery.
• Inventory Management System: This ERP element keeps track of all the inventory of the hospital and automatically updates your system for the employees to know whether some medicines or other materials are out of stock.
• Financial Management: This component analyzes and keeps track of the financial data of the company. It helps to control the enterprise’s budget, spent costs and received payments

Any other components can be added to the system per your requirements. The main issue here is to have a team of employees who are capable of creating and integrating new functions.

Core Features of an ERP System

• Centralized database: This feature is needed to comprise the data flow from all the hospital departments and store it in one place.
• Modular: The system consists of a number of interconnected modules.
• Flexible: The system can be upgraded according to the healthcare organization’s needs by replacing functions or tools or adding new modules.
• Automated: The main ERP purpose is to automate manual processes and omit duplication of the information for healthcare administrative employees.
• Time and cost-effective: As the system automates operations, it saves time spent on a product or facility delivery as well as reduces costs.
• Real-time analytics: An ERP system will help you easily analyze your organization’s performance and financial condition so that your team can make all possible business amendments. ERP reports usually include visual representations of your performance to identify bottlenecks and solve issues.

ERP Implementation Process

An ERP implementation process is a complex and all-inclusive process of planning, system deployment, data migration, and user training. These are the main stages needed for your healthcare institution to successfully transfer to a new ERP system while maintaining your best practices.

There are two possible methods of implementing ERP software for your healthcare organization. The first one consists of transitioning to a new system at once meaning all the data will be switched to ERP software and all employees will start using it simultaneously. The process will take less time but you have to be ready for the potential technical issues depending on the amount of data stored.

The second method means that you will transfer data in clusters by function or priority, and your team will be switched to a new system gradually step by step. It goes without saying that the second option takes more time but it will potentially cause fewer technical problems while transitioning.

Probably you are also wondering how long the implementation process of an ERP system takes on average. The answer is the overall ERP implementation should never be rushed. This is a very serious step for your business and many internal processes will depend on the success of the implementation so you have to stay patient.

Generally, it will take from 3-9 months but it varies from one case to another and you should take into account all your business peculiarities that will shape the final date. The factors that define the length of the process include the healthcare business size, complexity, locations, languages, and currencies involved, etc. So now, let’s take a closer look at the main implementation algorithm.

Algorithm

We recommend following this process to get the most from an enterprise resource planning implementation:

1. Define your desired results by understanding your business aims and current processes.
2. Do not automatically reuse old workflows to make sure you’re bringing in the changes needed.
3. Map all your business processes to create a clear business case.
4. Select the right solution and partner who is capable of running the implementation process to the end.
5. Create a long-term ERP plan that drives your business forward.
6. Ensure executive-level support so that every department is involved in the process and creates a perfect architecture for your business.
7. Assemble the right project team with key players assigned during every implementation stage.
8. Focus on getting the right data for a smooth and accurate migration process.
9. Standardize the process and minimize development to the basic functional suit to which you can add further enhancements in the future.
10. Plan training to educate the employees and teach them how to use ERP.

Mistakes & Best Practices

Now, let’s take a look at the best practices for Implementing the healthcare ERP system as well as the mistakes you should avoid to make this process as smooth as possible.

1. Plan thoroughly

Some healthcare companies underestimate the importance of planning before even considering developing an ERP system. It’s very important not to rush with any decisions and actions, and to plan all the processes from the very beginning to the system launch. You need to create the foundation for all future processes. Yes, it will take time, but once you start the development process, everything will happen faster and more smoothly with the minimum risks of failure.

2. Invest in support and training

After your collaboration with external vendors, don’t forget to invest your resources in training. After the system deployment, you still have to ensure its technical support, fix potential issues, and be able to provide system updates. It’s going to be the biggest mistake not to allocate a budget for tech support and proper employee training as well. All staff including doctors and representatives of other administrative departments have to be confident and comfortable using a newly adopted software for their better efficiency.

3. Arrange data migration

Some organizations don’t plan data migration accordingly or simply migrate all old data to a new ERP system and it might create some bottlenecks in the future. Pay attention that some information can be outdated and unnecessary and there is no point in transferring it to a new system. It’s your unique chance to clean up your system a bit and leave only relevant data that will come in handy.

4. Communicate effectively

The last but not least mistake that healthcare business owners make is they don’t communicate enough through all the stages of the ERP solution implementation. It’s paramount for the whole team to communicate with the software company to make sure that everything is done according to your initial business requirements and needs. The development process of this software is very costly and time-consuming, therefore, it’s your main priority to make sure that everyone is aligned and nothing goes off track.

Consider Intellectsoft Your Healthcare ERP Software Development Partner

ERP solutions facilitate operational processes for healthcare businesses of any size. Being highly flexible, the ERP software is tailored to your needs and expanded as required.

We recommend companies use enterprise resource planning technology as a tool to reduce the time spent on daily operations, increase revenue, and enhance relationships with customers and vendors.

We, at Intellectsoft, empower companies and their workforce with cutting-edge transformative solutions and data-driven insights. Among our enterprise software development services, you can pick the set of modules and technologies needed for your business needs.

Are you and your organization ready to shift mindsets and get the most out of innovations? Talk to our experts to request an ERP software solution from us!

The post ERP System in Healthcare: Benefits, Components & Implementation Process appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Want to cope with all the books striving for your attention or find interesting ones quicker? Read our guide to find the perfect app for a book lover such as yourself.

How to choose among different apps for book lovers

Apps for book lovers serve different needs. So, before diving into their variety and choosing your best bookmate, ask yourself a question: “What do I expect from an app?” What matters are your wishes, the platform, and the frequency of usage. If you know your preferences, this guide will be of use.

Here’s a list of the top 14 apps for book lovers, ranged by your possible interests:

• Goodreads, #1 among the best apps for book lovers,
• Libby by OverDrive, the connection with your library to read the best free books for iPhone offline,
• Wattpad, the communication platform between writers and readers,
• Inkitt, our recommendation among the best book apps for Android,
• Litsy, the great combination of social media and reading in the range of the best Android book apps,
• Shelfie, the representative of the best iPhone apps for book lovers for managing notes,
• Blinkist, the easiest way to master non-fiction and one of the best iPhone apps for book lovers,
• Audible, the top choice among the best book apps for listeners,
• Epic!, the representative of the best book apps for youth,
• ComiXology, the top choice among the best apps for book lovers if you’re a fan of comics,
• Scribd, a top subscription-based choice among apps for book lovers (Android and iOS),
• Serial Reader, a bite-size reading among Android apps for book lovers,
• The Paris Review, the top lit-crit choice and one of the best iOS apps for book lovers,
• Amazon Kindle eBooks, the leader among best Kindle apps for book lovers.

Free reading apps

1. Goodreads

The leader in the list of free book apps for book lovers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android, browser.

Top choice for everybody interested in books.

Interesting feature: mobile barcode scanner that allows adding paper books to your digital “to read” list.

Goodreads is the first platform in many rankings of best free reading apps for book lovers. Why so? It has plenty of information for various purposes: recommendations for you, recommendations from your friends, different collections (like Best Books 2019), a list of quotes, and a field for reviews. Also, it unites authors and readers, with 90 million users in general and more than a billion books.

2. Libby by OverDrive

The compilation of the best free books for iPhone from your public library.

Available platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon.

Top choice for true old-fashioned bookworms who miss their public libraries.

Interesting feature: Enter your library card information to feel the complete process of borrowing a book.

If you miss your favorite public library, you’re welcome to look through epub versions of its books in Libby! This app from OverDrive awesomely digitalizes the process of borrowing books, so it takes just a couple of seconds. If you use Libby in connection with Amazon, you can also enjoy the collection of audiobooks from your public library.

3. Wattpad

One of the best iPhone apps for book lovers and storytellers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android, web.

Top choice for amateur writers.

Interesting feature: You can join a niche to connect with your special interest club.

Wattpad is much more than just an app; it’s the entire community. On this platform, you can share your talent in writing and make friends with other people interested in reading and storytelling. It’s one of the best iPhone apps for book lovers.

4. Inkitt

One of the best Android apps to read books (iOS-friendly).

Available platforms: Android, iOS.

Top choice for people who love reading and writing.

Interesting feature: Has a huge library of free books in different genres.

Inkitt is an app from a publishing house that allows accessing numerous books online for free and keeps them in your offline digital library. Besides, it encourages the self-promotion of new authors. The great design and usability make Inkitt one of the best Android book apps.

5. Litsy

A social media for book lovers.

Available platforms: Android, iOS.

Top choice for extroverts who love reading and sharing their thoughts about books.

Interesting feature: You can create groups with other users enjoying this top Android app for book lovers. Also, it supports hashtags.

Litsy is an app where each feature is developed to help you socialize. You can see the “reading moments” of your friends, favorite authors, and popular influencers. This in-app community makes you feel connected with other people while reading. And of course, you can share your thoughts about books with them instantly!

6. Shelfie

The digital version of your bookshelf.

Available platforms: iOS, macOS.

Top choice for people who want to arrange and categorize their bookshelf.

Interesting feature: Simply point your camera at a book — and let this representative of top iPhone apps for book lovers work its magic!

If you’re the type of person who always buys books in each bookstore, this app is just for you! In Shelfie, you can browse books and arrange your already bought samples and reading notes in one place. The app syncs your library with other devices, so you can instantly access it anytime and stop yourself from buying something that wasn’t on your list.

[Contact us to arrange Android app development and iOS app development together]

Book reading apps with monthly subscriptions

Let’s find out the top 7 reading applications with monthly subscriptions.

1. Blinkist

One of the best iOS novel reading apps for book lovers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android.

Subscription price: $7.49/month or $89.99/year with a 7-day free trial.

Top choice for iOS users who want to turn reading into a daily habit and lovers of non-fiction.

Interesting feature: Listening and reading mode — you’re free to choose the most comfortable format for you.

Blinkist is the top choice for people who’ve just started to read during this quarantine. Also, it’s an awesome pick for those wanting to increase their professional skills on the go. The collection of books features more than 5,000 bestsellers. In short, Blinkist is fully packed with revolutionary ideas that can change your life.

2. Audible

One of the best book apps with audio content.

Available platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle, Fire TV.

Subscription price: $14.95/month with a 30-day free trial to download one audiobook.

Top choice for fans of audiobooks.

Interesting feature: You can hear how an author reads his/her book. Alternatively, Amazon invites a Hollywood star for this.

Audible is the top recommendation for audiobooks. No wonder: the size of its library and the compatibility of its service are incredible. Audible is a frequent host in lists of best book apps thanks to its Audible Originals, the creative series product of the Amazon team. Besides, the app is compatible with plenty of formats — smartphones, smart home devices, Amazon products, tablets, computers, and mp3.

3. Epic!

The top choice for comics lovers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android.

Subscription price: $9.99/month and Free for educators.

Top choice for young readers.

Interesting feature: Quizzes at the end of each book for better learning and entertainment.

Epic! positions itself as the top digital library for readers younger than 12 years old. It has everything to become one of the best apps for book lovers in this category: the age-based library range, books for learning languages, and materials in audio and video format. It’s a great choice for parents who want to get their children into reading!

4. ComiXology

The top choice for comics lovers.

Available platforms: iOS, Android.

Subscription price: $5.99/month with a 30-day trial.

Top choice for manga lovers and fans of comics from Marvel and DC.

Interesting feature: For greater readability, the developers have included the abilities to zoom and focus on the interesting parts of the comics in the app.

ComiXology has a library of over 100,000 comics, which is a true gift for the fans of this genre. Specifically, you can find graphic novels, digital comics, and manga in this one of the best iOS apps for book lovers.

5. Scribd

The top reading platform that offers useful apps for book lovers (Android, iOS, cloud, etc.).

Available platforms: Android, iOS, web.

Subscription price: $9.99/month with a 30-day free trial.

Top choice for bookaholics who use various devices and read in various formats.

Interesting feature: The huge library that contains not only books but also magazines, documents, sheet music, and audiobooks.

Scribd is a comprehensive book app that will expand your reading far beyond the limits of books. If you’re interested in expert opinions, piano playing, and discovering news—this offering is for you. The massive library combines the best features of Audible and Kindle Unlimited. And the result is one of the leading apps for book lovers, Android- and iOS-friendly.

6. Serial Reader

15-minute reading in one of the best reading apps for Android.

Available platforms: iOS, Android.

Subscription price: Free with more sync opportunities for $2.99/month.

Top choice for Android users who want to turn reading into a daily habit.

Interesting feature: You can sync your reading progress with your Goodreads account.

Serial Reader is one of the best book apps for Android. It offers the same service as Blinkist but adopts it to classic literature instead. The digital library contains only 850 books but all of them are divided into easy-to-digest 20-minutes-max bites. With this download, you can fill the gaps in your school education hassle-free.

7. The Paris Review

The digital version of a top lit-crit magazine.

Available platform: iOS.

Subscription price: $30/year.

Top choice for people who are interested in literature criticism.

Interesting feature: Browse the magazine archives.

The Paris Review, one of the leading lit-crit magazines, has a digital version you must see! In its collection, you can browse any issue and look at your favorite book from a professional point of view. If you want to understand books better, subscribe to this app and you won’t regret it.

1-time payment book apps

And finally, let us introduce a 1-time payment reading solution.

Amazon Kindle eBooks

The representative of the best Android book reading apps for book lovers.

Available platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Blackberry.

Subscription price: Free from your Amazon account, but the price for books is different.

Top choice for people who shop books on Amazon.

Interesting feature: Page Flip — the navigation feature for working with bookmarks and viewing your book from a bird’s eye.

Amazon Kindle eBooks is the ebook app that is a perfect match for your Amazon profile — especially if it’s connected with Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Prime Reading. The app has many features for convenient reading: you can highlight text, search for meaning and translation of words in dictionaries, and change the font and size of the page. According to the rankings of Lifehack and Android Authority, Amazon Kindle eBooks is the top pick among the best Android apps for book lovers.

Summing It Up

We at Intellectsoft empower companies and their workforce with cutting-edge transformative solutions and data-driven insights. Are you and your organization ready to shift the mindsets and get the most out of innovations?

Our team always stays up to date with emerging technologies and market news. Talk to our experts and find out more about the topic and how your business or project can start benefiting from it today! You can also learn more about our mobile app development services.

[Create high-end software solutions for your company with Intellectsoft]

The post 14 Best Reading Apps for Book Lovers: Get Millions of Free Books appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

IT outsourcing strategies are key enablers of the sustainable competitiveness of the companies engaged in technology-intensive business. As a result of a successful outsourcing experience, the company can reap the benefits of enhanced dynamic capabilities, market-oriented innovation, strategic flexibility, agility, and increased efficiency.

The cooperation between an outsourcing company and a business will result in the development of dynamic capabilities that are related to knowledge management routines such as learning, sharing, integration, and reconfiguration.

In the article, we will dive into the types of outsourcing, define the term “outsourcing strategies”, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as will showcase the best practices for developing a well-performing outsourcing strategy. Let’s get started!

Facts About IT Outsourcing 

• The IT services market has an estimated CAGR of 8.4% and the IT outsourcing market 7.7%
• By 2025, the IT services sector is expected to be worth $1,070.28 billion
• By 2025, the IT outsourcing market potentially will be valued at $ 806.63 billion
• By the end of 2023, IT outsourcing expenses will exceed $1.3 trillion as companies increasingly look for digital transformation partners
• 64% of all companies outsource their entire development process
• 70% of the top reasons to outsource is cost reduction
• Big companies are 66% more likely to outsource than small businesses
• 24% of small businesses outsource to boost their business efficiency
• 78% of businesses feel positive about their relationships with an outsourcing partner

What Are the Outsourcing Strategies? 

Outsourcing means finding and hiring a third-party service provider to deal with certain tasks that are beyond the capabilities of the in-house team. Recently, the practice of working with external resources has grown into a trend as it brings a number of benefits to the outsourcers.

Outsourcing strategies are a plan built on the analyses and assessment of the functions that should be better performed by an external service. It means that the company defines tasks that are hard or impossible to perform with its own resources and starts searching for the companies that have all the necessary tools and qualified staff to deal with the task within the stated time frame.

The same goes for outsourcing strategies, as IT companies work in different directions within the field and might not have all the means to complete certain operations or implement new technologies on their own.

Types of Outsourcing: What Is the Difference?

Over the years, outsourcing strategies have developed and grown into different types that have specific purposes.

Outsourcing can be divided into:

• Onshore – you are looking for third-party services in your own country
• Nearshore – hiring from the neighboring countries
• Offshore – working with distant countries

In addition to this, outsourcing strategies are usually grouped into the following categories:

• Professional Outsourcing: your company lacks mobile app developers, so you decide to outsource the professionals who can fill in the gap and provide their services.
• IT Outsourcing: nowadays, small or large companies in any field have IT needs (infrastructure, software development, maintenance, support, etc.). It’s usually cheaper to contact a third-party IT service rather than build your one to deal with certain functions.
• Multisourcing: this strategy means hiring IT services in combination with other business functions.
• Manufacturer Outsourcing: if you want to produce products under your brand, you might look for a company (manufacturer) that already has all the necessary equipment and is capable of providing you services.
• Process-Specific Outsourcing: means to hire an outsourcing team that specializes in a narrow or specific service.
• Project Outsourcing: you have too many projects, and you cannot complete all of them, so you look for a company that will deal with one or a number.

What IT Services Are Usually Outsourced? 

Before you start building your outsourcing strategies, it’s important to also understand what IT services can be outsourced. It will enable you to request the relevant set of services that will help you achieve desired results within a shorter time frame. The most widely outsourced services it’s possible to name:

• Web development
• Application development
• Custom software development
• Website or app testing
• Application maintenance and support
• Database management
• Infrastructure management
• Disaster recovery
• Data Center management
• Data cloud storage
• Web security

 Primary Advantages of Strategic Outsourcing

The external cooperation brings a number of advantages of outsourcing strategy as the company can build a wide network of competencies linked by outsourcing contracts, from which necessary functions such as raw materials, components, and systems can be outsourced.

The company can build strong relationships and partner with external services to work on certain projects or tasks on a regular basis. It gives a chance to exchange knowledge and experience between the companies, to build tight, professional relationships, and develop managerial and communication skills of both teams.

In addition to this, outsourcing strategies can offer such advantages as:

Reduced Expenses

It is one of the most prominent advantages of outsourcing. It is common practice to be based in the USA or Western Europe but hire teams or individual specialists from Asian countries, India happens to be the most popular one. There are companies that offer their services at a lower price in comparison with the US and EU companies, but they have proven to be of high quality.

Better Efficiency 

Outsourcing results in higher efficiency, as you hire experienced teams who can deal with complex tasks and can provide the most effective and suitable solutions for your company. As they have a good understanding of the field and years of experience, productivity, and efficiency increase.

Focus on Important Tasks 

Outsourcing services will take care of the issue you are facing at all stages of the process. The CEO and managers of the company would be kept in the loop but they will not be required to perform any of the tasks related to the project. Thus, it gives them an opportunity to work on the other important aspects of your company’s development.

No Need to Invest in New Tech Tools 

Outsourcing service takes all the responsibility for the infrastructure and technologies. In most cases, they already have all the necessary tools to work on your task.

Skilled and Experienced Resources 

Outsourcing saves your time spent on recruitment and training of the specialists for the in-house team. Companies that provide outsourcing services have highly-qualified, experienced, and educated experts who will be able to complete the project.

It follows that outsourcing is also time-effective, as you do not have to spend years searching for the candidates and growing the specialists you need to support your business growth and development.

Main Disadvantages of Strategic Outsourcing

Though advantages of strategic outsourcing are prevailing, it still has a few disadvantages that you need to keep in mind as well. Among the top challenges that companies encounter while outsourcing are data security concerns, disaster recovery issues, as well as potential problems with data ownership.

In addition, it’s not that easy to maintain communication while outsourcing as usually, you are going to be located in different countries and even on different continents with the big time-zone difference. In its turn, it can create slower response time, potential misunderstandings, as well as a language barrier.

In case you collaborate with a reliable outsourcing partner you will manage to easily avoid these issues. Finding the cheapest vendor is not an option if you want to receive quality services.

Keep in mind that it’s paramount to check the outsourcing service before you have a contract with them. It should be a company with a good portfolio and customers’ reviews. It is recommended to contact previous customers in order to have a better picture of the company and make sure they have a good reputation and provide excellent services.

Strategies for IT Outsourcing: Things to Know

IT outsourcing strategies require the cooperation of several departments (legal, HR, operations, etc.), and the outcome depends on unified work and a clear business plan. Usually, organizations have only one goal for this strategy: to get the best technologies at the lowest cost. But it can lead to failure, and it is essential to take into account the tips listed above.

First of all, it is essential to have clear objectives, and your team should understand them. Another critical issue in external outsourcing is communication. Companies should make it simple and clear for both parties to understand the requirements, terms, and conditions of the cooperation.

Best Practices for Implementing Successful IT Outsourcing Strategies

It cannot be said that there are bad or good outsourcing strategies. The success of outsourcing depends on a number of aspects that every company should think of before hiring external services. Although IT outsourcing strategies described above have different goals, they all have the same structure. Thus, there are certain steps to follow in order to make it successful.

1. Outsource the right things for the right reasons: do not only fall for a cost-driven strategy but make sure that both outsourcing and your business strategies are aligned.
2. Define what you expect: develop a sound business case that outlines the business value of outsourcing and how this initiative supports your company’s objectives. In addition, develop an achievable and realistic plan for the end product you and your outsourcing partner can rely on.
3. Prepare the documentation: in order to make the collaboration between you and an outsourcing partner effective, you need to prepare all the relevant specifications and requirements to proceed with the development right away. At the end of the article, we have prepared a quick checklist that will help you make sure you have all the necessary documents ready.
4. Choose the right vendor: the vendor should suit your needs and be capable of completing tasks of any complexity. Take your time and research the company’s reviews on the Internet as well to see what their previous clients say about them. Also, do not underestimate your in-house staff and make sure that senior management is involved in the process.
5. Pick the best-matching engagement model. There are three main different approaches to collaborating with an IT outsourcing company so research each option. Before you make your final decision, it’s crucial to know what financial resources you are ready to allocate for the development process. Once you know your budget, you will be able to choose the right engagement model that will help you get all the work done that will fit into the budget that is most suitable for your team.
6. Create an effective contract: it should reflect strategic goals and clearly define expectations for the vendor and the company. It’s the legal basis of your partnership so pay close attention to this aspect.
7. Track the process: make sure that you are getting what you have paid for. The reporting on the project’s progress and transparency are extremely important. It would be highly recommended to clearly define your KPIs so you can easily track your progress and make sure everything is done in a timely manner.

These are the aspects that companies should keep in mind in order to outsource external services successfully.

Bonus: Checklist for Outsourcing Efficiency

Before you even consider outsourcing your software development services, it’s important to go through the preparation stage. Make sure you can answer the questions below.

1. Are you and your team clear about the main task or project that you are planning to outsource?
2. Do you have all the documentation ready such as an outline or manual describing in detail your future project? Make sure it contains the following information:

• Specific task/project description
• Main technical requirements
• Description of a customer problem that you want to solve as well as the possible solution
• Expected results
• Overall project budget
• Deadlines
• Technical skills that you are looking for
• Who will be responsible for managing the whole development process and being a contact point with an outsourcing vendor?

Once you have all this information ready, you can establish your collaboration with a software outsourcing company. It will help your partner quickly and easily understand their primary task and start the development process as soon as possible to deliver the quality results you expect.

IT outsourcing strategies: Bottom Line 

As you can see, outsourcing is a very cost- and time-effective option when it comes to software development and digitization initiatives. However, it should not be treated as an easy path to take.

In order to make your collaboration with a chosen IT outsourcing strategy partner, you should take your time for the preparation stage. Having a clear and detailed plan for the process will help you make everything successful and will bring you a number of business advantages.

Don’t hesitate to talk to our experts today to find out more about the topic and how your business or project can start benefiting from it! We have dozens of qualified professionals with relevant experience who can help you not just with defining your IT outsourcing strategies but also be instrumental in building an innovative solution that will ensure your ultimate growth.

The post How to Come Up with an Effective IT Outsourcing Strategy for Your Business appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

The latest research unveiled that 69% of enterprise architects have hardware dependency as the main reason to modernize their legacy systems. Speaking of CIOs and Heads of IT departments, they consider business competitiveness (65%), security (58%), and integration (54%) as the primary reasons to transit to a modernized system.

The solution to this problem is clearly legacy system modernization. However, in order to successfully complete the transition, it’s paramount to understand the essentials of this time-consuming process.

It’s worth noting that according to the Mainframe Modernization Business Barometer report, 74% of organizations have envisaged a legacy system modernization project, but failed to complete it.

The modernization of legacy systems is quite challenging so before even beginning, you have to dive in to avoid the mistakes of those businesses that failed. If you want to know more on this topic, keep reading this article to find out what a legacy system is, what legacy system modernization approaches are, and so much more. So let’s get started to have all your questions answered!

What Is a Legacy System?

Let’s begin with defining what exactly a legacy system is. Basically, it’s an information system based on outdated technologies, and replacing them will lead to the interruption of systems functionality. Such a system blocks future business development, doesn’t enable the smooth integration of new features, and significantly slows down the daily operations.

Simply put, it’s very difficult to maintain and extend. In addition, legacy systems involve plenty of hidden costs for maintenance, security, compliance, and lost business opportunities that devour your budget. The indispensability of legacy system modernization is required not to drag your business down and to minimize risk exposure.

What Is Legacy System Modernization?

This definition is very straightforward as it means updating all or some parts of your existing IT legacy system to improve all business processes and achieve main company goals. Usually, it’s a switch to a modern programming language, and software libraries/protocols to avoid all risks and inconveniences of an outdated system.

The modernization of a legacy system is an integral part of driving the latest innovations and getting the most out of them. Legacy software requires some solid resource investment for its maintenance, and it’s very difficult to find a qualified specialist who can support the outdated system.

In addition, it’s hard to integrate legacy systems with new features and systems as there is a big risk that it would crash at any time and disrupt all the internal processes. Such software is so inflexible, so making any improvements is almost impossible. In order to eliminate this barrier and prevent your business from having a significant technical debt, don’t postpone the modernization of your legacy applications to stay competitive.

6 Top Reasons to Consider Legacy System Modernization

1. Reduced Maintenance Costs

After modernizing your legacy system, operational and maintenance costs will be drastically reduced. All tedious and time-consuming manual tasks will be automated and there will be no need for costly developers to maintain the system.

In addition, no costs will be spent on employee training, hardware components, and technological upgrades. According to multiple reports, companies spend around 60-85% of their IT budget to upkeep the outdated systems, therefore failing to achieve their main business goals that are aimed at improving ROI. And it goes without saying that the expenses for maintenance of legacy systems will only increase in the future.

2. Improved Compatibility

Those companies that rely on their legacy system always face plenty of compatibility issues and it’s quite challenging to adopt new IT infrastructure. As a result, a lot of time and financial resources are channeled into keeping the legacy system running.

It’s paramount for your system to get synced with the newest applications and tools. With legacy modernization, the systems will be up to date with the evolving technologies which will enable smooth and seamless integration. It’s pivotal to re-engineer the outdated software to reinforce business operations. By introducing the future-driven technologies, you will afford better functionality, and ameliorate your software’s compatibility and user-friendliness.

3. Minimized Risks of Security Threats

Needless to say that the decent level and quality of the company’s security is imperative. Unfortunately, due to their vulnerable and obsolete nature, legacy software is a perfect target for malicious activities. They are much more prone to data leakage, malware, and their resistance to cyber-attacks and data breaches is significantly lower in comparison to modern systems. Moreover, disaster recovery and data backup are also a big concern.

It all can cause several serious problems to the functioning of your enterprise. The absence of security updates and lack of compliance with modern security standards put the company with the legacy software at high risk. After the technological refreshment and modernization of legacy systems, you will be able to minimize those risks of security threats and protect business-critical data.

4. No Hardware Dependency

Another big issue is the fact that legacy software depends on in-house hardware. Technologies evolve very fast and right now most companies already made the transition from on-premises to cloud platforms. This is a much better and more efficient solution that can also reduce infrastructure expenses. By modernizing your obsolete software and switching to the cloud you will ensure better accessibility that will have a positive impact on the overall company performance.

5. Optimized Business Processes and Business Continuity

With the modernized system, you will be able to better serve your customers and significantly improve the overall user experience which will ensure the ultimate business continuity and exponential growth. It will enable you to offer the most convenient and automated services.

Speaking of the business operations, your legacy software can not completely support it as you grow. Over time, it starts slowing down and crashing regularly. It hinders your capacity to adopt the latest innovations and doesn’t meet your fast-changing business requirements. The modernization will allow you to leverage evolving IT architecture so you can expand your operational activities and effectively manage your business needs and make your workflows more efficient.

6. Better Performance and Productivity

Your internal IT resources are the most valuable asset of your organization and their work time drives your company forward. Obsolete legacy systems are a serious obstacle in the daily workflow of employees as very often they have to complete different tasks manually which is very time-consuming and counterproductive.

A refreshed automated system will enable you to streamline all activities, optimize the performance of your teammates and boost productivity and efficiency. It requires much less input from your software engineers so they can concentrate on the tasks that will bring tangible value to your business. System enhancement can assist you in overcoming potential bottlenecks and inefficiencies. As a result of increased productivity, you will reduce the costs, downtime as well as manual labor of a priceless workforce.

7 Legacy System Modernization Approaches

1. Encapsulating

This is the technique that implies reusing the core legacy software components. At the same time, you omit the legacy code and leave it in its environment, and it will be connected to the new access layers via APIs. This approach will enable you to extend the features and bring more value to the system.

Your old components will be provided with the new interface to leverage the overall software functionality and improve the accessibility to other system components. It’s worth noting that the encapsulation approach won’t be able to fully resolve the maintenance and upgrading challenges, however, it has the full potential to reduce your costs and minimize potential risks. This option will be applicable if the quality of your code is already good and your legacy software already has a huge business value.

2. Rehosting

The rehosting approach enables easy redeployment of an application component or the whole system to another infrastructure (for example, cloud, virtual, or hardware environments). It also doesn’t require modifying or recompiling any code parts, features, or functions. Even despite the fact that this approach is usually just one of the steps in the migration process, it will help you cope with support issues connected to open systems like SQL or cloud environments.

This technique involves low risks and because of it, many big enterprises opt for this particular option to amend their performance without disrupting the workflows. This option will be of the lowest cost and implementation risk for your company and it will have zero negative impact on business processes because of the high speed.

3. Replatforming

The replatforming approach enables you to migrate the legacy system components to a new platform while applying minimal changes to the code in order to adapt the renewed platform to the new organization’s needs. The code structure itself as well as features and functions don’t undergo any changes.

This option is very convenient for those businesses that are not willing to modify the system a lot or are concerned that users won’t be able to effectively use the system. It’s important to understand that those minimal changes mean that you will only be able to adapt to the new system components and others won’t stay up to date with the current market.

4. Refactoring

Refactoring is the process of restructuring and optimizing the internal components of your old software without changing its external environment. It’s the best solution to get rid of your technical debt and improve the components’ features and structure.

If you opt for this approach, it will allow you to make modifications in the configuration, and improve the quality of your code while eliminating tech issues, and making it more maintainable and clear. The refactoring technique will make your system flexible so it can be adjusted according to the current organization’s needs.

5. Rearchitecting

This particular approach means altering the system so it’s possible to shift to new application architecture and get full advantage of the much better capabilities of the platform. Rearchitecting is the technique of medium cost and risk as it can change the business logic and the way the system functions in general. But in the end, it will allow you to resolve the main performance and scalability issues that you previously encountered.

You will get plenty of benefits that will help you significantly improve the system functionality and streamline the innovative features integration process. We should warn you that this process is very complex and requires some solid tech skills.

6. Rebuilding

Rebuilding, also known as redesign, is a technique that consists in rewriting the system components from scratch while preserving its specifications and scope. It could be considered a convenient custom solution for your organization. The legacy system components are rewritten according to the new business vision, and the process gives you access to new features, better functionality, and the possibility to effectively leverage the capabilities of the latest technologies and third-party platforms.

With the new coding techniques, it’s possible to reduce the development time, ameliorate security, as well as generate custom network protocols. However, you should take into account that this approach is more high-risk as a lot of changes are being made to the original system.

7. Replacing

The last modernization approach is replacing which implies eliminating the old software components and replacing the entire app with a new tool that corresponds to your current business requirements and needs. Do some research and analysis, come up with new business logic and adopt a new system that will have up-to-date and relevant functionality.

Which One of Legacy System Modernization Strategies Will Work for You?

You have just made sure that if you take the road of legacy system modernization, there are various approaches that you can opt for. But how can you choose which one is the perfect solution for your company and will work best for you?

The decision-making process will be tough due to a wide range of options. It’s important to understand that every legacy system is unique and you have to thoroughly analyze your existing software to know how to move forward. What can work out for one company can be an irrevocable mistake for another.

In case you don’t know what to do next, it’s better to consult with an experienced company knowledgeable in legacy system transformation. You can feel free to book a free consultation with Intellectsoft specialists who will guide you through the process and will help you make the best well-informed decision that will start your path to modernization.

Final Thoughts on Legacy System Modernization

No matter what approach to legacy system modernization you choose, it’s a very risky and complex process. Nevertheless, you should understand that the final result will definitely be worth all the contributions. The digitalization across industries will be only picking up pace, so going through modernization of your systems is inevitable and the sooner you start it the faster you will take your company to a whole new level.

At Intellectsoft, we have gathered the most skilled and experienced industry specialists who have robust expertise in offering legacy software systems modernization across industries and are familiar with different approaches to the process. It’s the right time to start renovating your legacy systems to boost your business growth through the power of technology.

Don’t hesitate to contact us and get more details regarding our legacy system modernization services. Our dedicated specialists will guide you through the processes and will provide you with all the information you need.

The post Essentials of Legacy System Modernization Explained  appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Aside from computer science, Python language has proven to be effective for plenty of other areas, such as statistics, data analysis, physics, economics, electronics, and even the sociology department offers an introductory programming course for the students.

Python is one of the fastest-growing and most powerful languages with easy-to-use syntax, dynamic semantics, and hundreds of robust libraries and frameworks, which is extensively used for web development as well as for big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

The world’s largest companies such as Amazon, Spotify, Quora, and Google are employing the Python web development framework because they always search for innovative technologies and solutions and want to develop advanced applications suiting many requirements.

According to the latest reports, about 42% of developers claimed that they are using Python as their primary language. Apparently, there are plenty of Python frameworks and features that make it stand out among other web development languages. Let’s check out the key Python frameworks for web development every software engineer should consider before developing websites.

What are Python Frameworks for Web Development?

Python is an excellent language to learn to create programs for both newcomers and experienced developers as it emphasizes code readability and features numerous frameworks that aim to cushion the whole software development project.

Python frameworks automate common application building processes and implementation with the help of the programming language.

To be more specific, Python frameworks provide the foundation to build the program on top of, which significantly contributes to the time-efficiency as engineers don’t have to start developing from scratch and can focus on the application logic without handling low-level details and dealing with repetitive functions.

By the way, the difference between frameworks and libraries isn’t always clear. Although both libraries and frameworks are reusable pieces of code, they are not interchangeable: while frameworks offer the architecture of the application, libraries provide the collection of packages that performs a specific set of tasks and operations.

Why are Python Frameworks Significant for Web Development?

Even though Python frameworks are not an integral part of building applications, they play a significant role as these frameworks facilitate the development by providing particular functionality and allow software engineers to re-use generic modules, and instead of executing routine processes, developers can concentrate on more specific components.

So when software engineers start building a Python-based app, they usually consider an array of Python frameworks for their project and choose the most appropriate one.

The core advantages of the Python web frameworks that demonstrate their importance for web development are:

• Top-notch protection

Built by experienced software engineers, frameworks take care of safety and, therefore, boast effective protection against a number of attacks and threats and give developers tools to avoid mistakes causing security problems.

• A strong community of developers and users

An ever-growing community of professionals, who improve the platform on an ongoing basis, can provide an immediate response to any problem that may arise. In addition, communities of users offer detailed documentation and articles to give answers to all questions.

• Reducing time and money spent on development

With frameworks, you receive the fundamental structure, which allows you to avoid reinventing the wheel, and thus you save both time and costs in creating an application and deployment, and therefore improve the overall efficiency.

• Flexibility

Due to the high flexibility, frameworks are used to develop micro functions as well as to support the front-end and back-end development for larger projects.

Types of Python Frameworks for Web Development

Typically, Python frameworks are divided into three categories, which are full-stack frameworks, micro-frameworks, and asynchronous frameworks.

Let’s find out the meaning of each type:

• Full-stack framework

As the name implies, the full-stack type is a framework that provides the tech solutions for two basic parts of development: front-end (also known as the client-side) and back-end (the server-side). This category of frameworks is used for any type of application.

• Micro-framework

Unlike a full-stack framework, a micro-framework is a lightweight type that refers to a minimalistic web application, which lacks most of the functionality you might meet in a full-fledged web application framework, like authentication, authorization, and data abstraction layer.

• Asynchronous framework

The foundation for Python asynchronous frameworks is the asyncio library that is applied to create concurrent code using the async syntax.

Best Frameworks for Web Development in Python

Django

Created in 2003 and released in 2005, Django serves as a tool to develop almost any type of website offering the functionality that is ready to be imported into a project. This Python framework is the best option for building highly scalable complex web applications, enabling fast and secure development of sites.

The key benefits of using one of the best Python frameworks are:

• You can utilize it in the development of a variety of products, from CMS to social networks.
• Due to the MTV architecture, the process of transmitting over the Internet is getting much faster.
• Uses Get Method to transfer data and encrypts the essential information including the passwords with a secret key.
• Taking advantage of the Django framework allows developers to handle a huge number of new customers or users, data, transactions, and large amounts of user requests without affecting the UX.

CherryPy

The second most popular and widely beloved Python web application framework is CherryPy, an open-source and object-oriented development tool that is compatible with different operating systems aiming to make the whole application development much easier due to the simple syntax.

The pros of CherryPy in web development:

• It enables handling a great number of users without compromising on performance.
• It comes with a lot of functionality with dispatching templates, tools, and plugins needed to launch top-class apps.
• The flexible framework offers easy and seamless integration with any standard Python library.

Flask

Classified as a feature-rich microframework, Flask provides tools and technologies to create and run websites as well as web applications of different complexity whether it be a web page, blog, or commercial site.

The engineers are free to plug any extensions and add all necessary functionalities to the foundation to develop all kinds of projects. Nowadays, this development tool is considered an up-to-date and modern framework that keeps the core of the app simple and scalable.

The key highlights of the framework you should know:

• Featuring plenty of external libraries, Flask ensures prompt and effortless integration.
• This Python framework is known for fast templates, integrated support for unit testing, and WSGI that is used to communicate with the web servers.
• Flask is excellent to get the heads around as it is well-documented and simple, which leads to faster development

Pyramid

Utilized by such big companies as Yelp, Mozilla, Reddit, and NewCars.com, an open-source Pyramid framework is aimed at achieving as much as possible due to the minimalistic approach. In addition, the popular framework is known for its ability to run well with both small and large applications.

The prime characteristics of the Pyramid framework include:

• You receive an extensive set of add-ons, featuring the same quality as the Pyramid core itself, that provides additional functionality.
• It has a handful of tools, third-party plugins, and libraries including dashboards and admin panels.
• The framework tool is known for its modular architecture, testability, and flexible authentication and authorization.

Bottle

Released in 2009, Bottle is another easy-to-use and lightweight micro-framework with minimal tools, which is the perfect option for engineers who are searching for flexibility and generic functionalities to create simple websites and small-scaled web apps with the help of third-party HTTP/WSGI servers.

The main features of the framework are:

• Distributed as a single file module, the frame doesn’t have an excessive amount of various features, but it comprises the most important ones.
• If you want to focus on code readability and simplicity, then using Bottle is your best bet.
• The Bottle framework has a shallow learning curve as it requires only basic knowledge of both Python and web programming.

Web2Py

Web2Py is a full-stack framework that allows developers to use the web-based IDE for the development of fast and secure web applications. With this Python framework, engineers can perform the development, deployment, debugging, testing, and maintenance of the applications via the web interface. Also, the tool is known for including a pure Python-based template language and two markup libraries: markdown2 and markmin.

• With Web2Py, developers can create dynamic web content.
• It supports MVC Architecture, which makes the development process quicker and simplifies complexities with coding.
• The framework has a mature community of developers around the world who are always ready to provide you with the necessary information.

CubicWeb

Written in Python and licensed under the LGPL, CubicWeb is known as a free-to-use and open-source web application framework that encourages developers to create web apps reusing a wide range of cubes. Additionally, CubicWeb is a great tool to experiment with the semantic web as it boasts an extensive documentation set.

The distinguishing features of CubicWeb are:

• It contains a robust library of reusable components that provide additional functionality.
• To create web apps, developers have to follow object-oriented design principles.
• The framework enables multi-database support and simplifies data-related queries with RQL.

If you want to go beyond Python web development and learn more about other frameworks, check out this article. You will uncover the top 10 most popular tools for Android framework development, their valuable features as well as benefits they offer for an app product for Android devices.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, there is a great number of popular Python frameworks that are worth considering before you start building applications. However, finding the best Python framework for web development depends on many factors such as the type of application, time-to-market, and tech skills.

To determine whether or not the framework fits your project, you need to know the complexity of your app as large products require a full-stack framework, and the development of simple applications uses micro-frameworks.

At Intellectsoft, we have a team with a solid background that aims to help organizations develop websites and web applications. Moreover, we provide expert consulting about our software development services. So, whether your business needs an augmented staff, an innovative tech solution, or consultancy, we can help you.

Get in touch with our experts to learn more details about the features of the best Python frameworks to choose the right option that will enhance product development for your company and will help you launch the best app today!

The post Top Python Frameworks for Web Development for Building a Successful Web App appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

And, for the backend development, programmers suggest using Node js – a cross-platform and open-source environment. In fact, this technology has become extremely popular over the last few years and, thanks to its characteristics, will continue to stand the competition in 2022 for many startups and enterprises.

In this guide, we’ll make a detailed overview of what is Node.js, its pros, and cons, yet explain the major features that will surely come in handy for you and your business.

What Is Node.js & How Does It Work?

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform runtime environment and library for Chrome’s Javascript, that is usually applied for developing and running scalable web applications outside the client’s browser. Node.js environment is built on top of Google Chrome’s JavaScript Engine V8, which uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model – lightweight, more productive, and an ideal option for data-intensive real-time apps running across shared devices.

In other words, that’s not either a framework, programming language, or library, which is used for the traditional application software, Node.js is an environment for them.

Today, this environment is popular not only because of the right time and right place; it happened to be built in 2009 by Ryan Dahl. Instead, designed with real-time push-based architectures in mind, it features a large scope of innovative approaches for JavaScript server-side development.

Nowadays, Node.js is already been widely used for front-end and back-end API services development, encompassing:

• Traditional web sites
• Chatbot apps
• Single-page applications (SPA) development
• Data streaming
• IoT app development
• Social media networking (back-end development)

The Specific Features of Node.js to Know

Once you’ve reviewed the basic information about Node.js, it’s time to learn more about its potential – by reviewing the main features of this environment. This will help you to get a better idea of using Node.js, yet helps to evaluate whether or not it’s the right option you need for the software development projects.

Some of the useful functions of Node.js you should certainly pay attention to include:

• Microservices – an individual, self-contained unit that works alongside others to make up a large application. They allow different app components to be compartmentalized and managed individually, modified, and updated without impacting the application performance.
• Event-driven programming – a feature that allows getting a quick response to various forms of user engagement, including clicks or key presses. This feature is designed to detect actions once they occur to reach a more reactive and intuitive UX, and add more to the app flexibility.

However, there are 3 major features of Node.js, which helped it to gain that much popularity, and which we should certainly review in detail: Non-blocking I/O, Libuv, and Node Package Manager.

Non-blocking I/O

This feature is developed to avoid the issue of the synchronous thread (also known as the separate threads) – the situation in which a separate thread is started for each request and blocks the entire process.

Commonly, many environments help web servers to start individual threads, but Node.js allows working with single threads in turns.

Libuv

Libuv is the specific cross-platform C library that is mainly designed for Node.js environments and ensures the constant processing of the single threads with the mechanism known as an event loop.

For this purpose, the library creates a pool with up to 4 threads to be processed at the same time. In addition, it automatically sends the requests to the operating system, which significantly improves the timing. This Node.js processing model is mostly utilized on JavaScript event-based models along with the callback mechanism.

Node Package Manager (NPM)

Also called NPM, note package manager is in-built support for package management, that includes hundreds of thousands of downloadable libraries for any specific preferences and needs. NPM is mainly known as the world’s largest software registry, which is absolutely free for use and is getting larger day by day, which greatly empowers the Node.js community.

Some of the most useful NPM modules today include:

• NPM: Express.js
• NPM: Meteor.js
• NPM: Koa.js
• NPM:Nest.js
• NPM:Mongo.js

With these modules applied, you can more than surely create a powerful module that features a high performance, automates time-consuming tasks, ensures robust routing, and provides top-notch test coverage.

What Are the Advantages of Node.js Use?

Another essential aspect we should shed light on in the comprehensive guide to Node.js is the upsides and drawbacks of this environment. In this case, you’ll be more than surprised by the lucrative benefits of using Node js.

Easily Scalable

First of all, the apps based on Node.js are easily scalable, both vertically and horizontal. Vertical scaling enables adding more resources to the current nodes, while horizontal – allows adding new nodes quicker, which can greatly speed up the development process. Additionally, the Node.js apps can perfectly work with a set of microservices and modules, which makes the development process more simple and easy – a perfect option for scalable startups.

Large Node.js Community Support

Along with the millions of fans contributing to support developers across the globe, the Node.js Foundation, which was established in 2015, consists of leading enterprises such as IBM, Microsoft, Fidelity, and SAP. This means you’ll always find support among semi-minders, as well as develop and maintain any framework created.

First-Class Performance

Among many developers, Node.js is known as the powerful, feature-rich environment for developing ultra-fast-performing and scalable apps. With the event-driven architecture and non-blocking I/O tasks that can easily run on a single thread, without blocking any operations and with almost no delays. These characteristics make Node.js a resource-efficient tool that can greatly accelerate the framework speed.

Moreover, the V8 JS engine complies with Javascript code directly into the machine code, which is mostly used in Chrome and Node.js. Also, Google – the company that developed the V8 engine in 2008, continues investing heavily to improve its performance.

Advanced Development Speed

What is more, one of the best features of Node.js use is its ability to accelerate the web app development process with a variety of tools that are lightweight and easy to use. The NPM registry provides a wide range of solutions, modules, and libraries that enable the creation of more valuable apps at a lesser effort and cost. What is more, this environment helps to significantly reduce the bugs, decrease the app size and develop the app in short time frames with the reusable template.

More Flexible for the Various Software Development

For most developers, Node.js is a perfect environment for developing cross-platform apps. With frameworks like Electron, NW.js, you can now launch top-notch applications that are fully compatible with nearly any device on macOS, Windows, or Linux.

In addition to that, Node.js supports the MQTT protocol, commonly used by IoT applications, making it easy to connect to independent and third-party services, as well as prepare them for the back-end integration through different environments.

Contribution to Fullstack JavaScript

Last but not least, Node.js is a part of a robust tech stack that has proven its potential because of JavaScript – the leading programming language across the globe. As a stand-alone, it provides many benefits to the tech stack such as, for instance, the JSON module library.

When It’s Better to Avoid Node.js?

Nearly any technology today has its pros and cons, so before you start using any of those, you should ensure it’ll work best for your project. With all its benefits incorporated, there are still some cases when Node.js is not the best option to choose for the software development process.

You might encounter the other tech solutions in the following cases:

• Creating a perfect software solution. Despite the NPM modules and libraries included, the apps created with Node.js can still have bugs and poor quality in cases when the developers don’t have enough experience with using this system.
• For CPU-intensive computations. It’s better to avoid using Node js if the app server deals with heavy computations, it gets blocked because of the single-threaded quality of Node.js.
• Launching a server-side web app with a relational database. If a server-side web app has any CPU-intensive computation, it is likely to block Node.js responsiveness. Because the Relational Database is still underdeveloped, it’s better to consider the other environments to perform related functions.
• Heavy server-side processing. Due to its event-driven and non-blocking I/O node models, Node.js can block the incoming requests while the threads are working on computing processes.

Successful Examples of Implementation & Future of Node.js

To evaluate the future potential of Node.js, nothing works better than uncovering the successful use cases of this environment and the ways of its possible implementation in different industries. In the case of the Node.js environment, plenty of companies from various industries have already switched to this technology, for instance, Amazon, eBay, Netflix, Reddit, AliExpress, Paypal, and many more.

So, to define how to use Node.js effectively, let’s review some of these cases more closely:

• Because most users interacted with the network through mobile devices, in 2016 LinkedIn decided to switch to Node.js. As a result, the company has boosted its performance by nearly 20x times, empowered servers and reduced their amount from 30 to 3, and drawn its focus on app development and improvement instead of troubleshooting.
• Being one of the first companies that started using the Node.js environment in the full production stage, Uber managed to reach a productive, scalable, bug-free app that works perfectly on macOS and Android devices. This tech solution helped them not only to process billions of requests every day but also to match multiple riders to drivers in fractions of seconds.
• After implementing Node.js, Netflix has finally found a scalable solution that can process multiple requests of their users simultaneously. At the same time, they managed to use the same language for front-end and back-end processes, thus significantly saving up the startup time from 40 minutes to less than 60 seconds.

As you can see, with more than 50% of the developers using Node js in their projects over the last few years, we can make a conclusion that this tech environment will only continue to rise in 2022.

Conclusion

To sum up, Node.js is one of the leading technologies for app development today, that allows you to effectively create a first-class application for nearly any industry. After you’ve learned what is Node.js used for, defined its benefits and possible drawbacks, it becomes easier to understand whether or not this environment is the right option for you and your business.

Making up the right decision on any project development can greatly save up the time, costs, and resources on its development, that is why hiring a software development service is one of the best solutions for many companies today.

At Intellectsoft, we are always in search of the most efficient technologies and advanced approaches across different industries, all this to deliver first-class software solutions that ideally fit the objectives and needs of our clients.

Already decided to launch the software for your business?

Talk to our experts to find out in-depth insights about Node.js use and how your organization can benefit from this environment today!

The post A Complete Guide to Node.js: 2022 and Beyond appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

According to the latest research, the global financial services market is expected to reach $26.5 trillion in 2022 at a CAGR of 6% due to the fact that the pandemic starts winding down and companies are rearranging their operations.

The evolution in customer behavior, remote working, and the emergence of new needs encourage the financial technology industry to embrace a wave of changes and innovations to stay relevant.

There is a list of the top fintech industry trends that center around 15 technologies with the most potential to transform the market in 2022:

1. Open banking
2. Big Data and Analytics
3. RegTech (Regulatory Technology)
4. Blockchain
5. Virtual Cards
6. Cloud Computing
7. Defi (Decentralized Finance)
8. Cybersecurity
9. Artificial Intelligence
10. Machine Learning
11. The Internet of Things
12. Robotic Process Automation
13. Neobank
14. Biometric Security Systems
15. Voice Technologies

15 Fintech Trends for 2022

1. Open Banking

The open banking concept of using open API technology drastically changes the customer’s experience and boosts value to financial service. 3.9 million people use open banking to manage their finances but the number of users is increasingly growing and is expected to reach 63.8 million by 2024 as this financial technology becomes more popular.

The biggest convenience is that users can accumulate and manage all of their account data, operations, transactions, expenses on one platform. Another advantage is that an application helps them monitor costs and keep to a budget, which contributes to increased savings.

The benefit of one of the hottest trends in fintech at the moment for the financial companies is that by gaining access to this data, they can conduct a deeper analysis of the financial habits and behavior and provide users with more customized products and personalized offers that best meet their needs. Additionally, the open banking concept brings significant profitability, in particular, increasing customer engagement and retention.

2. Big Data and Analytics 

In 2022, businesses continue to see big data and analytics as one of the top three fintech trends. Most organizations are trying to capture all possible data streaming inside and apply all kinds of analytics to it.

There are numerous positive outcomes achievable, for example:

• Faster decision making: various analysis tools allow making instantaneous decisions based on immediate data streams
• Cost reduction: it helps to find better ways of doing business by scrutinizing individual aspects of everyday operations
• Customer satisfaction: having the opportunity to analyze the customers’ behavior over time, organizations get a chance to develop new products to meet their needs more effectively

 3. RegTech (Regulatory Technology) 

Combining a subset of financial technologies such as ML, natural language processing, predictive analytics, the RegTech phenomenon is one of the key players in the rapidly evolving fintech world. The purpose of it is to help both financial companies and banks to comply with all regulatory requirements more efficiently and much faster, reducing the level of costs and risks.

Even though Regtech is often considered a technology in the finance industry, it is applicable in a range of different fields. According to recent reports, this booming industry is predicted to bring in $21.73 billion by 2027.

4. Blockchain 

Being the most significant innovation in the financial technology industry, Blockchain has continued to influence the banking industry by ensuring end-to-end data security, preventing cyber-attacks, providing fast transactions, and reduction in operational costs.

At the end of 2021, the global cryptocurrency market cap reached $3 trillion, according to a recent study. However, the potential of blockchain isn’t limited to cryptocurrencies, and this financial technology could provide fertile ground for future fintech developments offering new ways of handling information.

5. Virtual Cards 

As cybersecurity attacks are on the rise, it has become necessary to develop a new way to protect account data when making online payments. That’s how virtual 16-digit cards, which are usually valid for a short period, emerged as an alternative payment method that aims to help users protect their sensitive information.

Virtual cards are safe, sustainable, and expire as soon as you complete the transaction. Besides, they might be used as a backup payment method if a standard card gets declined or lost. The rapid advancement in financial technology led to the increased use of virtual cards for businesses as they are easy to receive and use.

The total value of virtual card transactions is forecast to reach $6.8 trillion by 2026.

6. Cloud Computing

In the world significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, even the most traditional organizations have to find ways to interact with their customers digitally.

More importantly, they need to build a system allowing them to access, manage, analyze, and control massive data storage in a reality where managers and analysts cannot physically reach their offices.

As Americans were forced to live under official social distancing guidelines, a vital need to move organizations to the cloud as quickly as possible emerged. Leaders should undertake a few essential steps to achieve a smooth transition:

• Providing sufficient funding to ensure the employment of all the required technology
• Integrating the cloud to the business model to reflect its widespread and long-lasting impact
• Attracting well-qualified engineers and IT-specialists to support the technology’s everyday performance effectively and to avoid any disruptions

7. DeFi

The cryptocurrencies occupied headlines quite often in the previous year, as their underlying technology holds tremendous potential. According to recent reports, crypto borrowing was the largest single segment of DeFi in 2021.

Blockchain opens up a series of opportunities for protecting any kind of data, not just financial transactions. For instance, payment reconciliation, identity protection, and data access are significantly benefited through the use of this technology.

Caption 1. Primary challenges when implementing blockchain technology

One of the new fintech trends, decentralized finance or DeFi, is about creating autonomous protocols (set of rules) for money to operate; no trusted party is needed. The hottest topic is lending, namely yield farming.

8. Cybersecurity

With the COVID-19 world facing the rise of online activities, cybercrime constantly expands its endeavors.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, cloud-based and phishing attempts have increased substantially. According to the CPR, companies around the world witnessed a 40% growth in cyber-attacks in 2021. Additionally, it is projected that the number of cyber-attacks will double by 2025.

9. Artificial Intelligence

Organizations are paying more and more attention to Artificial Intelligence power. AI has been named the most disruptive technology by managers and IT leaders worldwide, exceeding big data and analytics.

The latest statistics show that by 2025 about 95% of all customer interactions worldwide will be fully powered by AI, and the industry is forecasted to reach $31 billion in revenue.

10. The Internet of Things

The giant ecosystem of the Internet of Things is multiplying. IoT devices are everywhere, from voice assistants to slow cookers.

The IoT market is expected to expand to $1386.06 billion by 2026, having systems integration and data center and analytics as its biggest segments.

Caption 4. Reasons for technology usage

Caption 2. Reasons for technology usage

11. Machine Learning

Machine learning is often seen as synonymous with artificial intelligence. It is a subset of AI, making the former perform faster by reinforcing its learning abilities.

These make machine learning a key component of AI, a fact confirmed by the latest machine learning statistics.

The machine learning market has been rapidly growing. The most significant segment of this market is the deep learning software set to reach about $1 billion by 2025.

Current machine learning market research has shown that the market for AI-powered hardware and assistants is expected to grow at a high pace.

12. Robotic Process Automation

The latest reports show that about 23% of factory jobs will be automated by 2025. The range of collaborative applications offered by robot manufacturers continues to expand.

Currently, shared workspace applications are most common: robots and people operate together, completing jobs simultaneously. They enable this by voice, gesture, and recognition of intent from human motion.

Caption 3. Service robots for personal/domestic use

13. Neobank 

Neobank is another great example of the fintech developments that deserve your attention. Due to quarantine restrictions, companies are actively switching business processes to online mode, and banks are no exception to this process.

Banks that operate exclusively online are gaining more and more popularity and are innovative competitors of conventional banking institutions. According to Statista, the digital-only banks’ sector is projected to grow and reach a market size of $722.6 billion by 2028.

Neobanking technology in the finance industry offers a plethora of plans and options for customers. This includes a variety of services such as international remittance, fee-free transaction operations, obtaining loans, etc.

14. Biometric Security Systems

It is vital for the fintech industry organizations to take all possible security measures. And biometrics is the best way to lift security to the next level, ensuring users’ confidence that their information is protected.

The world biometrics market is expected to reach $45.96 billion by 2024 as the partnerships between tech and biometric companies will be growing.

The range of solutions is set to grow bigger to utilize such biometric data as fingerprint, face, iris, vein, voice, DNA, palm prints, hand geometry, signature, and several behavioral features.

15. Voice Technologies 

Chat-like platforms keep arriving for everything customers need to deal with on an everyday basis. Voice assistants are being developed to provide support for various issues. Voice technologies have evolved to tell the weather forecast or stream sports and improve customer service in the banking sector.

Voice technologies are divided into two main groups: the phonetic recognition of different words and the interpretation of the actual language as spoken, also known as natural language processing (NLP).

The global voice technology market will rise to $20.9 billion by 2026.

Wrapping Up

As we can see from above, the banking industry trends and technology trends in financial services are here to optimize the working processes by saving money, eliminating all human errors during operation, securing personal information, and delivering satisfying and safe customer experiences.

Feel free to contact Intellectsoft experts to find out more about the key fintech trends for 2022 and the wide array of financial software development services we offer. Our experienced specialists provide clients with business solutions that will improve team performance and business efficiency.

The post Disruptive FinTech: 15 Technology Trends to Watch in 2022 appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

In the United States alone, the estimated industry revenue for 2021 has reached almost $2,710 billion, according to Statista, and these numbers will only increase in the upcoming years with the wider use of technology-enabled solutions such as medical chatbots, AI, robotics, IoT and of course, machine learning algorithms – the last one has made a huge contribution into the “smart” healthcare development.

In this article, we’ll demonstrate the major machine learning use cases in healthcare, as well as introduce the benefits of its implementation and the future trends of ML technology development for the healthcare industry.

As a part of our discussion, you’ll be able to learn the central challenges of machine learning and, finally, uncover how to successfully develop the software solution exactly for your business goals and needs.

Major Benefits of Machine Learning in Healthcare

At present, implementing various innovative technological solutions in the healthcare industry has already become a common practice.

We can now use machine learning algorithms for new drug discovery and advanced research, provide an effective, highly personalized treatment, achieve better imaging and diagnostics, detect and prevent diseases in the early stages, improve patient engagement, and many more.

And those are no longer the future but already a fact: Google has rolled out the ML algorithm that identifies cancer in mammograms, while Stanford University scientists use deep learning to detect various forms of skin cancer.

These are only a few of thousands of brilliant examples of machine learning in healthcare. With this said, let’s now analyze the narrow scopes of successful ML usage: from the disease diagnosis and treatment to its prediction and prevention.

Diagnosis and Disease Detection

The most effective area of use of machine learning in healthcare is disease identification and accurate diagnosis. The thing is that some specific diseases, such as different types of cancer or genetic diseases are very hard to detect, especially in their initial stages.

The machine learning algorithms, however, can identify those based on the information and other specific characteristics known, yet provide detailed recommendations of the possible treatment strategy in clinical conditions.

EHR Storage and Management

Along with the advanced machine learning technologies implemented, there is still a significant problem with effectively keeping the patient health records, as it requires a lot of time and effort to fill in all the records and track the changes. However, these processes can be optimized with the use of vector machines and ML-based OCR recognition techniques.

For instance, the Medical Vision from Google helps to access the relevant disease information based on the image analysis, which works perfectly for various skin diseases. Or else, with the machine learning algorithms from MathWorks, it becomes much easier to digitalize handwritten medical records with specific recognition technology.

Diabetes Prediction

According to the latest data from International Diabetes Federation, the total number of people aged 20-79 years living with diabetes is approximately 537 million as of 2021, and this number is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045 – in overall, that’s a 45% increase!

However, knowing that diabetes mostly damages the kidneys, the heart, and nerves, it’s possible not only to diagnose this dangerous disease but predict and prevent its occurrence.

As an example, outstanding classification technologies like the Naive Bayes Algorithm, Decision Tree, and SVM employ a set of various machine learning algorithms for detecting diabetes resulting in a positive or negative prediction.

Liver Disease Analysis and Prediction

Another important aspect of using machine learning algorithms in healthcare refers to the early prognosis of various liver diseases. Being one of the most essential organs for metabolism, the liver is also highly vulnerable to serious illnesses like chronic hepatitis, liver cancer, cirrhosis, and many more – all these diseases are extremely hard to predict.

Nevertheless, after the implementation of machine learning in healthcare industry, this process has undergone a significant shift: now the ML classification and clustering algorithms can effectively predict liver disease using enormous amounts of medical data.

Advanced Treatment Personalization & Behavioral Adjustments

The most prominent machine learning use cases in healthcare refer to building up a more effective treatment plan based on the EHI records for each patient individually.

So, the patient receives a personalized treatment strategy based on his specific health characteristics, gets recommendations about the most effective drugs and accompanying procedures that can enhance the recovery process, and finishes the treatment in shorter time frames.

Additionally, machine learning algorithms are now widely used to change the common behavioral routines and unconscious activities of any person, which can be dangerous from the long-term perspective and result in serious diseases such as, for example, cancer or diabetes.

Dealing With COVID-19 Infections

The last but not less important scope of using machine learning in healthcare is its employment for learning and fighting COVID-19. According to PubMed, scientists and researchers are now developing ML technology for 2 major applications:

• Diagnosing the COVID-19 disease;
• Predicting the mortality and severity of this infection based on the detailed analysis of the patients’ age, LDH, CRP, Oxygen Saturation, Lymphocyte, Comorbidities, and many other factors.

The core datasets for the machine learning implementation consist of the most reliable yet accurate data: clinical and laboratory records. As a result, this ML tech solution is aimed to enhance the worldwide efforts to control and manage the virus, and hopefully can help to curb it completely.

What’s the Future of Using Machine Learning in Healthcare?

Human life is the most valuable thing to care about, so advanced technologies like machine learning without a shadow of a doubt will only gain popularity in the future.

The powerful ML algorithms have already learned how to track and analyze health information and various patient indicators, deliver tons of helpful data for doctors, assist in composing an effective treatment plan and the best care as the outcome.

Moreover, the market size of healthcare artificial intelligence solutions during the period 2020-2026 will grow at a CAGR of over 46.21% and is estimated to reach revenues of $44.5 billion by 2026, according to Bloomberg. Such a tremendous demand for AI solutions means there has never been a better time to enter the healthcare technology market and get on top of the competition within a specific niche.

5 Best Examples of Machine Learning in Healthcare

If you’re curious about the practical examples of how is machine learning used in healthcare today, the best way to enhance your expertise is to analyze the most successful ML projects within the scope. Below you’ll find the list of feature-rich tech solutions for medical scope developed by the world’s largest tech giants and those created in startups as well.

#1 IBM Watson Genomics

Being one of the most outstanding cases of implementing machine learning in healthcare projects, this project is now successfully used for effective disease diagnostics and treatment. It employs cognitive computing solutions with genome-based tumor sequencing and speeds up the diagnosis process.

#2 PReDicT Project

Predicting Response to Depression Treatment project is a novel medical device aimed at enhancing the treatment and management of depression in clinical practice through creating personalized treatment approaches for patients.

According to recent studies, depressed patients often do not respond to the first antidepressant prescribed, resulting in sequential trials of different medications. However, the predictive machine learning algorithms can assist in guiding the antidepressant treatment based on the results of behavioral tests of affective cognition and subjective symptoms the patients have.

#3 Cloud Vision API

Designed by Google, this application enables providing the relevant information based on the image input. It is available for both mobile and web users and can be utilized by both healthcare workers and people that have no expertise in medicine.

The 5 features of Medical Vision are object detection, web detection, object labeling, safe search, and image properties, and they help to access the most relevant information the user searches for based on the detailed image analysis.

#4 SafeBeing App by Somatix

This project is aimed to track and change the common behavioral habits of a patient such as physical activities, hydration, medication intake, sleeping, heart rate, pressure sore risk, and many others that can impact the person’s health and overall well-being using a simple wearable device on a hand.

The algorithms passively collect the data 24/7 and analyze it to identify alerts, insights, and reminders that are relevant exactly for the certain patient. With this essential data, users can get various health details that can benefit the treatment process and help to maintain a healthy lifestyle as well.

#5 Project Hanover by Microsoft

Focused on technology precision medicine development, this technology empowers medical workforces to comb through the thousands of documents published each day in the biomedical literature, flag and rank all the sources that are potentially relevant to researchers, such as, for instance, information on the gene, mutation, drug, and patient response.

This project was originally designed for oncology researchers that need to deeply study and interpret cancer-related information fast and efficiently.

For serious diseases like cancer treatment, where thousands of new researches are published every day, such a machine can become one of the most critical game-changers: it can scan all the latest resources and help cancer specialists to answer specific questions.

Though these machine learning algorithms in healthcare are still in the early stages of their development, it is expected that Project Hanover can be similarly utilized for the other medical fields that work with big data.

The Biggest Challenges of Machine Learning in the Medical Industry

Once you’ve learned the main benefits of machine learning in healthcare, it’s time to consider the challenges you and your team may face when working on the ML project for your business.

Data Security

Overall, the medical records still represent the patient information, which is personal and forbidden for access. Moreover, some laws and regulations in healthcare, such as HIPAA or GDPR, require EHI encryption to ensure the data won’t be accessed by third parties.

Algorithms Transparency

Transparent algorithms are not solely required to meet all the drug development regulations. Apart from that, it should also provide a clear understanding of the analysis conducted by machine learning algorithms.

EHR Optimization

According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), nearly 93% of hospitals have already implemented the EHR into their workflow in the US, but worldwide statistics are still far from ideal.

For instance, in the developing countries that are developing, these practices are still in the early stages of implementation, which makes the ML technologies helpless. That is why focusing on the EHR system is simply a necessity.

Long-Term Data Analysis

Machine learning technology is in the early stages of growth too. So, even if implemented properly, it still lacks value from the long-term perspective, as the specific health indicators and patient diseases tracked today using machine learning in healthcare can barely reach 5 years of time.

Of course, with the algorithm’s updates and improvements, this situation will change for the better, but at present, the data used by ML is still not enough for a deeper analysis and use.

Lack of Expertise

Finally, not all developers possess enough expertise to create and implement the perfect ML solution, and even fewer of them can adapt it specifically for ​​the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

Wrapping Up

To sum up, machine learning refers to the most significant yet popular technologies that are widely incorporated into the various healthcare IT solutions and software services. Learning the basic machine learning use cases in healthcare allows you to better understand its potential, uncover its major benefits and get the valuable source of features to include in your upcoming business project.

If you’re looking for a professional team of software developers, Intellectsoft’s crew is always here to assist. With vast experience in creating top-notch software solutions for healthcare, our developers can always keep you in the loop regarding the latest trends in medical scope, as well as can help you to pick up the most effective functionalities that perfectly fit your project requirements and business goals, yet employs the innovative approaches of the machine learning technologies.

Here, at Intellectsoft, we are constantly in search of the latest innovations and advanced tech solutions in healthcare for our clients to take their organizations to a completely new level of development. Are you ready to implement the changes into your business?

Talk to our experts to uncover how to effectively implement machine learning technologies into your healthcare organization and start benefiting from it today!

The post Reasons to Implement Machine Learning in Healthcare appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

In the given circumstances, staying up to date with the trends in software development is a big part of being a good developer, and it’s important to keep tabs on the most popular backend frameworks that developers are using and adjust to the new requirements fast.

This article covers 7 backend frameworks that are popular in 2022, along with some helpful tips about which one might be right for you based on your experience level and other factors.

What Are Backend Frameworks?

In essence, a backend framework provides a standardized, reusable structure for creating applications. A framework can speed up development by providing ready-made solutions for common tasks, such as connecting databases or allowing user logins.

Much like WordPress or Drupal can streamline a website’s creation process, a backend framework makes it easy to build complex applications quickly.

Why Use Backend Frameworks? Their Importance

Developers can use frameworks to save time when building new software. Even more, a backend framework provides an architecture that encompasses all necessary components of your platform, which makes a web service possible.

When you consider what it takes to develop every part of a web service yourself, it’s easy to see why so many companies choose to use these technologies. And the list of the most popular backend frameworks appeared as the result of frequent usage of 7 software architecture approaches that have proved their effectiveness and flexibility by 2022.

7 Most Popular Backend Frameworks in 2022

There are several different types of frameworks available for developers on various platforms such as .NET, Java, Python, and Ruby. Choosing which one will work best for your business depends upon its specific needs at any given moment.

For example, some platforms offer more flexibility to apply different features to different applications. Other considerations may include how big your organization is and how much support is provided by each provider. You may also want to look into whether or not your current team uses a particular programming language so that the framework you’ve chosen has the relevant language and can be adopted.

Once you have reviewed these factors, you should have a better idea of which direction you would like to take next with regard to selecting an appropriate backend framework.

And our guide here will help reveal the advantages and disadvantages of most popular backend frameworks:

• Django
• Ruby on Rails
• Laravel
• ASP.NET
• Flutter
• NodeJS
• Golang

Django from Python

Founded by two Python developers, Django’s creators envisioned it as a toolkit for building scalable web applications quickly. And they certainly hit their mark with millions of developers around the world using Django today. The framework has undergone several major changes over its lifetime, however, ensuring that it stays up-to-date with industry trends and stays relevant.

Advantages:

• Usability: It’s easy to master and start using Django for your project.
• Rich functionality: Your app can get several great functions with this pick among the most popular backend frameworks. Also, you can use it for various purposes, including building platforms, messengers, and analytical tools.
• Scalability: Django from Python is a good choice if your website is expected to experience high demand spikes.
• Security: The framework has in-built protection from the most common security challenges and a secure procedure of user authentication.

Disadvantages:

• Limitations: This most popular backend framework has low flexibility when it comes to introducing new features. The deployment stage also requires following prescribed patterns only.
• Need for planning. Even though it’s easy to start with Django, its application requires tremendous effort, mastery, and extensive planning.

Ruby on Rails

Though it’s been around for almost two decades, Ruby on Rails continues to be one of, if not the most, popular backend frameworks today. Its biggest advantage is that it scales well as your business grows — in fact, it was designed with growth and scalability in mind. As a result, Ruby on Rails can support your project over time with minimal coding changes or redesigns; by nature, it’s very malleable.

Advantages:

• Speed: Almost every part of your software can have its pre-built plugin or module, so building it will be really fast.
• Transparency: Ruby on Rails standardizes everything, so your project will have minimum complexity and maximum consistency.
• Free of charge: As an open-source framework, Ruby on Rails is free to use for anyone, and its purpose-built modules library is easy to get.

Disadvantages:

• Cannot handle high demand: If your business will grow to handle hundreds of thousands of requests per second, you should use another framework from the very beginning.
• Standardized features only: Since this representative of backend web frameworks defines not only functions but also dependencies between them in one way only, it’s hard to implement something unusual with it. Also, it means that each mistake will cost you extra money on ruining dependencies and building everything from scratch.

Laravel

Released in 2011, Laravel is one of PHP’s most popular frameworks for developing web applications. Also known as Larajole after its creator Taylor Otwell, Laravel is a platform-agnostic framework that can be used to build applications of any scale using Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) techniques. Notable features include it uses namespaces, auto-loading facilities, template engines that can be extended using plugins, extensive documentation, and microservice support.

Advantages:

• Several useful pre-built features: With Laravel, you can rely on this framework for user authentication, API integrations with mailing services, and notifications. The process is simple and easy to use.
• Caching tools and log handling: You can use Redis and Memcached for caching data, along with multiple log handlers.
• Tools for testing: Laravel has PHP support and phpunit.xml file that enable simulation of users’ behavior for testing purposes.

Disadvantages:

• Complicated: It’s hard to learn Laravel due to numerous complex and strict rules you need to follow.
• Lack of support: Due to the growing problems, support from Laravel is not always available.

ASP.NET

As a Windows-based most popular backend framework for web development, ASP.NET was developed by Microsoft back in 2000 and is primarily based on C#. Nowadays, it’s constantly being upgraded with new features that come directly from Microsoft. As a consequence, Visual Studio plays an essential role because of its cross-platform compatibility.

Advantages:

• Minimum coding: Most functions are pre-configured in ASP.NET core already, which facilitates and speeds up development.
• Cross-platform: Based on C#, ASP.NET works well for making cross-platform web apps. Also, despite being very popular in enterprise applications, it’s also quite customizable when needed.

Disadvantages

• Lack of control: Developers’ freedom and creativity are limited by Microsoft’s rules and control over their actions when they work with ASP.NET.
• Price for licensing: Not only additional but also basic Core modules require licensing.

Flutter

Flutter is the most popular backend framework for making apps for Android and iOS. Flutter’s biggest advantage is that it allows you to use a single codebase, which means you spend less time maintaining two different apps. This also means any changes you make only have to be made once, and they will instantly appear on both platforms.

Advantages:

• Wide applicability: Flutter is the best backend framework for mobile development. At the same time, its application is not limited to Android and iOS only — you can use it for building apps on Windows, Linux, Mac, and Google Fuchsia.
• Fast changes: You don’t need to reboot an app to test updates as Flutter allows changes on the running code.

Disadvantages:

• Compatibility problems: Flutter overhauls with the release of iOS and Android upgrades.

NodeJS

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment for developing server-side web applications. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices.

Advantages:

• Error handling: With the throw-catch approach, NodeJS detects errors and corrects them immediately.
• Easy to learn: JavaScript is the most used programming language in the world, which makes it easier to master NodeJS even with basic JavaScript knowledge.

Disadvantages:

• Event-callback mechanism: In NodeJS, everything should be done in a linear order, which prevents concurrency.

Golang

Go is a simple, clean, efficient programming language created at Google. It’s so popular that it’s already supported by major cloud providers like Heroku and AWS. It’s hard to find Golang among the most common backend frameworks yet, but its popularity is increasing and it’s compatible with NodeJS already.

Advantages:

• Concurrency: Golang is a great fit for large software projects, as its lightweight thread communication mechanism handles running several functions at once.
• Scalability: With goroutines, Go handles parallel threads effectively and reliably.

Disadvantages

• Complicated: As the new language, Go is hard to learn and possesses numerous specific rules and procedures.

How to Choose Among the Most Popular Backend Frameworks?

As you can see, the task of getting the right one among the best backend frameworks can be tough. In addition to mastering the various requirements, you should take into consideration your current needs and predict your future development to make the right choice.

If this task seems tough for you, feel free to contact a dedicated development team from Intellectsoft and request our help! With this service, you can delegate several areas of responsibilities within a software development project to us, including

• Resource planning
• Team composing
• Staff motivation
• IT infrastructure
• Relevant training, and many more.

Talk to our experts, and let us help you pick the best among the most popular backend frameworks!

The post 7 Most Popular Backend Frameworks in 2022: What Are They and Which One to Choose  appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.