Managing a restaurant is tricky as it requires handling dozens of verticals and departments. Each division requires complete attention from consumers to the kitchen and inventory to delivery.

Mistakes and errors are more likely when you have to manage multiple things simultaneously. Technology is the saviour here, and we have seen many positive changes in the restaurant industry technology using next-gen technology. 

The blog will explore five ways that restaurant technology is transforming the industry. As we delve into these trends, it becomes clear that restaurant technology is changing the industry significantly, and those who fail to embrace it risk being left behind.

Statistics

1. 73% of diners say restaurant technology improves their guest experience. While 61% of diners say, handheld server tablets improve their guest experience. 
2. 95% of restaurateurs have witnessed improvement in their business efficiency with restaurant technology. 
3. Restaurants want POS that is easy to use and offers in-depth reports.  

The above statistics make it clear that restaurant technology is changing restaurant technology for good. Both consumers and food business owners are happy and witnessing more efficiency with restaurant technology. 

So, let us first understand restaurant technology better.

What is Restaurant Technology? 

Restaurant Technology is the dedicated technology used in restaurants to make day-to-day operations more accurate, efficient, and quick. The restaurant technology automates repetitive tasks, helps lessen errors, and saves labour and costs. 

Earlier, food business owners managed everything manually using pen and paper. However, this method is not valid in the modern on-demand economy as it requires a lot of human effort and time. Customers place orders online and look for quick and highly efficient services. 

Ways Restaurant Technology Changing the Industry

Customers today are different, and they want everything instantly. If they like something, they want it immediately, along with convenience. The massive popularity of the on-demand economy is the result of this. 

Restaurants are thus relying more on advanced technologies to match the demands of modern customers. Cloud computing, AI, and automation are ruling the world, making it a more convenient place to reside. 

The adoption of cloud technology is apparent in the restaurant industry with cloud-based restaurant POS systems. Remote servers in the cloud technology help store and manage restaurant data safely and securely. 

But, restaurant technology is not limited to cloud technology only. Let us look at the revolutionary technologies changing the restaurant industry. 

Restaurant POS

Online Ordering has become an invariable part of the food industry. Since 2014, the online food ordering market has grown 300% faster than dine-in. 

Consumers prefer ordering food online as it is more convenient. They can order meals anytime and get them delivered within minutes. These are a few of the advantages of the online food ordering system. 

Thus, more restaurants are integrating restaurant POS to efficiently manage orders and deliveries. In addition, cloud-based food ordering systems enable restaurant owners to manage restaurant operations on any device in any location.  

Cashless Payments

The pandemic changed the way people exchange money. The concerns about safety and hygiene compel all to avoid physical contact. Thus, contactless and cashless payments helped the restaurant industry to continue their services while taking care of safety. 

71.4% of people find cashless payments convenient and safe. 

Customers can pay for the meals with just a swipe or tap. Thus, it helps maintain safe social distance. 

Self-Ordering Tablets

Self-ordering kiosks are a refreshing transformation in the restaurant industry. Consumers can browse the restaurant and can place the order on their own with no restaurant staff involvement. Big food brands like Mcdonald’s and Panera Bread have installed self-ordering kiosks in many well-known locations. 

Many restaurants are adopting this technology to make the dining experience safer and hygienic with less human contact. In addition, it also saves a lot of time for the wait staff and makes it easier for restaurants to manage the customers on busy days. menu on the self-ordering tablets and choose what to order. 

Inventory Management

As a restaurant owner, you need to keep a close eye on your kitchen stock and inventory. The inventory management system integrated with the POS software makes it easier to track inventory. 

It helps track the items in stock and alerts if any item is running low. Thus, restaurant owners can keep the stock full for any order. Also, it makes stock management easy with fewer manual errors. 

Quality Control

Running a food business is risky as it requires keen attention to food safety and hygiene. Especially after the pandemic, consumers are more concerned about the quality and safety of the food they order. 

Customers prefer brands that are transparent in their operations and processes. It is a challenging task, though. However, technological advancements in the restaurant industry are making this hard task possible. 

IoT sensors in food warehouses can help identify any issues or concerns in food quality. IOT or Bluetooth temperature sensors can monitor temperature fluctuations and send alerts. Such technologies help save time in detecting issues or quality concerns. 

Material Handling

Managing and maintaining the stock is important, but material handling is equally important.

What is material handling? Material handling is the optimal utilisation of raw materials for order preparation. It helps in reducing unnecessary food waste.

The restaurant industry is adopting technologies that analyse daily food waste. And this data is provided to kitchen chefs to make necessary improvements or changes in their food preparation techniques. Thus, it helps save tons of raw materials from wastage and avoid money leakage. 

Reservation Management

Table reservation in restaurants has always been challenging, especially on busy days. Customers don’t like long queues and hours of wait.

However, with technological advancements, customers can book and reserve tables online. It helps restaurant owners manage table booking easily. Secondly, restaurant staff can spend more hours serving and entertaining customers than booking the tables on call. Finally, it saves time and helps avoid errors. 

The table reservation software displays which tables are available and which are full or waiting. It enhances customer experiences as they can now avoid long waiting queues. 

Table Entertainment

Restaurants have adopted contactless orders and payments. Thus, they offer tablets on customer tables, allowing them to place orders and pay. However, they can do much more than that. 

No one likes to wait for their order to idly or watch others enjoying their delicious food. Thus, these tablets enable consumers to play games and quizzes to keep them entertained and engaged during that time. It is a great way to keep customers engaged and also attracts new walk-in customers. 

Conclusion

Restaurant technology is revolutionising the industry in ways that were once thought impossible. From cashless payments to self-ordering tablets, restaurants are running the innovative path to delight their customers and stay ahead of the competition. 

Out of all the technological advancements, the online food ordering system remains the most crucial. Restaurants must choose the ordering system for their restaurant wisely. 

As technology continues to evolve, the possibilities for the restaurant industry are endless, and those willing to embrace it are sure to reap the benefits. The success of any restaurant still ultimately depends on the quality of the food, the service, and the overall atmosphere, but with the help of technology, these aspects of the industry can be elevated to new heights.

The post How Restaurant Technology Is Transforming the Food Industry? appeared first on Tech Web Space.

Soul App is created to facilitate connections and self-expression.

Seizing a steadfast ascension since its 2016 genesis under the exclusive guidance of Ms Zhang, Soul App has burgeoned into a leading social platform, a standout unicorn enterprise in the Chinese market and a rising star worldwide in the social networking sector. During a press discourse, Zhang elucidated that “Soul App’s mission is to facilitate individuals in forming connections with those sharing similar interests, and foster a feeling of belonging, an aspect often challenging to discover in offline settings.” Through her unwavering determination and the integration of inventive approaches, such as interest-graph-based bond building and engaging game-like elements, Soul App has consistently captivated the younger audience.

Conventional social platforms typically emphasize online relationships built upon pre-existing real-life associations; however, Gen-Z, as true digital natives, value the ability to bond over shared experiences and ideals with like-minded users, even if they started as unknown individuals. Intrigued by this insight, Zhang came to understand that “no solitary application in the market allows users to openly voice their thoughts, recount their one-of-a-kind life events, or effortlessly convey their current emotions without any stress while receiving prompt, significant feedback.” From this vision, the innovative Soul App was brought to life.

Soul App’s unique value proposition has carved a distinct niche for itself in an increasingly crowded social media landscape. By encouraging genuine self-expression and fostering deep connections beyond superficial relationships, the platform has managed to capture the attention of an entire generation. As it continues to grow and evolve under Ms Zhang’s visionary leadership, Soul App is making a lasting impact on the way people connect, communicate, and share their lives in the digital realm, which gradually forms a warm platform ecosystem.

At present, Soul App targets to provide a social metaverse for young groups.

This unique ecosystem on Soul App later becomes a social metaverse. The social metaverse refers to a virtual, interconnected universe where users can interact, socialize, and collaborate with others in a highly immersive digital environment. It transcends traditional social boundaries, enabling users to create, share, and experience content in a more engaging and interactive manner. Soul App is building its own social metaverse by incorporating innovative features and cutting-edge technologies to create a unique, immersive user experience.

Customizable digital personas allow users to represent themselves in the metaverse, reflecting their unique identities, interests, and preferences. Avatars enable users to interact and socialize with others while maintaining a sense of personal expression. Soul App also empowers users to create and share their own content, giving everyone a voice and an opportunity to express their unique perspectives. This approach supports a diverse and inclusive community by valuing individual contributions. A decentralized architecture is employed to ensure that the metaverse is not controlled by a single entity or organization. Everyone’s voices will be heard and posts will be seen.

Meanwhile, leveraging the power of gamification, Zhang and her adept team have transformed social interactions into a more enjoyable and engaging experience by incorporating novel features. For example, this platform has introduced “Bombing Cats”, a cat-themed tactical card game, which attracts numerous users. The “Anonymous Chitchats” is also a fun feature that enables real-time group chat. These pioneering functionalities have laid the groundwork for a captivating social encounter and have significantly increased user retention. Recent data supports this: Soul App registers an average of 66.9 direct messages per individual each day, 31.5% of its monthly active users (MAUs) update personal statuses, and an impressive 87% of MAUs actively communicate and engage with others.

The future of Soul App’s development is promising and bright.

These persistent endeavors have propelled Soul App’s expansion and distinguished it from its rivals, making it one of the most esteemed applications in the market. Under Zhang’s expert guidance, Soul App’s exceptional rating by J.P. Morgan indicates that the financial sector acknowledges Ms Zhang Lu as an exemplary managerial leader and Soul App as a platform possessing a bright business future.

As Soul App continues to break boundaries and redefine social media experiences, it cements its position as a trailblazer in the industry. With Ms Zhang Lu’s strategic leadership, the company is set to soar to even greater heights, capturing the imagination of users worldwide and revolutionizing the way people connect and interact in the digital age.

The post Soul App Celebrated as a High-Growth Women-Led Business in J.P. Morgan’s Ranking List appeared first on Tech Web Space.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how luxury brands should be utilising TikTok to reach and connect with their target audience.

Create Authentic Content

Luxury brands should utilise TikTok to create authentic content that resonates with their target audience to effectively target their desired customer. Creating a persona that reflects the brand’s values and voice will help build trust and credibility with consumers. An authentic persona will also help create a more personalised and engaging experience for users. Luxury brands within all industries should aim to create content that is entertaining and engaging, while also highlighting their brand’s unique image.

On Tik Tok, users are typically offered a better experience from brands when the content feels more personable and relatable. Whilst luxury brands are within a different monetary bracket for most people, they are still able to connect with consumers with valuable content and build their reputations as household names even for the younger generations.

Use Influencers

Influencers are a powerful tool for luxury brands to connect with their target audience on TikTok. Luxury brands should work with reputable influencers who have a large following and are relevant to their industry. For example, an influencer who is planning to get married may be ideal for a luxury brand looking to showcase its vintage engagement rings. Influencers can create engaging content that showcases a brand’s products or services, giving consumers a glimpse into what the brand has to offer. Influencers can also tailor content that is more relatable to their followers, which can help increase brand awareness and loyalty.

Hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to get discovered on TikTok and increase the likelihood of videos being placed on the “for you” page. High-end brands should create and use hashtags that are relevant to their industry and brand. Hashtags can help increase brand awareness, create a sense of community by encouraging other users to use the same hashtags, and allow users to discover new products and services. Luxury brands can also create branded hashtags that are unique to their brand, which can help create a sense of exclusivity and community among their followers.

Showcase Brand Values

Luxury brands can also use TikTok to highlight their brand’s values and beliefs. This can help create an emotional and reliable connection with consumers and build brand loyalty. Luxury brands in some cases might showcase their commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, or social responsibility through engaging and authentic content. Luxury brands should ensure that any value they showcase is genuine and is not false, as things such as ‘green washing’ will be quickly identified and can cause a negative backlash against luxury brands online. 

For example, H&M features their luxury collections that emphasise their apparent sustainable values, however, this has been quickly debunked as users highlight their unethical methods of fast fashion. Being known for false values on Tik Tok is the fastest way to be called out by your 

audience and lose built cost and respect.

Engage With Users

Additionally, luxury brands can use TikTok to engage with their followers and customers to attend to any queries. Responding to comments, and messages, and engaging with other users’ content can help build a stronger relationship with consumers, especially when consumers may feel as though they won’t get a response from such a well-known brand. Luxury brands can also run contests or giveaways, which can help increase engagement and brand loyalty. Luxury brands may not be obtainable for some users, as most Tik Tok users are known to be ‘Gen Z’. However, it is estimated that by 2025, 130% of growth within luxury brands will come from the Gen Z generation, therefore ensuring that luxury brands are staying engaged with users will optimise this growth when the time comes.

Final Thoughts 

In conclusion, TikTok is an excellent platform for luxury brands to connect with their target audience. By creating authentic content, working with influencers, optimising hashtags, highlighting brand values, and engaging with users, luxury brands can increase brand awareness, build brand loyalty, and ultimately encourage sales. Luxury brands should invest in TikTok and use it as an opportunity to showcase their brand’s unique features and connect with consumers authentically.

The post How Luxury Brands Should Be Utilising TikTok appeared first on Tech Web Space.

It is not surprising that it is in large cities that the IT segment is developing for the most part. And this is not only software but also startups. Of course, they can be infinitely divided into many areas, but today we are interested in a specific one – urban tech.

Let’s see what it is and why it will be in demand!

Why is Urban Tech Attractive?

Megacities are not without reason, nicknamed “concrete jungles.” Residents of large cities are accustomed to huge neighborhoods, developed transport infrastructure, and affordable services. As we said above, megacities are financial centers that determine the number of people and the number of goods. So naturally, startups are born in an environment with a product, but it should be presented appropriately, provide the client with conditions, and generally attract the buyers themselves.

Urban tech covers all aspects of the life of a typical city dweller. You can offer them both optimization of delivery services and a mobile application that monitors traffic congestion. There are many options for startups.

Buying/selling property (car or real estate) is one of the most sought-after services in megacities due to the need for a fast lifestyle. Because of it, citizens need a convenient means of transportation (public transport is often not the best option) and housing closer to work. Therefore, the eligible purchase or rental of property is one of the client’s most pressing needs.

But in addition to trading platforms, applications for convenient payment of taxes, utilities, and other things are popular. And all this is just the tip of the urban tech iceberg. The lion’s share of ideas is occupied by sites for selling real estate. So we will just talk about them further.

Opportunities for Real Estate Startups

The more relevant product – the more sales. Axiom of any market. This is true for real estate as well. We have already answered the question “why?” above, and now we will talk a little about what conditions for sales should be created.

To create startup, you need to understand what the audience is interested in real estate. Detailing “citizens need houses,” we can formulate a list of key participants in the real estate market:

• Buyers
• Sellers
• Renters
• Investors and landlords
• Real estate agents

Each participant has their own technology requirements. A platform with a convenient, understandable interface and filtering (prices, area, distance from the center, infrastructure, etc.) is essential for a buyer. Investors need another platform. It should contain indicators of the profitability of real estate, preferably a general (and if additional monetization is introduced, then a private one) forecast.

Each market representative has basic needs. It is enough to satisfy them and give a little more, which will increase the customer focus of your startup. But besides the idea itself, creating the technical part of the site is also essential, and we’ll talk a little more about it.

To begin with, you should answer the question, “which platform to choose?”.So, app vs website disputes are still relevant, which often come down to a clear choice of one thing. Let’s say you have the opportunity to develop both the application and the web platform at the same time. Although the number of page views from smartphone is growing every day, it is common for customers to place orders through computers.

You may not have money to fund full development, so you should conduct deep market analytics. It is essential to draw up a detailed portrait of your target consumer. In addition, it is worth conducting a deep analysis of economic conditions and the relevance of specific features in your service. Technical co-founders can help you with all of the above.

The above are recommendations specifically for real estate startups. But urban tech also includes the construction of new buildings. We will talk about it in the section below.

Construction Business Startups

The sphere of construction is particular and somewhat orthodox. So firms working in this area often use interactive technologies. They allocate most of their budget for calculations, construction technologies, materials, and equipment. It doesn’t mean that there is simply nowhere to integrate new ideas in this area. It is just much more challenging to do so.

For example, you can use a mobile app for your business to increase interactivity and attract new customers. Let’s just say it takes work. Indeed, unlike the platforms on which the goods are put up for sale, one should act much more resourcefully and “thinner.” Consider the following options.

1. Flexible management

Using the application, you can adjust the materials or technologies used directly from your phone. Remote control will facilitate the work and allow it to be accelerated. After all, you can control and plan the construction in advance without burdening yourself with unnecessary paperwork.

2. Simplified bureaucracy

Building permits, contracts with city services, connecting communications, expert assessments, signing contracts with clients – all this is tons of papers. Thanks to a small application, the client and you can quickly draw up all the above documents. Of course, you will need time to connect the functions and, in general, to legalize the application – but the result will speed up the work at times.

3. VR

Interactivity will add virtual reality. It is optional to adapt the mobile application for devices like Oculus. It is enough just to visualize the future project. Clients can edit the shape of the rooms (if possible), the furnishings, and the overall look.

Summing up, the ideas we have presented are some kind of tips. Indeed you already have blanks and plans for original and possibly breakthrough projects. The main thing to remember is the technical side of the issue, and if you have any difficulties, seek help from professional IT providers.

The post Prospective Ideas for Urban Tech Startups appeared first on Tech Web Space.

What is Remote Development?

Remote development, also commonly known as outsourcing development, is the approach to building a digital product by outsourcing your IT service requirements to an external developer/ team of developers. The global market for IT outsourcing is forecasted to reach USD 1065.10 billion by the end of 2030, proving the concept’s exquisite demand among business founders.

Here, your digital product is developed outside your organization by either a freelancer or an IT company specializing in design and development-related services. It is important to note that the latter option is widely preferred by businesses as hiring freelance developers comes with numerous challenges and hurdles, making it a not-so-preferable mode of outsourcing. For this reason, we will be focusing on the ‘outsourcing to an agency’ approach in this blog.

You must know that outsourcing is in contrast to the more commonly known ‘in-house development’ approach, where businesses hire a complete team of business analysts, designers, developers, and QA testers to work on the project. Both of their approaches have their own advantages, drawbacks, and implementations.

Today, businesses hire remote developers to outsource website development, mobile app development, software development, and other IT-related services like upgradation, maintenance, migration, etc. This trend especially became popular in 2020, when more and more businesses realized the potential and scope of remote work and, consequently, remote development.

However, regardless of the tremendous advantages that outsourcing development offers to businesses, let us tell you that this option might or might not be the best match for your requirements. Moving further, we will take a look at different situations where it is a good idea for businesses to hire remote developers for their projects and cases when this option is not so perfect for your IT requirements.

Make sure to read carefully, as by understanding these factors, you will be able to determine why and why not outsourcing development can be a great option for your business.

When is Remote Development Ideal?

Less Time-to-market Availability

Time to market is the duration between the product’s ideation and actual launch. Generally speaking, this duration is what comprises the software development life cycle. The time that your product’s development will take will depend on numerous factors, such as:

• Team size
• Number of features
• Technologies
• Product’s complexity

In an unfavorable scenario, these factors will directly add to your product’s time to market and will delay its launch. For many businesses, this is not a feasible option as, for them, a higher time to market is directly equivalent to increased cost of development and delayed launch.

However, by outsourcing your IT requirements, you can easily ensure that your product is developed within a minimum time frame. This is because IT service companies offering remote development services integrate numerous models into your project to speed up its development process.

Therefore, if you want to reduce your product’s time to market and boost its launch, outsourcing your IT requirements and hiring remote developers for your project is the best choice.

Tight Budget

It is a commonly known fact that most startup businesses struggle with capital investment and funding. In this case, it is challenging and often impractical for businesses to invest additionally in digitalization and build a digital product.

Owing to this factor, many startup businesses abandon the idea of digitalization altogether and stick to traditional business approaches. However, let us tell you outsourcing makes it possible for businesses to get a world-class digital product at a relatively lower cost.

When you decide to outsource your IT requirements, you can hire developers from anywhere in the world. This includes hiring developers from Asian and African countries, where software development rates can be as low as $15/hr and $20/hr, respectively.

This can help businesses optimize the overall cost of their project and get a digital product without burning a hole in their pocket. This factor is often missing in in-house development, where development costs go sky-high for businesses based in countries with high software development rates.

Low Complexity of Project

Whether to hire remote developers for your project or hire an in-house development team is a decision that is tremendously influenced by the overall complexity of your project. Generally speaking, outsourcing development is ideal for products with low to moderate complexity and, in some cases, even high complexity.

This is because these products do not require the constant involvement of a development team. The only time you will need a developer’s assistance will be when you want to add new features, eliminate bugs, or migrate your platform. IT service outsourcing agencies offer most of these services as a part of their post-sales support.

Therefore, if you are planning to build a simple website for your company, an eCommerce application, or any other digital product of relatively low complexity, outsourcing your IT requirements is an ideal option in most cases. Moreover, in case you want to upscale your platform to a higher complexity, you can always hire an in-house development team later. This way, you can get assurance on your market ideas without spending an enormous amount of capital that otherwise goes for in-house development.

Lack of Technology Expertise

It is commonly known that developing a digital product is not a cakewalk process and requires extensive technological expertise. As a result, if you are planning to build a digital product for your startup, you should be thoroughly aware of numerous aspects of digital technology, like programming languages, database technologies, cloud technologies, third-party APIs, etc.

Moreover, one must also be aware of the latest technology trends and development practices. This will help you make the best decisions for your project and build a high-end product. In case you are not familiar with the technical aspect of product development, you will need to hire a technical expert for your project.

Alternatively, you can outsource your IT requirements to an agency. Here, an experienced IT service company takes care of your project and makes all the tech-related decisions. These agencies hold immense experience in the tech sector and are, therefore, capable of making adequate decisions for your digital product.

Scarcity of Skilled Talent

In order to build a high-quality digital product for your startup, it is essential to have a skilled development team for the project. This includes hiring experienced personnel for the non-technical (market research, feature planning) as well as technical (UI/UX design, programming, QA engineering, and launch) stages of the software development life cycle.

However, businesses find it challenging to source skilled and experienced talent for their project. In this case, most startups settle for an inexperienced development team which often results in the development of a low-quality product. Naturally, such products are not only of substandard quality but also have high chances of market failure.

Therefore, if you are struggling to find adequately skilled human resources to work on your project, it is in your best interest to outsource your IT requirements to an agency. Today, most IT agencies hire skilled and experienced personnel to work on their client’s projects. This ensures that your product is developed by experts and, therefore, is of superior quality.

These were some of the most common cases in which businesses should opt for remote development over in-house development. Moving further, we will take a look at cases when hiring a remote development team isn’t an ideal option for businesses.

When is Remote Development Unideal?

Complex Idea Communication

The key to creating a high-quality digital product is practicing clear and transparent communication throughout the development lifecycle. It is essential for business analysts, UI/UX designers, programmers, and QA engineers to be on the same page at all times for optimal results.

The better communication you have with the development team, the easier it will be to complete the project. Generally speaking, communicating ideas and requirements is easier with an in-house team as compared to a remote development team. This is because the in-house team is constantly available and easily accessible on your office’s premises, a factor that remote development teams lag in.

Therefore, if your project requires complex idea communication and frequent changes, outsourcing might not be the best option for you. This is because setting up a meeting with the development team and explaining your exact requirements to the developers can often be challenging with remote development.

In contrast to this, in-house teams are available at most times for a meeting and can easily be contacted. This makes in-house development an easier and more practical approach for such businesses.

Large-scale Project

The present-day remote development teams and development outsourcing agencies are capable of offering world-class solutions for projects of every scale and size. However, if you are planning to build an enormous platform like Amazon, remote development might not be the best option for you.

This is because developing such large-scale products requires dedicated development teams to work not only on developing the platform but also on post-launch maintenance. Enterprises like Amazon and Microsoft hire development teams that constantly work on the platform.

Therefore, if you are planning to build a large-scale product, it is the best idea to hire an in-house development team to work on the project.

Limited Trust

Trusting the development team is important when planning to build a digital product. Businesses that fail to understand this factor often suffer from a poorly conducted development process. This directly impacts the end quality of digital products and leads to business losses.

Therefore, one must determine whether or not they will be able to trust an external development partner before choosing whether to go with in-house development or choose the outsourcing approach.

This is one of the major reasons why many businesses refrain from outsourcing their IT requirements and stick to in-house development. Most businesses do not trust remote developers and find the remote development model to be unsuitable to their requirements. This makes development outsourcing an unfit option for digital product development and leaves startups with no choice but to hire in-house developers.

More Control

Many businesses prefer to exercise control over their development project and oversee every stage of the software development life cycle. However, it is commonly understood that exercising this control over the development process is not possible with remote development.

This is mainly because these IT service agencies have a project manager to oversee the project on the business’s behalf and as an intermediary between the business owner and the development team. Many business owners do not prefer this approach and want to oversee the project by themself.

This is one factor where remote development is unideal for your business. You can rather hire an in-house team and exercise complete control over your project. This will help you take charge of the development process and will enable you to mold it as per your requirements. However, let us tell you that if you are planning to manage your project on your own, you must be thoroughly aware of the latest technologies and tech trends.

Infrastructure Readiness

Designing and developing a digital product includes high infrastructure requirements. To explain, a business needs to provide numerous facilities to the development team to work efficiently on the project. Remote development is the best option for businesses that are not willing to invest additionally in infrastructure.

This is because infrastructure simply adds up to the total cost of the project and often makes the idea of digitalization economically unfeasible. However, if you have an infrastructure ready in your organization, you can safely go with in-house development.

This is usually the case with businesses that are not short of capital and receive ample funding from investors. Here, businesses can spend additionally without hesitation and provide world-class facilities to the development team and benefit from in-house development.

We hope that by now, you would have determined whether or not you want to go with the remote development approach. If you are sure that remote development is the best option for your startup’s digitalization objective, keep on reading as in the following section, we have provided a step-by-step process to hire an IT service outsourcing agency for your project.

How to Find Remote Developers?

Search

Here, you have to search for IT service agencies to work on your project. You can do this by utilizing IT company listing platforms like Clutch and GoodFirms and finding development agencies based in the location of your choice. You can fire search queries that are relevant to your requirements on search engines (like Google and Bing).

Pitch

Once you have prepared a list of all the development agencies offering the services you are looking for, you can connect with them and send them your requirements. This will enable the agencies to understand your project and determine the development roadmap.

Get Input

Once the agencies have understood your requirements, they will provide you with their input on the ideas. This often includes new features, monetization strategies, innovative concepts, and, most importantly, development cost and timeline.

Shortlist & Interview

This step involves shortlisting the agencies based on the inputs received in the previous step. Most businesses use development cost and timeline as the primary criteria for this purpose. Once shortlisted, you can go ahead and interview the selected companies and negotiate the deal.

Close Deal

After interviewing a few companies, you have to make the decision upon the choice of a development partner and close the deal with them. This step also includes negotiating the terms of the agreement and signing the contract with the development partner. Once the deal is closed, the development team will start working on the project.

The Bottom Line

Remote development is one of the most popular approaches among businesses planning digitalization. This is especially the case with startup businesses, as developing a digital product remotely comes with numerous benefits.

However, let us tell you that remote development is not ideal for all businesses and might not be the best choice for your project. All of this depends upon your project’s requirements and your business objectives.

We hope that by reading this blog, you have been able to determine whether or not to go with this option and how exactly you can adopt this approach if you decide to do so. By adhering to the approaches and following the process given in the blog, you are likely to build a world-class digital product for your business and benefit from your investment in digitalization.

The post When and How Remote Development is the Best Choice for Digital Start-ups? [Complete Information] appeared first on Tech Web Space.

With the advent of the digital norm, now online shopping has become the go-to option for many consumers. It has given the right options to buyers with convenience and the ability to shop for the latest trends from the comfort of their homes. With the rise in online shopping, retailers have had to shift their focus to digital marketing and e-commerce. This shift has allowed businesses to reach out to customers in new and more efficient ways with emerging technology trends in retail industry.

Advanced technologies redefining the retail industry

As businesses continue looking for ways to improve their customer experience, they should consider partnering with retail software developers to help them create customized solutions for their specific needs. 

By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, businesses can gain a competitive advantage and create a better customer shopping experience. 

With the help of new technologies, retailers can create a more engaging shopping experience for their customers. They can offer personalized recommendations, tailored discounts, and interactive experiences, retailers can create a more engaging shopping experience that encourages customers to return to their stores. 

Advanced technologies are transforming the retail industry and providing businesses with the tools they need to stay competitive. If you too are willing to unleash emerging technology trends in retail industry, then this blog is your guide hook to. 

Let’s discuss seven retail technology trends shaping business outcomes in 2023.

PoS system integration

With the growth of online shopping, businesses need to have a Point of Sale (PoS) system that can manage both in-person and online transactions. This can be done by integrating inventory, promotions, and customer service tools into the PoS system.

This allows businesses to streamline operations and ensure customers can easily access their desired products. 

Indoor Positioning

Indoor navigation can help customers find the products they need quickly and easily, eliminating the need to wander around or ask staff for help. It can also personalize the shopping experience by providing customers with tailored recommendations and discounts.

It can be used to measure customer traffic and store performance, allowing companies to make more informed decisions about their business.

AR for retail

Virtual fitting rooms, AR navigation, and other AR experiences are becoming more commonplace in retail stores. 

This technology allows customers to try on clothing virtually, get directions through stores more efficiently, and have a more immersive shopping experience. 

As a result, those retailers that don’t have these features are at a disadvantage and will likely see fewer customers and lower sales.

AI-driven demand forecast

AI technology can also be used to improve inventory planning by using predictive analytics to anticipate customer demand, automate ordering processes, and optimize stock levels. 

It can also be used to improve relationships with customers and suppliers by providing personalized customer experiences and managing supplier relationships. 

Finally, AI can be used for marketing purposes, such as personalizing ads and offers, optimizing marketing campaigns, and recommending products to customers.

Self-checkout with Artificial Intelligence

Self-checkout technology has become more advanced in recent years. Allowing customers to quickly and easily pay for their items without waiting in line. 

mobile apps in retail industry are burgeoning at a rapid scale. And this technology can automatically scan items, calculate the total cost of the purchase. And accept payment via various methods, including debit and credit cards and contactless payment options. 

Self-checkout technology also helps retailers save on labor costs and increase efficiency in their stores. It can help reduce shrinkage and improve customer satisfaction. As customers can quickly pay for their items and be on their way.

BOPIS

Buy Online Pick Up In-store (BOPIS) is an increasingly popular shopping option for many retailers. It allows customers to shop online and pick up their orders in-store. Eliminating the need for customers to wait in line or pay for shipping. This can also benefit retailers as it helps reduce inventory costs and increase customer satisfaction. 

Voice Recognition

Voice recognition assistants are becoming increasingly popular as a tool for retailers to help build customer loyalty. By allowing customers to search for items and make purchases through voice commands. Retailers can reduce customer wait times and provide personalized experiences. 

Also, voice recognition can help bridge the gap between online and in-store experiences. Allowing customers to find more products and make more informed purchases quickly and conveniently. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction, higher sales, and improved profits for retailers.

Future of emerging tech in the retail sector

The use of technology in the retail industry has become an inevitable part of the business. And it is essential to keep up with the latest trends. Retailers are continuously looking for innovative and efficient solutions. That can help them provide their customers with a better shopping experience. 

In the coming years, retailers will be able to gain more insights into customers’ buying behaviors. And preferences with the help of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. These technologies allow retailers to personalize their services and products according to customer needs. This will not only lead to better customer experience but also increase the efficiency of their operations. 

Final Words

Retailers are taking advantage of modern technology integrated in mobile app development to improve their operations and stay ahead of the competition. 

Retail companies must create an experience that is tailored to their customer’s needs, values, and preferences. This can include providing easy access to products and services, offering personalized customer service. And integrating new technologies such as AI-powered customer service bots and self-checkout systems. 

As technology evolves, new opportunities for monetizing niche markets are emerging. Allowing retailers to capitalize on the latest trends in the industry. 

Retailers must understand the importance of embracing state-of-the-art technologies and implementing them effectively to provide customers with a more personalized and enhanced shopping experience. This will not only help them boost their customer satisfaction levels but also help them gain a competitive edge over their rivals. 

The post How Emerging Technology Trends Helping Retail Industry in Reviving Their Business appeared first on Tech Web Space.

Creativity Outside the Kitchen

Today, restaurants need to be more than four walls and a ceiling. The most successful restaurants have become destinations of sorts– places that people long to visit and return to, and not just for the food. These popular eateries go far beyond tasty dishes and hand-crafted cocktails.

Read on for 6 ways that contemporary restaurants are changing the game.

#1 Going for Curb Appeal

In the retail world, a customer will decide in seven seconds whether to purchase an item or not. The same can be said of a restaurant. To capture a potential diner’s lasting interest, you’ll want to pull them inside from the moment they lay eyes on your building. Therefore, it is incredibly important for restaurant owners to carefully consider the outer appearance of their restaurant.

While the classic hole-in-the-wall eatery can become a popular mainstay in the community, it’s best to put as much effort into your look as possible.

When designing the exterior, consider the aspects that might make a customer interested in stopping in for a bite. Be sure to consider every possible visitor, working to visualize what your potential customers see. Ensure that all signage is clear, and the premises are effectively illuminated.

#2 Taking Full Advantage of Lighting

While you aren’t likely to tear down a wall to create more windows, it is important to utilize your building’s natural light to the best of your ability.  Consider this as you work on the seating arrangement. Place the tables and chairs in a way that allows the room to get the most outside lighting. Additionally, be sure to carefully design the view outside of the windows, ensuring that customers have something pleasant to look at. Many restaurants are even using their front and back doors as an opportunity to let in fresh air and light throughout the day.

When planning for artificial lighting, consider more artsy options such as string lights, candles, tea lights, gas lamps, and more. You’ll be able to curate a distinct look with the right lighting fixtures.

#3 Giving the Entrance the “Wow” Factor

Always make it a point to think about what your customers will see as they enter your restaurant. In this Instagram-heavy world, customers tend to make every second a photo opportunity. For this reason, many innovative restaurants are choosing murals, decor walls with hanging plants, large freestanding sculptures, and the like to place at the front of their restaurant. These act as a unique way to capture a customer’s attention, as well as set your restaurant apart from competitors.

#4 Allowing Customers to be the Audience

“Theatre” is already an important part of the art of fine dining. Depending on the design of your restaurant, you may find that you can easily give diners a view of the kitchen. As your customers become the audience, the join in on the actual creation process of making the food.

If you are considering an open kitchen, installing a glass or mesh screen can add a bit of elegance and mystery to the experience. While diners will be able to get a view of the food preparation, they won’t be privy to the garbage disposal.

#5 Making Menus Actual Works of Art

A piece of art is a one-of-a-kind, awe-inspiring object. It draws the viewer in, leaving them wanting more. For this reason, many restaurants are turning their menus into art. With the right design, your customized restaurant menu will express the ambience and mood you will be trying to make. As customers read through the folded leaflets, they will be enticed by the colourful pages and the unique design.

Consider hiring a professional graphic designer to handle the imagery and branding. With the right look, your restaurant will be easily recognizable, standing out among competitors. A good graphic designer or printer will help you select papers that are attractive to the eyes and touch. Quality paper, along with the right texture and colour will change the appearance of your menu.

#6 Taking Over Social Media

With great content and graphics, your restaurant’s profiles should easily succeed on social media. Make a distinct effort to share exciting posts, with high-resolution photos and interesting copy. Many restaurants that are enjoying their fair share of Instagram popularity tend to post high-quality images of their mouth-watering dishes.

Whether they’re traditional dishes or innovative recipes, eateries with great content are always sure to post the best-looking bites. Similarly, social media is a great way to connect with customers and future diners. Encourage people to come to visit and share their experiences by using a specific hashtag for your restaurant.

Don’t let all this artistic direction go to waste; be sure to analyse how you can use these creative tips in your own restaurant. By giving these details extra attention, you’ll be sure to pull in customers that come from the experience and stay for the great food. As you work to implement these design tips, remember to keep innovation at the forefront of your mind.

The post How Businesses Are Getting In Touch With Their Creativity appeared first on Tech Web Space.

Impact of Right Domain Name

Before determining these steps, some positive impacts can’t be overlooked by having the right domain name.

• A unique and easy-to-remember domain name is more likely to resonate with online visitors, thus encouraging them to return to the website more often
• The right domain name helps in building new website visitors, and these will get an understanding of the website’s nature
• Domain names have a direct influence on the website’s SEO rankings
• If the domain name is changed or altered after the creation of the website, it could lead to snags that can become time-consuming

Steps for Determining the Right Domain Name

So, here are some easy steps to follow for determining the perfect domain name for any business website.

Step 1: Selecting the Right Set of Keywords Representing the Website

When the website owner uses keywords in his domain name, it becomes a viable option owing to the similar reasons that keywords when they’re used in the website content. Using keywords in the content and domain helps bring SEO benefits by boosting increased digital traffic, getting higher rankings for websites in the SERPs, etc. Additionally, keywords give a business’s target customers a much-enhanced visibility of the focused niche of the business website. Business owners can leverage tools like Google Keyword Planner, which assists in searching the relevant keywords having higher search volumes and lower competition. For a website and the content hosted on it, keywords act as a mirror!

Step 2: Using a Domain Name Generator

Once the keywords are shortlisted, the next step involves brainstorming ideas to select the right domain name. Choosing a domain name becomes difficult without using a specialized domain name tool, as website owners might repeatedly go over and over for the previously acquired domain names. Using a domain name generator tool helps simplify the brainstorming process and assures that the shortlisted domain names are not previously taken and can be readily purchased. To generate the right domain name, the business owner must visit the website and fetch the keyword in its search box. Based on the entered keyword, the tool generates several domain name suggestion variations from which the business owner can choose the aptest.

Step 3: Selecting the Right Domain Name with Simple Criteria

Until now, the keywords have been shortlisted, and the website owner has completed determining the domain name. The core of this step lies in choosing the best domain name. In order to get optimized and best results, selecting a domain name that aligns with the following standards is a best practice. The following are some criteria that the business owner needs to consider-

• Clear and Accurate: Generally, domain names that are longer and confusing can be difficult to remember as the user might mistype the domain name
• Creative and Memorable: Higher the domain name’s uniqueness, the higher its memorability amongst the end-users and other website visitors. Also, business owners can keep the domain names creative, something that matches their core business area
• Simpler Readability and Pronunciation: When selecting the domain name, business owners must avoid any number or special characters, as they can become confusing while pronouncing them. Domain names need to be such that they can be easily read and pronounced

Once the above criteria have been addressed, it is time to consider the domain name’s top-level domain or TLD. Online survey results have shown that the .com extension is amongst the most widely used because most users prefer a .com extension as it is quite easy to remember. TLDs are mostly applied to a specific region or country, such as .in, .ae, and .uk, to name some of these.

Step 4: Domain Name Registration

This is the last step when it comes to selecting the right domain name. Once the relevant keywords and a TLD have been finalized for the website, he needs to buy this domain name. The process of purchasing a domain name depends on the chosen hosting provider. Usually, with these hosting providers, one can buy a domain name when registering for a hosting plan.

The domain name can also be purchased separately from a domain name registrar. It is worth remembering that the web hosting provider will offer both web hosting services as well as domain name services. If the domain name is selected via domain name registrar, it can still be connected to the existing/new website of the business. It is also important for business owners to go through the domain name provider’s documentation and their support team’s approach for assistance while transferring a domain name.

Closing Remarks:

Choosing the right domain name for a website directly impacts the website’s digital performance as well as the branding of the business. Domain names also tend to affect SEO performance directly, as the search engine crawlers rank such domains higher on the SERPs that have the right blend of keywords in the domain name, matching with its parent business or service line. With the right domain name in place, business owners can easily target their audience and boost their search engine rankings. Hence, choosing the right mix of keywords is essential before finalizing or purchasing any domain name.

The post The 4-Step Guide for Selecting the Perfect Domain Name for Business Website appeared first on Tech Web Space.

Social Media’s Influence on Consumers Continues to Grow

The fact that social media influences consumers’ shopping behaviours are common knowledge at this point. But the level of influence social media campaigns have on the public is higher than ever before in 2022. Influencers in particular play a key role in consumer shopping habits when it comes to gift-giving. When buying a gift for a loved one, consumers may not know a great deal about the products their shopping for. This is why they turn to trusted influencers to find the best product quickly. 

If you want to reap the benefit of an influencer campaign while keeping costs to a minimum, consider partnering with a micro-influencer. Micro-influencers are social media personalities that have incredibly dedicated albeit niche audiences. Though these sorts of influencers tend to have smaller audiences, their followers can be every bit as dedicated as a large influencer. Micro-influencers tend to be easier and cheaper to work with because they are usually less busy and expensive. 

Omni-channel Purchases & Shipping

In the age of the internet, consumers have become accustomed to purchasing the products they want from whatever channel is most convenient to them. The forced lockdowns resulting from the pandemic have made this even more true. This is why it is important to offer your products in several locations. Investing solely in a dedicated website to sell your products isn’t enough anymore. It’s best to make your products available on as many platforms as possible. This includes third-party online marketplaces such as Amazon or Etsy and even directly through social media such as Facebook Business. Making your products easy to find on any online platform will result in more consumers making a purchase. 

Consumers have also gotten used to being able to have their products delivered to them in the method they prefer. Unfortunately, no shipping method is one size fits all. Instead, you’ll have to determine which shipping methods are most popular with your target audience. For instance, last-minute holiday shoppers will appreciate online retailers that offer expedited shipping options. Regardless of what shipping methods you decide to offer, you’ll need to ensure that your warehouse can keep up with the influx of holiday orders. Fortunately, there are shipping APIs available that can streamline your order fulfilment process. In some cases, these APIs can even automate entire processes such as label generation and package tracking.

Consumers Are Starting Their Holiday Shopping Early

Many holiday gift buyers are starting their shopping spree earlier in 2022 than in previous years. According to some studies, as much as 70% of holiday shoppers plan to start finding gifts before Thanksgiving. As a result, many businesses have extended their winter holiday sales to include some time before Thanksgiving as well. If extending your sale period is unreasonable then consider advertising for your sale earlier. This will at least give consumers the opportunity to plan for your holiday sale in advance and mark their calendars. 

Online Presence is Essential

Many holiday shoppers start their search for a gift with a simple google search for the product they want to find. Google will then show the shopper a search engine results page (SERP) with the ten web pages it thinks is most relevant. The top 3 links on this SERP will generally receive roughly the same amount of traffic as the following 7. Having a consistent online presence will help you rank higher on this list and earn you more traffic organically.

Making changes to your website with the intention of ranking higher in Google’s algorithm is called search engine optimization or SEO. One of the easiest ways you can begin optimizing your website for search is to add a blog. Blogging is the bread and butter of SEO because of how effective it is with such little investment. Creating content that your audience finds informative, entertaining, or interesting can attract more online traffic to your website. If you’re consistent with your blogging efforts then your website will start ranking higher in Google’s algorithm and you’ll have the opportunity to grow your audience. 

Conclusion

This holiday season is expected to play out a little differently than it has in earlier years. Consumers are enjoying the first winter sale without restrictions resulting from the pandemic. This means that in-person sales are expected to be high, but online sales are still likely going to dominate. To make the most of the 2022 holiday season follow these quick tips.

• Partner with influencers to capitalize on social media’s impact on shopping behaviors.
• Offer your products on as many platforms as possible. 
• Start your sale early this year!
• Maintain a consistent online presence to attract consumers.

The post <strong>Holiday Season Trends to Boost Your Sales</strong> appeared first on Tech Web Space.

Gartner predicted that more than 65% of app development will be low-code by 2024. Not to mention, the global low-code platform market size will grow at a CAGR of 28.1% during 2020-2025 and is estimated to reach 45.5 billion USD by 2025.

When it comes to low-code app development, there are a plethora of platforms available ranging from OutSystems, Kissflow, and Visual LANSA to Salesforce Lightning, monday.com, and Power Apps. Microsoft Power Apps is one such low-code platform that has been gaining strong momentum since its release in late 2015. In fact, Microsoft has been positioned as a leader in the 2021 Gartner® Magic Quadrant for Low-Code App Development Platforms for Power Apps. Furthermore, Forrester has also recognized Microsoft as a leader in The Forrester Wave: Low-Code Platforms for Professional Developers. Let’s dig deeper to understand better about Power Apps.

What is Power Apps?

Power Apps is one of the popular low-code platforms that come with a suite of apps, services, connectors, and a data platform that allows professional developers to build custom business applications and portals quickly, efficiently, and affordably. It offers pre-built templates and drag-and-drop functionality, which facilitates faster development and deployment since developers don’t need to write code line by line. In other words, Power Apps reduces traditional hand-coding, which in turn, enables rapid application development and deployment.

Besides application and portal development, Power Apps are also used for automating workflows, collaboration, data visualization and reporting, and integration with Microsoft and other third-party services such as Office Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, SharePoint, Power Automate, SQL Server, Excel, Salesforce, Outlook, OneDrive, Adobe, Dropbox, and many more. This may be one of the reasons why SMBs are investing in Power Apps. Besides SMBs, many top leading brands are also using Power Apps including EY, Bosch, H&M, PayPal, Siemens, The Walt Disney Studios, GlaxoSmithKline, and to name a few. What’s more interesting to note is that 92% of the Fortune 500 companies are leveraging the potential of Power Apps in at least one department.

According to a study conducted by Forrester Consulting, businesses that are using Power Apps witness the following financial benefits:

• 74% sharp reduction in application development cost
• 188% Increase in ROI over three years
• 3.2 hours/week of time-saving, on average

Benefits of Power Apps for SMBs

1. Expedite Application Development

In traditional application development, professional developers need to write tens of thousands of lines of code from scratch for building custom functions. On the other hand, low-code platforms like Power Apps offer pre-built templates and drag-and-drop features for building bespoke applications in a quick turnaround time. Using Power Apps, anyone can build applications they need with rich features without having any technical expertise or experience. Besides rapid development, Power Apps allows users to deploy applications at a much faster pace compared to traditional methods, which in turn, reduces time-to-market.

2. Cost-Effective App Development

On average, the cost of developing an application ranges from $5000 to $10,000. This indicates that traditional application development is highly expensive. However, you can reduce the high app development cost by nearly 75% with Power Apps. Since this low-code platform offers pre-built templates and out-of-the-box connections, developing an application using it becomes affordable. The best of developing applications using PowerApps is that it offers a subscription plan as low as $5 per user/app/month. In a nutshell, cost-effective app development could be one of the reasons behind the rising popularity of Power Apps among Startups and SMBs.

3. Unbreachable Security

Bespoke applications developed using Power Apps are highly secure since this low-code platform leverages best-in-class security solutions like Azure Active Directory and Common Data Services (CDS). Furthermore, Microsoft security solutions provide a role-based security model, which allows users to control permissions both at the application and data levels. This simply means that end users can only access the information that is relevant to them. Lastly, applications built through Power Apps are automatically GDPR-compliant.

Use Cases of Power Apps

1. Expense Approval

Expense management might seem straightforward but enterprises invest a substantial amount of time in processing expense claims since the approval process requires a lot of submissions and even a minor discrepancy can cost dearly. Having said that, a robust expense management system in place can help enterprises with quick reimbursements, particularly for a workforce that is working remotely.

With the help of Power Apps, enterprises can develop an application with a mobile interface for expense approval. Using this application, employees can claim expenses by submitting a request with attached receipts or proofs. The concerned person will receive a notification every time a new request is raised and they can approve or reject requests, view attached bills, and add comments if required. Furthermore, this expense management application can be integrated with your Accounts or HR system.

2. Employee Onboarding

Since Power Apps can be integrated seamlessly with the data stored in Microsoft applications and other third-party services, it can streamline the entire onboarding process. Using Power Apps development services, enterprises can develop an employee onboarding app that offers a host of useful resources to new joiners such as team member contact details, policy guides, and forms like 12BB for tax deduction under section 192. By developing an employee onboarding application, enterprises can also streamline the role of HR professionals.

Summing Up

Power Apps has become the go-to platform among SMBs for low-code application development since it allows you to solve unique business challenges, accelerate business transformation, and reduce cost. Besides choosing the right platform, you should look for a reliable tech partner having strong prowess in low-code application development. The simplest way to find seasoned professionals is to begin your search for popular B2B marketplaces like Clutch, GoodFirms, The Manifest, and more. Based on B2B ratings & reviews, you can shortlist the right development partner tailored to your project requirements.

The post Why SMBs Should Invest in Power Apps in 2023 appeared first on Tech Web Space.