Hiring a SaaS Development Company: All You Need to Know

Posted on November 10, 2021August 30, 2023 by mkoftielieva

Hiring a SaaS development company might be the most important decision in the entirety of your business career. The reason is that making a mistake with this team could ruin any chances of success you have. Your idea might be exceptional and your budget might be unlimited. But if you go wrong with developers, none of it will matter.

So, it’s vitally important to know how to choose the best SaaS software development company. In fact, first, you need to understand exactly what makes this company ‘the best’. Read on and find out.

Why Hire a SaaS Development Company?

Custom software development for small business is always a good idea because it helps boost business productivity and cut costs. SaaS software development services can benefit your company greatly for similar reasons. But the usefulness of software as a service goes beyond that. First and foremost, this type of software product development is beneficial to the end-user. It means that if your business is planning to sell this product instead of using it internally, you can get a competitive advantage in the market.

The main reasons why investing in the services of a SaaS development company is suitable for your business include:

SaaS products are cheaper

It’s a simple truth. SaaS software p[eroduct development is cheaper for everyone. For those who order the product, the development itself is more affordable, and so is the software license. As the solution is hosted on third-party hardware, the overall cost is going further down.

Of course, there is also a matter of the product’s complexity. When hiring a SaaS development company, you can start small. It means that at the initial launch, your product can have only a few features. Then, as it starts making money, you can employ SaaS development consulting services to improve it. Adding more features as you can afford it will make the product more cost-efficient in the long run.

You also need to remember that SaaS software products are more affordable for users. It means that it’ll be easier for you to sell them. In addition, people don’t need to have expensive hardware to run these solutions. Therefore, your target audience can expand significantly.

SaaS products are highly accessible and easy to distribute

Speaking of accessibility. With SaaS products, you can take advantage of globalization right away. Simply put, there will be able to distribute your solution worldwide with minimal effort. So, you’ll be able to target multiple markets, thus increasing your chance of success.

Sometimes, you’ll need to invest in localization or at least content translation. However, your SaaS development company might be able to help you with this and create a multilingual product. Furthermore, it means that you’ll have a headstart on the market due to your international outreach.

Another advantage of the SaaS online distribution model is that you can make good use of tiered subscriptions. This pricing model can be highly beneficial for small businesses. Especially if you plan to add more features to the product later on. Those extra features can be rolled out to your Premium subscribers first. Also, you can launch various polls and questionnaires among these subscribers to find out what features people are most interested in. This will greatly supplement the data from your SaaS development consulting company.

Your business is 100% scalable

Scalability is the name of the game today. The best thing about SaaS software development is that it enables you to build a business that’s easy to scale. In essence, the SaaS business model is scalable by default.

It’s vitally important for any startup that wants to take over the world by storm. So, this type of software development is the best way to realize an innovative app idea. Moreover, it’s a great business model to choose if you want to launch several products simultaneously. SaaS software development flexibility allows you a lot of freedom to create products users really need. And you can update and change them based on the audience’s response through comments and reviews.

What Can Go Wrong When Hiring a SaaS Development Company?

The worst thing that can happen when hiring a software development company is choosing developers not qualified to do the job. Please note that they can be superb quality professionals in some specific type of development. However, if they aren’t experts in creating SaaS products in particular, there’s a high risk of your entire project failing.

It’s because, for all their benefits, SaaS software products do have some weaknesses. And it’s essential to understand them so that you can work around them and create a reliable and secure product. The best way to achieve this is to start by talking to a SaaS development consulting company. These are people who specialize in SaaS and business analysis. Therefore, they are able to explain both strengths and weaknesses your future app might have.

The main things to look out for with SaaS software development services are:

Security

A trustworthy SaaS development company must guarantee that your product will comply with all SaaS security standards. In fact, these professionals should go a step beyond and make sure your app is safe from all current cybersecurity threats. Moreover, they need to stay aware of these threats and improve your app with regular updates to increase its security level.

Note that SaaS software products are more vulnerable to attacks due to the fact that they are hosted separately. Also, their design sometimes compromises top security features to make the product accessible.

Therefore, it’s vitally important to find a SaaS development company with expertise in securing SaaS products. Check the certifications of their cybersecurity professionals. Top certificates in this area today are:

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
NCSF (NIST Cybersecurity Framework)
CHFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator)
CISSP (Certified Information System Security Professional)
CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional)
CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)

Third-party payment systems

Integrating third-party products into a SaaS platform triples security risks by default. The matter becomes even more severe when this third-party software is a payment system. Talk to your SaaS development consulting professionals about these systems and how you will monetize your product.

If you need to add a payment system, discuss whether it’s safer to use an existing payment solution or develop your own. In some businesses and in some countries, the selection of payment processing operators might be limited. In this case, you’ll have no choice but to use one of the existing options. Therefore, a SaaS development company must have experience with this particular system. Moreover, the product must be developed with this particular integration in mind.

In addition, if your goal is to scale fast and go international, you might need to integrate additional payment providers. Discuss this with your SaaS development company to create the most efficient strategy.

System availability

Your SaaS development company must be able to ensure that the system doesn’t go offline with every update. Zero downtime deployment is vitally essential for SaaS software products that require frequent releases of new improved versions. There are some techniques that developers can use in order to minimize inconveniences to the platform’s users. You need to think through this strategy at the product development stage. It’s because such a system is a long-term project. Therefore, you must release it with optimal parameters for future updates.

However, bear in mind that zero-downtime deployment technologies will be more expensive. So you need to plan your budget very carefully.

SaaS Development Company: Best Practices

In order to provide top-quality SaaS development services, the company you hire must employ a set of specific practices. They will ensure that the software engineers and solution architects can overcome any challenges associated with the creation and launch of SaaS platforms. Moreover, adherence to the following principles will guarantee that the solution you get performs at maximum efficiency.

Developing an appropriate SaaS architecture

Designing the right architecture is crucially important to ensure a SaaS product runs smoothly and efficiently. Expert opinions differ on whether SaaS software development should be based on monolithic or microservices architecture. There are pretty solid arguments for and against both options. Therefore, it’s vital to find a SaaS development company that will be able to create the best plan for you.

Monolithic architecture is stable, which is vital for SaaS platforms. However, it’s all a vast codebase, meaning that any changes to the solution will require changing the entire thing. It’s time-consuming, complicated, and risky. However, in a big way, this disadvantage of monolithic architecture for SaaS can be offset by developing a layered architecture. In this case, ‘layers’ of code add flexibility for further improvements.

Microservices architecture is much more flexible by default because it consists of multiple components. Therefore, it’s an excellent option for highly complex SaaS solutions. But it also has drawbacks, in particular, it’s tough to manage. So, a SaaS development company that works with microservices architecture must prove that it’s capable of doing it well. Check out case studies and developers’ portfolios as proof of experience.

Also, note that the solution architect on your SaaS development project must be highly qualified and experienced. Moreover, it must have experience with this specific type of software. This expertise is necessary to make the best decisions for your product after assessing all the factors.

Setting up a CI/CD pipeline

The DevOps team of your SaaS development company must be just as experienced with this type of project. These people must ensure that your future platform is built with an integrated CI/CD pipeline.

It’s necessary to ensure that your SaaS product can be easily updated later on. The DevOps team working on your project will focus on continuous improvements and upgrades of every process. And in order to do that, the system must be designed to accommodate any of these future changes.

The entire development lifecycle of a SaaS product needs close monitoring. Therefore, CI/CD is essential to bring together the development and operation activities.

Fighting latency with CDN

Using CDN (content delivery network) during SaaS software product development helps fight latency, a problem of many SaaS platforms. It’s a highly important issue for anyone who wants to go global with the SaaS business.

CDNs, like CloudFront from Amazon, can be used to ensure that users from different countries can access all the materials within your app without suffering from latency. It means that the CDN makes the physical location of the servers irrelevant.

In order to make the most of this technology, you need a SaaS development company experienced in using CDN. So, be sure to ask what the developers plan to do in order to fight latency.

Conducting a security compliance audit

No matter how much effort you put into ensuring the security of your SaaS product, it could have more. Considering the fast-growing cybersecurity threats, you need to do everything possible to make your SaaS application safe. And your SaaS development company must understand this.

One crucial consideration during the development process is security standards compliance. If you don’t want your product to be banned, it must comply with all relevant regulations. Note that although there are international SaaS security standards, some countries have extras of their own. Therefore, it’s best to have a security audit of the application that takes all of these in mind.

You either need to hire a SaaS development and consulting provider with experts that can do this audit or hire an independent compliance expert. This might seem like too big an expense. However, it’s a must-have requirement for any SaaS business that wants to operate internationally.

What to Look for in a Provider of SaaS Software Development Services

Finding a trustworthy and experienced SaaS development company can be a challenge. As a client, you need to know exactly what to look for:

Expertise with all necessary tools and technologies

First and foremost is for the SaaS development team to have experience working with all technologies needed to create a superb SaaS platform. Go over the points listed above to see what the best practices of SaaS creation are. These are the things that your development team must know well.

Also, be sure to not only take their words for it. A trustworthy SaaS development & consulting provider must be able to back up their words with case studies. Take a look at what the company had already done and what certifications its developers and solution architects have. This way, you’ll make sure that they are adept in technologies needed to make your SaaS solutions outstanding.

Just to give you some idea, here is a list of technologies that are often used during SaaS software development:

CDN
NodeJS
.NET
Java
PHP
Angular
React
UI/UX design
AWS
Azure

This is not a complete list. However, it should give you a better perception of just how versatile the SaaS development company’s team has to be. In addition, do not forget that this team must include experienced DevOps and a top-grade solution architect.

Ability to provide streamlined agile processes

Your SaaS development company must be adept in agile software development. It’s because agile processes are far superior in cost-efficiency and productivity. Therefore, check if the company has certified PMs involved in your project.

In fact, a reliable company should tell you that they work on agile streamlined processes right away. It’s an essential advantage for software developers. Therefore, those who are accredited experts in it always make sure to include this information in their profile.

In order to provide the most efficient processes, your SaaS development team should include:

Solution architect (or several, depending on the complexity of your product)
DevOps experts
Front and back-end software developers
Project manager
QA testers

Do not forget about the importance of QA testing services for any software development project. Testers often don’t get enough credit for their work. However, without them, no solution will have a chance to succeed.

Bottom Line: Hire a SaaS Development Company You Can Trust

If you want to build a SaaS product, you need to hire a development company that is skilled and experienced in this type of projects. It’s essential to take your time exploring the options because this company will have a huge impact on your business’ success.

To find the best team, you should start with engaging SaaS development consulting services. At this stage, you’ll be able to understand what kind of services your SaaS creation team must provide.

Never forget that every SaaS product is unique. So, the development team can take several approaches to bring your ideas to life. It’s also important to understand that different companies might have different plans. They might all have strong and weak points. Therefore, you’ll need to do your own research to evaluate and compare various offers.

When searching for a SaaS development team, you should look for honesty and expertise. A team that can be trusted will openly share their credentials as well as case studies. Skilled developers are proud of their work and ready to back up their words with concrete evidence.

If this is the kind of SaaS development company you are looking for, contact us! Our expert solution architects, DevOps, and software engineers are ready to take on any challenge.

True Cost of Custom Mobile App Development Services

Posted on November 3, 2021August 30, 2023 by mkoftielieva

So, you have a fantastic idea for an app and want to make it a reality, right? So, naturally, you want to find out how much custom mobile app development services cost.

However, the answer to that question won’t be simple. It’s because the cost of end-to-end web application development is affected by many factors. Read on to learn what they are. And most importantly, find out how to manage them to get maximum value for your money.

What Custom Mobile App Development Services Are Included in the Cost?

The first thing you need to understand is that the cost of end-to-end web application development can vary quite a bit. That’s because many factors affect this number. The foremost among them is the list of custom mobile app development services included in the solution development.

In the majority of cases, custom mobile app development services include:

UI/UX design.
Designers are responsible for how the app will look like starting from layout to the final design.
Software engineering.
The engineering stage is when the app’s code is designed. Also, it’s an ongoing process that manages application development and future improvements.
Back and front-end development.
The stage when your app is actually created using the design to develop the expected functionality.
QA testing.
QA testing is an essential part of mobile application development because it ensures the app’s smooth performance.
PM services.
All the stages of the app development process must be managed efficiently. Therefore, you can’t do without a Project Manager who will keep it all running smoothly.

In essence, the list of services that go into the custom software product development mostly remains the same. However, it’s the scale and complexity of the app that dictate how much it’s going to cost. It’s because these are the main factors that determine what kind of team you need to hire.

Additional Considerations That Affect the Cost of End-toEnd Web Application Development

The main factors that influence the cost of custom mobile app development services include:

Platform the app will run on

Web and mobile apps are incredibly versatile. Therefore, they can be built using a wide range of platforms and operating systems. For example, there are well over ten great eCommerce platforms you can use to develop an online store. Each will have some advantages as well as disadvantages. So, it’s usually impossible to say that a single option is “the best” for some specific kind of development.

Also, you will need to choose whether to create a native or cross-platform app. Native apps will ensure seamless integration with your chosen system. However, if you want the app to run on multiple devices, you’ll need to develop several native solutions or a cross-platform one. It’ll often be a compromise between cost efficiency and stability of the application.

Functionality of the app

Functionality is one of the most critical factors that determine the price of end-to-end web application development. It’s because the more features you want to add, the more complex the app becomes. The more complex the development process – the more expensive it is.

It really is that simple.

Also, you’ve got to remember that cross-platform applications with comprehensive functionality can be quite tricky. The risk of bugs and crashes increases with every added feature. Therefore, you should develop a balanced app that can perform a few core functions equally well on all devices. If your mobile app idea is very ambitious, consider creating several connected apps. For example, this will be the best approach to launch some healthcare management apps that are in demand now.

Do not forget that some apps are more complex by default. For instance, mobile games are the most difficult, meaning the most expensive type of applications to develop. However, they can also bring the highest revenue. Already, the mobile gaming industry is generating over $90 billion in revenue, and this number is growing fast. So, if you want to launch an app that will bring you money, investing in game development is worth it.

Location of the custom mobile app development services provider

Location is an essential factor for end-to-end web application development. In fact, it matters on several levels. The most important is the location of your development team. In the majority of cases, they charge an hourly rate for the experts’ work. And this rate will vary greatly depending on the cost of living in the country.

Therefore, it’s unsurprising that development is the most expensive in North America (up to $250 per hour), the UK (up to $175), and Australia (up to $150). But those are also the places where the market for mobile apps is highly lucrative.

Considering this, the most cost-efficient solution is to outsource your custom mobile app development services. The best locations for this today are Ukraine ($34-64), Poland ($40-77), and India ($10-75). It’s because development companies in these countries offer the highest value for money.

Another important factor that has to do with location is the localization of your app. For example, are you only targeting one country or multiple? Do you need to create a multilingual app? If yes, will content translation suffice, or do you need to get a full-scale localization?

Bear in mind that each ‘yes’ answer to these questions will increase the application development cost. Moreover, every new language will add quite a hefty bit to it. However, you must never settle for a low-quality of localization and translation. They significantly affect the chances of your app to succeed with the target audience.

Post-Launch Support for End-to-End Web Application Development

Another crucial thing to understand is that custom mobile app development services aren’t limited to development only. Post-launch support and updates are just as important, if not more, as the development itself. It’s because your app should grow its user base and generate downloads constantly to bring revenue. Therefore, you have to make it better all the time. And it’s best to have the same team working on it.

Also, there is a cost of marketing to be considered. Your application needs promotion as well as good app store optimization so it can be noticed. Therefore, mobile app development costs are going to keep growing. The revenue it brings in must cover these continuous improvements.

In Conclusion: Should You Invest in Custom Mobile App Development Services?

According to Statista, projected revenues from mobile apps will reach $935.2 billion by 2023. Considering how the COVID-19 pandemic has sped up the development of this industry, real numbers might well exceed these forecasts. Therefore, anyone with a sense of business acumen should be looking to invest in this business.

Mobile and web apps are changing and evolving fast. They are also taking over regular downloadable software.

All things considered, if you have an idea for an app, you should go for it! Contact us if you are looking for cost-efficient custom mobile app development services, and we’ll find a way to turn your idea into a profitable business.

Dream of Creating Custom Software Development Solutions? Join Us at Devtorium IT Crowd in Vinnytsia!

Posted on October 25, 2021August 30, 2023 by mkoftielieva

If your goal is to create custom software development solutions and become a highly qualified (and highly paid) IT professional, you should join us in Vinnytsia on November 13th. On this day, you can participate in a fantastic IT Crowd event hosted by Devtorium. During it, you’ll be able to learn a lot about the latest trends and technologies in the IT industry and do some valuable networking.

Start your career in IT on the right foot by joining the IT Crowd!

How Devtorium IT Crowd Can Help Future Custom Software Development Solutions Engineers

Devtorium IT Crowd is an event made by developers for future developers and everyone else interested in the IT industry. Bear that in mind because this business is not only about developers. There are dozens of professionals who contribute to the creation of custom software development solutions. And during this event, you’ll be able to meet some of them and, perhaps, find the right career path for you.

Do you have your professional goals well-established already?

The IT Crowd event will still have plenty of value to offer. It’s because during it Devtorium’s foremost professionals will make exciting presentations about the latest technology and industry trends.

And between listening to the speeches, you’ll be able to mingle, meet new cool people, and do some networking, which is always helpful.

Of course, don’t forget tasty snacks and various cool merch.

Lastly, the event is completely free, and everyone can join by registering through this form. It will only take a minute😉

Devtorium IT Crowd Speakers: What You’ll Learn About Custom Software Development Solutions & More

Oleksii Makarov

Computer Vision: First Exposure

Oleksii Makarov is a Solution Architect and a futurist who strives to be at the edge of technological developments. During his presentation at Devtorium IT Crowd, he will talk about cutting-edge tech, such as neural networks. In particular, you are going to learn about the incredibly complex field, which is computer vision.

At first glance, this technology’s presentation appears simple. Computer vision is using the power of computers to automate and process tasks in a manner similar to how the human visual apparatus processes information.

However, from the technological perspective, it’s anything but simple. In fact, one could argue that computer vision is one of the most complex fields of technological development at the moment. And Oleksii, an expert in this area, will tell you more about exactly what it is and how it works in the real world right now.

Oleksandr Volynets

Designing Modern Web Application

Oleksandr is a Solution Architect and an expert in creating web applications. During the IT Crowd event, he is going to share his extensive knowledge of web development. You’ll learn about what it takes to build a web application that stands out and runs smoothly.

Moreover, you’ll learn about the microservices and monolith types of web application architecture. Oleksandr will explain the strong and weak points of each and compare these technologies. By the end of it, you’ll know exactly what web architecture is and how different architectures can be used to create the solution you need.

Andrii Bohatyr

Architecting Cloud-Native Applications

Andrii is the Head of Development at Devtorium and he will share insights into the top trending software engineering technology today, which is the cloud. During his speech, he will explain how to create scalable, reliable, and cost-effective applications using cloud-native architecture. Solutions created with this architecture can be applied in a variety of environments. Andrii will tell you how to create applications designed for private and public clouds, as well as hybrid varieties.

Cloud-native applications have their own natural capabilities. Those are essentially what differentiates them from cloud-based applications. They have their own set of best practices that foster numerous benefits. The cloud-native application market has grown by about 40% last year, and it keeps going. Therefore, cloud-native arch9itecture is one of the essential things for a modern developer to know now.

Daryna Volynets

What Is a Business Analyst? Devtorium BA Internship Program

Daryna has been a Business Analyst for three and a half years. During that time, she achieved impressive results. During her presentation, she will explain what a BA does and how their work contributed to the success of custom software development solutions.

Moreover, she will share information about Devtorium’s internship program for Business Analysts. If you are interested in exploring this side of the IT profession, you can join us as a trainee and grow all the way up to a top-notch certified BA expert.

Remember, the world is ruled by data now. And business analysts are extremely valuable for any organization.

Devtorium IT Crowd: Introduction to the World of Custom Software Development Solutions

Technologies are changing and developing rapidly. Being a developer means that you must always stay at the forefront of these changes. Whether you are just planning to join the IT industry or are already working there, Devtorium IT Crowd will indeed have a lot to offer. Join us at the Artinov Creative Space in Vinnytsia on November 13 and see for yourself!

SaaS Development Services: How to Build a SaaS Product

Posted on October 13, 2021August 30, 2023 by mkoftielieva

Investing in SaaS development services can be the best decision of your life. For one, this is the most cost-efficient way to launch an application these days. Second, SaaS platforms are flexible and can be adapted to multiple industries. It means that the customer pool for your product can be all but endless.

Sounds interesting?

Keep reading to learn how SaaS software development can help achieve your business goals. And get inspired with ideas for your own product.

What Are SaaS Development Services and Who Needs Them?

SaaS software development has become extremely popular nowadays because it allows people to use great solutions regardless of their hardware power. SaaS is not some specific type of software in itself but a method of delivering apps to the user. The solution is hosted by the product owner or on the SaaS application development company’s servers. Therefore, the user doesn’t have to download and install anything on their own computer.

The user might need to install a client app to access the SaaS product from their PC or smartphone in some cases. However, these solutions are relatively simple and don’t have high hardware requirements.

The majority of SaaS applications can be accessed using a regular web browser. That’s why it’s often referred to as SaaS web development.

Because there are usually no hardware or software requirements for SaaS products everyone can use them. Therefore, SaaS development services are in demand for every type of software. So it doesn’t matter what your target industry is, developing a SaaS product is always a good idea.

In fact, you should research your niche and see what your competitors do. If they aren’t offering this type of service, you are already ahead by choosing it.

But remember, SaaS is a subscription service. So you’ll need to work on product improvements and marketing continuously. Your goal will be to retain the loyalty of your customers. For this, you’ll need to compete against newer and more innovative apps.

That said, SaaS application development can be extremely rewarding. But it’s also a continuous challenge that will require you to keep getting better.

Benefits of Using SaaS Development Services

The benefits of hiring a SaaS development company to bring your ideas to life are many. The most notable of them is that it’s sure to be lucrative because SaaS products have advantages that customers love. Better yet, these same advantages will benefit you as well as the users of your product.

The most important of them are:

SaaS development services are highly cost-efficient, and the product is affordable for the end-user. For you as a SaaS owner, the product will cost less compared to developing a top-grade solution that must be perfect and fully stacked at launch. In addition, SaaS software development is highly flexible. Therefore, you can launch a product with only a few essential features that you can afford now. Then, you’ll keep adding more and improving it as your revenue grows. Perhaps, you might even be able to develop a series of related products, like multiple Google Apps Services.
SaaS web development is faster. For you, it’s because developing a smaller product takes less time than creating a large multi-functional downloadable solution. For the user, SaaS products are great because they are quick to set up. In the majority of cases, one can start using this solution within a few minutes as there are no mandatory downloads or other time (and bandwidth) consuming tasks. However, do not forget that you must make the signup process as simple as possible. Otherwise, you risk losing users before they even try your product.
SaaS software development produces a highly accessible product. Of course, as a product owner, you will love this because your consumer base will be huge. But, on the other hand, users enjoy this particular perk because it enables them to access top-grade solutions regardless of how good their hardware is.

Business Perks of SaaS Development Services: Why Your App Can Bring Money

When building a successful business is your primary goal, a SaaS development company can become your greatest ally because:

SaaS products generate a regular stream of revenue.
That’s the primary and most important advantage of the SaaS business model. Subscriptions bring you revenue monthly. And if you roll out improvements regularly, this stream of income will keep growing.
SaaS application development allows you to create a secure product. It’ll be a major selling point for consumers today. For you as a business owner, ensuring the highest possible security level is a top priority. Remember that the year 2021 saw the cost of data breaches reach a shocking $4.24 million! This number is sure to keep rising with every passing year. So, invest in security improvements all the time. The fact that SaaS web development allows for constant improvement is another significant advantage. Due to this, you’ll be able to update cybersecurity features as soon as new threats pop up.
Flexible subscription plans make SaaS apps even more accessible. Therefore, you can reach a wider audience with the solution. Moreover, you can expand your customer base greatly by offering a free subscription. At this point, your app can generate revenue through advertisements.
Using the services of an experienced SaaS development company and good hosting will make your app very reliable. Obviously, the consumers will love this, thus increasing your number of subscriptions. However, the main advantage for you is that you won’t lose users in droves because of some basic bug or server failure. But note that you need to make sure the servers that host your app are distributed across the globe. This way, even if some server crashes, the solution won’t go down completely.

SaaS Software Development: Types of Apps

SaaS development services are flexible and versatile. Therefore, the apps created with them can be used for a variety of industries. If you are looking for inspiration for your product, the most popular applications of the SaaS model are:

eCommerce SaaS Application Development

SaaS development services for eCommerce are among the most complex and most popular. Essentially, eCommerce SaaS are solutions like Shopify, BigCommerce, and other top eCommerce platforms. These platforms enable the user to create and sometimes even host their own online store. As the online shopping niche is highly demanding, a platform like this will require a lot of features. Absolute must-haves are shipping and delivery tracking, payment processing, SEO, CRM, warehouse management, product management, and order processing.

If you consider eCommerce SaaS application development, be aware that it will require a significant investment. This niche is extremely competitive, and its leaders are giants that are nearly impossible to get close to.

Vertical SaaS Software Development

Vertical SaaS application development is a more promising niche for beginners. First, with this type of app, you’ll need to choose a niche. Then, create a product that will help improve business processes within it.

Such solutions are diverse, but all of them are focused on optimization. In this case, developing a highly specialized solution will be a benefit. It will enable you to offer the best possible result to the customer. Therefore, it makes sense to create a subscription plan that offers top-grade customization. Essentially, it means your SaaS development company will need to personalize the product to fit the needs of every customer.

CRM SaaS Applications

One of the top examples of a SaaS Customer Relationship Management system is HubSpot. This type of solution needs to integrate with a variety of systems in order to fit into business processes effectively.

If you want to apply your talents in SaaS development services to this niche, you’ll need to create a solution that automates marketing tasks. Note that CRM systems are an integral part of the sales process as well. Ultimately, the goal of this SaaS platform is to facilitate the business’ relationship with customers.

Nowadays, personalization is one of the main requirements by consumers in any industry. Therefore, advanced CRM systems that allow for detailed segmentation and targeting are in high demand.

Enterprise SaaS Development Services (ERP)

Enterprise SaaS software development is extremely versatile. It’s because enterprise requirements are enormous, and these companies often need unique custom-tailored products. For example, many big companies use SaaS development services to create ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software, like Oracle.

In order to be useful to such big customers, enterprise SaaS platforms need to have tremendous processing power. They also have to integrate easily with other popular management systems.

SaaS products for Collaboration

In the era of remote work and digital nomads, collaboration software is a highly lucrative niche. These SaaS platforms vary in functionality, for example, Asana and Miro. Such platforms aim to provide remote teams a space to connect, share, and track the progress of various tasks. Some of them will also have integrated messenger systems and video conferencing tools.

This niche is growing fast. However, it’s still a fantastic opportunity for your SaaS development services because the demand grows even faster. But to make a solution with a chance at success as collaborative SaaS, you have to do detailed market research. Find out what exactly is lacking in the most popular tools to create your unique selling proposition.

Project Management SaaS Solutions

Project management platforms are, in essence, a more ‘formal’ variation of collaborative SaaS software. Tools like Jira are essential for businesses today as they maximize the efficiency of remote teams.

Note that these tools can also be adapted for unique enterprise needs. Therefore, you have a lot of room for creativity with this type of SaaS web development.

SaaS Software Development for Billing

SaaS billing solutions are extremely popular with small and medium businesses. Tools like Zoho help these companies do their bookkeeping without hiring in-house accountants.

These tools are also highly useful for eCommerce. So, there are a lot of areas for you to target with such products. But bear in mind that this SaaS must be extremely secure and efficient as well as comply with legal requirements.

SaaS Development Services for Data Analytics

Some SaaS platforms take a completely different look at business optimization. For example, AI-based software like Marquètte can be used for data analytics. This platform processes vast blocks of data to provide a forecast or analysis of specific industries.

Companies can use this type of SaaS platform to predict trends and adjust their business and marketing plans. Big Data analytics is costly if you hire a specialized company for it. However, AI can make this service much more affordable. Therefore, such a platform enables small businesses to use the power of Big Data.

SaaS Application Development Process Explained

Market Analysis

The first thing to do before finalizing your app idea is to analyze the market. You have to determine two things:

What apps already exist in the niche (your competition)?
What are the features your target audience is most interested in?

Only armed with these answers can you come up with a concept that will have a chance to succeed. Your objective is to develop a unique selling proposition that will make you stand out from the competition. Moreover, you will get the ability to understand what it is that can offer value to your prospective customers.

Determine SaaS Requirements

This is more of an analysis step as well. The requirements you need to consider are consumer demands such as usability, UI/UX design, and security.

During this step, you’ve got to understand how to use SaaS development services to adapt to the ever-changing demands. You need to plan your platform to be flexible. Therefore, you must outline priority directions in which it will need to evolve.

Define the MVP

MVP, or a minimal viable product, is the core of your future SaaS solution. This is what you’ll take to developers or show investors. You need to define it in order to calculate the costs of SaaS development services.

To define your MVP, you have to answer questions like:

Who are your target customers?
What is their main problem that you are going to solve?
How are you going to solve this problem?
Can you offer several solutions?

Set the Pricing Model

SaaS software development relies on the subscription payment model. Therefore, you need to decide how exactly you are going to charge your customers for the use of the platform.

The most popular subscription payment plans are:

Flat rate: when you charge a set price for the product or sets of features.
Pay per feature.
Usage-based plan: when the user pays based on the time/amount of using the platform.
Freemium: when the user has a free basic subscription but pays for a broader set of premium features.
Pay per active user: when any active user pays a set amount.

Set Technical Requirements

At this stage, you have to consult a SaaS development company to outline the product’s technical requirements. But remember to keep in mind your target audience. Do your research to understand what devices they use most often.

Your platform’s technical requirements must aim to fit the most basic devices used by the consumers. It’ll ensure maximum accessibility.

Finalize the Budget

Now that you understand what it is that you need to make, you must finalize your budget. Then, evaluate your available funds and either start development or keep looking for investors.

As an option, consider investing in minimal SaaS development services. But build a business plan that will allow you to reinvest a large portion of revenue into further product development.

Also, consider that your budget must not only be limited to development costs. You also need to market your app. In addition, you need to set aside an emergency fund to deal with any possible issues or bugs.

Start Working with the Development Team

Finally, you’ve got to hire a trustworthy SaaS development company. It’s essential to find a team that has experience creating the type of SaaS products you want to make. Moreover, choose a company that has relevant certifications. Finally, you need to be sure that these people are experts in what they do.

However, personalities also matter when choosing a SaaS application development company. You should look for people you are comfortable with to discuss ideas and share your vision. Also, they must show a high level of professionalism and organization. That way, you can be sure that they will indeed be able to deliver top-quality results.

Lastly, look for a SaaS development company that employs multiple professionals with different specializations. You need to be sure that these people will be able to handle everything ‘in-house’. It’s crucial to avoid dispersing your product development across several contractors. Having everything done by one team will increase the quality of the final product.

SaaS development services providers vary greatly. Therefore, you’ve got to take your time and explore your options. Make sure that you are hiring a team you can trust completely.

In Conclusion: Is Hiring a SaaS Development Company Right for You?

Now is the time to invest in SaaS development services if you have a great app idea. In case you don’t have one yet, check out this post for inspiration.

The demand for high-quality software that helps automate and optimize various processes is huge now. Therefore, if you have an opportunity, you should consider entering this industry. SaaS software development, in particular, is a good business model due to its cost-efficiency and relatively low entry capital requirements.

If you have any questions regarding SaaS, creating your own product, or how much it will cost, contact us anytime! Devtorium offers SaaS development consulting services to all businesses and private entrepreneurs with ambitious ideas.

How AI Based Software Development Is Transforming Healthcare

Posted on October 6, 2021August 30, 2023 by mkoftielieva

When you hear about AI-based software development for healthcare, what do you imagine this tech can do? Are you thinking about AI-powered devices that tune into your brainwaves? Or do you think of technology capable of diagnosing diseases remotely? Perhaps, you can even imagine talking to a robot-therapist?

Or do these things sound like something out of a sci-fi movie?

It turns out that all of it is true now. The applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare are revolutionizing many medical fields. Already, VR and AR solutions can help people who had almost no hope for recovery only a decade ago. Moreover, various methods of AI automation in healthcare make help available to those living in remote communities.

AI technology is literally saving lives. Keep reading to find out how it does it and what we can expect to see in the future.

Uses of AI-Based Software Development in Healthcare 2021

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Assisted Therapy

The most basic form of AI-assisted therapy is the use of a chatbot for primary therapeutic interventions. Basically, the AI acts as a therapist and offers support and guidance in a patient’s moment of need.

The efficiency of psychotherapy has long been proven. But now, you might wonder whether Artificial Intelligence can replicate the effects of talking to a human therapist.

According to an extensive study from Stanford University, AI is capable of effectively helping people suffering from anxiety and depression.

The most crucial benefit of AI-assisted therapy is that it makes mental healthcare accessible to people who have no other way to get it. At the moment, there are both free and paid therapy apps that offer different interventions for depression and anxiety. The user, essentially, receives a type of self-guided therapy with AI acting as an assistant on this path.

Chatbots can also be used as support in a traditional therapy course. Patients can turn to them between sessions when they require immediate help. This both improves the patient’s mental state and makes therapy more affordable.

Moreover, chatbots do not only offer support and guidance. These healthcare AI software solutions also collect data about your condition daily. Then, they can analyze this data to provide insights into anxiety or depression-inducing patterns that a therapist can use to improve your treatment.

Using the app, you can also track your own progress. In itself, this kind of tracking can be highly beneficial for a person struggling with challenges, like depression. To have tangible proof of one’s positive progress is a vital motivator.

AI Automation in Healthcare: Chatbots and Telehealth for Remote Areas

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted many problems within the healthcare system. One of the biggest among them is a desperate need to make healthcare services more accessible. And AI-based software development can do that.

Conversational artificial intelligence and telemedicine have saved hundreds of lives already. Moreover, these technologies are fast becoming indispensable for offering preliminary diagnostics and ongoing treatments.

Healthcare AI software solutions allow doctors to stay connected with patients no matter where they are located. In addition, they can offer basic education, support, and guidance to people who require immediate help or ongoing supportive treatments.

The potential of artificial intelligence in these areas is immense, states a study published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Its full transformative power can be realized in rural areas, especially in developing countries where access to healthcare is limited. And the situation got exponentially worse with the added strain of pandemic restrictions.

At the moment, there are technologies in development that will enable immediate and effective use of telemedicine in emergencies. However, this field is only growing. Therefore, everyone with ambitions to create an outstanding app that can change the world should consider this industry.

AI-Based Software Development: VR Treatments for PTSD

Exposure therapy has proven to be a highly effective treatment for phobias and PTSD. VR tech has the power to enhance these treatments and make them much more accessible. Already, there is solid evidence that VRET (VR Exposure Therapy) can help treat phobias. In addition, studies of using this treatment as part of PTSD therapy showed positive results, reports Frontiers.

Unfortunately, at the moment, this technology isn’t widely available in clinics. Therefore, applications of VRET are limited. Also, there are only studies conducted with soldiers and veterans. Therefore, broader possibilities of VR healthcare AI solutions are still unexplored.

However, there is hope that making the tech accessible will enable researchers and therapists to develop more effective treatments. We are only starting to acknowledge the severity of the impact that PTSD has on society as a whole. And while there are some effective treatments for this condition, they are limited. So, this branch of applying artificial intelligence in healthcare is still full of possibilities.

Specialized Healthcare AI Software Solutions: Healium

The applications of AI-based software development for healthcare take many forms. But none of them so far are as futuristic as Healium, an app that tunes into your brainwaves. The app claims to be an ‘immersive media’, as Healium’s CEO said to Forbes.

This app uses wearable devices to ‘read’ the body’s electricity and help users create their own unique relaxing world. The goal of Healium is to help fight anxiety and ease stress management.

The app uses a combination of AR and VR tech, game design, and storytelling, all powered by research in neuroscience. The result is a solution that can help people manage anxiety through techniques of immersive meditation.

Healium is currently unique, but its rising popularity indicates that it won’t be the only app of this kind. The pandemic made anxiety levels skyrocket worldwide. Therefore, various stress-reducing techniques are popular as never before. Artificial intelligence applications in healthcare are most efficient for this purpose as AI can adapt to every user’s individual needs. Therefore, it can offer highly personalized treatments.

AI-Based Software Development in Healthcare: Prescription Video Games

Here is the validation of all those hours spent playing by all computer gamers worldwide. FDA approved the first computer game as a valid treatment for children with ADHD. Granted, it’s not an excuse to spend 14 hours playing PUBG every day. However, it’s clear evidence that games can be a power for good.

Prescription games are very different from regular ones. But they rely on the same interactive technology. The first-ever FDA-approved game went through seven years of clinical trials and proved that an interactive play could make a quality change for some people’s lives.

At the moment, this technology is only used for ADHD. But the potential for applying AI-based software development in this area is tremendous. So, if you have an app idea, you should go for it!

Bottom Line: AI-Based Software Development for Healthcare Is Saving Lives

There are many uses for artificial intelligence in healthcare and even more are possible. This is a field that requires more ideas and products that can improve and even save countless people’s lives. Today, there are solutions that make healthcare accessible. But there is a lot of room for growth. An experienced AI software development team working with scientists and powered by innovative ideas can transform the world by improving healthcare.

QA Software Testing Basics: Functional Testing

Posted on September 29, 2021August 30, 2023 by mkoftielieva

Did you know that a third of all users will delete an app after encountering a single bug? That’s how vital QA software testing is!

Software testing and QA services are essential if you want to launch a product that can really make it to success. Quality Assurance is what gives you a fighting chance. But you need to understand that many processes go into ensuring the quality of the product. Simply put, many types of testing need to be performed. And you have to use all of them to crush all the bugs.

This article will help you in this by explaining all about functional testing.

Functional QA Software Testing: What It Is & Why You Need It

Functional testing is a type of QA software testing that determines if the product meets all its functional requirements and specifications. Note that it’s a rather specific type of so-called black-box testing. Therefore, it doesn’t study the actual code of the product. Instead, it focuses on assuring the quality of the following:

APIs
User interface
Client/Server communication
Database
Security

This list might include more features depending on the app’s intended functionality.

You need to use this type of software QA & testing to ensure that the app’s functionality actually works. Moreover, this is the stage that assures the basic usability of the product and how the user will access it. In addition, this is where you can see if the error conditions are set up correctly. It means you’ll know whether error messages appear as they must.

How to Do Functional QA Software Testing Step-by-Step

Before starting any functional software testing and quality assurance, you have to study the product’s functional requirements. Without understanding them, the tester won’t be able to see if the application works exactly as it should.

Once you get this part down, the testing is straightforward. Basically, you’ll just have to repeat the following four steps over and over again until all functionalities are tested.

Identify

First, identify the data that needs to be tested or test input. It should be outlined in the Functional Requirements of the product.

Compute

Next, select test input values and compute the outcomes. It will enable you to see how the app should perform under the given parameters.

Execute

Finally, execute the test.

Compare

The last step is to compare the actual results you get after running the test to the expected values computed in Step 2.

Rinse and repeat until all functionalities are tested. The work of a software quality assurance consulting expert might seem boring, and it definitely is repetitive. However, it’s one of the most fundamentally essential steps in the process of software development.

Functional QA Software Testing Automation

QA automation services & tools

TestComplete.
TestComplete is a comprehensive automated software testing and quality assurance tool. The tool is rather sophisticated, which enables it to run a variety of different tests. All in all, it’s a solution you can use to test at a scale. However, even a top-quality tool cannot be a complete substitute for hiring a professional software testing services company.
Selenium.
Selenium is an open-source solution that makes QA automation services easy. The tool is very popular because it’s user-friendly and rather reliable. It’s also free. But you have to understand that this version will have minimal functionality.
Tricentis Tosca.
Tricentis Tosca is an end-to-end software testing and quality assurance solution that implements the approach used in the Agile method development. It’s a very effective and complex tool that can provide reports that are easy to understand.
SoapUI.
SoapUI is an excellent tool for automating software testing and QA services. It’s another open-source solution and works exceptionally well for web apps. The tool is written in Ruby. It’s the thing you need if you want to test the app’s performance in a web browser.

Functional Vs. Non-Functional QA Software Testing

The main difference between functional and non-functional testing of a product is that the former follows the solution’s Functional Specifications. Non-functional software quality assurance services, on the other hand, are focused on studying the app’s performance “in real life”. So, for example, they will check parameters like scalability and speed. Essentially, this type of testing tells you how well the application works from the user’s point of view.

Meanwhile, functional software testing and quality assurance boil down to manual testing of what the product does. The goal here is to determine if the application meets the requirements outlined in its business documentation.

Note that while they might seem like a basic step, using the functional software quality assurance services is vitally important. Also, this is the testing you must execute first. It’s because this is the stage where you get to understand the app’s basic usability.

Bottom Line: Functional QA Software Testing Done Right Is Your First Step to Success

There are many software QA & testing mistakes to avoid. But the biggest mistake you can actually make is to skip functional testing. That’s a must-have step if you want to create a product that will work well enough for people to really start using it.

Of course, you might discover some bugs even after launch. It’s why you need to keep improving and updating your app constantly. Also, as we’ve mentioned in this post, regular updates will help you stay relevant in the App Store.

The best solution is always to use the services of a development company that already has a dedicated team of QA software testing experts. This way, all testing and fixing can be done more effectively and smoothly “in house”.

If you want to learn how to do this or have any questions about functional testing, contact us!

How to Use an AI-Powered Platform to Make Data-Driven Decisions

Posted on September 8, 2021August 30, 2023 by mkoftielieva

Advanced robots, self-driving cars, automated delivery bots, Internet of Things, and all the other cool and sexy tech we have today all run on some kind of an AI-powered platform. But those platforms only exist because of data. Data analytics is at the heart of AI, business, and the world as a whole today. So, if you want to get ahead, you must wield its immense power for making business decisions. However, the human brain cannot compute such enormous blocks of information. So, you’ll need to use a SaaS analytics platform to do it for you.

How to Use an AI-Powered Platform to Improve Your Decision Making

The best thing about Big Data is that it holds the answers to all your questions. Actually, it can even predict the future if used right. And that means ‘if it’s processed by an AI-powered platform geared toward predictive analysis.’

No business today can survive without data analytics. It’s because you literally can’t make decisions without the insights derived from data. You might only rely on your monthly business reports or go for a broader scope including global economic reports. But the point is that you have to make decisions based on something more concrete than your intuition. It means understanding what types of data analytics exist. And more importantly, how to use them at different stages of decision making.

Types of Data Analytics Performed by an AI-Powered Platform

Descriptive

Descriptive data analytics provides you with answers to the question “What happened?” In essence, you can use this data to understand how your business is doing. Then, depending on how deeply you analyze various processes, you can decide which areas to focus on.

There is no doubt that these insights from a basic AI-powered platform are extremely beneficial. They are especially handy when you need to identify areas where you can cut costs.

That said, descriptive analytics insights are somewhat limited. They only give you information about your past business performance and don’t consider any outside factors affecting it.

Diagnostic

Diagnostic data analytics is used to understand why something happened. Performing this analysis is the logical next step after collecting descriptive data insights. At this point, the AI-powered platform can delve deeper and understand why some of your business decisions failed or succeeded.

Bear in mind that diagnostic analytics will require a wider scope of data than your internal business reports. Also, it will be, at least somewhat, based on conjecture. It’s hardly possible to account for all potential factors that affect any business outcome. Therefore, you’ll have to accept that while highly valuable, these insights are also not absolute.

Predictive

Predictive analytics is far more advanced and requires the implementation of an AI-powered platform. Machine learning, in particular, is the basis of any successful predictive analytics. Insights derived from it allow you to see what is likely to happen shortly. Therefore, you can use them to make decisions that might propel your business forward.

This kind of prediction for future trends is most valuable for businesses that want to grow. However, any forecasts cannot be 100% accurate. There are just too many factors that are beyond your control that affect the outcome. Many of these factors are macroeconomic and volatile.

Bearing that in mind, you should use predictive analytics to develop a proactive approach to business. It can help you plan, especially for the situations that might affect you in the future. Thereby they help your business prepare for potential challenges.

Prescriptive

Prescriptive data analytics is the most advanced type, and it can provide the most valuable insights. At this state, an AI-powered platform will aim to give you guidance on what actions you can take. To get the most value from these insights, you need to have specific questions in mind. Then, analyzing your goals and data will enable the AI to determine the actions necessary to achieve your desired results. These insights are primarily based on the data obtained from predictive, descriptive, and diagnostic analyses.

However, prescriptive analytics will also use technology like simulation analysis to discover solutions to potential or current problems. Of course, these solutions are subject to the same limitations as any predictive analysis. But they are highly valuable as they enable you to reduce risks that are inherent to any business.

Implementing Insights Delivered by an AI-Powered Platform

Studying a real-life example is the best way to understand how an AI-powered platform can benefit your business. Marquètte is a piece of SaaS data analytics software developed by Devtorium and powered by proprietary AI tech. It uses a combination of data analytics methods and technology to conduct a SWOT and PESTEL analysis of any field.

On the user side, this looks like you are conducting a simple internet search. However, in reality, AI goes through huge blocks of data in order to find concrete answers to your questions. So, when it’s done its job, you get a summary that answers your question in detail and includes actionable insights. Then, as a business owner, you can put those into action right away. Thus, you ensure your company derives maximum benefit from the information.

Businesses can use the insights provided by Marquètte to:

Revamp your brand design for increased impact
Find new areas for your business to expand in
Predict challenges your company needs to prepare for
Adjust your marketing strategy for maximum efficiency
Answer any industry and niche-specific questions you have
Forecast business development when planning for the future

As you can see, an AI-powered platform is an invaluable ally for any business. So, the only question is whether you want to use an existing solution, like Marquètte, or to have custom SaaS data analytics software developed for you.