Category Archives: IT Outsourcing

digitalization of transportation industry

Digitalization of Transportation Industry : The Impact

IT Outsourcing, ThoughtsMindfire Solutions

The transportation industry has experienced significant changes in recent years due to the impact of digitalization. The integration of digital technologies has brought about new opportunities and challenges for the industry, affecting everything from logistics and supply chain management to customer experience and safety. In this blog, we will explore the impact of digitalization on the transportation industry, highlighting the opportunities and challenges that come with this transformation.

 

Opportunities

1. Improved Efficiency and Productivity

Digitalization has enabled the transportation industry to improve its efficiency and productivity significantly. The integration of digital technologies such as GPS tracking, real-time data analytics, and automation has made it possible to optimize routes, reduce fuel consumption, and improve delivery times. This has resulted in cost savings for transportation companies and improved customer satisfaction.

2. Enhanced Customer Experience

Digitalization has also improved the customer experience significantly. Customers can now track their shipments in real-time, receive notifications about delivery times, and provide feedback on their experience. This has increased transparency and accountability in the industry, leading to improved customer satisfaction.

3. Increased Safety

Digitalization has also improved safety in the transportation industry. The integration of technologies such as collision avoidance systems, driver monitoring, and predictive maintenance has reduced the risk of accidents and improved the safety of drivers and passengers.

4. New Business Models

Digitalization has also enabled the transportation industry to develop new business models. The rise of ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft has disrupted the traditional taxi industry, while the emergence of on-demand delivery services such has transformed the logistics and supply chain management landscape.

5. Data-Driven Decision Making

The collection and analysis of data from various sources, such as sensors, GPS tracking, and customer feedback, can help transportation companies make informed decisions about route optimization, fleet management, and customer service. This data-driven approach can lead to improved efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced customer satisfaction. However, the effective use of data requires the development of robust data management systems and the implementation of data privacy and security measures.

6. Intermodal and Multimodal Transportation

The seamless integration of different modes of transportation, such as road, rail, air, and sea, can improve the efficiency and flexibility of the transportation industry. Digital technologies, such as real-time data analytics and IoT devices, can help transportation companies coordinate and optimize the use of different transportation modes, leading to reduced transit times and improved customer satisfaction. However, the development of intermodal and multimodal transportation systems requires collaboration between various stakeholders, including transportation companies, infrastructure providers, and regulatory authorities.

7. Smart Cities and Intelligent Transportation Systems

The integration of digital technologies, such as IoT devices, sensors, and data analytics, can help create connected and intelligent transportation systems that improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety. These intelligent transportation systems can also contribute to the development of smart cities, where transportation systems are integrated with other urban systems, such as energy, waste management, and public services. However, the development of smart cities and intelligent transportation systems requires significant investments in infrastructure and the development of supportive policies and regulations.

8. Real-Time Information and Communication

The use of digital technologies, such as GPS tracking, mobile applications, and social media, has made it possible for transportation companies to provide real-time updates on traffic conditions, delays, and route changes. This real-time information can help customers make informed decisions about their travel plans and improve their overall experience. However, the effective use of real-time information and communication requires the development of robust communication networks and the implementation of data privacy and security measures.

9. Predictive Maintenance and Asset Management

Digitalization has also facilitated the implementation of predictive maintenance and asset management in the transportation industry. The use of digital technologies, such as IoT devices, sensors, and data analytics, can help transportation companies monitor the condition of their assets, such as vehicles, infrastructure, and equipment, in real-time. This real-time monitoring can enable companies to identify potential issues before they become critical, allowing for proactive maintenance and reducing the risk of downtime and costly repairs. However, the implementation of predictive maintenance and asset management requires significant investments in digital technologies and the development of skilled personnel to analyze and interpret the data.

10. Collaboration and Information Sharing

The use of digital platforms, such as cloud-based systems and data-sharing networks, has made it easier for transportation companies to collaborate with their partners, suppliers, and customers. This increased collaboration can lead to improved efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced customer satisfaction. However, the effective use of digital platforms for collaboration and information sharing requires the development of standardized data formats and the implementation of data privacy and security measures.

11. Autonomous Vehicles and Drones

The integration of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision, has made it possible for vehicles and drones to navigate and operate without human intervention. This has the potential to revolutionize the transportation industry by improving efficiency, reducing the risk of accidents, and enabling new business models, such as drone-based delivery services. However, the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles and drones requires significant investments in research and development, as well as the development of supportive policies and regulations.

12. Environmental Sustainability

Digitalization has the potential to contribute to environmental sustainability in the transportation industry. The use of digital technologies can help optimize routes, reduce fuel consumption, and minimize emissions. Additionally, the integration of electric vehicles and the development of smart charging infrastructure can further reduce the industry’s environmental impact. However, the transition to more sustainable transportation systems requires significant investments and the development of supportive policies and regulations.

Challenges

1. Cybersecurity Risks

The integration of digital technologies has made transportation systems more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which can result in significant financial losses and reputational damage.

2. Workforce Disruption

The integration of automation and artificial intelligence has led to concerns about job displacement and the need for re-skilling and up-skilling of the workforce.

3. Infrastructure Upgrades

Digitalization has also highlighted the need for infrastructure upgrades in the transportation industry. The integration of digital technologies requires significant investments in infrastructure, including the installation of sensors, communication networks, and data centers.

4. Regulatory Challenges

Digitalization has also created regulatory challenges for the transportation industry. The integration of new technologies has raised questions about data privacy, liability, and safety regulations, which require new policies and regulations to be developed.

Wrapping Up

In this age of rapid digital transformation, the transportation industry faces a pivotal moment. The potential benefits in terms of efficiency, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction are abundant, yet so are the hurdles, notably in security and data management.

To navigate this complex landscape successfully, transportation and logistics companies must embrace innovative solutions tailored to their unique needs. At Mindfire Solutions, we specialize in developing custom software solutions that can assist companies that operate in the transportation and logistics industry. Our solutions are designed to optimize operations, improve visibility, and ensure a seamless transition into the digital age. Embrace the opportunities, tackle the challenges, and partner with us on your journey towards a digitally transformed future.

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The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing the E-learning Experience

AI/ML, Elearning, IT OutsourcingMindfire Solutions

The e-learning industry is one of the most rapidly evolving fields. According to Statista, in 2019, the global e-learning market was valued at $200 billion and is expected to cross $400 billion by 2026.

With the growing market size, it is imperative that organizations explore new technologies that can enhance the e-learning experience. One such technology, which has tremendous potential, is artificial intelligence or AI.

AI-driven applications are enabling students to learn faster and more effectively while also giving teachers access to powerful tools that can help them tailor their lessons for maximum impact. Studies show that in 2022, the market value of AI in the e-learning industry was $4 billion and is projected to reach $30 billion by 2032.

In this article, we will look into how leveraging artificial intelligence can enhance the learning experience for learners.

 Impact of AI on Elearning Experience 

  • Personalization of Learning

Everyone learns differently, and the traditional one-size-fits-all teaching approach fails to keep up with individual learning needs.

AI-driven applications can help customize the learning experience by analyzing data from the user’s learning journey to create personalized experiences. The AI algorithm can track the progress of each student through the course and identify the knowledge gap.

Based on this data, the algorithm can recommend learning paths and resources that better cater to the learners’ individual needs. This process is called adaptive learning. By providing a customized learning experience, AI can help students stay motivated, engaged, progress at their own pace, and get a better understanding of the subject.

  • Faster Content Creation

Creating e-learning courses is a time-consuming task that can take several weeks to complete. AI-powered tools can help speed up the content creation process with the help of language modeling that can analyze data from existing content, such as textbooks or legacy courses, to recommend new topics. This reduces the time-to-market, as the instructors don’t have to start from scratch.

Another benefit of leveraging AI in e-learning is that it can be used to translate content into other languages or localize your existing courses so that you can reach new audiences from around the globe.

It can also enrich the learning experience by providing innovative ways of presenting information, such as visualization, simulation, and web-based studies.

  • Virtual Assistants

It is difficult for instructors to constantly monitor each learner and provide them with timely guidance. AI-powered virtual assistants such as chatbots can help answer common questions from learners, provide real-time feedback on assignments, and answer questions related to the course material.

These virtual assistants can also connect learners with instructors if the query is complex. This means that students can receive help for common queries outside of traditional teaching hours, and teachers can focus on resolving complex doubts only. 

  • Automated Grading

A major part of any e-learning course is assessments, and grading them can be a tedious task. Manually evaluating assignments and tests is laborious, time-consuming, and prone to human errors.

AI-driven tools help automate the process by leveraging natural language processing (NLP) to assess long answers in written form. This speeds up the assessment process as instructors do not have to manually grade each answer. Even if there are subjective questions, AI algorithms can judge based on keywords and patterns that they identify from the answer provided.

Automated tools can also grade students’ assignments in real-time and provide instant actionable insights about their performance. This helps learners gain a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, which gives them an opportunity to improve quickly.

Furthermore, these tools can also check answers for plagiarism and detect similarities between learners’ submitted assignments.

  • Gamification

Gamification involves the integration of game mechanics into the learning process. It can make learning more engaging, fun, and interactive, which can improve knowledge retention. AI can enhance gamification by analyzing student performance and adapting the game’s difficulty to match the student’s ability. AI can also provide personalized feedback and rewards to motivate students and enhance the learning experience.

  • Content Analytics

Instructors need to track the performance of students and identify areas of improvement. AI-driven analytics tools can help instructors analyze data such as engagement with content, time spent in completing tasks, or the number of attempts made for an assignment. This allows instructors to determine which topics are challenging for learners and fine-tune their strategies accordingly.

AI also helps instructors measure the effectiveness of their teaching strategy by understanding learner behaviors and preferences. Such data points can help improve the learning outputs and student satisfaction levels.

  • Easy Access for Students With Special Needs

AI-driven technologies allow instructors to customize the learning experience based on students’ disabilities and special needs. This helps make e-learning accessible to all, regardless of their physical or mental abilities. AI tools can also recognize and respond to non-verbal communication signals such as facial expressions, behavior, eye movements, gestures, etc., that enables convenient access and a better learning experience for learners with communication impairments.

Conclusion

AI has immense potential to transform the e-learning industry. With the help of AI-driven tools, e-learning can be personalized and automated to offer a superior learning experience. It can also enhance accessibility to education by providing learners with disabilities a way to access online resources. With the right strategies and implementations, AI can help make learning more effective and efficient.

If you are looking to integrate AI into your e-learning processes, Mindfire Solutions is here to assist you.

Mindfire Solutions is a leader in providing AI-driven solutions for the ELearning industry. With our expertise in machine learning and natural language processing, we can help transform e-learning systems into smarter, more efficient learning platforms.

Visit Mindfire Solutions to learn more about our strengths and capabilities.

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The Impact of Telemedicine on Healthcare Delivery

Healthcare Application Development, Healthcare IT, IT OutsourcingMindfire Solutions

HealthIT Solutions

Telemedicine is a rapidly growing field transforming how healthcare is delivered. It involves using telecommunication and information technologies to provide medical services and expertise remotely. Telemedicine is not a new concept, but its widespread adoption was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a report from a reputed source , despite the ongoing global geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, the global telemedicine services industry is anticipated to expand from $103.06 billion in 2022 to $262.33 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 18.8%.

The above figures suggest that telemedicine is becoming more widely accepted, with insurance companies and government-regulated healthcare programs increasingly including telemedicine services in their coverage plans. As a result, governments are urging companies to modify their policies to incorporate telemedicine services into their schemes, recognizing the growing importance of this method of healthcare delivery.

The underlying concepts

The telemedicine services market encompasses a range of remote medical services, including teleneuropsychology, telenursing, telepharmacy, and telerehabilitation services, along with any related goods sold by the service provider. It leverages video chat, phone calls, and text messaging to provide medical services covering physical examinations and health concerns consultations.

The telemedicine concept is already followed extensively in economically-strong markets, including Asia-Pacific, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe. In 2022, North America emerged as the largest market for telemedicine services, with the Asia Pacific region coming in second.

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Types of Telemedicine Services

There are various telemedicine services, including web-based, cloud-based, and on-premises.

  • Web-based telemedicine services typically involve using a web browser to access an online platform for virtual consultations with healthcare providers.
  • Cloud-based telemedicine services, on the other hand, leverage remote servers to store and manage patient data, offer remote consultations, and provide access to various medical tools and resources.
  • On-premises telemedicine services refer to the delivery of remote healthcare services by healthcare providers using telecommunication and information technologies within the physical premises of a healthcare facility like a hospital or clinic.

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Advantages of Telemedicine: Improving Healthcare Delivery

Telemedicine offers several advantages that can help healthcare providers improve healthcare delivery. Here are some of the key advantages

  • Increased access to healthcare

Telemedicine allows healthcare providers to deliver medical services to patients who might otherwise have difficulties accessing care, such as those living in rural or remote areas or patients with mobility issues or transportation challenges..

  • Improved patient outcomes

Telemedicine can facilitate early detection of health conditions by providing timely access to medical care. Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in providing personalized monitoring of chronic conditions and improving patient outcomes by enabling more data-driven care. AI can help in identifying patterns and predicting health issues before it intensifies, which can lead to early detection and treatment.

  • Cost savings

Telemedicine can help reduce healthcare costs by reducing the need for in-person visits, avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations, and improving medication adherence and disease management.

  • Convenience and flexibility

Patients can access medical care through telemedicine from the convenience of their own homes or workplaces, saving them time on travel and reducing the need to take time off work or school.

  • Increased efficiency

Telemedicine can help healthcare providers increase efficiency by enabling them to see more patients in less time, reducing wait times, and streamlining administrative tasks like medical record management and appointment scheduling.

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Limitations of Telemedicine: Challenges to Overcome

Healthcare providers considering telemedicine services should be aware of the potential limitations and challenges that come with it. Here are some of the key challenges to overcome:

  • Technical Issues

One of the biggest challenges of telemedicine is technical issues such as poor internet connection, equipment failure, and software malfunctions. These issues can result in disrupted communication and delays in medical care, potentially compromising patient safety.

  • Privacy and Security Concerns

Telemedicine raises privacy and security concerns, particularly regarding the storage and transmission of patient health information. Healthcare providers must ensure that telemedicine platforms follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other regulations to protect patient privacy.

  • Limited Physical Examination

Telemedicine may not allow healthcare providers to conduct a comprehensive physical examination of patients, which can limit their ability to diagnose and treat certain conditions. For instance, some conditions may require a hands-on approach to diagnose and treat effectively.

  • Lack of Patient-Provider Relationship

Telemedicine may not provide the same personal connection between patients and healthcare providers as in-person visits. This can limit the ability of healthcare providers to establish a strong patient-provider relationship, which is crucial for effective medical care.

  • Inability to Handle Emergencies

Telemedicine may not be able to handle medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest or severe trauma, which require immediate and specialized medical attention. Patients in need of emergency medical care must seek medical attention in person.

  • Unequal Access to Technology

Unequal access to technology can limit the use of telemedicine, particularly among low-income and rural populations. Lack of access to the internet and appropriate devices can create disparities in healthcare access.

  • Licensing and Reimbursement

Telemedicine is subject to licensing and reimbursement regulations, which can vary by state and insurance provider. This can create challenges for healthcare providers in delivering telemedicine services and obtaining payment.

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Conclusion

Telemedicine offers several advantages in improving healthcare delivery, from increased access to healthcare to increased efficiency. However, healthcare providers must overcome telemedicine challenges to provide high-quality services to their patients. To overcome these limitations, healthcare providers can invest in reliable technology and collaborate with subject matter experts to make the most of this technology.

Mindfire Solutions is a software development company that has been assisting healthcare providers for 15+ years to better their services with the help of cutting-edge technologies. Our team specializes in modern healthcare tech stacks and provides custom solutions that enable stakeholders to optimize their workflows and enhance patient care outcomes.

Visit Mindfire Solution to learn more about us.

 

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How Is Embedded Finance Revolutionizing Financial Services?

Enterprise Application Development, Fintech, IT Outsourcing, , Mindfire Solutions

Embedded Finance Revolutionizing Financial ServicesEmbedded finance, often referred to as embedded banking, falls under the banking as a service (BaaS) segment. It refers to the integration of financial services such as insurance, loans, debit/credit cards, investments, etc. into the traditional, non-financial sector. Simply put, it is the process of non-financial entities integrating financial services or products into their own platform, using APIs.

As per a study, the embedded finance market would approximately be valued at over $138 billion by 2026. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16.4% between 2022-32.
It is, therefore, a tool that promises to revolutionize the future of banking.

E-commerce and online marketplaces are all examples of embedded finance. For instance, you shop online to buy electronics, trousers, accessories, etc.; or book a cab home. When you reach the payment option, you are led through a payment gateway to make the payment through your selected mode of payment. That is nothing but embedded finance where you don’t need to leave the app or portal to make your purchase.
Here’s how traditional, non-finance entities can benefit from embedded finance:

Benefits

Enhances Customer Experience

Embedded finance makes customers’ digital experience more convenient because they don’t really feel the “pinch” of making payments. With digital payments gaining prominence, it makes purchasing experience easy and accessible, as it is important for businesses to close a transaction in the most seamless manner.

Enables Customization Of Financing Offering

The current trend in digital purchasing experience is now centered on providing a more personalized experience to users. Due to a lot of competition from companies offering similar products at similar prices, making the right offer to the right customer becomes more important for your business to grow at a fast pace.

This can be achieved by collecting and analyzing your customers’/ visitors’ data. And this is where embedded finance can help gain visibility over your customers’ transactions, and let you understand your customers’ real requirements.

A great example is the rewards apps that gather insights into customer purchases, where generating and managing personalized offers and discounts for customers becomes easier.

Makes Financing Processes More Secure

The banking and finance industry has long been battling with security concerns. Embedded finance plays a vital role in a customer’s decision-making process to invest, borrow, or lend money. It helps create a safe financial environment for users through the implementation of real-time monitoring platforms. And also makes the integration of credit products into a traditional, non-financial system a seamless one. Thus, it adds an added security layer by integrating various security measures.

Seamless Integration of Various Payment Options

Embedded finance also enables the inclusion of additional services to the overall buying experience. Integration of options to buy now, pay later; or pay the EMI amount and buy the whole product, offered by the embedded finance system makes the buying process less tedious for the users.

For example, e-commerce platforms such as Amazon not only offer customers the option to pay for their selected products entirely, but also recommend paying in installments. Upon selecting the installments option, the users are then seamlessly transferred to the EMI or insurer’s offer. It thus makes the whole purchase process faster, easier, and more secure.

Increase Customer Acquisition

Embedded finance’s main benefit is offering convenience to customers. When used tactfully during the customer onboarding stage, it makes it easier and more convenient to increase customer acquisition. The solutions and services offered through embedded finance enable your users to have an end-to-end interaction with your firm through their smartphones and devices.

Let’s look at the top players of embedded finance:

Key Players of Embedded Finance Culture

Digital Platforms

These are non-fintech firms that are focused on developing customer-centric digital platforms such as mobile apps, desktop applications, or websites. They offer customized financial solutions to customers based on their research and understanding of target audience segments, by ’embedding’ those services within their platform.

Financial Institutions

This category includes banks, small finance banks, NBFCs, and all institutions dealing with finance. The role of financial institutions in the embedded ecosystem can be categorized as follows:

  • Embedded payments:

These include firms offering an electronic wallet system with balance management and payment options. They enable online firms that sell goods and services online to directly integrate payment service features on their platform. Some firms may even launch their own payment solution, too. Examples include companies such as Square and Razorpay.

  • Embedded lending:

A non-financial firm offering one or several loan options to clients which allow them to purchase a product/service falls under this category. Although many marketplace platforms provide deferred payments and loans to their end customers, some of them also offer business loans to their merchants or suppliers.

  • Embedded banking:

Includes various banking services like saving accounts, transaction management, services like credit/debit cards, and more. The embedded banking process becomes similar to vertical banking when non-financial companies cater to a specific customer group.

  • Embedded insurance:

Embedded insurance is a boon for online retailers and marketplaces. It enables them to offer protection to the products they’re selling to their customers, against any damage. And this is also a priority for the customers. For instance, Amazon already offers insurance for its products.

  • Embedded investments:

Here, investors not only do stock trading, buy mutual funds, retirement plans, etc., but also receive the latest updates and market news on the same platform. This segment has insurers and investors as service providers behind them, often connected via API (application programming interface). It is to be noted that these firms aren’t licensed insurance or investment firms, similar to embedded banks.

Embedded FinTech Companies

FinTech companies are tasked with creating end-to-end software tools (APIs and SDKs), which help connect financial institutions to digital platforms. The SDKs (software development kits) enable importing functionalities within a mobile or a web app seamlessly with easy integrations. Examples include firms such as Google Pay, Paytm, etc.

Final Notes

Embedded finance enables financial firms to understand their customers better, and build meaningful relationships with them. It can thus definitely be called an underrated but promising tool to bolster the mainstream payments industry’s growth. At the end of the day, all the parties involved in a transaction profit from embedded finance: the provider, the suppliers, and the end customer.

Mindfire Solution has assembled a team with extensive experience in delivering products for disruptive FinTech startups, payment service providers, online lending platforms, insurance companies, and players in digital banking.

If you are looking to adopt the technology into your application development mix, visit Mindfire Solution.

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Effectiveness of the Membership/Subscription Model in E Commerce

eCommerce, Enterprise Application Development, iOS App Development, IT Outsourcing, Mobile App Development, Web Application DevelopmentMindfire Solutions

Subscription Model in e-Commerce

In recent years, the membership/ subscription model in e commerce has become increasingly popular among businesses across the board. Platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify are some examples that have tremendously benefited from the subscription-based model. The subscription-based pricing strategy is seen as a way to attract and retain customers by providing incentives such as discounts, loyalty programs, and early access to products or services.

According to Gartner, by the end of 2023, 75% of organizations selling direct-to-customers will adopt a subscription-based pricing model. From these numbers, one can easily conclude that the subscription model is here to stay.

But why are businesses so keen on adopting this pricing model?

In this article, we will discuss the effectiveness of the membership/ subscription model and some of the challenges businesses can face while adapting to this model.

Benefits of a Membership/ Subscription Model in E Commerce

  • Accurate Revenue Prediction

Subscription-based businesses can accurately forecast their revenues and profits as they receive a relatively consistent level of income from the customers. This allows them to plan their operational, marketing, and development costs better.

Additionally, since the customers purchase their products at a regular cadence, the pricing model businesses can also better manage their inventory.

  • Reduce Customer Acquisition Costs

The cost of acquiring new customers is continuously increasing, with Harvard Business Review estimating that customer acquisition can be about 15 times more expensive than retaining a customer. The average customer acquisition cost, or CAC, for ecommerce businesses, is around $45 per customer.

The membership model allows businesses to build long-term relationships with already existing customers. This way, companies can focus on customer referral programs and word-of-mouth marketing, which is less expensive than paid marketing campaigns and result in a reduced CAC and increased profits.

  • Higher Customer Retention Ratio

The ecommerce subscription model offers businesses opportunities to improve their customer retention ratio. With this pricing strategy, businesses can offer exclusive incentives and rewards that encourage subscribers to stay longer with the platform and provide a more personalized service to their customers.

For example, Stitch Fix, an online fashion company that offers a subscription-based model, asks its customers a few questions about their clothing style at the time of onboarding and recommends clothing items accordingly. This way, customers receive personalized outfits tailored to their individual needs, which improves the customer experience on the platform and results in a better retention rate.

  • Increased LTV

LTV, or Lifetime Value, is an important metric for ecommerce stores that measures how much a customer spends in their entire life on the platform. Studies have shown that the platform that offers subscriptions can increase their LTV by 230%. This is due to the fact that subscription business models are more focused on providing consistent value over an extended period of time to their customers.

  • Higher Customer Engagement

For businesses with a one-time product purchase mode, it takes significant effort, strategizing, and investment to engage customers with the brand. However, if a customer has subscribed to a business, it means they found value in the products and services of the brand and are interested to hear more from them. This makes it easier for companies to engage with the subscribers and also encourages them to use the platform more frequently.

Challenges with the Subscription Model

From the above benefits, we can see that the subscription/membership model is an effective way to scale your business and generate more revenue. However, ecommerce businesses can face several technical challenges while adopting this pricing strategy on their platform.

Subscription Customer Management

Usually, subscription-based businesses have several customers visiting the platform at the same time. It can be challenging to manage customers’ orders, purchase history, billing information, and communications needs with a dated system. This can lead to inaccurate customer data and result in poor customer experience.

Flexible Subscription Options

Subscriptions are often tailored to fit the customer’s needs. Offering flexible subscription plans is a great way to attract more customers; however, it also comes with its challenges, such as added complexity in billing and inventory management system integration.

Security Threats

According to studies, the ecommerce industry is currently facing 32.4% of all successful cybersecurity threats annually, making it essential for such businesses to be well-equipped with appropriate tools to avert such threats. This is especially crucial for businesses with a subscription model, as they consist of customers making recurring payments at once. If appropriate measures are not taken to ensure the safety of each payment gateway, it can make the platform vulnerable to attacks. Subscription businesses must invest in advanced security technologies to provide secure payment gateways and protect customers’ data and privacy.

Failed Transactions Management

For businesses with a significant number of subscribers, it can be difficult to notice when transactions fail. Furthermore, manually going through customer records and identifying failed transactions can be a time-consuming task. Subscription businesses need an effective system to send alerts about such incidents and take prompt action.

Conclusion

The membership/ subscription model in e commerce has proven to be an effective pricing strategy for ecommerce stores and other businesses. It allows businesses to increase their customer loyalty and lifetime value while reducing costs associated with an acquisition. Overall, it is a great option for any business that is looking to build long-term relationships with its customers and drive more sales.

However, adapting to a subscription model also comes with its own set of challenges, which, if not addressed, can lead to poor customer experience and, eventually, loss of subscribers.

We provide e commerce software development services, assist businesses in navigating these challenges and creating a customer-centric ecommerce platform. We leverage cutting-edge technologies to address the pain points and provide a solution that is tailored to your business
Visit Mindfire Solutions to learn more about us.

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Challenges and Risks of Web 3.0 – A New Digital World Order

Application Migration, Custom Application Development, Custom Migration Services, IT Outsourcing, Mindfire Solutions, Mindfire Solutions

Challenges and Risks of Web 3.0 by mindfireIt’s no secret that the world of technology is ever-evolving. From Web 1.0 to the current climate of Web 2.0, new platforms and technologies have revolutionized how we communicate, create content, share ideas, and even buy products. But what does this all mean for the next wave – Web 3.0?

Is it an opportunity for growth or a risk for developers who wish to adopt cutting-edge tech tools into their projects? This post aims to discuss the risks and challenges associated with ramping up development related to emerging forms of advanced web applications like those found in Web 3.0—and reveal what it could mean to be a part of this ground-breaking industry shift!

What Is Web 3.0 and Why Does It Matter?

Web 3.0 has been dubbed the “Semantic Web”, referring to a world of interconnected, intelligent data that surpasses anything we could have ever imagined in earlier generations of the web. With this new enhancement, users can access information more accurately, leading to better results and more intentional topic searches.

By connecting computers on a much deeper level rather than just documents published online, users benefit from faster and more relevant searches and information that is quickly updated. Ultimately, Web 3.0 will revolutionize the way we interact with technology as it brings intelligent machines closer together, making our lives easier.

From creating new job opportunities to artificial intelligence-driven projects and beyond, Web 3.0 promises to redefine the world around us in exciting and awe-inspiring ways! 

The Risks Associated with Web 3.0

Before you get your hopes up too high for a utopian cyber future, remember that Web 3.0 does carry its own set of risk factors. While it seeks to implement the security of blockchain technology, depending on implementation details, user-generated content can be extremely vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Web 3.0 is often hailed as the perfect solution to many of our security woes, but could its reliance on user-generated content through distributed and decentralized platforms actually put us at greater risk?

It’s an important question to consider, as Web 3.0 promises many exciting changes. While there is much optimism about the newer iteration of the internet, we must recognize that any technology can be vulnerable to security risks if it isn’t built correctly.

Here are the top risks associated with Web 3.0:

  • Pre-existing risks

We often ask “Is Web 3.0 safe?” and the answer lies in recognizing the existing pre-existing risks that may have translated from the earlier generations of the internet. Though these may arise, they can be identified and managed with relatable controls.

Few examples,

  1. Malicious attacks are likely to occur and need to be assessed using strong identity management processes
  2. Unauthorized digital intrusions might require advanced detection software
  3. Third-party dependencies need to be continuously monitored
  4. Application performance issues must factor in updates frequency

Finally, experienced staff are key players in efficient operations. All-in-all, pre-existing risks can be recognized and managed with the right technical safeguards.

  • Unapproved access to information

Web 3.0 has the potential to revolutionize the internet in many ways, but this power comes with several large risks. Unauthorized access to confidential or sensitive information could be just one of the most common examples of Web 3.0 attacks.

As more data is collected online and automated machine learning gets sophisticated enough to interpret a wide range of user data, even seemingly small bits of personal information could end up in malicious hands.

While focusing on preventing unauthorized access is a must for Web 3.0 security, we must also be conscious about extra steps needed to guard against manipulation and misuse of users’ resources.

  • Malicious script injections  

When it comes to protecting Web 3.0 from malicious mischief, malicious script injections are often the biggest challenge. SPARQL injections, in particular, can wreak havoc, providing hackers with backdoor access to a database’s backend. Wisely crafted queries can be used to manipulate Web 3.0 commands, making sure that your data isn’t safe until you take preventive security measures against malicious script injectors.

Although Solidity is usually considered enough for most Web 3.0 tasks, it’s not the only language on the block – query and update languages need to be factored into the security equation or you’ll be facing cyber trouble sooner or later.

Well, there are more script injections that you should be talking about. Blind SPARQL injections are a devious form of script injection, sneaking their way into the unsuspecting database and looping through repeated queries to collect data.

There are also the significantly more harmful SPARUL injections that can not only read data, but also manipulate and alter it leading to significant damages to the affected entities.

  • Social engineering attacks

The next big buzz phrase amongst conversations around Web 3.0 security is social engineering attacks. Web 3.0 is all about introducing ontologies for improved integration and semantic data metrics.

With so much data floating around the web, users can easily lose track of where their personal and sensitive information is stored – opening up avenues for hackers to stake their claim via inference attacks. Inference attack is a serious game where unauthorized third parties can meddle with confidential details in order to harvest private information without knowledge or consent.

Web 3.0 security challenges related to social engineering have jump started an entirely new wave of identity theft tactics. This activity, made possible by the exchange and transfer of digital information, allows malicious actors to harvest personal data for use in fraudulent schemes.

The concern has been heightened with scriptwriters introducing complicated methods of exploiting sensitive metadata. With Web 3.0 technology still in its relative infancy, it’s clear that increasingly sophisticated defensive measures will be necessary!

Conclusion

Overall, the migration to Web 3.0 will be a security challenge worthy thinking upon, for companies across the board. They need to carefully consider how this new technology will impact their business model, operations, and security posture. While there are risks associated with Web 3.0, there are also many opportunities for those who are willing to embrace it.

If you’re looking for help navigating the challenges of the Web 3.0 technology, Mindfire Solutions can serve as your trusted advisor to implement a secure and reliable Web 3.0 framework. We specialize in custom solutions that can help your business take advantage of all that this new era has to offer.

Contact Mindfire Solutions to know more about us!

 

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Augmented Reality (AR) on E Learning by mindfire solutions

Transformational effect of Augmented Reality on E Learning

Elearning, IT Outsourcing, Mindfire Solutions, , , Mindfire Solutions

The ed-tech industry has witnessed tremendous growth in the past couple of years. With the advent of the pandemic, remote learning became a necessity, and the value of the ed-tech industry increased exponentially. According to an industry report, the ed-tech industry was valued at USD 106.46 billion in 2021 and is expected to compound at a rate of 16.5% (CAGR) from 2022 to 2030.

From these numbers, it is evident that the number of Ed-tech companies is only going to increase in the future. To keep up with the rising demand, Ed-tech enterprises are increasingly shifting towards adopting new technologies to gain and maintain a competitive edge.

One such technology that is transforming the e-learning experience is augmented reality, or AR. It is becoming more popular as a way to make learning more engaging and interactive. According to a report, the implementation of augmented reality in e-learning is expected to reach a value of US$5.3 billion by 2023.

In this blog post, we’ll look at what AR is and how it is changing the learning experience. We’ll also discuss some use cases of AR in e-learning.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality is a technology that superimposes digital elements or content in the real world. This means it allows you to view the world around you with computer-generated images overlaid on top. 

The technology enhances your existing surroundings with digital content without the need for any additional external device. This is different from virtual reality (VR), which completely immerses you in a digitally created environment with the help of a device called VR glasses.

The technology enhances your existing surroundings with digital content without the need for any additional external device. This is different from virtual reality (VR), which completely immerses you in a digitally created environment with the help of a device called VR glasses.

How is AR Revolutionizing the Learning Experience?

Here are some of the transformational benefits of AR in e-learning:

  • Offers a Better Understanding of the Concepts & Information Retention

Many studies have shown that teaching with AR technology is more effective than teaching from textbooks or videos. This is because AR adds information to the learners’ surroundings – making lessons more visual-driven, thereby enhancing the probability of retaining for a longer period.

  • Improves Engagement 

AR offers more engagement by making learning more interactive and immersive. This motivates the learners to repeat their AR learning experience. It is also utilized to gamify lessons, which can encourage reluctant learners to get excited about learning. 

  • Enhanced Online Training

The technology can be used to create AR-enhanced online training modules. Learners can get practical demonstrations as AR simulations can allow them to experiment with AR objects. This can help organizations or institutions provide remote training more effectively and efficiently. AR training simulators are also used for creating digital prototypes of products, which allows trainees to get used to the process and reduces errors when they are physically performing the task.

  • Reduced Cognitive Load

AR is used to reduce the cognitive load required to understand abstract concepts by providing learners with information in a more digestible format.

  • Save Resources

The technology can save resources by reducing the need for physical materials. AR simulations can also replace the need for expensive equipment or trips to real-world locations.

  • Assess Learners’ Progress

AR can assess learners’ progress and identify areas where they need improvement. This assessment can be in the form of AR tests, AR quizzes, or AR simulations.

Use Cases of AR in e-Learning

Here are real-life examples of how some organizations are leveraging AR to enhance their learning experience:

  • Augmented Reality for Medical Education

An Australian University uses an AR-based application to teach their medical students cardiology. The app is used to create a 3D model of the heart’s electrical activity and to remotely demonstrate the procedure of ECG.

  • Augmented Reality for Combining Coloring Activities with Learning 

An ed-tech company created applications for children where they can color any diagram and map. Once the children are done coloring, the AR app then brings their painting to life and also, at the same time, imparts knowledge about the topic. 

  • Learning Language with AR

A London-based ed-tech company uses AR for teaching foreign languages. The app places 3D images of objects in the real world. These objects are labeled with the word for that object in the target language. For example, if you’re trying to learn Spanish, you might see a picture of a chair labeled with the word “Silla.”

Conclusion

Augmented reality is making learning more interactive, engaging, effective, and accessible. It can be used in a number of different ways to improve the e-Learning experience. As the technology continues to evolve, we expect to see even more innovative and impactful uses for AR in e-Learning.

While AR technology does come with countless benefits, implementing it can be a complicated task.

You can collaborate with Mindfire Solutions to simplify the development process and reduce your workload. At Mindfire Solutions, we have over 2-decades of experience developing innovative e-learning solutions by leveraging cutting-edge technologies that can engage and educate learners.

Contact Mindfire Solutions to implement AR in your e-learning services.

 

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How Blockchain In Supply Chain Can Help Overcome Operational Hurdles

Blockchain Technology, IT Outsourcing, , , Kisan Ranasingh
blockchain in supply chain
Blockchain in supply chain management

With bitcoins and cryptocurrency gaining much popularity over the last few years, its underlying technology – blockchain, seems to be the latest buzzword across industries. There seems to be a sudden urge among businesses to adopt and use the technology to significantly improve their workflow operations. The concept seems to have a promising future that would assist in solving several hold-ups of the existing technology gears. 

But first, let’s look at what blockchain technology is.

What is Blockchain?

A blockchain is a digital ledger that records all cryptocurrency transactions. It consistently keeps growing as “completed” blocks are added to it with a new set of recordings. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. Bitcoin nodes use the blockchain to differentiate legitimate transactions. 

Using Blockchain in Supply Chain

As per a Zion Market study, the market scope of blockchain technology in supply chain management is estimated to grow to approx. USD 3.15 billion by 2028.

The use of blockchain in the supply chain helps firms significantly in cost reduction, source tracking, and establishing trust. The immediate need to eliminate intermediaries has paved the way for the automation of supply chain operations.

Supply chain blockchains have replaced coins to tokenize different types of transaction-related data. This has thus enabled the creation of unique, transparent, and easy-to-verify detectors for purchase orders, inventory units, bills of lading, etc.

This technology governed the overall blockchain supply chain market in 2021 and is expected to continue dominating the forecast period. The reason is the growing adoption of blockchain platforms for streamlining the supply chain processes.

How Supply Chain Industry Benefits From Adopting Blockchain

Blockchain in supply chain gives increased supply chain transparency, and significantly reduces costs and risks across the supply chain. Here’s how:

  • Real-Time Sharing of Data

While blockchain records actions in a chain of “blocks” and display the most recent information, all the previous records are also saved. Blockchain ledger allows you and multiple partners to work on the same data in real-time, without losing any. However, it is to be noted that the data once recorded, cannot be altered and only be viewed.

  • Enhanced Security

As every new block created is linked to the previous blocks, it’s impossible to fabricate or modify any data. To make any changes to the ledger data, you need to make changes to hundreds of copies of that ledger at the same time. Simply put, this means it can’t be hacked. 

Additionally, blockchain data is decentralized. This implies it’s not stored in a single location like its previous supply chain tech. The data can be accessed through the cloud network from any geographic location worldwide. However, while anyone can view the records via the internet, it would need someone to verify access to any specific data.

  • Thorough Transparency 

Blockchain ensures transparency throughout the supply chain process as it’s a shared database. This transparency is vital for managing products with shorter life cycles, and also for managing the entry of additional partners in the supply chain. 

Moreover, blockchain tech enables supply chain partners to monitor transaction status in real time. They know the exact location of the product without having any doubts created by manual records. This ensures smoother processes, reduced lead times, reduced delays and redundancy, greater team relationships, and a satisfied customer.

Additionally, blockchain supply chain innovations bring about the following key benefits:

    • Improved tracking of the material supply chain to meet corporate standards
    • Reduced losses from the counterfeit or black market
    • Reduce paperwork and administrative costs
    • Improved transparency and compliance over outsourced contract manufacturing
    • Reduced probable public relations risks due to supply chain malpractices
    • Builds stakeholders’ trust and ensures their engagement and involvement

Blockchain Challenges

  • More Industries Need to Adopt

While certain industries have successfully adopted blockchain, it is yet to see increased adoption in the supply chain industry. The technology makes transactions and international payments more secure, efficient, and transparent. However, more industries are yet to implement blockchain in the future as organizations continue to experience the benefits of its implementation.

  • Need For Strong Network

The key barrier to a blockchain is the relatively small network of users. To scale up operations, all members throughout the supply chain, from the supplier to the retailer, need to use it. Since the entire blockchain ecosystem still seems new to many, more users are yet to adapt, or are still adapting to it.

  • Complexity in Handling Data

While implementing blockchain is easy, blockchain programming is something that requires users to learn complex skills. This means firms need to give comprehensive training to their workforce or outsource their programming to a third party.

  • Clustering And Anomaly Detection

Clustering and anomaly detection are unsupervised learning methods that can be used for fraud detection by identifying patterns within your data that suggest fraud may occur, such as many small withdrawals from an account or many large purchases made at one store over time.

  • Regulations

The laws and regulations seem to be another barrier to blockchain adoption. Due to the global nature of supply chains, there is an intricate range of worldwide regulations to be considered. Today’s supply chain regulators are exploring ways to integrate the old and traditional laws with the new emerging digital technologies.

However, as more users of blockchain begin to see the advantages, greater will be the number of adopters of the cloud-based database infrastructure.

Final Notes

Blockchain technology has great scope and has promising years ahead in assisting firms as well as industries. Using blockchain in supply chain can help reduce administrative costs, achieve a boost in performance by streamlining processes, and widen visibility across overall operations. New emerging technologies thus offer promising opportunities to enhance and improve the supply chain industry and the transparency within.

To explore new ways to create business value using blockchain in supply chain, Mindfire Solution has a team that does the groundwork of developing customized solutions to help you bring efficiencies to your business model.

If you are looking to integrate blockchain technology into your firm’s supply chain strategy, Contact us.

 

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Unsure if your Enterprise needs a Website or a Mobile App?

IT Outsourcing, Mobile App Development, Web Application DevelopmentRoohul Khan

The remark “There is an app for that” is so common nowadays and underlines the deep influence of mobile apps in our lives. But, when Apple went on to register a trademark for it, you knew it was more than that. 

So, you have decided to go digital and create an online identity for your business. But, you are stuck with the difficulty of choosing between a mobile app and a website. Eager to get a quick solution? Turns out, in most of the cases, both mobile app and website are not mutually exclusive but are complementary, with each serving a different purpose and target segment. So, there isn’t an answer that is universally correct. It depends on various different things.

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App First

Some cases are better served with mobile apps, especially the ones that need frequent or repeated use. For instance, e-commerce, food ordering, social media, chat, news, travel, productivity-related applications, utility apps, real-time tracking like stock apps.

App Only

Then there are those which, because of their dependency on the underlying hardware, can only be served through mobile apps. For instance, home automation, alarm, games, navigation apps, mobile wallets, AR(Augmented Reality) & VR(Virtual Reality) apps and games.

Website or Mobile App?

For the sake of this article, the above two categories need not be considered, for the obvious reason that the mobile app seems to be the default choice for them. However, for categories that can be served equally well by both the mediums, there are certain inherent advantages of using either an app or a website. Let’s understand them from the perspectives of a user and a business.

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User’s point of view, what really matters.

1. Convenience

Websites are convenient for informative and non-frequent use like finding details about a business, exploring a place, looking for services, R&D for projects, and yes, deciding the best app to download for a particular need. Basically, all the Google searches we do can be better served by a website. Mobile apps seem to be more convenient for activities that are performed more frequently. The initial hurdles of downloading and setting things up might seem daunting. But things ease out subsequently, and users get pulled into a more convenient, personalized, and engaging experience.

2. Data Consumption and Offline Mode

To use a mobile app one needs to download it first, an act pulls into the mobile resources that the app will need to function -images, icons, layout inbuilt, etc. Once done, there isn’t much left to download during consumption, which results in quicker loading and sometimes offline access too. In contrary to this, you can’t even load the website without an internet connection.

For mobile apps, during the offline mode, tasks can be queued up in batches and then be pushed to the server when online. Such a sophisticated way of dealing with the offline mode isn’t just possible in case of a website.

3. Performance

For CPU intensive tasks such as games, heavy graphics layouts, complex lists, mobile app scores way higher than a website for its close proximity to the device hardware.

4. Updates

Whether it’s an app or a website, it gets developed alongside. Hence the user expects updates. Pushing an update to the website is easy, you do it on the server-side and users get a brand new look and feel next time they check you out. If you can strategically manage the downtime, there is not much that bothers the user. On the other hand, the whole app needs to be downloaded all over again to get the update. Not to mention, the review process apps go through to be live in the app store which takes time.

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Business’s point of view

1. Customer base – Existing & Potential

Initial acquisition cost is high for mobile apps. You need to get the user to download your app first, to be able to use it. In contrary to this, anyone can visit your website through any browser and from any device having a browser. People can even find your website through Google search. This opens up a lot of possibilities for your business. In short, you can serve both existing and potential customers through a website. Whereas, mobile apps can only serve the existing user base.

2. User Engagement

Re-engaging with users using rich and powerful notifications and getting meaningful insights through analytics is better done with mobile apps than websites.

3. Learning Curve and Cost of Development

Mobile apps are highly customizable. In terms of features and capabilities, they can do a whole lot of stuff that a website can’t do, thanks to the close hardware integration. This, combined with the tons of possible unique use cases, helps create an ever-increasing range of UI/UX and feature possibilities. Thus, you have a steep learning curve even if you need to build a basic app. In other words, there is no such thing called an ‘App builder’. Even if you can find one, chances are, it will let you create a basic HTML type webpage app or an app functioning as a container of your website. In that case, you are better off creating a responsive website instead. Not to mention the whole point of creating an app is to create a tool for your users and you want it to be fully customizable in the first place.

On the other hand, a single screen website with some basic viewable features can be made using website builders needing almost no technical skills. A few examples would include blogging sites, personal/resume type websites, a website showing just the details of your business. However, to create a customized and full-featured website, you need a lot of technical skills.

4. Multiple platform support

Because of the way they have been distributed around the globe, you can’t ignore any of the 2 major platforms of the mobile OS- iOS & Android. People in the US, Canada, Australia, and European nations prefer iOS, whereas, Android is the global leader in terms of market share. Apart from this, iOS users are generally high paying customers in any region. This essentially means, to get high ARPU(Average Revenue Per User) you need to support iOS and to get to the masses, you need to support Android.

Mobile OS preference across the world

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(credit: https://deviceatlas.com/blog/android-v-ios-market-share)

Supporting 2 completely independent OS will result in higher development and maintenance costs. On the other hand, a single set of code will result in a website which works universally for every device with a browser.

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Website vis-à-vis Mobile Apps! Can one replace the other?

No matter how tightly websites and apps are attached, they are uniquely placed with each serving a purpose different from the other. However, the matter of the fact is that they cannot replace each other. We might see things in the future that will bridge the gap between them both from the business and the user’s point of view. In fact, we already have things like Progressive Web Apps and tools like Flutter and React which are trying to bring websites and apps closer in terms of use and development.

Even Technologies like AR which is by far better served by mobile apps are finding their way to websites. By creating a new file type USDZ, Apple has made it possible for websites to enable users to try 3D virtual objects in their Physical space. This creates a compelling possibility for E-Commerce websites. Of course, for this to work, the website needs to be viewed on a mobile phone/iPad with a camera supporting AR.

To draw an analogy, mobile app and website are like parallel lines, they remain close to each other without overlapping in terms of their existence. We might speculate about their getting merged in the distant future but that distant future might just never come.

Final Thoughts?

Your website is your online identity. As businesses have an office address in the physical world, they have a website in the digital one. And, a mobile app is like a tool you provide to the user to get things done with ease, as well as engage. In most of the cases, you will need to have both.

Depending upon the nature and the stage a business is in, one medium might find itself positioned more favorably than the other. But, when the cost is not a deterrent, it has become customary to embrace both the website and the mobile app, almost as if they were an obligation. It gives a business the chance to meander seamlessly into the mental realms of its target customers, the users, and unleash many possibilities.

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. To know more about our company, please click on Mindfire Solutions.  For over 20+ years now, we have been the preferred Software Development Partner of over 1000+ Small and Medium-sized enterprises across the globe.

 

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RPA Image

Is Robotic Process Automation changing the Test Automation Game?

Automation Testing Tools, IT Outsourcing, Software QA Testing

RPA has taken the IT world by storm. I won’t say that it is the newest thing in business because it has been there around for about 10 years now. But now is the time when it is spreading like wildfire. More and more companies want to adopt it.

To set the context, let’s look at how AI has broken all the barriers of our imagination. I bet that a few years ago when we used to see robots in movies, we would think that they are just part of our imagination or even if we considered them to become reality someday, we always thought that the day to be many years away. But what we never imagined was that technology will progress so much so soon. Today Artificial intelligence is making machines more and more human-like. They want machines to not only follow our instructions but to think, and possibly also to exhibit emotions. It is almost like humans want to assemble humans in labs. No wonder then that a robot named Sophia was very recently even given citizenship of Saudi Arabia.

Now going back to Robotic Process Automation. Going just by the words,  it seems like  Robots automating processes. The catch, however, is that that when we say Robot, we don’t mean an actual physical robot, but a virtual one –  the automation program.

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What’s the big deal about RPA in Software Test Automation?

Many could argue that in traditional Automation also we were creating automation programs. So what is all the hype about?

The key distinctions according to me are :

  • It is script less: Coming from a Manual testing background it was always a challenge for me to always keep learning the latest scripting languages but now I don’t need to learn any programming language to automate a test scenario. You just need to be good with your logics and should be able to think out of the box scenarios.
  • Focus is back to product quality: I am not saying that in Traditional automation the product quality was getting hampered, But in my own experience I feel that when I was working on Automation via scripts, most of my time was getting consumed in writing code and at the end of the day, only very few scenarios were automated, and I was not able to cover as much scenario and I didn’t have the time to dive into variety of scenario. So I feel that out of two 1 thing was always getting compromised either the Coverage or the deadline. But with RPA tool this problem of mine has been resolved to a great extent.

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How things work when Automating Test cases with RPA

There are many RPA tools available in the market like UI Path, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism and many more. You can use any (FYI: I am not promoting any specific tool).

There are few basic criteria on which all the RPA tools are based on:

  • Already defined user actions: Most of the user actions that one can think of while automating a test case like the click of a button, mouse hover, opening browser, typing into a text box and many more, they are already defined and the user doesn’t have to code.
  • Built-in decision logics and looping statements: The best part about using RPA tool for creating scripts was, I didn’t have to worry about the syntax of my decision logic and adding loops, for example, do-while, for, etc. They are built-in and I just needed to use them.
  • Configuring of user events through Parameters: Every user action or event that we use can be easily configured using its parameters. Almost every property of a user event is made available so as it can be customized as much and as easily as possible.
  • Easy to create variables: RPA tools make it very easy to create a variable without stressing upon the syntax.
  • Error handling: If there is an error that occurs while configuring the user events or in the full flow, RPA tools have very good error handling mechanism. It helps the user to narrow down the area of error and also gives very clear and specific error messages making it very convenient for the user to correct the error.

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What RPA has changed in my Automation Testing approach?
  • So as I said above, for me RPA has put the focus back to thinking about logic, covering some out of the box test scenarios, rather than spending hours just automating the basic functionality.
  • RPA has improved my testing coverage also, as I am able to cover number and different types of scenarios.
  • Thanks to RPA, I am able to automate the test scenarios faster as I don’t have to write every single line of code on my own.
  • Another advantage of using an RPA tool is, I face less number of errors while automating a test case. As in RPA tool, they have built-in codes for most of the logics and I just have to make sure that I use them in correct flow.
  • With RPA tool, I was able to manage my scripts much easily as most of the times it just making tweaking into the properties of the built-in user actions.
  • Also when I create my scripts using RPA tool, they are more easily readable and I am able to explain them to another person in a better way
  • Being from a manual testing background, it was always a big challenge for me to always keep on learning the latest scripting languages but now I don’t have to invest my time learning the coding languages.
  • I can invest my mind in more decision making tasks rather than some boring and repetitive tasks that can be done by machines also.

Now, when I extract the essence of all the benefits, the bigger picture that I get is RPA helps to increase Test Automation Coverage, reduces the time required, hence reducing in the process the cost of Testing and in turn increasing the Company’s profit.

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Having said that, I did face some challenges while automating test scripts with RPA tool

1) I was not able to automate everything
Having worked with different scripting automation tools, I feel that there are some scenarios which I can’t achieve using RPA tools like I am not able to automate scenario which deals with complex Database entries, multiple formats of input or unstructured input data.

2) It executes at a slower pace
When I execute a script created via any RPA tool it executes at a UI speed but when I run a script created using scripting languages, it is much faster. So I feel that RPA is comparatively slower than the processes automated using traditional automation.

3) Not much available on Web, so need to explore yourself
Test Automation using RPA is relatively new. So there are many built-in user actions and functionalities of different tools that you have to explore on your own and not much help is available on the web. So that was also one of the challenges that I faced.

4) It can increase a company’s Test Automation cost
When I started automation using RPA, most of the RPA tools that I came across were paid and just 1 or 2 had free versions available and that too had not much-advanced features contrary to the open-source scripting tools available in the market. So I feel that this can also prove to be a disadvantage as it will increase the cost of Automation for a company.

But I feel that the pros somewhere outnumber the cons and the proof of this is that more and more companies are investing in Test Automation using RPA. So in my opinion, if you are the one who wants to adopt RPA in Test Automation, then the time to act is now.

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. To know more about our company, please click on Mindfire Solutions. 

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