The Complete Checklist for Mobile App Testing – Ensure Your App Is Ready for the Public
As a business owner, you know that a well-functioning mobile app is essential to your success. But how can you be sure your app is ready for prime time? Testing a mobile application is essential to ensure that it works correctly and meets the needs of the users. By testing the application thoroughly, you can catch any errors or problems before the application is released to the public. This can help to improve the overall user experience and reduce the number of support requests. If you want to ensure that your mobile app is thoroughly tested and ready for release, the best way is to hire a reputable mobile app development company. With their expertise, you can be confident that your app will undergo comprehensive testing, and that any issues will be resolved before your users encounter them. Check out our article for a complete checklist on mobile application testing to help you get started on the path to a successful app launch. 3 Prerequisites to Test a Mobile Application The importance of testing cannot be overemphasized, especially if your mobile app is targeted at a large user base. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when testing mobile applications. 1. Test the App on Multiple Devices First, mobile applications are used on a variety of devices with different screen sizes, operating systems, and hardware. So, testing must be done on as many different types of devices as possible. For example, an app that looks great on an iPhone may not look as good on a Galaxy. To ensure that your app works well on all devices, test it on as many different types of devices as possible. 2. Test the App under Multiple Conditions Mobile apps are used in a variety of locations and conditions. So, testing must be done in as many different locations and conditions as possible to ensure the best possible user experience. This includes testing in different environments, such as in a lab and the field, and under a variety of conditions, like different network speeds and signal strengths. By doing this, you can catch and fix any potential problems before your users do. 3. Constant Monitoring Mobile applications are constantly updated. Regular testing ensures that the mobile app is still working properly. To keep up with changes, it is important to have a dedicated team who can test the updates as they are released. How are Mobile Apps Tested? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to testing mobile applications. The best approach depends on the specific app and platform. Generally speaking, mobile apps can be tested in two ways: For manual testing, people use the app to see if it works as expected. This can be a quick and easy way to get started with testing, but it’s not always feasible for large or complex apps. Automation testing, on the other hand, involves tools that automatically execute tests. It’s a more efficient way to test apps, but it requires more setup and knowledge to get started. Both manual and automation testing have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the right approach for your specific needs. In general, manual testing is best for small projects and initial testing, while automation is more suited for larger projects and ongoing testing. What Are the Steps for Testing a Mobile Application? Testing a mobile application can be a complex and time-consuming process, but some basic steps can help make it go more smoothly. Step 1: Gather Necessary Tools and Devices To test a mobile application, you will need a few things. First, you will need a mobile device. This could be a smartphone, tablet, or even an emulator. Step 2: Finalize the Testing Platform A testing platform is essential for quality assurance. It allows you to test your product against a variety of scenarios and identify any potential issues before release. There are many different options for testing platforms, so be sure to choose one that meets your needs. Step 3: Create a Test Plan Once you have the necessary tools and devices, you will need to create a test plan. This should outline the goals of the testing and identify the devices, platforms, and schedule. Step 4: Execute the Test Plan After the test plan is created, it is time to execute it. This involves running the test script on the devices and platforms outlined in the plan. This is an important step in making sure that the product is ready for release. Step 5: Analyze the Results Once the tests have been executed, it is time to analyze the results. This will help you identify any issues with the app and determine if it is ready for release. What Are the Main Things to Test in Mobile Applications? You need to test a lot of different things in a mobile application, including the user interface, functionality, performance, compatibility, security, and more. Here are seven important things to keep in mind while testing a mobile application. 1. Functionality Testing Testing the functionality of a mobile application is critical to ensuring that users have a positive experience. Functionality testing is an important part of the development process and should be included in any quality assurance plan. By covering all the bases and testing for all potential problems, you can be sure that your app will be ready for users when it is released. Common test cases that should be covered include: Functionality testing can happen in three ways: 1. Manual Testing 2. Automated Testing 3. Using a Test Harness a. Manual Testing Manual testing is a way to test the functionality of an application by testing it manually. This means that you test the application by using your hands and eyes, rather than a tool or script. It can be a time-consuming process, but it can also be very effective in identifying issues. b. Automated Testing Automated testing is a way to test the functionality of an application by using
Six Metrics to Track the Progress of Your Software Development Project
Metrics help stakeholders measure and track the progress of the software development process, ensuring the project is progressing in a timely manner and meeting the necessary requirements. Key performance indicators (KPIs) evaluate the team’s performance in specific areas, giving everyone insight into what’s going on. It provides a quantitative way to measure project flow. These KPIs for software product development are crucial to communicating the status of a project, so everyone knows what’s happening and what still needs to be done. Agile and DevOps software development methodologies use multiple metrics to measure progress on a project, as well as for more specific purposes like debugging or security issues. You don’t need to track every metric, and project managers should choose the ones that represent the information they want to know. These 6 common metrics specifically measure the productivity of your development team. Work in Progress Work In Progress (WIP) indicates the amount of code started, but not completed. It measures how many team members are working on different tasks at the same time. You want your WIP, which is a ratio of programmers to tasks, as close to 1.0 as possible. That indicates your team members are concentrating on one task at a time, rather than multitasking on two or more assignments with varying priorities. Lines of Code Also called thousands of lines of code (KLOC), this metric indicates the productivity level of the developers on the project. If this KPI is high, then programmers are more productive. However, note that because this metric only measures the quantity of code, there’s no data on the quality of that code. Lead time Lead time quantifies how long it takes for ideas to be developed and delivered as finished software. It starts with the proposal and ends with delivery. Lowering lead time is a way to improve how responsive software developers are to customers. Sprint Goal Success Agile software development measures time in sprints, which is a fixed period of time to complete a defined set of tasks. Sprint goal success measures the percentage of a completed goal for a specific sprint. Defining these goals also helps everyone in the team understand what should be accomplished during the sprint. Velocity As part of the Agile software development process, this metric measures the amount of work completed in a specific timeframe. It’s typically measured in iterations, sprints, or weeks. This KPI can vary in units measured, e.g., hours completed, user stories, or story points. A sprint burndown chart helps team members understand how much work has been completed during a sprint and the total amount of work remaining. Number of Software Releases Frequent and continual software releases are a major goal for Agile and DevOps software development methodologies. This metric measures the frequency of software releases in a specific timeframe (weeks, months, etc.). Software metrics can help teams improve the workflow of the software development process, eventually boosting the return on investment (ROI) on a project. It also can help teams manage workloads and identify areas to improve. Metrics can help project leaders control costs by pinpointing and communicating project issues earlier. That’s because the sooner problems are identified, the easier it is to troubleshoot and make corrections. InApp’s continuous assessment, automation, and management services empower clients with a delivery stream that drives business transformation. Contact us to learn how we can help you improve operations and manage the costs of software development.
React Native vs. Flutter vs. Ionic vs. Xamarin vs. Nativescript (A Detailed Comparison)
Cross-platform frameworks allow developers to create a mobile solution that is simultaneously compatible with different operating systems and platforms. That can help businesses expand the reach of a mobile app while also controlling the development costs. As a result, most companies prefer cross-platform mobile app development over native mobile app development. Let’s compare and contrast the top five mobile application frameworks: React Native, Flutter, Ionic, Xamarin, and Nativescript. React Native React Native is an open-source user interface (UI) software framework created by Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly Facebook. It’s used with native platform capabilities to develop applications for Android, Android TV, iOS, macOS, tvOS, web, Windows, and UWP. Pros of React Native Cons of React Native Flutter Flutter is an open-source UI software development kit created by Google. It is used to develop cross-platform applications for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, Google Fuchsia, and the web from a single codebase. Pros of Flutter Cons of Flutter Ionic Ionic is an open-source UI toolkit for creating hybrid cross-platform mobile applications. It uses Webview for mobile instead of using native device elements. The framework leverages familiar JavaScript codebases and has multiple component presets that provide native functionality. Pros of Ionic Cons of Ionic Xamarin Owned by Microsoft, Xarmain uses a C#-shared codebase that developers can use to write native Android, iOS, and Windows apps with native user interfaces and share code across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Pros of Xamarin Cons of Xamarin Nativescript NativeScript is an open-source framework that builds cross-platform applications for iOS and Android using JavaScript. NativeScript also has a rendering engine that provides native performance and user experience. Pros of NativeScript Cons of NativeScript Why Should You Choose InApp? Learn how MPulse Software relies on InApp to keep its software updated to meet evolving technology and customer needs, using a range of technology that includes Flutter, Microsoft .NET, C#, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Ajax Tool Kit, and more. It’s a business relationship that’s enabled MPulse to grow over the years, as well as to keep up with rapid software technology changes. Bottomline Cross-platform mobile app development expands the potential market reach of a mobile app by making it faster and easier to deploy on all major platforms, as well as more affordable for companies. InApp’s mobile app development engineers ensure your software works seamlessly across platforms on a range of mobile devices. Learn more about cross-platform app development services from our experts. We’re here to help.
11 Digital Transformation Trends That Will Shape The Future
By harnessing the power of emerging technology, companies can improve business performance with operational improvements that improve their interactions with customers. But digital transformation works best when companies identify and rethink processes and procedures that may be inadvertently holding them back. That requires careful planning and foresight. Start by considering the following 11 digital transformation trends, and anticipating how you can implement them in your business. 11 Digital Transformation Trends Trend 1: Blockchain Technology The potential of blockchain technology has evolved in recent years, and more businesses are looking closely at how they can use it to transmit and receive payments directly. These peer-to-peer networks do not require centralized verification for payment processing. As a result, deploying a blockchain system can lower transaction costs. Blockchain also provides improved data security, better transparency, real-time inventory availability, and more precise documentation. Trend 2: Robotic Process Automation Robotic process automation (RPA), also known as software robotics, uses automation technologies to integrate and perform repetitive tasks between enterprise and productivity applications. By deploying scripts that emulate human processes, RPA tools complete the autonomous execution of various activities and transactions across unrelated software systems. As just one example, companies may use RPA to mimic office tasks, such as extracting data, filling in forms, moving files, etc. Trend 3: Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will continue to hold a place at the forefront of the technology sector in 2022. Rapid changes in the field hold great promise for even more significant breakthroughs. Various factors such as the growth of data-based AI, advancements in deep learning, and the push for robotic autonomy to stay competitive in a global market are expected to drive the adoption of AI solutions and services. Trend 4: Augmented Intelligence Augmented intelligence (also known as intelligence amplification, or IA) uses ML and predictive analytics of data sets to enhance human intelligence by improving human decision-making and, by extension, their actions. Companies are already using augmented intelligence to help their employees to make more accurate, data-driven decisions. Furthermore, augmented intelligence is emerging as a way to use and prioritize data by providing predictive analytics to organizations. Trend 5: Hybrid Workplace The COVID-19 pandemic redefined the workplace, as it became clear that physical location matters less than access to the technology that connects people. As a result, companies are rethinking their traditional office structures, including combining on-site and remote work. It’s a tricky balance for many businesses, and it certainly doesn’t work for everyone. Adopting a hybrid workplace requires investments in technology and tools that will streamline communication, documentation, and data in new ways – while also ensuring security. Trend 6: 5G 5G technology in mobile networks holds promise for improved and faster connections between more devices and machines at the same time, while also reducing costs. 5G can deliver multi-Gbps data speed, along with ultra-low latency, improved reliability, and better network capabilities. Some of the biggest benefits of 5G for businesses include improved communication and easier implementation for the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It also will impact the use of virtual reality and augmented reality technology. Trend 7: Zero Trust Zero Trust is a framework for securing infrastructure and data to address challenges like remote workers, hybrid cloud environments, and ransomware threats. Zero Trust requires all users, whether in or outside the organization’s network, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated for security before getting or keeping access to applications and data. Zero Trust can be used with local, cloud, or hybrid networks, as well as for workers in any location. Trend 8: Software 2.0 Derived from Web 2.0, Software 2.0 refers to the second generation of software development methodologies where users develop and share their own applications via the internet in a virtual community. These applications can be developed individually or via open-source projects, where developers collaborate and the code is provided to end users. Software 2.0 also applies to generative programming, which focuses on the automatic synthesis of software from high-level specifications and code generation. Trend 9: Everything-As-A-Service (XaaS) Everything-as-a-Service (XaaS) refers to anything in the IT sector that can be delivered as a service via cloud computing. This trend began with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and quickly evolved into Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Desktop as a Service (DaaS), Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), and others as cloud services rapidly expanded. Benefits include lower costs with improved accessibility, as well as easier functionality and faster implementation. Trend 10: Generative AI Generative AI is a technology that helps create artifacts that formerly relied on humans, offering results without any biases resulting from human thoughts and experiences. Generative AI determines the original pattern to generate authentic pieces that showcase the training data features. The goal is to offer higher-quality results through ML from the datasets. It also helps to work through specific challenges linked with a project and allows bots to understand abstract concepts. Trend 11: Customer Data Platform A customer data platform (CDP) provides a centralized database that enables users to collect, manage, and activate data from multiple sources in order to affect the digital customer experience. CDPs collect and integrate all forms of customer data with the intent to create a unified profile of a single customer persistently over time. CPDs collect a variety of data types to help inform the actionable instructions they deliver back out to other technology platforms to personalize the digital customer experience. Why Choose InApp? InApp’s digital transformation experts help companies invest in the best technologies to boost their digital strategy, increase revenue, cut costs, improve security, and streamline business processes. InApp helps our clients drive a digital change agenda and future-proof their technology landscape to implement a modern digital backbone. Learn more about InApp’s work by visiting our customer case studies. Bottomline Digital transformation helps companies boost their technology initiative, which can result in the ability to increase revenue, cut costs, improve security, and streamline business processes. Contact the digital transformation experts at InApp to
6 Reasons Why Now Is The Best Time To Boost Revenue With Mobile Applications
Mobile applications aren’t just a medium to access information on the go anymore. Today, they are an integral part of our lives, and companies in industries like banking, retail, and healthcare have incorporated mobile applications into the heart of their business strategy as a result. A study from Ericsson & The Radicati Group determined there are around 6.63 billion smartphone users around the world as of 2022, and this number is projected to hit 7.33 billion by 2025. This growth in mobile applications shows it’s a great way to access customers directly, as well as generate revenue through in-app purchases, subscriptions, ads, etc. In addition to being a great way for businesses to connect with their customers and generate revenue, mobile apps also offer many other benefits. A prime example is how they help companies improve their customer experience by providing features such as live chat and self-service options. 6 reasons why this year is the best time to boost company revenue with mobile applications. 1. Increase In The Number Of Smartphone Users Whether you want to believe it or not, our smartphone addiction is growing by the minute. A 2022 study on cell phone usage revealed that an average American checks their phone 344 times a day. That’s a 31% increase from 262 times a day in 2021. Smartphone penetration is still growing at a steady rate, and it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Considering the rapid increase in the number of smartphones and the time users spend on these devices, it’s the right time for businesses to invest in mobile applications to reach a larger audience and benefit from the corresponding revenue stream. 2. Rising Popularity of AI-based Mobile Applications The latest McKinsey Global Institute reports revealed that advancement in the field of Artificial Intelligence has brought in $139 billion in investments in 2020. This AI funding has revolutionized mobile applications by making them more intelligent than before. Modern mobile applications can now predict user behavior and learn from user-generated data, producing a personalized experience for app users. With a growing number of application users expecting this type of personalized experience, it is high time for businesses to invest in AI-based mobile applications that can provide what their customers want. 3. The Boom of Augmented Reality (AR) The global augmented reality (AR) market is growing at a breakneck speed. As of 2022, it is valued at USD 25.33 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 49%. While the proliferation of smart handheld devices has played a crucial role in the popularity of AR, it is also the direct result of customers looking for a more immersive user experience. Advancements in the augmented reality sector have provided new ways to use the technology in mobile applications. Investing in AR-based mobile applications can prove especially beneficial to businesses in the B2C domain that want to provide users with an improved user experience. This can also translate into a boost in revenue from mobile applications. 4. Advancements in Mobile App Development Tech Stacks Advancements in tech stacks used in mobile app development have made it easier for businesses to create and update their mobile apps. For instance, the tech stacks used for cross-platform app development like Xamarin, Flutter, and Ionic have greatly reduced the cost of developing a mobile app. This has made it affordable for businesses to create mobile applications, improving the return on investment. 5. Reduced Cost of App Development The cost of creating a mobile app has been declining in recent years. This is due, in part, to the increase in the number of SaaS-based mobile app development platforms that are on the market. These platforms make it easier for businesses to create an app without having to hire a developer. In addition, many businesses now realize that they don’t need a custom app to reach their customers. Instead, they are now relying on app development platforms that allow them to create mobile applications without any coding experience. This has also reduced the costs incurred in developing an application for businesses. 6. Ease of Marketing the Application Last but not the least, businesses now have more mobile marketing options available to them than ever before. This will allow businesses to better target their potential app users and boost their revenue. The Bottomline Considering the huge demand for mobile applications that can provide an immersive user experience, along with the new cost-efficient ways to develop mobile applications, it is evident that the situation has never been more favorable for developing your own app. If you haven’t thought of investing in a mobile application for your business, we highly recommend that you start working on it now to gain an edge over your competition in the future. Wondering where to start? Get in touch with our team to learn more about mobile solutions for native platforms like iOS and Android, and cross-platform solutions. With more than a decade of experience in developing mobile applications for over 200 companies across the education, lifestyle, productivity, and entertainment industries, InApp can provide a one-stop solution for your mobile application requirements.
Backend as a Service (BaaS): Is It Right for Your Software Development Project?
Backend as a Service (BaaS) providers operate behind the scenes, offering regular maintenance and management to ensure that backend software components operate as expected. That means software developers can rely on BaaS to cover the virtual machines, server management, or containers needed to keep apps running. Developers use BaaS services to integrate their needed functionalities without managing the backend themselves. As a result, developers can focus on the code for the front end of their applications, providing significant time savings. What Is Backend as a Service (BaaS)? BaaS outsources the backend components of web application development or mobile app development to service providers, enabling software developers to focus on the front end. BaaS is a cloud service model that provides software for database management, hosting, storage, authentication, push notifications, and remote updates. An application programming interface (API) and/or software development kit (SDK) work as a bridge between the front end and the back end. Backend as a Service vs. Serverless Computing BaaS and serverless computing share some commonalities, but they aren’t exactly the same. While both enable developers to outsource backend functionality, the differences are… Advantages of a Backend as a Service Like most outsourced services, the advantages of BaaS are… What is MBaaS? Mobile backend as a service (MBaaS) provides services for backend mobile app development, including database management, security, push notifications, hosting, storage, etc. MBaaS and BaaS are very similar, and many service providers offer both. Features of Backend as a Service Typically, BaaS features include features such as… Backend as a Service Provider You can choose from numerous BaaS and MBaaS vendors. Some of the most popular are… The right BaaS or MBaaS service provider will depend on the needs of your specific project. We recommend working with an experienced software development team to find the ideal vendor for your application. Why Should You Choose InApp? InApp’s backend development engineers have the technical experience you need for high-quality applications, including databases, backend logic, APIs, and servers. Learn more about how InApp helps our clients with all their custom software development needs.
Is Voice Commerce the New Version of eCommerce?
From pressing buttons to touch and finally to voice and digital assistants, the way we engage with devices has changed drastically. In a survey conducted in 2021, 72% of the participants were using voice search, and its popularity has spread to the world of eCommerce too. Today, it is estimated that around 45 million customers use voice search for online shopping. With the voice commerce market estimated to grow to USD 55.68 billion from 2022 to 2026 at a CAGR of 24%, it behooves retailers to start optimizing their voice search strategy or risk being left behind. So, What Is Voice Commerce? As the name suggests, voice commerce is all about using your voice to shop for products from online stores. It relies on technologies like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to let customers use voice commands to search for and buy products online. Unlike the traditional method where users had to type in a query in the search box, they can now use voice assistants on their smartphones or other voice assistants to search for products and services. The Evolution Of Voice Commerce & Its Workings Voice commerce is a product of years-long research and development, the history of which can be traced back to 1952. Bell Laboratories created the first voice recognition device called ‘Audrey’ that could understand digits spoken by users. The following years witnessed a major leap in the domain of voice recognition. By 1990 the first speech recognition software was launched. Although the voice recognition programs hit a stall in the early 2000s, it was revived in 2010 when Google launched personalized voice recognition to search on Android phones. As of 2020, the speech and voice recognition market size is valued at USD 9.4 billion and it is estimated to reach USD 28.1 billion by 2027. Technologies Powering Voice Commerce 1. Next-Gen Speech Recognition The significant investments made in speech recognition by tech giants like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, along with other AI companies, have led to rapid advancements in natural language understanding (NLU). The result? Today there are deep neural network-powered speech recognition and voice technology platforms that can interpret speech despite background noise, grammar choices, or differences in tone or accent between speakers. 2. Neural Text to Speech With text-to-speech systems that use deep neural networks, neural text-to-speech has now become more natural, reducing listening fatigue caused during human interaction with AI systems. This also ensures that companies get to bring a human touch to their sales and marketing efforts. 3. Intent Prediction Intent prediction is another prominent technology that voice commerce is greatly dependent on. Backed by intelligent intent prediction networks that take user-permitted contextual information and predict the likely intents, intent predictions help businesses predict their customers’ next move before they complete their purchase. This ensures that companies have a better understanding of user behaviors. What Does Voice Commerce Mean for Retailers? A survey conducted by Statista found that over two billion people shopped online in 2020, and e-retail sales surpassed USD 4.2 trillion worldwide. From clothes to electronics to books to other goods and services, online stores have cornered the market. But the winds of change have hit the industry. eCommerce, which was once the hottest trend in the market, has now begun its evolution to voice commerce. If you’re a retailer and you’re not preparing for this significant trend of e-commerce going toward v-commerce, then you won’t be around. Greg Melich, Senior Retail Analyst, MoffettNathanson As of 2020, around 4.2 billion voice assistants were used worldwide, and this number is expected to cross 8.4 billion by 2024. And out of these 4.2 billion, research shows that 51% of consumers use voice search to research products, while 22% make purchases with a voice command. eCommerce giants across the globe have realized the untapped potential of voice commerce and have invested billions of dollars in the technology. So, if you are an online retailer, it’s high time to optimize your store for voice search—or risk being left behind. Four Major Benefits of Implementing Voice Commerce Implementing a voice commerce solution is the key to offering a better shopping experience to your customers, which in turn can increase customer loyalty. Here are some major benefits of implementing voice commerce. 1. Improved shopping experience With voice commerce, your customers can avoid the lengthy browsing and checkout process involved in traditional eCommerce platforms. Customers save time, which in turn improves the shopping experience. 2. Improve brand visibility With 50% of all global searches becoming voice-activated, implementing a voice commerce solution for your online store will ensure better visibility in the market. That gives your brand an edge over your competitors. 3. Offer a personalized shopping experience Businesses can better track customer behavior and choices with voice search, helping them offer a more personalized shopping experience. Customers tend to stay more loyal to your brand when you can take care of their personalized preferences. 4. Guaranteed customer satisfaction Because voice commerce offers a faster turnaround and a personalized shopping experience, customer satisfaction improves with voice commerce. How To Implement Voice Commerce For Your Store Having a voice application is the key to implementing voice commerce for your store. There are two ways to build a voice app. 1. Build a voice app on your own Building a voice application requires a team of expert developers, AI and ML specialists, and engineers who know how to integrate your system with the already existing popular systems such as Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri, and Cortana. Although you’ll have complete ownership of the final product, building an app on your own can prove to be expensive and time-consuming. 2. Hire a company to build your voice application Hiring a reputable organization to build your voice application is a practical and time-tested approach. Because these companies have years of experience in building similar applications, you will get expert guidance and a team of specialists working on your application. The Bottomline Though voice commerce is relatively new in the eCommerce space,
QUIC vs TCP: The Full Story
Back in 1974, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) defined how to establish and maintain a network conversation by which applications can exchange data. TCP controls the transfer of data via connection management, reliability, flow control, and congestion control features. TCP and the Internet Protocol (IP) have stood the test of time and defined the internet as we know it today. Almost 40 years later, Google created the Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC) protocol to improve latency issues with TCP. Google designed QUIC to compensate for HTTP/2 deficiencies, provide robust and strong encryption, and reduce server/client handshake and packet loss. Today, the company uses QUIC as the default protocol for all its products. For example, when a user accesses Google’s services such as Gmail with the company’s Chrome web browser, the data transfer will use QUIC. But QUIC hasn’t replaced the much older TCP yet. Let’s learn more about these two transport protocols. QUIC vs. TCP Both QUIC and TSP protocols manage communication between devices, wherever they are located. QUIC sits on the UDP, aka the User Datagram Protocol, a transport layer protocol. UDP forms the base of QUIC. Since UDP is a connectionless protocol, QUIC handles all of the logic to guarantee a reliable connection between a client and a server. In addition, QUIC is built into the application layer, meaning that any updates will not require OS changes. Is QUIC faster than TCP? Google’s goal for its QUIC protocol was to solve transport-layer and application-layer problems in modern web applications, while also requiring little or no change from application developers. From Google’s test results, QUIC does indeed perform better than TCP in transfer and average bandwidth used. The two are much closer in other tests, but QUIC still outperformed TCP in almost every measure, with the exception of jitter. What is the difference between TCP and QUIC? TCP and QUIC have two major differences: QUIC provides… Why should you choose InApp? The software development world moves quickly, and InApp prides itself on staying ahead of technology improvements and trends. That comes from our experience in providing full-cycle software development services to clients all over the world, including SaaS and software vendors, as well as companies looking to harness business innovation with digital transformation and emerging technologies. Learn more about how InApp helps our clients achieve success.
Unity 3D – The Future of Video Game Development
Unity 3D has come a long way since its launch in 2005. With its updated version Unity 5, which came with support for dozens of new platforms, major graphic improvements, HD video support, and VR, Unity 3D began cornering the video game development market. As of 2022, Unity 3D has a market share of 48%, which is 3.5 times more than its direct competitor Unreal Engine. Today, games made with Unity account for 71% of the top thousand titles on the market. But what makes it unique? Why are most video game developers relying on Unity 3D for game development? Unity 3D offers game developers greater flexibility when compared to the other game engines in the market. It comes out of the box with support for a wide range of features including 3D graphics rendering, animation, physics simulation, and particle systems — making life easier for video game developers and designers. Apart from these, Unity 3D also offers an integrated development environment (IDE), which includes a real-time editor with built-in debugging tools, as well as an animation system to help developers create their 2D or 3D animations using drag-and-drop functionality. Before we delve into why video game developers prefer Unity 3D, let’s look at what Unity 3D is and its significance. What Is Unity 3D & What Is Its Significance? Unity 3D is a robust cross-platform video game engine developed by Unity Technologies and renowned for its unrivaled cross-platform capabilities. Though Unity has 3D in its name, its application is not limited to developing 3D games. Instead, Unity comes with native support for AR/VR and 2D video game development tools that developers can use to make games in the 3D, 2D, virtual reality, and augmented reality genres, and for creating simulations and other experiences as well. Apart from these, Unity 3D also comes with native support for features like physics simulation, collision detection, and 3D graphics rendering that can make life easier for video game developers and help them save time spent on developing a video game. Another prominent feature in Unity 3D is the Asset Store, which is a library of plug-and-play functionalities/animations, uploaded by game developers or designers for fellow members of the video game development fraternity. For instance, say you want to add an immersive burnout effect to the racing game you are building. Instead of building it from scratch, you can search for it on the Asset Store and use it. Now that we have discussed in brief what Unity 3D is and its core features, let’s see why video game designers mostly rely on Unity 3D for video game development. 7 Benefits of Using Unity 3D for Video Game Development Here are seven key benefits of using Unity 3D for video game development. 1. An Open-Source Platform Unity 3D is an open-source platform, and it offers a free version for beginners provided the developed game earns less than $100,000 annually. This free version of Unity 3D is designed exclusively for independent video game developers who have an idea for a new game and are keen on pursuing the idea. For developers who need advanced game development features, Unity 3D offers paid plans named Plus, Pro, Enterprise, and Unity Team. 2. A Comprehensive Gaming Engine One of the prominent reasons Unity 3D was able to corner the gaming market is because of its comprehensive nature. Unity 3D is a comprehensive package that lets developers develop and deploy a game on the same platform, helping cut down the overhead costs incurred. 3. Intuitive Development Ecosystem Though Unity 3D comes loaded with dozens of intelligent features, it is far superior when it comes to ease of use compared with other game engines. The game engine is designed to be intuitive so that even an entry-level game developer can leverage the complete functionalities of the platform to build engaging games. 4. Supports Cross-Platform Video Game Development Unity 3D supports cross-platform and multiplatform game development, saving developers from the hassle of coding individually for every platform. This means that developers will only have to write a single script irrespective of the number of platforms the game will be launched on. When compared to other cross-platform game engines like Unreal Engine, Libed, or Godot Engine, Unity 3D is easy to learn, development-friendly, and faster. 5. Rich Asset Store The Unity 3D Asset Store is more like a marketplace for gaming assets that developers can download like they download applications from the Play Store or iOS Store. Developers from Unity Technologies and other game developers upload these assets. While most assets are available to developers for free, some advanced assets are not. In short, the Unity Asset Store will have everything that a developer would need for their game or to build a prototype. These assets include everything from high-quality 3D models to meshes and skeleton low-poly game objects for rapid prototyping. 6. Next-Gen Graphics Unity 3D relies on the spectrally correct and GPU-accelerated render engine OctaneRender® to create an immersive gaming experience. For example, the popular multiplayer mobile game Call of Duty is built on Unity 3D, and it still ranks top among multiplayer action games due to its magnificent mobile shooter visuals. 7. Easier Debugging Debugging is the most tiring part of any development project including game development. When compared to other game engines like the Unreal Engine, debugging is easier in Unity 3D as all the variables are displayed in the gameplay during the testing phase. This means that even the less experienced developers can quickly finish debugging. The 3 Major Limitations of Unity 3D While Unity 3D comes loaded with intelligent features that make it the favorite of video game developers, it does come with limitations too. 1. Lack of External Code Libraries The lack of external code libraries on Unity 3D is something experienced game developers have been pointing out for a long time. Owing to this, developers must copy any external library they intend to use for a project. Whereas other game engines permit copying
A Comprehensive Guide to Business Process Automation: Benefits, Applications, Steps, and Examples
Many businesses start with Business Process Automation (BPA) in their quest for digital transformation. The direct effect of BPA technologies on workflows and operations makes it easy to see the impact — and the benefits. BPA takes common business processes (invoicing, communication, purchase orders, data entry, onboarding, etc.) and uses technology to replace manual processes. Automation improves efficiencies and prevents delays or bottlenecks with these transactions, while also freeing up employees to focus on more important tasks. What Are Common BPA Applications? BPA is a tool for business process management, and it can be used for almost any standard workflow. Some of the most common applications include: Business Process Automation vs. Robotic Process Automation BPA sounds similar to Robotic Automation (RPA), which also automates repetitive tasks. In general, RPA is used to complete simple tasks, like a machine designed to pack boxes in a factory. RPA typically does not need to interface with other software, and its implementation process does not require specific skills. BPA, in contrast, is customized for an organization and integrated into existing systems. Much of the confusion lies in the fact that comprehensive BPA solutions may include RPA components. Also, advanced solutions for both BPA and RPA may use similar emerging technologies, like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning tools. What Are the Benefits of Business Process Automation? The increased interest in BPA results from the benefits that can make a big impact. These advantages include: What Are the Implementation Steps for Business Process Automation? Much like any project, your BPA implementation process should start with a well-defined plan. These steps include… Examples of Business Process Automation While almost any business process can benefit from BPA, many companies start with simple tasks in data entry, financial management, human resources, or communication. Example 1: Invoicing BPA can streamline both sending and receiving invoices, reducing the time and paperwork involved. For sending invoices, a BPA solution could automate the data gathering, compiling, and dispatching of invoices. For accounts payable, the software may systematize the receiving, approval, and payment process according to predetermined criteria. Example 2: Human Resources Managing personnel requires different functions, from hiring to onboarding to training and more. BPA can automate the process so that each task is completed in a specific order, completed tasks are documented, and information is consistent. Among other things, BPA can help HR employees reduce paperwork, respond faster, and prevent costly errors. Example 3: Customer Support BPA can help employees provide customers with the most accurate and consistent information possible. For example, call centers and support personnel can use BPA to optimize call flow and scripts that provide standard responses to common interactions with customers, including inquiries, complaints, sales, and support. That helps to streamline communication and improve customer satisfaction. Companies of all sizes can benefit from BPA, improving efficiency and reducing costs. Contact the BPA experts at InApp to learn more about our BPA solutions.