Companies are Capitalizing on Cloud Business Intelligence to Find a Competitive Edge
Information is power. If your competitors are already racing ahead in the data game, you need to move fast to keep up. A company that knows how to use its business intelligence (BI) typically stays at the top. All businesses can generate a staggering amount of data. But to use that information effectively, you need a way to… This process allows businesses to make more informed decisions and predictions regarding business operations. Taking it to the next level couples BI with the power of cloud computing services. Once siloed in different departments or locations, combining data via the cloud and analytical tools makes information available to everyone. When used correctly, that data can help improve operations, identify new opportunities, solve problems, and maintain an edge over your competitors — particularly the ones that aren’t using the same advanced tactics. Once only available to large enterprises with big budgets, cloud BI now is more affordable and more accessible than ever for companies of all sizes. Why Do Companies Need Business Intelligence? This integration of cloud computing services and data analytics has opened up vast amounts of information from disparate sources, providing insights that companies can use to make faster strategic decisions. Cloud BI enables companies to… Examples of How Businesses Use Cloud BI The affordability and faster implementation of cloud BI have opened up new possibilities. Businesses of all sizes are using cloud BI to… Advantages of Cloud Business Intelligence Cloud BI offers benefits that stem from the unique capabilities of the cloud by… Top Cloud Business Intelligence Tools You can choose from hundreds of cloud BI tools, depending on your company’s needs and the complexity of your data stores. However, whichever tool you choose, your cloud BI solution should provide… Ready to capitalize on affordable cloud BI? Contact the cloud computing experts at InApp to see how easy it can be.
How to Choose a Cloud Framework for Your Next App
The success of your web or mobile application relies in part on the cloud framework you choose as the foundation for your development project. The market leaders in cloud computing services are the so-called “Big Three:” Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft’s Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). While there are several smaller, niche cloud services, these three dominate the field and offer diverse infrastructure, computing, and application-deployment tools that can be assets to organizations of all sizes. As a result, it can be challenging to differentiate between these options when comparing cloud providers for application development; this is why many organizations prefer to work directly with their app development partners or with cloud consulting services to zero in on a framework. Yet each cloud service has distinguishing characteristics and its own pros and cons. When assessing cloud frameworks, remember that the right option will depend heavily on the nature and needs of your application and business. Key Cloud Framework Considerations There is seemingly no end to the facets of a cloud service’s options and capabilities. But, as leading cloud consultants know, there are a few factors that shine brightly when evaluating cloud framework criteria: Architecture Is the cloud framework scalable? Will the architecture and service roadmap support your immediate and future needs? What is the cost of scaling up? Will the provider’s technology integrate with existing technology? And does it need to? If a hybrid cloud model is required, what needs to be done to achieve compatibility? These are essential questions to ask, as their answers have far-reaching effects regarding development, longevity, and cost. Ideally, you want a cloud solution that integrates with current technologies and offers growth potential. Container Support Architecture is closely linked to container support, which AWS, Azure, and GCP each provide. However, the scope of this support varies by provider. For instance, Microsoft Azure provides a fully managed platform known as Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). Google Cloud Platform also offers a comprehensive container orchestration platform, which is appropriate as Google developed the now open-source Kubernetes. The AWS container-support solution, known as Amazon Elastic Container Services (ECS), can support Kubernetes and Docker. The AWS platform also provides a serverless computing solution known as AWS Lambda; Azure and GCP similarly offer serverless computing. Regions and Availability Zones Availability zones are the geographic locations within a data-center region served by a cloud service, and they influence asset performance in those areas. Each of the Big Three offers ample coverage, though they differ in availability zone and regional totals. Azure currently offers the broadest coverage with three availability zones in each of its 60-plus regions, as well as more than 100 edge locations. Google Cloud has 82 total availability zones across 27 regions with more than 140 edge locations. Amazon Web Services maintains 81 availability zones across 25 regions and more than 215 edge locations. Pricing One area in which there is significant variation among the Big Three cloud framework providers is the pricing structure. The costs of cloud services fluctuate dramatically based on individual factors such as monthly or hourly usage, total individual services, and other project demands. For example, AWS pricing is based in part on the number of hours used with volume discounts for some services. GCP bills per second, but also have so-called “sustained-use” and “committed-use” pricing for computing services. Azure bills on-demand customers by the hour or gigabyte, or per millions of executions, depending on the service product. To get an accurate, up-to-date expense estimate, you must determine the project scope and carefully review the level of cloud services necessary to achieve your goals. The ability to provide consistent pricing and monitor for changes that may affect pricing are additional reasons why many organizations rely directly on their app development partners or cloud technology solution companies to manage their cloud frameworks. Security, Certifications, and Standards Each of the Big Three cloud providers holds numerous accreditations and certifications that demonstrate their commitment to industry best practices related to structured processes, data management, and security. These certifications, for example, include accreditation for information-security management established by the International Organization for Standardization (IOS). IOS maintains several standards for information security management systems alone, and many cloud providers hold IOS certifications. Many firms that offer cloud computing services and cloud consulting services will likewise hold IOS and other credentials. AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud: The Pros and Cons The good news is that AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud are all excellent cloud frameworks for app development. The bad news is that this can make choosing difficult. Some application and software developers also offer cloud services and cloud IT consulting. This helps ensure their clients have a suitable framework for their needs. The Big Three share similarities in their architectures, tools, and services. But there are a few potential advantages and disadvantages to keep in mind based on your development requirements: Amazon Web Services AWS is the current leader among cloud solutions, and it offers a spectrum of services and developer tools. Clients further enjoy limitless server capacity and broad scalability. However, AWS is focused on public cloud solutions. If your organization needs a hybrid model or a cloud framework that integrates with an existing data center, a different platform may prove a more effective option. Azure Azure may be a natural extension of existing enterprise technology if your organization currently employs Microsoft solutions. Azure may also be an ideal choice if you need a hybrid cloud or a framework that will integrate with an existing data center. Azure’s AI gives developers the freedom to create, test and deploy algorithms. Azure also supports Linux and container architectures. Google Cloud Platform GCP’s strengths reside in its machine-learning and AI tools. It can also be an optimal choice for organizations that work with open-source projects. Google’s Kubernetes framework is the foundation for many container environments. This makes GCP suitable for containerized application development. Is There a ‘Best’ Cloud Framework Provider? The cloud provider market is crowded and highly competitive. While
How Chaos Testing Improves Your Software’s Resiliency
You want your software to tolerate failure, while also providing appropriate quality of service level. But in today’s complex and distributed software systems, more than one thing can fail at the same time. To truly understand how a software application will work for users in real-world scenarios, you need to find out what happens when things go wrong. Chaos testing and chaos engineering provide a systematic approach to this issue by introducing failure and measuring the software’s ability to cope, resulting in a deeper understanding of its resilience and durability. It helps by simulating the conditions needed to uncover issues and find performance bottlenecks that can be challenging to identify in distributed systems. This method is quite effective in preventing downtime or production outages before their occurrence. Chaos testing can offer valuable intelligence on a software’s ability to withstand real-life conditions, where things don’t always go as planned. Combined with the DevOps build-test-release cycle’s continuous integration and development pipelines, recovery times will improve and the software becomes more stable. What Is Chaos Testing? Chaos testing refers to a systematic process where independent software testing professionals will crash an application on purpose. Random failures are introduced into the production system. As a result, the testing procedure can measure the software’s ability to recover and evaluate the impact of that failure. Chaos testing can significantly improve confidence and reduce recovery times as improvements are made. Key Benefits of Chaos Testing Chaos testing offers several advantages for the software development process: What Is Chaos Monkey? Developed by Netflix engineers, Chaos Monkey tests a software application’s resiliency and recoverability in a cloud network. “The name comes from the idea of unleashing a wild monkey with a weapon in your data center (or cloud region) to randomly shoot down instances and chew through cables — all the while we continue serving our customers without interruption,” Netflix explained. For example, these tools would intentionally introduce failures like disabled servers, network failures, dependency failures, latency, memory malfunction, etc. Chaos Monkey is now part of a larger suite of tools called the Simian Army, which is designed to simulate and test responses to various system failures and edge cases. Pros and Cons of Chaos Testing The introduction of failures to test software’s resiliency offers both pros and cons. Pros Cons Key Principles of Chaos Engineering The principles of chaos engineering follow the scientific method of establishing facts through testing and experimentation: Using chaos engineering to improve your software’s resiliency can result in a more stable application that provides a better user experience. Contact the independent software testing experts at InApp to learn how we can help you.
Sustainable Web Design: Does It Really Help the Environment?
When considering an organization’s carbon footprint, energy efficiency tops the list. But the power to run a business requires more than keeping the lights on in a building. The internet is a vital service required for basic business functionality. And it requires energy to run. While energy-efficient devices can make an impact, so can the design of your website. A website that loads faster and performs better will take less energy on both the consumer side and the data center side. Luckily, simple solutions can help with sustainable web design. Environmental Effects of Technology As a network of more networks and computers, the internet consumes a great deal of power. The carbon footprint of our gadgets, the internet, and the systems supporting them accounted for about 3.7% of global greenhouse emissions in 2020, according to estimates from Lancaster University, UK. Those numbers were calculated before COVID-19 supercharged our digital needs. These emissions could double by 2025. For example, the US Department of Energy identified data centers as one of the most energy-intensive building types, consuming 10 to 50 times the energy per floor space of a typical commercial office building. Collectively, these spaces account for approximately 2% of the total US electricity use. As the use of information technology grows, data center and server energy use are expected to grow too. How to Implement Sustainable Web Design In many cases, sustainable website design requires the simplification of certain functions. Reducing the power load of a website will correspondingly reduce the power necessary to serve the internet’s energy needs. But simple doesn’t always mean easy. It requires expert knowledge of the best solutions for design elements that affect the power load of a website. In some ways, sustainable web design takes a minimalist approach to website development. However, you still need a functional website that will do what you need it to do. These 3 strategies can help with implementing sustainable web design: 1. A Clear Design with an Optimized User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) The first step to sustainable web design starts with developing a better experience for the end user. Streamlining the design and eliminating unnecessary elements can result in a powerful and intuitive website. You want to minimize unnecessary content and reduce load time while making it easier for users to find what they want. This approach will improve UX, while also reducing the power load of the website—a win-win situation. Interestingly, making a website more user-friendly often results in making it easier for search engines to find and correctly index your content. That’s another bonus to sustainable web design. 2. Faster Load Times When it comes to loading times, faster is better. Page weight (the number and size of resources required to load a website) has expanded as technological innovations have matured. But even in our world of improved bandwidth, page weight is an important factor that can affect website performance. Sustainable design lowers page weight to reduce the amount of power required to load. It also benefits the user by providing faster access to the information they’re seeking on your website. Load times and site clarity also matter for search engines. Again, you get multiple benefits from thinking about your website from a sustainability standpoint. 3. Mobile Optimization Mobile devices changed the game of website development. That effect has only grown as more people use smartphones and tablets to access the Internet. Additionally, mobile devices have created an exponential increase in the use of mobile apps. Creating mobile-enabled websites naturally requires a lighter design. So, typically mobile-enabled websites are already lighter than traditional desktop versions. Again, search engines consider mobile-enabled sites as a positive element in their rankings. So that’s another benefit. How to Implement Sustainable Web Design Developing sustainable websites requires a combination of design and technical expertise. You want to work with someone who understands how website elements work together to meet both the company’s needs and the user’s experience. Experts in sustainability principles will consider several factors in the design of your website. Sustainable web design requires a careful balance between performance and functionality. An experienced web designer is an essential source of the latest information on making your site as energy-efficient as possible. Contact the experts at InApp to learn more about how sustainable design can help your company’s carbon footprint.
AIoT: Another Buzzword? Here’s What You Need to Know
When two technologies (Artificial Intelligence [AI] and the Internet of Things [IoT]) collide, it results in a new potential for both. AIoT, or the Artificial Intelligence of Things, shows promise for improved IoT operations, including human-to-machine interactions, data management, and analytics. It seemed inevitable that AI’s capabilities in data processing and machine learning would fit nicely with the data collection capabilities of IoT devices. AI brings a lot of new capabilities to the use of IoT, from natural language processing to robotic process automation, and many other applications. But the real power of combining these emerging technologies lies in the automation and analytics that provide a new level of business intelligence. How Does AIoT Work? IoT creates the data, and AI analyzes it to provide meaningful insights. The result is organizations can take action faster, enhancing efficiency and productivity. AI adds value to the IoT’s data collection process by automating the analysis of real-time information and transforming it into actionable intelligence. The IoT, in turn, provides the connectivity and data that AI can use to learn and make decisions. In the AIoT, AI technology is part of the infrastructure that’s connected to IoT networks. Applications enable the hardware and software components to work together, without the need for human interactions. The result is more information, and better information, to help organizations react quickly and make improvements in efficiency. The proximity of AI technology to IoT devices also can minimize the necessary bandwidth to collect data, therefore speeding up data analysis. Additionally, the implementation of 5G technology can speed up the transfer of large data files from IoT devices with even higher bandwidth and lower latency. Examples of AIoT The AIoT already has caught the attention of some of the biggest names in the tech industry, including Cisco Systems, Fujitsu Ltd., Hewlett Packard, and Microsoft. The Covid-19 pandemic jump-started this interest, as AI solutions became even more important to maintain operations with limitations in staffing and supply chain. The global AIoT market is valued at USD 15.04 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 144.07 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 38.1% over the forecast period, according to Brandessence Market Research. Places, where you’ll likely find the biggest impact of AIoT technology, include: What Are the Benefits of AIoT? The capabilities of AIoT offer significant advantages to organizations in a wide range of industries. These benefits include: The combination of AI and IoT technologies creates a better system that can use data to make decisions without human intervention. AIoT holds a lot of potential to solve current operational problems, as well as to reveal new business opportunities. Wondering how AIoT technology can help your business? Contact the AIoT experts at InApp. We can help.
Here’s Why Developers Use Node.js and React.js for Custom Web Application Development
JavaScript has maintained its popularity in application development for more than 25 years. However, this programming language hasn’t outlived its usefulness even after all that time. Instead, JavaScript has become the Internet’s de facto programming language. While its early adoption in website development helped establish it, JavaScript also offers the general advantages of being open-source and providing standardization. Two of the most common JavaScript libraries are Node.js and React.js. The main difference is that Node.js is a back-end framework, and React is used for developing user interfaces (UI). Let’s discuss each one’s benefits and how they can affect your software development project. Node.JS Advantages of Node.js Node.js is a back-end runtime environment, which uses server-side JavaScript to enable dynamic web content before it’s sent to the client side. The advantages of Node.js include… Features of Node.js Features of Node.js include… Uses of Node.js Node.js simplifies real-time web applications in JavaScript. Common applications include… Reach.JS Advantages of React.js React.js is an open-source front-end javascript library used for building UI. Maintained by Meta, React.js offers advantages that include… Features of React.js React.js is one of the most widely used libraries. Features include… Uses of React.js React.js is used by a wide range of business and industry leaders. It’s commonly used for… While Node.js and Reac.js are both JavaScript technologies, they’re used for entirely different purposes. Want to learn more about JavaScript for web application development? Contact the web app development experts at InApp. We can help.
Top 11 DevOps Tools You Should Know About
DevOps represents a cultural shift in custom software development by creating a seamless workflow between the software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) teams. To implement DevOps, however, you need a set of tools that will enable these collaborative efforts throughout the entire software development lifecycle. The tools you choose depend on the type of infrastructure you want to use to develop your software. Here are the top DevOps automation tools you should consider. Puppet Puppet centralizes and automates configuration management by implementing infrastructure as a code, which means that you can test the environment for accurate deployment. This open-source DevOps system management tool can deploy, configure, and manage servers. Puppet uses Ruby DSL, which allows you to change a complete infrastructure in code format and can be easily managed and configured. Puppet can also be used to deploy software on the system automatically. Jenkins This Java-based continuous integration server can be used to test changes in real time. Jenkins helps to solve software bugs and automate the testing process. Jenkins comes with many features and plugins that streamline deployments into the development and production environment. Jenkins also can integrate services from many locations. This open-source platform is known for being user-friendly and easy to install. Docker The Docker platform helps software engineers assemble apps from components, and supports development, enhancement, and production tasks. Docker containers define the exact versions of software in use, so a developer’s environment is decoupled from the application. As software versions change, developers can dock a container to their environment, and then easily work on the task at hand without having to install/uninstall software or deal with virtual machine files. Git Git provides a centralized version control system, enabling developers to track file changes and to go back to older versions of the codebase to make revisions. This DevOps software tool helps team members work on multiple feature implementations or bug fixes in parallel. With Git, developers can work on different parts of the same file, and then merge the changes without waiting for each other or losing each other’s work. Selenium Testing teams use Selenium as a browser automation tool, streamlining user interface (UI) testing in web applications. This portable software testing framework is developed in JavaScript and can test applications in multiple browsers, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Opera. It can be integrated with other tools like JUnit and TestNG for test management. Selenium also will automate web-based administration tasks. Splunk Splunk platform is an open, extensible data platform that supports shared data across any environment. With this DevOps tool, all team members have end-to-end visibility, with context, for every interaction and business process. Splunk removes the barriers between data and action, empowering observability, IT, and security teams to ensure their organizations are secure, resilient, and innovative. Ant Apache Ant is a Java library and command-line tool that drives the processes described in build files as targets and extension points dependent upon each other. Ant can be used to pilot any type of process described in terms of targets and tasks. This DevOps tool is frequently used to build Java applications with built-in tasks to compile, assemble, test, and run Java applications. Ant can also be used effectively to build non-Java applications such as C or C++ applications. Ansible Ansible automates tasks like configuration management, cloud provisioning, software deployment, and intra-service orchestration. Used for multi-tier deployments, it models all of IT infrastructure into one deployment instead of handling each one separately. Deployment uses a simple English-like language called YAML which stands for “yet another markup language” or “YAML Ain’t Markup Language.” Nagios Nagios can troubleshoot an entire IT infrastructure to ensure systems, applications, services, and business processes are working properly. Nagios works as a scheduler and runs selected scripts in repeated time intervals. When requirements change, the previous script will be stored and new scripts will be run. Nagios sends notifications whenever there is a problem, and again after resolving the problem. Chef Chef is a configuration management tool that manages infrastructure by writing code rather than using a manual process, enabling easy automation, testing, and deployment. Chef uses a client-server architecture and supports multiple platforms like Windows, Ubuntu, Centos, and Solaris. It can also be integrated with cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and OpenStack. SaltStack SaltStack, aka Salt, automates system administrative and code deployment tasks, thereby eliminating manual processes to reduce errors. This configuration management and orchestration tool use a central repository to set up new servers and other IT infrastructure; make changes to existing ones; and install the software in IT environments, including physical and virtual servers, as well as the cloud. What are the Key Features of DevOps Tools? All DevOps software tools have similar features. 1. Collaboration Collaboration between the two departments stands at the very base of DevOps operations. While it does require cross-functional training and discipline as well as may result in the changing of predefined roles, such collaboration ultimately leads to higher efficiency and effectiveness. 2. Quantification It is necessary to have a scale on whose basis a practice and its effects can be judged. By quantifying the number of deployments, failures, time taken for each deployment, uptime, etc before employing DevOps, you can successfully judge the impact and improvement of DevOps on your work culture and environment. 3. Automation While the developing department generally has a high level of automation, we don’t observe the same with the operations side. By integrating the same level of automation in both departments, we achieve a level of consistency and efficiency across the board that would not otherwise be possible. 4. Holistic A holistic system means thinking about the entire system and the ecosystem around it. Have questions about DevOps services? Contact the DevOps experts at InApp to learn more about how we can help.
What You Need to Know about Blockchain Technology in the Banking Industry
Blockchain technology holds great promise for the banking industry. But how will it change financial services for both banks and consumers? Here’s what you need to know about blockchain technology and how it will affect the banking industry. What are the Benefits of Blockchain for the Banking Industry? The use of blockchain in banking offers multiple benefits for the financial services industry. These include… Security By decentralizing transactions, blockchain technology can reduce the threat of cyber attacks while also encouraging transparency between parties. Because the data is decentralized, encrypted, and cross-checked by the entire network, it is harder to attack or hack the blockchain. Third Parties Businesses can use blockchain technology to transmit and receive payments directly. As a result, companies won’t need a third-party payment gateway, which is a common practice today. Reduced Costs Peer-to-peer networks manage payments, which do not require centralized verification. This means that a small business can accept a blockchain settlement platform as payment and pay lower merchant processing fees. Data Accuracy The permanent records of blockchain technology also improve the accuracy of financial audits for both internal and external systems. As a result, accounting teams can automate their day-to-day procedures while still adhering to tight compliance and regulatory requirements. What are the Issues with the Present-Day Banking System? The increased interest in blockchain technology for the banking industry stems from its ability to solve challenges with the current system. These issues include… Have questions about blockchain app development for the banking and financial services industry? Contact the blockchain experts at InApp to learn more about how our cutting-edge solutions can help you get ahead of this technology revolution. Frequently Asked Questions What is Blockchain Technology? Blockchain technology stores transactional records (i.e., the block) of the public in several databases (i.e., the chain) via a distributed ledger connected through peer-to-peer nodes. Every transaction in this ledger is authorized by the digital signature of the owner, which authenticates the transaction and safeguards it from tampering. That capability can offer benefits to companies in a wide range of industries, particularly banking and financial services.
MEAN vs MERN: A Detailed Comparison Between the Two Technology Stacks
The right technology stack makes development easier because it incorporates the programming languages, software tools, and technology services needed to run an application. The MEAN and MERN stacks are two common technology stacks with JavaScript frameworks, but each one offers specific advantages and challenges. Let’s learn more about their similarities and differences, and how to pick the right one for your software development project. What is a MEAN Stack? The abbreviation of MEAN stands for MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node, respectively. This technology stack is open source and commonly used for web and hybrid mobile app development. MEAN is a complete JavaScript-based stack that combines clients, databases, and servers. Benefits of MEAN Stack In general, the MEAN stack offers some productivity advantages for web applications, particularly for big data and/or real-time application projects for large-sized, enterprise-level applications, and websites. Benefits include… What is a MERN Stack? MERN is short for MongoDB, Express, React, and Node, after the four key technologies that make up the stack. Like MEAN, MERN offers a collection of JavaScript-based databases, frameworks, and runtime environments. The MERN stack offers an end-to-end framework for developers, and its popularity is growing rapidly. Benefits of MERN Stack MERN provides the advantage of both front-end development and back-end development, as well as advantages for mobile development. Benefits include… Which is Better: MEAN Stack vs MERN Stack? Your project requirements will drive your choice of technology stack. Picking the right one depends on your needs: What is the Difference between MERN Stack and MEAN Stack? Both the MERN and MEAN stacks use MongoDB, Express, and Node. The difference is between Angular and React. Built and maintained by Google, Angular is an open-source web application framework. React is the JavaScript-based front-end library from Facebook. Have specific questions about MEAN vs MERN? Contact the experts at InApp. We can help you save time and money by picking the right technology stack for your project.
Internet of Things in Manufacturing: A Quick Look at Uses, Applications, Benefits, and Challenges
The Internet of Things (IoT) enables manufacturing companies of all sizes to use real-time data to improve the efficiency of their operations. With IoT devices, manufacturers can collect data faster and easier than ever before. Smaller, more reliable, and more intelligent sensors for virtually all types of assets and operations are becoming more readily available at affordable prices. But the real power of this disruptive technology lies in analytics that provides a new level of business intelligence. Modern software tools support data collection from IoT devices by analyzing real-time readings—so manufacturers can react faster and use that data efficiently to make improvements in operations. Other industries—from healthcare to energy to transportation—are also harnessing the power of the IoT. Manufacturers would do well to pay close attention to these trends now. How Does the IoT Affect Manufacturers? As technology becomes less expensive and gets more powerful, an explosion of IoT devices is flooding the marketplace. The post-COVID-19 global IoT market size is expected to grow from USD $300.3 billion in 2021 to USD $650.5 billion by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.7% from 2021 to 2026, according to a recently published report by Markets and Markets. By component, the software solutions segment is expected to have the largest market share during the forecast period. Factors spurring that growth include… So what does this mean for manufacturers? It means more data—a lot more data—and more data in real time. And more real-time data means better insights into your operations, including what’s working, what’s not, what’s costing you money, and the best place to invest more resources. The Powerful Combination of the IoT and Custom Software The true power of the IoT isn’t actually in the sensors and devices themselves. It’s the software that stores and processes the data that makes the difference. As part of the digital transformation process, manufacturers can make sense of what to do with the data gathered by these devices, telling them to take action when the time is right. With the IoT, big data becomes even bigger. The key is finding a way to use that data to manage your operations. The combination of the IoT and custom software can improve the way operate, monitor, control, and maintain manufacturing operations. The long-term goals of the IoT and custom software are improved efficiency, better customer service, identification of new revenue-generating opportunities, and enhanced safety. Hence, custom software development is expected to become an increasingly popular business investment during the next few years. Manufacturers already use custom software solutions and a wide range of technologies to meet objectives and maintain a crucial competitive edge, such as automating functionality in manufacturing facilities. Additionally, companies are investing in software to control operations from remote locations, something that’s particularly helpful for organizations with multiple sites. Common Challenges with the Internet of Things Experience Big data analytics provide a means of turning the ever-increasing stream of asset data into actionable information. However, implementing the IoT means more data (a great deal more) in real-time, and your personnel will need training to take advantage of the value these data streams deliver. That requires new skill sets for your employees, which includes investments in training and educational programs. Technology Companies cannot readily incorporate new features and improvements in older software, sensors, and hardware. Limited integration between internal systems (managerial apps, plant data sources), and external partners also creates data silos. However, network connectivity is rapidly improving across factories and other facilities, and a wider range of providers is offering higher-capacity, lower-cost cloud-based storage. Security The number one challenge to IoT implementation is security. Aging operating systems and vulnerable operational technologies pose security risks because they cannot be easily retired or replaced. As technology evolves, however, so does security. Best practices and a wide array of evolving technologies can help companies minimize risk. Additionally, organizations don’t necessarily need to expose metrics or controls to the Internet to move forward. While this doesn’t eliminate the threat altogether, it does lessen it considerably. Infrastructure The IoT is simultaneously changing infrastructure components in both the private and public sectors. In the future, the IoT will likely provide closer connections between private businesses and governments in areas such as transportation, utilities, energy conservation, facility management, and more. While some regions face challenges in replacing legacy infrastructures, over time this transition will likely accelerate as new innovations make it more feasible both financially and operationally. Have questions about how the IoT can help your business? Contact the experts at InApp. We can help. Frequently Asked Questions What is the Internet of Things? Sometimes called the Industrial Internet of Things or Industrial Internet, the IoT describes systems that gather information directly from multiple devices, which can be almost anything with a sensor—including computers, vehicles, smartphones, appliances, building automation systems, and production equipment. Despite the name, you don’t need the Internet to use an IoT device. Instead, they typically send data to other devices via a wireless network connection or the wired local area network (LAN).