Outsourcing 101: Make Outsourcing Software Development Work For You

Outsourcing is a practice that has truly come of age and matured past the initial hiccups and teething troubles. It is no longer considered a passing trend but rather a practice that is here to stay, with obvious advantages. Especially with software development, outsourcing has been a particularly beneficial system. Software development outsourcing is all about creating a successful partnership. 

More often than not software development outsourcing means ‘off shoring’ the service/production, although near-shore and on-shore practices have also gained traction. Some of the typical outsourcing set-ups include: Software Product development outsourcing, IT consultancy or hiring specialists developers, IT department outsourcing (also known as Offshore Development Center or ODC), and last but not the least custom software development for your business. 

Software development resources are now offered through more distributed, process-centric, low-cost global delivery models which rely on using near shore or offshore facilities. Some of the advantages that one can consider:

• Cost savings
• Development team scalability based on projects
• Rapid time to market
• Extensive quality assessment and testing
• High quality development and delivery

India is undoubtedly one of the more popular destinations to outsource software development and processes. Indian companies like BeachCherry Software have been providing their services to clients across the globe including USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe and many others. Offshore outsourcing to India is considered a safe bet, and has become a significant business strategy which not only helps to cut cost, but also helps to be globally competitive. If you are looking for high quality software development at cost effective rates then India is one of the best options. 

The reason for preferring India, as an offshore software development partner country, to other competing destinations in outsourcing business, is the great pool of educated human resources combined with world-class infrastructure/quality and years of experience as a software service provider. Additionally, the encouraging Government policies for IT sectors make it conducive to outsource from India.

Also consider the full spectrum of software development services that is possible to outsource: from mobile application, to SaaS to ecommerce development, .NET expertise, custom web development, and software migration and application maintenance. There is a high demand of professionals worldwide who can work in technologies like .NET Technology, PHP, BizTalk & SharePoint development as well as rich internet application development (flex & Silverlight). Not surprisingly, skill-sets in these technologies are better outsourced than hired in-house.

What factors to look at before selecting an outsourcing vendor?

• Expertise and leadership:  When you make the outsourcing partnership, you’re not just purchasing a service; you’re also purchasing expertise.  Make it a point to check out the people behind the venture.
• Market reputation: Speak to some of the vendor’s clients and get feedback. Has their experience been positive? 
• Technologies and innovation: Are they up-to-speed with the latest technologies? There’s no substitute for a careful, in-depth evaluation of the provider’s products and current operations.  Assess the quality and efficiency of the candidate’s technology and services. Do they innovate and make an effort to be at the fore-front of technologies?
• Delivery models: What are their outsourcing models? Some of the common models include: ODC, T&M (Time and Material) and Fixed Bid, Hybrid Delivery. Will they provide a model that fits your requirement?

It is also important to remember the following when outsourcing:

• that although the supplier takes responsibility for the process, you still need to actively manage the relationship
• clarity and transparency of terms and conditions before you sign the contract will help both parties
• make the effort to establish a good relationship - this calls for constant communication and flexibility
• nominate a member of staff to take responsibility for liaison. 

BeachCherry Software has in-depth experience in providing custom software development to clients across the globe. The company’s unique strengths are its people (highly skilled professionals), technology (in tune with the latest demands) and experience.

Custom Mobile Application Development Company

Perhaps you are one of the cynics who think that the whole mobile/tablet hoopla is much ado about nothing, or it’s a passing fad that will eventually die down. If not, then you will definitely be interested in what follows. If you are, it might be a good time to rethink your mobile strategy. 

1) Mobile marketing is a distinct and unique way to create engaging and mutually beneficial dialogues with customers. It requires matching the creative ideas to the device’s screen sizes and messages that are clear, concise, attractive, effective and creating a call for action with minimum steps. There is already research to indicate that mobile ads perform much better than Internet ads. The most common mobile ads are simple links and display ads that are sold based on cost per clicks, cost per acquisition and cost per thousand. 

2) Many companies have a re-direction set up specifically for mobile devices. The user experience from the phone/device is different than the user experience at a computer. A number of retailers have benefited from making mobile-friendly sites especially for Apple and Android devices. Mobile sites give people the flexibility to shop from wherever they are. E-commerce and mobile technologies are the two most popular trends. Combine the two and you have the future of shopping – Ecommerce. You need to remember that mobile device is not just classed as a mobile phone. Mobile devices also include tablet devices such as iPads, the Samsung Galaxy Tablet or the Blackberry Playbook. It is predicted that sale of mobile devices will overtake that of desktop PCs by 2015.

3) Mobile commerce is rapidly evolving as consumers use their smart phones to find stores, research products, and make purchases. Location-based shopping coupons using mobile devices are gaining popularity. As mobile users become more accustomed to sharing their whereabouts via mobile devices, they're also are becoming more open to receiving ads and mobile coupons relevant to their location. The arrival of platforms like Xtify, Location Labs, and Place cast reduce the technology barrier and time-to-market for retailers who are keen to experiment with location-based commerce.

4) Increasing number of companies deliver coupons via mobile devices in an effort to appeal to consumers, many of whom would never think of clipping or carrying coupons. All customers need to do is sign up for the mobile coupons and they will get money-saving offers on items delivered via text message to your Web-enabled phone with a link to a barcode and discount offers. To redeem, they simply need to show the coupon bar codes to the cashier, who will scan them like a regular coupon.

5) Last but not the least is mobile apps. Users are flooded with numerous mobile apps serving up informative tips, educational bits, or pure entertainment or gaming. Many companies have caught on to the mobile apps to boost brand awareness and affinity. Any business can benefit from a well-thought out application. But first understand the target audience and devices you want to develop for. The best way to influence with apps is to create something that is both useful and valuable. More importantly, it should be functional.

BeachCherry Software specializes in web applications and software solutions for mobile devices and also creation of mobile sites. Request a demo of our expertise to find out how we can give your business new mobility.

Why More Companies are Increasingly Opting for Custom Software? – BeachCherry Software Development

Any growing organization will face the horns of this dilemma, every once in a while. That is whether to use custom software or off the shelf software. And whatever they choose will impact the way they integrate the software in the business processes. Each solution brings with it several considerations. The following are some of the questions that an enterprise should be asked before deciding on a solution: 

• Does it meet all of your essential requirements?
• Is the product easy to use?
• If the product is complex, would your staff use the product as it is intended?
• Is cost the only consideration or long-term benefits of a solution designed just for you?

If one analyses the trends of late it’s evident that more businesses are opting for customized solutions over off-the-shelf. Many business owners have realized the hard way the problems they face when using turn-key applications. Not surprisingly, outsourcing software development to the domain experts is the more cost-effective and smart solution in the long-run. Here are some of the obvious advantages of bespoke software development: 

• has the remarkable ability to run exactly the way you want it to, do things your way
• initial price might be higher but you don’t have to pay for upgrades
• you have full control over the source code
• fully useful and aligned to your project goals
• high support from the vendors
• skilled professionals with particular expertise
• no pressure on internal hiring or in-house team

BeachCherry provides its clients truly global and long-term solutions for achieving their business goals: 

BeachCherry Offer – Flat US$20/hr on All Development Projects at BeachCherry

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Another factor that seems to weigh in support of custom software development is the popularity of mobile and hand-held devices. Industries have come to depend heavily on mobile technology. Custom software can increase their visibility and mobility with an iPhone or Android app developed for your products or services. Both customers and employees can reap the benefits of custom mobile apps. Customized software allows companies to build mobile apps across all platforms including not only the iPhone and Android but also the Windows 7 Phone as well as iPad and tablet devices.

Offshore software development and custom software development have undergone a drastic makeover along with many the emergence of new technology, cloud-based solutions and competition. The emergence of Web 2.0 has driven the web space with dynamic websites and rich internet applications (RIAs) and Open Source technology too. The outsourcing model has provided huge success in offshore software development in India. 

However it is also essential for clients to approach the right development company which can deliver the most suitable software optimized for their business or project. The outsourced company must have a good track record of developing custom solutions and must possess sound technical know-how in addition to the infrastructure and manpower required.

BeachCherry Software uses a proactive maintenance approach along with the recent-most technologies and problem resolution techniques to ensure that your custom application software performs the way they were designed to. We make sure that the client gains maximum performance benefit. Our client-base in UK, USA, Canada, Australia and many international hot-spots have outsourced our customized applications.

BeachCherry Software - What A PHP Development Company Can Do For You?

PHP (recursive acronym for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used open source general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML. PHP is a very popular scripting language for web development. The reason for its popularity is that it can generate dynamic web content which is what websites increasingly demand. PHP enables web developers to build websites with excellent features and interactive interfaces. 

If you're looking for quality PHP website development services, then it is better to hire the services of an experienced PHP web development company. A professional PHP development company can provide several services in web design and development. Here’s a handy checklist of what PHP developers should be able to supply:

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Web Design and Development

 

The mainstay of PHP is web designing and development.

With numerous open source frameworks like Zend Framework, Joomla, Magento and CakePHP, PHP web development has gained prominence. PHP is used to add functionality to your site that HTML alone can't achieve. This means, PHP can perform complex calculations, PHP can collect user information, PHP and GD Library can create graphics among other things. 

If you are thinking of outsourcing PHP development, then these are some of the capabilities you should bear in mind.

Open Source CMS Development

 

With both large and small organizations turning to open source content management solutions (CMS), the internet is being revolutionized. Businesses look at the Internet for reaching out and selling their products and services need a CMS that is easily manageable and quick to update. Open source CMS development helps online companies to manage and streamline their workflow in a well-defined way. In the past few years, Open Source CMS Development has seen huge demand, and hence, this service is offered by almost every PHP development company.

Ecommerce Development

 

Online shopping is another trend that’s re-defining how organizations and people use the Internet. Sites like ebay, amazon, flipkart have made purchasing online easier and more popular. More industries are looking at online shopping portals and websites to grow their business and to maximize their potential and reach. Be it Clothes, electronics or gadgets, eCommerce sites have seen an exponential growth in the last decade. Any PHP web development company offers this development in its list. 

Website Redesign

 

Most companies need a website redesign or refresh from time to time. Website redesign gives a fresh and new identity to the existing website.

PHP and GD Library can create graphics. PHP can be used to create simple graphics on the fly or also used to edit existing graphics. 

Dedicated PHP developers

 

Your company could benefit by hiring a dedicated PHP developer to build as per your specs. You could hire dedicated PHP developers get customized solutions for your web application development needs. A PHP development company should be able to provide you with dedicated PHP developers skilled in PHP 4.x and PHP 5.x.

Using PHP for your website development, redesign or CMS can be hugely beneficial if you want to leverage the web for your business. Choose an experienced PHP development vendor that can understand and meet your business goals. 

BeachCherry Software has considerable expertise in PHP application and web development. You can also hire from BeachCherry’s pool of PHP developers. For more details, contact info@beachcherrysoftware.com.

BeachCherry - Web Design Company Commits to Help Businesses Reach the Next Level Through Great Websites

“Do you have a website?” is a common question posed to entrepreneurs frequently. If you don’t, then you seriously need to analyze if your business will benefit from one. If you do have a website however, you need to know if it has an effective presence and visibility. A great place to start is to get your site’s analytics set up and check the stats. If your website was created way back in the dotcom boom era, then chances are it’s not visited that often and you need a complete makeover for your website. This means revamping your portal with a fresh and appealing design and clear/concise content.

Now visuals play a vital role in the amount users spend on your website. To make them stay longer – you need to hook their attention. This is where getting a great designer or web design agency comes in. An agency that knows its job well will understand your business, its target audience and create the right feel for your website. How does one go about choosing the right web design agency? We list some pointers:

1. Check the design company’s website:
   
   You will get a fair idea of their aesthetics and design skills from their website. They have to put their best foot forward there. You will also find links to some of their best work on their URL. Does this impress you? You will be able to filter out a couple of web agencies that you like.
2. Domain expertise:
   
   Do they specialize in a specific type of website? If you are a travel business and they have done sizeable work for the travel industry, then chances are they will understand your KPIs and targets better. But if their work across the same industry is repetitive then you must look elsewhere.
3. Budget:
   
   It is imperative to find out if the shortlisted agencies can create the goods you want within your budget. But also if their work is Value for Money. Always bring good negotiators to the table who can find out what extra will you get from the agency in terms of support and design.
4. Search-savvy designs:
   
   A good design agency also knows search optimization issues and principles very well. Ensure they are able to create seo friendly websites. This one could be a deal-breaker. A good website design should also be search friendly. You can ask for examples of their optimization skills.
5. The Pitch:
   
   Ask the finalists to pitch for the project. A pitch will give you a reasonable idea if they are up to the mark.
6. Self-editable:
   
   With the rapid change of pace in the industry and its news you will want to update your site frequently. Asking the design agency to do so every time will raise your budgets remarkably. Ensure that the website is built with user-friendly and self-editable software. Make arrangements for requisite training for your staff members who will be doing the updates.
7. Analytics offered:
   
   When your new design is launched, it’s the statistics and traffic information that will be the parameters for its success. Asking the web design agency about the stats tracking tools they offer is another indication of how effectively you will use your website in future.

A great web design is not just a visual treat, but an important tool for your business’s success and increased ROI. Choose wisely and you will benefit from a new design immensely. 

See BeachCherry Software’s expertise in web design and request a demo. 

For further info:

• For Sales:   +1 (202) 470-5680
• For Enquiries:   +1 (202) 436-9487
• Toll Free # U.K:   +44 (162) 628-0000
• Toll Free # U.S.A:   +1 (866) 823-0761
• Email: info@beachcherrysoftware.com

SaaS 101: Demystifying Saas and Its Myriad Benefits for Your Organization

Those in the know are probably aware that SaaS(Software as a Service), frequently referred to as on-demand software, is a cloud-based delivery model that’s become ‘all-the-rage’. What exactly is SaaS? SaaS is a software delivery method that provides access to software and its data or functions remotely as a web-based service. SaaS allows organizations to access business functionality at a cost less than paying for licensed applications because SaaS revenue is based on a monthly fee. And since it is hosted remotely, the users are spared the expense of additional hardware and infrastructure. 

The SaaS methodology is considered to be part of the nomenclature of cloud computing, along with infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). And cloud computing – to demystify the most repeated buzzword is the delivery of computing and storage capacity as a service to a heterogeneous community of end-recipients. The name comes from the use of a cloud-shaped symbol as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. Cloud computing entrusts services with a user's data, software and computation over a network.(Source: Wikipedia).

Cloud computing and more importantly SaaS are proof of the paradigm shift in the way we build and use software. Some common examples of SaaS that are well-known and all-pervasive include:

• Gmail
• Salesforce.com
• Google Docs
• SurveyMonkey

So what are some of the glowing benefits of SaaS that has resulted in the phenomenon to spread worldwide?

• Reduce your IT budget:

For there is no software or hardware to purchase, install or maintain. You save on a lot of expense that can be channeled on your core competencies. This reduces the company’s IT budget considerably. What’s more SaaS relieves a great deal of IT headache incurred by software consumers in the traditional client/server model. This allows IT personnel to focus on improving the day-to-day technical operations of your company instead of being on call to troubleshoot third party software.

• Shorter deployment period:

It has immediate deployment doing away with the need for onsite installation. Deployment times are reduced from several months to a few hours with instant access. Users get faster access to the software improving their experience and speeds up the ROI.

• Piloting new software:

SaaS is ideally suited to organisations interested in piloting new software, particularly if the software is seen as somewhat niche.

• Up-to-date – but upgrade-free – software:

With a SaaS application, the provider is keen to keep the business and they can do so by constantly improving the application experience. Generally in the form of consistent miniscule changes that add up over time instead of monster patch and upgrades that cost you time and money to implement. SaaS vendors seamlessly upgrade their software, customer organisations always have access to the most up-to-date version of the software – without painful upgrade cycles. 

• Lower, subscription-based pricing:

Paying a low monthly price per user lowers costs drastically.

• Global availability:

This is functionality that is available from anywhere on the internet natively.

The benefits are especially high for small and medium sized organizations - web based applications delivered via SaaS can provide a great cost effective alternative to conventional IT practice. 

Find out how BeachCherry Software can help you overcome your IT restraints and problems by delivering a SaaS application effectively. Call us: +1 (202) 436-9487 or email us @ info@beachcherrysoftware.com

Sleepless in CEO-Land!

A CEO never sleeps. IF there was ever a market for soporific drugs, then this it is. I stayed up till midnight to wish my friend a happy birthday on FB and see the BeachCherry’s CEO Vick Gandhi online. Now Vick like other CEOs has a one-track mind. He’s super-obsessed with work and it’s not such a surprise to see him online at that hour. He eats drinks and sleeps BeachCherry. This other time, I am woken up by the sound of dogs barking in the neighborhood. Can’t return to my blissful slumber so I turned to the next best thing and switch on the laptop to see what the world is upto. What do I see? The CEO’s online again.

Yet another time, I wake up early because I have a train to catch. No prizes for guessing he was online at 6am. Finally, I can no longer resist.

“When do you go to sleep?” I ask. Apparently, never.

I am fascinated by the CEO-insomnia and so I probe further. Here are some of the reasons we found out why they never sleep. I paraphrase Vick’s comments.

1.) Because a brilliant idea crossed my mind when I was about to hit the bed: I needed to write it down, make the outline and list out the benefits. I had to do it before I forget, so I mailed all and sundry asking for their feedback. Of course, no one replied until the next day but that’s ok as long as my idea got neatly documented.

2.) There’s always some part of the globe where a potential client is awake. No, seriously. Critical client interactions happen post midnight because of the rate at which the world is shrinking. The most promising time zones and my sleep hours are generally the same. I have to be a part of that call, it’s a deal-maker.

3.) You need more fire-fighters at night. Chances are that if there’s some pressing deadline that ought to have been completed yesterday – it just arrived in our inbox when we were going to call it a day. Or there’s some crucial trouble-shooting or major system malfunction or "fire" that to be fought. I think the CEO feels morally obliged and comes to the rescue like a knight in shining armor, only the damsels in distress are many.

4.) Is there life beyond online? Vick believes that “A CEO who’s not connected to the online world in some way, is not a CEO after all”. The craving to catch up on twitter, blogosphere, and your email is too persuasive. Vick will respond to a poignant tweet or argue out an interesting blog issue, even if it’s getting really late. Or better catch up on tech forums. Vick runs a virtual office when he starts is laptop, is constantly in run mode 24/7.

5.) Introspection: Bed-time is the preferred time for some introspection, for taking stock and going over the next day’s to do list. This is a vicious circle because work never really ends and before you know it, you start jotting down extra points and rewriting and re-doing and thinking again. And then it’s time to check mail again.

6.) While Vick may not sleep. He gets plenty of rest and power-naps albeit always with an eye open and keeping a tab on everyone.

7.) Because when Vick finally sleeps – the dreams are so bizarre. It’s like his worst fears are taking shape in his dreams, he’d rather not. His worst fears that a lot of his staff’s not performing to the best of their potential.

8.) In all likelihood he was a gaming addict and serious about the competition. “You’ve just got to beat your rival’s score tonight!”. He still removes his frustration on his Playstation 3, but it’s always combat games with a gun in his hand and looks to kill.