As highlighted by a recent study by Gartner, one of the world's leading research and advisory companies, the Ukrainian IT industry has proven to be the largest operational Ukrainian export industry even amidst the full-scale Russian invasion. Its highly skilled workforce, cost-effective services, and innovative products continue to attract global clients.

<p style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><strong>In an age where technology and innovation are increasingly important, the IT sector in Ukraine stands strong. Despite the challenges of the Russian invasion that started in February 2022, Ukraine's IT industry has continued to grow. Today, its services and products are known for their robustness and customer-centric approach, spanning across different technologies and industries. This resilience has not only become a beacon of hope for the nation but also a significant consideration for global CIOs and technology CEOs when shaping their strategies</strong></span></p><img src="/edssonsite/Images/AppData/Blog//Images/AppData/Blog/MicrosoftTeams-image (24).png" alt="" />  <p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">As highlighted by a recent study by Gartner, one of the world's leading research and advisory companies, the Ukrainian IT industry has proven to be the largest operational Ukrainian export industry even amidst the full-scale Russian invasion. Its highly skilled workforce, cost-effective services, and innovative products continue to attract global clients.</span></p>  <p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">A key strength of Ukraine's IT industry lies in its expertise in cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), AI, and cloud computing. The country has faced numerous elaborate cyberattacks, which triggered significant investment and research in cyber defense. Consequently, Ukrainian businesses and government institutions have become particularly strong in these areas.</span></p>  <p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Furthermore, Ukraine is home to over 90 international research and development (R&amp;D) centers, contributing to cutting-edge technologies and solutions. Leveraging Ukraine's beneficial tax policies and incentives, these technology companies continue to innovate and grow.</span></p>  <p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">For more in-depth information, the full Gartner report is available on their <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4344699" target="_blank">website</a>. At Edsson, we're proud to be part of Ukraine's resilient and innovative IT sector, and we're excited to see what the future holds.</span></p>

The Power of Ukrainian IT Consulting: A Look into Gartner's Recent Research

Due to the recent events of power supply interruptions in Ukraine, Edsson has taken special measures to secure uninterrupted workflow.  

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW82839285 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW82839285 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span class="TextRun SCXW82839285 BCX0">Due to the recent events of power&nbsp;supply interruptions in Ukraine, Edsson has taken special measures to secure uninterrupted workflow.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span class="TextRun SCXW82839285 BCX0"><span>Now our office </span><span>in Kyiv </span><span>is fully functional and autonomous, independent of city communications. Power supply interruptions are dismissed thanks to</span><span>&nbsp;a&nbsp;</span><span>power </span><span>generator</span><span> that preserve electricity for </span><span>unlimited</span><span> hours.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW82839285 BCX0"><span>Internet connectivity was always high-speed based on two-</span><span>optical </span><span>gigabit</span> <span>ground</span><span> lines from different </span><span>local </span><span>service providers, but </span><span>with the installation of the Starlink Access Point </span><span>our connection is even more</span><span> broadband and</span><span> reliable</span><span>. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW82839285 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW82839285 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span class="TextRun SCXW82839285 BCX0">All these improvements guarantee that all projects are delivered on time and in compliance with the quality standards of Edsson.</span>&nbsp;</p><p class="Paragraph SCXW82839285 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><br /></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW82839285 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><br /></p></div>

Edsson office in Kyiv goes fully autonomous with the latest technology 

 NB-IoT devices are widely used in medical devices, logistics, and environmental monitoring, as well as in the digitalization of housing and communal services, namely, in the digitalization of water supply systems. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW267314842 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW267314842 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The Internet of things is gradually being introduced into everyday life - from logistics to housing and communal services. And this applies not only to "smart sensors" in apartments but also to the automation of sales companies.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Fortune Business Insights estimates that the Internet of Things (IoT) market will reach $1.46 trillion by 2027. Analysts estimated the average annual growth rate of the market at 24.9%. But it is much more interesting to observe not only the dynamics of growth but also the changes in segments within the IoT.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The share of IoT devices connected via 2G and 3G networks has been declining since 2019, giving way to the segment of data transmission over 4G/5G networks. But, according to the<a href="https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/mobility-report "> Ericsson Mobility Report</a>, by 2027, 51% of all cellular IoT connections will be provided by other technologies - NB-IoT and Cat-M1. They allow you to connect a large number of low-cost devices with long battery life. The NB-IoT standard is preferred for devices and sensors that transmit data from time to time.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Already now, NB-IoT devices are widely used in medical devices, logistics, and environmental monitoring, as well as in the digitalization of housing and communal services, namely, in the digitalization of water supply systems.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The study notes the following growth factors:</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;-&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>management of operating costs at a new level, satisfying the demand for </span></span> <span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>quality water supply and sanitation </span><span>services;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">- conditions for mandatory digitalization of repaired and modernized facilities;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>-&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">the growing digitalization of the utility sector as a whole and the stimulation of the development of the concept of "Smart Cities" by the state.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>All water utilities and resource-supplying organizations in one way or another are engaged in dispatching and online monitoring of resources. However, these processes require massive data collection. And this is where IoT technologies can help organizations.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">What IoT technologies can be used by water utilities and distribution companies?</h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Most often, IoT solutions in the housing and utility sector are used to transmit location data and meter readings, access control, and equipment status. In most cases, many devices transmit small amounts of data. Since there are hundreds and thousands of objects from which it is necessary to obtain information, this dictates its own requirements:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- devices should be simple and </span><span>inexpensive;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- they should not require frequent recharging or changing the </span><span>battery;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>At the same time, the communication channel must have a high penetrating ability </span><span>in order to</span><span> transmit data from hard-to-reach places.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Several technologies are used for data transmission, but the most promising is NB-IoT (Narrow band Internet of things, narrow-band Internet of things), a type of LPWAN technology (Low-power Wide-area Network, energy-efficient long-range network). There are several reasons for this.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>1.&nbsp;</span></span></span></strong></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span><span>Unlike most other LP-Wan networks, NB-IoT can be deployed on the infrastructure and equipment of existing LTE, which reduces implementation costs.</span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>2.</span></span></span></strong></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The technology operates in the licensed spectrum, that is, it is protected from interference, while this range is </span><span>low-frequency</span><span>, which ensures high signal penetration. This is one of the most important criteria for digitalization and implementation of IoT technologies by water utilities, heating networks, and other resource supplying enterprises since the places for installing meters and sensors </span><span>are located in</span><span> the basements of houses, wells, below ground level - in general, where there is not always a regular mobile </span><span>connection.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>3.</span></span></span></strong></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>NB-IoT devices have low power consumption, which ensures a service life without replacing </span><span>batteries</span><span>&nbsp;for up to 10 years.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Thus, NB-IoT networks allow you to set up an uninterrupted operation of IoT solutions in any industry where there is a need for automated collection and transmission of information - from agriculture and industry to retail and logistics.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Why IoT is getting cheaper and more convenient for business?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Since NB-IoT allows you to connect client devices without requiring the construction of additional base stations and communication channels, this can significantly reduce project time and costs for its implementation.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">In addition, operators can analyze customer traffic consumption and optimize offers for customers.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW267314842 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW267314842 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW267314842 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 22.6625px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif; color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW267314842 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW267314842 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW267314842 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 22.6625px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif; color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div id="gtx-trans" style="position: absolute; left: -22px; top: 407px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div>

Implementing NB-IoT in infrastructure and supply enterprises.

Moving to the cloud is an important but risky business decision that requires a good assessment of the pros and cons.

<div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The popularity of cloud services has been growing rapidly in recent years. The promise of savings on capital and operating expenses, as well as scalability and elasticity, have prompted companies to move to the cloud. However, the transition to the cloud comes with a lot of challenges. One of them, security, is a huge issue for organizations that want to move to the cloud.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data security</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Security plays an important role for many organizations when moving to the cloud. Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) keep the exact location of their data centers a secret. Although this is the best practice in physical security, many potential customers are afraid of not knowing the location of their data and are turning away from cloud services.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Information sovereignty also plays a big role in the transition to the cloud. Companies don't want to lose access to data due to legal complications. Compliance with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of the key concerns for companies. Violation of the GDPR and other regulations entails large financial penalties, which most organizations want to avoid. For this reason, many organizations prefer to store sensitive data (personal information, etc.) locally.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But data loss prevention (DLP) systems are critical to the organization. Accidental deletion of data can occur on the part of the organization. A Service Level Agreement (SLA) may refer to the CSP's assistance in recovering systems and information. If </span><span>the CSP</span><span> fails to meet the SLA, the client will suffer a big loss. Therefore, organizations want to be sure that their backups are safe, because in the event of data loss or corruption, they need to restore data within recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO).</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><br /></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Conducting complex check</span></span></span></strong></p><p><br /></p><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Choosing one CSP over another is not always an easy decision. Some cloud service providers can make it difficult for an organization to migrate to other providers. Before choosing a CSP, a company should carefully review the cloud service terms of use of a particular CSP.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Lack of due diligence can slow down the response of security services to cyberattacks. Most CSPs operate under a shared responsibility model when it comes to cloud security, so it is critical for cloud customers to understand their role and that of the CSP in this model. Cyber-attacks are inevitable, so companies need to have incident response plans in place and be confident in how providers protect themselves.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>When evaluating a public cloud option, a company should understand that this model uses a multi-user license to reduce costs. Service customers need to be confident in CSP and defense-in-depth methods because the lack of multi-layered protection will allow a hacker to launch a series of cyberattacks after one successful attempt.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Main Threats</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Denial of Service Attacks</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Companies running mission-critical services in the cloud can be severely affected by DoS and DDoS attacks that paralyze business operations. To minimize the risk of such attacks, companies should strive to eliminate single points of failure when provisioning workloads.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Insecure APIs</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Most tasks for provisioning, managing, orchestrating, and monitoring workloads in the cloud are performed through API calls. Therefore, the importance of reliable APIs should not be underestimated, because the security and availability of shared cloud services depend on them. Lack of well-configured authorization, access control, and API monitoring can lead to various breaches and devastating hacker attacks.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Natural disasters</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The possibility of a natural disaster, although not an attack, is still an event that disrupts cloud services. If a natural disaster destroys CSP data centers, it will cause severe disruption to businesses using data centers, because even with advanced backup methods, in the event of a natural disaster, the risk of information loss is quite high.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SUMMARY</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Moving to the cloud is an important but risky business decision that requires a good assessment of the pros and cons. It can cause irreparable damage to a company, but with careful security and risk assessment, it can make cloud services a great tool for company growth. A reliable provider can help make an informed risk-free decision. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW199624438 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW199624438 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US">Contact us for a free consultation. </span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div id="gtx-trans" style="position: absolute; left: -7px; top: 894px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div>

Cloud Solutions & Cyber Security

Zero-click attacks exploit vulnerabilities in data validation functions in applications and operating systems. Any system that analyzes the received data is vulnerable to such an attack. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW250743200 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW250743200 BCX0 cche-common-lite-text" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">What is a zero-click attack and why is it dangerous?</span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This is an attack that does not require any action on the part of the victim. To carry out classic phishing or malware attacks, hackers must somehow get the victim to click on a fake link or download and run malware. A zero-click attack is almost invisible, it uses vulnerabilities in the OS to execute malicious code. It is enough for an attacker to simply send a message with malicious code to the victim's device, which allows even to cause damage even to the most </span><span>cautious</span><span> users. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>How do zero-click&nbsp;</span></span>attacks work?</span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Attackers send malicious data via email or instant messengers inside files, images, and text messages that the system considers harmless.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- The hacker discovers/exploits an already known vulnerability in the email/messenger application;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Sends an email with a file/text message containing a data package for exploiting a vulnerability and injecting a malicious program;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- The spyware attaches itself to the victim's device;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- The hacker's email is deleted.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Security measures designed to protect users can </span><span>actually facilitate</span><span> zero-click attacks. In end-to-end encrypted messengers, it is difficult to detect an attack because only the sender and recipient can see the contents of the data packet being sent.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Who uses zero-click attacks and why?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>They are used for espionage, not only by cybercriminals but also by government agencies. Journalists, politicians, and businessmen often become victims of zero-click attacks. The most famous program for carrying out zero-click attacks is Pegasus from the Israeli company NSO Software.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>How to protect yourself from zero-click attacks?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>If an attack is aimed at you, then it is almost impossible to defend against it. But we can give you some security tips that will increase your overall protection and help mitigate the effects of a zero-click attack.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Update your applications and systems regularly;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Pay attention to app reviews and information about developers;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Use multi-factor authentication to access important websites, email, and social networks;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Don't use the same password for all accounts;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Use browser extensions to block pop-ups and spam, as hackers often use them to spread malware.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Back up all your data regularly and keep it separate from your main hard drive.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Zero-Click Attacks. How Dangerous are They?

<div style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="cche-сommon-title" style="text-align: left;">Tech Giants have <a href="https://fidoalliance.org/apple-google-and-microsoft-commit-to-expanded-support-for-fido-standard-to-accelerate-availability-of-passwordless-sign-ins/">announced</a> &nbsp;the next step towards a "password-free future"</h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>On May 5, 2022, World Password Day, Apple, Microsoft and Google announced that within a year they will implement a single password free authorization standard on their platforms, including websites.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Companies' platforms will begin to support the </span><span>passwordless</span><span> online authentication protocol developed by the FIDO alliance of technology companies and the World Wide Web Consortium.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Users will be able to select their smartphone as the primary authentication device. After that, they will be able to enter applications, websites and other digital services by biometric scanning or entering the PIN code of a mobile device.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The security of this authentication process will be provided by a unique cryptographic passkey token that is transferred between the smartphone and the website. Such encryption keys will be asymmetric. This means that if attackers gain access to one part of the token </span><span>as a result of</span><span> a site hack, there will be no threat to users.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The main idea of the <strong>FIDO</strong> consortium is to make the authorization process dependent on the physical device. Due to this, not only </span><span>the security of entering sites will</span><span> increase, but also convenience.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Passwordless</span><span> authentication will prevent hackers from guessing the passwords of potential victims or using stolen security combinations </span><span>as a result of</span><span> phishing attacks. In general, it will become much more difficult for attackers to remotely hack into network users.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Apple, Microsoft and Google said that the passkey token will be easy to transfer to another device, including from the "cloud" in case of loss of a smartphone.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW207970102 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW207970102 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Passwordless authorization will be available in Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, as well as Chrome and Safari browsers before the end of 2023.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW207970102 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><br /></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW207970102 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><br /></p></div>

Apple, Microsoft and Google announce a single password-free authorization.

In 2021 alone, over 34,000 new developers joined Web3 projects, and companies invested hundreds of millions of dollars. So, the co-founder of Reddit and Solana Ventures opened a joint investment fund for $100 million. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW77479506 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW77479506 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The current Internet model has many cons,&nbsp;censorship, centralization, intrusive advertising. Ideologists of the new web see the future of a free and secure Internet in Web3.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In the past few years, there has been a particularly active discussion that the current model of the Internet is already outdated and needs to be revised. The development of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, metaverses, NFTs and decentralized applications requires a new model of the Web.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Let’s look at Web3 or the Internet of the future is, and how it can change lives.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What is Web 3?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Web3 is a concept for the development of the next generation of the Internet, which is based on the idea of decentralization. It is assumed that in the era of Web3, users will not only become full owners of their content, but also may not disclose their personal data, and the Internet itself will become </span><span>more open and safe</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The official term was coined in 2007 by Jason Calacanis, CEO of Netscape.com. He described the future Internet as a platform where online resources will no longer be monotonous and useless, and content will be created by professionals. As an example, </span><span>Kalakanis</span><span> cited the German section of Wikipedia, where professional editors began to review articles.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>If in Web 2.0 the data exchange protocol is HTTP, and the data is stored on servers, then in Web3 it is planned to create a new level of networking without a single point of control. With such an architecture, disabling one module will not cause the entire infrastructure to fall, that is, it will become impossible to restrict access to the Internet.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Today, the market offers the first decentralized applications (</span><span>dApps</span><span>), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) and services that provide data storage and processing on a global level. But the problem is that there is no effective way to ensure their communication with each other yet.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Web3 perspectives</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Active discussion of Web 3.0 began after the summer of 2021, Meta </span><span>company&nbsp; announced</span><span> the creation of a metaverse that will unite physical, augmented and virtual realities. Soon </span><span>a number of</span><span> large companies, such as Microsoft, Tinder and others, announced that they would create their own metaverses and intend to integrate them with each other. Platforms are expected to be complete digital worlds with their own blockchain-based economy.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Web3 will likely become the specification that metaverse companies will use to enable interoperability. Thus, the new standard will ensure the security of financial transactions and the seamless connection of different systems.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Skeptics believe that in the coming years a full-fledged Web3 should not be expected, but a hybrid model with a centralized Internet and Web 3.0 elements will develop. They explain this by the fact that the metaverses, NFTs and blockchain technologies remain under the control of specific organizations, so the complete decentralization of the Internet will not happen soon.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>How will&nbsp;</span></span>Web 3 change the world?</h1><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Web3 technology will not only change the </span><span>Internet, but</span><span> will also contribute to the </span><span>ever greater</span><span> digitalization and decentralization of the economy. In the era of Web 2.0, digital services have developed, and now you can buy digital goods for tokens.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Web3 will provide reliability and security for </span><span>a large number of</span><span> new solutions, primarily for the financial industry and its products. For example, there may be no need for banks to store or transfer money.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The way of authorization in services may change, and the user will gain access to all resources on the Web using one secure key. This will allow you to link both wallets and banking applications to your single account.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The new Internet will become more democratic, and the usefulness of content will be determined by Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO), including large companies and services. Each user will have a voice and make important decisions for the content and the organizations themselves.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As a result, the role of the users themselves will change in the decentralized Internet. They will be able to monetize personal data, buy and sell goods and services, and profit from content creation directly without intermediaries.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW77479506 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW77479506 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">In 2021 alone, over 34,000 new developers joined Web3 projects, and companies invested hundreds of millions of dollars. So, the co-founder of Reddit and Solana Ventures opened a joint investment fund for $100 million.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div id="gtx-trans" style="position: absolute; left: -13px; top: 1032px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div>

What Will the Internet Era of Web3 Look Like? 

The security sector is gradually moving to a wider range of products and services that not only provide protection but also work to improve business efficiency, and create additional value for both individual users and companies, for society and the state. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW268273585 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW225895766 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW225895766 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">In 2022, the security systems industry will continue to develop despite the social and economic factors that have had the strongest impact on business and the market as a whole. In addition to traditional physical security, large and small businesses are rapidly mastering and implementing high-tech solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the Internet of things, with special attention paid to ensuring the cyber protection of systems and data. The security sector is gradually moving to a wider range of products and services that not only provide protection, but also work to improve business efficiency, and create additional value for both individual users and companies, for society and the state.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>TREND # 1 </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">The combination of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The number of security devices connected to the network is rapidly growing, and at the same time becoming an important part of the Internet of things (IoT) segment. Given the fact that these devices are getting more and more smart features, we can talk about the development of the </span><span>AIoT</span><span> direction in the market, intelligent networked devices. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The combination of AI and IoT takes the entire security industry to a whole new level, expanding the available functionality and facilitating the digital transformation of industry verticals, including energy, logistics, retail, education, healthcare and others. </span><span>AIoT</span><span> technologies </span><span>open up</span><span> new areas for the application of modern security systems and give users additional opportunities to perceive and assess the situation. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This applies to radars, systems for measuring temperature, determining humidity, detecting gas leaks, etc. If a few years ago each of these tasks required a separate device, now the trend is multifunctional intelligent systems and an integrated approach to project implementation.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>TREND # 2 </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Converged systems as a replacement for traditional data storages. </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>When data is stored fragmented, there are difficulties in sharing and collaborating with it, there is no common understanding of the situation and current operations that are carried out by different groups of users. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The solution to the problem is the creation of a converged infrastructure that eliminates the shortcomings of independent disparate data processing and storage systems. In the field of security, the trend continues to combine separate </span><span>systems, &nbsp;video</span><span> surveillance, access control, alarms and others. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Additional solutions that are not directly related to security are connected to the same infrastructure, such as personnel management, finance, logistics, and corporate platforms. Convergence expands opportunities for collaboration, helps to make strategic decisions more efficiently and quickly based on more data and the results of their analysis.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>TREND # 3 </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">High image detalization&nbsp;in any environment </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It is important for security systems to maintain a high level of performance around the clock. It is important for CCTV cameras to maintain high image quality in all conditions, including low light or adverse weather conditions. Demands for cameras with technologies to produce full color and detailed images in challenging security environments are on the rise. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Technologies for full-color surveillance in security video surveillance systems are in great demand today for analog and IP cameras. Moreover, if initially the technologies were designed only for cameras with a fixed lens, then over the past year, in response to market demands, round-the-clock color image technologies appeared in the lines of cameras with a varifocal lens. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In particular, specialized</span><span> solutions are being developed, for example, PTZ systems, to which projects also begin to prescribe the requirement for a color image in 24/7 mode. Speaking of specialized systems, it is also worth emphasizing the growing popularity of cameras with multiple lenses, with which the user can compose a panoramic image, simultaneously view both the general image of the object and individual areas using zoom. Similar solutions today are also complemented by highly sensitive matrices for better shooting. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Such systems are used at large infrastructure facilities: airports, railway stations and city squares, stadiums, parking lots, parks, etc.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>TREND # 4</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Biometric technologies for access control </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The</span><span> segment of access control systems today is still going through a transition period, but the trend towards biometric technologies is increasingly visible. Currently, the market offers a wide range of biometric identification solutions: face recognition, fingerprint, palm, vein, retinal recognition. The main advantage of biometrics is a high level of reliability and recognition accuracy. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Facial recognition systems on this list are becoming more widespread as the most convenient and fastest way to contactless user identification. Considering the transition period, customers are also looking at the possibility of multi-factor verification or setting up different authentication methods for different user groups.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>TREND # 5</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Zero Trust: minimum trust, maximum checks </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The more </span><span>there are devices</span><span> connected to the network, the more relevant the issue of cybersecurity becomes. After </span><span>a number of</span><span> major hacker attacks on infrastructure facilities around the world in recent years, the task of strengthening the network security architecture, as well as educating end-users and increasing their level of knowledge in this area, is becoming one of the top priorities. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The concept of Zero Trust was developed back in 2010, but it has received wide distribution and popularity only recently. The Zero Trust strategic initiative is based on the postulate "never trust and always verify" and is aimed at preventing data leaks, and increasing the security level of modern information systems. The concept was initially adopted by the IT industry, but now its approaches are also being applied to physical security as security devices become an important part of the IoT direction.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>SUMMARY </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The security sector is gradually moving to a wider range of products and services that not only provide protection, but also work to improve business efficiency, and create additional value for both individual users and companies, for society and the state.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div></div>

TOP 5 Cyber Security Trends  

Mobile payment is being replaced by FacePay payment, and electronic price tags are beginning to monitor price adjustments. By 2030, generation Z will make up one-third of the entire workforce, which means they will be able to fully realize their purchasing power.

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW39018829 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW39018829 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Mobile payment is being replaced by FacePay payment, and electronic price tags are beginning to monitor price adjustments. By 2030, generation Z will make up one third of the entire workforce, which means they will be able to fully realize their purchasing power. </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW39018829 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><br /></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW39018829 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The habit of buzzers to make purchases through applications and voice assistants will create the prerequisites for changing the usual patterns at points of sale.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In order to</span><span> retain customers, stores will have to adapt to the new model preferred by the target audience.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What new customer convenience solutions are being implemented in retail?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Over the past year, we have seen an increase in demand for AI solutions for retail.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To simplify the usual processes, AI promotes the personalization of marketing, optimizes offline and online shopping, helps the visitor to make purchases at the point of sale, and makes the interaction process through the digital platform simple and secure. According to <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190410005035/en ">Juniper Research,&nbsp;</a></span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">by 2023, retailers' spending on AI technologies will increase by $8.4 billion compared to 2019 and reach $12 billion. It is predicted that by this time more than 325 thousand outlets will implement AI technologies. The artificial intelligence market is growing, and retail is one of the active drivers of its growth.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Among the main technological trends in retail for 2022, according to <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4006921 ">Gartner </a></span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;is Generative AI (generative artificial intelligence). It works well with photo, video, sound and text, allows users to create new forms of creative content that can be used, for example, for a product advertising campaign. </span><span>FacePay</span><span>, IoT, VR and In-Store Robotics technologies, ESL system, Neural network, which can be found in stores, will be discussed below.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>FacePay</span></span>. Face recognition&nbsp;</h1><p><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The</span><span> development and creation of a barrier-free environment is the trend of our time. In China, there have long been stores where you can pay using Face ID and similar identification systems. The best results in the face recognition process were achieved by neural networks.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>FacePay</span><span>, cashless payment technology was developed in the context of a biometric password for a virtual bank card.&nbsp; </span><span>FacePay</span><span> can recognize faces with over 70% accuracy even when wearing a medical mask. The development of a face recognition system will lead to stores without cash registers. Stores of a new type will become more convenient and safe for both business and consumers.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>IoT: Smart Shelves and Surveillance Cameras&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Stores will combine the work of the entire store according to the “smart home” principle. Based on the architecture of the Internet of things, it fully functions without sellers. The store's cameras are connected to a self-learning neural network. When a </span><span>buyers take</span><span> or </span><span>return</span><span> a product to the shelf, the system captures their action. Entry and exit from the store </span><span>happens</span><span> using the app. The buyers </span><span>scans</span><span> a QR code, and the technology identifies them and opens the door. If payment has not been made, the visitor will only be able to exit by pressing the emergency exit button.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>VR: research in a virtual store&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To</span><span> determine the best position of products on the shelf, the American company Kellog conducted marketing research in virtual reality. An innovative VR solution based on eye tracker technology allowed the user wearing special glasses to enter the store and see digitized 3D models of goods on the shelves.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The development </span><span>opens up</span><span> new opportunities for trade marketing and merchandising. With eye-tracking technology, you can test new packaging designs and determine the most successful product display in a "real" store.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>By the way, the results of the </span><span>aforementioned study</span><span> showed that the placement of the company's products on the lower shelves is 18% more effective than on the upper ones.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In-Store Robotics:&nbsp;</span></span>robots-advisers</h1><p>It can be difficult for a buyer to navigate in large retail outlets. This problem was solved by Lowe's, which owns a chain of stores selling home improvement products. The LoweBot robot helps visitors find the right products. He asks the customer simple questions to understand what to find and accompanies him to the shelf. The robot replaces the sales assistant. It can also monitor inventory availability and provide information on items that need to be replenished.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Neural network:</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span> search for similar products by images&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to </span><span><a href="https://slyce.it/ ">slyce</a></span><span><a href="https://slyce.it/ "> research,</a>&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">74% of users do not find the products they need using a traditional search engine. Visual search allows customers to make less effort to make the necessary purchase, and businesses to increase the number of product views and repeat visits, increasing the average check volume. The technology works on the basis of a neural network that has been trained on a set of data corresponding to the overall picture of the uploaded image. The neural network selects objects in the picture and analyzes their characteristics: color, shape and other important components. The comparison of the original image with the available products on the site occurs instantly, after which the user is prompted to select relevant options for purchase.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>ESL system: electronic price tags with automatic price adjustment</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It can be difficult to keep track of price changes in large retail stores. That is why customers continue to find themselves in situations where the cost of a product at the checkout differs from the price on the counter. The technology of digital price tags allows buyers to automatically adjust the cost of products after changing the price in the back office, promptly inform customers about discounts and special offers, </span><span>and also</span><span> reduce labor resources for sticking price tags on shelves.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Online retailers have gone a little further. In addition to electronic price </span><span>tags, for example</span><span>, Amazon uses AI to optimize pricing. AI analyzes demand and competitive offers, </span><span>taking into account</span><span> situational marketing: holidays, weather conditions and other factors that affect the cost of the product, and then generates a fair price. U.S.-based Wise Athena has created a solution based on a transformative AI and machine learning platform that predicts demand with high confidence and determines the best value proposition.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In combination with electronic price tags, cost optimization and demand forecasting technologies, retailers will be able to determine the elasticity of demand, quickly adjust promotions and, as a result, increase revenue. Nielsen analysts claim that even a 5% price difference can increase demand growth in a category by up to 75% compared to competitors.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Summary&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Digitalization of online and offline retail is gradually becoming not a competitive advantage, but a necessity.&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Reducing the checkout time has a positive effect on shopping habits. It also creates a request for stores of a new format, which, thanks to technological solutions, will make it faster and more convenient to receive the necessary goods and services.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">All this gives impetus to the digital development of the environment, bringing it closer to the concept of "smart city".&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div>

Neural Network, Face Pay & VR. What Technologies Are Shaping Retail ? 

Deep Tech Technologies, Metaverse, EdTech, SporTech. Let's analyze trends in 2022 that are shaping industry world. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW172518579 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW172518579 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Life is increasingly accelerating and new challenges are dictating changes in the technology world, shedding light on industries that are becoming increasingly in demand. Let’s take a look at some of the latest trends leading industries this year. </span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend # 1. Rise of the creator economy</span></span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>More and more routine tasks are being automated, so people have more time for creativity. Now we are already seeing great growth in the creator economy - on the one hand, there are more and more people creating digital content: bloggers, influencers, and creatives. On the other hand, there are many applications and platforms that allow you to broadcast this content. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Two more components are important factors in the development of the creator economy: advertisers willing to pay for content and a low entry threshold. Since October 2020, $800 million has been invested in creator economy startups and this trend will continue to grow.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Trend # 2. The Metaverse</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In next year we will see a lot of attempts to create products for places-universes. The trend set by Mark Zuckerberg has already been picked up, companies are starting to create AR and VR projects for the metaverses, so in 2022 we will see a strong increase in the number of such products. It’s not a fact that wow-startups will appear in this niche, but there will </span><span>definitely be</span><span> a lot of attempts.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Trend # 3 Deep Tech Technologies </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The quantum industry is just emerging, next year we expect the first prototypes of quantum processors on four platforms: superconductors, atoms, ions, and photons. This suggests that it is time for businesses to get involved in pilot projects because the time when it was possible to evaluate quanta as an exclusively fundamental science has passed. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>By the time powerful computers appear, companies should be ready to implement them. for this, it is already necessary to move on to solving industrial problems using quantum and quantum-inspired algorithms.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In 2022 we will see an increase in interest in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and </span><span>quants</span><span>, both from investors and from businesses. If many people called the 2000s the era of mobile computing, and the 2010s - the cloud, then the 2020s are more often associated with the deep tech industry.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Trend # 4. Ecosystems</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Now in almost all industries, there are recognized leaders who, even during a prolonged period of economic recession, invest billions </span><span>in order to</span><span> finally overtake competitors and become monopolists. The largest of them are building ecosystems of various </span><span>sizes, and</span><span> creating a startup to sell into such an ecosystem may be one of the most promising strategies in 2022. For example, in the banking market, leaders compete with the quantity and quality of non-financial services, because it is already difficult to compete with financial services, all of them&nbsp;basically have </span><span>similar</span><span> core functionality and tariffs.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Trend # 5. Custom Software Development </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Businesses are on the crest of a wave of interest in developing </span><span>their</span><span> own digital solutions. This can explain the fact that the largest players in those industries where digitalization gives or has given the maximum effect are entering the IT market: banks, insurance, retail, transport &amp; tourism. Next year, the tendency for non-core companies to create their own solutions and then enter the market with them will continue, which will significantly change the picture of the industry and compete with traditional IT companies.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Pressure from new competitors and a change in the structure of demand, which has finally shifted towards complex business solutions, has led to fewer integrators in the traditional form, and suppliers of software solution products are becoming more and more in demand.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Trend # 6. EdTech</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In the post-pandemic era, the education segment is among the leaders in terms of growth rate. It is expected that in the coming years there will be 97 million new digital jobs, and the global education market will grow from $8.4 billion in 2020 to $33.2 billion in 2025. New learning formats will continue to develop: microlearning in mobile applications, courses in TikTok, and other formats for gaining knowledge in portions of 30-40 seconds. There will be a growing demand for zero coding training for personal purposes and demand for this expertise from small businesses. However, the demand for professional developers&nbsp;will not go anywhere.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend # 7.&nbsp;</span></span>SportTech</h1><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span> </span></h1><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">In 2021, companies that wanted to be successful in the fitness tech market&nbsp;had to rethink and adapt their solutions to home use: Peloton released the Peloton Guide, the most accessible product in the history of the company, which includes access to online training and a heart rate monitor. Tempo introduced Tempo Move, a set of weights and a smart smartphone stand for home workouts. Freeletics launched the Freeletics STÆDIUM, a smart camera set-top box. That is, in order to increase the number of customers, market leaders develop products with a low price, which do not take up much space and fit into the home environment.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;In 2022, we will see how </span><span>fitness Tech</span><span> will become the new&nbsp;</span><span>norm</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It is already clear that quarantines in one form or another will not soon disappear from our lives, which means that home workouts will also remain in trend. And here the advantage will be for solutions that use the gadgets that the user already </span><span>has:</span><span> these are TV boxes with a smart camera and AI applications that rely on the readings of smartphone sensors.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Thanks to artificial intelligence in fitness, training will become even more personalized: monitoring the heart rate and execution technique allows the program to eliminate traumatic exercises and more accurately select the load for a particular person. And the development of specialized online platforms for instructors, where they can conveniently gather groups, manage class schedules and accept payments, will facilitate the fight against physical inactivity and </span><span>make sports</span><span> more accessible.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend # 8. Remote services</span></span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Development of projects for the remote format of receiving almost any service. Niche services that are not yet fully digitalized, and for which there is still free space in large ecosystems, will be in high demand. This could be anything from&nbsp;in-home massage to automatic debt collection.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend # 9 Web 3.0. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The main idea of Web 3.0 is the transparency and decentralization of the Internet and user data. Not only startups are talking about the Internet of a new era, but also, for example, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, who invested in Bluesky, which will develop a new decentralized standard for social networks. Now we are already seeing the development of applications based on blockchain technology, when user data is not stored on the servers of specific companies and is decentralized.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Trend # 10. MedTech &amp; HRTech&nbsp;</h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>MedTech </span><span>is</span><span> another promising industry. Over the past couple of years, health has become a concern even for those who are not used to thinking about it. The importance of convenience and safety in healthcare has grown.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It is also worth paying attention to the HR-Tech market. Hiring is becoming increasingly difficult, finding valuable talent takes a lot of time and company resources, so there is great potential for process automation. You can create products for onboarding and staff training, solutions for tracking employee progress, and building personal grades.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Summary </span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW172518579 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW172518579 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Business success lies not in choosing the right niche, but in matching the product to the chosen market. Having a professional and reliable IT strategic partner can help businesses with choosing the right tools, methodologies for software development.&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW172518579 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW172518579 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW172518579 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.7417px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif; color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span></p></div>

What Industries Will Be In High Demand In 2022?  

Modern banks are transforming into financial supermarkets, voice assistants will pay utility bills. What awaits the banking system in the future?

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW245284561 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW245284561 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The main trend of the modern financial world is having a bank in your pocket – a digital device. Contactless payments, payment via the Internet, obtaining a loan and even a mortgage, transactions with currency and securities, and opening a mortgage account, all this has become possible remotely in the last five years. The pandemic has given an additional impetus to such changes.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">How will banks of the future look like?</span>&nbsp;</h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Customer demands change. The main criteria for them are convenience, comfort, and time efficiency. Banks are changing along with </span><span>them,</span><span> they are becoming more technologically advanced. Three key criteria will identify banks in the future.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><ul><li><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>High tech</span></span></strong></span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span><span> Banks will use all modern tools - artificial intelligence, advanced analytical and mathematical models.</span>&nbsp;</span></p></li><li><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Speed</span></strong></span></span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span><span>Any client request will be resolved not in hours or minutes, but in seconds.</span>&nbsp;</span></p></li><li><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Versatility</span></span></span></strong></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span><span> Banks will turn into financial supermarkets, where it will be possible to purchase banking products, insurance services, and much more.</span>&nbsp;</span></p></li></ul></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend #1. Security</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>New opportunities give rise to new challenges. </span><span>Before</span><span> could carry out transactions with one's accounts only by contacting a bank branch with a passport, now it can be done on a mobile device.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Banks minimize the risks of questionable transactions with the help of modern technologies based on artificial intelligence and big data analysis. The bank analyzes the usual behavior of the clients, in what store and how often they </span><span>make</span><span> purchases, how much money they spend, in which city they are located, etc. If suspicious activity occurs, for example, using the card in another city or withdrawing a large amount, the bank may suspend card transactions.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data analysis systems are self-learning - the more accumulated information, the more accurate the system works.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend #2. Biometric identification</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The use of cards has been greatly simplified with the advent of biometric technologies, </span><span>TouchID</span><span> and </span><span>FaceID</span><span>. Confirmation of the operation using a fingerprint or face image is also an additional element of protection.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In the near future</span><span>, biometric identification will reach a new level. For example, recognition of body temperature or genetic code. Gaining access to accounts for intruders will become even more difficult.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The best security systems are those that include different tools: passwords, fingerprints, retina, big data analysis, etc.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend #3. Voice assistants</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Many banks have voice assistants.  The voice assistant can get directions, find the answer to a question on the Internet, and turn on music or a movie.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In mobile banking applications, voice assistants can answer questions related to </span><span>account</span><span>&nbsp;balance, find out when the deposit ends and whether it is necessary to change the card. This technology will continue to develop and become more accessible - eventually, we will be able to ask the voice assistant to collect information about all utility bills and pay them.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend # 4. Personal Financial Advisors</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Technologies based on artificial intelligence and big data analysis are getting smarter. Chatbots and voice assistants can already provide simple financial advice, such as investment </span><span>opportunities</span><span>. Robots make personal recommendations and special offers.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The bank can offer a personalized loan for construction materials if it understands that the client is making repairs it pays with a card in construction stores. </span><span>Bank</span> <span>strives</span><span> to provide customers with the opportunities that they need </span><span>at the moment</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>There is no full-fledged financial advisor robot that could completely replace a person yet.&nbsp; However</span><span>, if a</span><span>&nbsp;person is most inclined to trust another person, perhaps personal consultation will become a limited service, but will not completely disappear.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Trend #5. Digital customer profile</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To understand what offers will be relevant to a particular client, the bank compiles its digital profile. It includes all the information that the clients share with the bank: how often they use the card or mobile application, what cards they use, whether they need loans, and what requests they form on the website or through chatbots.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Based on these data, the bank builds models of probability and prerequisites for making decisions by the clients. </span><span>In the future, a digital profile will help create accurate personalized offers that will constantly change depending on the current needs, requests, and capabilities of the client. These can be personal loan rates, repayment terms, deposit conditions, etc.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Today bank clients want to get everything they need in one place, without going from one site to another, pay bills, buy a movie ticket and start investing. To meet all the needs of customers, banks are starting to create new services or </span><span>enter into</span><span> collaborations with other companies. Therefore, on the one hand, the development of ecosystems is beneficial for </span><span>customers, they</span><span> can use many services without leaving the bank's application. On the other hand, banks are increasing the size of the cash basket they receive from customers, this allows them to continue to develop the company and invest in innovation.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW245284561 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW245284561 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none;"><span class="EOP SCXW245284561 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 22.6625px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif; color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div id="gtx-trans" style="position: absolute; left: 75px; top: 1052px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div>

Robot-assistants and Digital Profiles. Banks of the Future

Build a house and transplant a heart, what breakthrough opportunities do additive technologies have to offer? 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104612595 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW104612595 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Building a house in a few days or making engine parts in a few hours, let’s look it all become possible thanks to&nbsp;additive technologies.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What&nbsp;</span></span>is additive technologies?</h1><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Additive Manufacturing is a method of creating three-dimensional objects, parts or things by adding material layer by layer: plastic, metal, concrete and, possibly, human tissue in the future. Such three-dimensional or 3D objects are created using 3D printers. The name of the technologies comes from the English word “add”.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Depending on </span><span>the final result</span><span>, there are several areas of application of additive technologies:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Producing parts (Rapid Patterns) that will be used as templates for the final product. Often used in jewelry.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Making molds (Rapid Tooling) using additive methods. Then they can be used for molding and casting products.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Direct digital manufacturing (Direct Digital Manufacturing, DDM) is the production of the final product by additive methods.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The terms additive manufacturing and 3D printing are often used interchangeably. The term "3D printing" has been around for a long time and is more commonly used when talking about low-cost home printers. On the scale of industrial production, one usually speaks of additive technologies.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The history of additive manufacturing began with the invention of the first 3D printer. It was designed by Charles Hull in 1983. He came up with a device that could print a small plastic cup in a new way - layering with ultraviolet radiation. Hull called this technology stereolithography. Today, many 3D printers are based on this technology.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>3D printing&nbsp;</span></span>opens up endless possibilities for the economy.</span></strong></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">Stages of creating a product using additive technologies</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In industry, the production of 3D products goes through several general stages (they may vary depending on methods and materials):</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- 3D modeling or product sketching (Computer Aided Design or CAD).</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Creating a reduced copy of a product from a cheaper material, such as inexpensive plastic instead of metal.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Printing the product itself after the copy has passed inspection. The printer follows the sketch and adds layers of liquid, powder, or sheet material and produces the part, sometimes in just a few hours.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">&nbsp;Advantages of additive technologies and their difference from traditional production</h1><p>- Manufacturing speed. With traditional methods, a complex part can be produced within months, but with 3D printing, it can be done in a few hours. After manufacturing, additional machining is often not needed.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Wasteless production. In traditional manufacturing, there is a high risk of sending an incorrectly manufactured part to waste. When using additive methods, if the metal part does not work out, it can be turned into powder again and the same product is printed from it again.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- No seams or welds. Unlike traditional production, with the help of additive technologies it is possible to obtain products with unique properties, without seams and joints. Such objects cannot be made by welding and stamping.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Where are additive technologies used?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In mechanical engineering</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Additive technologies are actively used in industry. In 1989, BMW was one of the first to use them. At that time, the term "3D printing" was not yet in use. In 2018, the company opened a dedicated Additive Manufacturing Center in Munich, where it manufactures prototypes, highly complex chassis elements and off-the-shelf parts for classic cars.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Quality parts, the certification requirements for which are very high, are also in demand in the aviation and space industry. Boeing has already made more than 20,000 parts for its aircraft using additive technologies.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Siemens Power claims that it is 3D printing that has allowed them to achieve a significant breakthrough in the production of electrical equipment. Using additive technology, they produce product prototypes 90% faster than before, with a high degree of efficiency, high efficiency and low cost.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">In healthcare&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In 2008, the first 3D limb prosthesis was printed: it was made in one piece, without assembly. Stereolithography is now being used to fabricate customized heart valves, artificial jaws, joint parts, and hearing aid parts. The first and only printed organ so far remains the bladder. It was made from tissues from the host's old bladder and successfully transplanted. In the future, it is planned to print 3D organs from human tissue and artificial materials.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In construction</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In recent years, in the United States, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, France, and the UAE have built using the construction 3D printing method. Special building printers create either small cottages or building elements, which are then assembled on site into a whole building. Technology makes it possible to build houses very quickly and cheaply. Building areas are still small, but this is temporary. Dubai already has </span><span>a 641</span><span> sq. m</span></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104612595 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW104612595 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The main advantage of 3D printing is customization, the ability to create a unique product. All the development of 3D technology will take place in areas where a personalized product is created for each individual person.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div id="gtx-trans" style="position: absolute; left: -10px; top: 614px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div>

Additive Technologies & Their Possibilities 

The incredible speed with which virtual technologies are developing will lead to an increase in the number of digital services related to both aesthetic and functional experiences, and people will spend more and more time on the web. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155709870 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155709870 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Analysts from various companies&nbsp;agree that in 2022, metaverses will be actively developed virtual reality spaces where users can work, communicate, and play.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Tech companies are racing to develop the potential of these digital spaces in 2021 with a focus on social life, culture and brand presence.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to experts, the incredible speed with which virtual technologies are developing will lead to an increase in the number of digital services related to both aesthetic and functional experiences, and people will spend more and more time on the web.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>At the forefront are digital assets in the form of clothing and design items, as well as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/retail/our%20insights/state%20of%20fashion/2022/the-state-of-fashion-2022.pdf ">McKinsey,</a> </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;brands see the metaverse as an opportunity to engage customers more deeply. The digital fashion market is already valued at $31 billion and has more than 100 companies. Deloitte also claims that by the end of 2022 there will be 4-5 million sports fans in the world who will purchase or receive as a gift collectible </span><span>digital sports artifacts</span><span> for NFT tokens.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Safe AI</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Homomorphic encryption technologies (a type of encryption that allows computing on encrypted data without decrypting it) are now available to the market, which will help make the implementation of artificial intelligence systems more secure. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As a result, analysts expect the secure computing market to double to $250 million in 2022. For consumers, this means a wider and more widespread application of AI in various fields. </span><span>In particular, artificial</span><span> intelligence will be actively introduced in the healthcare sector. This will allow the development of telemedicine, as well as health monitoring applications. Companies such as Apple, Google, Nvidia, Microsoft, IBM, Intel and others are already actively investing in this area.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Accordingly, regulation in the field of AI will also be tightened. It is likely that in 2022 governments will be able to develop a unified approach to legislation in the industry. It is possible that some jurisdictions will ban the use of facial recognition technologies in public places and other controversial technologies, analysts say.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Wi-Fi 6 instead of 5G</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Deloitte analysts believe that in 2022, the demand for Wi-Fi 6 devices will be higher than for 5G products. According to them, over the past two years, many countries have been actively implementing the new 5G communication standard, but devices with Wi-Fi 6 have been far ahead in sales. The trend will continue into 2022, with 2.5 billion Wi-Fi 6 devices entering the market versus 1.5 billion 5G products.</span>&nbsp;<br /></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The reason for the popularity of Wi-Fi 6, according to experts, lies in the fact that&nbsp;technologylogy&nbsp;plays an important role in the future of wireless communications for both ordinary consumers and companies. The most popular devices with Wi-Fi 6 include smartphones, tablets and computers, but the technology is also being used in many other types of equipment, including wireless cameras, smart home devices, game consoles, wearables, and augmented and virtual reality headsets.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Wi-Fi 6 outpaces 5G in the number of enterprise pilots. It is likely that the reason for this lies in the cost of deployment: Wi-Fi 6 devices are more affordable than 5G products. In addition, free and unlicensed frequency spectrum is used for Wi-Fi 6.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Distributed&nbsp;</span></span>enterprises</h1><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/insights/top-technology-trends ">Gartner</a> predicts that in 2022 there will be more so-called distributed enterprises, which will be built on a business model focused primarily on digital and remote work.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As analysts say, distributed enterprises will be able to better meet the needs of remote workers and consumers, as well as increase the demand for virtual services and hybrid workplaces.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Cloud Work</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Forrester experts predict that the active use of enterprise clouds in the work of companies during the pandemic will continue to expand in 2022, as enterprises expand their digital presence and create new products. Cloud service providers are looking for cloud efficiency, scalable solutions, and unique customization.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Forrester analysts believe container adoption will reach 50% by 2022 as cloud computing takes center stage in enterprise clouds. At the same time, many enterprises in the development of cloud strategies will use the native cloud environment. In this way, cloud technologies will go beyond all the main areas of application, such as big data, artificial intelligence and the Internet of things.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Green Smartphones&nbsp;</h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to Deloitte, in 2022, the number of smartphones in use will reach 4.5 billion, and the associated carbon dioxide emissions will amount to 146 million tons. </span><span>The majority of</span><span> these emissions (83%) relate to the manufacturing process, delivery and the first year of use of devices. In this regard, companies will think about extending their expected service life.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This requires support and updates to smartphone systems for at least five years, analysts calculated. Therefore, vendors can start offering devices at a higher price, charge consumers an environmental surcharge, or include services and services in the price of a device.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In addition, companies will increasingly use recycled materials to create devices. For example, Samsung has already announced that it will launch its new line of Galaxy smartphones in February, which is made using recycled fishing nets.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Solar panels on the water</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Deloitte predicts that alternative energy sources will continue to develop in 2022. One of the ways to popularize them will be the installation of floating solar panels directly on the surface of water bodies where there is not enough land for these purposes. By the end of 2022, the total capacity of such panels will reach 5.2 GW, analysts predict. By 2025, this figure may reach 13 GW.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This practice will be most widespread in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, which already leads in terms of installing solar panels on water (90% of the total). Africa is another promising market. Analysts have calculated that the use of even 1% of the water resources on the continent for the needs of solar energy can provide local states with 58 GW of energy for consumption annually. Similar projects will also be developed in Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Norway. Solar panels will be installed in the North and Adriatic Seas in addition to existing offshore wind platforms.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155709870 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155709870 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Such floating solar farms, analysts are sure, will make it possible to supply electric facilities around water bodies, even where there are problems with energy supply.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Wifi 6.0 and Alternative Energy Sources. Latest Tech Trends for 2022

Existing business models are being challenged by digitization to an unprecedented extent. Agility enables companies, as well as institutions and authorities, to adapt flexibly and quickly to increasingly disruptive markets.

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW23343869 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW23343869 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The trend in recent years has been confirmed once again: the transformation towards agile organizations is high on the agenda of many companies.&nbsp;There is consensus that the challenge of ever more rapid change and thus the ever more volatile world of work must be met with the integrative power that agility offers.&nbsp;Our survey examines the different dimensions of agility, their challenges, and their potential.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The actual agility that goes beyond the pure use of agile methods means that the goals linked to the introduction of agile methods are achieved.&nbsp;This and the trend toward agility are confirmed by the results of our current study "Agile Pulse 2022".&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Despite the promised high relevance of agile methods, the desired goals have not yet been achieved across the board.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>There are many reasons for introducing agile methods, the most common being </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>-improved responsiveness</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- improved collaboration</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- increased speed </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- improved product quality.&nbsp;</span></span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It becomes apparent that some organizations think primarily product-driven and put their customers first, while others act more in relation to their employees.&nbsp;If the desired goals of the introduction of agile methods are compared with the improvements </span><span>actually achieved</span><span>, it becomes clear, however, that eight out of nine goals have not yet been achieved on average.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Maturity and application levels: Agile methods in 30 percent of those surveyed and increasingly at higher organizational levels.&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">The agile methods are initially used mostly at the team level.&nbsp;In addition, agility is also actively used at the program, management, and strategy/portfolio level.&nbsp;Compared to the&nbsp;study results from 2020, an increase of 15 percent in terms of the use of agile methods at the management level is particularly evident.&nbsp;On average, the participants have been using one or more agile methods for more than five years.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Six dimensions to measure the holistic agility of organizations:&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Culture</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Processes</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Products</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Structures</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Technologies</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Methods</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Through the holistic implementation of agile transformations, </span><span>taking into account</span><span> all dimensions, an agile state (= agile maturity) must be achieved and maintained, which must be consistently further developed.&nbsp;This is the foundation that enables organizations and their people to be agile instead of just acting agile.&nbsp;</span><span>In order to</span><span> quantify the concrete benefit of a holistic agile transformation, the influence on the following three aspects was measured: achievement of organizational goals associated with agility, job satisfaction of employees, and resilience to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Significant improvements at the organizational and employee level</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Organizations associate certain goals with the introduction of agility, the achievement of which depends on the agile maturity level.&nbsp;The study makes it clear that organizations with a higher degree of agile maturity also have a higher degree of goal achievement.&nbsp;</span><span>Furthermore, agility shows positive effects at the employee level: according to the results, holistic agility increases employee identification and satisfaction.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Agility vs. COVID-19</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In general, the more agile the organization, the more&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>resilient</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><span>it</span><span> is in times of crisis.&nbsp;This was particularly evident during the pandemic.&nbsp;Pre-pandemic and post-pandemic aspirations were broadly similar across Agile maturity levels, but there were clear differences in how home office/remote work was handled during the pandemic.&nbsp;</span><span>This suggests higher adaptability with practiced agility.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Drivers and challenges</h1><p xml:lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<span xml:lang="EN-US">Different management levels are only partially perceived by the participants as drivers of agile transformation.&nbsp;Respondents classify factors of change in particular as a challenge.</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Future relevance of agility</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>91 percent of the participants see the relevance of agility increasing in the future.&nbsp;This varies across industries.&nbsp;</span><span>The greatest potential is seen </span><span>in the area of</span><span> IT and software development at 64 percent, while the lowest potential is in the legal department.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Is your company&nbsp;ready to react quickly, flexibly, and innovatively to changing customer requirements?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Existing business models are being challenged by digitization to an unprecedented extent.&nbsp;Agility enables companies, as well as institutions and authorities, to adapt flexibly and quickly to increasingly disruptive markets.&nbsp;Developing innovative products and services in a requirement and result-oriented manner is becoming an increasingly important success factor for the future competitiveness of companies.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW23343869 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW23343869 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Agility includes the change from hierarchical and delimited structures to autonomous interdisciplinary units - as well as innovation-promoting learning and error culture as well as the use of adaptive technologies and short-cycle projects using agile methods to develop customer-focused Minimal Viable Products (MVP).</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Being Agile in 2022 

About 84% of digital transformation projects fail, according to McKinsey. There are several main reasons why digital transformation does not produce desired results.  



<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW205707223 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW205707223 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Digitalization for the sake of digitalization is one of the most urgent problems for business today. Being non-digital is no longer possible, It is no coincidence that during the first boom of artificial intelligence in 2016-2017, companies rushed to massively purchasing technologies in an effort to be in trend. Gartner later called “panic buying”.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But although players everywhere claim to have successfully completed their digital transformation or are about to complete it, </span><span>in reality there</span><span> are not so many digital businesses.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>About 84% of digital transformation projects fail, according to<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/why-digital-strategies-fail"> McKinsey.&nbsp;</a></span></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>There are several main reasons why digital transformation does not produce desired results.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Lack of planning &amp; research&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This is one of the most common mistakes. A company implements digital solutions without evaluating in advance whether the time and resources spent are compensated by improving business performance. Going digital is appropriate only when there is an understanding that this will lead to specific positive effects, reducing labor costs, increasing margins, and increasing sales.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Otherwise, digital transformation turns into a pile of initiatives that are useless for business, at least at a particular stage of development. For example, it makes no sense for a young small startup to spend energy on implementing a staff gamification </span><span>system</span><span> it is more important to focus on scaling and achieving payback. Such initiatives not only do not </span><span>give</span><span> a positive effect, but can also interfere, as they drag along a heap of new regulations and cause rejection of the team. How to avoid it?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Any digital innovation must be preceded by a lot of analytical work. It is important to put specific questions:&nbsp;</span></span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- What challenges is the business facing now?&nbsp;</span></span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- What technologies can solve them?</span></span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- What investments will be required?</span></span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- How exactly and in when will it pay off?</span></span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- How much financial performance will improve?</span></span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span> Ideally, a company should not be limited to preliminary analysis, but also evaluate intermediate results at each micro-stage </span><span>in order to</span><span> adjust processes if necessary.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Lack of digitalization culture</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to a study by the consulting company KMDA, one of the main obstacles to digital business transformation is resistance to change on the part of the team. If employees do not understand the meaning of introducing new initiatives, they will always reject innovations in the company.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The reason for the resistance of digital transformation among employees may be the fear that automation will deprive them of their jobs or concern about their personal data. These fears have been especially intensified recentl. The economic crisis provokes the fear of being left without a job, and the loss of access to the digital tools necessary for work makes us think that the total digitization of processes has a downside.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>That is why it is so important to work on the culture of digitalization in the company and form appropriate principles and values in the team, something that most businesses do not pay enough attention to. </span><span>In order to</span><span> promote change instead of resisting it, employees need to understand,</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- Qhat kind of benefit each new solution will bring</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- How it works, all processes must be absolutely transparent</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- How their tasks and areas of responsibility will change after the introduction of innovations.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Lack of Expertise</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Another common reason why digital transformation attempts fail is due to a lack of expertise. In most cases, companies refuse to create a single digitalization body, for example, introducing the position of &nbsp;Chief digital transformation officer (CDTO). All this ends with numerous mistakes.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But even the creation of an entire division for digital transformation in the absence of competencies from the team can lead to collapse. </span></span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This happened to General Electric, which founded <a href="https://www.inc.com/alex-moazed/why-ge-digital-didnt-make-it-big.html">GE Digital in 2015</a>&nbsp;in order&nbsp;</span><span>to work with external clients. In pursuit of quick financial results, management turned this structure into a tool for solving the company's internal problems, and the entire planned effect failed.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>An important factor in the lack of digital competencies was the lack of staff in the IT field, that especially intensified with the onset of the pandemic.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>That's why it's vitally important to turn into professional IT consulting services company, that processes enough expertise and experience in promoting digital tranformation.</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Lack of strategy</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Digital transformation is not made up of disparate digital solutions. F</span><span>rst of all</span><span>, it is a fundamental process restructuring of all that requires a complete strategy.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>A traditional bank will not be able to turn into a fintech company if it simply transfers individual processes to a digital format. It will have to change both the product itself and the way it interacts with customers, its positioning and marketing, organizational structure and other aspects - and all this requires holistic approach.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But in practice, it often happens that digital solutions are implemented by each department independently of each other. The result is, as the popular saying goes, </span><span>automating</span><span> chaos leads to automated chaos.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To prevent this, an integrated </span><span>strategy&nbsp; should</span><span> be developed. Where each initiative will perform its function. In the process of developing such a strategy, it may turn out that </span><span>in order to</span><span> go digital, you need to completely change the business model, and sometimes the product itself.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This is what happened with Netflix, which was originally created as a DVD rental network. While expanding the business, the company introduced solutions that fit well with the concept of digitalization. Netflix developed its own movie recommendation system based on an analysis of user preferences, introduced a rental subscription, and created a bonus system. But with the rise of streaming video, the DVD format itself was doomed, and no amount of digital enhancement would have made the business successful.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW205707223 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW205707223 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Netflix realized this in time, and in 2007, ten years after its founding, the company made a pivot by switching to streaming technologies. This decision made Netflix one of the largest companies in the world but for this it had to completely change the product and business model. This is what a strategy is for: to assess the scope of change in advance and understand if the company is ready for it.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW205707223 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><br /></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW205707223 BCX0 cche-common-lite-text" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span>Summary&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p><p>Digital Tranformation is a key vector for any company that wants to stay relevant and generate profit. But before turning into digital transformation, to avoid drastic mistakes and miscalculations, its important to turn into professional IT consulting company that will make the transition smooth and efficient.&nbsp;</p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW205707223 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW205707223 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW205707223 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div id="gtx-trans" style="position: absolute; left: -15px; top: 70px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div>

Digital Business Transformation. Pitfalls and Solutions 

Until last year, global EdTech companies had almost no IPOs. But in 2021, investors have poured over $13 billion into EdTech. Thus, 14 educational companies worth more than $1 billion appeared on the world market in one year.

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW57656526 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW57656526 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The education market is constantly growing. According to the research from <a href="https://www.holoniq.com/2030/ ">HolonIQ</a>, </span><span xml:lang="EN-US">global EdTech will reach $10 trillion by 2030. This will happen thanks to population growth in developing countries, as well as the unprecedented opportunities for professional retraining that technology provides today. To meet the demand, the global education sector will need about 1.5 million new teachers every year.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>One of the good metrics to understand the situation is money. According to the list of global EdTech unicorns, </span></span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>tutoring (6), corporate training (5), and online secondary education (3) have the most billion-dollar companies.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Here are&nbsp;trends that you should&nbsp;</span></span>definitely pay attention to</span></strong></p><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Quality is the key&nbsp;</h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The audience is becoming more and more demanding of educational products. Thanks to this, competition in the educational services market is increasing, and the word “quality” is heard more and more often in public industry conversations.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This concept also includes the availability of the product for users of different ages. The number of people over the age of sixty on the planet is expected to more than double by 2050 (from 962 million to 2.1 billion) and triple by 2100 (to 3.1 billion). As you can see, the 60+ demographic is growing faster than any other. Cognitive change and the needs of older people in terms of interfaces are well understood, so no one will have to reinvent their own wheel here.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>At the same time, the age of the audience that gets acquainted with EdTech products for the first time is decreasing, and more and more educational solutions are appearing on the market, even for preschoolers.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>IPO</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Until last year, global EdTech companies had almost no IPOs. But in 2021, investors have poured over $13 billion into EdTech. Thus, 14 educational companies worth more than $1 billion appeared on the world market in one year.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Among them are the American </span><strong><span>MasterClass</span></strong><span>, the <strong>Indian Emeritus</strong>, the Austrian </span><strong><span>GoStudent</span></strong><span> and others. For comparison, in six years, from 2014 to 2020, 21 EdTech companies reached this level. The near future will show if EdTech companies can continue to grow.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Blockchain</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>On the one hand, the word "blockchain" is in almost any list of "trends of the future". On the other hand, EdTech is </span><span>the</span><span> industry that </span><span>is able to</span><span> maximize the benefits of this technology.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Blockchain is a trusted proof of skills and professionalism in a digital format that can be authenticated by any interested party. On such a basis, you can build many of the workflows needed in EdTech.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>For example, the Odem online education service issues blockchain diplomas for completing educational courses. Also based on this technology, records are stored here about what courses a particular teacher has read and what grades he received from students. Thus, education acquires a completely different quality. Any interested person can check what, in the literal sense of the word, the educational process consists of.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Artificial intelligence</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In 2021, EdTech startups </span><span>have invested</span><span> over $4 billion in artificial intelligence technologies. According to a Google <a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2021/investing-in-education-technology">study</a>, </span><span>educators today are openly talking about their interest in AI tools in EdTech. After all, AI can be entrusted with checking homework, making forecasts, and making decisions on the further career track of students. At the end of last year, Google announced the creation of an assistant program for students that can give them personalized feedback during the learning process.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But there is also a predictable downside. Not always the actions of AI can be called transparent and understandable. Most likely, a heated discussion will inevitably arise here</span><span> can</span><span> we trust AI completely or make the process of its work more open? Most likely, there is no correct answer here and this will become a separate fascinating story.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Programming for everyone</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Whatever a person does today, the ability to program is a skill that can seriously improve the quality of work and save resources. In almost any job, there is a need to perform many similar operations, analyze information and find patterns, quickly collect data from sources, and more. The ability to program allows you to solve these problems quickly and efficiently.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It is natural to increase the popularity of Low Code/No Code projects here. They make it possible to minimize the level of entry into programming. Since we remember that "coding is the new literacy", such projects are an ideal launching pad in which to understand the basic principles of programming. Low Code will allow people to understand the principles of IT systems more deeply and more accurately.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Virtual Reality</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The global augmented and virtual reality market is expected to exceed $125 billion by 2024. You can use these technologies when teaching almost any skill, because there is a “‎working environment” in one form or another in almost any industry.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Global view</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Features of EdTech vary from region to region, and here are some things to look out for </span><span>in order to</span><span> understand the situation as a whole:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Europe</span></span></span></strong></p><p><span><span> The quality of educational institutions that have been formed over the centuries is valued here. Therefore, more traditional formats prevail here. But the level of integration of new technologies into the education process is constantly growing. As elsewhere, this process is being accelerated by COVID-19.</span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>More than half of EdTech products </span><span>are</span><span> b2c, since the most frequent customer in the EU is individual consumers (parents and students). Most of the strong EdTech companies in this region are represented in the UK, France, and Germany.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>East Asia</span></span></span></strong></p><p><span><span> This is one of the most important global regions for EdTech. It is home to 1.6 billion people, making it the most populous in the world. It is also an emerging high-tech hub, accounting for more than half of global tech company revenue growth over the past decade and more than 45% of global startup funding.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Education is a key component of this development, which is why there are many EdTech companies here. Especially those working in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Most of the EdTech companies here work on the b2c model. Individual customers (parents and students) are willing to pay for products that will help them achieve their goals. These are, for example, admission to a university, high grades, or professional recognition.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>China takes EdTech seriously. Already in 2019, lessons on artificial intelligence appeared in the country's schools, and a methodological base and full-fledged textbooks were developed. The country is very actively experimenting with the use of AI in education, and the authorities provide tax incentives for companies that create products based on AI.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>One of the most successful AI-powered EdTech startups in China is the unicorn company Squirrel AI. The principle of operation here is as follows - the amount of information on a particular subject is divided into many small blocks ("knowledge points").&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>During the testing of a particular student, the zones with the largest gaps are determined. After that, a plan of specific exercises is generated in an automated mode to correct the situation. To illustrate the level of detail, a high school math course is broken down into over 10,000 knowledge points in Squirrel AI. Judging by the popularity of the service in China, this approach is quite effective.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>North America</span></span></strong></span></p><p><span><span> More than a third of the country's top EdTech companies operate on a b2b basis, collaborating with schools, universities, or corporations. The rapid transition of educational institutions to online learning has led to explosive growth in demand for solutions that can not only organize the process online but also support it in working order.</span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solutions for analytics and social-emotional learning are also in demand. Almost half of the companies are b2c. One in five companies is 3 years old or less. There has been an increase in attention to EdTech products for company employees. Possession of real skills is more valuable than diplomas, and the requirements for the level of qualification of employees are growing.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW57656526 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW57656526 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">To keep up with modern technology, you need to run as fast as you can. But before you start the race, it would be good to figure out which way to move. In this article, we discussed key trends in working with a modern educational product to meet user expectations.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Trends in EdTech In 2022

Big Data is the new oil. As in the case of fuel, companies need to correctly approach the use of this resource. When handled correctly, big data helps target customers correctly and make it easier for them to choose a service or product to retain loyal clients.  

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW127114367 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW127114367 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">A decade ago, the advertising world was brimming with creative romanticism in the style of “Mad Men” series. Now, creativity is being increasingly replaced by analytics. Companies draw up marketing strategies, relying no longer on intuition, but on statistical information obtained from Big Data.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Challenge # 1</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Failure to turn data into a useful tool</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The boundaries of the online and offline worlds are becoming less clear, more and more data becomes available for analytics. </span><span>It would seem that this</span><span> flow of information creates opportunities for additional segmentation of the audience, to increase its loyalty. But here lies the complexity - you need to be able to collect data from all sources, store and keep it </span><span>up-to-date</span><span> in such a way as to interpret </span><span>it</span><span> qualitatively and build logical chains.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To organize a large amount of disparate data, companies create a centralized storage space. This could be a CDP (Customer Data Platforms designed to aggregate consumer information from various sources and marketing automation), a cloud-based database, or other solutions. Such a “storage” will help create a single customer profile that is updated at the time of performing actions, which is critical for creating loyalty programs.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to a survey by the international marketing agency </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Merkle, <a href="(https://www.merkleinc.com/sg/news-and-events/press-releases">53%</a> of companies are at the stage of searching for a solution for organizing and storing data. </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The main challenge lies in finding the optimal technological solution, one that is most suitable in terms of functionality and at the same time its implementation will be cost-effective.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Some companies settle on the CDP option, others are less decisive because they have already experienced the technological hype and overestimated new technologies. For example, many have become frustrated with cookie-based data management platforms (DMPs) as third-party cookies </span><span>become</span><span> an unreliable source of tracking.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The truth is that there are many different CDP solutions on the market, so it is important to clearly define the company's goals, system use cases, key performance indicators to justify costs, and the rate of return on investment. Speaking of payback, 37% of companies took nine months to do this, while the other 30% took only six.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Challenge # 2</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Poorly prioritized customer service</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Many companies get too carried away with attracting new audiences and forget about maintaining interest from existing clients. On average, it costs five times more to attract a new client than to retain an existing one. The golden rule of any business is to build loyal relationships with clients, thereby avoiding the cost of finding new ones. However, about 44% of companies pay more attention to attracting customers, and only <a href="https://www.invespcro.com/services/?utm_source=invespcro&amp;utm_medium=homepage&amp;utm_campaign=sliders ">18%</a> of companies are focused on retention, according to the American marketing agency Invesp.&nbsp;</span></span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In a highly competitive market, only client-oriented companies survive. This concept implies not only </span><span>meeting</span><span> new </span><span>clients</span><span> bonuses, but also rewarding old clients for their loyalty. </span><span>Invesp</span><span> published an interesting statistic: the probability of selling to an existing client is 60-70%, while to a new one it is only 5-10%. In addition, loyal customers spend 31% more than new ones.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Quick adoption to changing circumstances, constant update of offers and an individual approach is the main way to increase the audience of regular customers with the help of a loyalty program. Data collection should not take place for the sake of accumulating information, it is important to process it correctly.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Using regular surveys, loyalty tools such as discounts, bonuses cashback.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Challenge # 3</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Interpreting&nbsp;</span></span>Data Right</span></strong></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">Competent work with data allows to build patterns that directly affect the company's policy. For example, when deciding whether or not to grant a loan or an installment loan to a client, banks are turning to score, which increasingly includes checking the “digital footprint” on social networks. For example, being in online network marketing groups increases the risk of non-payment of debt, and being active in communities about travel and finance lowers it.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>When using information this way, you need to be sure that it is interpreted correctly. It happens that </span><span>not always coherent actions of customers are</span> <span>combined</span><span> and conclusions are drawn that do not correspond to the real needs of users.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It is important to remember to look for more voluminous data, mixing internal information about the behavior and transactions of customers with external information.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Retail stores can enrich information collected from reward cards, mobile apps, websites, direct customer interactions, and by purchasing information from third party companies known as data brokers. They collect data on their own and acquire it from other organizations commercial companies: banks, dating sites and government agencies, for example, census data or vehicle registration data. Data brokers create "profiles" of people with information about habits and behavior patterns. Retailers then match their loyalty card data to these profiles, creating a clearer picture of shoppers.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW127114367 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW127114367 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Big Data is the new oil. As in the case of fuel, companies need to correctly approach the use of this resource. When handled correctly, big data helps target customers correctly and make it easier for them to choose a service or product to retain loyal clients.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div id="gtx-trans" style="position: absolute; left: -14px; top: 1278px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div>

How Big Data Helps Solve Challenges in Retail 

The pace of automation in IT is accelerating, with more companies shifting to fully automated processes, according to Gartner's latest IT Industry study. It is predicted that by the year 2024, improved automatic recovery capabilities will change 30% of the IT operations workload. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW122802580 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">What is RPA?</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>RPA is a technology that automates routine, repetitive tasks by mimicking common manual processes performed by a human.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The pace of automation in IT is accelerating, with more companies shifting to fully automated processes, according to Gartner's latest IT Industry <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-01-23-gartner-predicts-69--of-routine-work-currently-done-b">study</a></span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>. It is predicted that by the year 2024, improved automatic recovery capabilities will change 30% of the IT operations workload, from support to continuous engineering. While the IT sector is constantly evolving, there are many tasks that IT professionals perform manually. These tasks are usually repetitive, requiring interaction with slow legacy systems and a huge amount of time to complete them.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>While Robotic Process Automation is generally seen as a great complementary tool for IT operations, it plays a critical role in IT service delivery and the overall productivity of an IT team.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>For companies that think about their future, incorporating automation into the day-to-day work of their IT department is a fantastic opportunity to stand out from the crowd of “just good” companies and deliver flawless results from both a technology and customer satisfaction point of view.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Using RPA in Business Operations</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The scope of RPA in the IT industry depends on various factors, including the size and </span><span>specifics</span><span> of the company. However, there are 6 key areas where RPA can be used in IT departments </span><span>in&nbsp; all</span><span> types of businesses:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Hiring an employee</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>-Task tracking</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>-Password management</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>-Updating company systems</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>-Data migration</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Help desk and support systems management</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What are the main benefits of RPA?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Since IT departments are an integral part of digital transformation, the accelerated implementation of RPA leads to a change in the functions of employees. RPA for IT services means a mature and customer-centric approach to business. In addition, there are several other reasons why companies tend to include RPA in their activities:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Flexibility and scalability of automated workflows</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Elimination of personnel </span><span>errors</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- More Compliance.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><strong>RPA</strong> robots make no mistakes in entering and processing data, while working 24/7 and without weekends and holidays.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>More transparency, less risk.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><strong>RPA </strong>streamlines key financial processes, reduces risks associated with data security and government regulation.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Easy calculation of indicators and metrics.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><strong>RPA</strong> bots can easily calculate any indicators for the financial control of your business, which </span><span>help</span><span> to avoid a huge number of mistakes in planning and controlling finances.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Increased productivity and efficiency</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What Solutions Does RPA offer?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>1.&nbsp;</span></span></span><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Data migration</span></span></strong></p><p>Example: A mid-sized accounting firm faces the challenges of migrating massive amounts of data between multiple accounting systems and corporate systems. The task involves downloading files of various formats and volumes of information. In addition to being time-consuming, it also causes errors.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution: The bot automates data recognition. It opens the appropriate folders, picks up the necessary files and uploads them to the required systems in the given order and category. It marks the statuses of tasks when completed and notifies the IT teams about it.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">2. Help Desk</span></span></strong></p><p>Example: The IT department of an enterprise is struggling with countless user requests that come from various company sources and communication channels. They spend 2 to 3 hours entering request details into IT systems, categorizing requests, processing them, and marking progress statuses.&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution: The bot automates the processing and administration of requests. It receives requests from the relevant systems and enters them into the central IT database. Text recognition </span><span>allows</span><span> to categorize requests and distribute them to assigned team members. Upon completion of the task, the bot sets statuses.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">3. Password reset</span></span></strong></p><p>Example: The IT department of a large manufacturing company receives more than 120 passwords reset requests daily from employees. Completing a task requires about 35% of the time of IT employees.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution: The bot automates the task by identifying user queries from the help desk. The bot registers with the respective app, reset the user's password, and sends the user a notification with the new password. It then sends a status email to the IT team.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">4. Account Management</span></span></strong></p><p>Example. Creating user accounts and processing user data for hiring tasks takes more than 1.5 hours for the IT team of a large company.&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Solution: The bot creates a user account following the instructions. The bot provides the user with their credentials, sends email notifications to IT and HR, and marks the completion of a task on the corporate system.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Is it possible to hack a software&nbsp;</span></span>robot?</h1><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">Information security issues are very acute today, companies and systems of any scale are exposed to cyber attacks. The advantage of RPA technology is that modern software robots are well protected from hacks. Most platforms and applications include cybersecurity tools such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, employee password assistance, and strong role-based access control. For example, PRA can be configured to allow robots to access a limited range of files over a secure communication channel.</span>&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>80% of leaks still occur due to&nbsp;</span><span>human</span><span> error and the “human factor”. Errors during data transfer, poor password protection, etc. Using RPA reduces these risks. And the ability to record every action of the robot </span><span>allows</span><span>&nbsp;it to more accurately control and prevent possible human intervention.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>With proper process setup and management, RPA can help organizations protect data from manipulation and mitigate risks associated with people.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary&nbsp;</span></span></span></strong></p><p><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">The possibilities of RPA automation are vast.&nbsp; RPA automation is implemented quickly and painlessly, without disrupting current business processes and IT infrastructure. With a proper IT vendor and experienced IT experts RPA can be successfully integrated into any business to speed up the operation process, reduce risk, and provide better data protection.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div>

How Robotic Process Automation Helps Business Operations ? 

The low-code approach is changing the way companies design IT infrastructure, providing the required speed of change and flexibility. However, the use of a low-code platform doesn’t mean that professional developers will not be needed.  

<div class="SCXW19609073 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW19609073 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW19609073 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The current state of IT development is on the verge of a big “boom” where a new kind of software development system seeks to adjust to the rapid changes in the business processes and software needs.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Such systems, in contrast to pure BPMS, do not take a business process as a design object, but as an application element for which various functions are initially integrated into the platform:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- Creating, editing, displaying a list in various formats</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- Filtering, and the possibility of consistent interaction with this element of different users with different access rights.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>We are talking about Low-code platforms that use visual interfaces with simple logic, many pre-installed operations with elements, and drag-and-drop functions instead of the classic use of programming languages to create business applications.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The low-code approach is changing the way companies design IT infrastructure, providing the required speed of change and flexibility. However, the use of a low-code platform doesn’t mean that professional developers will not be needed.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Let’s look at the possibilities of Low-code platforms in companies and big Enterprises.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Advantages of Using Low Code</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;Instead of complex code development where various libraries need to be connected, Low-code developer uses visual templates and drag and drop. It works with ready-made data types, forms, modules, such as:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- creation of sections and </span><span>applications</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- a visual form of displaying elements of applications and </span><span>lists</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- distribution of access </span><span>rights</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- work with document templates, etc.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Using out-of-the-box and extensible operations and plugins to customize how the application works:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- sending a </span><span>message</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- sending </span><span>letter</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- problem </span><span>identification</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- an application element </span><span>creation</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- changing the status of an application </span><span>element</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- sending messages</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- barcode recognition</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Developing applications using a low-code platform really speeds up the software development cycle, converting it to a large part of the visual modeling of applications, simplifying debugging and testing. It provides sharing and quick editing of information&nbsp;</span><span>and also</span><span> facilitates the process of transferring developed applications between environments (development, test, production).</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>With the advent of the Low-code platform, representatives of "small" and "medium" businesses are given ample opportunities to put things in order in their companies, build business processes, control and monitor data, share it - and all this without the need to create a specialized IT department or </span><span>seeking</span><span> expensive consulting and implementations from specialized companies.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But what about Enterprises and their IT departments?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The difference between Enterprise customers can be shown in the presence of a large IT infrastructure, that includes a variety of information systems to solve various business challenges used by various business </span><span>departments</span><span>.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Cases of using the Low-code platform for such customers could are:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Developing new application solutions</strong></span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"> for areas of the business that has not been covered yet. In this case, the implementation does not differ much from small and medium-sized business clients. The differences can be in the maturity of the initial requirements provided, since large companies have separate divisions, departments of analysts, and structured business requirements are provided to the developers.</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Replacing the functionality of an obsolete system</span></strong>.</span><span xml:lang="EN-US"> Some of the enterprise users may be too attached to the past system and find it difficult to adjust to the updated versions. It may be necessary to meet them halfway and implement familiar features from the previous system. That is where developers rush to the rescue to implement features with separate code since Low-code platforms provide convenient tools for developing extension points.</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Integration of operations</strong></span> from disparate systems into one application.</span><span xml:lang="EN-US"> Provides the ability to track the application element's life cycle. Here developers work with a sacred notion of "integration". That is where the Low-code platform can provide pre-prepared connectors or tools for setting up the integration and data parsing.</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Full completion of all operational processes in the company</strong></span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>.</strong></span> In this case, the Low-code platform not only provides a routing and monitoring tool but completes part of the business functionality. Tasks like transferring highly needed features from the previous system, building an information flow using integration, or creating an interface for working with one application or another. And, of course, let's not forget about the laborious migration of data from different systems into different formats. In these low-code tasks, the developer and the project developer act as a united force, complementing each other.&nbsp; A low-code developer builds the main backbone of the application, sets up attributes, forms, dynamics, processes, statuses, main interfaces, using the basic capabilities of the platform, and then the project developer comes into play, adding various modules and complex interfaces, packaging them into separate services and plugins, which the Low-code developer will be able to operate in the future.</span>&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The use of the low-code platform provides many opportunities for fast and flexible development. It automates routine operations that </span><span>developers</span><span> had to create from system to system. These operations can now be used by a novice Low-code developer. At the same time, professional development expertise is still in great demand. First, do not forget that the Low-code platforms need to be developed from scratch.&nbsp; Secondly, not a single Enterprise project can do without the development of specialized modules, integrations, interfaces, and services.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>And a big plus is the possibility of developing Low-code platforms from vendors based on solutions developed by integrators, partners, and clients themselves, </span><span>taking into account</span><span> real use cases that have not yet found their implementation in the current functionality.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>If you are interested in learning more about Edsson services, and technology solutions, </span><span>our experts</span><span> will take your business to the next level.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW19609073 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW19609073 BCX0 cche-common-lite-text" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US">Contact </span><span xml:lang="EN-US">us to arrange a meeting.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p></div>

Low Code & Enterprise Solutions. How does It Work ? 

Nanotechnology, AI, Web3, and blockchain. The world is growing even more digitalized past the pandemic. Let's look closer at what digital transformations are shaping the world. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW240470446 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW240470446 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">It is impossible to predict exactly how technology will change in the future. However, lates trends forecast that society will definitely become even more “digitalized”. Here's what we can expect in 2022 :</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Artificial intelligence</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The most popular developments to date are mainly related to artificial intelligence. According to Prem Natarajan, Amazon Alexa AI virtual assistant developer, there are two trends in this area.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><div><p>- The first is related to neural network language models, which allow you to create new applications and interfaces with much less effort on the part of developers. They will reduce the amount of friction during the creation of complex applications based on artificial intelligence.&nbsp;</p><p>- The second trend is that which refers to the “age of the self”, including self-awareness and autonomous learning of technologies. Such artificial intelligence will allow users to customize applications according to their needs and preferences, create creative content, and possibly improve interaction with personal assistants.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The evolution of technology consists of three directions:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p>- self-learning . Continuous learning without human assistance</p><p>- self-awareness. Performing tasks based on common sense, without prior programming</p><p>- self-service. Availability of technology for everyone</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">Some experts say that artificial intelligence has great potential in solving global problems related to epidemics, emergencies and environmental issues.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>He</span></span>alth Care<span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In recent years, the popularity of devices that help monitor health condition has increased: smart </span><span>watches,</span><span> trackers are just a few of the most widely used examples. Perhaps very soon visiting a doctor will become a thing of the past. Medical centers will switch to virtual monitoring. First to help with minor illnesses and accidents, then with building longer-term relationships with patients.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Quantum technologies</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Quantum technologies are also gradually shifting from the first stage of their development. According to McKinsey's Rodney Semmel, these technologies have already reached the point where they can be important to </span><span>the business</span><span>. And in 2022, the evolution will continue with increased investment and new research.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The economics of creators</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Social networks and the ability to generate content online have created a new economy - the economy of creators. Experts are confident that the trend towards expanding online content creation tools will continue. There will be ways to generate content easier and faster. The number of friendly communities on the Web will increase.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Susan Daniels, Global Head of Original Content at YouTube, is confident that there will be a variety of things to see on the Web because the amount and quality of content people make on the platforms has grown exponentially over the past two years.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Web3 and blockchain</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The advantage of Web3 over other forms of user interaction is the security and anonymity of data. Web3 is the concept of the internet based on </span><span>the blockchain</span><span>. With this system, user data is less likely to fall into the hands of IT giants. This will completely change the way we approach app development and privacy.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Sean Carolan, a partner at Menlo Ventures, is confident that as early as 2022, people will have the opportunity to see the implementation of blockchain technology in p2p (user-to-user) payments and international money transfers.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Potentially, companies will also start using decentralized finance (</span><span>DeFi</span><span>) to make sales in the b2c sector.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Cybersecurity</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Experts are sure that in 2022 </span><span>cyber attacks</span><span> will become more destructive. The shift towards remote work and the transfer of some operations online will give criminals more opportunities to gain access to valuable data through security vulnerabilities. Therefore, companies and authorities need to think about the basic means of protection - the constant updating of the technological infrastructure, the integration of technology and security companies, as well as the availability of filters to work with web threats - WAF (Web Application Firewall).</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Kevin Robinson, senior vice president of marketing for the Wi-Fi Alliance, the largest computer and wireless device manufacturers, says that in 2022 the technology industry will introduce more products in the field of Wi-Fi 6E, a new wireless networking standard that aims to overcome the range in 6 GHz and expanding connectivity.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW240470446 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><h5 class="cche-сommon-paragraph-title"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Summary </span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></h5><p>Most technological trends are significantly influenced by the development of basic sciences (from nanotechnology to robotics and the development of a new generation of artificial intelligence), but there are also various digital trends that can affect the world (Web3 and network infrastructure and security). To be on the top of the game and abreast of the latest technology it is important to select software development company that has deep expertise and experience in providing software solutions.</p><p><br /></p></div>

Digitalization of the World. What to Expect in 2022? 

Custom software, unlike template and shelf solutions, is initially designed and developed exclusively for the individual tasks and requests of each specific client. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW181530081 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW181530081 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">In a highly competitive tech world, originality and uniqueness have become the key to successful business development. That is why many IT companies are increasingly using only those software solutions that fully take into account all the individual characteristics of their operations.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software, unlike template and </span><span>shelf</span><span> solutions, is initially designed and developed exclusively for the individual tasks and requests of each specific client. </span><span>D</span><span>evelopment of such software products or custom software development starts from scratch and is carried out in direct contact with their customers and/or end-users at all stages of work.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software solutions are considered one of the most promising management decisions. Individually tailored software development tools </span><span>prove to</span><span> solve the current tasks of the company, reduce costs, increase the productivity of personnel and equipment, </span><span>and also</span><span> contribute to the growth of business profitability and strengthen </span><span>company’s c</span><span>ompetitiveness</span><span> more effectively</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Let’s look at the key advantages of </span><span>custom</span><span> software development:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Individual Approach&nbsp;</h1></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software development allows you to use the most innovative and modern IT developments that are aimed at solving the company’s specific challenges and goals. A qualified development team </span><span>is able to</span><span> easily adapt to all the requirements of its </span><span>customer</span><span>. This style of cooperation is aimed, </span><span>first of all</span><span>, at achieving the maximum performance of the future software product and its full compatibility with the company's business model. In addition, the c</span><span>lient is guaranteed to</span><span> remain the sole owner of the product, with 100%</span><span> proof </span><span>that none of the competitors has such a solution.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"></h1><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">High Return on Investment&nbsp;</h1></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software development</span><span>&nbsp;implies a&nbsp;</span><span>fairly high</span> <span>financial investment. </span><span>However,&nbsp; as</span><span> a rule,</span><span> companies</span><span> do not need to buy additional equipment, pay for licenses, </span><span>and pay</span><span> for useless functionality that all template solutions are “loaded with”</span><span>, features that won’t be used in the future. </span><span>This is why</span><span> the long-term benefits of custom software are more significant than those of implementing cheaper </span><span>ready-made</span> <span>solutions.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"></h1><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Security&nbsp;&nbsp;</h1><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Template software solutions, due to their too broad “universality”, are more vulnerable to malicious impact, just because they are public. Custom software, on the other hand, is initially focused on the requirements of a particular client, </span><span>are implemented</span><span> in a particular company. This by default provides a higher level of protection from third-party influence.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Scalability&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Companies keep on developing continuously and often changing their activities, quickly adapting to changing market trends. </span><span>Ready-made</span><span> software solutions are often not scalable and therefore inefficient. Custom software is created </span><span>taking into account</span><span> predictive changes and tasks that the business will have to solve in the future.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In fact, a customized software solution can and should evolve with the business. By investing in template software, a company is </span><span>more or less dependent</span><span> on its developer. By purchasing custom software, the company becomes its full owner and, on these rights, cooperates with a team of developers who provide support for the software solution, expand or optimize its functionality as necessary, adapting it to changing business realities.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span>&nbsp;F</span>ull Tech Support&nbsp;</h1><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software development offers reliable technical support from a team that has been involved in the development of the application from the very beginning. The developers, thanks to their excellent knowledge of each custom product, will always help to cope with any problems that may arise during its development and further operation</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summary&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW181530081 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW181530081 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Custom software development is a speedway for companies who need an integrated, functional, secure software solution fully adapted to company’s needs with an ultimate goal to beat the competition. Our 15-year experience gives us a solid foundation to address industry-specific technology to bring flexible, scalable, optimized software solutions with a highly competitive edge.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Benefits of Working with a Custom Software Developer

Art that exists only in digital form on servers can bring in millions of dollars. What is NFT and why do people pay millions for it? 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW78962057 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW78962057 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;">Everyone is talking about hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars worth of NFT deals. What do they sell there?</p></div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">What is NFT?&nbsp;</h1><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>NFT is a non-fungible token, non-fungible, or unique token. NFTs work on the blockchain, they first appeared back in 2017 on&nbsp;the Ethereum system.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The blockchain itself is </span><span>actually a</span><span> ledger of records. For example, bitcoin or ether are recorded in the blockchain. NFTs too. Such tokens, like any cryptocurrency, can be stored in your crypto wallet and used for making transactions with them.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But there is an important difference. Bitcoins, ethers, other digital currencies, and even real money easily replace each other and are divided into parts.&nbsp;NFTs cannot be split or replaced with a similar token. From this point of view, the NFT has all the properties of a unique item in the physical world.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What Does NFT Sell?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>With the help of NFT, you can sell almost any virtual object, images, music, texts, or 3D models. But most often we are talking about objects of digital (or digitized) art.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>For example, on March 11, 2021, a JPG file with 5,000 paintings by the artist </span><span>Beeple</span><span> glued together was auctioned off for $69.3 million in ether, that is, in the Ethereum cryptocurrency. The collage is called </span><span>Everydays</span><span>: The First 5000 Days. It includes all </span><span>Beeple</span><span> paintings over the past 13 years.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Auction house Christie's sold the artist's work in the form of NFT. In the 255-year history of the house, this is the first such case and at the same time the largest transaction in the history of the NFT market.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The participation of Christie's and the final amount of the transaction fueled the hype around the new tool. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>How do digital objects turn into NFTs?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This happens on special platforms that work with NFTs. There are several popular sites - for example, </span><span>Rarible</span><span>, </span><span>Mintable</span><span>, </span><span>OpenSea</span><span>. The last one is the largest. All of them are both NFT marketplaces and NFT workshops.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To create a token, you will need a wallet in the Ethereum system, as well as a file with digital content. Usually, the algorithm of actions is </span><span>similar to</span><span> working with a virtual photo album. Simply create a collection and add a media file (or files) to it in any of the available formats, from PNG to MP4. Each file needs to come up with a name and, preferably, a description.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The platform creates a token and sends it for verification. Some platforms do this with a delay: the token is created after a buyer has been found for the media content.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The monetization scheme of the platforms is different: some take a commission from NFT buyers, others take a commission from the author (seller). The size of the commission is also different - from tenths of a percent to 10% or more percent of the transaction amount.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In addition, a certain set of owner rights is sewn into the NFT. Usually this is permission to freely display images or play music and videos. But sometimes sellers include the entire set of copyrights in the token.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>For example, musician Clarian put up for auction his 12-track album "Whale Shark" with an initial bid of almost $190,000. The buyer will become the full owner of the album. “The owner will be able to do whatever they want with the music: stream it online, license the soundtracks, change it and remix it, destroy it or keep it for long trips to the beach,” the listing says.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Thus, NFT is digital property (JPG pictures, audio tracks, videos, photos, and much more) plus a set of certain rights to it. And from a technical point of view, it does not matter whether it is a real art or a randomly created file.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But the use of unique tokens is not limited to collecting.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In 2019, Nike patented the </span><span>CryptoKicks</span><span> sneaker authentication system. When buying a pair of shoes, an NFT is generated. As in the case of crypto cats, such a token contains the entire “pedigree” of sneakers: data about the manufacturer, appearance and special parameters, and information about resales.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Further, virtual shoes begin to live their own lives. Owners of unique tokens with digital sneakers will be able to cross pairs (yes, again, like in </span><span>CryptoKitties</span><span>), but in the form of real shoes. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Another example of linking the real and virtual worlds through NFT is the Crypto Stamp project of the Austrian postal service. These are postage stamps tied to tokens. They are used to mark real mail. At the same time, each stamp is stored on the blockchain and can be part of a digital philatelic collection.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span></p><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span> </span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Potentially NFT can be used as an investment object. According to NonFungible, in 2020 the NFT market size was $250 million. At Edsson we have had clients for whom we&nbsp;created custom NFT objects. Our team of experts is always aligned with the latest trends in the tech world. </span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

What is NFT and how it brings millions? 

With the advent of 2022, a lot of changes are expected in the auto industry. 



<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW105747503 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW105747503 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The rampant digitalization of the modern world has completely penetrated the automotive industry.</span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Over the past two years, the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent aftermath have changed the face of the industry, gradually reshaping the activities and products of the automotive industry. With the advent of 2022, a lot of changes are expected in the auto industry.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Here is a list of the main trends that are expected to be the main ones in the auto industry this year.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>More electric vehicles on the road</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Companies like Tesla have proven that electric cars are quite capable of replacing traditional fossil fuel vehicles in the coming decades. Other factors such as rising fuel prices, declining battery prices, narrowing the gap between the initial cost of electric vehicles and ICE vehicles, tightening emissions regulations, low cost of ownership of zero emission vehicles compared to their ICE counterparts, growing general awareness of environmental issues contributes to the growth of sales of electric cars.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Electric vehicles are likely to surpass conventional combustion vehicles by 2030. With that in mind, expect </span><span>more new</span><span> EVs to be released in 2022, leading to an increase in their share of the global automotive industry compared to 2021.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Demand for autonomous cars will grow</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Another major change in the industry will come in the autonomous vehicle segment. The technology of such driving is becoming increasingly important and influential in the automotive industry. Several well-known automakers, mobile startups, and technology companies are working on autonomous driving technology. Expect significant improvements in this area and the launch of several autonomous vehicles this year.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Bigger functionality </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Modern cars have a huge functionality in their cabin. Whether it's a mainstream model or an expensive luxury brand, new-generation vehicles are equipped with a wide range of features and technologies, such as driver assistance systems, safety, convenience, etc. Modern cars have become much more than just a vehicle. Rather, they have become a means of entertainment for many, with features such as video streaming, Wi-Fi access, and more.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Features such as massage seats, heated seats, games from the infotainment system, air purification, autonomous driving, and collision prediction are becoming more and more popular. Expect vehicle manufacturers to increase the number of features in their vehicles in the coming years </span><span>in an attempt to</span><span> make their products stand out from others.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Direct sales to clients</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>With the development of digitalization, consumers are becoming more accustomed to such a service as the delivery of goods directly to the doorstep. While it has become mainstream for consumer goods, groceries, and other general products, as well as large purchases such as a car, the coming years are likely to see this trend creeping in. Several transport companies have already begun to offer their products under direct access to the buyer - D2C business model.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW105747503 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW105747503 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">This will lead to more car dealers moving to digital media and online sales. In general, the hybrid business model will be more deeply embedded in car sales. This will eventually be followed by a reduction in market share for conventional physical dealerships.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Automotive Industry In 2022 

Every year we are increasingly immersed in the digital age. Data warehouses, which have existed on the market for many years, began to rebuild to meet new requests, forming entire data factories. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW207635409 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW207635409 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">For the last several years now, <a href="https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/data-fabric-architecture-is-key-to-modernizing-data-management-and-integration">Gartner</a>&nbsp;has been emphasizing the importance of data factory in their&nbsp;reports. In other words, a data factory is a data management ecosystem with a holistic and branched architecture. It has the following main directions:</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- obtaining </span><span>data</span></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- reliable preservation of </span><span>arrays</span></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- data </span><span>processing</span></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- integration, API</span></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Every year we are increasingly immersed in the digital age. Data warehouses, which have existed on the market for many years, began to rebuild to meet new requests, forming entire data factories.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Relatively simple systems such as storage and data lakes are gradually being replaced by more complex ecosystems containing </span><span>a large number of</span><span> technological solutions. These solutions cover the need for high availability of large volumes of highly structured data, their cost-effective storage and protection from unauthorized access.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To solve such problems, complex software and hardware systems are built by combining </span><span>a large number of</span><span> different components.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">The means of providing information to end users are also being transformed. Instead of simple reports, there is a huge class of different services that allow the user to solve a large number of tasks related to obtaining benefits from data: either through the direct implementation of information, or indirectly from the optimization of related processes. There are various services, "data sandboxes", in which users can test their proposals, analyze how effective and applicable they are.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span> Complex of solutions is called a “data factory”, this is one of the modern tools for digital business transformation. The need for a data factory for enterprises arises when:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">-&nbsp; &nbsp;there is a complication, an increase in the amount of data</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>-&nbsp; &nbsp;there</span><span> is an understanding that more use can be made from the </span><span>data</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>-&nbsp; &nbsp;there is a need to approach data responsibly </span><span>to</span><span> ensure greater efficiency in the use of corporate information.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Implementation methodology</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The implementation process of a data factory cannot be simple, these are always large projects designed for a long time. As a rule, large companies that want to get comprehensive benefits are included in these projects. Initially, such cases were quite risky due to the long implementation period and impressive funding. By carefully assessing all the risks our teams have&nbsp;developed two concepts for the implementation of such projects. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- The first concept is a classic approach, when the platform is fully implemented under the IT strategy of the customer company, all the benefits of its implementation and development potential are realized. </p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- The second approach is to mitigate risk is the interactive approach, implementation through MVP. On the technical side, the platform consists of many interconnected components, each of which covers a certain functional and technical area, which allows the components to be implemented as separate components. From a business point of view, small business blocks are distinguished, on which R&amp;D testing of various theories from the implementation of this platform can be carried out. Moving step by step, every 4-6 months demonstrating what benefits the introduction of certain components brings. Thus, the customer can quickly evaluate the benefits at the stage of project testing.<span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data management</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The data management process appeared a long time ago and has already been implemented in many large companies. However, it is worth highlighting data management in relation to the data factory.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Data Quality.</strong></span> </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>R</span><span>esponsibility for the quality of data is important. If earlier these were technical data checks (format, convergence equations, etc.), now these are checks with the following questions&nbsp;“If I receive incorrect data in these fields, what it means for my company?”, “If I don’t form some report, what will it affect? How much money will I lose because of this?”, “Is this data important to me or did I just store it for some related operations?”.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data Catalog</span></span></strong></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>.</strong></span>&nbsp; A </span><span>a</span><span> data factory with a catalog provides a convenient way to control and manage data glossary. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data architecture<span style="font-size: 12pt;">,</span></span></span></span></strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;a physical and business model, a set of tables, relationships between them and their compliance with the company's business processes.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW207635409 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW207635409 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;">For each company (especially large) a separate factory&nbsp;cab&nbsp;be formed or something&nbsp;more or less standardized&nbsp;(such as Azure Data Factory). Our teams are exceptionally skilled with applying data factory methodogies in helping clients worldwide.&nbsp;<br /></p></div>

How to properly build and manage a data factory ?

Big data is not static, it is constantly changing: new sources appear, some data quickly lose relevance. It is not possible to maintain all this history within a single corporate data warehouse.

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW221085832 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW221085832 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Data Factory is an architectural concept and a set of approaches to working with data. It is important to understand that this is not a “boxed” solution, where you can buy, install, configure integration with the existing systems, and then successfully operate. We are talking about methodologies,&nbsp;in order to understand how they work and how to correctly apply them.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Big data is not static, it is constantly </span><span>changing:</span><span> new sources appear, some data quickly lose relevance. It is not possible to maintain all this history within a single corporate data warehouse. Therefore, the Data Factory is both corporate data </span><span>warehouses, and</span><span> data </span><span>lakes,&nbsp;</span><span>clouds,&nbsp;</span><span>the Internet of Things, and streaming data all combined.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data factories have evolved from data warehouses, therefore, conceptually, three large layers of technological implementation can be distinguished: </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">1. integration layer</h1><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">2. storage layer</h1><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">3. service layer</h1></div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">Also, a data management system, DevOps and DataOps services should be added to the data factory, which allows&nbsp;to correctly configure and manage the life cycle of implementing various data flows and handling them.</span><span>&nbsp;</span><br /></p><p>If we consider the conceptual architecture in more detail and study the integration layer at the technological level, we can note the classic ETL / ELT tools. It is worth noting that now there is a trend: instead of enterprise solutions popular a few years ago from large vendors, open-source tools such as NiFi, Airflow, with the ability to write integrations either at the database level or at the level of additional scripts, come to the fore in Python, which are comparable to enterprise solutions. They have a higher entry threshold, but this is offset by the flexibility and cost of the software itself, which is often either very low or free. Speaking of integration, we should not forget about streaming platforms, message-brokers, such as RabbitMQ, Kafka, which allow you to transfer large data streams in real time, while still making relatively simple transformations with them.&nbsp;</p><p>The next layer is the storage layer. This component has not been affected by cardinal changes: the classic temperature data storage is still used with the selection of the showcase area. Storefronts can be made using a wide variety of technologies that consume data from a single storage platform in a consistent model. This approach shows a good result and minimizes the work of adapting users to changes.&nbsp;It is important to highlight such an innovation as a "sandbox", or data marketplace, when the end-user can order some data set in the factory and independently work with it, implementing the concepts.&nbsp;</p><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But even here new components appear, such as a data management system, or Data Governance: Data Catalog, Data Lineage. This also includes MDM and Data Quality systems, that is, all systems that manage data as a business entity. The subject of Data Governance is much broader than a data factory, it is already a separate area of knowledge, which includes organizational units, methodological regulations, software components.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>And finally, the <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>third conceptual layer,</strong></span>&nbsp;is aimed at the end-user of the data. This component is also becoming more complicated: various business services, data sandboxes, Data portals appear, where the user can supplement ready-made schemes.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As an </span><span>example</span><span> from the life around us, various applications are now being launched in large numbers by government agencies, banks, and telecommunications companies. Smart services help the end-user in various areas of life.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As for the technology stack that must be implemented before the launch of the Data </span><span>Factory,&nbsp; Data</span><span> Factory makes the most of the full potential of cloud technologies, virtualizing all components of the IT infrastructure. In this regard, companies should, first of all,</span><span>&nbsp;ensure the uninterrupted and fast functioning of the clouds.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW221085832 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW221085832 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">A data factory is a serious project that should involve not only IT experts but also business, both top management and all stakeholders. A lot of DevOps teams have emerged over the past few years. Why is this happening? The company wants to bring products to market quickly. This is impossible without clear interaction lines and consistency between different departments. Every team member needs to understand the role they play in the process of building the Data Factory and data lakes.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW221085832 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW221085832 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW221085832 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Data Factory. Advantages & Implementation

Most technological trends are significantly influenced by the development of basic sciences and areas (from nanotechnology to robotics and the development of a new generation of artificial intelligence), but there are also digital trends that can affect the world. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW55395493 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW55395493 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The strongest trends are those that arose not suddenly, on the hype, but those that have been quietly and methodically developed, tested with hypotheses and MVP, and only then gained momentum and scale.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Most technological trends are significantly influenced by the development of basic sciences and areas (from nanotechnology to robotics and the development of a new generation of artificial intelligence), but there are also digital trends that can affect the world (Web3 and network infrastructure and security).</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>However, in the field of high </span><span>technology, clear</span><span> trends are emerging, that will significantly change the world. These trends are here to stay and are just around the corner. Our technology sector will have a good chance to lead at least some of these trends.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>We have compiled a list of technological development to watch </span><span>out</span>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<span>in</span><span> the next 3 years. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">1. Accelerated Development of Nanotechnology &nbsp;</h1><p>Let's start with a global such as nanotechnology. Many of the industries are using it,&nbsp;from healthcare and 3D printing to the production of computers and robotics. This field needs significant funding, so it can only develop in key research centers - the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Canada. The technology involves experiments with ultra-small particles (1-100 nanometers), which can show useful properties. One of the main areas of research and development for the coming years is nanomaterials: 2D fabrics, synthetic surfaces, and coatings with unique properties, ultra-thin fibers, microscopic parts, carbon tubes, graphene, and more.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to the <a href="https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/">research</a>&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>the</span><span> projected growth of the nanotechnology market i</span><span>n 2020–2026,</span><span> is almost 2.3 times, going from $ 57.7 billion to $ 131 billion.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">2. The Internet of Things in Every Home</h1><p>Now even kettles and microwave ovens have a small control module and internet connection. By 2030, people are expected to have about 50 billion IoT-enabled devices at home and in their offices.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;Therefore, the market now highly values the understanding of both embedded development and AI / ML systems (and even the combination of this with automatic payment systems, which has even received the term </span><span>Robonomics</span><span>).&nbsp; Demand for this technology will grow and the demand for specialists will be high (because there are really few of them).</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"></h1><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">3. Big Bang of AI and Machine Learning Technologies &nbsp;</h1><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to an expert<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/09/16/2298078/0/en/Artificial-Intelligence-AI-Market-to-Hit-USD-360-36-Billion-by-2028-Surging-Innovation-in-Artificial-Internet-of-Things-AIoT-to-Augment-Growth-Fortune-Business-Insights.html"> study&nbsp;</a></span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>the</span><span> market for artificial intelligence will grow 10 times by&nbsp;2028 from almost $ 36 billion in 2020 to an estimated $ 360.3 billion in 2028.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In 2020-2021, generative competitive neural networks (GANs) and natural language processing models became increasingly popular in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The most striking example is "text intelligence" in the form of GPT3 from the </span><span>OpenAI</span><span> project, backed by Elon Musk. With each new generation and the increasing complexity of the models, they are getting closer to what is expected of them:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">- creation and automatic processing of content (from pictures and videos to articles and program code)</span>&nbsp;</p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">- recognition, analytics, and fairly accurate forecasting of results.</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In general, it is felt that the "glass ceiling" that limits the capabilities of the current generation of artificial intelligence will soon be broken. This will lead to a cascade of quite powerful breakthroughs in various fields: from medicine and genetics (decoding the genetic code through multilayer mathematical models) to automatic programming systems.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Auto-generation of JavaScript codes in </span><span>FrontEnd</span><span> is already starting to show good results.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In particular, this</span><span> development of AI will accelerate the introduction of </span><span>hyperautomation</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">4. Modular applications and services&nbsp;</h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Developers of large projects create large "combines", management systems, CRM, most of the functions of which are not needed by all customers at once. Therefore, few people want to overpay for features that are not needed. In addition, complex software packages are very difficult to master, not to mention the load on computing resources.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;Therefore, in the coming years, the creation of services or apps will most likely take place on the principle of modularity or design (such as LEGO or, if you want, a shelf with IKEA). And this will become the standard. Each user will take only those modules that will be needed.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The sub-trend of this trend would be Low-Code and No-Code programs and services.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Its popularity began to grow a few years ago and is likely to remain at a </span><span>fairly high</span><span> level. After all, this area provides simple solutions where the user can understand and with the help of minimal knowledge of the logic of building projects create their own powerful product. This is usually a graphically oriented designed product. It may be a prototype MVP (Minimal Viable Product) for testing hypotheses. And for small businesses, it can even be a full-fledged website, online store, mobile application, and more.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">5. Native cloud platforms&nbsp;</h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The flow of information is growing exponentially, so it is becoming increasingly difficult to process it "on the ground" with conventional computers. The trend of cloud computing and the use of cloud storage has been formed for a relatively long time. But recently we have started talking about the Cloud-Native approach to creating technologies, </span><span>architectures</span><span> and implementing programs and services based on them.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>With this approach, the existing program is not adapted to work in the cloud, but from the beginning is designed so that information flows and loads use the potential of clouds by100%.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>If in 2021 only 40% of all new digital developments worked with the Cloud-Native concept, by 2025 each new project is expected to be Cloud-Native.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>At the same time, according to current research, today 94% of companies already use cloud services. And by 2023, the cloud solutions market in the United States alone could reach $ 623.3 billion. By 2025, the amount of data stored in cloud centers will reach incredible numbers - 100 </span><span>zettabytes</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Summary</span></strong> </span></span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">In all of the trends listed above, Ukrainian experts can compete successfully, because our IT specialists are considered among the most professional in the world. This provides us with a reliable position among other leading countries.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW55395493 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW55395493 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Everyone from startups to big companies, should pay attention to what will be important and a priority in the coming years.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW55395493 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW55395493 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW55395493 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div>

What Will the Future of Technology Look Like ?

The security sector is gradually moving to a wider range of products and services that not only provide protection, but also work to improve business efficiency, create additional value for both individual users and companies, for society and the state. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW134454583 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW134454583 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">In 2022, the security systems industry will continue to develop despite the social and economic factors that have had the strongest impact on business and the market as a whole. In addition to traditional physical security, large and small businesses are rapidly mastering and implementing high-tech solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the Internet of things, with special attention paid to ensuring cyber protection of systems and data.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span># 1 Artificial intelligence is everywhere</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Artificial intelligence has been used in security systems for a long time, and every year the number of both users and smart solution providers will grow rapidly. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>An increasing number of participants in the security market are realizing the value of AI applications and functions and are finding new areas and application scenarios. Intelligent ANPR solutions for parking are developing, the number of systems based on intelligent video analytics is growing to reduce the number of false positives and increase the efficiency of security equipment.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;In requests for solutions for public places, systems for detecting a fall of a person and identifying various conflict and non-standard situations using neural network analytics appear. You can also observe the emergence of </span><span>a large number of</span><span> collaborations and joint partner projects on the market. Security market vendors have begun to provide access to hardware products to more third-party developers of AI applications that can run on security systems and individual devices. Also, major manufacturers of security systems launch their own open platforms for end customers, which allows customers to independently create and train their own algorithms for individual tasks. By optimizing the operation of algorithms, increasing the performance of the computing base, and reducing the cost of microcircuits and semiconductor elements, artificial intelligence is gradually becoming the mainstream technology in all market verticals.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span># 2 AI &amp; IoT combined </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The combination of artificial intelligence and the Internet of things. The number of security devices connected to the network is rapidly growing, and at the same time becoming an important part of the Internet of things (IoT) segment. Given the fact that these devices are getting more and more smart features, we can talk about the development of the </span><span>AIoT</span><span> direction in the market - intelligent networked devices. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The combination of AI and IoT takes the entire security industry to a whole new level, expanding the available functionality and facilitating the digital transformation of industry verticals, including energy, logistics, retail, education, healthcare and others. </span><span>AIoT</span><span> technologies </span><span>open up</span><span> new areas for the application of modern security systems and give users additional opportunities to assess the situation. This applies to radars,&nbsp;systems for measuring temperature, determining humidity, detecting gas leaks, etc. Only a few years ago each of these tasks required a separate device, now the trend is multifunctional intelligent systems and an integrated approach to project implementation.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span># 3&nbsp;</span></span>Biometric technologies</span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Biometric technologies for access control. The segment of access control systems today is still going through a transitional period, but the trend towards biometric technologies is increasingly visible. Currently, the market offers a wide range of biometric identification solutions: face recognition, fingerprint, palm, vein, retinal recognition. The main advantage of biometrics is a high level of reliability and recognition accuracy. Facial recognition systems on this list are becoming more widespread as the most convenient and fastest way to contactless user identification. Considering the transition period, customers are also looking at the possibility of multi-factor verification or setting up different authentication methods for different user groups.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span># 4 Green technologies </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The world has embraced the trend for environmentally friendly materials and energy-efficient technologies. There is a growing demand for solar-powered devices, including security devices. Demand is driving engineers to create ever more sophisticated yet greener solar-powered systems that can be used not only in urban areas but also in remote areas where infrastructure is difficult. In terms of manufacturing, a growing number of countries are launching initiatives to encourage businesses to use environmentally friendly ways of working, energy efficient technologies and designs. The share of companies working in this direction is still small, but in 2022 we can expect quantitative and qualitative changes.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"># 5 Cloud Solutions &amp; Services</span> <span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Like artificial intelligence, cloud computing is nothing new in the security arena. However, in recent years, especially against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, many companies have begun to turn more often to platforms and services that provide the possibility of remote work, remote access to various systems, including security systems. Cloud solutions eliminate the need to use a local service or additional software. The necessary operations - for example, checking the operating status of systems, receiving alarm notifications, responding to events - can be performed by the user from anywhere in the world using mobile devices. Separately, it is worth highlighting the development of the direction of cloud services and the creation of additional value for security service providers - installation organizations and service companies, for which cloud applications create an additional business tool for remote configuration of user systems, solving technical problems, software updates.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary </span></span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW134454583 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW134454583 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The security sector is gradually moving to a wider range of products and services that not only provide protection, but also work to improve business efficiency, create additional value for both individual users and companies, for society and the state.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Top 5 security trends in 2022 

Business digital transformation, the latest market trend, mean not only the introduction of new technologies but also the transformation of products and services, organizational structures, development strategies, customer relations, and corporate culture.

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW98901303 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW98901303 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">As businesses develop and integrate new digital technologies, an array of software tools plays a decisive role in the process management effectiveness.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The cost of development and business processes, interconnectivity between </span><span>departments, integration</span><span> with external services depends on how effective the IT solution is.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Corporate users have access to off-the-shelf solutions with the ability to adapt to the needs of the buyer and custom software, which is developed from scratch according to the customer's specifications. Both options have their pros and cons that </span><span>clients</span><span> need to understand.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>One of the stages of digital transformation process&nbsp;is automation of the company's production and business processes, the selection of a methodology, tools and a team that will help make the transition. At this stage, the question arises - what is more profitable, custom software development or&nbsp;off-the-shelf solution? Of course, without knowing the details of the project, it is impossible to answer this question unequivocally: the choice will depend on many factors, including the industry of the enterprise, current business tasks, implemented processes, and company goals.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Evolution of the IT market</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In the 90s, custom software development dominated the market. Software products were developed only </span><span>individually, since</span><span> there were not enough ready-made options to meet the needs of the corporate sector. Companies often developed software themselves by hiring third-party companies or used their own in-staff developers. Some of the IT tools created at that period are still being used today.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The</span><span> beginning of the 2000s, </span><span>gave</span><span> birth to </span><span>the off</span><span>-the-shelf </span><span>products.</span><span> From custom individual solutions small and large companies have moved to standard content management systems (CMS), customer relationship management tools (CRM), accounting software, engineering applications (CAD).</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Today when choosing software development for enterprises companies </span><span>identify</span><span> such criteria:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Ease of use</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Integration into existing IT </span><span>infrastructure</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Ability to meet individual needs,</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Ease and low cost of </span><span>maintenance</span><span> &amp; upgrade&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Scalability as the business </span><span>grows</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Ability to make changes and improvements according to </span><span>company’s</span><span> own plan</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Custom solutions</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The development of corporate software for individual orders allows you to fully meet the requirements of the client, regardless of its complexity. This method of obtaining the necessary software is used by large financial organizations, telecom operators, retail.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The alternative in the form of boxed software does not provide the necessary flexibility, since in a highly competitive environment you can only gain an advantage with the help of personalized software. They provide new opportunities for interacting with customers, expanding sales funnels, </span><span>optimizing</span><span> interaction between contractors and customers.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>There are many benefits to bespoke software solutions with the right vendor selection and development approach: </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p>- A thorough approach to architectural design. Even at the initial stage, it is necessary to choose solutions and technologies that will not become a bottleneck in the development of software in the future. This requires qualified IT architects. </p><p>- The right choice of hardware. Software must have reliable code portability, testing capabilities, and the ability to dynamically allocate hardware capacity for existing tasks. </p><p>- When choosing custom development, at design and implementation stage of the project, it is adapted to a specific customer. Therefore, the implementation itself will take a minimum of time and can be carried out in parallel with the refinement of the system and the expansion of its functions. </p><p>- Proper process management. When developing complex corporate software, it is necessary to apply a flexible approach and take into account the presence of legacy systems that need to be integrated with a new product.&nbsp;</p></div></div><div class="SCXW98901303 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Off-the-shelf capabilities </span></span></h1><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Ready-made digital solutions&nbsp;offer ready-to-use standard products with a specific set of features and business process automation scenarios.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This approach has its advantages:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- boxed products are ready to use and do not require development time </p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- standard software has a unified interface familiar to most users </p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- the cost of a ready-made solution is lower&nbsp;</p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>However, ready-made software solutions have </span><span>a number of</span><span> disadvantages as well:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">- The time to integrate into the IT infrastructure can be too long due to the need to adapt to the needs of a particular client. </span>&nbsp;</p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">- Only limited customization is possible within the limits set by the developer, which is long and expensive. If you need to make major changes, you have to almost completely redo the code of the "box". In the case of custom development, the application code is immediately made taking into account the needs of the customer. Therefore, it will not be necessary to redo it in the future, and extensions and improvements will take a minimum of time.</span>&nbsp;</p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">- The existing critical IT architecture of financial institutions and large corporate customers often cannot be integrated with off-the-shelf solutions due to the lack of necessary modules. </span>&nbsp;</p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US">- For the operation of the boxed version, you need to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee, which may increase due to inflation.&nbsp;When choosing custom development, payment is made only for the services of creating the application. Then you can support it with your own IT department, without paying the developer royalties.</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Following the rapid development of technology, the priorities in choosing an IT service provider are changing. In all industries, products are becoming more complex and specific, and mass boxed solutions are becoming </span><span>obsolete,</span><span> especially for enterprises. &nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW98901303 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW98901303 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Traditional models of universal service providers and mass boxed solutions are now fading away, giving way to a model with more personalized services and tools. Edsson expertise is unique, and this is what helps us create one-of-a-kind innovative products for our clients.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW98901303 BCX0" style="font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; -webkit-user-drag: none; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW98901303 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW98901303 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>

Custom Software Development. To Buy or To Build? 

The situation with the pandemic has made managers and CEOs face a new set of challenges. Starting from 2020, the load on company networks has increased significantly, and new cybersecurity challenges have emerged. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW119950416 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW119950416 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The situation with the pandemic has made managers and CEOs face a new set of challenges. Starting from 2020, the load on company networks has increased significantly, and new cybersecurity challenges have emerged.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Today,&nbsp;more and more businesses are switching to remote or hybrid work. The number of employees who work remotely has increased from 19% to 62% in the US market.&nbsp;Remote work will remain one of the main business trends </span><span>in the near future</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">How have IT strategies been transformed in the last year?</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Many businesses were forced to&nbsp;significantly change the IT paradigm: companies now need to protect not only their corporate networks but also remote users. It has become of the same importance as protecting office workstations and servers.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Demand for "quarantine" technologies has noticeably grown. Private virtual networks (VPN),&nbsp;</span><span>for</span><span> secure remote access, video conferencing services (VC), cloud services, virtualization technologies, software as a service (SAAS) have largely increased. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The constant growth of data volumes is forcing businesses to upgrade storage subsystems and backup systems for recovery.</span></span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Among other trends is an increased demand for IT consulting services. These trends are expected to continue, as well as a shift in major equipment purchases to the first half of the year due to the global shortage of semiconductors.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Cybersecurity </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In 2020, the number of cyber threats has increased dramatically. During the pandemic, cybercriminals began to take advantage of company security gaps when employees were using&nbsp;remote access to corporate networks and cloud applications.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Cisco analysts note that 61% of CEOs surveyed around the world confirmed that the number of cyber threats has increased by 25% since the start of Covid-19. In addition, so-called phishing is booming around the world, when pandemic-related keywords are used to lure users to fake sites and infect their PCs and corporate networks. In addition, companies </span><span>have to</span><span> deal with an epidemic of so-called ransomware that is affecting businesses around the world.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In order to</span><span> effectively resist these threats, top managers need to recognize that cybersecurity has already become one of the top business priorities. Secure and reliable cybersecurity solutions, virtual networks (VPNs), professional video conferencing services for online communication are becoming essential for the </span><span>company's</span><span> daily operations.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US">How should digital leaders react to the new digital transformation?</span></h1><p>Covid-19 will affect continue to business operations,&nbsp;growth patterns for a long time to come. Under these conditions, managers who lead digital transformation should first of all focus on the sustainability of their companies. Gartner analysts recommend the following steps. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">&nbsp;</span></p><p>- Launch of digital platforms for remote work and ensuring the security of remote access and network support.&nbsp;</p><p>- Start attracting customers and partners through new digital channels. </p><p>- Focus on the systematic implementation of digital technologies to empower their team and automate tasks.&nbsp;</p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span>Fast d</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">ecision-making is the new money </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Decisions on IT systems development should be made quickly, with a focus on long-term development. To lay the foundation for the development of your business in 2023-2024, you need to start projects today. This is caused by the disruptions in the operation of global supply chains, which significantly increase the delivery time for IT equipment and project implementation. It is recommended to pay more attention to cloud and SAAS technologies that can be quickly deployed and used in business processes.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In the next year the focus will remain on the&nbsp;increase of the business operational efficiency of the Effective companies will start actively moving away from the model of building the company's efficiency to the model of building its flexibility. In practice, this will manifest itself in an even greater immersion in the hybrid office format. Under these conditions, the issue of redesigning all work processes will continue to be relevant.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW119950416 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW119950416 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Of course, strengthening work with people and teams will remain a global priority: strengthening and launching new applications to support personnel, physical and mental health, developing new competencies needed in the new normal, and retaining talent.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

What trends will shape the IT industry and why decision-making is the new money? 

Data scientists use a whole range of tools such as statistical modeling packages, various databases, and artificial intelligence technologies and create machine learning models (neural networks) that help businesses analyze information, draw conclusions and predict the future. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW1800697 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US">How do data&nbsp;</span>scientists work?</strong></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW1800697 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Data scientists use a whole range of tools such as statistical modeling packages, various databases, and special software. But, most importantly, they use artificial intelligence technologies and create machine learning models (neural networks) that help businesses analyze information, draw conclusions and predict the future.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to <a href="https://www.anaconda.com/state-of-data-science-2020?utm_medium=press&amp;utm_source=anaconda&amp;utm_campaign=sods-2020&amp;utm_content=report)">Anaconda</a>,</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp; a</span><span> company that develops data products, on average, almost half of the time (45%) is spent preparing data, that is, loading and cleaning it. Another third is spent on data visualization and model selection. Only 12% and 11% of the work time is left for training and deployment, respectively.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>So, where is data science applied?</span></span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Dynamic pricing</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Online commerce and booking systems contain data on sales of various goods and services to different categories of buyers. Data Science </span><span>helps find</span><span> the best prices for products and services that will help you increase your revenue.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Example: dynamic hotel pricing model.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Demand forecasting</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Companies </span><span>have</span><span> large amounts of data on the sales of their goods and services over the past years. Analyzing this data using Machine Learning will help you find patterns, predict future demand, and rebuild business processes for the required number of goods and services.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Example: This model helps natural gas producers predict supply.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span>Recommendations</span></span></strong></p><p>Internet services have data on the views of each user of their content: videos, films, music, articles or pages of goods and services. Machine learning can analyze preferences in order to suggest the most appropriate content for them.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Example:&nbsp; </span><span>RealState</span><span> Recommender model offers top five deals to real estate website visitors based on their search results. It uses algorithms for clustering queries - that is, it combines data into homogeneous groups.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Chat bots</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Chatbots and machine learning to help answer customer questions faster and more accurately. This helps to solve most of their problems and reduce the load on the </span><span>call center</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Example: The LegalTech machine learning model helps law firms estimate the duration of cases and the cost of services and receive confirmation of the stages of work from the client via a Telegram bot.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Support</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Outstanding customer service is the key</span><span> to </span><span>maintai</span><span>ning</span><span> productive, long-term customer relationships. As part of customer service, support is an important but common concept in banking. In fact, all banks are service businesses, so most of their activities include service elements, which are detailed </span><span>and </span><span>ti</span><span>mely</span><span> responses to customer questions and complaints, as well as interaction with them.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data science makes this process more automated, </span><span>accurate</span><span>, </span><span>productive,</span><span> and less time-consuming for employees.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Statistics</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to a study by Accenture, 92% of high-performing organizations said their investment in deep analytics paid off, while among low-performing companies, only 24% had paid off.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>How can Data scientists help businesses?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data Scientists create forecasting and dynamic analysis models, implement automation and learning algorithms. For example, data experts work with the data analysis libraries </span><span>Python,</span><span> MySQL and have the skills to visualize the collected data.</span></span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Businesses can challenge big data analytics in different ways.&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Stages of working with advanced analytics</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Surprisingly, most of the work of a data scientist is not building models, but preparing data: collecting, organizing, cleaning, and transforming it.&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">The first step in working with big data is to clearly define the end goal. It is not formulated abstractly and must be measurable. For example, an increase in profits by 40% or more, an increase in conversion by 35%, a decrease in equipment downtime by 30%.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Building a data culture</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>A data scientist's job requires a lot of data. A ton of data! High-quality data processing directly depends on the culture of work, including collection and storage.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Every specialist in the company should be aware that any incoming and outgoing information has value. Unfortunately, this is not obvious to many, so it is important to train every&nbsp; employee how to carefully collect and store materials.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data&nbsp;</span></span>collection takes time</span></strong></p><p><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">The more services and clients there are, the longer it will take to form the base. Again, there should be a lot of data! The more there is, the better the models learn. Accordingly, Data Science will bring more accurate forecasts and fewer errors.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Building models</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The models, the forecast of which coincided as closely as possible with the real result, are the most suitable. Do not be surprised if there are several of them. Here, as in mathematics, different solutions can lead to the correct result.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Checking the results</span></span></span></strong><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>We are approaching the final stage - we are checking the results on combat data. We estimate the difference between forecast and reality.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This list of data science </span><span>c</span><span>ases </span><span>will</span><span> expand every day with a dynamic research field and the ability to apply machine learning models to real data for </span><span>more </span><span>accurate</span><span> results.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">To gain a competitive advantage, companies should recognize the critical importance of data science, integrate it into the decision-making model, and develop strategies based on insights from their customers. Start with small steps to incorporate Big Data analytics into your working models and stay ahead of the competition.</span><span>&nbsp;Our professional team of data scientists is always ready to help with consultation on how we can help your business.&nbsp;</span></p></div>

How Can Data Scientists Help Business? 

Custom software development addresses specific challenges, providing highly functional and tailored, integrated software solutions, with full ownership of the product. But what are the benefits and is it worth the investment? 

<div class="SCXW187519921 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW187519921 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW187519921 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">In a highly competitive tech world, speed and innovation have become synonymous with success and effective&nbsp;business development. That is why many IT&nbsp;companies are increasingly using only those software solutions that fully take into account all the individual characteristics of their operations.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software, unlike template and </span><span>shelf</span><span> solutions, is initially designed and developed exclusively for the individual tasks and requests of each specific client. </span><span>D</span><span>evelopment of such software products or custom software development starts from scratch and is carried out in direct contact with their customers and/or end-users at all stages of work.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software solutions are considered one of the most promising management decisions. Individually tailored software development tools </span><span>prove to</span><span> solve the current tasks of the company, reduce costs, increase the productivity of personnel and equipment, and also contribute to the growth of business profitability and strengthen the&nbsp;</span><span>company’s c</span><span>ompetitiveness</span><span> more effectively</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Let’s look at the key advantages of custom software development:</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Personalized approach</h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software development allows companies&nbsp;to use the most innovative and modern IT developments that are aimed at solving the company’s specific challenges and goals. A qualified development team </span><span>is able to</span><span> easily adapt to all the requirements of its </span><span>customer</span><span>. This style of cooperation is aimed, </span><span>first of all</span><span>, at achieving the maximum performance of the future software product and its full compatibility with the company's business model. In addition, the c</span><span>lient is guaranteed to</span><span> remain the sole owner of the product, with 100%</span><span> proof </span><span>that none of the competitors has such a solution.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #65b7db; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px;">High Return on Investment&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #65b7db; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software development</span><span>&nbsp;implies a&nbsp;</span><span>fairly high</span><span>&nbsp;</span><span>financial investment. </span><span>However,&nbsp; as</span><span> a rule,</span><span> companies</span><span> do not need to buy additional equipment, pay for licenses, </span><span>and pay</span><span> for useless functionality that all template solutions are “loaded with”</span><span>, features that won’t be used in the future. </span><span>This is why</span><span> the long-term benefits of custom software are more significant than those of implementing cheaper </span><span>ready-made</span> <span>solutions.</span></span><span>&nbsp;Moreover, bespoke software solutions guarantee security, maintenance, and an exclusive set of features to increase customer retention.</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #65b7db; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px;">Security </span><span style="color: #65b7db; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Template software solutions, due to their too broad “universality”, are more vulnerable to malicious impact, just because they are public. Custom software, on the other hand, is initially focused on the requirements of a particular client, </span><span>is implemented</span><span> in a particular company. This by default provides a higher level of protection from third-party influence.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #65b7db; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px;">Scalability&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Companies keep on developing continuously and often changing their activities, quickly adapting to changing market trends. </span><span>Ready-made</span><span> software solutions are&nbsp;often not scalable and therefore inefficient. Custom software is created </span><span>taking into account</span><span> predictive changes and tasks that the business will have to solve in the future.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In fact, a customized software solution can and should evolve with the business. By investing in template software, a company is </span><span>more or less dependent</span><span> on its developer. By purchasing custom software, the company becomes its full owner and, on these rights, cooperates with a team of developers who provide support for the software solution, expand or optimize its functionality as necessary, adapting it to changing business realities.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #65b7db; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px;">Full Tech Support </span><span style="color: #65b7db; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom software development offers reliable technical support from a team that has been involved in the development of the application from the very beginning. The developers, thanks to their excellent knowledge of each custom product, will always help to cope with any problems that may arise during its development and further operation</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: #999999; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 24pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Summary </span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW187519921 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW187519921 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Custom software development is a speedway for companies who need an integrated, functional, secure software solution fully adapted to company’s needs with an ultimate goal to beat competition. Our 15-year experience gives us a solid foundation to address industry-specific technology to bring flexible, scalable, optimized software solutions with a highly competitive edge.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW187519921 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW187519921 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW187519921 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Is custom software development worth it ?

With so many emerging trends, how does the digitalization of the healthcare system continue to develop? What innovations will shape the healthcare industry as we know it today?

<div class="SCXW208027991 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW208027991 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW208027991 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Healthcare has become one of those areas that are on the top priority list of technological development today. To fight diseases, create new vaccines and treatments to help people live better and longer cutting-edge technologies and new approaches are applied. Healthcare remains attractive for investment in the international community. What is there in store for 2022, what major trends will shape healthcare industry? </span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Home Hospitals </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Home Hospitals is a growing trend in 2022 that has allowed patients to receive treatment at home, rather than in hospital rooms</span><span>, through virtual care (telemedicine) and the use of smart gadgets. </span><span>Doctors can accurately track important health indicators such as heart rate, blood </span><span>oxygen, in</span><span> real-time. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In </span><span>2022, remote</span><span> patient care methods being extended to other medical areas, such as mental health and providing ongoing monitoring of chronic illnesses, as well as follow-up care for patients recovering from surgeries and serious illnesses.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Telemedicine and remote treatment</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>During the first months of the pandemic, the </span><span>number </span><span>of medical consultations conducted remotely rose from 0.1% to 43.5%. And now the demand for audio consultations among patients continues to grow. Most users want to continue to use medical services remotely. The trend towards using online services is only getting stronger.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Extended Reality </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Extended Reality (XR) is a general concept that </span><span>embodies </span><span>virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). These technologies include lenses or headsets that change our perception of the world</span><span>. VR places us fully in a virtual environment, where AR/MR overlaps vir</span><span>tual elements with real-time images of the world around us</span><span>. </span><span>All of</span><span> the</span><span>se technologies</span><span>&nbsp;</span><span>have</span> <span>the</span><span> potentia</span><span>l</span><span> to</span><span> revolution</span><span>ize</span> <span>healthcare</span><span> sector.</span> <span>How exactly </span><span>VR technologies are</span><span> implemented in healthcare? </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- VR headsets are used </span><span>in clinical research and treatment. This technology allows doctors and surgeons to work with </span><span>human</span><span> body without risking </span><span>patients’</span><span> lives. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- VR for pain reduction. VR has the unique ability to manipulate the way the brain processes pain through the senses through a powerfully immersive experience. This innovation</span>&nbsp;<span>is</span><span> actively used</span><span> to reduce the perception of pain during childbirth, cancer </span><span>treatment, and</span><span> other painful medical procedures.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span><span xml:lang="EN-US">- VR is&nbsp;used&nbsp;in treatment. This can be part of psychotherapy where children with autism are taught different skills such as social skills and coping skills. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help patients overcome phobias, anxiety, post-traumatic and other disorders in a safe and non-threatening environment.</span>&nbsp;<br /></span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The number of applications of </span><span>extended </span><span>reality in healthcare will also continue to grow in 2022.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Predictive medicine</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Another area of healthcare that will continue to develop</span><span>&nbsp;in the coming years is predictive medicine. Instead of responding to disease by providing treatment</span><span>,</span><span> predictive medicine aims to predict where and when disease will occur and </span><span>suggest solutions before it happens.</span><span> This may include predicting infectious disease outbreaks, readmission rates, and lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and environment that can lead to health problems. All this is possible with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, and algorithms that </span><span>allow us</span><span> to identify patterns in huge data sets. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Digital twins and simulations</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Digital twins are another new trend that is gaining</span><span> attention </span><span>in healthcare. This idea is based on </span><span>a </span><span>"virtual patient" - a digital simulation of people for testing drugs and treatment, </span><span>in order to</span><span> reduce the number of errors </span><span>and decrease time.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In</span><span> 2022 we will continue to see progress towards </span><span>improving this technology</span><span>. Now digital twins of human organs and systems </span><span>is</span><span> a much </span><span>more </span><span>attainable goal</span><span>. They allow </span><span>doctor</span><span>s to investigate various pathologies and experiment with treatments without risking </span><span>harming</span><span> patients while reducing the need for costly human or animal trials. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Examples of this are projects such as "Living Heart" (digital twin of the human heart) and "</span><span>Neurotwin</span><span>" (a model of the interaction of electrical fields in the brain).</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Digital twin technology is considered one of the most important health care trends for 2022. It is </span><span>expected</span><span> that it will create new treatments faster and at a lower cost.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Summary</strong></span></p><p>With so many emerging trends, we can conclude that the digitalization of the healthcare system continues to grow, and with it, investment in medical technology. According to the <a href="(https://www.himss.org/resources/future-healthcare-report-exploring-healthcare-stakeholders-expectations-next-chapter)">HIMSS</a><a href="(https://www.himss.org/resources/future-healthcare-report-exploring-healthcare-stakeholders-expectations-next-chapter)">,</a> 80% of healthcare providers plan to increase investment in technology and digital solutions over the next five years. This means that we will continue to see the development of areas such as telemedicine, personalized medicine, the Internet of Medical Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and others.<span xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW208027991 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW208027991 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW208027991 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Trends & Innovations in Healthcare Industry

To gain a competitive advantage, companies should recognize the critical importance of data science, integrate it into the decision-making model, and develop strategies based on insights from their customers.

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr  BCX0 SCXW178413507" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr  BCX0 SCXW242270597" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; position: relative;"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr  BCX0 SCXW49236172" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW49236172 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Everyday we generate approximately 2.5 quintillion bytes of various data. It is recorded with literally every click and page scrolling, watching videos, looking through photos through websites and social networks. Data science emerged long before data volumes exceeded all imaginable predictions.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What is data science?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Data Science (DS) is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of statistics, mathematics, systems analysis and machine learning that covers all stages of working with data. It involves the study and analysis of very large amounts of information and is focused primarily on obtaining practical results.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Why do businesses need it?</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>R</span><span>egardless of the size of the</span> <span>business, according to statistics from Kaggle </span><span>all </span><span>companies use </span><span>d</span><span>ata </span><span>s</span><span>cience</span><span>.</span> <span>IDC and Hitachi estimate</span><span> that</span><span> 78% of enterprises confirm that the amount of information analyzed and used has increased significantly lately. Businesses</span> <span>understand that unstructured information contains knowledge that is very important for a company and that can affect business results</span><span>.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>And this applies to a wide variety of areas </span><span>and industries</span><span>. Here are just a few examples of industries that are using Data Science for problem-solving:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Online </span><span>shopping</span><span> and entertainment services: recommendation systems for </span><span>users</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Health care: forecasting diseases and </span><span>health </span><span>recommendations&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Real estate: search and offer of the most suitable objects for the buyer</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Logistics: planning and optimization of delivery </span><span>routes</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Digital advertising: automated content placement and </span><span>targeting</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Finance: scoring, detection, and prevention of </span><span>fraud</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Industry: predictive analytics for planning repairs and production</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Public administration: forecasting employment and economic situation, combating </span><span>crime</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- Sports: selection of promising players and development of game strategies.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The number of c</span><span>ompanies and industries</span><span> using data science</span> <span>is growing exponentially every year.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Every Internet user and just an everyday consumer</span> <span>comes</span><span> across products and services that use data </span><span>science&nbsp;</span><span>tools</span><span> dozen</span><span> times every day. For example, the audio service Spotify uses </span><span>data science</span><span> to </span><span>provide better</span><span> track</span><span> recommendations for </span><span>their</span><span> users</span><span> according to their preferences. The same can be said for </span><span>film and tv shows recommendation </span><span>on video streaming</span><span> platforms</span><span> like Netflix</span><span> or HBO</span><span>. And at Uber, data science is seen as a tool for predictive analytics, forecasting demand, and improving and automating all products and customer experiences.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr  BCX0 SCXW49236172" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW49236172 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Data Science tools serve as good support for companies looking to make more informed decisions about their future. Professionally applied data science tools can power product, add a competitive edge and make it sustainable in the long run. Contact our data science experts to get a professional consultation on how data science can help your business.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div></div>

How does data science power business? 

Voice assistants, smart offices, biosensors on wearable devices, IoT technology is impacting every aspect of our lives. And there's more to come in the future. Let's look at some of the IoT trends. 

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW240385259 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW240385259 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Smart homes, where everything is controlled from the phone, wearable devices that read your health indicators are the things that we have heard about thousands of&nbsp;times. These devices are no longer a distant future, but our everyday reality.&nbsp;Internet of Things is a technology with enormous potential to improve human life and it impacts just about everything we interact with on a daily basis.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As in any other field, IoT application development also has its own trends. So, which trends will&nbsp;stay with us in the next couple of years?</span></span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Retail and storage</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>IoT in retail is helping entrepreneurs improve their business and customer service. IoT can be used to </span><span>monitor</span><span> product </span><span>expiration</span><span> dates and track shipments. By 2025, the spread of IoT technologies in retail will reach more than $ 35 billion.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>How&nbsp;</span></span>IoT Trends Can Improve the Retail Industry?</strong></span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span>1. Personalized content</span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The Internet of Things is a tool aimed at improving communication between the customer and the brand. Dedicated sensors can track customer actions and share this data with the company's marketing team. It is easier than ever to create personalized content for specific segments to help customers find the product they want quickly.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span>2. Store navigation</span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The lack of a well-thought-out system for moving around a large store is one of the common problems that can become an obstacle in the path of a potential buyer. IoT devices with built-in </span><span>WiFi</span><span>, Bluetooth, and VR technologies can simplify navigation and help shoppers find the product they want faster.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>3. Delivery Tracking</strong></span>&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The Internet of Things has made online shopping available to all users, this technology allows the seller to update the delivery status so that the user can see the current location of the order.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>IoT &amp; Voice Recognition&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>No matter how popular messengers are, for most people, live voice communication remains the most familiar way of interaction. IoT devices that can be controlled by voice are especially </span><span>helpful </span><span>for those who </span><span>value their time and </span><span>don’t</span><span> have extra time to spend typing.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><strong><span>What factors made voice-controlled</span><span>&nbsp;IoT so popular?</span></strong></span><strong><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p>- mobility of voice devices&nbsp;</p><p><span><span>- widespread use of smart speakers</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div><div><p>- progress in natural language processing&nbsp;</p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Voice assistants</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Virtual assistants</span><span>, such as </span><span>Amazon Alexa, Microsoft Cortana, Apple </span><span>Siri</span><span> or Google Home&nbsp; are becoming more commonplace in households around the world. They know how to connect to other smart home systems (lighting, heating)&nbsp;to automate our daily lives and make it more comfortable.</span></span></p></div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Smart office&nbsp;</span></strong></p><p><br /></p><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>For a comfortable office environment, employees need an environment that helps them stay productive throughout the day. The organization of the workspace directly affects how comfortable a person </span><span>will feel in it.</span> <span>The trends of the Internet of Things are influencing smart offices as well.</span></span></p></div></div><div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What can a smart office do?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- control air temperature and humidity</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- adjust room illumination depending on the time of day</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- simplify interaction with the security system</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- create a booking system for meeting rooms&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>IoT trends in a smart office</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Office management from different locations&nbsp;</strong></span></p><p><br /></p><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Smart office technology allows us to find out what is happening in the office from anywhere in the world in real-time by using cameras equipped with computer vision, motion sensors, and multipurpose trackers. It can track any activity inside. In addition, the smart office uses a pass system to keep track of visitors and </span><span>deliveries</span><span>. All data is available for viewing in a single interface, which is supported on a computer or smartphone.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Management and booking of rooms&nbsp;</span></strong></p><p><br /></p><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The Internet of Things can help you schedule appointments and schedule meetings. Employees will be able to make appointments, book the necessary equipment and confirm their presence or absence remotely. Company managers will have more time for real </span><span>tasks because</span><span> they will not need to figure out where to hold a meeting or call in an emergency mode.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Access and control&nbsp;</span></strong></p><p><br /></p><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>If there is a need for increased security and access level management (banking or military institution), IoT solutions are </span><span>needed that</span><span> to make sure workflow is not interrupted. Biometric authentication methods already exist in closed areas - fingerprint scanning, retina scanning, </span><span>voice,</span><span> and face recognition.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In the future, this trend of the Internet of Things will capture 80% of companies. IoT-equipped offices are not just about controlling temperature or lighting using a </span><span>smartphone but</span><span> creating </span><span>comfortable </span><span>conditions </span><span>to </span><span>establish</span><span> a more</span><span> efficient and safer work</span><span> environment</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Even </span><span>such </span><span>minor details</span><span>,</span><span> as a smart speaker in the kitchen, can significantly improve the overall mood of the team. We spend 8 (or more) hours a day in our offices, so why not make the routine enjoyable?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Internet of&nbsp;</span></span>Medical Things</h1></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The Internet of Medical Things is an IoT that works to improve medical processes and helps professionals monitor and analyze a person's health status.</span></span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">IoT technologies will help with timely assistance to save lives and&nbsp;improve the very field of medicine - from remote monitoring of a patient's health and disease treatment.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Instead of the usual paper medical records, they </span><span>will be</span><span> electronic</span> <span>records</span><span>. Instead of regular visits to a therapist - data on the state of health of patients on the devices.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What can we expect from IoT trends?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p><p>- Rapid diagnosis and timely treatment of diseases by analyzing health data collected from a wearable biosensor&nbsp;</p><p>- Automation of routine processes and autonomous data storage&nbsp;</p><p>- Home monitoring with biometric scanners&nbsp;</p><p>- Air quality sensors&nbsp;</p><p>- Sleep phase tracking&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><div><p>- Remote patient monitoring&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The constant flow of data will make analytics </span><span>more </span><span>accurate</span><span>,</span><span> this will </span><span>allow</span><span>&nbsp;identifying</span><span>&nbsp;problems in the human body before they become serious. In the future,&nbsp;patients will</span><span>&nbsp;not need to travel to the hospital to receive treatment, they will get&nbsp;it remotely.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Reducing readmission rate</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It is</span><span> unpleasant to stay in the hospital, but IoT devices now have a solution that will relieve patients of this experience. With the help of special devices, it is possible </span><span>to </span><span>moni</span><span>tor</span><span> the patient's condition 24/7, which reduces the likelihood of re-hospitalization. Th</span><span>is </span><span>opt</span><span>ion</span><span> will help in both emergency and preventive treatment.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Tracking chronic diseases</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Chronic diseases are not </span><span>cured but</span><span> require constant monitoring </span><span>to</span><span> keep the patient's condition within the normal range. Virtual examinations, real-time monitoring and continuous contact with the attending physician are what the doctor ordered.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Green Internet of Things</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Rapid population growth, industrialization, and urbanization also entail environmental problems. The more people there are, the more problems with the collection, sorting, and disposal of garbage appear. In&nbsp;environmental care, the trends of the Internet of Things have not been left be</span><span>hind.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Green IoT</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span> offers solutions that help people conserve resources and use technologies that minimize waste.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>For example, a waste management system with shredding mechanisms, or a transport system in which cars can move at the same speed at a short distance from each other. This will significantly reduce fuel consumption.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The eco-trend of the Internet of Things helps:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Monitor expenses</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Special devices have long been </span><span>monitoring</span><span> how megacities affect the environment: they collect detailed information on air quality and the amount of garbage. To solve the problem of the negative impact of exhaust gases on the environment, for example,&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Air Quality Eggs, an Internet of Things platform for combating air pollution. Essentially, this system collects air quality data from the residents themselves. AQE is widely used in America, Western Europe and East Asia.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Manage resources</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The Internet of Things helps </span><span>track</span><span> energy use and waste consumption. Smart sensors collect and </span><span>transmit</span><span> energy consumption data to specialists. For example, a thermostat uses the collected data to remind users when to turn off the heating, and water management sensors warn that </span><span>soon the</span><span> desired level of water consumption will be exceeded.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Summary</span></strong></p><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The IoT technology industry is capturing or has already captured us. This is a promising niche in which every busin</span><span>ess will </span><span>defini</span><span>tely find</span><span> a place. IoT trends will increase the level of user engagement, and with it, the conversion.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW240385259 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW240385259 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">A professional development team will help implement IoT technologies successfully to boost the company’s success.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

IoT Expansion Across Industries  

There are a number of prototyping tools to test ideas before they are fully developed and create an improved user experience. Prototyping is one of the easiest ways to save time and finances before launching a product.

<div><p>Prototyping is a proven method for product design.&nbsp;Prototyping translates the&nbsp;customer needs and desires, presented in the form of text, voice recordings, and sets of illustrations, into a visually designed prototype of a digital product.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span><span>Prototyping is used to identify both missing or incorrectly defined requirements and unverified assumptions by demonstrating what a product looks like and how it works in the early stages of development. Prototypes can be non-working models, working representations, or digital renderings of a solution or proposed product.&nbsp;</span><span>They can be used for website layouts, serve as part of the working design of a product, or describe processes using a series of diagrams. Business rules and data prototypes can be used to discover the desired process flow and business rules. Data prototyping can be used to clean and transform data.</span> </span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong>Every successful product starts with a prototype!&nbsp;</strong></p></div><div><p><span><span>Let's look at some of the benefits of prototyping in software developmen</span><span>t,</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Teamwork&nbsp;</h1><div><p><span><span>At the development stage, it’s crucially important to have a united vision </span><span>of</span><span> the project. Here’s where </span><span>the prototype</span><span> serves as a visual aid to make sure that all team m</span><span>embers share the same project objectives and have a clear understanding of the plan and requirements. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span>Reduced time and cost</span>&nbsp;</h1></div><div><p><span><span>Prototyping can improve the quality of requirements and specifics provided to developers. Because changes cost exponentially more to implement as they are discovered later in development, getting ahead of what the user really wants</span><span>,</span> <span>ensuring long-term product quality and cost savings.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span><span>Minimized Code Rework</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></h1></div><div><p><span><span>Having a detailed project plan minimizes new requirements that lead to code revisions and </span><span>developers'</span><span> extra work. </span><span>Flaws, bugs, and other issues&nbsp;can be detected early in the development stage. Prototyping&nbsp;</span><span>is a&nbsp;</span><span>platform</span><span> for various implementations and benchmarks for </span><span>the </span><span>product. It allo</span><span>ws a quick</span><span>&nbsp;</span><span>product performance overview to make appropriate decisions.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="SCXW189541682 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span><span>Improved and increased user participation</span></span>&nbsp;</h1></div><div><p><span><span>Prototyping requires user participation and </span><span>allows</span><span>&nbsp;them to see and interact with the prototype, allowing them to provide better and more complete feedback and specifications. </span><span>H</span><span>aving a user-explorable prototype prevents many of the misunderstandings and micro-communications that occur. Because users know the domain problem better than anyone on the development team does, increased interaction can result in </span><span>a</span> <span>better </span><span>end-product</span><span>. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span>Methods of Prototyping (</span>Babok 3.0)</h1><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span>Throwaway Prototype (Sketch, Power Point, Miro, Visio, others)</span></strong></span></p><p><span>This prototype method is generated using simple tools (such as paper and pencil, whiteboard, or software) to reveal and refine requirements. The prototype may be modified or refined during discussion and development, but it does not become workable code and is not maintained as an end result once the system or process is implemented. This prototyping technique is useful for defining functionality or processes that are not easily identified by other methods, that have conflicting viewpoints, or that are difficult to understand. These (one-time) prototypes can be a low-cost tool for identifying or validating requirements beyond the interface, including requirements related to processes, data, and business rules.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span><span>Functional</span> <span>Prototype (Axure</span><span> RP</span><span>, Web, Python, others)</span></span></strong></span></p><p><span><span>Functional prototypes are created to expand on the original requirements for functional solutions as the requirements are refined </span><span>through the use of</span><span> a functioning prototyp</span><span>e</span><span> by stakeholders. This approach creates a working solution and usually requires a specialized tool or prototyping language. Such prototypes can be used in the final solution. If specialized software is used, business processes, rules and data can be modeled to assess the impact of changes and verify desired results.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span><span>Benefits of Prototyping (</span></span>Babok 3.0)</h1></div><div><p><span><span>- Provides a visual representation of the future product</span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- Allows stakeholders to participate in the creation and receive feedback early in the product design process </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- When using one-off prototypes or paper prototyping, users may feel more comfortable criticizing the layout (of the product) because it is not "polished" and not ready for release.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- Narrow in scope but deep in functional depth, the vertically oriented prototype can be used for feasibility studies, proof of concept, or to identify technology or process gaps </span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h5><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Disadvantages:&nbsp;</span></strong></h5></div><div><p>- Risk of going too deep into the details at an early stage of product development&nbsp;</p><p><span><span>- Dependency on the technological stack of the product</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- High expectations of the stakeholders </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p>- Risk of form over content dominance, at the development stage </p><p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Prototyping in the life cycle of Agile project&nbsp;</strong></span></p></div><div><p><span><span>- The prototype is updated with each </span><span>iteratio</span><span>n</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span><span>- The prototype allows you to better understand the expected result and identify inconsistencies in the early stages</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span><span>- "Live" prototype can be used for the development</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span><span>- The prototype can be used to prepare self-tests of complex logic</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Choosing prototyping tools&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span><span>The choice of a prototyping tool is of great importance, </span><span>and should consider such elements as,</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span><span>- D</span><span>esign </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- Usability</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- Functionality </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- F</span><span>ast prototyping</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span><span>Here’s a short comparison of the two widely used prototyping tools </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span>Balsamiq </span>&nbsp;</strong></span></span></p></div><div><p>- Simple interface &nbsp;</p><p><span>- F</span><span>ast wireframes</span><span> creation</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span>- L</span><span>ooks like a hand-drawn sketch</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span>- Y</span><span>ou can link pages</span>&nbsp;</p><p>- Export to images, pdf format&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span>Axure RP</span>&nbsp;</strong></span></span></p></div><div><p>- More professional, great functionality&nbsp;</p><p><span><span>- Sketch of the small details</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- P</span><span>rototype looks like a finished system</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- Y</span><span>ou can link, set up events and completely imitate the behavior of a real system</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- E</span><span>xport </span><span>&amp;</span><span> the ability to use the browser version for sharing, which is hosted in the Axure </span><span>C</span><span>loud </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- S</span><span>ecurity when sharing a project</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><span>- T</span><span>eamwork</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p>- Libraries&nbsp;</p><p><span id="dx_temp_1643197200356_275"></span><span id="dx_temp_1643197201080_280"></span></p></div><div><h5><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span><span>Summary</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></strong></h5></div><div><p><span><span>The cost</span><span> of the development time is high, that’s why prototyping models help </span><span>get</span><span> accurate feedback from the stakeholders and users early on, minimizing financial risks</span><span>. </span><span>Getting valuable feedback and identifying bugs and threats ahead </span><span>of&nbsp;</span><span>time</span><span> is critically important. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US">There are a number of prototyping tools to test ideas before they are fully developed and create an&nbsp;improved user experience. Prototyping is one of the easiest ways to save financial and time resources and to avoid any resentment at the development stage. Contact one of our experts for a professional consultation on the best prototyping tools for your product development. &nbsp;</p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>

Prototyping & Software Development    

How CSS methodology can help with software development and why BEM is still relevant today?

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr  BCX0 SCXW102886304" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW102886304 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Foundation with a strong CSS architecture can support a project as it grows and provides an integral basis for scalable products. HTML and CSS are the foundation bricks that should be built with careful thought and planning. </span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>In this article,&nbsp;</span><span>we’ll</span><span> look closer at how CSS </span><span>methodology</span><span> can accelerate software development </span><span>built on solid architecture solutions, </span><span>taken from the tips </span><span>from </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Edsson</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span> team of developer experts. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Methodology&nbsp;&nbsp;</h1><p><strong>Efficiency</strong>: We want to reduce the time spent thinking about how things should be done and increase the time to get them done.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><strong>Consistency</strong>: We want to ensure that all developers start from the same point of view.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Some of the most used CSS architectures are,</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- OOCSS (Object-Oriented CSS)</p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- SMACSS (Scalable and Modular Architecture for CSS)</p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- ACSS (Atomic CSS)</p><p xml:lang="EN-US">- BEM (Block Element Modifier)&nbsp;</p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Let’s</span><span> look closer at BEM and discover what benefit for CSS it has.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span>What is BEM and how is it used?</span></h1></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>BEM is a methodology that proposes the division of all parts of the site into independent blocks. It allows simplifying the understanding of the code, its general structuring, and further support of the site. BEM stands for Block, Element, and Modifier, and is a&nbsp;suite of tools. </span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><br /></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To put it simply, this is a set of rules for naming objects in HTML code in such a way that it is easier for web </span><span>developers,</span><span> to continue working with the site.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Block</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Logically and functionally independent page </span><span>component</span><span>. The block is completely self-sufficient: it can have its own behavior, templates, styles, documentation, and more. Blocks can be used anywhere on the page, reused, even in another project. </span><span>(</span><span>header</span><span>, container, </span><span>menu)</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Element</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>A part of a block that cannot be used as standalone, and </span><span>it </span><span>makes sense only within its parent. Elements can be</span> <span>require</span><span>d</span><span> or optional. (</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>menu</span><span> item,&nbsp;list item,&nbsp;checkbox </span><span>caption )</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Modifier</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>A property of a block or element that changes its appearance, state, or behavior. The modifier has a name and may have a value. The use of modifiers is optional. A block/element can have several different modifiers at the same time. (</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>disabled</span><span>,&nbsp;highlighted,&nbsp;enabled,&nbsp;</span><span>checked </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>)</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Development acceleration</h1><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong>&nbsp;Blocks can be reused</strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The implementation of blocks can be changed at a new redefinition level without affecting the underlying functionality and styles.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>A block is an independent page </span><span>component</span><span> and its directory </span><span>contains</span><span> everything that is necessary for correct functioning. Therefore, blocks are easy to transfer from project to project, just by </span><span>copying</span><span> the block directory.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span>Speed up refactoring</span>&nbsp;</strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>The developer works with small blocks of </span><span>code.</span> <span>The</span><span> implementation technologies of one block are not related to the technologies of another.</span> <span>The </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>same</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span> structure of the repository </span><span>allows</span><span>&nbsp;to quickly navigate the project and find </span><span>needed files</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>BEM</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span> is actively used across industries for </span><span>various </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>benefits</span><span>,</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p><p>- Conflicts with other CSS names are excluded due to its strict naming rules. Everyone on the development team uses a single codebase.&nbsp;</p><p>- It gives CSS code a solid structure that is simple and easy to understand. &nbsp;</p><p>- CSS specificity is very flat and low, meaning developers won’t face issues with specificity. Everything is a class, nothing is nested.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>How to get started with BEM</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Our team started with BEM gradually. The flexibility of the BEM </span><span>methodology</span> <span>allows</span><span> to customize it for current processes.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>There is no universal method to start applying the </span><span>methodology</span><span> in a company's project. Each specific team builds it into the development process and uses it in a way that suits them.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>For example, </span><span>there’s</span><span> a project</span><span> where you want to use BEM only for layout.</span> <span>When</span><span> using CSS and HTML in </span><span>the</span><span> project, so you can start with CSS selector naming rules. This is the most common way to use the BEM </span><span>methodology</span><span>. Many teams start with this. When new rules are implemented, there is a need for proprietary tools and technologies.</span><span> BEM is </span><span>a valuable</span><span> addition to the list of front-end developer tools, regardless of the project.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Development acceleration, scalability.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Therefore, the project code is stored block by block: each block has its own CSS file </span><span>required</span><span> for its implementation.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>This approach speeds up the development and debugging of the code and </span><span>provides</span> <span>an optimal</span><span> runtime:&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- </span><span>allows</span><span> to include only the necessary files in the assembly</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>- </span><span>allows</span><span> to make point changes and reuse the code</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As a result:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- the code base of the project is growing;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- it is difficult to debug the code when an error is detected;</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It becomes e</span><span>as</span><span>ier</span> <span>to </span><span>maintain</span><span> projects over time, </span><span>to</span> <span>refine</span><span> both individual visual details and global elements of the application layout</span><span>.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">Customizable Features <strong><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></h1></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Custom properties </span><span>allow</span> <span>to describe and manage the configuration of blocks or the entire site. This simplifies the maintenance of the project because instead of searching for the right values inside many CSS blocks, developers create </span><span>a single source</span><span> of data for the entire design system of the site.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It is especially convenient to use custom properties to set different themes for the entire application or its individual blocks. By changing the values of a custom property, all the zones in the code that </span><span>store</span><span> them are updated reactively. In this article, we will consider the use of custom properties on tasks related to theming.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Simplicity</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- project support over time</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- refinement of individual visual details</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- development app layout global elements</span>&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><div><p><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Scalability&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- When the page is typeset by one developer in a short time, name collisions can be avoided. But if several people are working on the project, or changes need to be made after some time, then it becomes difficult to track down the dependent names of the components.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- This approach speeds up the development and debugging of the code, and also provides an optimal runtime, allowing to include only the necessary files in the assembly, making point changes, and code reuse.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div></div><div class="SCXW102886304 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><h5 class="cche-сommon-paragraph-title"></h5><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary</span></span></strong></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW102886304 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW102886304 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Maintaining a consistent style of the CSS code is vitally important for the project’s architecture. This simplifies work for the new engineers allowing them to make necessary changes with confidence. Another important element is rule documentation and enforcement. It pays off spending time to create a solid foundation with a strong set of rules, this way eliminating any problems in the future. The goal is to make sure that new code leads to new features, there’s no space for small bugs.</span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW102886304 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;">With a professional team of developers, CSS methodology can yield results in acceleration development and product’s growth.  &nbsp;</p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr  BCX0 SCXW102886304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW102886304 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></p></div></div>

Using CSS methodology to accelerate software development  

Why is business analyst role important in agile projects and software development .

<div class="SCXW71994295 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><h5 class="cche-сommon-paragraph-title"></h5><h1 class="cche-сommon-title">What is an Agile Software Development Model?&nbsp;</h1><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>To begin with, </span><span>Agile is neither a framework nor a methodology. It is </span><span>more of&nbsp;</span><span>philosophy with a </span><span>combination of</span><span> principles focused on accelerating </span><span>software</span><span> development. </span><span>There are 12 principles in total</span><span>,</span> <span>with 4 core ones:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><ul><li>- People and collaboration are more important than processes and tools </li><li>- A working product is more important than comprehensive documentation </li><li>- Cooperation with the customer is more important than discussing the terms of the contract </li><li>- Desire to change is more important than following a plan&nbsp;</li></ul></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Agile implies breaking down huge projects into a series of small tasks (commonly referred to as user stories) and </span><span>prioritizing</span><span> them. Prioritization is very </span><span>important,</span><span> in fact, it is the most important element </span><span>in </span><span>agile development. </span><span>The</span><span> team is focused on one sprint or </span><span>on </span><span>the most important result </span><span>at the moment</span><span>. This </span><span>way,&nbsp;</span> <span>team</span> <span>members</span> <span>do</span><span>n'</span><span>t</span><span> get lost in the flow of requests and </span><span>requirements and</span>&nbsp;know<span>&nbsp;that every sub-task they're currently working on is important to the progress of the entire project.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h1 class="cche-сommon-title"><span>Why Business Analyst role is&nbsp;</span>important?</h1><p>Business analyst is the link between the Scrum team and the customer's business. And it is especially important in case of lack of time for stakeholders, or product owner absence.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Business </span><span>analyst</span><span> will be the center of </span><span>knowledge </span><span>accumulation o</span><span>n</span><span> the subject area of the product, </span><span>will </span><span>control the quality of the product, conduct product reviews, prepare data for backlog refinement, etc.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>However, business analysts also face challenges which can be summarized as follows:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p>- No mandatory documentation requirements </p><p>- Lack of analysis phase and short iterations of development &amp; delivery</p><p>- New Product Owner role&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>According to our </span><span>team of business analysts </span><span>who h</span><span>ave</span><span> been involved in</span><span> various projects at </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Edsson, </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>all of</span><span> these challenges can be solved by using consecutive steps</span><span>,</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong>Interaction and communication</strong></p><p> with the team to jointly determine the optimal set of documentation for the most effective product development and delivery based on the principle: Do Stakeholders Need It? Does the team need it? </p><p><strong>At the project's start</strong>. Form a common understanding of the purpose and the initial decomposition of product requirements.</p><p><strong>Before each iteration.</strong>&nbsp;Describe in detail and explain the requirements for planned changes.&nbsp; </p><p><strong>At each iteration.</strong>&nbsp;Support and detailed team mentoring. </p><p><strong>Product Owner’s Help</strong>. Decompose requirements and determine the relationships between them during the formation and prioritization of the backlog.&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>All roles in an agile environment have specific responsibilities, but business analysts take on different roles depending on the characteristics of the project.</span> <span>U</span><span>sually </span><span>supported</span><span> the product owner and </span><span>perform </span><span>a number of</span><span> necessary functions:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p>- Conducting assessments </p><p>- Creating of business process models and system requirements ensuring that user stories are properly maintained in the product backlog </p><p>- Planning, writing, analyzing, reviewing, and maintaining project documentation&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>These features are important for a flexible environment. </span><span>There are three specific areas where agility defines how </span><span>business analysts do their job.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Communication</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>If you've ever worked in an agile environment, you know that good communication </span><span>is </span><span>vital to the success of the project. Agile requires consistency in the decisions of all stakeholders, including managers and users. Development also relies heavily on user stories and active feedback loops.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>But for communication to be effective, there must be a bridge between different levels and teams in an agile environment. This bridge is the business analyst.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>It is especially important to close the gap between developers and stakeholders. A business analyst can help by translating business needs into user stories and communicating</span><span>&nbsp;them to the developers, as well as prioritizing different solutions for all teams on the task list.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Business Analyst helps ensure</span><span>&nbsp;disciplined communications between all teams involved during development.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><span xml:lang="EN-US"><strong><span>Creating&nbsp;</span></strong></span><strong>a product roadmap</strong></p><p>A product roadmap is paramount to the timely development and success of any agile project.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Roadmaps </span><span>helps</span><span>:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>-&nbsp;</span>Turn business needs into technological workflow management&nbsp;</p><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">- Compile graphs used in project dynamics analysis</span>&nbsp;</p><p>- Mark up test periods throughout the life cycle of the project&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As a communication bridge, the business analyst can capture all requirements and turn them into planned, actionable steps for the team.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Keeping the team on the right track</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Focusing teams is another fundamental responsibility of </span><span>the </span><span>business </span><span>analysts. They make sure that managers, developers and users are focused on the end goal of the project.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>An experienced business analys</span><span>t creates</span> <span>a lot of models and </span><span>shares</span><span> them with the teams so that they all have a common view of the situation. </span><span>M</span><span>odeling </span><span>is </span><span>an important tool for several reasons:</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p>- Translates project business requirements into business values, functionality, and user experience. </p><p>- Transmits the same understanding of the subject area to teams operating in different environments.</p><p>- Reminds and keeps attention on the goals and prospects for the development of the project for all participants.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p class="cche-сommon-paragraph"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Summary&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr  BCX0 SCXW71994295" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71994295 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Business analyst delivers significant value to the agile team, focusing on improving collaboration, sharing knowledge, transferring skills, adding value to work, maintaining focus on project priorities, and all-round professional development.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Role & Skills of Business Analyst in Agile Projects

Industrialized AI, self-parking cars, hyperpersonalization, and IoT data mangement. What does 2022 hold for us?

Top 10 Technology Trends to Watch in 2022 

How fintech is changing the world, and what are some fintech tools?

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Fintech is about technological growth in the world of finance. This ranges from credit cards to cryptocurrency exchange or stock trading apps. Users can get instant credit in a matter of minutes now. With extended lockdowns, Covid 19 restrictions, remote work, everyone is shifting towards online financial activity. This has boosted software development in Fintech software.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">how&nbsp;fintech is&nbsp;changing the world, and what are some fintech&nbsp;tools?</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">&nbsp;Let’s look closer at some of the top fintech trends that are going to be hot next year.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none;"><br /></p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US"><strong style="font-size: 14pt;"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Top Fintech Trends</span>&nbsp;</strong></p><p xml:lang="EN-US"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US">Mobile Banking</span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Mobile banking is on the rise after the pandemic and is growing rapidly.&nbsp;</span><span>The question that needs to be asked,&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>is mobile banking a fintech</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>?&nbsp;</span><span>Cashless transactions have been encouraged starting from 2019. Previously users who were not used to doing financial transactions are getting more familiar with mobile banking apps.&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Mobile banking&nbsp;</span><span>software providers</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><span>allow users to make transfers from one account to another by simply clicking&nbsp;</span><span>a few</span><span>&nbsp;buttons. Bank account statements, bill&nbsp;</span><span>payments</span><span>, online shopping are simplified due to mobile banking.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Digital Wallets</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Digital wallets are considered more secure than traditional card payments due to the enhanced security that a phone app provides. A Digital wallet or a mobile app allows users to pay at the cash register with just their phone. Digital wallets also store driver’s licenses, transportation passes, gift cards, tickets.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Digital wallets make shopping more convenient, bringing technological advancements&nbsp;in&nbsp;the fintech world. Some of the most used digital wallets are Android&nbsp;Pay,&nbsp;Apple Pay.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div></div><div><p><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Big Data, Machine Learning, and AI</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Machine Learning</span><span>&nbsp;in fintech</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;and AI are actively used across many industries to identify trends, and fintech is not an exception. ML &amp; AI lets users monitor their financial activity and possibilities using various data, such as investments and credit history. Banks are using ML &amp;&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Artificial</span><span>&nbsp;Intelligence in fintech</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;</span><span>to identify if a person is qualified for a loan analyzing hundreds of factors, even social media accounts.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Some examples of how&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>AI</span><span>&nbsp;in fintech</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;&amp; ML are implemented in the fintech world: d</span><span>ata collection &amp; analysis are</span><span>&nbsp;applied as operational improvements and optimizations, in order to forecast customer needs, and promote fintech products that might be interesting to them.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><strong>Alternative credit decision-making models (ACD</strong>)</span><span>&nbsp;apply ML to reduce the risk of loan failures.&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Intelligent chatbots&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;smart systems&nbsp;are used for interaction with a customer.</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><strong>Security</strong>. Machine Learning helps&nbsp;</span><span>analyze user behavior and detect abnormal patterns in user activity or transactions, in order to prevent financial fraud or security breaches.</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span><strong>Smart risk management</strong>.&nbsp;</span><span>Applies predictive algorithms and reacts to changes proactively.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Blockchain Technologies&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>With the acceptance of blockchain technology financial institutions are planning to facilitate and renovate their operations. When cryptocurrency is adopted at a broader level this will lead towards redesigned economic infrastructures and growth in contactless transactions. Financial organizations and the&nbsp;</span><span>banking</span><span>&nbsp;sector are expected to display&nbsp;</span><span>a boost</span><span>&nbsp;in blockchain adoption in the next few years.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Blockchain&nbsp;</span><span>in fintech</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;provide</span><span>s</span><span>&nbsp;transparency and added security that greatly facilitates accounting and auditing. All the transaction information is stored and available to the public, eliminating ting modification or falsification of the previous transactions. This makes blockchain an ideal audit&nbsp;</span><span>tool.&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Today many companies are accepting&nbsp;cryptocurrency&nbsp;as payment options (Ethereum, Bitcoin,&nbsp;Dogecoing).</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Apps&nbsp;</span></span></strong><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Technological advancements and the active use of smartphones resulted in a growing number of in-app purchases.&nbsp; E-commerce and subscription-based services are increasingly using in-app purchases. Market share for in-app services is estimated to reach $340 billion by the year 2027. Completing transactions for a product or service from gaming to&nbsp;</span><span>fitness, using</span><span>&nbsp;an app on the mobile device lets users easily perform financial transactions.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Fintech security methods guarantee safe and secure transactions across the board. Clearly, in-app purchases are growing to be a common financial practice accepted by businesses of all sizes.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong><span>&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">Biometric technologies</span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>When it comes to security, biometric authentication provides the best security measure there is on the financial market. Since Apple included fingerprint authentication in 2013 allowing users to authorize transactions in banking apps and online stores. All modern smartphones have a fingerprint reader that&nbsp;</span><span>allows</span><span>&nbsp;software developers to integrate&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>biometric</span><span>s in fintech</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>&nbsp;authorizations through API.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Another use of biometric data is retina and iris patterns, voice and facial authentication, and even DNA biometrics. Contactless biometric authorization becomes increasingly widespread during the pandemic, as it excludes any contact with device surfaces.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>What is the relation between fintech software development and software technologies?</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><strong><span>Security&nbsp;</span><span>&amp; UX/UI</span></strong></span><strong><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Security is the number one concern in the software development world. As financial fraud and cybercrime are growing, companies need to guarantee their customers secure and safe data storage. When it comes to fintech&nbsp;</span><span>security, it</span><span>&nbsp;needs to be proactive and predictive in identifying unusual behavior and eliminating any fraud possibility. That’s where fintech relies closely on ML and AI.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>As Fintech is a&nbsp;</span><span>fast</span><span>-</span><span>growing industry</span><span>, flexibility and agility are required not only on an individual level but also from the whole IT team departments. With cutting-edge&nbsp;</span><span>technologies,</span><span>&nbsp;regulatory measures, IT teams should be ready to adapt to changes quickly, keeping the customer in mind.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>UX/UI</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>A large and expanding number of users are using banking and financial apps on their mobile devices, smooth running user and customer experience are becoming highly important. Highly skilled UI/UX specialists help create fintech solutions that are applied in B2C and B2B business operations. Previously banking apps were inconvenient, rigid, and user-unfriendly, but thanks to cutting-edge technology solutions they have become transparent and easier to use.&nbsp;</span></span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span xml:lang="EN-US">Conclusion</span><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></span></p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US"><span>Changes in the fintech industry and new financial challenges have forced&nbsp;</span><span>the fintech</span><span>&nbsp;industry to&nbsp;</span><span>undergo</span><span>&nbsp;considerable transformations.&nbsp;</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-US">New technologies such as blockchain-based solutions,&nbsp;</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">financial software development companies</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">,&nbsp;ML &amp; AI, mobile apps help make transactions safer and more secure and interact with clients more effectively.&nbsp;</span>Companies that strive to be on the top of the market need to seek new opportunities to ensure fintech digital experience runs as&nbsp;smoothly, securely, and profitable as possible.&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><span xml:lang="EN-US">Historically, breakthrough accomplishments have been moved forward by technology and innovation. Crisis accelerates technology adoption and innovation. With deep knowledge&nbsp;of&nbsp;fintech technology trends and software solutions, at Edsson we implement technologies to enhance financial services. We are happy to become a reliable, strategic partner.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-kerning: none; text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW82179253 BCX0" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont&quot;, &quot;Times New Roman_MSFontService&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></div>

 Fintech & Software Development Trends  

What are the benefits of artificial intelligence technology and machine learning techniques?

 AI & ML. What are those and how to make them worth it?

Short description of our development process or quick manual how to read project specifications.

<p class="cche-common-lite-text">Overview of Edsson best practice of software products engineering process for customers and new employees.</p><p class="cche-common-lite-text">
</p><p class="cche-common-lite-text">Times when customers just would tell developer what to do has gone.&nbsp; Now we live not only between developers but also among business analysts and project managers. And each participant has its own role in the software development process.</p><p class="cche-common-lite-text">
</p><p class="cche-common-lite-text">We want to avoid any misunderstandings and misinterpretations of customer requests because it will cost us real money. That’s why we document all requirements.</p>
<p class="cche-common-lite-text">Yes, of course, our customer can send us requirements in any suitable form, such as documents (long or short one), as website pages mockup, or as flow diagrams. Our business analyst will interpret those requirements into specifications which will tell developers and testers what to do, allow customers to check if everything is correct, will describe data models, web interfaces, use cases, and user interfaces. Our specifications are subject to change management. We will keep documents updated with any changes from customers.</p>
<h1 class="cche-сommon-title">How to read our specifications?</h1>
<p>During years of productive work, we developed our internal standards for specifying all changes in documentation. We save all change history and developers can easily find what and where was changed.</p>
<p>When you will open any document, first what you will find will be lyrics (just trust me), such as title, the general purpose of this document, and so on. The main things usually start at ‘Data model’ chapter.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Usually data models contain descriptions of tables, their attributes, and links. For better understanding and visualization, we draw data model (per module, of course) schemes in Visio. We draw tables with their attributes and relations.&nbsp;Here is an&nbsp;example:</p><p>Our rules to describe tables are next. Classes, attributes, and relations marked ▼ are system managed – means the User cannot set this value. Underlined attributes and relations are mandatory – means the User should input those data. Relations marked * prevent deletion of the linked entity. ∆ means value can only be set on creation. At the end of the table description, we can put any data constraints. This means, developers also should put those constraints into code after they will create tables. Here is an example – part (you can easily find differences) of one table ‘User Account’:</p>
<p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US">For our biggest project, developers made their own document with coding rules and standards. This will allow anybody (including new employees) to understand the written code and continue the project.&nbsp;Here is an example from this document - database naming conventions for tables and columns.</span></p>
<p>Next main chapter in all our specifications is ‘Use Cases’.&nbsp; Or how the system should behave in this or that way. The good style of writing specifications means that every operation should be described through use cases: add new item, edit existing item, delete item. Also, all system actions should be described, for example, what if the system will get file. How to process new data?&nbsp;</p>
<p>A good question, how to read and understand this table? Success Scenario – step by step rules for developers. This means what the system will do in a successful situation. But what if the User will input the wrong value in a text field? This means system will get wrong value. All possible ‘what if’ situations should be described in Extensions. We always try to explain every step as clear as possible. Our aim is that not only developers should understand what is going on, but customers too.</p>
<p>And the last main part in specifications is User Interface or simply ‘UI’.</p>
<p>We design prototypes of used forms. Of course, real developed form will not be exactly the same. Our design allow the developer to understand which text labels and input fields should be used. How to arrange all fields on form, how to align fields, if any field should be marked as mandatory or not, what buttons should be developed for this form and where those buttons should be situated. Usually under-designed prototype, we describe which use cases should be USED by pressing button (or by any other possible action). Also, we describe constraints for input data.</p>
<p>Good style of specification writing means that almost all system reactions will be described in use cases, not under the designed prototype or data grids.</p>
<p>In ‘UI’ part we describe which data should be displayed on pages in grids. Which actions can be done on those data.&nbsp;Here is an&nbsp;example&nbsp;– Role Page:&nbsp;Page contains List of Roles with filter row.</p><p>For many projects the DevExpress controls (<a href="http://www.devexpress.com/">http://www.devexpress.com/</a>) are taken as standard of user interface design.</p>
<p>Of course, sometimes we add more parts into specifications. If system should send and get data, let say, in xml format, we will describe web intrfaces: request and response with all fields and their types inside. (Well, for other format, such as json, we also will do the same work.) </p>
<p>If system should be used by Users with different permissions, we will describe permissions as separate chapter in one document. And than, will put links from other specifications of this project to the document. We will not describe twice the same information. Yeah, this is one more rule for writing specifications. </p>
<p>The next step is testing according to specifications. Based on initial requirements our testers will write test plans. The plan will describe which scenario will be tested and how, including scenario steps with expected results, which initial data is required to execute the described scenario. Testers will define if the plan is subject of manual testing or requirements of automated test.&nbsp;Here is an&nbsp;example&nbsp;– view of one of our test plans:</p>
<p class="cche-common-lite-text"><span xml:lang="EN-US">To assume everything written above, all our specifications and test plans are subjects of change management. What does it mean? It means that every change or bug should be registered in our bugtracking system. Years of productive work tell us, it’s easy and really handy for all team members. No more questions “why?” and “who has done this?”, all update history is logged.&nbsp;Here is an&nbsp;example&nbsp;– part of our bugtracking system. Changes and bugs (marked with red ladybird) with their descriptions, statuses, phases and users who now is responsible for the topic.</span></p><div>As the next step project manager or business analyst will include those changes to release planning.&nbsp;</div>
<p>And, of course, business analyst will update specifications with those changes. BA will create new version of existing specification, will put tracking numbers near changes and will update history. &nbsp;The same will do testers with test plans. Our test plans always correspond to current versions of specifications.&nbsp;Here is an&nbsp;example&nbsp;– view of specification document with new changes, numbers are marked yellow.</p>
<p class="cche-common-lite-text">Developers will update the code. Testers will execute tests and close tasks in bugtracking system. The project manager or business analyst will prepare notes for release with included changes.&nbsp;Here is an&nbsp;example&nbsp;– part of release notes.</p>
<p>
</p><div><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">The customer is happy with the new release!</span></strong></div>

Edsson Software Product Engineering Process

Our experts review the top 10 cloud-based services seeking for the most optimal functionality for IoT applications.

<strong style="font-weight:normal;" id="docs-internal-guid-d1fb4324-7fff-adec-836e-27e557087031"></strong><p class="cche-common-lite-text">The Internet of Things is one of the fastest-growing industries today. We see the proof of this literally everywhere - our homes, offices, cars, and connected devices are becoming smarter, faster, and much more efficient.</p><p>The new generation of consumers is extremely demanding. That’s why completely new business models, services, and other innovations crop up everywhere. IoT technology offers unprecedented opportunities for represents of both business and the public sector. As a result, the use of IoT technology is growing year by year.</p><p>Edsson experts work with the IoT regularly. They know firsthand that the initial choice of proper technology leads to final success in the ongoing product development.</p><p>For this reason, our experts review the top 10 cloud-based services seeking for the most optimal functionality for IoT applications. The platforms listed below support Internet app functions, such as launch, maintenance, data storage, analysis &amp; security mechanisms.&nbsp;</p><h1>1. Amazon Web Services</h1><p>With AWS Iot, connecting and managing devices, exchanging and collecting data is a breeze. AWS is capable of supporting any cloud projects with almost 100% probability. Cloud services provided by Amazon include a comprehensive IoT package. This is a suite of tools that supports all possible features of Internet applications.</p><p>- AWS IoT Core - the base layer on which any IoT application can be built. Using AWS IoT Core, devices can smoothly integrate with each other over a secure connection. This way, they can send billions of messages and exchange data through cloud storage on the fly. The platform supports various communication protocols, including user-generated ones. This allows for better communication between devices from different manufacturers.</p><p>- AWS IoT Device Management - the service that makes gadget management hassle-free. Due to its scalable and safe performance, you can easily add and connect devices with the ability to monitor, troubleshoot, and update their functionality.</p><p>- AWS IoT Analytics - the service that is capable of automatically analyzing large amounts of IoT information. This information may include unstructured data from different device types. Once the data are collected and processed, they are absolutely ready for the use in machine learning.</p><p>- AWS IoT Device Defender - the tool for smooth management and configuration of IoT security mechanisms. With AWS IoT Device Defender, you can customize and manage security policies, control device authentication &amp; authorization, as well as use advanced encryption mechanisms.</p><p>These are just a few examples of IoT services offered by AWS. If you go for the Amazon environment for your IoT app, you will get a system which is hundred-percent scalable, secure, and properly functioning.</p><h1>2. Google Cloud IoT</h1><p class="cche-common-lite-text">The Google Cloud Platform is another global cloud service that offers IoT support. With Google Cloud IoT package, you can develop and manage IoT networks of any complexity and size. The Google Cloud IoT suite provides you with comprehensive tools for building IoT networks:</p><p>- Cloud IoT Core is fully equipped for establishing a secure connection, as well as managing and transmitting data between various gadgets.</p><p>- Cloud Pub / Sub is a service that processes information about events, providing you with real-time stream analytics.</p><p>- Cloud Machine Learning Engine is a service that allows you to build ML models, collect and use the information you get from IoT devices.</p><p>The IoT solution developed by Google consists of many other services that may come in handy for building complex interconnected ecosystems.</p><h1>3. Microsoft Azure IoT Suite</h1><p>Microsoft Azure is a king of cloud services that stays next to the Google Cloud and the AWS platforms. Microsoft Azure IoT Suite offers both pre-customized solutions and the ability to configure them on the go.</p><p>As a result, you can use both a ready-made working flow or create your own based on the requirements of a specific project.</p><p>With Microsoft Azure IoT Suite, you get the most advanced security mechanisms, transparent scalability, and full integration with any existing or future systems. </p><p>The service allows you to connect hundreds of devices from different manufacturers, collect IoT information and use it for analytical and machine learning purposes.</p><h1>4. SAP</h1><p class="cche-common-lite-text">The need for IoT tools and applications is growing at a rapid pace. This German developer of enterprise software solutions could not ignore it. The SAP cloud service has everything you need to develop and manage IoT applications.</p><p>SAP is a convenient environment for remote management of all connected devices that belong to one IoT system. You can either connect such devices directly or use a cloud service instead. Powerful analytical capabilities allow you to process, systematize and analyze information obtained from sensors, meters and other IoT devices.</p><p>Since SAP stays ahead of the latest technological trends, it grants an opportunity to use IoT data and build your AI and ML applications.</p><h1>5. Salesforce IoT</h1><p>If you are looking for a reliable and flexible IoT platform, you should definitely check out this US-based company offering enterprise solutions and cloud computing software. Salesforce narrows down its IoT development efforts to an integrated system that connects IoT devices with customers that belong to the Salesforce network. The main purpose behind it is to make IoT data available to everyone.</p><p>With Salesforce IoT, you can develop your own IoT applications adaptable to any device and interpret IoT data for any future use. The ‘customer-first’ approach, adopted by Salesforce, makes the platform stand out from competitors.</p><h1>6. Oracle Internet of Things</h1><p class="cche-common-lite-text">It would be foolish to not include this platform in our "best of the best" list. Oracle is a global software corporation known for its advanced database management. Its product line goes beyond cloud computing and enterprise software, offering an extensive IoT toolkit.</p><p>The Oracle Internet of Things platform connects enterprise software with the ‘real world’ of gadgets and their metrics. Oracle offers exceptional business-oriented opportunities through a user-friendly environment for building commercial apps. As a recognized leader in database management, Oracle can handle large amounts of data. For this reason, creating large-scale IoT ecosystems is not a problem at all.</p><p>In the age of data breaches and security loopholes found literally everywhere, the use of advanced protection mechanisms is more than a good idea. It’s no news that IoT ecosystems usually integrate with various devices. Since not all of them have security features already built-in, it is essential to use centralized protection tools. Oracle takes advantage of high-quality security mechanisms. The reliable protection of IoT systems from any external threats is what makes Oracle exclusive.</p><h1>7. Cisco IoT Cloud Connect</h1><p>Cisco developed a convenient, mobile-friendly platform for cloud-based IoT solutions. This service offers voice and data transfer, various monetization options, and extensive configuration features for IoT applications.</p><p>If you choose Cisco for hosting your IoT app, you will get a complete suite of device management functions, advanced security mechanisms, and scalability options - all with a principal focus on a high-quality mobile environment and user interaction.</p><p>Thanks to a wide range of additional services offered by Cisco, you can take advantage of many other cool functions as well. For instance, you can use IoT Services for Utility Networks to create systems designed specifically for utilities. Also, you can use the IoT Advisory. It gives you access to expert advice related to key business challenges in the IoT industry.</p><h1>8. Bosch IoT Suite</h1><p class="cche-common-lite-text">Bosch is another technology giant based in Germany. Its product line varies from devices to software solutions that meet various business needs and integrate with different application types. With German reliability and innovative approach in mind, Bosch IoT Suite is considered to be one of the most reliable platforms for IoT applications.</p><p>To develop its IoT platform, Bosch uses open standards and open-source code. It also takes into account the requirements of projects designed specifically for connected devices. Today, Bosch IoT Suite supports the full application development cycle, from prototype issuance to application deployment and further maintenance.</p><p>One of the core benefits of Bosch IoT solutions is that they function as both cloud services and autonomous systems which operate locally. The service supports cross-platform apps, expanding the integration opportunities and thus minimizing compatibility issues.</p><h1>9. IBM Watson Internet of Things</h1><p>As IBM Watson puts it, with their contribution “the Internet of Things is becoming the Internet that thinks.” </p><p>This bold statement means that IBM is experimenting all the time. Their innovative approach to integrating IoT with AI is creating unique experiences and paves the way for new technological breakthroughs.The IBM platform offers a wide range of features for efficient remote device management, including:&nbsp;</p><p>- cloud storage</p><p>- secure data transmission</p><p>- real-time information exchange</p><p>- machine-learning through AI technology integration.</p><p>All-in-all, this platform connects a number of tools and services that make it easy to create highly efficient IoT software from scratch.</p><h1>10. ThingWorx IoT Platform</h1><p>PTC's ThingWorx is designed to develop industrial IoT solutions. It is considered one of the most functional toolkits for building IoT apps of varying complexity and size.&nbsp;</p><p>The platform offers extensive opportunities for collaboration and sharing, which turns it into a best-fitting solution for large developers groups. Its capabilities are powerful enough to create various IoT applications without the need to use third-party components or libraries.</p><p>IoT apps built on the ThingWorx platform are not less technically capable than an advanced enterprise solution. Wide scalability and integration with advanced technologies, such as augmented reality and extensive analytics, make ThingWorx absolutely worth a shot. These powerful functionalities are possible thanks to a simple user interface combining first-class performance and usability in one place.</p><h1>Key findings</h1><h2>Tips for choosing the right IoT service</h2><p>This comparative analysis of IoT cloud platforms proves that there are many options to choose from. It may be very difficult to find the best solution for your specific project. Whatever platform you go for, one thing is clear: all platforms are included in this list for a very specific reason: they all have a wide range of advantages you can benefit from.</p><div> </div><p>We compared the top 10 IoT cloud platforms to show you the opportunities they hold for your business. Since all of these Iot platforms have their own features, it is rather difficult to select the best-fitting solution. Hopefully, the criteria listed below will guide you toward making the right choice.</p><h2>Criteria for selecting the best-fitting platform</h2><p>- Price and pricing model. Some platforms use a pay-per-use model (pay for the services you actually use - ex. AWS IoT Core), while others use a monthly subscription model with a fixed price (ex. Salesforce). Depending on the peculiarities of your project, you may choose the pricing model that works best for you.</p><p>- Free trial. This is a great option for situations when you need to test something out. You get the opportunity to start a simple project with minimal investment. AWS has a free trial option with certain limitations, while Oracle does not offer any, as this tool is quite expensive in general.</p><p>- Team collaboration. Interviewing developers is the right way to properly select tools and services. Ask the development team about their experience and knowledge of the options available. This will help you make the right choice of the IoT platform, striking the right balance between the requirements of your project and the team.</p><p>Sure thing, each project is unique. It may have special requirements for security, scalability, and storage. To find the perfect environment for building a connected network, we recommend you request some professional assistance.</p><p>Tell us about your IoT project, and our experts will offer the best technological solutions available on the market. With our advice, you will create software that meets all project requirements, getting where you want to be.</p><div><br /></div>

Overview of the best IOT platforms. Tips for selecting the right cloud solution in 2019

<p>Edsson Lab Initiative.</p>
<p>The success of outsourcing providers depends on their competence level. Especially attractive for potential customers are companies that have experience in new perspective tools and technologies widely recognized by the professional community as future stars in particular segments.</p>
<p>But how to get experience if there are no projects for those who don't have experience? This typical chicken and egg problem in Edsson can be resolved with help of employees who also are drivers in new discovery of new technologies because their natural curiosity and personal market value.</p>
<p>Edsson Lab initiative is part-time facultative project defined by Edsson employees and management. Projects for Lab selected according to following principles</p><p>- Edsson employee takes initiative to offer his time for Lab</p><p>- Subject for research is the result of an agreement between employee and management</p><p>- Lab projects are non-working hours activities, time is not billable but in case of successful results awarded with a pre-defined bonus payment</p><p>- Technical report in English language have to be a part of results</p><p>- Duration is 1-4 weeks, complexity not more than 40 hours</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Meet Edsson Lab!

We decided to give you a helping hand and discuss the best front-end framework choices with our developers. Find out which framework suits your particular needs best. 

<strong style="font-weight:normal;" id="docs-internal-guid-07a4c9f0-7fff-5e2d-6f9d-c0433bd980c1"></strong><strong style="font-weight:normal;" id="docs-internal-guid-1a1f3500-7fff-d53e-3ee2-0db5c4920f4b"></strong><strong style="font-weight:normal;" id="docs-internal-guid-c877b0cb-7fff-95cd-1d41-8bdf1befa709"></strong><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left: 13.5pt;"><br /></p><p>Ok, let’s face it: picking the best-fitting front-end framework can be tough. So many options are out there that it feels overwhelming to decide on the only one. This choice becomes even more difficult if you are limited on budget or time. So, what should you do?</p><p>First and foremost, it’s important to understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to the choice of a relevant tech stack. It depends on a wide range of factors, which include company preferences, project type/character, the experience of the product owner, and so on.</p><p>We decided to give you a helping hand and discuss the best front-end framework choices with our developers. So keep reading to find out which framework suits your particular needs best. </p><h2>Survey description</h2><p>For the survey, we choose 2 project types: a Web Application and an E-commerce shop. </p><p>These two projects are quite different in terms of the complexity and tech stack they require. The survey had 27 participants - all of them are developers from Edsson, who work with frameworks. The experience and specialization of developers varied largely. For the details, look at the info below.</p><p>Experience of developers:</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-11bf59ca-7fff-c6eb-64c0-924aba09bf98"></span></p><p>Experience more than 5 years with frameworks - 40%<br /></p><p>Less than 2-5 years - 35%</p><p>From 1st year - 15%</p><p>Specialization of developers by roles:</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-47ffc846-7fff-a231-89e4-25213665d6be"></span></p><p>Developers back-end - 30%</p><p>Front-end - 20%</p><p>Full-stack - 40%</p><p>To see the complete list of Edsson developers with CVs simply do the <a href="https://www.edsson.com/en/services/it-experts?department=developers-programmers" target="_blank">r</a>egistration.</p><ul></ul><h2>Survey results</h2><p>Each respondent had to choose the most appropriate technologies that can be used for developing an e-commerce shop or a web app. In particular, they had to pick the top 5 front-end frameworks.</p><p>As for the first project,&nbsp;the results were as follows:</p><p>1. React</p><p>2. Vue.js</p><p>3. jQuery</p><p>4. Angular</p><p>5. Polymer</p><div><div><img src="/edssonsite/Images/AppData/Blog/mm4jtysa.jpg" alt="" /></div><p>For the second project, an E-commerce store, the results were slightly different. Vue.js outperformed React, taking the first position. Angular and Polymer also got one place higher, with AngularJS closing the list.</p></div><p>1. Vue.js</p><p>2. React</p><p>3. Angular</p><p>4. Polymer</p><p>5. AngularJS</p><div><img src="/edssonsite/Images/AppData/Blog/aqfzkh55.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div><h2>Search popularity</h2><p>We decided to go deeper and compare these front-end frameworks between each other in terms of their search popularity in the world. </p><p>For a comprehensive comparison, we took all 5 front-end frameworks preferred by Edsson developers. Then, we went to Google Trends and analyzed global trends based on certain search queries over the last 12 months. Here’s what we’ve got:</p><p><strong>Front-end Frameworks overview:</strong></p><p><strong>React</strong></p><p>As a Javascript library for UI, React is known for its potential to create irresistible user interfaces. Chosen by such world-renowned companies as Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Airbnb, and PayPal, React is perfect for small, medium, and large-scale projects.</p><p><strong>Vue</strong></p><p>The main idea behind this framework is to make components of UI easier for comprehension. Compared to other frameworks, Vue.js is less dogmatic and easier for use. Probably, that’s one of the reasons Alibaba, Expedia, and Nintendo go for it.</p><p><strong><span id="docs-internal-guid-cbd70d2b-7fff-adf8-485f-4ebcd815f82a">JQuery</span>&nbsp;</strong></p><p>This cross-platform Javascript library became completely irreplaceable in certain contexts. <br />Its main strengths are quick bug detection and nearly instant processing speed. These strengths make JQuery a preferred choice among LinkedIn, StackOverflow, Twitter, Reddit, and Wikipedia.4.</p><p><strong>Angular</strong></p><p>Based on TypeScript, this JS framework is considered to be a safe choice for everyone looking for a solution with all components already packed in. Probably that’s the reason Forbes and Wix are built on Angular too. </p><p><strong>Polymer</strong></p><p>Polymer is a functional library for developing various web components which are then used to develop web pages or web apps. These components may include browser APIs and various HTML elements. Businesses go for Polymer because it reduces the complexity of processes required to build a modern website. As a result, they get lighter libraries and faster apps, which are extremely easy to understand, scale or customize. Polymer is currently chosen by YouTube Web, Google Music, Google Earth, and others.</p><h2>Interests over time</h2><p>Now that you know what front-end frameworks are popular and why, we suggest you go one step further and take a look at the chart below. </p><p>The numbers represent search interests in relation to the highest point of the chart for the given geographical and time scope. </p><p>As you can see, a value of 100 is the peak of the popularity for the search term. A value of 50 means that the term is half as popular compared to the most popular one. A zero score means that the data for this term was not representative enough or was missing.</p><p><strong>Front-end frameworks popularity</strong></p><div style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=Vue,React,Angular,jQuery,Polymer" target="_blank"><img src="/edssonsite/Images/AppData/Blog/google trends.png" alt="" /></a><h2>Over to you</h2><p>As you can see, there is no perfect front-end framework out there. Every tech stack suits for individual needs of the project. For this reason, your choice of the best-fitting framework should always rely on the specific goals and objectives of your business at this specific time.</p><p>We carried out this research to drive your attention to the choices of top front-end frameworks. As you can see, universal frameworks simply do not exist. However, there are certain technology trends that make an impact on the choice of the tech stack. If you take them into account, the ideal framework will find you. Good luck!</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt;"><br /></p></div>

Top 5 Front-end Frameworks Recommended by Edsson

What data science actually is? Business cases & advantages.

<strong style="font-weight:normal;" id="docs-internal-guid-69e79089-7fff-58ca-a170-1b1410807b98"></strong><strong style="font-weight:normal;" id="docs-internal-guid-b41ea92e-7fff-4a78-1b9a-ae363093fcaa"></strong><p class="cche-common-lite-text"><strong>What is data science?</strong></p><p>You cannot answer this question in a simple way, even though the term seems to be on people’s minds lately. Everyone is increasingly talking about data science, some are claiming to do it, others are hiring for it. But, what data science actually is?</p><p>In fact, it is a combination of knowledge from interdisciplinary fields like mathematics, business analysis, statistics, and computer science. A huge evolutionary step in these technologies paved the way for the growth of data science. As a result, it becomes a popular analysis method, even though researchers are still figuring out the exact definition of this term.</p><p><img src="/edssonsite/Images/AppData/Blog/bl3im5i4.jpg" alt="" /></p><p>At its core, <span>data science</span> is all about using various automated ways to scan, analyze, and extract large amounts of information. With advanced automated analysis techniques popping up everywhere, data science is creating new fields of study, making a direct impact on areas like humanities and social studies. Data scientists gather huge amounts of information and then use advanced algorithms to identify knowledge gaps and extract the information they want.</p><p>Currently, <span>65% of businesses</span> already report the positive influence of big data on their competitive potential. Noteworthy is that the influence of data science on different studying fields is expected to grow even further in order to bring innovation and change to the industries like academic research, media, and healthcare.</p><p><strong>Cases in business</strong></p><p>- Data-driven decision-making. Enterprises can use data science to track the reactions of users to their services and products. Analysis of <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/63862">consumer behavior patterns</a> should be based on real data, not gut feelings or hypotheses. Otherwise, it would be needless to make any business decisions at all.</p><p>- Reasonable budgeting. Data science can help you identify both positive and negative financial trends, which you can afterward use to drive the right spending habits. With the aid of data science, you can significantly cut costs on the use of low-priority services, focusing on those that fuel your business growth instead.</p><p>- Idea validation testing. If you have fresh ideas for products or services to offer, data science can help you test them before you move on to implementation. Advanced AI and ML technologies can help you estimate the demand for certain services/products in the future, predicting future market trends, and thus making a go/no-go decision.</p><p>- Market research. Leveraging customer data is good, but usage alone is absolutely non-effective without research and analysis. Studying the consumption habits of your target audience is crucial for making the right marketing choices. Analyzing the demographics of your customers also helps you to understand, where your target market is, and how you can capitalize on it.</p><p>- Cash logistics. <a href="https://portfolio.edsson.com/AI-Technology-in-cash-logistics/8/">Forecasting in cash management systems</a> is a very specific use case, which may be beneficial for ATM networks worldwide. Owners of these networks need to ensure that they hit the right balance of cash across their branch and the entire ATM network. But how to know what amount of payments to expect each day, week or month? Data science can help find the right answers. Historical analysis of payment leftovers gives an opportunity to evaluate payments data from current and previous seasons. Based on that, you can draw objective, data-driven predictions for the future.</p><p><strong>How data science helps business</strong></p><p>To be honest, the benefits of data science brings to businesses worldwide all boil down to three things. These include nearly unlimited capabilities of business analytics, predictive analysis, and data-based decision-making. Let’s take a closer look at each of these three to fully understand their potential.</p><p><strong>Business analytics</strong></p><p>The most important questions business analytics is expected to answer include:</p><ul><li><p>‘Where we are now?’</p></li><li><p>‘How we got where we are now?’</p></li><li><p>‘What happened to customers, product, and revenue in the past?’</p></li></ul><p>Things like retention measuring, funnel analysis, and user segmentation can help businesses grab answers to the listed above and any additional questions. Result? A deeper understanding of a product and a customer with an exact vision for their past and ongoing interactions.</p><p><strong>Predictive analytics</strong></p><p>This type of analytics is supposed to answer the question ‘What will happen to your audience, product, and revenue in the future?’</p><p>Based on the data obtained from advanced business analysis, predictive analytics makes estimations of how much budgeting is needed to hit your marketing goals. Also, it can help you identify problem areas before they reach your business. Hence, predictive analytics can help you identify your weakest points of failure and the biggest areas of concern, as well as find areas for growth.</p><p><strong>Data-based product</strong></p><p>Using data science for creating data-based products is critical, as this method can help you find a place in an innovative niche and market. Products that work using different historical data are in demand, as they represent something new. </p><p>Various types of recommendation systems, AI-driven chatbots, voice recognition tools, and image recognition systems are all the buzz these days. The need for these products grows continually, so does the use of data science for creating these products.</p><p><strong>So, what’s the benefit?</strong></p><p>Basically, the biggest benefit of using data science for business is the increase in ROI. Different types of analysis, tailored to your specific business needs, can help you implement strategic business decisions faster than competitors.</p><p>As a result, you get a better understanding of the market, a higher return on investment, and more efficient business growth.</p><p><strong>Over to you</strong></p><p>If data science is done right, it will generate tremendous value for your business. By analyzing historical data and drawing predictions for the future, you can make your business decisions more strategic and workable.</p><p>Plus, getting into your audience’s behavior patterns is a sure-fire way to map out a user-need, and thus set your business on the road to success.</p>

How data science helps business

Transmission from Waterfall to Agile. Comparison of technologies in the reals business case

<p class="cche-common-lite-text"><br /></p><p>If you are reading this article, you probably know what agile methodologies are. But in case if you don’t, here’s a very brief description. Agile is a linear way of organizing your software development processes. The idea of Agile boils down to breaking large projects into smaller tasks, with regular review, analysis, and adaptation processes. In its essence, Agile is called upon to maximize the efficiency of your software development efforts. But is it working, actually?</p><div>  <p>In this article, we’ll discuss the process of transmission from Waterfall to Agile. We’ll show you a proven case of using Agile in a real-world enterprise scenario. In particular, we’ll discuss the benefits of going Agile, the process of transmission to Agile, and the differences between Agile and Waterfall. Let’s dive in!</p>  <p><strong>The case</strong></p>  <p>We are developing an efficient solution for managing and preventing cash machines incidents. The idea of the project is to allow clients and customer service representatives to easily deal with ATM issues of varying complexity and scale.</p>  <p>The service desk should comprise a variety of complex systems listed below:</p>  <p>- customizable      workflow,&nbsp;</p><p>- query      management integrated into SLA monitoring,&nbsp;</p><p>- issue      tracking within a single system used by multiple departments,</p><p>- progress      and query management reporting,</p><p>- escalation      to management (manual and automatic).</p>  <p>The project lasts for 2 years. The working process is fully transparent and easily trackable. The client is continually monitoring the progress, bringing lots of valuable optimization ideas to the table. Any improvements are discussed with the client before they get implemented. This way, all changes are adjusted in response to specific demands and expectations of the client.</p>  <p><strong>Transmission from Waterfall</strong></p>  <p>The project listed above was supposed to be built using a Waterfall approach. But in the process of implementing this methodology, we found out that Waterfall has many drawbacks. In short, these are listed below.</p>  <p>Significant business risks. When you start estimating the revenue using a Waterfall approach -- your risks of losing money increase, as the market changes so rapidly that it is difficult to draw clear predictions using Waterfall. Estimating potential project revenue is more difficult but not less efficient in Agile.</p>  <p><strong>Documentation blockers</strong>. In Waterfall, you need to document all processes, get approval, and only after that pass it over to development. Working with documentation is very time- and energy-consuming, which is a significant demotivation factor overall.</p>  <p><strong>Absence of global vision</strong>. It is absolutely OK to have all processes documented, but it is not OK to miss out on team communication because of it. When all project details are put into written texts, not words, everyone gets its own vision of a project, which results in countless revisions that never end.</p>  <p><strong>Implementation of Agile</strong></p>  <p>The drawbacks of Waterfall significantly slowed down the project completion status. As a result, we decided to move on with a different approach. Transmission to Agile was not hassle-free, but it was absolutely worth it. Below are the benefits we noticed on our way from Waterfall to Agile.</p><p>- <strong>Team      interest.</strong> Agile helps a team dive deeper into a product. Team members now      can fully understand the project and each individual contribution to it.</p><p>- <strong>Team      motivation</strong>.&nbsp;Developers host a product demo after each sprint. They      get a full picture of the changes made in a product and their role in it.</p><p>- <strong>Team      dedication</strong>. After each product demo, developers have a chance to hear      constructive feedback about the results of their work. Regular feedback,      especially positive, motivates them to delve deeper into the process and      work with the product more closely.</p>  <p><strong>Waterfall vs. Agile: comparison</strong></p>  <p>One of the major differences between these two approaches is their method of work organization. While in Waterfall Project Manager is fully responsible for the process, in Agile Scrum Master is the one who oversees it.</p>  <p>Plus, the Waterfall methodology is fully internal. It does not require input from clients, while the Agile approach focuses on customer satisfaction and participation first.</p>  <p>In addition to this, Waterfall is quite rigid at its core, while Agile is maximally flexible. It allows for operational changes to be made during and after the initial project planning.</p>  <p><strong>The team</strong></p>  <p>Many people were involved in our transmission. In particular, our team included:</p><p>- Scrum      Master</p><p>- Business      Analyst</p><p>- Front-End      Developers</p><p>- Back-End      Developers</p><p>- Quality      Assurance Specialists</p>  <p>Though each of our team members had a different set of responsibilities, deadlines, and goals, everyone was similarly involved in a process, which resulted in a positive, pain-free, and promising change.</p>  <p><strong>Instead of conclusion</strong></p>  <p>As a wrap-up to our experiment, it is essential to indicate the following. The Waterfall has many benefits and can be regarded as a stringently sequential process. The Agile methodology is very different at its core. It can be regarded as a flexible and highly collaborative approach, which drives better team cooperation and faster problem-solving.&nbsp;</p>  <p>For this reason, Agile is rather a necessity than an opportunity, especially for the big tech giants that adapt to the ever-changing market.</p><br /></div>

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