Table of Content 1. Understanding Staff Augmentation
2. The Growing Trend of Staff Augmentation
3. Advantages of Staff Augmentation
4. Challenges of Staff Augmentation
5. Advantages of Traditional Hiring
6. Staff Augmentation VS Traditional Hiring
7. When to Choose Staff Augmentation
8. When to Choose Traditional Hiring

Let’s be honest, while looking for a right talent for our organization we face numerous challenges like lengthy recruitment process, delayed hiring, high costs. 

Ever thought how all these problems could be solved? When organizations hire, they tend to go the old way, which is traditional hiring, but did you know there’s one more way big enterprise are leveraging to boost their hiring process? I am talking about staff augmentation.   

The war for the right talent is real. Organizations face hiring dilemmas that can lead to missing out on top talent. A recent study by ManpowerGroup, declares a high talent shortage, with a significant 77% of employers worldwide struggling to fill vacant positions.  

The two distinguished strategies that may help find you the right fit are staff augmentation and traditional hiring. Both have their unique advantages and challenges, making it crucial for business leaders to understand which method fits their needs best. Let’s delve into the intricacies of each approach and find out which method suits your business goals. 

Understanding Staff Augmentation 

Imagine being on a tight deadline, we’ve all been there, right? The project completion needs more resources to get completed on time, what do you do next? Can’t go the lengthy way to hire new resources, staff augmentation can be your saviour.  

Staff augmentation is a strategy that helps businesses outsource the right talent in alignment with their projects. It is a flexible approach to hiring the right fit at the right time with the right resources.  

Furthermore, it helps to quickly fill skill gaps from a wider talent pool globally. For instance, if your company wants to develop a gaming mobile application, you can leverage staff augmentation to find qualified developers effectively and efficiently. 

The Growing Trend of Staff Augmentation 

Did you know the inception of staff augmentation began in the early 2000s with the growing need for IT professionals.  

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global staff augmentation market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2021 to 2028.  It is a booming industry and is expected to grow to USD 147.2 Billion by 2028. 

The demand for deep expertise, flexible engagement models, and cost-effective hiring has led to a surge in the adoption of staff augmentation.  

This trend is particularly evident in the IT sector, where rapid technological advancements require an agile and adaptive workforce that also supplements the in-house workforce of any enterprise.  

Advantages of Staff Augmentation 

• Cost-Effectiveness: Organizations can hire developers if and when needed, which helps in reducing the recruitment costs.  
• Global Talent Pool: You can hire the best talent from across the world within your budget.  
• Scalability: Businesses can scale their workforce up or down based on project requirements, ensuring optimal resource utilization. 
• Focus on Core Competencies: By outsourcing the right talent, your in-house teams get to focus on the primary activities of the business.  

Challenges of Staff Augmentation 

• Integration with Existing Teams: The augmented staff can find it challenging to collaborate with the existing teams.  
• Quality Control: Ensuring the quality is not compromised and is according to the company standards is another big challenge.  

Traditional Hiring: An Overview 

Traditional hiring is a recruitment approach that has been used to hire the candidates from decades. Hiring people for a specific position for a long-time commitment. It is a lengthy process from job posting, screening, and interviewing to onboarding, all of this may consume a lot of time.  

Advantages of Traditional Hiring 

• Long-Term Investment: Employees are aligned with the company values and goals leading to loyalty and better flow of work.  
• Cultural Integration: Full-time employees have a greater understanding of the work and company culture which can help them contribute better.  

Challenges of Traditional Hiring 

• Lengthy Hiring Process: According to a study, it takes around 44 days to hire a new employee, which makes it too long a process. 
• Increased Costs: The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports that the average cost-per-hire is $4,129. These expenses can strain an organization’s budget in the long run.  

Staff Augmentation VS Traditional Hiring 

Let’s make it easier for you to compare the two approaches 

When to Choose Staff Augmentation 

• Expertise: Staff Augmentation is ideal for organizations where they want a specific set of people with specialized skills for project-based work.   
• Seasonal Demand: If your enterprise belongs to an industry with seasonal fluctuations, you can leverage staff augmentation to meet temporary spikes in demand without long-term commitments. 
• Scaling up the business: Companies wanting to scale up at a faster pace should consider staff augmentation for 10x growth at reduced costs. 

When to Choose Traditional Hiring 

• Long–Term Projects: For projects that require long-term commitment, the ideal approach would be Traditional Hiring 
• Cultural Fit: If your organization wants to build a workforce where cultural integration and vision are of utmost importance, go ahead with traditional hiring.  
• Internal Growth: If you’re ready to invest in the employee’s training and certifications that yield good results in the longer run, traditional hiring would be a good strategy to adopt.  

Make the right choice for your business 

Assessing your business needs is of the of the utmost importance.  

But you should also consider these factors while you make your decision:  

• Marking correct timelines 
• Setting up budgets 
• Evaluating what level of expertise, you would need on different projects 
• Scaling your business at the right time 
• Considering your long-term and short-term goals 

All these factors would be important for you to make the right decision for the growth of your business. 

Analysing your organization’s requirements and preferences would also be a critical factor in adopting the best approach to hiring the right people. By strategically planning your projects considering your company’s vision, you can also adopt a hybrid approach where you can leverage the benefits of both staff augmentation and traditional hiring.  

You can plan in a way that you get the best of both worlds. Implementing a flexible workforce model provides you with the best-augmented staff and great permanent employees. 

In conclusion, both these strategies have their advantages and challenges associated with them, you can choose either by laying out comprehensive plans and the factors we’ve outlined for you. 

If you choose to ride the wave and want to go ahead with staff augmentation as your recruitment approach, feel free to contact us and click on the button below! 

Mobile applications are transforming healthcare industry, and if you don’t have an app for your healthcare business now, you are missing out on a lot of action!

As the global healthcare market continues to grow, with a projected value of $243.57 billion by the end of 2023, the role of mobile apps in revolutionizing healthcare delivery and patient engagement has become increasingly significant. 

The mHealth (mobile health) market size has already reached $63.5 billion in 2023, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% from 2024 to 2030. 

Moreover, the digital health market is set to experience substantial growth, with a CAGR of 18.6% from 2023 to 2030, reaching $332 billion by 2025. With over 100,000 healthcare apps available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store combined, it is evident that mobile app development is at the forefront of driving innovation and transforming the healthcare landscape.

The Need for Mobile Apps in Healthcare

The healthcare industry faces numerous challenges that necessitate innovative solutions:

• Rising healthcare costs: Healthcare expenditure has been steadily increasing over the years, placing a significant burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Mobile apps have the potential to reduce healthcare costs by enabling remote patient monitoring, reducing the need for in-person visits, and promoting preventive care measures.

• Limited accessibility to healthcare services: Many individuals, particularly those in remote or underserved areas, face difficulties in accessing quality healthcare services. Mobile apps can bridge this gap by providing telemedicine services, virtual consultations, and remote monitoring capabilities, making healthcare more accessible to a wider population.

• Need for improved patient outcomes: Achieving optimal patient outcomes is a primary goal of healthcare. Mobile apps can contribute to improved outcomes by facilitating better patient engagement, promoting treatment adherence, and enabling early detection and intervention of potential health issues.

• Difficulties in accessing timely and convenient healthcare services: Patients often face long wait times for appointments, limited office hours, and the need to travel to healthcare facilities. Mobile apps offer a convenient alternative by allowing patients to schedule appointments, access their health records, and communicate with their healthcare providers remotely.

• Lack of efficient communication between patients and healthcare providers: Effective communication is crucial for delivering high-quality healthcare. Mobile apps provide secure messaging platforms that enable patients to communicate with their healthcare providers, ask questions, report symptoms, and receive timely feedback, enhancing the patient-provider relationship.

• Gaps in care and suboptimal health outcomes: Fragmented healthcare systems and lack of care coordination can lead to gaps in care and suboptimal health outcomes. Mobile apps can help bridge these gaps by providing a centralized platform for storing and sharing patient data, enabling seamless care coordination among different healthcare providers.

Mobile apps offer a powerful tool to address these challenges by:

• Bridging the gap between patients and healthcare providers: Mobile apps serve as a direct link between patients and their healthcare providers, facilitating seamless communication, remote monitoring, and virtual consultations. This enhanced connectivity helps to establish a stronger patient-provider relationship and improves the continuity of care.

• Improving the accessibility of healthcare services: By leveraging mobile apps, healthcare services can be made more accessible to individuals who may face barriers to traditional healthcare access. Telemedicine apps, for example, allow patients to consult with healthcare professionals remotely, eliminating the need for physical visits and making healthcare services available to a wider population.

• Enhancing the overall efficiency of the healthcare system: Mobile apps streamline various healthcare processes, such as appointment scheduling, electronic health record management, and medication tracking. By automating and digitizing these processes, mobile apps reduce administrative burdens, minimize errors, and improve the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery.

Role of Mobile Apps in Healthcare

Mobile apps have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery through various applications:

Remote patient monitoring

Patients can use mobile apps to track and monitor their health metrics, such as blood pressure, glucose levels, heart rate, and sleep patterns. These apps often integrate with wearable devices or medical-grade sensors to provide accurate and real-time data.

The data collected through mobile apps can be securely transmitted to healthcare providers, enabling them to remotely monitor patients’ health status. This allows for early detection of potential health issues, timely interventions, and personalized care plans.

Remote patient monitoring through mobile apps is particularly beneficial for individuals with chronic conditions, as it helps them better manage their health, reduces the need for frequent hospital visits, and improves their overall quality of life.

Telemedicine and virtual consultations

Telemedicine apps enable patients to connect with healthcare providers remotely through video calls, audio calls, or secure messaging. This eliminates the need for in-person visits, saving time and resources for both patients and healthcare providers.

Virtual consultations are particularly useful for follow-up appointments, minor health concerns, or situations where an in-person visit may not be necessary. They provide a convenient and accessible option for patients to receive medical advice and guidance from the comfort of their own homes.

Telemedicine apps also expand access to healthcare services in rural or underserved areas, where patients may have limited access to healthcare facilities or specialists. By connecting patients with healthcare providers remotely, these apps help to bridge the healthcare access gap and ensure that individuals receive the care they need.

Medication management and chronic disease management

Medication adherence is a critical factor in the successful treatment of various health conditions. Mobile apps can help patients stay on track with their medication schedules by providing reminders, tracking medication intake, and generating reports for healthcare providers.

Chronic disease management apps are designed to assist individuals with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or cardiovascular diseases. These apps provide personalized disease management tools, educational resources, and the ability to track symptoms, vitals, and progress over time.

By empowering patients to take an active role in managing their chronic conditions, mobile apps can improve treatment adherence, enhance self-care practices, and ultimately lead to better health outcomes.

Preventive healthcare

Mobile apps play a significant role in promoting preventive healthcare by encouraging healthy lifestyle habits and providing personalized recommendations based on an individual’s health profile.

Fitness tracking apps motivate users to stay physically active by setting goals, monitoring progress, and providing insights into their fitness levels. These apps often integrate with wearable devices to track steps, calories burned, and other fitness metrics.

Nutrition apps assist individuals in making healthier food choices by providing nutritional information, tracking calorie intake, and offering personalized meal plans based on dietary preferences and health goals.

Mental health apps offer resources, guided meditations, mood tracking, and self-care tools to support individuals in managing stress, anxiety, and overall mental well-being.

By promoting preventive healthcare measures through mobile apps, individuals can take proactive steps to maintain their health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and improve their overall quality of life.

Benefits of Mobile App Development in Healthcare

Mobile apps offer a multitude of benefits for patients, healthcare providers, and healthcare organizations:

Benefits for patients:

Convenient and accessible engagement with healthcare providers: Mobile apps provide patients with a convenient and accessible means to interact with their healthcare providers. They can easily schedule appointments, access their health records, and communicate with their healthcare team through secure messaging features.

Access to personal health information: Healthcare apps often include features that allow patients to view and manage their personal health information, such as medical history, test results, and prescription details. This empowers patients to take a more active role in their healthcare journey and make informed decisions about their health.

Active participation in their own healthcare journey: By using mobile apps, patients can actively engage in their own healthcare. They can track their health metrics, monitor their progress, and receive personalized recommendations and feedback. This level of engagement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for one’s health, leading to better treatment adherence and improved health outcomes.

Improved health literacy: Mobile apps often include educational resources, articles, and videos that help patients better understand their health conditions, treatment options, and preventive measures. This increased health literacy enables patients to make more informed decisions about their health and engage in meaningful discussions with their healthcare providers.

Benefits for healthcare providers

Streamlined workflows and reduced administrative burdens

Mobile apps automate various administrative tasks, such as appointment scheduling, patient data entry, and prescription refill requests. By streamlining these processes, healthcare providers can reduce the time and effort spent on administrative tasks and focus more on delivering quality patient care.

Improved efficiency of healthcare delivery

Mobile apps enable healthcare providers to access patient information, medical records, and diagnostic tools at their fingertips. This quick and easy access to relevant data enhances the efficiency of healthcare delivery, allowing providers to make informed decisions and provide timely interventions.

Optimized time and resources for delivering high-quality patient care

By leveraging mobile apps for tasks such as remote patient monitoring and virtual consultations, healthcare providers can optimize their time and resources. They can prioritize in-person visits for patients who require immediate attention while still providing high-quality care to patients who can be managed remotely.

Benefits for healthcare organizations

Improved operational efficiency and reduced costs

Mobile apps streamline various operational processes within healthcare organizations, such as inventory management, staff scheduling, and billing. By automating these processes, organizations can reduce errors, minimize paperwork, and improve overall operational efficiency. This, in turn, leads to cost savings and better resource allocation.

Enhanced patient satisfaction

Mobile apps contribute to enhanced patient satisfaction by providing convenient access to healthcare services, improving communication with healthcare providers, and enabling patients to take a more active role in their healthcare. Satisfied patients are more likely to engage with their healthcare providers, adhere to treatment plans, and recommend the organization to others.

Valuable tool for data collection, analysis, and data-driven decision-making

Mobile apps generate a wealth of data related to patient health, treatment outcomes, and healthcare utilization patterns. Healthcare organizations can leverage this data to gain valuable insights into patient populations, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare services.

Conclusion

The transformative power of mobile app development in healthcare cannot be overstated. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve and adapt to the digital age, mobile apps have emerged as a catalyst for change, driving innovation and revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered. 

By addressing the challenges faced by the healthcare industry, facilitating remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and virtual consultations, and promoting patient engagement and preventive healthcare, mobile apps are paving the way for a more accessible, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare system.

As the mHealth market continues to grow at a remarkable pace, with wearables alone expected to reach $31.95 billion by 2026, it is evident that the future of healthcare is inextricably linked to mobile app development. Healthcare organizations that embrace this digital transformation and invest in mobile app development will be well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of patients, improve health outcomes, and thrive in an increasingly competitive healthcare landscape.

At Zazz, we understand the immense potential of mobile app development in revolutionizing healthcare delivery. As a leading mobile app development company, we are committed to working closely with healthcare organizations to develop innovative, user-centric, and scalable mobile solutions that address the unique challenges faced by the healthcare industry. 

Our team of expert developers, designers, and healthcare app consultants possess the knowledge and expertise necessary to create mobile apps that seamlessly integrate with existing healthcare systems, ensure data security and privacy, and deliver measurable results.

Connect with us today, to initiate a conversation about healthcare and how mobile apps can transform this industry.

Visit us at Zazz.io.     -+

“The task of the software development team is to engineer the illusion of simplicity!”  

Grady Booch, a highly reputed American software engineer, used this above statement to convey what every software development professional experiences every day.  

Software applications are built to solve problems associated with the performance and efficiency of a business. But creating that problem-solving system isn’t exactly smooth sailing, especially when a project requires both innovation and complexity. 

Aside from UI/UX design and coding, an application project goes through a lot of issues that often result in delayed project deliveries, performance errors, security drawbacks, etc. However, experienced app development companies always find a way to deal with these challenges and come up with data-driven solutions. 

In simple words, building these enterprise applications involves a significant amount of planning, cautious design practices, and step-by-step risk management. In addition, the use of agile development methodology is another aspect that comes in handy when it comes to finding the solutions of common software development challenges. 

You can also read – How to Boost Retail Sales with AI-Driven Applications 

In this post, you will discover the top 10 common software development challenges and their solutions designed by leading agencies to overcome project setbacks and deliver it on time. 

Quick Overview of A Software Development Cycle 

Before we head to the top 10 software development challenges and their solutions, let’s take you through a quick overview of a software development cycle. It consists of every vital aspect of the application from idea conceptualization to final deployment. The cycle can differ for different methodologies such as Agile and Waterfall. However, the general course of action can be described as below: 

Phase 1 – Planning & Requirement Gathering 

It involves gathering and understanding the requirements along with interactions with stakeholders, such as clients, end-users, and business analysts, to identify their needs and expectations. The goal of this phase is to establish a clear understanding of the problem that the software will solve. 

Phase 2 – Project Roadmap Development  

The project team creates an outline of the tasks, resources, timeline, and budget required to develop the software as per the objectives, identifying app dependencies, allocating resources, and establishing milestones. It sets the foundation for the entire development process and timeline. 

Phase 3 – User Interface Design 

Product designers create the overall structure and blueprint of the software based on the requirements gathered earlier. This involves defining the system architecture, data models, user interfaces, and other technical specifications.   

Phase 4 – Development & version Control 

Software developers write the actual code according to the design specifications provided. They use programming languages and other development tools to create the software components, modules, and features outlined in the design. It covers coding, unit testing, code reviews, and version control to ensure the quality and sustainability of the codebase. 

Phase 5 – Testing 

Various testing techniques, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing, are employed to verify the functionality, performance, security, and reliability of the software. Testers work closely with developers to resolve issues and meet the quality standards defined in the requirements. 

Phase 6 – Deployment & Maintenance  

Deployment involves activities like installation, configuration, data migration, and user training, depending on the software and the deployment environment. It marks the transition from development to operations, where the focus shifts to maintaining and supporting the live system. 

You can also read – Enterprise Digital Transformation – 5 Things You Should Know to Make It Work 

In the maintenance phase, software is monitored, updated, and enhanced to address issues, accommodate changes, and meet user needs. It includes bug fixes, performance optimizations, feature enhancements, and security updates.   

Top 10 Software Development Challenges (That Often Result in Unsatisfactory End Product) 

1. Data Security  

Software development companies in the United States and overseas face the challenge of ensuring robust data security to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. To address this, an app development agency like Zazz implements encryption techniques to secure data both at rest and in transit.  

Employing secure coding practices and conducting thorough security testing throughout the development process further fortifies the software application against potential vulnerabilities, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of data. 

2. Constant Tech Advancements 

Constant tech advancements pose a challenge to software application development, requiring companies to stay updated with emerging technologies to remain competitive. A reliable software development company tackles this challenge by fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation among its team members.  

They invest in ongoing training programs, encourage participation in industry events, and prioritize flexibility and scalability in their development processes, allowing them to adapt quickly to new technologies as per evolving market demands. 

3. Changing Requirements 

Changing requirements pose a significant challenge in software development, leading to scope creep, delays, and increased costs. To deal with this issue, your IT partner will address this challenge by adopting Agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban. They prioritize frequent communication with clients to understand evolving needs and adapt quickly.  

They employ robust version control systems and automated testing to ensure the software remains stable despite changing requirements. By embracing flexibility and collaboration, expert app development companies effectively manage changing requirements, delivering solutions that meet clients’ evolving needs. 

4. Time Constraints 

Time constraints in software development often lead to rushed projects, compromising quality and risking project failure. Expert app development companies manage this challenge by implementing efficient project management methodologies to prioritize tasks, streamline workflows, and optimize resource allocation.  

They also leverage reusable components, automation tools, and pre-built frameworks to accelerate development without sacrificing quality. By fostering clear communication, setting realistic timelines, and embracing iterative development cycles, these companies ensure the timely delivery of high-quality software solutions. 

You can also read – A Guide to Build a Custom Medical Billing Software 

5. Platform Complexity 

Platform complexity arises when a software application needs to be developed for multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, and web, each with unique requirements and technologies. An experienced software development company addresses this challenge by leveraging cross-platform development frameworks like React Native or Flutter.  

These frameworks enable developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, reducing development time and effort while maintaining a consistent user experience. 

6. System Integration 

System integration, as one of the top 10 software development challenges, involves connecting different software systems or components to work together seamlessly. To deal with this issue, top-tier agencies like Zazz consider implementing robust APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to streamline communication between disparate systems.  

They design flexible architectures that support interoperability and data exchange between systems, ensuring compatibility and consistency across the integrated environment. Moreover, they conduct thorough testing and validation to identify and resolve integration issues early in the development process. 

7. Communication & Collaboration 

Communication and collaboration are vital in software development but can be challenging due to dispersed teams or miscommunication. An expert mobile app development company addresses this by implementing robust communication channels like Slack or Microsoft Teams, enabling real-time messaging and video conferencing.  

They utilize collaboration tools like Jira or Trello for task management, ensuring transparency and accountability. Regular stand-up meetings, sprint retrospectives, and continuous feedback loops foster collaboration and alignment among team members. By emphasizing open and effective collaboration practices, the company ensures that project objectives are achieved. 

8. Software Testing Conflicts  

Software testing conflicts occur when there’s a clash between the development and testing teams, often due to miscommunication or differing priorities. Your service provider will tackle this by fostering a culture of collaboration, where both teams work closely throughout the development cycle.  

They emphasize early and continuous testing, integrate testing into the development process, and automate tests wherever possible. Clear communication channels, regular meetings, and shared goals ensure alignment between development and testing. 

9. Technological Debt  

Technological debt refers to the accumulation of suboptimal code or outdated technologies in a software project, leading to increased maintenance costs and decreased productivity over time. An expert application development firm addresses this issue by conducting regular code reviews, refactoring legacy code, and adopting modern development practices and tools.  

They prioritize addressing technical debt alongside new feature development, ensuring a stable and maintainable codebase. They implement automated testing and continuous integration to prevent the accrual of further debt. 

10. Staffing & Infrastructure   

Staffing & Infrastructure challenge in software development involves resource allocation and ensuring the availability of skilled professionals and necessary technological resources. An expert IT team handles this by maintaining a pool of talented developers with diverse skill sets, scalable IT infrastructure, and efficient project management systems.  

You can also read – MACH 101 – A Comprehensive Look Into the Most Scalable & Future-Proof Architecture 

They leverage cloud services for flexible infrastructure provisioning, implement remote work capabilities, and utilize collaboration tools to streamline communication. These companies also prioritize continuous training and skill development for their teams to stay ahead in technology trends. 

Why Trust Zazz to Deal with Software Development Challenges? 

These top 10 software development challenges are very common in enterprise projects, but you can avoid these issues by choosing the right IT partner. Your hunt for the best software development agency can end at Zazz and its bespoke software development solutions tailored to solve a definitive business problem.  

Our idea of project delivery includes thorough market research, manual and automated quality assurance, and seamless support. You can trust on our software solutions as we have come across the aforementioned software development challenges and made our way to timely project completion with precision.  

If you wish to discuss further your enterprise software project, then you can book a call with our team now! 

AI is inspiringly disruptive, and the entire world is experiencing it with a revolutionary change across everything around us. From gaming, education, and shopping to online transactions and communication, artificial intelligence is leading the way with notable capabilities that simplify it for people to interact and engage. 

In a nutshell, artificial intelligence is the future of every brand looking toward a future-first business architecture. Among other prominent domains, retail is an industry where the impact of AI-driven applications can be leveraged on many scales. 

You must have heard or read about the majestic influence of these technologies being embraced by industry leaders to upscale their business presence and make profits. In the healthcare sector, tech suites like AR and VR are revolutionizing medical diagnosis, appointment booking, doctor-patient interactions, and so much more. 

You can also read – Enterprise Digital Transformation – 5 Things You Should Know to Make It Work 

This tech-driven change is omnipresent including industries such as fintech, education, etc. which gives rise to the question, “How to boost retail sales with AI applications?” 

All it takes to adopt these cutting-edge technologies is to find the right software and app development agency with expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning. With strategic planning and feature implementation, any retail brand can achieve success in terms of increased user engagement and ROI. 

In this post, we will focus on some crucial aspects of retail that can be optimized with AI to drive transition in the sales cycle effectively. Moreover, we will also explore some use cases to study how AI has been a game changer in the online shopping domain already and why businesses should invest in it! 

Boosting Retail Sales with AI Applications – Use Cases that Will Change Your Mind 

The raging market competitiveness accompanied by survey reports, analyses, and many expert opinions can create a lot of confusion, especially in terms of decision-making. 

However, the following use cases showing the lucrative effect of AI in retail success help you grasp the significance of embracing these technologies: 

1. Amazon – User Personalization, Demand Forecasting, & Logistics Planning 

Let’s start with Amazon! 

Amazon products can be found in every household around the globe. The e-commerce giant has remarkably used its supremacy to leverage its data and gain insights from the artificial intelligence tech suite for a broad array of functions. 

You can also read – Unveiling the Power of Seamless UI/UX in Mobile App Success

Its shopping portal can now analyze user behavior with information from search and purchase history to recommend relevant products. 35% of the total revenue of Amazon comes from this feature. In addition, they have a demand algorithm to assess past sales data, inventory levels, search trends, and pricing fluctuations. 

In addition to inventory optimization, AI and machine learning allowed Amazon’s retail game to boost with powerful logistics planning. For maximum inventory optimization, it can now identify warehouse locations and plan distribution routes for hassle-free order delivery. 

2. Walmart – Chatbot Integration & In-Store Analytics 

Walmart is one of those popular shopping brands that thrive on consumer experience for seamless sales and buyer retention. Therefore, it decided to upgrade its architecture with chatbot implementation to get even better at servicing its target audiences. Now its customers can get answers to basic buying queries through AI. Human support only gets those queries that require more attention. 

In-store analytics is Walmart’s way to ensure that it can collect data based on its consumers’ preferences while they are inside the store. This in-store analytical system has an image recognition feature along with sensors to personalize the user experience and enhance the store layout for a more impactful product display. 

You can also read – How Long it Takes to Develop and Launch a Mobile App? 

3. Sephora – Virtual Try-On & Beauty Advisor 

Not being able to try on a product before buying online used to be one of the biggest challenges in the beauty commerce domain. It was difficult to pick the right shade of lip color or foundation without testing it on a particular skin tone.  

However, it remained a problem only until Sephora introduced its virtual try-on feature. An immensely powerful combination of AI with AR now allows its buyers to find the best makeup product as per their skin tone.  

The upscaling process of Sephora to boost its sales with AI applications didn’t stop at AR implementation. It also has a beauty advisor run by machine learning algorithms to help shoppers get personalized recommendations for products that will suit their skin type, skin tone, and face shape.  

4. Starbucks – Menu Setup & Supply Chain Forecasting 

Millions of people in the world start their day with Starbucks and rely on its services to get fresh beverages. To align itself with the changing market dynamics, it needed AI and natural language processing (NLP) to collect insights and utilize the data to optimize its menu. This way, the brand has gained an advantage in terms of launching new products successfully. 

You can also read – Top 8 Features of Highly Profiting Meal Planning Apps

Apart from menu optimization, Starbucks is leveraging artificial intelligence technology to keep track of its inventory and prompt better supply planning with product demand forecasting. 

With these use cases, it is clear that AI applications help retail businesses manage their supply chain forecasting and enhance their consumer engagement process to eventually retain buyers and boost sales. 

Let’s move on to the part where you will learn about the areas that are impacted by the implementation of AI technology in a retail cycle. 

Benefits of AI that Simplify Retail Operations 

1. Demand Forecasting 

A retail business must concur with many responsibilities, and inventory management is one of them. Planning of available and out-of-stick products, selection of most bought products, and classification of customers are some areas that require constant attention and AI can be leveraged to improve this. 

Traditionally, stores relied on spreadsheets and other similar methods to keep track of their inventory, but it is vividly prone to data errors. The chances of mistakes are higher when the product range is higher, and the target buyers come from different groups. 

Fortunately, AI-driven analytical systems and demand forecasting features automate the process remarkably. While this feature doesn’t directly boost retail sales with AI applications, it enables top brands to focus on their sales cycle instead of wasting time and resources on inventory management. 

You can also read – How Did Starbucks Increase Sales by 14% with Its Mobile App? Let’s Find Out!

2. Personalized Shopping Experience 

Look at it this way!  

You’re looking for new cushions on a shopping portal for a week, but it fails to show you the right selection even after that. You will stop using that shopping app. However, you will instantly be drawn to an e-commerce platform that is showcasing similar products that you saw just a few hours back. 

This is the difference between an AI-powered application and a regular shopping portal. User personalization makes all the difference, and this is why almost every other online shopping app counts on cutting-edge technologies to understand user behavior, gather user data, and use it to recommend relevant products that buyers will be interested in. 

3. Supply Chain Optimization 

What will happen when you have enough leads but no efficient supply chain system? In that case, only an AI-backed application can help you manage the post-retail process from production to delivery. Other than demand forecasting, supply chain management is another aspect of retail that doesn’t involve any interaction with the buyer but affects sales by reducing costs and increasing efficiency. 

4. Inventory Management 

Retail inventory is a more complex procedure for established businesses that it appears as it consumes a lot of hours and manual labor to maintain the data based on the size and type of retail venture. Given other pre-sale and post-sale challenges, automation is certainly the key to streamline inventory management. 

Lowes, which is a home improvement retail brand, keeps small cameras at the top of shelves in the store to quickly assess what product is falling short in quantity. An AI-driven inventory management system can help retail stores leverage sensors and camera vision to tackle these challenges and maintain the inventory hassle-free.  

5. Quick Support for Buyers 

Your staff can’t always be present to answer the queries of your buyers, given the higher cost of maintaining round-the-clock human support. However, you can always trust AI-based chat support to revert your buyers and provide the answers that can persuade your target audiences to make an informed buying decision.  

You can also read – 5G Revolution: Impact and Evolution in Mobile App Development

Global retail brands like Sephora use AI chatbots as reservation assistants to get orders when a new product launch is around the corner. This way, they manage to update their inventory and streamline the post-sales process without any delay. 

Why You Should Trust Zazz for AI Application Development 

Technology is here to help businesses get better with their approach to engaging with the target audiences and stakeholders. With AI, you can not only increase your presence on the web but also discover possibilities with which a brand can become future-ready. 

At Zazz, we can be your technology partner in building highly responsive and visually empowering AI applications that not only boost your retail sales but also help you align your inventory with your buyers’ favorite products. Our expertise in the latest suite of cutting-edge frameworks can help you reform your online shopping brand and increase outreach effectively. 

To learn more about our AI app development services, schedule a call with us now! 

We are living in a world where a brand has to go through different levels of struggle while trying to engage their target users and move toward their goals. Competition, in this day and age, is omnipresent. Therefore, a business needs a future-proof digital strategy to stand itself apart and combat potential ups and downs in an ever-evolving market. 

A thriving enterprise needs a research-backed roadmap to appear on the surface with a digital image that audiences can relate to. This is why organizations are advised to invest in full-fledged digital transformation to not only survive the competition but also create a benchmark in their respective domains. 

A study conducted by Deloitte a few years back revealed that businesses can become 26% more profitable after adopting digital technologies. Moreover, some research outcomes accomplished by McKinsey have proved that enterprises can boost their employee efficiency by 40% with the help of a well-structured digital transformation.  

Enterprise digital transformation will turn out to grow into a $3.4 trillion global market hinting at the rising needs and advantages associated with it.  

You can also read – A Guide to Build a Custom Medical Billing Software  

What goes on in digital business transformation that renders a collective boost in terms of productivity, engagement, and profit? How does it make a business future-ready? How to get started to succeed? 

Let’s dive deeper to explore what it is and how you can achieve your growth objectives with enterprise digital transformation! 

What is Enterprise Digital Transformation 

Enterprise digital transformation is a term that describes the use of various cutting-edge digital technologies, tools, and strategies that essentially affect the growth architecture of a business. This form of transformation is based on the target market, internal business operations, engagement models, and customer experiences.  

It can be strategized for multiple purposes, but the main goal of these services is to utilize the right set of technologies and digital frameworks to develop an enterprise and reach its success goals by enhancing engagement and efficiency. 

Key Elements of Enterprise Digital Transformation that Prompt the Change 

• Technology Implementation: Strategic adoption of cutting-edge tools and systems to modernize operations and drive efficiency, leveraging advancements like cloud computing, AI, and IoT to meet evolving business needs. 
• Process Planning & Optimization: Methodical analysis and redesign of workflows to eliminate bottlenecks, enhance productivity, and align with digital capabilities, ensuring streamlined operations and seamless integration of new technologies. 
• Data Gathering & Utilization: Systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to derive actionable insights, driving informed decision-making, personalized experiences, and innovation across all business functions. 
• User Experience Enhancement: Focused efforts to improve customer and employee interactions with digital platforms and services, prioritizing intuitive design, accessibility, and responsiveness to meet evolving expectations and needs. 

You can also read – How Can React Native Reduce Mobile App Development Costs? 

• Innovative Business Model Setup: Exploration and adoption of novel approaches to value creation, such as subscription-based services, platform ecosystems, or outcome-based pricing, fostering agility, differentiation, and sustainable growth in a digital landscape. 
• Organizational Shift: Cultural and structural adjustments to foster digital mindset, collaboration, and agility, promoting continuous learning, experimentation, and adaptability to navigate digital disruptions and drive transformational change. 
• Risk Management & Security: Proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of potential threats and vulnerabilities, implementing robust cybersecurity measures and compliance protocols to safeguard data, assets, and reputation in an increasingly digitized environment. 
• Agility & Process Scalability: Flexibility and scalability in operations and infrastructure to quickly respond to market changes, customer demands, and emerging opportunities, enabling rapid innovation, growth, and competitive advantage. 

Benefits of Digital Transformation – What Changes Can Enterprises Expect? 

Increased Operational Efficiency 

As one of the main objectives of enterprise digital transformation services, your technology partner will align your internal processes, expedite tasks with automation, and reduce manual efforts that take up the maximum amount of time. Collectively, your employees will experience operational efficiency, minimize errors, and uplift response times more. 

Enhanced Business Profitability 

By implementing digital solutions such as automation, predictive analytics, and cloud computing, businesses can reduce operational costs, identify new revenue streams, and enhance efficiency. This leads to improved profitability by maximizing returns on investment and driving growth in a competitive market landscape. 

You can also read – How to Choose the Right Technology Stack for A Mobile App 

Improved User Experience & Engagement 

Digital transformation aims to enhance the interaction between businesses and their customers by offering personalized experiences across various channels. Organizations can tailor their products and services to meet the evolving needs and preferences of their target audience. This fosters engagement, ultimately driving customer retention. 

Transparency & Employee Empowerment 

Digital transformation enables transparent communication, access to real-time data, and collaboration across teams and hierarchies. This transparency empowers employees by providing them with the information/tools they need to make informed decisions, take ownership of their work, and contribute meaningfully to organizational goals. 

Competitive Advantage 

When you consult a technology partner such as a software and mobile app development company for enterprise digital transformation, you not only rise above the booming market competition but also gain an advantage in terms of improved means of engagement and consumer experiences. Simply put, tailored digital transformation solutions enable you to adapt to revolutionizing demands and subdue your competitors. 

Future-Driven Scalability 

Digital enterprise transformation is known to provide a protective shell of scalability to your enterprise. It is a form of flexibility that lets your organization adapt to changing means of technology and communication. You can stay ahead of the curve with the help of an agile layout that covers every imperative component of your business operations. 

You can also read – How do Successful Startups Save Money with MVP Development? 

Driving Impact with Enterprise Digital Transformation – How to Make It Work? 

1. Review Your Existing Workflow to Understand the Gaps 

It is vital to conduct a thorough analysis of current processes, identify bottlenecks, and understand how digital solutions can optimize workflows, enhance collaboration, and improve efficiency. This assessment lays the foundation for development strategies to address specific gaps within your organization. 

2. Define the Objectives You Have Envisioned for Your Brand 

You need to articulate the strategic objectives and desired outcomes of your brand’s transformation journey. Whether it’s improving customer engagement, streamlining operations, or expanding market reach, establishing a vision provides direction. These objectives serve as guiding principles to shape the roadmap and measure success. 

3. Map the KPIs to Evaluate What Works for Your Business 

Several metrics that include customer acquisition costs, conversion rates, customer satisfaction scores, or revenue growth targets are key to a successful digital transformation. By mapping KPIs, you can effectively measure the impact of digital initiatives, track progress, and make data-driven decisions to optimize performance. 

4. Create A Step-by-Step Strategy to Set Different Phases 

You can start building a structured, phased approach to digital transformation, outlining clear milestones and objectives for each stage. By breaking down the transformation process into manageable phases, you can prioritize initiatives, allocate resources effectively, and minimize disruptions to ongoing operations. 

You can also read – Guide to Building Highly Profitable Fintech Apps – Features & Best Practices 

5. Keep A Track of the Project for Timely Optimization 

It is important to implement robust project management and monitoring mechanisms to track the execution of your digital transformation initiatives. Regularly assess project progress and analyze performance metrics to identify areas for optimization. 

Why Trust Zazz for Enterprise Digital Transformation Services? 

Enterprise digital transformation is your pathway to leading a successful and thriving venture as long as you are choosing the right technology partner with an array of expertise in cutting-edge frameworks. Convey your expectations and goals clearly to your service providers and assess their strategy and conviction toward your enterprise’s objectives. 

You must know that your enterprise is up against a plethora of competitors out there who have already adopted the latest technologies to establish their presence in the market. Therefore, you need to find a service provider like Zazz who can help you stand out in the crowd and make a real difference in the tech world with innovative design ideologies and on-time product engineering solutions. 

You can also read – Mastering Mobile App Quality Assurance: Why It’s A Must 

We are a 14-year-old mobile application and software development company with a specialization in digital transformation and enterprise solutions. When it comes to tailoring our services for our clients, we always keep scalability, future-first designs, and tech innovation at the center of our roadmap planning. 

Our expertise in AI, AR, VR, IoT, and custom solutions can provide you with a broader spectrum of choices for your enterprise digital solutions. To discuss further, schedule a call with us today! 

Medical service providers bill their patients for the services they provide. Every diagnosis, treatment, prescription, and administrative service that patients receive must be included in the final bill. Therefore, the invoicing process in hospitals and clinics can be streamlined by learning how to create medical billing software.

By implementing a healthcare billing system, medical facilities can lessen billing errors that annoy patients and healthcare providers. According to a study, eighty percent of US medical bills have errors. Financial disparities arise from either overbilling or underbilling patients.

Let’s go further in the article and explore how to build custom medical billing software for your company and understand the other aspects of medical billing software.

What is Medical Billing Software?

Software for medical billing enables healthcare providers to automate the process of issuing invoices. Medical billing apps interface with electronic health record (EHR) systems to capture all billable services throughout the patient journey, eliminating the risk of human error. Installing a medical billing system will benefit larger hospitals and smaller clinics.

How Does Software for Medical Billing Operate?

Let’s see how patients are billed in a hospital system:

● At the front desk, patients register their visits.

● Healthcare professionals verify their eligibility for filing insurance claims.

● Doctors record the diagnosis and any treatments provided during the consultation.

● The medical staff tagged the patient’s invoice with the relevant medical codes.

● A superbill is provided that lists all medical services along with their corresponding codes.

● The medical professional either files a claim with the insurance company or gives the patient the invoice.

● The claim may be accepted, modified, or denied by the patient’s insurance. Depending on the ruling, medical professionals might have to make changes and resubmit the claim.

● After approval, the billing department documents the amount received and collects the outstanding balance from patients.

● The current status of approved claims and outstanding receivables is reflected in financial records.

Types of Medical Billing System

Healthcare professionals can use any one of three medical billing system types.

Accessible Invoicing Framework

Transparent and open access to patient status is made possible by integrating open medical billing apps with the EHR. It enables medical staff to exchange and access data between various medical departments.

Closed Billing Configuration

A single practitioner can only access information through closed medical billing software. This strategy can be compared to digitizing paper patient charts. Physicians cannot provide billing information to other practitioners under this approach.

Separate Billing System

Only patients can use an isolated billing system. Patients are in charge of keeping track of their appointments and expenses. Patients’ stored information is not accessible to doctors, nurses, or healthcare facilities.

6 Steps to Creating Medical Billing Software

Here, we share the six steps to help you create medical billing software. You may also consider hiring a software developer or a mobile developer who can help you.

1. Conduct a Phase of Discovery

Don’t create an app for medical billing that is difficult for users to use. To make a solid basis for further development work, measure the market, examine rival software, and get input from the intended audience.

2. Specify What You Need

Enumerate the technical needs for the medical billing app after you’ve gotten feedback and results from the initial study. Hire a software developer and provide records of the platforms, third-party services, technology stacks, and functional requirements for the app.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are used in most healthcare services to increase productivity and add cutting-edge features. For instance, you can use AI to enable personalized engagement and integrate a conversational chatbot.

3. Create a Proof of Concept

Before developing the solution, create a proof of concept (PoC). A proof of concept is a blueprint for a design that you can use to solicit quick feedback from users. Use UI/UX best practices to design layouts for a proof of concept that closely resembles the final product’s appearance.

You may also want to show off the PoC’s in-app navigation and basic functionality. Show the proof of concept to all relevant parties and utilize it to solicit input from the intended audience.

4. Create the Software

The next stage of development, which is also the most crucial, starts. To create medical billing software, UI/UX designers, project managers, backend/frontend programmers, and app developers collaborate closely.

5. Testing Before Launch

Test the software extensively to find bugs and other problems before making it available to medical users.

● The software operates according to the intended workflow by creating and running multiple use cases.

● Check for performance problems with the software, especially during periods of high user traffic.

● Gather the test results, assess them, and adjust the software as needed.

● Regression testing is a good way to ensure that new changes don’t break the software and prepare it for production release.

● Software must comply with privacy laws, such as HIPAA, and be certified by regulatory bodies.

6. Software Support and Release

Start the program and watch for any problems during the first few weeks. Ensure your support staff is accessible to help users around the clock. Recall that for a more seamless onboarding experience, you may need to train physicians and medical staff.

Read more on healthcare app development:

Developing a Healthcare App in 2024 – A Complete Guide

Benefits of a Medical Software in Healthcare Centers and Clinics

How Custom Software Development is Revolutionizing Healthcare Sector

Features of Medical Billing Software

Numerous features are available in some medical billing software to automate the invoicing process. Nevertheless, you’ll only require a small number when creating a minimum viable product (MVP).

Process Automation for Billing

By automating most of the process, a hospital billing system seeks to relieve medical staff members of the burden of billing patients. Without human intervention, the software transfers data it collects from one department to another, from patient registration to claim reimbursement. Once billing rules are set up, the app will automatically charge each registered patient with the same medical code.

Friendly User Interface and Customization Possibilities

A functional medical billing app must adhere to the best UI/UX practices, such as using appropriate descriptions for the intended audience. Furthermore, allowing medical staff to personalize billing procedures increases adoption.

Capabilities for Analytics and Reporting

Medical staff can create reports, see patient payment trends, and get valuable insights with the help of reporting features. They give financial and healthcare teams visibility and control over revenue growth, costs, and profitability.

Final Words

Apps for medical billing streamline invoicing procedures to minimize disparities in reimbursement and facilitate timely payment. Medical bills issued with precision and conciseness benefit patients, physicians, and healthcare providers. Using custom medical billing software, you can save time on patient registration, insurance claim processing, assigning medical codes, and other procedures for collecting payment for rendered medical services.

Creating bespoke medical billing applications is prudent for healthcare providers who need flexibility, control, and customized solutions. Therefore, investing in hiring a mobile app developer is beneficial for providing easy medical billing.

If cross-platform development is something you’re considering for your project, Flutter is the best option. With the progress of mobile technology, users have higher expectations for the functionality and performance of apps.

These days, most businesses use Flutter’s hybrid framework and user-friendly interface when developing apps. Developers can use the open-source Flutter framework to design mobile apps compatible with the iOS and Android operating systems. It is a reactive hybrid framework that functions on Android and iOS platforms. It includes a unique set of tools for creating and deploying user interfaces (UIs) with animations and a single codebase. Reliable performance and cost-effectiveness are ensured when you work with a dedicated Flutter app developer.

Let’s discuss the Flutter development company and the benefits of hiring mobile app developers.

What is the Flutter App?

An open-source software development kit is called Flutter. Using the same code base, a Flutter app development company in USA produces natively created apps of superior quality for both the iOS and Android platforms. Flutter is a full-featured software development kit with every tool needed to develop excellent applications. It includes command-line tools, a visualization system, multiple pre-made widgets, API interfaces, and more.

Flutter is built on top of the Dart language, which is very productive and easy to learn. This framework is visually capable because you can safely design your program using exemplary user interface components.

In terms of popularity, Flutter is progressing nicely. Flutter was in the top 100 software technologies based on GitHub stars when the release preview was unveiled in June 2018, but it has since risen through the ranks to be in the top 30. Many well-known companies, such as Alibaba and Phillips, have already tested this toolkit on their mobile apps, generating a lot of hype.

In the third quarter of 2021, Google conducted a developer survey, and nearly 92% of developers expressed positive satisfaction with working with Flutter, with over 53% expressing delight.

Are you curious about the advantages utilizing Flutter for your upcoming project would have for your business and why it would be beneficial?

Top Benefits of Flutter App Development

Look at the features and benefits listed below to get you to try out Flutter before hiring any mobile app development company.

Shorter Time to Development

Hot reload is one of Flutter’s most highly praised features; it lets you immediately inspect emulators, simulators, and hardware code changes. The updated code loads back into the program in less than a second, so restarting it is unnecessary. In this way, you maintain the current state of the application. Compared to other frameworks, it accelerates the development of Flutter apps.

Elevated Efficiency

Generally, a Flutter application’s performance will be the same as a native app’s and even better in dynamic UI animation situations. How? Dart compiles into native code, so Flutter has its widgets, and you don’t need to access OEM widgets. This suggests there will be fewer middlemen in the communication between the app and the platform. There are fewer performance issues as a result of all these variables.

Sharing of Code Bases

You can share the code across Android, iOS, and other platforms without being entirely rewritten. This is one of the main benefits of applications developed with Flutter. Because of this feature, Flutter is an excellent choice for MVP (minimum viable product) development. With its help, committed Flutter developers can create an application that looks almost like a native one, test it with the intended user base, and decide if a native app is needed.

Longer Time to Market

Flutter performs faster than other cross-platform frameworks. You can expect a Flutter project to take at least twice as many hours as developing the same app separately for iOS and Android. The primary explanation is simple: you don’t need to write any platform-specific code to include the right images in your application.

Therefore, opting for a Flutter app development company is a prudent financial move.

Read more on Flutter app development:

Top 10 Flutter App Development Companies in The USA

Top 10 Flutter App Development Tools To Use in 2021

Why is Flutter A Compatible Choice for Enterprise App Development?

Enriched Collections

Flutter makes use of Skia, a fast and well-known open-source graphics program. An intuitive and quick app experience is achieved by redrawing the interface whenever a view is altered.

Capabilities for Rendering

Flutter provides developers with many options for customizing an app under development; a powerful rendering engine powers this extensive toolkit. Flutter uses Skia to render itself onto a canvas supplied by the platform. The engine makes it possible to launch the Flutter user interface on nearly any platform. The development process is significantly streamlined because the user interface (UI) no longer needs to be changed to be transferred to a platform.

How to Hire a Mobile App Developer?

The hiring process is essential for a Flutter development company because it can determine the effectiveness of the work. Therefore, it’s necessary to find the right talent, and here we have listed some of the best ways to hire a mobile app developer.

Evaluating the Skills of Flutter Developers

Assessing a candidate’s Flutter proficiency during the hiring process is critical. This entails knowing the programming language Dart (used by Flutter), working with third-party libraries, and being acquainted with the iOS and Android operating systems.

Assessing Candidate and Portfolio Experience

You should request the flutter app developer’s portfolios when narrowing down your options to choose the best one for the benefits of performance.

Giving an Assignment for Skill Testing

Sometimes, checking the portfolio is insufficient, and giving a sample article could be the best practice for hiring a mobile app developer.

Ready to take your app idea to the next level? Book a consultation with Flutter app developers!

Final Words

Flutter’s extensive feature set, both new and efficient, enables developers to create experiences that are far more seamless, which eventually produces additional exposure and leads. There is no denying Flutter’s influence in the field of app development. Employing a committed Flutter developer will enable it to take advantage of a technology that provides effectiveness, affordability, and an enhanced user experience. Ready to bring your app idea to life? Explore Zazz’s in-house app developers’ portfolios and skill sets. Hire a talented developer for your project on a part-time basis today!