Category: All Blog Category

How Smart IoT Solutions will Suffice the Electricity Demands Globally

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

The global population has been increasing by leaps and bounds, and so is their electricity demand. To fulfill this demand, power generation companies and utilities are continuously improving their existing working methodologies and machinery. Thus, they are able to elevate the overall plant efficiency, which in turn, enables utilities to provide electricity to a wide area network.

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and SCADA systems have enabled these companies to assess the condition and performance of their power plants’ tools for a long time. However, these systems are less interoperable and don’t offer consumption pattern monitoring of energy consumed by the end consumers.

The emergence of IoT in the energy sector has also resulted in the advent of smart IoT-based energy solutions. These solutions underpinned with IoT sensors and telemetry capabilities offer enormous functionalities to the energy sector in terms of operational optimization, consumption pattern monitoring, and asset performance management.

Smart Energy Solutions

Smart energy solutions are made up of devices like the smart grid and smart meters that are used to garner relevant data. This data comprises factors related to electricity flow and can vary from equipment performance to energy utilized by the end-users. By analyzing this data, the energy companies can make informed decisions to manage electricity flow in three processes, including power generation, transmission, and distribution.

IoT plays a vital role in maintaining the power flow in all these three processes. It allows electricity companies to manage the electricity supply at peak hours and eliminate wastage.

Let’s dive deep into the benefits of the Internet of Things in all these processes.

Power Generation –

Power plant machinery must be efficient enough to minimize electricity wastage. However, power plants undergo high levels of inefficiency and unreliability due to:

  • Use of old and malfunctioning equipment
  • Improper operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures.
  • Incorrect utilization of historical data related to equipment.

These factors considerably affect the efficiency of machinery and equipment. With the help of IoT app developers, power generation companies create cost-effective solutions to enhance their O&M tasks, thus improving the lifetime of the equipment. By continuously tracking the performance of assets, point of failure and required maintenance time can be estimated accurately.

Uptime Monitoring:

Uptime monitoring is the time during which machinery or equipment runs. While the machine is working, different parameters are considered to assess its performance and condition. These parameters help companies to estimate the machine breakdown time and even schedule predictive, condition, or risk-based maintenance tasks.

Downtime Monitoring:

The time in which equipment is not running or under maintenance is referred to as downtime. By using the historical data of equipment garnered through different integrated sensors, appropriate repairs and maintenance can be done to get it ready for operation.

By simultaneously assessing the uptime and downtime of various machines in a power plant, the availability of equipment can be determined. Thus, the standby machines can be used during peak hours to fulfill the extra demand. A few other benefits of monitoring equipment availability are:

  • Minimized maintenance costs
  • Improved efficiency and reliability of assets
  • Fast inspection and detection of sources of failure
  • Elimination of unplanned downtime and emergency repairs

Power Transmission –

The efficiency of power transmission systems decreases after a prolonged duration of usage. Additionally, these power grid systems often run along with power plants having high emission rates and low fuel efficiency that result in reduced efficacy of power transmission systems. 

Nowadays, these conventional power grids have been supplanted with upgraded IoT-based smart grids. The new smart grids provide quick remote control on multiple electricity transfer parameters such as voltage, frequency, ramp rate, etc. Moreover, they offer a two-way dialogue system that enables utilities and customers to transmit data and electricity quickly.

Key benefits that an advanced transmission system yield with smart grids are:

Renewable Energy Management:

The energy produced from renewable resources is known as variable power, which varies with change in environmental conditions. A smart transmission system can identify these variations and also balance the power supply by extracting energy or electricity from conventional power plants.

Reduced Operational Costs:

Smart grids complemented with distribution systems can gauge the energy consumption in different locations and the duration of peak power consumption. Based on this data, utilities can choose the best possible time to run “peaking plants” to manage power supply when there is a peak demand for electricity. Since this reduces the usage of less efficient peaking plants, the operational cost is also reduced considerably.

Asset Management:

A transmission system comprises transformers, substations, and transmission lines. These assets and equipment develop faults owing to overloading and continuous operation. So, different IoT sensors are used to examine various factors related to the working of the equipment and identifying safety hazards as well as vulnerable components. This improves the maintenance tasks along with the life of transmission equipment.

Power Distribution –

IoT is improving the distribution services and customer experiences using smart meters and smart grids. A smart meter is an IoT application that transfers power consumption data of a home to the utility provider. Customers can also access the data through a web app or even from television.

Besides, smart meters foster the development of smart distribution systems, offering various benefits in the field of:

Supply Rerouting and Restoring:

Due to unwanted environmental conditions, transmission systems and assets can get damaged, which averts the electricity flow in certain regions. It can take a lot of time to recover the breakdown and restore the electricity supply in a location. However, the blend of smart meters and smart grids can find a separate path to supply electricity and help utilities to reroute the power supply to the area suffering from a blackout.

Energy Management Solutions for Home:

Smart appliances at home can exchange data with smart meters to store and analyze data related to energy consumption. Furthermore, smart meters share this data with a centralized platform that can even be accessed from a TV. This data can be utilized by consumers to manage electricity consumption and thus reduce the bills. 

Final Words

Smart energy solutions are improving the power generation, transmission, and distribution processes. IoT adoption in the energy sector has fueled the emergence of more reliable and efficient systems that reduces the power flow from power plants to end consumers. Thus, utilities are able to boost the reach of their electricity network to more remote locations and suffice the electricity demand of the continuously soaring global population.                                                 

If you also want to add intelligence to your power supply business, we suggest you investing in IoT app development services to create a smart energy solution and drive your business growth.

3 Factors to Consider for Successful Beauty and Salon App Development

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

On-demand applications are gold mines that give assured returns to all the businesses. From booking cabs to booking online appointments, users can perform everything with just a few taps in a mobile app.

Being in the beauty and salon business, you might be encountering certain obstacles like messing up with appointments in busy days, missing phone calls while attending other clients at the salon, unable to prepare special gift cards for your regular clients or offering them discount coupons.                                                                 

With an iOS/Android app development for your salon business, you can get a comprehensive solution from bookings to payments and also enhance your customer base. Apps like Glamsquad, Stylebee, Priv are the leading salon apps in the US, which provide the best on-demand experience to customers.

The on-demand salon apps not only save customers’ commute time but also eliminate waiting in a queue for their turn. Probably, everyone can now easily avail beauty services in their four walls using a salon app. So, if you’re devising to create your own salon app and offer a remarkable customer experience, consider these three factors that can add value to your app as well as business.

Provide a Versatile Menu to Users

To develop a salon app, consider all the needs that users might expect in an online beauty service. So, you need to curate a versatile menu that comprises every beauty services right from manicures and haircuts to every other body rejuvenating therapy.

Additionally, looking for more options is a human tendency. Even while scrolling an app, users would like to explore more beauty services and packages that are pertinent to their needs and budget. Thus, create a user-friendly design for seamless navigation from one menu to another in your application.

Provide Convenient Scheduling/Rescheduling to Users

When you aim for a scheduling app for your salon business, keeping customer convenience in mind is of utmost importance. Customers have shifted to online services because of their instant availability and other perks like:

  • Schedule or Reschedule a service
  • Select a date, time, and location as per their convenience
  • Choose their professional service providers
  • Book more than one service at a time
  • Cancel an appointment anytime for minimal or no charge

Online appointments serve as a boon for your business as well as customers. You will be able to give a personalized treatment to every client, avoiding misunderstandings that usually happen over a call. Additionally, with an automatic scheduling and rescheduling feature, you can easily manage multiple appointments using your beauty salon application. Also, you can scan through available slots and appointments through an in-app calendar.

So, to develop a salon app in 2020, it is essential to bear such an intriguing factor in mind. With the help of iOS/Android app developers, you can have an idea of the scope of an online beauty app and also cross-verify your salon app idea.

Provide Shopping Experience to Users – An Additional Benefit

Besides providing beauty services via the app, you can sell your own beauty product line. Using your app, users can buy their desired products whenever they want. Furthermore, you can offer exclusive discounts and offers as a gift of appreciation to your loyal customers in order to encourage them to make more online purchases.

Now, let’s go through some key features that you must integrate into your app to engage and retain more customers to your beauty platform.

Features of Beauty Salon App

  • Login/Sign Up
  • Catalog of Beauty Services
  • List of Professionals
  • Book an Appointment
  • In-built Calendar
  • In-app GPS Tracker
  • Schedule/Reschedule Appointments
  • Multiple Payment Gateways
  • Push Notifications
  • Automated Cost Calculator
  • Photo Gallery (To showcase your work)
  • Customer Ratings and Feedback
  • In-app Chat/Call System

These features are more than enough to survive and thrive in the market.

Final Words

The mobile app allows the salon business to have as well as offer everything under one roof. This way, you don’t have to list down every entry, follow-up the clients, and calculate the payment. All-in-all, a salon app almost eliminates the manual handling of tasks and facilitates business management even in your absence. You can manage cashless payments in the database, track the billing details of clients, send real-time notifications to clients, and more. 

So, to have a head start, partner with a reliable company that provides end-to-end iOS/android app development services for salon businesses. They will not only code your app idea but also guide you in penetrating the market and gaining a competitive advantage.

Basics of IoT and its Future Outlook

Posted on by Surbhi Sharma

Internet of Things (IoT) refers to billions of objects or devices connected via the internet for garnering and sharing information. Any physical object can be transformed into an IoT device with the help of wireless networks. Thus, senseless devices become digitally intelligent, connecting the physical world with the digital world. These smart IoT devices can communicate without human intervention and can also be controlled and monitored remotely.

Examples of IoT

As said earlier, almost every physical object can be turned into an IoT device and controlled using internet connectivity. An example of an IoT device is a light bulb that can be operated with the help of a mobile application. Similarly, a motion sensor, a smart thermostat, or a connected streetlight are some more examples of IoT devices. Moreover, only those devices can be included in IoT that are not expected to have internet connectivity, for instance, a light bulb. Thus, a smartphone and a computer can’t be considered as IoT devices.

Functioning of IoT Devices

IoT protocols are used for transferring data from one device to another through the internet. The devices’ sensors are linked to data networks like Wifi, Bluetooth, etc., and IoT platforms bridge these links. However, almost every business turn to an IoT app development company to ensure device security and prevent their data from being hacked.

Sensors/Devices

The sensors or devices garner information from the environment. This data could be as simple as a temperature reading or as complicated as a full video feed.

Sensors and devices are two different terms because many sensors can be packed together, or sensors can be a part of a device that offers much more than just sensing things. For example, a smartphone is a device that has multiple sensors like GPS, camera, accelerometer, and more. But, your smartphone isn’t just a sensor.

Whether it is a standalone sensor or device, the first step is to collect data from the environment.

Connectivity

The next step is to transfer the collected information to the cloud via a gateway. Sensors and cloud can be connected through various technologies, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, low-power wide-area networks, and more. Each option has tradeoffs between range, bandwidth, and power consumption, which are the major factors to choose the mode of connectivity.

Data Processing

Once the data is sent to the cloud, the software performs some kind of processing on it. This could be very easy, like checking whether the temperature is within an acceptable range. Or it could be quite complicated like using computer vision on a video to recognize objects (intruders in a home).

But what happens if there is an intruder in the home or temperature too high? This is where the user comes in.

User Interface

Next, the information is sent to the users via an alert like text, email, notification, etc. For instance, the user will receive a text when the temperature is too high in cold storage.

Also, a user might have an interface like a web browser or a mobile app through which they can proactively track their system. Using an IoT app, users may also perform an action such as remotely adjusting the temperature and affect the system.

Besides, a few actions are performed automatically. Instead of waiting for the user to change the temperature, the system does it itself through predefined rules.

Future of IoT

IoT has been a massive success since its inception due to its extensive range of applications. With the help of IoT devices, collecting, sharing, and monitoring data has become an easy task. It has been anticipated that there will about 21B IoT connected devices by the end of 2020.

The IoT applications are huge, and businesses are investing heavily in IoT Development Services to get the best app solutions. Not only this, but cities are also becoming smart by employing IoT technology and leveraging IoT connected devices. It will help in changing our environment as per our needs. There have been speculations that cities will generate a revenue of $210.2B in 2020, which was $129.8B in 2017. Similarly, other industries like transport, health, buildings, etc. will also rake in massive revenue this year.

So, to summarize, the future of the Internet of Things seems to be very promising, progressing, and bright in the long run. Also, this technology will revolutionize every industry by streamlining and expediting their operations.

7 Key Features of a Mobile Wallet App – An Expert’s Take

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

In the past few years, we have witnessed a steep rise in the online payment system. From shopping to paying bills, digital payment through a mobile app like Google Pay, PayPal, Paytm is nothing less than a boon. Owing to this digital advancement, people don’t have to hang out with wallets full of cash and cards or wait in ATM lines.

According to the reports, the e-wallet market is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 15% and reach around $2100B by 2023. Following the momentum of mobile wallet apps, many startups are investing in app platforms to penetrate this market and foster seamless transactions. The success stories of apps like Google Pay and Paytm are an inspiration for almost every entrepreneur or iOS/Android app development company.

Let’s have a look at the significant features that have contributed to the success of wallet apps.

Features of a Mobile Wallet App 

Seamless Transaction

Making a payment via a mobile wallet is very easy and smooth. The users just have to link their debit/credit card and a document with the digital wallet application. The app then stores the information for authentication to offer a secure and seamless transaction. Additionally, users can sync their data with multiples devices to use the e-wallet anytime and anywhere.

An Intuitive UI/UX Design

UI/UX design plays a significant role in increasing the app’s user base as well as popularity. To ensure that the app is interactive and user-friendly, one must deem UI/UX as a crucial part of their iOS /Android app development. It contributes heavily to the success of a mobile wallet app.

Cloud-based Technology

This feature secures and expedites the transaction process. The cloud-based technology provides customers a complete suite of capabilities to turn their smartphones into e-wallets. For example, a payment done with a simple tap at Point of Sale (POS) terminals is facilitating the transaction process for vendors, issuers, as well as buyers.

GPS Tracking & Navigation

Nowadays, everyone can accept payment via mobile app no matter where they are. With GPS tracking and navigation, users can easily find people on their devices and proceed with the payments just by tapping on the specific username. This feature considerably saves time as no account information is required to make transactions.

Wearable Device Integration

Earlier, wearable technology was just limited to smartwatches, fitness trackers, or smart jewelry. But now, it is the next logical step for digital payments. Similar to contactless debit/credit cards, wearable payment devices comprise a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip. This chip contacts the card reader’s chip at the point of sale, enabling the seamless transaction.

Spending Analysis

This is an additional feature you must integrate into your wallet app to allow users to monitor their spending. Thus, they can plan their spending in a better manner and limit their expenditure whenever needed.

Privacy and Security

Users have to enter their card information and create a password to use a digital wallet. So, the app should have an additional layer of security to protect their data. As wallet apps are more prone to hacking, mobile app developers must create a password-protected application having features like OTP, QR Code, and fingerprint scan. These security features not only authenticate and validate the user’s identity but also enable secure, quick, and efficient transactions.

Rewarding System

Since rewards attract users in a more engaging way, incorporating this feature into your app to add more value to it. You can opt for different rewarding techniques, including cashback, discounts, or points.

Backup Facility

Developing a mobile wallet that automatically creates a backup of the files employed in every operation is an additional benefit. It will allow the application to save all the essential information added by users for future preferences.

Final Words

In this tech-driven era, mobile apps have transformed the way transactions take place. Biggies like PayTM, PayPal, and Google Pay have elevated the overall economy as well as the financial sectors of various nations.

The above-mentioned key features emphasize the importance of developing a customer-centric wallet app that fastens transactions. If you want to create a mobile wallet app and penetrate the e-wallet market, avail our end-to-end iOS/Android app development services.

React Native vs Flutter – Which one is better?

Posted on by Surbhi Sharma

With the mainstream adoption of modernized technology, the demand for mobile applications has reached an unprecedented level. To suffice the increasing needs for the customers and businesses, a consistent inflow of niche technology, platforms, and frameworks has become indispensable.

For developing a high-performance app for budding businesses, mobile app developers require a robust technology that makes time-consuming coding simple as well as efficient. Thus, most of them are turning to cross-platform app frameworks as they are sought-after in today’s mobile app development market.  

Nowadays, React Native and Flutter are deemed two significant frameworks that have been neck and neck for proving their worth. The comparison between these two development frameworks has been a hot topic for the past two years. So, we are going to share our perspective on these frameworks in this article.

Let’s have a quick comparison to decide what to choose in 2020

Facebook launched React Native as a hybrid framework in 2015, which gained a rapid momentum due to its benefits. Experts believe that React Native is the future of hybrid applications.

On the contrary, Flutter introduced by Google is a newbie in the market, which helps mobile app developers in creating intuitive native-like, cross-platform apps quickly.

Below, we have shed light on performance-based comparisons of these frameworks, done on the basis of various factors.

User Interface

When it comes to an app’s user interface and creating the block component, you will witness a considerable gap between Flutter and React Native. While React Native is based on native components, Flutter operates flawlessly with the proprietary widget sets. These widgets are considered the best for creating a customized UI design that also provides dynamism as well as native support.

However, proprietary widgets have a few drawbacks due to which the app lacks a few components, resulting in compromising the user experience. Thus, React Native wins the credit for being the most dynamic framework that improves the user experience of the apps.

Development Time

React Native has become one of the most reliable frameworks for building high-quality, next-gen applications. Mobile app developers prefer this framework because of its efficiency and reduced development time frame. Also, most people hire React Native app developers to give a mobile presence to their businesses and stay ahead of the competition. The ready-to-use React Native components facilitate and expedite the app development process.

On the other hand, Flutter takes more time in app development. Though this framework promises high-quality usability, it demands more recognition as compared to React Native.

Performance

The performance mapping of React Native and Flutter is the best way to figure the ideal mobile app development framework. Dart frame is deemed the key reason why these frameworks have surpassed the other frameworks. Furthermore, the JavaScript layer helps them in connecting with native components seamlessly.

React Native has a broader community as React Native app developers don’t have to face challenges while creating a hybrid app in a native environment using this framework. However, they sometimes witness issues while running a React Native app architecture.

On the other hand, Flutter makes it extremely easy as developers can reuse the existing codes. The C++ engine works perfectly and supports the language. Thus, Flutter steals the thunder here.

Stability

Stability is one of the key factors for a Flutter and React Native app development company to create a frictionless mobile app. The competition between React Native and Flutter is quite tough. In 2017, the Alpha version of the latter framework had left it one step behind as it is not ideal for large projects. But, it made a comeback by launching a Beta 2 version, which offers some exceptional features for mobile app developers.

In contrast, React Native’s community support, and its consistency has made it a more demanding and reliable framework. While React Native has already made a statement in the industry, Flutter is still striving to make a mark. Thus, React Native has outclassed Flutter without an iota of doubt.

Customer Base

React Native needs no introduction as it was and is the best mobile app development framework so far. This framework is perfect for every kind of project as apps like Instagram, Skype, Facebook, Airbnb, as well as Walmart have been developed using this technology.

In contrast, Flutter that came into existence a few years ago is still struggling to match with the benefits offered by React Native. Due to its inception after React Native, it will take more time to gain popularity and acquire a large community.

Documentation & Toolkit

Documentation is a complicated and time-consuming process. Flutter facilitates this process and makes it easier for developers to document the applications. Thus, as far as documentation is considered, this framework is way better than that of React Native.

On the other hand, the documentation process with React Native is not so organized. This framework deletes the components that streamline this process.

Besides, the tools bring forth a fierce competition between these two frameworks. Flutter possesses a wide array of IDEs as well as tools with React Native support. Also, this framework is highly compatible with the Visual Studio Code and Android Studio. Therefore, Flutter is a clear-cut winner in this aspect.

Takeaway

So, this is a detailed list of the comparisons between React Native and Flutter that are sought-after among startups as well as well-established businesses. Both of these frameworks have their own benefits in terms of performance, stability, documentation, and community.

Thus, it is kinda hard to decide which one is better as both come with their own pros and cons. But we can say that Flutter will take more time to gain stability in the industry as this is a relatively new framework. This concludes that React Native is a smart choice for hybrid app development.

A Comprehensive Guide on Building a Video Streaming App like Netflix

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

Today, Netflix is attracting TV viewers across the globe. What’s the secret behind such momentum? Easy access to a host of TV programs, movies, original shows, and documentaries at multiple service packages. While people are getting addicted to its video streaming services, businesses are going the extra mile to create similar apps like Netflix with additional features that can beat the Netflix fever.

Here are some interesting facts and statistics about Netflix:

  • Netflix’s audience generates 40% of internet traffic globally.
  • Netflix accounts for 8% of the time spent on binge-watching worldwide.
  • Streaming revenue of Netflix will be about $7215 in the US by the end of 2020.

Netflix Business Model

Netflix learns that its viewers possess multiple interconnected digital devices, and they may watch their favorite programs on any of them at any time. Moreover, for a family, it doesn’t make sense to have an individual subscription for each member. Provided that Netflix offers four subscription plans, each having its own offerings. These plans decide on which device users can watch videos and how many members can stream at a time under one subscription.

  • The mobile plan allows watching SD videos on a single mobile/tablet.
  • The basic plan allows watching SD videos on any one device simultaneously.
  • The standard plan allows watching HD videos on two devices simultaneously.
  • The premium plan allows watching HD videos on up to four screens simultaneously.

Netflix caters to three different business segments – domestic DVD, domestic streaming, and international streaming. Domestic DVD was the first model Netflix came up with and later moved on to video streaming gradually. Among these three models, domestic streaming generates the maximum video. However, this video streaming app has started focusing on the global market by producing and providing country-specific or area-specific content since 2018. The profitability of Netflix has been on a consistent rise since then.

Key Features of an Online Video Streaming App

Netflix, an on-demand video streaming app, has gained immense popularity due to its exceptional features. If you’re devising to create your app like Netflix, you must at least take these features into account. 

Setup Multiple Accounts: 

After creating an account, users can add up to five separate user profiles for each family member or friend. Thus, each profile can have its own favorite list, recently watched list, ratings, and show and movie suggestions personalized based upon earlier watched videos on Netflix. Also, note that if a user deletes a profile, his/her watching history and saved list will also be deleted permanently.

Multiple Control Levels:

Among Netflix content, there is the stuff that is a little unpleasant for kids. While setting up profiles, users can choose between four maturity levels – from kids to all. If this control is not enough for them, they can also create a PIN under the ‘Parental Controls’ section in Settings to not let kids switch their profile.

Content Search Filters:

A long list of movies and TV shows can be overwhelming. Netflix allows users to narrow their search using filters like title, actors, directors, or genres, and stumble upon the best content aligning to their preferences.

Adding Content to ‘My List’:

‘My List’ is one of the most useful sections of Netflix, where users can save their favorite content by just tapping on ‘plus(+)’ sign on each show or movie they want to watch later.

Content Ratings:

Netflix has gone far beyond the five-star rating system. This app allows users to thumbs-up or thumbs-down a movie or show, and Netflix will show less similar content to them accordingly.

Download Feature:

Sometimes, users stuck in a space where they can’t play videos online. This is why Netflix provides a feature to download a list of shows or movies (up to 100 at once) so that they can stream videos even if there is no signal. Besides, users can also save all of their data by enabling content download only when their device is connected to WiFi.

Netflix Roulette:

We often struggle to choose when we have too many options. Similarly, from the vast catalog of entertainment, most users spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something. Thus, Netflix brought forth a feature using which users can select a genre, type, IMDB, and then tap on the spin button to explore a list of random content that suits their preferences.

Turn Off Autoplay:

We all enjoy binge-watching, especially when Netflix actively encourages it. However, this video streaming app enables users to disable autoplay to prevent Netflix from automatically playing the next episode when they are streaming a TV show.

Delete Browsing History:

Sometimes, Netflix recommends stuff similar to videos that users have watched but not liked. Such suggestions based on ‘because you have watched..’ can be annoying for the users. So, Netflix has allowed them to delete those blights from their Netflix history to make their streaming experience smoother and more entertaining.

Tips for developing a video streaming app like Netflix

Here are some guidelines that you should consider during the Netflix clone app development.

  • The interface is the primary aspect that users come across. Make sure to keep it intuitive and engaging to behold.
  • Create a futuristic and future-proof app if you want to expand your user base to other nations, provide services in multiple languages, etc. down the road. It will eliminate the need for completely redesigning the app.
  • Allowing users to log in the app via multiple ways like email, Facebook, mobile number, etc. will add an extra layer of convenience.
  • The mobile application should operate seamlessly on multiple platforms, including smartphones, tablets, etc.
  • User data and payment gateway should be 200% secure.

Before developing a video streaming app, devise functionalities that will make it easier for the users to watch, save, and share their favorite movies or shows.

Factors that affect the video streaming app development cost

The cost of a video streaming app depends upon many aspects. Some of the most important are:

App Features: Above, we have explained the key features that you should incorporate into your app to penetrate the market. The development price of the app will vary depending on the number of features you want to add to your application.

App Platform: The technology that you employ to develop a Netflix clone app and then maintain it also determines its development cost. These technologies may include Swift, Objective-C, Kotlin Java, React Native, and more. You should choose the technology based on the problems you want to overcome and the goals you want to accomplish.

Location of development company: Most businesses outsource app development because it enables them to focus on their core idea and in-house operations. When you plan to outsource, make sure to take note of the location of the mobile app development company as it is a significant factor for cost estimation.

Different countries have different app development rates. For example, in North America, development rates range from $50 -$250 per hour, while app development services in India range from $15-$80 per hour.

If you hire Indian mobile app developers, you will get the same work done at much lower rates than that of the USA.

Other video streaming apps that are widely used globally are:

  • Amazon Prime Video
  • YouTube
  • HBO Now
  • Hulu
  • Twitch
  • Crackle

Final Words

From the past years, people have been shifting from text-based content to audio and then video. Bloggers are also becoming vloggers to retain and increase their followers. With all this video content being created online, platforms or mobile apps are needed to boost the reach of this content.

Currently, there is a plethora of video streaming apps in the market, but none could surpass Netflix. If you think that your idea can help you outshine this video streaming market, approach the experts of a reliable mobile app development company.

IoT Key Components – From Device to Application

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

The Internet of Things (IoT) is escalating at a fast pace. Statista forecasts that around 50B IoT devices will be in use by 2030 across the globe. However, despite this massive IoT presence and business opportunities offered by this technology, a host of people are unable to comprehend this term. Also, they are not familiar with the essential components required to build a reliable architecture for IoT applications and implementations.

Technically, IoT is a network of identifiable devices or objects that can communicate with one another via some kind of connectivity, without human intervention. Let’s analyze what elements are really needed to create an interconnected infrastructure and empower physical devices with digital intelligence.

The Fundamental Layers of IoT Architecture

Since IoT systems are diverse in terms of industry-specific use cases, there is no viable architecture that can completely address all possible IoT applications. The most extensively used IoT architecture comprises three layers:

The Perception Layer – The purpose of this layer is to interact with the physical world through IoT devices integrated with sensors and actuators.

The Network Layer – This layer intends to conduct a fundamental analysis of data garnered by sensors using IoT gateways and communicate that data to a server for further processing over communication protocols like MQTT.

The Application Layer – This layer provides an interconnection between the above two hardware-related layers and business applications to render app-specific services to users.

IoT App Developers

Key Components of IoT

IoT is way more than just a set of elements like actuators and sensors. Within the notion of IoT, the devices and elements are connected in a single network or environment, with analytical and managerial systems, to facilitate automated device management as well as data-driven decision making. Let’s explore each architectural component of IoT and how they all are connected to build a complete IoT network.

IoT Sensors

The practice of capturing and analyzing data on a particular object using sensors is nothing new. A range of sensors has been used in industries like buildings, vehicles, factories, and industrial facilities, where they have become the backbone of industrial automation.

The most significant characteristic of sensors is their ability to convert information collected from the IoT network into data for further analysis and processing. In fact, every device which is referred to as “Smart” is developed using sensors.

Data garnered by sensors may have different degrees of complexity, ranging from as simple as humidity or sensor monitoring to as complicated as video transmission. Depending on the use case, a single sensor or a group of multiple sensors can be integrated into a device to extract more detailed and relevant data.

IoT Actuators

Both sensors and actuators are transducers, which means that they can convert signals from one form to another. However, unlike sensors, which track data provided by devices, actuators are responsible for performing actions. These actions may include generating a sound, switching a light on/off, or locking a door.

Typically, sensors and actuators work mutually to monitor as well as control physical devices or processes remotely. In the setup, they are only endpoints that connect physically to the network. However, the analysis of the collected data is conducted in a control layer, commonly known as an IoT gateway.

IoT Components

IoT Gateways

An IoT gateway is a device that is used for basic data analysis. In some cases, when data analysis needs a little number of computing resources, IoT gateways serve as decision points and send specific control commands to actuators that perform actions. However, if a sophisticated data processing is required or information is needed to be stored for further analysis, gateways transfer it to a server located either in the cloud or on-premises.

IoT Connectivity

Now, you have a clear idea of the elements used to build an IoT infrastructure, let’s dive into how they interact with one another and the cloud environment.

End devices and servers can be connected via cellular or satellite networks, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet (Wired LAN), as well as low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN).

IoT Connectivity

Range, bandwidth, power consumption, and cost are deemed the significant factors to decide the mode of connectivity. However, they all perform the same task – getting data to the server, be it in the cloud or on-premises.

IoT Platforms

An IoT platform is a middleware between hardware-related layers (Perception and Network) on the one hand, and the application layers, on the other. It is a multi-tiered technology that helps in gathering, storing, processing, and visualizing data. It also facilitates the integration of data with other parts of the value chain, like a cloud or end-user app.

Furthermore, an IoT platform is accountable for cross-device compatibility and scalability and has exceptional features that expedite the app development process. It also helps in managing connected devices using various protocols, network topologies, configuration, as well as conducts over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates.

IoT Platforms

Currently, there is a myriad of IoT platforms in the market, each having its own significance. Most businesses incline toward top platforms like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure to operate connected devices in software projects. However, relying on these giants may not ensure the success of your project. In most cases, IoT platforms are customized for specific industries or sectors, or focus on a particular type of device like smartwatches, beacons, augmented reality headsets, etc. So, you must define your IoT strategy, address the needs of your business, challenges you want to overcome, and benefits you wish to yield before choosing the perfect IoT platform. You can also consult with a reliable IoT app development company to steer clear your doubts.

Conclusion

 After exploring the components of the IoT ecosystem, it is certain that the fusion of these elements may vary from project to project. The core of any IoT product is converting raw data into actionable insights as well as value and helping you to accomplish business goals. So, it will be beneficial if you avail IoT app development services for dealing with various factors affecting IoT architecture and navigating your IoT implementation journey.

9 IoT Applications in Industrial Automation

Posted on by Surbhi Sharma

In today’s tech-driven era, innovation has reached to an extent where machines have begun replacing humans. There has been constant research and advancements to restore comfort and add value to our lives. Internet of Things (IoT) is one of those tech innovations that plays a significant role to make this possible. Every sector, including healthcare, home, manufacturing, energy, etc. is witnessing a massive acceleration in their daily operations using this technology.

Additionally, Statista reports say that the global market size of industrial robots and peripheral is anticipated to reach 70 billion US dollars in 2024. Thus, businesses across the globe are embracing industrial automation extensively.

The primary reason behind the mainstream adoption of industrial automation is the benefits offered by this advancement. Some of its top benefits are:

  • High accuracy
  • Enhanced efficiency
  • Cost-effective
  • Low errors
  • Lower power needs
  • Easy to control
  • Quick process completion

Currently, every smart businessperson strives to automate their business processes to stay ahead in the wave of ever-changing tech-innovations. Below, we are exploring a few IIoT applications to provide you a clear idea of the areas where automation can be leveraged.

IIoT Application #1: Security

You may have heard about fire sensors. It is a small example of how IoT can provide safety and security to business premises. In some industries, there is a need for an additional layer of security besides the general needs.

IoT devices have the potential to continuously monitoring the safety indicators to protect the workplace and workforce from mishaps. They also check and track the illness and injury rates, thus providing a safe and healthy environment in industries.

IIoT Application #2: Automation of processes

Employing IIoT, almost every operation can be automated. Smart sensor networks that are connected to a cloud system can offer a great deal of control over your processes. Thus, the need for hiring employees to handle such tasks will be eliminated.

For instance, restaurants are automating the process of food wastage detection with the help of AI and IoT. The blend of IoT and industrial automation is significantly empowering industries. We suggest partnering with an IoT app development company to create a futuristic solution that can uniquely automate your business processes.

IIoT Application #3: Maintenance

How do you keep up with the maintenance needs of your machines? With the signs of hampered productions, right? In order to minimize the risk of low-quality productions, connect IoT sensors to your equipment. It signals you before the machines start malfunctioning. Thus, you can facilitate predictive maintenance of your business with IoT, regardless of the industry.

Wondering how it works? Sensors connected to your machines transmit accurate data to the cloud system. Besides, they allow you to monitor the performance, improvement, and progress of your equipment.

IIoT Application #4: Smart logistics management

Do you know Amazon has announced to deliver packages using drones? Drones will not only improve safety, speed, and efficiency but also replace humans.

Transport drones greatly help businesses to manage logistics. Although it needs a considerable investment at the initial stage, it will turn out to be a boon and way lucrative after successful implementation.

Moreover, you can also track the need for components with IoT devices. This is majorly leveraged in the airline sector. Inventory management can also be easily handled with IIoT devices.

IIoT Application #5: Integration of smart tools

A plethora of smart devices has been launched by IoT app developers, which provide a safer and error-free workforce to the workforce.

Let’s take an example of wearables like smart glasses. They provide instant notifications in case of an emergency like gas leakage or fire. These devices are also capable of determining the efficiencies of an individual to check their capability for a particular task.

IIoT Application #6: Data analysis with custom software

Machine learning technology has taken data management to the next level. The massive data garnered with the help of sensors is meticulously analyzed. This analytics solution is a major benefit of IoT in industries, which also helps in the optimization of processes. Thus, you can build software for this purpose that suffices the needs and aligns with the operations of your business.

 IIoT Application #7: Advanced packaging

Smart tracking tools have enabled businesses to track the loss of packages/products. The weather, roads, and other environmental conditions are also examined before the transit process. This tracking via IoT mechanisms can create a patterns using which businesses can quickly identify better ways of managing products. By availing IoT app development services, you can build smart IoT solutions to optimize your product packaging. 

IIoT Application #8: Smart vehicles

Companies striving to achieve next-level industrial automation are employing automotive vehicles that consist multiple sensors. These smart vehicles can divert their ways to reach their destination. Besides, they have an in-built GPS feature that can detect the traffic in the way and the shortest possible route to smoothen the journey.

IIoT Application #9: Easy quality control

The quality check of the products and operations is imperative for the success of every business. It enables them to stop following practices that waste time and resources. 

Since IoT sensors can gather data related to temperature, raw materials, and even wasted resources, quality engineers can easily detect the loopholes. Such data can also identify the areas where the processes can be handled efficiently. With IoT-enabled devices, quality issues can be eliminated radically.

Conclusion:

IIoT applications have gained a massive momentum lately. The IoT in industrial automation is bringing forth a lot of advancements by making a lot of things possible, which were unimaginable earlier. 

If you think that you are left behind in the wave technological transformations, consult with a reliable IoT app development company. From start-ups to enterprises, every business is investing in IIoT due to its applications and benefits in industrial automation.

8 Key Benefits of On-Demand Courier Delivery App

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

The courier industry has witnessed significant growth in the past few years. Companies belonging to this industry are striving to step up their game and offer the best customer service as well as experience.

Currently, on-demand apps are making a statement globally. Courier businesses are readily embracing this digital innovation to facilitate their delivery process. The on-demand courier delivery apps not only reduce the workload but also offer opportunities to businesses to make headway.

While businesses from all corners of the world are shifting their conventional courier delivery way with on-demand apps, there are still some companies that are reluctant to invest in them. So, we are explaining below some massive benefits of on-demand delivery apps to steer clear their doubts.

If you also have any doubts, this article is for you too.

How On-Demand Courier Delivery App Can Benefit Your Business

Seamless Online Booking of Parcel

Since this is a digital era, everything is online these days. On-demand courier delivery apps are a part of this technological advancement that provides easy ways for customers to get things done. A plethora of giants like FedEx offers online booking feature for transporting goods and have eliminated the need for traveling to courier companies to hand over the packages.

Using this feature, customers can quickly book the courier’s pickup date and time by entering the destination and the parcel type. Besides, they can also see the tariff rate for online courier delivery from their added address to the destination. Thus, they won’t have to worry about the pricing.

Swift Courier Tracking in Real-Time

Courier tracking is one of the biggest challenges of delivery businesses. They are bound to keep track of the parcel until it reaches the destination. Earlier, companies used to stay in touch with the driver of the shipment to know the status of the parcels. However, with an on-demand app, they can easily do this task by scanning the barcode of a particular courier or using an in-app GPS.

Additionally, your customers can also track the status of their booked parcels to estimate the exact time of delivery. Therefore, real-time tracking is nothing less than a boon for courier companies as well as their customers.

Access to Multiple Payment Methods

Nowadays, customers look for a secure, quick, and easy way to proceed with the payments. By integrating multiple payment methods like debit/credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, etc. in the on-demand app, companies provide various transaction ways to customers. The online payment feature also helps you to monitor and manage all your transactions and eliminate the apprehension of delayed or failed payments.

Better Fleet Handling & Management

Any logistics company will have a fleet of vehicles, and the fleet management team often struggles to keep track of each automobile. However, an on-demand delivery app easily sorts this issue out by storing all the data required for fleet management. It provides accurate information about everything right from tracking the routes of every vehicle to the details of the driver directly in your hands.

Timely Updates Through Notifications

Transferring a product from source to destination is an attention-demanding process. The app will instantly notify you if the drivers face some issues in the process. Besides, you can also update your customers with every checkpoint of your delivery services including, order received, pick up, under process, dispatched and delivered, etc. by sending push notifications. The more the customers stay updated, the more valued they feel.

Hassle-free Warehouse Management

Warehouse management is another significant part of a courier business. Using an app, you can easily know the location of your stored inventories and track the status of every warehouse with just a few taps.

Less Paperwork

Courier business pivots around paperwork. Every product that you deliver comes with a ton of paperwork, which is hard to handle. However, an on-demand courier app significantly reduces the paperwork by storing every piece of product’s information and keeping its track until it is delivered. Thus, a mobile app automates everything and also saves up a lot of a hefty amount of money on stationary.

Boost Customer Satisfaction

No matter which business you are running, customer satisfaction should be your primary goal. An on-demand courier delivery app provides the convenience of booking the package from any location and ensures that the customers don’t face any issues while availing your services. Besides, multiple payment methods, along with the tracking features, facilitate everything for the customers and gives them a sense of satisfaction. If you provide an option for feedbacks and reviews, you will become familiar with the aspects you need to improve in your delivery process.

Key Takeaways

The on-demand courier delivery app is essential for every courier business, and the benefits above have proved why you should get one. Most companies are capitalizing on on-demand apps to gain a competitive edge and thrive in the market. So, if you want to give a mobile presence to your courier business and provide best-in-class services, consult our experienced mobile app developers. They will certainly go the extra mile to guide you in the best possible manner and deliver you a high-quality product aligning with your goals.

How the Blend of IoT and Automation Can Empower Industries

Posted on by Surbhi Sharma

IoT development is deemed a significant technological advancement in today’s industrial revolution. Businesses endeavoring to achieve better productivity and streamline internal operations are embracing this digital transformation.

Currently, most businesses strive to earn larger market shares but face challenges in creating innovative equipment and systems. IoT easily overcomes this hurdle by providing them high-speed and efficient systems that not only smoothly run their processes but also bring forth new revenue opportunities. Another challenge they encounter is the integration of these advanced systems for seamless apps. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and design engineers employ research and development (R&D) strategy or avail IoT development services to build low-cost solutions aligning with the ever-changing demands as well as trends.

Impact of IoT on Automation

The IoT has reached the next stage of business, where the focal point is integration and convergence across industrial verticals. Businesses seem more focused on the value and objectives as compared to the versatility of connected devices now.

Besides, the advancements occurring in IoT connected devices, software, platform, apps, and systems are the key factors to take note of. They heavily rely on the implementation of subsystems and modular components that can boost efficiency and eventually reduce manufacturing costs. It is also imperative for manufacturers to develop equipment with flexibility in design, reusability, movement, and interconnectivity.

IoT-enhanced Manufacturing

With applications in home automation, healthcare, automobiles, and other industries, the Internet of Things has become ubiquitous. However, with conventional methods, manufacturers have to cope with a lot of obstacles while developing smooth communications for enhancing the capacity as well as flexibility of analyzers, actuators, and robotics. To overcome these challenges, IoT-enabled industrial automation offers the integration of multiple commercial technologies across significant industrial apps, such as Programming Logic Controllers (PLCs).

Additionally, managing the massive amount of data is also one of the biggest concerns of digitization. Analysis and distribution of garnered data are essential for OEMs to derive predictive models. These models help end-users to minimize costly unplanned downtime. Besides using the cloud, manufacturers need to create an interface to read the data as well as present relevant information to the end-user. Thus, automation engineers partner with IoT developers for efficiently managing data.

How IIoT is Transforming Manufacturing

Due to the increasing cost-effectiveness of cloud technologies, IoT, operations, and maintenance personnel are relying on IIoT by integrating more sensors, intelligent controls, and smart switches. Industries need systems that can perform predictive analysis and figure out the projected time of servicing. Researchers believe that such abilities have the potential of considerably reducing maintenance costs as well as breakdowns of companies.

Enterprises are having a keen interest in incorporating three crucial elements of business – machinery, robotics, and human power. So, manufacturers are embracing the advanced systems to minimize operational efforts as well as manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, elevating the adoption of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems is a growth indication for traditional manufacturers. Conventional SCADA systems can’t communicate with logistics and operations. This is where IIoT comes into handy. Industrial IoT connects all aspects of manufacturing, including sales, operations, delivery, and inventory. These connections make equipment more autonomous, and above all, they can coexist with SCADA. Thus, it boosts integration and eventually replaces or incorporate data acquisition systems into IoT.

Four Key IoT Trends

According to Grand View Search, the global IIoT market is anticipated to reach approx. $933.62 by 2025. The need for real-time information remains the primary market propellant, and innovation is expected to drive IIoT demand. Most businesses focus on databases to monitor, categorize, and optimize operations. Emerging regions are also projected to witness significant growth with increased industrialization as well as the adoption of IoT over the coming years. Four major IIoT Trends are:

Data Intelligence

Continuously growing efforts to improve digital literacy is a significant trend anticipated to emerge in the coming future. Organizations invest in systems and programs to ensure the data collected is 100% accurate. Preferring data quality over quantity makes manufacturing companies ahead of the competitors. So, they are more likely to hire IoT development services to find a way to gauge the potential of major cloud platforms with the use of advanced tools.

Smart Cities

The rising demand for the connected environment, high precision location services, and autonomous technologies ensure the meteoric growth of IoT for smart cities. It not only boosts the adoption of IoT and IIoT but also improves infrastructure services and applications. Eventually, incorporation of these systems elevates the accuracy of parking systems, traffic lights, security systems, and more.

Business Collaborations

While innovations like flexible machines and systems and integration persist, businesses vigorously forge ahead. Most businesses engage in cooperative partnerships and business collaborations. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are expected to help businesses develop advanced capabilities and expedite their operations. Researchers suggest that M&A can bring analytics and digital capabilities under one roof and provide a competitive edge to the organizations.

Advanced Applications

The development of advanced apps, software upgrades, predictive maintenance, next-generation manufacturing, blockchain, and autonomous data centers also impact the manufacturing and automation engineering industries in the foreseeable years.

Final Words

Lack of data visibility and system upgrade costs used to be the biggest hindrance in most businesses until the advent of IoT. Also, data gathering and analysis is a time-consuming and attention-demanding task, which can disrupt routine operations. Incorporating IoT into industrial automation can resolve these problems and empower business verticals globally.

If you want to automate your processes by implementing IoT into your business, turn to our IoT development services. We will steer your whole IoT implementation journey right from ideation and consultation to development and deployment.

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