The end of the year is nearing, and most of us are already in the holiday spirit and looking forward to welcoming in 2022.
At Velvetech, we’re also busy setting up grand plans for the coming year and wrapping up the last quarter. We’ve already looked over what 2021 has brought us and made our wishes for the new year. Yet, what we haven’t done is examine our most useful and best performing blog pieces that the team composed throughout the year.
So, in case you haven’t been following our software development insights diligently over the last 12 months, not to worry — we’ve narrowed everything down to the top 10 must-reads in today’s piece.
1. Top Ways a CRM Improves Lead Generation
One of our most in-demand services is, without a doubt, CRM development and customization. From business funding firms to trade association companies — everyone seems to need some work done on their CRM platforms.
Given the expertise, our specialists naturally write a lot on this subject and share their insights on the different ways that effective CRMs help organizations drive business growth.
In one of the earlier pieces from this year, we addressed an invaluable topic — the role of CRMs in improving lead generation. In short, they accomplish this feat by:
- Increasing the effectiveness of marketing campaigns
- Facilitating truly omnichannel interactions
- Organizing data from multiple sources
- Carrying out thorough lead tracking
- Delivering intelligent analytics
Moreover, with the rising popularity of low-code CRM solutions, boosting sales, marketing, and customer service performance has never been easier. So, if you think your existing system isn’t pulling its weight or needs to be customized to fit your requirements — don’t delay tackling these issues and begin leveraging the platform to its highest potential.
Discover the full piece on Process-Driven CRMs Boosting Lead Generation
2. All About the Game-Changing AI Use Cases in Sales
While CRM software has been around for quite some time, artificial intelligence is an emerging technology that has only burst onto the sales scene in recent years. Yet, there is already a multitude of benefits that this innovation is delivering to the revenue-generation department.
In our experience, there are seven most popular use cases of AI in sales. Specifically, the following ones:
- Data entry automation
- Lead scoring
- Outcome predictions
- Call analytics
- Next action recommendations
- Deal intelligence
- Sales representative training
Sales can be challenging, but AI’s speedy data processing capabilities powered by machine learning algorithms can truly be of service to even the most experienced agents. After all, who would say no to higher levels of efficiency, in-depth analytics, reduced errors, and decreased costs?
This year, we’ve only started sharing our AI insights with you. So, make sure to stay tuned in 2022 because we’ll definitely be diving deeper into the subject in the coming months.
Familiarize yourselves with the Invaluable Role of AI in Sales
3. The Importance of Patient Engagement Software in Healthcare
Excellent customer care is imperative for any kind of organization, but especially one operating within the healthcare sector. Hence, patient engagement software has been increasingly gaining traction within the medical industry.
Patient engagement solutions tend to combine elements of practice management systems, billing tools, post-acute care coordination platforms, and other medical systems that help run efficient operations. Yet, some of their main functions usually include patient registration via portals, appointment scheduling, feedback collection, payment processing, and health monitoring.
Thus, patient engagement software is a must for any healthcare organization looking to improve service quality, boost loyalty, and operate at higher efficiency levels.
Keep reading and uncover the Technologies Enhancing Patient Engagement Software
4. All About HIPAA Compliant App Development
Since we started discussing healthcare, we can’t go on without stressing the importance of regulatory compliance in this industry.
No matter the kind of software you set out to develop within the medical field, if you operate within the US, it’ll probably need to adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), amongst other policies.
HIPAA essentially regulates the flow of medical data and specifies how personal information should be processed by healthcare and insurance companies. Thus, protecting patients from fraud and theft.
Thanks to our expertise in delivering regulation-abiding projects, we’ve dedicated an entire article to HIPAA compliance and how it can be achieved when building your own application. It’s certainly one that you shouldn’t miss if you operate in the medical sector.
Learn the key Tips of Building a HIPAA Compliant Application
5. The Role of IoT in Healthcare
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of physical objects that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies to exchange digital information with other systems over the internet. Since sensors can be connected to a multitude of objects — from medical equipment to industrial tools — IoT actually applies to all kinds of industries.
In the context of healthcare, the more common term professionals typically use is the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). IoMT can be leveraged to help patients, health professionals, hospitals, and even health insurers. It really is a technology that can be quite widespread within the field.
So, make sure you check out our complete article and discover the benefits of IoT applications in healthcare as well as some challenges that you may face on your development journey. After all, it’s best to be prepared and well-informed on what an IoT pursuit may entail.
Uncover the Well of Knowledge On IoT in the Medical Sector
6. Why It’s Time to Embrace Blockchain and Smart Contracts
This year, we may have heard more about blockchain, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies than ever before. The pandemic has certainly played a role in this aspect, and we do think it’s about time businesses started leveraging blockchain development to its full potential.
Not sure how? Well, one of the first things you ought to understand are smart contracts. They’re programs that help verify, control, and execute agreements digitally. Thus, removing the need for middlemen in industries like finance, healthcare, insurance, and real estate.
Of course, the technology can still be considered nascent. So, there are some limitations to incorporating it into your organization. However, if you embrace blockchain in due time and ahead of your competitors — there are game-changing rewards to be reaped.
Dive into the world of Blockchain and Smart Contract Development
7. A 101 on the Mobile App Development Process
The global mobile app market is growing at an exponential rate, with revenue projections reaching $935.2 billion by 2023. So, more and more companies are looking into mobile app development to boost their business growth.
From consumer-facing dating apps to enterprise solutions for warehouse management — there is no shortage of tasks that a mobile tool can handle. Yet, for that to be done effectively, a thorough approach to the development process must be taken.
The truth is, building a mobile application is rarely an easy feat. Typically, it involves at least 7 main steps:
- Strategy development
- Analysis and planning
- UI/UX design
- App development
- Testing
- Deployment
- Support and performance tracking
Naturally, each of these steps can incur its own challenges. So, having a good understanding of the entire process is imperative before embarking on the app building journey.
Bookmark our in-depth Guide on Building an Excellent Mobile App
8. Tips on Building a Revolutionary FinTech App
Since we’ve already established the importance of mobile applications, we couldn’t go on without diving into an industry-specific solution too. So, last month, our specialists covered the subject of fintech apps and summarized what, in their opinion, constitutes a great tool.
As you may already know, there are many types of fintech applications. Mobile banking apps, investment solutions, insurance tools, payment processing apps, cryptocurrency platforms, and business optimization solutions, to name a few. Yet, most of them share some key features that ought to be incorporated during development:
- API integrations
- Push notifications
- Intuitive dashboards
- Chatbots
- Security measures
So, if you operate in the finance sector and are thinking of building a mobile app for iOS, Android, or even a cross-platform solution — check out our fintech app deep dive. There’s more to be discovered in it about the emerging trends within the field and actual steps of creating a quality tool.
Learn all the key things to know about Developing a FinTech Application
9. A Guide to Understanding Insurance Broker Software
Insurance companies face a myriad of challenges as they look to better meet customer expectations, reduce costs, and adjust to the advances in digital technologies. Yet, the insurance brokerage market, in particular, has integration of IT and analytics solutions top of mind.
Primarily, because insurance software can help brokers:
- Solve workflow efficiency challenges
- Better personalize customer experiences
- Enhance sales call performance
- Speed up quote generation
- Streamline commission management
However, when brokers choose to innovate and invest in software to improve their businesses, they are often faced with the question — should we acquire a ready-made product or develop a custom solution? The choice is, naturally, very personal and requires some understanding of the pros and cons of each approach.
So, head on over to the full piece and determine if broker software is something your organization can benefit from and get a clearer understanding of which development approach best suits your needs.
Discover the world of Game-Changing Insurance Broker Software
10. Breaking Down the Cost of Custom Software Development
Finally, we’ve reached the last top blog post of 2021. Quite unsurprisingly, it’s got to do with answering one of the most common questions we receive — how much does it cost to develop custom software?
Unfortunately, the answer is a tad more complicated than just stating a single figure. This is because every development project is unique and has distinct requirements. Hence, the cost is influenced by the following factors:
- Software type
- Project size
- Number of development team members
- Complexity of design
- Chosen technology stack
- Need for integration with third-party systems
- Need for maintenance and support
All of these elements play a crucial role in determining the cost of your software development project. So, it’s always best to reach out to specialists to get the estimates that may be closest to reality.
However, what you can do in the meantime is check out our extensive piece on estimating the costs of custom development and rely on the template we provide for guidance. After all, sometimes even the roughest approximation is better than none.
Figure out how much your Custom Software Development Project Will Cost
Now, you’re all caught up on some of the main software development insights we’ve shared throughout the year. However, make sure to stay tuned for all of our pieces in 2022.
We’ll definitely continue sharing articles on how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and IoT are disrupting all kinds of industries and generating business growth. You won’t want to miss it!
Get the conversation started!
About the author
