The role of a Chief Technology Officer

In a world where, technological updates and inventions happens on a daily basis, the need is to quickly adapt on a regular basis. Lagging behind is not an option and most of the onus lies now on the CTO of a company to ensure that the workforce and resources are technologically sound. Hence, the job of a CTO becomes quite burdensome and the most important aspect of his job profile involves ensuring the workforce is knowledgeable and match the current industry standards.

According to Wikipedia

A chief technical officer or chief technology officer (abbreviated as CTO) is an executive position whose holder is focused on scientific and technical issues within an organization. Essentially, a CTO is responsible for the transformation of capital – be it monetary, intellectual, or political – into technology in furtherance of the company’s objectives.

The CTO is supposed to be:

A Big Thinker – The CTOs spend their time evaluating how technology can be used internally to developed new business models and business lines, and how to preempt competitor’s attempts to use technology to disrupt the markets.

Operations Manager – This pattern is usually found in dot.com and other technology-oriented companies where information technology is key ingredient in implementing business strategy. The CTO is responsible for determining how technology can be used to implement the business strategy.

Infrastructure Manager – In companies where the role of the CIO becomes too complex, the CTO takes on the responsibilities for infrastructure and IT operations: data center operations, network operations, application development and maintenance, security, and other line functions.
Technologist who meets client and organisational requirements – We see this model often in companies where technology is used to provide products and services to customers and partners; the CTO is the intermediary between clients and internal development and the main influencer in the development of the product portfolio.
Being adept to the above mentioned 4 points is only possible if the CTO is technically sound and constantly keeps shuffling and updating his workforce. And at times it becomes impossible to bring in changes due to time and financial constraints.

What is the solution?

How does a CTO keep up to the changing times?
One of the simple answers is consulting. On a broader perspective, implementing staff augmentation and contract hiring are methods that CTO widely use. They might seem unconventional but of late bot these methods have garnered amazing results.
On the other hand consulting provides in-depth technical knowledge in areas where expertise is required. Experts can also be hired on for providing technical finesse apart from just consulting them. This opens up all horizons and the CTO is able to handle his portfolios in a better manner.

If such services are not taken up, the CTO might:

• Lose out on clients who feel the firm is not technically capable.
• Lose out on projects which require immediate attention and capable staff.
• Lag behind in technical expertise.
• Not keep up with the changing times which might see the company’s downfall.

It is impossible to stay updated on all the topics for a CTO and to expect the HR to hire staff on a priority basis. Flexibility is the key word and consulting and hiring outsourcing is the way to go!

Give up on you pre-notioned beliefs, erase your fears and accept the change. Be Flexible!

Mobile App for Radio Companies

The Dario Mobile App is an innovative platform designed to help Radio companies hire voice over artists for their different ads / shows etc. The mobile app provides a niche environment for both voice over artists and radio companies or producers to interact and exchange information. It also acts as a unique job listing portal that notifies users about the current openings in a simplified manner

The Dario mobile app is built for the android platform and it allows users to upload / download media files. Users can also record their voice piece and edit it as per the script that is being uploaded.

The UI/UX is designed in such a manner that allows easy flow of information for both the radio company and the end user. The interactions and user journey is clearly visualized, right from uploading the job requirement, to short-listing candidates and paying them for their services, the mobile app allows an easy execution of all the above mentioned processes.

GoodWorkLabs is hiring for React JS / React Native

The React framework is a hot technology and we are looking at hiring some smart minds who are passionate to build products on this framework. If you are looking for a challenging opportunity and want to work with some of the top clients, GoodWorkLabs is the place to be!

Job Description for React JS

1)  Understanding of Web technology stack and familiarity with React/Redux is mandatory

2) Should have minimum 3 years of work experience.

3) Excellent programming skills in Javascript, Jquery, HTML 5, CSS3, React JS

4) Familiarity with more than one front-end technology (Node, Angular etc) is preferable

5) Knowledge in Angular 1 and 2 will be a plus.

6) Must have proficient knowledge of software development methodologies and life cycle

7) Excellent verbal and written communication skills

8) Ability to work independently and also part of the team

9) Education qualification: B.E/ B.Tech / M.Tech

Job Description for React Native

1) Should have minimum 3 years of work experience.

2) Excellent programming skills in Javascript, Jquery, HTML 5, CSS3, React JS

3) Knowledge in Angular 1 and 2 will be a plus.

4) Must have proficient knowledge of software development methodologies and life cycle

5) Excellent verbal and written communication skills

6) Ability to work independently and also part of the team

7) Education qualification: B.E/ B.Tech / M.Tech

Preference will be given to candidates who can join us immediately or have a 30 days notice period.

This is your chance to work with the brightest minds of technology! Drop by for an interview and WOW us with your skills.

The Industrial Internet of Things

With automation storming the gates of  the manufacturing sector,IIOT is set to stake its claim in a much more impactful manner. IIOT is dynamic in the truest essence and is moving forward in a way that none of us imagined it would. Encouraged by Cloud Computing: Analytics, AI and Machine Learning have taken a prominent role in the industries today. It is no longer a doubt that IIOT is in the right gear and is now a proven game changer and not just a theoretical concept.

“What companies are hoping for is that they can get to a higher level where they have an opportunity to rethink their products,” Frank Gillett, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research explained.

We are constantly trying to scale new peaks in technology an din the process we have realized that IIOT will soon be a pivotal technology. Our team has gone the distance and captured the essence of IIOT. Here, we bring to you in a two part blog series, the trends we foresee with inculcation of IIOT.

1. Digital Twins: Much is being discussed about this innovation. It surely is unique in its approach and needs to be explored intensively. Every time there is a new product designed, it takes a lot of time to actually test the product and further fix the issues based on the shortcomings found. However, with this innovation, the wastage of time can be minimized. The innovation allows to create a digital copy which can used for simulation and testing purposes in a virtual world and then further commit to the production accordingly. One of the biggest benefits in using this is the fact that the previous details stored in the system can be used to gauge the performance and ascertain the related shortcomings and expected resources. Also, the data gathered real-time is applied for analytic activities which helps in improvising the overall product life cycle. The digital twin makes closed-loop design a feasible option throughout the life cycle of the product.

2. Edge computing: The growth of edge computing is now enabling devices to think on their own without having to depend on any instructions from an external source. It enables them to independently gather data, sort, filter and most importantly allows them to analyse and interpret the data for further action. The devices are capable enough to perform a particular set of tasks on their own along with communicating with other devices autonomously. The availability of the Edge devices and various networks are slowly bridging the gap and making operational technology easier. The attempt now is to connect these devices to the cloud systems so that businesses can perform better and make production processes smarter. Edge machines will have the intelligence to perform tasks on their own and hence can automate most of the industry processes.

3. AR/VR: As reported by Fast Company, it is the first time that investment in AR and VR companies has topped $1 billion in any year. The piece notes that “almost $800 million of the $1.1 billion investment in AR and VR this year went to one company: Magic Leap, but $300 million has already gone to smaller companies in the AR/VR services, hardware, advertising, distribution, and entertainment markets.” AR/VR is now being used for simulator-based training development that will impart the exact material on plant operations for the fresh employees. Mixed Reality technology such as Microsoft HoloLens are bringing experiences that are as good as real and making a difference that is striking and outstanding. This trend allows organisations to create their own virtual spaces that reflect their workspaces and helps the employees understand what they have to do in real-time. This experience is considered much better for training since the employees get to experience an almost real situation of their everyday work and is easy to develop skills that they lack since they understand the real environment.

4. MQTT:  MQTT is a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) data distribution technology that reduces network bandwidth consumption and is apt for remote sensing and control. The latest version is MQTT Version 3.1.1  which encourages SCADA system to access IIOT data. Since the technology is light-weight,  it is recommended for remote locations. It is a publishled protocol where information is enabled  by Edge devices. Clients are connected to the Broker and the information is passed on accordingly. With the subscription model whoever is connected gets to share the details as and when there is anything new updated on the system.

The future seems interesting!

Stay tuned for this blog where will discuss more trends in Part 2 of the blog.

Phoenix Marketcity – UI and UX design for Android Mobile App

Phoenix Marketcity is a leading shopping mall in India. It is located in Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore. Taking advantage of digitization of the customers, they launched an android mobile application to keep their customers highly engaged & loyal, and increase sales. With consumers moving online, it was the time for them to foray into the digital or online world to grab the user attention and keep them hooked.

How did GoodWorkLabs build an interactive UI and UX design for their android application? 

GoodWorkLabs is a leading UI and UX design studio in India, US, and Europe. GoodWorkLabs has experience in building beautiful, efficient, and engaging mobile applications with a core focus on UI and UX design. They did not only develop a beautiful UI and UX design for Phoenix Marketcity’s android application but also helped them replicate a customer engagement platform on mobile. The aim was to provide customers with on-the-go updates about the shopping mall. While they offered that much, they did not compromise on the usability of the application. The content, design, UI UX, and features were all given the utmost importance.

What were the key features of the UI and UX design for their android application? 

While designing UI and UX for android application for e-commerce and loyalty programme it is essential to ace at all the touch-points to drive more engagement and sales. And here is what GoodWorkLabs did:

• Lined-up sections to display fashion and f&b brands associated with Phoenix Marketcity Mall
• Introduced a plug-in to display offers and discounts at real-time
• A special ‘events’ tab was included to cover all the upcoming events at the entertainment hub of Whitefield, Bangalore – Phoenix Marketcity

What were the achievements of this app development?

• Enabled successful digital transformation of a brick and mortar business
• Helped the brand to engage with digital savvy audiences and increase their reach

Consulted for

• UI UX and Design
• User Research

GoodWorkLabs can help you with data visualization and make your analytics dashboard more visually appealing. Data is the most priced possession for any business but understanding and analyzing that data is more important to make better business decisions.

We can help you create intuitive analytic dashboards that can help you access, analyze and process the data in simple graphical forms. Presenting data in a visually appealing manner will make it easy to comprehend the complex statistics of your business.

Ek Step Genie is an education platform by EkStep Foundation a not for profit initiative. EkStep is a platform to create, share, and distribute free, community-sourced educational content for primary school children. Genie gives users access to free educational content from the EkStep platform. Through this collaborative, universal platform Ekstep is recreating learning opportunities for every learner.

How did GoodWorkLabs develop an android mobile app for EkStep Genie? 

GoodWorkLabs is a pioneer in creating state-of-the-art android applications. They have been creating effective and engaging mobile applications since the time Google launched the Android platform. GoodWorkLabs is Google certified agency. Over the years GoodWorkLabs has emerged to be the top android app development company in India, the US, and Europe.

GoodWorkLabs designed and developed the Genie App for EkStep Foundation. During the course of development, the challenge was to make the mobile app interactive and user friendly for children. Hence, GoodWorkLabs’ design experts dived in deep into user research and created designs that would make learning more fun and enjoyable experience for children. GoodWorkLabs’ designs for the EkStep Genie App was also appreciated at the International Design Center in Berlin and were nominated for the UX design awards in 2016.

What were the salient features of the EkStep Genie Mobile App? 

Genie App by EkStep Foundation helps children to:

• Explore and download free educational content
• Create and manage multiple users (and group) profiles
• Consume interactive audio-visual content
• Use the app in English, Hindi and Kannada
• Get recommendations for content best suited for the user

What were the achievements of this mobile app development?

• Increased user engagement and learning
• EkStep Genie App was appreciated at the International Design Center in Berlin and were nominated for the UX design awards in 2016.

Services Rendered:

• UI/UX Design
• 2D and 3D Game Art and Design
• Software Development

Technologies used:

• Android Native (JAVA)

MetalMann is a transformative B2B international iOS and Android Mobile Application. It was launched with a vision to democratize the non-ferrous metal industry by eliminating the inefficiency stemming from an unorganised sector. With this application, they worked towards bringing transparency in the global supply chain of non-ferrous metals.

MetalMann mobile application is developed by GoodWorkLabs with two trending technologies at the core – adaptive data analytics and artificial intelligence. The mobile application developed with the expertise of GoodWorkLabs empowers non-ferrous metal processors with unparalleled business opportunities by combining advanced digital technology with global business prospects.

How did GoodWorkLabs help MetalMann become a unique E-commerce MarketPlace Solution?

GoodWorkLabs is a known mobile application development company in India, US, and Europe. GoodWorkLabs did not only built a platform for metal traders to trade fairly, but they did so by incorporating relevant and effective UI UX along with credible data collection. GoodWorkLabs designed and developed a complete end-to-end mobile app and e-commerce platform for MetalMann, thus allowing people from different continents across the world to buy and sell metal online with ease.

The designers at GoodWorkLabs focused on creating a user-friendly mobile interface for a hassle-free buying/selling process. Right from color tones to typography, to creating a lasting user experience for the client, GoodWorkLabs’ designers took care of every minute detail while visualizing the entire mobile app for MetalMann.

Detailed dashboards of both buyers and sellers were also designed so that information was seamless and easy to locate at any-time from any place. GoodWorkLabs incorporated three different sets of users (Buyer, Seller, and Admin) as requested by the client, and the entire process was automated. Through the MetalMann app, now buying, selling and monitoring of the trade was easily achievable.

In a nutshell, GoodWorkLabs built an application that was flawless and bug-free. It was rigorously tested and the final product was a highly functional and powerful application, thus proving why MetalMann chose GoodWorkLabs in the first place.

GoodWorkLabs delivered the product on time and gave a product that surpassed the client’s initial expectations.

Objective: Automating Complex Metal Trading Processes for MetalMann

The basis of MetalMann’s metal trading business involves a detailed bidding process where sellers would post the price of a product and buyers would accept the most competitive bid and place their orders.  All of these transactions used to take place offline and were managed through a number of spreadsheets! Now, GoodWorkLabs was faced with the challenge of automating this entire process and making it simple, but at the same time, we had to keep intact the authenticity and credibility of the process.

GoodWorkLabs decided to approach and solve this problem in a structured way so that every aspect of the business was captured seamlessly.

How did GoodWorkLabs include all the touch-points in this application?

1) GoodWorkLabs invested some time in understanding the trading process:

After multiple meetings and conversations with different departments of MetalMann, GoodWorkLabs understood that in order to transfer the entire trading scenario to a mobile business platform, they would need to build three portals:

• Buyer Dashboard
• Vendor Dashboard
• Metalmann Trading Desk (Admin)

GoodWorkLabs assigned a dedicated team of designers and developers who sketched out all the intricate details and user processes that had to be followed to ensure an easy and flexible online sales process.

2) Creating intuitive product categories:

MetalMann deals with almost 25 categories of metals and each one has various sub-categories which amounted to almost 250 product lists in total. The online marketplace app had to incorporate UX designs and product mapping for all these 250 products. Within a matter of just few clicks, a user must be able to select the product and make the purchase.

Clear product lists with images of the product along with descriptions were created to help users absorb all the information in one shot.

3) On-boarding only authentic and verified users on the platform:

Previously, the entire process of authenticating buyers and sellers to enter the MetalMann trading platform was done manually. In this transition of moving the business online, GoodWorkLabs had to ensure that enough reference checks and processes were kept in place to ensure that only authorized users can enter the MetalMann trading platform.

To tackle this problem, our UX team chose to come up with a longer on-boarding and verification process as this would help filter out the non-authentic users.

4) Enabling the bidding process:

The entire business of MetalMann depends on the bidding process. The developers at GoodWorkLabs dived deep into understanding the maths and science behind the bidding process to ensure that sellers put up the correct bid, price points and buyers also see the correct prices. The bids can be edited at any point in time by the seller who posted it.

However, the final approval of the bid and sales process is vested with the MetalMann Admin desk, thus giving them control over the entire process.

What were the application features that GoodWorkLabs incorporated into the project? 

Upon in-depth research and analysis of the business area, GoodWorkLabs has truly incorporated all the touch-points in MetalMann’s iOS and Android mobile applications. Here are some of the features that GoodWorkLabs included to make the platform engaging, relevant, and effective:

• Added ‘View Offers’ section – users can explore and view the details of respective metals across the globe
• Introduced ‘Post Requirements’ section – buyers can post their metal requirements to receive customised offers
• A true end-to-end user-friendly application – users can manage transactions within the application. They can monitor their shipment schedules and complete documentation process on the phone.

What were the outcomes of this mobile application?

• Helped dealers and buyers engage and understand the metal market
• Created a democratic platform in the global metal and metal recycling & scrap industry

Technologies used:

• PHP
• AngularJS
• Android Native (JAVA)
• iOS Native (SWIFT)