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Purposes & Suitability of the Rapid Application Development Platform

Software design can utilize the RAD platform when it wishes to accomplish the following purposes:

Quicker Delivery: The Rapid Application Development Platform is built for speed. It does so by breaking down a project into modules. Each module in the Rapid Application Development Platform undergoes a separate development drive, including its own testing phase. Tested modules are assimilated to create the final application. The platform ensures not only speed but also minimal errors.

Effective Market Analysis: Testing for each prototype (as done in a RAD platform) means that suggestions and possibilities for improvement are more actively received. Market analysis occurs more effectively because users can specify any undesirable feature immediately. Such features can be discarded without having to make any major alterations.

Progress Measurement: Since frequent iterations and prototypes are constructed as part of the Rapid Application Development Platform, progress on the overall project can be tracked and evaluated. Thus, Rapid Web Application Development Tools create more useful budgets and schedules.

Adaptability: The Rapid Application Development Platform encourages a flexible development process. Since the application must be changed based on user feedback at every stage, users and developers must embrace flexibility in the method. Often in the RAD platform, changes in code are made that dramatically alter the entire application.

Early System Integration: All modules of a project using the Rapid Application Development Platform must be programmed to integrate with other systems and services. A RAD platform requires that all prototypes are integrated. Each module in a RAD platform must, after testing, be combined with others to create the final application. This requires them to be open to integration from the very inception of the development process.

Suitability of a Rapid Application Development Platform

A RAD platform must be employed for software development only after ensuring that the following conditions are met:

·         A management that ensures that adequate security is available to all segments of the team working on the separate modules operating on a RAD platform.

·         Both, end-users and clients, are actively involved in the entire process. Hence, both must also be easily accessible for the Rapid Application Development Platform to be successful.

·         Dedicated project managers who are able to make their teams adhere to a rigid schedule aim at swift and timely delivery. As the RAD platform’s greatest advantage is speed, the schedule is on track always!

·         A project using the Rapid Application Development Platform is primarily a short-term engagement. The time and resources demanded by a RAD platform make it unfeasible in the long term.

The Rapid Application Development Platform involves the following steps that often operate in a cycle:

Planning Requirements: In the initial stage of the rapid application development platform, designers, developers, and users decide upon a rough sketch of project scope as well as technical and business requirements.

User Design: Users offer feedback which is a major factor in determining the system architecture. Early modeling and prototyping processes depend on this step. Feedback is gathered as often as necessary for flawless software development.

Rapid Construction: Actual coding, testing, and integration for the application are accomplished in this phase. Like the feedback stage, this is repeated as necessary to accommodate requisite alterations.

Cutover: In this stage, the Rapid Web Application Development Tools move laboratory components to a live production environment. This helps designers determine the need for large-scale testing or further training of the team.

Quite naturally, the Rapid Application Development Platform is preferred by software developers. The multiple advantageous make it the go-to platform for creating applications quickly without compromising on quality and marketability.

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The Three Essential Aspects of Rapid Application Development Tools

Businesses that employ technical personnel for developing their applications often encounter delays during the developmental process. Multiple procedural setbacks including frequent iterations and faulty testing mechanisms tend to bottleneck the application delivery pipeline. Embracing the Rapid Application Development model can help enterprises counter such critical issues with efficacy. 

Rapid Application Development Tools facilitate the development of applications which is followed by a quick test and leads to smooth launch of the desired product. With the RAD Platform and best RAD tools, businesses and organizations have been able to streamline the process by reducing unnecessary iterations and delivering the output on time. 

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a new cloud-based technology, whereby users can employ high-end development tools that are easy to use. PaaS and web-based rapid application development tools together cut down on the complexities surrounding the coding process. It is unarguable that coding consumes both time and energy, and often turns out to be a tedious process owing to frequent iterations involved. 

Applications of superior quality can be developed faster on a RAD platform by: 

· Gathering requirements through focus groups or workshops · Prototyping and reiterative user testing of designs · Re-using software components · Outlining a rigidly-paced schedule which defers design improvements for the next application version

The Three Essential Aspects of Rapid Application Development

A business can implement Rapid Application Development Tools and develop mobile or web-based applications at a high-speed and with minimum effort. In return, this ensures that the business can keep up with the current market trends and cater to a user’s demands even if these keep evolving. Rapid Application Development Tools have four essential aspects: 

· Methodology · People · Management 

To expedite the development process, these RAD application development tools must function adequately at all times. 

Methodology 

Web-based Rapid Application Development Tools help combat the challenges that the software development enterprises are encountering. These RAD tools provide means for reducing costs, developing systems faster, and increasing quality simultaneously by: 

· Combining the most appropriate techniques and stating the sequence of tasks to make the RAD application development tools and techniques more effective · Using prototypes that are transformed into the final product · Depending on workshops rather than interviews to review design · Determining CASE tools to facilitate prototyping, modeling, code reusability, and automating combinations of the techniques used · Implementing a timeboxed model of development that aids in building the core of the system and introducing changes in subsequent releases · Providing guidelines to avoid pitfalls and achieve success. 

Active user involvement all through the RAD lifecycle satisfies user expectations and business requirements. A commercial rapid web application development platform utilizes Rapid Application Development Tools to develop high-quality applications quickly. Prototyping helps users visualize as well as request changes to the system, allowing these applications to evolve iteratively. 

Ideally, RAD application development tools and techniques are likely to be successful in enterprises with inconsistent business requirements or while developing non-traditional systems. The RAD lifecycle is designed to ensure that developers build systems that users need. This lifecycle includes all activities required to define business requirements and design, develop, and implement an application system which supports the requirements. 

Requirements Planning or the Concept Definition Stage outlines data subject areas and business functions and determines the scope of the system. 

User Design or the Functional Design Stage uses workshops for modeling the system’s processes and data to set up a working prototype with critical system components. 

Construction or the Development Stage completes construction of the physical application system, builds a conversion system, develops user aids, and implements work plans. 

Implementation or the Deployment Stage involves final user testing, training, data conversion, and implementation of the entire application system. 

People 

The success of Rapid Application Development depends on the involvement of individuals having the appropriate skills. These individuals must be carefully selected and highly trained so that they can use the RAD application development tools effectively. Generally, Rapid Application Development permits each individual to play several roles; thus, a RAD project entails a great degree of cooperation among a small group of people. 

The key players in a Rapid Application Development project include the following: 

Sponsor is a high-level user executive. Primarily, a sponsor funds the system. 

User Coordinator is a user appointed by the sponsor to supervise the project from the user perspective. 

Requirements Planning Team comprises high-level users participating in the Joint Requirements Planning workshop. 

User Design Team comprises high-level as well as lower-level users from the planning team, who have advanced knowledge of the system. 

User Review Board comprises a team of users who evaluate the system once the construction is complete. They also decide if modifications are required before cutover. 

Training Manager is an individual who trains users so that they can work with the new system. 

Project Manager is an individual who analyzes the development effort. 

Construction or Skilled Workers with Advanced Tools (SWAT) Team comprises two to six developers who are trained in the RAD methodology to contribute to quick development. 

Workshop Leader is a specialist who organizes workshops for joint application design and joint requirements planning. 

Management 

Achieving high-speed in development is indeed tough. Systems cannot be developed rapidly if obstacles come up in the developmental stage or if users are not devoted. Management must be prepared to motivate IT staff and users, coordinate with SWAT teams, and demonstrate through the use of performance measurements that RAD is synonymous with quality, speed, and productivity. Dedication and proper management of rapid application development tools are thus essential to build a system faster. To introduce rapid development successfully, the management should only hire those professionals whom they consider to be early adopters. Early Adapters are those individuals who perceive the value of a new methodology and collaborate to make it suitable for use. 

Since Rapid Application Development brings about a drastic change from the conventional development methods, it's better to introduce new rad application development tools. Initially, development teams of about two to four individuals who are thoroughly trained in to use rad application development tools and techniques should be formed. Once the teams gain experience sufficiently, they will be capable of fine-tuning the development lifecycle and, thereby contribute to improving the effectiveness of best web application development tools.

Rapid Application Development 

The success of any Rapid Application Development platform primarily depends on rapid application development tools, such as CASE. These RAD application development tools play a critical role in eliminating some complications that prevail in other models of software development. 

Hence it is evident, that any business can reap diverse benefits by implementing the RAD platform, hence a successful implementation of RAD application development tools is mandatory.

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Factors to Consider While Investing in a Custom CRM on a Rapid Mobile App Development Platform

SMEs globally are waking up to options towards better mobile CRM. A customized CRM app, not just an app, it’s a business strategy that encompasses multiple products and teams to nurture relationships across the customer’s journey.

Take a peek online and you will find hundreds of CRM software and tools that are supposed to help support your customer base. However, without end-to-end sales support, CRM software can only play a fraction of its part as the system. In addition, the app should be created on a rapid mobile app development platform to save on creation and deployment costs.

To this end, this article will decode the importance of custom CRM integration to assist your customers with a smooth customer experience:

1. Workflow Automation

CRM can make your sales teams’ lives easier by automating the entire workflow process. Look for an app which allows for customizable CRM automation for your team to be actively productive. With custom app development, you can perform actions based on specific triggers like:

As a customer puts in contact information, an autoresponse message will be sent an acknowledgement

Simultaneously, your CRM software will automatically send the details to your sales rep

As the sales rep follows-up on the query, a dynamic CRM will automatically log all communication between them

When the follow-up is dealt with, an auto response is sent to upper management for task performing reports

In addition, workflow automation also features a time of performing those tedious sales tasks like order processing and tracking, inventory control and billing.

2. Customization to Suit Individual Business Needs

It is common knowledge that no two businesses are alike. Your CRM software should be conditioned to pick and choose features to include as a part of the app. The app should be able to make customizations like dashboards, contact fields and create custom assessments.

And if your business requirements call for more tailored options, then the CRM should be able to incorporate third-party APIs.

3. Third Part API Integrations

You can save a lot on a lot of costs and time by integrating your CRM with third-party software, compatible with your business. Here’s how low code mobile app development platforms can help you:

Run your business straight out of email clients like Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo to save time switching apps

Sync sales and order data automatically with your Point of Sales (POS) system. This way you can remove manual data entry

Build specific email lists and launch email (drip) marketing campaigns from your CRM software

Backup and sync data on Cloud backup storage services like Amazon

Imagine sharing prospect contacts from one application to another without friction. This way your sales support can quickly respond to customer enquiries and offer enhanced experiences to your customer.

4. Provide Excellent Customer Service

For optimized performance by your sales and customer support teams, here’s what your CRM should be able to deliver:

Give a comprehensive all-inclusive view of your customers, right from the first point of contact

Track all points of communication between client and sales rep

Sales reps should be able to see which emails were opened, which webpage was accessed, and which CTAs were used

Automatically create and provide reference numbers per customer and accounts 

5. Support quantitative and quantitative characteristics for key account management 

Farming relationships with a customer is a tedious activity. Dynamic integration sanctions opportunities like:

Key relationship mapping

Playbook development

Account planning

Whitespace analysis

Customer health rating, and

Business review processes

Without a dynamic software, sales teams have to resort to using notebooks, Word documents and spreadsheets which will not provide information real-time.

6. Workforce Tracking

CRM software automatically allows tracking of employee activities and performance. Employees are provided with individual logins which help in tracking of

Hours worked

Tasks performed

Meeting attended and scheduled

Sales numbers

Periodic goals, and such

Upper management can use CRM dashboards to view individual performance to help them provide incentives based on performance reviews. This type of tracking also helps with identifying struggling employees and areas of improvement.

7. Smooth data synchronization is an absolute requirement

Your CRM software should be configurable to automatic synchronization among data-factors like contact, opportunities and leads. This ensures that your marketing automation system and CRM can share data. Ensuring configuration of synchronization frequency, conflict resolution and data mapping. Moreover, custom updates can be synchronized safely without disruptions.

The bottom line – Improved Customer Experience and Increased Sales

For your business to perform seamlessly, there needs to be a strong sense of purpose that is supported by a CRM integration. Over a short period of time, all the aforementioned points will come together to help your clients place their trust in your business. Thus enhancing stronger relationships and delivering on promises made. A custom mobile app for business will allow for customized experiences to be doled-out every time.

For more information on the best custom CRM app built on a rapid mobile app development platform to suit your business needs, talk to our experts…

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HokuApps rapid application development software (RAD) model solves the challenges of integrating and managing data silos, and handling multiple systems.

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Learn more about HokuApps’ Rapid Application Development Model (RAD) to create native-like and actionable mobile and web applications for enterprises.

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