Vatsa Solutions

Vatsa Solutions is a leading global software solutions and services provider with comprehensive, cutting-edge capabilities in bringing together Enterprise, Analytics, and Cloud solutions.

[vatsa-solutions-blog]

Statutory Data Collection - Data Binding

We, at Vatsa solutions, love to be ahead of the curve. That may probably be the reason why we are always looking out for the latest trends in technology. MVVM or the Model-View-Viewmodel is a software architectural design pattern for designing and implementing graphical user interfaces. It is one of the easiest ways to structure a clean and organized code, primarily, as it keeps the UI components separate from the business logic, the code becomes easy to understand and read. Also, like many other design patterns, MVVM breaks the programs into ‘modules’, to make development and reuse of the code faster.

As the name suggests, MVVM consists of 3 distinct parts:

   Model:

Model defines the data (non-visual) model in the applications, which can be objects and classes.

   View:

View is the appearance, the layout and structure of what an application user sees on the screen. View displays a representation of the Model and receives the interaction through clicks, gestures, etc. It then forwards it to the Viewmodel via databinding defined to link view and viewmodel.

   Viewmodel:

The viewmodel can be described as the state of the data in Model. The viewmodel and view are synchronized using binder such as XAML. Viewmodel works as a binding between view and viewmodel, while providing data to be displayed in View.

MVVM holds many benefits over MVP or MVC. A few of which are as below:

   The viewmodel provides a single store for state, thus, improving the replicability of view, as well as the reusability of Model.

MVVM is a loosely coupled design. View holds a reference to Viewmodel, while Viewmodel holds a reference to Model. Rest is all done by data-binding. 

MVVM is very easy to test and carry out run-time simulations and overall, the code itself remains simple.

To request the complete document about the basics of MVVM and how it can be implemented, just click on the Enquire now button below, and we will send it to you.

I am Vatsa 36-year-old health, and fitness marketing expert from Bloomington, IL. Now, working for Vatsa Solutions: VATSA is a complete solution provider for variety of business needs of its customers. We partner with customers in problem identification and resolution. Visit more success story about Office 365 migration on Vatsa Solutions.

[vatsa-solutions-blog]

How to Choose the Right School Management Information System

With the advancements of technology rapidly moving towards schools and colleges, it has become a necessity for academic organizations to upgrade their digital infrastructure. It can be safely predicted how the next decade will see complete digitalization of the Education sector. This also makes it imperative on the part of schools and colleges, to initiate the process of digitalization or risk being overpowered by competition. Having been part of this industry for more than 20 years, we, at Vatsa Solutions, have seen both sides of the coin and adapted ourselves to create robust, futuristic and easy-to-maintain platforms and software for our clients from the education sector.

Choosing the right School Management Software can be a challenging task. Especially with the varied choices available in the market, each option might seem better than the previous one. So how does one decide?

Here is a list of 5 things which you can check for, to select the software which benefits you the most.

Select the one that fits closely to your requirement

Each School Management Software can be segregated widely in 2 sections:

Necessary Features

Additional Features

The Necessary features will mostly be common across all similar Management Systems. This may include student profiling, attendance, direct messaging and so on. However, the additional features are the ones to look at closely. Many a times, these features are the ones deciding the cost of the software. Also, additional unwanted features can make the application complex and space consuming. So it’s better to choose an MIS which can provide the flexibility of selecting only the features suitable for your use.

The other option can be to create a completely customized application, which is tailor-made to fit your requirements. This also helps you to gain complete control over the system. This also works for upgrading your existing systems. As an example, you can also check out how we, at Vatsa, modernized a Management Information System for Schools and Colleges for a London-based School MIS provider.

One which can accommodate your school’s growth and expansion

In the process of choosing the right school MIS, it is necessary to keep in mind the prospective growth of the school/college and whether the present system will sustain this future growth. This may include the expansion of an organization into multiple branches, increasing global presence of international students, improvements in the school’s administration or functioning and so on. It may happen that a particular  school MIS may be perfect for the present, but may have limitations in expansion.

Ease of Use and Regional Adaptability – Teacher / Parent usage

At the end, the biggest factor remains the adaptability and user-experience of the platforms. The software should be easy to understand and to use for both, parents or students, as well as teachers and non-teaching staff. One of the primary reasons of digitalization is to save time. This is only available by making the systems as user-friendly as possible.

[vatsa-solutions-blog]

End of Support for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 – All You Need to Know

Microsoft SQL server 2008 has been one of the most widely used database management systems in the industry till date. Organizations have been using SQL Server 2008 and SQL server 2008 R2 for over a decade now. However, Microsoft stopped its Mainstream support back in 2015 and plans on stopping the technical support for SQL 2008/R2 by July 2019. Using SQL server 2008/R2 past July 2019 will be a potential risk for organizations. Loss of data, compatibility issues, lack of add-ons and, the biggest threat of them all, cyber-attacks, will be an ever-looming problem. This has given rise for a need to search for a suitable replacement for SQL server 2008 in order to avoid security and compliance risks.

At Vatsa Solutions, over a decade of our presence, we are using SQL server 2008 extensively in a variety of projects for a long time and has closely seen the gradual transformation it has brought in the industry over the years. Packed with multiple features like Master Data Services, Power Pivot, Management Studio and Report Builder, the convenience of using database management systems had reached new charts. However, with the advent of Microsoft’s decision to discontinue with SQL server 2008, we are helping organizations to choose the best-fit alternative for the future.

Before Microsoft ends their support, there are a few measures one can adopt which will help to ensure that the organization’s data is not vulnerable.

The obvious and the most convenient measure is to upgrade to a newer version of Windows server and SQL server. The newer versions offer you updated features and abetter security landscape. The latest versions of Windows Server and SQL Server available are Windows Server 2019 (reaching general availability from October 2018)and SQL Server 2017. You have an option to upgrade to the on-premises versions or the cloud version on Azure (recommended by Microsoft). Being a certified Microsoft partner, we can help you with our expertise in data management systems, to migrate to the latest servers which suit your business.

Microsoft recently announced another option for those who don’t wish to upgrade and still would like to keep using SQL server 2008, they can simply use the Azure Hybrid Use Benefit to move your Microsoft SQL Server 2008 to Azure. The only cost required will be for computation and infrastructure. Furthermore, one can also save on the computation cost by using Azure Reserved VM instances. Our expertise with Microsoft Azure can assure you of a smooth transition to this platform. Just to give a sneak peek, you can check out how we used the Microsoft Azure cloud computing, as part of our end-to-end Microsoft technology capabilities, to create an award-winning learning-platform on top of Microsoft Office 365.

For those who are comfortable with the old server and plan on continuing with its usage, you can keep using the SQL server 2008 at 75% of the running cost and still receive security updates from Microsoft. For this extended support, you must have a Software Assurance or Enterprise Subscription agreement. This extension option is also a direct replacement for Windows Server and SQL Server Premium Assurance that Microsoft discontinued prior to the announcement of this new option. Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 and SQL 2008/2008 R2 were the ones set to take advantage of the Premium Assurance offer.

Vatsa Solutions is a certified partner with Microsoft Azure, and we have helped many of our prestigious clients to create some state-of-the-art platforms. We would be happy to help companies who are looking to successfully migrate their data using Azure and protect data from a potential threat, thus keeping your company running seamlessly in this end of life transition. In fact, our end-to-end Microsoft Stack capabilities can help you to be up and running, without any hassles and obstructions for your complete digital roadmap. To know more about offerings, feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected].

Visit more success story about Education Modernization on Vatsa Solutions.

[vatsa-solutions-blog]

What to Look for in Your App Development Partner

The recent years have successfully emphasized the importance of Mobile apps from a business point of view. Organizations are exploring the endless possibilities of how mobile apps can be used beyond customer interaction, internal administration, communication and so on. Various ideas can be thought of to be implemented. The challenge, however, is to find the right partner to actually implement these ideas in real-time. The skill required to bring an idea to fruition may depend on various parameters. For example, mobile app developers having years of experience, or familiarity of the domain, can definitely cater to a more complex, functionally-superior mobile app. Vatsa Solutions is rightly placed and you can check out how we have used our years of experience in AR, to build a unique Augmented Reality-based mobile application for real estate search.

Similarly, here is a list of things you can check before hiring your Mobile App Development Partner for your next project:

Use of Technology:

Technology is one of the most dynamic aspects of mobile app development. Every day, new technology is being introduced in mobile app development. AI, BI, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Real-time interaction, Smart-Bot implementation, and many more such upgrades have made mobile app development into a challenging skill.

Strong Communication:

End-to-end stages of mobile app development require constant communication from both sides. This aspect becomes even more important in overseas projects, including the time difference and language barriers. The better a developer is able to understand the customer, the better will be the end-product. At Vatsa, we have been able to capitalize on this point and create a global presence amongst our clients.

Domain Expertise:

Working with someone who is well-versed with the working of an industry, familiar with its terms and requirements can be a real boon. Vatsa solutions, for example, has built strong domain expertise in the Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing and Public Information and Safety sectors. This has come with more than a decade of experience and numerous projects.

Ethical and Trustworthy:

A trusty partner is worth a lot more in terms of providing a hassle-free experience. Legal and ethical complications can be averted. A few examples of this can be bringing out hidden costs, not keeping complete transparency of working, false promises, not transferring the complete legal rights of the mobile app and so on. A very interesting way that we at  Vatsa project our company values is through the Vatsa Vowels.

Long-term Sustenance:

No matter how perfect an app is made and no matter how much testing is done, mobile apps need certain expertise to be maintained for long-term sustenance in their functionality. Adding features, making edits in the code for speed optimization and server maintenance all come as a part and parcel of mobile app development. It is always better to rely on a partner who can provide this support for the period, even after the development phase is over.

Creating a mobile app is an investment for a company. It is used for various purposes, which are directly related to the growth and profits of a company. This makes it imperative to be absolutely sure about your mobile development partner. The ones who can fulfill these criteria are of real value to the company. It makes the fruition of ‘ideas to implementation’ more effective and, in the long run, be a useful investment. It might be the presence of these core points in the working of Vatsa Solutions, which have made us one of the top leading mobile app developers globally.

Visit more success story about Manufacturing Intranet Portal on Vatsa Solutions

[vatsa-solutions-blog]

The Art of Making the Best Mobile Apps Better

Best practices for effective usability testing of mobile apps

The mobile app market is huge, and here are a few statistics that bear that out:

   On an average, 6,140 mobile apps are released from Google Play Store every day. (Source: Statista)

   As of October 2018, Google Play store had 2.1 million available apps, with Apple’s App Store having 2.0 million apps for downloads. (Source: Statista)

   The average smartphone user has 25 to 30 apps on his mobile, out of which, he spends 90% of the time on 5 to 7 of his favorite apps.(Source: Nielsen)

   Global downloads across iOS and Google Play surpass 113 billion in 2018. (Source: App Annie)

So, every day, thousands of new apps are uploaded on Play Store and App Store. However, not all of them make it big. Even as companies spend millions of dollars on app development, app testing, performance and usability are the non-negotiables that make sure that the product or service reaching the end users is the best that is possible. At Vatsa Solutions, we see the huge potential, need and opportunity around mobile app development as well as functional and non-functional testing to provide with great usability. For example, here is an augmented reality-based mobile application that we built for a real-estate firm that saw great adoption amongst its user base.

How critical is the need for usability testing of apps?

With growing competition, one can find mobile apps of multiple companies providing the same services. So, any company that aims to reach a user base of thousands or millions with high engagement has to focus very deliberately on the end-to-end user experience that goes with the app.

The Process:

The usability testing process helps mobile developers understand the usage characteristics and user-experience of an app under controlled conditions. Analyzing the results helps them identify issues and gaps before making the app live. Companies which do not perform solid usability testing of their apps before launch are likely to end up with an app that leaves their users disinterested or frustrated.

Vatsa uses a six-step process for usability study of mobile apps:

   Write down the objectives of the study and discuss the same with business stakeholders.

   Define the specific tasks to be performed using the app.

   Conduct a thorough examination of the mobile app functionalities and record them, including the flow of user interactions, app responsiveness to user actions, app/screen loading time, and ease of accessing the functionality.

   Note down the user feedback in real time, identify problem areas and shortcomings in a comprehensive manner.

   Discuss, plan a roadmap, and prioritize tasks to solve the problem areas.

   Implement the changes and retest the experience.

The process of usability testing can either be carried out in a laboratory setting, with the test participants being constantly monitored while using the app or in a remote environment where test users are assigned the tasks to carry out in their own environments and send back feedback. The motive, in either case, is communicated beforehand, which is to enrich the experience of the end-user and to eliminate or minimize the pain-points.

Though the mobile app market is a highly competitive space, a great app has the potential to stand out from others and reach its full potential of downloads and usage.

Vatsa Solutions has unparalleled experience as a mobile app development company in building user-friendly apps and has helped many companies build on their ideas. To know more about how we can help you build a robust mobile app, contact us today.

Visit more success story about Basedmobile Application for Real Estate Search on Vatsa Solutions.

[vatsa-solutions-blog]

How To Ensure HIPPA Compliance in Your Website and Mobile APPs

Health Insurance Profitability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the core law governing the management, storage and transmission of protected health information (PHI), which came into existence in 1996.The HIPAA Privacy Rule and the HIPAA Security Rule help standardize and safeguard the flow of PHI, for better organizational functionality.

  The HIPAA Privacy Rule, or the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, establishes national standards to protect medical records and other personal health information transferred in electronic form.   The HIPAA Security Rule, or Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information, establishes national standards to protect electronic personal health information that is created, received, used, or maintained by a covered entity.

With a vast experience in the healthcare digitalization industry, Vatsa Solutions has worked closely with medical and healthcare companies to build websites and applications following medical standards like HIPAA, HL7 and Mirth connect (also called NextGen Connect). (See how Vatsa created a HL7 standard-based healthcare platform for simplified pre-operative care and better surgery outcomes.) Sharing or tracking medical and health records through electronic mediums like websites and mobile applications comes with challenges, as well as safety concerns. HIPAA standards lay down guidelines for the same.

In September 2013, HIPAA’s Final Omnibus Rule Update was passed. Before the amendment, only covered entities i.e. doctors, hospitals, and insurers, were required to comply with HIPAA rules. This amendment expands the definition of the entities, who are required to be HIPAA compliant, to all entities dealing with storage, management, recording and passing Protected Health Information (PHI).

Listed below are the key deliverables to make websites and applications HIPAA compliant. 1. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Protection The SSL protection is a networking protocol that includes authentic and encrypted communication between a web server and browser. In simple terms, it means that whenever a person browses through a website or logs into an account, all data is safely encrypted at all times.  The information is protected from theft and third-party interception. Should anyone steal it, they would not be able to decode it.

2. Full Data Backup and Encryption Backup and encryption of stored data is to make sure that all essential data, including PHI, is not lost in case of any unexpected occurrence. In the event of a system failure, data remains safe and can be restored. Encryption of stored data ensures that all backup remains secure.

3. Permanent Data Deletion All HIPAA compliant websites are required to delete all data that is no longer relevant to the company’s business, ‘permanently’. Customers, who are no more your customers, are ‘no more relevant’ to your company; so their data needs to be permanently deleted from your records, with no recourse to retrieving it, in any way.

4. Restricted Access Only users can access their data and they can access only their data (and not any other data). Along with this, clearly authorised administrators from company can access the website and make changes to it. How many changes, minor or major, how frequently – all these parameters are driven by HIPAA. A slightly out-of-place or misinformed change could mean a breach of HIPAA and lead to serious consequences. Companies need to be alert to these requirements.

5. Data Breach Protocol Where there is data, there must be a data breach protocol in place. This is to provide for any such eventuality that might happen. Having such protocols ensures that the organization is prepared for any contingency and should the breach take place, it can be quickly dealt with, without too much damage to the data, the reputation and the trust of the company.

6. HIPAA Business Associate Agreement with Site Host A HIPAA-compliant website involves a lot of work and needs far more security than a regular non-compliant website. The site host must be informed and one must have an agreement with them for HIPAA compliance, so that both parties are aligned on the implementation, rules and cost fronts. This applies to all vendors, who need to be aligned on HIPAA compliance.

Being HIPAA compliant tells your users that you adhere to the law and you respect their rights of privacy. It builds trust in an industry that is fast becoming competitive. It makes users stick to your company knowing that their information is valued and secure.

Healthcare communication systems require great care and caution to see that you stay breach-free. Having a clean HIPAA compliant website and app is a great way to stay so. Vatsa Solutions has helped many health and medical organizations to make HIPAA compliant websites and mobile apps. To know more on how you can make your website HIPAA compliant, connect with us at [email protected] or simply fill out the contact form and we will get in touch.

Visit more success story about Healthcare Analytics on Vatsa Solutions.