Custom digital solutions

The choices are pretty much clear-cut: you may face the complex process of digital transformation of your company with Yeeply or fall into an ocean of endless possibilities that turn into false expectations much more often than not.

Are you ready? This process will require the involvement of your entire company’s structure and the establishment of both objectives and a roadmap.

1.1 Main benefits of digitalisation

• Automate processes: Did you know that task automation enables achieving annual savings of up to 35%? Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) is a technology that’s now available for businesses and consists of a series of technologies (intelligent workflow, algorithms, natural language generation) that mimic human activities and, over time, learn to improve.

• Open up new business opportunities: This benefit comes almost without saying. By incorporating new digital tools that handle Big Data, you will allow your company to generate reports and draw conclusions quickly and reliably. With all these data in hand, it is much easier to locate new business opportunities, make predictions and adapt to changes.

• Enhancing customer relationship: To tackle the digitalisation of your sales, marketing and customer service areas, it will be essential to have a website that is ready for it (perhaps it’s time for its renewal) and even to consider the possibility of developing a mobile application.

• Improve competitiveness: Due to the merging of all these improvements obtained (more optimised processes, new opportunities and a better relationship with customers), your company’s competitiveness will surely benefit from this digital transformation.

1.2 The step-by-step of digital transformation

Let’s now have a look at the roadmap needed to accomplish the digitisation of your company successfully.

First steps:

• A change of mind-set: All employees (especially the company’s management) must be 100% involved in the digital transformation.

• Commitment to training: Although it may later be necessary to incorporate new profiles, it’s now best to invest in training for the employees you already have.

• Work flexibility and telecommuting: If your customer service is going to be channelled digitally, make your employees’ conditions more flexible by allowing them the possibility to telecommute.

• Continuous improvement: Digitalisation is a continuous process, and all this innovation in processes must be measured and analysed in order to implement any improvements.

• Big Data: Having experts in the field of Big Data, analysing data and making predictions will give you a competitive edge in terms of profitability and adaptation.

Yeeply’s role in the digitalisation of your company:

When the time comes to take action, it never hurts to know how a partner like Yeeply gets involved in the digitalisation process of a company.

#1 Network of certified developers and designers. There is no need to take risks when hiring professionals who will implement these digitalisation processes. Yeeply certifies its entire network of companies and freelancers, which has over 100 collaborators in Europe and Latin America.

#2 Project manager role. You’ll have by your side someone who coordinates time and cost control with agile methodology while bringing its experience to both small and large projects.

#3 Details matter. Creating a website or mobile app that makes an impact at all levels involves taking care of details involving both creativity and technical development.

1.3 Why is it worth hiring a partner like Yeeply?

What can a business partner bring to a company’s digital transformation?

• A good partner will be a guide through complex processes, like, for example, the overall creation of a new website or the conception of a mobile app to promote customer loyalty.
• If we are talking about the comprehensive digitalisation of the company, a good digital partner will provide you with the necessary overview of the process. The key idea is to avoid making unnecessary or ill-advised decisions.

Keys for choosing the best digital mentor:

• Reliability: Comparing is good. Knowing about the experiences of other customers (like the famous ‘success stories’) can give you peace of mind by making clear that the partner chosen will be up to the task.

• Experience: The most important thing is that the partner chosen has led projects similar to yours and of the same size.

• Budget: You’ll most likely have a budget already in mind, so your partner must be able to adapt to it while making sure it covers everything you need.

Who is the ideal partner?

• Freelancers: Your main issue with them will be to check the references they provide and gauging whether they can tackle the scale of your project.
• Digital agencies: Agencies are involved in many different aspects of digital transformation. The fact that they are generalists can make it difficult for them to deliver the specialisation that your project requires.
• Development companies: In this case, as you will be able to remark, many of them specialise in very particular fields and their profiles may be overly technical.
• YEEPLY: It is the compendium of all of the above. Our professionals are qualified and, by having such a wide network, we can guarantee the specialisation you require. At the same time, the project will be led by a professional who will encompass both its technical and creative aspects.

A lot can be achieved, even through small actions.

You need to automate processes, create networks, analyse, predict and alter corporate structures to achieve fresher business avenues and stronger ways of connecting with your customers.

2.1 Areas to digitalise

• Marketing and customer loyalty management: It’s of paramount importance to have a proper online presence (website, blog, social media, app, etc.) and to make yourself essential to your customers (this is where messaging bots, automated responses, CRM customer service systems, and e-mail marketing come in).

• Documentation, internal communication and task management: Simplify processes by using task managers to exchange information and to distribute and assign tasks.

• Production: You can also document and analyse production processes to fix their weaknesses and choke points.

• Logistics: The advantages regarding logistics are obvious because digitalisation enables the entire process to be monitored. Offering an efficient service also builds customer loyalty.

• In-house processes: Data must be stored centrally and securely.

2.2 Kinds of technologies and new trends

Today, Cloud Computing and Big Data analytics are the most widely used technologies, although Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) will lead the change in business processes and models over the next 20 years.

Similarly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be integrated into all technologies, and we will see other major take-offs like the Internet of Things, 3D printing, or blockchain, amongst other technologies.

Cloud Computing:

Cloud Computing consists of contracting computing services (like storage, or management or security software) in a format under which the company only pays for them when it needs them.

What kind of Cloud service does your company need?

• IaaS infrastructure: In this case, the company uses its own applications on an infrastructure provided by a provider.
• PaaS platform: These platforms constitute a complete development and deployment environment.
• SaaS software: This kind of software will be available without having to install anything and its services are scalable.

Internet of Things:

Industry 4.0 seeks to transform manufacturing production processes through technology to achieve agile and smart factories.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnection of all devices involved in manufacturing in order to adjust it and anticipate possible breakdowns.

3D printing:

It is a dream come true: parts for vehicles, human bio-tissues… The possibility of 3D-printing a prototype quickly and cheaply is a revolution for the manufacturing industry.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality:

Virtual Reality (VR) seeks to create the sensation of total immersion in another reality that has been created completely by computers. This is the case with video games, VR glasses or helmets, or the virtual tours offered by an increasing number of real estate agencies.

Augmented Reality (AR) allows people to superimpose images or information in real-time on their surrounding environment. It requires input from the real world to create interactive experiences with the user.

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence:

With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), machines can make decisions independently based on their accumulated knowledge.

By making use of Machine Learning and Deep Learning, AI can replace human intelligence and make its intervention unnecessary.

Big Data and data analysis:

Big Data is the collection of all the data that are constantly being generated within a company.

However, its usefulness lies in everything that can be done with these data:

Real-time analysis of such data will allow you to draw conclusions to explore new business lines.

Thanks to AI and Machine Learning, algorithms can process Big Data and carry out much more accurate predictive analyses.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA):

 RPA is a tool that follows predefined rules to automate tasks and execute them just like a human being. It consists of bots that interact on websites, applications, user portals, etc., freeing employees from repetitive and tedious tasks.

5G connectivity:

The large-scale deployment of 5G connectivity is making the use of the Internet of Things easier, allowing for more flexibility in factories and greater efficiency.

Blockchain:

After being successfully implemented in the financial industry, its major applications in Industry 4.0 are just around the corner and will ensure traceability of the entire production and supply chain.

Hyperconvergence (HCI):

Hyperconvergence or Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) is particularly useful for SMEs. It is a technology platform combining storage, computing and networking in a single system.

If we narrow down your company’s digital transformation to just the basic and essential area of marketing, we must be well aware that you’ll need to have an outstanding website and the possibility of adding something more to your strategy: a customised mobile app.

3.1 How to create the right website

Your website will go nowhere without a good design and a good marketing strategy.

That being said, there are many factors involved in its conception, design, and development that will also affect its cost. It’s all about choosing the option that’s most appropriate for your kind of business. Let’s take a look at which factors you should take into account:

What kind of website are you going to create?

• WordPress blogs or websites: They are an economical and widely used option. Their development consists of setting up the WordPress CMS for the desired domain, adjusting the design to your taste, and incorporating the content. They start at 1,500 euros (expect more for a custom design).
• E-commerce: An online shop is more difficult to create and manage than the previous option, especially because of the number of products that will have to be integrated. They generally start at around 2,000 euros.
• Custom websites: These are a good option for businesses that, due to their high degree of complexity, require tailored solutions. Customised website development will come at no less than 2,500 euros.

What professionals will you need?

• Consultancy services: On the one hand, if you are getting started in the digital environment, a consultancy firm will help you define your website’s needs. On the other hand, if you already have a website, they’ll help you find out what may be going wrong and what needs to be improved.

• Website design and development: This is an essential service when it comes to creating a website. Design and development are closely linked and are usually envisaged at the same time.

• Marketing: This area needs planning, planning, and more planning! Content is one of the most important components of your strategy: it encompasses your website’s texts (better if written using copywriting techniques), blog articles, lead magnets to attract subscribers, e-mail marketing campaigns, etc. And let’s also not forget the importance of measuring and boosting your customer service.

What is the most suitable solution for your website?

If your project is still in its infancy, it may be wise to start with a simple and inexpensive website. Later on, a good design and development — even completely customised — will offer your customers the image of solvency and reliability that is so important also in the online world.

3.2 Are you so bold as to develop an app?

An ever-growing number of companies are complementing their digitalisation strategy with the creation of a mobile application that they can either monetise (games) or use to promote customer loyalty (there are plenty of possibilities: customised assistance, clubs, forums, offers, etc.).

What features must my application contain?

An app’s features and their complexity will have a direct impact on its price. For instance, installing a contact form is very simple but implementing a geolocation system is not.

The cost will depend on the complexity of the features. Keep in mind that simple developments start at around 2,000 euros but can reach up to 50,000 euros in the case of a complex mobile game.

User interface and mobile app design:

Both aspects are essential for the app to be attractive and, above all, reliable and professional. Define your needs from the very beginning in collaboration with the expert developer who is going to create your app.

Which platform to choose for your app:

When considering creating a mobile app, the first thing to do is to set what is the objective you aim to achieve by creating it: it may be to reinforce your branding strategy and create a customer service channel, solve a specific need that you can monetise, etc.

Depending on this objective, you will be able to define the suitability of going for a native application (which is always more expensive), going for a web app, or going for a hybrid one.

Similarly, it’s important to know in advance (or anticipate) in which region your customers will be located and the devices they will most likely be using to reach you (hence the importance of measurement tools).

This will determine whether you’ll be better off developing your app for iOS, Android, or both.

Each market has its prices:

Among the main European markets, Spain is the cheapest country in which to develop an app.

In Spain, the hourly cost of hiring app development is around 35 euros, while in Germany it doubles to 84 euros. It’s around 55 euros in France and 43 euros in Italy.

• Difficulties in adapting: Companies struggle to keep up with the pace and dimension of change. Keep in mind that speed, learning from mistakes and the power to innovate will become prerequisites for success.
• Digital strategy: Most employees in companies feel that they have not been informed about their company’s digital strategy, or even think that there is no such strategy in place. To have a project that is common to the entire company is essential.
• Digitalisation of products and services: Most companies lack the know-how to convey a digital nature to their products or services, which is something they do demand as users. Digitalisation does not only apply to new business models: existing products must also be adapted.
• Agile management: Even though automation is making processes more efficient, agile management must be introduced to be able to adapt to a fast-moving market.