Meaningful Tech

In this episode, we discuss the cost-quality gap in software development. What was once a painstaking, harrowing process is now speedy and cost-effective thanks to a new methodology, Accelerated Software Development, otherwise known as ASD. Bridging the cost-quality gap has been a problem without an answer up to this point. However, ASD’s capabilities mean that going from idea to software rapidly is more possible than ever and at a fraction of the cost.

In this episode, we discuss Accelerated Software Development, otherwise known as ASD, and how it impacts time to market. It’s now more possible than ever to turn an idea into software fast. That’s true speed, all while bridging the cost-quality gap.

In this episode, we discuss how to keep your cloud costs from breaking the bank. The services and benefits of cloud computing are wide-ranging, but the expense can be off-putting for organizations. Cloud providers come in all shapes and sizes with varying levels of expertise and capability. Utilizing the services efficiently enables organizations to reach new heights, but the investment can be significant. Here are a few ideas on how to maximize the utility of cloud computing while staying within budget.

In this episode, we discuss custom software and the price tag that goes along with it. Businesses might see the cost of a custom solution and balk. How can this product be that expensive? There are a few reasons and a few different ways to approach this situation.

Custom software solutions can have an enormous impact on an organization. That being said, the budget and the returns of such a hefty investment are scrutinized. So, it’s important a firm uses the right approach and understands the development process. If that’s the case, there might be a perfect custom solution well within reach.

This episode focuses on platform modernization and the impact it can have on a business. There are organizations that still depend on decades-old technology. It’s time for an upgrade. Firms need to prioritize their internal tech capabilities. If you’re wanting to stay ahead of the curve, platform modernization is the way to do it.

This episode discusses all the necessary factors to consider when choosing a cloud provider. Cloud computing is an extremely beneficial tool utilized in software development, but there are many options. The process of picking the right partner is incredibly important. Balancing budget and business needs are part and parcel of the decision-making process, but leveraging cloud computing could be the key to sending your business into overdrive.

This episode focuses on the debate between dev shops and consulting firms. There are pros and cons for both, so which option should your business choose? Your organization’s situation should determine your preference. If you correctly analyze what your business needs, then choosing between a dev shop and consulting firm will become simple.

This installment focuses on the strategies organizations can use to find top-tier talent without sacrificing quality and cost. It may sound like a far-fetched fantasy, but it’s entirely possible to find the right people that’ll bring your organization to new heights.

Hiring practices vary for each organization, but there are some strategies that can benefit any business regardless of industry or scale.

This episode discusses AI and whether or not it will take the place of developers. The spike in AI usage and publicity has led to some organizations pondering whether they actually need to pay developers instead of using an automated solution. However, the reality is AI is only a tool to be used by developers, not a replacement for them. At the end of the day, AI only serves as a way to assist developers in being more efficient. It’s a long way away from being a total replacement.

Working from home enables all sorts of freedoms that were previously restricted in an office setting. However, that means surveillance from teammates and supervisors is limited. You have to push yourself to stay on top of your work, and that’s where accountability comes in. Accountability and software development go hand in hand. There’s nuance there, and that’s where true growth can occur. 

In this installment, we’ll be discussing QA automation and the impact it can have on a business. Automation is flexing its capabilities as we continue to refine this technology. Properly utilizing automation during your QA process could make a huge difference. QA is an incredibly important part of software development, but it can be painstaking at times. Utilizing automation will make the process more efficient and hopefully speed up that timeline for you. A shorter timeline means you ship to market at a faster rate. If you can increase efficiency and speed while minimizing errors and saving money, why wouldn't you take advantage of QA automation?

In this episode, we’ll discuss how to go from design to code fast. What may seem like an arduous process can be quick and efficient if you use certain tools. If you have the right pieces available, this entire process can be done rapidly. Efficiency and speed are helpful in this part of the development, and can see you ship to market at a much faster pace.

In this episode, we’re going over the #1 consideration for usability, the difficulty users face when learning new software. It’s important that the learning curve is minimized and that any innovation is accessible. There shouldn’t be any barriers to usage. The question is, how do you simplify this journey? Combining intuitive design, clear instructions, and helpful tutorials can ease the frustration of learning new software.

This episode focuses on the benefits associated with becoming a tech-first company. Technology and business are fundamentally intertwined, and it’s important to use the available resources correctly. If you’re looking to increase your business’ valuation, then utilizing technology is a good first step. Becoming a tech-first company has a host of benefits, and the ability to innovate will only help with attracting investors and increasing your organization’s value.

There’s no need to overcomplicate things, but having an overly simplistic approach to UX design may not yield the desired results. There are several key points to keep in mind, that’s exactly what we’ll be discussing. That being said, the main takeaway here should be that UX design must be entirely inclusive, while also helping organizations meet their overarching goals. The correct approach will help instill this kind of mindset, and it goes to show that UX design is indeed a little more complex than some pretty mockups.

In this episode, we’ll discuss the differences between software development and software product development. There are some important distinctions to be aware of. The two terms might seem similar, but there’s nuance surrounding the process and end goal that everyone should be aware of. The main differences are obvious, cost and the end goal. Be sure to keep this newfound knowledge in mind when analyzing the two concepts. Don’t let the shared similarities spread confusion.

The hope is to always create a product that’s aesthetically pleasing and capable of doing its job at the highest level. Problem-solving is inherently attached to product design; having the right mindset will only benefit you moving through this process.

This is an important point. Having the right mindset will only enable the creation of more innovative solutions. Problem-solving is part of that. So, do your best to maintain the correct perspective. The results will speak for themselves.

This installment will discuss how to build quality software fast. Organizations oftentimes trade quality for a shorter timeline, but that isn’t necessary. You can build an incredible product in a timely manner without shortcuts. The practices we discuss enable organizations to meet quality requirements without taking an exorbitant amount of time. Meeting the needs of customers is paramount, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done efficiently. Utilize these methods and you’ll see how a capable product can be created in a timely manner.

In this episode we’ll be talking about AI and how your business can get the most out of it. The technology is fresh enough that organizations around the world are still trying to figure out how they can best take advantage of AI. There’s a lot to take into account, so we’re going to address a few key points to keep in mind if you’re looking to add AI to your business’ toolbox. There’s a lot of nuance to sift through, but if you find a way to implement this technology it’s truly incredible the impact it can have.

This episode hits close to home. Remote work has been the talk of the town these past couple of years as organizations adapted to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. I’d never been part of an organization with this kind of setup, so this audio blog will discuss my own experience as a novice remote worker going on their first business trip to a foreign country. 

Now I’m back home, and still looking forward to my next trip. I can’t wait to go back, and in general, my desire to continue traveling internationally has continuously increased. There’s so much of the world to see, and thanks to WWW, I got to experience a part of the world I’d never seen before. It was an incredible opportunity and just goes to show the incredible impact a work environment can have. Hopefully, there were some lessons learned or just laughs along the way.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing remote work environments and the importance of trust in such a setup. The events over the past couple of years created a seismic shift towards more remote work. But if you do not see your colleagues every day, how can you be sure everyone is pulling their weight? We’ll tell you a few of our secrets, and hopefully, the lessons we’ve learned will help inform your own decision-making process. Autonomy and accountability are important, and when they’re emphasized, the right work environment can exist anywhere in the world. Remote work will continue rising in popularity, so it’s important to have the right procedures in place.

In this episode, we discuss no-code development. No code development platforms, or NCDPs, enable professionals with no engineering experience to create apps or workflows easily. There’s no technical skill required to use an NCDP, so you’d think everybody would be taking advantage of this technology. However, there are some drawbacks, so let’s dive deeper and figure out exactly what the good, and bad, looks like in code development.

In this episode we’ll be discussing video conferencing. What was once utilized sparingly has become a daily occurrence for many across the globe as remote work environments have become more common. Using video for communication enables professionals to show their personality and workspace with colleagues who would’ve otherwise seen nothing on a phone call. Phone calls have their purpose absolutely, but if the intent is to create enjoyable remote work environments, video conferencing is a key part of that process. Try it out and maybe it’ll be the difference maker you or your business were missing. It’s time to accept this trend as a permanent resident, and in this episode, we’ll discuss all of its benefits.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing our process for creating scalable solutions. Capability is incredibly important, and when deciding on using nearshore or offshore development there can be plenty of hurdles in your way. We’ll talk about what some of these problems are, and how you can mininmize them.

Development solutions are complex problems that can cause headaches for growing businesses. There are choices available and decisions to be made. The pros and cons for both are extensive, and that's what makes this decision-making process so difficult. Hopefully, this episode showed you both sides of the coin and will help you make the right decision for your business.

In this episode, we’ll discuss easy ways to connect with your teammates across the globe. Joining an international organization comes with its own nuances, and a big part of that is finding common ground with your teammates.

Cultural differences can be embraced and lead to more fulfilling relationships. Finding beauty in dissimilarity is essential and will help you and your teammates in the long run. There are a lot of complications and inhibitors when it comes to connecting with international teammates, so hopefully this episode can lend a helping hand!

In this episode we’ll be discussing our approach to hiring. We’ve been successful in establishing a culture and finding people who fit perfectly within it.

The process we’ve created is meant to not only find the right fit professionally but personally as well. All aspects are weighed and discussed, and that’s why we’ve been able to create such a talented team of think’ers. 

Hopefully this discussion and the process we've created provides some insight into how we’ve created our incredibly capable team.

In this episode we’ll be discussing DevOps. It’s a polarizing term that can be as broad or specific as needed but nonetheless seems to always be a topic of conversation. Whether you believe in it or not, it looks like DevOps is here to stay. In this audio blog we dive down the rabbit hole and see what DevOps was, what it is now, and what it may become in the future.

In this audio blog we dissect the dilemmas of remote onboarding. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a lot of companies transition into remote environments, but these organizations still need to hire new talent. The need to then streamline the onboarding operation to function smoothly in an unfamiliar environment comes with some added complexities. Overcoming those obstacles is no easy feat, so we talk about our approach and the processes we’ve put in place to help us be successful.

Season 1: Episode 1

Our guest today is Bill Klein, the Co-founder and President of Consero Global Solutions. Consero is changing the way business does finance with their innovative Finance-as-a-Service solution. We talk about their technology strategy and their technology platform that is a brilliant unification platform that simplifies their customer’s lives, a great example of meaningful tech.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, Consero pursued a strategy of using a best-to-class solution stack that is already available but building their differentiator which is a unified delivery platform (“SIMPL”) that dramatically reduces customer friction. Think of it as ‘Mint’ for business. 

Technology is everywhere, some good some not so good. My goal on this podcast is to showcase and explore small and medium businesses that have applied technology in meaningful ways to help their business, their employees, and themselves. I discuss technology priorities with entrepreneurs and leaders and their approaches to extracting real value from technology. 

I also explore a wide variety of general topics related to technology such as the “Is digital arbitrage the next phase of labor arbitrage?“ “Should we aim for mars or solve traffic congestion?,” “Should our watch tell us when it is time to stand or simply remind us of what time it is?.”

With this podcast, I aim to learn, validate some of my hypotheses and check my assumptions and share that knowledge with you.