Business Trends for Custom Software Development Services in India Show Drastic Rise

Today, custom software development companies and offshore software development firms are on the rise as every day on an average more than 100 startups register their companies. The wages are also increasing day-by-day in India, especially due to the immense business received from westerners. India has been constantly updating software with the latest technology to gain a competitive edge over other countries. Fluent English, easy assimilation of different cultures, strong educational background etc is pivotal in India. Western companies prefer India as a software outsourcing service destination and mostly end up saving a lot of time, efforts, resources and money invested in the field.

Custom software development, which is also known as custom software engineering, relies heavily on the developers’ creativity and vision. The quality of software developers and engineers is crucial for the making of ideal software for a specific need. Clients usually have a unique set of software designed and are usually different from the application programs, one uses in daily life. These technologies are custom approaches to solving the client’s or company’s problems.

Companies also desire tailor made but cost-effective, time-saving and best quality software solutions for their business needs. They try to derive complete benefit of custom software development services. The selected provider needs to understand the needs of the client and then implement the business plan in the software. It is also important for getting the feedback for it.

In the making of the software, the look and feel should also be taken into consideration. The navigation features should be good; most important is the home page and the back-links to the relevant pages. The offshore software development firms in India are much in demand because it is very easy for westerners especially US and UK, to converse with Indians who have neutral accents. Ideas can be communicated efficiently resulting in best results.

The goal of custom software development is basically to develop unique solutions for a problems faced by a company. One has to depend on the most progressive and advanced technologies in accordance of the expectations of the customer. Custom software may be developed and designed in stages and modules so that the logical flow remains unhampered and bugs and errors can be sorted out even though there is no mention of them in the specifications.

It is necessary to make sure that the selected provider is worth the money which it charges or not. It is good and advantageous to employ professionally skilled software developers to do the software tasks. The custom software development service provider should take certain steps to improve the software and its working.

Offshore software development companies provide custom software programming and engineering services. Additionally, maintenance services should be provided by the developers and providers so that the software which is dispatched does not face any problems, along with its smooth functioning for the years to come.

How to go about with Software Testing

The software testing should be aware of the basic principles can land the tester into trouble. Haphazard testing results in chaos and incorrect judgment. Here are some of the software testing rules which when abided, can result in overall success:

1) Predefining expected results

Mostly the testers do not have the definition of their results and do not pay heed to the expected outcome. Without gauging the expected result, errors in the output might miss the tester’s eye. Pre-defining the expected results can solve this problem for each of the test cases.

2) Testing of self made programs should be avoided

Software programming is actually a very creative process while the software testing process is a negative and destructive process. To ward off creativity and then focus on the negative process of testing is a difficult switch if you are the programmer yourself. This writer’s analogy is similar too, as writers do not edit their own written material but get it edited through an editor.

Additionally, it might happen that the programmer has had a faulty understanding of the software design. In this case, it is most likely that the programmer would initiate the same application with a faulty outlook leading to incorrect results.

3) Importance of testing thoroughly

In many test cases, a hindsight review of earlier test results in a software testing service shows that errors which were present were often overlooked because the results were not thoroughly studied.

4) Unexpected conditions should be recorded in test cases

Programs which are already under production when used in an innovative fashion cause a great deal of errors and bugs because most software testers test the applications using valid and expected input conditions only. Using invalid or unexpected input conditions, the chances of detecting errors increase manifold.

5) Test the program for what it is expected to do and what it is not

Along with the test of whether the program is giving desired results, software testing services should also include testing of unintended side effects. These include unwanted disk files records which get tarnished. Examination of data structures and reports will reveal that the output can shows what it is not supposed to do though it does what it is expected to do.

6) Software testing should be done with the intent of finding errors

Software testing services include testing processes that locate errors and not with the intent of rendering the program as perfect. The probability of locating more errors is directly proportional to the number of errors already found.

Custom software development Services Rising to Prominence in India

Custom software development services mostly are dependant on new developers who harness the latest web technology and testing skills for web design development solutions and web-enabled IT services. Developed countries like UK, are following a lucrative outsourcing policy which places them at the behest of enormously skilled technicians and developers along with a competitive IT infrastructure. This has led to a surge in the number of providers of IT development in India.

Most established businesses in western countries need solutions and there is no actual shortage of software outsourcing firms today. There are lots of software programming experts who are involved in testing, development and different validation tests along with the developmental processes. Thousands of western countries and companies are harnessing outsourcing services for the execution of their projects. Even though IT development and outsourcing has increased manifold in India, people are still skeptical about the working and viability of custom software development services in offshore centers.

Nevertheless, the option of offshore software development has already commanded huge popularity to help satiate rising software related needs. Many small and large companies have invested substantially in offshore software development so that they can cut costs by outsourcing their non-core functions. In fact, outsourcing software requirements regulates and saves time for focusing on core functions.

Consider this, according to several research reports, 40% of the Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, General Electric, Oracle, etc. are outsourcing much of their work today and this list is consistently growing in the field of custom software development. Many of them have started with the aim of yielding the maximum ROI by reducing costs extracting work from low-cost areas like India, China, and Philippines. Majority of them stand to save in the range of 40%-70%.

Here are some arguments why India is a favorable destination for outsourcing services:

• Custom software outsourcing services in India generally deal in highly lucrative deals for their clients and also let their clients select the perfect commercial deals. The companies also offer competitive administrative services as well.
• Indian companies are said to understand client organization needs perfectly well, also tend to create innovative business strategies and work hard to implement them.
• India now has the highest compound growth rate in the software and computing services sector since 2000. It also has a thriving indigenous software industry.
• According to recent surveys, phenomenal growth of the custom software outsourcing market is projected in India, especially the IT sector. Their work quality is genuinely improving as per international standards with the emergence of innovative solutions from the developers themselves. Most of them are well-versed in different software languages such as PHP, JAVA, .NET, Perl, Flash, Oracle and many other upcoming languages like Ruby on Rails (ROR) for custom software development services.

Software Testing Services: Why, What and How

The offshore software testing process typically involves a plethora of steps which are interconnected with the SDLC path of the creation of the said software. There are a number of approaches to software testing, but effective testing of complex products is essentially a process of investigation, not merely a matter of creating and following routine procedure.

The risks of launching a product which is still not devoid of its errors are tremendous due to the change in expectations of the clients today. Quality is needed very earlier in the software development lifecycle so that there are no problems later on.

How is it done? Software testing providers basically focus on quality, which is realized through the following practices:
1. Defects need to be found and documented for maintaining software quality.
2. Validate assumptions made in design as also in requirement specifications and prove them through convincing demonstration.
3. Validation that the software is working as needed.
4. Validation that the requirements are implemented properly through standard coding.

Advantages of software testing services:
• Risk is identified easily and in the primary stages thus reducing the risk to multiply in the later stages of software development lifecycle.
• Problems if sorted out and beforehand save on money and thus the offshore testing process helps the software to be more and more cost-effective.
• If software testing is done at the starting stages, depending on the bugs one finds, one can assess how much time will the software take to get developed and that the release date can be more accurately predicted throughout the project.
• The product can be shipped sooner and the results can be accurately verified many times over if the software testing process starts earlier than expected.
• Since the software is under constant check whether its requirements are met or not, the providers can easily plan an effective business plan. The business strategy can be executed more effectively.
• There is much more transparency in the software development process due to the rigorous eye of the software testing area.
• Most of the part can be re-utilized for further projects as those modules have been severely tested and tried.
• The software testing process and qualitative analysis is not restrictive to any vendor.

A good testing team asks questions like: can the software break? Or in what possible situations will this software fail to work predictably or will it won’t? The software testing process always challenges the risks, and uncertainty which is there in the development work done by other software professionals. A third party software testing team always assures that the testing is impartial to the core.

Advent and Relevance of Custom Software Development in India and Other Asian Countries

The concept of custom software development has redefined the trends existing in the IT industry. With the transformation of the business world and its inclination towards new concepts and technological tools, many firms are trying to bank on the benefits of custom software development. Today, the IT world is changing with respect to innovations and inventions which are pouring out at a frantic pace. Software development from offshore service providers have resulted in savings of billions of dollars, especially in the western world. Now all companies, big or small are inclined to opt for offshore software consulting services and try to avail its large benefits and services.

Taking the present IT scenario at a glance, the importance of customized software cannot be slackened. In the race for software outsourcing services, custom software development services deserve a top priority to maintain an edge over competitors. The development process does not only save money for clients worldwide but reduces the time period too.

Here is where custom software development plays an important role. As competition between companies is increasing day by day, offshore software development centres seek to capitalize on their manpower and economy to promote cheap services in the IT field. It has been proved time and again that offshore development centres in India, China, and Phillipines have been instrumental in the profitability of many western markets within US and UK. Reports suggest that companies tend to save at least 75% of the costs through outsourcing software services to the eastern countries.

Additionally, every firm is searching for custom software development services in India for its cost-effectiveness, high quality software solutions, and a financially cheap workforce which can perform and is result-oriented. The offshore partners also invariably use cutting-edge technologies for providing state-of-the-art services tailored towards a firm’s business needs. Another benefit of custom software creation and development is that companies need not buy generic office software and then adjust according to the software’s features.

It is advisable to find a software developer who has expertise in relevant field and can easily comprehend the nature of your business along with your needs. Also look in to the benefits what the developer will offer other than its monetary benefits like the time required for development, the maintenance work which will go on after the software is made. In addition to this, it is essential to confirm whether the company is well-versed in multi-platform project management.

It is very important for business owners to state their requirements succinctly and to define the different fields of responsibility, so that developers have clarity on the project and can estimate the staff-hours which will be required for the task. Also, both the client and the provider should be well aware of the terms and conditions which are put forth before the awarding of the project. Custom software development is a lucrative option if used wisely enough.

Database Archiving Solutions Help to Meet Data Retention Compliance Standards Efficiently

Large enterprises today are neck-deep with information flooded from all directions in their respective storage mediums. Unused data is continually eating up resources, and gobbling up the organization’s profits. Megabytes gave way to gigabytes, gigabytes have acceded to terabytes, and in the near future, terabytes is sure to escalate to petabytes. The data is growing relentlessly with organizations waking up to the reality of data explosion. The latest data retention clauses for pharmaceutical companies are at least 20 years while nuclear facilities will have to hoard data for 50 years. Database archiving helps in reducing costs, retaining data, and also aids in complying with regulation procedures.

The latest compliance measures cited by the government have made it mandatory for all organizations to retain much of their company data for inspection. These regulations were mostly proposed and enacted by the government in the light of several recent corporate accounting scandals. These laws state the procedures and rules to be implemented by various organizations for handling their business-critical data. The US government actually wants the companies to handle their corporate information in the best way possible. Out of all the regulations, the most critical and important happens to be periods specified for data retention compliance.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, HIPAA and BASEL II are some of the laws and regulations related to data retention. It has been estimated that there are over 150 federal and state laws which elaborate extensively on the subject of data retention in the US. Today, the retention period is basically determined by the government itself. The data retention period which ranged from five to seven years are now crossing the barriers of 20 to 70 years.

In the face of exploding data filling up servers in the world over, information lifecycle management has become complicated to be implemented efficiently. Database archiving helps in managing data effectively; releasing data is rarely used or redundant to other cost-effective storage mediums. Data retention compliance issues are also resolved through such an approach.

Database Archiving is a widely-used process of plucking out selected records from operational databases which are not to be used quite often. The archived data is then stored in a non-erasable format like XML files where they can be searched and retrieved if needed.

Software Testing Services: In Aid of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing and offshore software testing services surely have a great connect. Right from the start, it has been difficult for assessing the feasibility of cloud computing solution and its usage within the business’ context. Business requirements have always been the key drivers to the success of the solution. It has also been seen that today businesses are not wary of offshore software testing and outsourcing their non-core services and get testing solutions. Most companies undergo the process of several linear workshops to get hold of what the business actually requires. This ultimately will save time and money in the SDLC (Software development lifecycle) by removing potential flaws in the initialization and planning phase.

Cloud computing solutions are said to be scalable on demand. Businesses verify whether they can handle the workload of the proposed project by load or stress testing. These types of offshore software testing services can prove that the developed solution is scaleable according to the requirements. By applying techniques which can ascertain the load, the estimates can be given efficiently.

Most performance testing techniques measure and verify systems performance accurately. Using both performance testing and load testing in consonance, the user allows an accurate image of the solutions ability over the cloud to be created. Security testing helps in providing assurance that critical data related to a business is stored and delivered safely. Offshore software testing methods like penetration testing help in proving that the mechanism that are developed to maintain security will remain intact.

It is important to note that before consideration of any deployment it is extremely necessary to prove that all the system functions are according to the proposed design, and that the components will perform together in tandem, and the overall results of both inputs and outputs are satisfactory.

Other offshore software testing techniques like integration testing help the business in the verification of the compatibility of the cloud solution with the current infrastructure and test environments. This step is to prove that any cloud solution does not detrimentally impact any existing systems.

In the end, all the business requirements are verified and validated to effectively prove that computing cloud surely meets up with the documented needs of the business. This will be further seconded with the use of User Acceptance Testing. In terms of versatility through offshore software testing process, the location independence of cloud computing scores full marks. Much infrastructure needs get lessened by the benefits of offshore software testing as well as onsite base, and they are well documented and present as an instant option for testing cloud computing solutions.

Saving on Costs with Custom Software Development and Offshore Outsourcing Services

Most custom software development companies prefer outsourcing their non-core services without realizing as to why they are doing it. Many are following suit of the companies in the market and hearing stories of how they are saving on money big time. Every body is trying to find an offshore partner just because their rivals are interested. Is that it? Absolutely not!

The reality is that developing software in the western world is an expensive proposition. It is common enough for companies there to charge $75-$100 on an hourly basis. To be realistic enough, are there many businesses which can afford it? Obviously, not many can. Hiring full-time staff which are diligent, hard-working, talented, and those who fit the bill too is quite something to ask for. Hardware and software costs combined with the taxes, emoluments, infrastructure bills, they add up pretty fast. Custom software development offers a way out.

But what is obligatory is sound software assistance and that is what every company needs in spite of the nature of its core services. Maybe the financial software is not working or requires updating, or a manufacturer needs a new software application to manage the inventory and reduce costs. There is immense need for software developers, but they should not be too heavy on the pocket either.

Nowadays, industries and companies of various sectors choose to outsource their projects to offshore companies. Yes, this approach does have its share of pitfalls. For instance, there is no direct way of knowing whether intellectual property rights and confidential information will be protected or not. Also it is difficult to know whether the assigned project was completed according to recognized coding standards. In the event of a dispute, it is very difficult for the client to take action in a foreign country. Custom software development and offshore software outsourcing of projects does become tedious and heavy-handed here.

Though custom software development has its own share of minuses, if one finds out the right software provider for their needs, the chances of making a neat profit are round the corner. The development process starts with understanding of business requirements, creation of records, primary software execution plan, followed by the software development lifecycle processes (SDLC) at various stages of the project.

It is advisable to find a software developer who has expertise in relevant field and can easily comprehend the nature of your business along with your needs. Also look in to the benefits what the developer will offer other than its monetary benefits like the time required for development, the maintenance work which will go on after the software is made. In addition to this, it is essential to confirm whether the company is well-versed in multi-platform project management. Finding the right custom software development company while picking up an offshore outsourcing partner is crucial for the client company to achieve its goals and concentrate on its core service areas.

Social Networking for Success in one’s Career and Business

Social networking services are playing a major role in today’s society and can even stretch one’s contacts outside the communities we are connected socially. It is well-known that for professional or business success, “it's not what you know, but who you know,” and it's especially very true when looking for the best education or the best employment.

The best jobs are usually unadvertised so are the vacancies for elite schools or colleges; social networking services helps college students as well as employees to collaborate with each other to find hidden opportunities. Likewise, one can always take the help of social networking websites to find some sources that are actually unknown to you and strike a business alliance after confirming the credentials for the work. One can even help out fellow college mates or school mates to explore hidden opportunities which you might have come across.

Social networking websites provide various resources and easy navigation features for career development. There have been specialized social networking portals which are aimed at niche interest groups which are done by companies specializing in custom social networking solutions. Spoke and LinkedIn are popular social sites which aim to help users make useful business connections. A recent research by global recruitment consultants Harvey Nash and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that more than one-third of employers use social networking sites to connect with seconding the ideology that it’s not what you know but how are you known on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn that counts.

In this recession, according to experts, attending trade shows for business, replying to ads on online job boards, and sending resume for a position to the relevant HR department is not much of a use. Instead, meet people and make a strong network of people who can enhance your career.

Many companies also demand custom social networking solutions for their own intrinsic socialization. According to Forrester, social networking works as a decent alternative for knowledge management applications. The research company says that social networking can even yield ROI, but for the success ratio to be high enough, IT departments are required to maintain legacy hardware and sound software infrastructure.

The job market and the business scenario today are extremely competitive. Understanding how to harness technology for finding opportunities and making strategic use of the internet in job search as well as to network in business is helpful for progress. Social networking sites and custom social networking solutions will not only help you get a job quicker, but can also land up with deals which might be profitable for your business.

Independent Software Testing Services in India: Are they Feasible Enough?

Offshore software testing and development has undergone a drastic change in recent years. With companies striving for minimum cost input along with good quality testing services for their products and services, the competition is tough. The software testing providers in India make it happen by helping clients avoid infrastructure cost as well as hiring of resources.

Companies outsource their projects to offshore software developing companies and in the process avoid administrative costs. Offshore software testing development in India especially has been mightily successful because of its innovative approach to technology solutions.

Software Testing determines the functioning of custom-made software and is a crucial phase in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Testing removes all the bugs in the functioning of the software.

Offshore software testing makes a complete check and tries to detect any gaps. The providers can sort out potential problems in a cost-effective manner. Organizations do not keep an in-house team to conduct professional tests of the software. Hence the need of an offshore software testing company always creeps in.

Offshore software testing use several different techniques to ensure a bug-free output. The individual modules of programs are tested followed by testing of the whole software. The software testing process involves two different phases:

Alpha Testing: Alpha testing is done from the programmer’s side and usually involves the efforts of the complete team. It also involves all software professionals who work in sync on different aspects of the modules. They examine different ways trying to dig out problems. Solutions are proposed and then the most effective solution is acted upon. The ideas are proactively proposed by the team.

Beta Testing: This type of testing is done by the users who are using the site for the first time. They check the site; it is like that they are proof reading the software. The communication should be good between the tester and developer so that the bugs can be removed properly.

An offshore software testing company should pay a great deal of attention in testing of the software. Adequate attention should be paid to the usability and the utility factor for making the product bug-free. Most companies insist on both alpha and beta testing. In India, especially there are individual companies with expert teams who specialize in software testing. The best tools are also used for the offshore testing process and that too at less than 50% of the costs that might be incurred in the western world.