Recognizing the Gaps and Building Relevant Solutions

January 29, 2020 | Amit@Adeptus

There are various business values: Monetary, Technical, Employee Welfare, Productivity, Domain Expertise, Functional, Time-to-market, ROI and such. Depending on available strengths and time availability, some values are more appreciated over others.

One such value is to be able to discover gaps in business needs and respective enterprise solutions. A lot of times the gaps are not known or evident in business practices driven by the software solutions like ERP or LMS or Sales Automation… Even if one does a complete audit of the function and the various applications / tools, these gaps are unnoticed or ignored. We help recognising those and filling those. Every service and product should focus on this. Sharing the knowledge about what works, makes it possible for the businesses to acknowledge and anticipate a problem – say, a social gamified platform…

Ready solutions give one an answer but there are unique needs. These needs could use technologies like Automation / Blockchain / Digital etc to fill those gaps. When we start working with a client, we try to understand where they want to be “target”. Sometimes the existing tools need extending or integrations with 3rd party solutions or developing a new software solution to provide meaningful additions to existing systems.

The solutions define the nature of the value-add.

Amit (Adeptus Technologies)

Don’t get distracted with skills that are not strengths

January 22, 2020January 23, 2020 | Amit@Adeptus

While you design solutions, for learning or sales or finance or such enterprise functions – there are areas where a prior experience with custom software development in the enterprise space is useful. We are good at software engineering and technology consulting – that is our strength; not content nor the visual design. If one understood the line or staff functions well, they would call themselves Management Consultants. Even Digital Transformation or Blockchain or Mobile strategies would first fall under management consulting and then the implementation would need effort from the software engineering team.

Adeptus was founded with long experience in software technology application in enterprises. Our entire focus is on partnerships that are urgently needed. The benefit is better solutions, enhanced ROI, increased utilisation of software resources, and added capabilities. The premise is to do what one is good at and not what creates a challenges or increases cost

For example, we developed solutions for content discovery, personalisation, training, sales… for increased client focus by using AI, VR, Analytics, Data Analytics and Mobile technologies. I would love to talk about these as well as how our capabilities were useful.

Use specialists (internal or external) for assignments that need that knowledge. Avoid risks and budget escalation issues.

Adeptus

When technology in Learning is a stumbling block

October 28, 2017November 6, 2017 | Amit@Adeptus

You have done all that’s possible for learners to get the best of L&D – The Courses, Micro Learning, Gamification, Mobile, Social, Analytics, content libraries et al. Enterprise Learners can’t wait to get their hands on your product. Of course the course objectives are best worked on by content folks since they understand that world.

But there is something that’s bothering you. There are still those answers you seek that would determine if the new solutions need data to travel back and forth from the LMS, the many content solutions, repositories, solutions acquired in the past / recent, Gamification, Digital etc. These would need specific software skills and knowledge of Learning space. These skills are with Solutions architects, Software Designers and Systems Analysts. Those folks can help. Content producers too need help with these.

We, Adeptus (www.adeptustech.com/eLearning), make it a point that clients and interested companies get our undivided attention at all times. Be it a basic technology question or a loaded question about leveraging existing ecosystems – we make sure that in the recesses of our experience, we always have the relevant answers.

YES, knowledge of eLearning and technology is great while designingsolutions. Sometimes we have even said a “NO” to requirements since the ecosystem didn’t allow it and the available /custom solutions won’t solve the problem. We would have made the money but that’s not why our clients keep coming back. We are truthful like your team should be. We give the “right” answers, whether we win or lose that specific resolution.

There is a point to be made with technology about making it all work with how so ever many systems and as your consultant we don’t ever cross the line. We make logical, relevant and true promises always.

Ask us a question on connect@adeptustech.com and visit us at http://www.adeptustech.com. There is stuff there that only comes with experience.

High End Software Consulting Differentiation & Benefits

June 6, 2016June 7, 2016 | Amit@Adeptus

This post addresses software consulting for the users or clients that engage software consultants to empower decision making.

To remove the confusion in this oft used term, the focus is on high end consulting towards software architecture, design, technology strategy and the capability to convert business needs to software specifications. Businesses sometimes think of consultant as engineers hired mostly to just fill a gap in the development teams. I am not referring to that, I am referring to consulting that empowers the leadership team.

Specialised software consulting helps software teams (of the client) to understand what needs to be done in the context of the larger picture. It also helps the leadership in knowing what can be leveraged from existing investment as well as new development requirements. it’s a great way to evaluate and exercise options when internal teams are already occupied. Seldom is it understood that leadership itself sometimes needs a broader view and outside software experts such as Information and Solution Architects, Business Analysts, Database experts, Technology Strategists, etc. can help.

With so many new ways that technology is impacting business at the top and the bottom line, there are ideas that need sifting through, validations, proofs of concepts, prototypes, user stories, API availability, etc. It can be daunting for the regular office bearers to take them all and still function at their expected best in the “current” scheme of things. They do need to own it and external experience and expertise can provide that luxury at the cost and timeline expectation that gives them an upper hand in transforming the business practices with the use of technology.

Some of the initiatives that consulting teams could help with are:

Enterprise mobility for various functions individually or together like sales, service, product development, internal communication, customer engagement, Learning & Development, etc.
Collaborative applications that use social features, gamification, group interactions, etc.
Cloud based initiatives for new applications or moving existing applications to the cloud
Analytics in its various forms for reporting, understanding trends, providing constant inputs to stakeholders, evaluating against benchmarks, etc.
Training and eLearning initiatives that need unique software applications and yet tied into the enterprise learning setup
…. And so much more in the realm of Digital Transformation, Enterprise Appications, Customer Engagement

The external team takes barely any resources of the client. They would interview likely users (beneficiaries and idea generators) to understand the need. They would draw up a schematic, plan activities, conduct necessary software engineering, showcase iterations, etc. till there is a clear path to move forward in turning the idea into an implementable solution specification. All this without having the clients team to break a sweat.

The better the best practice and processes foundation, the better the efficacy and time management. This is what excites experienced software experts. They understand enterprises and the software setups therein. They know the trends, emerging technologies and balance it with knowledge of major frameworks to provide a best of “all” world solutions.

Engage a team of software experts as consultants for a tiny idea / problem scenario to see the difference they make at levels that matter to you.

connect@adeptus.in

Software Products, Innovation and Software Services – A useful mutually fulfilling alliance

October 17, 2014October 17, 2014 | Amit@Adeptus

All of my customers are Computer Software based businesses (read YOU throughout this post). That essentially means that I work with developers a lot. You are smart people – inventors, path breakers, process innovators, bright minds that are trying or have already solved business problems through the use of extremely useful software algorithm that only you could have dreamt of building solutions on. I read Ayn Rand and felt the surge too to be the best at what we do and be the movement – become the protagonist in this technology innovation based social upheaval and upliftment.

Yet, new technologies pose inevitable change, unlearning & relearning are constant challenges and new market opportunities remain exciting. When I shop and bank online or use a smartphone or access my files on the ubiquitous cloud – I see that small bit that folks like me helped you build.

In our conversations while doing business with you and because my business is based in India, we often get asked:

Do we have engineers who can code in X, Y or Z technologies
Can we help understand what you need to do churn this code faster and better, cost effective yet high quality,
Do I have performance expertise to make sure your software won’t go down when millions of holiday shoppers go online on your platform and servers that run them
How can we help your legacy system get on to the Cloud
Can we confirm if a certain derivative of existing technology A with pre-set elements will be a better option to use instead of straight programming in A, even if it is laborious and hard work
Can we help you take your ideas on Analytics to be a grand product
There are so many services companies, why should you work with us (Of course you want to work with someone, just not sure if its we you should be working with)
And so many more…. YOU, the reader, knows many more problem statements better

My answer usually is Yes, Yes, and… Yes. Not because I have a number of engineers and not because I am from the industry that “bangalored” the product development aspect of your business. Its because, I know the business of problem solving and have the means as well as the resources to think as well as act on your problems. Also because we have been doing for over 18 years – We have learnt, We have evolved, We have made the learning and evolution a process so we’re ready as and when you are.

You are the one innovating here, so you are going to worry about monetizing the opportunity, creating barriers to entry, staying ahead of competition, wooing users through incredibly useful features and staying afloat by attracting investors. And amidst doing all this, you did the ground work to create the initial software…. commendable…Now can we pitch in and help you with your biggest challenge – TIME and then with that other concern – COST; since that would make your product reach more users quickly and affordably.

We try to match expectations; provide employment to engineers and in turn help the economy by raising buying power; innovate processes and business models to be competent, sharp, dependable & to deliver faster; learn technologies so we can advise alternatives as well as consult on best practices; take your product to dimensions that you envision and then make it even better; use the best ways to satisfy the performance, scale, usability and maintenance aspects of your product.

Sounds like a lot right? It is…believe me. National economies are being driven by these actions and we (you and us) can only get better. We (you and us) know this for a fact.

So, the next time you have a question, ask me – I am the software service guy and I am good at what I do BUT please keep innovating coz’ I am one too. Also I am a consumer.

6 points to remember while building a customer oriented business – my experiences

September 6, 2014 | Amit@Adeptus

Well I am an entrepreneur now and building a business with just one focus – CUSTOMER DELIGHT. I will really do anything to make sure that the customer feels great about working with us.

Over 18 years servicing accounts and businesses taught me a couple of things. I am not sharing any wise words just throwing it out there for you to think about it:

No business survives without a genuine care for what matters to the customer. Also please be honest and truthful.
Smile for real, be cheerful even in adverse conditions. it spreads like an infection that is actually good for everyone
Fight for the customer, even if it means lots of bad days at work. It pays to be the watch guard for the customers’ interests
Be the first to accept a mistake and have the customer help you solve the problem. I had many customers but a lot of them only had me as a vendor. They are invested more in the engagement than you think.
Propose mind blowing ideas (business or technology or personal). It keeps the engagement alive and growing.
Money discussions are not tough, just say your concern with a real reason and both parties usually agree to a mutually beneficial arrangement.

5 questions startups ask us most often as their technology consultant

September 2, 2014 | Amit@Adeptus

Over the past month of our operation at Adeptus, we have been approached by an overwhelming number of startups from all over the world. To lend credence to our founding belief, all discussions did tend towards the future of the product that the startups are heralding into. Yes, we are in the right place at the right time as we see markets explode as well as implode. All the innovative disruption in business models, technology enabled market places, user oriented product development and the excitement of customers lapping it all up, makes us realize the various ways Adeptus sits at the cross roads of all this activity, be it cloud or mobile or analytics focused businesses.

The ideas that the startups’ founders developed into a product are a great reflection on the brilliance of what today’s technology enables so quickly at such rapid development plans. The open source frameworks work well within the bounds of a MVP and provide users the experience of disruptive change in a market. We discussed some really exciting products and continue to see the innovation almost on an everyday basis.

All the discussions, around 15 minutes in, brought forth some serious questions from these entrepreneurs:

1. Can you help us with a product development road map? How can some serious development effort be put “now”?

2. Can you advise on how we go about our development plans as they emerge, change and our product/market plans adapt?

3. Can you advise on scalability? Our platform currently can handle X users over a Y parameter, which is going to change quickly as we expand and release the product to more users.

4. We have a large investor on board and they want to see the architecture in a manner that would work as we commercialize. Can you help?

5. Can you validate and recommend on our current technology strategy? We see issues arising soon from interface, security, integration, code refactoring, performance, standards compliance etc.

You tell us if these are questions, as a startup, you face too?

Add to this list so the community can benefit. This helps discussions and solution definition.

And, if a discussion would help, connect with us on Twitter @Adeptus_Tech or on email connect@adeptus.in