Top 3 Benefits Of Shopping Apps For Your Ecommerce Business

Many believe that only large brands can afford a mobile app. However, several small to medium-scale businesses are leveraging mobile app development to promote their brands and to connect with prospective customers. Tampa in Florida presents a promising picture when it comes to the development of feature-rich shopping apps. So, if you're looking for mobile application development, Tampa is the place to explore. Based on a recent article published by Forbes, the right mobile app can give your business the required mileage as far as marketing, promotion and customer engagement is concerned. Here are three of the most important benefits of shopping apps for your ecommerce business:

1. Inbuilt Features Take Your App to the Next Level

Integral features such as camera, location tracker or microphone will help you monitor your customers' activities. For example, there are specific shopping apps that make the best use of the camera feature. How? These apps allow shoppers to take their selfies and post the same in the app. This helps the other buyers make an informed purchasing decision. The features are beneficial for ecommerce site owners and customers.

2. Improves Your Business Visibility at All Times

Based on a 2015 data by the statistics portal Statista, m-commerce retail sales in the United States reached a whopping $74.93 billion. Again, the total smartphone users in America was $65.2 million. The perfect mobile app for your business is the one-stop shop for mobile customers. Some of them also help shoppers to work offline. They can take a look at their saved wish lists or most popular products offline. Later, customers can go online to click the 'Buy' button and finalize their purchase.

3. Helps You Know about Customer Shopping Habits

Mobile apps offer deeper insights into customer likes, dislikes and buying habits. This helps your business to attract repeat buyers and loyal customers. This way, your shopping app improves customer engagement with your brand. Based on your customers' buying habit, you can recommend products that they would love to purchase.

Mobile application development in Tampa is booming, and can provide a significant payoff to your ecommerce business. Develop user-friendly and engaging apps to attract more customers.

How Migrating Your Server Helps Your Business And The Planet

Server migration, a process of moving your existing server to a new environment, especially to a cloud environment, is particularly appealing to the start-ups, as it allows them to build a scalable hosting architecture for the future. While server migration technologies continue to evolve, a growing number of small and big enterprises are taking advantage of this new game-changing technology. Many tech-firms that offer IT support services for Tampa-based startups are offering server migration services as part of their package.

Benefits

It does not matter whether you belong to the tourism industry, or run your start-up business in the education sector, the migration from a premise-based server to a public cloud or virtual server can offer many benefits to your organization.

Besides improving uptime and freeing you from the obligation of maintaining a complex hardware infrastructure, a planned migration can help your business save energy and reduce your carbon footprint.

Migration for Sustainability

If you are a Tampa-based business-owner, who shares the city's passion for saving energy, a server migration to a cloud environment can help you embrace sustainability in several ways.  Transferring physical servers over to a cloud environment enables you to consolidate them into a few virtual machines.  You can migrate all your data assets, including image files and mission-critical applications. As a result, you will require lesser number of racks in the data centers, which ultimately translates into less data-center floor space. All these eventually enable you to achieve a huge cost saving in your monthly power consumption costs.

Not sure how to simplify your move from physical to virtual? Simply rope in a city-based tech firm known for its premium IT support services. Tampa is today a thriving tech-hub, so finding one will not be difficult for you. However, before you hire one, make sure to understand everything that’s included in the package and the cost involved.

How Using Mysql Can Give You Better Control Over Your Database

When you are stressing about relational database management systems, MySQL reaches out to save the day. Although there are some rumors about MySQL slowly losing clients, it still remains a strong contender in database managing sector. MySQL offers comprehensive solutions to database server requirements, while running a diverse quantity of information flow and supporting various operating systems such as UNIX, Windows, and Linux. However, working on such management systems require experienced IT solutions providers. Tampa, like many other technologically enriched cities,has many. However, before embracing MySQL, ask your service provider about the many benefits. Here are a few to help you take an informed decision: 

 User Friendly

Apart from handling complex and multi-layered information flow, MySQL is easy to install. It takes very less time to implement it in your setup regardless of your OS preference. This system comes with graphical management tools that can easily help you to operate all the connected servers from one terminal. Plus, MySQL plays really well with third party software that can be added to improve data administration and performance monitoring operations.

24x7 Availability

Being a popular open-source platform, MySQL has a huge community of developers. You can turn to them when necessary and get a quick response or solution. Plus, you can go for MySQL supported solutions from third party vendors to take care of your database issues.

Efficient yet Feasible

Total MySQL implementation in your setup is considerably less costly than service charges of proprietary software solution providers. This software has already shown its reliability, offering database management/administration facilities with complete control. However, now with the cost-effective attribute added to it, we can consider MySQL as the best tool for databases.

Backing Application Development Requirements

MySQL offers support in building applications. It uses plug-in libraries to build and support software. Whether you are using Perl,Visual Basic, PHP,  Java, or .NET, with MySQL you can easily cover all the bases of your development necessities.

These are four of the many service advantages that MySQL can bring on the table for better database management and control. If you are in the Sunshine State, you can reach out to one of the IT solutions providers in Tampa when you decide to opt for MySQL. Finding trusted assistance is as important as selecting the right services. So, make your decisions after a thorough research.

Is Penetration Testing Must for Your Business?

The burden of cyber security lapses is becoming increasingly heavier for the country. According to a CSI/ FBI report, on an average, each US organization loes a whopping $350,000 to standard security breaches. Whether you have a strong market presence or are just a start-up, if you are in a business that has to deal with a lot of customer’s data, you must invest in penetration testing. Several IT consulting companies in Tampa can help you. With more and more companies realizing the importance of this service, private sector penetration testing market has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry across the US. No wonder, many Tampa-based IT firms today offer pen-testing as part of their IT service package. 

What Is Penetration Test?

It refers to a planned software attack on a computer system. The scheme is aimed at detecting security loopholes and vulnerabilities. But instead of stopping there, it goes one step ahead to proactively simulate attacks in order to find out real-world attack vectors against an organization’s data assets. The findings are reported to the system owner with test reports assessing potential impacts to the organization and recommending countermeasures to cut down the vulnerability.
If your start-up belongs to an industry which mandates the use of pen-testing, the followings are the reasons why you should invest in it:

• Understanding the possibility of different types of attack that may hack disparate systems or the entire network
•  Sorting out high-risk vulnerabilities from lower-risk ones
• Identifying vulnerabilities that may be otherwise impossible to detect with software
• Assessing the financial impact of successful attacks
• Meeting compliance 
• Re-create an attack chain to validate the upgraded security system in order to avoid a similar attack in the future

Pen-testing is a high-risk endeavor. Ensure that you only hire a reputable IT consulting company in Tampa, one with enough domain knowledge and satisfied clientele. Hire it wrong and it is going to be all false alarms without any positive actionable result. So hire a team that comes up with a solid test plan and assessment of risks.

5 Things to Expect From a Good Application Developer

 Putting together financial back up, gathering resources, and having a smart marketing approach is not enough to get your startup businesses through the thick crowd of competitors. Uniquely designed and highly efficient applications working for your team can make the difference in generating leads and getting clients. Groundbreaking ideas in application development have already created quite the stir in Tampa. Now your startup business can utilize its effects globally and get ahead of the competition. All you need is a trustworthy application developer to make this happen. Let’s discuss about five things you can expect from a professional app developer.

Wide Variety of Services

To survive in this competitive market and to cater to multiple clients from different work sectors, you need a comprehensive app solution provider. Looking for a new developer every time a new or different assignment knocks at your door is time consuming, expensive and at the end doesn’t yield desired results. So, focus on finding app developing company that is adept in delivering solutions in:

• ERP

• Mobile Application Development

• CRM

• Portals

• System Integration

• Project Management Software

Personalized Solutions

Custom-made applications can help you to stand out from the crowd. It conveys the message that your startup company doesn’t offer generic solutions but cater to specific client requirements, which can work in your favor. But when looking for personalized app developers, make sure they have a few years under their belt. Also, check their success and satisfaction rate before hiring them. 

Customer Services

Getting and implementing applications in your startup business structure is never a one-time deal. Applications need upgrade and may even suffer from technical glitches. That is why you need a service provider with quick response rate and satisfactory customer service. You can check their testimonials or engage in discussion with the satisfied clients to get details about their customer managing processes. 

Fixed Delivery Time Frame

Being punctual is an asset in the online business arcade. An app service provider that doesn’t maintain a time frame or fails to honor one is not worth of your trust. So, make sure that your selected  solution provider can respect a strict timeline. 

No Hidden Charges

Besides quality services and support from your solution provider, you need to factor in the financial issues before shaking hands on the deal. Transparency in service charges is not a preference, but a necessity. Ideally, an honest provider will not have any hidden charges or shady transaction fees.

These are the five most important things you should expect from a quality application development company in Tampa or in other locations. Global aspirations of your startup business can now have the support and a competitive edge to win clients with the help of trustworthy app solutions. 

Online Backup Services: Top 3 Benefits

Small and medium-scale businesses are finding it challenging to meet their diverse IT needs. Fortunately, Tampa has emerged as the flourishing IT hub in the Sunshine State, making small and medium businesses (SMBs) reliant on online backup services. The importance of this service has stemmed out from the reduced costs associated with storing information online, portability, user-friendliness and outstanding customer support. Be it online data backup or IT support, Tampa presents a promising picture in terms of reliable and cost-effective services. 

Online backup service, also called backup-as-a-service or cloud backup, is a way of offshore data storage, where folders, files and contents of hard drive are periodically backed up on a remote PC or server via a network connection. There are manifold advantages of online backup services. Here are three of them: 

1. Keeps Business Data Safe 

Since information is stored via cloud backup, your business data is not prone to threats such as theft, fire, hacking, flood or any form of technological snags. Information stored on cloud platforms is secure on encrypted systems and servers. However, it’s important to note that you may have to consider additional cloud security services to protect sensitive data.

2. Data Easily Accessible from Anywhere, Anytime 

  

Information stored on flash drives or external hard drives calls for manual handling. Online data backup, on the contrary, makes your data accessible anytime, and from anywhere, provided there is uninterrupted internet connectivity. The data storage process is automated and you are not required to manually label, save or track information. It offers you complete convenience and helps you focus on your job instead of worrying about information loss. 

3. Easy Data Recovery 

When critical business data is deleted or lost due to human error, online backup services come to your rescue. You can store multiple copies of your data in independent locations. Multiple levels of storage imply enhanced data security. Get access to stored version of your business data if it is damaged or lost. 

When it comes to online data backup and IT support, Tampa offers plenty of opportunities to secure your business information. Do your research well to opt for the right IT provider that best executes your needs. 

6 IT Trends to Watch in 2016

We were treated to a plethora of game changing tech-innovations in 2015 in the fields of virtual reality, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and cyber security. As it gives way to another new year, it is time for small business decision makers to align their strategies around the trends that are predicted to rule the business arena in the coming months. Here are a few trends in the fields of  IT services that Tampa tech firms are banking on:

Rise of Contextual Data

The past year has witnessed an unprecedented growth in the area of IoT innovations. This year IoT will drive growth in the area of contextualized analytics.  This in turn will allow enterprises to create a more valuable information experience not only for clients, but also for employees and business partners.

Boost for Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS is going to dominate the enterprise infrastructure space by capitalizing business owners’ growing interest in public and hybrid cloud. However, Microsoft Azure will continue to be a strong competitive force. 

Forward March of Open Source 

2016 is likely to see the CIOs embracing open-source-software-first approach. More open source businesses are likely to enter the public markets in the upcoming months. 

Security 2.0

In 2016, a new class of security solutions will emerge. They are premised at ‘machine learning’, a branch of computer science that leverages pattern recognition to identify malicious intent and can predict attacks.

New Market Opportunities in the East 

With more than 352 million Internet users, India is going to emerge as the strongest market for US-based enterprise software companies. The subcontinent will also be the chief driver for enterprise cloud and analytics spending.

The Rise of Business Relationship Management

In an effort to expand its bottom line, IT enterprises will embark on business partnership with the right organizations. Termed as business relationship management (BRM), this type of business venture will benefit both IT companies as well as their non-IT partners. Non-IT enterprises will gain access to the right information and technology and be able to speed up their time-to-market. On the other hand, it will enable tech-companies to drive more innovations in the digital space.

When it comes to IT services, Tampa-based firms are all geared up to make the most of these new trends. They are on their way to create a solution line-up that is perfectly aligned to the needs of the new-age entrepreneurs.