Consulting, innovation, cybersecurity awareness and software design are just some of the services that software engineers can provide to help companies pursue new ambitions.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused untold devastation to lives and livelihoods, it has also brought innovation and opportunities to businesses that have managed to stay afloat. Managers at companies of all sizes have been forced to find new ways of doing things and make decisions much faster than ever before. With these skills in place, they are now thinking about what will happen after the pandemic and how they intend to approach the “next normal”.
Many of the changes already underway have to do with technology. But technology for technology's sake is not the answer. Companies need competent professionals to help them go through transformations to achieve new goals. Consulting, innovation, cybersecurity awareness and software design are just some of the services that software engineers can provide to help companies pursue new ambitions.
Speed is a critical component because companies are being forced to do in a few months what they thought would take years. Furthermore, competitors are already stepping up their efforts to take advantage of pent-up demand for products and services once the pandemic ends, so companies need to keep up. Here we explore several areas where software engineering outsourcing is helping to drive this post-pandemic digital acceleration.
Consulting
Digital transformation begins with a deep understanding of a company's current capabilities and needs moving forward. Software professionals can help with thorough analysis and consultation to create a viable plan.
For example, many companies face the challenges of a remote work environment. While a team may have created a solution involving several commercially available applications since the start of the pandemic, it may not be suitable for long-term use. Given that many companies that have moved to partial or full remote work will continue to do so after the pandemic, this issue is necessary to address.
A digital strategy moving forward might include a platform that integrates some of the functions now performed by separate (and not always compatible) applications, including communications, production, and operations. Software professionals track how companies are solving similar problems and can offer suggestions based on successful real-world results.
Innovation
Companies across a wide range of industries have the opportunity to fundamentally change the way they leverage technology. They include the technology industry itself, as well as energy, healthcare, e-commerce, manufacturing and retail ventures. For example, telehealth is becoming popular as a way to deliver healthcare. But how can providers ensure their processes are working well to deliver care to patients?
Software professionals can help provide answers by recommending already-implemented solutions or developing custom applications that take into account the unique needs of a specific healthcare organization. The same applies to retail establishments, which have been hit by social distancing requirements. However, these companies can bounce back with things like “contactless” shopping and remote customer service.
Likewise, chatbots and robots are becoming increasingly large presences in many areas. Chatbots are evolving to be more than just glorified FAQs. Because natural language processing (NLP) allows them to understand more about what people really want, they are able to provide more in-depth answers and solutions. For example, in healthcare, future chatbots will be able to do everything from scheduling appointments to checking patients' symptoms.
Robots are increasing efficiency in industries from healthcare (performing simple tasks like taking a patient's temperature, cleaning, and delivering food) to manufacturing (putting parts together into a whole machine). In an office environment, they will soon be able to perform tasks such as typing and answering phones. Amazon, which uses robots to fulfill orders, bought a robotics company to operate in warehouses, vehicles and drones.
Security
The more technology matures, the more susceptible it becomes to cybersecurity threats. This is especially true with cloud-based solutions and internet-connected technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT). Without professional expertise — and with other concerns, such as revenue and production goals, taking precedence — companies can easily allow cybersecurity to fall down the priority list.
The results can range from mildly problematic, like production delays, to catastrophic, like large amounts of company proprietary data or customer information falling into the wrong hands. The latter could mean that cleaning up the mess requires time, money and effort that could be much better spent on research and development, production or customer service.
Additionally, cybersecurity experts are increasingly aware that threats don't just come from outside organizations. They come from within too. This is why zero trust (ZT) security models are becoming more popular. Professionals in this area can help companies develop plans that require authentication, authorization and continuous validation of all system users.
Because this field is highly complex and constantly evolving, even companies with robust IT departments should consider consulting a cybersecurity expert before developing any new technology plans.
Enterprise software design
After consulting, innovating, and addressing cybersecurity issues, software experts have the skills to design and develop custom applications. Just as an example, omnichannel communication is extremely important as customers continue to demand the ability to contact customer service representatives through whatever channel they choose at the time of their choosing.
However, commercial enterprise systems may not meet this need. Businesses that require specific features rely on software engineers to create a solution that perfectly suits them and their customers.
These experts can also help companies have more control over their own software development in the long term. Low-code and no-code platforms allow those without specialized knowledge to use visual components to drag and drop and quickly create software with specific requirements. Naturally, these alternatives will not provide the level of sophistication necessary to develop complex systems, but they can be a good alternative for smaller, simpler systems.
Creating the next normal
The way things are evolving, the next normal should look a lot like the new normal we've become accustomed to during the pandemic. Innovation, quick decisions and the elimination of some old obstacles will certainly characterize the advancement of digital acceleration. As companies embark on this exciting shift, they should leverage the expertise of those already doing it, who can help them achieve more than ever before.
