Startups – Web Design & Development Company in San Diego https://www.bitcot.com Web Design & Mobile App Development Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:21:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://d382vuhe6yd0tq.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/fav-icn.png Startups – Web Design & Development Company in San Diego https://www.bitcot.com 32 32 Top 10 Tech Companies in San Diego to Watch in 2024 https://www.bitcot.com/tech-companies-in-san-diego/ https://www.bitcot.com/tech-companies-in-san-diego/#respond Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:50:38 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=46113 San Diego is one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the United States. With a vibrant startup scene, booming biotech and software development industries, and a growing pool of talented professionals, San Diego is quickly becoming a top destination for tech companies. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at some of the top tech companies in San Diego, highlighting their services, specialties, and what makes them stand out in a crowded industry. Whether you’re a business owner looking to improve your operations or a job seeker seeking opportunities in the tech industry, this blog is for you. So, let’s dive in and explore the best tech companies that San Diego has to. We’ll also highlight BitCot, a top-rated software development company driving innovation and growth in the San Diego tech scene.

 

10 Best Tech Companies in San Diego, California

Let’s dive in and explore the top 10 tech companies that are making waves in San Diego’s tech scene:

1. BitCot

Bitcot newBitCot is a leading software development company in San Diego. Founded in 2011, the company has established a reputation for delivering top-quality software development services to businesses of all sizes. BitCot’s team of expert developers specializes in building custom software solutions that meet each client’s unique needs. The company’s services include mobile app development, web application development, cloud computing, DevOps, and more.

BitCot’s expertise in mobile app development has been particularly noteworthy. The company has developed mobile apps for various businesses, including healthcare providers, transportation companies, and more. BitCot’s developer team specializes in developing iOS and Android apps using frameworks like React Native and Xamarin.

2. Illumina

illumina website home pageSource: Illumina

We’re pleased to present the next standout tech company on our list of the best tech companies in San Diego – Illumina. Illumina is a biotechnology company that specializes in genetic sequencing and analysis. The company’s headquarters are located in San Diego, and it is a leader in genomics research. Illumina’s technology is used in various applications, including cancer research, genetic disease diagnosis, and personalized medicine. The company has been recognized for its innovative approach to genetic sequencing and has won numerous awards for its technology.

Illumina’s technology has helped unlock the mysteries of the human genome, leading to new discoveries in treating diseases and developing new drugs. The company’s technology is also used in the development of personalized medicine, which tailors treatments to the unique genetic makeup of each patient. Illumina’s technology has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry, and the company’s continued innovation in this field is likely to drive growth and success for years to come.

3. Qualcomm

qualcommSource: Qualcomm

Our next featured company on the list of the “Best Tech Companies in San Diego” is Qualcomm. Qualcomm is a global telecommunications equipment company that designs and manufactures wireless telecommunications products and services. The company has its headquarters in San Diego and is a leading wireless technology and services provider. Qualcomm is known for its Snapdragon processors and has been a key player in developing 5G technology. The company is also active in developing autonomous vehicles and other emerging technologies.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors are used in various mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. The company’s technology has helped to drive innovation in the mobile industry, enabling faster and more powerful devices. Qualcomm’s leadership in the development of 5G technology is also noteworthy. The company’s technology is expected to revolutionize the telecommunications industry, enabling faster and more reliable wireless connections.

Qualcomm’s work in the development of autonomous vehicles is also noteworthy. The company’s technology is used in various autonomous vehicles, including cars, drones, and robots. Qualcomm’s technology has the potential to revolutionize transportation, enabling safer and more efficient vehicles.

4. Viasat

viasatSource: Viasat

Viasat is a global communications company providing satellite internet and other communications services. The company’s San Diego operations focus on developing advanced satellite technology for aviation, defence, and other industries. Viasat is known for its innovative approach to satellite technology and has been recognized for its work in creating high-speed satellite internet services.

Viasat’s technology has helped bridge the digital divide, providing internet access to remote and underserved areas worldwide. The company’s technology is also used in the defence industry, enabling secure and reliable communications for military personnel. Viasat’s continued innovation in satellite technology will likely drive growth and success for years.

5. Brain Corp

braincorpSource: Brain Corp

Brain Corp is a San Diego-based company specializing in developing autonomous robot technology. The company’s technology is used in various applications, including floor-cleaning and delivery robots. Brain Corp’s technology is known for its advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, enabling robots to navigate complex environments and perform various tasks.

Brain Corp’s technology can revolutionize many industries, including retail, healthcare, and transportation. The company’s robots are already used in several applications, including in retail stores to clean floors and hospitals to transport medical supplies. Brain Corp’s continued innovation in autonomous robot technology will likely drive growth and success for years to come.

6. Intuit

intuitSource: Intuit

Intuit is a financial software company that provides a range of financial management software and services. The company’s San Diego operations focus on the development of QuickBooks, a popular accounting software used by small businesses worldwide. Intuit is known for its innovative approach to financial software and has been recognized for its work in helping small businesses manage their finances more effectively.

Intuit’s QuickBooks software has helped streamline the accounting process for millions of small businesses worldwide. The company’s continued innovation in financial software will likely drive growth and success for years.

7. ServiceNow

servicenowSource: ServiceNow

ServiceNow is a cloud-based software company that provides a range of IT service management software and services. The company’s San Diego operations focus on developing ServiceNow’s IT service management platform, which businesses around the world use to manage their IT operations. ServiceNow is known for its innovative approach to IT service management and has been recognized for its work in helping businesses improve their IT operations.

ServiceNow’s IT service management platform has helped streamline IT operations for businesses worldwide. The company’s continued innovation in cloud-based software will likely drive growth and success for years to come.

8. Teradata

teradataSource: Teradata

Teradata is a data analytics company that provides a range of data analytics software and services. The company’s San Diego operations focus on developing Teradata’s data analytics platform, which businesses around the world use to analyze large amounts of data. Teradata is known for its innovative approach to data analytics and has been recognized for its work in helping businesses make sense of their data.

Teradata’s data analytics platform has helped businesses around the world to gain insights from their data and make more informed decisions. The company’s continued innovation in data analytics is likely to drive growth and success for years to come.

9. Cubic Corporation

cubicSource: Cubic Corporation

Cubic Corporation is a defence contractor that provides a range of defence-related products and services. The company’s San Diego operations focus on developing training and simulation systems for the military. Cubic Corporation is known for its innovative approach to military training and has been recognized for its work in creating advanced simulation systems.

Cubic Corporation’s simulation systems have helped train military personnel worldwide, enabling them to be better prepared for a wide range of scenarios. The company’s continued innovation in military training and simulation will likely drive growth and success for years.

10. Cloudbeds

cloudbedsSource: Cloudbeds

Wrapping up our list of the best tech companies in San Diego is Cloudbeds. Cloudbeds is a software company that provides a range of hospitality management software and services. The company’s San Diego operations focus on developing Cloudbeds’ hospitality management platform, which hotels and other hospitality businesses use to manage their operations worldwide. Cloudbeds is known for its innovative approach to hospitality management and has been recognized for helping companies improve their operations.

Cloudbeds’ hospitality management platform has helped businesses worldwide streamline their operations and improve their guest experiences. The company’s continued innovation in hospitality management software will likely drive growth and success for years.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, San Diego is a hub for innovative and cutting-edge tech companies that are driving the industry forward. From software development to cybersecurity and IT consulting, these companies offer a wide range of services to businesses of all sizes, San Diego’s tech scene is thriving and attracting some of the best and brightest minds in the industry. BitCot is a top-rated custom software development company that is helping to drive innovation and growth in the San Diego tech scene and is one of the top companies to watch in this vibrant and exciting industry.

FAQs About San Diego Tech Companies

Q: What makes San Diego a hub for tech companies?
San Diego is home to a highly educated workforce, top-tier universities, a supportive business environment, and a high quality of life, making it an attractive location for tech companies.

Q: What are some of the top tech companies in San Diego?
Some of the top tech companies in San Diego include Qualcomm, Illumina, ViaSat, Teradata, BitCot, and more.

Q: How can I find job opportunities in the San Diego tech industry?
You can search for job opportunities on job boards, company websites, and networking events. There are also staffing agencies specializing in the tech industry that can help you find job opportunities.

Q: What is the future outlook for the San Diego tech industry?
The San Diego tech industry is expected to continue growing, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. Many tech companies in San Diego invest in emerging technologies and new solutions to drive growth and stay ahead of the curve.

Q: What kind of tech companies can I find in San Diego?
San Diego has diverse tech companies, including those specializing in software development, cybersecurity, IT consulting, cloud computing, and more.

Q: Are there any resources available for entrepreneurs looking to start a tech company in San Diego?
Yes, there are various resources available, including startup incubators, accelerators, networking events, and mentorship programs, to help entrepreneurs start and grow their tech companies in San Diego.

 

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How to hire a CTO without hiring a CTO https://www.bitcot.com/how-to-hire-a-cto/ https://www.bitcot.com/how-to-hire-a-cto/#respond Fri, 13 Jan 2023 19:31:19 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=40486 Are you a business owner or manager looking to hire a chief technology officer (CTO) but struggling with the idea of making a long-term commitment to a full-time hire? Hiring a CTO can be a tricky process, especially when you’re not sure if you’re ready for the financial commitment or if your business even needs a full-time CTO.

But the good news is, you don’t have to hire a full-time CTO to benefit from their expertise. In this article, we’ll explore alternatives to hiring a full-time CTO and show you how to hire a CTO without hiring a CTO, so you can get the technical leadership and support your business needs without breaking the bank.

Explanation of the importance of having a CTO in a business

A CTO, or chief technology officer, is a key member of a company’s executive team and plays an essential role in the success of a business. They are responsible for overseeing the technological direction of a company, including both the short-term and long-term goals. A CTO is an expert in all things technology, including software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, and IT operations.

They work closely with other members of the executive team and with the rest of the organization to ensure the technology strategy aligns with the overall business strategy, enabling the company to remain competitive in the market. With the rapid pace of technological change, having a CTO is crucial for any company looking to stay ahead of the curve.

The challenges of hiring a full-time CTO

Hiring a full-time CTO can be a challenging process for businesses of all sizes. It’s a big decision, and finding the right person with the right skills, experience, and cultural fit can be time-consuming and costly. In addition, there’s often uncertainty as to whether a full-time CTO is needed, or how much time they will require to fully integrate with the company and make an impact.

Another challenge is that not all companies need the same level of CTO involvement, and some CTOs can be very expensive. These factors make it hard for small-medium size companies to afford or decide to hire a full-time CTO.

The idea of hiring a CTO without hiring a CTO

One solution to these challenges is to consider hiring a CTO without actually hiring a full-time employee. This can take several forms, such as hiring a CTO consultant, a virtual CTO, CTO on demand, or outsourcing. These alternatives offer the expertise and technical leadership of a CTO without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire.

This allows companies to take advantage of the skills and experience of a CTO on an as-needed basis, while also reducing costs and providing flexibility. By considering these alternatives, businesses can still have access to the technical leadership and expertise they need to succeed without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire.

hire a CTO

Understanding the Role of a CTO

Explanation of the main responsibilities of a CTO: The main responsibilities of a CTO are to provide the technical leadership for a company, which includes the following

– Setting the technology direction for the company
– Developing and implementing technology strategies that align with the overall business objectives
– Managing and leading the technology team
– Overseeing software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, and IT operations
– Staying up to date with new technologies and trends in the industry
– Managing the technology budget
– Communicating with other members of the executive team and stakeholders about the company’s technology direction

 

Identifying the specific needs of your business: Before hiring a CTO, it’s essential to understand the specific needs of your business. For example, if your business is heavily focused on software development, you’ll want to find a CTO who has experience in this area.

If your business is focused on data analytics, you’ll want to find a CTO with experience in data analytics. Identifying the specific needs of your business will help you determine the skills and experience that are required for the role. It also helps to set your expectations on what a CTO will achieve in your organization.

Considering the skills and experience required for the role: When considering the skills and experience required for the role, it’s important to look for a CTO who has a broad range of technical skills and experience. They should have a deep understanding of software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, and IT operations.

They should also have experience in leading technology teams and be able to effectively communicate with other members of the executive team and stakeholders.

In addition to technical skills and experience, it’s also important to look for a CTO who has strong leadership skills and the ability to think strategically. It’s also crucial that the CTO has a strong track record of delivering results, as well as relevant industry experience and a deep understanding of the trends and developments in their field.

Alternatives to Hiring a Full-Time CTO

Hiring a CTO consultant: A CTO consultant is a professional who provides technical expertise and leadership on a project or consulting basis.

  • Benefits of hiring a CTO consultant:
    The main benefit of hiring a CTO consultant is that you get access to the expertise and skills of a CTO without having to make a long-term commitment.
  • CTO consultants can provide a wide range of services, including technology strategy development, IT infrastructure management, software development, and more.
  • They can provide unbiased recommendations and provide an external perspective that can be valuable to a company.
  • CTO consultants are typically more cost-effective than hiring a full-time CTO.

How to find the right CTO consultant

  • Look for a consultant with a good track record and proven experience in your industry.
  • Conduct interviews to assess the fit and skills of the consultant.
  • Ask for references and check them
  • Make sure to set clear expectations and goals for the consultant and establish a clear timeline for the project.

Virtual CTO

A virtual CTO is an experienced technology leader who works with a company on a part-time or occasional basis, usually remotely.

What is a virtual CTO: A virtual CTO is a CTO who works with a company in a virtual capacity. They typically do not have an office on-site and work remotely, but can provide similar services to a full-time CTO, such as strategic planning, technology direction, and management of technology teams.

How it can benefit your business: A virtual CTO can provide the same benefits as a CTO consultant, with the added flexibility of working remotely. This means that a business can have access to a CTO’s expertise without having to provide office space or pay for a full-time salary. A virtual CTO can also be a great option for businesses that need a CTO’s expertise for a specific project or for a limited period of time.

CTO on Demand

A CTO on demand is a professional who provides technical expertise and leadership on an as-needed basis, this type of CTO is commonly used in startups or small companies that don’t have the budget to hire a full-time CTO.

What is CTO on demand: A CTO on demand is a professional who provides technical expertise and leadership on an as-needed basis. They can work with a company on a short-term or occasional basis and can provide a wide range of services, including technology strategy development, IT infrastructure management, software development, and more.

How to find the right CTO on demand: To find the right CTO on demand, you’ll want to look for someone with a good track record, relevant experience, and the right set of skills for your business. It’s also essential to establish clear expectations and goals for the CTO on demand and to set a clear timeline for their work.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing is a common practice to acquire the expertise of a CTO without hiring a full-time employee.

How outsourcing can help with CTO needs: Outsourcing can help a business access a wide range of technology expertise and skills without having to make a long-term commitment. This can include software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, IT operations, and more.

How to find the right outsourcing partner: To find the right outsourcing partner, it’s essential to do your research and find a company that has experience in your industry and the right set of skills. It’s also important to establish clear expectations and goals for the outsourcing relationship and to set

Finding the Right Fit

How to assess the fit of a CTO consultant, virtual CTO, CTO on demand, or outsourcing partner

  • Start by reviewing the candidate’s qualifications, including their experience, education, and certifications.
  • Look at the candidate’s track record and case studies of their previous work.
  • Ask for references and check them
  • Evaluate the candidate’s communication skills, their ability to think strategically, and how well they understand the industry trends and how they can apply them to your business.
  • Try to understand how the candidate would integrate with your team and if they have the necessary leadership skills to motivate and manage a team.

Understanding the importance of culture fit: The culture fit is crucial when hiring a CTO consultant, virtual CTO, CTO on demand, or outsourcing partner. This person will be a key member of your team, and it’s essential that they fit in well with the company culture and share similar values and work ethics. A CTO who doesn’t fit in with the company culture may struggle to work effectively with the team, leading to communication and productivity issues.

Tips for conducting interviews and assessing candidates

  • Prepare a list of questions beforehand and be sure to ask about relevant experience and skills.
  • Be mindful of the candidate’s communication style and how well they can articulate their thoughts and ideas.
  • Try to gauge how the candidate approaches problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Observe how well the candidate can adapt to new situations and how they react to challenges.
  • Consider conducting a test or trial project to assess the candidate’s skills and how well they would work with your team.
  • Be sure to conduct follow-up interviews with other members of the team to get their feedback on the candidate.
  • Take your time in the process and don’t rush to a decision. It’s better to find the right fit than to hire quickly and then have to find someone else.

Managing the Relationship

Managing the Relationship

How to effectively manage the relationship with a CTO consultant, virtual CTO, CTO on demand, or outsourcing partner

  • Establishing clear communication channels and protocols is key to effectively managing the relationship.
  • Schedule regular check-ins, progress reports, and performance evaluations to ensure the project is on track and that the consultant is meeting expectations.
  • Be sure to provide feedback on the consultant’s work, both positive and negative, to help them understand what they are doing well and areas where they can improve.
  • Be open to adjusting the scope of the project or the consultant’s role as needed, to ensure the project stays on track and achieves the desired results.
  • Build a team of internal stakeholders, who will work closely with the consultant to ensure the alignment and progress of the project.
  • Having a strong and open line of communication with the consultant will help you address any issues or concerns that may arise.

Setting expectations and communication strategies

  • Establishing clear goals and expectations from the beginning is crucial for the success of the project.
  • Make sure the consultant understands the company’s goals, objectives, and expectations for the project.
  • Communicate regularly with the consultant to ensure that the project stays on track and that expectations are met.
  • Set a clear communication schedule and protocols, such as regular check-ins, progress reports, and performance evaluations.
  • Clearly define the role and responsibilities of the consultant and how they will fit into the overall project team.

Tips for success

Be flexible and open to adjusting the project scope or consultant’s role as needed.
Communicate regularly and openly with the consultant to ensure that expectations are met.
Set clear goals and expectations from the beginning and communicate them regularly.
Provide regular feedback on the consultant’s work, both positive and negative.

Build a team of internal stakeholders who will work closely with the consultant.
Create a clear process for monitoring progress and addressing any issues that may arise.
Remember to manage the relationship in a proactive manner and take the time to evaluate the progress and the impact of the project on your business.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the importance of having a CTO in a business and the challenges of hiring a full-time CTO. We have also explored alternatives to hiring a full-time CTO such as hiring a CTO consultant, a virtual CTO, CTO on demand, or outsourcing. We have also discussed the importance of understanding the role of a CTO, finding the right fit, and managing the relationship effectively.

Finding the right fit is crucial when hiring a CTO consultant, virtual CTO, CTO on demand, or outsourcing partner. The right fit will depend on the specific needs of your business, the skills and experience required for the role, and the cultural fit. By hiring a CTO without hiring a CTO, businesses can still have access to the technical leadership and expertise they need to succeed without the long-term commitment of full-time hire.

When considering alternatives to hiring a full-time CTO, it’s essential to understand the specific needs of your business and the skills and experience required for the role.
Identifying the right fit, whether it be a CTO consultant, virtual CTO, CTO on demand, or outsourcing partner, is crucial for the success of the project.
Managing the relationship effectively is key to the success of the project and achieving the desired results.

If you’re interested in learning more about hiring a CTO, there are many resources available online such as books, articles, and blogs.
Consider seeking out a mentor or advisor who has experience in hiring a CTO or working with a CTO consultant, virtual CTO, CTO on demand, or outsourcing partner.
Finally, always do your own research, understand your business needs and use the strategies that are most suitable for your organization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Selling Your Business: What You Need To Know https://www.bitcot.com/selling-your-business/ https://www.bitcot.com/selling-your-business/#respond Tue, 27 Dec 2022 19:18:49 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=40169 If you’re a business owner, the thought of selling your business may have crossed your mind at some point. But before jumping into this unfamiliar territory, it’s important to know what factors should be taken into consideration and how to ensure you get the best outcome for your sale.

In this blog post, we’ll explore key points on selling your business: from working out its value to understanding buyers’ motivations and ensuring regulatory compliance throughout the entire sales process. Read on to find out more about how you can maximize success when it comes time to sell!

What are the steps involved in selling a business?

Selling your business can be a complex process, but there are several steps you can take to ensure a successful outcome.

Firstly, you need to understand what your business is worth and consider using a professional appraiser to help with this if you are unsure.

Secondly, gather all relevant documents needed to prove financial standing and other information.

Thirdly, present your company in its best light. This includes detailing the history of the business and outlining its distinct advantages over competing firms in the same sector.

Finally, use various marketing tactics to gain maximum exposure for potential buyers, such as advertising online or printing flyers. Taking these steps will go a long way towards helping you sell your business beyond expectations.

Steps involved

How much should you expect to pay in fees and commissions when selling a business?

Selling a business can be a thorough and often lengthy process, so it is important to factor in all fees and commissions when considering the monetary bracket. Sellers should expect to pay professional fees for business brokers, lawyers, accountants, and other advisors who are helping with the sale process.

Additionally, Sellers should plan for sizable transaction costs like due diligence fees, closing costs, and other related escrow expenses. The number of payments in the sell-your-business journey will ultimately depend on how smoothly the transaction goes, as well as how thoroughly you’re prepared going into it. Investing in quality advice upfront can prevent costly issues down the line.

What are some things you can do to increase your business’s value before putting it up for sale?

Whether you plan to sell your business in the near future or are just laying the groundwork for a potential sale in the years to come, there are actions you can take now that can increase its value.

To ensure a business is ready to be sold, it is important to have good overall financial and operational records, as well as updated policies and procedures. It is also beneficial to emphasize online presence by creating a website and keeping active on search engines and social media networks. Developing a competitive edge through current technology, intellectual property or successful partnerships can benefit future buyers.

Finally, gain reassurance from an independent company valuing your business, so both parties know what numbers to expect during negotiations. By implementing these strategies, you will not only increase the value of your business but also the chances of it being sold at the best price.

How can you ensure a smooth transition for the new owner once the sale is finalized?

When it comes to selling your business, it is important to ensure a smooth transition for the new owner. There are several steps you can take prior to and during the sale of your business to facilitate a successful transition.

Have relevant paperwork prepared in advance and provide copies to other parties involved in the transaction. Make sure documents include everything needed such as contact information, titles, appropriate signatures, and instructions on how certain procedures should be completed by the new owner. Also, make sure that thorough property inspections have been conducted to identify potential problems or liability issues that may affect ownership rights. Demonstrate transparency and a cooperative attitude throughout the entire sales process, and be prepared to answer any questions related to operating policies or procedures.

On completion of the sale, provide detailed instructions on how to successfully manage the business in the future. Taking these steps will ensure that all parties reach closure and will help pave the way for a smooth transition for everyone involved.

smooth transition

What are some of the common mistakes made by sellers during the process of selling a business?

Selling your business is a process that requires careful planning and attention to detail. Unfortunately, many sellers make mistakes that can lead to costly results. These mistakes include not fully understanding the market or estimating the value of the business. Sellers also often neglect due diligence procedures, fail to properly document the transfer of assets and liabilities or do not vet potential buyers thoroughly enough. Identifying and avoiding these common pitfalls can help ensure that when you’re selling your business, it goes as smoothly and successfully as possible.

Conclusion

Selling your business is not a quick or easy process, but understanding the steps involved and being prepared for what to expect can help make it go as smoothly as possible. Be sure to consult with an experienced business broker to get the most accurate estimate of your business’s value and to avoid making any common mistakes that could jeopardize the sale. With careful planning and preparation, selling your business can be a successful and rewarding experience.

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5 Tech Resolutions Every SMB Needs to Make in 2022- And How To Achieve Them https://www.bitcot.com/tech-resolutions-every-smb-needs-to-make-in-2022/ Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:35:59 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=27732 The future of technology is centered around propelling small and medium businesses to success. With the global pandemic, the inclination towards adopting novel tech resolutions and trends among SMBs has also increased significantly.

From using online video conferencing platforms to digitizing important aspects of the business like customer servicing, almost every operation has made the shift. As you move into the new year, it is best to brace yourself for rapid advancement in technology.

What SMBs Should Know About Tech in 2022 

In the last two years, SMBs and large businesses have become dependent on technology a lot more than ever. Tech development companies seized the opportunity to give you a taste of how technology can change the way you work. This, combined with our innate need to communicate better and adopt convenient solutions will have a major impact on the way we use technology in 2022.

Here are some things that you should be aware of before you move on to creating an IT roadmap for your business:

The Hybrid Working Model Is Here To Stay 

The work from home model will be retained by many companies because of its cost-effectiveness. For SMBs, especially, having employees working from home means lesser investment in space and resources to manage their staff. For employees, too, work from home allows more flexibility. Work from home will eventually see a transformation into ‘work from anywhere’.

This means that you will need better, but more secure access to data. You also need to adopt technology that allows seamless connectivity between different members of your organization.

Trust Will Play A Major Role 

The most important transformation that has occurred during the pandemic is the increasing trust that businesses are putting into technology. They trust that technology can help them make business operations smoother.

This transformation, however, demands transparency that will be enabled by technology. Be it data management, finance and accounting, hiring processes or security, technology will hold people accountable at every step of the way. This is a major advantage for SMBs.

Asynchronous Collaboration Will Receive A Lot of Attention

Given that the hybrid model will remain, people are looking for more effective ways to collaborate. To give you a simple example of asynchronous collaboration, let us take a look at Google Docs. It allows you to share data in real-time, without having to scramble through storage systems each time.

In the coming year, even applications for scheduled meetings will allow shorter, quick link meetings. The ‘Start Huddle’ function introduced by the meeting application, Slack, is a good example of that.

Business Will Become More Ambitious With Technology 

The expectation from technology will also be higher in the coming year. This means that SMBs will begin to purchase mid-market products while mid-market companies will shift to enterprise-level solutions.

So, unless you upgrade, your competition will find a tremendous edge over you.

Digital Transformation will Accelerate 

Both consumers and business owners have realised the comfort and various advantages that technology offers. In the year 2022, digitization will be more than moving into cloud computing or the online space. You will have to create an ecosphere where staff, business partners and customers can carry out transactions digitally without any issues. Imagine your whole supply chain being connected by smart tech solutions. That is what the future holds.

Why Tech Solutions Are Important For Your Business 

Here are the major benefits of tech solutions for your SMBs

  • It allows businesses to remain agile and respond to market changes quickly.
  • Allows better communication, collaboration and communication between team members.
  • With automation, productivity also improves.
  • Scalability improves significantly, allowing newer revenue streams to help businesses grow faster.
  • You have better storage solutions with new technology.
  • Financial management and accounting also becomes more streamlined and well-recorded.
  • Better customer engagement and experience.
  • You have better security options with new technology.

If you want to explore the possibilities with new technology for your SMB, here are 5 resolutions that you need to make in 2022:

Resolution 1: Let’s Talk Digital Documentation. How Do We Consolidate and Organize Digital Data, Especially in SMBs?
Digital-Documentation

With team members collaborating online, efficient digital document management is a must. Using cloud computing and storage solutions will help you create, store, track, share and manage your digital documents.

In order to create the best digital management system, here are some steps that you need to follow:

  • Find a platform that has an easy user-interface and is easy to integrate into your existing IT infrastructure.
  • This platform should also have desktop and offline working options.
  • Be very careful about permissions and access for documents to ensure security.
  • Organize your storage by categorizing your files and having strict rules for naming files.
  • Carry out regular maintenance of your documentation system to eliminate errors and downtime.
  • Always remember to have a backup of important documents.
  • Archiving documents that are no longer in use is a good idea, in case you need them for reference in the future.

There are solutions like Box (For Business) and eFileCabinet that come with all the necessary features to help you go from paper to digital documentation easily.

Resolution 2: High Five For Cloud Backups: How to Make Smart Decisions on Data Storage and Backups
Cloud-Backups

For small and medium businesses, scalability is the biggest challenge. As you grow, you need an infrastructure that supports you. Investing in real estate or hardware is not generally an option when you are still in the initial stages of your business. This is where cloud computing becomes an important tool for you.

Cloud backups give you a smart, affordable and powerful solution for all your data storage issues.

Here are some advantages of cloud backup that will convince you that it is what you need in the years to come:

  • Easy backup of workload from anywhere in real time.
  • Some of these service providers also give you the option of replication of data without any additional cost.
  • You can secure your data by moderating permissions and access.
  • Complete data portability. Most cloud backup systems are compatible with cloud storage solutions like AWS or Google Cloud. So, if you decide to switch, you don’t have to worry about integration.
  • You have ample flexibility to support your growing business needs. You can also upgrade the volume of backup at any time at affordable prices.

Remember, there is a difference between cloud storage and backup. Cloud storage helps you store data on a remote server while cloud backup creates backup or duplicates of files that have already been stored elsewhere.

When choosing cloud storage, go for features like security, volume and ease of integration. While choosing cloud backup, make sure that the solution that you choose allows you to customize the frequency and management of your backup files.

Resolution 3: Artificial Intelligence is Going to Take Over the World, Embrace It
Artificial-Intelligence

As an SMB you are flooded with data everyday. This includes market data, supply data, internal data, consumer data and a lot more. Using AI and Machine Learning allows you to streamline the data and make best use of it as well.

Tech research and consulting company, Garnter predicts that in 2022, 1 in 5 employees of an organization will use AI to carry out routine tasks. This means recovery of productivity hours, helping SMBs grow faster.

Here are some benefits that you can expect from AI:

  • AI based chat platforms will enhance customer engagement and help you respond to queries faster. CRM will also use machine learning to communicate effectively with existing and prospective customers.
  • AI can also collect data and train salespersons to improve their performance with regular feedback.
  • AI-powered market and competition analysis helps in monitoring the trends in your industry to stay ahead of your contemporaries.
  • Cybersecurity is enhanced with AI as it can detect any anomaly in the behaviour of users online.
  • You can manage all your communication across digital marketing channels using AI.

We have already seen SMBs using chatbots and similar AI features to smoothen business operations. AI will also help you make real-time changes to enhance customer experience. For those in ecommerce, Artificial Intelligence is very valuable in driving more sales and increasing revenue.

Resolution 4: Ecommerce- If Not Now, When?
Ecommerce

The benefits of ecommerce for retail are unparalleled. The lockdown and other restrictions during the pandemic forced small businesses to accept more payments online. If you are selling a product or service, you must also remember that customers now expect online transaction facilities.

So, it is the best time to incorporate eCommerce into your business operations. You can also choose omnichannel sales to give your customers the best of both online and offline shopping experiences.

You can integrate online buying options with your existing website or choose ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce that are readily available. The benefits of this are as follows:

  • You can increase your customer base easily when you begin to sell online.
  • Social media marketing efforts will become more fruitful as you can drive sales instantly.
  • Maintaining inventories and financial records are much simpler with online sales.
  • You do not have to limit your stock or range of products because of space restrictions.

With cloud storage, affordable ecommerce platforms, better connectivity and the significant changes in consumer behaviour, this is the right time to switch to ecommerce if you haven’t already.

Resolution 5: Business Process Automation- For Enhanced Productivity
Business-Process-Automation

There are so many routine tasks that take up a lot of productivity hours each day. Business Process Automation allows you to integrate technology into business operations to take care of all these tasks.

BPA can be as simple as automating responses for emails or online queries or as complex as creating workflow with multi-level approval systems. For SMBs, automation can help cut costs significantly. You can maintain smaller teams and still ensure productivity when most of the mundane tasks are taken care of through automation.

Studies show that almost 1/3rd of the work for most job roles can be automated. This allows you to focus on the important tasks at hand and work towards organizational goals.

The common areas where BPA can be implemented are as follows:

  • Customer engagement
  • Procurement
  • Logistics and Delivery
  • Finance
  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Onboarding processes and HR
  • Training and education

How To Implement and Manage Your Tech Solutions For Success

Here are some tips to successfully implement the right tech solutions for your business:

  • Understand the problems that exist in business operations and identify the best solutions for each one.
  • During the initial stages of implementation, identify members from your team, including IT, operations and marketing, to lead the process.
  • Invest in training and education of your staff when implementing new technology.
  • Make a road map of your customer journey. Any new tech that is implemented should have customer experience in mind at each step.
  • Set benchmarks for any tech implementation. You should be able to make maximum use of it to get better ROI.

If you are unsure of where to start and how to move ahead with tech solutions for your business, then Bitcot is the perfect partner for your digital transformation. We are experts in e-commerce, cloud enabled web platforms, CMS, business software, SaaS and a lot more. We understand the trends in your industry to help you find the best and most feasible options to sustain scalability and manage business operations effectively.

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Production Ready Deployment for RoR – Puma, Nginx https://www.bitcot.com/production-ready-deployment-for-ror-puma-nginx/ Tue, 22 May 2018 12:17:44 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=4234 This tutorial will help you deploy the Rails 5 application for production environment with PostgreSQL on RDS as the database, using Puma and Nginx on Ubuntu 16.04.

Prerequisites

  1. AWS EC2 Ubuntu instance
  2. Postgresql RDS Instance
  3. Rubymine ( IDE )
  4. Ruby and Rails installed on your workstation

By this time you would have your rails 5 app already ready and working fine on your local env.

To deploy your rails 5 app we will use popular deployment tool Capistrano

Starting Deployment Process:

Rails 5 by default has puma as default web server , next thing will be adding Capistrano to your project’s Gemfile

Add following gems in gemfile
group :development do
gem ‘capistrano’, ‘~> 3.8.2’
gem ‘capistrano-rvm’
gem ‘capistrano-rails’, ‘~> 1.1.0’
gem ‘capistrano3-puma’
End

Once this is done, Next task is to bundle install. This can be done using the command

bundle install

After installing next big task is to execute capistrano.

This can be done by Cap install command

This will create few files

mkdir -p config/deploy
create config/deploy.rb
create config/deploy/staging.rb
create config/deploy/production.rb
mkdir -p lib/capistrano/tasks
create Capfile
Capified

Open deploy.rb

server ‘IP address’, roles: %w(app db), user: ‘ubuntu’

set :assets_roles, [:app] set :rails_env, production
set :migrate_env, production

Open Deploy.rb

set :repo_url, ‘git@bitbucket.org:bitcot/help-rails.git’
set :deploy_to, ‘/home/ubuntu/www/help’
set :rvm_ruby_version, ‘2.5.0@help’

Open DB.yml
vi config/database.yml
production:
adapter: postgresql
encoding: unicode
pool: <%= ENV.fetch(“RAILS_MAX_THREADS”) { 5 } %>
database: name_of_the_db
user: username
password: password
host:  localhost
port: 5432

Open ec2 instance

Install postgreql

Step 1: Open terminal and install postgres

sudo sh -c ‘echo “deb http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt/ `lsb_release -cs`-pgdg main” >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pgdg.list’

wget -q https://www.postgresql.org/media/keys/ACCC4CF8.asc -O – | sudo apt-key add –

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install postgresql postgresql-contrib

Step 2: Default Postgres role is now created

sudo -i -u postgres #if your on mac it will be ur system name

if you are a normal users it will prompt for a password else it will take to postgres shell

Step 3: Command to interact

For ubuntu :

psql

For Mac:

psql postgres

To exit shell

\q

Step 4: Create a New user

createuser –interactive

Enter name of role to add: nimbus_user

#this should be name of the username mentioned in ur rails app ( database.yml)

Shall the new role be a superuser? (y/n) y

Note: Follow 4.1 at end, proceed for step 5

Step 4.1: Adding password to user

sudo -i -u postgres
psql postgres
ALTER USER  WITH PASSWORD ”;

Step 5: Create a db

createdb nimbus_staging

#this should be name of the db name mentioned in ur rails app ( database.yml)

and then exit the app

Note: sudo updatedb – once db is created

Step 6: changing the postgres conf to accept password and not peer

Open pg_hba.conf and at the bottom, change local, IP4v to trust from trust

Run: Locate pg_hba.conf

$ sudo vim /etc/postgresql/9.6/main/pg_hba.conf

at the bottom, change local, IP4v to trust from trust.

Step 7: Edit  postgresql.conf to hear for connections

Note: $ locate postgresql.conf

$ sudo vim /etc/postgresql/9.6/main/postgresql.conf

Look for this line:

#listen_addresses = ‘localhost’

And change it to:

listen_addresses = ‘*’
remove comment from line

We’re telling PostgreSQL to list for connections from any source, not only locally.

Step 8: Restart Postgres

sudo service postgresql restart

Install and Configure Nginx

Install Nginx using apt-get:

sudo apt-get install nginx

To validate this, open IP Address on your browser and it will show nginx welcome screen
<Imah>

Now open the default server block with a text editor:

sudo vi /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

Replace the contents of the file with the following code block. Be sure to replace the the highlighted parts with the appropriate username and application name (two locations):

upstream app {
# Path to Puma SOCK file, as defined previously
server unix:/home/deploy/appname/shared/sockets/puma.sock fail_timeout=0;
}

server {
listen 80;
server_name ipaddress;

root /home/deploy/appname/public;

try_files $uri/index.html $uri @app;

location @app {
proxy_pass http://app;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
proxy_redirect off;
}

error_page 500 502 503 504 /500.html;
client_max_body_size 4G;
keepalive_timeout 10;
}

Save and exit.

Restart Nginx to put the changes into effect:

sudo service nginx restart

You should see the same page that you saw the first time you tested your application, but now it’s being served through Nginx and Puma.

Deploy code

Cap production deploy

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Building a trading bot in Python https://www.bitcot.com/building-trading-bot-in-python/ https://www.bitcot.com/building-trading-bot-in-python/#respond Sat, 12 May 2018 07:04:39 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=4142 A bot is an automated software application. There are different kinds of bots and even though chatbots are quite popular now, there is another favored segment that is Cryptocurrencies. We have built a trading bot for cryptocurrency and have chosen Python as a language of choice to build the trading bot. Python language is similar to mathematics that has a huge community around it. It is a really good tool for solving problems such as data analysis, pattern recognition, simulation, image processing, scientific computing and a whole bunch of other uses.

We really like Ruby and Python for back-end and at the syntactic and semantic levels, Ruby and Python both are capable of expressing the same concepts and algorithms. However, Ruby may have a slight advantage due to the influence of Smalltalk in its design, which makes it easier to use for constructing Domain-Specific Languages. Ruby and it’s ecosystem is still richest and popular in areas that are related to the web application and API development. Python started out being applied to diverse uses, such as system scripting and text processing which led to simulation, data processing, and several other cases.

Python bridges to NumPy

The use of Python in scientific computing and simulation prompted the development of higher performance extensions such as Numeric and Numarray, which then gave rise to NumPy in 2003, an extension that provides data types for arrays and matrices and high-performance mathematical operations, including operations on those arrays. NumPy is itself further extended by other libraries like SciPy and Pandas.
Python-Bridge-to-Numpy

 

Python has a lot of really solid libraries backed by the community and here are a few popular ones NumPy, Keras, TensorFlow, scipy, matplotlib, pandas, Jupyter, etc for machine learning and in areas where you need to run statistical functions or data analysis. NumPy is a scientific computing library that can be used to model N-dimensional array objects and run several sophisticated functions against them. NumPy can also be used as an efficient multi-dimensional container of generic data. This allows NumPy to seamlessly and quickly integrate with a wide variety of databases.

CryptoBot Database Design:

The decision on which Database to be used for cryptocurrency trade bot by using the Django framework? And the reasons behind opting MongoDB by us.

There are several reasons for choosing MongoDB which are briefly discussed as follows;

Firstly, MongoDB documents have the ability to store unstructured complex information and data in a way that is relatively straightforward to update. MongoDB offers a high-interest rate and therefore it helps in scenarios where the write load in high. MongoDB is an open-source, stores data as documents in a binary representation called BSON (Binary JSON).

Cyrptobot-Database-Design

 

Secondly, the use of MongoDB can prevent and reduce the complex object-relational mapping (ORM) layer which is used to translate objects in code to the relational tables. The database schema has also improved on the bases of business requirements due to MongoDB’s flexible data model.

Finally, MongoDB scales quickly without changing the application and time when the deployments increase with respect to data volume. If compared to other databases like MySQL it is often a requirement for significant and custom engineering work.

Why did we choose MongoDB instead of MySQL?

Databases like MySQL, it is important to understand the requirements of the project and future goals. Talking about, MySQL it is a well-recognized and high-performance tool that is popular for flexibility, reliability on data protection and availability. However, if the data is said to be unsystematic and unstructured it would be advised to opt for MongoDB. The reason being, MongoDB can be measured within and also across multiple distributed data centers, providing new levels of availability and measurability which were previously unachievable with relational databases like MySQL.

Django and Mongo Support Problem

Django does not provide native MongoDB support, so using MongoEngine is one of the options.

But currently, MongoEngine does not support Django ORM, so models cannot be serialized and hence admin setup is a problem.

There are some alternatives, MongoDB-engine, mongo-nonrenal but they are not as good.

There is a better one, Django (Read more on https://nesdis.github.io/djongo/), keeps the Django ORM intact but it is relatively new with a small community.

Also, it couldn’t find a roadmap for “MongoEngine for Django” because they mostly promote Django in their documents.

Hybrid Approach

Models like users, accounts, static data collections can live in SQLite/Postgres adhering to Django ORM. And all the robust data models can live in MongoDB (using PyMongo), which might compromise with ORM, but it turns out we might not really need the object-relational mapping support.

This should solve the problem.

This approach used by one of the bigger communities and therefore to understand further refer to link 3.0 mentioned in the list of references.  Also, a few insider thoughts can be encountered in link 4.0 from the list of references.

Technology –

References

1.0 http://www.numpy.org/ (Accessed)

2.0 https://blog.panoply.io/top-5-alternatives-to-mongodb (Accessed)

3.0 https://github.com/edx/edx-platform/wiki/Frequently-Asked-Questions#database. (Accessed)

4.0 https://www.pydanny.com/when-to-use-mongodb-with-django.html (Accessed)

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Planning Your 2020 IT Tech Budget https://www.bitcot.com/planning-2020-tech-budget/ https://www.bitcot.com/planning-2020-tech-budget/#respond Tue, 03 Apr 2018 09:10:50 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=4093 As 2019 comes to an end, now is the time to think of what 2020 is going to look like for your digital presence. Staying up to date with the latest technology and most innovative solutions is almost impossible as the tech industry is changing every second. With all of these changes, it has many wondering how to plan for so many unpredictable tech trends. We’ve pulled together this three-step guide that will provide you some insight on what you need for 2018 to be catching up, right on track or way ahead of the curve.

 

Step 1:

Your Budget

The cost of building and maintaining a website or app can vary depending on the features your app must-have.  What features are absolutely needed for your business to be successful? Once you have a list of features and a budget in mind, your developer will consult you on the best solutions for you. Developing and maintaining technology is not cheap, and will continue to be an investment for your business as technology is rapidly changing.

 

Step 2:

Your Must-Haves

Technology has become a necessity for businesses and every business owner knows that staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest is a must to drive success.

Basics: Technology baselines for security and reliability

If you are in the beginning stages of planning your web or mobile app, these four elements are fundamental to your business’ success. Mobile responsive, HTTPS, modern CMS, and Google Tag Manager were must-haves in 2017 and will carry over to 2018.

 

– Mobile Responsive

 

Mobile-Responsive

 

Mobile use is high and on the rise, making it vital for companies with websites to cater to mobile users. Having a mobile responsive web design ensures that your user experience is optimized for a positive experience on mobile devices; ease of navigation, reading, and functionality.

– HTTPS

HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP; an added layer of security protects the integrity of your website and protects the privacy and security of your users. According to Google, HTTPS is the future of the web as it’s a requirement for many new browser features, particularly those required for progressive web apps.

– Modern CMS

A Content Management System (CMS) is an application used to create, customize, and manage digital information. As technology continues to boom, it’s important that your CMS uses modern PHP (scripting language for web development) and the latest standards to ensure security for your users, customizability, and control.

Tag Manager (Google)

Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a tag management system that sends user interaction data to Google Analytics (GA). Having GTM implemented is important for managing tracking actions on your website such as form submissions, clicks, and scroll depth.

Advanced: Stay current with these tech features

If you just launched your web or mobile app and are planning to improve in 2018, these four elements are for you! Since popular apps have already implemented the majority of these, it’s important to consider the urgency of updating your plan. If your budget allows for these four elements, we highly recommend planning for it.

– Native App

Native apps are developed for specific devices (i.e. iPhones and Android) and are beneficial to the reliability and speed of the mobile app. Native apps interact with the device’s features such as camera, microphone, and other built-in applications.

– Multi-channel Messaging Integration

To maximize your communication efforts with your users, implementing multi-channel messaging is important. Configure personalized messages to your users through common channels such as email, mobile push notifications, SMS text messages, and in-app messages.

 

– Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO

 

 

As the digital market continues to boom and becomes more competitive, SEO is now more important than ever. SEO helps users and search engine robots understand your website, ultimately improving user experience, usability, and search engine rankings.

– ROI Analysis

Your web or mobile app ROI is the compass of your strategy, making it important to map out key metrics such as your business’ goals, developmental and maintenance costs, key performance indicators and customer lifetime value. User behavior and technology trends will continue to change, and your web or mobile app must cater to the newest and best technology.

Cutting Edge: Ahead of the curve and pushing the envelope

The innovative tech giants of 2017 are ahead of the game and have already, or almost, implemented at least one of the following features. If you are thinking of ways to stand out in your industry in 2018, start planning how these features would make sense for your app.

 

– Augmented Reality

 

Augmented-Reality

 

Augmented reality (AR) changes the way we shop, interact, learn, and explore. Right now, there is a huge opportunity to create buzz around your AR product and provide your users with something your competitors don’t have yet. AR is projected to increasingly become more popular in the next three years, in industries such as online shopping, manufacturing, education, and travel.

 

– Chatbots

 

ChatBot

 

Chatbots have become a popular source of business-to-user communication within the past year because of the rise of artificial intelligence and virtual communication. Chatbots simulate a real conversation with users and provide information and support, helping reduce costs and resources.  Common chatbot tasks include answering basic questions, providing users with payment information and assisting during online shopping.

 

– Machine Learning (Deep Learning)

Machine Learning

 

 

Deep learning is similar to how a human would perceive, think, and conclude. Through deep learning, a machine can process large amounts of data, recognize complex patterns, and provide more detailed insights. Many of us experience apps using deep learning networks in our everyday lives. The Google Translate app uses deep learning to translate images with text in real-time to your choice of 103 languages.

– Blockchain

Everyone is buzzing about blockchain technology! Blockchain is the heart of popular apps such as Bitcoin which is a form of digital currency that is made, used, and stored electronically. Blockchain is more than Bitcoin, as it has the potential to create social change globally. This technology is predicted to become increasingly popular in industries that involve cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT), big data, non-profit agencies, record management, identity, healthcare, real estate, and media.

 

Step 3:

Your Next Steps

Planning your tech budget can be overwhelming, but staying up-to-date with the latest technology is essential in today’s modern market.  So, what’s next for your app? Know what you want to invest and what features you think will be best for your app in 2018. Find out how BitCot can help you with your project by calling us 858-683-3692.

Happy planning!

Tags: Android App Developers, iPhone App Developers, Mobile App Developers, Web App Developers, Ruby On Rails Developers

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Metros, a sharing economy on blockchain https://www.bitcot.com/metros-sharing-economy-blockchain/ https://www.bitcot.com/metros-sharing-economy-blockchain/#respond Wed, 14 Mar 2018 05:41:05 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=3989 Metros will revolutionize the Sharing Economy landscape for a more transparent, trusted and efficient society, benefiting all consumers.

What is Metros

Metros is a complete blockchain solution for Sharing Economy industry. We aim to provide a highly scalable, secure and low-cost blockchain operating system for all Sharing Economy Dapps (Distributed Apps). By replacing centralized platforms with peer-to-peer public blockchain, Metros will revolutionize the Sharing Economy landscape for a more transparent, trusted and efficient society, benefiting all consumers. Our goal is to become the equivalent of iOS and App Store for Sharing Economy blockchain based Dapps.

Solutions

Metros is the first blockchain platform that is specifically designed to support Sharing Economy Dapps on public blockchains. It provides all essential underlying blockchain infrastructure needed for Dapps providers to write and deploy their application on the Metros platfrom.

Complete Solution for Building Sharing Economy Dapps

Metros is built from ground up to be a one-stop-shop blockchain operating system, which provides all building blocks for Dapps so that developers can focus on application specific logic rather than building the infrastructure by themselves.

 

Blockchain-Operating-System

 

Configurable Data Storage Solution

Metros supports multiple storage solutions. With Metros data storage adapters, Dapps can either use the build-in MDS (Metros Data Storage) solution, or connect to IPFS and Storj. This provides the most flexibility to Dapp providers for their unique needs. Metros data storage solution also provides an alternative to Dapp providers who wish to leverage traditional enterprise grade data storage provider like AWS.

 

Smart-Contracts-Blockchain-Data

 

TPOS Consensus Algorithm

Metros’ unique TPOS (Tiered Proof Of Stake) consensus algorithm combines the best of POW and POS models. It not only ensures that the system will be able to handle network throughput at 100,000s of transactions per second, but also encourages all miners to be involved in the consensus process and be able to build and develop their statuses over the time.

POS-Models

 

High Performance & Scalability (>100,000TPS)

Metros creates dedicated side-chains for each Dapp deployed within the network. Metros network can process transactions in parallel to overcome the technical bottleneck found in many public blockchains. In addition, the TPOS consensus algorithm allows transactions to be validated and confirmed within seconds, not minutes.

With support for unlimited number of side-chains, Metros is designed to support more Dapps without degradation on performance. The Metros main chain is capable of processing and verifying hundreds of thousand of transactions per second.
Blockchain

 

Decentralized Edge and Fog Computing

Developed on top of modern Edge and Fog Computing architecture framework, Metros eliminates the need for a centralized data center, by distributing computing resources amongst the clients themselves. Nodes running Metros client software can connect to each other via the Metros P2P network to maintain the Metro ecosystem.

 

Metros-P2P-network-to-maintain-the-Metro-ecosystem

 

3 Mining Options

Users in the Metros network can participate in 3 different ways to “mine” Metros tokens. They can either contribute spare storage from PCs and dedicated storage devices or contribute spare computing resources from smartphone and PCs to maintain the Metros main public ledger and Dapps specific side-chains. Metros is a true example of an ideal Sharing Economy, where users collaborate with each other without any middlemen, benefiting all parties in the network.

 

Blockchain-Data

 

Ecosystem

Ecosystem

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The 5 Coolest Augmented Reality Games that You Absolutely Need to Play https://www.bitcot.com/5-coolest-augmented-reality-games-absolutely-need-play/ https://www.bitcot.com/5-coolest-augmented-reality-games-absolutely-need-play/#respond Tue, 13 Jun 2017 05:14:40 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=2827 “Boys never actually grow up, their toys just get bigger and more expensive” – you can pretend to be a grown-up all you want, but this will remain true as ever! It’s no wonder that last year,  according to Newzoo’s report, the gaming market was worth $101.1 Billion, with $38.6 Billion just on mobile!

 

And now, shit just got real – quite literally, with the advent of Augmented Reality (AR). AR, without doubt, will be the next giant step of the gaming world. It’s already creating tsunami-like waves in the market. Global Market Insights predicts that “Augmented Reality… is slated to record an astronomical revenue of $165 Billion by 2024.”

But AR sounds crazy expensive right? What if I told you that you can play the best AR games on your mobile for free! So without further ado, let’s go ahead and check out the coolest AR games for Android and iOS!

Pokemon Go

If you haven’t heard of it, you must be from outer space. Released on July 6, 2016, as a joint venture by Niantic, The Pokemon Company and Nintendo, the game has been downloaded over 650 million times! The game maps the real world into a virtual battlefield. You have to run around to catch Pokemons and train them to fight epic battles with other players. The game went so viral last year that servers kept crashing constantly because of the crazy traffic. And even after nearly a year, this game remains one of the most popular AR games!

Go ahead and get the game for Android or iOS!

Ingress

Released in 2012 by Niantic, Inc., Ingress is another geolocation AR game with an insanely complicated storyline. A new form of matter called Exotic Matther (XM) was discovered by researchers at CERN, and now it is slowly infiltrating the world. Scientists believe that it has the power to control thought, and therefore, the world is split into 2 factions:

  1. “The Enlightened” who want to embrace the power and control humanity
  2. “The Resistance” who want to prevent humanity from being destroyed by it.

You have to choose which side you are on. The gameplay involves going to famous monuments and landmarks to capture “portals”, and raging “battles” with the opposition. The war is raging, come to join!

Get the game for Android or iOS!

Temple Treasure Hunt

Yet another geolocation game, Temple Treasure Hunt blends Indian mythology with AR. As the name suggests, it’s a treasure hunt, where you can either be the treasure protector or the treasure hunter. For the former, you need to set clever clues for your partner, and for the later, you have to hunt for clues to finally discover the temple of Shiva. But unfortunately for iOS users, this game is only available for the Android platform.

If you find this game appealing, you may want to check out Tourality GPS Treasure Hunt – but let me warn you, it is paid!

It’s time to start hunting in Android!

SpecTrek

Don’t want to push yourself to do a workout, just play this! In this awesome AR game developed by Games5All, you need to hunt and capture ghosts. When you start the game, on your map several locations are marked where ghosts are lurking. You need to get there before the ghosts flee. Once you get to a ghost, simply point your screen, and capture it! And yet again, this game is only available for Android platform!

Zombies, Run

Yet another super-immersive game for Android and iOS, Zombies Run lets you work out while having fun! Just put on your headphones and step outside – and suddenly, the world is havoc, where you are the only survivor of a zombie apocalypse. And all you can do is RUN! Integrated with awesome music and narrative, you have to run to collect vital supplies and get home to safety before you are shred to pieces!

Though our promise was to guide you to the best free AR games, it would be a grave sin not to mention this one. Priced at a mere $4.49, without a second thought, you should get it!

Honorable Mention: Real Strike

With an arsenal of 25 insane guns, a palpable animation, and brilliant sound effects, Real Strike is just the game for you if you want to experience outdoor combat! To sum it up – it’s Call of Duty in real life. It has the capacity to turn any street, any backyard, any rooftop into a real military combat scene. Additionally, you can equip yourself with night vision, thermal vision, and tactical flashlight. If virtual combat is your thing, just go for it!

These games just touch the tip of the iceberg. You can find many more augmented reality games to have a blast. The future holds promises of even cooler games, with better graphics and smoother gameplay. But until then, go ahead and check these out!

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Top 10 Things Unfolded in Google I/O 2017 https://www.bitcot.com/top-10-things-unfolded-google-io-2017/ https://www.bitcot.com/top-10-things-unfolded-google-io-2017/#respond Mon, 29 May 2017 04:57:08 +0000 https://www.bitcot.com/?p=2830 It’s a while already since Google I/O 2017 concluded, but even now, the tech world is throbbing with anticipation for the release of the new insane technologies. As it was I/O’s 10th anniversary, everybody was expecting something huge – well, at least the app developers got their share. But as there were over 100 new updates, it’s rather challenging to extract the essentials.

New_GoogleIO

Therefore, to help you out, here are the 10 biggest announcements at Google I/O.

Android O

Google announced that there were now over 2 billion Android users! And accompanied with this news, they launched the beta version of their new OS, Android O. It comes with several new luring features such as: Picture in Picture, Notification Dots, Autofill, and many more. So, if you are an app developer, get started now by migrating your apps to Android O.

Android Go

You’d think with 2 billion users Google would be satisfied –  well, no. It is now targeting the next billion, that is, users who survive with low-cost phones. Smartphones with less than 1GB of RAM accounted for more than one-fourth of the total shipment in India during Q1 2017. And for that, Google is releasing Android Go next year, an OS which can run on less than 1GB of memory! If you want reach out to a bigger market to gain an edge over your competitors, it’s time to start developing “Lite” apps.

Google Assistant

 

Google is rapidly going from “Mobile first to AI first”, and therefore, invested a lot of time presenting the updates for Google Home and Google Assistant. First and foremost, Assistant is expanding to iOS  and will be available to iPhones and iPads.

Furthermore, now you can also type, instead of just talking to your assistant –  which honestly is a huge relief! The third major upgrade is the integration of Google Lens, which we’ll discuss in just a moment.

Google Home

Google Home, at long last, can now place calls in US and Canada for free! Connect your Google speakers with Home, and you can experience hands-free calling. This major update makes it a close competitor to Amazon’s Echo. The device can now be connected by Bluetooth to listen to music and songs. It can also give visual response if connected to an iPhone, Chromecast or Android device. Lastly, Home can now give revised updates on your schedule, for example, ask you to leave early for a meeting if there is more traffic. It was evident at I/O that Google is putting in great effort to make Home as essential as a smartphone.

Google Lens

 

The future tech giants will be those who can conquer AI today. At Google I/O, CEO Sundar Pichai announced a new technology called Google Lens. It will be integrated with Assistant, and will not only see, but also understand. Using powerful Machine Vision algorithms, it will help you identify objects and scenes around you. For the demo, Google pointed the camera at a flower, and Lens immediately identified which flower it was! Pichai also showed how convenient it can now be to connect to your home’s wifi – all you have to do is take a picture of your wifi sticker and the phone will connect! As a third example, you can point your phone’s camera at a restaurant, and Lens will give you the information of its name, rating and other information. With the integration with Assistant, you can now take a pic of your concert ticket and ask Assistant to set a reminder based on it! Lastly, you can also get live translation. As a demo, Scott Huffman pointed his phone to a Japanese sign and asked “What does it say?”, and got the immediate translation!

Google Photos

“More than 500 million people use Google Photos every month, backing up more than 1.2 billion photos and videos per day” Google tweeted. Therefore now, Google Photos will enable Suggested Sharing. When you take a photo of your friend, Google will automatically suggest that you share it with him or her. It also introduce Sharing Libraries, which will let families share picture libraries with other members. Lastly, Google Photos will automatically enhance and clean your photos.

Kotlin

Java is currently the most popular programming language for Android app developers. But Google wants to change that with the introduction of Kotlin. This new programming language, widely compared to Apple’s Swift, attempts to ease app development, enables clearer syntax and helps develop faster apps. For a demo, Google showed how a dozen of lines of Java code could be replaced by a single one of Kotlin!

Virtual Reality

VR Headsets Source: Google Events

Google Daydream project for VR got a major upgrade. Conjoined with Qualcomm, Google will now release standalone VR headsets. So now, you won’t need a phone, wires or PC to get your new virtual experience. Furthermore, it will have better tracking, most sophisticated apps and better user experience.

TPU

As already mentioned, Google’s future depends on AI. That’s why, in his keynote speech, Sundar Pichai announced the new Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), which are next-generation chips to enhance machine learning algorithms. These new chips will significantly speed up Google’s platform for cloud computing. Additionally, as the TPUs are optimized to work with TensorFlow, Google’s open-source deep learning platform, we can expect to soon have powerful machine learning apps in our Android devices.

All Things Android

Several new updates were announced for Android developers. First, is the release of the new Android Studio 3, which will support Kotlin, enable faster Gradle build and ease app development with other tools. Second, Android Instant Apps are finally available to all developers. Instant Apps lets users run them without installing! Third, Android Things enable developers to create connected devices with greater ease, thus letting them explore the world of IoT.

These are just the top 10 announcements at Google I/O 2017. Go ahead and check out the full list of Google announcements here.

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