Tag: web design

Why UX Design is essential for business apps

UX DESIGN

UX stands for user experience. As simple as it sounds, UX basically means making sure that your customers have the best experience possible on your app.

It’s more than making your app as easy to use as possible. It’s also about having every part of your software designed around your customers, to give them a seamless journey throughout. It’s about understanding their wants and needs and delivering the exact solution they’re looking for to them.
Planning on building an app for your business? UX is something you should keep in the centre of your mind. Here are 3 reasons why.
1. It can save time
If you’re putting the time and investment into making an app, you need to make sure it works.
UX design involves testing and trialling your app before it’s live — so you can ensure you’re making the best decision right from the start. This gets rid of any costly and time-consuming changes or in the worst case, complete redesigns of your app.\
2. It increases conversions
UX design ensures that your app is designed around your customers.
If something is quick and easy for them to use and provides all the information they want, they’re more likely to convert. Which means more profits and a better ROI (return on investment) for your company.
3. It will increase retentions
If your users have a negative experience on your app, they’ll stop using it. But, more than that, they will never return. So, even if you fix the problems that they’ve encountered, you’ve still lost a potential customer.
However, If your users have a positive experience on your app, they’re more likely to return. They’ll keep on using your app and will be more likely to also recommend the app to others.
So, your abandonment goes down and your customer retention goes up. It’s a win-win.
Put your customers first with UX design
At Matter Of Software, we develop our apps with your users in mind. Putting UX at the
forefront, we’ll help create an app that works for your business and your customers.
Interested? Trust the best UK app developers with your project. Get in touch to find out more today.

Best Mobile Software Developers in Solihull

MatterOfSoftware BARK Certificate of Excellence winner 2019
We are proud to announce that BARK has awarded us a 2019 Excellence Award in recognition of us being the best Mobile Software Developers in Solihull.
The team has worked hard during 2018 to continue our growth whilst focusing on constant improvement in our key areas:
  • Highest Quality
  • Best Client Satisfaction
  • Improved Employee Engagement / Skills
  • Best Value for all Clients
We have continued to grow the team to accommodate our growth (including a new managing director and additional technical team members).  Our 2019 plans will focus on our core pillars to grow sustainably and deliver real value to our clients.
We have been using BARK as part of our advertising and marketing approach, we have been fortunate to meet a large number of local clients via BARK who share our vision for great value, quality and experiences.
If you are interested to hear more please contact us.

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Content Management Systems – Introduction to WordPress

A good content management system (CMS) can transform your digital presence in a number of positive ways. A CMS is a software you can use to create, develop, edit, store and publish content online. WordPress is reported to be the most popular and widely used CMS. It is claimed that WordPress powers 31% of all websites on the internet and is used by a whopping 59% of websites whose CMS is known.
This article aims to explain what WordPress is, how WordPress development works, and discusses the importance of WordPress maintenance.
What is WordPress?
At its simplest, WordPress is a software programme that users can use to create, design and maintain their websites. It is an open source software, which means it is not subject to any intellectual property restrictions like copyright and trademark, and can be accessed for free by the public and users can modify it as they require.
WordPress started out as a blogging tool, which bloggers used to create content and images for publication on their blogs. WordPress has evolved tremendously and now become far more than just a blogging. It is an immensely powerful software capable of creating the most simple website to more complex websites, online stores, and
other e-commerce online platforms.
WordPress now boasts a huge core and library with many advanced features. In order to fully maximise the many benefits of WordPress, it is vital that the software is developed by a top WordPress developer, which is where WordPress development comes in.
What does WordPress development involve?
One of the main benefits of WordPress is its simplicity, which is attractive to people with little or no coding skills, but there is more to running a website than just setting one up and getting on with using it for your business. Of all the available content management systems, WordPress has a particularly large range of functionalities which a user with basic technical skills may likely find intimidating. It is also easy to run into difficulties with security issues like viruses and hackers.
Good WordPress development requires detailed knowledge and expertise in PHP programming, at the very least. PHP, which stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, is a scripting code which allows users to customise their WordPress websites to suit individual requirements. Expertise in HTML, JavaScript and databases like MySQL are also useful skills to have.
WordPress development starts with a thorough analysis of what your specific goals and objectives for a website are. Your WordPress developer will need to carefully consider how WordPress can be adapted and customised to fit your specific requirements, taking into account the particular themes and plugins you would need as part of your design. The developer then develops a code which feeds into your WordPress website design, and will need to make sure that the design does not clash with other databases or systems you may need to use alongside WordPress.
Where do themes and plugins fit in?
Themes and plugins are an essential design tool in WordPress you can use to greatly enhance the customer experience on your website.
Themes are a series of options that collectively generate the way your website looks. With themes, you can select design features such as colour, size of text within your site, how images and videos are displayed, how features like blog comments are laid out, the general layout of the site and many more.
Whether you are looking to achieve a formal look, an interactive site or one that is heavily led by images or videos, the possibilities with themes are endless.
Plugins, on the other hand, are usually used to develop your theme either by extending existing features or creating and adding new features to your site. With plugins, your website is able to evolve as your business and requirements change over time. This means that you are not stuck with the website you start out with, but can continuously update your themes, introduce new features or fix any performance issues you subsequently identify with your initial WordPress website design.
As with themes, the possibilities with plugins are endless and there are many types of plugins to choose from. To mention a few, there are search engine optimisation plugins that help improve your website’s ranking and drive traffic to your site, there are plugins that improve the speed by which pages on your site load, there are plugins you could use if you just want to introduce a minor feature like a news feed or set up payment options on your site.
WordPress maintenance and security
All the time and resources invested into developing and rolling out your website could be wasted if you don’t secure and maintain your site properly. Websites remain vulnerable to bugs and hackers, so it is important that you operate an efficient system for installing system updates to address any security issues.
We at Matter of Software are software developers with in-depth knowledge of WordPress, available to assist you when you contact us today.

Today’s Mobile App Platforms – iOS, Android, Windows App Development


In the modern day, our smart phone can be as common to us as our house keys or wallet. One of the things we value them for is apps, which can give us all sorts of ways to stay informed, entertained and in touch. But behind the screen and the flashy wallpaper, how does the mobile app development magic happen?

In this blog, we take a look at some of the leading operating systems which mobile apps can be deployed on, and examine their characteristics:

Android

According to research, Android has a 44 per cent market share of smart phone users in the UK, underlining its popularity. The Android operating system is widely used on a wide variety of smart phones – from Samsung to Sony. Source code for Android app development is made available via the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This is an initiative which is led by Google. Android apps are commonly written with the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) and the Java programming language. Java can be used in tandem with C/C++. Android is now up to operating system 9.0, which includes a raft of updates including a new user interface for the quick settings menu, the moving of the clock to the left of the notification bar, and the possibility of an NFC unlock. Among the handsets to have already adopted Android 9.0 are Essential Phone, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Nokia 7 Plus, OnePlus 6, Sony Xperia XZ2, Vivo X21UD and Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S.

iOS

Figures show that iOS has a market share of 49 per cent in the UK, making it the most popular operating system for smart phones. iOS is used on the Apple range of smart phones known as the iPhone – the latest versions of which are the iPhone XS and the iPhone XR. It is also used on iPad tablets. iOS app development is done using the iOS SDK, which was released in March 2008 – Apple had reportedly originally not intended to permit third party development of applications, but changed this decision. Developers can combine the iOS SDK with Xcode when it comes to writing apps. The programming languages which are typically supported by iOS include Objective-C and Swift.

The latest version of the iOS operating system is 12, which includes many updates in the areas of security, battery life and performance. These include; the speeding up of common tasks including keyboard and camera activation; screen time usage information which allows users to measure exactly what they do on their smart phone; new shortcuts and automated actions; a feature (ARKit 2) which allows screens to be shared with other iPhone users; and some gestures for iPhone can now be used on
iPads.

Windows

Windows Mobile has a relatively small market share of 0.8 per cent in the UK, but given its parent company’s Microsoft’s dominant position in the computer world, this could feasibly change in the future. The latest version of Windows Mobile is Windows 10 Mobile, which was released in 2015. Windows 10 Mobile app developers can use the Windows Bridge for iOS. This provides a toolchain which allows developers to port Objective-C software used for building apps for the iOS operating system for mobile application development with Universal Windows Apps. Visual Studio 15 is also capable of converting Xcode projects into those which can be used for the building of Universal Windows Apps.

Among the enhancements which were unveiled as part of Windows 10 Mobile are the harmonisation of user experiences and functionality, which opens up new possibilities for those running Windows 10 on a PC. This includes the settings menu and Action Center. It is now possible for notifications to be synced between devices. There is now a messaging app with Skype support, and there is also an input button dedicated to voice on the on-screen keyboard. Windows 10 Mobile is used on handsets such as the Acer Liquid M320, Cherry Mobile Alpha Prime 4 and 5, Freetel Katana 01 and 02, and Microsoft Lumia 550, and 950.

At present iOS and Android have an overwhelmingly dominant share of the market. So if you are looking for the largest choice of apps available on an operating system, the main choice is between devices running these two operating systems. However Windows 10 Mobile does present some interesting possibilities for those who use Windows 10 on their PC, so should not be discounted.

Rely on Matter of Software for Mobile App Development, Custom Software, and Web Development which helps you achieve your business objectives. Call us today on 0330 223 3891.

Big Data: what can it do for your business?

While your business might not be actively using Big Data, that doesn’t mean you don’t have the means to harness its potential. In this article, we run through the ‘need to knows’ on one of the most important business trends in recent years, and ask how you could be using data to your advantage.

What is Big Data?

Big Data refers to the capture, ‘harvesting’ and analysis of large data sets which are typically so big that they need to be processed using advanced analytics software. An increasing number of businesses are making more use of the data which they can gather in their everyday business activities to provide tangible insights which can go towards making enhancements in areas such as operations, sales and marketing. Big Data is increasingly not confined to large corporates, as the growing prevalence of analytics software means that Big Data strategies are easier for SMEs to pursue.
Utilise what you’ve got
So what kind of data patterns can be analysed in a big data strategy? In today’s digital era, there are no shortage of data types which could potentially provide valuable business insights to all manner of companies. This data can range from buying patterns, to customer behavior (both on and offline), and data broken down by geographical location and time (from ‘to the second’ to seasonal).
In terms of the characteristics of the data itself – this is typically classified into the three categories of ‘Structured’, ‘Unstructured’ and ‘Semi-structured’ according to the level of order the data is found in when it comes to be analysed. Structured data will already be in a readable database form, while unstructured data can include information in a raw and disorderly form.

Calculating your KPIs

Key Performance Indicators (KPI) have become a staple of the business world, allowing firms to set targets, and then measure their success against the achievement of those targets. It could be leads, sales, clicks or coverage; KPIs come in a number of different forms but one thing most of them have in common is that they involve some sort of data. That’s where Big Data comes in, giving us more ways of collating information which can help to measure and report KPIs, and in turn, increasing the number of possible KPIs which can be set. It all adds up to more trackable business activities which can allow companies to keep a closer eye on their current performance, and devise better informed future strategies based on their level of success.
Giving you the edge
Like all good business ideas, the effective use of Big Data comes back to making a positive impact on the bottom line. There are many different ways in which this can be done once data has been collated, harvested and analysed. There could be operational insights within the data which allow companies to tighten up supply chains and economise their business processes, allowing them to reduce their overheads significantly. And then there is the opportunity to examine all aspects of customer buying patterns and preferences, giving companies the means to target their future marketing campaigns on an individualised basis. By seeing what customers are buying and searching for, organisations can give themselves a better chance of influencing future purchasing decisions.
Make your data work for you
You might be surprised at just how important the ability to obtain data quickly and consistently across your business can be. At Matter of Software, we develop bespoke business intelligence solutions by integrating existing systems into a data warehouse for enhanced reporting and Big Data analytics. To discover more about what Big Data can do for your business, contact us today.

Bespoke Web Development UK

Bespoke Software Development UK

Is your business as efficient as it could be?

In these uncertain times, all businesses face rising costs, which are denting profits. Equally, if you work with multiple channels and in multiple markets, clearly you are running a complex business. This makes business productivity and efficiency and business process optimisation more important than ever. Especially if you are actually creating goods and getting them out to clients, you need your operation to run as smoothly as possible.

Any business, no matter its size, can always look at their existing processes and identify areas for efficiency improvements.

Have you considered bespoke software development?

You probably already know that tailor-made software is specially developed for a particular organisation.

Examples include Content Management Systems (CMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions, business process automation, automated invoicing, customer-facing web portals, e-commerce software solutions and others.

Software is changing all the time, and your business must keep pace. Using custom software can really help with that and with the process of maximising efficiency. But if you thought of this as something that had to be expensive, think again. Just reviewing your processes and making small changes can help. What’s more, you’ll be helping your team to save time by focusing on those activities which add value to your business.

A tailor-made software package can benefit any type and size of company.

Further benefits of bespoke software include:

Control

When you buy custom software, you decide how the solution will work, and you can give developers feedback as the solution is being created, and you also get to decide when to upgrade your solution – and how.

Efficiency

Your software, like your business, should be improving all the time and should give you flexible reliability. Custom software means your support is also bespoke, and your developer will know your system incredibly well and strive to make it as user-friendly as possible.

Bespoke software is tailored to your precise business needs, and so can provide information simply and effectively.

You will achieve your business goals with greater efficiency, and with a targeted, strategic approach to tasks. Collaborative working can be aided thanks to unified communications which can be incorporated into your software – for instance via instant messaging.

There’s also greater efficiency in that you are forced to think about what exactly your business needs from its software. Finally, an off-the-shelf model may simply not meet these requirements.

Scalability

As your business grows, your software must adapt too. Custom software will develop as you do, and change as your requirements shift.

As the owner of the intellectual property, you won’t have to get permission to make any changes in your software. You’ll also be able to add more users without slowing our system down or paying extra licence fees.

Transparency

With custom software, the whole team has a full overview of what you aim to achieve and how you want to do it. Business processes become simpler, and everyone will be on the same page and appreciate exactly what they need to do. The management team will have a detailed insight into everything, and product support and delivery will be improved.

Enhanced security

Security threats can be mitigated, and if anything does go wrong, it’s easier to restore your data. Common commercial packages are under constant threat since encrypting one system grants hackers access to many firms’ details. Bespoke packages give you peace of mind that vital data is secure. What’s more, SaaS solutions which use Cloud Computing will also boost security compared with an on-site server.

How we can help

At Matter of software, if you trust us with your bespoke software and mobile app development, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands and that you’re getting the best advice, support and software for what your business needs.

We can supply the very best solution for your requirements, whether you’re looking for something fully bespoke, an off-the-shelf model or something that’s in between.

Let us use our extensive experience to help your business grow. We’ve developed everything from warehouse management systems to ERP solutions.

We can also help you by creating a website that sets your organisation apart from the competition or a mobile app (on both iOS and Android) to optimise profit and performance.

Talk to us today about which of our solutions would best suit your needs – and take the first step on the path to far greater efficiency for your business.

Bespoke Software Development