globaldevblog

[globaldevblog]

Smarter prototyping: Reducing costs and increasing efficiency with variables

When it comes to software development, timing matters - especially when identifying and fixing usability issues.

Did you know that fixing a design issue during testing can cost up to 15 times more than catching it during the design phase?

That’s why the design team at Globaldev embraces Figma prototyping powered by variables, modes, and expressions. This approach allows us to build interactive prototypes that simulate real product behavior before a single line of code is written.

Why Prototyping Early Pays Off

In fast-paced product environments, the cost of mistakes grows with each stage of development. Prototypes created with Figma variables let us test actual user flows, toggle between dynamic content, and validate user interactions - all during the design phase.

This not only improves collaboration between design, development, and business teams but also helps reduce risks and avoid late-stage redesigns.

Real-World Use Cases

Why do some teams avoid costly delays?

Because they prototype smarter.

We use this strategy with clients building complex products - where functionality is dynamic, user states vary, and stakeholders need clarity. With tools like Maze and Miro, we collect user feedback directly from prototypes. This streamlines approval processes, accelerates decisions, and leads to a more efficient design workflow.

Whether it’s a shopping cart, onboarding flow, or configuration tool, prototyping with variables lets us simulate realistic experiences and verify logic early on.

Efficient and Cost-Effective UX Design

Our design approach is built on the belief that interactivity belongs at the design stage - not just in development.

By catching issues early, we help clients save time, avoid rework, and make smarter decisions faster. The result?

Cost-effective UX design that improves the product without inflating the budget.

Final Thoughts

Interactive prototypes aren’t just a nice-to-have - they’re essential when product complexity increases and expectations rise.

At Globaldev, we bring structure, logic, and collaboration into the design process through smart use of Figma variables.

If you're looking to speed up development, reduce costs, and deliver a smoother UX, prototyping smarter is the key.

[globaldevblog]

Smarter prototyping: How designers can use variables to build realistic flows

In UX design, prototyping is no longer just about creating static mockups - it’s about simulating real product behavior. But how do you make your Figma prototypes feel dynamic and interactive without duplicating dozens of screens?

The Challenge of Realistic Prototypes

Struggling to keep your Figma prototypes realistic without creating hundreds of static frames? One of the biggest challenges in UX design is simulating real user flows - especially when dealing with dynamic states, shopping carts, or conditional feedback. These complexities often demand dev time or complex logic that’s hard to simulate at the design stage.

Enter Smart Prototyping with Variables

Have you tried using Figma’s new variables to make your prototypes smarter?

We recently explored how Figma variables and modes can solve this problem. With just a few well-placed modes and expressions, we recreated:

Real-time cart logic

Conditional screen behavior

Dynamic content updates based on user actions

This new level of design automation allows designers to embed real logic directly into the prototype - updating values, switching states, and even performing calculations like price totals - all without touching a line of code.

From Tedium to Efficiency

Do you know why building in Figma is no longer such a tedious process?

Because with variables, modes, and expressions, designers can now create interactive prototypes that closely reflect how the final product will behave.

You can:

Update prices and counters in real-time

Show/hide content based on interactions

Simulate full user flows from selection to submission

Avoid the need to duplicate screens for every variation

We used this approach ourselves to build smarter, more testable flows — and the result was faster approvals, better feedback, and reduced developer involvement early on.

Final Thoughts

This shift to smart prototyping bridges the gap between design and development. It saves time, reduces risk, and empowers designers to take control of logic and behavior from the very beginning of the product journey.

If you’re looking to make your design process faster, leaner, and more intuitive — explore how Figma prototyping with variables can transform the way you build user experiences.

[globaldevblog]

Staff augmentation for a conversational automation platform

Scaling Conversational AI Platforms with Staff Augmentation: Faster, Smarter, Better

Building a conversational automation platform is no easy task. It requires a unique blend of backend expertise, AI knowledge, and scalable architecture — all delivered at speed. But assembling the right team quickly, without compromising on quality, is often the biggest hurdle.

That’s where staff augmentation comes into play.

Why Scaling AI Teams Is Hard — and Critical

Conversational AI isn’t just about clever chatbots. It’s about building robust systems that handle context, integrate seamlessly with APIs, and deliver real-time responses across multiple channels. To bring that to life, you need a development team with deep technical expertise — and the ability to hit the ground running.

Hiring that team in-house takes time, resources, and risk.

Staff augmentation offers a faster, more flexible way to expand your capabilities, giving you access to vetted engineers who can integrate with your internal workflows and contribute from day one.

Real Results from Real Collaboration

One of our recent clients — a growing conversational automation platform — faced exactly this challenge. They needed to scale fast while maintaining high standards in AI and backend development.

Through a tailored team extension model, we provided them with a dedicated group of developers specialized in AI, backend architecture, and system performance. The results:

Accelerated delivery of new features

Optimized system performance

Stronger product architecture and faster release cycles

With a flexible, high-performing team in place, the client could focus on strategic growth while we supported execution at scale.

Staff Augmentation vs. Traditional Outsourcing

Unlike traditional software development outsourcing, staff augmentation keeps you in control. You retain product ownership, direction, and culture — while gaining access to a broader talent pool that strengthens your team exactly where it’s needed most.

Whether you're working on AI development, backend systems, or expanding platform capabilities, this model allows you to:

Scale fast without compromising quality

Reduce hiring and onboarding time

Maintain agility while growing sustainably

Ready to Scale Smarter?

If your competitors are scaling faster and building smarter platforms, it’s time to level up. With the right AI development team by your side, you can move from ideas to execution — faster and with more confidence.

Let’s build it together — with staff augmentation tailored to your needs.

[globaldevblog]

AI-powered visual assistant fueled by customized data

What if your digital product could actually see the world — and react intelligently to it? That’s no longer a futuristic idea. With the rise of AI-powered visual assistants, businesses are bridging the gap between machine processing and human-like perception. And the real game-changer? Customized training data that aligns these assistants with your domain-specific challenges.

What Is a Smart Visual Assistant?

A visual AI assistant combines real-time image recognition with contextual decision-making. It’s not just about identifying what’s on screen — it’s about understanding what it means and responding accordingly.

This approach unlocks entirely new layers of interaction for users across industries:

In healthcare, visual assistants can help analyze scans or guide procedures

In retail, they can track shelf inventory in real time

In manufacturing, they assist in defect detection or workflow validation

But no matter the use case, accuracy and usefulness come from the data the assistant is trained on.

Why Customized Data Is the Secret Weapon

While many generic AI tools offer "plug-and-play" capabilities, they often fall short in specialized environments. Goldie, the AI visual assistant developed in collaboration with Globaldev, is proof that domain-specific training changes everything.

Instead of relying on general image datasets, Goldie was trained on custom pipelines tailored to real business needs — resulting in a tool that not only recognizes visuals but also makes informed, context-aware decisions. That’s the difference between a smart feature and a truly intelligent assistant.

Building Visual Intelligence at Scale

At Globaldev, we helped design and build Goldie from the ground up — from system architecture and model integration to the user interface. The result? A scalable, responsive AI assistant optimized for complex, real-world environments.

This isn’t just about automation. It’s about giving products the ability to see, interpret, and act — bringing them closer to how humans naturally interact with the world.

Want to Build Your Own Visual AI Assistant?

Whether you're exploring new ways to enhance user experience, automate workflows, or simply want your software to "understand" the physical world, AI-powered visual assistants may be your next big leap.

Ready to bring visual intelligence into your product? Let’s talk.

[globaldevblog]

Software team extension

Why Team Extension Is the Smart Way to Scale Your Development Capacity

In a fast-paced digital environment, delivering projects on time and with high quality often comes down to having the right team in place. But building and maintaining an in-house team with every skill you need is expensive, time-consuming, and often unsustainable. That’s where team extension — also known as team augmentation or staff augmentation — becomes a powerful strategy.

The Challenge: Scaling Without the Overhead

Modern businesses face fluctuating demands, tight deadlines, and the need for specialized skills. Hiring full-time employees for every short-term or niche requirement is rarely practical. At the same time, outsourcing entire projects can cause communication gaps and reduce control over quality.

The solution? Extending your existing team with skilled professionals who integrate seamlessly into your workflows, culture, and goals.

What Is the Team Extension Model?

The team extension model allows companies to augment their in-house team with external experts — without the complexities of traditional hiring. Whether you need just one developer with specific expertise or a full cross-functional unit, team extension services provide the flexibility to scale up (or down) quickly.

Key Benefits of Team Extension Services

Access to top-tier talent across domains and technologies

Faster onboarding and seamless integration with your existing team

Cost efficiency, reducing long-term hiring and operational expenses

Scalability and flexibility to adapt to changing project needs

Full control over the development process and team collaboration

Speed and agility in delivery without sacrificing quality

Whether you're working on a complex enterprise system or a fast-moving startup product, team extension empowers you to move faster while maintaining high standards.

Why It Works

Unlike outsourcing models where the vendor owns the entire process, team extension gives you the best of both worlds: the agility and focus of your in-house team, combined with the extended capabilities of external experts. It’s a collaborative model where you stay in control, while we help you fill the talent gaps.

Ready to Strengthen Your Team?

At Globaldev, we offer tailored team extension and staff augmentation services to help you scale your development capacity with ease. Our experts become a natural extension of your team — aligned with your tools, processes, and goals.

Whether you’re aiming to accelerate delivery, access niche expertise, or reduce time to market, we’re here to help.

Let’s build something great together — with a team extension model that works for you.

[globaldevblog]

Global Engineering. Custom software development services

Why Your Business Needs Custom Software: A Smart Investment in Growth

In today’s competitive digital landscape, software is more than just a tool — it’s the backbone of innovation and efficiency. Yet many companies still rely on off-the-shelf solutions that weren’t built with their specific needs in mind. That’s where custom software development comes in — a strategic move that can redefine how your business operates and grows.

Off-the-Shelf Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

Out-of-the-box software might seem like a convenient and affordable option at first. It gets you up and running quickly. But as your business evolves, those limitations start to show — lack of flexibility, unnecessary features, poor scalability, or the inability to integrate with your existing systems. These gaps often lead to workarounds, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities.

Custom Software = Real Business Value

Custom-built software is designed with your unique workflows, goals, and users in mind. It adapts to your processes — not the other way around. With a tailored solution, you gain:

Increased efficiency through automation and optimized processes

Scalability to grow without outgrowing your systems

Enhanced user experience for both customers and teams

Better security and control over your data and operations

Seamless integration with other tools you rely on

More importantly, custom solutions help you differentiate your business in a crowded market. Whether you're building a customer-facing platform, streamlining internal operations, or launching a new digital product — the right software can be a true growth engine.

When It’s Time to Build, Build It Right

Custom software isn’t just about code — it’s about engineering something that fits your vision and fuels your success. That’s why working with the right development partner is key.

At Globaldev, we specialize in crafting custom software solutions that align with your business strategy. From early-stage startups to global enterprises, our experienced team delivers high-quality, scalable, and future-ready products — designed to move your business forward.

Ready to build software that truly works for you? Our custom development team is here to help.

[globaldevblog]

Level Up Your Prototypes - A How-To Guide to Figma Variables

Hey design aficionados! Ever feel like your Figma prototypes are a bit... static? Want to inject more dynamism, more life into your user flows without getting bogged down in endless duplicated screens? Well, buckle up, buttercups, because Figma Variables are here to change the prototyping game. They're not just a fancy new feature; they're a fundamental shift towards smarter, more efficient, and ultimately more powerful interactive prototypes.

Think of variables as the secret sauce to creating prototypes that truly react to user input. Instead of manually linking every single state change, you can define dynamic values that update across your design based on user interactions. This means less tedious work for you and a more realistic, engaging experience for anyone testing your designs. Ready to dive in and unlock a new level of prototyping prowess? Let's get started!

Understanding the Basics: What Exactly Are Figma Variables?

At their core, Figma Variables allow you to define and manage reusable values across your design file. These values can represent anything from colors and numbers to strings of text and even boolean (true/false) states. The real magic happens when you connect these variables to your prototype interactions.

There are four main types of variables in Figma:

Color: Perfect for managing your brand palette and creating dynamic theme switching in your prototypes.

Number: Ideal for representing numerical values like quantities, prices, or even the progress of an animation.

String: Use these for dynamic text content, such as usernames, messages, or form input values.

Boolean: These are your on/off switches, perfect for toggling visibility, enabling/disabling features, or managing different states.

Step-by-Step: Implementing Variables in Your Prototypes

Okay, enough theory. Let's get our hands dirty and see how to actually use these bad boys.

Step 1: Creating Your Variables

First things first, you need to define the variables you want to use. Head over to the "Local Variables" panel (usually found in the left sidebar, or you can access it via the "View" menu). Click the "+" icon to create a new variable. You'll be prompted to choose the type of variable you want to create (Color, Number, String, or Boolean).

Give your variable a descriptive name (e.g., "primary-color," "item-count," "username," "is-modal-open"). This will make it much easier to manage them later. For Color variables, you'll select the initial color value. For Number variables, you'll set a starting number. For String variables, you'll enter initial text. And for Boolean variables, you'll set the initial state (True or False).

Step 2: Linking Variables to Design Elements

Now that you've created your variables, it's time to connect them to the elements in your design. Select the layer you want to make dynamic. In the right-hand Properties panel, you'll see a small "variable" icon next to properties that can be linked (like Fill color, Text content, Opacity, etc.). Click this icon and choose the variable you want to connect.

For example, if you created a "primary-color" variable, you can link it to the fill color of your primary button. If you have an "item-count" variable, you can link it to the text layer displaying the number of items in a cart. For a "is-modal-open" boolean, you can link it to the opacity or visibility of a modal group.

Step 3: Creating Interactive Prototypes with Variable Actions

This is where the real magic happens! In Prototype mode, when you define an interaction (like a button click), you now have a new action type available: "Set variable."

Select the interaction trigger (e.g., "On click"). In the Actions section, click the "+" icon and choose "Set variable." Here, you'll select the variable you want to modify and define the new value it should take based on the interaction.

Let's say you have an "item-count" number variable. When a user clicks an "Add to Cart" button, you can set the "item-count" variable to its current value + 1. This single action will automatically update any text layers linked to this variable across your entire prototype!

Similarly, if you have an "is-modal-open" boolean variable, clicking a button to open a modal would "Set variable" to True, and clicking a close button would "Set variable" to False. You can then link the opacity or visibility of the modal group to this boolean variable, creating a dynamic show/hide effect.

Examples in Action: Boosting Your Prototyping Efficiency

Let's look at some practical examples of how Figma Variables can supercharge your prototyping efficiency:

Dynamic Form Input: Instead of creating separate screens for each character typed in a form field, link a String variable to the text layer. On each "Key press" interaction, use the "Set variable" action to append the typed character to the variable.

Quantity Counters: For e-commerce prototypes, use a Number variable to track the quantity of items. Clicking "+" would increment the variable, and clicking "-" would decrement it, automatically updating the displayed quantity.

Theme Switching: Define Color variables for your light and dark modes. A toggle switch can then use a Boolean variable to determine which set of color variables is applied to your design elements.

Progress Indicators: Link a Number variable to the width or fill of a progress bar. User actions can then update this variable, visually showing the progress of a task.

Toggling Features: Use Boolean variables to enable or disable different features in your prototype based on user interactions or simulated settings.

The Benefits: Why Embrace Figma Variables?

Using Figma Variables for your interactive prototypes offers a plethora of advantages:

Increased Efficiency: Reduce the number of screens you need to create and manage, saving you valuable time and effort.

More Realistic Prototypes: Create more dynamic and engaging user experiences that better reflect the behavior of a real application.

Easier Iteration: Making changes to dynamic elements becomes much simpler. Update a variable once, and the changes propagate throughout your prototype.

Improved Collaboration: Variables provide a more structured and maintainable way to manage dynamic content, making it easier for teams to understand and work on prototypes.

Enhanced User Testing: More realistic prototypes lead to more insightful feedback during user testing sessions.

Getting Started and Further Exploration

If you're new to Figma Variables, start with simple use cases like dynamic button states or basic toggles. As you become more comfortable, you can explore more complex interactions and combine different variable types to create truly sophisticated prototypes.

Figma's own documentation and community resources are excellent places to delve deeper into the advanced capabilities of variables. Experiment, play around, and don't be afraid to break things! The more you explore, the more you'll discover the immense power and flexibility that Figma Variables bring to the world of UI/UX design tools.

So, ditch the static screens and embrace the dynamism of Figma Variables. It's time to level up your prototyping game and create truly smart, interactive experiences that will wow your clients and users alike. Happy prototyping!

[globaldevblog]

AI Avatar Development: Pros, Cons & Industry Use

AI Avatar Development: Real Innovation or Just Hype?

In today’s hyperconnected world, attention is currency. To stand out, brands can no longer settle for flashy features or surface-level engagement. They need to build meaningful, scalable, and personalized experiences. Enter AI avatars: digital humans that are revolutionizing communication by bringing lifelike presence to virtual interactions.

Imagine a team member who never takes a coffee break, speaks ten languages fluently, and delivers personalized service around the clock. That’s the promise of AI avatars. Whether acting as financial advisors, healthcare companions, virtual tutors, or tour guides, they’re reshaping how organizations support, educate, and engage with people across industries.

These avatars aren’t science fiction. They’re already hard at work in sectors like healthcare, HR, retail, and hospitality. In hospitals, they provide mental health support and streamline patient interactions. In retail, they help customers with personalized product recommendations and multilingual support. In HR, they manage onboarding and training with unmatched consistency.

But with growing popularity comes a bigger question: is this just a trend, or a real innovation with long-term value? The truth lies in the tech. Under the hood, not all avatars are built the same. Leading platforms like FBX Avatar, HeyGen, and NVIDIA ACE each offer different capabilities in terms of realism, scalability, and integration.

That’s where strategic choice becomes crucial. AI avatars may look similar, but choosing the right development or outsourcing partner can make or break your implementation. Globaldev specializes in guiding businesses through this landscape — helping clients not just follow the trend, but lead with the right solution tailored to their needs.

Read more - AI avatar software development

[globaldevblog]

AI Avatar Software Development: Choosing the Right Solution

AI Avatar Software Development: How to Choose the Right Solution for Your Business

In today’s hyperconnected world, building real connection at scale is one of the biggest challenges for businesses. How do you stand out, stay present, and deliver personalized experiences — all at once? Enter AI avatars: lifelike digital assistants that offer not just functionality, but presence.

From virtual healthcare consultations to 24/7 customer service and personalized product demos, AI avatars are redefining how companies interact with users. But with this new technology entering the mainstream, one question remains: how do you choose the right AI avatar platform for your goals?

Why AI Avatars Are More Than Just a Trend

AI avatars are no longer just a novelty. Businesses across industries — including healthcare, education, finance, and entertainment — are using them to scale operations, humanize digital experiences, and boost user engagement. They speak multiple languages, respond in real time, and adapt to context with emotional nuance. In short, they’re changing what users expect from digital interaction.

But not all AI avatar platforms are created equal. From scalability and realism to integration options and pricing, the solution you choose will directly impact performance, adoption, and ROI.

FBX Avatar, HeyGen, or NVIDIA ACE — Which One Fits?

To help you make a smart, strategic choice, we compared three leading AI avatar platforms:

FBX Avatar — known for flexibility and customization options

HeyGen — fast, user-friendly, and ideal for marketing and onboarding

NVIDIA ACE — high-fidelity realism, great for gaming and immersive applications

Each platform has its own strengths and limitations depending on your industry, team, and product vision. For example, if you need a fast MVP for multilingual customer service, HeyGen may be ideal. For high-end, real-time animation in virtual environments, NVIDIA ACE might be the way to go.

Our article breaks down what each platform offers — so you can align your technical choices with your business strategy from day one.

Ready to Bring AI Avatars Into Your Product?

Whether you’re building a virtual tutor, a sales assistant, or a healthcare companion, choosing the right AI avatar solution is the foundation of long-term success. At Globaldev, we help businesses navigate this emerging space with clarity and confidence. From custom development to seamless integration, we support every step of your AI avatar journey.

Let’s build your future AI solution — together.

[globaldevblog]

The Future of Software Testing: Current State, Emerging Trends, and New Directions

The Future of Software Testing: Trends, Challenges, and Smarter Strategies

Why Testing Matters More Than Ever

From mobile banking crashes to multimillion-dollar space missions gone wrong — software bugs have never been more expensive. A single flaw can lead to service outages, security breaches, and irreversible reputational damage. These aren’t just technical errors — they’re business risks.

As software becomes more complex and release cycles accelerate, a well-defined testing strategy is no longer optional. It’s a fundamental part of building resilient, user-friendly, and scalable products.

What’s Changing: New Trends in Software Testing

The world of quality assurance (QA) is evolving rapidly. Modern businesses are under constant pressure to deliver faster without compromising on quality. Enter Quality Assurance as a Service (QAaaS) — a model that’s transforming how companies approach software testing.

QAaaS fits seamlessly into today’s fast-paced development environments. It enables access to expert testers, cutting-edge tools, and scalable infrastructure — all without the overhead of building and managing an in-house QA team. For startups and enterprises alike, it’s becoming the go-to approach to reduce risk and ship with confidence.

But QAaaS is just one part of the picture. Emerging trends are reshaping the future of testing, including:

Test automation and AI-driven QA

Continuous testing within DevOps pipelines

Shift-left and shift-right testing strategies

Real-time user feedback loops and monitoring

Understanding and adopting these trends can give teams a competitive edge, reduce time to market, and improve product reliability.

Lessons from Failure: Why Testing Should Never Be an Afterthought

A botched app update. A crashed government site. A spacecraft destroyed over Mars. These high-profile failures all share one thing in common — poor or insufficient software testing.

Proper testing isn’t just about catching bugs. It’s about protecting your users, your reputation, and your bottom line. In a world where digital products are judged instantly, there’s no room for error.

The Takeaway: Build with Confidence

Want to build products that perform under pressure and earn lasting user trust? It all starts with a smarter, more strategic approach to quality assurance.

Read more - The future of software testing