appstem

[appstem]

Congrats to Appstem Client, Actelion on being acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $30B

Congratulations to Appstem client Actelion Pharmaceuticals on being acquired for $30 Billion by Johnson & Johnson (who also happens to be an Appstem client). 

Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest health care company, has moved to bolster its roster of treatments for rare diseases, announcing a $30 billion deal on Thursday to acquire Actelion, a Swiss biotechnology firm.

Appstem is currently working with Actelion to design and development enterprise mobile apps for their sales and marketing teams. 

Appstem is a leading design and development firm that specializes in mobile, web, and backend solutions. Over our seven-year history we’ve created mobile and web apps for leading health care companies including Johnson & Johnson, Actelion, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, Cambia Health, UCSF,  Cerner, ACON Laboratories, as well as numerous start-ups. 

For more information about the announcement go here

For more information about Appstem visit our website here or call 415.956.7400

[appstem]

Appstem client, EmployeeChannel Raises $5M

Appstem is proud to announce that one of our clients; EmployeeChannel (formerly known as Navera) has secured $5M in Series A funding. The EmployeeChannel product team launched a new business initiative in the fall of 2015 to build a best-in-class mobile app that would provide a dedicated channel for organizations to more effectively engage with their employees.    The app was first released in the spring of 2016.

The app enables HR and Internal Communication teams to boost the impact and effectiveness of employee communication.  Employees can find and receive organizational information easier and faster, get personalized responses to requests and quick reaction to time-sensitive events.

The EmployeeChannel team worked closely with Appstem to develop the app for iOS and Android and continue to support ongoing enhancements.

Appstem is a leading design and development firm that specializes in mobile, web, and backend solutions. Over our seven-year history we’ve created hundreds of mobile apps for some of the largest companies and most recognizable brands in the world including Tesla, Kaiser, Hearst as well as numerous start-ups.

For more information about EmployeeChannel go here

For more information about Appstem visit our website here or call 415.956.7400

[appstem]

3 reasons why you should stop by the Appstem booth at HIMSS17

As proud HIMSS members we’re excited to be exhibiting at their annual conference again this year in Orlando Florida. Here are 3 reasons why you should swing by our booth (#1686): 

1. See the mobile and web products we’ve created for leading healthcare organizations like Kaiser Permanente, Cerner, UCSF, and Genentech.

2. See how we’re tackling complex healthcare issues like interoperability, tele-health, and security.

3. See all of the wearable medical and fitness devices we’ve integrated with as part of the internet of things (IoT) revolution. 

About the conference:

The 2017 HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition, February 19–23, 2017 in Orlando, brings together 40,000+ health IT professionals, clinicians, executives and vendors from around the world. Exceptional education, world-class speakers, cutting-edge health IT products and powerful networking are hallmarks of this industry-leading conference. More than 300 education programs feature keynotes, thought leader sessions, roundtable discussions and workshops, plus a full day of preconference symposia.

For more information or to register visit: http://www.himssconference.org

About Appstem:

Appstem is a award winning design and development firm that helps leading healthcare companies create innovative web and mobile solutions. We do everything from digital strategy, UI/UX design, front-end and backend development, QA Testing, and ongoing support. 

Some of our clients include Kaiser Permanente, Cerner Corporation, UCSF, Genentech, San Francisco General Hospital, Cerner Corporation, OpenTreatment, Cambia Health, ACON Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson , Navera, Striiv, Medigram, Orthopedic Specialist of North County, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, and UC Davis Department of Psychiatry.    

For more information visit: http://www.appstem.com

Appstem - Booth #1686

657 Mission St. Suite 402

San Francisco, CA 94105

www.appstem.com

Contact:

John Mavraides, VP of Business Development

john.mavraides@appstem.com

415.956.7400

[appstem]

Appstem Receives 2016 San Francisco Award for Software Development

Appstem Receives 2016 San Francisco Award

San Francisco Award Program Honors the Achievement

SAN FRANCISCO October 21, 2016 -- Appstem has been selected for the 2016 San Francisco Award in the Software Company category by the San Francisco Award Program.

Each year, the San Francisco Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the San Francisco area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2016 San Francisco Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the San Francisco Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About San Francisco Award Program

The San Francisco Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the San Francisco area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The San Francisco Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

[appstem]

Playing with FHIR

The JP Morgan Healthcare conference descended on San Francisco last week along with severe rainstorms that helped to end California’s drought but drenched a lot of attendees running frantically from hotel to hotel.

Despite the inclement weather, an estimated 30,000 people were in town to learn about the major trends for the healthcare industry in 2017.

One of the main themes of the conference was how to improve patient engagement and care accessibility by leveraging technology.    There were examples of how tele-health expands a patient’s choice on when and how they receive care and how mobile devices provide an “always-on” communication channel between patients and their care providers.

Technology is proving to be a vital component for a successful disruption of the healthcare industry and I believe that a lot of this innovation will come from start-ups that can approach problems with a fresh perspective.  However, they will still need access to the existing healthcare system in order to gain any traction.

This brings me to the new FHIR standard.

FHIR stands for Fast Health # Resources (pronounced “fire”) and it was created by Health Level Seven International (HL7).

The goal is to provide the industry with an Application Programming Interface “API” for exchanging Electronic Health Records “EHR”.   To write this in one, acronym-laden sentence – FHIR, created by HL7 is an open API for EHR.  Pretty impressive if I have to say so myself.

Here at Appstem, we have started dipping our toes in the sand and working in FHIR sandboxes created by Epic, Cerner and AllScripts and our initial reaction is positive.  We found that this HL7 version is easier to work with because it uses a modern, web-based suite of API technologies including an HTTP-based RESTful protocol, HTML and Cascading Style Sheets for user interface and JSON or XML for exchanging data.

In addition, each basic element of healthcare like patients, admissions, diagnostic reports and medications are accessed via their own resource URL.   This allows the data to stay in its own silo while sitting on top of a super-fast highway with easy to understand road signs.

Let us know if you’re thinking of creating a mobile application that integrates with FHIR.   We’re already enjoying our time in the FHIR sandbox but it’s always more fun with others.

[appstem]

We’re a featured Partner at The Health 2.0 WinterTech Conference

Appstem is excited to be a featured partner at the Health 2.0 WinterTech Conference next month. The event is being held January 11th in San Francisco at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. 

Health 2.0 WinterTech will be held during the nation's leading investment mecca, JP Morgan Week in San Francisco. WinterTech is the place for insider insights on investing trends in health care technology. By bringing together top tech companies, VCs, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and more, the third annual event will highlight the new and unique opportunities available in the fast-rising digital health landscape. 

Appstem will be exhibiting at the conference, please swing by to say hello and hear how we’re helping startups and leading healthcare companies with their mobile and web projects. 

For more information or to register visit: https://events.bizzabo.com/wintertech2017/

Appstem

657 Mission St. Suite 402

San Francisco, CA 94105

www.appstem.com

Contact:

John Mavraides, VP of Business Development

john.mavraides@appstem.com

415.956.7400

[appstem]

The New Revisions to the ISO 13485 Standard

We recently attended a presentation about the new revisions to the ISO 13485 standard. This is the first major upgrade since 2003 and the requirements go into effect in 2019.

The event was held at Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) on the campus of UMass in Lowell. M2D2 serves as an incubator for smaller medical device companies and provides affordable access to lab space and engineering and research facilities.

The biggest change is a shift to a more “risk based approach” to your Quality Management System (QMS). Even though risk has always been an implicit consideration for previous ISO standards, it was mainly focused in Section 7 for product realization. Now, you’re expected to apply risk management methods and techniques to all QMS processes, including outsourcing.

As stated in Section 4 of the new ISO document, companies are new required to apply a risk-based approach to: • Control of QMS processes • Control of external party processes • Validation of QMS software

Other changes include: • Alignment of global regulatory requirements • Additional requirements and clarity with regard to validation, verification and design activities • Strengthening of supplier control processes • Increased focus regarding feedback mechanisms • More explicit requirements for software validation for different applications

The new software validation requirements cover software used in your QMS process as well as software used in production and service provision. In addition, you will need to validate the software before use, and as appropriate, after changes to the software or application.

Section 7.5.6 specifically states, “Ensure that validation and revalidation are proportionate to the risk of using the software, including the effect on the ability of the product to conform to specifications.”

The good news is that there is a section of the new requirements document that highlights the changes from ISO 13485:2003 to ISO 13485:2016. If you’ve been good about maintaining your compliance procedures you should be in good shape.

Appstem is exhibiting at the following healthcare conferences. If you’ll be attending please stop by and say hello.

HIMSS Connected Health http://www.himss.org/event/connected-health-conference December 11-14, 2016 Washington DC Booth 417

Health 2.0 WinterTech http://www.health2con.com/ticket/wintertech2017/ January 11, 2017 San Francisco, CA

HIMSS Annual Conference http://www.eventsinamerica.com/events/himss-annual-conference-exhibition-2017-healthcare-information-management-systems-society/ev53c97d7da3135/#.WEg-0KIrL_8 February 19-23, 2017 Orlando, FL

[appstem]

Come see us at the Connected Health Conference

Appstem is excited to be exhibiting at The 8th annual Connected Health Conference (formerly the mHealth Summit) in Washington DC (December 11-14).

The Connected Health Conference is the largest and most diverse gathering of health and technology industry leaders working at the intersection of innovative product and service development, research, business and policy throughout the world. Building thought leadership across the ecosystem, this year's Conference focuses on an increasingly consumer-centered, technology-enabled and collaborative approach to improving health. 

Be sure to swing by our booth or reach out to Appstem to see how we’ve been helping heath and wellness companies go mobile.

Hear why leading healthcare companies like Kaiser Permanente, UCSF, Cerner, Genentech, and Johnson and Johnson partner with Appstem for their mobile and web initiatives.  

Come see us at Booth #417

For more information or to register: http://www.pchaconference.org

Appstem

657 Mission St. Suite 402

San Francisco, CA 94105

www.appstem.com

Contact:

John Mavraides, VP of Business Development

john.mavraides@appstem.com

415.956.7400

[appstem]

Senate Blowback Challenges Legalities of Telemedicine Mobile App

With astonishing new applications being developed every day, mobile apps are changing the world we live in. Telemedicine and telehealth apps, in particular, are no different. Even though such apps boast incredible potential to analyze data, save time, and provide patient diagnosis from anywhere, growing pains are inevitable. Serious questions arising from the new found mobility of medical services caused a recent Senate bill, known as Defense authorization bill (S-2943), to face opposition.

One provision in the bill, which bases reimbursement and liability on the location of the provider, caused the Senate to fear a scenario under which state licensing boards would lack the authority to discipline physicians practicing medicine outside state borders. Given what mobile medical apps are largely designed to do, a scenario like this is easy to imagine.

In addition to out-of-state physicians potentially circumventing accountability, the American Medical Association (AMA) contends that removing such an essential, protective mechanism will diminish acceptable standards of care while creating the need for a “national medical license”. Understandably, doctor groups have opposed such arrangements, saying they undermine medical licensure.

Even though barriers like this would seem to stand in the way of subsequent telemedicine and telehealth app innovation, this provision is not being viewed as insurmountable by either side. In fact, the bill eventually passed in the Senate, with the subsection included, but the House sent it back with an amendment removing most of the telemedicine language.

In spite of such relatively minor setbacks, mobile app innovation is ramping up all over the healthcare industry. With the help of San Francisco based mobile app maker Appstem, even traditional companies like Kaiser Permanente have launched mobile apps that allow on the go, health plan members to easily schedule appointments, send and receive secure messaging, refill prescriptions, access medical records, and locate Kaiser Permanente medical facilities.  

These new breed of apps—and app makers like Appstem—are doing their part to overcome the inevitable growing pains sure to occur as the healthcare industry moves toward the latest in mobile app technology.

[appstem]

Groundbreaking Apps: How 3 Companies Have Nailed It

As the mobile age evolves, apps are becoming an indispensable part of the smartphone experience as well as a yardstick by which many businesses are measured. From on premise sales support to clothing organizers for travel, it’s not only where business gets done, but where business defining experiences are created for customers and employees alike.

From long standing, global brands to ambitious startups, having an original, dynamic, polished app is what companies should be aiming for. Appstem customers approach the design, function, and purpose of their app with a unique vision and sense of possibility. In other words, they’re doing it the right way.  

Named one of Forbes Most Innovative Companies, Tesla’s belief in doing new things, while redefining how cars should be manufactured and sold, makes them far more than just another car company. Their iPad app is one example. It’s a key sales tool designed for internal teams as a central repository for Tesla videos, photos, and documentation, plus, with a swipe of the driver’s license, it automatically captures test drive information and transfers it to Salesforce. Because of the app, product specialists and marketing personnel are creating engaging, personalized, and intuitive sales experiences that consistently “wow” their customers.    

Fresh off a $5.3-million-dollar round of funding, a luggage app for frequent business travelers called Dufl is seeing thousands adopting their new service. Their trailblazing app supports virtual closets where photographed items are stored so they can be easily selected, dry cleaned, and shipped to a traveler’s final destination. With the app, the burden of packing and the extra time it takes to carry and check numerous pieces of luggage is reduced.

Receiving the Gold Award in HR at the 2016 Golden Bridge Awards, Navera’s employee communications app continues to set a new standard. The app is designed to respond with personal, real-time answers and information to various employee requests the instant they are asked. While collecting requests, it uses analytics to capture communication trends regarding employee use, enabling organizations to make data-driven decisions. The app delivers ideal interactions and provides the type of immediate value that connects, engages, and empowers employees.  

As apps for companies like these continue to break new ground, the landscape of what an app can do is changing. Appstem is constantly pushed to stay ahead of the curve. More than simply an app developer, they use their experience working with so many types of companies to help each new customer’s vision become reality – the result, an effective, successful app.        

[appstem]

iPhone 7 Rumors: 3 Features we think we know

The iPhone rumor mill is in full swing and already the vaunted “journalists" of the tech industry agree that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6 killer, known as the iPhone 7, will be the worst phone since the iPhone 5. Here’s what we think we know.

 The iPhone 7 Plus will have two rear-facing cameras

Amazing. Apple, you’ve done it again. Two rear-facing cameras that will merge two images into one image? This is revolutionary stuff. Why use one camera to take one picture, when you can use two cameras to take one picture? Our only question, dear Apple: Why stop at two cameras? Why not go straight to three cameras, or perhaps even five cameras? There’s no telling how great a photo would be if it was created with five rear-facing cameras. Alas, we’ll have to make due with only two cameras, at least until the arrival of the unannounced iPhone 8s Plus B II.

 Revolutionary Pressure Sensitive Home Button

Think different is Apple’s motto, and they are really putting their money where their mouth holes are with this new feature: a radically redesigned home button. This is what we’ve all been waiting for. How many times have you pushed down the home button in previous iPhones and it just worked perfectly? Every time? Us too. But now, according to vaunted tech “journalists,” when you depress the new pressure-sensitive home button with haptic feedback, it will also take you to the home screen. Amazing! This new home button is exactly what the world didn’t know it really needs.

 No Headphone Jack

If there’s one thing we know from watching thousands of commuters in San Francisco with Apple ear buds shoved in their ears, it’s that we obviously love listening to music on our phones. Perhaps this is why Apple is removing the headphone jack completely, so you can plug in your favorite headphones to an adapter that slips clumsily into the charging connector. Or you could just drop a couple Benjamin Franklins on new fancy schmancy wireless headphones! Apple knows your favorite $10 ear buds are a drain on the economy, and by golly, they are going to do something about it.  

[appstem]

Appstem at Health 2.0 10th Annual Fall Conference

Appstem is excited to be exhibiting at the Annual Health 2.0 Conference in Santa Clara, CA (September 25-28). Health 2.0 is the best place to see cutting-edge innovation that’s currently transforming health and health care.

 Be sure to swing by our booth or reach out to Appstem to see how we’ve been helping heath and wellness companies go mobile.

 Hear why leading healthcare companies like Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco General Hospital, Cerner Corporation, Genentech, and Johnson and Johnson partner with Appstem for their mobile and web initiatives.  

Come see us at Booth #317

 For more information or to register: http://www.health2con.com/events/conferences/health-2-0-10th-annual-fall-conference-2-2/

 Appstem

657 Mission St. Suite 402

San Francisco, CA 94105

www.appstem.com

 Contact:

John Mavraides, VP of Business Development

john.mavraides@appstem.com

415.956.7400

[appstem]

WWDC 2016: Our Takeaways From Apple's Annual Developer Conference

Live from Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference

Rejoice, third-party app developers! This week at Apple’s annual World Wide Developer Conference, Apple unveiled iOS 10, the latest installment of the mobile operating system that powers all things iPhone/Pad/Pod. The big news: Apple has opened up iOS 10 to third-party developers, giving them unprecedented access to Siri, Messages, Maps, and the Phone itself, a stab at crowd-sourced innovation. Anything wrong with that? As app developers in sunny San Francisco, we love it.   

For years now there has been a sense of diminishing returns with each annual iOS upgrade, more a series of micro-refinements than revolutionary overhaul. It seems that every year on stage, Apple demonstrates a new way to use an iPhone to buy movie tickets. It’s clearly Apple’s favorite feature: “Siri, what movies are playing nearby? Oh look, you can seen showtimes and theaters and even watch the trailer, right here from iPhone.” [Cue overly enthusiastic applause from Apple employees in crowd.]

With updated APIs, you’ll be able to use Siri to call a car on Lyft or make reservations on Open Table directly from Apple Maps. The only problem is you will have to use Apple Maps. That said, the possibilities are endless for developers, especially for Siri integration, which apps need most of all. While Google and Amazon are developing artificial intelligence that knows what you want right now, Apple is hoping third-party developers will fill the innovation gap until Siri becomes self aware and runs for political office in 2020.

Of course, Apple’s key differentiator hasn’t been the iPhone for years now. It’s been the App Store. Playing to the strengths of the development community is a genius move as the big apps add functionality on iOS you won’t see on Android. If Facebook and Twitter and SnapChat and the rest of the big boys have the best experience on iOS, well, sorry Samsung Galaxy. Hardware is only as good as software. The door is open here for app developers to create apps so integrated into the iOS experience that they feel like they were built by Apple itself. This is exactly what Apple wants. 130 billion app downloads and counting.

Some caveats. According to CNET, “Only apps for audio/video calling, messaging, payments, photo searches, workouts and ride booking will work with Siri, and Maps appears to support only ride booking and restaurant reservations.”

But the door has been cracked open, and its up to developers to step through. "Successful developers translates to having the best apps on our platform for users," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "You are part of everything that we do and everything that we will do going forward.”

See you next year.

[appstem]

Appstem’s Top 6 Takeaways from Google I/O

Google I/O: mobile comes home 

Today at Google’s annual I/O developer conference, the search-giant unveiled everything but the kitchen sink, though, knowing Google, they probably have a kitchen sink app in the works as we speak. Google Home, Android N, Google Assistant, Google Daydream, and Android Wear — it’s all here. Let’s dive in.

Google Home 

Amazon scored a hit with Echo, the voice-activated music player that can also tell you the weather when looking out the window becomes too difficult. But Google has had its eye on the home for a long time after gobbling up Nest, and its new Google Home portable speaker can answer your deep questions about life, control your connected lights and thermostat, as well as play music and spew weather updates. Meanwhile, you’ll one day be able to book a car, order dinner, and send flowers to your loved ones, because you care. With all Google does already, it’s hard to see the Echo dominating the home-speaker-always-listening-to-everything-you-say market for much longer.

Google Assistant

Voice search is all the rage, and one day your kids will laugh at you for ever typing questions into your phone. By then we’ll all be living in the Matrix anyway, so the point may be moot. Before the machines take over, the new Google Assistant aims to make your voice queries conversational, thanks to Google’s advances in natural language processing. Go ahead and ask the Assistant for movie recommendations or how to stave off the coming cyborg invasion, and Assistant will be there.

Android N

Sweet, gooey Nutella: giving Italians diabetes for decades now. The new mobile OS from Google, as previewed two months ago, introduces Vulkan graphics API, file-based encryption, auto updates, SafetyNet which monitors malicious app behavior, a new app switcher, and more multitasking. Android N will also boast a virtual reality mode, taking aim at the Samsung Gear VR, which brings us to…

Daydream

Google’s naming department may have taken a break on Google Assistant and Google Home, but they pulled out all the stops for “Daydream,” the new virtual reality platform for VR-enabled phones. Whereas the Gear VR is a Samsung-only device, the upcoming Google VR headset, the next evolution of Google Cardboard, will most likely be supported by all upcoming Nexus phones and flagship Android phones, we’re guessing. Because when real life gets too tough, you can always slip into a daydream.

Android Wear  

The smartwatch hasn’t exactly taken off, probably because you still need a phone to use one and even Dick Tracy thinks they are a hassle. Google is taking the next step. “As long as your watch has a WiFi, Bluetooth or cellular connection, you’ll be able to make calls, send messages or launch Spotify,” said David Singleton, Google VP of engineering. Thanks Dave. That’s exactly what we wanted in the first place.

Allo and Duo

Finally, Google unveiled not one but two new apps. First, Allo, a “smart-messaging” app with smart reply build in so you don’t even have to think before you answer. It already knows if you are an LOL or a HaHa type of texter. Also, if you receive a picture of, say, tacos from a friend, Allo will automatically suggest the reply, “I love tacos.” This is GROUNDBREAKING.

Meanwhile, Google wanted its own Facetime, but one that works on cellular or WiFi, fast or slow. Enter Duo, which introduces a Knock Knock feature, so when you receive a Duo call, you can see live video of the caller before you answer. No one makes phone calls anymore, but video chat is increasingly becoming the way to call you parents on their birthdays.

[appstem]

Large tech companies see the workplace as a huge growth sector

The next big market for apps: the workplace?

This is not a secret: Apple dominates the US consumer market. Odds are you probably interact with an Apple device at some point during your average day. That could be swiping furiously on Tinder on your iPhone, or penning your manifesto on a Macbook Air at an overpriced coffee house. You might swipe your credit card through an iPad at your favorite sushi burrito food truck (though, to be fair, the six other sushi burrito food trucks in the area accept mobile payments too.) Or maybe you are just one of those weirdos who use Apple Watch to text their heartbeat to ex-girlfriends. If you’re reading this Chad, please, no more.

The point is, Apple is everywhere. And after the partnership APPL announced this week with SAP, they are about to be even more everywhere. That’s right. Apple is coming to the workplace. And the answer to your question is no, no one knows what SAP stands for. It’s a mystery.

The press release said the partnership between Apple and SAP, the German software firm, will “revolutionize the mobile work experience for enterprise customers,” and we all know press releases are documents of fact. Prepare. The revolution is officially at hand. "With 76 percent of business transactions touching an SAP system, SAP is the ideal partner to help us truly transform how businesses around the world are run on iPhone and iPad," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, known to his friends as “T-Bone.”

We, as mobile app developers here in sunny San Francisco, couldn’t be happier. We say it’s about time. In fact, Apple needs to be in the workplace, or “enterprise” if you prefer, a market traditionally dominated by Microsoft. Can you believe the world really once ran on Windows? Windows? It’s because of Windows your mother calls you at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning to ask you where they moved the start button because she needs to get the bake sale bulletin out and the start button was here yesterday, she didn’t touch a thing, she swears, and since she has you on the line how do you make a new folder, what’s this button do, why don’t you ever call, and don’t forget to mow the lawn. Thanks Windows.

Or maybe you’re simply tired of carrying around a Blackberry solely for work emails, which takes up precious pocket space alongside your personal iPhone which you use for music, maps, and, of course, email. You can’t help but feel a touch of sorrow looking at the poor Blackberry next to Apple’s sleek, shiny rectangle. It’s hard to believe Blackberry used to be the entire mobile market. The thing looks like a miniature antique typewriter. Children of future generations will look at the Blackberry and shake their heads in wonder before asking, “What are all those buttons for?”

In any case, having dedicated enterprise apps on your iPhone and iPad is going to make a lot of lives a little easier. That’s what Apple products do: they make tech easy and accessible, for the most part. Who among us hasn’t thrown up our hands in front of a blank, blue Windows monitor in our cubicle and screamed, “Why can’t we just do this on our iPhone?” before slamming Control, Alt, Delete in a fit of first-world rage?

Naturally, Apple sees the Workplace as a huge growth sector. They’ve already inked partnerships with IBM and Cisco, and some important internet people think Oracle could be next. In short, this means more enterprise apps on iOS, be it CRM, ERP, BI, BCP, EAI, or some other hallowed combination of letters. This also means enhanced security features, like Touch ID fingerprint reader, for example. Soon filing your TPS reports could be as easy as swiping right on Tinder.

Enterprise has surprisingly lagged behind when it comes to mobile. Today, some poor sap starting a new job will be handed a Blackberry by a wild-eyed IT manager wearing a Star Wars T-Shirt. This is a mathematical certainty. Thanks to Apple and deals like this, those times are a changing.

[appstem]

The pros and cons of developing your own application

To develop your app in-house or to outsource. That is a question.

You want a mobile app. Nay, you need a mobile app. We don’t need to go too deep into the reasons why — because people would rather do business with you over their shiny new phones than Yahoo search you over a 56k modem. Remember Yahoo? A moment of silent remembrance, please.

Now, it’s time. You’ve decided you need to develop an app. One of the first questions you will ask, after “What will my app do that echoes through the halls of eternity long after the reign of Google?” — right after that question, obviously, you will most likely ask, “Well who’s gonna build the thing?”

Will you develop in-house? Or will you outsource. That is a question.

Benefits of in-house? There are many. You oversee every development step from the beginning. You can recruit and hire your own team. There is transparency. In short: it’s your baby.

Any potential downside? First, you oversee every development step from the beginning. That’s a lot of code. Hiring and training a development team is a large startup cost — it could prove problematic if time is an issue and your boss is demanding you up your Q1 numbers and it’s already Q3, buddy. Also, don’t forget to add in extra costs like software licenses and certificates.

Benefits of outsourcing? Costs less than training a development team, unless you snap up some high school wiz kid Doogie Howser type. It’s a possibility, and but you might not want you business plan to depend on that. Doogies don’t grow on trees. Meanwhile, the cost and delivery of the project are fixed up front. Simply place your order and await delivery. Finally, you don’t go to a Chinese restaurant and order pizza. You order the Chinese food (also known as “food” if you are located in China). Similarly, this is the expertise app developers bring. This is what they are good at. This is what they do.

Downsides of outsourcing? Lack of transparency. Some developers may even call in a third-party offshore developer and contract some of the work for pennies on the dollar, because NAFTA made them do it. Similarly, you may hire an offshore agency out of the box to save some bucks up front, which might sacrifice quality in addition to easily-scheduled conference calls. Fact: it’s always 4 a.m. in Singapore. Moreover, you have less control over your developer than you would have over your own in-house team. Finally, you might get billed hourly. Like a law firm. And there’s no need to bring lawyers into this, is there?

If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a third option. Download some app development software and make it yourself! There’s a ton of free app maker templates out there, and some of them are pretty good. That’s how we originally got into making apps at Appstem. Tinkering. Having a little fun. Seeing what this iPhone thing can do. Years later, we still love making apps. That’s what we do.

You see e-commerce numbers flying off the charts on iTunes that gives you music, movies, restaurant reviews, and angry birds and you already know why. You think back to last record company “Hey, maybe it’s time we look into these compact discs. There could be a future in these.”

Not wanting to be like the last record company, you google mobile app development. A question quickly arises: Will you build your app in-house or outsource? In this day and age, building the app yourself is not out of the question. There are numerous tools available.

In-House App Development Advantages:

It brings in transparency in operations during the development process. You can choose for quality developers at affordable prices. It offers total control over the development project. Lots of options are made available while selecting the latest technology. 

In-House App Development Disadvantages:

Starting costs are very high, especially to set up infrastructure. Certificates and licenses that are necessary for buying app codes and software tools are obtained after paying exorbitant fee. There is risk of running additional costs, if your developers get stuck mid-way and external consultants have to be roped in.

[appstem]

The top three reasons why you should partner with a boutique design and development firm

Small is the new big. Why big brands choose small developers for mobile apps

When you’re a “Big Brand” ready to launch your mobile app, it’s easy to get tripped up. Sometimes by “We’ve never done that before” — other times by “that’s just not how we do things in these parts.” That’s why Big Brands are looking increasingly to small developers to create their mobile apps. Small developers bring fresh perspective, focused expertise, and allow Big Brand project managers to take all the credit.

Small developers are built for small projects

These days, big brands do a lot of their own work in-house so they can move quickly, be it in social media or more targeted campaigns. They need an app developer who can keep up, prototype apps on the fly. Smaller developers are experts in project-scoping and management, so projects come in on deadline and on budget. Meanwhile, big brands don’t have to spend time hiring and training.

This is what app developers are best at

We are all specialists. Tesla does Teslas. Gold’s Gym does gyms. Kaiser Permanente does healthcare. App developers already know what basic functionality a big brand is going to need, and they bring with them bonus ideas learned from previous work in other sectors. Because even though Tesla does Teslas and Gold’s does gyms, the app developer has learned what works best for one, the other, or both. That way Tesla can focus on sweet rides with falcon wing doors.

App developers have real perspective

Pardon our French, but we think it’s good to “think outside the box.” That’s because small app developers are outside the box. They dip their feet into world-class campaigns around the globe. They see more, and are continually learning from brands that operate in completely different sectors. They know what’s worked elsewhere, and what might work for you. That’s perspective. That’s insight. And that’s valuable.