enterprise application

enterprise application development

Definitive Guide to Enterprise Application Development

Over time, business grows, and you cannot handle it alone. There will be a time when you cannot control the number of tasks on your own, and thus could result in error or revenue loss. In such cases, a tool could be helpful for you to realign your business process and workflow. And one tool that would be really helpful is an enterprise application. Yet, enterprise application development could be more challenging than a regular app. Various steps and extensive features, like databases, security, and integration, must be included. And to help you with that, this article will tackle the fundamentals, benefits, and steps of enterprise application development. What is an Enterprise Application? An enterprise application is an application that a company or organization uses to carry out its daily tasks. It is an application usually designed for a specific industry with many features specific to that industry’s needs. They also typically have more robust security features than other types of applications. What are the types of Enterprise Applications? Enterprise Applications can take various forms, depending on their purposes, functionality, and architecture. Here’s a list of enterprise applications that most developers make for a company. 1.   Management enterprise apps One of the most famous enterprise applications is management enterprise. A company generally uses this type of enterprise application to automate department processes or operations that need extensive cooperation and coordination across the business. The most common type of management enterprise application is an ERP system. This app tracks the flow of goods and services through a company or organization. Other enterprise applications include CRM systems, which are used to track customer information, and HR systems, which are used to track employee information. 2.   Team collaboration software Another common type of enterprise application is collaboration software. Team collaboration software helps in easing communication between team members and also helps in project management. This software facilitates the process of sharing and updating information among team members. Team collaboration software is one of the best ways to increase employee productivity and efficiency. 3.   Data collection and analytics application Another popular enterprise application is analytic software. It is an application that processes data to conclude business decisions. This enterprise application is crucial for a company as it helps the management make better business decisions, spot opportunities, and avoid pitfalls. 4.   Storage enterprise application Storage is a critical component for companies. As such, storage application is necessary for companies because it provides space for storing data and information generated by the applications. Storage is also used to store data generated by users of the application, such as documents, images, videos, and other types of data. The storage infrastructure can be local or remote, depending on the type of application and how it is used. The storage infrastructure may be private or public, depending on the data that needs to be stored and how it will be accessed in the future.   Pros and Cons of Enterprise application development Many companies use enterprise applications for various reasons and many other benefits. For example, they can help the company keep track of their employees’ time and tasks, which allows them to manage their workforce more effectively. And while enterprise application development undoubtedly has benefits, it also has some drawbacks. Below are some advantages and disadvantages of an enterprise application to a business. Benefits of Enterprise Application Development 1. Optimise Business Processes The key benefit of enterprise application development is its ability to optimize business processes. Enterprise applications are used for customer service, sales and marketing, human resources, finance and accounting, supply chain management, and many more. 2. Automates Business Workflow Several enterprise applications automate business workflow. This can be done through AI, machine learning, and automation. The increased use of AI in enterprise applications can help businesses save time and money by automating customer support, marketing, and sales tasks. 3. Higher Efficiency and Productivity Enterprise applications can increase productivity in some ways. They can help you organize your work and make it easier to find what you need. They make it easy to collaborate with others and share files that you need for your projects. Drawbacks of Enterprise Application Development 1. Security of data can be an issue Security is probably one of the biggest challenges of enterprise application development. According to a study conducted by Cybersecurity Insider, about 44% of respondents said that protecting their data is one of the most extensive application security concerns. In this age where everyone uses the internet, application attacks are common, especially with businesses, as most applications hold essential business information or customer data. Likewise, organizations should continuously strengthen their security protocol when building enterprise applications. 2. Maintenance costs a lot The company needs to maintain the enterprise application in many different environments. It must be available for all the other users running it on different devices. The company should invest in data analytics and monitoring tools to help them identify and fix issues quickly. 3. Return on Investment (ROI) can be low Most advanced enterprise applications are dedicated to a company and its employees. Likewise, low to no ROI is common in enterprise application development. Applications take months and cost a lot to develop. As such, it’s important that when building an enterprise application, all essential data and requirements are thoroughly included. This is so the development team can create clear timelines and set priorities.   5 Steps in developing Enterprise application Many companies like having an in-house development team to build an enterprise application. However, the enterprise application development process is extensive. Developers should have adequate experience and knowledge to develop and maintain their infrastructure. So, if you want to ensure they are doing it right, here are some steps in developing an enterprise application. 1.   Collect business processes and cross-functional teams The first step in developing an enterprise application is collecting business processes. A business process is a set of actions that are carried out to achieve an objective. It is the sequence of tasks to

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enterprise application development challenges

Top 10 Challenges of Enterprise Application Development

1. Scaling Business and changing environment Business needs and the environment are constantly changing. It could be due to new technology, economic expansion, or simply providing new services. As such, company requirements vary too. You need to come up with new features that could work for everyone. As such, implementing new requirements and workflow is one of the top enterprise application development challenges that most developers face is the constant by developers. Enterprise software architecture is complex. And any attempt to make any changes needs to correlate with others. Likewise, you need to develop a scalable and flexible architecture. One solution to this is by using a modular architecture. Any changes made to a single module would not affect other modules and their function. It could help save time and prevent extended downtime in the company’s enterprise application. 2. Maximising ROI Low Return on Investment (ROI) is a significant enterprise application development challenge to companies. EA takes months and costs a lot to develop. As such, it’s essential to thoroughly plan the project workflow and ensure that all details and requirements are precise. Clear planning can help the development team predict the budget and completion time. It can prevent customers from running out of money before the project is finalized or releasing a product that does not meet all requirements. Thus, plan the development process clearly, set priorities, and regularly test to see if all parts and features are complete. 3. Security and control Cybersecurity threats are one of the most common enterprise application development challenges an organization faces. Security is essential in any application. It promotes software confidence and control to users and businesses alike. Similarly, enterprise software handles confidential data like business processes, trade secrets, customer information, and more. Likewise, a robust defense system including firewalls and encryptions should be in place at the network and host levels. You need to ensure that your enterprise applications cover all security vulnerabilities. In addition, regular vulnerability tests should be conducted in the software to see any vulnerabilities that hackers might take advantage of. Companies should also apply security patches regularly following the latest technology. 4. User-friendly interface When it comes to interface, one of the most common enterprise application development challenges is creating an interactive and user-friendly interface. Usually, the EA interface is cluttered with features that are not familiar to users. As such, most employees will have a hard time using it and eventually not use it at all. And this comes back to the developer if the prospective user does not find the application helpful or intuitive. Likewise, it’s important to always define the user experience in the application. Make sure that you focus on creating an interface that is functional and easy to use for ordinary users. Ensure that your software provides a good user experience and is fast and reliable. 5. Engaging and training staff Many companies forget that employees are the one who is going to use the enterprise application in the first place. They set up many features without qualms on the workers. As such, employees have no idea about their responsibilities or how to use the product. Likewise, the first step in training staff is to give them an overview of the software and its functionality. Next, show your employees how they can use the software in their day-to-day tasks. Lastly, provide them with a list of resources to learn more about using the software, such as tutorials and documentation. 6. Storing large amounts of data Another common enterprise application development challenge is storing large amounts of data. Since this application is used by companies that either handle global scale businesses or large customers, effectively managing big data is a challenge. A massive amount of data equates to a large data center, network, and storage costs. Moreover, it slows down the response rate of the database and loading time for the end-users. As such, it’s essential to constantly remind the organization and users to narrow down data sources. Remind them to delete inactive data. Likewise, you can also opt to avail of cloud-based storage or a third-party database management system. 7. Time and cost The enterprise application development process can be a long and costly oen. And it the methodology and approach are not transparent, it could take 5-6 months to develop. It is why businesses need to have a plan before developing their application. Determining what kind of app you need will save you time and money in the long run because you will know exactly what your needs are and what features you need to achieve. In addition, always look at other options that can reduce the development cost and time. Using technologies like cloud computing, DevOps, and such can help you minimize the price in the long run. 8. Upgrading your legacy software One of the challenges faced during enterprise development is upgrading legacy software. Some companies like to maintain their legacy enterprise software. However, most outdated software has issues integrating with other systems and does not comply with company or government standards. It’s much harder to maintain and often crashes. As such, it is challenging to implement new features and functionality. The legacy software needs to be analyzed first before deciding on the upgrade path. The decision should consider factors, such as the size of the team or the complexity of the application. In addition, it’s essential to have a well-thought architecture and standard application programming languages that allow scalability and upgrades after the development. 9. Maintenance Maintainability is as crucial as making the Enterprise Application. However, maintainability should not always be an issue. Your enterprise software should be open to new environments and new requirements. Using modular architecture in your enterprise application helps make maintenance tasks more manageable. The modular architecture makes it easier to manage and make changes in the software. 10. Third-Party System Integration Another prevalent enterprise application development challenge many companies face is integrating various programs. Companies develop enterprise applications to centralize all business

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