Best AI Cross-platform Development Frameworks

It’s a lot more than task automation with AI in cross-platform development. For the frameworks that leverage it, developers can develop versatile - efficient applications. The popularity of cross-platform app development stems from its unique advantages. As its influence grows, so do tools and frameworks for cross-platform development in the market. This surge initially happened gradually and then suddenly, tons of mobile app development companies became eager to explore what it could do for them. 

The Trajectory of Cross-Platform Apps

Internet service started in the 1980s. Back then, you needed a PC to access the web. But as technology developed, mobility became one of the most important aspects of the user experience. Users started to experience the temptation to use the internet while on the go. This impulse was increased by the introduction of smartphones and tablets in 2012. Today, your phone provides 100x the experience a PC would have back then.

According to Statista's analysis of internet accessibility, mobile users account for more than 55% of all online traffic. This information was sufficient to support a change in the way native mobile apps are developed. Mobile app development and mobile apps started to take precedence over other factors. The original response was to create distinct desktop and mobile applications. However, it didn't take long for developers to realize that this approach was not only lengthy but also expensive. As a result, cross-platform app development gained momentum.

Enter AI

AI’s role in cross-platform development frameworks is consistent when it comes to developing apps and optimizing their performance. But the true potential of AI becomes most apparent when it's integrated into the development cycle. AI in cross-platform development isn't just about keeping up with the trend; it's about pushing the boundaries of what's achievable. In the development cycle, AI does a few things; fine-tunes algorithms, automates coding tasks, predicts user behavior, analyzes data, and personalizes the user experience.

To get the most out of these features, developers need the right framework and AI/ML expertise. With that said, here are some ideal options:

For integrating AI:

TensorFlow: Best suited for tasks like image or speech recognition, natural language processing, and more complex AI tasks.

PyTorch: Ideal for developing AI-driven features within cross-platform apps. Its got a dynamic computation graph and user-friendly interface which is best for tasks demanding neural network implementation.

Keras: A high-level neural networks API that simplifies AI model integration. Great for tasks like image classification, text generation, and recommendation systems.

For Cross-Platform Development with AI:

React Native: Excellent for delivering consistent, AI-enhanced user experiences across iOS, Android, and the web.

Flutter: Offers a single codebase approach and customizable UI components, which is ideal for creating visually appealing, AI-powered cross-platform apps that prioritize performance.

Xamarin: Focuses on code reusability and allows AI functionalities in cross-platform apps. Good for developers with C# skills aiming for a smooth development experience.

For User-Friendly AI Integration:

Ionic: Great for creating aesthetic mobile apps with integrated AI features for iOS and Android.

Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile: Facilitates code sharing across iOS and Android platforms, great for tasks requiring consistent AI features across devices with native-like performance.

The Age of Personalization

Many brands struggle with personalized customer experiences, which was evident in a Gartner report that revealed the struggle in 63% of digital marketing teams. Interestingly enough, less than 20% of them have used AI or ML throughout their operations.

What machine learning does in the context of cross-platform development is make software that not only accommodates user choices but also adapts to and picks up on user behaviour. Machine learning makes judgements based on data analysis. It anticipates user behaviour and fine-tunes algorithms to maintain a customized user experience. 

Again, tools like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Keras are great because they enable features like natural language processing and predictive analytics. These technologies allow programmers to produce dynamic and adaptable applications that take into account user preferences and actions, ushering in a new era in which software not only meets user demands but also develops along with them. Machine learning is the future of cross-platform development, its ability to completely change the user experience is enough to lock that claim in for most developers.

Moving Forward

This year, mobile apps are projected to do almost a trillion dollars in revenue. With that in mind, it begs the question; What frameworks should you choose? The simple reply is that it depends on the company and the functional specifications of the app. If you want the best advice, reach out to a qualified and reputable provider who will not only put you on a path to success but also limit the headaches of getting started.

Written By Ben Brown

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ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

What Software Engineering in Finance is Like in 2023

We talk a lot about software development in the financial world, and for good reason— this is a hot-button topic that needs attention. Financial services are data intensive and heavily rely on the analysis and interpretation of that data. This can include (but is not limited to) interest rates, stocks, income/cash flow statements, and balance sheets. 

It can be a lot to take in when looking at how IT brings innovation to an organization; in this article, we’re going to break it down simply. We will look at why software engineering is so important in the financial industry and some examples of what businesses should look out for to ensure they have the best possible team leading their digital transformation journey.

Every financial firm will have its unique requirements, the software is just there to help keep everything functioning seamlessly. Development teams working for financial service providers need to be aware of this, by recognizing the unique requirements of the industry and remembering they are there to provide solutions…

Why would we say that? Software developers know what to do for FinTech companies right? 

Software development for financial firms is high pressure since the business is naturally extremely high pressure, which means that there’s just about no room for error in any utilized IT systems. 

When errors do arise it can be extremely detrimental, in the United States alone, faults from IT systems take out $150 billion from the economy annually. 

This is intimidating for both software developers and the companies who invest in their services, but it is why reliability, credibility, and transparency are such important aspects when it comes to choosing a software development team.

The Best Software Engineering in Finance Looks Like…

Finance and banking are among the top 5 industries demanding software engineers according to industry reports, with entry-level salaries starting at over $110,000. In addition, more than 95% of financial companies deem it “critical” to have solid software engineers in order to sustain the company long-term.

The job of a software engineer is strictly to examine, make predictions, and come up with comprehensive software solutions based on the variables they’ve examined. As a software engineer working for a financial service provider, the projects in scope may include:

• Process automation

• Mobile app development

• Technology integration (Such as Blockchain or Crypto)

• Verification software

• Cybersecurity

• Embedded finance

**If you don’t recognize some of the topics, check out our previous blogs on them**

When a financial service provider hires a software development team, they’re not looking for someone to put a bandaid on their current processes, they want innovative solutions and digital transformation to make their services stand out in the most competitive market in the world. 

Digital transformation, like anything else in running a business, will look different for everyone. 

However, with experienced software engineers, you can find the future that looks exactly like the vision of success you’ve always wanted. This may include (but again, is certainly not limited to):

1. Cloud computing: This is one of the most prevalent trends in software development as a whole for its ability to store and access data. For a banking/finance company, this is everything to their users and it leads us to the next point.

2. Mobile Banking Services: Let’s not forget, two-thirds of the American population alone use mobile banking for their day-to-day needs. In 2023, mobile banking is a nonnegotiable for young consumers especially, which tells you everything you need to know about where the industry is headed. 

3. AI: By now, Artificial Intelligence has entered normal dialogue though it’s caught some people by surprise. For the financial industry, it’s brought many great benefits when it comes to:

   • Repetitive task automation

   • Minimizing errors

   • Aiding in the decision-making process

4. Cybersecurity: The major threats financial firms have to consider when implementing software systems in 2023 include: 

2,200 - The estimated number of attempted cyberattacks each day.

$9.4 million - The average loss financial firms saw from ransomware attacks in 2022. 

Cybersecurity is a necessity in an age where FinTech service providers are at the pinnacle of banking. Companies need to protect their assets and data which is why when software programmers today build systems to protect service providers, they must remember they can mitigate a breach before it is attempted. 

Each of these aspects leads to a well-rounded platform that users will feel comfortable relying on. More than that, it’s something that can be sustained long-term which makes it better for companies who want to scale their operation. 

Where Custom Software Makes Scaling Easy

When you invest in custom software, it’s not a temporary fix— rather, it’s a foundation being implemented that when it continuously undergoes innovation can take a company from a startup to a large-scale enterprise. 

For instance, a custom mobile app could help a FinTech startup grow its user base by reaching new users, while customized cybersecurity measures can protect against potential threats as the company scales. It’s the little things like this that make a big difference long term.

The Takeaway

Software engineering is where the majority of the heavy lifting happens since execution is based on the analysis done during this time. To maximize the results a company sees from software development, prioritizing the planning stage is a crucial step. Lay everything out on the table; current pain points, long-term goals, market research, etc. Putting this in the hands of the right software development team will guarantee the best possible outcome. 

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

How Experts Use APIs and Microservices During Software Development

API development and Microservices are often confused with each other. This is a big misconception and a potential conceptual block during software development since they actually work together to boost the performance of a platform. 

Why is this important to know? The answer is simple: it will help you make better decisions when designing and developing your software application. Without that information, companies can expect some very challenging and expensive mistakes to say the least…

In case you’re unfamiliar with the terms “API” or “Microservice”, let’s break it down:

What is an API? (Application Programming Interface)

An API is essentially a toolbox full of routines and protocols that developers use when building software applications. There are several benefits they offer, but the key one is that they allow users to interact with software systems by exchanging and communicating information. 

Specifically, a developer would use an API to integrate certain functions and services into an application rather than creating one from ground zero. 

What are Microservices?

On the other hand, microservices are collections of independent services that are then used to design and operate the software with the help of APIs. Each microservice communicates with the other using APIs and offers unique benefits and capabilities that are highly beneficial to the platform.

For example, think of the shopping cart feature in an e-commerce store. When you add an item to your cart, the front-end application sends a request to the shopping cart microservice. The microservice then updates the cart and sends back a response to the front-end application that your item has been added.

By breaking down the functionality of the shopping cart into its own microservice, it becomes easier to scale and maintain the application as a whole. 

In addition, software developers use microservices so they can take a more Agile or DevOps-focused approach which in turn leads to an architecture that provides greater flexibility and scalability.

APIs + Microservices = ???

While it's true that microservices and APIs fall under the same umbrella in the broad scope of custom software development, each has its duties that make them super useful to one another. For instance, APIs are specifically designed to feed functions and data to different applications whereas microservices handle organizing the application's internal architecture. 

Ultimately, what you will have in this case is an application with various features for users to interact with (thanks to your API development) and then the microservices will handle what’s going on behind the scenes which is what allows the application to function so smoothly.

Differences and Similarities

By now you know that microservices need APIs to materialize an application, but then what makes it fair for us to say they are their own entities?

The interconnectedness of microservices depends on APIs to communicate which one could argue makes them perform in unison. However, APIs act as the link that enables different components of the tech stack to interact seamlessly, which, when working for a large-scale enterprise, is often a non-negotiable for their platform. 

Whether you’re a software developer or not doesn’t matter, this is information everyone in a business should know. With that being said, here are 4 differences and 4 similarities you’ll find when examining APIs and Microservices:

Differences:

• APIs enable communication between different software applications, while microservices form the application.

• APIs give life to a platform (by providing functions and services to various applications) while microservices keep it standing. 

• APIs can be used in a wide variety of contexts and architectures, while microservices are specifically designed to be used in more of a decentralized architecture.

• APIs tend to be more lightweight and simple than microservices, which can be difficult and require more resources to function properly.

Similarities:

• Both APIs and microservices are used in custom software development.

• APIs and microservices both rely on communication between various software components.

• APIs and microservices work together to create a seamless and high-performing software application.

• Both APIs and microservices improve flexibility, scalability, and agility during software development.

FinTech Example

When it comes to custom software development, knowing what tools to use and when to use them is probably the greatest possible advantage that development teams can have. However, to do this effectively, the team needs tunnel vision on the end goal. 

When it comes to APIs and microservices, the two work together to do many things, for example, if a FinTech company was building a payment processor, these are some of the tasks the tools would perform:

• Communicating with banks

• Database analysis

• Keeping the database up to date

• Scheduling recurring tasks

• The transaction process

• Generating PDFs for invoices

• Sending emails

What you see here are the tasks that the payment processor would rely on using API and microservice integration. Note that while each function works autonomously, they rely on APIs to communicate with each other. 

APIs can be used to activate a variety of tasks which is critical, but alone, they would not be able to fully operate the payment processor. Since the platform will need functions such as initiating charges, establishing customer profiles, generating invoices, subscribing to services, processing returns, and managing inventory, the processor would need the 6 microservices to do so.

What it Means to Have a High Functioning Software

While the process of building a sophisticated software architecture/system is complex, it is one of the most rewarding things any business can do in 2023. Why’s that? It is estimated that around 30% of business is done online in the United States alone. Without capitalizing on that, it means companies are only going to be able to achieve a maximum of 70% of their potential revenue gains. 

Consumers connect with online services that make their lives easier. A solid IT infrastructure is critical for making those services accessible. More importantly, it helps performance by:

• Minimizing downtime

• Preventing errors

• Preventing bugs

• Boosts data and traffic capacity

• Enhances security

What Have We Learned?

So does your software architecture need to look just like a FinTech payment processor would? Of course not! Custom software development is just that: custom. This makes what you learned in this article about APIs and Microservices just another set of tools to add to your arsenal during your digital transformation journey. Curious about how this could benefit your company? Reach out to book a free 30-minute discovery meeting with one of our lead software experts to talk about how you can apply custom software to your business.

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.