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How much do you know about custom software development? Or a better question might be: how much do you care about custom software development?

In truth, most business owners and executives don’t give it a lot of thought… until they learn that specialized programming can help them to automate data entry, streamline order processing and fulfillment, customize marketing, assist with scheduling, and help with dozens of other tasks that are critical to any company. In other words, having someone program an app specifically for your company can make or save you huge amounts of money.

Of course, that’s the one thing you really need to know about custom software development. Once you get past the basic reason why businesses invest in programming, though, there are a lot of other little things to consider. That’s because they can help you focus your thinking and get your project off the ground.

Today, we want to share with you nine things you might not have known about custom software development but probably should…

#1 Custom Programming is More Common Than You Think

Custom programming isn’t just for huge companies, or firms with big technical resources. In fact, we have worked on software builds and tweaks for very small enterprises and brand-new upstarts.

You don’t have to have huge budgets to benefit from software development. In fact, the smaller and more specific your company is, the easier it is to separate yourself from the competition with the right app or resource. So, if you haven’t thought about custom programming in the past because you imagined it was too complex or intensive for your operations, think again. No matter where you look, businesses like yours are using apps to accomplish more and spend less.

#2 It Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune

Not only can custom software development save you tons of time and money every week by making it easier for you to run your company, but it probably costs a lot less than you might imagine.

New clients are routinely surprised at how affordable it is to work with a team of experienced programmers. Unless your vision is extraordinarily complex, there isn’t any reason you have to break the bank to bring it to life. The same goes for scheduling. You probably won’t be waiting nearly as long as you would imagine to get finished software you can use.

#3 You Don’t Have to Start an App or Program from Scratch

In some cases, it makes sense to start from scratch when building a new piece of software. Very often, though, we can tweak an existing application, create a plug-in that piggybacks off another piece of software, or work from a template that’s already been created.

The benefits of working from existing software are that it speeds the process up, costs less money, and gives you a conceptual head start. It also restricts your imagination a little bit, but if you aren’t looking to reinvent the wheel – and just want to make it turn a little bit faster – know that your goal is probably well within reach.

#4 Software Development Can be a Productivity Booster

As we’ve already mentioned, there are dozens or hundreds of potential uses for custom software development. However, automating repetitive work tends to be one of the most impactful ways to use a new app or program.

If you have a part of your business that currently takes more hours than it should, or regularly produces costly and time-consuming errors, then a new custom app might be just what you need. The more time you can spend actually running your company (and having your employees handle the most important aspects of their jobs), the higher your productivity is going to go.

#5 There are Three Important Parts to Software Development

When business people think of “custom software development,” they usually imagine coders knocking out line after line until a piece of software is finished. In reality, there are really three important steps that have to be followed.

First, you and your creative team get together to discuss the concept. Then, they’ll create flowcharts and mockups of the interface so you can get a visual sense of the way your program will look and feel. And then finally, after that wireframe or static has been approved, they’ll start actually putting the pieces of code together.

Beware any programming team that only emphasizes aesthetics, for example, or functionality. Each of these steps is critically important, and you can’t afford to rush through any of them.

#6 It’s Important for Your Software to be Tested

Even the smallest pieces of custom software need to be tested extensively. This doesn’t take a lot of time, but it’s something you want to be sure is being handled.

There are couple of reasons for this. Naturally, you’ll want to ensure your app or program works the way it’s supposed to. At the same time, custom software should work well across any platform (for instance, desktop computers versus smartphones) it’s made to function on. And finally, you have to be sure your software doesn’t contain any security flaws that could leave it vulnerable to hackers.

This is an area where a lot of newer and inexpensive firms will cut corners. However, your business and credibility are on the line, so make sure testing is a priority.

#7 Your App or Program Might Change During Development

No matter how crystal-clear your vision of your finished program is, there is a chance that your idea might need to be changed or tweaked along the way.

When this happens, it’s usually because the client realizes a key feature is missing, or they discover users might like some functionality during beta testing. However, it’s also possible that your ideas will be amended because your original concept isn’t quite feasible, or could work more cleanly with a twist.

The more flexible you are during the software development process, the more likely you are to end up with something you and your customers or employees can actually use.

#8 Most Custom Software Needs Updates

Even the best pieces of custom software are never really “finished,” they just have to be released eventually. You should approach the launch of your app with the idea that it may need to be upgraded or revised later.

One reason for an upgrade or improvement traces back to the notion that you might decide to add new features. And, it’s possible your customers or users will ask for something more than what you give them initially. Even if those things don’t happen, though, you might need to eventually update your software to match changes to the operating systems it runs on.

A good custom software development team is going to prepare you for this eventuality early in the process and factor it into their quote. Once again, you should take it as a red flag if your programmer doesn’t bring up future updates and revisions with you.

#9 The Right Programming Team Can Make or Break Your Project

As you might imagine, choosing the right vendor is critically important to the success of your software development project.

An experienced team can guide you through each step and decision that comes up along the way; a bargain-basement vendor might simply take a feature list from you and then deliver work that meets the specs but doesn’t really fit the vision you had in mind. Then, you might be left with the dilemma of spending more time and money to get it right or using software that doesn’t really do the job you intended.

Experience, technical expertise, and reputation should be important guiding principles as you develop your app, so don’t sacrifice them to save a few dollars in your IT development budget.

Want to Learn More about Custom Software Development?

Do you have an idea for an app or program that could help your company grow? Or, do you simply want to learn a little bit more and figure out whether it’s something your business could profit from?

In either case, your next step is clear. Talk to the custom software development experts at Kinetik IT today. We have served businesses, nonprofits, and institutions across Arizona for years, helping them to find, imagine, and build the resources they need.

In one brief consultation, we can help you to think about software programming in a new way. Better yet, we'll give you the answers you need to tweak your idea or move it forward. Contact us now to get started!

Malware can take many forms. What they all have in common, though, is that they can turn into a big concern for your business very quickly.

Some pieces of malicious software take over your computers or workstations until you give up ransom payments to developers. Others can flood your business – including your employees and customers – with endless spam and pop-up ads. Perhaps the worst form of malware are the little bits of code that spy on your communications, looking for things like account numbers and financial transactions so thieves can get access to that information later.

Because the threat of malware is changing and evolving all the time, lots of business owners and executives aren’t really sure what they should do to guard against the threat. Even worse, most have no idea how to respond to a malware attack once it happens.

It’s easy to make things worse by doing something you shouldn’t. So, today we’re going to share a handful of tips you can use in the event you know or suspect you have malicious software on your computers or devices. We hope you are never in that situation, but if you are, here’s what you definitely shouldn’t do…

Don’t Ignore the Risk of Malware

When it comes to malware, a lot of professionals seem to take the “it could never happen to me” approach. That might be comforting, but it isn’t sound business strategy. You don’t have to run an enormous company to have hackers target your business. Many online thieves commit quick and easy crimes of opportunity. If your company’s hardware or software seems easy to get into, they’ll come looking for you.

It’s hard to find firm statistics, but it’s thought that malware affects thousands of small and medium-sized businesses throughout Arizona each year, costing them tens of millions in theft, missing revenue, and lost productivity. Typically, it’s the businesses that think they have the least to lose that are hit the hardest.

Know that the risk is real, and pay attention to warning signs like error messages, suspicious emails, and slow technology performance that seems to come out of nowhere. If any of these seems to be a problem, make a phone call and find out whether you need help from a professional IT team.

Don’t Panic About Your Malware Attack

If it turns out you do have malware on company computers or equipment, don’t panic. Sometimes, business owners or managers will decide to deal with the issue by formatting hard drives or replacing specific devices. Buying new tech can get expensive, and you don’t want to overreact and wipe out all your files at once.

You may not know what the scope of the problem is. That’s not great news, but it’s not a terrible position to be in, either. Things might not be as bad as they seem, and you don’t want to make them worse by taking drastic steps that won't solve the issue.

Sometimes the quick fixes business owners turn to in order to resolve malware are worse than the original infections themselves. Don’t turn a small repair into a big one by formatting something you shouldn’t, downloading software you don’t understand, or turning to a solution that seems too good to be true.

Don’t Ignore the Issue and Hope it Will Resolve Itself

Just as you don’t want to go too far, neither do you want to ignore malware if it has infected your computers or devices. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away, and seemingly small issues can get progressively worse with inattention.

For example, some small pieces of spyware can download malicious code in the background if you don’t get rid of them right away. Or, you could end up spreading malware from one computer, workstation, or device to another if you aren’t diligent about getting rid of the problem. The point here is that the issue won’t solve itself, so don’t bury your head in the sand and hope for the best.

Having malware removed usually isn’t expensive or time-consuming, but it isn’t something that can be put off indefinitely, either.

Don’t Keep Infected Devices Online

Digital viruses resemble their biological counterparts in an important way – both stay alive through constant spreading and infection. So, if you don’t deal with malware quickly, there’s a chance it will move from one device on your network to another.

The best way to stop this from happening is by simply taking affected workstations, tablets, etc., offline if you can. Better yet, turn them off completely (unplugging cords if necessary) until they can be inspected by an IT professional. Leave them sitting where they are and you could make the problem worse, even if you aren’t actively doing anything with the affected hardware.

If you can’t take affected hardware offline, consider shutting down your network until the problem is solved. The problem will be fixed quicker if fewer devices have malware, and there will be less chance of hackers stealing information from you.

Don’t Make Any Payments or Money Transfers

In the last couple of years, lots of individuals – and more than a few very large organizations – have made big payments to hackers who are holding their files ransom. This is almost always the wrong course of action.

Even if the amounts demanded by the producers of a piece of malware are small, there are a couple of problems with the payoff approach. One is that you have identified yourself as a target for future exploitation. The other is that you are rewarding the hacker, thereby encouraging them to develop even more malicious code in the future.

Of course, there is also the chance that your financial information will be shared or stolen. So, take our advice and call an IT team if you are infected by malware, rather than paying a ransom you'll regret later.

Don’t Forget to Monitor Website, Email, and Financial Activity

In many cases, malware can be removed from many infected devices in a short period of time. Afterwards, you’ll want your IT team keeping an eye on your website, email, and other technology. Additionally, you’ll want to watch your own financial transactions to ensure nothing seems out of place.

There are two reasons you need to take this step. One has to do with unknown consequences. If you aren’t sure when your computers were infected with malware, then you can’t be certain what kind of information hackers already have. Also, this kind of activity check can help you be sure that all the malicious code was taken away and your business is back to normal operations.

In the same way your doctor wants to know you're well after giving you medicine, your IT team will likely want to keep an eye on your computers and email activity following a malware attack.

DO Call the IT Experts to Protect Your Business and Customers

As we’ve already mentioned, it’s a lot easier to deal with a malware attack that doesn’t happen, than it is to fix the damage after the fact. Unfortunately, most business owners and executives simply don’t have the time or expertise to identify suspicious activity, much less prevent it.

For that reason, your best bet is almost always to have an experienced team of technical experts working on your behalf. That’s exactly what we have at Kinetik IT in Phoenix. Contact us for a free consultation and you might be very surprised at just how easy and affordable it is to get the help you need.

Whether you’re dealing with performance and security issues stemming from a malware attack, or suspect you might not be as safe as you could be, now is the time to act. Get in touch with our team today so we can get your technology running perfectly again!

Do you know what to look for when you’re looking for a programmer to help with custom software creation? Most businesspeople don’t.

That’s only natural. Business owners and executives have no reason to be familiar with programming languages and design processes. They have to be focused on the bigger picture, which largely involves what they want from the finished product in terms of appearance and functionality. They can’t get those outcomes, though, until they have the right team in place.

The need to hire a programming team without having programming knowledge can lead to a bit of difficulty. How do you hire a team when it’s difficult to properly assess their qualifications? How can you be sure about who you’re going to if you aren’t entirely sure what separates one from another?

The first thing to know is that you absolutely can find the right software programming partner even if you've never written or seen a line of code in your life. All you need are the proper set of criteria to examine. Just like non-engineers can pick out great cars, our job is to look for the obvious signs of quality.

As veteran developers ourselves, today we are going to give you a quick peek behind the curtain. We are going to show you, in non-technical terms, exactly what to look for in a custom software programming vendor. It all starts with the one quality you would probably look for in any specialty…

Your Software Programming Partner Should Have Experience

The more you do anything, the better you get. With experience, it’s easier to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls, and to streamline your working process to come out with the right result.

Software programming is no exception to that rule, although a lot of startup firms and independent programmers would like you to ignore that fact. That’s because the least expensive and least experienced programmers want you to think that it’s all a matter of putting a few simple lines of code together. However, things are more complicated. Believe it or not, programming software takes vision and creativity along with a base of technical knowledge.

If you’re serious about creating a tool that helps you to market, automate, or better process information, then work with someone who understands the way a piece of software comes together. The experience level of your team matters, particularly if you have a complex project.

You Want a Programming Team with a Willingness to Listen

Although programming software isn’t as simple or straightforward as people tend to believe, in some ways it is the easier part of the job. That’s because the most valuable work happens when your vendor asks you what kind of program you want to create, and why certain features or ideas are important.

If your programmer isn’t listening carefully, they might miss the important details or jump to conclusions. That’s not a good idea, since programmers never know a client’s industry as well as the client does. The finer points of functionality, appearance, and usability all come into focus through a gradual question-and-answer period. That can sometimes take an hour, but it can last longer, too.

This is something a lot of business people wouldn’t necessarily consider to be important, but you don’t want a programmer who doesn’t take the time to figure out what you’re hoping to get from their work.

Choose a Software Programmer with Lots of Patience

In a lot of ways, designing and programming a custom software package is a lot like writing a book. You can begin from an outline, but they’re going to be revisions, additions, and even major plot changes along the way. You’ll find pieces of code are missing, need to be amended, or aren’t compatible with one another.

This is to say that good software programming takes a bit of patience. You have to be able to be calm and work through the little issues that are going to come up as you write line after line and then test your work. You also have to be able to step back and assess things when clients realize that what they asked for isn't exactly the same as what they wanted.

If you choose a software programming team that isn’t patient, you are going to end up with an app that feels rushed. That might get you to a finished program quicker, but over time you’ll have to deal with more errors and patches that hurt your profitability.

Your Software Development Partner Should Emphasize Reliability

There are software programming firms out there that specialize in giving clients more glitz than substance. That is, they build programs that look great, with interesting design features and animations, but don’t necessarily work as well as they should once they’re put to use.

In some cases, that can mean a lack of functionality. The resulting software just doesn’t have as many tools or features as the client originally intended, or those features aren’t as deep (in terms of reporting, etc.). In other cases, speed and reliability can be compromised. The app might run perfectly in a test setting, but crash repeatedly when it’s used on a different workstation or website.

When it comes to creating software, reliability is the name of the game. Refuse to work with any programming team that prioritizes speed or budget above long-term value.

Examine a Software Programmer’s Portfolio and Case Studies

Even if you know what you’re looking for in a software programmer, it’s not necessarily easy to find it. That’s because some people will tell you virtually anything in order to close the sale. You might have to do a little bit of research to get to the truth, or to verify that what you’re hearing is accurate.

This is where a custom software development company’s portfolio and case study examples come into play. You want to have the chance to take a good long look at their previous work, and to evaluate the statements past clients have made. What you’re looking for isn’t just positive feedback, but a sense that business owners and executives who have hired them the past are emphasizing experience, patience, etc., in their praise.

No one knows your software programmer like the people who have already hired them the past. Take the time to read what they have to say before making your decision.

Pay Attention to Your Developer’s Budget and Scheduling Terms

Before you sign the bottom line, it’s worth looking through the budget and terms proposed by your creative partner. What are they promising you in terms of delivery? What about additional costs for edits or revisions? How do the cancellation terms look?

Pay attention to each line item and don’t assume that the price you're quoted will always be the final cost. Some software companies make their money off of add-on fees, or aren’t great about meeting deadlines. You don’t want to get caught in a situation where you’re tied to a company that won’t deliver and you can’t get away.

A reputable programming partner is going to be confident enough in their work to offer you terms that are fair but friendly. If you get the sense that you’re being locked into something you might regret later, ask a few questions before finalizing the deal.

You Can Hire the Best Without Breaking the Bank

All things considered, it probably won’t come as a major surprise that the best software programmers aren’t usually the cheapest. Experience, technical skill, and business know-how tend to come with a cost.

With that being said, however, you can definitely work with the best in the business without breaking your IT budget. In fact, many of our clients actually save money on custom software programming because they don’t have to pay for delays, deal with unexpected errors, or suffer losses from apps that don’t do with they are supposed to. Quality always wins out in the end, especially in our industry.

So, if you want to work with the most trusted software programming team in Arizona, contact the experts at Kinetik IT. We’ll be happy to give you a free, no-obligation consultation to hear about your project. Then, we’ll show you just how easy it is to turn your idea into a finished product your clients, customers, or employees can use.

There are times when it’s obvious you need help with networking from an experienced Phoenix area IT team. When you’re staring at a pile of hardware that’s covered in water and giving off smoke, for instance. Or, when you try to load up your computers and see nothing but error screens.

However, when it comes to network maintenance and security, there are also more subtle indications you could use professional technical assistance. Sometimes, these little signals are clues that bigger (and more expensive) network problems are on the way. In other cases, they could simply be slowing you down and causing endless aggravation.

Either way, you don’t want to ignore serious network issues. They may get better on their own for a little while, but you’ll almost always end up with bigger headaches – not to mention IT repair bills – at a later date.

To help you understand why, let’s look at five clear signs that it’s time to call us for help with IT networking…

#1 Your Network Goes Down for No Identifiable Reason

If your network is unreliable, going off-line at irregular times and for no identifiable reason, it’s important to figure out what’s causing the issue. That’s because whatever problem you may have, it’s likely to become more prevalent the longer you wait.

Generally speaking, when a network isn’t as stable as it should be, it’s because there are hardware problems or conflicts in the configuration. In other words, you have a piece of equipment that is wearing out, or multiple devices or apps that don’t work together the way they are supposed to.

That might not seem particularly dire, but consider what happens when equipment fails altogether and causes more serious failures or data loss. Imagine that suddenly you can’t process credit card transactions, access account information, or save files you need to complete your projects. Why face that kind of situation when you can see it coming ahead of time?

#2 Your Network Performance is Slow at Times

A network that runs slowly from time to time might not seem like a big concern. After all, as long as it isn’t always happening, and performance turns back to normal, do you really need to worry about something that’s a minor inconvenience?

You probably should, if you want to get the most from your technology. Slow networks can be a sign that some of your hardware is on the verge of failing. Or, it could simply indicate that you have bottlenecks that are holding up the flow of data during peak periods of usage. It might even be a sign of compatibility problems between newer and older devices or software packages.

None of these common IT issues should cause you too much stress on their own, but they can lead to larger difficulties. For instance, if your network is too slow, it might prevent backups from occurring normally. Or, you could find that software updates can’t run the way they should, leaving you with security issues.

As a rule of thumb, it isn’t difficult to repair a slow or lagging network. Put it off for too long, though, and you might end up with a bigger issue than the one you started with.

#3 You Aren’t Sure if Your Network is Being Backed Up

No matter how big or small your organization might be, and what kind of hardware software you’re running, regular data backups are crucial to your long term profitability. That’s because you’ll eventually run into a situation where your primary storage devices fail.

A lot of business owners and executives fail to understand just how common it is to lose access to important data when it matters most. Something as simple as an electrical surge, hard drive failure, or an improper setting in the wrong place can all lead to years and years worth of files disappearing within moments. When that happens, you’re going to want the data you’ve been sending back and forth through your network to be accessible as quickly as possible.

If you aren’t sure where your data is being backed up, how often those backups are being run, or whether that backup data itself is being secured, now is the time to get the answers you need. Even a network that’s functioning perfectly at the moment can experience problems. That’s just a fact of life in the digital age. Whether such an event causes minor hiccups or major problems for your business will largely be dependent on what you have stored in the event of an emergency.

#4 Network Security Feels Like a Bit of a Mystery

It almost goes without saying that network security has become a top priority for businesses of all sizes in the past few years. For every high-profile hack and cybercrime that has made the news – and there have been dozens – there are dozens of other smaller companies affected by online theft and malware.

In the same way that locks, alarms, and cameras can help keep a retail business safe from shoplifters and break-ins, basic networking security protocols can prevent unauthorized third parties from snooping in on your files and communications. If you don’t have the right tools and procedures in place, though, you’re practically inviting thieves to see what they can steal.

A good IT team will ensure your network is as safe and secure as it can be. However, if you haven’t had a professional looking after your systems in the past, now might be a good time to ensure you aren't an easy target for hackers.

#5 You’re Opening a New Location and Want to Install Networking Equipment

Expanding your business is a sign of prosperity, not IT problems. But, it can also present some logistical headaches. Do you need to buy new networking equipment? Is what is available on the market compatible with your existing hardware and software? Are you sure your new network will be reliable, and connect seamlessly between offices or locations?

Your IT partner can help you make sense of all of these questions. That’s because a technical team that knows your business can help you choose the right hardware at an affordable price, set it up correctly, and test it for both performance and security. In other words, they can ensure you are ready to step in and get to work from the first minute your new office or location opens.

We deal with bad network configurations every week. Usually, they come about because a company was in a hurry to get things set up and didn’t do enough planning. That leads to persistent (and expensive) networking problems that go on and on for months and years. Do yourself a favor and hire an experienced IT partner who can set your systems up correctly the first time.

Networking and IT Support Done Right

Most networking issues, if they are caught early enough, are easy enough to fix. That’s because a team of trained technicians can identify simple issues with routers, servers, and backup media pretty quickly. Additionally, these kinds of components are generally inexpensive to repair or replace.

On the other hand, once you get into a situation where your network is failing, the costs can spiral out of control quickly. If you’re dealing with issues like malware or corrupted data, the problem can spread from one drive or device to another. And of course, it’s worth pointing out that you and your team aren’t being as productive as you could be when you can't communicate with customers and each other.

Consider these details together and it’s easy to see why networking problems should be dealt with sooner rather than later. Luckily, we have a team of trained, experienced, and inexpensive technicians that can get you back online and working quickly. So, if you’ve noticed one of these five signs affecting your network, contact Kinetik IT in Phoenix today so we can get to work for you!