What should you expect when changing jobs in Tech at the beginning of the year?

What should you expect when changing jobs in Tech at the beginning of the year?

Software Development

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

If you are part of the software industry, January is the perfect time to seek new opportunities. As the year gets going, many companies start new projects that need new talent and expertise, which could be the perfect way to make the next step in your career. Additionally, changing jobs can bring a more dynamic work environment and greater satisfaction by breaking up tedium and routine that often come with staying too long in one job. It’s never too early to start fresh, so why not make January 2023 your time for a change?

Changing Jobs 2023

After all, the start of the year is a natural time to resolve to better your career. Pursuing new opportunities has become easier than ever with remote working options that the best software companies offer. Around January, most Tech organizations usually start their recruitment process and are likely to hire from outside of their immediate network, widening the field of potential candidates. And it’s also worth mentioning the fewer distractions one tends to find around this time of the year can allow you more freedom to put your best foot forward with any application. All in all, January presents itself as the perfect time for any software engineer looking for a job change.

Consequently, software developers looking for a new job in the New Year need to identify what they want out of their next role and target organizations that offer the whole package. Of course, you should brush up on your skill sets by taking any relevant courses or obtaining certifications if needed, as well as making sure to network with other professionals across the tech industry to increase your chances of learning about job openings, but when it comes to deciding which company to work with, there are a ton of factors to consider, but the most important one is the corporate culture they offer.

Companies that invest in creating an enjoyable atmosphere don’t just have more well-adjusted employees, they tend to be incredibly successful, too. This is no accident — amazing things start to happen when people are in a positive environment that supports growth and creativity. Plus, you’re bound to appreciate your job a lot more when your coworkers become friends and your manager is someone you can learn from. Once you’ve identified organizations that match what you’re looking for, tailor each application according to their specifications. It may seem daunting at first, but the work will pay off when you land your dream job.

Finding a company with a great culture

SCIO Fintech 4

“Your company is growing. You’re reaching revenue goals and increasing the company’s market share. But how are your people behind that success?”, explains this Forbes article about good company culture. “How’s the culture? You can have a fully functioning business with poor company culture, but I’ve found that a company’s longevity and enduring success will depend on the people. Business success comes in many forms, but bad culture isn’t sustainable for the long haul.”

When it comes to looking for companies that value their employees and have cultivated a welcoming culture, there are a few key things to look out for when you are doing some research on the company’s website or social media presence. The best advice here is to look for the following to make sure the company you are eyeing is the best choice for you: 

  • Check out what kind of activities and programs they offer employees, and see how they reward achievements. The more a company invests in the growth of its collaborators, it’s more likely that you will find an environment where you can thrive and learn more.
  • Also, make sure to read any reviews from current or former employees that discuss job satisfaction and if they feel respected in the workplace. Having a peek into the “trenches”, so to speak, will always yield better insight than almost anything else.
  • Nothing beats first-hand personal experience though, so make sure you take advantage of any information sessions being offered to learn more about the company culture. 
  • It’s also worth reaching out for an informational interview with someone who works at the company or attends networking events where past/current members of staff may be attending — this is a great way to gain insight into the culture from individuals close to its source. 

So, if you’re on the hunt for a great software development job, look for «green flags» to help you make an informed decision. A good software development company should clearly demonstrate its expertise and keep up with industry trends. In addition to recruiting seasoned professionals, they should also provide the training mentioned above and education opportunities that allow staff members to build new skills. The workplace should be professional yet inviting, encouraging collaboration between team members while respecting each individual’s expertise. Always ask around — do other developers have good experiences working there? If you hear nothing but glowing reviews, set up an interview and take the plunge.

The people make the company

Changing Jobs 2023

Valuing people is crucial to success in software development, especially when dealing with complex technical tasks. On a day-to-day basis, everybody on the team should feel respected and valued for their contributions, no one should ever feel like their ideas are unimportant, and encouraging collaboration rather than competition is a must. A good corporate culture understands that working together with the same respect and empathy shared across the entire team allows ideas to be shared openly, letting all members develop innovative solutions. A unified team operating as a collective engine all working towards a common goal will inevitably be more successful than individual developers vying for recognition, thus explaining why valuing the people you work with is so important for software development success: it’s all about creating an environment for collaboration and collective innovation.

So, if you’re looking to have a long and successful career in software development, prioritize working for companies that value their people. At these organizations, you’ll have the opportunity to work with the best and brightest in the industry, receive mentorship and support when needed, and be rewarded for your accomplishments. Do your research before applying to make sure you’re targeting places that will help you grow as a professional – it’s worth it in the long run!

The Key Takeaways

  • The beginning of the year is always the perfect time to look for a new position in the software industry, for many reasons.
  • However, if you are looking for a new company to join, there are many “green flags” you should look for to ensure it’s a positive change for you.
  • The best software companies are those that value their people, offer chances to learn and grow, and encourage communication and collaboration among every team member.
  • Always ask around and see what a company has to offer before applying for a job. A good company would make this information easy to access.

Scio is a Nearshore software development company based in Mexico where we believe that everyone deserves everyone should have the opportunity to work in an environment where they feel like a part of something. A place to excel and unlock their full potential which is the best approach to create a better world. We have been collaborating with US-based clients since 2003, solving challenging programming puzzles, and in the process showcasing the skills of Latin American Engineers. Want to be part of Scio? Get in contact today!. Get in contact today!

How does Scio encourage a growth mindset in our everyday life?

How does Scio encourage a growth mindset in our everyday life?

Scio

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

As a software developer, how do you measure your own growth? Is it about a salary or promotions? Or is it measured by successful projects, satisfied clients, and a better understanding of systems? Or even by how you improve at writing code and designing applications? That’s the beauty of growth for software developers: there is a learning opportunity every day if you look for it, and with every project, there’s something new to discover. After all, there’s a reason why software development it’s such an exciting field, filled with plenty of opportunities for growth at every level.

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We have talked before about this way of thinking, known as a Growth Mindset, where developers acknowledge they can always get better, and actively strive to improve their knowledge and skills. After all, viewing your programming proficiencies as expandable, and having an openness to improving existing skills or learning new ones, can be invaluable when it comes to excelling in software development. Furthermore, being aware that you aren’t expected to know everything from the start and having access to resources that enable you to learn, can give you the confidence to take on any challenge on your way. 

After all, software development is about challenges, so it’s a good idea to stretch your abilities and improve your skills at every turn. Assuming responsibilities that encourage you to think outside the box, use innovative approaches, and become flexible when problem-solving enhances your knowledge because you get to understand concepts on a deeper level, becoming able to tackle any challenges. Not only will this help take you further in your career, but it will also lead to more satisfaction in your work since you will feel accomplished after mastering a new skill. 

That’s why working at a company that allows you to grow and learn can be extremely beneficial for a developer. Apart from mastering your technical and personal skills, it can allow you to form connections with multiple people in the organization, develop your problem-solving abilities, and acquire experience in teamwork. There’s no downside to stretching yourself to reach new heights.

That’s why we have what we call “stretch assignments” at Scio, a way to test the skills of our developers, encouraging them to take on a challenge that could help them grow and learn what otherwise they wouldn’t. These stretch assignments can be defined as “tasks outside the developer’s usual comfort zone during the development process” and can go from implementing new technologies into their workflow (on the more technical side) or trying their hands at leading teams or establishing direct contact with clients (on the softer skill side), always with the idea of “pushing the envelope” a little further. 

However, the main idea behind these stretch assignments is to let the developers test the grounds in a controlled environment where a less-than-positive outcome wouldn’t have negative consequences, letting them become comfortable with their skills before taking full charge. That way, growth is constantly encouraged for anyone looking to improve in any area they want.

“Without a doubt, my biggest challenge during 2022 was adapting to work with a stack of technologies new to me, and it made me realize that I possess the flexibility to learn and try new things. In my case, the recipe to acquire new learnings in a short time, and applying them at the same time, involved looming deadlines and the unconditional support of my team”, says a developer at Scio when we did an anonymous survey about their growth stories this year. “Looking back at 2022, I feel satisfied with how I managed to adapt, trust myself more, and feed my confidence for whatever comes next. Thanks to the Scio for the support and challenges!”

After all, with new advancements and technologies organically coming up every day, developers need to enhance their knowledge base constantly, and good companies not only realize the value of this but also offer the resources necessary to make it happen. This provides developers with excellent insights into different approaches that can help them understand and execute complex tasks quickly and hone their skills further. 

“My biggest challenge in 2022 was managing to work on my soft skills. These are super important in a field like software development, and I had issues with properly using and applying them, but with the help of Ángeles, my team led, the Scio Leadership Program, and some of the Sensei-Creati workshops I participated in, I learned to communicate better, become a better leader, mentor, coach, and become better on both my personal and professional life. I hope to learn so much more in the coming 2023 because at Scio there’s always a new challenge to tackle.”

This point is essential because soft skills are often an overlooked but essential part of being a successful software developer. The ability to collaborate and work as part of a team, express complex concepts in simple terms, and even have problem-solving capabilities are critical skills needed by any competent programmer. Good communication and interpersonal skills enable software developers to take on difficult projects without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, and they can help build better relationships with stakeholders and make it easier for them to understand user requirements clearly. 

Furthermore, having strong social graces makes it easy for developers to stay current on industry trends and be open to learning new things quickly. Ultimately, soft skills aren’t just advantageous—they’re integral if you want to maximize your success in this field.

“As a developer, I was always used to relying on hard skills to get the job done. But when I was assigned a project that required me to leverage soft skills, it felt like entering uncharted territory. I had to learn how to read people, pay attention to their emotions, and understand subtle nuances in conversations that would help me solve the problem”, says another of the responses we got. “It wasn’t easy, but after spending time talking with team members and understanding their different perspectives, the challenge became rewarding. With practice and patience, soft skills became an invaluable part of how I work.”

The main takeaway here is that it can be easy to feel stuck in your comfort zone, especially if it’s a skill or language you’ve been working on for a while. One of the best pieces of advice we can offer you is to focus on small wins; taking on something bigger, like learning an entirely new language all at once may feel overwhelming. Instead, try smaller goals that will give you lots of room to grow and take pride in the progress you’re making. 

Also, don’t forget the power of collaboration! Grabbing lunch with someone from another technology team can be a great way to spark creativity and gain insight into how they tackle role-specific tasks (which is one of the reasons why our hybrid remote/in-person collaboration model is working out so well). All this to say, don’t be afraid to take a step back and reassess where you can improve yourself – there’s no such thing as too much knowledge!

Final words

Stretch assignments 2

As a developer, it’s important to constantly push your skills and take on new challenges. Identifying an opportunity to practice something that you haven’t done before or feel might not be in your wheelhouse can open many doors in your career. You don’t have to say yes to everything (just the ones you can reasonably handle!) but having the willingness to learn and try new things should always be top of mind. Not only will this help you develop useful strengths for future projects, but it also shows potential employers that you are ready and eager to keep growing. 

Moreover, by shifting gears between different projects and even languages, you get better at adapting quickly and problem-solving efficiently – both crucial qualities for successful software developers. So, stretch yourself whenever possible — what may seem like a challenge could become one of your greatest assets!

The Key Takeaways

  • For a software developer, expanding their skills and growing at every opportunity are critical to success.
  • The best companies out there know the value of a growth mindset and try to offer the resources and opportunities to their developers to expand their skill set.
  • At Scio, we have what we call “stretch assignments” that allow a developer to test new skills in a controlled environment to cultivate their skills.
  • And even outside of these, you can stretch your skills by focusing on small “wins” when testing new soft skills or technical tools, like frameworks and languages.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Robotic Process Automation and the future of intelligent machine work

Robotic Process Automation and the future of intelligent machine work

AI, Technologies

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

The reason why humans build machines is that they want to make work easier and faster. That always has been true; machines help us accomplish tasks that would otherwise take a long time with just human labor alone, or even be impossible for a human to do in the first place. They also help us save space, energy, and time — after all, resources are precious commodities, so if we can utilize them more efficiently through machines, why wouldn’t we? And more importantly, machines also increase our industrial production rate, more so than what could be achieved without the use of machines. Humans often look to make activities effortless, and advances in technology give us the capability to automate tasks.

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And of course, this process of automating tasks and processes is pretty important in every industry imaginable. Let’s look, for example, at software development: A solution already in popular use is Robotic Process Automation (RPA), a way to automate specific tasks within a process, so people don’t have to do them manually. The main advantage of RPA is that it can save time and be more accurate than humans because it’s not necessary to have someone actively monitoring how the task is performed, and ultimately means that businesses can get more done faster and with fewer resources. This allows developers to focus on more complex projects while reducing the time spent performing mundane tasks.

By its very nature, RPA works well with larger applications due to its ability to organize data into streamlined processes, reducing the overall development time and cost, reducing development hours, and making sure everything runs smoothly. Robots make this easy as they don’t need the same amount of troubleshooting, testing, and debugging time as we humans do. In other words, the reason why RPA has become an increasingly popular tool in the software industry is because of its ability to speed up development for faster technology deployment. As stated by IBM:

“[RPA] combines APIs and user interface (UI) interactions to integrate and perform repetitive tasks between enterprise and productivity applications. By deploying scripts which emulate human processes, RPA tools complete autonomous execution of various activities and transactions across unrelated software systems.”

However, with more and more businesses migrating to digital tools and platforms, and software development continues rapidly expanding with no signs of slowing down, the demand for innovative technology solutions also grows. It’s no wonder the development of automatic tools is booming to keep up, helping to optimize tasks during a software project in a way that was unthinkable barely a decade ago. There is no bigger leap forward in automation technology than Artificial Intelligence, which promises to change the field in ways that we maybe cannot grasp yet.

Automatic Intelligence

Empathy Design Disorder 1

The use of AI technology is certainly booming at the industrial scale and with good reason. By deploying these kinds of applications, businesses can automate many mundane, time-consuming tasks that would otherwise require a lot of manual labor, while reducing wasted resources and increasing efficiency in the production process. With AI driving efficiency gains, businesses benefit from reduced labor costs and improved production times, making it a no-brainer as far as implementation is concerned. 

It’s no surprise, then, that use of AI technology is booming. This capability has generated enthusiasm from those who understand its vast capabilities, leading to an explosion of use at an industrial scale. And as AI continues to expand, it may become a fundamental component of modern business operations around the world. However, is the implementation of AI tools and an automation process the same thing? Or do these ideas refer to fundamentally different concepts with distinct goals and desired outcomes?

“AI is not the same as automation. Automation is a machine executing a series of instructions exclusively set by humans. If an action isn’t explicitly described in the instructions, the machine can’t do it. With AI, however, the machine can take broad rules outlined by humans, and determine its own pathways to success”, explains the Artificial Intelligence Institute. “Automation can be used in tandem with AI such as machine learning and deep learning to produce even better results in a process we might call AI automation [which] allows us to reap both the business process benefits of automation — increased speed, efficiency, time-savings, and ability to scale — with the insights, flexibility, and processing power of AI technology.”

That way, AI is revolutionizing the robotic automation process and has opened up virtually infinite possibilities for all sorts of industries, enabling robots to react faster and make more accurately timed decisions without direct human input. AI can even give robots the ability to learn from their mistakes, so they don’t repeat them and cause unnecessary delays in production or other processes. All of these advantages offered by AI give RPA tools a new lease of life, making them even better players in today’s automated world. And this can only get better, right?

The “artificial” in Artificial Intelligence

Robotic Process Automation 4

It might seem cut-and-dry to think that AI is an overall net positive on automation processes, but companies should approach AI with caution instead of putting too much trust in it, outright replacing manual decision-making processes without due consideration, because there are often large discrepancies between initial expectations and actual outcomes when working with AI. In other words, while these new tools may promise optimal performance, they don’t always live up to expectations, so any organization interested in these kinds of automation tools needs to bear the limitations of AI in mind at all times.

“When companies place too much confidence in AI, they may miss key opportunities to inject creativity or human judgment into decision-making processes which can lead to misguided actions with unintended consequences”, says Adolfo Cruz, PMO Director, and Partner at SCIO. “For example, AI tools are limited when it comes to making decisions; they can only provide insights based on data and algorithms, and do not possess the same level of judgment as a human. Additionally, these tools lack intuition and creativity and may not be able to think outside the box or come up with creative solutions to unique problems”. 

That is to say, AI has come a long way in developing industrial advancements, yet there are still certain tasks that should be left off limits. AI should not be involved in any decision-making processes due to their lack of understanding of the potential implications of their actions. Allowing the robots to take over tasks such as operating complicated machinery and making decisions over them could do more harm than good when it comes to safety measures for both the workers and the products being created. Even with the best technology and programming, mistakes can still be made due to inevitable flaws in their programming. These risks outweigh any saving benefits that AI machines may provide, therefore we must prevent them from causing any further damage by restricting them in what they can do within an industrial context.

In short, automation and AI represent a powerful combination of resources with exciting potential. With no tedious tasks to weigh them down, people can focus their full power on the challenge or problem at hand and work in tandem with AI automation to create dynamic systems that save time, energy, and money. This combination is already being used across industries to great effect — streamlining production processes that were once complex and solving problems more quickly than was ever thought possible. All of this leads us toward an exciting future where these amazing technologies will continue to do even more positive things for both businesses and consumers. All in all, it’s truly amazing how much these two forces are capable of when we use them together.

The Key Takeaways

Robotic Process Automation
  • The point of building machines is to reduce the amount of work a person needs to do to produce something, and in software development, this is no different.
  • It should be clear that AI and Automation tools do not refer to the same concept, exactly, but should be combined to get the most out of them.
  • The main advantage of AI is that it can make its own decision and correct courses, which can be powerful when used with RPA.
  • However, this AI application should be careful and considerate, or any organization runs the risk of over-rely on this technology, which can have unintended consequences.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Scio Watch: Best FinTech Companies in 2022

Scio Watch: Best FinTech Companies in 2022

FinTech

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

FinTech is a rapidly growing industry that is upending the traditional financial sector by harnessing the power of digital technologies. This way, FinTech companies can provide new services and products that are more accessible and affordable than ever before, effectively democratizing access to finance to everyday people. From mobile banking and investing apps to technologies like blockchain-based currencies, FinTech is reshaping the way we think about money.

Best-FinTech-Companies-in-2022

It’s no wonder, then, that the FinTech industry has seen explosive growth in recent years, and there are no signs of it slowing down thanks to the increasing availability of data, the rise of mobile commerce, and the growing demand for innovative financial products. With more and more consumers turning to FinTech solutions for their financial needs, bringing very specific financial challenges to an area where economic stability is not guaranteed often, it’s clear that this industry is poised for continued success in the years to come. 

However, what distinguishes the merely good FinTech companies from the best ones? 

There are many vital components to a great FinTech company, from a strong customer focus to innovations in technology, to a deep understanding of the financial industry, A great Fintech company, above all, is always looking for ways to improve its accessibility and the range of options the average consumer has in terms of financial choices, giving people a kind of freedom with their money that they probably didn’t have before. A great FinTech company, in other words, makes our lives easier and more convenient. 

That’s why we want to close out our year here at Scio by spotlighting those companies that pushed the envelope in FinTech, distinguished by their innovation, approach, and the solutions they brought to a market growing in importance each day, naming the 5 FinTech Companies to Watch coming 2023 and beyond.

Paya

Paya_Inc_logo

Describing Paya as a mere payment processing provider would be missing what makes these companies one of the leading FinTech operations today, exemplifying everything great about this tech field. What Paya offers, after all, is “integrated payment and frictionless commerce solutions that help customers accept and make payments, expedite receipt of money, and increase operating efficiencies”, effectively easing the barriers in the transactions between business and customers, with an emphasis on the Front-End experience that makes using the services offered by Paya a seamless experience.

As a result, you can find the technology of Paya in a wide range of industries, from Healthcare, Education, and E-Commerce, to the Public and Non-profit sectors, thanks to a digital infrastructure that offers security, speed, and convenience no matter what kind of solutions an organization is looking for. For these reasons, we believe we will hear more from Paya in the future while they continue to offer the best solution in frictionless payment.

Wise

Paya_Inc_logo

International money transfers can be a real pain. You have to contend with different exchange rates, and you may also need to open a bank account in the country you’re moving to, which can be a time-consuming process. And that’s without getting into the fees associated with transferring money between countries, which can eat into the amount you need to move, and it can take a while for the money to reach its destination, meaning you may have to wait a while before you can access your funds. All these factors can make moving money between countries a bit of a hassle, if not impractical.

Thankfully, there are a few ways to minimize the hassle of international money transfers, and there’s no better option than Wise, which makes living a global lifestyle easier than ever before. The main core service that Wise offer is a platform that takes care of the hassle of sending money overseas with very low fees, enabling the transfer of money between countries more practical than ever before, and ensuring your money is where you need it when you need it, be it sending money back to home, or having access to it while you travel and live abroad. 

Stash

Paya_Inc_logo

Many people believe that investing is something that only wealthy people can do, and for the average person, getting into this area of finance can seem like a daunting task. That’s because when most people think of investing, they probably envision stock portfolios and real estate ventures that require a significant amount of capital to get started, and while these are certainly valid options, they’re not the only opportunities out there. In reality, there’s a whole world of investing beyond stocks and property to grow your money if you’re willing to take on a little bit of risk. 

That’s why one of the most exciting applications of FinTech platforms is the potential to democratize investing, and there are now several companies that are working on ways to make investing accessible to everyone, which is where Stash comes in. Stash is a platform that makes investing “easy and affordable for millions of Americans”, to create more financial freedom for its users, making this area of finance more democratic and accessible all around. As one of the biggest promises of FinTech, what Stash brings to the table is the power of the average person to take better control of their financial future. That’s why it is exciting to see what will await Stash in the future, undoubtedly changing the way we look at investing.

Sequence Shift

Best FinTech Companies 2022 3

While it’s convenient to pay bills over the phone, the idea of doing so nowadays seems antiquated, if not downright risky. After all, if you give your credit card information over the phone, there’s no way to know what will happen with that data down the line, it’s easy to impersonate a legitimate business, or if they’re just going to use your information to make fraudulent charges. And even if the company is legit, there’s always the chance that your information could be stolen in a data breach. 

All in all, paying over the phone seems like a relic from another era when our sense of information security and practicality were different, which is why the technology of Sequence Shift seems so promising and exciting at a time when having a wide range of options to pay for stuff is more desirable than ever. Simply put, what Sequence Shift, an Advance Technology Partner of Amazon Web Services, offers is the security infrastructure necessary to make safe payments over the phone when interacting with AWS environments, reducing the risk of using this method, and bringing a better customer experience by making phone payment viable again. With that, Sequence Shift demonstrates that sometimes innovation is bringing back methods and practices that, on paper, seem a thing of the past, but only because no one has thought of a way to improve on them and bring them in line with the expectations of the modern user. And as a partner of Amazon, we can expect Sequence Shift to reshape how we see online payments in the not-too-distant future.

Prosper

Paya_Inc_logo

When people need to borrow money, they usually have a few options. They can take out a loan from a bank or other financial institution, borrow from friends or family, or use a credit card. And for many people, taking out a loan from an acquaintance is the best option. One reason for this is that friends are usually more willing to give favorable terms, such as lower interest rates or longer repayment periods. Another reason is that borrowing from friends can be less expensive in the long run, since there are no fees or other costs associated with the loan. Finally, people often feel more comfortable borrowing from friends than from businesses, because they know that their relationships will not be adversely affected if they can’t repay the loan.

However, when so much of our financial activity occurs online, this option may seem out of reach for many people, and considering that loans are often done with a degree of urgency, a solution for this specific challenge would be more than welcome in the FinTech landscape. And Prosper more than delivers on that front. In short, what Prosper offers is a personal lending concept where a group of lenders (or more accurately, investors) can let anyone borrow money through a P2P system, which keeps interests as low as possible, through a direct deposit that will arrive at you in no time at all. With a monthly repayment method that lets you choose your payment rate, it’s no wonder that Prosper is positioning itself as a leader in the emerging field of e-lending, so worth keeping an eye on.

Final thoughts

No one can predict the future, but with more and more people using their smartphones as their primary way to bank, the growth of FinTech as an industry is only going to grow. This means that we can expect to see more investment in these technologies, like the widespread adoption of mobile-friendly features like touch ID and facial recognition, and we can expect to see more FinTech startups focused on developing countries, where there is a great need for financial services but a lack of infrastructure. 

And for now, these companies illustrate why this field remains so exciting and worth investing and participating in. FinTech, as a space, holds the promise of a future where finance is integrated seamlessly into our everyday lives, and the innovations put forth by these companies demonstrate why. And who knows what the future will bring? But one thing is for sure: it’s going to be fascinating to watch!

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Productivity Ratio: Understanding the “invisible work” of software development

Productivity Ratio: Understanding the “invisible work” of software development

Project Management, Software Development

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

We know that software development is not all just coding. As with any big project, there are plenty of tasks that must be fulfilled to create an effective end product, such as stakeholder supervision, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, and time management. Which is why it is  essential to have a clear understanding of the business goals of the software being developed, while also analyzing and interpreting the user requirements that must be worked into the development phase.

When-Excel-is-not-enough-icono

That’s part of the reason why productivity in this context is a tricky thing to track. Sure, you can see how long it takes to reach the end goal and measure it against timelines and expectations, but that doesn’t take into account all the nuances of software creation, as well as the challenges of debugging, refactoring, tweaking, editing and other tedious but crucial elements of every successful project. And this is further complicated by progress not always being linear — as soon as you start working on a project, it’s almost certain things will follow their own kaleidoscope-like paths that don’t always make sense from the outside. 

With all that, it might seem that tracking productivity is like nailing jelly to a wall: not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, and sadly without a one-size-fits-all solution. Doing the required following isn’t impossible, though, but it requires finesse and forethought to obtain meaningful results. It also requires being aware of the “invisible work” going into the development of an application, and it requires having a complete understanding of how that many pieces fit together. Unfortunately, for some teams, ignoring the tediousness of tracking productivity can be seen as more desirable than going through the hassle. However, with the correct approach, any team can achieve such a goal.

Getting ratio’d

Productivity Ratio

Working with other professionals like designers, business analysts, or testers, is part of every software development project, so good collaboration skills are necessary to reach any goal. Furthermore, making sure that the tools you are using are appropriate for the task ahead can have a dramatic impact on how successful the project would turn out to be in the long run. All these requirements mean that a positive outcome demands a spectrum of skills, which makes the whole process more challenging, and not all of them are obvious at a first glance. In the words of this Crossing the Equator article:

“This invisible work increases the communications gap between the hidden, almost abstract world of coding on the one side and that of marketers, purchasers, and investors on the other. It’s a gap that can cause frustration and misunderstanding and can lead to employee turnover and a slowdown of business growth. It is usually the responsibility of engineering leaders to close this gap.”

In other words, measuring «invisible work» can be difficult due to the complexity of any project. While time and effort can obviously be used to gauge progress, many intangible elements must be factored into the equation, but it’s hard to quantify the value of research, problem-solving strategies, code refactoring, and investigating emerging technologies that all help to improve software quality. In addition, developers must often adjust their efforts on the fly if stakeholders change their expectations or new information comes in. As a result, measuring invisible work requires an experienced team who understands what needs to be tracked and how to factor it into the overall process. And one of the more interesting approaches to this comes from a very simple formula: productivity ratios.

Productivity ratios in software development are the gauge by which you measure whether or not a process is successful, indicating the amount of work completed versus the amount of time and effort expended. In other words, it looks at how much time and resources have been invested in a project, such as coding and bug fixes, against the end result. The productivity ratio, consequently, it’s an important metric for gauging how effective a development team is at producing quality work. And understanding how to calculate it can be an invaluable tool for ensuring a project’s success. The formula to do so can be expressed as the following:

productivity ratio

The tricky part, however, is how to define what the input and the output mean in the context of development. The most common approach is looking at the basic resources that go into the project (work hours, number of developers, cost per hour, among others), against a specified result, like development milestones reached, user stories, pull requests, and many others, with the general idea that something is being produced continuously. 

The result of the equation is then compared to a baseline (industry standards, or past development story, for example) to obtain an estimate of the total productivity of a given team. But how does this tie back to the invisible work involved in software development? Coming back to the Crossing the Equator article:

“It’s a human-focused thing. It also applies to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and team-building activities. Successful organizations build products that customers love, which can only happen when the right people are involved and treated correctly. Teams cannot afford to hire people who merely hit the keyboard to write code without any profound understanding of or connection to the end user. Understanding the business means understanding its processes and goals and ensuring full team alignment.”

A different way to look at development

Productivity Ratio

In short, without a holistic view of development, a productivity ratio cannot work as is because a lot of the effort is not directly apparent in the final product (like planning, writing documentation, ensuring clear communication between stakeholders, managers, and developers, implementing and maintaining the adequate tools, observing security, refactoring the code, etc.), but it’s required to guarantee the timely delivery of a product, its quality, and the overall success of it. 

After all, putting all the focus on coding is not enough and in fact can lead to disaster if other aspects of the project such as design, testing, debugging, and the actual use case are not taken into consideration. Without properly assessing these elements a lot of issues can arise while rolling out the software to customers resulting in wasted effort and resources. That last part is key: developers should take an all-encompassing approach by focusing on the final users as the overall destination of the whole process, and what they are getting from the whole ordeal is, perhaps, the most important point of all. Consequently, an effective productivity ratio should be defined less in terms of input/output, and more like:

productivity work

The core of this approach is to stop seeing the development process as an isolated black box where effort goes in and results come out, and instead get into a mindset of the “total work” output by a team against what the client and final user will be receiving. This should not just be an abstract idea but rather a value that’s central to all efforts during production, helping align everyone with a clear goal. Additionally, when strong ties exist between a software development team and its users, trust is established allowing for up-front feedback before any changes or upgrades would be made, all but ensuring that technical implementations fit with user expectations. Bottom line – all software development projects should prioritize the user experience, helping teams align their efforts from day one. Making sure everyone understands and is deeply invested in this user focus allows for more meaningful and consistent collaborations internally, bridging the gap between the visible and invisible work. Ensuring there is a clear baseline for the productivity ratio, will end up manifesting into an ideal, successful product that satisfies users completely.

The Key Takeaways

  • Productivity is always an important concern for any software development project because it can give a clear picture of the effort and resources put into development.
  • One of the biggest challenges of tracking productivity is the “invisible work” involved in creating a successful application, which is never obvious in the final product.
  • A successful approach might be the “productivity ratio” that measures the input against the output of any project, but it needs to be used carefully to consider invisible work.
  • To that end, keeping the focus on the final product that the user will be receiving can give a better idea of the productivity of a team, comparing the ratio of effort put in versus what the user will be getting.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!