<h1>Building Your Digital Platform: Who To Hire And When</h1>

One of the biggest challenges I see companies face when building digital platforms is uncertainty over hiring. In my experience, issues with hiring often arise when companies view development unilaterally and hire developers too soon. Hiring developers early is a little like bringing in a general contractor to construct before an architect even draws up blueprints. A more effective approach? Consider development in phases and hire accordingly.


To help you adopt this approach and assess your hiring needs, I’ve outlined a three-phase development process based roughly on a typical startup. I’ve used this model in my company to navigate and, most importantly, optimize the development process for our clients. I’m giving you my top advice on the goals at each phase and how to hire the talent needed to level up in your development phase.

<h2 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Phase One: From Idea To Proof Of Concept
</h2>

In phase one, you may have an idea of your startup and business model, but it’s still mostly in your head or jotted down here and there. You don’t have a clear vision yet. You are not sure exactly how your platform will look or what its features will be.

<h4 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Your Goal:
</h4> 

Create a prototype. You need a great prototype to prove your business model, gather feedback from potential users, secure early funding and move to phase two.

<h4 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Hiring Needs:
</h4> 

You generally do not need a developer now. While some developers can help prototype, you won’t be maximizing their talents. My advice: Hire a prototyping specialist, such as a UX/UI specialist or graphic designer with experience using software such as Figma, Invision or Typeform. You’ll always save time and money hiring someone to do a job within their realm of expertise.

<h2 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Phase Two: Minimum Viable Product (MVP) And Bootstrapping
</h2>

You have proved your business model by this phase, received positive feedback on your proof of concept and maybe even secured funding! During this phase, you'll need to assess your budget, align your goals with your budget and create a technology road map.

<h4 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Your Goal:
</h4> 

Start building.

<h4 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Hiring Needs:
</h4> 

At this point, a good developer is a must—possibly even a development team. Your budget and goals will determine whether you hire for the short or long term. A company in phase two should also make sure their staffing plan includes an expert (or experts) who can implement a quality control process. Lastly, explore code repositories with version control, which ensures the company owns the code and can access it at any time.

<h4 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Additional Considerations:
</h4> 

If your budget is tight, but you want to get a product out, then hire for a short-term solution. You can bring in freelance developers or a small development team for project-based work. Most freelancers you hire should know WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Bubble.is and/or Squarespace. But remember, building with a third-party platform means you could face issues later with scalability, portability and security. Plan ahead!

Keep in mind that while freelancers are more cost-effective upfront and often great coders, you brought them in for the near term, which might keep your platform from future scaling. Unlike internal, long-term hires, freelancers generally don’t interpret your business needs, project-manage, solve business problems or consider marketing and SEO.

If you have the funds, consider hiring for the long term and building your internal team. You can create an in-house staff, or depending on your budget and initial team’s technical expertise, you might want to outsource some tasks to help expedite and reduce costs. Along with developers, a fractional CTO and product manager can aid your progress in this phase.

Whether hiring for the short or long term, you still need to plan and budget for additional, future development. The solution that worked in phase one may not be right for future phases. Know that it’s common to rebuild your codebase from scratch when you scale. Stay adaptable; your digital platform will only help your business grow if it keeps functioning and meets users' needs as technology changes. My rule: $1 invested in planning saves $10 building your product and $100 once the product is built.

<h2 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Phase Three: Startup With A Solid Online Presence
</h2>

You’ve now secured angel, seed and/or other investment, your platform works and you have a solid online presence. The good news is you already laid the groundwork for phase three development needs in phases one and two. Your work now is to keep the machine running and ensure you have the right team to do it.

<h4 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Your Goal:
</h4> 

Build a team set for the long term.

<h4 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 Hiring Needs:
</h4> 

The main objective now is to consolidate a permanent team similar to the one for your MVP. In this phase, I recommend hiring a full-time product manager and a strong technical lead or architect. They’ll help establish a technology road map, make a clear workflow and release process, set up quality assurance and control measures and create redundancies. And, crucially, the right team will make sure you own your code, and they’ll host it in a reputable repository with version control. Your budget now should also include hiring marketing and SEO experts. Lastly, you might consider hiring external consultants—freelance or an agency—who can help make your costs more efficient.

Remember: Development is incremental. Be aware of what phase you're in. And save time and money while reaching your goals by hiring the right people for the job.

Consider development in phases and hire accordingly in order to successfully build your digital platform

Building Your Digital Platform: Who To Hire And When

<h1>10 Key Steps To Building A Supercharged Business Website Or App</h1>

Article published in <a style='text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB;'
 href='https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2022/01/04/10-key-steps-to-building-a-supercharged-business-website-or-app/?sh=1904bfda56f3'>Forbes</a> on January 4th, 2022
 
As the CEO of a large-scale website production company, I constantly get the same questions:


<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 How much does building a website cost?
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 How long will it take to build my web presence?
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 What are the advantages of working with an agency? Why not hire a freelancer?
 </li>
</ul>
 
I always answer: The best solution is the one that aligns with your business strategy.

For some clients, it’s best to launch a site quickly at a low cost and scale later. For others, it makes sense to invest more at the start, building a bulletproof platform that’s both scalable and flexible. In other words, the best solution depends on your short- and long-term goals and your budget.

Here are the steps I recommend going through as you and your team plan how to build your digital platform:

<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 1. Clarify your platform’s objectives.
</h4>

<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 What is the role of your website or app in your overall business model?
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Who is your audience? Are they mobile-first? What media do they consume — videos, articles, audio or a combination?
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 What does success look like? What is the website or app’s main goal?
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 How will you drive traffic to the website?
 </li>
 
</ul>

 
<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 2. Build your content.
</h4>

<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Make an inventory of the content you currently have (i.e., copy, images, video, etc.).
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Map out the process for creating the content you know you’ll need in the future for you to reach your stated objectives.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Brainstorm any ideas for new content — images, videos, podcasts or articles — you want to produce.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Determine the time and cost for creating new content, and set aside a budget.
 </li>
</ul>
 
<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 3. Organize your content based on your objectives.
</h4>
 
<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Review your content with an expert or a person you trust in your field. Take advantage of having an outside eye and do a preliminary organization.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Do the same exercise with your developer. Note the differences between the perspective of a technology professional and someone in business.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Work with your product management team (which might be yourself) to reconcile both points of view.
 </li>
</ul>
 
<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 4. 'Build' your website on paper.
</h4>
 
<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Conceive of the site map with your developer — a text document, some slides or a pen and paper will do.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Organize your content into this map and use this as the starting point for the site’s design and development.
 </li>
</ul> 
 
<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 5. Always remember the 1/10/100 rule.
</h4>

The 1/10/100 rule is essential when budgeting for revisions with your designer:


<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 1: Fixing a mistake during the planning phase will cost $1.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 10: Fixing that same mistake during the development phase will cost $10.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 100: Fixing it when the website is already built will cost $100.
 </li>
</ul>

Plan ahead to avoid costly changes down the line.

<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 6. Finalize the home page design before starting any development work.
</h4>

 
<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Agree on how your brand will be represented on this website.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Determine logo, buttons, CTA, images, etc. for the homepage.
 </li>
</ul> 
 
<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 7. Choose a development partner you trust.
</h4>

<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 I recommend using agile methodologies. This approach allows you to iterate during the development process and make changes on the go. Keep in mind, though, that a set price for a project will likely limit your ability to make changes.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Be sure your development partner has a quality analysis (QA) department so they can test across different platforms and operating systems before launching.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Remember that in this business, like many others, you get what you pay for.
 </li>
</ul>
 
<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 8. Budget for 25% contingency.
</h4>

<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Assume the project will go at least 25% over budget.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 There will be some changes and improvements you will not think of from the planning phase.
 </li>
</ul> 
 
<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 9. Create a monthly budget for maintenance and enhancements.
</h4>

Adapting to technology updates and enhancements will be necessary if you want to succeed; plan for constantly optimizing the flow of your platform.

<h4 style='font-size: 20px; line-height: 40px;'>
 10. Use analytics to measure and improve your website.
</h4>

 <ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Review analytics and stats weekly or at least once a month.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Try A/B testing if you can afford it and constantly tweak, test and review changes based on users' behavior and trends.
 </li>
</ul> 

One final note: Pay attention to partners and agencies that try to rush. It's important to clarify objectives, establish the timeframe and propose a budget. At my company, we believe that investing time, energy and money during the website planning phase undoubtedly pays off down the road. An agency or partner that pushes to get a project off the ground without going through the proper process and planning is likely focused on one-off projects, not ensuring your site helps you reach your business goals.

Learn the most important steps to build a supercharged Website Or App

10 Key Steps To Building A Supercharged Business Website Or App

10 Key Steps To Building A Supercharged Website Or App

When I was in design school, in a history of art class, we analyzed the structure of some baroque masterpieces. I was amazed to find out that there was a rational base behind everything that helped the artist compose the elements in the canvas, keeping proportions, ratios, rhythm, and directions. A silent geometry is always working in the background.<img class="image_resized" style="width:100%;" src="https://stateside-strapi-images.s3.amazonaws.com/meninas_7f53267af4.png" alt="meninas.png"><div class="raw-html-embed"><a style="text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB; font-size: 14px;" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Meninas">Las Meninas</a> by Diego Velazquez.
</div>In one way or another, compositional structures have always been present in the art and design world. One of their well-known forms used in modern media are grids, the foundation of layout design.Columns, baseline grids, modular grids, they are the invisible force behind all the elements, organizing, keeping the cohesive relation between each other and the layout itself.Still, grids have served the purpose of conceiving the design. We started using them in digital layouts like websites, applications, and software for different platforms and devices. They were limited to the designer software. They needed to be translated to the engineers with spaces, paddings, and margin specifications.<img class="image_resized" style="width:100%;" src="https://stateside-strapi-images.s3.amazonaws.com/grid_bd071bcf21.png" alt="grid.png"><div class="raw-html-embed"><a style="text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB; font-size: 14px;" href="https://stateside.agency/">Stateside website</a> layout design.
</div>That translation always created this gap between design and implementation. The coded output of a designed layout was never pixel perfect or was hard to recreate with veracity. In some way, the problem lies in how layouts are built on design and code and how their foundations differ.It is important to note that digital layouts have become more complex. They aren’t static anymore. Like in print media, today they need to adapt to different viewport sizes. We don’t know if the content will be viewed on a mobile device or a smart TV. We simply don’t have that control anymore.Another factor is that more people are involved in creating digital media, UX designers, art directors, UI designers, back-end and front-end developers, ios and android engineers, the list goes on.If we want to be efficient and create unforgettable experiences, we all need to talk in the same language. We need to build our layouts in the same way, with the same design foundations.Nowadays, most browsers have implemented the CSS grid property. It has become a standard in layout design for websites. CSS grids are closing the gap I mentioned before because designers can create their grids, and they can be exactly replicated with code using a simple CSS property. This makes the design foundation the same for everybody.<img class="image_resized" style="width:100%;" src="https://stateside-strapi-images.s3.amazonaws.com/css1_49574093bc.png" alt="">Designers create layout snapshots of specific viewport sizes. They set the layout rules with the grids and the developers can better interpret and understand those rules and implement them in their thoughts. Nothing is lost in translation, and it is simpler to decipher the layout rules for a developer by just seeing how the elements are sitting on the grid. This has become even more crucial in these responsive design times, where absolute measurements don’t exist anymore.With that mindset, we stop saying that a component measures 600px width on a desktop and will be 320px. That always left so many questions to the developers. How does the component behave between those widths? What are the spacing rules?It is easier to understand that a component width is eight columns on desktop and that it will change to 12 columns on mobile devices. That better explains the whole context and how the component is related to the layout. You can also establish that the gutter on a desktop is 30px. On a mobile device that would change to 15px. The grid sets the global spacing rules and the behavior of the layout and all the elements are just sitting on this structure. It can be easily changed and adjusted if needed.<img class="image_resized" style="width:100%;" src="https://stateside-strapi-images.s3.amazonaws.com/css2_ad484472ac.png" alt="css2.png">Finally designers and engineers can speak the same language and build layouts with the same design principles. I think this will get us closer in the way we build, and we can aim for a more efficient way to work with the output for better-made and designed layouts. We have nothing to lose. Stateside can see this future of better, more integrated design where all elements are working together with peak efficiency. That’s why we’ve worked hard to put together a team of designers, engineers, and programmers with the skills to take your web layout and design to a level that sets you ahead of the competition.You have the dream, we’ll build the team that can make it happen. <a href="https://stateside.agency/contact-us/">Contact Stateside today</a>.

Let's see how grids can improve your sites

How grids can get us closer

Your web design is responsible for making the first impression on your prospects or site visitors. Great design can
 make you, and poor design can break you. 

Take the following stats into consideration:

<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 75% of people form their opinion of a website based on its aesthetics, according
 to Digital Appeal.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 And it takes users only 0.05 seconds to form an idea of a website, according to a
 <a style='text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB;'
 href='https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01449290500330448'>study by Taylor and Francis
 Online</a>
 
 </li>
</ul>

So user experience often begins upon first glance at the website, and in today’s modern landscape,
 everything moves at lightning speed. 

And what customers deem to be acceptable is continuously evolving. The bar is getting higher every day.

Customers are simply accustomed to beautiful design and engaging copy. They’re expecting to be dazzled by your brand.


So for your website to be successful and convert visitors into customers in today’s digital environment, a compelling
 copy must be paired with responsive and engaging website design.

As brands scramble to keep pace by adjusting their business models to accommodate these increasingly high
 expectations, the gatekeeper of first impressions—the design of your website— must also keep up with the times.

<h2 style='font-size: 30px; line-height: 40px;'>
 What Is Different About Modern Web Design?
</h2>

It’s all about user experience. Period.

<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/site.images/Stateside2020/img/blogs/modern-web-design-pic-2.jpg"
 style="width: 100%; margin: 45px 0;" alt="">

What customers want, customers “need” to get.

And when the modern consumer visits your website, what they’ll want - and expect - is an aesthetically pleasing
 experience, credibility, and user-friendliness.

Now let’s examine each of these expectations.

<ol style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 An Aesthetically Pleasing Experience
 You never have a second chance to make a first impression. And in fact, 94%
 of first impressions are related to your site’s web design, according to <a
 style='text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB;' href='https://www.webfx.com/'>Webfx.</a>
 In today’s competitive market, you may only have one chance to convert a first-time
 visitor to your website into a paying customer. And web design that is visually pleasing
 and engaging is more likely to convert visitors into loyal customers.
 Basic aesthetic details, like layout, whitespace, bold contrasting colors, and
 engaging graphic elements, play a significant role in modern web design.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Credibility
 Modern web design must communicate professionalism and credibility. And
 75% of website credibility is determined by web design, according to , according to <a
 style='text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB;' href='https://www.webfx.com/'>Webfx.</a>
 Also, according to marketing guru Neil Patel, “Surface credibility—a visitor’s
 subjective opinion of your website (e.g. I like the design, this looks trustworthy, great content, this
 page is confusing, etc.) is all that matters when you’re asking them to convert”.
 Web design that appears poorly constructed or is difficult to navigate will
 negatively impact your credibility. And without trust, even the best business model won’t be able to convert
 visitors into customers.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 User-Friendliness
 Today’s consumer is impatient and growing increasingly so every day.
 
 For a modern web design to be effective, web designers must take this to heart. And
 it’s not just time that matters to today’s consumers. Overall user-friendliness and ease of use are also
 important.
 </li>
</ol>

Consider the following statistics:

<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 In 2006, 47% of people expected a web page to load in two seconds or less, according to <a
 style='text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB;' href='https://www.forrester.com/bold'>Forrester</a>.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 In 2018, 53% of people of mobile users will leave a site that takes longer than three seconds
 to load, according to Google.
 </li>
</ul>

And according to Steve Krug, author of the book Don’t Make Me Think:

<blockquote style='border-left: 1px solid; padding-left: 2rem; margin-left: -2rem;'>
 “The fact that the people who built the site didn’t care enough to make things obvious—and easy—can erode our
 confidence in the site and the organization behind it.”
</blockquote>

For a modern web design to be deemed user-friendly, the following should be true for the user:

<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Within the first few seconds, it’s easy to understand the value proposition.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Finding the right information flows naturally.
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Content is so clear and compelling that the user might keep scrolling even after
 finding what they were looking for.</li>
</ul>

At Stateside, our passion is translating ideas into digital experiences. <a
 style='text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB;' href='https://stateside.agency/recent-work/provivi'>We did just
 that with one of our clients, Provivi,</a> we delivered a modern multi-language website with a completely new UX
 designed especially for their wide range of stakeholders: Farmers, Investors, Academia, and Lawmakers.

<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/site.images/Stateside2020/img/blogs/modern-web-design-pic-3.jpg"
 style="width: 100%; margin: 45px 0;" alt="">

Whether your business is just getting off the ground or needing a redesign to accommodate a growing business, we can
 help with our professional website design services.

Our certified engineers, developers, and designers can collaborate with your existing staff or serve as your
 on-demand development team.

We are 100% committed to providing you a website that is:

<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Tailored to fit your unique needs
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Responsive and mobile-friendly
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Professional and secure
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Designed with SEO best practices
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Scalable
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Optimized for data management
 </li>
</ul>

Our teams are flexible and highly skilled to build any site, from landing pages to eCommerce or membership sites;
 Stateside is your solution for beautiful, conversion-focused, and modern web design.

Take the first step toward harnessing the power of modern web design with Stateside. <a
 style='text-decoration: none; color: #0F03FB;' href='https://stateside.agency/contact-us'>Contact us</a> today.

Your web design is responsible for making the first impression for your visitors. Learn the 3 most important expectations users have for a web design.

The 3 most important expectations for modern web design

"Robots aren't here to take away our jobs, they're here to give us a
 promotion."

<a href="https://www.gartner.com/analyst/55907/Manjunath-Bhat">
 - Manjunath Bhat, Research Director at Gartner
</a>

 Judging by a recent list of top emerging jobs, you need to read this
 article if you can't easily answer this question: What are Artificial
 Intelligence and data science?


 On LinkedIn's recently published
 <a href="https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/resources/talent-acquisition/jobs-on-the-rise-us#digital">
 Annual Emerging Jobs Report
 </a>
 for 2021, they list the leaders in emerging job opportunities in 11
 different countries worldwide.



 And these 3 topped the list:

<ol style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Artificial Intelligence Specialist
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Specialized Engineers
 </li>
 <li style="padding-left: 1rem;">
 Data Scientist
 </li>
</ol>

<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/site.images/Stateside2020/img/blogs/ai_02.jpg" style="width: 100%; margin: 45px 0;">



 Remember these: They will all shape the future in ways you cannot even
 begin to imagine.


<h1>
 What's the Hype with AI, Anyway? Why Now?
</h1>

 Businesses often think AI and data science are only concepts "out there"
 that would be great to understand and maybe even implement when they can
 come up for air. But for many, however, that time never seems to come.


 AI and data science are simply impacting every industry. And right now,
 most of the workforce lacks this kind of expertise.


 It is doubtful that we'll see business as usual for employees who perform
 routine tasks and make non-critical decisions. Some jobs will certainly be
 eliminated.


 But this isn't a reason to panic, according to Tom Davenport, Professor of
 Information Technology and Management at Babson College and co-founder of
 the International Institute for Analytics.


 He urges organizations to shift from a mindset where employees become
 displaced by AI to one where employees are instead supported, complemented,
 and augmented by AI.


 "Employers must be convinced that the combination of humans and computers
 are better than either working alone." -Tom Davenport.


 Davenport also advises employees to reimagine how they can perform their
 jobs more effectively with the power of AI.


 And he challenges employers to do the same and says in his book Only Humans
 Need Apply: Winners and Losers in the Age of Smart Machines, "each time I
 hear of a company laying off employees because of hyper automation, I think
 of it as a failure of leadership."


 The new normal that emerges almost every day will require the global
 workforce to adapt and learn new skills. This will be critically important
 in remaining qualified for an existing career or pursuing a new one.


 Three main factors causing AI to be the "it" technology of the moment
 include lower costs, more data, and organizations getting some experience
 under their belts with the algorithms that make AI possible.

<h1>
 What Is AI?
</h1>

 Today, the term AI has become such a catch-all that it is crucial to
 revisit the real definition.


 The technical definition, according to
 <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/artificial-intelligence">Gartner</a>, is:


<blockquote style='
border-left: 1px solid;
padding-left: 2rem;
margin-left: -2rem;
'>“AI applies advanced analysis and logic-based techniques, including machine
 learning, to interpret events, support and automate decisions, and take
 actions.” </blockquote>


 In other words, AI is when machines learn from experience, make adjustments
 for new input, and perform human-like thought processes and tasks.



 Early work paved the way for today's AI.



 The first mechanical calculating machine was developed almost four
 centuries ago. And the first programmable machine came along 200 years
 later.



 In 1965, the first natural language program—almost like a chatbot—was
 created. Now, it seems that every day there is a new development.



 Today's AI deals with more data and more computing power. Massive amounts
 of both. AI in 2020 enables machines to replicate higher-order logic that
 traditionally only took place in the human brain. Processes like
 perception, cognition, prediction, strategic planning can now be done
 "artificially" when properly programmed.



 And it goes one step further—this is the scary part. With machine learning,
 computers can perform that same high-level thinking without being
 programmed. Essentially, the data does the programming.

<h1>
 What is Machine Learning?
</h1>


 Without being "taught" by the programmer, machines "learn" from the data
 and their own experience to solve a problem.


<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="
 padding-left: 1rem;
 ">
 The machine combs through that massive amount of data we talked
 about earlier to figure out which data sets are necessary and which
 can be put aside.
 </li>
 <li style="
 padding-left: 1rem;
 ">
 The machine then selects the most meaningful data and designs an
 appropriate algorithm to produce an iterative model that is
 repeatedly refined and optimized.
 </li>
 <li style="
 padding-left: 1rem;
 ">
 The more data you feed to the machine, the more accurate the model
 becomes.
 </li>
</ul>

<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/site.images/Stateside2020/img/blogs/ai_03.jpg"
 style="width: 100%; margin: 45px 0;" />


<h1>
 What Is the Difference Between Data Engineering and Data Science?
</h1>


 The point where data engineering ends, and data science begins is not
 always very clear. And the two terms are often mistakenly used
 interchangeably.



 The skills required for and the final product of both disciplines might
 seem very similar. However, when it comes to focusing, this is where the
 two diverge:


<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
 <li style="
 padding-left: 1rem;
 ">
 Data engineering focuses on designing architecture and building
 infrastructure for producing data.
 </li>
 <li style="
 padding-left: 1rem;
 ">
 Data science focuses on advanced mathematics that statistically
 analyzes that data to identify trends and relationships within the
 data.
 </li>
</ul>


 Data engineering is essential because the organization with the best data
 in any industry is the winner. However, insights from the data must be
 extracted and organized in a meaningful way. This is the job of the data
 scientist.



 And the answers to an infinite number of problems are inside the data. Data
 scientists extract those answers to address the needs of the business, the
 needs of the final user, and beyond.



 Since the two specialties are quite different, it is difficult to find
 anyone with both skill sets, hence the term "unicorn." Organizations must
 build a team where these two disciplines complement one another to work
 toward achieving business goals.

<h1>
 A Better Way to Think About AI and Data Science
</h1>


 It is better to think about automation as an inevitable change that will
 occur. These things are not going away, so there is no time like the
 present to begin.



 Companies continue to increase spending on research, development, and
 deployment of AI and data science. And the competitive advantage is
 significant for those organizations that are willing to innovate and take
 risks. All this to be among the first to roll out AI solutions in new
 segments of their industry.



 At Stateside, our passion is translating ideas into digital experiences. We
 helped implement an AI-powered virtual assistant for our client,
 <a href="https://stateside.agency/team-augmentation/legalshield">
 LegalShield
 </a>
 .
 <a href="https://stateside.agency/team-augmentation/legalshield">
 This AI chat has helped Legalshield improve its efficiency
 </a>
 , and its clients can get fast and accurate answers without having to make
 a call.



 Whether your business is just getting off the ground or needing a redesign
 to accommodate a growing business, we can help with our professional
 website and mobile app development services.



 Our certified engineers, developers, and designers can collaborate with
 your existing staff or serve as your on-demand development team.



 Take the first step toward harnessing the power of modern technologies with
 Stateside. <a href="https://stateside.agency/contact-us"> Contact us</a>
 today.

Learn about the importance of  Artificial Intelligence in today's market  and how companies are leveraging Data Engineering and Data Science

What is AI, Really?

<h1 style='font-size: 30px;
line-height: 40px;'>Web accessibility</h1>

There are millions of applications and web pages that are consumed daily for multiple services, sometimes for more than one at the same time. As users, customers, developers and designers we have become accustomed to certain standards when it comes to perceiving an application, but rarely do we stop to think whether it is accessible for everyone.

<blockquote style='
border-left: 1px solid;
padding-left: 2rem;
margin-left: -2rem;
'>“Is my proposal accessible? Is my site ADA Compliant?.”</blockquote>

When considering a project proposal, these are the most frequently asked questions, often out of obligation, not out of real concern. To try to explain whether a website and / or application is accessible, you need to cover General Accessibility terms before starting to further develop the topic.

You need to be aware of these issues, as it is a universal matter present in all areas known, in order to have different perspectives on the systems that we have built.

<h2 style='font-size: 30px;
line-height: 40px;'>What is accessibility?</h2>

There are many definitions in different books, different websites, as well as personal definitions. In the end, they all have the main idea in common.

<blockquote style='
border-left: 1px solid;
padding-left: 2rem;
margin-left: -2rem;
'>“The possibility of having access to a service/information, regardless of any possible difference”.</blockquote>

Requesting a ride, paying for public services, purchasing articles online, reading national or international news, just to mention a few. All without any impediment, without any barrier.

<h2 style='font-size: 30px;
line-height: 30px;'>What is disability?</h2>

Disability is understood as any situation in which someone has a barrier that limits their participation in some kind of field or action, due to the existence of a deficiency. 

Types of Disabilities:
<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">Physical Disability</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">Sensory Disability</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">Intellectual Disability</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">Psychic Disability</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">Visceral Disability</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">Multiple Disability</li>
</ul>

With these terms defined, and in order to anticipate what will be reviewed in this article, we can now begin to discuss accessibility.

Can a person with a disability order food with the same ease than a person without a disability? 

The answer is simple, it depends. The disabled have many limitations and barriers in everyday activities that for us are simple, such as walking, reading … using a phone, moving a mouse…

At the beginning of the article we may have not thought about many things regarding accessibility, but at this point, with greater seriousness and awareness, might be wondering: Is my site actually accessible? 

<h2 style='font-size: 30px;
line-height: 40px;'>Web Accessibility</h2>

With the definition of accessibility given above, we can define web accessibility in the following way:

<blockquote style='
border-left: 1px solid;
padding-left: 2rem;
margin-left: -2rem;
'>“The Possibility of consuming web content without exclusion.”</blockquote>

It could also be defined as the Design, Guidelines, standards, methodologies, that will allow a person with disabilities to consume or to access web content without exclusion. 
<img src='https://s3.amazonaws.com/site.images/Stateside2020/img/blogs/web-accesibility-2.jpg' style="width: 100%; margin: 45px 0;">
<h2 style='font-size: 30px;
line-height: 40px;'>Is web accessibility important?</h2>

Web applications are already linked with the entire environment that surrounds us, education, politics, government, economy, etc. People with disabilities have the same right as us to be able to access all of this information without any exclusion or segregation of any kind.


The right to information is a human right, a key component of the right to freedom of thought and expression, generating web applications that are not accessible is a direct violation of this right. 


Then, we begin to ask…

<h2 style='font-size: 30px;
line-height: 40px;'>How to make my web site/application accessible </h2>

Many times we will be asked to design/develop a web site with hundreds of features with tons of dynamic content… and that is accessible. Or to implement accessibility on a website that has years of seniority.

<blockquote style='
border-left: 1px solid;
padding-left: 2rem;
margin-left: -2rem;
'>“Make my site to be ADA Compliant” </blockquote>

Usually is coined the previous term without even really understanding what that means. It is understood by ADA-compliant, any website that is trying to be accessible to people with disabilities, this term does not mean that is to the exclusion of other standards or guidelines as of WCAG.

To make our project accessible we must follow some standards/laws and methodologies of accessibility. These can be found on the web:


<a style='
text-decoration: none;
color: #0F03FB;
' href=''>“The American with Disabilities Act”</a> (ADA), <a style='
text-decoration: none;
color: #0F03FB;
' href=''>“The Section 508”</a> and <a style='
text-decoration: none;
color: #0F03FB;
' href=''>“The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines”</a> (WCGA).



But how do we differentiate all this information at the time you execute it? What should I use? Which is better?


It all depends on the nature of your project, and the laws to which it may be bound to. However, all of them have the same bases. Many times we already use these practices in our everyday work, the difference is now we will implement them with accessibility in mind.

<h2 style='font-size: 30px;
line-height: 40px;'>What do I need to make my website accessible?</h2>
What do we do when we need to make a web page? We look for a team of developers with the knowledge to complete the project with satisfaction. The same thing happens when we need to implement web accessibility (in the best of the cases) during the planning of a project it is necessary to have the knowledge of a developer to promote and advise on issues of accessibility in the design and development. This is the most efficient way.

 In the case of an existing project, the presence of a developer with this knowledge is vital. Not having been planned or correctly implemented from the start can lead to substantial changes to the code base of the web page. 

But as it is well know, there aren’t many developers with the knowledge strictly-tuned and/or certified in accessibility, so that the best option is to look for counsel of outside entities that are in charge of performing these tasks, or, as a starting point use one of the many online tools to validate the accessibility. 

Example of Tools:
<ul style="width: 100%;margin-left: -1rem;line-height: 3rem;padding-left: 0rem;margin-top: 0;">
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">
<a style='
text-decoration: none;
color: #0F03FB;
' href=''>IBM Tools by IBM</a>
</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">
<a style='
text-decoration: none;
color: #0F03FB;
' href=''>A11ygato by Orange</a>
</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">
<a style='
text-decoration: none;
color: #0F03FB;
' href=''>Access Alchemy by Level Access</a>
</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
">
<a style='
text-decoration: none;
color: #0F03FB;
' href=''>Accessibility Enabler by HikeOrders</a>
</li>
<li style="
padding-left: 1rem;
"><a style='
text-decoration: none;
color: #0F03FB;
' href=''>Accessibility Insights by Microsoft</a></li>
</ul>

Learn what it means to make a website or an application accessible and why is important for your business.

How to make my website or application accessible

Web Accessibility: Always a must!

Big data analysis is the skills and the ability needed to manage and study large amounts of data in order to determine patterns, trends, secure competitive advantages and improve customers satisfaction.By large amounts of data we can refer to volume, velocity and variety, which are the cornerstones of Big Data.Volume represents large amounts of data, for example a survey; Velocity means how fast the data is created, for example Twitter messages or Facebook comments; and Variety means the complexity of the data, for example audio, video, and text messages in Whatsapp.In addition, we use the term Veracity, which is related to the quality of the data being analyzed for example, in the medical field when large studies are done to obtain results on medicines.How can a QA engineer assure and add value to the analysis of all this information?Big data often finds important challenges that improve the risk of the outcome and the decisions that are taken. From the exponential growth of data to the security of the information, the spectrum is overwhelming and leads to not taking any chances and continuing working as usual.As QA engineers this challenge can be too much ton handle, however by defining a proper strategy, the risks and stakes will be addressed properly and will assure an exceptional outcome and deliver customer's satisfaction.On one hand, the most powerful tool in the hands of a QA Engineer to achieve Big Data’s goal is the use of metrics. Being able to determine a powerful metric, and all its components will improve business processes, detect any important issues on time and most importantly guarantee customer’s satisfaction. After obtaining all the required information, the second most important skill needed from the QA is the ability to analyze and deliver the results obtained in a user friendly manner, first by delivering what is expected for the customer and secondly by assuring high quality, reliability and security of the information.QA as known doesn’t apply testing cycles, nor creates bugs or defects, we are not expected to behave as usual, rather compile a lot of information, analyze it and deliver results that have been filtered to mitigate the most important challenges that cause uncertainty to the customer.Pairing the technical skills with the customer’s mindset will help the QA Engineer to define the metrics needed to obtain results that not only will create value, but will put a smile on the customer’s face and most importantly, put them ahead of the competition.A good book praises itself, so this is the best chance for a QA Engineer to get its creativity out, understand what is needed and deliver via metrics valuable information.You’ve got your work cut out for you but tools will eventually come to help and automate the processes, leading to the optimization of processes and delivering better and faster results.We should be on the look for these tools and start working with them.This is just the tip of the iceberg but when it comes to tools available, PySpark seems to be one we should be looking at.It’s often expected that a QA engineer should have technical skills and mindsets of a developer, but with these new technologies the expectations will turn into requirements, as the figure of automated processes and programming tools will lead and deliver the results faster than we could expect.For Big Data, as of this moment, Python is the way to go, and preparation and skills will be needed to apply automated tools and deliver high quality outcomes to assure customer’s satisfaction.The best fuel we can use to explore these opportunities is our thirst for challenges and our call to assure quality on the highest level in everything that is done.References:<ul><li><a href="">What is big data</a></li><li><a href="">How to assure quality of big data and analytics solutions</a></li></ul>

How to ensure the quality of big data and analytics solutions

The role of QA engineers in Big Data

Big Data: In the Spotlight of QA

Stateside stories

Stateside’s Blog. News and Information about nearshore staff augmentation, software development, technology, digital experiences, marketing.