Month: May 2021

Trends in Cloud Computing that are changing the business world

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Trends in Cloud Computing that are changing the business world

Cloud computing is a technology that is on everyone’s lips. In fact, we are facing a solution with numerous advantages over traditional models, and this is attested by many trends in the field of computing in the cloud.

In this article, we will talk about the promising future of this technology. But in addition, we will explain what we mean when we talk about cloud computing or cloud services. We will also clear up other unknowns, such as what is the SaaS model so closely linked to this technology and what advantages it has for users and companies.

What exactly is cloud computing or computing in the cloud?

Computing in the cloud is a concept that moves information processing and data storage away from the local computer. With cloud computing, this and other computing resources are run remotely, serving the client through the network connection.

In recent years, cloud computing has completely changed the way users and businesses interact with their computers. For example, it is no longer necessary to have servers with a lot of processing power to analyze data. It is neither needed too much local storage space required to save files. And, in times of telecommuting, cloud services make it possible to work from any location with an Internet connection.

Cloud computing has given rise to a wide variety of terms. But, among cloud solutions, the initials SaaS stand out. What do we mean by them?

What is SaaS?

SaaS stands for “Software as a Service”. This system uses cloud computing to serve remote applications to the user. Thanks to SaaS, the need to install applications locally on a computer is eliminated. Again, access is extended to any part of the world. The only requirement is an Internet connection.

SaaS technology has numerous advantages; for example, it eliminates the specification barrier and therefore reduces the investment in IT equipment. Since all the software used runs on a system outside the user’s own, no components are required, only a web browser. This allows applications to run smoothly, even on modest equipment.

Similarly, SaaS systems also minimize the economic impact on companies due to the fact that they allow them to pay only for the service that is being used and not for a complete package. In the case of needing more tools, these types of services are scalable to adapt to all kinds of needs.

These are the trends for cloud solutions and cloud computing.

We have already clarified some basic concepts related to cloud computing. Now it’s time to review some of the current trends in computing in the cloud. More and more companies are betting on them, both in consumer and professional environments. This is the present and the future of cloud solutions.

Cloud services: online video games

The video game market is becoming increasingly attractive to major technology companies. There are already two significant players in this world: Microsoft, with its Xbox, and Sony, with PlayStation. However, other corporations, such as Google or Amazon, are aware that they must invest efforts in this field. What role does cloud computing play in the world of video games?

Let’s answer that question with another question: What if users could play anywhere on any device? It is precisely on that premise that cloud computing comes into play. By processing video games in the cloud, any device, even a cell phone, will be able to offer a satisfactory gaming experience. In this way, gamers do not depend on a specific console but on a space with a wide catalog of titles to play with.

Cloud computing and the hybrid cloud

The hybrid cloud makes it possible to offer many advantages to users. Its term refers to a cloud computing service that sits between the private cloud and the public cloud.

Organizations can use this technology to leverage each world’s strengths. The private cloud, hosted locally, provides security when storing sensitive data. The public cloud offers a wider range of resources to users.

In any case, having the best of each concept is possible thanks to hybrid cloud computing infrastructures.

Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence

The Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are technologies that continue to grow. And, although many do not know, they use them every day. Both are used to create networks of intelligent devices that are applied to everyday tasks. In other words, home automation. This technology has been democratized and is increasingly being used for more common everyday purposes. For example, it makes it possible to easily control different elements in the home, such as lights or household appliances. These are some of the applications of these technologies in Smart Cities.

Despite its applications in the domestic sphere, the Internet of Things and AI are also used to coordinate large-scale services, such as urban lighting or energy management in public and private spheres. These are some of the applications of these technologies in Smart Cities. Clearly, thanks to data analysis, all of these efforts can be carried out more efficiently. Let’s not overlook that the combination of IoT and Artificial Intelligence are of great help to automate the management of all the physical resources of a network.

No matter what the final IoT or AI implementation is, computing in the cloud plays a key role. It is in cloud computing that all devices are brought together and can be controlled thanks to applications designed for that purpose.

Quantum computing

Through the use of cloud computing, quantum computing will also become more accessible to users and companies in a few years’ time. Thanks to its processing power, operations based on quantum mechanics can be carried out, which accelerates massive data processing in an astonishing way.

Many of the applications in the area of quantum computing result in considerable savings of effort and an improvement in the speed of operations. For this reason, companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Google are working in this field to make the most of cloud computing tools.

Cloud computing has a promising future.

After analyzing these trends, it is clear that there are more and more practical applications of cloud computing. The massive use of this technology is forcing providers to improve their security systems and to make users aware that they also have a certain responsibility in this regard. Of course, this is excellent news.

You have probably noticed that the development of these systems has a long way to go. The presence of cloud services has revolutionized the way we interact with our devices. But, let’s not forget, cloud computing is a newcomer. Its future is full of possibilities, and at Nuvolar, we are fully involved in it. We are specialists in the development of SAAS solutions that get the most out of technology in order to make companies more competitive.

The drastic changes in the way we work and communicate that technology has brought about

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The drastic changes in the way we work and communicate that technology has brought about

The changes that technological advances have brought about in the way we work and communicate are evident. In recent decades, innovations have come one after another, redefining the way we live and relate to our environment. Here are just a few of these technological advances.

Mobile communications and video calling platforms have changed the way we work

It is fair to say that the conventional telephone facilitated work in companies for a long time. It is worth noting that many companies still use it to get feedback from their customers and as a channel for after-sales support. Even so, it was inevitable that technology would continue to evolve to the next level: mobile telephony.

Mobile communication made it easier for employees and executives to interact with their companies from anywhere. So did the interaction between journalists and the media they worked for, in order to transmit news to the press or do live interviews. This reduced dependence on fixed telephones. However, it is worth mentioning that this type of communication continues to be used today in media such as radio and television.

Subsequently, the incorporation of the Internet to mobile devices was the next IT leap. With it came the possibility of interacting in social networks via cell phones. Soon after, the improvement of video calls over the Internet — first for computers and then for cell phones — made possible the simultaneous transmission of audio and image. And with it, the emergence of a new way of working: teleworking.

Teleworking, another way of working

By now, can you imagine what would have happened in the world without video calls and video conferencing in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic? This telecommunication technology now plays a decisive role in the economies of several nations. Even before the state of alarm, the Spanish government was promoting the implementation of teleworking in companies. According to a study conducted by EAE Business School in 2020, the health situation of Covid19, boosted the implementation of telework by up to 88%. On the other hand, the labor flexibility generated by this remote work modality would not be feasible without a powerful and quality connectivity. In this case, it is reasonable to recognize that the development of 3G, 4G and currently 5G connection networks were, at the time, significant technological advances.

Social networks as a means of interaction and a way of working

Initially, social networks were used as platforms for schoolmates and friends to meet up. Soon after, they became the most common means of interaction between people. As a result, their creators were quick to detect their potential as marketing tools. So much so that the concept of social media marketing has become a proven and effective strategy for a large number of brands.

But the use of this strategy not only benefited the product promotion area but also provided an extremely valuable source of unstructured data. Social media are “sounding boards” where users comment on their experiences with brands. From the quality of the products themselves to customer service and after-sales support. The positive opinions of a user awaken the interest of their contacts, which can lead to more sales for the company. However, negative opinions tend to go “viral” (a term coined by social networks); and this can end up generating an image crisis with effects that can be disastrous for brands.

New professional profiles generated by social networks

All of the above has led to the emergence of new professional profiles in the marketing area, such as: the community manager and the social media manager. The former would be in charge of managing the community of followers of the brand in social networks. That is, share content of interest to these followers, monitor their reactions and respond to comments. While the second would be in charge of functions more focused on strategies and corporate decisions on the orientation of communication in social networks. And so on, the positions can multiply according to their functions and depending on the size and needs of the company. Therefore, the current demand for: social media strategists, social media planners, social media content managers, etc. is not surprising. Undoubtedly, social media has also created a new way of working.

As we said, social media are a source of unstructured data derived from followers’ comments and reactions. The volume of data generated by this form of interaction has led to its management being included in customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. In this way, the capture, analysis and monitoring of this data is more efficient. Incidentally, this is one of the actions we work on most at Nuvolar, developing customized solutions on Salesforce CRM for our clients.

Innovation in the way we work through Big Data, IoT, AI, and applications.

Although it may seem repetitive, when we talk about digital transformation in organizations we do not limit the concept to the incorporation of technology. We link it more to a change in corporate culture and, evidently, in the way of working. Indeed, when we introduce Big Data and Advanced Analytics tools, Artificial Intelligence or the Internet of Things, we do so in order to automate and streamline processes. Therefore, we must train human talent to manage such resources and get the most out of them.

A few decades ago, predicting changes in consumer behavior was a costly and arduous process for brands. Personalization of offers and products was not an issue within agencies or marketing departments. Today, thanks to a combination of technologies, it is possible to collect large amounts of data generated by consumer interactions. Whether from off and online purchases, comments and reactions on social networks or contacts with after-sales support; Big Data and analytics solutions using Artificial Intelligence algorithms make it possible to collect and process this data. From this, we extract the really valuable data that another resource, Machine Learning, will be in charge of interpreting, generating suggestions for decision making. In other cases, the latter is even capable of executing routine decisions on its own.

IoT, solutions and applications

The IoT, understood as communication between machines or between sensors, terminals and devices, is another source of data. In this sense, its applications are very diverse. On the one hand, it is used in the management of fleets of transport vehicles and in the monitoring of the supply chain of industries. On the other hand, retailers that build customer loyalty use it to make suggestions via cell phone messages in their stores. Even in the so-called precision agriculture, IoT is vital to capture detailed information about crops; in particular, data related to soil, climate variation, pest and disease control in real time.

We have already talked about solutions and applications on other occasions. You know that they are our specialty at Nuvolar. But it goes without saying that in the various areas in which they are used, they facilitate the work, either by automating routine tasks or allowing the monitoring of processes, as in the case of CRM and ERP, for example.

Cryptocurrencies, what technology was lacking

It is true that in this tight summary we cannot cover all the technologies that are influencing the way we work. However, it is necessary to make a brief mention of cryptocurrencies or virtual currencies. Undoubtedly, after so many advances that the technology sector has generated, the only thing it needed was to create currencies. And it has been doing so for years! Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin and many others are accepted as exchange value. Many of them owe their price to the trust given to them by investors and common users. This is due to the fact that their management is not directed to a Central Bank or government, but to another technology: Blockchain. The same that was created in principle to ensure the security of transactions with these virtual currencies. But it is already being applied in other areas such as legal and public administration.

In recent months, cash payments have fallen sharply. This could accelerate the long-predicted replacement of cash by virtual currencies managed by central banks. So it is not unreasonable to think that “cryptos” will soon become common currencies. All this will generate sensitive changes in the economy and in the value of work.

At Nuvolar we adapt to the changes generated by technology.

At Nuvolar, our passion for technology leads us to develop excellent applications and customized web solutions. For this purpose, we implement agile methodologies, UX and UI as part of our work philosophy. But, at the same time, these changes motivate us to be aware of all the advances in the digital environment, so that we can introduce the most appropriate ones to our products. In addition to adapting to change, we drive innovation through research and the application of new resources. Contact us and see for yourself that we are the technological partner your company needs.

Technology trends in private aviation

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Technology trends in private aviation

Private aviation understood from the beginning that it is not enough to incorporate digital transformation. It is also necessary to embrace it from within and take advantage of it by proposing innovative solutions. Certainly, like any industry, aeronautics comprises several processes that are already being accelerated through automation. That is, thanks to the capture, processing, analysis, and even monetization of data, in order to establish itself as a business.

Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Blockchain, and even cryptocurrencies are already present in this sector. You have probably already come across a tool based on one or more of these technologies. This is proving essential to maintain operability amidst the persistent Covid-19 issues. Therefore, part of the brief list of technology trends presented here is shared with commercial aviation, even with airport operations.

Cryptocurrency payments and instant quote systems in private aviation

Undoubtedly, we are talking about a solution that breaks paradigms in private aviation: reservations and payments through cryptocurrencies. Can you imagine paying for your private jet trip with Bitcoins or Ethereum? The U.S. company Monarch Air Group is one of the pioneers in integrating this possibility for users of its executive flights. According to executives, the demand for charter flights is expanding towards a millennial audience and people looking for safer and more reliable transportation options. So we are no longer talking only about large corporations and people with high purchasing power. So the diversification of payment options responds to the trust generated by electronic currencies. Specifically among a public that knows and manages technological advances such as blockchain.

As if that were not enough, Monarch itself made available to its passengers an online system for quoting charter flights. Through this tool, users can receive quotes in a faster and simpler way. All they have to do is choose their options based on the distance and type of aircraft required. This selection is passed on to the account executives, who will finalize the travel plan with the customers. And for all this, the user can use only his or her cell phone.

Contactless: maximum security for private and commercial aviation users

Indeed, biometric identification and self-service are already making airport check-in, baggage handling, and boarding easier. If you have recently traveled to Miami or Beijing, you may have noticed this. In the terminals of these cities, passengers already have access to an innovative airport experience. It allows them to use their face as a boarding pass and move seamlessly from cab to aircraft. The result is more efficient handling, with less queuing time, less crowding, and more social distancing. This represents a great advantage in terms of avoiding the risk of Covid-19 contagion. It eliminates the need to touch any device at the airport.

On the other hand, onboard, operators offer more and more services through Wi-Fi and 5G networks. This is to avoid contact with devices such as entertainment screens on airplanes.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for safer and more efficient air travel

Pattern detection and predictive data analysis by means of Machine Learning algorithms are involved in air navigation. Through these, it is possible to process data in real-time for the intelligent management of turbulence and changing weather patterns. This technology, combined with satellite observation data, allows the crew to make forecasts in flight. But it also enables private aviation to establish more flexible, efficient, and cost-effective flight plans.

IoT in private and commercial aviation

The Internet of Things has a relevant share in the aviation sector. Machine-to-machine and sensor-to-terminal communication is a key source of data for the industry. Among other applications, both commercial and private aviation are employing this resource in predictive maintenance of aircraft. Also, in the monitoring of mobile assets and personnel. Soon the integration of IoT capabilities with other technologies such as robotics and 3D printing will facilitate:

  • On the one hand, to contribute to the maintenance of aircraft in perfect operating conditions.
  • Optimize crew uptime.
  • Very soon, even produce savings in fuel consumption and lighten administrative and baggage handling.

Cloud computing and applications in private aviation

Private aviation operators and airlines manage large amounts of data in complex environments. In addition, staff in branch offices or on the move need 24/7 access to data. Only then will ground and air operations run smoothly. In this context, cloud computing is an ideal and vital tool for the airline industry. If you are an owner or manager of an executive airline, you may already know the advantages of this resource. However, it is worth remembering some of them:

  • Reduced operational and infrastructure costs. By using cloud services, your airline does not need to acquire and maintain expensive servers and hardware. Nor do you need physical space to host them. It only requires Internet connection and those devices necessary for data management.
  • Access from anywhere and with any terminal. In fact, your pilots and ground personnel can open applications and manage data using their mobile devices, wherever they are!
  • Scalability and pay-per-use. Typically, cloud providers offer plans according to your company’s development for access to data storage, platform, and infrastructure as services.
  • Continuity of productivity. In times of Covid and mobility restriction, part of the staff can telework from home.

Nuvolar’s applications fly high

For more than twelve years, Nuvolar has been developing critical applications for various business areas. In particular, for the aviation industry, with which we maintain an obvious emotional bond. Not by chance, the design and execution of apps for several airlines were part of our first challenges as a company. This allows us to combine the architecture of complex systems and the functionality of our solutions with our passion for aviation. The effectiveness of the systems we develop is appreciated by users all over the world.

Nuvolar solutions for aviation

Nuvolar’s IT solutions for private aviation are versatile. They make it possible to manage:

  • Operations. Specifically: boarding operations (user creation and crew and personnel boarding, aircraft creation and role assignment). Ground operations (weight and balance configuration, fuel optimization, services and permits reservation, ground control and weather forecast). Management of continuing airworthiness of executive aircraft, CAMO (maintenance events, validation of technical records, tracking of hours and cycles, among others).
  • Crew. Crew and personnel management. Including crew scheduling, management of FTLs, and pilot and crew qualifications.

Lunch & Learn at Nuvolar

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Lunch & Learn at Nuvolar

At Nuvolar we believe working in a respectful and friendly environment is key for employees’ satisfaction and wellbeing. For this purpose, we organize many social events and activities. Some of the initiatives that we run are Carnival Contests, Christmas events, Friday Fun Day, etc. Among these initiatives, one of the most important ones is Lunch & Learn. In fact, this initiative has become one of the most important characteristics of Nuvolar Culture.

Some of you might be wondering:“what does this initiative consist of?” Well, the name is kind of self-explanatory. This event happens on Thursday at lunchtime and works like this: An employee gives a presentation to their colleagues while they are having lunch. The presentation is around 45 minutes long and there is always time for some questions. The topic of this presentation doesn’t need to be related to a work topic. It can be anything and it is at the presenter’s choice. They choose a topic they feel passionate about to share it with the Nuvofamily. To give an example of some of the topics, we have had Lunch & Learns about writing a novel, batch cooking, and the art of mixology among others. Additionally, as we are a very diverse company representing more than 20 nationalities, Lunch & Learns are also a great opportunity to give a virtual tour of all the amazing countries that the Nuvofamily represents.

The reason why we say that Lunch & Learn is one of the most important characteristics of the Nuvolar Culture is because Lunch & Learn personifies Nuvolar’s values. At Nuvolar, knowledge sharing and team bonding is something that we value a lot. As mentioned above, we put a lot of effort into maintaining our culture by carrying a lot of initiatives. This has definitely been challenging as we have needed to change from in-person to online activities. This being said, Lunch & Learn is a fun and interesting way to improve our communications skills as well as to share knowledge among peers. It is also a good way to get to know other people’s interests and find things in common between colleagues.

We have been running these Lunch & Learns for many years and people really enjoy it. Before the pandemic, this initiative was run in the office. We always try to turn the camera on so that the human component doesn’t disappear. The good thing about running them online is that we currently run them more often (three times per month). As many people have joined recently and others want to do more than one presentation, the Lunch & Learn calendar was starting to get busier and busier. This is also one of the reasons why we run these presentations more frequently.

To facilitate the preparation, the company gives 4h working time (an afternoon) to dedicate to the preparation of the presentation. Once the employee has done a Lunch & Learn, she/he is able to enjoy that Thursday afternoon off or the following Friday off. All Lunch & Learn are voted on the same day of the presentation. At the end of the year, the best-rated presenter wins the “Lunch & Learn of the Year” title and receives a prize. These factors are a way to encourage and motivate all employees to participate in this initiative without any pressure.

Technology for tomorrow’s organizations

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Technology for tomorrow’s organizations

Nowadays, everything seems to indicate that symbiosis between strategy and technology will be consolidated sooner. In line with this statement, a recent survey by one of the most prestigious consulting firms reveals a striking trend: 40% of the CEOs surveyed believe that, from now on, it will be the CIO or chief technology officer who will drive business strategy. It is a fact that the closer the relationship between technology and business strategy, the greater the coherence and communication between the two must be.

A few years ago, expectations about the increasing migration of business processes and relationships towards digitization were of little concern to CEOs. However, many of them did not make sufficient provision — and along came the Covid 19 pandemic! Suddenly, mobility restrictions to curb contagions changed everything. Among other consequences, many companies start to implement telecommuting to remain operational. E-commerce reached unprecedented levels of transactions. And as if they weren’t already important enough, data on customer behavior and their expectations of brands became increasingly relevant.

How is your company coping with this change? Do you know which technological trends are determining the future of business? Pay attention to the following lines, and you will have some clues!

Tomorrow’s organizations in the cloud

Before the pandemic, many companies were reluctant to migrate data and processes to cloud computing. Doubts about its security and even refusal to pay a subscription were excuses to discard this option. When Covid 19 arrived, there was no time for regret. Companies that did not move into the cloud obtained lower productivity from their workers. But they also lost profitability and competitiveness. They even had to invest time to adapt to the cloud model a posteriori.

As we said earlier, the priority of digitization became a fundamental factor. During the current situation, access to applications was and is in great demand. Therefore, the same goes for access to the cloud. At Nuvolar, we have been very clear about this. For this reason, we constantly strive to develop intuitive and usable environments that provide customers and company employees with an exceptional user experience. At the same time, we take care to thoroughly understand the needs of the companies that entrust us with their projects. One example is our solutions based on Salesforce CRM, focused on boosting productivity.

In short, migrating to the cloud through software and applications, infrastructure, and platform as a service PAAS will be indispensable for tomorrow’s organizations.

AI + IoT in tomorrow’s organizations

Today, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are already complementary technologies to each other. Practitioners call this merger in progress AIoT. Machine-to-machine and sensor-to-terminal communication generate vast amounts of data. Therefore, the need to process and analyze this volume of information in real-time is obvious. Accordingly, the incorporation of AI facilitates the rapid decanting of the relevant data, and insights are crucial for decision making.

Seen in this way, the IoT would be like a nervous system that captures stimuli (data) and sends them to the brain. In this case, the AI that processes them “understands” them and puts them into perspective to generate reactions (decisions). But there is more! Soon, AIoT will allow the system to make autonomous decisions on issues ranging from routine to safety. The monitoring and the updating information supplied to the sensors and the search for correspondences enable the system to react.

In this sense, by implementing AIoT, companies’ systems will analyze eventualities and detect irregularities immediately. Better still, they will be able to foresee and deal with cyber-attacks automatically. In this way, with better approaches and quick and accurate decisions. As a result, companies will experience faster growth because the cost of the processes will reduce their costs.

In essence, the total experience is a developing trend that results from the combination of all those generated by organizations. That is customer experience, user experience, employee experience, and multi-experience. This merge aims to transform the company’s results, to improve the overall experience, precisely where all the transversal elements are connected.

By establishing a strong link between all these experiences and not improving them separately, we gain a competitive advantage, which means that we create an experience that is difficult to replicate and, at the same time, a sustainable experience. Such an option makes it easier for companies to get more out of remote work, virtuality, mobility, and distributed customers.

A practical example

To explain it better, imagine you own a high-end electric car workshop. And you would like to offer a satisfying experience to your customers, adding more security on the occasion of the pandemic. Then, you can create a solution whereby users can make an appointment. Through this application, you will have the opportunity to send them a notification when they arrive at the workshop. It is feasible to explain the registration procedure and tell them when they can safely enter the establishment, keeping the social distance.

Similarly, mechanics could use digital devices and applications to diagnose cars, minimizing physical contact. If we consider that manufacturers such as Tesla already use IoT to monitor the maintenance needs of their vehicles, this possibility is not far off. Undoubtedly, for customers and operators, it would result in an initiative that would enrich their experience with the brand.

5G, a must-have for tomorrow’s organizations

Of course, the integration of cloud computing, AIoT, and total enterprise experience will require 5G. At this point, the fifth-generation connection will guarantee the performance of the technologies mentioned above and trends. Because of its minimum latency and a maximum speed of 20 Gbps, 5G offers massive network capacity. In the case of IoT and AI, this impacts the ability to capture and process data in real-time for decision-making. This connected technology is already expanding globally and will be vital for tomorrow’s organizations.

At Nuvolar, we help digitize the businesses of the future.

Throughout this brief list of trends and technologies that will determine the performance of the companies of the future, the fundamental role of applications is clear. At Nuvolar, we are aware of the advances focused on improving the experience of all the actors in the production process with the brands. For this reason, in every project we take on, we like to go one step beyond expectations.

For this, we have a multidisciplinary team of creative and updated professionals who can understand your business model to perfection. Our experts are able to create the technological solutions your company needs to be more efficient and profitable. We are specialists in web development, applying UX/UI design. Our service is integral and includes consulting and support, get to know us, and you will understand why we can be the best partner in the digitalization of your company!