In my previous post, I discussed how IT consumerization – the introduction of consumer devices into the workplace – is already having a significant impact on Nearshore software development as CIOs rush to capitalize on the trend. But adapting to new devices alone isn’t enough. To truly get the most out of their consumerization efforts, companies have begun to incorporate Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) into their enterprise mobility strategies.

Mobile Device Management and Mobile Application Management have emerged as real solutions for companies seeking to harness IT consumerization while keeping control over the consumer devices used in the workplace and the applications that reside on them. These solutions, which include offerings from companies like AirWatch and Sybase (Afaria), enable IT to secure employee-owned iOS or Android devices, while ensuring adherence to corporate policies and approved use of …

In my last blog post, I looked at some of the reasons why mobile apps have emerged as the next frontier in Nearshore, and are only likely to grow as a dominant market driver in the years to come. One of the reasons I point to is IT consumerization, the trend of information technology gaining adoption with consumers, who in turn bring these devices or software to the business.

In this post, I’d like to delve deeper into this trend, and talk through some of the reasons why I believe it will continue to reshape the IT landscape – and, by extension, the Nearshore market – for the foreseeable future.

At its heart, the concept of IT consumerization means just what it sounds like: consumer devices making their way into IT environments. But the reasons for this – and their implications for Nearshore – bear further exploration.

Certainly one of the …

As we’ve discussed previously on this blog, the trend of companies turning to Nearshore providers to develop enterprise software and web applications has given way to more and more organizations looking to Nearshore partners to develop mobile apps. And it’s not just development – Nearshore providers are being sought as partners to aid in the creation of companies’ entire mobile strategies, from ideation and UX (user experience) design to post-production (including support, metrics and governance).

There are a number of reasons for this, and as we head into the fourth quarter of 2011 and start looking ahead to 2012, I think it’s safe to assume that mobile development will continue to be a core driver in the growth of Nearshore IT outsourcing in the years to come. Here’s why:

• Growth of Mobile Apps as a Business and Marketing Engine: Rather than being viewed as simple time-wasters, mobile apps are now being …

In the first part of this post, I discussed the benefits of combining Agile methodologies and Lean principles in Nearshore application development. The second half will take this idea a step further, examining additional ways that this combination of Agile and Lean in Nearshore can deliver business value.

Any successful Lean application development project aims to avoid waste. Many offshore engagements generate waste in the form of extensive documentation, while time difference can also be a significant hurdle to the efficient completion of projects. The lack of overlap in working hours creates significant lag in the ability of the provider to interact with the client, thereby hampering the goal of using Agile development to deliver better software at a faster pace.

Because of the overlap in working hours between the client and the provider, Nearshore reduces waiting time for answers to questions or access to deliverables to the bare minimum, …

Companies in today’s economy need to ensure that investments in Nearshore development projects result in high returns. As such, companies have often looked to providers to deliver applications at the lowest possible cost, and the quality and speed at which they’re delivered is a secondary concern.

With the economic situation as it is, it’s hard to fault them for this. Many Nearshore application development providers consistently trumpet their ability to deliver custom applications at a significant cost-savings to the client. But the reality is that any savings that may be gained in these engagements ultimately are achieved at the expense of productivity and delivery of true value to the business.

In development projects, agility and business contribution are critical. This is why I have long been a proponent of Nearshoring application development using a combination of Agile methodologies and Lean principles. In many ways, Nearshoring has proven to be a crucial enabler …

In the first part of this post, I briefly explained the concept of Lean thinking as it relates to Nearshore application development. Due to economic pressures and other factors, many companies have begun seeking Nearshore partners who have adopted the Lean approach in order to improve the cost, quality, speed, and agility of projects. In this installment, we’ll look at what the Lean concept actually means as it relates to the client, and the ways in which these principles manifest in real-world project scenarios.

But what does “Lean” actually mean?

Although the word “lean” may initially be confused with frugality, we must be attentive to its depth. Remember that the purpose of Lean application development is to improve cost, and also quality, speed, and agility – and it’s no accident that agility and speed are grouped together. Agility does not necessarily mean doing things quickly. It means doing the right …

In any economic climate, a company’s most important objective is ensuring that the cost of doing business does not overshadow any returns it derives as a result. When margins are robust, companies can afford to invest heavily in technologies that may not immediately produce visible returns, but can be counted on to reap benefits several years down the line.

However, when these margins become razor thin and the future looks uncertain, companies must quickly adapt their strategies and invest in only the projects that can provide an immediate return on investment. With companies seeking new IT approaches for achieving faster (almost immediate) ROI, many have begun looking for partners that can incorporate Lean thinking in their Nearshore development projects.

Based on the manufacturing model Toyota successfully leveraged as it achieved market dominance, Lean IT provides a systematic approach to simultaneously improving cost, quality, speed and agility.

Experience shows that it is …

In the first installment of this post, I looked at the importance of user experience in Nearshore mobile application development, as well as how companies seeking to engage a provider for development projects should consider those who can create a customer feedback loop to determine the features that will ensure apps are both downloaded and kept on the devices by their users.

In this installment, I’ll look at another key tactic companies can use to ensure that their providers are developing apps that can provide an optimal user experience.

Find a Provider That Makes Creative and Development a Unified Process

In many Nearshore app development projects, companies will engage an outside user experience (UX) designer to define the usability and design components of their apps. It’s always beneficial to bring in a proven resource that genuinely understands user interaction, and can effectively use this knowledge to bring the development team …

As companies across industries continue to engage Nearshore providers for mobile app development, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the line between great mobile apps and bad ones is becoming easier to see.

By Daniel Viveiros

Recently, I looked at the rise in popularity of cloud computing amongst software developers in Nearshore engagements. But questions still remain as to the cloud’s security and reliability, and what the future holds.

Despite the benefits of cloud development in the speed and cost savings it can offer to clients’ businesses, many still view it as too unstable and unreliable to be trusted to host their infrastructures. Though their concerns are, I believe, somewhat warranted, I also believe that with the right considerations and planning, companies can clear this mental hurdle and start leveraging the cloud for their Nearshore projects.

The key to leveraging the cloud is to be smart about how you approach it. It’s not something you can just dive into, and it should be approached in the same way as any other considerable IT investment– with a backup plan in place. Clients need to prepare …