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How to Enable Your Employees to Become Citizen Developers

Posted: 27 Nov 2019 09:00 AM PST

The digital era is hurried and continually evolving. For businesses that are developing and implementing new technologies, it is a necessity to automate and optimize their processes in order to keep up. This ends up being a problem in itself, though, as professional developers are a finite and often strained resource, making app development difficult to achieve in a timely manner. In fact, over half of IT leaders claim to struggle with a lack of IT talent to keep up with the current demands on their department. As the demands on the limited number of developers continue to grow, the pace of business only hastens.

Citizen developers are proving to be an excellent way for organizations to respond to this lack of available professionals. Instead of hiring a larger (and more expensive) IT department, businesses can turn to their own team for the innovative talents they need for app development. Gartner defines "citizen developers" as users who create "new business applications for consumption by others using development and runtime environments sanctioned by corporate IT." In simpler terms, a citizen developer is not a professional developer, but they use tools available to them to develop apps that they and/or their team can use in their work.

Citizen developers are an often-untapped resource for many businesses. Their ability to automate workflows and processes saves companies both money and time, so it is in your best interest to enable the rise of citizen developers within several departments of your business whenever and wherever possible. Deciding to make it a goal to encourage citizen developers within your organizational structure is easy enough, but knowing exactly how to do so is not always clear. Here are three ways to make the most of the citizen developers in your business and take full advantage of what they are capable of creating.

1. Get to know your citizen developers

The first step in getting to know your citizen developers is figuring out what their skills are. You will be surprised to find out just how much minor experiences your team members have had that could be an advantage when learning how to become a citizen developer. Maybe they have no formal knowledge of software development, but they are well versed in tools such as Microsoft Excel. Perhaps they have created web applications of their own in their free time for a club they participate in. Alternatively, maybe they remember learning a coding language vaguely in college. Perhaps a few of them have experience in using document management and collaboration tools.

Sure, none of these facts makes any of these employees bona fide IT experts. However, this information about your citizen developers all points to your team having skills and a desire to learn that will be useful when developing their own applications and solutions. By understanding your team's basic skillsets and thinking outside the box about what their nonwork-related skills might bring to the table, you will be able to assemble your citizen developers and improve how you utilize their skills. So, when you're assembling your team, dig deep and ask about anything and everything they might know that could potentially be beneficial in the development process – you never know until you ask.

2. Give them an all-encompassing, low-code platform to use

If your citizen developers are using multiple platforms for their work, you are missing an opportunity to enable them further. Multiple platforms overcomplicate the development process and are more difficult to maintain. Having multiple stand-alone apps makes the optimization of business processes inherently less optimized, as the apps themselves are disjointed. A single, unifying platform can centralize the environment of your citizen developers and integrate their efforts for the entire company to utilize more easily.

Additionally, there are platforms available to consolidate your citizen developers' efforts and make the process of developing more intuitive for non-professionals. Low-code and no-code platforms allow for the creation of software solutions (apps, add-ons, etc.) with user-friendly drag-and-drop features. Low-code platforms operate under the notion that anyone within your company can become a developer, making them are extremely useful for companies hoping to enable as many employees as possible to become citizen developers. They require little to no coding in the process of app development, allowing users of all backgrounds to create their own solutions in a fraction of the time that traditional software development takes. Low-code application systems are becoming increasingly popular in the business world in general, as not only do they cover an organization's needs, but they also give companies the opportunity to turn their sales reps, HR managers, accountants, marketing managers and everyone in between into a developer.

In addition to the tools that they provide for citizen developers, low-code software offers the potential to integrate several useful third-party applications. This further extends its potential usage by professional and citizen developers alike and eases processes such as importing and exporting documents, converting files, storing and moving data, and several other useful functions. Though each individual low-code platform provider differs in its ability to integrate various third-party apps and software, the vast majority can incorporate third-party applications using web services without the need for professional IT assistance.

3. Provide your citizen developers with professional training and support

Even the most skilled citizen developers will likely need some professional help to get started. They might be unaware of important aspects of software development or the full capabilities of the platform your company is implementing. Someone with a professional background will, therefore, be required to instruct your citizen developers in the ins and outs of the platform they will be using to develop apps. Additionally, you will need professionals to implement and maintain the platform your company will be using.

Not only can professional developers train your citizen developers, but they can also help the entire company understand the ins and outs of the platform your citizen developers are using. A common statement made by companies who implement low-code platforms, for example, is that they found it useful to designate an IT expert to help them understand the full capabilities of the platform. In addition to training citizen developers and other users more effectively, professional developers can create larger, more complex applications using the same platform. 

Communication between IT and citizen developers is crucial. One of your IT department members should be assigned with the task of supporting your group of citizen developers in their endeavors, in addition to mastering the platform and understanding its capabilities. As an IT professional, they will have the experience and knowledge to guide your team through the basics of the platform, such as where to find and how to use the design tools. They will also be able to manage important aspects of the platform that are unrelated to app development, such as installation and managing access rights. The advantages of professional expertise in these areas means collaboration between your IT department and your citizen developers should be open and frequent, especially at first, so they will be fully prepared to start innovating for your company.

Conclusion

Businesses need automation, and they need it fast. Putting additional strain on already overworked IT departments is a method that does not keep up with the hurried pace of business and doing so overlooks an untapped resource of potential developers within the company. It can seem confusing at first to know how to begin creating and enabling citizen developers within your own company. By first recognizing what potential exists within your employees, implementing the right low-code platform that can encompass the entire company's software needs, and providing professional guidance, businesses can enable employees from any department to become a citizen developer and start creating solutions of their own. With these three tips in mind, your business will be fully prepared to dive headfirst into citizen development and will reap the benefits of their solutions at an unprecedented pace.

5 Tips for Finding the Right Manufacturer

Posted: 27 Nov 2019 08:00 AM PST

When starting an e-commerce business, most startup founders have a tendency to focus on optimizing their websites and validating product value propositions.

Now, these are undeniably important tasks, and it's a big part of what I do as a marketer. But all too often, they are prioritized at the expense of other vital tasks for e-commerce stores that plan on selling a physical product: finding the right manufacturer.

Quite simply, it doesn't matter how good your idea is (to a certain extent). It doesn't matter if you have a quality online platform to sell with. I've seen many e-commerce startups fall flat simply because they chose the wrong manufacturer for their products.

The right manufacturer will influence everything from the overall quality of your product to your ability to deliver orders on time and replenish stock in a timely manner. It's one of the most important decisions you can make for influencing the future success of your e-commerce store. I personally have experienced the difficulties associated with hitting growth metrics and crafting quality customer experiences simply because of a sub-par manufacturer.

While this is an important decision, it's not one that you have to make blind. The following tips are key insights that I've gained while working with various e-commerce brands as both a founder and a marketer that can help you find the right manufacturer for your needs:

1. Study domestic vs. overseas manufacturing.

For most e-commerce stores, one of the first decisions that needs to be made is whether you will work with a domestic or overseas manufacturer. In my experience, both options have pros and cons, meaning the right selection will typically vary from brand to brand.

Generally speaking, overseas manufacturing is going to be less expensive. It can also be easier to place high-volume orders with an overseas factory, and there are manufacturers in almost every niche imaginable.

Of course, with these relationships, it can be harder to oversee production, and language barriers can present communication issues that lead to manufacturing errors or other costly delays. Some manufacturers aren't as stringent about quality, which can also present problems.

It should also be noted that you don't have to default to China as a manufacturing hub when going overseas. While China is the world's biggest manufacturer, with an output worth over $2 trillion, The Brookings Institution notes that Japan has an output of over $1.06 trillion per year, while Germany's output reaches $700 billion. There are plenty of options out there, and depending on what product you're producing, one of these other options might be better suited for your vision. For instance, I am currently working on a shoe brand in the luxury market. My co-founder and I immediately scoped out the Italian manufacturing market because of its long-standing tradition of quality shoe craftsmanship.

On the domestic side of things, you can enjoy greater oversight over manufacturing with a domestic manufacturer, as well as easier communication. You might even share the same time zone as your manufacturer! Shipping is much faster and less expensive, and more payment options are available. These are huge perks that should not go overlooked.

However, domestic manufacturers tend to be higher priced and many don't have the capacity to produce high-volume orders. They are often better suited for smaller, more specialized product orders.

2. Search based on production type.

While deciding between a domestic or overseas manufacturer will help narrow your search, you should then look into suppliers' production capabilities to find the right fit. Just because a business is a "manufacturer" doesn't mean it has the tools to manufacture your specific product. After all, the manufacturing needs for clothing are quite different from electronic products.

Online directories like ThomasNet or Oberlo are good places to start your search, as these tools allow you to search for manufacturers based on product category. This way, you'll only be looking at potential manufacturers that are actually relevant for your e-commerce brand.

You can also search for potential domestic manufacturers based on their North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. This system assigns codes to industries and products. Searching by code will make it easy to find someone who produces your type of products.

The sheer number of manufacturers out there can seem overwhelming at first. By going through these basic steps to eliminate irrelevant manufacturers, your search will be far more manageable.

3. Investigate supplier capabilities.

Even though a manufacturer may produce items within your niche, they still may not be a good fit based on your order needs. Each supplier has its own set of standards and business practices that it adheres to which can affect whether it is the right choice for you or not.

For example, each manufacturer will likely have its own standards for minimum order quantity. Even with a single supplier, minimum order quantities can vary by product. If you only need a relatively small order, this could eliminate certain suppliers that have a higher minimum order standard. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some suppliers may have maximum order limits due to their production capacities.

Of course, you'll also want to know what the manufacturer's production pricing and turnaround time are like. You must investigate both of these! I've seen e-commerce brands select a manufacturing partner who delivered discounted prices for bulk orders, but then had issues because the turnaround time was longer than anticipated. Be mindful that the required lead-time will likely vary based on product type and order size.

While many manufacturers will have this information readily available on their website, others will require that you request a quote to learn more. Keep emails concise and to the point to ensure that you get a response.

4. Dig deep to validate credibility.

Online tools can be a great starting point for determining whether a manufacturer is any good, but Google or Facebook reviews are far from the only resource you should use to guide your selection.

For domestic manufacturers, searching Better Business Bureau listings can help you more accurately gauge the company's standing – including if there are outstanding complaints that have been filed against the manufacturer.

While this resource isn't available for international suppliers, you can still evaluate other aspects of their online presence. Reputable manufacturers will have professional certifications, and many will be listed on B2B platforms. A higher number of transactions, more years in business or previous work for well-known brands can also give you greater peace of mind.

Asking for references should be a core part of your evaluation of potential manufacturing candidates. Reach out to current and former clients for an honest perspective of what it is like to work with a particular manufacturer – both the pros and cons. Be wary of manufacturers who are unwilling to provide references.

A key way to determine if a potential manufacturing partner would be a good fit is to order a sample product. This will give you a completed, tangible product that you can examine for yourself to see if it lives up to your expectations. While some manufacturers will send free sample products, most will charge either the full retail price or send the product at a slightly discounted rate to cover their manufacturing and shipping expenses.

Of course, to ensure that your product sample will help you reliably gauge a manufacturer's abilities, you'll have to send the right documentation for your product. Detailed documents covering everything from dimensions and color to the smell or feel of the product will help the manufacturer deliver the desired result.

5. Schedule a factory visit.

One task that is often overlooked when vetting a potential manufacturing partner is scheduling a factory visit. While this might seem like an unnecessary burden (particularly when working with an overseas manufacturer), outsourcing experts consistently recommend that e-commerce brands and others take the time for this step. I cannot stress this enough.

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Global Sourcing Specialists founder Ashton Udall explained that an in-person visit gives you the ability to better gauge a manufacturer's services and overall quality. It gives you a chance to see its quality control and engineering processes up close. Even small details, like a factory's cleanliness and organization, can help you determine if the manufacturer will live up to your expectations.

If visiting a factory yourself is out of the question, you can hire an agent who can vet the factory on your behalf (though I would be cautious when vetting such agents). As with choosing a manufacturer, you should do your due diligence to choose an experienced agent with a good industry reputation. Their expert analysis of the potential manufacturing partner could help you avoid making a costly mistake.

Evaluating prospective manufacturers for your e-commerce store will require a fair amount of research, but it is well worth the effort. By putting in the time in advance, you can form reliable partnerships that enable you to meet the expectations of your customers and maximize your sales plan's potential.

Don't be afraid to consistently reevaluate your manufacturing partnerships, either. The first supplier or manufacturer you choose to work with may help you turn a profit, but they may not be suitable for your long-term needs. Going through some trial and error is a perfectly normal part of the process as you fine-tune your supply chain.

Ecommerce Delivery Times Are Getting Even Shorter

Posted: 27 Nov 2019 07:00 AM PST

Consumers stand to win as the major retail platforms continue to battle it out for market share. What are they winning? More convenience through faster product delivery – and every retailer has their own game plan.

Amazon Prime has driven major improvement in shipping logistics and fulfillment – and now it seems that all the major retailers are trying their shot. Changes in delivery times have started changing rapidly over the past year and look set to continue to improve in 2020.

Target, Walmart and now even other retailers like Best Buy are starting to roll out faster delivery on customer orders. Increased customer demand for faster delivery has led to different tech companies popping up to meet the need.

But as delivery times get shorter and shorter what can we realistically expect the future of fulfillment to look like?

Consumers used to think two-day shipping was fast

It wasn't even that long ago that Amazon shocked the retail and e-commerce world with its two-day shipping announcement for Amazon Prime Members. That was a huge surprise to consumers who had grown accustomed to receiving their orders in three to five days – or even seven to ten days.

Product delivery and logistics had not really made many big strides forward prior to the announcement. Amazon was able to reduce shipping time by investing in its supply chains and technology. The big question was how would other traditional retailers be able to compete with such fast shipping?

Now it seems almost comical to think that two-day shipping was so fast. Amazon took advantage of a customer convenience factor that no other retailer had really leveraged because they were too concerned about their bottom lines.

Now platforms like Target and Walmart have seen the success of Amazon's fulfillment strategy and have started playing catch-up to get ahead of the e-commerce platform. Previous budget-conscious restrictions appear to have gone out the window as online sales continue to increase.

Big delivery changes in 2019

This year has seen some big changes in product fulfillment, which is really pushing the limits of logistics – and retailers' bottom lines. Amazon, Target and Walmart all continue to battle for e-commerce dominance, and faster fulfillment has been their main tool to try to win that battle.

Target started heating up the competition early this year by announcing that same-day delivery would be available in certain markets. It was quickly followed by Amazon and Walmart who both made similar announcements. Amazon announced that shipping for Prime customers would start shifting from two-day shipping to one-day shipping and the retailer has since made 10 million products eligible for this program. Walmart said that free next-day delivery would be available on all items, and wouldn't require its customers to pay a membership fee.

Those changes alone would have previously been viewed as enormous shifts in e-commerce shipping. But the three retail behemoths were not done there. In September, Walmart announced that same-day delivery would be rolled out in 200 metro areas.

Amazon and Target responded by changing fees. Amazon dropped the fee on its Amazon Fresh program and Target adding unlimited free same-day delivery for a subscription with Shipt for $99 a year.

Other notable changes in delivery times from major retailers have come from Best Buy, who announced free next-day delivery for the holidays. There are also a variety of delivery services like Instacart that make it possible to pay to have anything delivered on the same day, with the delivery person actually going to the store and buying the product for you.

Each platform is trying to outdo the other in a bid to win more customer loyalty. But will that really work in the long term? Do consumers actually feel loyalty to the companies they buy their products from if they are all the same and arrive at the same time? Or is this just a race to the bottom as one platform tries to steal market share from all the others?

One thing that is for sure is that the end, consumers win. What is less clear is if this is actually a winning strategy for these retailers.

How much faster can product fulfillment get?

One thing is known with absolute certainty – delivery speeds have an upper limit. Instant delivery still seems like a futuristic concept and is probably not coming in the immediate future. But how much faster can delivery truly get?

I expect that in 2020, same-day delivery will become the norm for order fulfillment – especially on Amazon, Target and Walmart. The platforms seem determined to provide the fastest service possible to win over customers. That means that we could also see faster fulfillment rolling out as soon as next year.

Predictive analytics is playing a vital role in placing inventory in the right place at the right time. As more purchases continue to happen online, those analytics will improve even further and become more efficient and accurate.

A realistic possibility in the not-so-near future is same-hour delivery, at least in most metro areas of the United States.

Walmart and Target seem extremely well-positioned to make this possible as they each have thousands of brick-and-mortar locations. Stores will become more like fulfillment centers, which gives the two retailers a leg up on Amazon when it comes to last-minute delivery. However, Amazon has plenty of tricks still up its sleeve with the impending future of drone and autonomous driver delivery.

Amazon has invested heavily in autonomous technology – from freight delivery to the door-to-door delivery robot Amazon Scout. Its fulfillment centers largely are already autonomous and making its shipping services function with limited human interaction is just the next step.

It also seems unrealistic that individual tech-delivery platforms will be able to compete against the major platforms. The most likely situation seems to be that they will either go out of business or be acquired by a larger retailer, like Shipt was by Target.

One of the largest challenges to faster e-commerce delivery is the sheer pace that overall e-commerce sales are growing by. And, what type of impacts will increased delivery speed have on our environment?

Can we afford faster delivery?

Amazon has announced its goal to be carbon neutral by 2040, but the move from two-day to one-day shipping may have significant impacts. If online purchases increase because they offer more convenience, it could actually lead to more freight deliveries from heavy-duty trucks – which is already responsible for a quarter of all transportation-related carbon emissions.

The company's commitment to faster shipping will also mean more delivery trucks on the road – and it is not entirely clear whether it will achieve its carbon-neutral goal on its own. Currently, Amazon outsources much of its delivery services to third-party providers. While it may be able to reach its carbon-neutral goal with its own delivery vehicles, it remains to be seen if it can do so when its service providers are taken into account.

The expected increase in online purchases will also lead to additional waste created by product packaging. Moving to more environmentally-friendly packaging will be necessary to off-set the additional environmental damage that faster shipping will bring.

Hopefully, these companies are as focused on the impacts of faster shipping as they are about getting your next order to your door. Otherwise faster delivery could become more of a hindrance than a convenience.

10 Ways to Improve Your Web Design and Land More Customers

Posted: 27 Nov 2019 05:00 AM PST

Within five seconds of a visitor landing on your website, can they determine exactly what your business offers? Can users navigate to your business blog if they want to? Is your pricing simple to understand? If you're answering "no" to these questions, it may be time to make some changes to the way you have designed and optimized your business website.

 A website won't succeed by excelling in one or two aspects, such as solely content or solely design. It has to have a design that nurtures the user experience and appropriately complements your content. Your website must also clearly communicate what you do, why you do it and who you do it for. It is easy to get caught up with how good your business is but you don't want to fail to address the core concerns your audience has.

Look at these 10 website tips to ensure you're not losing potential customers.

Devise a plan 

You can't successfully design a website if you don't have a well thought out plan. In order to ensure your website is effectively meeting the needs of your visitors, make sure it is smooth to use from the moment your visitor arrives until the moment they become a customer. Think about what pages your visitors will view, the content they will read and what offers are appealing for them to convert on. When you understand this, you can design a website that nurtures leads through the sales funnel.

Remove certain verbiage from your website

There are elements of your website that can detract from the message and value you're hoping to convey to your visitors. Complicated animation, content that runs on and stocky images are a few of the elements you should address. Your audience has a short attention span – about 8 seconds – which means you have to make a strong first impression that gets your main points across quickly. You can do this with powerful, yet brief sections of content, concise headers and relevant photographs. 

Once you have this done, review it to ensure it does not contain jargon. All that does is make your content less helpful and confuse your audience. By removing unnecessary elements, you will transform your website into an inbound sales machine.

Implement calls-to-action 

Do your visitors know what they should do once they land on your site? You have to provide them with some sort of direction. This is the time to use call-to-action buttons that guide users through your site. 

Utilize call-to-actions that give your audience materials to educate themselves and solve their issues. Once your business is labeled as one that offers useful content, they will feel comfortable researching your products and services to see if you can help solve their problems.

Use the right images

Think about the type of message you're hoping to show your audience when you select your images. There are a lot of images to choose from, many that don't cost a dime. It's important to remember that when a website has an image available, that doesn't automatically make it a good choice when your goal is to evoke trust in your company. Too many businesses plague their website with stocky photos. 

If you're unable to use real photographs, there are other techniques you can use to help pick out the best stock photos. Your goal is to bring realism to your brand and make sure the images match who you are and what your content is trying to convey. 

Encourage your visitors to scroll on your homepage

If you want to know how to make your brand memorable, go ahead and create a longer homepage. Opt for three to five sections that direct both your new and recurring visitors to the right area of your website to create a smooth user experience. Not sure what the sections should be? Here are a few of the most crucial elements:

  • Value proposition
  • Intro video
  • Product features
  • About us
  • Success stories
  • Testimonials

 These are just a sample of the most important homepage elements.

Ensure the landing page does its job

It's quite common for people to be unsure of the landing page definition. The landing page actually refers to a kind of web page that is created solely as a marketing tool. People arrive at a landing page after clicking a link, which often appears in an advertisement. A powerful landing page drives visitors toward conversion by urging them to click through to a desired action, whether it's making an online purchase or subscribing to your business newsletter. Headers, subheaders, images and buttons must represent the page's message in a clear, powerful and effective way.

 

Optimize your website for mobile

You may already that know 80% of internet users are smartphone owners. It's a necessity to tailor your website to meet the wants and needs of your visitors. Ask yourself, why would someone access my website on mobile? What type of things would they want to see? Does the experience allow them to easily do those things?

Make sure your website isn't lagging on its mobile optimization and aim to ensure users have a seamless mobile experience from start to finish.

Keep testing

Seeing how far visitors scroll, examining conversion path and seeing where they're clicking are qualities that unveil if your pages are performing in the way you intended.

If you have a lot of pages to sort through, you may find older landing pages may perform well, but contain information that could be outdated. Some pages might need some updates or design changes. Changes such as headers, a few new sentences in copy or button colors can make a world of difference in the performance of the page. 

Identify broken links

You may have a few pages or links that are not working, especially if your site is large or has been around for a while. Take your time and check each page on your site to see if you have any broken pages. You may find that pages that used to perform well are improperly linked. 

Revise your content to appeal to your persona 

There's a dangerous trap many people fall into when writing copy aimed to impress website visitors. The content often focuses on "our" and "we." 

Writing something such as, "Our benefits include…" is an example of a common header used throughout business web pages. While this may be a good way to showcase how your business can be helpful and that you and your offerings are great, it won't get the point you hope to get across.

Remove the "we's" and "our's" and replace those words with "you's" and "yours." Prospective customers want you to understand their areas of struggle and want for you to clarify how they could be solved. While this grammatical switch might seem insignificant, it subconsciously alters the way your customers view your business.

Websites are containers for content, and the visitors come for the content, not the container. You must make sure your website is beautiful and makes an emotional or visual impact on the visitors. At the same time, you also must recognize that the success of your website goes far beyond its looks; it is about helping visitors find what they need so they chose to utilize your business. 
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