The secret tool top developers are using to create amazing apps

In the world of mobile application development, standing out is no easy task. With a competitive market and users more demanding than ever, companies need a strategic ally that allows them to create innovative, efficient and memorable apps. This is where Mobilenik comes in, the secret tool that is revolutionizing the way mobile applications are designed and developed.

What makes Mobilenik so special?

Mobilenik is not just a development company; it's a platform that integrates everything you need to transform an idea into a high-impact mobile application. From the first sketch to the final release, Mobilenik prioritizes user experience (UX) and collaboration at every stage of the process.

These are the keys to success with Mobilenik:

1-UX design from day one.

Mobilenik understands that UX design is the heart of any successful app. That's why our approach starts with a thorough analysis of user and customer needs. We create interactive prototypes that allow us to test ideas and optimize the experience before entering the development stage.

With Mobilenik, each application is intuitive, functional and aesthetically impeccable, ensuring that users not only use it, but love it.

2-Real-time collaboration

Our system allows designers, developers and project managers to work together in an integrated environment. This seamless collaboration ensures that all aspects of the project are aligned, minimizing errors and maximizing efficiency.

3-Automation and advanced analytics

Mobilenik includes tools that automate key processes, such as testing and data analysis. This allows us to identify improvements in record time, optimizing performance and ensuring that each application meets the highest quality standards.

Why choose Mobilenik for your next project?

The secret of top developers is to use tools that allow them to focus on what really matters: creating applications that solve problems and exceed user expectations. With Mobilenik, you have access to a team committed to:

-Designing experiences that make a difference.

-Developing custom apps that fit your needs.

-Reducing development times without compromising quality.

Mobilenik is not just a tool; it is your strategic partner in the digital transformation of your business.

A path to amazing applications

The mobile app market is evolving rapidly, and Mobilenik is at the forefront of this transformation. Whether you're creating an app from scratch or redesigning an existing one, our comprehensive approach ensures that every project is a success.

Discover the power of Mobilenik today. Contact us HERE for a consultation and take the first step into the future of your mobile applications.

How asset-light strategies and models can boost business growth

Once seen as just a defensive tactic used by underperforming companies, asset-light strategies and business models are now becoming an essential tool to fuel growth and strengthen an ecosystem of partnerships. Recent Ernst & Young LLP research indicates that regardless of market position, an asset-light approach can help companies achieve higher total shareholder returns (TSR),1 among other financial benefits.

An asset-light strategy or business model involves transferring capabilities, such as people, process and technology, to “better owners” in order to enable companies to transition fixed costs to a variable cost structure, enhance agility, and facilitate a shift of resources that allows a focus on core capabilities.

EY Asset-light survey result
Analysis shows asset-light companies have outperformed their peers on total shareholder return over the last five years.

More than half of February 2021 webcast respondents believe that digitization and innovation are the key drivers for considering an asset-light strategy.

How asset-light models can be a strategic tool to build innovative, agile ecosystems
At its core, asset-light is about creating mutually advantageous partnerships that allow all parties to focus and manage the capabilities they are best at while creating greater profits and shareholder value for the benefit of all partners in a business’s ecosystem.

In addition to total shareholder returns, there may be other financial benefits. For example, another recent Ernst & Young LLP study found that companies that transitioned manufacturing ahead of a sale were 17 percentage points more likely to exceed expectations on the valuation of the remaining businesses and were more likely to exceed expectations on the price of the divestment.

Analysis shows asset-light companies outperform peers on total shareholder return

Ernst & Young LLP research of US Fortune 500 public companies across several sectors shows that asset-light companies achieved a greater total shareholder return when compared with their asset-heavy peers. We define asset-light companies as those that have a five-year property, plant and equipment (PPE) to sales ratio average lower than their respective sector mean. On average, the asset-light companies outperformed their asset-heavy peers by four percentage points in the last five years of total shareholder returns. Sample selected sectors are highlighted in the graphic below.

Is an asset-light model and strategy the right answer for your company?

Companies typically begin their asset-light journey by identifying which assets and capabilities are core to delivering value to their customer base right now. For example, sellers may find a path to greater operational agility by transitioning their manufacturing operations to a contract manufacturer rather than carving out an entire business unit and disposing of a valuable brand.

Overall, companies should begin by asking several key questions including:

-Is your company performing at its full potential — on growth, margin, return on invested capital (ROIC) and total shareholder returns metrics vs. peers? Is there an opportunity to perform even better?
-Do you have businesses or capabilities that need to be retained or non-core assets that may have a better owner in the marketplace?
-Can you create a greater focus in your organization by retaining your core capabilities only?
-Is your business model adequate for the products and services you sell in various markets?
-Have you undertaken any significant business model transformations (e.g., third-party partnerships, JVs) in the last two to three years?

Based on the responses to the questions above, companies should conduct a rapid analysis on three levels:

-Markets – determine which markets or geographies to play in
-Product and service – determine the right business model(s) based on respective product position(s) and marketplace offerings
-Capabilities – determine which capabilities are core and which are not

Full Potential Paradigm review
The Full Potential Paradigm is EY-Parthenon’s proprietary tool that provides an objective and quantitative point-of-view to set performance targets, prioritize investments and mitigate risks.

The original content of the note was published on Ey.com. To read the full note visit here

The emerging startup playbook

Over the past year I’ve unpacked the zero to $1 million journeys of more than a dozen breakthrough startups including 11x, Attio, Copy.ai, lemlist and Pinecone. And I’ve advised countless others during this messy period between having a product to sell and a repeatable go-to-market machine.

Many of these startups have seen breakout growth. Copy.ai started with four MVPs, then struck gold and scaled to 10 million users in only four years. Jam went from seven failures to 10x usage growth. Pinecone saw signups explode to over 10,000 per day.

Not one of these journeys was preordained. And none followed what I’d consider to be the “conventional” startup playbook popularized over the past decade or so.

The conventional approach tends to look something like this:

-Build a minimum viable product (MVP)—you should be embarrassed otherwise you’ve shipped too late.
-Launch with a big PR splash—open your waitlist all at once to capitalize on the lightning strike.
-Push hard on cold outbound to prove you can spend money to make money.
-Write SEO-bait content for inbound leads—volume is what matters even if it is uninspired.
-Get to $1M in ARR to show product-market fit (PMF) and raise your Series A.
-Keep growing by hiring more reps—growth is an equation based on the number of ramped reps, quotas and average attainment.
-Goal marketing on qualified leads (MQLs) to feed the army of sales reps.
-Raise more money for external signaling—fundraises generate PR, close candidates and prove viability to prospects.

Each of these components makes intuitive sense. And collectively this playbook has served many startups quite well.

But the startups I’ve been spending time with lately — and in particular the startups that have gotten off the ground in a post-ZIRP, AI-first environment — have followed a different path. I’ll unpack what these next generation startups did instead, which collectively looks like an emerging startup playbook.

The emerging startup playbook

1.Build a minimum remarkable product that stands out.


People used to tell founders that they should be embarrassed by their initial product; otherwise, they’ve shipped too late.

That was fantastic advice when the predominant alternative was pen-and-paper or Excel. Now the alternative is mostly other modern software products.

2.Embrace storytelling to attract an audience.

Many startup founders stay in ‘stealth mode’ and steadily build up a waitlist until they’re ready to launch. Then the launch becomes a ‘lightning strike’ moment with as much fanfare as possible. Folks will open their waitlist all at once, work with PR to offer exclusives to top publications and drum up interest in early adopter communities like Product Hunt

3.Hire ops to test and grow potential channels.

Cold outbound became a part of the GTM playbook at nearly every enterprise software company. It might start with founders running their own outbound plays to find design partners. Steadily larger and larger teams would get built to turn outbound into a coin operated machine.

4.Lead with the product.

When startups wanted to supplement their lead generation beyond outbound, they’d typically turn to search engine optimization (SEO). The SEO playbook usually included creating a list of potential keywords, prioritizing the relevant ones that had the most volume and then writing lots of SEO-bait content to rank for those terms.

5.Strong retention and word-of-mouth = PMF.

$1 million ARR has long been a major milestone in enterprise software. Whether in fundraising conversations or popular blog posts, $1 million comes up as a near-mystical number that signals product-market fit and readiness to raise a Series A.

It’s not a terrible rule-of-thumb. The $1 million ARR milestone indicates customers are willing to pay for the product and that there’s some level of repeatability in finding, winning and serving these customers. It might have been particularly meaningful at a time when go-to-market was dominated by cold outbound plus inside sales.

6.Stay lean through automation and AI.

In a previous era, growing beyond $1 million ARR became more-or-less an equation in a spreadsheet. If you didn’t grow as fast as you hoped, it was usually because you hadn’t hired enough people quickly enough.

The spreadsheet-based approach to scaling has started to fade as go-to-market becomes more complicated and as startups embrace more efficient growth.

7.Embrace a unified GTM focused on your ideal customers (ICP).

Software businesses have been stuck with a mental model where marketing generates leads (MQLs) and then sales closes them. As we tied growth to a hiring plan, marketing became responsible for feeding new sales reps with more and more MQLs.

8.Maintain capital optionality and control your destiny.

To pull off the prior startup playbook, you’d need capital – the more, the better. Large fundraises not only provided the cash to hire armies of sales reps and xDRs, they provided powerful external signaling. Fundraises attracted press attention, which then attracted candidates and signaled viability to potential prospects. There were competitive dynamics at play, too, which big fundraises effectively taking the oxygen out of the room as smart VCs anointed a category leader.

Think of these as emerging best practices rather than a how-to guide. Some may not work for your specific business; you may also find yourself creating entirely new practices that better reflect the nuances of your product, market and team.

Regardless of where you land, it’s clear that we need to move past the dated (and expensive) approach of the recent past and craft a better future.

The original content of the note was published on Growthunhinged.com. To read the full note visit here

I wish someone had told me this before I hired a development team for my app

Developing an app from scratch is an exciting journey, but also full of challenges. Finding the right development team can be a complex task, and many wish they had known certain key points before hiring. At Mobilenik, we've seen firsthand the challenges and learnings of many entrepreneurs and companies looking to create a mobile app that truly delivers value. Below, we share with you some fundamental aspects that will help you make more informed decisions.


1.Define your vision… and then drill down into details
A clear idea of what you want to achieve with your app is just the beginning. It is essential to transform that idea into a detailed vision. Define the essential functionalities, how you expect users to interact with it and what your ultimate goals are. This will help you not only to better communicate your needs, but also to align the development team with your vision and avoid misunderstandings along the way.


2.Evaluate their expertise in your type of app.
App development varies according to its objective (e-commerce, entertainment, productivity, etc.). Make sure the team has experience in the type of app you need, as each category has specific challenges.


3.Think about UX design from the beginning.
Make sure the development team includes experienced UX designers and that user experience is present at every stage of the development process. The interface and usability of the app are critical to its success, and defining them from the start is essential to avoid changes and costly modifications in the future.


4.Communication is key
Effective communication can make a big difference in the development of your app. A team that provides frequent updates, listens to your ideas and provides solutions to problems is invaluable. Look for a team with a transparent work methodology, where you can be aware of progress, changes or possible setbacks at every stage.


5.Make sure your team thinks about scalability and maintainability.
It's easy to get excited about a first functional version, but consider from the beginning how your app will evolve. Is the team creating a scalable architecture? Do they offer maintenance plans or future upgrades? These aspects make the difference between an app that manages to adapt and grow and one that remains stagnant because it is not prepared for the evolution of the market and users.


6.Don't limit yourself only to the budget
Hiring a development team is an investment and, as with any investment, cheap can be expensive. While it is important to stick to a budget, it is also important to evaluate the quality-price ratio. It is preferable to choose a team with fair rates and a solid portfolio than an inexpensive one with no proven experience.


7.Testing and constant feedback are not optional.
Finally, make sure the team considers the testing phase as an essential part of the development. Testing the app on different devices, getting feedback from real users and making constant improvements are crucial actions for a successful app. A committed team at this stage will be the best ally to achieve your goals.


Hiring a development team can be the decision that takes your project to the next level, or it can become a challenge if you don't choose the right partner. At Mobilenik, we are committed to guide you and offer you a transparent, professional and aligned collaboration with your goals. We know that developing an app is an important bet, and we work to make this process a positive and success-oriented experience.


Contact us HERE for more information.

How to Build a Billion-Dollar Marketplace — Do’s and Don’ts from the Growth Expert Behind Grubhub, Pinterest, and More

Think of a typical Friday night. Maybe you’re heading out to a local concert, which you RSVP’d to through Eventbrite. But before you head out, you order a pre-show meal from DoorDash. Finished with your meal, you Uber to the venue — but not before tossing on that new hat you bought off Etsy.

In the span of a few hours, you used four marketplace apps — without thinking twice.

Although these marketplaces have now become stitched into the fabric of our routines, their paths to product-market fit were far from seamless. Just ask Casey Winters, the seasoned growth expert behind massive marketplace success stories like Grubhub and Pinterest.

Across his storied growth career, Winters has cultivated a healthy appreciation for the black diamond-grade slopes these marketplaces must navigate to unlock sustainable growth. “When you’re building a marketplace, you’re tasked with generating demand and supply — so it can take longer to get the product to fully unlock,” he says.

As a growth leader and now an angel investor and advisor for marketplace startups, Winters has a multi-dimensional view into the exact moves that separate ubiquitous marketplaces from the also-rans. In this exclusive interview, he demystifies the 0-1 process into a simple punch list of do’s and don’ts that can turn promising startups into massive, multibillion-dollar marketplaces.

Picking an idea

Do: Choose a market with many suppliers
Just about any product can be bought and sold through an online marketplace. But even though a product category has hints of demand, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to grow into a mammoth offering. That’s why Winters emphasizes that founders must be thoughtful about choosing a market that actually has growth potential — right from the start.

Don’t: Target customers who always want the same thing
The dream for any business is to create a product where customers come back again and again. But when building a marketplace, you actually don’t want to target markets where customers make the same exact purchase over and over.

Finding early customers

Do: Find a scalable acquisition loop
“The point that gets talked about the least in marketplaces, but is extremely important, is figuring out if you have a sustainable advantage for acquiring either supply or demand,” says Winters. “Successful marketplaces tend to have a really scalable acquisition loop.”

Don’t: Shy away from some upfront non-scalable work
Uncovering a scalable acquisition loop is key if you want to launch a successful marketplace — but it doesn’t allow you to skip out on pounding the metaphorical (or even literal) pavement.

Retaining customers

Do: Understand all three steps of customer acquisition
As the oft-repeated story goes, in the early days of Facebook, the team noticed that users who acquired at least 10 friends in the first 14 days were much more likely to stick around. Getting to that tenth friend was considered the “magic moment” in Facebook customer acquisition.

Don’t: Overdo the discounts
With the insight that a second order in the first 30 days often leads to habitual use, it’s tempting to offer a tantalizing discount to nudge customers towards that behavior. But Winters warns that discounting is a dangerous dance.

Expanding the customer base

Do: Raise supply standards over time
“Grubhub’s software itself was hacky for a long time, but the restaurants were getting more demand,” says Winters. “Meanwhile, folks ordering delivery were seeing way more options than they had in the past.”

Don’t: Be rigid with your value prop
Winters notes that these standards can evolve over time. For example, in the early days of ridesharing, proving the safety of the product was paramount — but that evolved as ridesharing became more commonplace.

Evolving from startup to scaleup

Do: Level up your data sophistication
While building intricate software is not on an early marketplace’s to-do list, robust data analysis should be. When Winters partners with marketplaces after Series A or Series B, the first step is building up data capability. “We enrich the dashboards that your team should be paying attention to and we double-check that you're looking at the appropriate slice of data,” says Winters.

Don’t: Ignore supply churn
One particular red flag marketplaces tend to mistake for yellow is supplier churn. “A lot of times, people are acquiring a lot of supply that doesn't really get any transactions and then that supply will churn,” says Winters.

The original content of the note was published on Review.firstround.com. To read the full note visit here

How To Get Fit For Innovation And AI—Product-Market Fit

Gaining alignment between product offerings and market needs is essential for sustainable growth and profitability. However, the path to product-market fit (PFM) is rarely straightforward. It requires a deep understanding of customer pain points, market dynamics, and the ability to iterate quickly based on feedback. Companies that successfully navigate this process often emerge as industry leaders, while those that fail may find themselves struggling to gain traction.

But beyond this foundational understanding, PMF holds profound insights into innovation, product strategy, market and customer engagement, and the sustainable capture of value. AI can enhance PMF and expedite actionable steps for leaders to navigate this crucial journey.

Achieving product-market fit remains a critical milestone for startups and established companies alike. This elusive concept, often described as the holy grail of product development, can make or break a company's success. But what exactly is product-market fit, and why is it crucial for innovation, strategy, and long-term value creation?

The Basics of Product-Market Fit

At its core, product-market fit occurs when a product satisfies a strong market demand. PMF is when customers not only want your product but actively seek it out and recommend it to others.

Achieving PMF is an iterative process involving understanding customer needs, continuous product adjustments, and effective communication of the product's value proposition.

The Role of AI in Achieving Product-Market Fit

AI has become a transformative force across industries, offering powerful tools to enhance the PMF process. Here’s how AI can play a pivotal role:

1-Market Analysis and Segmentation: AI can analyze vast amounts of data to identify market trends, segment customers, and uncover unmet needs, enabling companies to target the right audience with precision.

2-Predictive Analytics: By leveraging machine learning algorithms, businesses can predict customer behavior and preferences, allowing for more informed product development decisions.

3-Personalization: AI-driven personalization engines can tailor marketing efforts and product recommendations to individual customer preferences, enhancing engagement and satisfaction.

4-Customer Feedback Analysis: Natural language processing (NLP) can sift through customer reviews, social media, and support tickets to extract valuable insights on product performance and areas for improvement.

Actionable Steps for Leaders and Organizations

To reach product-market fit, leaders and organizations should consider the following action steps:

1-Deep Market Research: Invest in understanding your market thoroughly. Utilize AI tools to gather and analyze data on customer behavior, preferences, and trends.

2-Customer-Centric Approach: Prioritize customer feedback and make it central to your product development process. Implement AI-driven feedback analysis to gain deeper insights.

3-Rapid Iteration: Adopt agile methodologies to enable quick product adjustments based on customer feedback and market changes.

4-Clear Value Proposition: Ensure your product’s value proposition is clear, compelling, and effectively communicated to your target market.

5-Leverage AI and Technology: Integrate AI technologies to enhance market analysis, personalize customer experiences, and predict future trends.

6-Build a Community: Foster a strong customer community to enhance engagement and loyalty. Use data to understand and meet the evolving needs of this community.

7-Measure and Adapt: Continuously measure product performance and customer satisfaction. Be ready to pivot or adapt your strategy based on these insights.

Get Fit

Achieving product-market fit is a dynamic and ongoing process that requires a deep understanding of the market, a customer-centric approach, and the agility to adapt. The concept of product-market fit will continue to evolve alongside technological advancements and changing consumer behaviors.

Leaders must recognize that the pursuit of product-market fit is not just about creating successful products—it's about building organizations that can consistently deliver value to customers and stakeholders. By focusing on this fundamental concept, we can drive innovation that truly matters and create sustainable businesses that thrive in the long term.

The original content of the note was published on Forbes.ai. To read the full note visit here

How AI is Redefining Team Dynamics in Collaborative Software Development

While artificial intelligence is transforming various industries worldwide, its impact on software development is especially significant. AI-powered tools are enhancing code quality and efficiency and redefining how teams work together in collaborative environments. As AI continues to evolve, it's becoming a key player in reconfiguring team dynamics, enhancing productivity, and streamlining communication. This article explores how AI redefines team dynamics in collaborative software development, unlocking new ways of working and shaping the industry's future.

The Shift to AI-Augmented Development

In the past, software development relied heavily on human expertise at every stage, from design and coding to testing and deployment. While this traditional approach has driven significant progress, it faces bottlenecks, including inefficiencies, communication barriers, and human errors. Recent advancements in AI, however, are offering intelligent solutions that effectively address these challenges, transforming how development teams operate.

AI-augmented development redefines team collaboration by automating routine tasks such as bug detection, code reviews, and version control. By handling these repetitive tasks, AI allows developers to focus on more complex, higher-order problems, improving their productivity and efficiency. This automation also promotes effective collaboration by minimizing bottlenecks and reducing the need for constant manual intervention.

Enhancing Cross-Functional Collaboration

AI's impact goes beyond just coding; it's becoming vital for enhancing collaboration among teams, especially in agile development environments. Software development relies heavily on teamwork, shifting responsibilities between developers, testers, product managers, and business users. These teams must interact and communicate effectively to achieve their shared goals. AI tools are helping to break down the traditional silos that often get in the way of effective communication.

For instance, AI-driven project management platforms like Asana and Jira optimize task allocation by analyzing team performance and identifying skill gaps. These platforms predict potential roadblocks and suggest workflows that ensure tasks are assigned to the most appropriate team members, improving project outcomes. AI also assists in forecasting timelines, reducing project delays, and providing data-driven insights that help team leaders make more informed decisions.

Boosting Remote and Distributed Teams

In today’s globalized world, remote work has become the norm for many software development teams. Distributed teams often face challenges related to communication, coordination, and maintaining productivity across time zones. AI is crucial in bridging these gaps and ensuring that remote teams remain as effective as co-located ones.

Additionally, AI is transforming code review processes for remote teams. Tools like Codacy and CodeClimate use machine learning algorithms to automate code reviews, ensuring that teams follow best practices even when senior developers are not immediately available for oversight. This mechanism accelerates the review process and maintains consistency in code quality merged into the project.

AI and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

One of the most significant shifts AI drives in team dynamics is in continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). AI-powered tools enhance CI/CD pipelines by automating various aspects of the software development lifecycle, from testing to deployment.

AI-driven CI/CD fosters better collaboration among developers and operations teams (DevOps). By automating routine deployment tasks, AI allows DevOps teams to focus on strategic improvements and infrastructure scalability instead of constantly dealing with deployment issues. This enhances the synergy between development and operations teams, creating a more cohesive workflow that aligns with the project's broader goals.

Democratizing Software Development

As AI increasingly integrates into collaborative development environments, software development becomes more accessible to everyone. AI-powered low-code and no-code platforms are allowing non-developers to contribute to software projects in ways that were previously impossible.

Platforms like OutSystems and Appian use AI to guide users through the software development process, enabling business analysts, project managers, and clients to create functional applications without extensive coding expertise. This democratization shifts the traditional dynamic of software teams, where developers are the sole gatekeepers of technical knowledge. Now, diverse teams can actively participate in the development process, contributing to innovation and bringing new perspectives.

AI as a Team Member: The Rise of AI Pair Programming

One of the most fascinating developments in AI-assisted software development is the concept of AI as a virtual team member. AI pair programming, where a human developer collaborates with an AI tool to write and review code, is gaining traction.

AI is changing traditional team dynamics by being a constant collaborator. It is reducing the need for junior developers to rely heavily on senior colleagues for guidance. AI tools can now provide that guidance in real time, helping to level the playing field and accelerate the onboarding process for new team members.

The Bottom Line

AI is not just a tool for improving efficiency; it fundamentally reshapes how teams collaborate and innovate in software development. By automating routine tasks, enhancing cross-functional communication, and enabling more inclusive and democratized development processes, AI is setting the stage for a new era of teamwork.

As AI continues to advance, the future of collaborative software development looks promising. Human creativity and AI-driven automation will work together to unlock new levels of productivity and innovation. Teams will be able to confidently tackle increasingly complex projects, knowing that AI is there to support them at every turn.

The original content of the note was published on Unite.ai. To read the full note visit here

How to Stay Relevant as a Software Developer

For years and years, we joked about robots taking our jobs one day. “It’s coming,” some warned. Fast-forward to a few years ago when AI exploded seemingly overnight. “It’s here,” those same people said.

Enter budget cuts, mass lay-offs, and software developers the world over echoing a similar sentiment: “What now?”

Here’s the good news: Brands are finding that swapping humans for AI might’ve been premature. Here’s the tricky part: Software developers still must choose to evolve or drown.

How to Make Yourself Invaluable as a Software Developer

Some of us have learned, perhaps the hard way, that while AI is incredible and will only get better, there are some things that will simply turn out better if a human being manages them.

However, we’d also be foolish to deny that things have changed tremendously.

I work with developers every single day, and I wanted to better understand what this evolution has meant for them. What can software engineers do to make themselves irreplaceable in the age of AI?

1.Solve a Problem
We’ve seen that AI is sometimes great for taking over monotonous, manual tasks — for instance, sifting through or generating code.
But you, the software developer, still have an upper hand: You see the bigger picture. The end goal in mind. The target you’re aiming for. This is a skill unique to you.
If you’re not sure if your work is solving a problem, take a step back, look at what you’re doing, and ask yourself, “So what?” If you can’t come up with a clear answer, there’s more work to be done.

2.Make Way for Strategy
Alright, you’re using AI, in some capacity, to solve a problem. You’ve found ways to leverage the technology to save you time. Now, you’re going to use that newly freed up time for… what, exactly?
We’ve established that AI might be sufficient for repetitive tasks we used to do, so your employer might not need you to do that stuff anymore. What do they need you for, then?
Strategy — one of those fluffy, corporate-y buzzwords we love to throw around without assigning any real meaning to it. So, let’s assign meaning!

3.Humanize Your Work
There’s a little thing called AI fatigue that is creeping in. AI fatigue is exactly what it sounds like: Some folks are becoming tired and suspicious of the technology.
There’s something so impersonal, so hollow about a piece of content that was created by AI. There’s no life behind it. No energy. To make matters worse, sometimes, it’s painfully obvious that the brains behind a piece of work was artificial intelligence.

4.Get Specific About What You Do for a Living
It used to be enough to say, “I work in tech.” Then, that became too broad, so we opted for, “I work in Developer Relations” (or something like that). Now, even that isn’t specific enough. For software developers to stay relevant and in demand, they need to be more clear on their position and the value they bring to their organization — or an organization they’re applying to.

An Opportunity to Be Better


“What I love about technology is that it’s boring and stable,” said no software developer ever.

I’d like to think that one thing that draws us to this industry is that it’s ever-evolving. This can feel like a double-edged sword sometimes because change can be hard and scary.

However, change also gives us an opportunity to be better than we were before, and that’s how I believe we should approach AI and how it’s changing the landscape of our careers. Solve a problem, prioritize strategy, humanize your work, and be specific with your role, and you and AI can work together as friends.

The original content of the note was published on Towardsdatascience.com. To read the full note visit here

Use an agile approach to supercharge your marketing process

What’s the secret to success for today’s marketers? Strategy, creativity, tech, and talent all play crucial roles, but how much have you thought about how your marketing team operates? Consumers move fast, so speed in your marketing processes, approaches, and methods is critical. You need to be agile to respond quickly to market shifts and deliver impact faster than ever. Let’s look at what agile marketing is and why it may be right for your team.

What is agile marketing?

You’ve likely heard the term “agile marketing,” but what does it really mean? For CMOs, it’s about shifting from traditional, rigid team planning cycles to a more flexible, iterative, and responsive approach. Agile marketing leads teams to give priority to high-value projects, iterate rapidly, and collaborate closely. Based on agile software development principles, its goal is to deliver value to customers quickly and efficiently.

The five core principles of agile marketing


Let’s dive into the specific processes of an agile approach and contrast them with traditional marketing processes.

1-Reacting to change over following a plan: In agile marketing, you adapt and respond. Rather than stick rigidly to a predefined plan, agile marketers are urged to embrace market shifts, customer feedback, and new opportunities as occasions for growth and improvement. Agile teams build what’s right for the current moment, not for an initial plan that may no longer be relevant.

2-Rapid iterations over “big-bang” campaigns: Agile marketing values smaller, frequent outputs that can be tested and optimised continuously. Instead of launching a massive campaign all at once, agile marketers break projects into smaller sprints that allow for regular feedback and adjustments. This iterative process reduces risk and ensures that marketing efforts stay aligned with market demands.

3-Testing and data over opinions and unwritten rules: Data-driven decision-making is a cornerstone of agile marketing. Agile teams test, analyse, and make informed decisions that lead to better outcomes. Regular review of performance metrics lets them refine their strategies and tactics based on real-world results, not assumptions.

4-Collaboration over silos and hierarchy: Agile marketing thrives on teamwork and cross-functional collaboration. Everyone works together toward common goals. This kind of teamwork boosts creativity and makes marketing more efficient and effective.

5-Continuous learning over “set it and forget it”: In traditional marketing, teams often complete a campaign, analyse the results, and then move on to the next project without a structured process for reflection and learning. Agile marketing, on the other hand, places a strong emphasis on regular retrospectives, where teams actively reflect on what’s working and what’s not. This process is a vital way to maintain momentum and stay competitive. Instead of “set it and forget it,” agile encourages everyone to learn and adapt every day.

How you can get started with agile marketing

The move to an agile marketing approach doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require a shift in CMO mindset. You can begin with these practical steps.

-Start with sprints. Break down your marketing projects into smaller, manageable tasks that can be completed in short, focused work periods (often called sprints). This allows your team to stay agile and make quick adjustments as needed.

-Hold daily check-ins. Implement brief daily meetings to keep your team aligned. These check-ins help quickly identify and address any roadblocks, to keep everyone on the same page and moving forward. For global marketing organisations daily check-ins across regions can help address local challenges quickly while maintaining brand consistency worldwide.

-Boost collaboration. Foster a culture of teamwork by breaking down silos. Make sure your team communicates openly and collaborates across functions so that everyone is working toward common goals.

-Improve every day. Agile marketing is about constantly refining and improving your efforts. Regularly review what’s working and what isn’t, and use these insights to tweak your strategies and tactics. Celebrate small wins to keep momentum high and foster a culture of continuous learning and iteration.

-Use Agile resources. For more detailed guidance, explore in-depth resources like Google’s free agile certificate program. This program offers valuable insights and practical tips for adding agile tactics to your marketing efforts.

By emphasising clear communication, providing necessary support, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, you can set up your marketing team for agile success.

The original content of the note was published on Thinkwithgoogle.com. To read the full note visit here

Rethinking Design Thinking In Hybrid Workplaces

Design thinking is an experience-based and user-centric method for solving problems. This human-centered approach engages end-users and employees in a multi-step, ongoing process of co-creation, to understand and meet evolving needs. The method is traditionally carried out in physical spaces where participants can collaborate face-to- face.

However, with the shift toward remote work, the traditional design thinking process is undergoing significant changes. As more employees work remotely—22% of the U.S. workforce by 2025, according to an Upwork study—design thinking must adapt to digital environments.

A recent study not only highlights the potential challenges of virtual design thinking but also reveals new opportunities for blending offline and virtual elements, leveraging the best of both the physical and digital worlds.

Unlocking Design Thinking Through a Hybrid Approach

“We suggest that managers should not regard physical and virtual formats as mutually exclusive. Instead, we propose a hybrid approach that leverages the benefits of both worlds, combining physical and virtual elements across the design thinking project”, explains Alice Minet, project head and lead author of the study.

Guided by this hybrid approach, physical settings are particularly effective for tasks that require creative, divergent thinking—i.e. during the empathize phase—where design thinkers aim to develop a deep understanding of users’ latent needs.

Conversely, virtual settings activate a more goal-oriented mindset which is beneficial for rational, convergent tasks—i.e. the define phase—where design thinkers synthesize the gathered data and define the problem space. In the prototype phase, virtual prototyping may allow for more efficeitn development across multiple iterations.

The shift from physical to virtual design thinking represents an opportunity to rethink the innovation process. Importantly, the future of design thinking lies not in choosing between physical and virtual settings but in integrating the best of both worlds to unlock its full potential and create innovative solutions.

The original content of the note was published on Forbes.com. To read the full note visit here