Any new product effort (taking a product from concept to launch) is inherently risky and to ensure that a software product will be a success in the marketplace is a challenging proposition. Additionally, with the advent of Web 2.0, the rules for building new software products have changed.

Faster, cheaper, better – ISVs have no choice but to cater to these constant demands expected of their products. While lower hardware and infrastructure costs, cloud computing, new technologies and development frameworks have helped software vendors cope with these demands to some extent, there is still room for improvement. Software vendors have to constantly find ways to build better products with better functionality, improved usability, involve and collaborate with their end users frequently, innovate and iterate, and do all of this in ultra quick development cycles.

Read on for some tips on building consumer internet applications, how to effectively leverage the web application framework of RoR, Aspire’s new product development successes and more.

Insights

New Product Development using Ruby-on-Rails

Major changes are taking place in the way software is being built today, and the timeframes in which software gets built. Ruby-on-Rails (RoR) is an open-source web development framework that supports rapid development, extensive collaboration and has a Web 2.0 focus. This paper discusses the merits and demerits of RoR as a platform of choice for building the next generation of new web applications and products.

Building successful Consumer Internet Applications

With the increased usage of consumer internet products, many a consumer internet innovation will move into the enterprise. Product companies that don’t incorporate relevant Web 2.0 features into their products run the risk of losing out to the competition. This paper discusses software built in the consumer internet space and addresses how technology and process innovations can be leveraged to develop better and faster software.

How Aspire helped create successful new products

Rapid Development of a Loyalty Management System

A start-up ISV had a vision to develop a loyalty management platform for retailers in the US. Aspire engaged with the ISV from concept-to-market (through design, development, testing, deployment, roll-out and support phases) to develop an integrated hardware and software loyalty solution in just over 4 months.

Desktop Solution for a Consumer Internet Program

A media and direct marketing company needed a desktop product which would provide marketing opportunities for advertisers while helping its members avail various offers from affiliated suppliers. Aspire helped the customer develop a user friendly consumer internet product with solid underlying architecture and powerful security features, within schedule and budget.

The 5 minutes guide to successful New Products

Ultra fast release cycles and the new plane

Getting from idea to product

Building great products