In simple terms, market research is used to figure out what people want, and user research is used to figure out why they want what they want.  For user research, it is specific. It helps to find out how and why people use certain products so that you can focus on ones that more people will enjoy.  

However, with market research, you get information about a market and in turn figure out what people want and how to give it to them.  

The Big Question – User research or Market research ?  

The most important difference between market research and user research has to do with the results. If you only focus on what people want and need, you might miss important information that could have helped you meet a need that wasn’t being met and grow your business. In the same way, if you only watch how people interact with and use your products, you won’t be able to predict market demand or figure out how your competitors measure up.  

Based on this information, we can see that market research and user research will happen at different points in the development of a product or service.   

Market researchers are involved in the early stages of a product’s development. They look for ways to make money and give businesses information about the market’s needs, size, competition, and pricing. They use methods that focus on numbers. They look at large groups of samples to find out the average age of potential users, how much money they make, and other general facts.  

Also Read : Five Ways Market Research Can Improve Your Business

User researchers, on the other hand, work with the product teams to make features for a specific person. Often, qualitative research on users is done. They focus on a small group of people to find out more about them and what they want. With this information, the product team can fashion products and services that are just right for their users. They find out what each person thinks about a product that already exists and how it could be made better.  

When done right, market research and user research are used to reduce business risks and give stakeholders a clear plan for making successful products and services.  

Not to be a party pooper, but if you were looking forward to seeing a winner, there is none. Both types of research should be conducted by all businesses, even B2B businesses. This doesn’t mean you should start engaging in all kinds of research.   

Your goals will help you decide between market research and user research. But if you want to create a new product/service or make an existing one work better, you need to figure out what the market wants and make sure the right product is made for the right people in the right way. So, it’s likely that if you do both types of research, your results will be better. At Prunedge, our research teams have a lot of experience figuring out what questions to ask to get the information that your business needs.    

Read Here : Prunedge wins BIG at the BoICT 2022 Awards Night

Our strategy and research experts at Prunedge will help you use insights from market and user research in the various stages of product development and marketing. We study your customer’s behavior and identify their needs, from figuring out what your target audience needs and why they need them, to developing the product, to pre-sale, point-of-sale, and after-sale. Utilising that data to advise what features to create for your product to solve your customer’s pain points. 

Click on the “get in touch” button for a free 30-minute consultation to find out how we can help provide your business with a comprehensive study that guarantees you the best results. 

These apps have access to a lot of information about their users, some of which are sensitive and should not be shared with an untrusted source. Application security is important because businesses would do better if they know their apps are safe and cyber attackers can’t take advantage of bugs in the software they use.

Mobile application security testing can be seen as a pre-production check to make sure that an app’s security controls work as expected to prevent implementation mistakes. It helps the development team find edge cases that lead to security bugs that they might not have covered. The testing process looks at both code and configuration issues in an environment that is similar to production to make sure that any problems are found before going live.

Also Read: Why You Should Adopt IoT Into Your Business in 2022

Mobile application security looks at the software security of mobile apps on different platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. It involves evaluating applications for security issues in the context of the platforms they are meant to run on, the frameworks they are built with, and the users they are meant for. Mobile apps are an important part of a business’s online presence, and many businesses majorly use mobile apps to connect with customers all over the world.

KEY BENEFITS OF MOBILE SECURITY TESTING

Application security enhances the level of trust that exists between a company and its customers by improving the effectiveness of business processes, fulfilling compliance requirements, and reducing risks. Business owners are less inclined to use a company’s services if there has been a data breach that has been made public or if there has been a violation of the company’s policies. It’s a smart move to put money into application security that does its job.

Gaining the Trust of Customers

As a result of weak app security, you risk losing the trust of your customers. When a customer leaves a business because of a security breach, the company suffers because it is very difficult to convince that same person to come back and do business with you. This in turn influences the image of the brand and has a major negative impact on the confidence the customer has in the brand.

Information is Protected

If hackers are able to get their hands on important client information such as login passwords or account information, your company stands to lose clients and could even go out of business as a result of the breach. On the other hand, if you test your mobile app properly, you can be assured that your data will remain safe and secure.

Saves Cost

When there is no proper form of protection for your mobile app, it is easy for hackers to take possession of your card details and create transactions. If you run a financial or banking corporation, your company data could either be wiped out by one of these attacks or a ransom request could be made to restore data.
These flaws can also be exploited by attackers so that they can have access to premium services without really paying for them. By using the services of our cyber security experts at Prunedge, you can be sure that the right precautions will be taken and that your company’s data will be safe.

Read this: A Quality Assurance Guide on Test Reporting

At Prunedge, we find flaws in mobile apps by using our static and dynamic analysis tools that were made for the mobile environment, along with manual verification and analysis. These tools are constantly updated and checked against the latest versions of the underlying mobile platforms. This helps us find problems that could be caused by a combination of the code in the app and the version of the platform.
Our penetration methods of testing doesn’t just look for flaws in the app itself; we also look for problems in the back-end services that the app uses. By paying attention to both the app and its back-end services, we make sure that all parts of the app are tested.
Click on the ‘Get in Touch’ box at the top right and we’ll let you know how to guard your data in a free 30-minute consultation.

What is an E-Procurement system?

The electronic procurement system is a technology that helps improve the purchasing and supply process. It also improves the transparency and efficiency of transactions between agencies and their vendors. It allows people who want to help with public procurement processes to do so through a single online portal. This leads to more transparency, healthy competition, time and cost-saving benefits. In other terms, an eProcurement system is a cloud-based software that makes it easy to find, buy, and manage goods and services online. It has digital and automated tools that businesses can use to support them, set vendor policies, and be more transparent about how the system works. 

The best eProcurement systems can seamlessly combine the tactical and transactional parts of an organization’s procurement process, for the best results. This type of procurement work refers to tasks that are done often and help keep things running smoothly, like writing purchase orders and updating product catalogs.  

Benefits of an E- procurement system include;

1. Streamlined workflow resulting in increased productivity: Businesses save time and money by using a single, automated platform for the main steps of procurement. This means they don’t have to do a lot of administrative and manual work, like filling out paperwork. When teams work together, they save time and can work on more complicated or high-value tasks. In the long run, e-procurement will free up time for the team to work on more important tasks and functions. There are many ways to speed things up, such as by using automated invoice matching. The goods can be ordered and processed in just a few minutes.

2. Cost Effective:  People who use e-procurement save a lot of time and money, because they can choose a lot more suppliers, build trading communities, and more. This makes e-procurement a lot more cost-effective than traditional procurement. Transactions save money because there are fewer people working and all processes are fully automated. This means that they cost less money. Over time, small savings per transaction add up to big money for a business.

3. E-marketing of Products: This is a great marketing tool for both sellers and buyers because there is price transparency (you can easily see how much things cost) and buyers can compare offers from different e-catalog vendors. When it comes to electronic catalogs, some suppliers are trying to make their services more standardized so that buyers can easily compare the offers of different catalogs.

IProkure, our e-procurement system, can cut down on the work your purchasing team has to do while increasing productivity and efficiency.  Furthermore, we do so at a price that you can afford because we are always looking for new ways to solve everyday human problems with technology that is both affordable and easy to use. Picking out the best e- procurement system might seem tedious. However, you have to look out for features that would be advantageous to your organization.

Some of the features that constitute a good procurement system include; 

• Vendor portal: This ensures that the registration process for prospective vendors is simple and easy. Through a systematic and rule-based registration process, they upload essential documents. The vendor dashboard also gives vendors a real-time account of the e-tendering process.  

• E-Catalog: Catalogues are digitized by storing details of all assets disposed of and all procurements made on the cloud. These details are organized and classified in to different categories and are made available for users to access rapidly and effectively.  

• Electronic Document Management and Versioning: Administrative users can approve, reject, and comment on electronic documents submitted on the platform. The vendors can also submit new versions of documents if required.  

• Approval Workflow: There is the creation of custom workflows in line with existing policies for each requisition. Vendors are notified about every approval step helping to save time, money as well as resources during the process.  

• E-Payment Module: Easy acceptance of electronic payment for online transactions. Payments of bidding/tendering fees by vendors and also ensure remuneration of contract cost electronically. Tracking of all procurement transactions is made easy because for every payment made there is a unique transaction ID auto-generated by the system.  

• Contract Performance and Evaluation: People who use the platform can be sure that the contracts they win will be properly evaluated and monitored. There is a way to keep track of the process milestones and delivery time. An alert is sent to the solution administrator on the expected delivery date for goods, projects, and services.

If your company is still doing a lot of its procurement tasks by hand or with old databases and complicated spreadsheets, you should think about getting an e-procurement system.  Spread your wings and see how Iprokure can help.   

You should not worry about anything the world is adopting. Don’t be afraid to swim against the upstream, be afraid of being the same. Irrespective of what others may say, the pursuit of your dreams must be your major motivation. When we execute what we are interested in, we find ourselves hungry to do it with more dedication, perfection, and passion and that’s what makes our work stand out from the crowd.

According to Steve Jobs, the late Apple co-founder fondly referred to as the Thomas Edison of his time, revealed in a commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 why he dropped out of college — and why he thought it was one of the best things he ever did; ‘’Stay hungry, stay foolish’’ means that one should never be content with what is, nor consider oneself an expert. There is always more to do/gain (“stay hungry” for knowledge) and more to learn (“stay foolish”, meaning never consider oneself an expert but a fool in order to learn more).

Our Chief Prunedger, Joel Ogunsola was featured on the Goodnews chat where he shared his journey into using technology for development. Read and enjoy the interview below;

What was the turning point for you in your life/career choice?

My career is in two parts. There is the technology part and the development part. The two had different turning points. When I was 13, I started volunteering for local initiatives in Akure. They were very focused on MDGs, and then later came the SDGs. So, we had a lot of community outreaches, events, and awards at the end of the year. I think that the community outreaches were the most impactful because they enabled me to see and learn firsthand what it means for people to have economic challenges and lack access to clinical health and education.

I grew up in Akure, went to a private school, and had access to a computer when I was young. Things were pretty easy to some extent. What still constantly blows my mind to date is the fact that when you look at the way communities are co-located. For example, when you come to Lagos, just somewhere close to the island where you have more than ¼ of Nigeria’s wealth, you have that small community like Makoko on the border, with a high poverty level and lack of access to health. It just keeps me pondering.

It would have made more change if young people in small communities like that had the same access to opportunities and life outcomes as people who live in large gatherings, and that is the development side of the work I do.

On the technology side of it, I studied as a mechanical engineer. Somewhere in between, I knew it was not something I enjoyed. I thought I would love it, so I got into school so excited. But along the way, I said to myself, ‘this is not practical’. I love technology just as a user. It was exciting for me to start to lay my hands on software development tools, mobile applications, etc. What was intriguing was that you could think about something, and you had the power to build that thing.

When I was 17 years old, some of my friends competed in the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition and went to New York. When they returned, they shared their experiences about what was possible with technology. And this was at the point where we were still battling 2G/3G in Nigeria. So, I got interested in how to use technology to build things. I asked myself, ‘how can I use technology to solve world problems?’ I was like, I can use technology to create solutions to problems in society.

I felt I was going to be in technology as a developer. But, after I left University, I went to work with Microsoft, and that changed. Since then, it has been an exciting journey, and I have gone from being part of a company that helps build solutions to solving problems across numerous sectors.

Where did technology and development align in your journey?

Development has always been a big side of me. So when I found technology, my question was ‘what do I use the technology to do?’

We decided to use technology to solve problems. My friends and I competed in the Microsoft Imagine Cup in my final year. We built a maternal-child healthcare solution. Later on, we started our business and built a school element solution. When I decided that I was going to focus on technology, I had already been keenly involved in equitable development in multiple communities. For me, technology then became that vehicle to deliver on my dreams and aspirations around achieving development goals.

What was that one piece of advice that changed your life? 

The one piece of advice is that there is nothing impossible. Nothing. I used to have a boss, he is the country manager for Microsoft, and he would say

‘Think about it, and it is done.

Technology then makes it more accessible. You think about food, then go online and order (from a user perspective). We can think about anything we want to do, and the fact that we can think about it means that we have the innate ability to do it. This has been my most potent driving force. Every day I wake up, I know that all my ideas are valid. Whether it is the best idea to pursue at this particular point is a different conversation entirely. But, knowing that my ideas are valid is a strong driving force every day.

How do you deal with setbacks?

One piece of advice I got from an older friend, the day I lost something and I was really sad was ‘in life, you win some, you lose some.

I did not understand it back then, but I have grown to know that it is just the ordinary course of life. You will win some, and you will lose some.

Now, beyond just realizing that I will lose some, it is about creating a process to understand why we lost some. At every point we lose, I ask myself why did we lose? That helps to ensure that we don’t lose again when faced with that type of challenge next time.

Dealing with setbacks is knowing that there will always be different outcomes for different efforts that we put in. Losing does not mean it is not a good idea or it is impossible. Maybe we didn’t put in the correct type of effort, or we didn’t have the right amount of resources. You know that you don’t always win in life, but it is essential to learn from not winning.

What good news/thing in the world is being overlooked?

As young people, I think the Internet we have is one of the most resourceful tools ever. I have seen the world over the Internet from the comfort of my room. I remember that the most important video I had ever watched was a TED talk that my cousin who had gone to India shared with me. It was a talk about the Sixth Sense. That topic to date blows my mind. As humans, we have five senses. He proved that we have a sixth sense, and that won’t have been possible without technology. 

Way before I started to travel, I had seen everywhere worldwide, learned about culture, and watched documentaries. I have noticed that the Internet is that leveling tool that allows a young person from California and a young person from Ekiti State to access equal opportunities. You can almost learn the same thing if you commit to it and focus on it. 

Would you say that we have harnessed that well enough? 

Yes and No. There’s been a lot of negative sides to it, which is why we have a terrible reputation as a country. At the same time, there are many great things that people have done with the Internet and technology. A perfect example is the entire startup ecosystem we are seeing right now is all off the back of the Internet. So, essentially, I will say that we have accessed and utilized it. But, there continue to be barriers like equitable access. Does everyone have access to the Internet? And similar questions like that. 

What are three things you have done over the years that have made a big difference?

1. I stopped worrying: I think about the issue, and I try to get it done. I think that has helped greatly. 
2. I try to surround myself with a lot of the smartest people: I ensure that my colleagues are brilliant and they know what they are doing, they know that one thing that they do better than I do.
3. I have learned ‘Just Do it. You will never know whether it is the best time or not until you do it. Some innovations are said to have come ahead of their time. Some, they say, arrived at the right time. So, you never know until you do. Just get on with it and do it, and then you will know. 

What’s something that makes you feel hopeful for the future right now?

I am hopeful that young people across different types of communities, regardless of their social standards, have equal access opportunities and similar life outcomes. I am optimistic that in my life, I will be able to see that a child that grows up in Akure has access to similar life outcomes just as a child that grew up in Lagos.

What is the one piece of advice you will give to someone just starting (in your space?)

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

I think those were Steve Jobs’s words. You have to spend every day doubling down on what you have done. There is no foolish idea. Execution of the idea makes the difference. 

What are you reading or listening to currently?

These days I listen to Christian music. I am not very good with podcasts or audiobooks. I read a lot more physical books. I am currently reading Leadership @ Infosys. I am watching a documentary about Micheal Jordan. I love to learn about the stories of successful people across different industries, like Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, etc. I think that the common denominator is that these people worked hard to build their careers. I believe that learning is a lifelong process. At each level of success, you think you have achieved, some people have done it better.

You have to ensure that you are not living in the shadow of your previous success.

There are some people I consider their success to be a phenomenon, and I want to learn about their journey.

• Culled from All for Development Blog 

CONCEPT OF IOT: HOW DOES IT WORK

As mentioned earlier, IoT runs on a simple concept which involves the interaction and cooperation between multiple applications and devices over a single network. This concept is driven by two defining features:

Connectivity: For devices or applications to cooperate and interact, there has to be an enhanced connection between them. This connection if integrated into a worldwide or global network will provide easy interaction and accessibility to data and information. 

Automation: The general idea and somewhat end goal of IoT is the absence of human intervention in the cooperation and interaction of smart devices and applications. For this to be realized, automation has to be the backbone of smart devices and applications which will see the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI. 

For these two features to be actively met, there must be an integration of multiple technologies that will ensure the smooth and automatic transfer of data, analysis of this data as well as a response from the connected devices and applications. For example, there can be no automation of devices or apps without artificial intelligence, machine learning and Big data. Connectivity on the other hand requires the use of wireless communication technology as well as cloud computing.

BENEFITS OF IoT FOR BUSINESSES

The benefits of IoT for businesses in 2022 are infinite as new developments and discoveries are being revealed by the minute. IoT will remain an endless goldmine for businesses and companies willing to allow the incorporation of AI and smart devices into their workflows and systems. Some of the many benefits of IoT for businesses include:

1. Efficient Management of Operations: With the integration of IoT into your business system, you can enjoy full control over multiple areas of operation in your business. This can be from inventory management to shipping and tracking. Irrespective of the nature of your business, operations management in all areas will be a walk in the park for you.

2. Cost-effective Operation: Automated and remotely controlled management of resources and operations reduce downtime periods, leading to an increase in productivity which in turn increases profits for businesses. IoT offers a cost-effective operation that is automated, properly scheduled and can be accessed and monitored remotely.

3. Marketing and Business Development: Smart devices are pretty much located in every household and office, including voice assistant devices. This will bring about an even more direct marketing strategy aimed towards end-users and customers daily. With the help of IoT, businesses can gather large data volumes of customer-specific data which can be analysed and used to develop and advise their marketing strategies.

4. More Business Opportunities: The integration of IoT in your business will open the doors of opportunities as it paves way for the discovery of new services or products that will address specific user needs. A network of smart interactive devices is sure to make your business more competitive and attract potential business partners.

5. Improved Productivity with Reduced Human Labor: As a business owner, are you seeking new ways to reduce the cost of human labour? With a network of automated smart devices, there will be an increase in productivity as fixed working hours may no longer be needed. This in turn will see a reduction in human labour and a full increase in company output and profits.

Conclusion

In the tech world today, IoT retains the title as the leading and most promising technological advancement with huge benefits for businesses. In the coming year, we will see the production of more devices and applications which will further increase the possibilities of a fully automated work system for households and businesses.

The internet of things (IoT) is a giant network of connected things and people that have changed much of how we live our daily lives. From the way we drive to how we make purchases, monitoring our health and even how we get energy for homes, there is a lot of significant change that we all may have noticed. Smart devices and sensors are continuously tracking and collecting data. For example, a smart building could have thousands of sensors measuring all kinds of data related to thermal optical structural and environmental stimuli. An unprecedented amount of data is being generated putting a tremendous strain on the internet. This is where the cloud comes in, connecting IoT device users to the cloud for device registration, device identity, storing data or accessing enterprise data.

Data collected through IoT devices is stored and processed on the cloud. Since IoT devices can be in a state of motion, the cloud serves as a collection point in closest proximity, minimizing the latency in reporting up the data points and providing a response back to the IoT application. From IoT platforms running entirely on the cloud to the interfaces used by customers to interact with these devices to the backend analytics platforms, cloud computing supports and enables IoT. Cloud service providers also offer specialized IoT services designed to help speed up the development of IoT solutions.

ESSENTIAL BENEFITS OF CLOUD COMPUTING ON IOT

Cloud computing has changed the narrative of data storage and security for businesses as well as individuals who have been smart enough to jump on the trend. The dynamics and scalability of cloud storage and cloud computing solutions allow one to access data from anywhere in the world. Making it a viable solution for data transfer and data accessibility through the internet as well as direct link uploads depending on the preference of the business or individual.

As for how the two work best together, IoT combines with Cloud computing to offer speed, scalability, networking and mobility. Although these two works undoubtedly well together, there are a few pointers that prove how essential cloud computing is for the success of IoT. Below is a list of the effects of Cloud Computing on IoT:

1. Cloud servers act as remote processing power.
2. Cloud computing provides adequate privacy and security for IoT data.
3. Cloud computing eliminates the need for on-site hosting.
4. With cloud computing, there is a possibility for inter-device communication.
5. Ownership of IoT applications are cheaper as Cloud technology prevents businesses from purchasing and setting up an entire infrastructure for IoT application.
6. Cloud technology ensures the continuity of projects and businesses as data can be stored on multiple and distinct servers to prevent loss of data.

CONCLUSION

The role of cloud computing in unravelling the full potential of IoT (the internet of things) can never be fully over-emphasized. The use of cloud computing and IoT will have a huge impact on the development of the internet as well as devices and businesses that rely on it. It will be of great help in the journey of technological development as we look to enter a fully digitalized world that will require compatibility, connectivity and a huge data storage system. This in turn will be of huge relevance and importance to businesses as it will also pave the way to a whole new world of multi-networking and open services platforms.