One of the most difficult things for businesses is finding that one thing, that makes them really different than anybody else. For being in business at all. The true reason why somebody else should partner with you. The actual value that you add.
And once you have found what makes you special, it is even more difficult to explain it in simple terms. Because sometimes is it actually a lot of things coming together in perfect harmony that makes the difference, not just one thing.
Steven ten Napel – CEO
We always say: we are software craftsmen.
OK, so what does that mean?
Stradivarius is the name for the most famous Violins ever built. A Stradivarius is one of the famous string instruments (violins, violas, cellos) built by members of the Italian family Stradivari, particularly Antonio Stradivari, during the 17th and 18th centuries
“Stradivarius violins are considered to be the best ever built, with a sound that is unmatched even by todays, computerized production processes in building violins. The few remaining ones are sold for millions. There are numerous theories and stories about the secret behind Stradivarius, and the trick that he used to build his violins.”
So what was the trick? How the heck was he able to build the best violins ever?
Did he have a big company behind him, with a large production plant? No.
Did he have a secret, that died with him? No.
He was just a guy building violins the best he could, in a small production facility, behind his house.
If you would ask him what the trick was: he would probably frown, saying what do you mean the trick, I don’t think there is a trick.
If you would ask him: but if there is no trick, then how come you are able to do this, and others not?, he would probably say: I don’t know, I have been doing this whole my life, I just build violins.
However, if you were to ask him: ‘So what kind of wood do you use? Then his eyes would probably start to shine. And he would say: Oh, that is nice that you ask, because I always use This kind of tree, nothing else, The rest is no good. And by the way, you never cut the tree in winter, only in the months of May and April, because that’s the best timing. Oh, and I almost forgot: never use the part to close to the trunk, but always 6 feet higher. That’s better for vibration.
He would probably have a story like that for each part of the violin, like the strings.
The point is: there is no trick, there is only experience, passion and craftsmanship. Collectively, they make a difference.
That is why we are who we are, and why we make a difference. That is Do-How.
The software world is undergoing tectonic shifts. Software products are transforming to Cloud-Only and SaaS solutions to deliver continuous business value, innovate faster, gain operational excellence and be part of multiple platform ecosystems. Software businesses are quickly adopting a cloud-native, services-first approach enabled by micro-services and containers. In this fast changing landscape, we help extend software craftsmanship to granular services that constitute products and platform ecosystems.
In spite of the tectonic changes happening all around us, at our core we remained the same, with undiminished passion for creating innovative software products. We help build great software products through creativity, skill, and collaborative innovation. We also believe that innovation can’t be driven with a project-mindset, as others try to do.
We envision a connected world, in which, every business will be a digital business, driven by software. Even non-IT businesses will transform into IT businesses, and build new software-driven IP, which means that software expertise will be key for success in a connected landscape.
Just like there is no single-trick behind a Stradivarius violin, there is no single factor that makes us special and unique. A combination of 25 + years of experience and insights of our leadership team in building innovative, enterprise-class, complex software for leading product companies and global markets, has helped us develop a unique blend of software craftsmanship and product expertise.
We have bundled this collective do-how expertise and insights into TOP Cloud, a unique co-Innovation platform, that helps our customers take full advantage of our capabilities.
We help software businesses succeed in a disruptive environment. With coMakeIT as a strategic partner, software businesses can rapidly build innovative software products, modernize their technology, reduce time-to-market, and transform products into a platform.
Our software craftsmanship makes us unique and that’s why we standout.
“Gartner predicts that by 2019, more than 30% of 100 largest software vendors’ new software products will complete the transition from cloud-first to cloud-only, meaning their investment will be shifting away from on-premises to cloud-based services.”
It’s been nearly a decade since the first major public cloud platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS) hit the market, and it is remarkable that in this relatively short period of time, cloud has become the new normal, and is no longer seen as a disruptive technology paradigm. If you are a software business offering traditional applications in an on-premises, licensing mode, you can safely assume that, it is just a matter of time before enterprises i.e. users of your software will adopt a cloud-ready application from a nimble-footed competitor. Therefore, cloud transformation is no longer a matter of choice, but is a matter of survival, as well as a critical business need. In this digital era which demands anytime, anywhere, any device access of software services, only a cloud-first approach will enable you to meet these business and technology goals.
Source: Microsoft Azure
The cloud transformation journey starts with the first step of choosing the appropriate cloud service model, based on one’s business and technology needs. One must choose from the cloud stack, which comprises of a trio of cloud computing (also distinct business) models, that are differentiated on the basis of key players, resources, value created, costs, and revenue streams:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the most basic cloud-service model that provides computing infrastructure (servers, storage, network bandwidth, software licenses etc.), as a service in a subscription mode. IaaS serves the needs of the IT organization, and dispenses with the need for businesses to make upfront investments in the technology infrastructure. This is an asset-light model, where businesses don’t have to worry about technology obsolescence, as it is the responsibility of the service provider to ensure flexibility and scalability of the technology infrastructure.
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a model where the software application is delivered as a service over the internet, and businesses access the service through a web browser. The great advantage of this model is the ability to serve multiple businesses from a virtual environment, and the ease of delivering any changes, upgrades, and modifications to the software through a click-to-deploy model. In a SaaS model, businesses don’t get locked into expensive long-term contracts for software support and maintenance, and the vendor secures a recurring stream of subscription revenue, which is valued far more than one-time licensing income.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a service model that provides a virtual platform to develop, deploy, and manage application lifecycle for solutions that are consumed over the internet. In this model of cloud computing, one can access on-demand environment for rapid development, testing, delivery and maintenance of software applications, in other words the entire platform from software development to delivery. PaaS caters to the engineering /product development needs of a business, and is a variant of SaaS with additional architectural and utility components, and is typically used for rapid development and deployment of mobile and web-based apps.
In addition to selecting an appropriate cloud service model, one must also choose a cloud deployment model for delivering these services:
Private Cloud, is a mode of deployment where the cloud computing infrastructure is operated exclusively for a single business or customer. In this model, the cloud computing service will be delivered through a private network, and the associated infrastructure can be either located physically with the business or can also be hosted by a third-party service provider.
Public Cloud, is where the computing services are delivered and accesses through a public network that is open for all. In this deployment model, a third-party service provider owns and supports all the underlying infrastructure including all hardware, software, and network bandwidth. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are some of the well-known Public Clouds.
Hybrid cloud is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community or public) that remain distinct entities but are bound together, offering the benefits of multiple deployment models. In this deployment model, sharing of the underlying infrastructure and seamless service delivery across public and private networks is facilitated by technology. Hybrid cloud is increasingly becoming popular for its flexibility, and for some businesses, offers the additional comfort of multi-tiered security and data protection.
Choosing the appropriate model of cloud from a service and deployment perspective is a strategic decision, that must take into account business and customer needs, impact on operations and efficiency, and which service and deployment models will deliver the greatest benefits. The following factors must be considered in selecting the right mix of cloud service and deployment models:
Traditional software applications often have tightly-coupled, monolithic architecture, which must be re-engineered for deployment as cloud services. This is perhaps the biggest challenge one will face in the cloud transformation journey. The following application architecture concepts must be incorporated into the design or re-engineering of the cloud-ready applications:
Ability to integrate with industry-standard cloud platforms and consume third-party services that can extend the functionality of the core application, is also becoming a key differentiator in a market driven by a platform ecosystem.
The complexity of transforming traditional software into cloud-ready applications will vary a great deal based upon factors such as the current software stack and application architecture, target architecture and technology stack, choice of deployment models, resource availability, time, and cost. Based on these factors, one must choose the appropriate cloud transformation strategy, which could vary from low-complexity options such as re-hosting or re-factoring to high-complexity options such as re-architecting and replacing.
We, at coMakeIT have combined all our Do-How expertise and evolved a holistic and unique methodology to help our customers in their cloud transformation journey. The infographic shown below, gives you a high-level overview of our approach.
Acknowledging the fact that cloud is the new normal, businesses must either migrate their traditional on-premises based software applications to the cloud or adopt a cloud-first (or even cloud-only) approach for building new applications. To reiterate, cloud transformation offers a multitude of benefits as outlined below:
18 Exponential Changes We Can Expect in the Year Ahead
Azeem Azhar the curator of the weekly newsletter Exponential View, makes some bold predictions for the coming year, on diverse topics ranging from international relations, convergence of technologies, crypto currencies, to impact of AI and augmented reality.
India’s opportunity in a multiconceptual world
With its unique demographic dividend, rising tide of entrepreneurial spirit, breakthrough innovations across sectors, and remarkable pace of bold and structural reforms, India presents an image of optimism and promise, with solid macroeconomic fundamentals and strong, long-term growth prospects.
ECB Bulletin: Robust Growth Expected To Continue In 2018
Eurozone’s economic expansion remains solid and broad-based, and is expected to sustain its strong momentum into next year, the European Central Bank said in its regular bulletin.
UK growth to slow to 1.5% in 2018, leading economists predict
The UK’s economy will slow further in 2018 as business investment remains on hold, interest rates creep up and indebted consumers curb their spending, according to more than 100 leading economists.
Qualcomm bets big on automotive, lands Jaguar Land Rover, Honda and BYD partnerships
Qualcomm is betting big on automotive technology for 2018 and beyond. Partnerships with JLR, Honda and BYD are first steps, and the impending NXP acquisition will likely accelerate its dominance in the industry. Chances are, that will be Qualcomm powering your in-car tech and comms in the not-too-distant future.
The Most Important Tech Trend Of 2018 Won’t Be A Technology
The most disruptive tech trend of 2018 isn’t a technology, it’s a company. Amazon isn’t just changing our shopping habits, it’s disrupting entire industries, influencing the design of cities, and impacting our social lives. It threatens parts of our economy while creating new opportunities that make local manufacturing more important than ever.
IBM brings Mendix’s low-code platform to its cloud
IBM announced a partnership with low-code development platform Mendix to bring Mendix and native integration with many of IBM’s Watson IoT and AI services to the IBM Cloud. This deal is an evolution of a previous partnership that involved what was then called IBM Bluemix (now IBM Cloud).
U.S. economy to grow 2.7 percent in 2018, boosted by Trump tax overhaul
The United States is projected to grow 2.7 percent in 2018 as tax cuts boost growth, the International Monetary Fund said in a new report.
Global IT Spending to Reach $3.7 Trillion in 2018
Worldwide IT spending is projected to total $3.7 trillion in 2018, an increase of 4.5 percent from 2017, according to the latest forecast by Gartner. Enterprise software continues to exhibit strong growth, with worldwide software spending projected to grow 9.5 percent in 2018, and by another 8.4 percent in 2019.
Artificial Intelligence Is a Game Changer for Personal Devices
Emotion artificial intelligence (AI) systems are becoming so sophisticated that Gartner, predicts that by 2022, personal devices will know more about an individual’s emotional state than his or her own family. AI is generating multiple disruptive forces that are reshaping the way we interact with personal technologies.
Worldwide Spending on Robotics and Drones Forecast to Reach $103 Billion in 2018
International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Semiannual Robotics and Drones Spending Guide forecasts that worldwide spending on robotics and drones solutions will total $103.1 billion in 2018, and by 2021, this spending will more than double to $218.4 billion.
Re:Imagining innovation is a pressing need, now more than ever
In this digital era, the debate must move beyond locations, national boundaries, and work visas. The focus must be on the best-possible innovation ecosystem which meets the diverse needs of a global marketplace.
With exponential thinking, you can be the next Unicorn
If your goal is to scale like a Unicorn, you must embrace an exponential mindset, leverage exponential technologies and adopt a lightning innovation strategy.
Disruption by Design
Disruption doesn’t happen by accident. Businesses must make a conscious effort and create a culture of disruptive thinking.
Culture wins workplace and employees win marketplace
Businesses which master the ability to attract, recruit, and retain top talent will not only win the war for talent, but also win in the market place.
Customer Intimacy in the Age of the Customer
Customer intimacy continues to be one of the important avenues for value creation, and is a key cornerstone strategy to help businesses achieve product excellence. Businesses must embrace a holistic, 360° strategy and redefine what customer intimacy means in the digital era.
Independent Software Testing is an Oxymoron in the age of Devops and Continuous Delivery
The demand to support continuously evolving user experiences, gave rise to continuous delivery of software, which in turn needs a tightly integrated software organization supported by continuous testing and DevOps. In this context, Independent software testing is a meaningless notion.
Webinar: We are launching a new initiative in the form of periodic webinars on topics of relevance to our customer ecosystem. The first webinar on the theme: Technology Modernization is scheduled for 15th February, 2018. This webinar will be delivered by our CTO and EVP, Sashikanth P
New customer wins: We are pleased to welcome Hofincons Group to our customer ecosystem. Hofincons is a 40-year old company that provides Industrial Asset Management services to the Oil & Gas, Power, Metal, and Engineering sectors, serving customers across India, Malaysia, Middle East, and Africa. We are also delighted to share that our existing customers – Iddink Group, and Vision Planner, are quickly scaling up their teams to meet their growing innovation needs.
A special group completes a decade with us: In a small ceremony, Steven and Kiran, co-founders of coMakeIT recognized a special group of employees, who have completed a remarkable 10-year tenure with us. The longevity of this incredible group is a tribute to our values, culture, opportunities for growth, learning, and a great work-life balance. A big thank you to this wonderful group for being a part of our incredible journey over the past decade.
Kids carnival & Kids week: In mid-December, we hosted a carnival with various fun activities for the children of our employees. Toddlers were entertained with games and music at our office, while kids in the age group 5-7 went on a trip to the Hyderabad Zoo, and kids in the 8-14 age group were taken on a field trip to learn pottery. Needless to say, kids across all age groups had a blast, as you can see from this photo gallery. Spread across December and January, as part of a Kids Week, we hosted a Painting/Art/DIY workshop, as well as a Robotics workshop, which were thoroughly enjoyed by the participating children.
Wish Tree: This wish tree transformed our people into secret santa(s) for kids with special needs (of Shraddha Saaburi School in Hyderabad, India). It is wonderful to see the entire coMakeIT family coming together to make the wishes of those kids come true – puzzles, bangles, hairbands, cricket set, laptop, video games and loads of other goodies. We are so proud to witness the care, compassion, and empathy of our people in sharing the holiday cheer and spirit.
Wall-of-Art: In an effort to encourage our employees to showcase their creative talent, we are hosting a rolling competition for the best painting or art work. We are amazed to see the diversity, talent, creativity, and skill of our people. You can browse the amazing works produced by our employees for the Wall-of-art.
TaRAnG Activities: As part of our continuous employee engagement initiatives, we hosted a series of cultural activities under Tarang including competitions for: Poetry, Rangoli, and Signing. Without exception, all our cultural initiatives are very well received, with enthusiastic participation by our people.
