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August 4, 2023

AI and the Future of Jobs

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AI is a transformative technology that will fundamentally reshape economies and pose significant challenges for policymakers. In fact, many believe that AI could be the fifth industrial revolution, bringing with it massive changes to nearly every aspect of our society. But, if AI sparks the next industrial revolution, the question then becomes, which jobs will be most at risk in the upcoming years? As a software development agency, how do we at Grio continue to support and protect our employees while embracing the newest technological advancements? 

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July 31, 2023

How to Build a Killer MVP App, Step 6: Development Phase- Embracing Less Engineering and More Testing

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How to Build a Killer MVP App, Step 6: Development Phase- Embracing Less Engineering and More Testing

Whether you’re creating an app for five users or five million, starting your app as a Minimum Value Product (MVP) is a great way to maximize your chances of success. At Grio, we’ve created hundreds of MVPs for companies around the world, so we have wisdom to share. In this blog series, we have gathered all of our best practices and organized them into Grio’s ten essential steps for building a killer MVP.

In last week’s post, How to Build a Killer MVP, Step 5: Design Phase- Taking Your Product from Paper to Prototype, we examined how to create a seamless user experience and polished look for your MVP using user flows, wireframes, style guides, mockups, user testing, and interactive prototypes. 

In this week’s blog post, we cover the sixth step for building a killer MVP: the Development Phase. The Development Phase is one of the most crucial in the MVP design process. Following the best practices below can help you avoid the most common pitfalls as you create your killer MVP. 

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July 28, 2023

DEI(A) in Remote Workspaces

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Though the pandemic is a thing of the past for many people, its impact is still being felt in many areas of our lives. In the workplace, the pandemic seems to have created a permanent shift towards remote working. A large number of companies, Grio included, have kept remote and flexible work hours, citing numerous benefits for both employees and employers. 

However, remote work provides its own set of challenges, and it is important that employers take proactive steps to continue supporting their employees. In this blog post, I’ll examine how workplace practices for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) must evolve to remain at the forefront of remote workplaces, and the steps employers can take to successfully implement a virtual DEIA plan. 

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posted

July 24, 2023

How to Build a Killer MVP App, Step 5: Design Phase- Taking Your Product from Paper to Prototype

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How to Build a Killer MVP App, Step 5: Design Phase- Taking Your Product from Paper to Prototype

At Grio, our 15 years of experience have shown us that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to building an app. However, after creating hundreds of apps for companies of all sizes, we believe that you can set yourself up for success by starting with a Minimum Value Product (MVP). In the sixth post of our eleven-post blog series, we are continuing to share our essential steps for building a killer MVP.

In last week’s post, How to Build a Killer MVP App, Step 4: Planning Phase- Creating a Plan to Successfully Navigate Your Project Milestones, we discussed strategies and best practices for creating an MVP design plan and explored the various components of MVP plans, including user stories, architecture, and conceptual designs. 

In this week’s blog post, we cover the fifth step for building a killer MVP: the Design Phase. We discuss strategies for creating a seamless user experience and polished look for your MVP using user flows, wireframes, style guides, mockups, user testing, and interactive prototypes. 

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posted

July 21, 2023

Maximizing Your Logs with CloudWatch Logs Insights

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When you run your application, it generates logs that record pertinent information about the activity, or records of events. These logs, which can contain essential information about your app, its users, and everything in between, can be incredibly beneficial sources of information. Effective logs allow you to stop making assumptions about what’s happening in your code and instead focus on informed decision-making. However, the data is virtually useless if it isn’t stored, searched, and analyzed correctly. 

In this post, I’ll provide a brief overview of good logging practices and examples of how you can use CloudWatch Logs Insights, a program designed to help you interactively search and analyze your log data, to better consume the logs you generate for your application.

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posted

July 17, 2023

How to Build a Killer MVP App, Step 4: Planning Phase- Creating a Plan to Successfully Navigate Your Project Milestones

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Over the last 15 years, Grio has collaborated with companies of all sizes to create hundreds of exceptional software solutions. Though there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to building an app, we’ve discovered that starting your journey with your Minimum Value Product (MVP) is a great way to set yourself up for long-term success. In this blog series, we are taking our hard-won wisdom and sharing Grio’s ten essential steps for building a killer MVP.

In last week’s post, How to Build a Killer MVP, Step 3: Market Discovery Phase- Using Market Analysis to Gain Leverage Over the Competition, we explored how conducting a market analysis can help you identify your primary market and what sets you apart from the competition. 

In this week’s blog post, we cover the fourth step for building a killer MVP: the Planning Phase. We discuss strategies and best practices for creating a plan for your MVP and explore the various components of MVP plans, including user stories, architecture, and conceptual designs. 

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posted

July 14, 2023

Design Docs

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Design Documents, or Design Docs for short, are used in various fields to articulate project plans and specifications. In the realm of software development and product design, where effective communication is imperative for success, Design Docs document the high-level implementation strategy for the project, as well as any design decisions and justifications that are made during the initial development stages. Design Docs act as informal, yet comprehensive blueprints that delineate the objectives, functionalities, and technical intricacies of the proposed design.

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July 10, 2023

How to Build a Killer MVP App, Step 3: Market Discovery Phase – Using Market Analysis to Gain Leverage Over the Competition

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How to Build a Killer MVP App, Step 3: Market Discovery Phase - Using Market Analysis to Gain Leverage Over the Competition

Over the last 15 years, Grio has collaborated with companies of all sizes to create hundreds of exceptional software solutions. Though there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to building an app, we’ve discovered that starting your journey with your Minimum Value Product (MVP) is a great way to set yourself up for long-term success. In this blog series, we are taking our hard-won wisdom and sharing Grio’s ten essential steps for building a killer MVP.

In last week’s post, How to Build a Killer MVP, Step 2: User Discovery- Letting User Needs Inspire Epics, we explored how identifying users and their needs can help you create epics that set your MVP apart from the competition. 

In this week’s blog post, we cover the third step for building a killer MVP: Market Discovery. We discuss how conducting market analysis can help you identify your primary market and find what differentiates your product from the competition.

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posted

July 7, 2023

Harnessing the Power of Quality Assurance in Daily Life

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Quality Assurance (QA) practices play a critical role in ensuring that products and services meet specific standards before being released to customers. However, QA doesn’t have to be limited to manufacturing processes or software development. Have you ever considered how QA could enhance your daily life?

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posted

July 3, 2023

How to Build a Killer MVP, Step 2: User Discovery- Letting User Needs Inspire Epics

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How to Build a Killer MVP, Step 2: User Discovery- Letting User Needs Inspire Epics

Over the last 15 years, Grio has collaborated with companies of all sizes to create hundreds of exceptional software solutions. Though there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to building an app, we’ve discovered that starting your journey with your Minimum Value Product (MVP) is a great way to set yourself up for long-term success. In this blog series, we are taking our hard-won wisdom and sharing Grio’s ten essential steps for building a killer MVP.

In last week’s post, Grio’s How to Build a Killer MVP, Step 1: Agile Development Methods and Divergent/Convergent Thinking, we explored how using Agile development methods, as well as divergent and convergent thinking, can help your team find and prioritize the best ideas for your MVP. 

In this week’s blog post, we cover the second step for building a killer MVP: User Discovery. We discuss how building epics by successfully identifying your users and their needs will help you create a viable, successful MVP. 

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