The Developer Awards Innovation in business 2024 Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024
AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. Editors Sofi Parry, Senior Editor | Joshua Beardsmore, Writer | Kita Thomas, Writer Designers Emma Hunt Creative Team Manager | Lauren Baldwin, Graphic Designer Proudly introducing The Developer Awards 2024, the newest instalment in our everexpanding repertoire of highly esteemed awards programmes. Innovation in Business strives to bring much deserved recognition to the top-performing web and software developers at all stages of the development process, celebrating the leading innovators and practitioners of one of the world’s most vital industries! It is true that no business which exists today can run at optimum effectiveness and efficiency without an online platform to facilitate. Equally, there is no industry wherein the right software application would not improve every part of that business tenfold. From CRM systems supporting sales and customer service teams, to workforce management and ERP platforms, allowing full control and monitoring of administrative, financial and HR functions. Taking part in The Developer Awards 2024 is an invaluable opportunity to prove that the proficiency and creativity that you bring to your craft is unmatched by the competition. Winners will display excellence in one or more areas of a broad range of criteria. Perhaps your company has created a VUI solution which has groundbreaking healthcare applications, or an XR application which revolutionises engineering safety and design. It might be that you are a web or software developer well-known for your client-centric and reliable service. Sofi Parry Senior Editor www.innovationinbusiness.com The Developer Awards 2024
Contents 4. Radicore Software Limited: Best Open Source Rapid Application Development Toolkit 2024 6. Mutzii: Most Empowering eCommerce Online Brand Development Agency 2024 - Germany 7. Retro Rabbit: Best Software Engineering & Development Company 2024 – South Africa 8. Sloth Design Co: Best Digital Brand & Web Design Company 2024 - Central Denmark & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 9. Conlumina Digital: Best Sustainable Open-Source Web Design Agency 2024 - Scandinavia 10. VALIT Ráðgjöf: Digital Marketing Trade Association of the Year 2024 & Best Campaign Manager Support Solution 2024: SMARTIES Coach GPT 11. Julian Fella: Web Developer of the Year 2024 (Germany) 12. Digital Infrastructure: Whose Is It Anyway? 13. Study Finds IT Professionals Divided Over How AI Can Improve Workplace Experience 14. Four Ways Businesses Can Adopt AI to Connect Successfully with Gen Z
Best Open Source Rapid Application Development Toolkit 2024 Radicore is an open source rapid application development, or RAD, toolkit used for building administrative web applications, which are platform independent, browser independent, and database independent. Its name being a combination of RAD and Core, Radicore can be used as the heart of a myriad of applications, such as workflow, role based access control, audit logging, and data dictionary management. It is a versatile framework designed to support these functionalities, making it a robust choice when building comprehensive administrative web applications. As Radicore is named in The Developer Awards 2024, we speak with Tony Marston, its Founder and Director. Tony Marston is a top-class web developer, renowned as the author of his open source PHP framework, Radicore. Before we dive into the great successes Tony has seen through Radicore, we are going to take a closer look at his journey to excellence. In the early days of working on COBOL projects, Tony did not have a central library of reusable code to help him achieve higher rates of productivity. As he began to notice repeating patterns, he maintained a personal collection of code snippets that he could copy and paste into new programs, using his innovation to boost his productivity and drive results. In the mid-1980s, Tony’s path to success began whilst working on a project. His client asked him on the Friday afternoon to enable his application to include Role Based Access Control, and by the Sunday afternoon Tony had designed a database to hold data for users, transactions, roles, permissions, and menus. He began to code the software on the Monday, and by Friday it was up and running. The project was regarded a great success, and as Tony had not limited the design to only work with the first application, it was quickly adopted as the company standard for all future applications. By providing the RBAC software with the ability to control the running of all application components, Tony had succeeded in turning his personal library into a fully-fledged framework. In the 1990s, the company switched from COBOL to Uniface, which saw Tony rebuilding that framework in the new language. Once again, this framework provided the standard functionality that was required in every application, further demonstrating its aid to boosting productivity levels. Not too long after, in late 1999, Tony joined a new company that needed help implementing its design for a web application. Although the application used all Sep24362 the correct buzzwords, its design wasn’t cost effective and was cancelled before leaving the prototyping phase. It was this moment that Tony decided to branch out on his own, removing his association with developers incapable of putting theory into practice. He wanted to use a language that had been purpose built for the development of web applications and finalised on PHP, a decision that he has never come to regret. Tony began by building a small prototype application that proved his capabilities of writing effective code using the OO concepts of encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. Leveraging his previous experience, Tony built it around Three-Tier Architecture and built all web pages using a templating engine based on XML and XSL stylesheets. Instead of a large program that could handle multiple tasks for a single database table, he built smaller programs, each of which handled a single task for one or two tables. He published this prototype application on his personal website in 2003, alongside several articles discussing his methodology. Following this, Tony rebuilt his RBAC database using MySQL before redeveloping all the code in PHP. Tony founded Radicore Software Limited in January 2004 to market the development framework he had designed and built to aid in the development of web-based enterprise applications, which are also known as administrative web applications. These applications are primarily used by both large and small corporations to record business activities, including sales order processing, supply chain management, invoicing, accounting, stock control and inventory, shipments, enterprise resource planning, and customer relationship management. Such systems are responsible for the capturing and processing of large amounts of data, characterised by having electronic forms at the front end, a relational database at the back end, and software in the middle to handle the business rules. Tony released this development framework as open source in 2006 so that developers could utilise it to build their own applications. Alongside this, however, Tony also offers training services and bespoke development for those with less experience in web development. In 2006, Tony released his codebase as open source and was contacted by a small design agency shortly after, who wanted a back-office application built for one of their clients using Tony’s RBAC ideas. He was subcontracted to build this bespoke application, completing the project on-time and within budget. Both the client and the agency were so impressed with Tony’s expertise that the agency went on to ask Tony to help with similar projects for other clients. This time, instead of a separate bespoke application for each client, they asked Tony to build a package that could be used by multiple clients. “I was up for the challenge,” Tony recalls, “so in January 2007, I started with some industrial-strength database designs from Len Silverston’s Data Model Resource Book, and in six months I had produced a prototype that used six of his designs. It took a further six months to convert the customer’s existing website to use the new database and to insert the business rules into the class files, and in 2008 it went live under the name TRANSIX.” In 2014, Tony was contacted by a director of a company with ties to the USA and the Far East. This company had used his framework to build a bespoke application of their own. During their conversation, Tony mentioned TRANSIX, which intrigued the director so much that he flew into London to receive a demonstration. Shortly after, the two formed a partnership so that the
Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024 | 5 Best Open Source Rapid Application Development Toolkit 2024 company could market Tony’s software to international clients. TRANSIX became GM-X, and Tony began to receive recognition for his remarkable work. Over the decades, Tony has established both himself and Radicore as key players within the web development industry. He has worked tirelessly to develop an in-depth understanding of the wants and needs of his clientele, which has positioned him as a trusted partner to his clients and enables Radicore to remain at the very forefront of the industry. This, however, does not mean that the company follows emerging industry trends; Tony is a big believer in tried and true methods, and will wait for new ideas to reach a level of maturity and reliability before finding the most cost-effective way to integrate them into his software. He does not waste time trying to implement the latest fads or fashions that have no promise of being permanent. “Users of business applications rarely want leading-edge, bleeding-edge software products using untried technologies; they want something with a pedigree that will not turn out to be a costly mistake,” he explains. “My motto has always been ‘innovate, not imitate’, which means that instead of copying the methods and practices followed by others, I am to produce better results by adopting a different approach, one that causes fewer problems and produces more benefits.” This approach has certainly proven successful, as Tony has built a reputation over the years for delivering excellence. By staying true to his methods and allowing his gained expertise to guide him, Tony has never fallen victim to passing trends that bring more mistakes than merit. Tony’s gained experience enables him to build new applications and enhance existing ones at a fast pace, meaning that Radicore’s staff requirements are minimal. Whilst he conducts his work alone, Tony extends his expertise to the users of his open source framework building their own applications, offering them training and support throughout the process. Looking ahead, Tony has plans to enhance Radicore’s offerings. He tells us that he aims to enhance both his open source framework and his enterprise resource planning package in a sensible and cost-effective manner. Such plans are a testament to Tony’s commitment to his craft and demonstrate the significant contributions he has made to the web development industry. The Developer Awards are held to highlight and celebrate the pioneers and trailblazers currently driving the web and software development industry. No business can truly be successful without leaning on software applications and online platforms to streamline processes and broaden their reach. We at Innovation in Business are delighted to award Radicore with the title of the Best Open Source Rapid Application Development Toolkit 2024, for proving itself a vital player in the industry over the years. We congratulate both Radicore and Tony Marston for this monumental achievement and look forward to witnessing another year of success. Contact: Tony Marston Company: Radicore Software Limited Web Address: https://radicore.org/
Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024 | 6 Most Empowering eCommerce Online Brand Development Agency 2024 - Germany Offering a full range of digital marketing services that includes everything from website development and SEO to email marketing and even conversion rate optimisation, Mutzii serves as the one-stop shop for all of its clients’ brand development needs, streamlining the process so that they do not need to work with several agencies to realise the full potential of their brands. Alongside this comprehensive approach, what distinguishes Mutzii is its heart and the passion it has for helping every client realise their success story. Mutzii’s track record of strong results is underpinned by a drive to innovate, pushing the boundaries of creativity and strategy in ways never before seen across this setting. Apart form this distinct sense of innovation, other core values for this business include client-centred excellence, integrity, accountability, collaboration, and community impact. This final one is particularly important for Mutzii, which prides itself on offering work for younger people, be it students gaining experience or professionals taking their first steps. “Mutzii isn’t just helping businesses grow; it’s building a community where creativity, passion, and impact come together.” The community that Mutzii has created is centred around helping small businesses and enterprises to realise their full potential, as although it works with clients that have organisations of all sizes, this is where its enthusiasm truly lies. It is as a result of this that the team here currently do a lot of work with those businesses trading on the likes of WordPress and Shopify, or those that offer B2B services, be it in the outsourcing, HR/recruitment, hospitality, finance, SaaS, or medical services sectors. Regardless of the client, when it comes to ensuring it more than meets their aims, this small business digital marketing agency in Germany begins its process by remaining on the precipice of the new, exciting developments that are constantly being cultivated in this environment. Continuous learning and adaptation is a must, and this is why the team here perform everything from analysing trends to exploring new tools. For Mutzii, innovation is adaptability, and this is why being able to pivot and evolve is so essential for it. All of this is made possible by the unwavering dedication of the company’s team, overseen by Mutzii Arr. Although Mutzii does Born out of a commitment to help start-ups and small businesses alike thrive in the digital landscape, Mutzii, based in Düsseldorf, initially started out as a solo operation by a passionate digital marketer of the same name, who juggled multiple clients whilst delivering outstanding results for them all. Today, Mutzii is a full-on brand development agency with a stellar team of creative professionals at its disposal, all working towards the same mission that once powered its solo success – helping businesses grow. most of the work herself, approximately 80%, she would be lost without the dedicated, trustworthy, and loyal members of staff she has by her side. Mutzii herself explains, “we follow a flat hierarchy – there’s no ‘boss’. Everyone is free to speak their mind, and this openness fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation.” Fun is also had along the way, highlighting the supportive culture the business enjoys. Despite the quality inherent across this excellent digital marketing agency for start-ups and small businesses, the nature of the industry and the wider economic landscape does lend itself to some issues that the team here have to overcome, particularly involving cost. As a way of cutting the costs of their marketing efforts, many businesses choose agencies offering cheaper services. In the long run, such a decision can end up being a waste of money entirely, due to the often-subpar standard of the completed work. Garnering the intended results in this sphere takes time as well as a strategic thinking, and although this comes at a higher price, the return will speak for itself, with demonstrable results provided. Offering a variety of digital marketing packages for small businesses, Mutzii has quality digital marketing services available at a number of price points, which not only highlights an acute awareness of the wider landscape, but also represents a desire to change the reputation of this industry that some lesser agencies have left it with. By being transparent, accountable, and affording every client online brand development solutions of the highest standard, Mutzii has positioned itself as an industry leader over the past 15 years, helping brands go from simple dreams to million-dollar powerhouses through proven and meticulously created development strategies. Contact: Mutzii Arr Company: Mutzii Web Address: https://mutzii.com/ Oct24312
Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024 | 7 Best Software Engineering & Development Company 2024 – South Africa Based in South Africa, Retro Rabbit works extensively within the financial sector, through its focus on usability and security Retro Rabbit has established itself as a valued partner within the Banking Financial and Insurance sector. The company collaborates with its clients to build software that solves problems, enhances their customer experience, and drives measurable value. Retro Rabbit measures success in the longterm partnerships it has created with its clients, rather than simply the number of projects it has completed. Retro Rabbit has established itself as a long-term reliable partner for delivering software solutions. The enduring success of Retro Rabbit is based upon the three pillars of people, process, and technology. First and foremost, Retro Rabbit is a people business, they work tirelessly to develop and hire the best and brightest minds on the continent ensuring that their solutions are innovative and effective. Retro Rabbit firmly believes in empowering and supporting their employees on their continuous learning and professional development journeys. The company has built an internal culture on the foundation of radical honesty, encouraging their talented employees to be instrumental in developing the right solutions for clients. These are core values for all Retro Rabbit employees. “Retro Rabbit’s corporate culture is built on taking ownership for delivery rather than completing work and invoicing it as well as radical honesty between team members, this ensures our customers get the best solutions,” says Dion. “Ultimately, our true differentiator is that we turn customercentric design into software that works and doesn’t need multiple fixes.” The company prides itself on its agility, always striving to tailor its solutions to find the right way of working to deliver results for each particular client, working to understand their specific objectives and needs. “Another key element underlying our success is our emphasis on the design of the software, both the user interface and experience,” Dion tells us. “A focus on design has shown to increase revenue by 32% and deliver a 52% greater total return to shareholders – our software really does deliver value. We aim to achieve a 100% return on software, whilst creating software users love engaging with”. Retro Rabbit is technology agnostic, what is important is driving results and innovation for our customers, technology is simply the vehicle that delivers these solutions. This strategic approach has proven successful for Retro Rabbit. One example of this is the Standard Bank My360 App, an awardwinning app that allows customers to monitor detailed information about their assets and liabilities in one versatile dashboard. Through the Standard Bank My360 App, customers are able to view the value of their homes, cars, pension funds, whilst also having the ability to invest in stocks and bonds. The app gives people the opportunity to plan for their life and financial goals with ease. Retro Rabbit has received recognition for its services from its clients, in the form of glowing testimonials. These accounts of completed projects demonstrate Retro Rabbit’s commitment to delivering exceptional results. “Working with the Retro Rabbit team has been a great experience,” writes Yuzzu. “I especially enjoy the fact that the teams take full responsibility for the deliverables and go above and beyond to make it work. Working remotely, the Retro Rabbit team integrated seamlessly into our onsite teams, and we very quickly found a sustainable way of working, which resulted in a predictable delivery cadence.” “Retro Rabbit’s services are technology agnostic, which means they can provide services on various platforms or technologies,” reports Telesure. “We are completely satisfied with the cohesion of the Retro Rabbit personnel within our team, as well as the level of knowledge sharing, and contextual input provided to our personnel and projects. We can confidently recommend the consideration of Retro Rabbit’s services.” Oct24012
May21135 Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024| 8 Going independent in 2023 after years of debate, Malou Løkke Sloth created Sloth Design Co. to deliver personalised brand and web design services to every client, ensuring they are provided with a final product that effortlessly captures the unique identity and aims of their business. This is a service provided for brandnew technology-based start-ups through to established tech companies and sees Malou work primarily with international clients in search of somebody to help them take their brands to the next level. Alongside the twin pillars of branding (which consists of logos and brand kits) and web design, Sloth Design Co.’s services also span a range of other key marketing assets, such as social media and email design, resulting in the creation of a cohesive digital ecosystem. The company’s other speciality areas include UX/UI insights and website audits, both of which contribute to the overarching aim of Sloth Design Co., which is to optimise and refine the digital experience for both its clients and their customers. Seeing herself as an extension of her clients’ teams as opposed to somebody on the outside, the values of creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and honesty that exist at the heart of Malou’s business result in the forging of robust and transparent relationships, where honesty takes centre stage, and the requirements of both parties are laid down from the outset. What follows are more fruitful collaborations, with designs created that not only reflect a brand in the here and now, but that also align with its long-term goals and vision. “My goal is always to help clients navigate the ‘digital jungle’ with confidence, building brands and websites that not only look great but also perform strategically.” Operating in this dynamic industry, Malou’s clients want someone who thrives on the cutting edge, a partner whose ability to integrate new trends and tools can stand them in good stead and prepare them for what comes next. It is for this reason that she prioritises staying one step ahead of the curve, from understanding the newest web technologies to keeping up with the latest UX/UI advancements. “Because I work with tech companies, my clients often expect a level of innovation that reflects their own industries”, Malou adds. For Malou, innovation entails staying curious and striving to always improve. This is reflected throughout Sloth Design Co., where innovation spans everything from the complexity of crafting a brand identity that allows a client to standout in a busy market, to something as simple as optimising a website so that the user has a better experience. Underpinning her signature holistic approach, Malou recognises that innovation is about more than just the end result, it is deeply embedded across every stage of the process. Thus, Malou explains: “Finding the balance between integrating new technologies and maintaining a timeless, strategic design approach is something I’m always mindful of.” Striking this balance is far from the only challenge she faces however, and in an industry where automation and AI are becoming increasingly integrated, there is an ever-narrowing line between maximum enhancement and the loss of the distinctive human touch that allows brands to flourish. As we move into the final weeks of 2024, Malou is doubling down on her efforts, partnering with more international clients and leveraging a fresh, adaptable approach to tech company branding and website design. Other plans include bolstering her knowledge concerning UX/UI design for tech start-ups, as well strengthening the long-term partnerships she has with her existing client base. The link between Malou’s last name, Sloth, and her branding of the ‘digital jungle’ is more than a playful marketing ploy, it expresses the ability of Sloth Design Co. to help clients traverse the online environment as if they knew it like the backs of their hands. Celebrated with this duo of awards, this business offering digital branding and web design in Denmark and far beyond is the go-to destination for tech companies of any size in search of an encompassing and personalised service. Contact: Malou Løkke Sloth Company: Sloth Design Co. Web Address: https://malousloth.com/ Best Digital Brand & Web Design Company 2024 - Central Denmark & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 Offering web design for tech companies, Sloth Design Co. is a leading digital brand and web design studio based in Denmark but working remotely with clients across the world. Partnering with the likes of SaaS platforms and those innovating in the field of AI, Malou Løkke Sloth, the self-professed technology geek behind this solo-run company, creates streamless, strategic websites and unique brand identities that empower clients as they navigate the ever-evolving digital sphere. Sep24404
May21135 Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024 | 9 catalyst for creativity that sees this business maintain its frontrunner position. “The feedback we hear most often is about our attention to detail, responsiveness, and ability to deliver technically superior, highperforming websites.” As 2024 winds down, Conlumina remains dedicated to expanding its efforts in the field of green tech and sustainable development. From working on new partnerships and initiatives to providing even more energy-efficient digital solutions for its clients, this is a company determined to deliver a long-term impact, going beyond building websites to craft scalable digital ecosystems that are grounded in sustainability. In a world where the internet now uses more energy than the aviation industry, this is a much-needed change. Despite its endless benefits, the awareness of green digital transformation is still quite low overall. Conlumina is on a mission to change this, recognising that speed and sustainability go hand in hand. With an unparalleled top performance guarantee in effect that guarantees a score on Google PageSpeed of 90 or above on both mobile and desktop, as well as ethical methods that don’t rely on cookies or other tracking technologies, Conlumina Digital is ushering in a transformative future, making this sustainable web design and development company a worthy inclusion in The Developer Awards 2024. Contact: Fabian Kastner Company: Conlumina Digital Web Address: https://conlumina.com/ Best Sustainable Open-Source Web Design Agency 2024 - Scandinavia Conlumina Digital is a sustainable digital design agency that is dedicated to creating conscious web solutions that are high performance, centred on the user experience, and help to reduce carbon emissions. Focusing primarily on open-source web development, Conlumina has a reputation for delivering transparent, flexible, and scalable solutions to its clients, a customer base that spans a range of diverse businesses – from local SMEs to established international organisations – across the professional services, education, e-commerce, and non-profit sectors. Taking a 360-degree approach to the services it provides, this sustainable web agency in Sweden offers everything from more standard design and development services, as well as content creation, digital marketing, and branding, to more specialised niches such as SEO and digital performance optimisation. Across this suite of services, what shines through is the trio of values that have been fundamental to the company’s success – planet, people, performance. These values have been ingrained in this operation since day one. Adhering to these areas not only results in the immediate needs of clients being served, but also considers the long-term impact that any provided solutions will have on environmental and social circles. With wider society having doubled down on sustainable initiatives over the past several years, Conlumina has too, joining the likes of the 1% for the Planet and Ecologi initiatives that see sustainability further integrated into the company’s business model at every stage. The result is sustainable web design that takes a proactive approach when it comes to contributing towards environmental causes. Not only does Conlumina ensure sustainability is woven into the very fabric of its operation, but it also makes sure that its undertaking is bolstered by the latest technological advancements and a deep understanding of the trends happening across the broader open-source community. Remaining involved in industry spheres allows the team here to leverage cutting-edge technology as soon as possible, from green cloud computation and serverless applications to UX and AI website optimisation tools. Moreover, since Conlumina’s client base predominantly comprises businesses that prioritise a combination of performance, sustainability, and functionality, it further meets their needs by serving as a partner, building a lasting relationship defined by delivering value at every stage of the process. Be it enhancing the user experience or reducing the digital carbon footprint of a business, the method employed by Conlumina’s team hinges on providing innovation, finding better and smarter ways to deliver this value. Fabian Kastner, Conlumina’s Managing Director, elaborates further on what innovation means for the company and its team: “It involves not just adopting new technologies but doing so in ways that align with our principles of sustainability and usability.” He continues, “for instance, we’ve integrated green hosting and adopted the Sustainable Web Design Model (SWDM) to help our clients track and reduce their website’s energy consumption.” Such innovation has been made possible by the company’s team, a group of stellar individuals who deliver the personalised service and quality work that this sustainable web development company is renowned for. In return for their dedication, Conlumina fosters an internal culture for its employees that is equal parts transparent and collaborative. Nurturing an environment where everyone feels empowered to bring their ideas to their table, what arises is a Sep24392
Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024 | 10 Digital Marketing Trade Association of the Year 2024 & Best Campaign Manager Support Solution 2024: SMARTIES Coach GPT At the very heart of MMA Global’s commitment to drive digital marketing innovation and effectiveness is the SMARTIES Awards, a prestigious marketing awards programme hosted by the company that shines a spotlight on those going above and beyond in the marketing world. Celebrating those campaigns that push the needle and set a new gold standard for creativity and impact, to be celebrated with an award from MMA Global reflects a terrific accomplishment and cements a brand’s industry-leading status. SMARTIES Coach GPT, for which MMA Global has been recognised with a separate award, is an AI tool designed by the company to help campaign managers and other such marketing professionals easily prepare and submit their entries into the global SMARTIES Awards. In essence, this innovative tool works by streamlining the submission process for prospective nominees, providing them with in-depth guidance on the likes of choosing the right category for them and what the judges are looking for in their winning picks. Having been meticulously designed so as to appeal directly to marketers from across the industry – be it multinational brands or small, bespoke agencies – the SMARTIES Coach platform affords all a personalised user experience based on the details they input, offering them helpful tips through a submission guide and even affording them detailed marketing case study preparation. MMA Global keeps this leading awards submission tool updated by integrating its own research and insights into it, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of evolving trends and an accurate reflection of this dynamic sphere. “Our core values are simplicity, efficiency, and expertise. We aim to ensure that every user has a clear path to submitting the best possible case for their campaigns, which contributes to our overall success by building trust and delivering results.” It is clear that innovation is a cornerstone of both MMA Global and SMARTIES Coach. Regarding the latter, this innovation stems from a drive to create an experience for users that empowers them, something achieved through the delivery of precise and tailored advice that is underpinned by AI-driven marketing insights. By leveraging this approach, the company is redefining the way marketers navigate the In recent years, the ways in which people and brands interact with one another have changed significantly, resulting in more personal and powerful relations. With such developing technologies as 5G and AI also being brought into the fold, this is a connection that is only set to deepen with time. This is where MMA Global comes in, as a leading digital marketing trade association capable of capturing the zeitgeist of the modern world and leading marketers through these changes with a combination of AI-driven marketing insights and a stellar marketing awards submission tool. awards submission process, as well as offering them the best possible chances for success with their marketing campaigns. The consistent excellence inherent across this operation can be attributed to MMA Global’s staff, especially those who developed the SMARTIES Coach platform. It was their knowledge and enthusiasm for marketing technology, AI, and data-driven insights that made this best-in-class marketing awards submission tool possible. Beyond this, it is their dedication that is fostering its ongoing improvements, ensuring it continues to deliver the best possible experience and results for marketers from all over the world. As for what these upgrades will look like for the rest of 2024 and beyond, the team behind the platform are currently in the process of implementing more advanced AI features into it, allowing for the likes of deeper campaign analyses and even category prediction capabilities. Even as digital marketing becomes more complex, these tweaks will help campaign managers to navigate such challenges as increasingly stringent data privacy regulations, as well as any future shifts that may come their way. Ultimately, for those at MMA Global and their customers, SMARTIES Coach is a tool that is about so much than just allowing for the best practices for award submissions, it is about optimising every individual campaign strategy so that the user can focus in on what matters most to the judges of the prestigious SMARTIES Awards. Regardless of a marketers’ experience with awards, SMARTIES Coach by MMA Global helps them to submit their strongest campaigns for judgement, which could result in them being celebrated for their standout nature. On the back of this, these two awards are highly deserved, and represent the unwavering commitment here to best practices for award submissions. Contact: Sverrir Davíðsson Company: VALIT Ráðgjöf Web Address: www.valit.is Sep24338 VALIT Ráðgjöf
Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024 | 11 Web Developer of the Year 2024 (Germany): Julian Fella With over eight years of industry experience, Julian Fella is a web developer quickly rising the ranks and building a reputation for delivering exceptional results. Having generated more than seven million monthly visitors for the webpages of his clients, Julian promises to help brands solve their biggest bottlenecks and drive audience engagement. Following his recent recognition in The Developer Awards 2024, we speak with Julian to learn more about his spectacular services. Currently rising in Rome, Julian Fella delivers tailored web experiences to a myriad of brands from all over the world. He leverages his expertise to create immersive, high quality websites for companies, startups, and agencies, bringing even the most abstract ideas to life. With experience in Webflow, alongside tools such as GSAP, Julian tailors each website to meet his client’s vision exactly, from concept to final handover. Operating on the core values of quality, attention, and communication, Julian reflects this in each project he undertakes. He opts to take on a maximum of two clients at a time to give each project his full focus. With a guaranteed 24-hour response time, Julian’s clients always feel informed and supported throughout the process. In addition to his client work, Julian is also the founder of Annnimate, a new SaaS platform launching in early December, designed to streamline access to high-quality animations for designers and developers. The process of building Annnimate from the ground up has given Julian valuable insights into the challenges and priorities faced by tech companies and startups. This firsthand experience has deepened his understanding of the importance of efficient workflows, seamless user experience, and scalable design—key factors he now brings to each client project. A solopreneur, Julian has no issues with maintaining his stringent commitment to high quality work; he is solely behind every aspect of the business, from design to development to client communication. Taking such a hands-on approach to his operations allows Julain to uphold the levels of quality and attention to detail that his clients have come to expect. “Since it’s just me, I don’t have a team to recruit or manage,” he says, “but that also means I can keep the process simple and personal. I approach each project with the mindset of giving it my all, focusing on delivering tailored solutions that genuinely help my clients succeed. This solo journey means clients get a highly focused and committed partner, which has been a key factor in my company’s success.” Innovation is a key component in staying on the cutting edge, which is crucial in web design. As a result, Julian makes it a priority to continuously learn and explore new techniques, focusing on what is trending in design, animations, and the latest Webflow updates. For example, he loves to experiment with scroll animations and immersive designs, which make each project unique. Taking this approach helps to keep work fresh and ensures that Julian is always delivering something special to his clients. For this reason, clients place a lot of trust in Julian to help them tap into the future via their online presence. In this fast-paced digital world, staying innovative is the key to creating real impact for both clients and the broader industry. Building trusting relationships is important to Julian, who strives to build collaborative partnerships with his clientele. Working closely alongside his clients, Julian tailors every aspect of the design and development process to their specific needs. This personal touch truly sets his work apart in this competitive market and ensures that each website Julian produces is not just a product, but a unique reflection of his client’s brand and vision. As for the future, Julian is anticipating a year focused on improving and enhancing his brand and expertise. This will include taking on a few select projects that allow him to push the boundaries of web design and development even further. He will also be refining his process to make it even more streamlined for clients, ensuring that he delivers a top-tier product alongside a smooth, enjoyable experience. “I’m also planning to share more insights and tips on my LinkedIn profile, aiming to connect with other professionals and potential clients,” he tells us. “Beyond that, I’m considering developing some resources, like design templates or guides, to help startups and small businesses improve their online presence. It’s an exciting time, and I’m looking forward to what’s next!” Web Address: https://www.julianfella.de/ Sep24258
May21135 Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024| 12 A recent report was shared by McKinsey, ‘the state of cloud computing in Europe’, which highlighted not just low returns, but serious complications for businesses implementing cloud as a basis for their digital transformation. Firstly, not only does the value of cloud come ‘in isolated pockets and at a subscale level’, but it’s also limited to your IT department. While 75% of those surveyed reported either cost-savings or increases in productivity, only one-third have seen such savings beyond IT. This could be down to cloud being historically ‘owned’ by IT and that legacy is hard to lose. The research has found 71% of companies measure the value of cloud in IT operational improvements. In comparison, just one in three companies in Europe monitor non-IT outcomes. 37% reported on cost savings outside of IT and 32% reported new revenue generation. What this means is cloud success is determined by IT capabilities. This is despite 90% of these companies are prioritising cloud projects. Again however, just a third of these businesses regularly discuss cloud progress at a C-Suite level. Leaders don’t realise that It’s not about embracing cloud as a solution to change your business. It’s about identifying the change needed and implementing the right technology. On the flipside, the report does indicate there is ‘hybrid thinking when it comes to digital infrastructure. For example, there are two-thirds of companies with more than 50% of their workloads migrated to cloud and more than 20% of their activity is retained on-premises. But the mindset on cloud has resulted in McKinsey to proclaim that: “The ability to take advantage of new technologies, particularly generative AI…will depend on how well companies can establish and scale their cloud programs”, which needs to be challenged. To echo the BBC guidelines for mentioning brand names: there are ‘other forms of digital infrastructure available’. There are existing alternatives, which some exceed cloud. One example is the edge colocation data centre, that provides low-latency processing and real-time response. It opens new capabilities and revenue streams for a business, such as video analytics. For the likes of oil rigs or power plants, connections to cloud centralised facilities will always come with a huge risk. This is why Gartner predicts by 2025, 75% of enterprise data processing will move to the edge. Conclusion Data strategy isn’t a one fit all, each businesses needs to develop their own bespoke strategy as a true reflection of their IT focus on cloud, which must now be strengthened by their business approach to the likes of operational demands to drive value from their digital infrastructure investment, regardless of the technology. Digital Infrastructure: Whose Is It Anyway?
May21135 Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024 | 13 said their organisation understood the risks associated with AI, which is both heartening and could explain the low level of full-scale AI adoption (4%). David Wright, chief value and innovation officer at SDI, said, “Adapting to AI is not just a technological challenge but a cultural shift within ITSM. This research serves as a wake-up call for ITSM professionals and organisations to prepare for a future where AI is a fundamental part of our service delivery toolkit. The successful integration of AI into ITSM hinges on our ability to synchronise technology with our most valuable asset—our people. The future will favour organisations that understand this balance, transforming their operations to not only include AI but also enhance the capabilities and happiness of their human workforce.” Study Finds IT Professionals Divided Over How AI Can Improve Workplace Experience ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation, today announced the results of its joint report with Service Desk Institute (SDI). A split is emerging in how IT professionals use GenAI in their day-to-day roles, with contrasting opinions regarding its benefits on productivity. According to The State of Artificial Intelligence in ITSM – 2024 and beyond, 71% of IT professionals say their organisation is still researching or piloting AI in IT support and ITSM operations. Current AI deployments are geared towards end-user experience and enterprise productivity Virtual assistants for end-user support, assisted knowledge management and assisted self-service are the top three AI-powered technologies currently used in ITSM operations at respondents’ organisations. Similarly, respondents believe incident management (79%), knowledge management (73%) and service request management (67%) to be the most impacted by AI. Notably, strategic use cases of AI in ITSM, such as intelligent data analytics for insight and decision-making, saw the lowest level of current adoption. This finding resonates with the fact that 62% of respondents said that integrating AI into their existing tool is challenging. Cost reduction trumps innovation in driving AI adoption Kumaravel Ramakrishnan, the director of marketing for ITSM at ManageEngine, said, “The survey reveals two primary motivators of AI adoption in IT and differing levels of their impact on adoption: The first motivator for AI adoption is to streamline processes and reduce costs (81%), while the second is spurring innovation (67%) to differentiate from competition. “Streamlining processes and reducing costs is more successful in driving adoption, because achieving strategic use cases requires advanced knowledge of GenAI, a clear AI strategy and the right skilled workforce to build out or integrate these solutions. The current AI offerings in the market lower the barrier to adopting AI to automate basic service desk tasks, while strategic AI use cases are yet to be commoditised.” On the other hand, the report highlights challenges to adopting AI: • 38% cited the lack of skills and expertise in GenAI. • 29% cited budget constraints. • 28% blamed the lack of a clear AI strategy. Although 45% of IT professionals report having a basic understanding of GenAI, there is a significant shortage of GenAI experts. Risks stemming from insufficient specialised AI knowledge The lack of AI-specific knowledge amongst IT teams flags potential risks to organisations. Almost half (48%) have poor or limited understanding of the compliance and legal issues of AI, and 46% have poor or limited understanding of the risks and security measures. Meanwhile, one in four do not have governance frameworks in place for the implementation of AI. In contrast, 65%
Innovation in Business- The Developer Awards 2024 | 14 The Digital Landscape One of Generation Z’s defining characteristics is their impressive levels of tech-literacy. Gary Clark, Academy Director at SIA, explains: “Gen Z grew up in an increasingly digital world, spending their formative years surrounded by smartphones, social media and its accompanying personalisation. “From curated playlists on streaming platforms to customised, AI-driven product suggestions on e-commerce websites, they are accustomed to the tailored experience. In fact, 89% of Generation Z are willing to pay for customised experiences using their data. “This expectation extends beyond mere convenience but is a fundamental requirement for engaging this audience.” Read on to learn more about how AI can enable this. How can AI help? With this desire for personalised communications, AI plays a pivotal role in meeting Gen Z’s expectations. Artificial Intelligence offers unparalleled capabilities in understanding and predicting consumer behaviour. For Gen Z, this means receiving content, recommendations and offers that resonate with their individual preferences and lifestyles. Here’s how your business can use it to create impactful marketing campaigns: Personalisation at scale In a recent survey, Gen Z shoppers expressed the highest rate of approval for personalised marketing. AI enables businesses to analyse vast amounts of data to discern patterns and preferences. This capability allows for highly personalized marketing campaigns that can adapt in real-time to changes in consumer behaviour. Predictive analytics AI-driven predictive models can anticipate Gen Z’s needs. Whether it’s suggesting the next binge-worthy show or predicting fashion trends, businesses can use these insights. Sentiment Analysis Gen Z is vocal segment on social media. AI tools monitor conversations, identify trends and gauge sentiment. After analysing this, brands can adapt their messaging accordingly. Wielding an estimated $150 billion purchasing power globally, Gen Z consumers – spanning those born between 1997 and 2012 – are a marketplace force to be reckoned with. This tech-savvy generation therefore deserves attention from businesses with authentic digital experiences dominating their decision making. 56% of Generation Z expect personalised content – which harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) – tailored to their own unique interests and preferences. Ski and snowboard instructor course business, SIA Austria, explore how best to leverage AI for Gen Z success. Hyper-Targeted Advertising AI enables precise audience segmentation. Businesses can create hyper-targeted ads that resonate with Gen Z’s diverse interests whether you’re selling trainers or a gap year ski season. Strategies for success Data-Driven Creativity: Combine AI insights with creative storytelling. SIA’s Instagram stories feature user-generated content, showcasing real experiences from their community. Interactive Experiences: Use AI-powered quizzes, polls and AR filters. Gen Z craves engagement, and such elements can go ‘viral’ – driving brand awareness. Ethical AI: Be transparent about data usage. Gen Z values privacy and ethical practices. SIA’s privacy policy is concise and accessible, earning trust. Conclusion With impressive spending power and an influential online presence, Gen Z offers plenty opportunity for savvy, forward-thinking marketers. By harnessing the power of AI, businesses can create tailored campaigns that resonate with this digitally native generation. Four Ways Businesses Can Adopt AI to Connect Successfully with Gen Z
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