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AI is significantly impacting software development. Programmers write code. Their job is to translate product specifications into text a computer can understand, compile, and execute. There is some room for programming creativity to architect an application to simplify future maintenance or improve performance. However the most creative aspects of digital product development (e.g., mobile, wearable, web, and desktop apps) involve humans, from identifying their challenges when contemplating a product to gathering feedback when refining it. Successful digital products require a team of creative, critical thinkers. A typical team includes product owners, designers, developers, project managers, quality assurance specialists, and marketers. In recent years, low-code and no-code tools have become more capable, making it possible for non-developers to create prototypes and proofs of concept. AI is taking that to another level with its ease of building and the capabilities of the resulting product. Quantity versus quality in this new era Firebase Studio and tools like it generate code, not a black box. Suppose the product fails to meet requirements for any reason. It can then either be regenerated from an altered prompt or maintained like a traditional software project by engineers skilled in the projects programming language. That kind of troubleshooting and maintenance will benefit from a trained developers knowledge and experience. Im in favor of tools that help people get ideas out of their heads and onto a device where others can interact with it and provide feedback. Cocktail napkins may be relegated to their more limited wicking roles. But these new capabilities have the potential to rapidly expand the number of available digital products (web products, apps in the App Store, etc.). We could face a quantity over quality challenge with significantly more rough products obscuring the diamonds. Marketing teams will face a greater challenge boosting their product above the noise to be noticed. Technology and the role of human creativity The promise for non-developers is compelling, but what about professionals? Digital product professionals with extensive digital product development experience will benefit from advanced AI tools for design exploration, code generation, and test authoring. Drawing on experience, those professionals can direct AI tools to produce higher-quality results than someone with less experience directing the same tools. Lessons learned from prior experience should result in better prompts and, ultimately, better products. A powerful tool in the hands of someone who knows how to wield it can produce excellent results. A cautionary tale Decades ago, I was involved in the third rewrite of a struggling software product in the education market. The business owners were convinced their products problems were tied to their programming language choice. It was early in my career, and the migration was to a language I enjoyed, so I didnt think to ask questions. As with previous rewrites, the feature set remained essentially the same. The basic architecture remained the same. And the team driving the requirements remained the same. Not surprisingly, the rewrite results were also the same. The product was not noticeably faster or easier to use, and customers didnt like it any more than the previous version. I learned an important lesson from the project. Technology by itself (in that case, a programming language) rarely moves the product success needle. Solving the right problem with the right basic approach, driven by user feedback and the marketing skills and budget to spread the word, has a far greater impact on the results. The same is true for AI. It is a fantastic tool that bestows the superpower on unskilled people to make really awful software products faster than they ever could before. Beyond programming: Solve the right problem with empathy While greater accessibility for non-developers and more powerful tools for skilled professionals are positive, the outlook isnt all rosy. Currently, AI is best at building products when specific instructions are given. The more detail we provide, the better the results. That is very similar to the programmers role. Businesses that currently thrive by turning detailed specifications into functioning software products have the most to lose when AI tools most closely match their skillset. There is much more to digital product development than programming. Our clients value creative thinking, critical thinking, empathy, and a passion for creating compelling user experiences. Those characteristics are vital in ensuring were solving the correct problems for our clients. Less programming effort will be required to build digital products. However, for the foreseeable future, there will still be a significant need for the distinctly human creativity and skills that make products great. Brad Weber is the founder and president of InspiringApps.
Category:
E-Commerce
As a wave of state-level retirement mandates quietly rolls out across the country, most small businesses arent prepared. More than 30 states have proposed mandates that would require small businesses to offer a retirement plan, and 10 states already have active state-sponsored retirement plans. California, the largest state economy, is leading the charge. By the end of this year, all California businesses with at least one employee must offer their employees a retirement benefit, either a 401(k) or enrollment in the state-run CalSavers program. By the end of 2025, those that dont could end up paying fines of up to $750 per employee, with more penalties added annually until they comply. That would be troubling on its own. But in a recent Guideline survey of California small business owners, 75% werent familiar with CalSavers and 65% didnt know about the fines. While the intention behind the legislation is good, the execution is falling short. Expanding access to retirement savings is important. About 7.5 million Californians lack access to a workplace retirement plan, and most of them work for small businesses. But when 98% of firms in the state have fewer than 100 employees, poor execution turns into a statewide problem. Whats happening in California is just the beginning. For small business owners across the country, this is a preview of whats coming nextfrom hidden compliance traps to unexpected penalties. The result: Policies meant to help workers are instead creating confusion, compliance headaches, and financial risk for the countrys most vulnerable employers. A system designed without small businesses in mind Many small business owners I talk to want to help their employees and offer retirement benefits. But theyre also stretched thin, juggling HR, payroll, complianceand now, state-level mandates that come with little warning and even less education. In Guidelines survey, 70% of California small business owners said managing a 401(k) is too complex, and 51% said its too expensive. Yet most had never heard of the SECURE 2.0 tax credits, which can cover 100% of the administrative cost of a 401(k) for the first three years. Thats a clear failure in communication. So instead of unlocking access, these well-intentioned policies are creating traps: rules most businesses dont know about, with fines they can’t afford. The fine print matters Meanwhile, many small businesses are defaulting to state-run programs like CalSavers, which are designed to be a simple option, but not necessarily a long-term solution. These programs dont allow employer contributions and come with limited plan options. According to Guideline research, 47% of employers who tried CalSavers shared that their employees thought the set up and management were difficult to use. Thats why many employers nationally are opting to offer their own 401(k) plans instead. Its not because they have to, but because they want to attract talent, retain employees, and build long-term loyalty. When the playing field is levelmeaning tax credits, modern tech, and low-cost plans are accessiblesmall businesses can offer big-company benefits. What small businesses should do now Whether or not your state has a mandate, its worth paying attention to whats happening in California. Here are some helpful tips for any small business owner: Check your states retirement rules. You might be surprised to learn whats already in place. Consider your options. You dont have to default to a state-run program, especially when a private 401(k) could cost less than you think. Review federal tax credits. If you qualify, you might get your plan fully paid for over the next few years. Dont wait for a fine to start planning. Retirement benefits are becoming important, as a cost of doing business, and may provide a competitive edge in hiring. Mandates shouldnt be a minefield Retirement access can be critical. But when small businesses are blindsided by mandates, miss deadlines they didnt know existed, and face unexpected fines, were not expanding accesswere undermining it. For small businesses to succeed, we need to design policies with their reality in mind. That means better communication, simpler solutions, and real financial support, not just penalties. Because when small businesses thrive, so can their employees. Kevin Busque is cofounder and CEO at Guideline.
Category:
E-Commerce
It’s not just youPride is a lot less corporate this year, and one company sees it as an opportunity to adjust how it serves the LGBTQ+ community during June. What was once a month full of colorful ads, temporary rainbow-hued logos, and big-name brands committing ad dollars and sponsorship money to Pride efforts throughout June, is now seeing big businesses dialing down their monetary support for Pride initiatives, fearing political backlash. Companies like Target, Walmart, PepsiCo, and Anheuser-Busch, have largely rolled back their pride-themed products and donations to pride-related events. But not all companies are pulling their pride initiativesand one New York brewery is taking an entirely different approach to how businesses actually show up for the LGTBQ+ community. This month, Williamsburg-based Brooklyn Brewery will be giving away 25 grants of $1,000 each to trans, nonbinary, or two-spirit New Yorkers. In an email to Fast Company, Brooklyn Brewery president Robin Ottaway said direct donations to members of a vulnerable communitywho overall had higher odds than their cisgender counterparts for income at or below 200% of the federal poverty levelfelt like a better way to use money that would typically go to ads. OR , —where 22%, or 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ adults in the United States live in poverty, compared to an estimated 16% of their straight and cisgender counterparts— We looked at what wed typically spend on advertising during Pride Month and realized that money could have a much more meaningful impact if it went directly to the people who need it most, Ottaway wrote. Instead of running flashy ads we are choosing to redirect that [money] into direct aid. For the effort, called Brooklyn Brewery Supports, the company is partnering with Angelica Christina, an LGBTQ+ activist who serves on the board of the nonprofit Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Christina has worked with the brewery in the past through the organization’s Certified Safe Space initiative, as well as for the brewerys Stonewall IPAwhich has been the official beer of NYC Prides events for the past three years. Trans folks, non-binary, and two spirit folks are often denied job opportunities or denied access to affordable housing,” Christina says. I am a formerly homeless person, and so I know how difficult it is to survive in such a large metropolitan city like New York, especially when you’re pushed into the brink of poverty. Christina is leading the effort’s outreach to the city’s trans community to get word out about the grants. She’ll ultimately help choose recipients and share their stories on social media, if they’re willing. To apply, people can either nominate themselves or someone else (21 or older) via a Google form that includes space to explain what a nominee plans to do with grant money. Christina notes that the money will ideally help recipients with rent, medical bills, groceries, and other basic needs. She says the brewery’s focus on direct aid and connection with the city’s LGBTQ+ community was what sold her on the partnership when Brooklyn Brewery approached her about it. There is not a day that goes by where Brooklyn Brewery does not support this community, Christina said. Whereas other corporations will put up a pride flag for Pride Month, but then for the rest of the year, we’re ignored.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Brooklyn Brewery (@brooklynbrewery)
Category:
E-Commerce
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