The iOS operating system is highly popular and offers advanced and next generation experience to the users. It is developed by Apple and considered a powerful platform in the app industry. This Apple based operating system is written in C, C++, Objective-C, Swift, and Assembly language.

According to Statista, in 2023, mobile apps are projected to generate more than 935 billion U.S. dollars in revenues via paid downloads and in-app advertising. However, Apple constantly puts high efforts to satisfy their customers with the advanced features and never fails to amaze their users. To achieve this goal, every year Apple conducts its official event known as the World Wide Conference, in which developers from all over the world used to attend this conference. In the event, Apple launched the upcoming features in iOS, creating a high buzz in the market for a year.

In this blog, let’s know the iOS app development trends, which every developer should know.

Top iOS app development Trends

1. Beacons Technology

Presently, Beacon technology is in trend, and has turned into an emerging innovation. It is beneficial for the businesses and helps to attract new customers. It requires a beacon device which used to be integrated in the stores, and with mobile application users can get alerts for products they are interested in or if there are any particular offers or deals. It helps them to attract customers to them. The best thing is it works in both offline and online modes,and bluetooth plays a major role in it. It is considered the best tool as compared to other engaging devices.

2. iOS Enterprise Based Apps

As we all know, now mobile applications have turned as an asset for the business world. For enterprises, it is important to launch their own apps in the market and the iOS operating system is the most preferred platform to introduce their service digitally. Organisations are highly demanding iOS based apps with advanced and innovative features for their customers. They prefer On demand apps, which they can launch in the market with essential features. So, now the demand has led it as a trend of the market.

3. Machine learning

Since the last couple of years, coreML, which is referred to as Core Machine Learning has gained a high popularity in the market. It offers us several advanced features across different Apple devices. This Core Machine Learning is launched by Apple only and now with this technology, it offers next generation and modern era experience. The best example of this intelligence is SIRI, which acts as a virtual assistance for all of us. Core machine learning is growing rapidly and offering us new features. Presently, it has turned as a trend and users prefer to integrate in their custom iOS applications. It is highly beneficial for enterprise based apps.

4. Cloud Integrated iOS based apps

Cloud integration helps enterprises to overcome from the major challenge and that is to manage their data securely and in an organized manner. Presently, it is considered one of the best platforms to store and manage data, and users have all rights to access the data at any time and from anywhere easily and smoothly. With this technology, enterprise data is fully secure and there are no chances of data breach.

However, cloud based applications allow us to run apps directly on the cloud, which helps to save the internal memory of the Smart devices. By opting cloud integrated mobile apps, for enterprises collaboration has turned more easier and smoother, which also helps to increase productivity and efficiency. Apart from this, collaboration has turned more easier and faster with this solution.

5. Apple Wallet Integration

Now, mobile applications have turned a part of our lives and offer hassle free services. People prefer online and secure online payment for the services. To offer a secure and faster payment process, Apple wallet has turned as a trend as it is the most trusted platform.

6. Swift 5 Programming Language

Swift is the most preferred and dominant iOS programming platform for the developers. Presently, Swift 5 programming version is the most dominating version of the iOS app development platform. It is released with a stable Application Binary Interface (ABI) and binary compatibility. This latest version offers scalability, flexibility, security, and efficiency to the developers. Swift 5 features can be leveraged by the both freshers and experienced developers. It has turned into a trend of the iOS app development sector.

Latest Swift 5 add ons features are – testing integer multiple, new character properties, and removing subsequences.

Conclusion

These trends are highly dominating the iOS app development company. In order to launch a successful app in the market, it is important that iOS app developers should be proficient with these trends. Presently, these trends help you to improve your market reputation and attract new customers towards your services.

Do you require an ATS/CRM?

Many agencies at the startup stage prefer working on google docs and store their database on local computers. I suggest that the first thing to do would be to subscribe to a ‘recruitment agency software’. Yes, the greatest challenge is to choose from the multitude of various software available in the market. Most software nowadays is available on the cloud and on a monthly/annual subscription basis.

The cost of such software could range from 25$ to 150$ a month per user. Buying on an annual basis could get you a 20 percent discount. Once you are sure a software suits your purpose it makes sense to subscribe to it on an annual basis. Business software is not something that you would be changing frequently. Therefore it is imperative that you choose the same wisely after deliberate considerations.

I have come across various articles on the net which compare software based on features and rate them based on customer review. I, however, believe that for choosing software, the agency must understand the need for various features and then decide which ones are the ‘must have’ and which features are the ‘good to have’ ones.

What is an ATS and a CRM?

Otherwise, it is easy to get lost in the endless lists of features offered by software providers. Another thing to be careful about is to understand the difference between an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) and Recruitment CRM. Typically recruitment software is used by recruitment agencies as well as by hiring companies.

Here the ATS, which is basically adding a candidate to the system ( ie maintaining an applicant database) and seeing her through the selection process is the common feature. However, the big difference is the different workflows handled by these two entities.

The hiring company gets direct applicants and also gets resumes from recruitment agencies, which need to be tracked. For recruitment agencies, they need to send resumes to the client(hiring company), keep track of the candidates as well as bill a successful placement. Therefore both these entities require different software.

There is also other software in the market like RPO software (recruitment process outsourcing) and VMS software (Vendor Management System). Even these are more relevant to the Hiring Company than to a recruitment agency.

Platform Features – ‘Must haves’ & ‘Good to have’

I will hereon list out the features in the order of importance to a recruitment agency. The need for features will increase as the agency grows, works with more clients has a larger database and of course a larger recruitment team. It is left to you to decide what are your ‘must have’ and ‘good to have’ features. And yes, when you are just starting, your choice will also depend on the price of the software. I will now list out some features that I feel are a must have (and good to have) for a Recruitment CRM.

1. Candidate Database – (Must have)

a. Database size limits if any (data of how many candidates can be stored). Anything more than 10000 candidates per user is good. Yes, more the merrier. (Must have)

b. How does data enter the database? Does it need to be typed or can a resume be parsed? (Parser – Must Have)

c. Can the database be searched?

Boolean search (This is being able to search for some resumes with specific keywords, and that too with operators like ‘AND’ ‘OR’ & ‘NOT’)? (Good to Have)
Filter search – Based on specific fields. (Must have)
d. Ability to store customized fields. You may want to store the ‘hieght’ (just kidding!) for all your candidates. Not possible if you do not have such a field available. (Must have)

e. Saved searches – You may be using specific criteria to search candidates for a particular job (or type of job) and may want to save that for use again. (Good to have)

f. Candidate Hot Lists – These are lists created of specific candidates in your database for quick reference. (Good to have)

2. There must be a similar database to hold data regarding ‘Clients’, ‘Contacts’ and ‘Jobs’. (Must Have)

3. Ability to stores files & notes attached to each entry in the database (Good to have)

4. Ability to format resumes as ‘agency resume’ with your agency branding before sharing with the client. (Good to have)

5. Assigning Jobs to recruiters and assigning Candidates to Jobs (Must have).

6. Ability to configure various stages of the recruitment process and ability to move candidates from one stage of recruitment to another while recording the date/time and taking notes. (Must Have)

7. Ability to schedule appointments and send/receive notifications/ reminders to/from candidates & contact. (Must have)

8. Ability to collaborate on specific jobs with team members. (Must have)

9. Ability to share resumes with clients online (Good to have). One can always send these through good old emails.

10. Email Integration with the recruitment CRM (good to have)

11. Mobile Application. (Good to have)

12. Calling candidates & contacts through the application and recording the conversation. The recording part depends on whether local privacy laws allow the same. Nevertheless even calling through the application is useful to keep a track of all communication with the stakeholders. ( Good to have)

13. Ability to view candidate history with your agency. Which jobs did you present the candidate for? Till which hiring stage was the candidate considered? Remarks of various clients regarding candidate? (Good to have)

14. Communication History – Ability to view all communication (email/telecall) as well as any notes taken during face to face meeting recorded, in one place. It will give you a quick background view before a new conversation. (Good to have).

15. Radius Search – This is basically searching for a candidate within a specific distance from a particular location (normally the job location). Mostly applies to flexi or temp staffing but may also be useful in permanent recruitment sometimes. This requires the candidate address or pin code to be stored in the database and is searched with a mapping API. (Good to have)

16. Social Media Recruiting – Many applications are integrated with popular social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook. This allows recruiters to post their jobs to these platforms with a single click. It is important that candidate who clicks on these posts are able to apply directly to these jobs and you can see their resume inside the app/database. (Good to have)

17. Job board posting– This is a similar feature like the one above except that the job gets posted to specific job boards (Good to have)

18. Bulk Emailing – Many time a recruiter may want o email many candidates at once to convey some message or to check their interest in a specific job. Hence the ability to choose a set of candidates based on specific criteria and then mailing them is useful. (Good to have)

19. Mail Scheduling – Ability to schedule emails, maybe reminder emails is another useful feature. (Good to have)

20. Billing/Invoicing – Ability to generate an invoice through the application for successful candidates and tracking the payment received. (Good to have)

21. Integrations with different applications- Recruitment agencies may be using other software like financial accounting, mailing software, internal communication or even a Linkedin account etc and it helps that the ‘recruitment agency’ software is seamlessly able to integrate with other application with just a few clicks. (Good to have)

22. Admin functions – The application must allow the owner to decide on the access level of the recruiters. For example, only the accountant can see billings, or that a recruiter can view only their part of the work and not the entire organisation etc.

23. Reports -The need for reports increase as the team size increases. However basic reports like recruiter KRAs, candidate pipeline, upcoming tasks etc are a must. (Must Have)

24. Ability to work with different timezones & currencies (Good to have)

25. Chrome Widget – A plugin that allows you to capture candidate data on a website and store it in your database as a candidate record. (Good to have)

26. CV Formatting – Many agencies put their brand (watermark) on the resume before forwarding to clients, many a time the personal details like name, contact number & email ids are also masked. So this is a tool to automate that process (Good to have)

27. Candidate suggestion– based on the job description entered for a job the application can suggest suitable or matching candidates. (Good to have)

Much as the above list is exhaustive, it is surely not complete and newer features will keep appearing in various applications from time to time. Apart from the list above another three important things to consider would be –

1. Monthly/Annual Subscription fee – Obviously lesser the better

2. The speed of the application – Many a time if the databases and query functions are not optimized by the software vendor, the use of the application can be very excruciating slow. You cannot be waiting a few seconds for a page to render every time you click on something.

3. The ease of use – The application must be intuitive to use and should need minimal training. A good pleasent interface is an added bonus.

How do you choose which platform is best for you?

So we are back to the question, how do you choose which software to subscribe to?

I have explained various features in this article. Some I have tagged as Must have and some as Good to have. I have tagged them such considering a one or two person startup. As a recruitment agency grows and with it the number of candidates, clients, and jobs, the need from the software shall also increase. One simple method of deciding on the software is to list out the ‘Must have’ features. You could use the ‘Must haves’ that I have suggested or refine the list.

So goes without saying that any application which has even one feature missing from your ‘Must have’ list is a ‘no go’. Next based on the list of ‘Good to have’, rate each one with one or two points (or even three points) based on how important or useful you feel the feature would be for the kind and volume of work your agency does. When you are reviewing the shortlisted application, give these points to each feature.

Finally, add up these ‘Good to have’ points and consider buying the software with the maximum points. Also check the points for the three parameters I have mentioned (price, speed, and ease of use). Here speed becomes the most important of the three provide the price is within your budget/reach.

I have attempted to explain most of the features that exist in a recruitment agency software and laid out a broad methodology of making a choice. A good fit recruitment software cand do a lot to enhance the efficiency of your agency and need to be given due importance.

What would you do if there was a wide range of responsibilities on your shoulders? Firstly, you would categorize each on priority and complexity basis. And then, focus on simplifying the ones that are hard to manage manually. Similarly, several HR operations are performed in a corporate establishment on a daily basis. There are some that require minimal attention and then there are the ones that need time and expertise. The former can be easily done by the employees. But, for the management of the latter set of tasks, employers prefer an automated solution. Here comes the human resource management software in the picture. Now as we speak of the major and most vital functions executed by the HR professionals, let’s have a look at what HR operations the software can streamline.

Mentioned below are the 5 principal types of HR software that mechanize the mainstream yet comprehensive HR processes:

Recruitment Management Software

This is the first process of the employee lifecycle that is handled by the HR department of a company. It involves the hiring and onboarding of a new employee. To mechanize the steps involved in this procedure, HR recruitment software is integrated into the system. It includes the following functions:

Resume Management
Applicant Tracking
Hiring Automation
Recruitment Analytics
Interview Management
among others. It basically enhances the search for a new candidate and lands the employer on the best match possible.

Time & Attendance Software

The next thing when a new employee joins an organization is recording the biometric data to mark his/her attendance. It is interconnected with the Biometric System. As soon as the employee punches in or out, the data is registered in the database of the T&A software. Based on the turnout, absenteeism, leaves and holidays, the report is automatically prepared. Now, the same data is sent to the payroll software to start the calculation of the employee’s monthly salary.

Performance Management Software

Now comes the system to track the performance of the employee. This type of HRMS software records the data based on the daily/weekly deliverables. There are performance metrics called KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to track whether the employee is at par with the required skills and numbers or not. The results of these metrics are then used to either train/educate the employees or give them appraisals/promotions during R&R.

Training & Development Software

Employees want to grow their skills in an organization along with the company’s growth. For that, the learning or training and development software are installed. Such training sessions could be on developing new skills or upskilling the existing ones. Then there are tests conducted after regular intervals of time and the upgrade in knowledge is tracked upon completion.

Payroll Management Software

One thing that any employee primarily works hard for is the salary. To streamline this monetary aspect of employment, payroll software is adopted by companies. This system is integrated with the HR recruitment software so that the remuneration and other relevant terms and conditions are maintained throughout the term as discussed during the recruitment.

There are many other HR software that organizations bring home to facilitate operations. But, these 5 can make the biggest impact on your business any day!

The majority of WordPress users have encountered a blank screen while opening the WordPress site. This commonly occurring error is known as the WordPress White Screen of Death caused by reasons. As the name implies, you’ll get to a white blank screen when this error happens. Depending on the cause, this error can be seen on either some part website or on the dashboard also.

Before finding any troubleshooting solution, it’s important to know the root cause or behind the error. Let’s have a close look at the reason and the solution that troubleshoots the error immediately in an effective manner:

Plugin causing the issue
Many times, users report about the faulty plugins that cause the white screen of death. If you have just installed a plugin, then there could be a compatibility issue between the plugins you have installed and the one you are currently using. In this problematic situation, you must disable the specific plugin that causes the error of the white screen of death. Don’t just disable all the plugins in one go as this won’t tell you which plugin was faulty.

You can also try disabling the plugin via FTP, as it is a simple process to do. For this, you need to have FTP access and permission to access the WordPress directory.

Activate the debug mode
If disabling the plugin and exceeding the memory doesn’t work for you, another troubleshooting solution is the activation of debug mode. Let’s get introduced to a tool debug mode that you’ll find in the installation of WordPress. By default, this is kept off because it is for the testing applications.

Whenever you activate the debug mode, it will create an error log. With this, you can come to the main reason behind the white screen of death. To enable the debug mode in WordPress, you will have to access the wp-config.php file.

Memory exceed the related issue
If you see the white screen of death rarely or on some part of the website, this may happen because of an exhausted memory limit. There are times when memory limit results in various errors like the White Screen of Death and 403 Forbidden WordPress. PHP memory, when runs out, causes this sort of error to the users.

Usually, there will be a default memory of 64GB, which is sufficient nut; sometimes, there is a requirement of more memory in the site. So when you find the memory exceeds reason, you are needed to add more memory to your installation. If you want to increase the PHP memory limit, you could do this by modifying the wp-config.php file.

Server availability related issue
Sometimes, the white screen of death is caused due to serve unavailability of the server. If your server is down or not functioning, you need to get in touch with your hosting provider to fix this error as soon as possible.