Nowadays modern-day enterprises encounter no. of challenges such as communication breakdown, inefficient business processes, data fragmentation, data security risks, legacy system integration with modern applications, supply chain management issues, lack of data analytics and business intelligence, inefficient customer relationship management, and many more. Ignoring such problems within an organization can adversely impact various aspects of your business including efficiency and revenue generation. To tackle such problems, mid-scale and large-scale businesses should invest in an enterprise-level application. Custom Enterprise application development offers thorough fixes for these problems. 

Did you know that the enterprise application market is expected to grow to a whopping $469.2 billion globally by 2027? This clearly states that Investing in a well-built enterprise application can be a smart move for any organization especially if it highly relies on data-driven tasks. These benefits include high efficiency, improved user experience, higher ROI, streamlined operations, and so on.

At Codalien, we understand the importance of enterprise-level applications for efficient business operations. As a software development partner, we have helped many businesses to build exceptional systems, and driven by our years of experience. In this blog, we are shedding some light on the insights that will help you understand what to keep in mind while building your enterprise application for business growth. So, let’s start!

What Are Enterprise Applications?

Enterprise applications or Enterprise-level applications are software solutions built for the use of large-scale organizations (or we can say enterprises). The objective of including enterprise applications in your organization’s IT infrastructure is to increase the productivity and efficiency of your organization’s business operations. These software applications are usually integrated with various functionalities such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply Chain Management (SCM), and more, into a single platform. The employees of an organization use Enterprise Software/Applications, improving the overall efficiency, streamlining workflow, and fostering effective collaboration. With Enterprise Applications, you have a centralized tool that helps you handle various parts of your business. You can use it to streamline processes while keeping data secure, and prevent unauthorized access.

For instance: Manual Inventory tracking methods in an enterprise are very time-consuming and vulnerable to errors, and real-time visibility into stock levels is difficult. 

An enterprise-level application with an optimal inventory management system can help the employees of the organization to automate the inventory tracking process. The application can be integrated with RFID technology and barcode scanners to record real-time data. This data could be inventory statuses like receiving, storage, shipping, and delivery. With a robust inventory management system, employees can seamlessly track stock levels, monitor the turnover rates, and get notified of the low stock levels or stockouts.

At Codalien, our enterprise application development focuses on the strategic planning, designing, and implementation of customized software solutions, so we can cater to the unique needs of organizations, Our client-centric approach ensures that the enterprise application we develop aligns well with the solution a business is seeking to streamline their processes and objectives and delivers best ROI.

Various Types Of Enterprise Applications Based on Organizational Level & Their Use Case

Enterprise applications are used at various organizational levels. So, Let’s explore how enterprise software applications play a significant role in enhancing efficiency at various organizational levels:

1. Employee Level 

These enterprise-level applications are used by only internal employees and it does not involve a diverse range of features. 

For eg- Project Managers and Developers use a project management application to communicate the status of the tasks lined up in a project or multiple projects. 

2. Department Level 

A good example of a department-level enterprise application is a Document Management System (DMS), commonly used by departments such as Human Resources (HR) or Legal.

A DMS streamlines the process of creating, storing, and retrieving documents within an organization. It allows departments to manage documents electronically, ensuring easy access, version control, and security.

For example, the HR department can use a DMS to store employee records, manage onboarding documents, and track performance evaluations. Similarly, the Legal department can utilize the system to organize contracts, manage legal documents, and ensure compliance with regulations.

Overall, a DMS improves document organization, enhances collaboration, and boosts efficiency within departments by digitizing and centralizing document management processes.

3. Company Level

Company-level enterprise applications are for the entire workforce of an organization. This type of application connects the entire network of employees through a secure network. A company-level enterprise application can be used for communication through C-Suite executives, accessing databases, downloading documents, and performing other important tasks.

Various Types Of Enterprise Applications Based On Their Functionalities

There are various types of enterprise applications, each solving the specific challenges faced by modern-day enterprises. Also, each enterprise application has different functionalities and features. Below we have mentioned 7 types of enterprise applications based on their functionalities, so let’s take a quick look:

1. Customer Relations Management System (CRM)

CRM enterprise-level software leverages technologies integrates various business practices and implements various strategies to manage and analyze the customer’s interactions with the organization or employees. You can streamline your business’s customer support services and sales activities by using open-source headless CRM systems.

2. Supply Chain Management System (SCM)

SCM systems are complex software that use Internet of Things (IoT) technology to provide businesses with intelligent solutions. These solutions enable the manufacturing industry to handle procurement, inventory, and logistics processes more effectively. SCM systems assist businesses in monitoring all stages of the product life cycle, from sourcing raw materials to shipping finished goods to buyers. 

This allows for the resolution of any possible bottlenecks along the way and streamlines the entire supply chain process. Manufacturers can improve supply chain management efforts by optimizing processes, mitigating risks, and improving visibility using IoT-powered SCM systems. This guarantees smooth coordination and agility.

Codalien Technologies also specializes IoT solutions and has a proven track record of building cutting-edge IIoT-enabled products for various industries including energy, electronics, and many others.

3. Human Resource Management System (HRM)

With HRM systems, organizations can keep track of their talent recruitment processes, onboarding processes, and other manual tasks related to human resources. It helps Human Resource professionals boost employee retention, evaluate candidates, and create recruitment workflows effortlessly.

4. Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP)

Enterprise Resource Planning System integrates various processes (such as supply chain, finance, marketing, R&D, and others) of an organization into a single platform. The objective of using ERP in organizations is to provide a centralized data system, foster collaboration, and reduce process time.

5. Enterprise Content Management System 

The enterprise content management system enables the creation, storage, retrieval, and management of content-oriented files, documents, and digital assets of an organization. This helps the organization to ensure collaboration, compliance, and knowledge sharing. It helps in reducing clutter, enhancing data management and process visibility and accessibility, saving time, and reducing overall cost.

These systems archive information for quick access anytime, anywhere by eliminating the need for paper-based tasks and optimizing records-keeping efficiency. 

6. Business Intelligence Systems 

With Business Intelligence applications, organizations can convert and optimize their data from various business processes like customer support, finance, Human Resources, logistics, and others. This helps an organization to derive actionable insights.

7. Enterprise Performance Management Software (EPM)

CFOs use enterprise performance management software for budgeting, forecasting, and controlling the financial performance of an organization. This type of software is built with advanced data analytics capabilities and enables efficient financial decision-making. Mid and large-scale enterprises can use advanced EPMs to predict their financial growth or mitigate risks and make strategic financial plans to grow their business.

Why Should You Invest in Enterprise Application for Your Business Growth?

Investing in enterprise applications for business growth provides numerous benefits for businesses across various industries. Here are some of the primary reasons why developing a custom enterprise application is advantageous for your organization:

1. Efficient Resource Management 

Enterprise-level applications help businesses to uniformly manage their resources such as finances, human resources, inventory, data, and more. An enterprise application offers you a centralized platform for data management and automates the workflows while optimizing resource allocation and their proper utilization.

For instance: An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system such as SAP  serves as a comprehensive suite of applications for managing various business aspects. These aspects might be related to human resources, supply chain, finance, and customer relationship management. These systems help organizations optimize resource allocation, track inventory levels, manage payroll, and streamline procurement processes.

2. Informed Decision Making 

Enterprise software is built with advanced capabilities, hence they provide you real-time access to accurate data and help the decision makers to make informed business decisions. It fosters strategic planning, improves the overall efficiency of operations, and gives you an upper hand in the competitive market.

For instance: If you have a business that highly relies on large volumes of data for effective decision-making, a business intelligence enterprise application can be of great use. You can use business intelligence applications to generate actionable insights by analyzing large volumes of data from multiple sources. You can leverage these insights to identify trends, forecast demand, determine KPIs, and make informed decisions for business growth.

3. Streamlining The Business Processes

By integrating an enterprise application into your organizational work structure, you can automate repetitive tasks, reduce manual errors, standardize workflows, and enhance your business’s overall operational efficiency. 

For instance, Enterprises can automate employee onboarding formalities, invoice processing, and customer support ticket routing. This minimized the need for manual interference, efforts, and chances of errors.

4. Enhance Collaboration & Communication

Many businesses face challenges to encourage employee collaboration and efficiency, especially in remote or distributed work environments. Productivity suites and enterprise-level collaboration platforms provide integrated solutions to track work progress, document sharing, project management, and communication. These apps promote creativity and increase productivity by enabling teams to work together efficiently regardless of location. Enterprise applications enable workers to become more productive and collaborate on projects with ease by giving them a centralized platform for communication and coordination. This leads to quicker decision-making and better results.

For instance: Enterprise applications provide a centralized platform for employees to share information, task updates, and statuses and effective collaboration on projects. Companies can use an enterprise collaboration tool to foster timely updates of tasks among employees and teams. 

5. Enhanced Customer Experience

An Enterprise application can also help in improving your customer’s experience with your organization. With a custom enterprise CRM application, you can capture your customer’s data from various sources and touchpoints and deliver them timely services. You can also deliver a personalized experience to your customers by leveraging their data recorded in your CRM. This improves customer satisfaction and increases your business’s customer retention rate.

Popular Trends Emerging In Enterprise Application Development in 2024

Enterprises are in for a wild ride as cutting-edge tech transforms their applications! From Industrial IoT to AI and machine learning, these trends are the catalyst of innovation, propelling businesses forward with unstoppable force! Here are some of the popular emerging technologies and their advantages you can utilize in your next enterprise application:

1. IoT 4.0

IoT4.0 also known as Industry 4.0 and industrial IoT is an emerging trend in enterprise application development. This technology is revolutionizing the way businesses operate by building interconnected networks of physical devices or objects and exchanging data with other devices. The benefit of integrating this technology with your enterprise application is that it enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, supply chain optimization, and maintaining security. 

2. Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence technologies are widely emerging tech trends that can be integrated into enterprise applications to enable advanced analytics capabilities, predictive insights, and automation of repetitive tasks.  Your application’s AI-driven features such as natural language processing (NLP), chatbots, and predictive analytics enhance user experiences and improve operational efficiency.

According to IDC-  “By 2025, at least 90% of new enterprise apps will embed artificial intelligence. Most of these will be AI-enabled apps, delivering incremental improvements to make applications “smarter” and more dynamic. More disruptive AI-led applications will take longer to develop and achieve mainstream adoption, representing about 10% of total enterprise applications by 2025.”

3. Hyper-Automation

Hyper Automation is the end-to-end automation of complex business processes. It works by combining artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotic process automation (RPA), and other cutting-edge automation technologies. Businesses are utilizing hyper-automation to boost productivity, optimize processes, and free up staff members for more strategic and productive work.

4. Big Data 

Enterprise application development relies heavily on big data analytics, which helps businesses mine vast amounts of organized and unstructured data to derive useful insights. Predictive, real-time, and predictive analytics are examples of advanced analytics techniques that are integrated into enterprise applications to enhance business outcomes and decision-making. Big data also plays a significant role in enhancing the customer experience and is beneficial for businesses who want to promptly address the issues of their customers and deliver them personalized customer service experiences.

5. No Code/Low Code Development 

Low-code and no-code platforms are becoming increasingly popular as they allow quick application development with the least coding required. This technology is emerging as a trend in enterprise application development as it democratizes the development process allowing citizen developers and business users to build custom applications and speed up the time-to-market of the applications. This results in improved efficiency and reduced costs.

6. Microservices 

Microservices architecture is transforming the development of enterprise apps enabling better scalability, maintainability, and resilience by dividing large, monolithic programs into smaller, independent services. This change in architecture enables applications to remain highly resilient and operationally efficient while adjusting to the changing needs of the digital age. Making the switch to microservices is a strategic decision for businesses that want to remain flexible and competitive in the current business environment, even though there may be some early difficulties.

7. Application Security By Blockchain

Blockchain technology provides a decentralized, immutable ledger for recording transactions and executing smart contracts. This improves security, transparency, and efficiency in corporate software application development. This technology maintains data integrity across a range of business operations, including supply chain management, financial transactions, and identity verification. It also minimizes costs, streamlines processes, and eliminates the need of mediators. Businesses can boost transparency, trust, and compliance while increasing the scope for innovation and profit generation.

Choosing The Right Partner For Your Custom Enterprise Application Development 

Investing in a custom enterprise application is a smart choice if you are facing any challenges we have mentioned previously in this blog, however, it is necessary to choose the right custom enterprise software development company.

Finding the right enterprise app development company is no walk in the park. Make the wrong choice and you might end up with a difficult-to-use and complex enterprise application that nobody wants to use. But don’t worry, we are here to navigate you through your journey to find the right enterprise app development partner. 

Questions You Should Ask Before Choosing Your Development Partner

There are certain things you should consider before finalizing your enterprise application development partner:

• Does the company have experience developing enterprise applications similar to mine?
• What is their level of expertise in the technologies and frameworks required for my project?
• Have they worked with clients in my industry or domain before?
• Can I rely on this company to deliver a high-quality enterprise application that meets my requirements?
• Do they have a track record of delivering projects on time and within budget?
• What do their past clients say about the quality of their work?
• How effectively does the company communicate and collaborate with clients?
• Will they be responsive to my needs and concerns throughout the development process?
• Do they have a structured communication plan in place?
• Is the company capable of scaling its team and resources to accommodate my project’s needs?
• Are they flexible enough to accommodate any unforeseen challenges or changes?
• How seriously does the company take data security and compliance with relevant regulations?
• Do they have robust measures in place to protect sensitive information and ensure regulatory compliance?
• Can they provide documentation or certifications to demonstrate their commitment to security and compliance?
• How do their services compare in terms of cost, quality, and potential return on investment (ROI)?
• What level of support and maintenance services does the company offer post-launch?
• Do they have a clear plan for ongoing support and maintenance, including service level agreements (SLAs) and escalation procedures?

Final Words 

To sum up, modern businesses need to invest in expert enterprise application development for business growth as it will empower the organizations to overcome obstacles and stimulate business growth. At Codalien, we’re experts at creating customized solutions that improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Organizations can stay ahead of the curve and take advantage of new opportunities by embracing emerging technologies like blockchain, AI, and IoT. Selecting the right development partner will guarantee a smooth process and the highest return on investment. 

In case you are looking for a reliable development partner for your enterprise software application or need any consultation, we are always here to help you with our expertise in software development.