AppsAnywhere is a proprietary product developed and offered by our client AppsAnywhere Limited. It is a specialized App Store-style platform featuring a host of educational software applications that are part of the higher education curriculum across many countries. The primary purpose behind developing this product was to streamline the delivery of apps that are commonly used in educational institutions by both students and staff members.Our client realized the hassle that students and institutions alike face when it comes to searching for, downloading, and installing these apps on multiple unique devices running different operating systems. AppsAnywhere addresses this problem by presenting a consolidated view to users, simplifying the process of accessing apps via a unified platform.
Through the web portal, a user searches for any app they need. At the backend, the real magic happens. AppsAnywhere assesses certain parameters, such as the technical specifications of the user’s device and the availability of that particular app locally or on the cloud, and then decides on the most suitable delivery method. Using Numecent’s Cloudpaging technology, AppsAnywhere Limited has implemented a unique app delivery method via configurable app virtualization.
Given the large scale at which Apps Anywhere Limited now operates, constant improvements must be made to its EdTech software product as well as its development processes. To streamline key processes and add new features to their product, our client approached us for IT staff augmentation services to help expand and supplement their existing development team.
Two key problems needed to be addressed.
The first issue that our clients faced arose when they realized and recognized the pathway that they were on, moving rapidly to further growth. Their previous software partner was unable to provide full-time dedicated resources by the client’s increasing needs for the augmentation of their development staff members.
The second issue was purely technical, also something that they were unable to resolve while working with their previous software development partner. There were certain gaps that our client identified in their development process – pertaining mainly to release management and security – which they wished to address. They also wanted assistance and support with development in terms of incorporating the continuous requests sent in by their users.
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Originally, the build process for each new release of the Apps Anywhere client app used to be managed manually. It was a time-consuming process that was prone to errors. We improved release management efficiency for this complex build process for both Windows and macOS. Our team was able to successfully automate the build process for both OS, eliminating the possibility of human error and marginally reducing the build and release times.
Promotion
The installation and setup of the AppsAnywhere client have now been improved in that we have eliminated the need for end-users to interact with the installation process. The system now automatically detects which version (if any) of the AppsAnywhere client is installed on the user’s device. If an older version is detected, it is updated to the latest version. In case of no previous installation, a fresh install takes place without the end user having to intervene.