Articles

A Table Tennis Success Story Built With Apache Kafka

,
The sports world is changing. Digitalization is everywhere. Cameras and sensors analyze matches. Stadiums get connected and incorporate mobile apps and location-based services. Players use social networks to influence and market themselves and consumer products. Real-time data processing is crucial for most innovative sports use cases. This blog post explores how data streaming with Apache Kafka helps reimagine the sports industry, showing a concrete example from the worldwide table tennis organization. 

Innovation in Sports and Gaming With Real-time Analytics

Reimagining a data architecture to provide real-time data flow for sporting leagues and events is an enormous challenge. However, digitalization enables a ton of innovative use cases to improve user experiences and engage better with players, fans, and business partners.

Think about wonderful customer experiences with gamification when watching a match, live betting, location-based services in the stadium, automated payments, coupons, integration with connected fan shops and shopping malls, and so on.

Source de l’article sur DZONE

/par

What is the “Minimum” in Minimum Viable Product?

,

“Minimum Viable Product,” or “MVP,” is a concept of agile development and business growth. With a minimum viable product, you focus on creating the simplest, most basic version of your product, web application, or code possible.

Minimum viable products include just enough features to attract early adopters and validate your idea in the early stages of the development lifecycle. Choosing an MVP workflow can be particularly valuable in the software environment because it helps teams receive, learn from, and respond to feedback as quickly as possible.

The question is, how exactly do you define the “minimum” in MVP? How do you know if your MVP creation is basic enough while still being “viable”?

Defining the Minimum Viable Product: An Introduction

The concept of “Minimum Viable Product” comes from the Lean Start-up Methodology, introduced by Eric Ries. The purpose of MVP is to help companies quickly create versions of a product while collecting validated insights from customers for each iteration. Companies may choose to develop and release minimum viable products because they want to:

  • Introduce new products into the market as quickly as possible;
  • Test an idea with real users before committing a large budget to product development;
  • Create a competitive product with the use of frequent upgrades;
  • Learn what resonates with the target market of the company;
  • Explore different versions of the same product.

Aside from allowing your company to validate an idea for a product without building the entire concept from scratch, an MVP can also reduce the demand on a company’s time and resources. This is why so many smaller start-ups with limited budgets use the MVP and lean production strategy to keep costs as low as possible.

Defining an MVP: What your Minimum Viable Product Isn’t

When you’re building a Minimum Viable Product, you’re concentrating on developing only the most “essential” features that need to be in that product. For instance, you might be building a shopping app for a website. For the app to be “viable,” it would need to allow customers to search through products and add them to a basket or shopping cart. The app would also need a checkout feature and security components.

However, additional functionality, like the ability to send questions about an item to a customer service team or features that allow clients to add products to a “wish list,” may not be necessary straight away. Part of defining a minimum viable product is understanding what it isn’t. For instance, an MVP is not:

  • A prototype: Prototypes are often mentioned alongside MVPs because they can help with early-stage product validation. However, prototypes are generally not intended for customers to use. The “minimum” version of a viable product still needs to be developed enough for clients and users to put it to the test and provide feedback.
  • A minimum marketable product: An MVP is a learning vehicle that allows companies to create various iterations of an item over time. However, a minimum marketable product is a complete item, ready to sell, with features or “selling points” the company can highlight to differentiate the item from the competition.
  • Proof of concept: This is another similar but distinct idea from MVP. Proof of concept items test an idea you have to determine whether it’s attainable. There usually aren’t any customers involved in this process. Instead, companies create small projects to assess business solutions’ technical capabilities and feasibility. You can sometimes use a proof of concept before moving on to an MVP.

Finding the Minimum in your MVP

When finding the “minimum” in a minimum viable product, the primary challenge is ensuring the right balance. Ideally, you need your MVP to be as essential, cost-effective, and straightforward as possible so that you can create several iterations in a short space of time. The simpler the product, the easier it is to adapt it, roll it out to your customers, and learn from their feedback.

However, developers and business leaders shouldn’t get so caught up focusing on the “Minimum” part of Minimum Viable Product that they forget the central segment: “Viable”; your product still needs to achieve a specific purpose.

So, how do you find the minimum in your MVP?

1. Decide on Your Goal or Purpose

First, you’ll need to determine what your product needs to do to be deemed viable. What goal or target do you hope to achieve with your new product? For instance, in the example we mentioned above, where you’re creating an ecommerce shopping app, the most basic thing the app needs to do is allow customers to shop for and purchase items on a smartphone.

Consider the overall selling point of your product or service and decide what the “nice to haves” are, compared to the essential features. For instance, your AR app needs to allow people to interact with augmented digital content on a smartphone, but it may not need to work with all versions of the latest AR smart glasses.

2. Make a List of Features

Once you know the goal or purpose of your product, the next step is to make a list of features or capabilities you can rank according to importance. You can base your knowledge of what’s “most important” for your customers by looking at things like:

  • Competitor analysis: What do your competitors already offer in this category, and where are the gaps in their service or product?
  • User research: Which features or functionalities are most important to your target audience? How can you make your solution stand out from the crowd?
  • Industry knowledge: As an expert in your industry, you should have some basic understanding of what it will take to make your product “usable.”

3. Create Your Iterations

Once you’ve defined your most important features, the next stage is simply building the simplest version of your product. Build the item according to what you consider to be its most essential features and ask yourself whether it’s serving its purpose.

If your solution seems to be “viable,” you can roll it out to your target audience or a small group of beta testers to get their feedback and validate the offering. Use focus groups and market interviews to collect as much information as possible about what people like or dislike.

Using your feedback, you can begin to implement changes to your “minimum” viable product to add more essential features or functionality.

Understanding the “Minimum Viable Product”

Minimum viable products are evident throughout multiple industries and markets today – particularly in the digitally transforming world. For instance, Amazon might be one of the world’s most popular online marketplaces today, but it didn’t start that way. Instead, Jeff Bezos began purchasing books from distributors and shipping them to customers every time his online store received an order to determine whether the book-selling landscape would work.

When Foursquare first began, it had only one feature. People could check-in at different locations and win badges. The gamification factor was what made people so excited about using the service. Other examples include:

  • Groupon: Groupon is a pretty huge discount and voucher platform today, operating in companies all around the world. However, it started life as a simple minimum viable product promoting the services of local businesses and offering exclusive deals for a short time. Now Groupon is constantly evolving and updating its offerings.
  • Airbnb: Beginning with the use of the founders’ own apartment, Airbnb became a unicorn company giving people the opportunity to list places for short-term rental worldwide. The founders rented out their own apartment to determine whether people would consider staying in someone else’s home before eventually expanding.
  • Facebook: Upon release, Facebook was a simple social media tool used for connecting with friends. Profiles were basic, and all members were students of Harvard University. The idea quickly grew and evolved into a global social network. Facebook continues to learn from the feedback of its users and implement new features today.

Creating Your Minimum Viable Product

Your definition of a “minimum viable product” may not be the same as the definition chosen by another developer or business leader. The key to success is finding the right balance between viability – and the purpose of your product, and simplicity – or minimizing your features.

Start by figuring out what your product simply can’t be without, and gradually add more features as you learn and gain feedback from your audience. While it can be challenging to produce something so “minimalistic” at first, you need to be willing to release those small and consistent iterations if you want to leverage all the benefits of an MVP.

Suppose you can successfully define the meaning of the words “Minimum” and “Viable” simultaneously with your new product creations. In that case, the result should be an agile business, lean workflows, and better development processes for your entire team.

 

Featured image via Pexels.

Source

The post What is the “Minimum” in Minimum Viable Product? first appeared on Webdesigner Depot.

Source de l’article sur Webdesignerdepot

/par

Quelles sont les attentes des 15-25 ans pour leurs déplacements en train ?

, ,

Imaginez:

… Vous êtes tranquillement installé à bord d’un Paris-Lyon et une classe de neige débarque dans votre wagon…

… Vous avez pris le dernier train pour prolonger au maximum votre weekend et rien dans le frigo à la maison quand vous rentrez à 23h

Ces expériences, nous les avons tous vécues et cela ne nous encourage pas toujours à voyager davantage en train. A l’occasion de l’année européenne du Ferroviaire et alors que la transition écologique devient plus que jamais une nécessité, SAP France a mené une étude auprès des 15-25 ans avec le média JAM pour mieux comprendre leurs attentes et besoins en termes d’expérience et de services.

En effet, cette Génération Z façonne les comportements de demain et apparaît particulièrement sensible aux enjeux d’une mobilité raisonnée pour lutter contre les effets du changement climatique.

Quelles sont les attentes des 12-25 ans pour les voyages en train ?

Click the button below to load the content from YouTube.

Always allow YouTube

Quelles sont les attentes des 12-25 ans pour les voyages en train ?

FOCUS #1: 79% des jeunes interrogés seraient prêts à rallonger leur temps de trajet pour réduire leurs émissions de CO2.

Cette tendance rejoint l’étude SAP EMEA South menée auprès de consommateurs espagnols et italiens. Plus intéressant encore 23% seraient prêts à le faire mais sous l’exigence d’avoir le confort nécessaire pour passer du temps utile.

Et dans cette lignée, ils sont prêts de 2 jeunes sur 3 à trouver le principe d’éco-fidélité ”carrément” intéressant et 96% à y voir de l’intérêt. Cumuler des points échangeables contre réduction et cartes cadeaux « éthiques » pour chaque trajet effectué en train, scooter ou voiture électrique, vélo en libre service, à pied, … semble répondre à une attente de gamification mais aussi de mesure tangible de son impact environnemental.

FOCUS #2: 66% des 15-25 ans interrogés déclarent mettre à profit le temps utile pendant leur voyage en train

Parce qu’adopter le train ce n’est pas seulement réduire son empreinte carbone mais c’est aussi avoir du temps « utile » – lire, regarder une série, travailler – nous avons exploré l’impact de cette dimension pour les 15-25 ans.

Le reste déclare ne pas le faire vraiment mais seulement 7% d’entre eux ne le font pas du tout.

Ce qui peut laisser entendre qu’avec davantage de connectivité et de services, les jeunes profitant du #tempsutile seraient plus nombreux. A l’heure du slow travel, c’est un différentiateur fort du train par rapport aux autres modes de transport. C’est un nouveau champ des possibles à explorer sous l’angle des services connectés et en temps réel.

FOCUS #3: 60% des jeunes interrogés seraient prêts à payer pour avoir accès à des services de voyage connecté comme l’upgrade en 1ère ou davantage de services #TempsUtile

L’option la plus populaire est la possibilité de payer un prix fixe auquel on agrège des options selon les trajets : une opportunité pour générer de nouveaux revenus tout en améliorant le confort et l’expérience des passagers !

Retrouvez prochainement l’analyse de nos experts SAP pour décrypter les nouveaux leviers à actionner pour répondre à ces attentes des 15-25 ans et plus largement du marché passager en France !

Contactez-moi directement sur LinkedIn pour échanger et avoir accès aux vidéos en avant-première

Méthodologie de l’étude

Etude menée auprès de 1000 jeunes représentatifs de la population des 15-25 ans en France selon les quotas de l’INSEE (juillet à septembre 2021) avec le média JAM

Voilà à quoi elle ressemblait :

Étude SAP et Jam sur Messenger

Click the button below to load the content from YouTube.

Always allow YouTube

Étude SAP et Jam sur Messenger

 

The post Quelles sont les attentes des 15-25 ans pour leurs déplacements en train ? appeared first on SAP France News.

Source de l’article sur sap.com

/par

7 Ways to Use Gamification in Marketing Campaigns 

,

We all want a little more fun and games in our lives. So, why not add some gamification to your next interactive content campaign?

By 2025, the gamification market is expected to witness a massive 30.1% growth rate, with global sales revenue reaching around $32 billion. 

That’s because gamification adds more entertainment to the website experience and gets audiences engaged. The idea behind gamification is to bring game mechanics into the design of a website or piece of content. There are many different ways to do this. 

Some companies add hidden achievements and bonuses to their blogs that customers can collect by visiting every page and reading their content. Others allow readers to collect points for leaving comments or play games to win potential prizes. 

Used correctly, gamification is a fantastic way to connect with your audience and increase engagement levels. So, how can you use gamification in interactive content?

The Evolution of Gamification 

Elements of gamification have appeared in everything from marketing campaigns to web design and even eCommerce strategies. 

In 2014, an Apple App Store review of more than 100 health apps even found that gamification elements in applications led to greater participation and higher user ratings. In other words, customers are more likely to get involved with an activity that includes gamification components. 

While gamification can take on many different forms, the aim for most companies is to create an environment where customers can feel more invested in their interactions with the website. For example, if you win a point every time you comment on a blog post, and you can trade those points in for prizes, you have more of a desire to keep commenting. 

The promise of being able to “accomplish” things with pieces of interactive content and websites also appeals to the competitive part of our psychology that pushes us to keep doing things in exchange for the promise of a kind of reward. 

Many companies have generated a lot of enthusiasm for their brands through leaderboards, time events, and similar experiences. For example, just look at how popular McDonalds becomes each year when the monopoly game rolls out as part of the purchasing experience. 

People buy more items than they usually would during McDonald’s Monopoly just for the opportunity to win. This same boost in engagement benefits your content strategy too. 

6 Ways to Add Gamification to Your Content

There’s no one right way to gamify your website or your marketing content. The method you choose will depend heavily on your audience and the kind of experience they respond best to. 

The key to success is finding a way to grab your customer’s attention and hold onto it. Here are some of the tried and tested strategies to explore:

1. Create an Actual Game Experience 

When it comes to incorporating gamification into your website design and content, you don’t necessarily need to be clever. You can be extremely straightforward and just design an actual game. For instance, to help attract more people to the American Army, the US created a war simulator that potential applicants could play on Steam. 

The game aimed to introduce young people who might consider a career in the military to what that job might be like. If the kids liked what they saw on Steam, they could visit the military website and learn more. 

For companies who can’t afford to build an entire fully-featured game, something a little smaller can be just as engaging. For instance, rather than using a standard pop-up with a discount code to entice customers to buy the rental service, Gwynnie Bee created a scratch card. People could scratch the spaces using their smartphone or computer cursor and win money off. 

The great thing about the interactive content from Gwynnie Bee is that it encouraged potential visitors to connect with the business in a lucrative way. To use the scratch card, you first had to give your email address. This meant the company could build its email list while delighting consumers. 

When designing a game experience for your marketing campaign, remember:

  • Get the right support: Designing a great game is tough, particularly if you want something more complicated than a scratch card. Don’t take the risk of creating something that doesn’t work properly; hire a developer. 
  • Promote the experience: Make sure everyone knows about your new game. Share screenshots on social media and talk about it in your email campaigns. 
  • Focus on fun: Remember, games are supposed to be fun. Measure the reactions of your audience to ensure they’re having a good time. 

2. Design a Loyalty or Reward Program

Loyalty is one of the most valuable things your audience can give you. So why not reward them for it? Loyalty programs are fantastic tools for business growth and engagement. They give you a way to turn one-off clients into repeat customers and advocates for your brand. 

How you choose to reward your customers (and when) is up to you. Some companies might give customers points every time they share a post on social media or comment on a blog. This encourages more engagement with your brand. 

On the other hand, you might just let your customers earn rewards for every purchase they make. This is a strategy that Starbucks uses with its reward program.

As customers increase their spending with Starbucks, they get the reward of extra points that they can put towards future purchases. This keeps customers coming back for more and may even entice some clients to buy Starbucks when they otherwise wouldn’t. 

The oVertone company is another excellent example of a brand using gamified rewards with its marketing strategy. The loyalty program breaks down into tiers, where users can see how much they need to spend to ascend to the next level. New rewards and perks appear with each level. 

Remember, when building a loyalty program:

  • Make your customers feel special: Ensure that your audience feels good about being one of the lucky few in your loyalty program. Give discounts and offers they can’t get elsewhere.
  • Keep them informed: Make it easy for your customers to see what they need to do to get their next reward, so they keep coming back for more. 
  • Mix things up sometimes: To stop the experience from getting boring, roll out things like “double points” days and bonuses for your most active customers. 

3. Encourage Customer Interaction

The biggest benefit of gamification is that it encourages and increases customer interaction. You can give rewards to participants that comment on your blog posts, for instance, or share your posts on social. The customer benefits from the reward, while you get the advantage of a better business presence. 

Samsung drives interaction with gamification with a function on its website that allows customers to discuss issues and watch videos. The most active participants get a badge for their efforts. 

If your business structure requires a lot of engagement from your audience, then using gamification elements can encourage them to stick with you for longer rather than losing interest. For instance, language learning software Duolingo has a four-point gamification strategy for its users.

Duolingo knows that learning a new language takes a lot of time, so it asks users to set small specific goals instead. The smaller tasks bring users back regularly, and consistent users gain rewards. There’s even a progress bar to help you track your progress compared to other customers. 

Gamification gives your customers another reason to keep coming back and connecting with your brand. That makes a lot of sense for companies that rely on long-term relationships with customers, like Duolingo and other teaching brands, for instance. Remember:

  • Make it simple: People will only want to interact with your brand if it’s easy to do so. Make it clear what you want your customer to do and what they need to do next. 
  • Reward every action: Keep people coming back for more by rewarding them for their actions, even if it’s just with a gold star or digital sticker. 
  • Nudge inactive customers: If a client gets involved in your interactive content, then stops participating, send an email reminding them why they should come back. 

4. Run Contests and Offer Prizes

Probably one of the easiest ways to use gamification in your advertising campaigns is with a competition. Contests and competitions have been around since the dawn of business. They’re a useful way for companies to collect information from customers, particularly if you ask your clients to sign up to your site with an email address to get involved. 

Competitions are also a way to push your audience into doing positive things for your company. For instance, you could run a competition where consumers share a social media post and tag a friend to enter. Or you could have a competition that asks your clients to refer a friend to get involved. 

When KIND, a healthy snack company, wanted to connect with its customers and create a new product, it didn’t just do market research. Instead, the company created the “Raise the Bar” contest to let customers cast a vote for which flavor they wanted to see next.

When 123ContactForm wanted to engage its audience, it gave people the chance to win one of three platinum subscriptions for 6 months. 

Contests are naturally exciting and fun to take part in. They’re an opportunity to get your audience excited, and you don’t need to give anything huge away either. Just make sure that the prize you offer is something that your audience will be interested in. 

A few more pro tips include:

  • Generate hype first: Don’t just launch a contest out of nowhere; get people excited about the idea with announcement blogs, social media posts, and emails. 
  • Give people a lot of ways to get involved: If people can’t take part in the competition on social media, let them do something on your website instead. 
  • Follow up after the win: When someone does win something from your website, follow up with that winner and post pictures in the form of a blog/case study. This will generate more hype for your brand and get people excited about the next event. 

5. Get Your Audience Feeling Competitive

No matter how much they might deny it, most people are at least a little competitive. So when you’re implementing a gamification campaign into your content and marketing efforts, it pays to tap into that sense of competition. All you need to do is find a way to encourage your followers to compete. 

The best example of a company that did this particularly well is Nike. Nike and the Run Club app teamed up to motivate people to get involved with healthy activities. The app allowed users to customize and build their ideal training program based on their athletic level. 

At the same time, you could also win badges and trophies to share with your running community. The more you took part in challenges on the app, the more you could potentially win. 

The Fitbit application has a similar way of keeping customers engaged. When you download Fitbit, you can access information about your exercise strategies and potentially track your progress towards your goals. However, there are also measurable achievements to earn – like a badge when you first walk 500 miles. 

Users on Fitbit can also find their friends using the same app and compete with them in various challenges. 

To successfully add a competition to your gamification strategy, remember:

  • It needs to be social: People will be more inclined to get involved if they show off their achievements. So make sure that people can showcase their accomplishments. 
  • Make people want to win: There needs to be a reason to get to the top of the leaderboard. You might offer people discounts or exclusive prizes if they accomplish certain goals. 
  • Show progress: Prompt people to keep working on reaching their targets by showing them how close they are to success. 

6. Make Boring Content Seem More Interesting

Some content is naturally more engaging than others. If you want to showcase some important information or data, you might create a whitepaper or a report. Unfortunately, the result can be a relatively bland piece of content.

With elements of gamification, you can make the experience a lot more engaging and interesting. Sites like Daytum.com allow users to turn personal stats and information into charts that showcase information in engaging ways. You can allow your users to track their progress through the report and rack up points as they go. 

Adding subtle elements to otherwise clinical and less interesting information is a wonderful way to make the experience more exciting. The more enticed your customers are by your content, the more likely it is that you’ll sell them on your business. 

Gamify Your Marketing Strategy

Gamification isn’t a new concept, but it’s one that many companies and designers can begin to take advantage of these days. Thanks to more advanced browsers and smartphones, customers can more fully enjoy the interactive elements of websites and content campaigns. 

As your audience dives deeper into the digital world, they expect more unique experiences from you. Gamification can make any website or marketing experience more memorable. It’s time to take advantage. 

Source

The post 7 Ways to Use Gamification in Marketing Campaigns  first appeared on Webdesigner Depot.


Source de l’article sur Webdesignerdepot

/par

16 Free Websites for Learning to Code in 2021

,

The best free online coding websites for beginners are hubs of education and insight, designed to take your knowledge and career to the next level.

For years, technical careers have been gaining more attention among innovative individuals. In a digital world, people capable of speaking computer language often have the widest selection of job opportunities. However, before you can start leveraging the blossoming job market, you need to hone your skills. That’s where free coding websites come in.

A free online coding website is an environment where you can develop your understanding of various kinds of code, update your programming prowess, and even earn certifications. Today, we’re going to be looking at some of the most impressive coding websites on the market.

Coding Careers: Opportunities in 2021 and Beyond

Before we leap into our overview of the best free coding websites, let’s examine why it’s so important to invest in your coding role. Looking at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, we see that coders earn an average of $89,190 per year.

Elsewhere, CompTIA notes that technology hiring has accelerated since the end of 2020, with up to 391,000 new positions opening in the US during December.

Though coding careers have been popular for some time now, they have particularly high value following the pandemic, as companies worldwide adapt to the changes associated with remote workforces, digital customer service, and ecommerce. The pandemic has made us more reliant on technology than ever before, as a result:

  • Coding skills are in high demand: Coding skills are essential for the newly digital world. Studies find that the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation by around 7 years. Companies need coding professionals to stay ahead of the curve.
  • Coding knowledge is becoming more versatile: Companies are looking for coding skills in more than just programmers. They want their data analysts, IT workers, artists, designers, and other professionals to have these talents too.
  • People with coding talent can earn more: Jobs requiring coding skills tend to pay more than those that don’t. This reveals the growing need for coding knowledge in the digital ecosystem.

Coding skills provide an avenue to tech professionals for higher-income jobs, and these careers are growing faster on average than other job opportunities.

The Best Websites for Learning to Code

Learning to code or developing your existing coding skills can help you to unlock a host of new opportunities. Today, you can learn coding online for free, just by visiting the right websites.

Even a basic knowledge of coding can drive a range of results, such as helping to support the better management of websites, reducing reliance on outside developers, and opening the door to app development. So whether you want to start a new career or upgrade your existing knowledge, these sites will help:

BitDegree

BitDegree is a wonderful website for anyone interested in web development, coding, data science, and programming. There are various courses to choose from, depending on the career path you want to take. For instance, you can learn about the AWS cloud or start your journey into gaming development. For coding, BitDegree covers languages like:

  • CSS
  • HTML
  • PHP
  • SQL
  • JavaScript
  • jQuery

The best thing about BitDegree is how it makes learning so fun. There are gamified courses and sections where you can really dive into the essentials of coding. In addition, the online coding course collection often features hundreds of discounted options for people on a budget.

CodeAcademy

One of the most popular sites for learning how to code for free, CodeAcademy is home to over 24 million students who have built their skills. The interactive learning approach lets you apply what you’ve learned immediately. Over 300 million hours of free coding content are available to check out at your leisure. Like most coding platforms, you can learn languages such as:

  • CSS
  • JavaScript
  • HTML
  • PHP
  • jQuery
  • Python
  • PHP
  • Ruby

CodeAcademy is particularly effective for beginners because you get instant feedback after submitting your coding efforts. When you make mistakes, you’ll find out exactly where you went wrong, allowing you to avoid similar mistakes in the future.

Codewars

Codewars by Qualified is definitely one of the most versatile free platforms for learning how to code. There are dozens of languages you can learn – too many to list right here. Options range from C++ and C# to Ruby, Python, Lean, Java, PHP, Scala, and countless others.

Codewars teaches you your programming language in-depth by selecting challenges designed to put your mind to the test. The goal for each challenge is to help you sharpen your knowledge over time, with tasks that get progressively more difficult over time.

The cool thing about Codewars is it allows you to see how you respond to challenges compared to how other coders have tackled the same issues.

Code.Org

Designed for a younger community of would-be coders, Code.org is an engaging and highly accessible introduction to coding. With around 60 million students worldwide, the Code.org platform gives you access to a wide range of different learning opportunities intended to suit different needs and learning levels.

The Code.org environment is built on a desire to bring coding into the standard curriculum. You can dive into full one-hour tutorials, or you can experiment with a more structured approach to learning, which is ideal for people with different learning styles. There’s also a huge catalog of courses extending from basic coding for younger kids all the way to University-level education.

Free Code Camp

A diverse option in our free coding website list, Free Code Camp is all about developing your coding knowledge while simultaneously networking with other like-minded people in the industry. The solution allows you to learn coding by participating in challenges – which is ideal if you want to put your skills to the test as soon as possible.

To help you jump in, you’ll have access to a range of courses and tutorials designed to help you understand and overcome each challenge. You can even code for non-profits on the platform and build tradeable projects in languages like:

  • HTML5
  • Javascript
  • Node.JS
  • CSS3
  • React.JS
  • Databases
  • Git

If you’re a little nervous about the concept of coding alone, you’ll have a full community to work within the Free Code Camp. You might even meet someone you can work with in the years ahead.

Code Conquest

Code Conquest is less of a course website and more of a comprehensive guide for beginners diving into the world of code. This amazing platform will help you understand all of the basics of coding in no time – even if you’re brand-new to the landscape. You can find out what coding is all about, learn which languages are best to learn for your needs, and more.

The website is full of resources for all kinds of coders, including comprehensive tutorials, reviews, a knowledge center, training packs, and more. You can even choose from a range of languages like:

  • CSS
  • HTML
  • PHP
  • jQuery
  • Ruby
  • JavaScript
  • Python
  • MySQL

To help you figure out where you should get started, the Code Conquest website also gives you recommendations on which tutorials to take next.

W3Schools

One of the better-known free websites for coding on the market today, W3Schools is an environment packed full of example codes, resources, tutorials, exercises, and libraries to help you learn how to code. The site is one of the largest in the world for developers.

To begin coding with W3 Schools, you’ll need to choose the programming language that’s right for you, then either jump into the program immediately or select from a range of learning options. The site comes with a handy quiz to help you define your knowledge level.

Languages range from CSS to SQL, JavaScript, HTML, Python, Java, C++, and many more.

Code Avengers

Code Avengers offers a fun and interactive approach to learning how to program and code. There are various course options to teach you how to create everything from games and apps to entire websites. The good thing about the Code Avengers website is you don’t need a lot of spare time to start learning. Each course takes around 12 hours to complete.

You can choose from languages like HTML, CSS, Python, jQuery, JavaScript, and more, and connect with a wide selection of similar coding enthusiasts, just like you. The biggest downside is that the free trial only lasts for seven days before you’ll need to pay to use the full program.

The Code Player

A simple and effective website for learning how to code and building your existing skills. There are tons of videos and demos to walk you through the process of learning how to code from scratch. All you need to do is click on one of the things you want to learn how to do, like creating a simple web page, and the site will give you a video walkthrough.

Though a little simple compared to other coding resources, the Code Player still has a lot of great video guidance to help beginners jump into various languages. For example, you can learn about CSS and HTML or check out various tools to help you make a more effective website.

CodeGym

If you’re particularly interested in learning about Java, the CodeGym is probably the website for you. This online Java programming course teaches you the basics of Java by allowing you to dive into various tasks. You can get involved with various exercises depending on your existing skill level and play around with games designed to teach you more about the coding landscape.

This website is fantastic for people in all stages of the coding journey. Whenever you suggest a solution to a challenge, the website will give you immediate feedback to learn from. There are more than 500 hours of Java coding exercises and educational resources to explore.

The Odin Project

One of the better-known free coding websites on the market, the Odin Project aims to take the headaches and frustration out of learning web development. If you’re a beginner looking to develop a career in coding, then the Odin Project will give you all the pieces of the puzzle required to decide exactly where you want to go and build the appropriate skills.

This site offers a full-stack curriculum of coding education options, with tons of challenges, tasks, and exercises to help you put your newly gained knowledge to the test. You’ll learn how to program in languages like CSS and HTML, explore the basics of JavaScript and Ruby, and even get tips on how to get hired when your skills are maxed out.

Plural Sight

Previously known as Code School, Plural Sight is a fantastic online learning platform that allows you to build your knowledge through a range of paid and free courses. The comprehensive platform is organized into a wide selection of different learning paths. You can choose how you want to develop your skills based on your chosen language and your existing skillset.

You choose an education path created by professional instructors to achieve specific outcomes, and Plural Sight gives you all the material you need. You can also practice what you’ve learned during the course in your browser and get immediate feedback on what you need to work on. There’s even a gamification aspect that allows you to earn points for every course level you complete.

MIT Open Courseware

Imagine how amazing it would be to get accepted to MIT to learn your new coding skills? What if you didn’t have to go through the headache of an official application. If you have a computer and internet access, you can explore MIT’s course material easily through the MIT Open Courseware website. This dedicated website gives you an insight into all of the courses and materials learned by students at MIT.

You can browse through all the courses available in the programming landscape and filter through results based on things like course features. For instance, you might specifically look for courses with their own online textbook, lecture notes, and videos. It’s a great way to get an insight into how one of the most reputable universities in the world offers coding education.

Web Fundamentals

We’ve already looked at a website offering coding resources specifically for Java, now let’s take a look at one designed for HTML5. Launched about 11 years ago as HTML5 Rocks, the Web Fundamentals website is packed full of tutorials, resources, and insights into the most recent updates to HTML5. This open-source environment allows developers and programmers to really get active with their skills.

You can play around with some of the code already available on the website, and explore tutorials authored by a range of amazing individuals. Although these courses are very comprehensive, it’s worth noting that they might not be the perfect choice for true beginners, as the tutorials can be more complex than most.

Dash General Assembly

If you’re keen to learn the essentials of coding in some of the most popular languages, like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, then Dash General Assembly is the site for you. This website offers fun and free courses which will guide you through the basics of web development. You even get interactive tasks and challenges you can leverage within your browser, with no downloads required.

Users learn how to do a range of amazing things with this website, including how to code HTML5, build a beautiful website, and balance your layouts for aesthetic appeal and usability. You can even design dynamic interfaces where you can add aminations and effects. Dash General Assembly is a fantastic tool for anyone keen to get started in the world of coding.

Codeasy.net

Finally, Codeasy.net promises beginners a fast and simple way to start learning how to code, while having plenty of fun. This exciting website immerses you within a digital story which takes you on an adventure through the basics of coding. You’ll need to learn real-life coding skills to navigate your way through the rest of the story, which means you can develop your C# knowledge as you go.

This is one of the more unique tools for learning how to code that we’ve found so far. It’s a great way to discover the basics of C# without being bogged down in boring lectures. Remember, though, this website is intended for complete beginners, so you might find it a little basic if you already know some of the coding essentials.

Free Websites for Learning to Code

Free coding websites are an excellent way to develop your skills and unlock new opportunities in the world of coding. If you’re keen to jump into a new career as a programmer or coding developer, make sure you check out some of the options above. There’s no doubt you’ll find a site capable of giving you the boost you need.

 

Featured image via Unsplash.

Source

The post 16 Free Websites for Learning to Code in 2021 first appeared on Webdesigner Depot.


Source de l’article sur Webdesignerdepot

/par

Comment les technologies de formation et les LMS supportent l’upskilling

, , ,

L’upskilling des effectifs est depuis longtemps une priorité pour les organisations. Aujourd’hui, alors que les dirigeants réagissent aux perturbations mondiales, avec pour beaucoup un personnel en télétravail, ils s’appuient plus que jamais sur les technologies et les systèmes de gestion de la formation (LMS).

La crise mondiale du COVID-19 et l’instabilité économique obligent de nombreuses entreprises à « faire plus avec moins » en matière de reskilling et d’upskilling. Heureusement, les technologies de formation sont suffisamment matures pour que les entreprises puissent choisir parmi une gamme de fonctionnalités adaptées à leurs besoins et à leur budget.

Lorsque Discovery, compagnie d’assurance multinationale est passée au travail à distance, les RH ont identifié qu’environ 500 de ses collaborateurs n’étaient pas productifs. Plutôt que de chercher des solutions de court terme pour améliorer la productivité, la compagnie s’est focalisée sur la préparation du personnel aux métiers de l’avenir, par le reskilling. La priorité de l’entreprise reste ses salariés – et cela inclut de les équiper pour demain.

En période de croissance comme de crise les dirigeants s’efforcent de trouver les meilleures solutions pour leurs collaborateurs. Par exemple, les hôpitaux, les instituts de recherche et les organismes de santé répondent aux besoins du personnel de première ligne en créant des technologies de formation et des ressources éducatives visant à prévenir et limiter l’exposition au COVID-19.

Bien que les dernières avancées changent la donne pour les LMS, tous les investissements technologiques ne conviennent pas nécessairement à toutes les entreprises. Voici les éléments que les entreprises peuvent considérer lorsqu’elles investissent dans une nouvelle solution.

1. Des fonctionnalités liées à vos objectifs

Lorsqu’on choisit parmi toutes les options proposées par les technologies de formation, la première chose à vérifier est que les fonctionnalités répondent aux besoins, aux objectifs et à la stratégie des effectifs de l’entreprise. Pour beaucoup d’organisations, des plates-formes flexibles et ouvertes peuvent être nécessaires pour prendre en charge les nombreux éléments critiques.

Par exemple, une entreprise énergétique pourrait limiter l’accès à une zone particulière d’une installation nucléaire aux employés ayant complété une formation obligatoire et certifiante. L’entreprise aurait alors besoin d’un système de gestion de la formation (LMS) capable d’intégrer la certification des employés à ses formations et opérations sensibles.

De même, une entreprise pharmaceutique pourrait avoir besoin de valider l’apprentissage pour se conformer aux réglementations nationales sur les médicaments. Une solution qui offre de l’innovation au niveau de l’écosystème, y compris des applications partenaires, peut fournir des fonctionnalités supplémentaires et flexibles tout au long du cycle de vie des collaborateurs (y compris lors du recrutement, de l’onboarding, du développement et de la gestion de la succession). Si certaines grandes entreprises peuvent avoir besoin de solutions ouvertes qui prennent en charge divers cas d’utilisation, d’autres peuvent vouloir une solution adaptée à un secteur spécifique, comme l’éducation ou la santé. Quoi qu’il en soit, les entreprises devrait prendre le temps de rechercher la technologie pouvant soutenir au mieux leurs objectifs.

2. Flexibilité

De nombreuses entreprises ayant des sites multiples ou un important personnel auront besoin d’un LMS orienté entreprise si elles s’engagent dans le reskilling de centaines voire de centaines de milliers d’employés.

Avec la généralisation du télétravail, les PME/ETI peuvent également avoir besoin d’un LMS qui puisse être étendu au domicile de leurs employés de manière sûre et efficace. Les technologies d’apprentissage mobiles accessibles en déplacement, y compris sur smartphones, pourraient améliorer l’adoption par les télétravailleurs et les employés qui manquent de temps de formation dédié, comme les commerciaux terrain.

Si les outils qui intègrent des formations en réalité virtuelle (VR) ou en réalité augmentée (AR) ne sont peut-être pas adaptés à toutes les situations, ils peuvent être utiles pour préparer les collaborateurs à des situations d’urgence ou à des scénarios uniques. Ces technologies émergentes sont un excellent exemple de la manière dont les outils de formation modernes peuvent aider les entreprises à relever de nouveaux défis et aider les collaborateurs à se perfectionner et se requalifier.

Walmart, par exemple, a formé plus d’un million d’employés en 2019 à la réalité virtuelle afin de proposer un apprentissage immersif. L’entreprise a également envoyé des casques VR dans les magasins pour entraîner les employés à la mise en place d’une machine qui récupère les commandes passées en ligne. Se libérant ainsi de la nécessité d’envoyer plusieurs personnes pour l’assembler, l’entretenir et dispenser une formation.

Qu’ils travaillent dans le retail, sur des plateformes pétrolières ou dans des exploitations agricoles, de nombreux employés pourraient atteindre de nouveaux niveaux de productivité et d’engagement grâce à des solutions personnalisables et flexibles.

3. Collaboration entre les employés – et les employeurs

Dans de nombreux cas, permettre aux collaborateurs de piloter leur apprentissage peut améliorer l’adoption des programmes, l’engagement et la culture de l’apprentissage. De nombreux employés réagiront positivement à l’upskilling itératif. Lequel leur apporte un sentiment d’appartenance et de fierté. Cet upskilling itératif peut par exemple prendre la forme de vidéos produites par les collaborateurs et partagées avec leurs collègues.

L’apprentissage social peut apporter des avantages à un personnel en télétravail. En atténuant l’isolement, l’anxiété et le manque de motivation auxquels les équipes peuvent être confrontées. Les social boards, chats et « missions » gamifiées sont quelques-unes des caractéristiques des LMS qui peuvent améliorer la collaboration tout en maintenant la distanciation physique. Les managers peuvent également utiliser ces fonctionnalités pour cibler les compétences qui correspondent aux nouvelles priorités et encourager les équipes à atteindre leurs objectifs.

4. La gestion du changement en support  

Intégrer un programme d’upskilling dans toute l’entreprise est une initiative majeure qui relève de la gestion du changement. L’alignement des valeurs, des personnes et de la culture d’entreprise pour atteindre un résultat souhaité ne viendra pas uniquement de l’adoption d’une nouvelle technologie. La gestion du changement occupe une place essentielle dans les discussions relatives à l’expérience de formation. Et ce pour au moins trois raisons.

  • Premièrement, s’assurer que la technologie est adaptée à l’organisation et au personnel permet d’augmenter son taux d’adoption et d’en tirer meilleur parti.
  • Deuxièmement, une gestion du changement réactive et basée sur les données permet de prolonger la durée de vie de la technologie.
  • Troisièmement, l’intégration d’une technologie de formation dans une organisation requiert une gouvernance. Elle nécessite notamment d’affecter la responsabilité sur les rôles et les données segmentées que vous pouvez collecter. De nombreux experts du reskilling vous diront que la gouvernance est toute aussi importante, si ce n’est plus, que la technologie de formation elle-même.

Les RH ne sont pas les seuls à investir dans ces solutions. La majorité des utilisateurs sont rattachés à la sécurité, conformité et formation à la vente. Alors que les budgets restent serrés et que des tensions peuvent surgir entre les services pour savoir qui doit avoir le contrôle des priorités en matière de reskilling et d’upskilling, les fonctionnalités des LMS devraient fournir un vrai retour sur investissement (ROI). Les bénéfices peuvent inclure le gain de temps lié à la recherche et au partage d’informations ; ou l’augmentation des revenus (ou réduction des coûts) résultant de la normalisation des technologies et du soutien à la formation. Par exemple, une étude indépendante sur SAP Jam, réalisée par Forrester Consulting, a révélé que le ROI moyen a augmenté de 18,5 % entre 2016 et 2018, les clients ayant trouvé davantage de façons d’utiliser la plateforme de collaboration.

Pour soutenir la gestion du changement qui accompagne l’introduction d’une nouvelle technologie, les entreprises doivent chercher des solutions qui offrent la possibilité de bêta-tester, d’itérer et d’adapter cette technologie aux besoins des collaborateurs. Les logiciels d’entreprise doivent offrir un support client aux dirigeants et aux employés pour une expérience d’apprentissage sans faille.

« De nombreux experts du reskilling vous diront que la gouvernance est toute aussi importante, si ce n’est plus, que la technologie de formation elle-même »

5. Méfiez-vous des mots à la mode et restez concentré sur vos collaborateurs

Les LMS d’aujourd’hui peuvent utiliser des technologies de pointe comme l’intelligence artificielle (IA) et le machine learning pour fournir tout ce qui est nécessaire, du coaching aux plans de développement des collaborateurs. Et ce à une échelle jamais atteinte auparavant. Mais alors que les dirigeants évaluent les options de LMS qui offrent ces nouvelles technologies et ces mots à la mode, il est important qu’ils restent d’abord engagés dans une stratégie des effectifs axée sur les objectifs de l’entreprise.

Si des fonctions comme la gamification et l’apprentissage social peuvent avoir un impact majeur pour certaines organisations, elles peuvent manquer de pertinence pour d’autres. Pour de nombreuses organisations, l’apprentissage classique en salle avec un formateur pourrait encore avoir toute sa place à l’avenir. L’écoute continue des collaborateurs fournira des informations utiles pour répondre à leurs besoins et concevoir une expérience d’apprentissage efficace.

De nombreux experts de l’upskilling conviendront que la formation et l’upskilling est un défi pour les employés et les employeurs. Alors que les entreprises investissent massivement dans les nouvelles technologies, l’objectif premier est d’investir efficacement dans le personnel.

La stratégie à long terme d’une entreprise en matière d’effectifs ne se limite pas au système de gestion de la formation (LMS) qu’elle a choisi. La gestion de l’expérience de formation inclut les nouvelles compétences et connaissances que les personnes vont acquérir ainsi qu’une méthode de travail efficace et agile. Un excellent programme d’upskilling aidera les collaborateurs à pivoter vers les nouveaux rôles qu’ils devront occuper demain et à soutenir l’innovation de rupture dans toute l’entreprise.

Publié en anglais sur insights.sap.com

The post Comment les technologies de formation et les LMS supportent l’upskilling appeared first on SAP France News.

Source de l’article sur sap.com

/par

Upskilling de vos effectifs : de la stratégie à l’action

, , ,

Un personnel polyvalent est essentiel pour surmonter les défis, notamment ceux liés au COVID-19. Les entreprises reconnaissent désormais l’importance de l’upskilling et du reskilling. Mais elles ne savent pas toujours comment procéder à grande échelle. Ou comment exploiter efficacement des technologies comme les learning management systems (LMS). Si les collaborateurs peuvent accéder à une pléthore de formations, certifications et badges, de nombreux dirigeants peinent encore à discerner ce qui aura le plus d’impact.

Beaucoup d’organisations ont démontré leur capacité à faire basculer leurs salariés en télétravail presque du jour au lendemain. Alors que les entreprises commencent à s’adapter à cette nouvelle réalité, on peut se demander comment progresser sur d’autres problématiques. Comme celle de l’apprentissage sur le lieu de travail. Avec des solutions et des technologies innovantes les dirigeants étudient la meilleure façon d’y parvenir, en évaluant comment communiquer de manière authentique, recueillir des insights et mettre en œuvre des formations plus efficaces.

Parallèlement à une stratégie des effectifs, les entreprises peuvent suivre les étapes suivantes pour soutenir la formation et le développement de leurs collaborateurs.

collaborateur au bureau

1. Déterminer les déficits de compétences et anticiper les besoins à long terme

Après avoir déterminé leurs objectifs et évalué plusieurs scénarios, les entreprises élaborent une stratégie des effectifs adaptée. Pour la déployer, une étape clé est de combler l’écart entre les compétences que vos collaborateurs ont déjà et celles qu’ils doivent acquérir. De nombreuses entreprises, lorsqu’elles s’adaptent à l’incertitude économique, évaluent ces écarts tout en déterminant s’il faut réduire les effectifs. Aussi important soit-il de réfléchir aux besoins d’aujourd’hui, considérer les besoins en effectifs et compétences pour les 5 à 10 prochaines années est tout aussi central, si ce n’est plus. Si certaines compétences techniques deviennent rapidement caduques, d’autres, comme le leadership, représentent un investissement pour l’avenir. Il a également été démontré qu’un programme de formation solide aide à attirer et retenir les meilleurs talents.

La première étape dans l’élaboration d’une stratégie de gestion des talents est l’identification des emplois et des carrières qui nécessiteront l’upskilling des collaborateurs. Par exemple, de nombreux emplois seront reconfigurés avec des technologies telles que l’intelligence artificielle (IA). Les organisations devraient commencer par identifier les tâches essentielles à la croissance et à l’amélioration de l’expérience client. Ensuite, elles devraient identifier les ressources nécessaires pour les accomplir. Ressources qui incluent notamment les machines intelligentes et salariés requalifiés. Les nouvelles descriptions de poste devraient refléter le besoin de ces collaborateurs plus stratégiques et créatifs. Dans le cadre du recrutement, les technologies RH peuvent aujourd’hui aider les entreprises à prédire la réussite en évaluant la personnalité et les capacités cognitives des candidats.

De plus, pour évaluer en continu les compétences des collaborateurs, il faut envisager de développer une bibliothèque des compétences. Une base de données de ce que les salariés doivent savoir et des compétences qu’ils doivent posséder pour performer dans leurs fonctions. Dans un sens, il s’agit de descriptions de postes basées sur les compétences.

2. Interroger les collaborateurs

Les plates-formes technologiques RH peuvent recueillir des données en temps réel sur l’expérience des collaborateurs et les objectifs business, afin d’aider les entreprises à bien prioriser en matière d’upskilling. En interrogeant les collaborateurs, elles peuvent diagnostiquer les compétences actuelles d’une personne et recueillir des informations sur les compétences adjacentes.

Comprendre les besoins d’un collaborateur est essentiel, non seulement pour la stratégie d’upskilling, mais aussi pour améliorer l’expérience employé et la fidélisation. Pour de meilleurs résultats à long terme, les entreprises devraient aligner leurs efforts d’upskilling sur les plans de carrière des collaborateurs et leur développement. Un personnel heureux est souvent un personnel productif. Des recherches ont montré que les collaborateurs sont souvent « au mieux de leur carrière » lorsque leurs talents, leurs passions et les besoins de l’entreprise sont alignés.

3. Tenir compte des compétences, des connaissances et de l’expérience

Dans certains domaines, l’acquisition et le transfert des connaissances sont tout aussi importants que les compétences. Bien que les data scientists puissent être très demandés pour intégrer les technologies d’IA dans une entreprise, il n’est pas toujours suffisant qu’un collaborateur cherche à obtenir une certification en data science pour assurer la fonction. Les candidats devront avoir une connaissance approfondie des mathématiques ou de l’informatique pour comprendre le fonctionnement des algorithmes. Lorsque les entreprises n’ont pas la taille, la crédibilité ou l’expertise nécessaires dans certains domaines, elles peuvent s’associer à des institutions, organisations académiques ou professionnelles, pour une formation personnalisée.

Un cadre d’apprentissage largement référencé, le modèle « 70-20-10 », encourage les entreprises à promouvoir 70 % de l’apprentissage par l’expérience, 20 % par autrui (mentorat, coaching), et 10 % par la formation formelle. Mais le modèle peut être pondéré selon les domaines et compétences. Par exemple, les pilotes de ligne ont des exigences différentes selon la licence qu’ils souhaitent obtenir, notamment privée ou commerciale. Beaucoup estiment qu’une formation rigoureuse et formelle devrait peser plus de 10 % dans de nombreux domaines.

4. Repenser, remodeler et rééquiper les RH pour soutenir un processus d’apprentissage continu

L’une des clés d’une stratégie des effectifs réussie consiste à diffuser une culture de l’apprentissage. Les collaborateurs peuvent manquer de temps pour suivre une formation de deux heures. Heureusement la technologie, des applications aux systèmes de gestion de la formation (LMS), permet aux collaborateurs d’acquérir des compétences et de partager des connaissances entre eux par le biais d’un upskilling itératif. Ces capsules de formation peuvent prendre la forme de vidéos d’apprentissage de 10 minutes, au format « snacking », qu’ils peuvent visionner aussi bien hors ligne et sur smartphone qu’à la maison.

L’époque où les entreprises donnaient la priorité aux compétences de base et assignaient des sessions de formation à leurs collaborateurs est révolue. Aujourd’hui, les dirigeants peuvent tirer parti des technologies et des écosystèmes pour permettre aux collaborateurs de piloter leur propre apprentissage. Des outils personnalisables qui utilisent l’IA et le machine learning peuvent par exemple fournir une formation, un coaching et des feedbacks personnalisés.

5. Motiver les collaborateurs en les aidant à suivre leurs progrès

Il n’y a pas de modèle unique pour l’upskilling. Au lieu de proposer des plans de formation normatifs, les dirigeants devraient, pour une formation et un développement professionnel réussis, lire les signaux émis par leurs employés.

Grâce à des plans de développement des collaborateurs personnalisés et à l’apprentissage social, les collaborateurs peuvent rester engagés et concentrés grâce à la mise en réseau virtuelle et au mentorat, tandis que les managers les motivent pour atteindre les objectifs. Pour soutenir un personnel en distanciel, les messageries instantanées et les social boards peuvent être très utiles pour retrouver la dynamique collective. Parmi les autres techniques de motivation, on peut citer la gamification associée à des récompenses financières ou des cartes-cadeaux. Et les derniers learning management systems (LMS) permettent aux entreprises de délivrer, de suivre et de gérer le contenu, les certifications et les données des collaborateurs comme une source unique d’enregistrement de l’apprentissage.

Suivant la tendance croissante au partage et à la consommation d’information sur les médias sociaux, de nombreuses personnes s’attendent à avoir la maîtrise du moment et de la façon dont elles apprennent. Et encourager les collaborateurs à créer et à contribuer à leur propre contenu d’apprentissage en créant leurs propres « playlists d’apprentissage» leur permet de devenir, en matière de formation, leur propre patron. Et cela ouvre les portes du progrès individuel.

Grâce à une stratégie des effectifs qui s’aligne sur les objectifs stratégiques, les entreprises peuvent appliquer ces mesures pratiques pour identifier les opportunités de reskilling et les déficits à combler. Grâce à une amélioration de l’expérience et des résultats relatifs au reskilling, les entreprises peuvent soutenir un personnel à l’épreuve du temps. 

L’évolution des réalités dans le monde entier – de la modification des chaînes d’approvisionnement aux business models – a un impact sur toutes les entreprises. Celles qui peuvent réorienter leur personnel pourront relever les défis de l’avenir.

Publié en anglais sur insights.sap.com

The post Upskilling de vos effectifs : de la stratégie à l’action appeared first on SAP France News.

Source de l’article sur sap.com

/par

The Potential of AR in Web Design

,

Over the years, experts have repeatedly discussed the possible impact of mixed realities on web design. Concepts like AR and VR are expected to have the potential to change the way that we interact with websites on a fundamental level.

Now that we’re in the year 2021, however, discussions about AR aren’t just observational anymore. The age of mixed-reality interfaces is here, in everything from Pokémon Go, to Snapchat filters.

The question is, how do web designers create incredible user experiences in a world where there are now multiple digital realities to consider?

The Benefits of Experimenting with AR

Before we look at some of the steps that web designers can take to enhance their projects with AR, it’s worth examining the benefits of interacting with augmented reality in the first place. 

While virtual reality replaces the typical world around us completely with digital components, AR augments it. This means that developers and designers need to learn how to thrive in an environment where the real world and the digital one work together. 

The most common AR application for website owners is to provide a solution for real-time and remote product visualization. Imagine being able to try on a pair of shoes before you buy them online. That’s a service that the Vyking brand can deliver by creating technology that “reinvents” the digital shopping experience. 

This test functionality plays a massive role in purchasing decisions. In a world where people can’t see a shade of make-up in person when they’re shopping online, or check how an item of furniture looks in their home, AR has a crucial role to play. 

In simple terms, AR helps shoppers to make more informed purchases. 

Here’s how you can use augmented reality to deliver incredible UX. 

1. Focus on Real-Time Feedback

Augmented reality is all about connecting the real world to the virtual world. 

Doing this provides users a unique experience – one that’s filled with real-time feedback that can deliver crucial and insightful information. For instance, an augmented reality system in a GPS app can calculate the average time before reaching a destination based on previous trips.

Another option is for an augmented reality to use solutions like face-mapping to help customers determine how a certain makeup product will look before they buy it. For instance, that’s the case for the Mary Kay Mirror Me app, which simplifies the process of shopping for make-up. 

When designing for AR, experts need to consider how they can provide customers with real-time information that they can use to make better purchasing decisions. 

2. Define input and output

Although you’ve probably performed similar exercises when designing for traditional websites and applications in the past, defining inputs and outputs of UX in AR environments can be tough.

Defining inputs and outputs allows you to determine which elements of an interface your user can actually interact with, in your interface. This gives you a better idea of what to “augment.” For instance, you might decide that physical gestures like a swipe of the hand will be essential for AR inputs. However, you’ll also need to consider how each mobile device offers different input possibilities. 

Outputs are a little simpler. For instance, you could offer a three-dimensional model of a product that your customers are interested in. Once you have that output, you can think about how the customer will interact with it by changing colors or position.

3. Embrace Customer-Friendly Performance

Another feature at the heart of AR applications is interactivity. 

Good designs in the augmented reality world need to be simple to access and use, otherwise customers will end up avoiding them. For instance, 60% of customers say they want to use AR when they’re shopping for furniture. However, they’re only going to use your app if it actually works. 

The Décor Matters website and app mix gamification with home decorating features that help customers get a better view of the home goods they’re planning on buying. The website even has inspiration pages available to help users find and try new design options with their AR technology. 

When designing for AR, think about how you can make your applications or technology as simple to use as possible, so customers actually want to interact with it. 

4. Address the Environment

In augmented and virtual reality applications, it’s important to remember that interfaces aren’t bound by physical screens. The viewport will move with the user, shifting perspectives in response. Most AR designers will use four different signifiers to describe AR environments:

  • Public environment: The entire body of the user is involved as a controller, like with the Xbox Kinect or Nintendo Wii;
  • Intimate environment: Where a user can be seated – often in a desktop environment;
  • Personal environment: AR on smartphones, mobile devices, and tablets, like Pokémon Go;
  • Private environments: Completely private spaces, such as with wearable technology like the Google Glass solution.

The environment that you’re designing for will be crucial for your project outcomes. Remember, spatial considerations need to be carefully considered when accounting for how users will interact with objects in a frame. 

5. Remember User Fatigue

Another thing to keep in mind when designing for AR technology is that user fatigue is likely to be a much more significant consideration. After all, people interact with websites and applications in a much more intimate and in-depth way when AR is involved. 

AR applications can often use the entire body of a customer as a controller. Because of this, designers need to be careful about exhausting interactions. High-effort and repetitive interactions could tire the user out mentally and physically, causing them to give up on the interaction. 

When designing, you’ll need to consider how you might over-stimulate the user with too many interaction-focused elements at once. Keep it simple.

6. Remember the Essential Principles of UX Design

Remember, just because you’re tapping into a relatively new technology doesn’t mean that you should abandon all the basic tenets of user experience design that you’ve come to understand over the years. Although UX is constantly evolving and changing, it’s always going to keep a few fundamental principles in mind. 

For instance, you’ll always strive to give users the best digital experience in exchange for the lowest amount of effort on their part. Additionally, you’ll need to think about how you can make end-users as comfortable as possible when they’re interacting with new types of technology on websites and apps. 

For instance, since AR is most commonly associated with gaming in the current environment, it might be a good idea to implement gamification concepts into your AR design. What can you do to make sure your customers are having fun?

For instance, Inkhunter is an app that allows users to try on tattoos just like using a filter on Snapchat. The experience feels familiar, comfortable, and exciting.

Unlocking the Potential of AR Web Design

Augmented Reality technology has come a long way over the years. Today, developers and designers can access simple plug-in tools like WordPress VR, allowing designers to upload 360-degree videos into WordPress sites and other unique web extensions. 

Augmented reality is becoming much more readily available on sites and apps of all shapes and sizes. Additionally, customers are accessing more ways to unlock AR’s power through everything from headsets to mobile interfaces. 

However, just like any new technology in the web design world, designers need to think carefully about how they will overcome the challenges in user experience that AR can present. For instance, though AR can offer more information for a customer and help them make purchasing decisions faster, there are also risks. For instance, add too many interactive features to a single website or application, and you could scare users off with too much information. 

In the short-term, web designers need to explore the new tools that are available to them and think about the customers they’re designing for. Only this way will we be able to make any considerable advances in the possibilities of AR. 

Are You Ready to Embrace AR?

Designing for augmented reality applications and websites can be an intimidating concept – even for seasoned designers. However, this is just another technology that creatives can use to drive better experiences for end-users. 

Learn how the latest technology works and get an insight into your customers’ needs, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in the AR world.

Source


Source de l’article sur Webdesignerdepot

/par

13 Tips to Build Better Community Engagement

,

A community is only as strong as its contributors. Whether you’re at the top when it comes to user engagement, or you’re at the bottom struggling to excite your users to participate, here are 13 tips to help you improve engagement and foster a mentality of sharing. 

1. Create Exclusivity

Who doesn’t like being rewarded for their work? (obviously a rhetorical question!) Everyone likes to be rewarded for their work, and your community is no different. To successfully run a community your members need to be engaged, sharing, and collaborating. To encourage participation, create exclusivity for your best users. Options to do so could be sending them a swag pack, creating a beta preview of your upcoming software release, sending them conference tickets, or inviting them to your headquarters. The opportunities are endless, so be creative. 

Source de l’article sur DZone

/0 Commentaires/par