Last week diginomica highlighted two major retailers and their generative AI ambitions. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said:
Our approach to new tools like generative AI is to focus on making shopping easier and more convenient for our customers and members and helping our associates enjoy more satisfying and productive work.’
Meanwhile Etsy CEO Josh Silverman argued:
For Etsy, more than most, [AI has] the opportunity to unlock really incredible gains, given that there's 115 million things for sale on Etsy and none of them map to a catalog. So the ability for AI to really help to organize the world for us, I think, is a huge opportunity.
Throw in John Lewis Partnership’s AI-centric partnership with Google and three’s the charm with the retail sector and the generative AI hype cycle. But how realistic are these claims at this stage, six months after ChatGPT threw the proverbial cat among the AI pigeons?
By happenstance, a couple of global studies with a retail focus have just been published that provide a realistic assessment of the true situation around adoption and use cases, rather than just the aspirational intentions of various retailers. That’s not to say that those aspirations won’t translate into real-world exemplars, but it’s pretty much the case that the retail sector, like every other one, is still very much in exploratory mode right now.
Salesforce shopping
For the fifth edition of its Connected Shoppers Report, Salesforce surveyed 2,400 shoppers and 1,125 retail industry decision makers across Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Among its top line findings is the bold claim that 92% of retailers say they are investing in AI more than ever to Boost shopping experiences. Impressive though that number is - or perhaps, because that number is! - there’s a huge caveat in the report:
Although it’s not yet clear if retailers are actually implementing generative AI in their workflows, or still experimenting, 59% of retailers say they are already using it to help store associates make product recommendations to shoppers. And when it comes to online experiences, 55% are exploring or using it to create a conversational digital assistant to help online shoppers find products.
So, see above re: curious experimenting rather than practical deployment in the main.
That said, retailer respondents do see potential for generative AI. According to the data, 59% are using it to generate product recommendations for store associates to use in store, with a further 39% evaluating this.
Some 55% are using the tech to create a conversational digital shopping assistant to help shoppers find the right product or service, something 41% more are considering.
Meanwhile 52% are tapping into AI to create virtual models for product detail pages - with 44% also looking into this - while 51% are creating personalized product bundles, with 46% evaluating this option.
Where generative AI may have a more immediate impact is in automating retail marketing. The report states:
Retailers see possibilities for generative AI when it comes to jumpstarting content creation for channels such as display ads, social media, and email. They also believe generative AI will help them automate the development of personalized marketing emails and promotional offers, saving time and money.
To that end, 58% of retailer respondents says they’re using the tech to produce creative assets for ads, emails, social media and websites. The idea of generative AI being able to help pursue the marketing Holy Grail of personalization is one that seems to have caught the imagination, with 56% saying they use it to write personalized marketing emails, 54% to create personalized promotional efforts, while 53% are auto-generating personalized product descriptions.
How personal this personalization is isn’t clear, but the p-word is also at at the center of generative AI’s potential impact on service in the retail sector. The report suggests:
Rising case volumes are putting pressure on retailers to efficiently scale service. To do this, service organizations are increasingly turning to AI: 88% of service decision makers say their use of AI has increased.* Generative AI’s capabilities hold promise in service. Retailers see possibilities for generative AI in terms of drafting personalized responses to shopper inquiries, leveling up chatbot interactions, and automating the creation of knowledge articles
With that in mind, 57% of retailers say they are generating personalized responses for agents to quickly email or message customers, while 54% use AI to power chatbots for service. On a more ‘back end’ basis, 53% use it to automate the creation of knowledge base articles, while 52% use it as a tool to create summaries of customer service cases.
AI, ML, CV
Meanwhile a survey from Honeywell - The AI Revolution in Retail - finds that nearly six in 10 retailers plan to adopt AI, Machine Learning (ML) and Computer Vision (CV) technologies over the next year, while nearly half (48%) of respondents cite AI, ML and CV as the top technologies to have a significant impact on the retail industry over the next three to five years.
Among other key findings:
- 38% of those surveyed are using these technologies for select use cases or regions
- 35% are using them on a larger scale
- 24% are in a pilot phase or in discussions
- Only three percent said they were not using these technologies at all
Most respondents see the technologies as tools to augment and maximize their workforce, rather than to replace employees, with only seven percent saying that their primary purpose for these solutions would be to reduce human labor.
The survey results also highlight three primary barriers to widespread adoption:
- Budget restrictions (39%)
- Difficulty in demonstrating business value (29%)
- Lack of internal expertise to maintain the technology (21%)
The report states:
With cost implications at the forefront of what’s holding retailers back, a greater understanding of viable early adopter use cases is needed, together with how these use cases align with budget priorities. For example, one AI application that is highly likely to deliver business value for years to come is AI-powered live chat services to provide rapid responses to repetitive customer queries. This means customer service teams can scale efficiently during peak periods without increasing employee headcounts – a benefit that’s widely sought after amid labor shortages and growing costs.
Other ways for retailers to get their foot in the door with AI include targeted marketing and offers using data from customer purchase history. AI algorithms can develop strategic offers based on each customer’s unique behavior on e-commerce platforms, putting the retailer at the forefront of customers’ minds. Because retailers often lack the internal skills to maintain such tools (21%), strategic external expertise will be crucial to optimizing usage, unlocking long-term cost-efficiencies and improvements in AI, ML and CV.”
My take
A lot of aspiration on show here. What will be interesting is to revisit this in a year’s time when there will - theoretically - be a lot more data on the practical outcomes and benefits (or otherwise) of this early experimentation in action.
What about the other side of the coin? How do shoppers regard generative AI’s usefulness?According to the Salesforce study, only 17% of shopper respondents say they’ve used generative AI to get inspiration for product purchases. Of that number, over half (52%) used it to research electronics and appliances. Other use cases include getting outfit recommendations (44%), creating meal plans (44%) and getting beauty tips (39%).
That sounds pretty much like tapping into more powerful search capabilities on the face of it. The more exciting potential of generative AI on the buy side doesn’t seem to be top of mind at present. Again, let’s revisit in a year.
Both reports are downloadable from the links above. Both are free of charge, but do require registration for access.
Building the best, most efficient digital-first workplace requires continuous evolution of technology. Addressing these three challenges can boost workplace productivity.
Technology leaders and CIOs have a lot on their shoulders. The still-evolving world of hybrid work has technology at its core to help cope with fast-changing business demands. As a result, all business leaders are finding that their roles are expanding with opportunities to drive progressive digital-first programs.
For some companies, the transformation was so rapid that they didn’t have the time to fully vet solutions and changes to processes. As a result, not all digital initiatives have been without flaws. Adobe’s Future of Digital Work Study, which surveyed 4,500 technology leaders and workers, found a near-unanimous number of employees (87%) and tech leaders (89%) acknowledge that poor technologies are hurting the company’s productivity. More than half of tech leaders (58%) went as far as to say that poor tech is “killing” their company’s productivity and costing them between two to four hours a day in lost productivity.
As a technology leader myself, this feedback is critical to improving operations. The great part of technology is it’s always evolving, meaning there are always better solutions and processes to consider to build the best, most efficient digital-first workplace. Here are three pain points that continue to hinder workplace productivity.
1. Paper based processes
Thirty years ago, Adobe set out to create the digital office. It invented the PDF so workers could send sensitive information without having to rely on paper documents or lose document formatting. Fast forward three decades and more than half of technology leaders say at least half of their company’s work is still paper based.
Our mission to create the paperless office was fueled by the pursuit of efficiency. And about a third of workers say that paper-based work like managing a mix of digital and paper documents, collaborating using paper documents, and printing paper documents is hurting their productivity.
Paper-based processes also hinder an organization’s ability to extract data and intelligence from our files. A separate Adobe study in partnership with Microsoft and Forbes found that more than a third of CIOs believe that improving digital workflows will unlock new business or revenue opportunities by harnessing data previously lost in paper documents.
Despite the recent push for more digital business operations, companies – and especially small businesses – still need to tackle more digitization of mission-critical workflows to boost efficiency, resiliency, and revenue prospects.
2. Digital literacy
It’s not just about having the technology; it’s about providing tools and training to create a digitally savvy workplace. And despite the years of using technology at work, employees still don’t feel proficient.
Though three-quarters of leaders rank the digital literacy of their workforce as good, employees are less confident: just 62% of employees say the same. More than a third of leaders say their companies have the “top experts in digital” in their companies, yet only 15% of employees feel the same way.
New technological advancements like generative AI present an opportunity for employees to discover new ways to express their ideas more creatively and powerfully. Unfortunately, the reality is that workers still struggle to schedule calendar invites or convert documents to PDFs. Not to mention the people that still join meetings on mute.
3. Bad technology
What might seem obvious is one of the biggest problems: poor technology. Most employees (87%) say poor technologies are hurting their company’s productivity, and even more technology leaders (89%) agree. While there are many technologies and with advanced capabilities to choose from, it’s simple: employees name lack of automation as the No. 1 productivity killer.
Poor work technologies can hurt employee morale too. About one out of five employees will complain to their boss about poor work technologies. The alternatives that employees will consider are looking for another job (16%) or “quiet quitting” (16%).
Technology is the backbone of nearly every organization, so it plays an important role in driving business goals and delivering results. As our world becomes more digital, every company will need to lean on good technology to reduce friction for their employees and stay competitive.
Employees that feel confident and productive when using technology will lead to more satisfied customers and overall business success. Through engaging with employees, leaders can better comprehend which specific processes or programs are hurting productivity and invest in solutions to close those gaps.
For example, the Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council digitized its e-signature workflows with Acrobat Sign, providing faster, more efficient services to its more than 300,000 residents and local businesses. Internal maintenance teams also benefited from digitization, which reduced processing times for their essential documentation. Deputy Environmental & Waste Manager for Housing Maintenance Greg Jewkes said, “The improvement in productivity is immense on all levels, from minimizing disruptions for our operatives to helping our office staff manage the process without having to physically handle a lot of paperwork. The e-signature solution helps reinforce a more positive and professional experience for employees, boosting their job satisfaction.”
Leaders should lean into the AI and automation advancements we’re seeing. AI-powered solutions can help an organization do more and upskill employees to work on more high-impact work. When automation can tackle tedious, time-consuming tasks, employees will have more brainpower for innovation and creative problem-solving, which in turn boosts their overall workplace experience.
Take professional services firm RSM Australia, for instance. RSM had separate PDF and e-signature platforms, which meant lots of inefficiencies and lost or corrupted data. Within only 30 days of moving to Acrobat Sign, RSM was able to process 6,000 e-signature transactions, with no additional operating costs, and they’re on track to process upwards of 70,000 business documents each year. The more efficient processes make it easier for RSM to collaborate with clients and enable employees to spend more time building critical relationships instead of managing complex document workflows.
Deployment of a new solution is just as important as which tool leaders introduce. By offering training, change management support, and data-backed reasoning for the transitions, organizations can encourage better adoption and use of the new technology across their workforce.
As biotechnology company Regeneron was rolling out Acrobat Sign to streamline processes, Global Head of Application Services & Intelligent Automation Jai Gulati said, “Adoption is the key to any new technology. Since Adobe Acrobat is widely used across the company, we knew that people would be more likely to adopt an e-signature solution from a familiar and reliable vendor.” Thanks to this strong adoption, Acrobat Sign helped Regeneron reduce contract offer processing time from 2 hours to 4.8 minutes.
The digital-first workplace isn’t a destination, it’s an ever-evolving goal, and technological advancements push the bar for what’s possible. As technology leaders, it’s up to us to continue to evolve and make sure our workforce is following at the same pace. Start by evaluating current technology and equipping employees with the resources to be a digital-first workplace – through tools and skills.
To Boost the digital workplace, Adobe offers all-in-one solutions like Acrobat, which help work get done whenever your employees are and integrate with popular apps like Microsoft and Salesforce to streamline workflows. Our artificial intelligence, Adobe Sensei, powers features in Acrobat to speed up document creation as well as Liquid Mode, which improves the experience of engaging with PDFs on mobile devices by automatically reformatting your file to fit your screen.
Learn how to up-level your digital documents with Adobe Document Cloud solutions.
According to a study by KPMG, SMEs with a digital presence have 51% higher revenues than those without. This means that if you run a business, you will get higher revenues with an online presence.
But here’s the challenge. Many web design companies have emerged in India to cater to this growing demand for web design. Since many web design companies are out there, knowing the best for your business is difficult. And that is why this article exists.
We vetted several companies based on their expertise, experience, quality, and pricing. And from our results, we compiled a list of the top 10 web design companies in India that you should consider for your web project.
You can easily get the best web design companies in India by checking out this list. Ready? Let’s check them out!
List of Top 10 Web Design Companies in India
Here are India’s best web development agencies for creating stunning, functional websites for your business.
1. eFlair WebTech
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eFlair WebTech is one of the best web development agencies in India, specializing in creating custom websites for clients across various industries.
With over a decade of experience, eFlair has a team of experienced and skilled web designers who use the latest technologies and tools, including AI and Machine Learning, to deliver high-quality, user-friendly websites.
They've worked with big names like Expedia and Razorpay, consistently delivering results that exceed industry standards.
Services offered: Responsive web design, UI/UX design, e-commerce development, CMS development, SEO, digital marketing, mobile app development, and more.
Location: Bangalore and Vijayawada
Contact email: info@eflairwebtech.com
2. Techahead
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Techahead has been shaking up the tech industry for over a decade, delivering cutting-edge digital solutions and pushing the boundaries beyond what's possible.
With a team of over 200 highly skilled professionals in India and an impressive portfolio of 2,000+ successful projects, Techahead gives human-centric design, scalable and secure architecture, and digital products that make a real impact.
They’ve worked with startups and global brands, including big names like Audi, Disney, American Express, and Starbucks.
Services offered: Web design, Mobile App Development, Web App Development, Internet of Things (IoT).
Location: New Delhi
Contact: sales@techaheadcorp.com
2. OpenXcell
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OpenXcell is a trusted and accredited web design company with a solid reputation for delivering premium services. With over 12 years of experience, it has a global customer base of over 1000 and over 500 qualified professionals who can help transform your business with cutting-edge technology.
They offer transparent pricing and state-of-the-art facilities to ensure quick product delivery. Openxcell takes team ownership seriously and delivers outstanding results to its clients.
Services offered: Web design, Mobile App Development, Web Application Development, B AI & ML Machine Learning UI UX Design.
Location: Ahmedabad
Contact: sales@openxcell.com
4. Quytech
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With over 13 years of experience, 1000 completed projects, and 500 satisfied customers, Quytech is trusted as one of the best web development agencies in India. From conceptualization to deployment support, they offer end-to-end solutions that meet and exceed customers' expectations.
Quytech has fueled success for hundreds of clients from Healthcare, Hospitality, FMCG, Retail, Real Estate, Education, Travel, and other business verticals.
Services offered:web design, web development, AI/ML development, blockchain development.
Location: Delhi NCR
Contact: info@quytech.com
5. Emizentech
Emizentech is one of the top UI/UX design agencies in India, renowned for providing cutting-edge digital solutions across diverse industries. They’re dedicated to delivering e-commerce websites and websites that are highly efficient, scalable, and cost-effective.
Their highly skilled and expert designers and developers work together to analyze your needs, implement proven strategies, and develop creative ideas to supply you a website or application to help your business succeed.
Services offered:Web design, Mobile app development, DevOps, digital transformation, and web development.
Location: Jaipur
Contact email: info@emizentech.com
6. Algoworks
Algoworks is a leader in digital transformation, and that’s why it's one top 10 web design companies in India. Their team of experts specializes in providing top-notch web services. Algoworks has been at the forefront of web design since 2006, focusing on delivering exceptional results.
They’ve won numerous awards and completed over 1200 projects for startups and Fortune 500 companies. Their team of passionate techies and designers take pride in delivering top-quality products.
Services offered:Web design,Mobile app development, DevOps, digital transformation, Salesforce, and web development.
Location: Noida
Contact: sales@algoworks.com
7. The NineHertz
The NineHertz is one of the leading website design firms in India dedicated to delivering top-quality digital solutions. With them, you can get access to a top-notch web design team, a decisive business consultant, a marketing leader, and a product manager all in one.
Since 2008, The Nine Hertz has been creating web solutions for some of the world's most innovative brands, including Pepsi, Casio, and Ericsson. The Nine Hertz has over 200 team members, including industry experts in web design and development.
Services offered:UI/UX design, mobile app development, digital transformation, e-Commerce solutions, and web development.
Location: Jaipur
Contact: sales@theninehertz.com
8. GeekyAnts
GeekyAnts is one of the incredibly leading web design companies in India that are taking the tech world by storm.
What's even more impressive is that they partner with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Google, AWS, and Vercel (creators of Next.js), and they've worked with 500+ clients worldwide. They've helped companies in various industries, including big names like Darden, MPL, ICICI, and Noon.
Services offered:UI/UX design. Web & Mobile Development, Business Analysis, Product Management.
Location: Bangalore
Contact Tel: +91 9595884422
9. Hyperlink Infosystem
Hyperlink Infosystem is one of the best web designers in India. This ISO 9001:2008 certified organization has delivered over 4500 dynamic and cost-effective solutions to clients worldwide since 2011. With an exceptional team of professionals, Hyperlink Infosystem has become one of the industry's most popular providers of tech services.
And that's not all! Hyperlink Infosystem is a member of the prestigious GESIA and has won numerous awards for its professional website creation in India.
Services offered:Web design,Mobile App Development, Web development, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain.
Location: Ahmedabad and Mumbai
Contact: info@hyperlinkinfosystem.com
10. WDI
WDI is one of the rapidly growing web design companies in India. Their team of excellent developers creates fast, secure, and scalable web solutions tailored to your specifications while adding significant strategic value to your product plan.
With over 20 years of experience, WDI has a vast knowledge base in various sectors, including FoodTech, eCommerce, SaaS Luxury and Lifestyle, Healthcare, and more. And their large team of expert and experienced designers is ready to support your business and fuel its growth. Plus, they work with trending tools, technologies, and frameworks, including AI and Machine Learning, to provide cutting-edge solutions for our clients.
Services offered:Web design,Mobile app development, e-Commerce, and web development.
Location: Mumbai
Contact: ideas@wdipl.com
Importance of Web Design in Digital Transformation
Digital transformation uses technologies to create new or modify existing business processes, products, services, and customer experiences. It is a strategic and innovative approach to achieving competitive advantage, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and business growth in the digital era.
Web design is integral to digital transformation, as it determines how a business interacts with its online audience and delivers its value proposition. It affects various aspects of digital transformation, including:
1. User Experience (UX)
User experience (UX) is a user's overall impression and satisfaction when interacting with a website or web application. It involves usability, accessibility, functionality, aesthetics, performance, and security.
A good web design can enhance the UX by providing a clear, intuitive, and engaging interface that meets the user’s needs and expectations. As a result, it can increase user retention, loyalty, conversion, and advocacy.
2. Mobile Optimization
Mobile optimization is designing and developing a website or a web application that adapts to different screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations of mobile devices. It ensures that the website or the web application is accessible, readable, navigable, and responsive on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
A good web design can ensure mobile optimization using responsive, adaptive web design, progressive web apps, etc. This can Boost user reach, engagement, and satisfaction.
3. Branding and Business Growth
Branding is creating a unique identity and image for a business in the minds of its customers and stakeholders. Web design can reinforce branding by creating a consistent and coherent visual identity across all digital channels and platforms. This can increase brand awareness, recognition, trust, loyalty, market share, revenue, profit, and a business's customer base.
4. Global Reach
Web design can help you access and serve customers from different countries and regions worldwide. You can create a website or a web application compatible with other languages, currencies, time zones, and cultural norms. It can also leverage global networks, partnerships, and platforms to expand the business’s presence and influence in the global market.
Pros and Cons of Web Design in Business
While Web design has many benefits for businesses in the digital age, it has some challenges and drawbacks that you must consider. Here are some of the pros and cons of web design in the industry:
Pros
- Web design can help businesses create a professional and attractive online presence to attract and retain customers.
- It can help businesses communicate their message and value proposition effectively and efficiently to their target audience.
- Web design can help businesses optimize their website or web application for different devices, browsers, and search engines, improving their visibility and ranking on the internet.
- It enhances the customer experience by providing a user-friendly, interactive, and personalized interface that can increase user satisfaction and loyalty.
- Web design can help businesses increase their conversion rate by providing clear calls to action, trust signals, testimonials, and incentives to persuade users to take the desired action.
- Web design can help businesses reduce operational costs by automating and streamlining their processes, such as inventory management, order processing, payment processing, customer service, etc.
- It can help businesses generate valuable data and insights by tracking and analyzing user behavior, preferences, feedback, and performance metrics that can help them Boost their products, services, and strategies.
Cons
- Web design can be expensive and time-consuming to create and maintain, especially if it involves complex features, functions, and integrations.
- It can be vulnerable to cyberattacks, hacking, malware, and other security threats that compromise the business's data, privacy, and reputation.
- Technical issues such as bugs, errors, glitches, and downtime can disrupt the website or web application's functionality, performance, and reliability.
- External factors like user feedback, competitor actions, market trends, and regulatory changes require frequent updates, modifications, and adaptations.
- Websites can be challenging to differentiate and stand out, as millions of websites and web applications offer similar products, services, and features.
Understanding Web Design
Web design is a broad and multidisciplinary field with various aspects of creating and maintaining websites and web applications. It involves both the creative and technical aspects of web development. Let’s explore this further.
Web Design vs. Web Development
Web design and web development are often used interchangeably, but they differ. Web design is planning and designing the visual and interactive elements of a website or a web application, such as layout, color scheme, typography, graphics, images, navigation, interactivity, and user interface. Web development is the process of coding and programming the functionality and logic of a website or a web application, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Python, etc.
Web designers create the front-end or the user-facing part of the website or web application, while web developers create the back-end or the server-side part of the website or web application. However, they both need to collaborate and communicate effectively to ensure that the website or web application meets the client's and user's requirements and expectations.
Types of Web Design
You can use different types of web design to create websites and web applications, depending on the purpose, audience, and content of the website or web application. Some of the common types of web design are:
1. Responsive web design
Responsive web design adapts to different screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations of devices, such as desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. It uses flexible grids, images, and media queries to adjust the layout and content of the website or web application according to the device’s capabilities and preferences. Responsive web design aims to provide an optimal user experience across all devices.
2. Adaptive web design
Adaptive web design uses predefined layouts for different screen sizes and devices. It detects the device’s characteristics and delivers the most suitable layout. Adaptive web design can provide faster loading times and better performance than responsive web design, but it requires more maintenance and testing.
3. Progressive web apps
This web design combines the features and benefits of both websites and native mobile apps. They are websites that you can install on mobile devices, work offline, send push notifications, access device hardware, etc. Progressive web apps aim to provide a seamless and immersive user experience across all platforms.
Tools and Technologies
Various web design tools and technologies are used to create websites and web applications. Some of the common ones are:
1. Figma
Figma is a web-based design tool that allows teams to collaborate on designs in real time. It is a popular choice for web designers because it is easy to use and has many features.
2. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a powerful image editing software for creating and editing images for web design.
3. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics software used to create illustrations, logos, and other graphics for web design.
4. HTML
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the foundation of all web pages. Developers use it to define the structure and content of a web page.
5. CSS
Cascading Style Sheets are used to control the appearance of a web page. This is for setting a web page's font, color, and layout elements.
6. JavaScript
JavaScript is a programming language used for adding interactivity to a web page. You can use it to create animations, pop-ups, and other interactive features.
7. Bootstrap
Bootstrap is a front-end framework that makes it easy to create responsive web pages. It provides a set of pre-built components and styles for creating a consistent look and feel across different devices.
Emerging Trends and Innovations
Web design is a dynamic and evolving field that constantly adapts to new trends and innovations in technology, user behavior, and market demands.
Some of the emerging trends and innovations in web design are:
1. AI and Machine Learning in Design
In web design, developers use AI and Machine Learning to automate tasks, optimize performance, enhance user experience, and generate creative solutions.
Some examples of AI and Machine Learning in web design are chatbots, content personalization, and the design of a website or a web application to each user's individual preferences.
2. Voice User Interfaces
Voice User Interfaces allow users to interact with websites or web applications using voice commands or speech recognition. They can provide more natural, convenient, and accessible communication and navigation for users, especially on mobile devices.
Voice Assistants can perform tasks or provide user information using voice input and output.
3. Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects connected to the Internet that can communicate with each other and users. It can include sensors, cameras, smartphones, wearables, appliances, vehicles, etc.
IoT is now used in web design to create smart and interactive websites or web applications that collect, process, and display data from IoT devices. Some examples of IoT in web design are Smart Homes and Smart Cities.
4. Sustainability and Eco-friendly Designs
Sustainability and eco-friendly designs aim to reduce websites' or web applications' environmental impact and carbon footprint. They can include Green Hosting and Minimalist Design.
Competition and Collaboration In the Web Design Industry
The web design industry in India is highly competitive and dynamic, as many web design companies offer similar products, services, and features to the same or different markets. However, this competition among web design companies can have positive and negative effects. Here are some of them.
5. Competitive Analysis
The competitive analysis involves studying rivals' strengths, weaknesses, products, and market strategies. It enables companies to identify opportunities and threats, tailor their offerings, and create unique selling propositions. This analysis fosters a competitive edge, guiding firms in decision-making, and it can lead to innovations in design, functionality, and user experience.
6. Collaboration Opportunities
Collaboration in the web design industry can be instrumental in pooling resources, expertise, and creativity. Collaboration fosters innovation and the sharing of ideas and technologies, whether between different teams within a company or through partnerships between companies. This can lead to more effective and efficient design processes and better end products. You can achieve collaboration through joint ventures, strategic partnerships, or simply the effective teamwork of designers and developers.
7. Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) are common strategies in the web design industry for growth and consolidation. Acquiring or merging with another company can provide access to new markets, technologies, and talent. It might allow a company to expand its service offerings or gain a competitive advantage by eliminating competitors. Though potentially beneficial, M&A must be handled carefully to ensure a positive outcome and integration of cultures and technologies.
8. Entry Barriers and Regulations
While open to new entrants, the web design industry presents certain barriers and regulations. The need for specialized skills and knowledge can deter new competitors on the barriers front.
Establishing a reputation and a portfolio, competing with well-established players, and the fast-paced nature of technological change can be daunting for newcomers. Regulations might also impact the industry, with laws related to intellectual property, data protection, accessibility, and others that must be adhered to in the design process.
Choosing the Right Web Design Company
Choosing the right web design company for your web project can be a daunting and challenging task, as there are many factors that you need to consider before making a decision.
Some of them are:
1. Understanding What Your Needs Are
You need to have a clear idea of what you want your website or web application to do, how you want it to look, and who you want it to serve.
You must define your web project's requirements, objectives, and expectations, such as target audience, value proposition, features, functions, budget, timeline, etc.
2. Checking References and Reviews
Check the references and reviews of the web design companies you are interested in, such as their portfolio, testimonials, ratings, awards, certifications, etc. This might reveal evidence of their quality, experience, reputation, and credibility in the web design industry.
Also, look for feedback from their previous or existing clients, such as their satisfaction, loyalty, and referrals.
3. Analyzing Technology Compatibility
Check the technology compatibility of the web design companies you are interested in, such as their tools, technologies, frameworks, platforms, etc.
You must also look for compatibility with your existing or future systems, such as your website hosting, domain name, email service, etc.
4. Post-launch Support and Guarantees
Ask about the post-launch support and guarantees that the web design companies you are interested in offer, such as their maintenance, updates, upgrades, bug fixes, security patches, backup services, etc. You may test their support services' reliability, responsiveness, and availability.
Conclusion
Web design is a vital and influential factor in the digital transformation of businesses in the 21st century. It can help companies create a professional and attractive online presence that can attract and retain customers, communicate their message and value proposition, and increase their conversion rate.
However, to achieve this, you must choose the right web design company for your web. If you choose from the top 10 web design companies in India listed in this article, you can rest assured that you made the right choice!
FAQs
1. Are Indian web design companies competitive on a global scale?
Yes, Indian web design companies are competitive globally, as they offer high-quality, innovative, and affordable web design services to clients worldwide. Indian web design companies also have access to a large pool of talented, skilled, and experienced web designers who can deliver excellent results within tight deadlines.
2. How much does web design cost in India?
The cost of web design in India can range from as low as ₹12,500 to as high as ₹35,000 or more.
3. What are the latest trends in web design?
Some of the latest trends in web design are AI and machine learning, voice user interfaces, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Sustainability and Eco-friendly Designs.
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You must first understand your needs to choose the right web design company for your business. Then check references and reviews and analyze the technology compatibility of the web design companies you are interested in.
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You should expect a professional web design company to understand your needs and expectations, deliver quality and value, and provide post-launch support and guarantees.
6. Can I find affordable web design services in India for my small business?
Yes, you can find affordable web design services in India for your small business, as many web design companies in India offer high-quality, innovative, and customized web design services at reasonable prices.
Updated: 11 Aug 2023, 06:27 PM IST
Our youth will be tomorrow’s leaders. This is something we frequently hear, but how are we preparing them?
South Africa is a nation with many issues, and the ongoing problems that South African youth face today are extremely troubling. In this article, we speak to industry experts and ask them how we can help prepare our children for the future.
Future-proof youth with software development skills
The most in-demand expertise and one of the most challenging sets of skills to get on the South African market actually remain inside the software development field.
Andrew Bourne, regional manager: Africa at Zoho, believes that “With low-code platforms, citizen developers can create complex and powerful business applications without requiring costly and lengthy training. In the year ahead, universities must ensure that educators are equipped with the skills to train youth for the demands of the technological world.
“We need to future-proof children so that they are equipped to apply for jobs that require digital and development skills,” adds Bourne “And we can help do this by ensuring that educators also have the skills to encourage children to become more digitally literate.”
Nurture the creative potential of the youth
In order to sustain growth in any industry, employers and established professionals need to nurture the creative potential of the youth.
Anton Gillis, CEO at Kruger Gate Hotel, believes that one of the key aspects to growing tomorrow’s talent is fostering an engaging approach to working with young people.
“It’s amazing what we can stand to learn while engaging with the youth; no one will teach you about social media or online platform developments quicker than them. In an effort to prepare the youth for their future, we should work with them. Within this collaborative strategy, we can benefit from fresh perspectives, and they can gain expert advice,” states Gillis.
Teach sustainable farming
As world hunger looms, the impact of agriculture on addressing food shortages cannot be underestimated. Teaching the youth about a more sustainable food chain is imperative, and one entrepreneur intent on doing so is Rick Hein, MD of MicroThumbs.
As a provider of microgreens to retailers nationwide, Hein has established a small, indoor, vertical farming model at Alberton High School in Gauteng, where pupils learn to grow their own food.
“The world’s food supply-to-demand ratio is increasingly becoming unbalanced, and globally, we’re running out of space to keep up. By showing young people how to grow food in small urban areas, they learn about food security and self-sufficiency and are given lifelong skills on how to survive eating healthy foods they’ve grown themselves,” he says.
Hein’s aim is to roll out the urban farm model in schools across South Africa. “Growing food connects young people to nature and fosters a future stewardship of the natural world; it’s a priceless lesson to learn for the uncertain world of tomorrow.”
Educate on the importance of saving
It’s never too soon to start talking to children about the importance of saving and thinking about their future. By teaching children the value of money and the benefit of saving for big-ticket items like a car or a home, you will set them up to be financially stable later in life, says Carl Coetzee, CEO of BetterBond.
Young adults need to know that they should consider investing in property as soon as they are financially able to do so. Advise them to think about setting aside money for a deposit so that they pay less each month on their bond, save on interest over the long term, and ensure that they consider the benefits of owning rather than renting, advises Coetzee.
“Renting may suit their lifestyle, but having property as an asset is a long-term investment. Homeownership may seem like something only grownups do, but by explaining the basics of buying a home from an early age, you will help lay the foundation that will ensure your children make sound financial decisions when the time comes for them to invest in property,” concludes Coetzee.
A practicing youth is a capable youth
South Africa’s greatest asset lies in its young people. They are the future entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators. With boundless potential and fresh perspectives, young South Africans have the potential to drive transformative change.
However, we must fix the alarming drop in literacy levels in the country. South Africa ranked last out of 57 countries assessed in the Progress in International practicing Literacy Study, which tested the practicing ability of 400,000 students globally in 2021. Illiteracy among South African children rose from 78% in 2016 to 81% in 2021.
“One way of achieving this is by taking advantage of the mobile technology advancements we have made as a country,” says Lea-Anne Moses, executive director and trustee at the Fundza Literacy Trust. “Currently, some 95% of South Africans have access to a mobile phone, and smartphone penetration in the country has surpassed 90%.
“We should be able to contribute to changing this situation by making sure that practicing material on digital and mobile devices reaches young people in order to help us cultivate a practicing culture.”
Empower the youth with digital skills
Ensuring that young people entering the workforce are equipped with the right skills needed to thrive in the new, digitally transformed world of work should be a key focus this International Youth Day, and indeed every day.
“Achieving this requires a holistic, integrated approach that is focussed on fit-for-purpose skills and whole-person development. It also requires the collective effort of stakeholders across industries, because business should be a platform for change,” says Ursula Fear, senior talent program manager at Salesforce
Empowering young people with the right digital skills, together with an agile approach to learning, is central to combating unemployment both today and into the future.
Zoom (ZM) changed its plan to use customer video calls to train AI after receiving backlash. The company had originally changed its Terms of Service to allow the use of video calls to train its generative AI models, but upon receiving backlash, the company updated its terms again and will not use customer data to train AI. TECHnalysis Research President and Chief Analyst Bob O'Donnell joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss his study on generative AI and why "everybody is concerned about the usage of generative AI."
O'Donnell explains how "Zoom's recording of your meetings is clearly a fear of loss of copyright" because if companies are discussing their plans, new products, and ideas, "that information is included in what Zoom is doing, that's a huge problem for companies. And that's one of the main factors why the few percentage of companies who are not yet using GenAI aren't doing so."
O'Donnell's study showed that security/data protection, inaccuracies, copyright, bias, and lack of watermarking were among the top concerns for generative AI use. O'Donnell says companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META), and Google (GOOG, GOOGL), "are really going to have to go out of their way to really explain" what they are going to do "to avoid these concerns."
Video transcript
- Zoom is changing its tune on plans for AI integration after previously switching up its terms of service to allow the company to use customer video calls to train its generative AI models. For more on the state of generative AI integration, we're joined by Bob O'Donnell, TECHnalysis Research President and chief analyst. Bob, great to speak with you as always here.
When you think about some of the moves that are now needing to be disclosed, the different kind of standard operating procedures that we could see changed as a result of a lot of companies ambitions around generative AI, where does Zoom's ranked-- how do you kind of look at the rest of the picture here and what does that mean for customers on the other side?
BOB O'DONNELL: Well, here's the thing, Brad. Everybody is concerned about the usage of generative AI. In fact, I just did a big study on generative AI and one of the questions I asked about was disclosure of generative AI. When we're using it for things like creating content, it's typically called watermarking and there's a huge percentage of people.
90% of the companies I surveyed were doing some kind of watermarking for content. You apply that same principle to video, that's another form of content and people are going to want to know what's being done, how is this being created.
And in the case of other concerns that companies had it was around the loss of copyright and Zoom's recording of your meetings is clearly a fear of loss of copyright because if you're having a meeting and you're discussing company plans and new products and all these kinds of ideas and then all of a sudden that information is included in what Zoom is doing, that's a huge problem for companies and that's one of the main factors why the few percentage of companies who are not yet using GenAI aren't doing so.
- Yeah, I feel like-- hey, Bob. It's Julie here. I feel like the Hollywood strikes have really highlighted this issue as well, right? The use of people's likenesses either being used again or being used to train AI in some way, speech, natural speech and things of that nature and that is really reflected.
Again, the study that you talk about that you did, I'm just looking at those results here, the top 10 concerns, a lot of the concerns are bound up with what we're talking about whether it's security and data projections or the watermarking issue, trust as a sort of amorphous but important issue.
I guess then the question is, how do you solve this stuff?
BOB O'DONNELL: Well, it's a serious problem and one of the issues that came clear in doing this study is there's a couple of interesting things about GenAI that's unlike any other technology that we've seen widely adopted. One of them is the fact that 95% of the people that were surveyed said yeah, they expect it to have some kind of impact on their business.
So there's this overwhelming sense of, we've got to get involved and yet, there were more concerns raised about this technology, as you guys just showed on that chart, than you see with any other technology. In past times, if you had a technology like this where yeah, you think it's cool but there's so many uncertainties, people would just say, you know what? I'll hold off.
Now with GenAI, everybody feels like Oh, I've got to get in on this so we have this very weird dichotomy going on between companies who feel they have to be involved and yet are still concerned about it.
So that, I say, makes it incumbent upon the vendors who are creating these solutions. The OpenAIs, the Microsofts, the Facebook Meta's, Google's. All of these companies are really going to have to go out of their way to really explain hey, this is what we're doing to avoid these concerns and there's a staggering lack of education on this.
That was the other thing that came out of this survey was that there's a lot of confusion because again, with GenAI, one of the things that's interesting when we talk about office productivity or CRM and all these big applications we've always had over the years that have a big influence on companies, we tend to talk about the application itself.
When it's GenAI, you have to talk about both these foundation models, which is sort of the engine behind the application and then the application. And then theoretically, you could replace the engine but keep the application the same or keep the same engine across multiple applications.
So there's so many permutations available out there that again, it's created a ton of confusion. So bottom line is education and then a real clarification of exactly what companies are doing is, I think, the only way to address some of those concerns.
- Bob, one of the conclusions or recommendations that also came out of this study or the survey after was that there are early wins in productivity and content creation but opportunities in software and CRM as well. Are there software CRM companies that you look at as leaders in generative AI right now?
BOB O'DONNELL: Well, in terms of CRM, obviously, you've got to look at Salesforce, they're doing a lot there. Microsoft also is doing a lot in terms of CRM and they're bringing Gen AI into all of these things and the software itself specifically was around coding. And so we're seeing coding tools being developed. Again, you've got Microsoft doing that.
You've got Amazon starting to talk about some of the coding tools they're doing. Google as well, right? So all the big platform companies are clearly big players here and that was another interesting thing from the study is it is indeed the big guys that I think are going to get bigger here.
There's a lot of work being done by smaller companies and I think it's interesting and exciting but I think it is going to be a bit of a challenge for some of them to break through at a high level except with one exception that is very industry specific solutions because there's a huge demand.
If you're in a very specific industry, the big companies may not have something that matches your needs. That's where we're going to see a lot of interesting opportunity, I think, from startups and other companies working to get into the GenAI buzz.
- Just to circle back to this issue of what people currently want from their generative AI that they're not getting again to emphasize what you were talking about before, watermarking is the missing capability that it seems like folks want the most. You said--
BOB O'DONNELL: Yeah.
- And you said that the companies are going to have to hear them on that but are they? Are they moving quickly to address that to actually come out with watermarking? Well, look, they're all really moving quickly, right? Let's think about it, January of this year, hardly any of us had even heard of this stuff, right?
Here we are, it's only August and already 88% of companies are using GenAI. That was another data point from the study. It's gone mainstream. So I think what you're seeing is very rapid evolution and I think this fall, when we start to see-- I'm guessing is when we're going to start seeing some of the office productivity suites.
Microsoft has already announced they're going to do office with AI. Google is doing that with Workspace. Those are going to have a huge impact. And then we're going to start to see other developments. We're going to see people integrate watermarking, especially, I think, again, in those office productivity suites where if you generate something and put it into a Word doc or a docs doc, it's going to notify people.
So that's going to help on the watermarking side. The other big thing people are thinking about is prompt training. We all have to learn how to write prompts now for GenAI and integrating that training into the tools is another big capability that people are really requesting.
So to answer your point specifically, Julie, I think they are working on them. These things do take a while but my guess is by the end of the year, you're going to see a ton of features around watermarking, integrated prompt training, and some of these other capabilities.
- Even at the core of that watermarking though, it all comes back to trust. And just because the company is large and a mega cap tech giant that has billions of dollars to deploy towards their research and development around generative AI to either purchase or invest in another company or to build something internally and home grow it and then bring it to their client base, does that all mean that they could or should be trusted and what is perhaps the trust mechanism that customers should be looking for when they are tapping into one of the different generative AI language learning models or even a chip set that's best for them to deploy as well?
BOB O'DONNELL: It's a great question, Brad. And one of the things I did also in the study is looked at the factors that would determine why I would work with a particular company for each of the 10 largest companies that are involved with LLMS and one of the factors was trust and it was very interesting to see where that trust scale landed for each of the different companies. Interestingly, Google was at the top in terms of trust, which I thought was absolutely fascinating.
But the other companies were very close. The point is there's a lot of work being done and again, I think it really is going to boil down. I hate to sound like a broken record but that education capability, explaining exactly what it is that they're going to do, how you can leverage your data, how do I take all this stuff that I've been promised.
At the end of the day, this is sort of analytics version 4, right? Big data version 4. Finally, we're getting able to really harness insights from our data using Gen AI. That's one of the big capabilities of it so explaining how that's going to work and explaining how the tools create content, how they notify people that indeed this was created by Gen AI.
Of course, there'll be a whole ethical discussion as well as should companies do that or shouldn't they. And, of course, I think they should but will they? There's going to be a lot of questions there but at the end of the day, Brad, trust takes a long time, right?
That's not something you earn overnight. Companies also have to know how to integrate this with their existing tools. That's another factor that's going to be critical. How do I take what I already have then integrate this new stuff?
And so that's why again, the bigger guys, I think, have an advantage here because most of their stuff is already installed in these organizations so it feels like it's going to be a little bit easier to integrate with what they have
- Bob, good to see you. Really interesting study. Thanks for this. Bob O'Donnell, TECHnalysis Research President and chief analyst. Appreciate it.
Having demonstrated much of its own AI capabilities (and successfully implementing them into its range of CRM software), Salesforce is now giving businesses the tools to build and deploy their own AI tools.
The new service, called Einstein Studio, adopts a new ‘Bring Your Own Model’ (BYOM) principle whereby companies can use their own data to power their own applications.
Customers can pull in Salesforce Data Cloud data to train models from Salesforce’s ecosystem of models, such as AWS’s Amazon SageMaker and Google Cloud’s Vertex AI.
In its announcement, the company cites a Gartner study that found that only 54% of AI projects make it from pilot to production. Salesforce hopes to make it both more efficient and more cost-effective for companies to make their own tools this way.
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Because a company can use its own data for training, it will subsequently be able to build customized and personalized interactions, boosting customer experiences and in hope, driving revenue. Linking to Salesforce also enables existing customers to get even more from their data in an era of increased focus on cost optimization.
Einstein Studio is now generally available for prospective users to try out, and the company has already provided some direction on how it could first be used.
Financial institutions, for example, could use it to create their own custom cross-selling models to help link customers to other services they may want. Similarly, the retail industry could create similar tools for recommendation, while automotive companies can predict car maintenance schedules.
Rahul Auradkar, who heads up Unified Data Services and Einstein at Salesforce, said: “Companies need quick, ROI-driven AI investments that deliver value through actionable business insights and personalized customer experiences… Now, Salesforce customers can harness their own proprietary data to power predictive and generative AI across every part of their organization.”
TechRadar Pro asked Salesforce to confirm more information about the pricing of Einstein Studio, but the company did not immediately respond.
