Back in 2011, renowned venture capitalist Marc Andreessen coined the now famous quote, “Software is eating the world.”
Over a decade later, nothing could be further from the truth — 71% of businesses have websites while 62% have apps or are in the process of developing one. And with more consumers turning to the online space to review products and complete purchases, we can expect these figures to soar even higher over the next couple of years.
So, what does this mean for your Canadian or American business?
- First, there’s no denying that hiring full-stack developers is no longer a luxury, it’s an essential investment
- Second, any business that doesn’t leverage apps and websites will face a serious competitive disadvantage
- Third, and most importantly, as more organizations identify the significance of hiring software developers, it’s going to be increasingly challenging to find the best of these professionals within your locality — so you must be open to remote staff augmentation
This article outlines the significance of full-stack developers in enhancing user experience and explains why these professionals are a must-have.
For first-time readers, DevEngine is the go-to software and data engineering staffing company specializing in nearshore staff augmentation from Latin America. Since our founding in 2019, we’ve been helping businesses like yours get the best tech talent from the region. While we are based in Canada, our focus is on sourcing and managing top talent across Latin America, offering tailored solutions to meet your specific needs.
That said, let’s get right into it…
The Continuous Evolution of User Experience
The evolution of user experience (UX) in the online space has been dramatically shaped by the shift in consumer behavior towards digital platforms for product reviews and purchases. This transformation is not merely about the availability of products online but is deeply rooted in the advancements and innovations within software development.
Before we look into the role of full-stack developers in helping with businesses stay current with these changes, here are some of the most notable advancements:
- Instant feedback loop: Arguably one of the most significant shifts has been the seamless integration of customer feedback mechanisms. Modern e-commerce platforms leverage sophisticated algorithms and machine learning models to analyze vast amounts of user-generated content, such as reviews and ratings. These insights are then used to refine product recommendations, ensuring that users are presented with options that are not only relevant but also highly personalized. This move from static, one-size-fits-all experiences to dynamic, user-centric interfaces marks a significant milestone in UX design.
- Emphasis on mobile-first design: With an increasing number of users accessing online stores via their smartphones (about 77% at the moment to be precise), the need for responsive and intuitive mobile interfaces has never been greater. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) are prime examples of how software development is driving this trend. These technologies offer near-native app experiences within the browser, ensuring fast load times, offline capabilities, and smooth interactions — significantly enhancing the mobile user experience.
- The utilization of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in the online shopping experience: Retailers are now incorporating AR features that allow customers to visualize products in their real-world environment before making a purchase. For instance, furniture stores use AR to let customers see how a piece of furniture would look in their living spaces. These interactive experiences are powered by complex backend systems that handle real-time rendering and data processing, underscoring the critical role of advanced software development in modern UX.
- Chatbots and AI-driven virtual assistants (VAs): While some consumers still prefer talking to human customer assistants, the emergence of chatbots and AI-powered VAs has significantly revolutionized customer interactions. These tools provide instant, 24/7 support, handling a wide range of customer queries without direct human intervention. And with the continuous integration of advanced machine learning models that enable them to understand context and provide relevant responses, they can be almost as effective as human assistants.
Why You Need Full-Stack Developers To Stay Ahead Of These Trends
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses need to remain agile and responsive to emerging UX trends. Full-stack developers are indispensable in this context due to their comprehensive expertise in both front-end and back-end development. Their ability to manage entire application life cycles equips businesses with the flexibility needed to quickly adapt to new trends and user demands.
Here’s how…
Expertise in both server-facing and client-facing aspects of software development
Emerging UX trends often require the integration of new technologies and functionalities that span both the client and server sides of an application. Full-stack developers can efficiently implement these changes without the friction that might arise from the division of labor between separate front-end and back-end teams. This holistic approach ensures that updates and new features are consistent and well-integrated, which is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.
Faster time-to-market
As UX trends evolve, businesses need to quickly test and deploy new features. The competition is no longer only about who has the best product in the market, but also who got it to the market first. As a result, every business must continuously monitor consumer patterns, develop responsive software products, and feedback and update their websites and apps accordingly.
Full-stack developers, familiar with DevOps practices and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, can help you streamline this process. Their ability to manage code from development through to deployment reduces the time to market for new features and improvements, ensuring that your business promptly responds to user feedback and emerging trends.
Ensuring Scalability
Lastly, the role of full-stack developers is critical in ensuring scalability and performance, which are essential as your user bases grow and demands increase. Their understanding of both front-end performance optimization and back-end scalability solutions, such as load balancing and database sharding, enables them to design systems that maintain performance under heavy load. This capability ensures that businesses can scale effectively without compromising on user experience.
Do Not Become A Victim Of The Growing Consumer Impatience: Hire Full-Stack Developers For Seamless User Experience
Let’s face it — while the integration of technology into business processes has helped businesses enhance UX, it has also significantly contributed to consumer impatience. Statistics show that:
- About 40% of consumers will not stay in a page that loads for more than 3 seconds
- 79% of consumers fail to return to sites because of poor UX
- Approximately 38% of consumers admit that technology has made them less patient than they were half a decade ago
Your target wants instant solutions. They expect glitches to be resolved in minutes and, when they raise an issue, they demand immediate feedback.
In such a high-speed environment, you might not afford the luxury of time to consult with separate front-end and back-end teams. Instead, you need a full-stack developer that understands both aspects and can offer prompt solutions with minimal “backs-and-forths.”
The Best Full-Stack Developers In Latin America Are Only A Call Away
According to the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS), the country already has a deficit of 2,173 software developers, a situation that will continue for most part of this decade. The shortage is not any better in the U.S., especially most parts of North America.
As more businesses appreciate the role of full-stack developers in enhancing UX, the demand for these professionals will inevitably soar.
If you’re not flexible for remote hiring, you’ll either have to spend more on high-quality local talent or make do with less qualified professionals. On the flip side, if you’re open to remote hiring, you can get the best of these professionals from South America without overburdening yourself financially. LatAm’s vast pool of highly qualified tech talent is relatively less exploited, making it a perfect international hiring destination.
“Where will I start? I literally know nobody in Latin America? Isn’t remote staffing more complex than in-house hiring? How do I even conduct interviews and practical assessments remotely?”
Don’t worry, that’s why we are here — DevEngine can help you handle everything from recruitment to hiring, onboarding, staff management, and even staff relocation (for Canada-based businesses).
