Modernize Old Biz: React's Perfect for Digitizing Business Processes

Digitizing business processes is an important step for any company, but especially for aging companies.

Published: May 9th 2023

‍

But wait, what’s an aging company? 

"An aging company is a term used to describe a company or business that has been in operation for a long time and is typically facing management or operational challenges as a result of outdated technology, processes, or business models".

The company may have a legacy system in place that is difficult to maintain, a high-cost structure, decreased productivity, low employee morale, or other problems that make it less competitive in the current market. As a result, these companies may experience difficulties adapting to a rapidly changing business environment and face risks of declining performance or closure.

But the scary part about this is, most business owners are afraid of change!

1. A study by McKinsey & Company found that up to 70% of digital transformation efforts fail to live up to expectations. One of the main reasons for this is that many business owners are resistant to change and reluctant to invest in new technology. 1.
2. A survey by Sage found that only 28% of US businesses have fully integrated cloud-based solutions into their operations, despite the potential benefits of the cloud. The survey also found that many businesses are hesitant to make the switch due to concerns over security and privacy. 2.
3. A study by the Capterra software directory found that many small businesses are still relying on spreadsheets and paper-based systems for accounting, even though cloud-based accounting software can offer more accuracy and efficiency. The study found that one of the primary reasons for this is that business owners are afraid of the cost and complexity of migrating to new software. 3.

Overall, these studies suggest that many business owners are resistant to change and may be hesitant to adopt new technology or systems, even when doing so could lead to significant benefits.

Sources:

1. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/digital-mckinsey/our-insights/failure-to-launch-why-most-digital-transformations-stall
2. https://www.sage.com/en-us/blog/the-reluctance-toward-cloud-based-solutions-is-preventing-american-businesses-from-growing/
3. https://blog.capterra.com/small-business-accounting-software-study-2018/

Digitization can help aging companies reduce costs, increase efficiency, and gain a better understanding of their customers. By digitizing information-intensive processes, costs can be cut by up to 90 percent and turnaround times improved. Additionally, digital technologies can help businesses increase operational transparency by providing a single source of truth that all functions can access. This data can then be used to automate processes and enable better accessibility.

Digital transformation also allows companies to realize new revenue opportunities and better understand their customers. With digital transformation, organizations are able to interact with customers in more meaningful ways, as well as operate internal processes more efficiently. Furthermore, digital transformation changes how organizations support their infrastructure in the digital age.

Overall, digitizing business processes is essential for an aging company looking to stay competitive in today's market. It allows them to reduce costs while increasing efficiency and gaining a better understanding of their customers.

Sources:

1. https://leadingage.org/digital-transformation-in-aging-services/
2. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/accelerating-the-digitization-of-business-processes
3. https://indeema.com/blog/the-benefits-of-digitalization-for-your-business

React, the super powered solution?

"React is like a set of building blocks made to help create the things you see on websites, like buttons, menus, and forms. By using these building blocks, developers can make cool things faster and make sure they keep working well as their website gets bigger".

One cool thing about React is that it only changes the part of the website that needs to be changed instead of changing everything when something is updated. This helps make websites faster and easier to use.

React is also really popular because Facebook and other people who build websites like to use it. Lots of people are creating new building blocks all the time, and there are many places where people can learn how to use them. The more people that use React, the better it gets!

Components in React

Creating Modular and Reusable UIs with React Components

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. At its core, React is based on the idea of breaking down user interfaces into smaller, reusable components. These components can be created using JavaScript functions or classes, and each component manages its own state and can be combined to form more complex interfaces.

React components can be used to create modular and reusable user interface elements. For example, a Button component can be created and reused throughout an application, rather than writing the same HTML and CSS code over and over again. This makes it easier to maintain and scale applications over time, as changes to the component can be made in one place rather than throughout the codebase.

React also supports the use of props, short for "properties", which allow components to be passed information. Props can be used to customize the behavior and appearance of a component, making it even more flexible and reusable.

“Using React's component-based approach can provide significant advantages when building business process applications in the construction industry that require a lot of repeated elements, such as contracts and written proposals”.

By breaking down these repeated elements into reusable React components, developers can save time and effort compared to writing the same code multiple times. For example, instead of building separate forms for each new contract or proposal, developers can use reusable React components to create a template that can be used multiple times. This approach also makes it easier to make changes or updates to these repeated elements, as any modifications will be applied automatically to all instances where the component is used. This is especially beneficial for construction businesses where time is limited, and quick adaptability to changes is crucial. React's efficiency and flexibility can help businesses increase productivity, improve efficiency, and reduce costs associated with manual record keeping and printing.

State and Props

In React, state is like a container that holds information that can change over time. For example, if you're building a game, the state could hold the score or the number of lives left. By using state, you can make your game more fun and interactive.

Props are like messages that get passed between different parts of your app. For example, if you have a chat app, you could use props to pass a message from one person to another. Props can't be changed by the component that receives them, but they can be used to trigger other actions within that component.

By using state and props together, you can build apps that are more dynamic and respond to user input in real-time. So, if you're building a social media app, you could use state to keep track of how many likes a post has, and use props to share that information with other parts of your app, like the profile page or the news feed.

Performance in React

React's virtual DOM (Document Object Model) and efficient rendering can create fast and responsive user interfaces not only in web applications but also in hospital settings.

For instance, in a hospital management application built with React, doctors and nurses can update patient records in real-time, and the data will be reflected immediately on the UI. Every time an update is made, React only updates the necessary components of the UI, rather than the entire interface, thanks to its reconciliation feature. This results in a more responsive and faster application, which is crucial in a hospital setting where quick access to up-to-date patient records can save lives.

Moreover, React's virtual DOM ensures that only changes are made to the UI by comparing the virtual copy with the actual DOM. In a hospital management application, where multiple users access the system simultaneously, this approach can help ensure that the UI is always up to date. Also, by minimizing the number of updates to the actual DOM, memory usage and processing time are optimized, resulting in an efficient application and fewer chances of system crashes.

To summarize, React's virtual DOM and efficient rendering techniques can help create faster and more responsive hospital management applications. By using React's optimization features, doctors and nurses can access up-to-date information quickly, resulting in better patient care and outcomes.

Community and Ecosystem

React has a large and active community of developers who are continuously contributing to the development and improvement of the library. This community includes not only Facebook, which originally created React but also individual developers, open-source contributors, and other companies that use React in their projects.This can be extremely valuable for an aging company that hires a software development company, like Frenchy Digital, but may not have many in-house development resources. By using React, Frenchy Digital can leverage the community's resources and knowledge to help develop better business process applications that can increase productivity and efficiency.

The React community provides a wealth of resources that can help Frenchy Digital and an aging company get up to speed quickly with the latest React developments, tutorials, and documentation. With this support, Frenchy Digital can create high-quality applications with improved user experiences, without having to spend a lot of time and resources developing everything from scratch.

In addition, the community-driven development of numerous React libraries and plugins can help Frenchy Digital and the aging company extend application functionality with ease. These libraries can integrate state-of-the-art features, functionalities, and optimizations that are ready for use. Frenchy Digital and the aging company could leverage those resources to add new features, improve existing ones, and scale their applications as needed.

Overall, the support provided by the React community can be extremely beneficial for aging companies that hire external software development companies like Frenchy Digital. By leveraging the React community, they can create better business process applications and ensure they remain valuable and competitive in their respective industries.

Recap

• The component-based approach in React can be valuable for building business process applications with repeated elements, like forms or tables.
• React uses state and props to manage and pass data between components, which can make apps more dynamic and interactive.
• React's virtual DOM and rendering techniques make it possible to create fast and responsive user interfaces by optimizing updates to the DOM and minimizing UI changes.
• The React community is large and active, with developers contributing to the library's development, providing support and resources, and developing numerous libraries and plugins that extend the library's functionality.
• For aging companies that may not have many in-house development resources, leveraging the React community and hiring external software development companies like Frenchy Digital can help create better business process applications and ensure continued competitiveness in their respective industries.

For businesses in construction or healthcare, choosing React as a tool for digitizing business processes is an excellent decision. React's component-based approach, virtual DOM, and efficient rendering techniques allow for the creation of dynamic and interactive user interfaces that can significantly improve business operations. By leveraging React's capabilities, businesses can streamline their tasks, increase productivity, and reduce costs.

If businesses do not have in-house development resources, hiring a software development company like Frenchy Digital can help facilitate the process. Frenchy Digital can offer guidance through React's vast community resources and provide high-quality application development services. Additionally, Frenchy Digital can equip businesses with innovative features and functionalities, ensuring they remain competitive in their respective industries. Ultimately, React and Frenchy Digital can work together to improve business processes and help businesses reach their full potential.

Author:

Chris Machetto is Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Frenchy Digital, a family run software development company made by young entrepreneurs that is taking over the App Development and Blockchain space in Los Angeles but also the world.