We’re thrilled to announce that Calcey has officially achieved ISO 27001:2022 certification for information security management. This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to being the best at everything we do, even when it comes to processes.
Why ISO 27001 Matters
ISO 27001:2022 is the internationally recognized benchmark for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It outlines a systematic approach to managing sensitive company and customer information, ensuring it remains secure, confidential, and available.
Achieving this certification means we have:
Implemented comprehensive, risk-based information security controls
Established a culture of continuous monitoring and improvement
Demonstrated compliance with globally accepted best practices for information security
In a world where digital threats evolve rapidly, ISO 27001 ensures that we are always prepared — proactively protecting the digital assets entrusted to us.
What This Means for Our Clients and Partners
For our clients and partners, getting ISO 27001:2022 certified is our way of showing that we take security seriously — not just in theory, but in everything we do. It means that when you work with Calcey, you’re teaming up with people who make protecting your data a top priority. We’ve built strong systems and processes to manage risks, and we’re always looking for ways to stay ahead of new threats. Plus, we stick to the same high standards trusted by companies all over the world.
At the end of the day, whether it’s your customer data, proprietary code, or anything else that’s important to you, we treat it like it’s our own. You can feel confident knowing your information is safe with us — leaving you free to focus on what matters most: building great things.
The Journey to Certification
Earning ISO 27001:2022 certification wasn’t just about ticking boxes, it was a company-wide journey that required collaboration, introspection, and innovation.
Our journey involved:
Conducting a thorough risk assessment across all departments
Implementing enhanced technical, physical, and organizational security controls
Delivering ongoing training and awareness programs for our team
Undergoing a comprehensive external audit by an accredited certification body
We’re proud that every Calcey team member embraced this challenge, reinforcing a company culture where security is everyone’s responsibility.
A Foundation for the Future
As we continue to grow and partner with global brands, we’re committed to upholding and continuously improving our security practices. In that context, ISO 27001:2022 is just the stepping stone to a long journey. Read the full press release here.
Thank you to our clients, partners, and our incredible team for helping us reach this milestone. We look forward to building an even more secure, resilient future together. Ready to build with a partner who takes security seriously? Reach out to us here.
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How Sustainability, Accessibility, and Digital Transformation is Shaping Swedish E-Commerce in 2025
Sweden has earned a global reputation as a leader in innovation, sustainability, and digital adoption. Today, its e-commerce sector stands at the intersection of these values, undergoing rapid transformation in response to evolving consumer expectations, regulatory shifts, and technological advancements.
In 2025, three pillars are fundamentally reshaping Swedish e-commerce: Sustainability, Accessibility, and Digital Transformation. Swedish businesses that successfully integrate these pillars are not only future-proofing their operations but also aligning with broader societal goals.
This article explores how these forces are influencing Sweden’s e-commerce landscape, highlights successful initiatives, and offers strategic insights for businesses looking to remain competitive.
Sustainability: E-Commerce’s Green Imperative
A Consumer-Driven Demand for Eco-Conscious Retail
Swedish consumers rank among the most environmentally conscious globally. A survey from Voyado found that 61% of Swedish consumers believe sustainability is important in retail, with 14% considering it very important. Moreover, 55% of Swedish consumers are willing to pay more for a more sustainable option. This consumer-driven expectation has placed sustainability at the forefront of the retail agenda.
As a result, retailers have responded by embedding sustainability across the value chain. Notable initiatives include:
Circular Economy and Green Logistics
Sellpy: Sweden’s largest online second-hand marketplace, Sellpy facilitates circular consumption by enabling customers to buy and sell pre-owned clothing, reducing textile waste. By 2024, Sellpy has expanded to 24 European markets, with millions of garments recirculated annually.
H&M’s Take Care & Resale Programs: H&M is rethinking the way fashion works. Instead of following the old take-make-waste model, they’re finding new ways to keep products and materials in use for longer. From offering customers the chance to resell, repair, or recycle their clothes, H&M is building a system where nothing goes to waste, and every garment gets a second life.
Carbon-Neutral Deliveries: Delivery startups like Budbee and Airmee utilize electric vehicles and bicycles in urban areas, offering green delivery options at checkout. Additionally, many Swedish retailers promote consolidated delivery days, allowing consumers to reduce the environmental impact of shipping.
Policy & Regulatory Backing
Sweden’s bold commitment to climate leadership is setting the tone for the entire business landscape, and retailers are feeling the pressure more than ever. Key policies include:
Net-Zero Emissions Target by 2045: Sweden’s Net-Zero Emissions Target by 2045 legally commits the country to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. This policy holds industries accountable, pushing retailers to cut emissions across their supply chains and adopt more sustainable practices to stay compliant and competitive.
Vinnova’s “Climate-Neutral E-Commerce” initiative: This program supports Swedish retailers in developing innovative solutions to reduce the environmental impact of online shopping. Through funding and collaboration opportunities, it encourages advancements in sustainable packaging, greener delivery methods, and circular business models—helping businesses align with Sweden’s broader climate goals. The initiative has funded 6 projects to date, valued at nearly 11B SEK.
Consequently, retailers not adapting to these frameworks risk falling behind—not just in compliance, but in brand relevance.
Accessibility: Building Inclusive E-Commerce Experiences
The Rising Importance of Accessibility
While sustainability has long been on the radar, accessibility is fast becoming a critical differentiator for Swedish e-commerce in 2025. Factors driving this shift include:
An aging population: Around 20% of the population is above the age of 65.
Differently abled population: Most recent estimates peg the differently abled population in the country to be 10% of the adult population, translating to 700K people.
Diverse, multicultural demographics: Necessitating multi-language and culturally aware interfaces.
European Accessibility Act (EAA): Set to take effect from June 2025, this act requires all digital services, including e-commerce, to meet specific accessibility standards, or face hefty penalties.
Digital Accessibility Best Practices
Forward-thinking Swedish retailers are proactively ensuring compliance and inclusivity by:
Adopting WCAG 2.1 standards for website accessibility, which enhances usability for individuals with visual, cognitive, and motor impairments.
Implementing features such as:
Voice-assisted shopping options.
High-contrast modes and adjustable font sizes.
Screen reader compatibility and keyboard navigability.
Retailers like Clas Ohlson and IKEA have taken steps to revamp their platforms, focusing on universal design principles to ensure no customer is left behind.
Payment and Checkout Inclusivity
In today’s fast-moving e-commerce world, making it easy for people to pay isn’t just a bonus—it’s expected. As Sweden’s online retailers welcome a broader, more diverse mix of shoppers, ensuring that payment and checkout options work for everyone has become essential. But here’s the catch: research from Baymard Institute shows nearly 70% of shoppers abandon their carts, often because the checkout process is too clunky or complicated. A few too many steps, and customers simply walk away. The upside? Smoothing out these friction points could boost conversions by over 35%, unlocking billions in revenue that are currently being left on the table.
While not groundbreaking on its own, Swish’s recent partnership with Mastercard reflects a meaningful step toward greater accessibility. By allowing users to add payment cards directly in the app and enabling tap-to-pay functionality both in Sweden and abroad, Swish is simplifying the checkout process and offering more flexible options. It’s a practical move that ensures the platform remains convenient and user-friendly for a wider, more diverse audience.
Bridging the Rural Divide
Geographic accessibility is just as important in e-commerce. Swedish companies are leading the way in making sure that rural and remote communities have equal access and aren’t excluded from the growth of online retail. For example:
PostNord has rolled out over 4,500 parcel lockers nationwide, including rural towns, providing easy access to deliveries for customers without reliable home service.
Lifvs, a Stockholm-based startup, operates unstaffed, 24/7 mini-markets in rural Sweden. These stores, resembling shipping containers, allow customers to shop anytime using a mobile app, addressing the decline of traditional grocery stores in these areas.
Digital Transformation: The Enabler of Change
In a country like Sweden, where digital intensity is so high, digital transformation is essential for e-commerce businesses aiming to stay competitive and meet consumer expectations. A recent survey found that 71% of online retailers agree that digital transformation is crucial. The report found that most retailers are well advanced with their digital transformation programs, with many retailers investing in technologies such as AI, predictive analytics, and the virtual universe.
AI and Personalization
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is leading the way in transforming the e-commerce industry. According to a recent Shopify survey, almost 90% of retailers are already using AI or exploring how to apply it. The results speak for themselves, with 87% reporting that AI has boosted their revenue, while 94% say it has helped cut costs. In Sweden specifically, more than half of online retailers believe that leveraging AI will improve their profitability.
As a result, many Swedish e-commerce leaders have hopped on the bandwagon by leveraging AI, such as:
Swedish grocery retailer Coop Sweden is introducing an AI-powered assistant to help customers with personalized shopping support. The AI assistant will provide tailored product recommendations, meal planning tips, and real-time answers to customer queries, both online and in-store. This move aims to streamline the shopping experience while making it more interactive and efficient, reflecting Coop’s broader commitment to digital innovation and customer-centric solutions.
IKEA launched a new AI-powered assistant in the OpenAI GPT Store to enhance customer support and engagement. The assistant is designed to help customers with product information, home furnishing tips, and personalized advice, all powered by OpenAI’s technology.
Swedish online pharmacy Apotea implemented the world’s first robotic piece-picking solution integrated with AutoStore, developed by Element Logic. This cutting-edge automation technology allows robots to pick individual items with high speed and precision, significantly improving Apotea’s order fulfillment efficiency.
Predictive Analytics
Predictive Analytics has become a vital tool for driving growth and efficiency. By analyzing customer behavior, demand patterns, and purchasing trends, Swedish retailers can forecast inventory needs, personalize marketing, and optimize logistics in real time. As a result, leading companies are increasingly leveraging predictive models to reduce waste, streamline operations, and deliver more tailored shopping experiences. For example:
Swedish outdoor apparel retailer Ridestore partnered with Dema AI to enhance its inventory management and demand forecasting. By integrating Dema’s predictive analytics platform, Ridestore gained deeper insights into sales trends, enabling them to optimize stock levels, reduce overproduction, and improve cash flow. The AI-driven solution helped the company make more accurate purchasing decisions, ensuring popular products stayed in stock while minimizing excess inventory.
Virtual Universe
Retailers are increasingly investing in virtual worlds like the metaverse and platforms such as Roblox to connect with younger, digitally native audiences. By creating immersive brand experiences, virtual stores, and interactive events, they are blending entertainment with commerce. This move allows brands to engage customers in entirely new ways by building loyalty, showcasing products, and even driving sales in these expanding digital ecosystems. Swedish and global retailers alike are recognizing the potential of these virtual spaces as a key part of their future growth strategies, Most recently:
IKEA has launched its first-ever virtual experience on Roblox, blending gaming and brand engagement. The immersive platform, called “The Co-Worker Game”, allows users to explore virtual IKEA spaces, take on fun tasks, and even experience what it’s like to work at IKEA. This initiative reflects IKEA’s push to connect with younger audiences and experiment with the growing metaverse trend, offering interactive, playful brand experiences in digital environments.
H&M Group is tapping into the metaverse to offer new, creative ways for customers to engage with fashion. Through collaborations on platforms like Roblox and Decentraland, H&M allows users to explore virtual showrooms, participate in digital fashion events, and dress their avatars in exclusive virtual collections. This move reflects H&M’s commitment to blending technology and innovation, creating limitless opportunities for self-expression and customer interaction in digital spaces.
From AI-powered personalization to virtual try-ons and even building worlds in the metaverse, Swedish retailers and tech leaders are showing how digital tools can truly reshape the customer experience. What’s clear is that it’s not just about using the latest technology. It’s about making shopping easier, more inclusive, and more sustainable.
Next, we’ll dive into real examples of Swedish companies that are bringing all three pillars together: sustainability, accessibility, and digital transformation. These companies are setting the standard for what forward-thinking business looks like today.
Case Study: IKEA
IKEA Sweden serves as a flagship example of aligning the three pillars:
Sustainability: Through initiatives like IKEA Preowned, customers can buy and sell second-hand furniture. The company’s pledge to use only renewable and recyclable materials by 2030 is embedded across product development and logistics.
Accessibility: IKEA has invested in website and app design enhancements to comply with the EAA and WCAG, ensuring the digital shopping experience is navigable for all users, regardless of ability.
Digital Transformation:IKEA is investing heavily in digital transformation, using AI, automation, and data analytics to improve customer experience and streamline operations. The company’s focus is on creating seamless, personalized, and sustainable shopping both online and in-store.
Case Study: Blaklader
Our Client Blåkläder also exemplifies the seamless integration of sustainability, accessibility, and digital innovation:
Sustainability: Blåkläder places sustainability at the core of its operations, focusing on durable, long-lasting products to reduce waste. The company prioritizes responsible sourcing, ethical production, and minimizing environmental impact throughout its supply chain. Their commitment includes social responsibility, fair working conditions, and continuous efforts to lower their carbon footprint.
Accessibility: Blåkläder is committed to making its online store accessible to all users. Every new feature is developed with WCAG standards in mind, ensuring a seamless and inclusive shopping experience for everyone.
Digital Transformation: Blåkläder is actively driving its digital transformation by partnering with Calcey to develop a robust, scalable e-commerce platform. This move enhances their online presence, improves customer experience, and supports global growth. By modernizing their digital infrastructure, Blåkläder is streamlining operations and staying competitive in an increasingly digital-first retail landscape.
Strategic Takeaways for Swedish E-Commerce Leaders
Embed Sustainability in Core Strategy:
Prioritize low-carbon logistics, circular models, and transparent reporting on environmental impact.
View Accessibility as a Business Essential:
Go beyond compliance; make digital inclusivity part of your customer value proposition.
Invest Holistically in Digital Infrastructure:
Utilize AI, and analytics to deliver seamless, personalized, and scalable experiences.
Align with Regulatory Roadmaps:
Stay ahead of Sweden’s climate targets and EU digital accessibility mandates to mitigate compliance risks and unlock innovation incentives.
Champion Transparency and Trust:
Clearly communicate sustainability and accessibility initiatives, reinforcing your brand’s ethical positioning to Swedish consumers.
We’ve worked alongside some of Sweden’s most innovative companies such as Stampen Media, Ancon, and Trippus helping them grow sustainably, stay ahead of the curve, and build digital solutions that truly make a difference.
Let’s shape a future that’s smarter, more inclusive, and built to last.
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How AI is Changing the Way We Eat: A Deep Dive into the Future of Food
A recent article by Fortune projects that in the next 3 years, around 90% of our food will be touched by Artificial Intelligence. AI is reshaping many aspects of our lives, from healthcare to entertainment, but one of the most exciting areas of transformation is the way we eat. From how our food is produced, packaged, and delivered, to how we make decisions about nutrition and diet, AI is increasingly playing a pivotal role. This article will explore the key ways AI is changing our relationship with food and transforming the broader food ecosystem, covering agriculture, personalized nutrition, restaurant automation, and sustainability.
AI in Agriculture: Optimizing Food Production
Food’s journey starts long before it reaches our plates, and AI has transformed food production. The agricultural sector faces challenges like climate change, soil degradation, and a rising global population. AI tools are helping to overcome these issues, promoting smarter and more sustainable farming practices.
Precision Agriculture
AI-driven precision agriculture leverages data analytics, machine learning, and satellite imagery to enhance crop management. Farmers can collect data on soil conditions, moisture, and pest threats, which AI algorithms analyze for real-time recommendations on planting, irrigation, and harvesting. For instance, Blue River Technology, acquired by John Deere, has developed AI-powered robots that target weeds with up to 90% less herbicide. Drones with AI sensors can monitor growth, detect diseases early, and assess fruit ripeness.
Predictive Analytics for Yields and Weather
AI models enhance crop yield predictions, allowing farmers to manage resources effectively and optimize planting and harvesting times. These advancements reduce crop loss risks from unexpected weather events, increase yield, and lower environmental impact, thus strengthening the global food supply chain. For example, Beyond Weather’s Yield Forecaster combines long-term weather forecasts with AI, offering insights into yields up to 8 months ahead. This leads to better resource management and cost savings, with the model outperforming traditional USDA Crop Outlooks, helping farmers mitigate risks more effectively.
Personalized Nutrition: Tailoring Diets to Individual Needs
As health consciousness grows, so does the demand for personalized nutrition solutions. AI plays a key role in enabling tailored dietary recommendations based on individual needs, preferences, and genetic information.
AI-Powered Diet Recommendations
Personalized nutrition platforms such as Suggestic, Season Health, Heali AI, use AI to analyze an individual’s genetic makeup, microbiome, lifestyle, and health goals. By interpreting this data, AI systems can suggest optimal diets tailored to enhance well-being, manage weight, or prevent chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension.
Fresh Fitness Food utilizes AI for personalized diet recommendations through a meal-balancing engine developed by Calcey. This solution employs advanced optimization techniques to create tailored meal plans based on individual dietary needs and preferences. It adapts dynamically to real-time feedback, ensuring balanced and customized meals. This innovative approach allows FFF to scale its service while enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
AI in Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics studies how genes interact with food, benefiting significantly from AI. AI analyzes extensive genetic and clinical data to create precise dietary recommendations based on individual genetic predispositions, such as lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity. LifeNome leads the field with its Genomics AI® technology, assessing over 50 nutritional characteristics from DNA to provide tailored diets. Another innovator, DayTwo, predicts blood sugar responses using gut microbiome information, leading to reported health improvements like weight loss and reduced AC1 levels.
AI in Restaurants: Automating and Enhancing the Dining Experience
AI influences not only what we eat but also how and where we eat. Restaurants rapidly adopt AI to optimize everything from food preparation to customer service.
AI-Driven Kitchens
AI-powered robots, like Miso Robotics’ Flippy, are transforming restaurant kitchens by performing tasks such as flipping burgers and frying food with precision. Flippy adjusts cooking time and temperature and is used by chains like White Castle and Jack in the Box. Miso Robotics holds over 25 patents and also operates a Robot and AI-powered pop-up store in Los Angeles.
Optimizing Menus and Customer Experience
Restaurants are leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences. For instance, IHOP partnered with Google Cloud to use Recommendations AI in its online ordering, resulting in a 20% increase in sales and a 15% rise in recommended item purchases. The AI system provided ten times more valuable customer insights than manual methods, achieving over 90% accuracy in predicting preferences. Similarly, AI platforms like Halla by Wynshop help optimize menus based on customer preferences and trends, boosting satisfaction and loyalty..
Chatbots and Contactless Ordering
In 2023, Starbucks improved its customer experience by adding an AI chatbot, My Starbucks Barista, to its app, enabling voice and text orders. This streamlined the process, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction. Meanwhile, McDonald’s tested an AI drive-thru system with IBM but halted the pilot in mid-2024 due to order inaccuracies. Despite this, McDonald’s remains hopeful for future AI voice-ordering solutions.
AI in Food Delivery and Supply Chain: Enhancing Efficiency and Sustainability
AI is streamlining food delivery services and optimizing the broader food supply chain, making it faster and more environmentally friendly.
AI-Powered Delivery Systems
With the growing demand for food delivery services, AI has become a key player in enhancing delivery speed and efficiency. Earlier this year, Best Buy announced an AI-powered delivery tracking system that provides minute-by-minute updates. Moreover, Serve Robotics, Uber’s spinout company that is creating autonomous sidewalk delivery robots, is expanding its services following a successful first year of operations in Los Angeles. It plans to launch 2000 new robots in 2025 in partnership with Uber Eats.
AI-Powered Inventory Management
AI is helping food suppliers manage their inventory more efficiently, reducing food waste and costs. AI algorithms can predict how much food should be ordered or produced by analyzing consumer demand, weather conditions, and historical data. For instance, through its proprietary technology, Walmart leverages historical data and pairs it with predictive analytics. They can strategically place holiday items across distribution and fulfillment centers and stores, optimizing the shopping experience.
AI and Food Safety & Sustainability: Enhancing Quality Control and Reducing Food Waste
Ensuring food safety is paramount in today’s globalized food system, and AI is becoming a crucial tool in detecting foodborne pathogens, allergens, and other contaminants.
Automated Quality Inspections
AI-powered image recognition tools are increasingly used for quality control in food processing plants. Companies like Tomra have developed AI-based sorting machines to detect defects, discoloration, or contaminants while processing fruits, vegetables, and other products. These systems can inspect hundreds of items per minute, far surpassing the capabilities of human inspectors.
Reducing Food Waste
As the world faces the challenge of sustainably feeding a growing population, AI is crucial in reducing food waste and promoting sustainable choices. A 2022 WWF study found AI software achieved a 14.8% reduction in food waste in participating organizations. Companies like Winnow lead this effort, recognizing that sustainable initiatives can differentiate them competitively. For instance, KLM Airlines created the AI model TRAYS for its catering, resulting in a 63% reduction in food waste over three months compared to catering for all booked passengers.
Conclusion
AI is fundamentally transforming how we eat by making food production more efficient, tailoring diets to individual needs, automating restaurant operations, and enhancing sustainability efforts. As AI continues to evolve, we can expect even more innovations to improve the global food system, making it healthier, more personalized, and environmentally friendly. From farm to table, AI is not just changing how we eat—it’s reshaping the entire ecosystem surrounding food.
This shift toward AI-driven solutions is set to redefine our relationship with food in profound ways, making it smarter, more sustainable, and highly individualized. As consumers, we are at the cusp of experiencing a new era in food innovation, powered by artificial intelligence.
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Choosing the Right Team Model: A Focus on the Managed Model
In a previous blog post, the challenges of hiring technical talent were examined, along with a case for companies to reconsider their hiring strategy by utilizing on-demand talent. The findings indicated that many organizations are turning to outsourced providers to broaden their talent pool, as it is a popular method for attracting a wider range of talent. Additionally, organizations in regions such as the Nordics are increasingly hiring or considering hiring remote development teams to stay competitive and expedite their tech journey. A recent study of organizations in the Nordics revealed that 50% of those working with third-party organizations currently have more than 20 people on their teams. These organizations reported positive outcomes, including faster project delivery, hiring flexibility, and reduced costs.
However, selecting the right model for remote development is crucial to ensuring success, as different models offer varying levels of control, responsibility, and collaboration. This article will guide you through key remote team models and take a deep dive into the Managed Model—Calcey’s bread & butter.
Introduction to the Different Types of Models
There are several remote development team models that companies can adopt based on their needs, the complexity of their projects, and the desired level of control. The most popular models include:
Freelancers: Individual developers hired for specific tasks or short-term projects.
Body Shops: Agencies that provide developers but leave management to the client.
Managed Model (Accountable Teams): A full-service approach where the development partner takes responsibility for the entire project lifecycle, from design to delivery.
There are different models available for businesses to choose from, each with its own set of advantages depending on the level of control and oversight needed. While freelancers and body shops are suitable for short-term needs, the Managed Model excels in providing full accountability and seamless project management, making it the ideal choice for ensuring the success of complex, long-term projects.
Differences Between Each Model
Model
Responsibility
Management
Best For
Risks
Freelancers
Task-specific development
Client-managed
Short-term, small projects
Quality inconsistency, lack of continuity
Body Shops
Provides developers, the client manages output
Client-managed
Scaling staff for internal project management
High management overhead
Managed Model (Accountable Teams)
Full accountability for end-to-end development
Vendor-managed
Complex, long-term projects requiring flexibility
Higher upfront cost but long-term savings
Freelancers and body shops allow clients to manage day-to-day activities and offer flexibility, but they need more structured accountability and holistic management offered by the Managed Model. This is where the Managed Model becomes invaluable, ensuring that projects are well-managed and delivered with top-tier quality and efficiency.
Deep Dive into the Managed Model
Structure of the Managed Model
In the Managed Model, the development partner takes full responsibility for the project’s success. This includes overseeing design, development, testing, and project management. Unlike freelancer-based models or body shops, where the project’s quality and productivity depend on the individual skills and reliability of the hired team members, the Managed Model provides a structured approach. Success in this model does not rely on individual brilliance but on well-established processes that ensure consistency and quality across all project lifecycle phases. Each role within the team is specialized, and the project is managed through proven methodologies, reducing variability and delivering predictable, high-quality outcomes.
Role
Responsibility
Business Analyst
Simplifies complex software requirements, working with the product owner to create understandable documents and blueprints for the development team.
Project Manager
Oversees project communication among developers, QA engineers, and clients, ensuring smooth operations. May also serve as a scrum master in agile environments.
Software Architect
Makes strategic decisions on how software products will be built, considering cost, speed, and future readiness. Responsible for high-level project design.
Technical Lead
Guides low-level design decisions to align with the architect’s vision. Writes code, conducts research and development, and collaborates on code reviews.
Software Engineer
Specializes in writing detailed code for the project and testing their own code, focusing on expected user journeys (the “happy path”).
QA Engineer
Tests software functionality extensively across different browsers, devices, and operating systems, assessing performance under various user behaviors.
The Managed Model offers a distinct advantage in its adaptability, allowing companies to scale team size and capacity efficiently. For example, a startup may initially need a small team—perhaps 2 Developers, 1 QA Engineer, and a part-time Project Manager—to stay agile and maintain control over a limited development scope. In the Managed Model, these resources are carefully allocated to meet immediate needs without excess.
However, suppose the client secures funding through a Seed or Series A round and needs to accelerate their go-to-market strategy or rapidly develop new features. In that case, the Managed Model allows for seamless scaling. Additional resources can be integrated without overwhelming the client’s product manager or team. Unlike traditional body shops, where adding more people often increases the burden on management, the Managed Model ensures that new resources are fully managed and coordinated by the service provider, minimizing disruption and ensuring effective utilization.
This means your team grows in size and capacity without creating chaos or requiring additional oversight, keeping everything aligned with both short-term and long-term business goals.
Starter team
Scale-up team
Tackling Common Objections
While architects, tech leads, and developers are crucial to a project’s success, it’s important to recognize the equally vital roles of QA engineers and Project Managers, which clients may overlook when they feel they only need developers.
QA Engineers Developers may test their own code, but they primarily focus on building features and ensuring things work under ideal conditions. A QA engineer, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Their entire role is centered around quality—testing the product in diverse environments, identifying edge cases, and ensuring the application functions smoothly under a wide range of scenarios. QA also brings expertise in test automation, something developers may not always specialize in, further improving the efficiency and reliability of the project.
Project Manager A Project Manager plays an essential role in keeping the team coordinated and organized. They are responsible for clarifying requirements, managing timelines, and ensuring communication between all stakeholders—something that technical resources like developers and QA engineers aren’t naturally focused on. A PM prepares the work before handing it off, so developers and QA engineers can dedicate their time to building and testing rather than handling logistics and coordination. As projects grow more complex, a PM becomes crucial for maintaining efficiency and delivering on time, without overloading technical team members with non-core tasks.
Both the QA engineer and the Project Manager ensure that resources are utilized effectively, quality remains high, and the project progresses smoothly—key benefits that make the Managed Model far more reliable and scalable compared to other approaches. We speak about this in great detail in our “Remote Team Blueprint”. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t already!
How Calcey Works
At Calcey, our Managed Model goes beyond simply providing technical resources. We have a structured process designed to ensure quality, alignment, and efficient execution throughout the project lifecycle.
Code and UX Reviews We conduct thorough code reviews to ensure adherence to best practices, clean architecture, and maintainability. These reviews involve senior engineers and architects who provide feedback on structure, performance, and security. Similarly, our UX team continuously evaluates user interfaces to ensure that design choices align with the overall user experience goals. This helps create an intuitive product that meets both functional and aesthetic needs.
Internal Sprint Demos At the end of every sprint, we host internal demos where the team presents the progress made, even before the client sees it. This serves as a dry run to catch any inconsistencies and to ensure that all team members are aligned on the project’s direction. It’s a key checkpoint where developers, designers, and QA come together to assess the work as a unit and ensure that everything is ready for external presentation.
Internal Process Framework To ensure consistency and quality across all projects, we follow a tailored internal framework that governs the development process. This includes detailed sprint planning, backlog grooming, automated testing setups, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. By adhering to this framework, we ensure that quality is baked into the project from the start rather than becoming an afterthought.
Why Choose the Managed Model?
The Managed Model offers businesses a range of benefits, making it the go-to solution for companies looking to scale their development efforts with minimal oversight.
Key Benefit
Description
Risk Mitigation
The partner manages risks, ensuring smooth project execution with minimal disruptions.
Scalability
Teams can be scaled based on project needs, ensuring flexibility.
End-to-End Management
The partner handles every aspect of the project, reducing client management overhead.
Long-Term Relationship
Continuous collaboration leads to a deeper understanding of the client’s needs.
The Managed Model is more than just a way of delivering projects—it’s a holistic approach designed to ensure that teams work cohesively, maintain accountability, and consistently deliver value. With this model, clients get access to a dedicated, fully accountable team that integrates seamlessly into their organization, making them feel like an extension of the client’s in-house team.
The Managed Model used by Calcey is designed to build long-term partnerships with global clients by taking ownership of entire projects, from planning to ongoing maintenance. This approach allows clients to focus on the bigger picture while Calcey handles the complexities of development. With a focus on quality and efficiency, the model emphasizes continuous integration, iterative development, and frequent feedback loops to ensure projects meet the highest standards. The approach also includes dedicated, high-performance teams that are tailored to the client’s needs, ensuring clear communication and alignment of goals.
Furthermore, the Managed Model’s proven scalability supports projects of any size or complexity, from startups scaling rapidly to established enterprises looking to innovate. Calcey invests in the team’s long-term success, equipping them with the right tools and methodologies to handle evolving requirements and ensuring that the solution is scalable and future-proof.
Conclusion
The Managed Model is a comprehensive and efficient solution designed for companies that are looking to undertake complex, long-term software projects. This model offers end-to-end accountability, flexibility, and risk mitigation, allowing businesses to concentrate on their core competencies while ensuring that their projects are completed on time and within budget. With Calcey’s proven expertise in managing such projects, exemplified by successful partnerships such as Fresh Fitness Food, Stampen Media, PayPal, and The Westfield Group among others, businesses can confidently expand their development efforts, knowing they have a trusted partner overseeing every aspect of the process. The Managed Model represents the ideal solution for businesses seeking a dependable, hands-off approach to software development.
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How Calcey Designs for Accessibility without Compromising Aesthetics
At Calcey, we prioritize accessibility in all our digital products. We make sure our web apps, mobile apps, and websites are inclusive and usable by everyone. We embed accessibility into our design process from the start to meet regulatory guidelines and exceed user expectations. We believe that great design is about both aesthetics and accessibility.
Accessibility is crucial because it ensures that our digital products can be used by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities. By considering accessibility, we resonate with a broader audience and create a positive and inclusive brand image.
Ignoring accessibility can lead to exclusion of users, frustrating experiences, negative impact on brand image, legal risks, and reduced market reach. It’s essential to prioritize accessibility to reach a wider audience and create a positive brand image.
Integrating Accessibility from the Start
Our approach to accessibility is proactive rather than reactive. We incorporate accessibility considerations from the initial design phase. This involves understanding the needs of diverse users and ensuring that these needs are met without compromising the visual appeal of our designs. By doing this, accessibility becomes a seamless part of the design process, rather than an afterthought.
Here’s how we at Calcey design for accessibility while maintaining our commitment to aesthetics:
Color Contrast & Palette Choices
We carefully select color palettes that match our brand and comply with the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards for contrast. This guarantees that our designs are visually appealing and easily readable for everyone, including people with visual impairments like color blindness.
Typography & Readability
Typography plays a crucial role in design. We ensure that our text is easy to read by choosing fonts that are both aesthetically pleasing and legible at different sizes. We pay attention to spacing, line height, and alignment to make sure that our content is accessible to users with dyslexia or low vision, without compromising on style.
Responsive Design
Our responsive designs ensure users can navigate and interact with our products on any device, from desktops to mobile phones, without compromising the visual experience.
Accessible Animations
While animations can improve user experience, they can also be distracting or overwhelming for some users. We use animations thoughtfully, ensuring they are smooth, subtle, and can be removed if necessary, without compromising the overall visual flow of the design.
Inclusive Content
Besides visuals, content also plays a crucial role in accessibility. We make sure that our written content is clear and concise. Additionally, we provide alternative text for images so that users with screen readers can understand the context. This not only enhances accessibility but also results in better, more engaging content overall.
Tools and Resources for Designing Accessible Experiences
At Calcey, we leverage a variety of tools to ensure that our designs are accessible without compromising on aesthetics. Here are some of the most commonly used tools that help us in crafting accessible designs:
This tool serves as a starting point when we design with accessibility in mind. It helps us define scalable, legible type sizes for various devices and resolutions. While it provides useful guidelines for typography, we don’t rely solely on it. We understand the importance of contextual adjustments and make refinements based on the product’s user experience.
Figma Mirror – Preview Behavior with Prototyping on Figma (Link)
Testing is crucial in ensuring accessibility, especially for mobile experiences. Using Figma’s prototyping capabilities, we preview how designs behave across different devices and scenarios. This allows us to fine-tune interactive elements and ensure ease of use for all users, particularly those relying on assistive technologies.
Purpose: Coolors’ helps us check and adjust color contrast ratios to ensure they meet accessibility standards.
Guidelines Followed: This tool ensures compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, particularly for contrast ratios. WCAG 2.1 requires a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large text (14pt bold or 18pt regular). As WCAG continues to evolve, future versions may introduce updated criteria, and we will stay aligned with any changes to maintain accessibility standards.
Impact: By adhering to these guidelines, we can choose color palettes that are both aesthetically pleasing and accessible to users with visual impairments, such as those with low vision or color blindness.
Purpose: Sim Daltonism simulates various types of color blindness, helping us understand how our color choices will appear to users with different visual impairments.
Guidelines Followed: The simulations offered by Sim Daltonism help us design in accordance with WCAG 2.2’s guidelines on color use. WCAG advises against using color as the sole means of conveying information. Sim Daltonism ensures our designs are inclusive by providing insight into how users with color vision deficiencies experience our products.
Impact: This tool ensures that our color choices are inclusive for all users, preventing scenarios where users with color blindness might miss out on critical information.
Purpose: The Contrast plugin integrates with Figma to provide real-time feedback on color contrast and accessibility.
Guidelines Followed: Like Coolors, this plugin helps us ensure that our designs meet the contrast ratio requirements set by WCAG 2.2. It checks text and non-text elements to ensure they are distinguishable for users with various levels of vision impairment.
Impact: By using this plugin, we can quickly identify and address any contrast issues in our designs, ensuring that they are accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments.
Tools and Resources for Ensuring Accessible Experiences
At Calcey, we ensure that accessibility is not just considered during the design phase but throughout the entire development and QA process. Our commitment to inclusive design extends beyond wireframes and prototypes to the final product, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.
Screen Readers: We use screen readers during the QA process to validate that our designs translate well into fully accessible digital experiences. These tools help us simulate how users with visual impairments navigate and interact with our products, ensuring all content is readable and navigable.
Accessibility needs to be consistent across various devices and browsers. BrowserStack allows us to test our web and mobile applications in different environments, ensuring that no matter how users access our product, their experience remains inclusive.
Our UI engineers use Google Lighthouse, a powerful tool for testing various aspects of web accessibility, including performance, SEO, and adherence to accessibility standards. Lighthouse provides detailed reports that allow us to identify and fix accessibility issues, such as missing alt text or improper heading structure, ensuring that the product meets the necessary guidelines.
By incorporating these tools and reviews throughout the development and testing phases, we ensure that accessibility is built into every aspect of our product—resulting in a more inclusive and user-friendly experience.
Future Trends in Accessibility
As technology continues to evolve, so do the trends and innovations in accessibility. Here are some emerging trends we’re keeping an eye on:
AI and Accessibility: Artificial intelligence is being used to enhance accessibility features, such as automated image descriptions and voice recognition. These advancements are making it easier for differently abled users to interact with digital products.
Voice Interfaces: Voice user interfaces (VUIs) are becoming more prevalent, offering a new way for users to interact with applications without relying on traditional input methods. This can significantly benefit users with mobility or vision impairments.
Adaptive Design: Future designs are likely to become more adaptive, automatically adjusting to users’ needs and preferences. This could include dynamic text resizing, color adjustments, and personalized navigation options based on individual accessibility needs.
Getting Feedback from Differently Abled Users
One of the most effective ways to ensure our designs are truly accessible is to involve users with disabilities in the design process. Here’s how we approach this:
User Testing: We conduct user testing sessions with individuals with various impairments to gather valuable feedback on how our designs perform in real-world scenarios.
Inclusive Design Workshops: We hold workshops with diverse user groups to understand their needs and challenges better. This helps us design solutions that address specific accessibility issues.
Continuous Improvement: We use the feedback from these sessions to make iterative improvements to our designs, ensuring that accessibility is always a priority throughout the development process.
The Calcey Difference – Accessibility as a Design Principle
At Calcey, we see accessibility and aesthetics as two sides of the same coin. From the moment we start designing, we weave accessibility into everything we do, creating digital experiences that not only look great but also work for everyone. For us, accessibility isn’t a hurdle—it’s a chance to push boundaries and design solutions that are as practical as they are beautiful.
More than just ticking compliance boxes, we’re dedicated to building a culture of empathy and understanding. We know that people experience our designs in different ways, so we anticipate diverse needs, whether it’s making sure text is easy to read, navigation is simple, or colors are thoughtfully chosen. This approach doesn’t just benefit users—it helps our clients connect with more people and boosts their reputation for being truly inclusive.
At the heart of it, good design is accessible design. When we prioritize accessibility, we unlock new possibilities and create designs that resonate with everyone. It’s about bringing people together, and that’s what drives us at Calcey—to create digital experiences that are as inclusive as they are inspiring.
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National Coding Week Special: Calcey’s Coding Impact in Sri Lanka
For over twenty years, Calcey has provided Clients worldwide with world-class software and product engineering services. However, Calcey remains deeply rooted in Sri Lanka and will always be committed to helping the Sri Lankan tech ecosystem thrive. Through partnerships with several leading Universities in Sri Lanka, we prioritize giving back to the community by engaging in workshops, seminars, and other thought leadership activities to empower the next generation of tech leaders in Sri Lanka. We’ve also pioneered several other tech initiatives to enhance individuals’ literacy, leadership, and competency around coding and tech in the country. In line with National Coding Week 2024, we wanted to highlight our contributions to the ecosystem and how we’ve helped foster growth in the coding community.
Hackathon
To mark our 10th anniversary in 2012, we hosted a unique inter-university hackathon aimed at inspiring the next generation of coders. This event, designed to foster entrepreneurship and a product development mindset, brought together teams from six top universities across Sri Lanka, including the University of Colombo and the University of Moratuwa. Throughout the hackathon, student programmers worked to develop software solutions, showcasing their skills and creativity rapidly. The Sri Lanka Institute of Information and Technology (SLIIT) emerged winners from the hackathon.
Mangala Karunaratne, CEO and Founder of Calcey Technologies emphasized that the hackathon was aligned with the company’s vision to drive Sri Lanka’s IT industry forward by focusing on innovation rather than just providing remote engineering services. Reflecting on Calcey’s journey, he shared how the company grew from humble beginnings—starting with just two developers—to becoming a multi-million-dollar enterprise serving renowned clients like PayPal, Stanford University, and The Westfield Group. Our approach has always been centered on encouraging creativity, and this hackathon was an extension of that philosophy. Through initiatives like the hackathon, Calcey is helping to shape the future of coding in Sri Lanka, providing opportunities for young developers to contribute to real-world solutions while honing their skills.
Coder Dojo
In 2014, Calcey had the privilege of hosting Sri Lanka’s first CoderDojo session, marking an exciting milestone in our efforts to inspire and educate the next generation of programmers. CoderDojo, a global initiative aimed at promoting free and open learning in computer programming, focuses on helping young people develop foundational coding skills. The session brought together 30 school children aged 12 to 14 for training in leadership, English language, and computer operation skills, with 10 of them joining the dedicated CoderDojo program.
The CoderDojo sessions were designed to teach programming in Small Basic, a beginner-friendly language that introduces essential coding concepts. Over the course of 12-weekend sessions, students learned how to write basic programs and gradually build their skills to prepare for more advanced languages like Visual Basic. During the first session, the children experienced the thrill of writing their very first program—a simple “Hello World”—and even learned how to draw shapes on the screen using code. It was particularly heartening to see that six of the participants were girls, reflecting the broader push to increase female representation in the tech industry.
Calcey’s team, including our CEO Mangala Karunaratne, and Chief Product Engineering Officer, Asela Indika, had a fantastic time preparing and conducting the session. Mangala in particular felt the experience was rewarding for everyone involved. Here’s what Mangala had to say about the CodeDojo session back in 2014
“I walked out of our first CoderDojo session full of satisfaction. I saw the sheer joy in the eyes of these kids when they saw the “Hello World” app they wrote actually work, with a red background and blue fonts. They were so eager to do more. I extend a big thank you to everyone at Calcey who helped us to organize this program, and CoderDojo for the concept.”
Rambuka Code Camp
In January 2016, Calcey launched a comprehensive six-month coding training program aimed at empowering school leavers with the skills needed to embark on a career in software development. The initiative brought together 12 enthusiastic participants, all eager to develop practical coding skills and gain a foothold in the rapidly evolving IT industry. The curriculum was designed to cover key programming languages, software development practices, and essential technical concepts. Participants were introduced to web development, database management, and object-oriented programming, while also learning to collaborate on real-world projects using Agile methodologies. The program ensured a hands-on learning experience, with students working closely with Calcey’s experienced developers and project managers.
At the end of the program, participants were evaluated on their performance through project assessments and technical reviews. The top-performing student was offered a job at Calcey, marking the start of their professional journey in software development. Several other participants chose to pursue higher education in Information Technology, building on the solid foundation they had gained during the program. This initiative not only created career opportunities for the students but also reinforced Calcey’s commitment to nurturing local talent and fostering the growth of Sri Lanka’s IT industry. Through this program, Calcey continued to play an active role in shaping the future of young developers, equipping them with both technical expertise and the confidence to succeed in the tech sector.
Padaviya Coding Initiative
We provide IT education to 400 students in Padaviya, a town in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. In Padaviya, we educate students aged 10-13 with a dedicated IT curriculum through the DP Education program. Through the DP Education Curriculum, students learn a range of courses focused on basic IT literacy, coding theories, web development, and how to create a website among others.
The program we have implemented has proven to be incredibly impactful, mainly due to the specific community it serves. This region is home to individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, making it crucial for us to give back and provide them with the skills necessary to enter the workforce. Our co-founder and CEO, Mangala, expressed his thoughts on the Padavviya IT Center, highlighting its significance and positive impact on the community.
“Helping more kids get into tech is something we care about deeply because it’s a great way to lift people out of poverty. We did it with Springboard, and now we’re doing it in Padaviya which is deep in the North Central province. Right now, the program we support enables 400+ to learn crucial tech skills which will help them build a successful career path for themselves.”
Springboard
In 2023, Calcey established the Springboard program, a unique scholarship opportunity for students who have engaged in MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from leading global universities. The program, curated by Calcey’s engineering leaders, offers a no-strings-attached scholarship to support learners. The curriculum is meticulously crafted and includes courses from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Georgia Tech, IBM, University of Michigan, and TUDelft. These courses are delivered through Calcey’s exclusive partner, EdX.com.
Recently, we celebrated a significant achievement with the graduation of the inaugural cohort from the Calcey Springboard program. This initiative aims to empower individuals from non-technical backgrounds, playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between untapped potential and opportunities within Sri Lanka’s tech industry.
The program provides fully funded scholarships, granting learners access to premium MOOCs and offering hands-on mentorship from Calcey’s own engineers. This comprehensive approach creates a holistic learning experience, seamlessly blending academic rigor with practical skills.
This first cohort saw eight graduates join Calcey as interns, with others securing industry positions or continuing their education. Our CEO, Mangala Karunaratne, highlighted the program as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to give back to society by investing in the next generation of tech talent.
“Setting up Calcey nearly two decades ago was essentially a bet we took on the quality of Sri Lankan engineering talent, and it paid off well. If you think of that as a withdrawal we made from the society around us and the universe or the world at large, Springboard is our way of making a deposit and giving back. We built a platform for hardworking individuals to improve their destinies, and it’s great to see these 23 individuals benefiting from it.” – Mangala Karunaratne
Closing Thoughts
At our core, we’re really committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s tech community. We do more than just offer top-notch software and product engineering services. We believe in investing in the next generation of tech leaders through programs like the Padaviya Coding Initiative, CoderDojo, Springboard, and hackathons. By giving back to the community and creating opportunities for young talent, we can help build a brighter and more innovative future for our country. Looking ahead, we’re fully dedicated to expanding our efforts and making a meaningful impact in Sri Lanka’s coding community and beyond.
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How Turing Bots are Transforming Software Development
In today’s fast-paced digital world, Turing Bots are becoming transformative tools in software development. Named after the legendary computer scientist Alan Turing, these AI-powered assistants are designed to streamline the software development lifecycle (SDLC) by automating tasks, enhancing collaboration, and improving overall efficiency. As organizations strive to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, understanding the role and impact of Turing Bots is essential. This article delves into how Turing Bots will affect software development, showcasing their functionalities, real-world applications, and the industry’s future.
What are Turing Bots?
Turing Bots, as defined by Forrester, are AI-driven software solutions that assist in various stages of the software development process. They augment the capabilities of development teams by automating tasks, providing insights, and facilitating collaboration. Turing Bots can be categorized into several roles based on their functionalities:
By integrating Turing Bots into the SDLC, organizations can enhance productivity and reduce the time required to deliver software products.
The Impact of Turing Bots on Software Development
1. Automation of Repetitive Tasks
Turing Bots can automate repetitive coding tasks, freeing up developers to focus on more creative aspects of software development. For example, GitHub Copilot, powered by OpenAI’s Codex, suggests code snippets based on natural language descriptions, speeding up coding and reducing errors. This allows developers to concentrate on problem-solving and feature development, leading to faster project completion and more innovative software design.
2. Enhanced Collaboration
Turing Bots boost teamwork by giving real-time insights and automating communication. They help analyze project needs and create relevant documentation, which is important for keeping everyone on the same page. In the fast-paced world of agile development, it’s crucial to have quick iterations and feedback, and that’s where Turing Bots shine. For example, when a developer changes the codebase, a Turing Bot can automatically update the documentation and inform the team. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and enhances team cohesion. Additionally, Turing Bots can assist with code reviews by highlighting changes and recommending improvements, thereby saving time and streamlining the review process.
3. Real-Time Code Review and Testing
Turing Bots facilitate a continuous testing approach that is central to CI/CD practices. This method allows development teams to integrate code changes frequently and deploy them efficiently, ensuring that software is always in a releasable state. By automating testing processes, Turing Bots can quickly run thousands of visual tests across multiple platforms, significantly reducing the manual effort required for quality assurance.
Turing Bots use loads of data to give us important insights for developing software. They look at code quality, technical debt, and user feedback to help decide what to work on. This approach is key for keeping our software top-notch and meeting users’ needs. For example, a Turing Bot can check user feedback from support tickets and social media to find common issues and feature requests, and then suggest which features we should focus on next.
5. Evolution of Developer Roles
Turing Bots are useful because they analyze a ton of data to give us useful insights for making decisions about our software. They look at all sorts of things like the quality of our code, any technical debt we might have, and what users are saying. This helps us figure out what we need to work on next. For instance, a Turing Bot can check out user feedback from support tickets and social media to find out what problems users are facing and what new features they’re asking for. Then, based on this info, the bot can suggest which features we should prioritize for the next development phase.
Real-World Examples of Turing Bots
1. GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is a leading example of a Turing Bot that acts as an AI-powered pair programmer. It assists developers by suggesting code snippets and completing functions based on natural language prompts. This tool has gained widespread adoption, helping developers enhance productivity and streamline the coding process. A comparison of developers who used GitHub Copilot versus those who didn’t revealed that those who utilized Copilot completed the task 55% faster than those who didn’t. The report also found that GitHub Copilot supports faster completion times, conserves developers’ mental energy, helps them focus on more satisfying work, and ultimately finds more fun in the coding they do.
AWS CodeWhisperer is another coder Turing Bot that integrates seamlessly with AWS services. It provides code recommendations tailored to specific AWS functions, making it easier for developers to build cloud-native applications. By understanding the context of the code being written, CodeWhisperer can suggest optimal solutions that leverage AWS’s extensive suite of tools and services. For example, if a developer is working on a serverless application, CodeWhisperer can recommend best practices for using AWS Lambda, DynamoDB, and other services, ensuring the application is built efficiently and effectively. Amazon reports that CodeWhisperer has helped 1000’s developers become more productive by helping them complete their tasks up to 57% faster
3. Applitools
Applitools offers a suite of AI-powered testing tools. Its visual testing capabilities allow teams to automate the testing of user interfaces across various devices and browsers, ensuring consistent user experiences without extensive manual testing efforts. By using Applitools, teams can quickly identify visual discrepancies that may arise due to code changes, ensuring that the final product meets user expectations. Imagine a team developing a mobile application that needs to function seamlessly across various devices. Applitools can automatically run tests on different screen sizes and resolutions, identifying any layout issues that could impact user experience. This capability allows teams to deliver high-quality applications that work flawlessly for all users.
DeepMind’s AlphaCode represents the next generation of Turing Bots, capable of understanding complex problem specifications and generating code solutions. This advanced capability indicates a future where Turing Bots can tackle more sophisticated programming challenges, further enhancing the role of AI in software development.
AlphaCode’s ability to comprehend intricate coding problems and generate solutions showcases Turing Bots’ potential to assist in routine tasks and in tackling complex algorithms and data structures. The image below highlights the capacity of AlphaCode and how it outperforms human coders.
As Turing Bots continue to advance, they will become more independent, needing less input from us humans. This change will allow development teams to concentrate on big-picture planning and creativity while the bots handle everyday tasks. Nevertheless, oversight will still be essential to guarantee quality and security during the development phase. For instance, as Turing Bots take on more tasks, developers might find themselves in roles that involve supervising AI-driven processes, making sure that the results align with the organization’s objectives and the needs of users. This new setup will require balancing the use of AI capabilities with ongoing human oversight.”
2. Integration with Emerging Technologies
As Turing Bots evolve, they will likely be integrated with other emerging technologies, like blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT). This combination could result in the development of more secure and efficient software solutions. Turing Bots could use data from various sources to make better decisions. For instance, if Turing Bots work with IoT devices, they could analyze real-time sensor data to improve software performance and user experiences. This could be really helpful in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and smart cities, where analyzing real-time data is crucial for decision-making.
3. Continuous Learning and Adaptation
As technology keeps changing, Turing Bots will have to keep learning new coding languages, frameworks, and industry standards. This continuous learning is important to make sure they stay useful and up-to-date. Machine learning algorithms will help with this by letting the bots learn from their past experiences and get better over time. When developers give feedback on the suggestions and outputs, the bots will use that information to improve their algorithms and give more accurate and relevant recommendations.
4. Ethical Considerations and Challenges
As more and more Turing Bots are being used, it’s important to consider their ethics. We need to make sure things like data privacy, security, and the possibility of bias in AI algorithms are considered. Organizations should set up rules and best practices for using Turing Bots to ensure they’re being used fairly and clearly. This means being careful about the data we use to teach the AI because if the data is biased, the AI’s results could be biased too, affecting the quality and fairness of the software it creates.
Conclusion
Turing Bots are poised to revolutionize software development by automating tasks, improving collaboration, and boosting efficiency. They will play a crucial role in the SDLC, transforming the way software is developed, tested, and deployed. Embracing Turing Bots will enhance productivity and drive innovative solutions in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. This partnership between human developers and Turing Bots will define the next era of software development, leading to unprecedented levels of efficiency and creativity.
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Exploring Sri Lanka’s Potential as a Premier Global IT Hub
The article presents our bullish case for Sri Lanka as the next breakout premier hub for the global IT industry. It highlights several factors that contribute to Sri Lanka’s position, including:
Strong Education System with a Cultural Affinity for STEM: With many students in STEM programs and Western education brands offering English-taught courses, Sri Lanka excels in STEM education. High English literacy rates further bolster this advantage.
High Ranking as an Outsourcing Destination: For several years, Sri Lanka has been recognized by a myriad of organizations and associations such as Startup Genome, A.T. Kearney, IBM and many more for its affordability, and diversity of its talent.
Democratizing Tech Skills: Led by one of the wealthiest businessmen in Sri Lanka, who has launched an initiative providing free STEM education online and on national TV, to enhance the supply of engineers, scientists, and more.
Rising Interest in Remote IT Jobs: There’s a growing demand for remote IT jobs. Many seek global companies offering USD-pegged salaries, with families encouraging careers in software engineering.
Thriving Tech Companies: Companies like WS02 and Virtusa are showcasing Sri Lanka’s potential in the global IT sector, reflecting a vibrant and dynamic tech ecosystem.
A Cultural Affinity for STEM
When you think of India, particularly South India, you immediately think of the abundance of technical talent, and rightfully so. Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Indira Nooyi all hail from South India, and the region is a renowned hub for producing top-tier tech talent. Sri Lanka and the southernmost part of India are separated by less than 100 kilometers. In many ways, Sri Lanka has cultural traits and practices similar to South India’s. Many South Indians, and in general, Indians have a strong inclination towards the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). India boasts the 2nd highest number of total graduates from STEM per year and 5th for the highest percentage of STEM graduates. In Sri Lanka, there is a similar trend towards students selecting STEM fields for their secondary and higher education. Like South India, most parents in Sri Lanka encourage their children to pursue these fields. As a result, the country has many prospective students studying and pursuing STEM fields.
Undergraduate Output by Field Studied (2022)
Note: Numbers are for Government universities only.
Undergraduate Enrollment by Field Studied (2022)
Note: Numbers are for Government universities only.
Source: Author’s own analysis of UGC data, 2022.
Our analysis of the University Grant Commission’s latest data shows precisely that. In 2022, undergraduate enrollment for STEM courses in Government/State Universities accounted for 34% of total enrollments. Similarly, STEM faculties in Sri Lanka combine to produce more than a quarter of all undergraduates coming out (i.e., completing) of state universities. Although this figure is not as high as India’s (30%), it is on par with the United Kingdom (25%) and higher than the percentage produced by Sweden and Australia.
Access to Foreign Institutions
The numbers we’ve mentioned above include only State Universities. In Sri Lanka, your to enroll at a State University, it depends on your performance, with preference given to top-performing A/L students. As a result, many students are denied the chance to attend government universities due to a lack of available openings. So what happens to everyone else? Fortunately, Sri Lanka is also home to 27 Private Universities that offer programs affiliated with many well-known Universities in the U.K. and Australia. The students who don’t get accepted to State University, and those who completed their secondary education at private institutes can attend these universities. A majority of the private universities in Sri Lanka specialize in offering STEM programs. For example, the largest private institute – the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), has ~10K students and is accredited by the Institution of Engineering & Technology, UK. Students also have the luxury of choosing programs from Universities such as Monash, University of London, and Deakin University among many more. Furthermore, early this year, to improve its competitiveness and position itself as an education hub, the Government of Sri Lanka approved a proposal by the Ministry of Education to enter MOUs with several foreign universities from the U.S., U.K., China, and Australia. In another win for the IT industry, the globally renowned Information of Information Technology (IIT) India announced that Sri Lanka would be the destination for their 3rd foreign branch. IIT has produced several Indian business leaders, notably Sundar Pichai, Narayana Murthy, and Bharat Desai. The introduction of foreign programs to state universities and the entry of well-established foreign institutions such as IIT significantly improves access to quality education, particularly around STEM fields, and will further enhance the technical capacity of Sri Lankan talent.
Along with the availability of private universities that focus on technology and engineering (e.g., SLIIT. SLTC, etc.), students in Sri Lanka have also had the opportunity to participate in and attend several other I.T. programs that enhance their technical skills. These programs provide students access to world-class global material and courses from institutions such as Google, Harvard University, etc., accelerating their tech career and enhancing their competitiveness within the global talent pool. Some notable programs in the country include:
Google Summer of Code -Google Summer of Code is a global, online program focused on bringing new contributors into open source software development.. Participants work on a programming project lasting 12 or more weeks with an open-source organization, receiving guidance from mentors. Now in its 20th year, Sri Lanka has been one of the most famous participants, participating since its inception in 2004. The University of Moratuwa has led participation in the program for many years and accounts for one of the highest total participation by a single university in the program.
D.P. Education – Founded by one of the wealthiest men in Sri Lanka, DP Education, founded by Dhammika Perera, is an initiative focusing on increasing quality and access to digital education and learning. The platform has partnerships with Microsoft, The University of Moratuwa, UNICEF, Age of Learning, and more, and it provides a variety of courses across programming, coding, robotics, and general technology skills. D.P. Education received ‘The Disruptor Award‘ by Bett Asia in 2023 for its innovation in reshaping the education landscape. According to a recent article, the program has helped boost the I.T. sector by empowering 30K students through 142 campuses.
Springboard – Founded by Calcey in 2023, Springboard is a no-strings-attached scholarship to students who participated in MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from the world’s best universities, curated by Calcey’s engineering leaders. The curriculum, which consists of courses from universities and organizations such as Harvard, Georgia Tech, IBM, University of Michigan, and TUDelft, was delivered via its exclusive partner – EdX.com. The program concluded in mid-2024 and provided more than 20 students with a blended learning approach, equipping them with adequate skills for the demands of the global tech environment.
Advanced English Proficiency
Sri Lanka has a higher literacy rate than its neighbors in Asia boasting a rate of 92%. The government has two official languages, Sinhala and Tamil. However, English is considered a link language between many people in the country. In practice, English in Sri Lanka plays a significant role. It is used in the Supreme Court, is prevalent in media and advertising, is resurging in education, and is the preferred language in private business and commerce. Among many people, especially in the capital of Colombo, English is considered a native language. This should be no surprise, as the island was a British colony for over 100 years.
Though most of the population use Sinhala as their primary language medium during their education, they begin to learn English at the start or during pre-school, as shown in the figure below. The data from British Council also show that students are also spending considerable time learning English in school, with ~50% of students spending between 3-6 hours per week on English. The report also found that ~75% of students chose to study English outside school.
The grade participating students from Sri Lanka started learning English
Furthermore, according to the latest IELTS data, the standardized English language proficiency test for non-native English speakers globally, Sri Lanka ranks higher compared to other countries in the Asian region. As shown in the figure below, the average performance by Sri Lankans in the Academic exam ranks 7th highest in Asia. It significantly outperforms the average score of 6.1 among Asian students. The government of Sri Lanka is placing further emphasis on English proficiency and hopes to roll out the’ English for All’ by 2030. These initiatives, combined with many young Sri Lankans consuming digital content primarily in English, show that the country is well on its way to further increasing the number of people ready to contribute to the global economy.
IELTS, Academic Mean Performance by Nationality, 2022
Source: Authors own analysis of IELTS data, 2022.
The Allure of USD Salaries
Traditionally, for companies employing Sri Lankan workers, remuneration was paid out in the country’s local currency, the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). In 2022, when Sri Lanka went through an unprecedented economic crisis, the Rupee reached an all-time low relative to the U.S. Dollar. While many companies were struggling to stay afloat, the tech sector was mostly facing a brain drain. Many of the highly skilled personnel in the country were seeking opportunities abroad. As a result, these companies, primarily those offering software outsourcing services, decided to provide salaries pegged to the USD. Calcey Technologies was one of the first companies to start paying salaries adjusted to U.S. dollars in 2022; here is what CEO & Co-Founder Mangala Karunaratne had to say:
“We started moving towards USD-pegged compensation in the early part of this year. As with all our other great ideas, this too was actually suggested by our own people. The fact that 70+ other IT/BPO firms have since done the same suggests that we were right”
The currency has stabilized, but the trend of employees seeking USD or Euro payouts is prevalent. According to an independent analysis, more than 192 companies out of 300 currently offer remuneration pegged to a foreign currency. As the employees of foreign contractors are exempt from local income taxes, it makes them even more attractive to prospective employees.Consequently, many young and aspiring individuals look to work in the tech sector, specifically for companies offering these benefits.
As a result, there is a significant opportunity for companies to enter and operate in the Sri Lankan market, specifically companies that can offer Sri Lankan I.T. talent the ability to work with a global clientele, compensate them in foreign currency, and enjoy economic benefits.
Where do the Top Minds Land?
I’ve made the case for why Sri Lankan I.T. talent ranks among the best in the world for companies looking to augment their operations or begin an evergreen venture. But where does all the top-tier talent work? Throughout the article, we’ve drawn several similarities between Sri Lanka and South India. However, one instance where the difference is evident is the presence of large multinational I.T. companies. Several cities in South India are home to offices from Google, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft, among others. The presence of large MNC’s results in many I.T. workers in India preferring to work for these global giants, as well as unicorn local startups that offer employees equity. However, in Sri Lanka, there are no FAANG offices or delivery centers. As a result, the top-tier talent tends to go to companies that can offer them competitive forex-pegged salaries and the ability to work closely with foreign clients, and they are most often the I.T./software outsourcing companies.
While Sri Lanka lacks the presence of the FAANGS of the world, Sri Lanka is home to some notable success stories. For example, early this year, Colombo founded, open-source software company WS02 was fully acquired by one of the largest Private Equity companies in the world, EQT for 600M. In 2021, global engineering services giant Virtusa, founded in 1997 in Sri Lanka, was acquired by Baring Private Equity Asia for $2B in 2021, marking one of the largest tech deals in Asia. Sri Lankans also developed ‘The Millenium Exchange’, the Electronic Trading Platform responsible for powering the London Stock Exchange, and many other exchanges across the globe. In 2009, Millennium I.T., the company that developed the product, was acquired by the London Stock Exchange Group for a deal estimated to be worth ~$30M. Despite these companies’ global successes, they are still deeply rooted in Sri Lanka. WS02 and Virtusa are headquartered in the U.S., andLSEG in the U.K, but all of these companies still maintain their primary delivery centers in Colombo. This is a testament to the overall technical capacity of Sri Lankan talent, and its ecosystem.
The Pearl of the Delivery World?
These success stories and the abundance of highly skilled technical talent have helped accelerate Sri Lanka’s overall I.T. capabilities. Sri Lanka is typically an outsourcing destination for back-office services (BPO). However, many foreign companies are realizing the untapped potential that Sri Lanka has to offer vis a vis their strong English proficiency, focus on STEM, and the inclination for employees to showcase their talents on the global front. In the recent past, we’ve seen several well-known brands set up in Sri Lanka, looking to capitalize on the talent pool. Notable examples include:
OceansXYZ—Oceans hires operational talent in Sri Lanka and matches them with world-class startups around the globe. Founded in 2022, the company employs more than 250 people from Sri Lanka. In a recent interview, this is what OceansXYZ Founder Ian Myers had to say about Sri Lankan talent.
“I realized there is nowhere on the planet with a better price-to-talent ratio than Sri Lanka.There are a few reasons for this. One is their strong university system with close ties to the U.K. university system. You have a very Western-educated population. The difference between Sri Lanka and for instance, The Philippines, is that remote workers typically handle customer service roles. In Sri Lanka, the workers are experienced in accounting, growth marketing, sales, admin operations, and finance. This island probably has the most CFAs per capita out of any country worldwide.”
HCL Technologies – In 2020, HCL established a global delivery center in Colombo. In 2021, HCL expanded its presence in Sri Lanka by opening a new facility that can house around 4000 employees.
“Sri Lanka is one of HCL’s key global delivery hubs and we are very excited to continue expanding our operations in the country with the opening of our new office here,” – Prateek Aggarwal, Chief Financial Officer, HCL Technologies.”
Although the total number of companies present is still less than in other major outsourcing hubs such as India, Vietnam, and the Philippines, global companies entering Sri Lanka to establish delivery centers and capitalize on talent is not a recent phenomenon. The image below highlights some international companies that have established delivery centers in Sri Lanka across several verticals.
Many of these companies use Sri Lanka as their primary delivery hub or use the abundance of talent available to augment their overall delivery capabilities. Regardless of the model deployed, almost all of them have doubled down on their Sri Lankan operations and continue to enjoy the benefits of both cost arbitrage and engineering arbitrage (i.e., the benefits of software engineering and cost reduction as a part of it).
Conclusion
If you’ve made it through to this section, congrats! I bet we’ve laid down a fact-based and objective analysis of why Sri Lanka is the next breakthrough destination for servicing the global IT industry. This little island and its picturesque scenery offer some of the best talent you can find in the world, along with robust infrastructure to support it. The cultural attitudes that drive students to pursue STEM fields and occupations, the quality of its private education system, the emergence of impactful tech focused micro education programs, and strong English proficiency are all positive factors that contribute to Sri Lanka’s position as a premier hub for the global IT industry. In addition, the growing demand among the prospective and current working population to work for global companies and earn in foreign currency provides international companies looking to enter the Sri Lankan market with a highly competitive advantage.
Calcey is proud to be a part of this thriving ecosystem, and remains deeply rooted in Sri Lanka. We specialize in transforming legacy systems, building scalable products, and guiding companies through the complexities of software development. We specialize in creating successful outsourcing partnerships based on:
Skilled, Remote-Ready Developers: Access a global talent pool of passionate developers who thrive in remote environments.
Independent, Self-Managing Teams: Our model empowers teams to work autonomously, fostering ownership and accountability.
Focus on Tools & Communication: We ensure your team has the tools and clear communication channels to collaborate seamlessly.
Since the dawn of the decade, the tech sector has witnessed unprecedented growth which led to a surge in salaries of technical talent, and mass-scale hiring. However, 4 years later, the tech industry faces immense challenges associated with hiring, and affording technical talent. According to Coderpad, an increasing number of organizations are hiring internationally, specifically rising from 41% to 51% in 2024. As a result, organizations are looking at outsourced providers to increase the size and diversity of their talent pool, and this is the most popular way to cast a wider net of talent.
Consequently, given the conditions of the tech industry, the Resource Augmented Model (RAM) stands out as an attractive strategy for organizations aiming to achieve sustainable growth and competitive advantage.
In short, resource augmentation lets you hire top tech talent on demand, boosting project agility and cost-efficiency. Resource Augmentation provides the most appropriate resources at the right time for immediate working with start-ups, mid-tier, and large enterprises and meeting all of your project objectives. This article examines why the resource-augmentation model makes business sense today, and why traditional hiring practices don’t provide a practical solution.
Why you Should Reconsider your Approach
Soaring Developer Salaries
If you’re a business owner, or a hiring manager looking to hire tech talent in 2024, this one might hit home. The pandemic induced a boom in tech, leading to an unprecedented salary rise. According to ADP, in 2019, the average base salary for a U.S. developer was $110K. By 2022, it grew to $120K, now at $130K. On average, developers earn 2x the median annual salary in the U.S.
Between 2018 and 2024, U.S. software developer base salaries increased by a larger dollar amount than average, But that’s because their baseline salary was higher than average to start.
The increase in salaries for key developer roles is also highlighted in Stack Overflow’s latest Developer Survey. According to the data, in the United States, between 2022 and 2024, the average salary of a mobile developer grew at a CAGR of ~13%, while the average salary of a back-end developer grew at a rate of ~6.5%.
Similarly, across the Atlantic, the German tech industry also saw an increase in salaries. According to Stack Overflow, the average salaries of mobile and back-end developers grew at a CAGR of ~7% between 2022 and 2023. The salaries for roles such as full-stack developer, and front-end developer also rose, albeit at a much slower rate than the rest.
The U.K. has also fallen victim to rising developer salaries, and despite salaries across key developer roles slightly decreasing in 2023, largely driven the country’s poor economic performance, by 2024, the average cost of hiring a developer increased across the board. The average salary of a mobile developer increased by a CAGR of ~8% between 2022 and 2024, while back-end developer, and full-stack developer salaries grew by ~3%.
A recent study of global tech talent by the Linux Foundation found that over 95% of organizations view hiring technical talent important. However, technical recruiting poses a significant challenge. Moreover, 43% of organizations report high costs and long recruitment times, often without securing the ideal candidate. This can lead to project delays (38%) and difficulty verifying claimed skills (37%).
According to 43% of respondents, recruitment is costly, time consuming, and often does not lead to the right candidate
What are the main challenges to hiring technical staff?
Similarly, a study by Pluralsight in 2024 revealed that the costs associated with filling an open position are staggering. Imagine a vacant technologist role with an average salary of $90,000. Considering they contribute 3x of their salary in value, a nine-week search to fill the position translates to a missed opportunity cost of $65,423. In total, the study by Pluralsight found that the average cost of hiring new tech talent in the U.S. is $23,450, and is £32,178 (per employee) in the U.K.
Longer Hiring Cycles
Technical recruiting remains a formidable challenge for organizations, with 43% citing its costliness, time-consuming nature, and frequent failure to find suitable candidates as primary concerns. Delving deeper into the duration of the hiring process; the Linux Foundation revealed that organizations spend an average of 5.4 months on recruitment, with 64% taking over four months to fill open positions. Particularly concerning is the trend indicating a lengthening hiring process compared with 2023, with an average time of 4.6 months.
On average, how long does it take to hire a headcount to fill an open technical position in your organization?
Analysis across different technical roles reveals consistent timelines, with executive management roles requiring the longest recruitment periods, averaging 6.2 months, followed by AI/ML engineers and SRE/platform engineers. Conversely, front-end/back-end developers and network administrators generally have shorter hiring periods.
About how long does it take to hire a headcount to fill an open position in your organization for the following technical roles?
The onset of the pandemic changed the way the tech sector worked, and caused a drastic shift in the psyche of employees in the sector. Remote and distributed work is no longer a perk, it is considered essential. This is reflected in the numbers published by Stack Overflow’s 2023 Developer Survey. They discovered that currently, ~88% of developers work in a remote environment, with 44% working fully remotely. However, some companies are now mandating that their staff come back into the offices full time, which hasn’t gone down too well with everyone. But this mandate might lead to significant ramifications such as employees leaving their jobs for companies that offer the flexibility of remote work.
A survey from FlexJobs found that 63% of people say “having remote work” is what’s most important to them in a job, even ahead of salary (61%), having a flexible schedule (55%), work-life boundaries (54%), or having a good boss (48%). Additionally, 63% of working professionals are willing to take a salary cut to work remotely, with 17% stating they would take a 20% decrease in salary. Finally, a survey from Spiceworks discovered that 78% of job seekers plan to apply for remote roles, highlighting the desire for ongoing flexible work schedules.
As shown in the image below, the distributed model is not going away. The Harvard Business Review projects that by 2030, the distributed model (i.e., hybrid and remote work) will account for more than a quarter of an average organization’s full-time employees.
What share of your firm’s full-time employees are in each category?
As Maslow said, employees are complex because their motivations and satisfaction are influenced by various factors across security, social, self esteem etc. which must be addressed to foster engagement, productivity, and loyalty. This statement rang true then and still rings true today. Beyond their monthly/annual remuneration, tech employees have a growing list of demands that they want to be fulfilled. These demands play a substantial role in influencing their decision on where they want to work. These expectations also significantly influence an employee’s motivation and engagement.
As shown in the image above, health insurance, PTO, 401k matching and pension benefits remain most important to tech professionals. While the share of those claiming these benefits as important has trended downward over the past few years, tech workers regard them as the most important. A study from AON found that average costs for U.S. employers that pay for their employees’ health care will increase 8.5% to more than $15,000 per employee in 2024.
Moreover, the data indicates a huge disparity between the benefits tech workers want and the ones they have. For example, while 53% of tech workers report that they want a work-from-home stipend, only 19% have it. There are similar gaps in benefits such as stock programs, training and education, commuter assistance, and dependent care. The information suggests that costs associated with providing benefits, motivating and engaging their employees will only continue to rise, placing substantial cost pressures on Executives across organizations.
When to use Resource Augmentation?
Rapid Team Scaling
In today’s fast-paced business world, companies often need to rapidly grow their development teams to keep up with sudden project demands or seize new opportunities. The Resource Augmentation Model (RAM) makes this possible by allowing businesses to quickly bring in additional developers with the right skills. This is especially helpful for startups or companies in expansion mode, where getting to market quickly is critical.
Access to Specialized Skill Sets
Sometimes, a project requires specialized expertise in areas like AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, or blockchain technology. RAM helps businesses tap into a pool of experts with these niche skills, without the need for long-term hires or extensive training.
Managing Variable Workloads
Workloads in software development can be unpredictable, with big spikes during new feature rollouts, product launches, or major updates. RAM offers the flexibility to scale up resources when needed and scale down when things calm down. This not only optimizes resource use but also keeps costs in check, as businesses only pay for the extra help when it’s required.
Short-term Projects and Prototypes
For short-term projects like prototypes or Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), RAM is a perfect fit. It allows companies to bring in the expertise they need for a limited time, ensuring the project’s success without the commitment of full-time hires. This is particularly useful for innovation labs and R&D departments that work on exploratory projects with uncertain outcomes. By using RAM, businesses can speed up development and have more room to experiment and innovate.
Cost Management and Budget Flexibility
Managing costs is always a top priority, and RAM offers a cost-effective solution. By turning the fixed costs of full-time employees into variable costs, businesses can better manage their budgets. This model is especially beneficial for companies with fluctuating project demands, as they only pay for resources when needed. This financial flexibility helps maintain stability and ensures that budgets are used wisely.
Addressing Talent Shortages
In areas where there’s a shortage of skilled software developers, RAM provides a practical solution by opening access to a global talent pool. This approach helps businesses overcome local talent shortages, keeping development projects on track without delays. It also brings a diverse range of skills and perspectives to the team, leading to more innovative and resilient solutions.
Case Study: Driving Nelly.com’s Success with the Resource Augmentation Model
Fast fashion e-commerce thrives on marginal gains—whether it’s a faster website, a more immersive shopping experience, or a smart recommendation engine, every detail counts in encouraging customers to complete their purchases. Recognizing this, Nelly.com, one of the largest online fashion retailers in the Nordics, sought a software engineering partner that could not only help them stay ahead of competitors like Amazon but also work closely with their in-house team while focusing on long-term product goals. Nelly turned to Calcey, leveraging the Resource Augmentation Model to achieve these objectives.
Calcey’s partnership with Nelly began with an integration of Nelly’s in-house developers into Calcey’s team. This close-knit collaboration led to the overhaul of Nelly’s critical backend systems, making them future-proof and scalable. Together, the teams; built Nelly’s Android mobile app from the ground up, ensuring it was fast, data-efficient, and featured new functionalities like a ‘Swipe Feed’ to enhance user engagement. Additionally, the team developed innovative solutions such as a ‘nice price’ module to provide accurate pricing information based on exchange rates and customs duties, improving the overall customer experience.
“We needed a partner where we had the possibility of scaling the number of resources we needed up and down. We also wanted a partner with a wide skill set so that we can draw on backend developers one day and app developers the next day, for both iOS and Android apps, which we are using today.” — Henrik Palmquist, Former CTO, Nelly.com
The collaboration between Calcey and Nelly has yielded tremendous results. Beyond just technical improvements, Calcey took ownership of maintaining Nelly’s mobile apps, internal software, and other web properties, including NLYMAN.com. The success of this partnership is evident in Nelly’s growth, with the company reporting net sales of nearly SEK 1.3 billion in 2020, despite global economic challenges
This case study exemplifies how the Resource Augmentation Model can deliver significant value, allowing companies like Nelly to scale their development capabilities and achieve sustained growth in a competitive market.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as more employees prefer remote work and the costs of hiring and retaining tech talent continue to rise, it is becoming increasingly challenging for organizations to meet these demands. The Resource Augmentation Model emerges as a standout solution, offering a cost-effective way to acquire skilled developers and scale development efforts. With established companies specializing in this model, it provides a viable path for organizations to enhance their capabilities and stay competitive in the global market.
Calcey is a Gartner-recognized, boutique technology consulting and software product engineering provider, known for rapidly launching products to market tailored approach. We excel in total project ownership, offering a complete range of services from design to development. Specializing in the Resource Augmented Model, we integrate specialized talent into your teams, ensuring flexibility, cost efficiency, and high-quality delivery to meet the demands of complex projects, across several industries such as e-commerce, media, healthcare, fintech many more!
At Calcey, we’ve recognized the immense potential and value that can be unlocked with Generative AI (GenAI). Recently, we published a blog on how we’ve unlocked value for our Clients using GenAI across several use cases.
GenAI is all the rage and appears to be going nowhere. The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris is set to showcase a significant integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Generative AI, in various aspects of the event. This marks a transformative shift in how athletes, coaches, and fans experience the Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has embraced AI through its “Olympic AI Agenda,” which aims to leverage AI’s capabilities to enhance performance, improve logistics, and enrich the viewing experience. Here’s a detailed exploration of how Generative AI is being utilized at the Olympics.
Source: olympics.com
Enhancing Athlete Experience
AthleteGPT: A Personalized Assistant
One of the most valuable applications of Generative AI at the Paris Olympics is the introduction of AthleteGPT, a chatbot designed specifically for athletes. Accessible via the Athlete365 mobile app, this AI-powered assistant will provide athletes with real-time answers to a wide range of questions, from logistical inquiries about venues to information on regulations and schedules. Built on a large language model developed by Mistral AI and Intel, AthleteGPT can quickly sift through thousands of information pages, offering 24/7 support to athletes during the Games.
Protection from Online Abuse
A brand new IOC Assistant Chatbot, powered by Intel’s Gaudi 2 generative AI platform, can answer match and regulation questions for participants. Using machine learning, it is being used to create a safer environment for athletes. The AI-powered system will monitor thousands of accounts on all major social media platforms and in 35+ languages in real-time. Any identified threats will be flagged, so that abusive messages can be dealt with effectively by the relevant social media platforms – in many cases before the athlete has even had the chance to see the abuse.
Performance Analysis and Training
Generative AI is also set to revolutionize training and performance analysis. AI technologies will provide athletes and coaches with personalized insights, helping them to optimize their training regimens and recovery strategies. Intel’s and ai.io’s 3D athlete tracking (3DAT) technology uses AI to track 21 points across the human body to render its precise physical movement, providing “all the biomechanical insights that coaches look for” in elite athletes. Intel’s 3DAT technology, originally developed to showcase the potential of AI at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and featured prominently at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, has been used to analyze professional and amateur athletes across many sports.
Improving Broadcasting and Viewer Engagement
Enhanced Viewing Experiences
Intel, the Official Worldwide AI Platform Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 unveiled several AI experiences built on Intel hardware and software to facilitate next-generation engagement for spectators, athletes, organizers, and fans worldwide The key AI implementations include an immersive sports experience that will allow fans to experience innovative technology used to measure athletic potential. It is also the first Olympics to showcase an end-to-end 8K broadcasting experience, along with advancements in universal accessibility at selected Olympic and Paralympic facilities.
Additionally, NBC’s Peacock service will use AI to enhance its web and mobile event coverage. Using 5,000 hours of live coverage, it will be used to replicate the voice of American sportscaster Al Michaels, who has over 50 years of experience in the field. Every day, 10-minute highlight tracks customized to each user’s topic and preferred sport will be created using his voice and marketed as “Your Daily Olympic Recap.“
Source: Peacock/NBCUniversal
AI-Driven Statistics
In order to deliver faster, more relevant, and smarter data during the Olympic Games, OBS will collaborate with OMEGA (the official timekeeper of the games) to unleash the potential of AI. For example, intelligent stroboscopic analysis across diving, athletics and artistic gymnastics will enable viewers to better understand the movements and biomechanics of the athletes. Furthermore, OBS and OMEGA will employ AI to provide improved data visuals for diving, offering a fresh set of information on each athlete’s performance both in the air and as they descend into the water. Additionally, commentators and viewers will be able to follow participants’ positions during canoe sprints, marathons, race walks, road cycling events (road races and time trials), cycling.
Accessibility & Immersion
With the use of on-site LiDAR devices, Intel has introduced new wayfinding technology that enables blind or low-vision individuals to get turn-by-turn, real-time interior navigation. It is founded on an ongoing collaboration between GoodMaps and Intel for indoor navigation.
Furthermore, an AI-powered fan activation created by Intel allows viewers to experience what it’s like to be an Olympic athlete. The experience, which is optimized with Intel OpenVINO, runs on Intel Xeon processors with integrated AI acceleration and is trained on Intel Gaudi accelerators. AI and computer vision are used to analyze athletic drills and match each participant’s profile to an Olympic sport.
Supporting Event Logistics and Safety
Digital Twinning
AI-driven digital twinning technology is set to streamline operational planning by simulating venue scenarios, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring seamless event execution. This collaborative effort, led by Atos and a consortium of technology experts, aims to create a fully connected and secure environment for the Paris Games. The technology will inform operational decisions, including venue setup and resource allocation. This data-driven approach aims to enhance efficiency and sustainability throughout the event.
Resource Allocation
AI platforms will deliver critical customer insights onsite, with a people-counting system installed at venue media centers and Olympic family lounges within all of the Olympic sites in the Paris area. Using stereoscopic sensors along and machine learning to count the number of people coming in and out of the different venues. This allows for optimizing resources like food and beverage supplies, security, transportation needs, and more, based on real-time data about venue occupancy. As installed, the system “monitors the speed and height of an object that’s moving and based on those two elements it can decide whether it is a person or, for instance, a pram.
Conclusion
The 2024 Paris Olympics represents a pivotal moment for the integration of AI, particularly generative AI, in sports. From enhancing athlete training and performance to revolutionizing broadcasting and improving event logistics, AI is set to play a crucial role in shaping the Olympic experience. The successful implementation of AI at the Olympics could serve as a model for future sporting events, paving the way for a new era of innovation in athletics.
At Calcey, we pride ourselves on our ability to solve complex business problems using the most appropriate technology. Get in touch, if you’re a business owner looking to collaborate with a team that can quickly grasp business problems and leverage the latest tools to swiftly deliver proof of value.
