What does Mobile World Congress 2022 bring?

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MWC Barcelona Connectivity Unleashed

MWC Barcelona Connectivity Unleashed

The mobile technology industry event reopens its doors at the Fira de Barcelona exhibition center in L’Hospitalet. It recovers the presentiality after the suspension of 2020 and the reduced version of 2021. What does this new Mobile bring us? Connectivity Unleashed is the motto of this edition and gives many clues to the content.

Undoubtedly 5G will be one of the prominent themes of the event. After some demonstrations of this technology were made in 2019, in 2022 many people can already use it in different parts of the country. The implementation is a reality and boosts connectivity between users and smart devices. The possibility of transmitting data faster, combined with artificial intelligence, brings us closer to the so-called Internet of Things, where most processes will be automated.

The arrival of 6G

5G is advancing, but our sights are already set on 6G, the sixth generation of mobile connectivity. The aim of this technology is to further reduce latency in connections and increase transmission speed. The standards for this technology, which South Korea intends to implement in its first pilot project in 2026, will be discussed during the congress. It is expected to be implemented in 2030.

In addition to 5G and 6G, industry and professionals will focus these days on addressing topics such as financial technology, artificial intelligence, cloud technology, the Internet of Things, climate issues and cybersecurity. The GSMA also includes a new area showcasing connected technology leadership in industries such as financial technology or smart mobility.

The latest mobile models

In Barcelona, the world’s leading technology brands are also showcasing their latest mobile devices. What’s new? Multiple cameras with improved optics, smartwatches, foldable mobiles and faster battery charging. Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi have not missed the opportunity to participate in this world reference event.

 

Tenerife, new trail running destination for the Open Trail Races app

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Open Trail Races (OTR) allows trail running all year round.

Open Trail Races (OTR) allows trail running all year round.

There are more and more followers of trail running throughout the year, without the need to wait for a specific competition. For all of them, here comes great news. The racing app Open Trail Races (OTR) incorporates Tenerife as a new trail running destination.

Tenerife has a series of conditions that make it ideal for this sport: altitude, varied terrain, many trails and an optimal climate throughout the year. For this reason, Tenerife Tourism has decided to include it in the OTR app. It has counted on the collaboration of trail runner David Lutzardo to select the best trails on the island.

ASM and Open Trail Races

We are very happy to see that the app is growing. The ASM Web Services team developed the Open Trail Races app for The Trail Zone, a company dedicated to sports tourism.

To use it, the user installs it on the device with which he will follow the route, registers and downloads the race track. To follow the routes, a GPS device is required, as the routes are not specifically marked for environmental, ecological and respectful reasons. The OTR application also allows virtual competitions between runners comparing times and rankings to encourage participation.

 

ASM Web Services launches new headquarters in Barcelona

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New ASM Web Services headquarters in Barcelona

New ASM Web Services headquarters in Barcelona

After 10 years developing our activity in Viladecans, ASM Web Services returns to Barcelona, where we started our business career. The new ASMWS headquarters is located at Avenida Madrid, 95. A well connected enclave, located very close to Sants Station, which will facilitate the mobility of our team as well as that of our clients from the rest of Spain.

New ASMWS Headquarters

The new headquarters will streamline the mobility of our team as well as that of our customers in the rest of Spain.

Closer proximity to customers and more synergies in the teams.

The change of headquarters is aimed at “facilitating proximity with our customers and partners such as Magento or VTEX, and also with our employees when it comes to combining face-to-face work and teleworking,” according to Justo Soria, CEO and founder of ASMWS.

“We now have more space and more videoconferencing and meeting rooms for the technical team to work more comfortably and create synergies between engineering teams,” he says. In addition, he adds, “working from these new offices in Barcelona will facilitate the integration of the new Mobile Apps development company, which is also located in the same city”.

 

New ASMWS Headquarters

The Barcelona site allows the creation of new synergies between ASMWS teams.

The new headquarters culminates a process of evolution

The move to these new offices in Barcelona is the culmination of a process of evolution of the company. This began with the implementation of the new operating model, which we launched at the beginning of 2021, and which involved the creation of the tech hubs.

Currently, the company has two highly specialized development centers: one in Barcelona, focused on the development of Mobile Apps, and another in León, dedicated to Software Engineering and Pricing Optimization Tools.

 

Two ASM Web Services solutions at Mobile World Congress 2021

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Lead Retrieval enables real-time contact management

Lead Retrieval enables real-time contact management

After a year of forced absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mobile World Congress returns to Barcelona. This edition focuses on the use of 5G for more sustainable mobility, and will address other challenges of the society of the future.

In a context still marked by health prevention measures, the world reference event bets on two technological solutions developed by the mobile apps team of ASM Web Services: the Lead Retrieval and Vip Drop Off applications.

Lead Retrieval App

Lead Retrieval is a mobile app for real-time contact management that uses NFC technology and QR codes. Through its use, physical contact between Mobile World Congress attendees is avoided, in addition to controlling access to the event and, in the event that there were any Covid-19 positive among the attendees, it would allow the traceability of who may have been in contact with this person.

This tool, designed for exhibitors, allows scanning the QR code included in the visitors’ pass to the stand to obtain instant and detailed information about their profile. In addition, it makes it easy to obtain contacts instantly by bringing the cell phone close to the visitor’s pass via NFC.

Lead Retrieval facilitates the management of potential customers contacted during the event, visualizing reports with different filters, allowing exporting them in Excel format, as well as carrying out surveys or sending documents to the captured contacts.

VIP Drop Off App

The solution provided by the VIP Drop Off app is different. In this case it is focused on the management of the parking area of the Mobile World Congress.

Before arriving at the show, each visitor can request a sticker with NFC technology for his or her vehicle, which must be placed on the front window. Thanks to this identifier, the event staff managing the parking area will have information on each car arriving or leaving the parking lot by simply placing a mobile device with the VIP Drop Off app near the sticker. In this way, the event organizer obtains the parking usage data of the visitors.

 

Find out what improvements are included in the new Akeneo PIM 5.0

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The new Akeneo PIM 5.0 version comes with a revamped rules engine / © Akeneo

The new Akeneo PIM 5.0 version comes with a revamped rules engine / © Akeneo

The new Akeneo PIM 5.0 is now available in Enterprise and Community editions. The French multinational Akeneo, of which ASM Web Services is an official partner, has released a revamped version of its product information management system. The new PIM comes a year after the previous version was launched during the Akeneo PIM Summit 2020. In this post we summarize the main new features.

1. Increase automation with Akeneo PIM 5.0

The new version of Akeneo PIM comes with a revamped rules engine that includes Rules Builder. This new screen will allow users to create and manage business rules more easily. The screen takes all actions from YML files (which will remain available) and allows marketing teams to, for example, automatically categorize products, copy attribute values or set defaults.

2. Increased connectivity

A new API has also been introduced to facilitate data synchronization and distribution with third-party applications. The Events API accelerates data synchronization between Akeneo PIM and third-party applications. This new API is complementary to the existing REST API.

In addition, the new Akeneo PIM 5.0 features enhancements to Connections to allow users to track sent and received data more accurately. Increased autonomy to act on synchronization errors.

3. More facilities for monitoring data quality

The enhanced Data Quality Insights dashboard is another new feature of Akeneo PIM 5.0. It is designed to make it easier to monitor product data quality and get recommendations on how to improve it. It incorporates advanced spell checking features and language coverage to meet the needs of internationalized businesses.

4. Improves import and export

Import and export capabilities are also improved. A stop button and progress bar have been added, as well as new export profiles for assets and reference entities. Users can choose to export attribute tags instead of attribute codes.

5. Add custom units of measure

Finally, Akeneo PIM 5.0 allows you to easily create custom measurement units and measurement families, which join the wide range of traditional and standard measurements available in PIM.

Interested in any of the new features of the new version of Akeneo PIM? Get in touch with us. The ASM Web Services team will help you integrate this management system into your eCommerce.

 

Evolution in times of pandemic (Summary of the year)

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2020 has without a doubt been marked by the coronavirus pandemic. The new context generated has forced society to reinvent itself to overcome an unprecedented situation. At ASM Web Services we have done our best to make adversity an opportunity. Throughout the year we have worked on the evolution of our operating model, a process that has led to an internal reshuffle, the creation of new production areas and the inauguration of another territorial office.

We open an office in Madrid

In 2018 we began the deployment of an expansion strategy for the domestic market, with the opening of an office in León. In September we took yet another step by opening a new office in Madrid, which manages all the projects in the areas of Madrid and Eastern Spain. It is headed by José Rodríguez, who has a background in telecommunications and IT, having worked for companies like Vodafone, Siemens and GE. He has extensive experience in the development of PIM–Product Information Management projects.

José Rodríguez de ASM Web Services

We open an office in Madrid headed by José Rodriguez

V2MSoftware takeover

In addition to territorial growth, this year we have also grown our team with the incorporation of the production unit of the V2MSoftware firm, which reinforces our mobile division. The process of acquiring V2MSoftware has meant integration into our organization of a specialized, highly qualified team that has worked for large, important customers such as Fira de Barcelona, TMB–Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona, AMB–Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona, Deliberry, Manusa, and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

We reorganize and launch a new website

The new internal organization has led to the creation of three new divisions, in addition to the already operational Product Information Management, E-commerce, Software Engineering and Mobile Apps units. The new divisions are Data Science, dedicated to data lifecycle management; the Pricing Optimization unit, focusing on developing software to monitor, calculate and manage dynamic pricing models; and finally the Systems and Cloud Computing unit, which specializes in creating cloud projects and cloud migrations.

This renewed operating model incorporates another innovative element, the ASM Tech Hubs. They are highly specialized development centres. We have launched three Tech Hubs, one in Barcelona, focusing on Mobile App development; another in Mataró, dedicated to Data Science projects, and a third  in León, dedicated to Software Engineering and Pricing Optimization Tools.

All these transformations have been reflected in the new website launched last July.

Hemos lanzado una nueva página web

We have launched a new website

A more specialized team in cloud migrations

We ended the first part of the summary of the year talking about our team. At ASM Web Services we have staff trained in cloud migration processes with hands-on experience and a thorough knowledge of multiple platforms. And in 2020 they have further expanded their capabilities. Systems technician David Solé has obtained the Azure Administrator Associate certification, while technical consultant Joaquín Jiménez has also extended his knowledge of cloud computing, obtaining five official certifications from Cloudinary.

Click here for the second part 

We expand our repertoire of technological solutions (Part 2)

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We carried out this process of introspection and evolution, which coincides with our 17th anniversary, alongside the development of technological projects for our clients. One of them was for Werfen.

A worldwide leader in in-vitro diagnostics, the company took the strategic decision to migrate from IBM SmartCloud to Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud. The project required Werfen’s SmartCloud services to coexist for a specific period alongside the new Office 365 cloud. To achieve this, a coexistence strategy was executed using Binary Tree’s CMT software.

In addition to this migration process, we must add the process we managed for General Optica, a company dedicated to the manufacture, design and distribution of optical fashion, who decided to move all their corporate mailboxes to Microsoft Office 365.

Roca takes the leap to Akeneo PIM 4.0

In 2020, Akeneo launched a new version of its PIM–Product Information Management system, Akeneo PIM 4.0. Precisely one of the most outstanding projects we carried out last year was linked to this launch and consisted of a migration from Akeneo 2.3 to Akeneo 4.0, which we carried out for Roca. .

To do that we had to clear the considerable technological leap between the two versions, especially with regard to the graphical interface, which in the current version was developed using React. We also developed the connector with Cloudinary DAM and created relationship attributes between products and entities.

Hemos gestionado la migración de la versión Akeneo 2.3 a la versión 4.0 para Roca. 

We managed migration from Akeneo 2.3 to Akeneo 4.0 for Roca

Optimization of Brico Depôt’s eCommerce infrastructures

Another project linked to the eCommerce sector was one carried out for Brico Depôt, a French chain of DIY, garden and home renovation products. It consisted of optimizing its online stores in Spain and Portugal, developed with Magento using the Azure infrastructure, Microsoft’s public pay-per-use cloud.

Restrictions on physical stores imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic sharply increased traffic to the Brico Depôt online store. In order to maintain optimum performance and to improve scalability, it was necessary to redefine its architecture in record time. To do that, we created elastic infrastructures in Kubernetes, a market-leading platform ideal for hosting cloud-native applications that require rapid expansion.

First development of a PWA for Bodegas Torres

The year that has just ended saw our debut in the field oBodegas Torres The year that has just ended saw our debut in the field of PWA–Progressive Web App development. Bodegas Torres decided to entrust us with the migration of its e-commerce platform to Magento 2 within their omnichannel strategy for the entire group. After analysing the characteristics of the project, we proposed development of a new Front End in ReactJS, and creation of an integrated PWA with a Magento 2 Back End, which will speed up browsing and improve online channel conversion.”> decided to entrust us with the migration of its eCommerce platform to Magento 2 within their omnichannel strategy for the entire group. After analysing the characteristics of the project, we proposed development of a new Front End in ReactJS, and creation of an integrated PWA with a Magento 2 Back End, which will speed up browsing and improve online channel conversion.

The project is still in execution and we estimate that it will be ready for delivery in April 2021.

Creamos una PWA integrada con un Back End de Magento 2 para Bodegas Torres

We create an integrated PWA with a Magento 2 Back End for Bodegas Torres

Implementation of a BOM system for CoverCar

An entirely different undertaking was the project for CoverCar, a company dedicated to stamping, cutting and sewing of textile covers and interiors for cars. As part of the project to implement the MRP system developed at the time by ASMWS and integrated with the SAP B1 ERP system, we designed and implemented a new tool to manage the BOM–Bill Of Materials system for them. We did this alongside customer order processing via EDI. The main objective of the BOM system is to feed the MRP—Material Requirements Planning system when determining how many components are needed, as well as when the Master Production Plan is to be executed. This is translated into a series of purchase orders and the manufacture of the materials necessary to satisfy the demand for the end products.

Concerning BOM system management and maintenance, we have managed to streamline and automate the Commercial and Engineering processes transversally and integrated them with the Purchasing, Logistics and Quality areas.

Covid-19 has forced us to rethink a lot of things, but at least one or two have remained the same for us: perseverance and teamwork, which are two good ways to overcome adversity.

 

Click here if you want to read the first part of the Summary of the year

ASM Web Services opens a new commercial delegation in Madrid

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José Rodríguez, nuevo Business Development Manager de ASM Web Services

José Rodríguez, Business Development Manager ASM Web Services

In its commitment to expansion in the national market, ASM Web Services has opened a new delegation in Madrid this September, in Alameda Street No. 22 (Atocha area), led by José Rodríguez as head of business development. The new ASM Web Services Business Development Manager will be in charge of leading all the projects carried out in the Madrid and Levante areas. Its objective is to continue increasing ASM’s business base in this territory and to offer greater proximity in the attention and service to customers.

José Rodríguez joined the company last July. He comes from the telecommunications and IT sector in companies such as Vodafone, Siemens and GE, where he has developed his professional career in the field of consulting. It is worth highlighting his experience in one of the solutions that ASM Web Services wants to promote in the national market, which is PIM (Product Information Management)

Growth and proximity in times of COVID

ASM Web Services continues to bet on business expansion and development in the midst of the pandemic to offer more direct attention. With the new incorporation and the opening of the headquarters in Madrid, it wants to offer a better service to its clients at a time when technology and teleworking are so necessary and indispensable for companies to continue developing their activity with the best guarantees and means to its scope.

ASM strengthens its mobile division with the absorption of V2MSoftware

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ASM strengthens its mobile division with the absorption of V2MSoftware

ASM strengthens its mobile division with the absorption of V2MSoftware

After months of negotiations, ASM has incorporated the production unit of the company V2MSoftware, strengthening its mobile division. The V2MSoftware takeover process includes the brand, the goodwill and the workforce. ASM thus incorporates a specialized and highly qualified team to its staff that has worked for important clients such as Fira de Barcelona, ​​Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), Area Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), Deliberry and Manusa, among others. V2MSoftware, specialized in the development and programming of mobile applications, has worked for 6 years at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The future is mobile

The considerable increase in demand for technological solutions related to mobility has created a favorable field in apps development for companies to be more competitive, increase their sales and offer a better user experience (UX). The data is clear: mobile app users see 4.6 times more products than those who do it through a mobile browser. These apps have an average order value 140% higher than that of orders made through the mobile browser and 130% higher than those made in the computer’s browser. In this context, ASM Webservices has been developing native iOS and Android mobile applications for years that work efficiently and save time and money in the long term. Some of the most outstanding projects in Video Streaming are the BeIN Connect app, to watch all the football live, and TVUp, the TV platform for PayTV operators. The VIP Drop-off app, for the management of the VIP car park at the Mobile World Congress, and the Manusa FaceApp for facial recognition for access control are two examples of the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) app by ASMWS.

ASM Web Services evolves its operating model and launches a new website

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ASM Web Services starts in a new era. In recent months we have been working on the evolution of our operating model, a dynamic process that has recently culminated and has led to an internal reorganization, the creation of new production areas. All these transformations are reflected in a new website, which is launched today.

The technology sector advances at breakneck speed and to achieve competitive agility it is necessary to transform, transform and transform again. Companies need speed and vision to continue growing in this volatile context. For this reason, at ASM Web Services we have opted to carry out a new structuring that entails the creation of new business units.

The new organization has meant that the units and operations of e-commerce, software engineering and mobile applications, have been added three new divisions. On the one hand, Data Science, dedicated to the management of the data life cycle. We have also incorporated the Pricing Optimization production unit, focused on the development of software to monitor, calculate and manage dynamic price models. And, finally, we have promoted the Systems and Cloud Computing unit, specialized in creating cloud projects and migrations to the cloud.

We created the ASMWS Tech Hubs

This renewed operating model incorporates another innovative element, the ASMWS Tech Hubs, highly specialized and distributed development centers.

We have launched three:

The new operating model is aimed at driving our future growth through a more dynamic and decentralized structure, which is better adapted to the current competitive scenario. The fleeting nature with which the technology sector evolves, added to the context generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused changes in customer behavior and in the ways of working, has made us adapt our strategic plan (and what we’ll have to keep doing it), while also reinforcing us in the idea that we had made the right decision.

All these transformations have materialized in a new website with a renewed structure and design. Each of the productive areas and the portfolio of services they include are explained in it.

We evolve to be more agile, more competitive, more efficient and to gain momentum towards the future.