Introduction
Ruby on Rails (RoR) is the perfect technology to be used in a time of crisis. It has always enjoyed great popularity for creating MVPs - starting small, and then scaling fast. The time needed to develop working Ruby on Rails software is much shorter than for many other languages, making the process cost-effective. This can be especially important with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting so many industries. Many companies are forced to switch to a remote work model and interact with customers exclusively through apps.
Ruby on Rails is an extremely popular web development framework for the Ruby programming language. It was designed with simplicity and speed in mind, and has become one of the most mature web development technologies, with a robust community and extensive documentation. It allows developers to write understandable code, strongly encourages best programming practices, and offers a treasure trove of resources (from tutorials to ready-made reusable code) that help teams focus on project-specific challenges, rather than on reinventing the log-in feature for the thousandth time.
RoR’s benefits for different industries
All industries - remote collaboration tools
Whether you need an app to track your internal processes or to empower your employees to work more effectively, you can build one quickly with Ruby on Rails. This could be especially important during the coronavirus outbreak, as face-to-face communication should, ideally, be entirely replaced, possibly for several months. There are also many existing solutions for remote communication and collaboration (such as our own PM Sentry, a time tracker written in RoR).
All industries - business process automation
Another aspect important for various businesses is the optimization and automation of internal processes. Because of the coronavirus crisis, now is the perfect time to cut costs and improve efficiency. Perhaps an automated document flow pipeline could help you focus your resources on facing the challenge. A RoR app can deal with the mundane and everyday tasks in the background, allowing you to redirect skilled employees to where you need them the most.
Consumer goods - online shopping, remote package collection, vehicle sharing
Businesses dependent on the exchange of goods can be the most vulnerable during the pandemic crisis. Instead of closing your store, however, you can launch a successful e-commerce platform and integrate it with a trusted shipping service for maximum safety. One of our clients, Boomf, needed an integration with DHL - and we built it with Ruby on Rails.
Education - e-learning apps
Studying online seems to be the only viable options when schools remain closed to battle the pandemic. If your company offers lessons or courses, it can be a perfect distraction for all the people stuck at their homes and looking for productive activities. With a good e-learning app you can not only stay on the market, but also bring some relief to your students. We’ve built an ERP system for a global online training center, Woospeak, using Ruby on Rails, with helpful features such as scheduling and automated reports.
Logistics - units and package tracking/identification
We’ve written an entire article on how technologies are changing the logistics and shipping industry - take a look if you’re curious about delivery drones and autonomous pizza delivery. While those concepts won’t become reality for some time yet, you can use Ruby on Rails to help your logistics business today. Unit and package tracking (either with sensors or code scanners) are a fantastic way to automate some of your processes, with the added benefit of improved precision.
You can build a Ruby on Rails backend, an API, and an exposed web panel for package receivers, then use a mobile app for couriers and logistics service providers). The digital twin is another option - a virtual representation of your assets, used to analyze business performance and predict process outcomes.
Healthcare - administration systems & remote healthcare services
The industry that has been hit the hardest by COVID-19 is easily healthcare. Added support thanks to digital administration systems and tools allowing doctors and nurses to provide some of their services remotely could make a huge difference in fighting the virus. Apps automating and optimizing internal processes can also be part of the effort to relieve overextended healthcare systems. Ruby on Rails is a perfect candidate for building such tools, as it’s a very stable, mature framework. Its security has long been verified by a worldwide community of coders offering their knowledge and support.
Whether we like it or not, the world will be changed by the pandemic. One of the ways to protect the economy is to maintain operations despite the challenges presented by remote work and running a business online. Ruby on Rails offers unique rapid app development capability, allowing companies to act quickly, minimise losses, and protect their employees, customers and partners in these difficult times.
If you’re considering building a custom RoR app, or improving on an existing one, let us know. We specialise in RoR development, and, as a remote-first company with a decade of experience in online collaboration, we can help.
