Walking the Tightrope between Tech Innovation and Governance

This article first appeared in our monthly Jacksonville Daily Record Industry Insights Column How Companies Can Innovate Responsibly While Mitigating Risk There’s a wonderful line delivered by Jeff Goldblum in 1993’s box office smash movie “Jurassic Park” that perfectly crystalizes many of the biggest questions that companies struggle with today. “They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should,” says Dr. Ian Malcolm, a chaos theory scientist, as he confronts the man who has resurrected dinosaurs from extinct DNA, shortly before they escape and wreak havoc. While most modern-day businesses don’t need to worry about rampaging velociraptors, they do confront a familiar dilemma: embracing the latest technology to gain a competitive edge while ensuring these advancements align with their values and commitment to customers, especially around privacy and security. Innovation and Governance: A Complementary Partnership Innovation and governance are often seen as competing forces, but companies that view them as complementary are far more successful. According to recent research, companies embracing a culture of innovation are over three times more likely to generate higher revenue and enjoy greater customer satisfaction than their competitors. A strong governance framework doesn’t need to stifle innovation—it should support it. Done right, governance provides a flexible foundation where teams can experiment safely, backed by clear guidelines that protect both customers and the organization. A balanced governance framework achieves this in a few ways: Defining Success in Innovation and Governance We all recognize the hallmarks of innovative success: increasing lead conversion, higher ROI, and streamlined workflows that save time and money. Governance success, while perhaps less glamorous, is just as crucial: it involves regulatory compliance, fortified data security, and reduced risk to all stakeholders. A well-balanced approach actively connects these areas, ensuring that innovation drives value safely and responsibly. For companies struggling to find this balance between “what’s next” and “what’s safe,” we’re here to help. Email us at hello@valyr.com to explore how a tailored governance strategy can support your innovation goals and lead to a synergy that sets your business apart. Related Articles: From Hype to High Impact: Practical AI for Your Enterprise Strategy How Companies Are Redefining Success With Cloud Technology
Nightmare on Dev Street

This article first appeared in our monthly Jacksonville Daily Record Industry Insights Column How Outsourcing to the Wrong Dev Team Can Haunt Your Business Spooks and specters have nothing on the horror bad code can cause. When data mysteriously disappears, your login screen freezes, or users are left staring at a never-ending loading wheel, it can be a nightmare. There’s no ghost in the machine—just a lack of expertise. Many development teams are either out of their depth or fail to check their work before sending the invoice. And while we may not be afraid of the dark, we definitely need to worry when we’re working with a team that’s hard to reach. Lost in translation? Sometimes it seems like they’re just plain lost. You might imagine you’re hiring a dream team of seasoned pros, only to realize they’re more like a motley crew, haphazardly pieced together. With remote work the new normal, some developers won’t even meet you in person—they hide behind screens, creating subpar communication the real fright. Development Hall of Horrors Outsourcing isn’t the problem. It’s when companies deliver lackluster work and avoid communicating until the situation turns dire. Do they really “get” what you’re after, or are they just pushing a cookie-cutter solution? When development teams fail to meet expectations, disappointment can quickly become disaster. One client, a license plate camera company, came to us from a nightmare scenario. Their offshore team had built a full cloud infrastructure—but it was all under the developer’s account, effectively locking the company out of its own system. In the end, we were able to rebuild the systems to give them control over their own data, code, and infrastructure. We were lucky that the offshore team was willing to work with us to give us proper access. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes they just disappear! Or consider the chemical company that unknowingly had their project outsourced to a third party. Code quality became unpredictable, sensitive data was shared with faceless avatars, and the client was left cleaning up the mess. Avoiding Outsourcing Nightmares If you’re trusting a team with your business’s proprietary information, treat them with the same scrutiny you’d apply to safeguarding your most valuable assets. Vet them rigorously. Ask for airtight references and have them sign a formal NDA with penalties for breaches, subcontracting, or leaving back doors into your system. The final product you pay for should always be a treat, not a trick. Ensure everything— code, infrastructure, and account— is under your control with clear documentation. Outsourcing doesn’t have to be a house of horrors. By choosing the right team and ensuring transparency and accountability, you can keep your projects on track and your business safe. Ready to work with a team you can trust? Connect with us at hello@valyr.com to start your next project without the scare. Related Articles: Walking the Tightrope between Tech Innovation and Governance 7 Questions to Ask a Software Development Company to Find the Right Fit – Guide (2023) Set Your Sights on a Tech-Savvy 2025
Valyr Achieves Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) Certification Positioning for Growth in Federal Contracting

JACKSONVILLE, FL – December 17, 2024 Valyr, an innovative Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) specializing in custom software and web development solutions, proudly announces its graduation from the prestigious Veteran Institute Procurement (VIP) START Program. This certification marks a key step in Valyr’s strategic growth as it navigates the federal marketplace and expands its ability to deliver high-quality services to military and civilian agencies. The VIP START Program equips Veteran-owned businesses with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to compete effectively for government contracts. Over the course of an intensive three-day, 27-hour training program, Valyr joined 49 other businesses from across the country in mastering essential topics, including government procurement processes, risk mitigation strategies, and proposal development. Gabriel Albanes, CEO of Valyr and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, expressed enthusiasm for the company’s next phase of growth: “Completing the VIP START Program is an exciting milestone for Valyr. As a family business, we are eager to bring our veteran-led expertise and reliable, U.S.-based services to the federal space. This program has further strengthened our ability to deliver exceptional results for government partners while staying true to our mission of solving complex challenges through custom software.” Valyr’s commitment to excellence and continuous learning, combined with its fully U.S.-based team and decades of web and software development experience, uniquely positions the company to support government initiatives requiring reliable, high-quality technology solutions. Barbara Ashe, President of the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation, commended Valyr and its fellow graduates: “We are honored to give back to the men and women who served our country by providing them with the tools they need to succeed as government contractors,” said Barbara Ashe, President of the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation. “We hope this training fosters their success as businesses and employers.” Valyr looks forward to leveraging the skills and connections gained through VIP START to contribute innovative technology solutions to federal agencies and beyond. About VIP START: The Veteran Institute Procurement (VIP) START Program is a comprehensive certification program that provides practical, market-based instruction to help veteran-owned businesses win and sustain government contracts. Learn more at www.NationalVIP.org. Related Articles: 7 Questions to Ask a Software Development Company to Find the Right Fit – Guide (2023) Set Your Sights on a Tech-Savvy 2025
Set Your Sights on a Tech-Savvy 2025

This article first appeared in our monthly Jacksonville Daily Record Industry Insights Column Kickstart the New Year with smart tech strategies that drive growth, efficiency, and flexibility Fun fact: I love New Year’s resolutions! There’s something so satisfying about setting new goals with a fresh calendar and budget. If you’re like me and appreciate the hypothetical ‘reset’ button, there’s no better time than now to refresh your tech strategy and make 2025 your most impactful year yet. At Valyr, we help clients boost resilience, flexibility, and success through smart automation, seamless workflow optimization, intuitive UX/UI, and data-driven insights. Here are some of the tech priorities I recommend for businesses ready to make 2025 their best year yet. Streamline Operations with Automation Automating repetitive tasks frees up your team for more impactful work and improves efficiency across your organization. Whether it’s inventory tracking, integrating tools, data entry, or something else, automation can make processes faster and more accurate with fewer errors. Did you know that nearly 60% of all jobs have at least 30% of tasks that could be automated, according to a recent McKinsey report? Imagine the time and cost savings that could mean for your business! In Jacksonville, industries like logistics and healthcare are already seeing big gains from automation, making it a great area to focus new budgets. Optimize Workflows for Peak Efficiency Today’s best businesses are built on seamless, efficient workflows. By optimizing how tasks move from start to finish, you can cut down on bottlenecks, reduce unnecessary steps, and create a smoother experience for both your team and clients. One of our clients who prioritized workflow optimization this year saw a 27% boost in productivity! By focusing on faster response times, lowering operational costs, and enhancing the overall employee experience, they transformed their efficiency—and their results. Invest in User Experience and User Interface to Delight Your Users Exceptional user experiences aren’t just for show—they’re essential for keeping clients engaged and satisfied. Nearly 90% of users stop using an app after a poor user experience! Investing in an intuitive, visually appealing user interface and user experience can set your business apart, ensuring that users find your systems and sites easy to navigate and enjoyable to use. Use Data Insights to Drive Smart Decisions Nothing ground-shattering here– you already know that data is your most powerful tool for understanding customers and refining business strategies. This is usually easier said than done! Make this your year to put data-driven insights to work and give you the information needed to make informed decisions, anticipate client needs, and respond quickly to changing market conditions. Ready to Elevate Your Tech Strategy? By prioritizing automation, optimizing workflows, enhancing UX/UI, and leveraging data insights, you’re setting your business up for resilience, flexibility, and meaningful growth. These strategies aren’t just about keeping up—they’re about staying ahead in Jacksonville’s fast-paced market. If you’re ready to kick off the New Year with a customized tech roadmap, Valyr is here to help you make it happen. Reach out to us at hello@valyr.com to start building your tech strategy for a successful 2025! Related Articles: Top Development Terms Business Leaders Should Know From Hype to High Impact: Practical AI for Your Enterprise Strategy
From Hype to High Impact: Practical AI for Your Enterprise Strategy

This article first appeared in our Jacksonville Daily Record Industry Insights Column To the surprise of no one, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a cornerstone of enterprise strategy. As a business leader, understanding the potential of AI can help you drive efficiency and innovation and maintain a competitive edge. As with any new tech, the gap between innovation and implementation is usually the toughest to bridge. The majority of business leaders are waiting for Generative AI (GenAI) to advance past the hype. After all, the true value of AI lies not in quick wins or buzzworthy applications but in long-term software and technology strategies that integrate seamlessly into everyday workflows and enhance customer and employee experiences. While there’s still a lot of over-hype, AI’s potential in automation, data analysis, and predictive capabilities holds promise for significant, lasting impact. But waiting around for the dust to settle on the excitement around AI is a mistake. The most forward-thinking leaders are the ones who see what components of AI are already exceeding their own capabilities and find ways to implement them to start streamlining processes and rerouting tasks from humans to machines that can do them more efficiently, allowing their people counterparts the opportunity to focus on more high-level, creative thinking tasks. Where to Begin? Increasing your company’s productivity is the best way to implement AI and get everyone on board with it. It’s not as simple as slapping an app on top of your existing workflows, however. AI’s uncanny speed, precision, and attention to detail need governance before being turned loose, and that governance needs to be multi-pronged, covering how data is collected, used, stored, and disposed of. AI feeds on data, but can get greedy when it doesn’t have boundaries and can become a liability, leading to potential legal repercussions or damage to your company’s reputation. Find Your Fit Take an objective view of your company and determine where your biggest areas of need are, and then figure out what AI can do better. Maybe it is reasonable in your line of work to use bots to answer your FAQs. If you need to streamline your operations, there might be a way to implement AI to assist in automating repetitive tasks. If you’re looking to enhance your product offerings, that could mean using GenAI to develop intelligent features, such as personalized recommendations, advanced data analytics, or predictive maintenance. Don’t think that AI is some sort of catch-all for your company’s shortcomings. Identifying your areas of need and aligning them with the right AI capabilities will help fortify your long-term strategy, driving both efficiency and innovation. Keep the Cycle Going Like any emerging technology, AI is a work in progress that is going to need constant attention. This comes in the form of investing in your existing infrastructure to ensure it can support the AI-driven solutions your software development team is implementing. You don’t want to waste time and money deploying solutions that aren’t paying off. Finally, engage with your peers to see what’s working and share your own innovations. Leveraging the influence of the business community can create an innovation ripple effect, where sharing local best practices strengthens everyone. Conclusion AI is the most exciting technology since the dawn of the Internet and can level the playing field in any industry with incredible speed. As your local tech partners, Valyr is here to help you navigate AI. Reach out to us today and let’s start strategizing how your company can plan for and leverage AI to its fullest potential for your organization. Related Articles Walking the Tightrope between Tech Innovation and Governance Technical Debt: How Quick Fixes in It Can Lead to Long-Term Costs
Technical Debt: How Quick Fixes in It Can Lead to Long-Term Costs

This article first appeared in our Jacksonville Daily Record Industry Insights column. Shortcuts are a good thing when you’re stuck in Jacksonville’s traffic. Not so much when you’re the one responsible for keeping your digital infrastructure healthy. Detours and shortcuts in your IT projects lead to technical debt. Just like consumer debt, technical debt is not a good thing. It eventually will drag down your bottom line and hurt your brand identity as things get slower, less efficient, less reliable, and more costly. In a nutshell, technical debt is the result of poor decisions including not fixing buggy code and sacrificing proper design to get a problem back to working order quickly. Business leaders fall into this trap because it’s cheaper and easier in the short term, and maintenance isn’t as exciting as new tech initiatives. Or, they might rely on a development team that lacks the necessary skills or training, exacerbating the issue. Imagine a family business that has turned into a big-time company over the years- they sell pipes and fittings and deliver them all over the state. One of the original family members wrote a proprietary software system back in the 1980s – basically their own enterprise resource planning software (ERP). Over the years, different development companies have added features here and there, but it can take weeks and months for new employees to understand how to do even the simplest of tasks inside the walls, and trying to de-bug or perform maintenance on the whole system is a task that no one has time for, and nobody wants to do. At one point, out of desperation, management hires a consultant to come in and document the entirety of the software, talking to every major stakeholder and working through the system on-site. Their investment leads to the same conclusion: the system is a dinosaur and it’s costing the company more money than it’s saving them at this point, slashing away at the company’s revenue, efficiency, and customer service. The software, while somewhat functional, is outdated, unstable, and full of technical debt–which also impacts their company’s overall value. There’s a better way of doing business to minimize technical debt, but it requires business leaders to be proactive and make the right call at the right time. Assess (and maintain!) the health of your system Don’t procrastinate on fixing issues If a new feature isn’t up to snuff, don’t approve it. Fight the urge to compromise in the spirit of quick fixes. Collaborate with a trustworthy and proactive software development team with a proven track record. Workarounds that circumvent the workflow of any digital system are a risk to its integrity. The more an organization uses shortcuts to patch a problem the more technical debt it accrues – drifting away from the intended use of their software and making it more costly to return to the straight and narrow later on, or when you’re forced to replace the system altogether. It’s the digital equivalent of putting a warped house frame on a solid slab. Each level up will get warped as a result of the earlier veer from the path. Technical debt results in lower business value, higher upkeep costs, slower development, and increased security vulnerabilities–to name a few. Remember, all of these things stack up into a company’s ability to innovate and scale. In the digital age, falling behind can be a death knell on both brand identity and the bottom line. Don’t let technical debt drag down your business. Ready to make a change? Reach out to my team at hello@valyr.com and start prioritizing long-term solutions. Related Articles: Nightmare on Dev Street Walking the Tightrope between Tech Innovation and Governance
Top Development Terms Business Leaders Should Know

Knowing standard web development terms gives you credibility within your organization, broadens your knowledge base, and empowers you to ask the right questions to get ahead.
Global Plastics and Chemical Company: Simplifying Complex Processes Through Enhanced UX

Client: Global Plastics & Chemical Company Mission: To solve usability and workflow challenges by revamping the user experience (UX) including user flow strategy and interaction design Outcome: Simplifying Complex Processes Through Enhanced UX A global plastics and chemical company uses a custom application to help scientists and packaging engineers design and improve complex multilayer films. The application includes close to a dozen predictors, calculators, and resin information. First implemented in 2014, the application has grown as requirements evolved. New modules were developed, and in many cases, features were tacked on without proper integration or user flow strategy. As this approach continued over the course of nine years, the application had become a convoluted and labyrinthine system. Users faced a maze of modules, features, and options that made it increasingly difficult to accomplish their tasks efficiently. With each addition, the complexity grew, leading to a steep learning curve for new users and causing frustration for experienced ones. The lack of clear integration between modules hindered data transfer and continuity, often resulting in data redundancy and wasted effort. Inefficiencies were rife, and the application had become a source of operational and support costs for the company. It was time for a comprehensive overhaul to simplify the user experience and improve the overall functionality of the application. The Path to a User-Centric Transformation Recognizing the pressing need for a UX transformation, the company embarked on a comprehensive initiative to streamline the complex multilayer film design process and provide users with an intuitive, efficient, and cohesive environment. This initiative comprised several crucial steps and phases, each meticulously planned to address the pain points and challenges. The project began with the Valyr team conducting initial research by immersing themselves in the client’s history, experience, existing technology, and internal feedback. Our first objective was to simplify the user flow, making it as easy as possible for users to achieve their objectives in the shortest amount of time possible. From there, we consolidated resources, aiming to enable users to work in a single environment where they could have easy access to all the tools necessary to achieve their tasks. Next, we established a plan to enhance the navigation, which allowed us to highlight crucial pages and design an intuitive flow, giving users a clear pathway. To support this, we introduced a real-time progress tracking mechanism that would clearly show the user where they were in the process and what they would need to do next. The last part of the initial phase was to implement an onboarding process that provided first-time users with an introduction to the application, so they could understand the purpose and process before getting started. Armed with a game plan and our initial research, we employed qualitative research methodologies. Collaborating closely with the client, we crafted an interview guide aimed at probing value touchpoints, challenges, and innovative ideas for improvement. These sessions yielded a wealth of insights, combining deep expertise from power users with fresh perspectives from new users. The Valyr team meticulously analyzed the collected insights and shared findings with the client. This data resulted in a comprehensive requirements document that effectively delineated priorities and essential elements for the project. Crafting the Enhanced User Experience To lay the foundation for the user-centric transformation, we started by translating the approved requirements into wireframe blueprints for what we referred to as the ‘supermodule’—essentially taking the original maze of modules and consolidating them into a unified, intuitive experience. Serving as a visual tool, the wireframes enabled us to structure basic content and functionality, setting the stage for the subsequent design enhancements. Once the wireframes were approved, we elevated them to high-fidelity mockups. These mockups not only incorporated visual elements such as colors, images, typography, and branding but also mimicked functionality to a certain extent, offering a tangible representation of the future product design and user experience. In our unwavering commitment to delivering a superior user experience, we conducted user testing to validate our design improvements. Focusing on user satisfaction and efficiency, this phase involved the participation of the project’s original interviewees. We engaged in moderated walk-through sessions where participants interacted with the mockup and performed designated tasks over a 45-minute screenshare. Their actions, feedback, and observations were recorded and carefully analyzed. The resulting recommendations from this user testing were shared with the client to inform the final phase of the project. Everything the client needed to pick up the project and begin implementation was delivered on time and on budget. Our collaborative stakeholders were tremendously pleased with the results. “This UX transformation not only reduced errors and operational costs but also significantly improved the data accuracy and users’ overall satisfaction. Valyr’s dedication to understanding our needs, and their commitment to enhancing our experience have made them an invaluable partner in our quest for excellence in application development.” – Application Development Scientist Related Articles: How CMU Created an Efficient & Secure Workflow for Research Collaboration How Companies Are Redefining Success With Cloud Technology
How CMU Created an Efficient & Secure Workflow for Research Collaboration

Client: CMU Robotics Institute – Carnegie Mellon University Mission: To support Big Data governance and data access controls by developing a workflow that takes requestors and approvers through a process that ensures authentication and proper access. With Valyr, CMU found a trusted partner that could architect and develop both the process and experience for data access requests, authentication, and secure distribution. “We needed the processes to be user-friendly and secure,” said Kitani, “We also sought a partnership that could align with our continued commitment to student leadership while also being sensitive to our timeline.” Valyr checked all of those boxes, welcoming participation from a student in the Computer Vision Program, giving him direct exposure to the development side of the project. Results 2-day average time to process 13 approvals for each data access request 27 separate steps now automated Estimated 1,200+ hours in manual effort saved annually Improved Research Collaboration Faster time to authenticate and access data When Kris Kitani, Associate Research Professor at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, approached Valyr, the Computer Vision Program had just completed a vast data collection project. The research included hundreds of hours of wearable tech video footage but there was no straightforward way to continue research collaboration or authenticate distribution requests for the data. Because the project was an international collaboration between CMU and 12 other universities, there were essentially 13 “owners” of the data and, therefore, 13 different entities responsible for the data’s integrity and governance. This meant that for each request for data, 13 approvals would be required, which contributed to a time-intensive and burden-heavy process. Researchers, graduate students, and sponsors of the research expected downloadable content, but taking requests one at a time, collecting signatures authorizing their requests, and manually sharing massive amounts of unstructured data was not secure, sustainable, or aligned with expectations. As a result, international collaboration had reached a near standstill until data access could be streamlined. This forced significant pressure on developing a timely solution. CMU and their research partners knew they needed a user-friendly interface and digital workflow that could streamline this process. “Valyr did a great job from start to finish. They carefully listened to what we needed, outlined the specifics of the job, were upfront with costs AND they delivered on time. I’d certainly reach out to Valyr again for our development needs in the future.” Kris Kitani Associate Research Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh Streamlining the Process with Electronic Signature and AWS With multiple process steps and approvers, the path was not a straight line, but rather a carefully orchestrated sequence of between 25-27 steps (depending on conditional variances) designed to optimize efficiency and enforce governance. In a nutshell, here’s how it all unfolds: The journey initiates through an inviting landing page, designed to encourage those needing access to submit a request. The process then calls for the requester’s electronic signature on a data usage agreement. The pivotal moment in this workflow comes after the requester’s electronic signature event. An approval workflow is triggered, ensuring that all 13 approvers authorize or deny the request. So that permissions didn’t slow down the process, this is a timebound event: if no response is given, the system would automatically approve the request. This process ensures that only the right individuals gain access, which in turn safeguards restricted content. If authorized, the process is completed by granting access to the downloadable data. Throughout the workflow, the system was set up to provide notifications and real-time status, indicating whether a request was pending, rejected, or approved. The integration of HelloSign provides a secure and user-friendly electronic signature solution, while AWS plays the central role in data storage, safeguarding the integrity and accessibility of data. Now, everyone benefits from a faster and more transparent process that’s centralized and secure. Collaboration: The Driving Force What set this project apart was the emphasis on collaboration. It was important to CMU that its students contribute a vision and voice, and Valyr fostered a collaborative relationship with open communication. Together, CMU and Valyr ensured that the workflow and interface aligned with the project objectives and timeline. The launch of the new digital workflow went smoothly. For CMU and its research partners worldwide, having that kind of ready access to data with the proper safeguards and user traceability has dramatically reduced the number of manual requests while increasing the level of security in data sharing.
How Companies Are Redefining Success With Cloud Technology

A concept that was a bit nebulous (pun intended) a decade ago is now a modern mainstay of how business gets done.