Mercedes-Benz India Opens Third R&D Facility in Bangalore India

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) has set-up yet another R&D facility in Whitefield, Bangalore. This is the third such R&D facility by the German luxury car maker in Bangalore and shows the emerging importance of India as high potential market in their growth journey.

The first R&D facility by Mercedes-Benz, called MBRDI the was set up in the year 1996 to support Daimler’s research, IT and product development in Whitefield, and the second called the ‘Embassy Crest’ spread over 266,000 sq. in pursuit of its vision to become a center for excellence within Daimler for engineering and IT. 

The latest R&D facility at Bangalore is spread across 1, 19, 227 sq. ft. and aims at boosting Mercedes-Benz research and development needs. The research and development center teams at Bangalore collaborate with their counterpart team in research and development centers and business units at Germany, USA and Japan.

The rich talent pool of engineers at Bengaluru helps assess the performance and reliability of various sub-system such as advanced research in chassis, embedded systems and IT applications that form part of the different life-cycle stage of Mercedes-Benz cars.

The extensive set up at Bangalore makes MBRDI the largest research and development center of Daimler AG outside Germany and contributes in the following areas:

CAE/ CFD:

The Computer Aided Engineering team at MBRDI builds finite element models of automotive subsystems and full vehicle. The rich talent pools of engineers contribute significantly to the improvement of design, cost and weight. Under (CAD) Computational Fluid Dynamics, MBRDI engineers contribute towards minimizing exhaust emission and enhance fuel efficiency.

CAD:

The CAD team at MBRDI is actively involved in design and modeling activities. The team in the Indian R&D facility is fully integrated in the international R&D network of Daimler group. They collaborate on the design and development of the next generation models and categories.

Electric/ Electronics:

With its strong research competence, the E/E team works on the latest technologies such as fuel cells and hybrid electric vehicles. They also contribute to the design and development of the automotive E/E systems in Mercedes vehicles.

Interior Development

Located at the R&D facility in Pune, the interior development team takes into account the customer perception regarding sports, lifestyle and fashion to design the seat and door panel development for all Mercedes-Benzvehicles. The team at MBRDI independently develops various versions of seating arrangements too.

Committed to excellence and delivering the best, Mercedes-Benz has emerged as the market leader in India. The Winning Way philosophy for 2016 and the upcoming launches in July 2016 further cement its position at the No.1 luxurycar brand in India.

Five Steps to Make the Most of Micro-interaction Design Trend 2016

 

Interaction-focused interfaces, a major trend in web design 2016 helps deliver a more intuitive and rewarding user experience across web and mobile apps. 

 

So what are Microinteractions?

The Facebook like button, Microsoft’s Start button, Hamburger Menu, instances when you tap to mute your phone, set a status message, indicator that informs how much time is left while reading Medium or an eBook on Kindle, or when you rate an app are all examples of microinteractions. From websites, mobile apps to the latest new craze of wearable like Samsung Gear, Apple watch and fitness trackers, micro-interactions are the current flavor of the season.

Success with Microinteractions:

The secret of success with microinteractions lies both in the design and in the performance.As the name suggest, microinteractions is any task based engagement with a device. These brief and effortless interaction focused interfaces that make the life of a user easier. However they offer tremendous mileage in taking the user engagement to the next level. They make the website experience more entertaining, engaging and intuitive.Designed to work in a variety of environments that neither acts as an obstruction nor demands detailed explanation, the importance of microinteractions cannot be over-emphasized.In his recent book ‘Microinteractions – Designing with Details’, the author Dan Saffer reveals that microinteractions follow a four-step process

Source: Microinteractions - Designing with Details

Do you too want to make the most of this reigning web design trend of microinteractions? Here are 5 steps to use microinteractions help make UI more human and deliver a rewarding UI:

 

Simplicity – Keep it Simple Stupid:

Less is more in microinteractions. In fact too much of features or functionality can be lethal and make it complex. Probably users may even refrain from using it. Remember the age-old adage - Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Simple colors, simple designs and simple content together go a long way in achieving the result.

Fast Response Time:

Microinteractions are expected to be fast and effective so ensure that they offer a faster turnaround of action by being precise. Delay in execution or a sluggish speed is likely to annoy users.

Handle with Care:

The small pieces of functionality that make up microinteractions stand out for their attention to detail. These must be fine-tuned and polished constantly to work surprisingly well each time.

Show System Status to Keep User Informed:

Constantly deliver feedback to the user by keeping the user informed of the progress. In line with the heuristic principle, this drives engagement and also doesn’t leave the user curious as to what’s happening. 
 

Use a human voice:

Conversational tone works best and therefore your content should be human and the copy should match the human emotion. The comfortable and lighthearted human voice helps to keep users engaged.

Microinteractions are small but they can make or break your design to make the net product feel high-quality and well-designed.

What are 5 major Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive Parking Features?

Mercedes-Benz recently launched the awe-inspiring and high-tech ‘Remote Parking Pilot Smartphone App’ that received a spectacular response. While it raises the comfort of parking to a whole new level, there are a lot more other amazing parking features that are part of the bigger ‘Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive’ safety feature.

Here’s a look at each of these stunning features:

Remote Parking Pilot Smartphone:

The remote parking pilot app is the remote control system for moving your luxury Mercedes-Benz in and out of parking spaces. , it is the perfect solution for situations where space is at premium and it is impossible to open the door of your car. Also works a as a great way to show your intelligent masterpiece, the ‘Remote Parking Pilot’ is controlled from outside the vehicle by smartphone via Bluetooth

Parktronic Including Parking Guidance:

Parktronic ensures a stress-free and smooth parking. The powerful 6 ultrasonic sensors on the front bumper and 4 in the rear bumpers measure the surrounding and distance to other vehicles and obstacles. Following the ‘Echo Sounding Principle’ if these sensors detect vehicles and obstacles at too close a distance, and then sensors signal an acoustics and visual warning to the driver by means of loudspeakers and LEDs. The ‘Parking Guidance’ further makes finding a parking spot easier and also avoid the bumps while parking.

Active Parking Assist:

 

It’s your parking genie and all you are required to do is operate the accelerator and brake pedals. It makes the task of identifying a parking spot in busy street way easier then you could ever imagine.

The ‘Active Parking Assist’ automatically seeks an appropriate parking space on its own at speeds of under 36 km/hr. and even manoeuvres into the space automatically at the push of a button. It signals by means of a ‘P’ when it identifies an appropriate parking space. Once the driver initiates the parking manoeuvre, the 10 ultrasonic sensors – 6 in the front bumper and 4 in the rear bumper together with the electronic control unit calculates the ideal parking space using the power-steering.

360° Camera:

Mercedes-Benz offers you a full 360° view of your luxury car when parking even in places with restricted visibility. The cameras on each side of your super-intelligent Mercedes-Benz monitor the area surrounding your vehicle to provide you with full all-round view while parking including a true-colour virtual bird’s eye-view. Displayed on the COMAND system, this feature also gets activated when engaging a reverse gear or via a direct selection button.

Rear View Camera:

Activated when the reverse gear is engaged, the rear-view camera shows the area behind the vehicle on the head unit display to assist as a visual parking aid. The wide-angle lens makes parking easier at length ways and crossways.

Check out each of these and more stunning features of Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive at Benchmark Cars, India’s largest and fastest growing authorized dealership. Visit www.benchmarkcars.in to book a test drive today to experience the world of Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz GLC wins WardsAuto Best interiors of 2016

Mercedes-Benz, the world leader in luxury cars has proved its mettle yet again with the Mercedes-Benz GLC clinching the ‘WardsAuto Best Interiors of 2016’ title. Mercedes-Benz will shortly be launching the Mercedes-GLC SUV in June 2016 in India and this award could immensely help further drive its sales.

While Mercedes-Benz has won many accolades and awards, winning the ‘WardsAuto Best Interior Award 2016’ is a sweeter victory because it was pegged against other equally famous luxury cars. Mercedes-Benz GLC impressed the judges with its extremely elegant and modern interior design that it shares with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4 MATIC, the beautifully executed 5-passenger utility vehicle comes loaded with spacious interiors carries forward the design language that won accolades and praises for Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. What impressed judges the most was that the Mercedes-Benz GLC was supremely comfortable in the front row and its scalloped seatbacks add space for the second-row occupants.

The long list of tech, infotainment and comfort features like Burmester surround sound audio system. Mercedes-Benz driving safety & assistance system among others immensely contribute to a superlative experience for all passengers. Moreover for the driver, the COMAND CONTROLLER interface with its high-resolution display screen was a show stealer both while using the touchpad or the rotating dial in the center console. 

Each year WardsAuto choses 10 passenger cars with best interiors in the automobile industry and awards them ‘WardsAuto Best Interior Award 2016’, after an in-depth scrutiny of all-new or redesigned interiors. Apart from the aesthetics and design harmony, the interior of cars are scored based on aesthetics and design harmony, as well as materials, ergonomics, safety, comfort, value and fit-and-finish 

Interestingly, this time around, luxury cars formed the major chunk of the 47 contenders and the 8 WardsAuto editors selected the winners after spending February and March after evaluating each of the major criteria.

The luxury crossover Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV launch is expected soon around July 2016 and brings along the comfort of C-Class at price range of Rs. 50 lakhs. Until then, why not check out the Mercedes-Benz CLA or Mercedes-Benz S-Class that carry the same royal luxurious interiors. Visit Benchmark Cars, India’s largest and fastest growing authorized dealership to experience the world of Mercedes-Benz. Book your test drive at www.benchmarkcars.in today.

Hire Offshore Magento Developer for great results

Offshore Magento Development allows you to amplify the benefits of Magento, considered the world’s top open-source ecommerce platform. The modular architecture, advanced functionalities, versatility and huge community of Magento developers, enable the feature-rich Magento platform to offer high productivity and ROI at affordable cost effective investment.

With the intense competition in the ecommerce market and an emphasis on shopping experience, making a good impression is very critical to your online business. Offshore resource hiring offers a win-win deal with its lower operational cost and higher productivity. Therefore it is no surprise that the demand for offshore Magento Development Company is growing rapidly. 

Offshore Magento Development Company: Competitive Edge

Hiring an offshore Magento development company offers instant access to scalable skilled Magento developers and world-class IT infrastructure at a fraction of cost.  In many ways, due to the multi-fold benefits it offers, a reliable offshore Magento development company can be viewed as your ecommerce partner too.

Your offshore development team works as your in-house team that is accessible anytime and you have full control over them. Moreover hiring a successful offshore development company who not only bring relevant skills to the table but are also efficient in communication, helps to accelerate the project turnover time and deliverables.

Here are the major reasons why your decision to hire Offshore Magento Development company offers great results and a competitive edge:

Scalable Flexible Resources & IT Infrastructure:

Offshore companies offer you flexible teams of Magentodevelopers and IT infrastructure that is scalable at will according to your requirements. Thus you only pay for what you use and when you need it. This makes tremendous impact on the financial viability of the ecommerce project and is considered a better option that diversifying yourself or establishing your own skilled manpower or IT infrastructure. In-fact, in CommunicationCrafts Advantage, a leading Magento offshore development company, all it takes is a phone call to scale up-or scale down the manpower or IT Infrastructure.

High Quality Skilled Professional at Low Cost:

Get highly-skilled certified Magento developers with proven experience and expertise at cost-effective rates. Thus you save time, money and the hassle of hiring, firing and dealing with employee issues as you are hiring them for a particular project only. Thus the risk is mitigated since all is taken care by the offshore development company.

Excellent IT Infrastructure

Offshore Magento Company own highly developed IT infrastructure. Thus you have 24 x7 access to the latest and best technology resources and infrastructure. Further, as active participant of the massive Magento community, they are in sync with the latest updates and developments in Magento platform

Leverage Proven Experience + Expertise

Proven experience and expertise of the offshore company ensures that they deliver you high-quality work within the set timeline. OffshoreMagento developers also offer you a structured approach, guide you to a more efficient strategy and even incorporate latest and advanced features in your ecommerce. Further, the constant support, guidance and maintenance of the ecommerce project ensures that everything works with a clock-work precision.

End-to-End Ecommerce Services

Offshore Magento development companies also offer one-stop destination for all ecommerce development requirements including post-launch support and maintenance. Some of the best offshore Magento development companies like CommunicationCrafts Advantage also offer creative and technology resources like graphic designing, video making, animations and even digital marketing.

Allows you to Focus on Core Business

With a trusted and proven offshore Magento development partner, you can focus on your core business and only keep yourself updated with progress of the ecommerce project.

Looking to start your online store or expand your business and grow online with your own ecommerce website?

Contact CommunicationCrafts Advantage, industry most reliable offshore Magento Development Company, today for affordable solutions.  Our team of highly skilled Magento designers and developers are among the best in the industry and deliver guaranteed satisfaction. For over 11 years we have helps brands get online and craft success with great results. Visit www.communcationcrafts.com today.

Top 7 questions when hiring a mobile app development company

Want to build a mobile app? Asking the right questions makes all the difference.

You may have the next big app idea or probably are a brand that wants to build an app as an opportunity to connect with their community, either ways the choice of mobile app development partner plays the deciding factor in your success. 

A successful mobile app is equally a combination of a powerful app idea and meticulous execution if not more and therefore an astute mobile app development partner can give you a competitive edge by taking your app idea to the next level. Whether you prefer a reputed offshore mobile app company like CC Advantage for scalable team of developers and infrastructure or an indie developer, when you hire a mobile app development company, you must look to leverage more than just their skills but also their experience, consistent competency in niche area and resources that take your app performance and success to the next level. With multitude of mobile app developers available for custom mobile app development and each proclaiming themselves capable of offering world class mobile application development services, it becomes necessary to ask pertinent questions that help you choose your best mobile development company.

Here are the 7 key questions to ask when hiring a mobile app development company, so that you make the right choice:

What is your mobile apps portfolio?

A sure give away of the mobile app developer’s competency and ability to build your app. This question helps you understand their experience, expertise and core competency in mobile app development. What are their ratings in the app store? You get an idea into their niche area of expertise. Are they into game app development or enterprise apps? Probing about their portfolio of mobile apps also helps you know whether they single-handedly built the app or whether they were one of the many collaborators. 

What are your major past projects, past and present clients you have developed app for?

The objective is two-fold, firstly to get a reference check on the experience of the app development, their working culture and work-ethics. Apart from its core competency in relevant mobile app platform or technology, it is essentially a people process where communication play an important part. Further, by doing a cross-reference with past clients you also get to know whether they can deliver on time, their communication and time management skills and whether they are able to deliver  within the budget and time deadlines. 

What is your in-house team size?

Ensure that there is a sufficiently large experienced team of top-class UX/ UI professionals who are easily available. Do they focus on just one platform or are dexterous with professional expertise in multiple platforms and technologies. Few developers can only do so much and therefore it is handy to have a sufficiently large team of developers who are scalable and available. Ensure that the mobile developers and app designers are sufficiently experienced and skilled to help you leverage the benefits of experience and resources. Choosing a newbie or indie mobile app developer just because it is a cheaper option may not necessarily match the advantages of going with an established and reputed app development company.

On-shore or Off-shore development? 

Off-shore app development offers you instant access to top experts and scalable infrastructure with better results in both quality of work and communication through the development process. CC Advantage, one of the leading off-shore app development company offers skilled scalable technology resources and infrastructure that can be scaled up or down with just a call. This makes it easier and cost-effective as you do not have to unnecessarily bear the brunt of maintenance of developers nor opportunity cost of developers if lying idle. Thus with experts who carry relevant experience and scalable infrastructure, offshore=development offers many benefits that trickle down to better quality and affordable price.

Do you follow agile development?

Among the two methods of waterfall model and agile development model, the agile development model ensures high-quality and more robust app with quicker speed-to-market delivery along with incremental delivery. The continuous planning and feedback allows developers to adapt the app to the taste and requirements of the business and users. It is also more affordable and flexible than the waterfall model. 

Do you do in-house testing?

A critical factor in the success of a mobile app, accurate and quality mobile app testing ensures that your app stays away from crashes, lags and offers best performance each time to the end-user. Get a list of all the exhaustive beta tests for bug testing that they offer. The other objective is to get an idea about the level of commitment of the mobile company. 

Who owns the app?

It is important to claim the ownership rights of the source code of the mobile app right at the outset and make it completely transparent to avoid any ambiguity later on. Crucial maters as these must be clearly discussed laid out clearly in black and white right at the outset of the contract.

Make your app idea the next big success. Don’t leave anything to chance

Want to develop a successful mobile app?

At CC Advantage, we offer offshore mobile app development with teams and infrastructure that you can scale anytime with just a call. A trusted mobile app development company for android app development, iPhone app development and ecommerce app development, CC Advantage has in a very short span emerged as the preferred choice for high-quality apps. So make sure that you choose the best mobile app development company to transform your mobile app development dreams into reality. Asking these 7 questions definitely puts you in the driver’s seat and prepares you for success. Get started to take your brand experience to the next level and make your app idea a reality. Visit www.communicationcrafts.com today.