SPARK Blog - Insights for business leaders

What Is Digital Transformation?

Adopting new tech and processes can help transform your business. But what does it really mean to "digitize" your operations?

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Custom Software

How to Calculate ROI for Construction Management Software

Before you invest in a new piece of software, use our ROI estimating tools and worksheet to calculate your return to feel confident in your decision.

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Digital Products , Custom Software

So, you launched your MVP. Now what?

Be sure to answer these 5 critical questions before you continue to build features and invest capital in your newly launched MVP.

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Custom Software

What is the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Phase in Software Projects?

Learn why you shouldn't overlook the user acceptance testing phase if you want to successfully launch your custom software project.

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Digital Products , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

8 Must-Know Construction Technology Trends to Prepare For

Are you preparing for these top construction technology trends? If not, find out why you should be!

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Custom Software

Building Custom Software vs Off-the-Shelf: Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Approach

Before you buy any new tech, which approach should you take? Read our in-depth guide to understand when to build custom or buy off-the-shelf software.

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Mobile Apps

Benefits of Construction Mobile Apps for Your Crews and Projects (and Real Examples)

92% of construction workers use smartphones daily while on the job. Should you be using mobile apps too? Find out!

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Custom Software

How to Choose the Best Project Management Software for Small Construction Businesses

Learn how to compare different project management software solutions so you can choose and adopt the best technology for your small construction business.

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Why Successful Businesses Build Custom Software Over Off-the-Shelf | SPARK Insights

Dashboards , UI/UX and Web Design , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

Why Successful Businesses Build Custom Software Versus Off-the-Shelf

When companies face issues and opportunities unique to their business, custom software versus off-the-shelf can be a difference maker. Learn how!

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Why Custom Software Works for Any Size Business (Not Just Enterprise) | SPARK Insights

Dashboards , UI/UX and Web Design , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

How Custom Software Works for Any Size Business (Not Just Enterprise)

Think your business is too small or not unique enough to warrant building custom software? Learn how software projects can fit any scope or budget.

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Strategic Design , UI/UX and Web Design

8 Signs You Need to Update Your Website

If you haven't updated your website in a while, check these 8 critical areas to see if you're falling behind.

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Custom Software

Why Does Software Have Bugs?

All software has small glitches or problems sometimes. Learn why it happens and what you can do to fix it, so your software continues to run smoothly.

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Why You Should Start with Minimum Viable Product (MVP) | SPARK Insights

Digital Products , Custom Software

Why You Should Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Learn why the user-driven process of building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) can be key to the success of your next software development project.

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Custom Software

Custom Software: How to Build On Your Investment For Years to Come

Are you showing your software the love and attention it needs? Follow these two steps to make sure your software GROWS with you before you outgrow it.

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Custom Software

Our Secret to Delivering Quality Custom Software Every Time

Hint: our secret is simple, but not something all software companies can do effectively, consistently, and at scale.

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Custom Software

Project Management Tips: How to Prepare for Your New Custom Software Project

Learn the technical processes and parts of delivering software, empowering you to better communicate and collaborate with your tech partner.

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Dashboards , Custom Software

How the Right Dashboard Can Help Improve Your KPIs

See why leaders are ditching their manual data tracking and spreadsheets for real-time dashboards and one-click reporting to help improve their KPIs.

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Strategic Design , UI/UX and Web Design

Your Website Is A Tool For Telling Your Brand Story

Your website can be a tool to create lasting relationships with your customers. Learn how to tell your brand story online to connect with customers.

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Why A Pre-Project Assessment is Worth Your Time and Money | SPARK Insight

Custom Software

Custom Software: Why A Pre-Project Assessment is Worth Your Time and Money

A pre-project assessment for your next tech project allows you to determine not only if you’ll get the right solution, but also the right team and partner.

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Using Hick's Law to Improve Your User Experience | SPARK Insights

Strategic Design , UI/UX and Web Design

Think Like a UX Designer: Use Hick’s Law to Improve Your User Experience

Are you frustrating your users by giving them too many choices on your website or app? Learn how to apply Hick's Law to improve your user experience.

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Custom Software

Implementation Checklist for Launching New Custom Software

Ready, set, launch! Use SPARK's recommended Implementation Checklist and tips to define a game plan for your new custom software rollout.

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Digital Products

The Benefits of a Product Manager for Your Technology Project

Product managers are often overlooked in technology projects. See why their role is crucial to the overall success of your custom business software.

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Digital Products , Custom Software

5 (Strategic) Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Custom Software Development Company

It's crucial to choose the RIGHT software partner to develop your custom business tool. Here are 5 strategic questions to ask during the selection process.

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Digital Products , Strategic Design , Custom Software

Why You Should Hire a Custom Software Development Company

How do you get EXACTLY the right business tool? Here are the benefits of working with a software development company to build a custom solution.

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Dashboards , Digital Products , Strategic Design , UI/UX and Web Design , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

Your Startup Idea: Can It Be Built (Profitably)?

Founding a startup isn’t easy. But for those who are willing to do what it takes to make their startup dream happen, the journey can be an amazing adventure. This is a tool for those startups.

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Strategic Design , Custom Software

How to Validate Your Startup Idea

Before building a startup technology it is important that you validate your idea first. You can reduce risk and gain insight for what to actually build.

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Dashboards , Digital Products , UI/UX and Web Design , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

7 Reasons to Validate Your Startup Idea Before You Build It

It is important to validate your startup idea before you build it. Here are seven reasons why.

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Strategic Design , UI/UX and Web Design

How Businesses Can Prepare for Their New Website Project

Your new website can be a valuable business asset. The preparation you put into your new website project is a good time investment. Here's what to start with.

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Strategic Design , UI/UX and Web Design

How Design Thinking Can Make Your Next Website More Effective

Your website is not separate from the rest of your business. By embracing Design Thinking for your website project, you can delight your visitors and grow your business.

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Dashboards , Custom Software

How A Single Pane of Glass Software System Can Help Your Construction Company

A “single pane of glass” management dashboard can give you business insight into your construction or trade contracting company.

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Custom Software

Why Typical Construction Management Software Solutions Don’t Work

Most software marketed for construction doesn't actually fit the day-to-day business flow from field to office. Here's what to look for instead.

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Dashboards , UI/UX and Web Design , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

The Benefits of Semi-Custom Software

Semi-custom software can provide many of the benefits of fully custom software. It has the added benefits of a lower price and faster development.

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Learn how SPARK designed a custom tool for a retail touchscreen display fixture.

Strategic Design

How to Create Your Own Custom Color Picker Wheel

How SPARK designed and built a custom tool for a retail touchscreen display fixture. Learn how the team created a color selector that "just works!"

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Digital Products , Custom Software

Pre-Mortem for Your Custom Business Technology Project

Introduction to pre-mortems. What they are and how to run one. A cheat sheet for what can cause a software development project to fail.

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Build your business case for a custom app | SPARK

Mobile Apps , Custom Software

Building the Business Case for Your Custom App (ROI Estimation)

Custom software is a significant investment of money, time, and effort. Before you start your project, make sure you have a good business case for it.

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Collect Team Input for Your Software Project

Custom Software

Gathering (and Prioritizing) Input for Your Custom Software Project

What input should you get from your team when starting a custom software project? Learn how to prioritize input and decide on the scope of the first phase.

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Dashboards , Digital Products , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

Planning for Digitization in a Construction Business

This article outlines tips for owners and managers in the construction industry who are planning their transition to operations apps, management dashboards, field data collection, digital communication, and other business process automation.

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Digital Products , Custom Software

How to Roll Out Your New Custom Software

Successful software rollouts do not happen automatically. Read SPARK's practical advice for launching and taking the next steps to maximize its benefit.

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Digital Products , Custom Software

Short Introduction to Custom Software (and How to Start a Project)

Custom software can streamline business operations. You’ll learn how to plan a software project and the 3 most common goals custom software helps.

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Employee app to organize communication and increase engagement.

Mobile Apps

How an Employee App Amplifies Your Culture

An employee mobile app is a great way to organize and streamline communication in one place while embracing company culture.

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Custom Software

How to Seamlessly Transition Your Next Project Handoff

Learn 3 handoff strategies to easily transition your next project and see how to leverage software for scalable project handoff strategies that work.

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Strategic Design

From Ordinary to HYPE!

As SPARK grew our client base and expanded our team, it became apparent that our branding no longer fit SPARK's culture.

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Dashboards , Custom Software

7 Benefits of Custom Construction Management Software

Custom construction management software creates a “single source of truth” from your business data that allows you to make smarter decisions.

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Strategic Design

Creating a Culture of Celebration

Having an upbeat atmosphere and an organization that celebrates each other's accomplishments is core to how SPARK operates. See how we get 'hype'!

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Digital Products , Custom Software

Understanding Agile Planning: A Snapshot of the Process

This view into agile custom software development planning shows how SPARK proactively manages our client's budget, time, and attention.

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Custom Software

8 Construction Software Features That Your Business Needs

The construction industry is finally embracing technology. Your success depends on choosing the construction software features that best fit your needs.

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Construction Estimating Software-Integrates with QuickBooks

Custom Software

Construction Estimating Software That Integrates with QuickBooks

Change the way you bid for and manage projects with construction estimating software that integrates with QuickBooks.

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Dashboards , Digital Products , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

Construction Management Software for Builders and Contractors

Construction management software for builders and contractors can combat the current labor shortage through increased productivity and efficiency.

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Custom Software

Evaluating Construction Scheduling Software

Construction scheduling software can help you put the right people, equipment, and materials at the right site at the right time.

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Mobile Apps , Custom Software

How to Get Started with Construction Project Management Software

Construction management software with modules you customize with apps and integrations offer an option in between packaged and fully customized solutions.

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Dashboards , Digital Products , Mobile Apps

Signs Your Construction Management Software is Not Working for You

To remain competitive as the construction industry increases its use of technology, you need a custom solution that’s built for the way you do business.

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Digital Products , Mobile Apps , Custom Software

The Top Challenges That Make or Break Profits for Trade Contractors

In the construction industry alone, quality trade partners like mechanical, electrical and masonry contractors remain in high demand.

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Custom Software

Time Tracking and How Businesses Can Best Realize the Benefits

Tracking employee time is crucial for business decision-makers. Data must be easily accessible, current, and be able to tell the “inside” story.

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Digital Products , Strategic Design , UI/UX and Web Design , Custom Software

Custom App Developer Adds Digital Agency to Provide Seamless UX

SPARK Business Works, custom software developer, announced that it has acquired Elevator Up, a digital agency headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI.

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Dashboards , Mobile Apps

SMART Scheduling in Construction is a Game Changer

Manual scheduling methods plague trade contractors, but more companies than ever are investing in SMART scheduling solutions.

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Dashboards , Custom Workflows , Custom Software

The 3 Ways Custom Dashboards Accelerate Business Growth

When a company needs to gain operational efficiency, a custom business dashboard can automate data collection and reporting.

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Digital Products , Custom Software

Maximizing Tax Law to Build Custom Software for Your Business

The process of capitalization or expensing when developing software is an advantage most businesses don’t know they have.

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