As organizations embark on digital transformation journeys and apply new ways of interactions like conversational, cognitive interfaces, machine learning etc., there is a growing need to develop working prototypes and build systems rapidly.

A Smart Apps Platform (AI-driven software development platform) reimagines software development lifecycle by helping identify patterns and automation of tasks across the lifecycle. It enables building of working prototypes and digital innovations that augment and blend well with existing processes. The platform helps rapidly develop smart applications that are intelligent and adaptive, and understand the users and environment. It provides the flexibility, agility, industrialization required to churn out modern applications in a consistent and fast way. Configurable dashboards help in deriving deep insights into the development process.

Smart apps platform helps drive the adoption of new systems that align with new business models quickly, and assists in developing applications and prototypes faster. By leveraging AI, the framework identifies patterns, helps on autosuggestions, reviews, self-healing etc (See Figure 1).

AI in Planning

1. AI Driven Estimation Models: Estimation models can be trained to be more accurate based on information collected from previous project execution experiences.
2. Planning of Execution:  An AI assistant trained on past development experience coupled with business-driving factors will help the project management and business stakeholders take the right decisions like project execution sequence, budget planning etc.
3. Upgrade: Tools will suggest upgrades.

AI in Requirements Specification: AI driven knowledge base of related requirements, and how they can address the specific requirement can help accelerate development of rapid working prototypes.

1. Some amount of automation can be built into the UI generation process. For eg. We can have auto-generated UI models for common domain use cases which can be used as base.
2. We can choose from a pre-defined set of use cases that address a specific innovation area or a challenge.

AI in Architecture/Design: The framework will suggest alternate designs and architectures based on previous implementations, which will help guide the architect to take the right decisions. The framework will help choose and create templates for developers.

AI in Code Generation: Code snippets can be generated based on the requirements and the need, and integrated into the code. Code could be added as a binary reference or as a snipped that is embedded into the code where required to fulfil the functionality.

1. Code can be cleaned for maintainability and endurance periodically
2. Developer Assistants can help the developer by helping in recommendations, providing best practices/checklists
3. Data Model Creation can help in auto creation of data models for the UI models
4. Upgrade Assistants can help suggest any upgrades of the underlying software
5. Code as Templates: Software code can be made available as templates with the coding standards of the project chosen by the architect with the non-functional requirements added. Reusable code can be made available in a global repository. Suggested elements for code reuse can be recognized based on patterns identified.
6. Self-healing Code Assistants can go through code corrections and apply them on other pieces of code before a new build starts. Logs can be analyzed to flag errors and suggest ways to fix the errors.
7. Review Assistant: Self Heal/ Auto Correct Assistant, Debugging Assistant

AI in Deployment and Release: Upgrade Assistants, Auto Correct Assistants help ease the deployment process.

Rapid development of applications with smart apps platform

Smart Apps Platform enables building next gen architectures, automation of code generation, reviews, deployment, refactoring, and code compliance, and is driven by AI Driven Digital Knowledge Framework and other accelerators. It includes features like Citizen Development- a bot-based development for integration, UI etc., frameworks for modernization, microservices, migration, and cloud journeys (See Figure 2). 

• Architect Workbench helps the architect choose use cases, requirements, architecture patterns and define the templates and specific work items for developers.
• UI workbench helps define UI models by reusing existing or generating UI models.
• Developer Workbench helps the developer by providing help whenever he/ she is stuck, aligning the code to the standards, refactoring, suggesting reusable components and adding them, helping the developer to collaborate with architects, COE teams etc.
• Foundational Component Framework consists of Frameworks that help build applications very fast. Container Framework helps in moving code into containers. Modernization Framework helps in modernizing the code. NFR Framework brings in standard NFR functionalities into all pieces of code. Modernization Framework consists of Upgrade Assistant, Assessment Assistant, UI Conversion tool, Upgrade frameworks, Upgrade-Auto Suggest etc. Microservices Framework consists of framework for developing and running microservices, discovery, configuration templates, routing & orchestration templates etc. It also helps in Citizen Development- a bot-based development for integration, accelerating cloud journeys.

Digital Knowledge Framework – Foundation of Smart Apps Platform

Digital Knowledge Framework is the foundation of the AI driven software Platform. The foundation framework leverages AI and Azure Cognitive Search. The Knowledge Base consists of architecture, design, requirements, UI models, explicit and tacit knowledge, domain knowledge, best practices, templates, checklists, code samples, estimation models from previous project experiences as well as GitHub etc. (See Figure 3). It consists of curated templates, code snippets, which help in rapid development of working prototypes as well as build code.

Going digital

A smart apps platform helps rapid smart applications development. Smart Applications connect people, things and businesses intelligently to deliver rich, adaptive, personalized, immersive, contextual experiences to users over any number of interfaces that include mobile, web, among others. These applications leverage artificial intelligence and incorporate intelligent features such as emotion and sentiment detection, vision and speech recognition, language understanding, knowledge, and search to help organizations in their digital transformation journey. 

Rekha Kodali, Practice Head - Microsoft Services, Wipro

Rekha’s core competency, accumulated over 22 years of professional experience, include enterprise architecture and Microsoft technologies. She has designed large solutions based on a multitude of technologies and acquired various industry recognized certifications.

Venkataguru Kandarpi, Global head - Microsoft Services, Wipro

In his 20+ years of professional experience, Guru has played various roles. Currently he heads the Microsoft Application Services of Wipro, which focuses on Microsoft digital technologies such as Azure, Dynamics 365, and Office 365.

Aravind Ajad, Chief Architect - Global Enterprise Architecture, Wipro

Aravind focuses on emerging technologies as part of Wipro’s Global Enterprise Architecture practice. He works on solution themes to build future Smart Applications covering all architecture layers. He has been championing Digital First Architecture styles for building next generation applications.

Sumana Mohan, Senior Architect – Microsoft Services, Wipro

In her 20+ years of experience, Sumana has architected many integration solutions for large customers. Her core competency includes architecting solutions using Microsoft technologies. Currently, she is leading the digital applications practice within the Microsoft practice.