With more than one billion smartphone users across the world and over 179 billion mobile applications downloaded each year, mobile app development is undoubtedly one of the best evolving and actively growing industries. There is no denying that mobile apps today are more mainstream than ever, and businesses from all industry verticals rely on this channel to meet customer demands and increase revenues.
Mobile apps have been the center of competitive technological innovations for several years. 2017 has been an outstanding year for mobile applications and 2018 promises to witness the continuing emergence of new, cutting-edge tools and techniques, along with significant growth in conventional technologies and approaches. Here are the top 6 mobile app development trends that are likely to positively impact the industry.
1) Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
In the world of mobile technology, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are gradually transforming the way people shop, communicate and do business through mobile applications. VR apps help businesses deliver a remarkable and enhanced virtual experience of the product or services to their customers before purchase.
Big companies like Facebook, Samsung, Google, and Sony have already rolled out their VR-enabled devices such as Oculus Rift, VR Gear, Google Cardboard and PlayStation VR, respectively, which have succeeded in making VR a mainstream technology. Similarly, AR is an enhanced view of the real physical world seen through a digital screen. Gaming apps such as Sky Siege, iOnRoad, myNav, and Pokémon Go are some of the brilliant examples of AR technology.
2) Mobile app development impacts wearable devices
Wearable technology is one of the major breakthroughs that has efficaciously added a new dimension to the wall of mobile app development. Equipped with world-class features such as GPU, sensors and much more, wearable devices including watches, fitness trackers, glasses, jewelry, and other accessories are proving to be tremendously beneficial for real-life activities.
Wearables integrated with mobile app technology have made lives more interactive with efficient and user-friendly featured apps. Wearable apps are not only helping to bridge the communication gaps but are also increasing productivity besides enhancing lifestyles and improving workflow. Since wearables are set to be the next big thing in the tech world, it is imperative that mobile app developers take this innovation in their stride and gear up for the change.
3) The rise of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
As Artificial Intelligence(AI) is becoming one of the most popular topics in both technology and the business world, the mobile app industry will see a significant rise in the use of machine learning in the development of mobile apps. The expansion of AI technology in recent years has allowed mobile users to expect more in-depth and predictive mobile app performance. Today, AI is significantly being used in mobile applications to improve user satisfaction.
Machine learning is allowing mobile apps to quickly identify complicated patterns and gain in-depth insights by analyzing large data. “My Starbucks Barista” mobile app by Starbucks is one of the recent and perfect examples of using AI in mobile app development. The app allows users to place their orders via messaging interface or voice command, delivering unparalleled speed and convenience while enhancing customer loyalty and engagement.
4) Blockchain is the next big thing
The steep growth in the value and popularity of Cryptocurrency has grabbed the attention of the world toward its underlying Blockchain technology, which brought Cryptocurrency into the spotlight. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that blockchain technology has quickly made its way into the mobile app landscape and has been embraced with significant enthusiasm and warmth.
Blockchain technology will be deployed into countless mobile apps, from supply chain to retail, financial, and more. In fact, it is already happening. IBM, for instance, is building a network using blockchain technology that authenticates users’ identities when they use services such as getting driver’s licenses or opening new bank accounts. Blockchain not only protects user privacy during a transaction, but also secures the contents of the transaction itself.
5) Internet of Things will go mainstream
Internet of Things (IoT) is another trending topic that will positively revolutionize mobile app development. With the surge in demand and uses of connected things, the need for cutting-edge mobile apps for the management of smart devices is more than ever. From education to healthcare and smart cities to smart homes, IoT apps are all set to go mainstream in 2018. Although it might take some more years for IoT to fully take off, it is undoubtedly here to stay. Apple watch and Google’s Android Things are prime examples of the fact that this industry has many scopes.
6) Cloud-based apps
With the number of smartphone users increasing at an unprecedented rate, app developers today are looking for ways to develop applications that are handy, robust and easy to use on mobile phones. The skyrocketing cloud technology provides an opportunity for companies to build such mobile apps that would not impact users’ internal phone memory, using the cloud as a storage platform.
Many mobile app development companies are embracing cloud-based technology that helps in increased productivity and better-streamlined operation and collaboration. Cloud integration of mobile apps can fetch data from the cloud and consequently reduce the load on the internal phone memory, which can prove beneficial for business owners and app developers.
