Keeping in touch with friends, family, business partners, scheduling appointments, checking emails, and reading this article are only a few reasons amplifying the importance of mobile app services.
Both technological advancements of mobile phones and mobile app development companies’ initiatives have revolutionized the way the business is done. IoT, AI, VR, AR, blockchain, and other technologies led to the foundation of a billion-dollar industries yielding revenue for big and small businesses. It’s become challenging for an app development company to set apart and deliver relevant solutions to stay competitive.
This article aims at providing a brief outlook of the top ten technologies for mobile app development that will help to survive the wrestle:
1. AI & ML
With the global market size valued at $39.9 billion in 2019, artificial intelligence (AI) tackles three core business needs: personalized customer experience, business processes automation, and gaining insight via data analysis.
Machine learning (ML) covers high investments in artificial intelligence including AI cognitive apps and platforms delivering intelligent and cognitively-driven solutions.
Many companies such as IBM, Amazon, Google, Facebook keep investing in AI and ML for them to be more tangible for business use-cases.
2. IoT
From air-conditioners to smart cars and cities, the Internet of Things (IoT) improves our way of living. It makes the world’s fabric more intelligent and responsive, connecting both digital and physical in real-time.
The IoT devices can keep track of key business processes, level up efficiency, improve productivity, provide insights, and encourage companies to render enlightened decisions.
The IoT spending reaching 8.2% year over year to $742 billion ⎯ less than predicted due to the pandemic. The future of IoT is promising as it’s considered “a key ‘return to growth’ accelerator” which will enhance remote experience, automation, and hyper-connectivity.
3. Cloud Apps
Being a relatively new yet strong competitor to native app development, cloud-based apps make it possible to build apps for both platforms on the cloud. The users can interact with the app via a web browser whereas all the data storage and processing are done remotely.
The cloud has a measurable impact on businesses as it improves efficiency and speed, keeps security and privacy at a high level, boosts UX, provides scalability, etc.
4. Wearables
Medical appliances, fitness trackers and rings, and smartwatches are on the hotlist now. Not only can’t they be ignored by companies, but they also provide wide choices when it comes to establishing quick and strong communication with customers, users, and partners. The customer service, IT, medicine, marketing, and sales are the key spheres where wearables are used now.
Nevertheless, some tech difficulties, battery limitations, and poor design might be the main disadvantages of wearable devices.
5. AR & VR
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) blur the line between physical and digital. Both technologies provide full immersion into a digital environment, while AR overlays virtual objects over real ones. The interest in VR and AR is growing as they are reshaping business operations.
AR and VR revenues might be split between several verticals: gaming, healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. AR is a powerful tool to train employees, show products, create virtual tours, visualize mockups, etc. Although VR’s viability is strong and the number of built-in features and headsets is striking, the quality graphics and the responsiveness of trackers are being improved, AR still surpasses.
6. Beacon Technology
Nowadays beacons started with the appearance of iBeacon, a protocol letting Bluetooth-enhanced devices transmit some data bits. Back in 2015, Google unleashed Eddystone, and since then, Eddystone and iBeacon have taken a big lead in the proximity market.
The operating principle of beacon technology is closer to that of a lighthouse. It transmits a signal that other Bluetooth devices can “see” once it is within reach. Beacons improve user experience, streamline business operations, and simplify workflow.
The beacon technology is greatly used by retail, manufacturing, transport, and education spheres, at airports and offices. Beacons allow to track good shipments, ensure accurate navigation, automatize reactions, provide security, and generate actual data.
7. Blockchain
Across financial services, global supply chains, healthcare, etc. blockchain transforms the traditional way businesses operate. Many industries have benefited from its transparency, improved traceability, enhanced security, boosted efficiency, reduced spending, and fast transactions.
Many people associate blockchain with Bitcoin, however, it’s just one unquestionably successful example of blockchain use. The global blockchain market is to amount from $3 billion in 2020 to $39.7 billion by 2025.
8. M-Commerce
With more companies encouraging shopping and purchases via smartphones rather than credit cards, m-commerce is on a rise. Easy shopping, faster transactions requiring no cards or cash, reduced efforts, saved time, improved customer retention, and tailored content are the concepts underpinning m-commerce.
With multiple payment gateways and enhanced encryption, m-commerce will be the most utilized component in mobile app categories.
9. Chatbots
Chatbots have taken up multiple communication channels and components in the mobile apps world. Thanks to real-time interactions, time and efforts of both service providers and users can be saved. Even though chatbots eliminate any human-to-human interaction, they boost efficiency and customer engagement, reduce time spent on feedback or answers, gain insights, and provide better lead generation.
10. EMM & AMP
With most of the workforce using smartphones for work-related issues and many of them work remotely, application performance management (APM) and enterprise mobile management (EMM) is how companies address the employees’ expansive use of mobile devices for work.
Now APM and EMM make up the basics of enterprise app building. APM was introduced to fight the issue slowing down the app performance. However, EMM ensures mobile data and document security on employees’ personal and company-owned devices.
Key Takeaways
Every year is replete with innovations and technologies for mobile app development solutions. Notwithstanding the above-mentioned ones, it also entails the introduction of 5G technology, the rise of enterprise, on-demand and instant app development, XR, PWA, low code development, and more.
However, there’s no need to act on every impulse of modern trends but be aware of their core pros and cons, customer demands, transformations, and the way your business can benefit from each of them.
With its ability to seamlessly combine hardware and software, Apple Vision Pro for Enterprise is a potent tool that enhances efficiency, productivity, and creativity within business processes. It acts as a demonstration of the specialized features available in Apple’s business solutions.