The world is shifting towards digitalisation with unprecedented speed and mobile apps are in the centre of this change. With the widespread popularity of handheld devices and smartphones among the common public, mobile apps are playing various roles in the new digital world. From media platforms to educators, entertainment to business operation, apps have established their utility in almost all sectors around the world.
Many tech giants recognised this potential early on and as a result, we saw huge players investing in the app development industry. This gave rise to the pace of advancement with which apps were evolving and over the last few years, we saw unprecedented improvements in the usability and features of popular apps. The essence of mobile apps is so big now that even small businesses can’t survive without them. With the inclusion of numerous new technologies, there is no limit to what you can achieve with mobile apps.
Business owners and developers seeking to create a great app-based solution should observe the trends in the app development world and they will recognise technology and its impact on mobile apps over the years. New technology has changed steps to developing an app and also what could be achieved with them. Recent years saw the rise of technologies like Chatbots, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Augmented and Virtual Reality. In the coming year too certain technologies will decide the trends for apps which provide solutions to the common masses and will be supported by investors also.
Let us see what are some of the expected top trends in mobile app development in 2021.
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Internet of things
The Internet of things (IoT) has faced a huge surge in its utility in recent years. Every day new digital devices are launched and transform some of the other activities into digital processes. TVs, watches, ACs and what, the list of connectable devices is growing day by day. This has given IoT unprecedented legitimacy and makes it one of the most appreciated technology for the investors to invest in. It is estimated that by 2021 more than 21 devices will be connected with the internet of things. It is difficult to see what IoT will not be a premium niche for developers and investors in 2021 as well.
Artificial and Chatbox
Artificial intelligence is one of the burning discussions among technocrats today. We have always fantasised about artificial intelligence but now it is at the verge of dominating any other technological advancement. Didn’t we enjoy the advent of Siri and Alexa or don’t we just love when we are assisted by a well-created bot on a website? AI has just sprung its wings and there is no doubt it will be one of the leading technologies which will be defining tomorrow.
AI-powered Chatbots have also garnered much appreciation and backing from the investors over the past few years. Though the early iteration showed lags, it is being refined continuously and has changed the way businesses interact today. Food delivery services, cab services and groceries apps proved how chatbots can be a turning point for any business plans and there is no doubt it will maintain its value in 2021 as well.
Cloud-based Mobile Apps
Cloud technology has helped organizations in efficiently collecting and managing a large amount of data. After being integrated with mobile technology, it has also made processes more smooth than before, have increased productivity and collaboration based ventures. Many apps with huge databases use Amazon Web Service (AWS) as their cloud computing backup which can also see a rise in coming years.
Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
Android and iOS are the two most popular platforms for mobile apps but there are other platforms also which are boasted by many devices. Cross-platform apps can be run on any platform without the need to specialise code for that platform. Needless to say, it simplifies the development process and saves the hassle of developing apps for various platforms. 2021 will see a surge in the use of such apps more than before and investors will also show more interest in them.
Blockchains
Blockchain is the newly introduced technology which has enhanced security, tracking, and quality control features of mobile apps. Blockchain-based apps are much safer and can not be breached by hackers. Breaking the data into smaller packers, it makes the interception of the data impossible. Blockchains were hugely adopted in the last few years for payment apps and shopping apps. 2021 will also see numerous apps utilising this amazing technology.
Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality
AR and VR have gained a lot of momentum in the past few years. After the release of ARKit by Apple and ARCore by Google, the AR and VR have also been widely used for many other apps across the app industry. From healthcare, travel, education, etc. it has been used in all kinds of apps. Mobile applications are giving amazing experience with AR and VR technology and this will only develop in the coming days, making AR and VR apps favourites for investors also.
M-Commerce
Mobile apps have changed the way we used to do the transaction in our normal lives. From shopping, groceries to basic needs of life, everything is being sold via mobile apps. The payment apps and e-wallets have also captured many new users especially after the advent of digital transactions. These apps encourage users to do online shopping and make payments without using cash or physical cards. Mcommerce apps will also keep their influence in 2020 as well and are expected to be favoured by investors as well.
5G Technology Apps
5G is not only the latest data service but also increases the speed of data exchanges many folds than 4G. This new achievement and data speed gained with 5G will give rise to many apps which utilise the high-speed 5G network. 5G will be crucial for 3D gaming, augmented reality and for apps which rely on huge data transfer. Anyway, keeping investors away with 5G based apps will not be easy in 2021 and we will certainly see many apps capitalising on 5G technology.
EMM and APM
Enterprise mobile management (EMM) and Application performance management (APM) are two new developments in the enterprise app mobile world. Beauce of its significance and efficient results, it is suitable for quality assurance testers for testing apps. Moreover, EMM will help in expanding security and maintenance features of apps and will make them better integrated than before for various enterprise based applications.
Low Code Development
Low code apps are created by ditching large codes and utilising the latest technology methods to create apps by simple code, saving a lot of time and efforts from the developer. This technology will be great for new businesses and will make applications more reachable for medium and small scale businesses. Google App Builder, Out system, Kissflow, Zoho Creator, and other low code app development tools will see much more rise in 2021 and will be amount investors favourites.
Apps for Foldable devices
Foldable mobile phones and making their entry in the market again and are expected to gain acceptance from the user community as well. Though foldable phones were there back in the day, the technology has now changed and foldable features can be used in apps to enhance usability. Apps developed for specific foldable phones will see better prospects in 2021. Many new foldable products and being lined up and some of them have enjoyed early success as well. It will be interesting to see what innovations will be made in these kinds of devices and how investors will take them.
Key Takeaway
Technology is a continuous process of evolution and is the deciding factor for the mobile app market these days. With new technologies coming every day, mobile app developers need to keep a keen eye on this development and make the most of the given situation. Most of the technologies mentioned above seem to dominate the app market in the coming days. Apps which will give real-life solutions for the problem people face will be loved by the masses and apps which provide results with efficiency will stay for the long run. One of the biggest mobile app development tips is to keep yourself ahead of the competition in terms of technological advancements. Here you go. These are some of the technologies and trends where mobile apps will be making advancements in the year 2021 hopefully. Those who have aligned their strategist with these technologies will see favourable results. So if you are looking for great app ideas, make sure your app follow one of the more of these amazing technologies and can compete with what the competition has to offer.
Author Bio: Harry is a content writer and editor at KitelyTech. When he’s not working, he can be found convincing clients to write books or sitting on her balcony writing her own novels.
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