What are the upcoming changes that can turn an online business from zero to a hero? Does the future of mobile apps hold anything from small or medium scale businesses, or is it the market for large-scale businesses online? We have a lot of questions perturbing our minds. Mobile/handy devices have acquired a wide share in the online market. There are over 1 billion smartphones, 3.48 million apps for android devices and 2.22 million apps for iOS devices. The year 2021 is in full fledge to herald innovations and inventions. Apparently, these figures will grow 30 to 40 times by the end of 2025, with millions and millions of apps to use. Apps that dominate the market include Google apps (Gmail, Maps, Chrome, Photos, Drive, Search, GPay). The next slot is taken by social media applications, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, and Twitter. The third slot is taken by shopping apps like Amazon, Flipkart, Walmart. These giants may have maximum downloads today, but they started from the very basic, just like anyone else. However, the trends, technology and features these apps imbibed make them different.

Here are some futuristic trends that are to continue the flexibility and agility in mobile application development.

• Internet of Things (IoT) App Integration
• Beacon Technology
• Wearable devices
• Cloud-based mobile application
• AI-Powered Smart Apps Development
• Next-Gen AR/VR
• M-Commerce

Internet of Things (IoT) App Integration

IoT has come a long way from being new. Users can manage the temperature of their refrigerator even if they are out, and the credit goes to IoT. IoT forms a network of devices connected to the internet to provide automated control to consumers, along with enhanced convenience. The combination of mobile app development and IoT carves up breathing room for smart home technology.

Beacon Technology

Part present, part-futuristic approach, Beacon Technology is an emerging technology that helps businesses use special apps designed to connect with their customers. These beacons are devices that exude Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals for location-based and proximity marketing. The technology can be used in diverse industries as the beacon-powered app sends notifications on the device whenever the user enters the Beacon-powered zone. Mobile devices come with location sensor capabilities that enable users to get exact ideas of their present and desired location. The technology collects location and time information for the respective user for a thorough analysis, making Beacon the need of the hour. It helps companies deliver their location-based services using location features. Fitness, grocery apps, food delivery, navigation apps, ride apps, etc., are some of the apps to count. These applications use geomagnetic, Wi-Fi, imaging, and ultrasonic beacons technology for indoor location sensing make it a next-gen technology.

AI-Powered Smart Apps Development

The game-changer- AI-Powered Smart Apps are turning heads with exceptional features. A revolutionary technology that catapulted the frequency of human-machine interaction, AI is a panacea for business growth and user engagement. AI, when combined with mobile applications, takes development to the next level. All-including-Siri, Google assistance, Alexa, Google Duplex and Cortana - are powered by AI technology. When merged with futuristic technology like IoT, ML and deep learning, AI can help you get real-time valuable & data analytics. Automate the functions of your company by implementing the power of AI.

Wearable Devices

Wearables are gaining an edge over everything to get established as a reigning Mobile App Development Trend. In 2020, wearable had touched 441.5 million user base and is reported to grow 26.1% in the coming years. Be it a smartwatch, fitness band or spectacles, they have got a huge market base. Apple Watch and Microsoft’s Hololens have brought a major transition to provide breathable space to technology and set new competing and computing goals. A whole new lot of gadgets are being prepared using technology in the fitness, sports, fashion and healthcare industries. This includes smartwatches, smart jewelry, on-body healthcare sensors and display devices. A variety of sensors are being embedded in clothes and shoes to simplify the information delivery. Designed to add ease and convenience to user’s life, these devices can be connected with smartphones to bombard with new mobile application development strategies.

Cloud-Based Mobile Application

The next frontier for app development is backed by the cloud. Cloud-based application development is gaining popularity as cloud-based applications are robust and offer more scalability and unlimited space to the users. All this comes at a reduced hosting cost, enhanced collaboration, streamlined processes, decreased equipment costs and heightened productivity. Cloud integration can be treasured with upcoming technologies, including hybrid cloud development and quantum computing. Investing in this Mobile App Development Trend can take your journey to the next level.

Next-Gen AR/VR

Remember Pokemon Go? The finest example. As we progress towards new technologies, missing augmented and virtual reality may take us years back. It’s a futuristic technology that extends its branches in every direction to stay as a potential trend. Tech experts bet on AR and VR for being highly innovative. Augmented reality or AR views objects or graphics live through a camera in the real world, while VR stands for virtual reality that lets you block contact with the real world and create a virtual world around you that you experience through VR devices. The two technologies hold enough potential to skyrocket the success of the eCommerce and marketing industry. Lenskart, Sephora, IKEA, Nyka, Snapchat, Instagram etc., are using the power of AR for their mobile apps, and VR is supported by VR enabled YouTube app designed by Google. The purpose of using AR and VR is to enhance the user experience in order to boost sales and conversion.

Apps for Foldable Devices

The trail of foldable devices has started with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the Huawei Mate X, etc. and is soon to run mainstream. What makes these devices unique is the capability of smartphones to manage the size of the screen based on user’s preferences. The screen size can compress and expand within microseconds; for ex. users can watch videos by unfolding the device and that too on a large screen, but the screen will adjust to normal screen size by itself to use other functions like call or message. The basic idea is to let the operations adjust the display as the screen folds or unfolds. 2022 will be a great year for foldable devices, and planning your mobile app strategy around it would do you the favors.

Mobile Commerce

While listing the trending Mobile App Development Trends, we can’t afford to miss M-commerce or mobile commerce. The trend is in its full rage and will continue at the same pace in coming years. We all know that the purpose of mobile apps is to create multiple business opportunities for increased revenue. We have no dearth of novel and exciting instances, especially for large retailers. Ever noticed notifications from apps on your mobile phone? This is how mobile app resellers pitch their clients to visit back to the app. Mcommerce functionality is endowed with all trending and latest features to keep mobile users hooked to the app for the longest possible period and repeat. Tech giants like Amazon, Flipkart, Nykaa, are top-performing examples. It’s been noticed that mobile customers are increasing every second, and optimizing the app for them can target a strong range of audiences. Big companies have started making their apps mobile-friendly to hit the nail. Mobile app development trends come and go, and only a few essential ones last for long. 5G technology, mobile wallet or payment methods, chatbots, enhanced app security, predictive analysis, etc., are some of the features that every app should hold. Besides, the pricing for every app differs based on the complexity of the idea and the set of features to be incorporated. Have picturized your app ideas? Discuss with us to get a clearer picture.