Our environment is digitizing more and more. Especially in times of social isolation and working from home, people are forced to do more and more things online. Whereas previously this was done mainly through websites, mobile applications are now increasingly taking over the digital world. This is true for virtually every industry. Whether in hospitality, retail, health and social services, education and training, financial services, you name it. More and more organizations are moving to a mobile application as a replacement or support for the website.
But why is the demand for a personalized application rising among businesses and entrepreneurs? More importantly, what do the trends look like in mobile app development?
use of smartphones and applications is increasing
The reason more and more organizations are opting for an application can be explained by the fact that about 90% of the Dutch population has a smartphone with access to the Internet. Data from CBS show that as many as 84% of this large group of people also actively use their smartphones to surf the Internet. On top of that, using a well-developed mobile application is generally perceived as a lot more pleasant than a mobile website. In addition, a mobile app is faster, clearer and more personal. In short, plenty of reasons to choose a mobile application.
What are the trends in mobile app development?
Whereas the economy has slowed down in recent months because of the Covid-19 virus, the opposite is true for mobile application development. Thanks to the advent of 5G and thus an even faster Internet connection, more is also possible for apps. These are the dominant trends in mobile app development for the remaining months of 2020.
1. Applications on cloud storage
Applications on cloud storage will become the successor to native apps. The big advantage of applications on cloud storage is that they do not use a smartphone’s storage space. Simply because the app is stored in the cloud. Another advantage of applications on cloud storage is that they can also be accessed via a Web browser rather than just a mobile device. Moreover, the app does not need to be installed first when stored on the cloud, but can be opened immediately.
Consequently, cloud-based application development is becoming increasingly popular among app developers. The usability of mobile applications can be further enhanced with this emerging technology. In addition, applications on cloud storage are easy to develop and maintain.
Every advantage has its disadvantage. Cloud storage brings a greater cost than native apps because of the increase in data management and maintenance.
2. Applications integrated with portable devices
The popularity of portable devices is on the rise among consumers. In particular, smartwatch use has grown considerably in popularity in recent years. As a result, integrated applications are also naturally becoming more popular, and the number of applications available for portable devices is therefore increasing. The advantage of these applications, for example, is that the user does not need a smartphone to operate the application. After all, this can be done simply through the smartwatch.
3. The Internet of Things (IoT).
Rather than a trend for the remaining months of 2020, the Internet of Things is a major trend for the next decade. Although more and more devices and applications in the form of smart assistants are making their presence felt in the coming period, the expectation is that eventually everything will switch to this technology in the coming years. In other words, everything becomes connected and controllable through applications and smart assistants such as Google Home and Alexa. These smart assistants can actually be thought of as very intelligent chatbots.
Consequently, the number of comptable devices is increasing. Think smart ovens, smart refrigerators, smart lighting, a smart thermostat, and so on. The rise of this technology is asserting itself as an important trend, for both the consumer and industrial markets. Therefore, the user experience increases even more thanks to this emerging technology.
4. Applications with virtual and augmented reality
The use of virtual and augmented reality technology in mobile application development will increase even more in the coming months. This technology, which is currently still primarily used in game development, is also increasingly making its way into the other categories of mobile applications.
Consider, for example, the application of VR and AR technologies in real estate or E-commerce. Indeed, virtually viewing a home or piece of clothing is all but unthinkable in the near future. In addition, with the application of virtual and augmented reality techniques, it is also possible, for example, to see how a new piece of furniture will look in a home. App developers are increasingly applying this technology, which is currently in its infancy, but whose potential will be great.
5. Applications On Demand
The advantage of applications On Demand is that they are personal to the user. A large platform becomes more personal and user-friendly with this technology. In doing so, the user can decide what he or she wants to see. In particular, the combination of On Demand applications and the Internet of Things will increase in popularity. A large amount of data to entertainment, for example, can thus be made available to the user in a personalized way. Because of the great added value in terms of usability, On Demand applications are expected to play a major role in the future.
A personalized mobile application customized for your business
A personalized app for your organization to support the company website brings many benefits and possibilities. Want to learn more about application options or are you interested in an app for your business? Then contact us to see together how a custom application can create impact for your organization or business.
