Developing an app for your business is a significant investment – you want to be sure to get some decent ROI from it. It needs to offer some real value to users for that to be possible, and to stand out from the crowd you need to stay ahead of the trends. Here are a few trends to take note of, driven by new, emerging, and intersecting technologies.
Apps for the Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT technology is rapidly finding its place in business processes and the daily lives of ordinary users globally. Sensors and smart devices provide a plethora of data, and apps are needed to make sense of it all. From collating to data analysis, mobile devices are the ideal way to monitor and interact with these systems. Mobile apps, in turn, make it possible to get the maximum value from the available data and deliver insight in real time to the palm of a user’s hand.
Cloud-based apps
Highspeed connectivity in the form of 5G opens a world of possibilities for cloud-based apps that rely on connectivity rather than a device’s hardware. With speed up to 100 times that of most 4G networks, 5G enables a new level of functionality for cloud-based apps with enriched user experiences and minimal latency.
The phenomenon of the instant app, which requires no installation and delivers instantaneous functionality, is sure to rise over the years to come. Apart from the convenience of immediacy, such apps also avoid cluttering devices and slowing them down.
AR & VR experiences
Both AR and VR have been around for some time, but until now, use cases have been somewhat limited and focused mainly on the gaming market. That’s set to change as faster networks support apps that use AR and VR to deliver immersive entertainment on the go and offer users novel new experiences and conveniences.
Virtual 3D tours took off during the pandemic, and now the likes of realtors are turning to these technologies to reinvent their industry, giving would-be home buyers the opportunity to thoroughly explore a home from anywhere in the world. Mobile devices can deliver such VR experiences with a simple (and surprisingly affordable) headset.
AR technology is ideally suited to mobile devices with many exciting use cases, including retail and fashion, education, children’s toys, navigation, healthcare, and even virtual user and assembly instructions. We can expect to see AR technology playing a much bigger part in our lives in the near future.
Mobile payment apps
Mobile wallets have become a popular way to transact and make person-to-person payments, and now blockchain technology is lending a new level of security and speed to these types of apps. The greater security and functionality of such apps will surely lead to increased popularity as users enjoy the convenience they offer without sacrificing peace of mind.
Get the guidance you need
New technology may offer exciting possibilities, but without the right guidance on how best to implement such technologies in an app that users are sure to love and which meets their needs, you need the guidance of a technology partner. We can help you stay ahead of the curve and realise the best possible return on your app development budget. Take a look at what we can do.
