Mobile app development is an evolving sector, driven jointly by emerging technologies and consumer demand. Businesses of all sizes are quickly realising the numerous advantages offered by mobile apps including fast response times, personalised content and unique branding opportunities.
Turning to a full service digital agency for custom mobile apps has come a long way in the past decade and show no signs of slowing down. Innovation and increased functionality promise to dominate the future of mobile app development — read on to discover what emerging and exciting trends you can expect to see in this sector.
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things — or the IoT — refers to the vast number of interconnected devices that are able to collect and share information. Smart home technologies, for example, the Google Nest device, are part of the IoT and are designed to make our lives all the more easier.
IoT technology has been integrated into mobile apps to control all types of devices. Inside the home this can include light bulbs, heating and air conditioning units, and security cameras. IoT apps are also evolving to be used in a variety of other settings including healthcare, traffic monitoring and agriculture.
5G Technology
An entirely new network structure, 5G promises to revolutionise the way that mobile apps function. With increased connectivity and speed, mobile app developers will be able to more fully integrate technologies such as virtual and augmented reality to create rich and engaging user experiences.
It is predicted that over 1.4 billion devices will be connected to the 5G network by 2025, suggesting that making the most of this technology will be a worthwhile investment for developers.
Mobile wallets
Increasing numbers of people are making the most of the convenience offered by mobile wallets. Paying with your phone, whether it be via Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay, has become the way to go which opens up all kinds of opportunities for app developers.
Looking to the future, wallet integration is set to be a standard feature on all apps that offer commerce functionality.
Augmented reality
Already a popular tool with developers, augmented reality is expected to only expand in its use and performance. Whilst apps such as Pokémon Go paved the way for AR within the gaming sector, this technology has proven to have extensive practical uses as well.
As an example, homeware and design stores such as IKEA have been quick to jump on the AR bandwagon with apps that allow you to play around with placing furniture in your home before making a purchase.
Chatbots
Chatbots have been a feature of the internet for quite some time but are becoming far more sophisticated in the types of requests that they can respond to. Chatbots are largely driven by AI technology, which is currently benefiting from the masses of data that is collected from internet users every day.
Mobile apps that offer services such as food delivery and online shopping are increasingly turning to chatbots to offer customer service assistance and respond to user queries. They are set to become a standard integrated feature of apps in the near future.
As a full service digital agency, mobile app development is just one of the many expert services that Newpath Web offers. Reach out to us at [email protected] to have a chat about all your digital and online needs.
