Since we entered the smartphone era, there has been no going back. In the blink of an eye, smartphones have become our greatest companions. When we talk about mobile app development revenue, it has increased tenfold!
As the number of user application touchpoints increases, modalities change, and device types proliferate, the future of application development lies in multiple experiences, according to a recent Gartner, Inc. survey.
The mobile app industry is clearly dominated by Google apps, social media, and gaming apps. Industry giants are hiring leading mobile app development companies in UK to ensure branding, direct marketing, and better customer engagement. This has brought startups, entrepreneurs, and small and medium enterprises to the mobile app development trends. In 2022, they are looking for more than just a mobile-friendly website. Both Android app development and iOS app development are driven by technological advancements for which the business should have an innovative vision for the next 2 years.
Brands like Harley Davidson are also digging deeper into mobile apps to see a ray of success. Their mobile cycling app for Harley Davidson Owner Groups (HOGs) provides a technology platform for creating rides, logging rides with GPS Navigator, connecting with other riders, identifying pit stops, tracking gas stat, ions, and more. In short, this cycling app is a social media platform for HOGs!
Exciting, right?
Let’s dive deeper into the current and future trends in mobile app development.
What is a successful mobile app development strategy?
One of the main reasons businesses fail with elements of mobile app development is because they move forward with the preconceived notion that “mobile app development is about writing functional software for compatible devices like smartphones and tablets.”
Conversely, the strategy doesn’t just revolve around code development; instead, it includes market research, requirements analysis, front-end design, and usability testing before leading to the deployment phase.
Investing time and resources into the development process is a key step to ensuring a successful mobile app development strategy – top tip for businesses!
Major trends in mobile app development
Here are detailed strategies adopted by leading mobile app development companies in UK over the years that have proven to be a great success for brands. Mobile app user experience has hit the jackpot with these leading mobile app development trends that are making our lives easier in countless ways.
The future of mobile apps for Android and iOS app development seems brighter than ever as these innovative trends come to light.
When it comes to current and future mobile app development trends, our experience is always better than our expectations.
Will we get to know them one by one?
1. Internet of Things (IoT)
In the 1990s, no one could have imagined that the Internet could enter our lives while helping us control our kitchens and bedrooms from remote locations. Even if you are on office premises and forgot to lock your house, you can lock it from anywhere. With an Internet connection, IoT application development, and an IoT-powered device, you can control almost anything. Users will get IoT products like Philips lighting system, August smart lock, and more.
Businesses are quickly adapting to IoT trends and app development as these devices become as ubiquitous as smartphones in the next 2-3 years. Concepts like smart and self-driving cars, 5G networks, and IoT devices powered by artificial intelligence are the most anticipated mobile app development trends!
2. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
The role of artificial intelligence on smartphones goes far beyond virtual assistants, chatbots, or artificial intelligence-based photo filtering apps. Taking a more active role with the inclusion of user predictions, voice translations, AI-based cameras, and much more, it is gaining a new home in the smartphone world. Whether it’s iOS or Android app development, with the help of AI and ML services, it uses previous data related to user behavior and actions and then implements them.
For example, Moon Technolabs delivered a next-generation ML model entirely based on convolutional neural networks with the Damage Detection Blimp application, automating 80% of inbound inventory processing and reducing total processing time by 90%.
The combination of ML and AI is also highly effective in eCommerce mobile app development. With the combination of IoT and artificial intelligence, we may not even have to tap our fingers. We would get used to the terms:-
- AIOps for automating IT operations
- Smart cameras with recognition
- Language translations
- Face unlock is enabled with artificial intelligence
- Application authentication for cyber and IoT security
It is no wonder that mobile healthcare applications are widely appearing in the development of viruses and diseases. AI in mobile applications has provided options for a way to cope with the changing reality. Mobile app development services have enabled patients to get better treatment, making the most of telehealth and wearable technology. The leading mobile health trend in 2020 and 2021 was telemedicine. Today, 54% of patients are more comfortable consulting a doctor via e-mail or video call. A great example of a COVA application developed by Moon Technolabs is itself a boon to the people of Punjab!
3. Hybrid or Cross-platform app development
In the last few years, the most trusted brands of the mobile app industry such as Facebook, Alibaba, and others have successfully implemented cross-platform app development technology to improve their efficiency levels. The years after 2022 will see another record with a large number of enterprises using cross-platform app development to experience high performance, cost-effectiveness, and the benefits of faster development.
According to statistics, Google’s new Flutter technology will rule the cross-platform mobile app development industry in 2022. Advantages such as multiple IDE support, ease of learning, and reloading make it an ideal technology. Mobile app developers also use other mobile app development frameworks such as React Native, Ionic, and Xamarin for cross-platform mobile apps.
4. Streaming virtual events
When the Coronavirus brought real events to a halt, the latest trend of virtual events and gatherings emerged. With the growing popularity of live streaming apps, this trend is expected to thrive even after we recover from the pandemic effect of the coronavirus.
The online event platform available as a mobile app helps users create virtual events while connecting people around the world. These virtual interactive platforms allow users to change rooms, communicate and listen to different speakers while actively participating in group chats.
5. Virtual reality and augmented reality
Today, the gaming and video arenas are successfully conquered by AR and VR applications. It’s only a matter of years before mobile app developers use these technologies to bring them into our daily lives. Google’s ARcore and Apple’s ARkit are teasers for this mixed reality revolution. Before you hire a mobile app development company in UK to start your AR-based app plan, be aware that its benefits are beyond imagination, such as
- Motion tracking
- Occlusion of people
- Environmental understanding
- Easy guess
Augmented reality-based app ideas launched as fully functional mobile apps to support tourism, healthcare, education, marketing, retail, and more. Facebook Spaces allows users to interact through virtual reality and Instagram has a range of AR filters. Other devices such as Oculus Go, HoloLens, and Magic Leap offer an interactive and immersive user experience.
The healthcare industry makes the best use of VR/AR apps and gadgets as doctors can now perform live surgeries from any part of the world. People can virtually teleport into space, the deep sea, other planets, and any part of the invisible world to rediscover reality. Here’s how mobile app development companies in UK are rewriting the future with AR and VR
- Virtual training simulations
- Research activities
- Live concerts and music festivals
- Destination navigator
- Visual learning
6. Business mobile applications
Companies allow their employees to access corporate mobile applications. These enterprise mobile app designs are a step forward to digitizing businesses from code-free out-of-the-box mobile solutions to custom app solutions and mobile app development platforms. Enterprise apps will help organizations manage and streamline business processes along with the added security of mobile apps.
For this life on the go, an employee with a smartphone should always be connected to the business. Enterprise mobile app development for both Android and iOS makes this possible while ensuring reliability and security needs.
7. Beacon technology
Imagine you were looking for a particular brand of clothing on the internet and you have to physically try on the options. Don’t be so shocked if the mobile app alerts you to stores with the availability of the products you want and their price while browsing the stores.
Beacon technology for mobile app development made this possible. Whenever your phone enters the beacon zone, the app will immediately receive Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals and offer relevant notifications for the user. This technology has huge potential in the marketing field as it reduces the distance between brands and their users. The hotel and healthcare industries have started using beacon technology in their services. Since its introduction by Apple in 2013, it has always been used in iOS app development. With the introduction of Eddystone by Google in 2015, it became widespread in Android app development as well.
In 2022, beacon technology has already reached industries such as:
- Health care
- Mobile payment
- Tourism
- Physical games and more
8. Wearables
The report forecasts the global wearables market to grow at a CAGR of 49.7% during the period 2017-2023.
Wearable devices bring a new wave of gadgets used in the form of smartwatches, display devices (Google Glass), smart jewelry, body sensors, and the like. Using integrated applications with these wearable devices, their operation can be easily controlled and communicated. IoT integration provides full control over these devices, even from remote locations. The possibilities of wearable devices are endless as it is easy to monitor and analyze heartbeats per minute, walking steps, blood oxygen levels, body temperature, and more. The use of wearable devices is already prevalent in industries such as fitness, healthcare, and sports.
Upcoming trends among wearable gadgets
- Mind reading glasses
- Contact lenses with a virtual assistant
- Virtual keyboard with smart lenses
- Smart clothes
9. Blockchain
Now it’s time to take a look at what smart contracts and cryptocurrencies have to offer and why they were interesting services for mobile app development. With the help of Blockchain development, the complete security of all sensitive data and information is ensured. Transactions, data exchanges, and shared documents remain untraceable, which is why blockchain technology is one of the best solutions for cybercrimes. Bitcoin was just a taste of cryptocurrency as Ethereum showed the true potential of Blockchain technology. Opportunities for top mobile app developers have a broader platform, and decentralized apps no longer need an intermediary to manage the sources of our information. Providers and users connect directly, leaving no room for easy data penetration.
Decentralized applications already exist in commerce, finance, healthcare, gaming, and media. In 2022, decentralized applications will also enter other areas. The blockchain app revolution in Android and iOS app development is just around the corner and is the most researched trend for future mobile apps.
Future possibilities of blockchain applications
- Use in the fight against piracy
- Ensure secure public elections
- Swarm robotics
- Transparency in betting
- Blockchain as a Service (BaaS)
10. Applications on demand
Today’s luxuries will be tomorrow’s demands – Remember that!
How smartphones have become a necessity today is a great measure of how things could be in the future. One application can fulfill all your requirements in no time. There will be a need for specific location-based apps, which has given rise to the on-demand app revolution. People would get used to entering the request for the respective application and the customized solution will be at your desired locations. The wake of 2020 brought a lot of boost to on-demand delivery apps in the form of food delivery apps, food delivery apps, medicine delivery, healthcare, taxi delivery, and so on.
The healthcare application is an incredible example of the digital revolution of on-demand applications that includes an expert database management system that helps facilitate the movement of data from layer to layer according to the requirements shared by the business.
Leading trends in mobile app development among service-based companies have shifted their entire focus to on-demand apps. Here’s what the future looks like for organizations considering the on-demand apps trend in the market:
- Salon
- Babysitting application
- House cleaning
- Laundry
Wrapping Up
The future holds some exciting mobile app development technologies beyond the level of our imagination! Creating and customizing your app is now easier than ever. Thanks to the introduction of innovative mobile app development trends, everything has become 100 times faster, better, and more convenient in 2022.
These trends are seeping into your day-to-day business and that’s why you need a trusted mobile app development company in UK to handle all your requirements and ensure timely updates.
