The world of mobile apps moves lightning-fast. Every few months there seems to be some hot new technology or trend that is poised to disrupt everything we thought we knew about mobile app development. As business owners, we need to stay on top of these innovations if we want to compete in the marketplace of the future.
In this post, I’ll walk you through 10 key technologies and the
latest trends in mobile application development that I see defining the mobile app landscape of tomorrow. By understanding these emerging forces – from 5G connectivity to voice computing and blockchain – you’ll get insights into where things are heading and inspiration for how to prepare. Let’s dive in!
5G Technology
One of the biggest game-changers on the horizon is 5G, the next generation of wireless mobile data technology. Compared to 4G, experts expect 5G to deliver data speeds up to 100 times faster – with lightning quick responsiveness and the ability to handle an exponential rise in connected devices.
So how exactly does this impact mobile app development? For starters, faster data will enable higher resolution, more immersive multimedia experiences. Mobile video streaming, augmented reality, virtual reality and more sophisticated in-app graphics will all see a surge in popularity as 5G ramps up. Many of these use cases haven’t been truly practical without the bandwidth that 5G promises to deliver.
Additionally, lower latency means apps will feel snappier from a user perspective. Actions like clicking buttons and loading pages will have near instant results. This leads to greater user engagement as people aren’t left waiting around and frustrated by lag and delays.
As 5G infrastructure continues rolling out over the next few years, it will massively expand the horizons of mobile app innovation. Plan to take advantage of its capabilities early on for a competitive advantage.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) and its subset machine learning (ML) represent a suite of technologies that enable computers to perform tasks normally requiring human cognition – visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making abilities and more.
In the context of mobile apps, AI and ML are being used in all sorts of ways to enhance user experiences. For example, AI underlies the personalized recommendations prominently displayed by many shopping apps and content streaming services. It analyzes your past purchases and viewing behavior to serve up products and shows tailored specifically to your taste.
Chatbots that interact conversationally with app users also rely heavily on AI to understand language and respond. And computer vision applications can now accurately identify images seen through a smartphone’s camera thanks to image recognition machine learning models.
As if that wasn’t enough, AI even helps developers build better apps. ML tools assist with predicting user engagement to improve interfaces and layouts. They also automate backend tasks like load testing that used to be manual and time-consuming.
When it comes to future-proof app development, fluency in AI is proving to be a must-have skillset. Those staying ahead of the curve stand to reap serious rewards.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Moving beyond AI, two more technologies creating ripples in the mobile space are augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
These flashy buzzwords represent totally new methods of engaging users by overlaying digital information onto the real world (AR) or simulating immersive, 3D environments (VR). Think Pokémon GO or using your phone to view a life-size 3D model – and you’ll begin to grasp the innovative app use cases made possible.
From interactive storefronts to expansive VR training simulations, these emerging technologies are showing serious staying power. And key players like Apple and Google are ramping up native tools and APIs to support AR and VR app prototyping to encourage developer adoption.
While still early days, smart organizations are beginning to experiment with these platforms to plan for mainstream integration. Leveraging these capabilities could be a golden opportunity to stand out decisively from competitors in the future.
Internet of Things App Integration
Brace yourself for a world where your appliances are internet-connected and your lightbulbs send smartphone notifications. Welcome to the Internet of Things (IoT) – a booming networked ecosystem of mundane devices and objects infused with internet connectivity.
Integrating IoT functionalities into mobile apps unlocks breakthrough potential for how users interact with both physical and digital environments. Control apps for home automation now grant you superhero-like command over lighting, temperature, security systems and more right from your phone. Data tracking apps pull stats from wearables to provide insights on health and fitness goals. Retail apps tap into connected inventory tags for a live view of product availability in brick-and-mortar stores.
And those examples are only scratching the surface of what’s possible. With more sensors getting embedded into everyday items than ever before, opportunities abound to build creative, convenient and potentially game-changing apps on top of those data streams.
Voice-Enabled Technologies
One of the simplest yet fastest evolving ways we interact with mobile devices is through our voices. With the meteoric rise of smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home – not to mention built-in assistants like Siri and Bixby – voice is increasingly becoming a preferred interface for people on the go.
Leveraging voice capabilities allows apps to enable a convenient, hands-free experience in situations where glanceable screens aren’t practical. Use cases span the gamut from cueing up music playlists in the car, to issuing commands mid-workout, to capturing spur of the moment thoughts while multitasking.
From a technical perspective, voice SDKs like Dialogflow and Alexa Skills make adding speech functionality straightforward for most apps. And supplementing voice with other sensory inputs like computer vision leads to even more powerful hybrid interfaces.
Start experimenting with vocal interactions now to prepare your app for an impending future where talking to our devices sounds totally normal!
Mobile Commerce
Mobility and transactions are a match made in heaven. So it should come as no surprise that mobile commerce - otherwise known as mCommerce - makes up a mammoth share of ecommerce activity today.
With global mCommerce revenues anticipated to hit nearly $4 trillion by 2025, the apps capitalizing on this trend stand to capture insane amounts of value. Payment security, of course, remains mission critical. But beyond that, seamless user experiences separate the breakouts from the flops.
Top mCommerce apps entice first timers to buy by reducing friction with slick interfaces and one tap checkout. Loyalty features with personalized promotions keep enthusiasts engaged long-term. Components like wish lists, ratings, reviews and interactive communities further nurture the customer lifecycle.
And thanks to the offline accessibility of many payment systems today, temporary loss of data coverage in shops or tunnels need not impede a transaction. Creating omnichannel flows between web, mobile and brick-and-mortar touchpoints also helps provide consistency across environments.
For brands not yet mobilized, it’s time to get serious about your strategy. Done right, an mCommerce presence packs some seriously powerful revenue potential.
Progressive Web Apps
Native mobile apps have dominated in years past. But a new challenger called progressive web apps (PWAs) is starting to emerge as a viable alternative.
PWAs essentially deliver an app-like user experience built on web technology, with some key advantages. Features like push notifications, offline mode and installable home screens allow PWAs to masquerade seamlessly as native apps. Yet unlike native apps, PWAs sidestep restrictive app store guidelines and simplify cross-platform development.
This powerful combo enables respectable functionality without the traditional hasslesmobile developers face. And thanks to optimized caching and loading techniques, PWA performance often exceeds expectations.
Instagram, Twitter, Uber and Google Maps boast wildly popular mobile presences – and they’ve all invested heavily into PWA versions for streamlined access. As the technology and tooling continues improving, expect more critical workloads to follow suit.
For many use cases today, PWAs strike an ideal balance between capability, convenience and cost-effectiveness.
Cross-Platform Development Frameworks
Building mobile apps introduces all sorts of complexity for developers. Projects often require writing codebases in multiple programming languages for differing operating systems and device types. Not only does this slow things down, but bridging gaps in capability between platforms also proves challenging.
Luckily, the emergence of cross-platform mobile app development frameworks helps offset much of this pain. Powerhouses like Flutter, React Native and Xamarin allow code reuse across iOS and Android from a single codebase. Plus beyond just mobile, some solutions enable web and desktop support too.
While tradeoffs still exist, modern cross-platform frameworks minimize compromises remarkably well today. Performance lags and janky UIs are increasingly becoming non-issues with sufficient optimization. And the improved development velocity and simpler maintenance is music to programmers’ ears.
If you aren’t leveraging cross-platform technologies yet, now may be the time to transition. The ability to target multiple platforms efficiently can pay serious dividends.
Blockchain Technology
Underpinning crytocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain establishes trust through decentralized networks. This groundbreaking approach verifies data integrity across a web of users without centralized bodies governing transactions.
Although most infamously linked to Bitcoin mania, blockchain’s application extends far beyond finance alone. Securing all sorts of sensitive information flows – medical records, legal contracts, supply chain data and more – remains ripe for disruption by blockchain-based apps.
On the consumer side, decentralization unlocks new opportunities like self-sovereign digital identities tied to your device. And automated smart contracts built atop blockchains allow personalized terms dictating app transactions.
As the infrastructure continues advancing in speed, scalability and energy efficiency, blockchain’s role expanding in mobile and web apps seems imminent. Keep blockchain on your radar, as its innovations offer plenty of competitive upside in the years ahead.
Low-Code/No-Code Platforms
Last but certainly not least: low-code/no-code app builders seek to democratize development by minimizing technical barriers to entry. These increasingly sophisticated platforms allow just about anyone to assemble a functioning mobile app using simple drag-and-drop workflows.
While limiting compared to traditional coding, these visual app builders now empower business users across every industry to translate ideas into reality without relying fully on developers. Templates and intuitive interfaces abstract away unnecessary complexity for basic apps. And integrations with popular databases and APIs bring complex components within reach too.
For professional developers, low-code tools show promise assisting with prototyping concepts or offloading cruddy backend infrastructure configuration. Tech savvy power users in other roles may also leverage low code solutions to alleviate workload for repetitive app tasks.
Low-code/no-code platforms are opening the floodgates for app innovation in businesses lacking mature developer teams. Leverage them where possible to magnify productivity.
Conclusion
After taking a whirlwind tour through 10 technologies transforming mobile, I’m sure your mind is spinning with ideas and inspiration like mine is! Though it may seem overwhelming to keep pace with so much change, a few key takeaways are worth remembering.
First, while flashy innovations attract lots of hype on their own, the real magic comes when technologies converge to enable new use cases. For example, how 5G speed and responsiveness might bolster augmented reality functionality. Or how blockchain, AI and IoT integrate to revolutionize supply chain monitoring. Thinking across domains creates opportunities others will miss.
Secondly, don’t assume adoption of emerging tech happens overnight. True transformation occurs gradually as infrastructure and ecosystems mature to back mainstream usage. But those laying the foundations today through small experiments will hold big competitive advantages down the road. Keep tabs on fledgling platforms to inform your future roadmap.
And finally, technical familiarity only goes so far if not paired with creativity to solve real user needs. Analytics and user testing will prove invaluable for guiding development of apps people truly want. Don't just chase novelty for its own sake. Ensure quality UX/UI design practices still take priority.
The next era of mobile holds monumental potential, although realizing it requires strategy and vision. I hope surveying these key technologies and trends provides inspiration for the foundations of your own. But remember, even the brightest ideas mean little without executional excellence to match.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will the mobile apps of the future. But armed with the right knowledge, diligence and a little imaginative thinking, we’re collectively capable of building something greater than any one person could alone. I don’t know about you, but the future looks awfully bright from where I’m standing. Now let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!
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