What Is The Future Of Mobile Apps?

January 8, 2024

By the Alpha Bravo Development team

Are you thinking about building an app this year? Do you want to make sure that has all the features it needs to be successful and help you become profitable? If so, it’s important to know about the future of the app industry and the trends that are going to be most popular in 2021. The following are some of the top trends we’ll likely start to see this year and beyond.

User Experience

These days, people are spending more time on mobile devices than ever before. Use was already going up, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused that use to skyrocket even more. With so many people using mobile devices and mobile apps all day every day, user experience is also becoming more important. Let’s say an app is hard to navigate or contains text that’s hard to read, for example. If this is the case, people are going to stop using it and download something else that offers a better user experience.Those who want to make it with a new digital product in 2021 need to make their audience’s user experience a top priority. The same goes for folks who already have apps and are working to update them.

Mobile Security

For the last several years, app users and internet users have started to focus more on security. Security breaches are on the rise (thousands of them take place every day), and hackers are constantly working to find new ways to break through and access valuable data (addresses, phone numbers, credit card information, etc.). In 2021, app developers need to be especially careful to ensure that their projects are secure and do not put users at risk. It’s important to note that investing in mobile security upfront can help you as an app developer to save money in the future. It can be expensive to set up the latest and most effective security protocols. However, it’s even more expensive to deal with a security breach, not to mention potential lawsuits from users who are upset about their data being stolen.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

In 2021, lots of app developers are going to be working hard to find new ways to incorporate augmented reality (or AR) and virtual reality (or VR) into their projects. Augmented reality includes digital elements into a live view with the help of your smartphone’s camera (Pokemon Go is an excellent example of this). Virtual reality, on the other hand, creates a completely immersive experience and shuts out the physical world altogether.So far, AR and VR have been most popular in the gaming community. In 2021, though, there’s a good chance that businesses will expand their reach and incorporate them into different applications, including eCommerce.

Instant Apps

Instant apps are an incredible new development in the app industry, and we’re going to see them more in 2021. They eliminate the download and installation process. Instead, a user simply has to tap on the app’s URL to access it. Many people are hesitant about accepting and downloading new apps onto their phones, often because they have concerns about security or storage capacity. Instant apps help to eliminate these concerns. These apps may also reduce app abandonment (i.e., people who stop using an app after downloading it) and simplify the process of making in-app purchases since they allow users to make payments directly through Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Internet of Things is a massive network of devices and people, all of which are connected via the internet. There’s a huge range of “smart” devices that fall under this category, from smart home products like thermostats and refrigerators to smart personal assistants like Amazon Echo. Smartphones already have the potential to utilize IoT with features like GPS and Bluetooth connectivity. With this in mind, it makes sense that we’ll see more app developers jumping on the IoT trend in 2021 and finding new ways to help people from all over the world connect with others (and their devices).

Voice Recognition/Communication

Many industries are currently using voice recognition and voice communication to level up and improve the customer experience, and the app industry is playing a major role in these developments. Many apps, especially eCommerce apps, already offer voice search and dictation options. However, they’re going to become more prevalent and more sophisticated in 2021 and beyond. Some researchers have also predicted that 30 percent of web browsing will take place through voice search by the year 2030. If there was ever a time to make sure you’re including voice recognition capabilities in your app, this is it.

Foldable Device Apps

Everything comes full circle, including mobile phones. Some mobile providers have recently rolled out flip phones. These phones are similar to the ones we used back in the 90s and early 2000s, but with more features, including the ability to use a variety of apps. The problem is that most apps are designed only to be used on the types of smartphones most people are carrying around in their pockets. As you plan for the future and factor in a variety of users while creating your app, make sure that it opens and functions seamlessly for folks who are using flip phones. This will help you to reach a wider audience, get more app downloads, and build a more successful business.

Wearable Device Apps

In addition to creating apps with flip phones in mind, it’s also important to think about wearable devices as they’re making plans for new apps. Wearables like Apple watches are growing in popularity, and many users are turning to them for more than just counting steps or monitoring their heart rates. The small screen of a wearable device can be inconvenient when people are trying to use certain apps, though. If you can create and launch an app that looks great and is easy to navigate from a smartwatch screen, you’ll be able to stand out from your competitors and get a lot more downloads.

Mobile Commerce

By the end of this year, it’s expected that over 72.9 percent of all ecommerce sales will take place from a mobile device. This means brands and developers are going to have their work cut out for them creating apps that help businesses stay competitive with major online retailers like Amazon. If you can streamline the mobile shopping experience and make it easier for users to buy a client’s products (or buy your own products, for that matter), you’ll, in turn, have a much easier time distinguishing yourself from competitors and attracting more business in the future.

Predictive Analytics

Any business owner with an app will tell you that the more they know about the people who are using their app, the easier it is to improve it, keep current users around, and make it more enticing for new users. Predictive analytics, which utilizes technologies like artificial intelligence and data mining, will play a major role in helping developers gain important insights in 2021. Predictive analytics can also provide important information about everything from app security to improving user experience.

Experience the Future of the App Industry

As you can see, the app industry is definitely going to change in 2021 and in the years to come. You'll also learn abou the importance of a high quality user interface design and experience. If you’re thinking about creating an app this year, be sure to remember these trends. They’ll help you develop a product that people will be eager to use and that will help you to build a profitable business.

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