The total number of smartphone users worldwide by the end of 2021 is projected to be 760.53 mn. With this increase in the number of smartphones around the world, the total number of Mobile app downloads across the globe in 2019 so far has also grown to a whopping 204 bn. All these figures are indicative of the growing importance - or say - ‘indispensability’ of smartphones and mobile apps today.

So, let’s find which Mobile Application Development trends are going to rule the mobile application development industry in the years ahead.

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is not an entirely ‘new’ concept and has been around for a few years. However, after this pandemic hit the world, people have realized the value of cloud computing even more than before. As COVID has disrupted the entire office culture, all the mobile application development companies are eying the concept of cloud computing. Since cloud-based mobile apps can work seamlessly without occupying space on phones, reduce the chances of data loss or app crashes to a minimum, and help enhance the data security; people are looking to continue using them even in the post-pandemic era.

A few examples of most frequently used mobile apps are PayPal, Intercom, Slack, Salesforce, Intercom, Google Drive, etc.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Though AI technology has penetrated the digital world and has become increasingly prominent with years. Almost every industry is considering AI as a potential technology for the future that can revolutionize the digital world - and the mobile app development industry too.

Let’s take the example of the e-commerce industry and understand how AI is highly favorable for it today.

Since the pandemic started, there has been a steady rise in online shopping. If you have an AI-enabled e-commerce mobile app like Magento 2 Mobile app or any other as per your ecommerce platform, it would help you adapt to changing customers’ behavioral patterns and engage them better. With a number of customers refraining from visiting physical stores and ordering products online, AI will help you enhance their journey at every stage.

AI-powered features like Chatbots, Smart Product Recommendations (based on previous searches), Automated Product Descriptions, Intelligent Searches Automated Warehouse Management, Automated Email Marketing, Post-Purchase Support), Sales Forecasting, Speech Recognition will help make your mobile app interactive and conversion-oriented. And your business mobile app will help take personalized shopping experience to the next level through all these ‘smart’ features and turn into a ‘smart’ app.

Voice-Enabled Search Support

‘Voice-Search’ feature has become even more valuable than ever before. As people wouldn’t want to touch their devices time and again out of fear of possible infection - especially when outdoors; they would look for a way to reduce repeated contacts with mobile devices.

Here comes into play voice-search support in mobile apps that can enable customers to search and view what they want through voice commands like in Google Voice Search. Further, these voice commands help make the search faster as it takes less time to speak than to type something. Voice-enabled search helps make the search more accessible by letting customers pronounce the search terms (products/services) correctly all by themselves.

Moreover, it also helps business owners in simplifying their various business processes. For example, the admin can fetch stock details of a particular product through a voice-search supported business app instead of having to type the name of the product manually every time.

Similarly, healthcare, education, tourism, and several other industries can leverage the voice-search support feature.

Wearable App Integration

Of late, there has been a surge in demand for ‘wearable apps’. Yes - you heard it right! Gone are the days when people would have apps only in their smartphones. With the ever-advancing digital technology, mobile app development companies have embraced developing the latest state-of-the-art technology - wearable app integration. The total number of connected wearable devices is forecast to surpass the 1 bn mark by 2022.

That is why, a number of mobile app development companies have incorporated this feature of wearable app integration into their apps.

There are several different apps for different purposes out there that feature this. A few examples of popular apps supporting this feature are Spotify, Google Keep, etc.

Apps for Foldables

Now that Samsung has already launched foldable phone models like Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, etc.; mobile app development companies have got ready to tap into this foldability. As per Samsung, a number of popular Android apps optimized for foldable phones including popular ones like Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Following the trend, numerous mobile app development companies - especially gaming and video streaming app developers are already thinking of making their apps ‘foldable’. And this trend won’t die down anywhere but will grow more in the coming years. Foldable phones will also give rise to a whole new slew of productivity apps.

Over To You

2020 is about to end, and 2021 and years ahead are going to be the years of huge ‘changes’ in the mobile application development sector. If you too are a mobile app developer and want to stay in line with the ever-growing competition in the industry of mobile application development; you can adopt the above-discussed trends and keep yourself competent and relevant.

Are you looking for a mobile application development solution that can save you the efforts required to build an app from the scratch?
Check out our Magento 2 Mobile Application Integration that can help you out in that.

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