The paradigm shift to internet usage on smartphones from desktops has happened in the last few years. It is interesting to note that the number of smartphones in the world has crossed the 5.135 billion mark, according to the report from We are Social. A decade ago, a few market specialists were skeptical about mobile apps and their long term prospects, reality cannot be farther from this one decade later.
Without a doubt, mobile apps have transformed our lives and the world we live in. According to the projections of Statista, mobile apps will be generating approximately $188.9 billion in revenue by the year 2020. Therefore, the future of mobile development is bright and the market is still growing. It is also noteworthy that mobile apps see different trends with every new year, as the usage patterns and technologies evolve.
Here are some of the trends we think you need to watch out for in 2019 in this space:
Machine learning & AI
The proliferation of Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning has significantly impacted this space. AI is being increasingly used by a large number of mobile apps in the form of chatbots, replacing human customer reps and making business services available 24/7. Virtual assistants in mobile apps use machine learning to make customers feel as if they are talking to a real salesperson. If your customer-facing app is not using AI and machine learning yet, it is high time to consider these technologies and increase your competitiveness.
Augmented & Virtual reality
Remember two years back, when Pokémon Go suddenly became a craze and in their pursuit to catch Pokemon, many people experienced augmented reality for the first time. We think that both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are here to stay and will see increasing use in mobile apps. Whether it is related to shopping, gaming or even attending seminars. Mobile app developers are expected to create experiences for their users that include AR and VR. The market for such apps is showing astonishing growth in 2019 and beyond.
Integrated gateways
Consumers are always looking for easier and streamlined payment options. We have transitioned from cash to contactless cards, mobile wallets, and digital currencies. Making it easier to pay for your service or product helps in boosting your conversions. Therefore, for any eCommerce or Shopping app to be loved by its users, a streamlined payment experience is an absolute necessity. It is expected that integrated payment gateways will be increasingly used in mobile commerce apps this year.
Cloud integration
Unless you have been living under a rock in the last decade, you’d know about the cloud and its importance in the digital transformation of any business. With the cloud technologies, businesses are able to significantly reduce their capital costs and provide highly available, flexible and scalable solutions to their customers. Cloud is no stranger in the Apps world either. From Apps that use cloud-based CMS systems, APIs to Storage, cloud adoption is only increasing in the mobile space with every passing year.
Analytics
Analytics are important to track and measure the behaviors and expectations of your users. For example, in a shopping cart app, you can know the exact stage your users were in the sales funnel before they left the app. Analytics give you actionable insights into the interests, intentions, and behaviors of your leads and prospects. It is expected that predictive analytics is going to be increasingly used by mobile apps to optimize user journeys.
We hope you enjoyed our findings.