Mobile App Development Trends to Look out for in 2018

Mobile apps have made a great contribution to a lot of businesses in a variety of different industries. It used to be considered an optional addition to one’s overall marketing and business development efforts, however, it has now has become a necessity as it increases usability, meeting customer’s demands while building brand awareness and increasing sales.

Mobile app development process is on the uprise. With over 250 billion free apps downloaded in 2017 alone, an increase for these downloads is also expected to continue for many years to come. If you are in the mobile app development industry, below are some development trends that you should watch out for in 2018, as growth is expected to continue.

Current Factors That Will Determine Future Trends

Some of the factors that will likely spill over into the trends that are expected to take place in 2018 consist of the following:

1. Current app trends used by large corporations

a. The app development industry has been dominated by four primary segments in the past that will likely spill over into 2018. They include:

• Social media
• Google Apps
• Gaming Apps
• Lifestyle Apps

b. Large, more established businesses such as banks, retailers, hotels, restaurant and other large corporations’ have used mobile apps for multiple purposes, such as for:

• Branding
• Direct Marketing
• Access to Online Sites
• Looking up Account Activity
• Increasing Customer Engagement, and so forth

2. Current app trends used by small to midsize businesses

• The smaller to midsize businesses have similar trends as some of the larger corporations indicated above.
• They also develop their own apps and will likely continue in 2018.

These and other of the latest mobile app trends (as indicated below) will have a great impact on future trends that app developers should look out for 2018. They include the following:

Other Latest Mobile App Trends

1. On-Demand Apps

On-demand apps have gained popularity and have earned their keep. They have simplified the way we live our lives by making the things we do every day a lot more convenient, much more streamlined overall.
These on-demand apps have been used across a variety of spectrums, including for

• food delivery services
• cleaning services
• laundry services
• rideshare and taxi services and more

They have made it easy for people to check the availability of nearby services, make reservations, check the weather and the traffic, as well as other things that cause delays to our day.

The great thing about the on-demand apps is that they can be used from virtually anywhere.

2. Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Apps

Both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have taken the entertainment and gaming industry by storm. It has created a spike in growth trends by both consumers and businesses alike. Particularly businesses that have demands for new technology, which has been witnessed in 2017. Because this area can potentially be demanding and impactful in multiple industries, it’s highly probable that it will continue to experience app development trends in 2018 and in the years to come.

The industries more likely to continue the growth trend in AR consist of the

• Healthcare industry
• Real Estate industry
• Retail industry
• Engineering industry

The industries more likely to continue the growth trend in VR consist of

• Technology-based companies
• The gaming industry
• The live events industry

One of the primary reasons that this will be a continued trend in 2018 is its ability to offer a visual experience to customers on behalf of the companies that desire to have their products and services presented in a more exuberant way and in real time which further enhances the user experience.

3. Wearable Apps and Internet of Things (IoT)

Wearable Apps and Internet of Things (IoT) has received recognition within multiple industries and has slowly emerged into the mainstream during the year 2017. Industries such as

• Education
• Smart Health
• Automotive
• Industrial
• Smart homes and Smart offices

will likely contribute to the efforts of apps becoming more mainstream in 2018 and beyond. Although IoT still requires some additional time to take off and fully saturate the marketplace, it has already made some inroads in years past.

Growth is expected to increase in the IoT sector from $157.05 billion in 2016 to $661.74 billion by the year of 2021 and is estimated to take place at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 33.3%.  This will have a direct impact on mobile app trends since most IoT devices are currently being controlled by smartphones.

4. Accelerated Mobile Pages

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is another up-and-coming trend that is on the horizon. It is a great app and is well in demand as it helps mobile pages to load faster across all mobile devices -which is what every mobile app developer wants.

It also reduces the bounce rate as it retains more visitors.  Additionally, it includes a wide variety of benefits as it increases the overall user experience and the app’s performance.

5. Enterprise Apps and BYOD

Enterprise Apps and BYOD a “Bring Your Own Device” model is known for its ability to run in the apps,  however, they are basically mobile websites that reduce development costs while increasing the speed of the overall app development process. It has been embraced by more organizations whereby a huge demand for hybrid enterprise apps is anticipated. Roughly 72% of businesses have begun investing in BYOD for their employees. In fact during 2017, over half of the employer’s on a worldwide basis will require the use of the BYOD model.

6. Android Instant Apps

Android Instant Apps, which is more of a native app, that performs like a website. It has the ability to attract more users merely due to its ease of use and its convenience that many of its users have experienced.

These apps do not require installation and all of the borders between the app and the website have been removed.

They also include a variety of benefits and features and can be accessed from anywhere without having to install the app on your device. Another important benefit is that it saves space on smartphones since no downloading is required.

To conclude, it is important for mobile app developers to understand the future growth trends of this industry. As mobile app development is in its prime, it’s important for developers to keep their eye on the latest trends and the consumer demands that continue to drive this industry.