Mobile App Development 2022: Technology and Strategic Aspects to Look At

Table of contents

• The Mobile App Development Scenario So Far
• Top Technology Trends Defining Mobile App Development in 2022
  • 5G
  • Apps for foldable devices
  • AI and ML
  • Mobile app security
  • Blockchain
  • Predictive analytics
  • IoT
• Extensive Technology Expertise Needs a Robust Strategy to Succeed

The Mobile App Development Scenario So Far

Did you know? Publishers released 2 million new apps and games in 2021, bringing the total number of apps and games ever released to over 21 million. Not just that, over 4,35,000 apps were downloaded every minute in 2021! With more smartphone adoption and deeper internet penetration, a significant rise in the publishing and downloading new apps and games went as expected. However, the still prevalent pandemic further added to this rise as more people stayed home and switched to remote working systems and applications that kept them engaged. Over the last year or two, we also observed how the adoption of mobile apps has cut across the barriers of skeptical use cases and penetrated the industries where it initially seemed less promising.

As the wide-scale adoption of mobile applications continues, it is needless to say that every business, regardless of size and industry, must switch to mobile apps for internal or external stakeholders’ engagement and operations. We have already seen how the digital transformation wave disrupted businesses that failed to identify opportunities in time. As a subset of digital transformation, mobile app development for enterprises is another opportunity that enterprises are already making the best of. Those who haven’t leveraged mobile apps yet also consider it, which applies to every industry. But there’s one important thing enterprises using mobile apps for business or thinking of adopting must know. Mobile app adoption isn’t a one-time thing. Like a business initiative, a mobile app must be gradually scaled, upgraded, and kept up-to-date with the latest trends that define how end consumers use apps. This includes not just the technical side but also the strategic side.

Top Technology Trends Defining Mobile App Development in 2022

Mobile apps for businesses initially intend to connect better with consumers, engage them, or serve as a point of contact that is preferable to customers. Internally, it helps to streamline operations and improve efficiency. But even then, there’s always scope for improvement and enhancement. And with advancing technology, the chances of a mobile app becoming less efficient, losing to competitor apps, and becoming obsolete are quite high. At [x]cube LABS, we work with multiple technologies, and here are the top technologies we identified that will complement the power of mobile apps.

1. 5G

   

   5G has been a buzzword for quite some time now. A report by Trendforce states that in 2022, 47.5% of devices will have 5G. As 5G connections globally continue to grow, it’ll impact how and what mobile apps can offer to end-users. For instance, the improved speed, expected to be around a hundred times faster than 4G, would reduce the latency significantly. This means that video streaming apps will get smoother, the integration and performance of integrated AR/VR will be faster, and developers can explore more features to add without worrying about the negative impact of slower networks.

2. Apps for foldable devices

   According to Statista, foldable phones shipments globally are forecast to grow to 50.1 million units by 2022, from the projected 3.2 million units in 2019. As an app developer, one must remember that they can provide a better immersive experience with a larger screen size if they plan to implement AR/VR, a video streaming feature, or games that can provide a better experience when provided with larger screen space. Not just that, a larger screen size in foldable phones also means the scope for multitasking parallelly. This opens up many opportunities for engineers to make their apps stand out innovatively.

3. AI and ML 

   AI and ML have been noteworthy trends in mobile app development, and there’s a lot more happening in the space. Just last year, many AI-based fun apps that gave moving effects to photos and face morphing on movie clips witnessed a lot of engagement. Besides new innovative ways of engaging users, existing apps can enhance user experience using AI and ML capabilities. Google Maps, for instance, introduced a live indoor navigation feature last year. Apple took ML applications to an all-new level by allowing developers to load pre-existing features and create new ones using deep learning. This year, using AI and ML to improve existing apps and the overall user experience would play a major role and, hence, should be the top priority of developers who are ready to scale their apps.

4. Mobile app security 

   With the hype around mobile app security and data, even users who didn’t bother about their data have become more conscious about sharing it and how it will be used. Data, privacy, and security are now becoming selling propositions for many companies. Take Apple’s advertisement, for example, where they tell users they can now choose who tracks their information.

   With growing awareness of data and security, consumers want to have the assurance that their data is protected. This doesn’t mean that the phone or app will not share its data with unwanted parties; it also means that the data is secure and protected by the parties with whom they have shared it. Therefore, Privacy and security measures are becoming more crucial from an enterprise security point of view and a consumer’s perspective. Some businesses are taking security to the next level by exploring and implementing artificial intelligence in cybersecurity in addition to best practices for enterprise security in general.

5. Blockchain

   Blockchain, a hot topic in technology for another year now, is not slowing down any time soon either. The security that comes with blockchain is well-known. Mobile app development companies plan to create mobiles and apps supporting blockchain use cases and applications. HTC and Samsung already released devices that support blockchain technology- the HTC exodus 1 and Galaxy S10, respectively. It is only a matter of time before cryptocurrency-enabled payments catch up, and hence, developers must anticipate this as a thing of the very near future, if not today, when considering new technologies and trends in mobile app development.

6. Predictive analytics

   By leveraging the power of predictive analytics, developers can create apps that are futuristic, high-performing, and exceed customer expectations. We’ve seen customer-centricity as a key factor that decides the success or failures of an app. As the ways of achieving customer-centricity continue to evolve, an essential tool that comes into play is predictive analytics. Developers can use historic data on customer behavior and analytics to not just provide them what they like but to reduce pain points as well, as early as in the UX wireframing stage, if not later. This can significantly reduce cost in the development cycle as well as the one arising from user attrition.

7. IoT

   The Internet of Things is definitely not a new concept but its seamless integration with mobile devices is an obvious expectation from mobile app users worldwide. Given the penetration of both IoT devices and mobile internet worldwide, the scope for apps and devices that support IoT integration is large.  According to a report, the Internet of Things market is expected to reachGalaxy S10, out of which,  $190 billion is expected to come from mobile apps. At [x]cube LABS we have already worked on solutions that integrate IoT and mobile apps- from wearable devices and IoT-enabled wallets to connect lighting systems, and more.

Extensive Technology Expertise Needs a Robust Strategy to Succeed

We’re at a point in the technology ecosystem where acquiring expertise over new technologies might appear easier, but the success would depend on how effectively and strategically it fits where it is being implemented. We mentioned in our e-book titled Creating a Mobile App Development Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide for Enterprises how we have seen many enterprises fail because they simply decide to go after loaded features or copy what the competitors are doing when, in reality, the success boils down to how effectively and conveniently can your solution solve a real problem and ease customer pain points. This requires a 360-degree approach to mobile app development where the latest technologies complement your mobile app strategy. You must examine market research, customer-centricity, analytics objectively, and much more before you zero down on your choice of technologies and start its implementation. And that’s where an enterprise like [x]cube can help.

We have listed seven critical parameters that strengthen your mobile app strategy.

• Product-market fit: Identify the product-market fit by defining your target audience, doing industry and competitor analysis, identifying the market size, and more
• Customer centricity: Accentuate your value offering and ensure that the end product provides value to your customers by solving critical pain points
• U/UX: Develop seamless customer journeys, eliminate points of friction, and take your UI/UX to the next level

• Performance: Keep a tab on the technical issues that hinder the performance of your app or are likely to create problems when the load increases
• Strategy analysis: Something that goes without saying, you need to assess the operational and financial viability of your app and include it as a part of your overall plan
• Value proposition: Position your app effectively among your customers and pitch it effectively against competitors; refer to Apple’s ad on privacy example above!
• Outreach: Reach your target audience to gain initial traction, but also monitor reviews and ratings to improve your app further.

As a reader looking to start this year with mobile app development, you can contact us for a free consultation on your existing or new mobile app development initiatives.