Mobile App usage is fast replacing desktop app usage and has managed to permeate almost all verticals.
Today, mobile apps are not purely consumer-oriented but cater to an array of business activities from social media to enterprise communications. 2015 witnessed some prominent strides in the field of mobile app development which will have an impact this year as well.
Let us continue with our top app development trends to flourish in 2016:
1. Wearable Technology:
Wearable technology was the hottest trend in 2015 and is predicted to stay in 2016 and the years to come. Till now wearable technology was equipped with apps which were focused on the fitness and health care industries but in 2015 wearable technology entered supply chain as well as defense to improve productivity and efficiency.
In 2016, many of the app developers will be adding wearable devices to their traditional smartphone focus to get more tech-smart and user-friendly.
2. Mobile Banking, Payments and M-Commerce:
According to a recent industry survey, 19% of commercial sales come through Smartphone or Tablets. With more customers adopting M-commerce solutions, this trend will continue to spike in 2016.
Online shopping and money transfer have become mainstream, which means that app developers must develop mobile apps which include payment gateways to process transactions without the need for cash or physical cards. This also warrants a high level of security.
3. The Internet of Things (IoT):
Recently there has been an unexpected growth in the Internet of Things with a large number of people connecting through multiple devices. That means applications need to be compatible with a range of devices to provide a seamless user experience everywhere.
With IoT, the customer management platform which is based on Wi-Fi or Beacon technology will also help businesses reach target audiences through apps at the right time.
4. HTML 5:
Most development tools including HTML will continue to gain huge popularity. Many enterprises are planning to adopt hybrid technology for mobile apps. Mobile apps built using hybrid frameworks like PhoneGap, Mobile Angular, Ionic, and Onsen will be able to provide support to various platforms and will reach a large user base in a cost-effective manner.
5. Mobile Gaming:
In recent years, there has been a shift in the gaming and people have started playing more of multi-player games. With the increasing popularity of these games, the integration of social media within games has become more important. With increasing device performance, mobile games are expected to be driven by cloud technology and sync between multiple devices.
Numerous improvements were witnessed in the field of application development in 2015 that proved to be beneficial for both end-users as well as developers. This year too, the popularity and usage of mobile apps are likely to multiply as these are more convenient and easy to use. Developers might find themselves engaged with constant product updates, design improvements and adding new features to the apps from time to time.
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