One of the most exciting things about technology is that it’s always evolving. It’s amazing to think that 15 years ago, Blackberries weren’t even able to render images, but as mobile has become the most heavily used platform, much more complicated tasks have become the norm. Empowered customers in today’s markets are setting the agenda for technology investment as executives adapt to meet ever-changing demands. Investing tilts toward digital: increasing allocation to technology-driven transformation is the key to future growth.
In a time of decreasing customer loyalty and increasing market uncertainty, digital technology provides companies with opportunities to differentiate themselves in the market and drive exceptional performance.
Do you know how many apps are downloaded per annum? It has been estimated that by 2021 the number of mobile app downloads will reach 352.9 billion. This is a huge number that showcases the heavy demand for mobile apps.
So, what is predicted for 2020? No need for a crystal ball—we’ve done the research instead. Here are the mobile trends that the top brands will be focused on in the year ahead:
1. BYOD becomes BYOE
Through 2023, almost a third of IT organisations will expand BYOD policies with “bring your own enhancement” (BYOE) to address augmented humans in the workforce. For IT, a temptation to assert control might increase as human augmentation technology becomes more prevalent, but the real business opportunity lies in exploiting increased interest in BYOE. At present, the automotive and mining industries employ wearables to increase worker safety, while the travel and healthcare sectors use the technology to maximise productivity. As these technologies continue to evolve, organisations should begin to consider how physical augmentations can be harnessed in personal and professional lives. Endpoint security must be balanced with the organisational benefits of BYOE.
2. Workers orchestrate business applications
By 2023, 40% of professional workers will conduct their business applications, experiences and capabilities in the same way they manage their music streaming services. Historically, employees have been offered a ‘one-size-fits-all’ application solution by organisations, regardless of specific job descriptions or specific needs. In the future, business units or central IT will receive capabilities in building block form, enabling them to create individual ‘playlists’ of applications customised to specific employee needs and jobs.
3. Blockchain authenticates content
By 2023, up to 30% of the world’s news and video content will be deemed authentic by blockchain, in an effort to counter deep fake technology. While fake news has existed for hundreds of years, social media bots have facilitated the rapid rise of deliberate disinformation. In addition to traditional news stories, technology is being used to create convincing fake audio and video. However, organisations and governments are now turning to technology to help counter fake news by using blockchain technology to authenticate photographs and video, since the technology creates an immutable and shared record of content that is ideally viewable to consumers.
4. Digital innovation timelines double
Through 2021, digital information initiatives will take large traditional organisations twice as long and cost twice as much as initially envisaged. Large organisations will struggle with innovating digitally as they recognise the challenges of modernising technology and the costs of simplifying operational interdependence. In contrast, smaller, more dexterous organisations will be in pole position to be first to market.
5. Impact of 5G Wireless Services
Yes! We all are eagerly waiting for 5G technology to enter the market and serve our increasing demands. By the end of 2020, we can get the 5G wireless network to rock the world. 5G technology is not only going to be one of the top trends in mobile app development but also, it will be of great significance in 2020 and beyond. The first thing that comes with the 5G network is the speed, which is stated to be 100 times faster than the 4G network. If we talk about 2020, there’s still time for 5G to get in the groove, but by year-end, we can expect to see a shift from currently used 4G services to the 5G wireless network. But even before its introduction, the industry experts are betting high on the 5G technology.
6. Further Growth of Wearable Devices
Wearable devices are not new to the market. We have already witnessed smartwatches, fitness bands, trackers, and even smart rings. Worldwide smart wearable device sales will double by 2022, becoming a $27 billion+ market with 233 million unit sales. That’s the word according to industry analyst CCS Insight, who state that the growth is being powered by smartwatches, with fitness trackers on the slide in the next four years. CCS’ report states that smartwatch sales will increase to 137 million in 2022. The latest Apple Watch – the fourth generation is a main driver in smartwatch adoption and subsequent interaction. A recent survey suggested nine out of ten smartwatch owners rely on their connected timepieces on a daily basis.
7. Artificial Intelligence Making the Apps Smarter
Artificial Intelligence or AI has been in the centre of attention for the last few years with a significant breakthrough in new technology in mobile application development. Its Integration with mobile apps not only has made the apps smarter, but also saves a lot of time, effort, and money for the mobile app development company. Google has also introduced Duplex, an AI program that can make calls on behalf of humans to fix an appointment with a local business.
8. Transformation Through AR and VR
While VR redefines the world, AR is the icing on the digital cake. In the last couple of years, we witnessed obsessive gaming trends such as Pokemon Go. Apple and Google used AR platforms for adding the AR capabilities in their respective apps. There are many apps like “Ikea” that are already using the technology for uplifting the user experience. Many such apps are on their way to be a part of this revolutionary change. In 2020, AR integration will be an essential step for the mobile app development industry. The upcoming AR/VR mobile app industry trends can be:
Mobile AR disruption
AR in marketing & advertising
AR in healthcare
AR in manufacturing
9. The Rise Of mHealth
Digital health – specifically that driven by mobile (mhealth) – is one major trend that is steadily impacting the lives of millions of people.
There are currently over 318,000 health apps on the market, with hundreds more being added each day. What’s driving this growth is consumers and they are quick to adapt. From telemedicine and everything in between, people love the convenience of managing their health on the go. As important as making money is for a business, perhaps more important is doing good. Apple CEO Tim Cook was recently quoted as saying, “If you zoom out into the future and you look back, and you ask the question, ‘What was Apple’s greatest contribution to mankind?’ it will be about health.”
10. Smart Home Devices Will Soar
Gartner predicts that there will be about 20 billion devices connected to the IoT by 2020 and that IoT product and service providers will add a $300 billion business in revenue. No doubt the connected world of the internet of things is evolving at a great pace. Now everybody is looking for the future of IoT and how it’s going to impact our lives. This not only extends to the comfort of home automation but also to home security and the safety of your family.
Another big driver of smart IoT development adoption is the need to save energy. Intelligent thermostats and smart lighting help conserve energy and reduce bills, which will be another great reason why more and more people turn to IoT devices in 2020 and beyond.
