App trends to dominate 2021 and beyond

There is no denying that the ongoing pandemic sent most of our business plans down the drain, but it also created new opportunities in the mobile application industry.

Unfortunately, not many industries are able to say the same during these hours of unprecedented crisis.
The last few months witnessed a rapid growth in mobile app technology as businesses started to shift from offline to the online environment. New developments and trends also swarmed the mobile app industry to meet the increasing demand of users.

Whether you are a business entity or an app developer, keeping yourself updated with these trends in the app development space is important. To lend you a helping hand, here are some trends that we believe will dominate 2021 and beyond.

1. Mobile Commerce:

Any list of app development trends for the coming year is incomplete without mobile commerce. M-commerce has already been a dominating trend for the last few years, but we are now reaching a point when every business will require a mobile commerce application to stay competitive.

As more than 70 percent of total e-commerce sales come from mobile devices, apps will play a massive role in the success of your online venture.

2. Augmented Reality (AR):

Augmented Reality has been in the news for quite some time, and its adaption is seeing a constant upward trend. From entertainment and gaming to styling and learning, the applications of AR are being applied to apps to make them creative and innovative.

L’Oréal is already leveraging the AR technology in their Style My Hair app. The app showcases different hairstyles, effects, and colors directly on the users’ hair. The company is also using AR in their virtual makeup app, which gives users an idea about how the makeup would look like on their face.

Similarly, Google Maps utilizes Augmented Reality in their ‘Live View’ feature, which provides real-world imagery of turns and directions to users in real-time. It also enables the app to identify a user’s location by pointing the phone’s camera at street signs and buildings. Going into 2021, we will see more and more apps using AR features for a variety of use cases.

3. The rise of chatbots:

Service providers always struggled at maintaining real-time interaction with customers in the past. Fortunately, businesses have now found a solution in the shape of chatbots.

Chatbots have replaced the requirement for human-to-human interaction in various fields ranging from shopping and gaming to management and transportation. Services like airG can also utilize bot technology to ensure an airG spam-free interaction with their users.

Currency, only a small portion of apps and websites actually use chatbots. However, this will change in the coming year. According to a report from Grand View Research, the global chatbot market will reach a whopping $1.2 billion by 2025.

Experts also expect that the market will grow at a CAGR of over 24 percent. These stats indicate a bright year ahead for chatbots and their implementation in mobile apps.

4. On-Demand Apps:

On-demand mobile apps provide solutions that enable users to access any service in real-time at their desired physical location. These include travel apps like Uber, entertainment services like Netflix, on-demand rental services, food delivery, grocery services, and more.

As per the Harvard Business Review, on-demand services attract over 22.4 million consumers every year and $57.6 billion in consumer spending.

The on-demand economy was already large, but the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing stay-at-home orders further shifted the world towards on-demand services with contactless delivery and payment options.

5. Dark Mode:

The dark mode in mobile apps gained significant attraction in the last few years. The feature reduces battery drain by lowering display power draw and reduces eye strain in low-light conditions.

Dark mode has been used by many apps, including leading tech apps like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and even Google Chrome.

In Dark Mode, the app’s background is kept dark with text, images, and icons popped out in light color. The visual appeal of the dark mode is why movie and music streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify opt for a dark theme in their UI.

6. 5G Technology:

The launch of commercial 5G networks has already generated some buzz in the past year. Although the technology is still far from mainstream, it will eventually have a major impact on mobile app development.

5G technology not only promises faster internet speed on smartphones but also heralds the development of mobile apps that would revolutionize the world.

It aims to connect everything and make a network of smart objects, such as smart cars, refrigerators, security cameras, and smart cities.

7. Advanced security solutions:

There is hardly a day that goes by without reports of a new cyberattack or a major data security breach. According to G Data Analytics, there were around 3.2 million malicious apps by the end of the third quarter of 2018.

The severe threats to sensitive information make app security one of the most crucial app development trends in 2021.

8. Apps for foldable phones:

The launch of the first foldable phone in 2019 encouraged many smartphone manufacturers to launch their own take on the concept of foldable smartphones. It also urged developers to build mobile apps that could operate on foldable devices.

Since foldable and unfolding of the phone change screen size, density, and ratio, developers need to ensure that their apps can adjust to the varying features of the device. The apps should provide a seamless experience even if the user transitions between various screens.

The latest Android version has already added multiple foldable patterns and support for foldable devices. As we move into 2021, we will see more and more developers creating apps with the concept of foldable phones in mind.

Final thoughts:

Every year brings new thoughts, ideas, and trends indicating a change. We do not claim that the app development trends listed here are all new and shiny, but they will be selling like hotcakes in the coming year. If you feel like we have missed out on a new trend, let us know in the comments.

Author Bio:

Michelle Joe is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences, and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on Twitter: @michellejoe524

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