The 21st century belongs to the Internet, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, and smartphone. But out of all, one tiny thing that has completely changed our narrative of communication and connectivity is none other than mobile apps.

Mobile apps are like highly skilled agents that cater to their owners’ needs within their capabilities. Some individuals may mistake their addiction to mobile phones for addiction to the various apps available. However, it is the apps themselves that offer exceptional services and continuously improve with each update.

However, it is crucial for mobile app development agencies, especially users, to get educated about those changes and their significant impacts on our lives.

In contrast, here’s a complete short yet essential guide to understanding the ongoing mobile app development trends and how those trends have revolutionized the mobile app development industry.

Crucial ranking factors for App development:

Adoption Functionality and Impact are three things that are enough to judge any mobile app’s ranking parameters. Once you get a brief about these factors, you can comprehensively conclude at which stage the apps stand and what the future looks like.

  • Adoption is the initial stage of any app’s ranking factor. Here analysts track how many people or enterprises have downloaded the app and whether it has been serving well within its purpose.
  • Functionality – This segment is the mid-way yet essential parameter of any app’s ranking. Here, the analyst checks if the included features are groundbreaking or game changers.
  • Impact – The last and most influential segment determines an app’s impact on other technologies, ecosystems, apps, and devices. Whether the app developers have hit the jackpot or there’s still space for improvements.

Top mobile app development trends 2023!

Now that we have determined the crucial factors for app ranking let’s explore the leading trends in mobile app development for 2023 and identify the dominant technologies in terms of ranking.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Over the past twenty years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated the digital sector. Many businesses, including app development companies, have harnessed the power of AI to enhance their business operations and product compatibility. In the realm of app development, AI has been used in numerous ways to enhance performance and engagement. Whether chatbots, voice assistance, virtual product tour, AI-driven mail, or any other segment, brands are enjoying the benefits of AI and ML algorithms to boost their app’s credibility and user base.

  • Adoption – Artificial intelligence (AI) is now present in millions of mobile applications as a backend component or the main product. As a result, every mobile device now has access to at least one AI-powered app, offering users a comprehensive and dependable solution.
  • Functionality – AI is the king of the digital marketplace at the moment, and to stay atop it has brought all possible changes in its functionalities and configurations. In 2023, you will see more personalized features in ECommerce and other AI-based apps.
  • Impact – AI has revolutionized various industries, enhancing both their user interface and backend capabilities with greater flexibility and use cases. Its impact is significant and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Blockchain

Blockchain technology like AI and ML has wholly revolutionized the digital industry upside down. However, it hasn’t been able to grasp a robust grip like those two in the app industry. But due to its decentralized and security offerings, it has emerged as the prominent factor in the app development segments.

For instance, millions of users lose their sensitive data to hackers yearly due to security vulnerabilities. However, if organizations opt for restricted DLT for storing small amounts of user data, they can avoid those hackings and improve their app security by many folds. Blockchain is indeed a reliable alternative when it comes to data security. Since a central authority has a weak grip on a decentralized ledger, enabling a blockchain-based solution is a primitive way of winning consumer trust for companies.

  • Adoption – Be it Cryptocurrency, Gaming, or finance apps, Blockchain has ensured a firm grip over such complex areas, making it a vital prospect for any mobile app development.
  • Functionality – Blockchain is the most advanced form of data security technology, which has comprehensively transformed software, finance, and healthcare security compliance, making it reliable and robust from every angle.
  • Impact – Blockchain will specifically transform mobile apps into dApps, and span entire ecosystems that function in different ways, fundamentally than traditional systems.

5G

Innovation comes with unlimited possibilities. Since 4G burst out of the scene and started to dominate the market, the inclusion and implementation of 5G have started with it. After a long wait (closer to a decade), 5G finally arrived in 2023 and is ready to roll the market quickly and accurately. 5G connectivity will significantly boost download and upload speeds, bandwidth, latency, etc. Experts say it will open up many possibilities for app developers worldwide to utilize its accuracy and improve their mobile app development segment.

  • Adoption – With 510 million new users ready to sign up for 5G in 2023, it is already taking shape globally with large numbers. But it all depends on its performance which will decide its future.
  • Functionality – 5G will help apps with faster internet connectivity, ensuring better connectivity, higher bandwidth, and significantly reliable connections.
  • Impact – If 5G delivers what it promised, then the impact will be huge. It will facilitate IoT and real-time apps with better connectivity and productive performance.

Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT stands for Internet of Things -a network of physical devices or ‘things’ interconnected via the Internet. Over the years, the difference between average and better in the digital service-providing segment via mobile apps has been the difference. Booking a cab online, ordering food, turning on the living room lights, or tracking health activities via fitness apps are all primary examples of IoT devices we use daily. The appeal of IoT comes down to not just the individual devices but the network’s capacity built when these devices come together.

  • Adoption – Experts have predicted that more than 30 billion IoT devices will be expected to be around in 2025. So by this number, you can assume its adoption rate.
  • Functionality – IoT enables mobile apps and has enhanced human interaction with smart devices giving us centralized control over primary aspects of our lives that previously weren’t digitized. 
  • Impact – We are already using and have gone addicted to IoT-enabled apps. So talking about impact, it’s on the higher side and continuously increasing.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing for mobile apps helps store extensive data, enables quick data processing, protects proprietary software, and ensures high-end data security, making it the center of priority for mobile app development. As apps continue dominating the digital space and functionality, running them natively on user devices becomes difficult. This is where cloud computing comes to the rescue, as it frees apps from being tied to the limitations of native devices. The best part is cloud computing ensures the right balance of a mobile app performance, speed, and user-friendliness.

  • Adoption – Cloud computing has become a preeminent prospect of every small, mid, and large-scale industry. So in terms of adaptability, it is on the higher side with a rapidly increasing user base every moment.
  • Functionality – The cloud is the storage and computational hub for apps, allowing them to focus on security and optimization on a single point in the network while distributing its benefits.
  • Impact – The integration of cloud computing in mobile app development has streamlined and encouraged seamless access to server-based software services anytime and anywhere.

Bottomline:

Mobile apps have become an integral and crucial part of our daily hustling lives. Whether cab or hotel booking, food ordering, ration delivery, or other essential shopping, now we have apps for everything which are touching numerous aspects of our lives that we would never previously have imagined to be digitized. In the last couple of years, the mobile app development landscape continuously evolves to new trends and technology, bringing all the best possible changes for our betterment. If you plan to develop your next mobile app with any of the above technology, partner with a renowned mobile app development company.

Chetan Sheladiya

Chetan Sheladiya has worked on as many as 500 unique and interesting IT projects over the course of more than a decade. Running a giant of a React Native Mobile App Development company, that specializes in web development, mobile app development, and online business marketing among others things, Chetan has gained immense experience and a wealth of knowledge in the field of technology.