What are the latest app-building trends for 2024?
If you’re wondering what the latest app-building trends for 2024 are, you’re in the right place. The world of mobile app development rarely stands still, and it’s important to keep on top of the latest trends whether you work in tech or are a business owner hoping to give your phone-owning customers what they require and keep building up brand loyalty. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at some of the most exciting app development trends around and give you all the information you need so you can make an informed decision when it comes to app development.
Apps for foldable devices
Flip phones may be associated with days gone by but they are on the rise again. Over the past few years, several new foldable devices like the Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy Fold have entered the market, appeasing not only nostalgic phone owners but also those who missed out on these designs the first time around. Today’s foldable devices are more robust than ever and are ideal for those who want to close them when they’re taking phone calls but need to open them up for activities like watching videos.
All of this means that app developers are now having to consider the popularity of foldable devices when they are creating apps or updating them. Foldable device users expect apps to adapt whenever someone folds or unfolds their phone. It’s thought that around 15.8 million foldable phones were sold in 2023, with Samsung being amongst the most popular manufacturers of these devices.
More growth for the Internet of Things
It’s thought that even more people will be using apps on their phones to control the appliances and devices that are around them in 2024. Smart home technology has become increasingly popular over the years and allows people to take control over things like their home thermostats, lights and security systems from wherever they are as long as they have an internet connection on their phones or tablets. The Internet of Things is now worth almost $320 billion globally and there’s a growing number of things you can now control via the apps on your phone.
Chatbots
Chatbots have become incredibly sophisticated over the years. More and more businesses are adding chatbot facilities to apps to help their customers get the information they need without having to search for it on Google or speak to a human being. Chatbots are becoming increasingly more adept when it comes to replicating the way that human customer service staff speak.
When you add a chatbot to your app, you can enhance the customer experience substantially. Chatbots can offer instant support to customers, deliver personalized interactions and communicate in various languages. Multi-language functionality allows businesses to cater for customers across the world. Chatbots can also collect valuable data that you can use to make more informed decisions in future. They also help businesses save money by reducing the need for human customer service staff and give companies an advantage over competitors that aren’t using them.
Mobile Wallets
Mobile wallet solutions like Google Pay and Apple Pay are becoming even more popular. They allow people to link their credit or debit cards to their accounts so they can make purchases with a simple tap or click without having to carry their physical cards around with them. Mobile payments can even be completed on wearable devices. App developers are being encouraged to facilitate mobile pay as much as possible.
AR and VR
Most specialists agree that Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality will become even more popular this year. AR can be used for a wide range of activities, such as showing people what they will look like after applying certain make-up products or what a property could like after someone has decorated it. More and more businesses are using workforce apps to train their staff. Virtual reality has become hugely advantageous for gamers and can connect with wearable tech, apps and phones to create better app experiences.
Predictive Analytics
More and more app developers are using predictive analytics in order to cater for customers. This enables apps to predict events and get to know what app users like the most. The Netflix and Spotify apps are great examples of applications that use predictive analytics to suggest TV shows, movies, music and podcasts based on what people have already watched or listened to.
5G
5G is likely to have a big influence on the app trends of the coming year. 5G is set to have a big influence on the efficiency of apps and can be up to 100 times quicker than 4G. App developers are hoping to build exciting new features into apps that won’t slow their efficiency, performance or slow them down. Developers are advised to use 5G when testing and developing apps to ensure they perform effectively enough.
Apps for wearable devices
Wearable technology has now been around for many years. However, many experts agree that wearable devices could be offering even more than they have done so far. More and more apps are being developed to cater for users of wearable devices.
Beacons
Beacons are small, wireless transmitters. They use low-energy Bluetooth technology in order to send signals to other smart devices close by. This kind of technology has been welcomed by companies and organisations from a host of sectors including healthcare, hospitality and retail. More and more retailers are installing beacons in their brick-and-mortar premises so their customers can connect with them if they have the relevant app. If a customer comes into close contact with a beacon, they can receive a notification about something a retailer is offering such as a special discount.
Another advantage of using beacons is that they allow retailers to keep track of how their customers are behaving in stores. They can tell retailers if customers are spending a long time in certain parts of the shop and send out push notifications to encourage shoppers to make purchases.
Mobile Commerce
Retailers have been using apps to encourage customers to make purchases for many years now, and this trend is showing no signs of slowing down. Mobile commerce apps enable people to shop longer after physical stores have closed their doors for the day, and it’s hard to think of many retailers who aren’t offering some sort of app to their customers these days. These apps are ideal not only for the world’s largest brands but small independent retailers too. It’s said that almost three-quarters of e-commerce sales were linked to mobile devices in 2021.
Artificial Intelligence
AI has had a huge impact on the world over the past year or so. Various AI-based features can be built into apps, and these include face detection, image recognition and speech recognition to prevent unauthorized purchases and usage.
Instant apps
Instant apps are becoming popular because they allow customers to try out basic versions of apps without having to download them. Android Studio is enabling app developers to create instant experiences, and all customers need to do is to use the “try now” button to see how it feels to use an app they’re yet to download. Instant apps aren’t always the full versions of apps due to size limitations, though this could change in future. Some companies have seen a huge rise in conversions after allowing customers to use instant apps. Anyone who is developing Android apps in 2024 can benefit from offering instant versions to customers.
Why is it so important to keep on top of app-building trends?
Keeping informed about the latest app-building trends allows you to give your customers what they want and boost the experience that you’re offering them. If you’re an app developer, it helps you support companies who want to capitalise on the latest trends.
The field of app development is always evolving thanks to technological advancements. New programming languages, tools and frameworks are regularly introduced. By staying updated, developers can keep themselves aware of the best and most efficient ways to create apps. This improves the development process and the end product.
Advancements in app-building technology allow you to keep up with user expectations and make the most of the features that come with today’s devices. By remaining up to date with these trends, you can ensure your apps remain visually appealing, easy to use and aligned with the expectations of users. Creating a fantastic user experience makes it more likely that an app will receive positive reviews and find itself on the devices of thousands of customers.
Security
Another reason why it’s so important to stay up to date with the latest app development trends is that it also allows you to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. Following the very latest trends in security ensures developers can protect users from the latest vulnerabilities and protect user data.
Platform updates and compatibility
Mobile operating systems like iOS and Android regularly release updates with new features and functionalities. App developers can keep up to date with these updates to ensure their apps are compatible with the latest platform versions. This cuts the risk of issues, crashes and loss of functionality.
Competitive edge
Offering an outstanding app to customers allows companies to gain a real edge over their competitors. If a company’s rivals aren’t offering a high-quality app to their customers, this can be great for business. When a company is one of the first to take advantage of the latest app development technology, it can create a reputation as a leader in its field that’s passionate about innovation.
Enhanced performance
Many of the latest app development trends are focused on boosting performance, cutting load times and boosting overall efficiency. Creating faster, more responsive applications can enhance the user experience, create more brand loyalty and drive sales. Customers want transactions to be completed as smoothly and quickly as possible when they purchase products and services through apps. If the process is a smooth and enjoyable one, it becomes more likely that they will make further purchases in future.
Staying on top of the latest app-building trends is essential for developers and businesses. It allows companies to improve continuously, boosts the user and customer experience, makes apps more secure and gives businesses a real edge over their competitors.
Why have apps stayed so popular over the years?
Smartphone and tablet apps have remained popular over the years for various reasons. They offer amazing convenience and allow people to carry out a host of activities. These include making purchases, listening to music, watching movies and TV, keeping track of their fitness levels, communicating with businesses and many more. Apps streamline processes and make them much quicker in comparison to opening a web browser to carry out the same activities. As long as a smartphone or tablet user has an internet connection, they can connect to apps from almost anywhere without having to power on larger, bulky devices like laptops and desktops.
Personalisation and user experience
Personalisation is another reason why apps have stayed so popular or even grown in popularity over recent years. They often offer tailored content, recommendations and notifications based on people’s preferences and behaviour. This bespoke engagement can make people feel closer to apps and is great for brand engagement.
When an app has a great User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX), people are likely to return to it time and time again. This is why the most popular apps tend to be the ones that prioritise the user experience, are visually appealing and load quickly. Real-time notifications are also very popular as they ensure users are alerted to important information like breaking news, special offers and new content without having to look for it. This kind of real-time communication ensures users feel engaged. Apps also ensure that brands become part of people’s day-to-day lives. Whenever someone scrolls through their phone, they are likely to see your logo as long as they have downloaded your app.
Some apps offer offline functionality. This means people can access the information they need inside your app even if they don’t have an internet connection available or when they want to save data. Apps can also integrate with the various features which come with smartphones like their cameras, sensors, and GPS. This ensures people are making the most of their devices’ features. The best app developers often introduce exciting new features, improvements and security enhancements to keep customers on side and ensure they remain entertained and catered for. Many apps stay on people’s phones indefinitely due to the exceptional user experiences that they offer.
Customers love smartphone apps for their user-friendly designs, accessibility, convenience and the way they provide real-time updates. By keeping yourself up to date with what today’s app users are looking for, you can provide what they require and bring them closer to your brand.
Contact us today
If you’re interested in taking advantage of the latest app-building trends, talk to us today. We have many years of experience when it comes to serving clients from a wealth of industries and delivering apps that enhance brand loyalty, drive sales, boost engagement and stay on customers’ devices for many years to come. To reach us today, give us a call, send us an email or complete the form on the website. We will get back to you as quickly as we possibly can so we can swiftly get the wheels in motion for creating the app you have in mind.