The Android platform has millions of active users, and with more and more companies picking up Android app development, that number will only continue to grow. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve already created several apps, there are trends in the industry you should keep an eye on so your business doesn’t fall behind the competition.
Here are 10 top Android app development trends you should know about.
1. Cloud-based services
In 2010, when cloud computing was still a new concept to most business owners, fewer than one-third of organizations had begun using it. The statistic that 82% of businesses are now relying on cloud computing instead of hardwired computing points to what’s changed in four years. Today, cloud-based software isn’t just a cheaper option for small businesses — it’s also more secure, faster and convenient than ever before.
Cloud-based services often save companies money on hardware and licensing costs because they don’t require servers or maintenance contracts of their own. And with IT departments facing an overburdened infrastructure and stretched thin across increasing numbers of mobile devices, many companies find that taking advantage of these technologies is actually less expensive in the long run.
2. Artificial Intelligence
Google, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook have all been pouring billions of dollars into AI. That’s because research indicates that most of our online activity will be driven by AI in a matter of years, not decades. The same goes for businesses: AI has enormous potential to enhance marketing and sales processes, let alone customer service.
If you haven’t started learning about artificial intelligence yet, it might be time to start – especially if you want to make apps for phones powered by any one of those big four companies (iPhones, iPads and Mac computers from Apple; Android devices from Google). Getting familiar with machine learning concepts can help ensure that your app stands out from all others in a crowded marketplace.
3. Chatbots
Thanks to recent advances in artificial intelligence and natural language processing, chatbots are on their way to making our lives easier. The top companies in nearly every industry have already incorporated chatbots into their customer service strategies, and for good reason — these virtual assistants can efficiently field even the most complicated of questions.
That’s great news for everyone involved: businesses cut costs by reducing overhead, and customers no longer have to spend hours waiting on hold with call centers. If you’re trying to make your business more efficient, we recommend using an AI-driven chatbot as a customer service representative; it will provide quick responses from anywhere at any time of day — that is if it doesn’t outperform your human support team first!
4. Augmented Reality
Augmented reality apps let you interact with your physical surroundings in exciting new ways. The first use cases revolved around games, but now we’re seeing more practical applications that connect people to important information and make life easier. For example, apps can tell you if a food has allergens or let you visualize how a room would look with different furniture in it. In 2022, we’ll see increasingly more interesting developments as the technology becomes more sophisticated.
5. Video Streaming & VR headsets
Where possible, your app should try to predict what a user wants and provide it before they even know that they want it. This can be as simple as integrating with a 3rd party service or using Google’s app indexing.
6. Deep Linking
The importance of deep linking goes far beyond mere functionality. In-app links are key to user retention and engagement, with close to 70% of users saying they’d stop using an app if they couldn’t go back to a previous screen. Deep linking allows users to seamlessly flow between different screens within your app.
For example, consider what happens when you click on a news link on Facebook: rather than being taken straight into a browser and directed toward that particular web page, you’re brought directly into the news app and shown an in-app version of that website. It all comes down to seamless integration: if you want your users engaged with your app then take them deep into its functionality as quickly as possible—not away from it!
7. Smart Messaging Apps
Let’s be honest: in today’s social media-driven world, it’s all about connection. And, with marketing budgets shrinking and influencer marketing on an upswing, everyone is turning to micro-influencers. Smaller influencers have emerged as a fresh new way to reach potential customers while attracting many more brand advocates.
Because smaller influencers typically have fewer followers than their celebrity counterparts (therefore making them less expensive), they are easier to access and can provide brands with increased ROI. The trick is figuring out which ones are right for your company based on their niche, style of sharing and follower demographics.
8. Micro-Influencers and Nano-Influencers
As you might expect, micro-influencers are much smaller than social media celebrities with millions of followers. These influencers aren’t always highly engaged with their audiences—but they do have a wide network and can still work very well for brand awareness. (Just don’t expect them to get up to 20 million views.)
Some examples of micro-influencers include: Vine stars (those six-second video creators that were all over Twitter a few years ago) as well as Instagram and YouTube celebrities who have 100K or more followers but aren’t super famous on other social media platforms.
9. Blockchain Technology
Blockchain technology is changing industries faster than many can keep up with. It’s being used in a multitude of ways, from supply chain management to monetary transactions. If you aren’t familiar with blockchain yet, it’s essentially a decentralized digital ledger that enables secure and fast data transfer and management among users. You should hire Android app developers in India for your projects who have rich expertise in blockchain technologies.
10. Apple ARKit 2.0
Let’s first look at Augmented Reality, or AR. Apple has officially unveiled ARKit 2.0, which can map real-world spaces in 3D. This technology allows you to place virtual objects (like furniture and appliances) in your actual home using a room measurement device like a tape measure. Essentially, with ARKit 2.0, you’ll be able to see how your new kitchen would fit in your apartment without moving anything around.
When designing an app that uses augmented reality, it’s also important to keep user safety in mind—Apple suggests making sure that users have time to react if they need to before placing something in their environment while running your app.
