App development is a constantly evolving field, able to adapt to user needs and technological innovations.
According to the report State of mobile 2023, published by the analysis company data.ai, more than 435,000 apps are downloaded worldwide every minute. This explains why companies will not give up developing apps for themselves and their customers in 2023 either.
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App development: data
Today, everyone, especially creators, use apps for work or pleasure; suffice it to say that during the pandemic, e-commerce apps have literally exploded: according to NetRetail, a research conducted by Netcomm with Adform, FiloBlu, Oney, QVC Italia and TeamSystem, it is estimated that in the first quarter of 2022 alone, 33 million Italians bought online, making 1,3 purchases per person.
According to data provided by AppsFlyer, the number of apps under development has now decreased, as opposed to the usage time of existing apps, which has increased. Audiweb, finally, tells us that 75 per cent of Italians use apps for gaming and services, most often for a fee.
2023 trends: the latest news
What makes an app successful is undoubtedly the user experience (UX) it delivers. Removing, for example, the “pain points”, i.e. those points where the user is likely to experience frustration and dissatisfaction, is crucial.
A very useful app in this sense is JOBy, the attendance tracking app that helps employers to track the working hours of co-workers and employees. Developed by HT Apps, it is one of the most popular products on the market, as it allows employees to clock in and/or register their presence at work with a simple tap on the screen.
Let us now take a look at the 2023 trends in app development and which trends tend to consolidate.
Augmented Reality (AR)
According to statistics, the AR market’s turnover will reach USD 25.21 billion in 2022 alone. IKEA, for example, uses augmented reality to virtually place 3,200 products in its customers’ homes before they buy them; PICTOFiT Shopping allows people to wear virtual clothes and get recommendations based on their build, weight, skin colour and so on; Pokémon Go, an app already popular in 2016, continues to entertain millions of people today, who catch, train and fight hundreds of virtual Pokémon scattered around the world.
Machine Learning (ML)
Machine learning (ML) is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) that deals with solving predictive problems, such as document classification, object recognition in images, medical diagnosis, robotic control, etc.
One of the 2023 trends in machine learning is conversational artificial intelligence, which uses sophisticated algorithms to recognise speech and text input, process large amounts of data and reproduce the natural language of humans. Other areas of application for machine learning are healthcare, objects recognition in images and automatic recommendation systems.
Healthcare
Thanks to neural networks, the LM, like a human brain, is able to
- discover new drugs in the field of precision medicine;
- utilise existing ones in the best possible way;
- develop tailor made healthcare treatments, based on the patient's medical record;
- monitor changes in the body.
Recognition of objects in images
Recognition of objects, contexts and people (with due precautions for privacy) within images is one of the most popular services today. ML, in combination with modern cameras, allows:
- a faster translation of texts;
- accurate identification of plants, animals and people;
- the immediate scanning of QR codes.
Automatic recommendation systems
Automated recommendation systems are used by platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, etc., which use ML to suggest users the content most akin to their tastes. Filtering the data collected, interpreting it and offering customers the content they like best is, in fact, the best strategy to retain them.
Social commerce
The development of social commerce apps will be one of the biggest trends in 2023, especially in foreign markets. It is estimated that in China at least one in two users make online purchases via social integrated e-shops.
This is because the fewer steps there are – and there are significantly fewer in social – the less likely the buyer is to change their mind and not finalise the purchase. Social media such as Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and TikTok make e-commerce easier and more immediate.
Benefits of social commerce or social e-commerce apps include:
- increased brand awareness;
- the establishment of a relationship of trust with the customer, thanks to the possibility of interacting with other users or with the managers of the company page;
- an increase in customer satisfaction.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the technology that, by means of servers located all over the world, enables the creation of a single ecosystem that is networked and accessible wherever there is a good Internet connection.
Among other things, the development of cloud-integrated apps is one of the 2023 trends. Cloud-based apps provide greater flexibility, scalability and security. Companies operate with four different types of cloud apps:
- public cloud apps, which employ the Internet as a data dissemination network;
- private cloud apps, which employ closed private networks and local servers for internal data transmission;
- hybrid cloud apps, based on the interchange between public and private networks for the purpose of creating access points.
The cloud, moreover, depending on the level of control and customisation one wishes to have over the resources, can be used in different modes of delivery. The main ones are:
- Software as a Service (SaaS). These are applications or services that are accessible via a web browser or mobile app, without you having to install them on your device. Examples of SaaS are Gmail, Google Drive, Spotify, Netflix, etc.
- Platform as a service (PaaS). These are platforms that offer the tools and environments needed to develop and distribute web or mobile applications, without having to deal with the management of the underlying infrastructure. Examples of PaaS are Google App Engine, Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, etc.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): these are infrastructures offering virtualised computing and storage resources, such as servers, networks, storage, etc. Examples of IaaS are Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, etc.
POS
In 2023, there is also a strong demand for POS (Point of Sale) terminals to track sales, manage customers and their payments. Modern POS, being based on cloud technology, offers enormous advantages to SMEs without them having to make major investments.
Advanced POS systems, such as those we see in some restaurants, allow customers to order directly from the virtual menu, update it in real time, integrate orders, etc. Previously, POS was limited to electronic payments only; today this is no longer the case. The advent of smartphones, and in particular Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, has changed everything, making it feasible to integrate payment systems within them and defining, in fact, a new standard.
In fact, there are many companies demanding more and more advanced cloud-based POS apps, as NFC technology increases efficiency exponentially.
Foldable & Wearable
These are apps that can expand and shrink according to the way the smartphone is used. In the case of foldables, for example, the app will have one configuration if the display is open and another if it is closed.
Like apps for foldables, we find, next, apps for wearable devices, such as smartwatches, smart fitness belts and heart rate trackers that offer users useful functionality and information in a quick and intuitive way. Typically, these apps monitor sleep, physical activity, notifications, navigation, music, etc.
Blockchain
Blockchain technology makes it possible to create and manage a shared and secure register of transactions that take place between different actors in a network. One can imagine the blockchain as a chain of blocks, where each block contains the information of one or more transactions, such as the sender, receiver, amount, date and time. Each block is linked to the previous one via a cryptographic code that guarantees its authenticity and immutability. This means that no one can change or delete the data recorded in the blockchain without invalidating the entire chain.
The blockchain, therefore, is a decentralised technology, i.e. there is no central authority controlling or managing the ledger. Instead, the ledger is distributed among all network participants, who can verify and validate transactions according to shared rules, called protocols. Indeed, apps based on blockchain technology are more transparent and resistant to fraud and cyber attacks, and are used in various sectors, such as finance, trade, logistics, healthcare, energy, etc.
Develop your app! Choose the excellence
App development is a dynamic and innovative sector that offers great opportunities for developers and users alike. If you want to learn more about this topic, continue reading our JOurnal or, alternatively, if you need professional consulting for your app development project, contact us now by filling out the contact form below. The HT Apps team is here to offer you the best possible solution in line with your needs.