Mobile has become an integral part of modern life, and user expectations from the industry remain as high as usual. People are spending more and more time with a smartphone, and that kind of passion for smart solutions has set a high bar for mobile app developers. As 2020 is drawing to a close, it is high time to see how the domain of mobile development has changed, and what trends will be the hottest next year. As a whole, the mobile sector is literally blooming: 

• The mobile app market is set to grow by 385% in 2021.
• There will be 7 billion mobile users around the world.
• By 2022, user spending on the App Store alone will increase by 92%, and that makes a whopping $157 billion.
  

Here at Akveo, we won’t let a single trend flow under our radar. Without further ado, let’s find out what trends will shape the industry of mobile development in 2022.

M-commerce

The hi-tech giants such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay have already developed their mobile wallets to the general acclaim of users. In 2019, mobile wallets generated around $6 billion in transactions worldwide. The figure is forecasted to reach $13.98 billion by 2022. 

It would be safe to conclude that Apple, Google, and other payment systems will transform web-based e-commerce into mobile-first m-commerce. The majority of user interaction already happens via mobile phones. It’s logical to expect that in the years to come, mobile wallets will become an integral feature of any app dealing with transactions. According to reports, m-commerce sales will take a 53.9% share out of e-commerce sales globally in 2022. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to make your business mobile-friendly and integrate m-commerce features. 

Cross-platform

The state of cross-platform mobile development has drastically changed during the last five years. The attitude towards cross-platform has changed too. The technology went mainstream, and each big player in the market has its own solution for cross-platform e.g. React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, etc.

Surely, all of these solutions have their own benefits and disadvantages. Perhaps, the biggest advantage comes with the opportunity to significantly reduce time to market and development costs without sacrificing both quality and functionality. For instance, React Native, the main technology at Akveo, is heavily used by such giants as MS, Amazon, Walmart, Bloomberg, and Tesla. In the market, emerging players such as Kotlin Native look interesting for businesses and investors too.

AI & ML (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)

In 2022, the demand for AI-powered features in apps will be even higher than now. Smart alerts, notifications, and various types of content based on the understanding of user habits are already trending. For instance, a personalized search algorithm that understands what users want “here and now”. Another great use case is Apple and Google photos applications where you can search by objects on the image (via computer vision).  

IoT (Internet of Things)

‍Already an established trend and will be dominant for the next several years. Nowadays, almost every device or gadget has Internet access, and smart devices are tangibly increasing the quality of lives. Besides, such devices are sharing lots of data that could be used for data analysis. IoT brings all technologies together, and in 2022 will see exponential growth in demand across the area of security and customer service, which is especially vital in COVID-19-influenced reality.

In this regard, the Internet of Things is considered the future of the technology world. No wonder that mobile developers are interested in integrating IoT with mobile applications. Many large corporations such as Google and Amazon have already tested the potential of this technology. In 2019, the Fitbit purchase by Google was a clear indication of this trend’s relevance in the years to come.

Context-first applications

For years, users followed the same steps in their journeys. It all starts with a search for an application in the app store, and following the installation, a user waits for the exact context to start using it. Now this pattern is gradually changing. With Instant Apps on Android and App Clips on iOS, it’s possible to start using a new app on the fly. Just scan a code, NFC tag, or open URL - and in a moment, you will have a piece of the app that could help you in no time. New technology is all about creating a better experience, and instant apps do just that. 

To sum up

The advancements in technology and the life around us influence the development of trends in any domain. In 2020, companies and people have been busy adjusting their work under quarantine conditions. Given the current circumstances, the marketplace will be gradually shifting towards mobile apps that allow working, learning, and chilling out while staying at home. However, that might be the topic of our next article. 

Here at Akveo, we love watching trends to analyze how the world of mobile app development is changing. In the era of digitalization, the pace of innovation is extremely fast. Thus, every software company that wants to get a share of the mobile market should be proactive and develop its business activities following the latest trends in the market.