Top 8 Latest Trends Driving Mobile App Development in 2022
Posted by Julia Werner •
Top 11 Mobile Technology Trends to Watch for in 2022
Nowadays, smartphone usage has gone up, with many people utilizing this technology for various reasons, professionally and personally. Statistics show that the smartphone subscription count is at around 6+ billion in 2022.
Many organizations focus on mobile-intuitive solutions, like automation technology, to improve their operations and user engagement.
Statistically, 70% of engineering and IT-sector leaders commented on better workforce efficiency after using automation, while 59% of the respondents in the same survey mentioned a 30% reduction in costs.
Like this, there are many other trends that companies are taking up to improve their work quality related to mobile app development.
Here, you will learn about 11 of the Best Mobile App Development Trends in 2022.
1. VR/AR
Many companies turn to a reliable mobile app development company to help them prepare suitable solutions to increase their productivity and customer engagement.
One of the main approaches is the benefits of AR and VR in different industries, like gaming. Live Shopping, for example, is one element that benefits from this.
With this technology, consumers can expect a better online shopping experience through apps, like:
Handle automated and easy-to-use automated payments with a high-range security guarantee
Expect instant and responsive interactions with the apps for support
View the products/services, learn details on specifications, and try them out before the purchase
It is expected that with VR/AR-centric solutions, the eCommerce industry can expand in the upcoming years, like increasing company profits and user engagement.
2. AI (Artificial Intelligence)
In mobile app development, developers and companies focus on implementing Artificial Intelligence solutions.
Various advancements in the mobile industry related to AI integration happened in recent history, e.g., AI-based chatbots.
Famous examples include Cortana, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri; they improve user experience with mobile apps.
AI is one of the latest mobile app technology trends that companies have been adopting more frequently in recent periods is due to its ability to understand users and then offer solutions. Businesses can be available to consumers 24×7 and improve interactions and responses with chatbots.
Besides AI-based chatbots in travel tech, mobile apps nowadays come with voice recognition software that improves user experience.
3. Location-based technology
Modern mobile tech devices have high-quality geolocation tracking abilities. Tablets and smartphones come with software that follows the location of users constantly.
Different apps ask for permission from consumers each time they install a new application.
In some of the apps, the functionality is reduced exponentially if users do not turn their GPS connection on for the duration of the usage.
For example, ride-sharing or delivery apps would not update the real-time ETA if you do not switch on the geolocation settings.
Companies leverage this technology into their app development process for targeted marketing to consumers. They ask for location-sharing approval and use this information to send targeted geofencing ads to users.
4. Personalization
For consumers today, how their brands treat them and what benefits they can expect from one. This determines if they would continue associating with the company.
Statistics show that focusing on personalization as one of the leading mobile app development trends improves the efficiency rate of the marketing expenditure to 30%.
Experts in this field suggest that the popularity of companies using personalization as a tactic to grow their reach would continue to develop.
Most users find apps, catering services, or offerings centered around their needs more useful to download and use. Businesses that provide more value with their apps see higher conversion and retention rates.
5. Wearable technology
Since the pandemic, consumers have been focusing on improving their health and are adapting techniques for health management and fitness.
This saw an increase in the production and distribution of health monitors, smartwatches, and fitness bracelets.
Reports show more than 10.6 million units of FitBit bracelets sold in 2020. The count would potentially increase with time.
The wearable technology is easy to sync with mobile devices and effectively calculates and tracks factors like the user’s oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep pattern. Besides that, the devices can monitor the physical fitness level of people and their duration of fitness management schedule.
6. Internet of Things
Internet of Things focuses on technological solutions that remotely connect to household appliances and contribute to their performance.
For example, with IoT integrated apps, users can close doors, switch on cleaning applications, increase or decrease the light’s brightness, or change the thermostat settings.
In the context of advanced software development trends, IoT is a crucial point to consider.
In the market, smart objects and smart houses are not very common in every region, but they are growing in popularity. Statistically, the global market of IoT would potentially grow to USD 1 trillion in estimated value by 2025.
7. Blockchain technology
Companies and operations in different sectors turn to digitalization to improve their functionality and reach.
Another aspect where digitization brought new changes is currency or cryptocurrency. Therefore, the demand and focus on blockchain technology have increased over time.
Blockchain is a decentralized and distributed digital public ledger, assuring users smooth, secure, and transparent transactions. It safeguards against data loss and theft and guarantees better logistics, supply chain, and critical data protection.
8. Hybrid Framework for mobile app development
Another trend that would dominate the market in 2022 is hybrid-based app development needs. Android and iOS are the primary platforms to focus on related to mobile app development.
However, with advanced new cross-platform frameworks available like React-Native, Flutter, Kotlin-Native, and Xamarin, the use of native-based app development projects has decreased.
For companies, it is hard to handle and maintain different programming languages and coding steps for app development.
So, the hybrid framework is growing in popularity since developers can save costs, effort, and time.
9. 5G
One notable factor related to innovative technology trends for mobile apps is the 5G internet connection. Thus, firms hire developers from a reliable mobile app development company to create apps with 5G compatibility.
Statistics showed that the number of connections available with 5G integration would quadruple by the end of 2021 in one survey.
The connection type is much speedier in comparison to 4G technology. Plus, 5G connection is essential in AR/VR solutions, 4K video streaming, and other such requirements.
10. Big Data Analytics
One of the primary technology trends companies are focusing on is big data analytics. It relies on the coming together of business and technology.
Professionals get valuable data-driven insights on their operations and customers through mobile apps.
It better understands consumer behavior and prepares their following decisions based on their surmised information.
Big Data Analytics can handle more significant data streams better than traditional analytics. This is why this trend is expected to grow further in popularity in 2022.
11. Security protocols
Data security is a significant concern for companies, whether it has to do with server-based security or during data transfers.
New beneficial features for advanced security are integrated into apps, like MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) or 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication).
It is expected that more companies would focus on such approaches to ensure top-rated solutions.
1. Conclusion
Businesses and organizations in different fields focus on enhanced mobile-based app development initiatives currently.
They adopt new techniques like AR/VR/AI to improve app functionality and user experience. Leverage the right solutions for your company or business needs to optimize your app solutions for higher profits in 2022 and beyond.
Technologies in Mobile Development 2022
What Major Trends Are Occurring in Mobile Apps?
In 2020 alone, it's estimated there were 218 billion mobile application downloads worldwide. The growing number of app downloads — and a steady demand trend — opens the door for many innovations in the world of mobile technologies.
The number of mobile app downloads worldwide is increasing rapidly with each year. Source: Statista
Here are some of the top mobile app development trends.
Beacon technology
A beacon is an inexpensive wireless transmitter that uses Low Energy (BLE) technology to send signals to nearby smart devices.
The beacons are battery-powered and located via Bluetooth — mobile devices can communicate with them even without an internet connection.
For example, Safetify was designed to turn down the volume on mobile devices of people who listen to music while crossing the street, until they safely reach the other side.
The global beacon technology market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 86% from 2017 to 2024. Beacon technology has transformed various industries, primarily retail and e-commerce, and it will play an integral part in increasing customer awareness by delivering location-specific alerts and notifications.
In marketing, using beacon technology is called proximity marketing. Companies such as Macy’s, McDonald’s, Woolworths, or Amazon Go are already using this tech in their on-site marketing efforts and to boost in-store customer experience.
The beacon technology can also be used to create the infrastructure for smart cities.
Enterprise mobile apps
Enterprise applications operate in a corporate environment, and their primary purpose is to solve complex processes within an organization. Because how well a company performs often depends on these critical software assets, enterprise apps have to be built using reliable and scalable technologies.
Mobile cloud computing enables enterprises to store large amounts of data in one place securely. With the use of cloud services, employees can access this information quickly, which results in enhanced communication and more efficient work.
According to a recent study, the demand for these mobile applications has increased dramatically, and enterprise mobility is a top priority for one-third of organizations.
Geolocation-based apps
From default apps like Find My iPhone or Weather to Instagram, Uber, and Yelp, most apps today use geolocation. Many messenger applications let you share your current location directly in the chat. Even photos on your phone camera can be stored by the place they were taken.
The rise of location-based applications has changed the way people navigate through their daily lives. Source: Unsplash
Geolocation can be used as a way to deliver more personalized and localized content. Location-based services provide a better user experience, plus they can give companies insight into user demographics.
Folding display phones and apps
If you had one in the early 2000s, you were definitely the coolest kid on the block. Although in a different form, It’s no surprise these are making a comeback. Folding phones were among the major announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2020.
Are foldable mobile phones the future? Source: Let’s Go Digital
The emergence of foldable smartphones has created a new challenge for app developers. Dynamic adjustment of app content to fit the screen properly with the right amount of data requires careful planning. Foldables create an entirely new segment for developers to explore, one where plenty of opportunities for disruption await to be explored.
In 2019, global foldable smartphone shipments represented only a tiny fraction of the overall smartphone sales in 2019, but they are projected to increase 100 times by 2025.
Mobile wallets
The global shift from using cash as your primary form of payment has been happening for years now, and it appears we’re reaching a critical tipping point. Recent global payment reports show that mobile wallet payments are likely to exceed the use of cash in four years.
A wallet in your phone allows you to store all of your credit cards, debit cards, loyalty card information, and more. In addition, mobile apps like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay have revolutionized how we pay for merchandise at the checkout line.
In the near future, mobile wallets might as well replace all other forms of payment, at least in some transactions. Source: Unsplash
Integrating mobile wallets into apps enables users to checkout quickly and seamlessly, with just a single tap.
M-commerce
The goal of an online retailer is to make their products available to buyers no matter where they are. M-commerce, or mobile commerce, is the buying and selling of goods and services through a mobile device, which helps online retailers reach their customers. M-commerce already accounts for over half of global online retail, which comes as no surprise given that mobile usage and searches are steadily taking over desktop.
Looking at these statistics, we might posit that m-commerce will dominate online retail in the nearest future. This calls for retailers to either optimize their websites to work on mobile devices or release m-commerce apps that offer much more in terms of customer engagement and experience.
Biometric authentication
In recent years, biometrics has become an increasingly popular form of identification due to its accuracy and reliability. Biometric systems use physical attributes like fingerprints or retinal scans to identify individuals. These are considered safer and more reliable than passwords because they cannot be easily shared or forged.
Biometric technology can be used in financial transactions, government agencies, healthcare facilities, and more. The cost of developing apps that feature this technology has dropped considerably in recent years. Hardware-wise, face recognition and fingerprint scanning have become a staple for many smartphone manufacturers, with Apple being one of the first companies to have implemented Face ID in their phones.
On-demand mobile apps
On-demand mobile apps let users order anything from food to laundry service, with just a few taps or swipes. They can be found in different places and formats: as standalone apps like Lyft, TaskRabbit, Postmates; inside other established services like Uber and Amazon Prime Now; or even embedded into social networks like Facebook messenger.
On-demand apps like Uber have revolutionized our lives. Source: Unsplash
One thing these companies have in common is that they're all gearing up for an increasingly on-demand-driven world where consumers find it easier to find reviews and order a service directly from an app rather than browse through scattered reviews and make phone calls to order services.
Top 8 Latest Trends Driving Mobile App Development in 2022
The mobile development market continues to thrive, and the industry is evolving in leaps and bounds. The statistics speak for themselves: the global mobile application development market is expected to reach $44.3 trillion by 2027. To survive and thrive in this digital era, you should stay up-to-date with new blooming trends.
We’ve teamed up with Onix experts from different fields to get their opinions and prepare a list of top mobile app development trends that will shape 2022. This list has been created with input from our offshore mobile developers based on their own experience. Don't pass up on opportunities to innovate!
#1 Super apps
One app that solves one user's issue is no longer a trend in mobile app development. Today, all is changing. Super app is a new mobile app development trend that you can observe in 2022.
Super app is a one-stop solution that allows users to solve multiple issues by providing various services, from food delivery, shopping experiences, and movie ticket purchase, to financial services, online messaging, and ride-hailing. A vivid example when trying to understand super apps is WeChat. This is a Chinese multi-purpose instant messaging, social media, and mobile payment app with over 1.26 billion monthly active users from a wide range of age groups. Read Also: How to make a messaging app
Super apps are a handy way for users to solve their issues in one digital place that is always at hand. Using one super-app is much more convenient for people than performing many actions in different apps. So, it's no surprise that the demand for super apps will only grow.
A study from PYMNTS shows that 67% of US consumers would like to use at least two of their activities integrated into one place, while around 11% would like one app for managing their entire digital lives.
Moreover, according to Statista, as of November 2021, around 67 percent of consumers in the United States reported being interested in integrating multiple digital experiences in one super app.
Thus, 20.38 percent of respondents were identified as "information seekers," who would be interested in integrating their online experiences into one super app to access online shopping, travel, entertainment services, and banking services.
#2 Mobile learning
In a world that is changing faster and faster, easy access to education is becoming more vital. Now, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic, educational mobile app development appears even more relevant than ever before. Mobile learning is one of the most promising trends in mobile app development that hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. According to Statista, by 2026, the total market for eLearning worldwide is expected to grow by over $370 billion.
The primary purpose of mLearning is to enable people to gain required knowledge and skills using portable devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It's a convenient way to get access to learning content 24/7 and study on the go.
For example, the Onix as an LMS development company created Edplus, an educational mobile app for both iOS and Android.
This educational app offers 150+ topics to learn, 5,000+ videos to watch, and new content added daily. Using artificial intelligence technology, we created a learning path for each user. The app chooses questions in ways most relevant to each learner based on what they already know. EdPlus records how each user has answered the previous questions and uses this data to optimize its teaching strategy. The system accumulates data of each learner mastering topics and creates 3D learning maps showing each learner’s progress.
See the video:
Mobile learning will only gain more ground since it offers excellent advantages for users, such as:
Access to the learning content 24/7
Great flexibility (users can gain the knowledge whenever and wherever they want)
Personalized learning approach
Content variety
We provide some impressive figures to show you how promising the mLearning industry can be.
As you can see, building an mLearning app is a very promising idea. The EdTech market is constantly gaining momentum, and it's a great time to enter it with your own custom elearning software.
#3 Rise of 5G
5G was already among current app development trends, but it's expected that wide use of 5G is yet to come. According to forecasts, 5G connections will grow to 40 percent of all connections in Europe and 15 percent of all mobile connections worldwide by 2025. Below you can see how the usage of 5G technology will rise worldwide.
So what, exactly, is 5G, and what does it mean for mobile app development?
5G is not a modified version of 4G. The Fifth-Generation wireless cellular network (5G) is the newest radio technology that aims to strengthen mobile connectivity and improve the smartphone experience for users as a whole. 5G technology offers:
high-speed performance ( 5G is 100 times faster than 4G)
5G is 100 times faster low latency that allows delivering data in just a millisecond
new opportunities for building more realistic and complex AR/VR apps , streaming quality 4K-8K and 360 videos
complex AR/VR apps increased connectivity for up to a million devices
smoother video streaming by supporting high-resolution live streaming at a faster speed
supporting high-resolution live streaming secure mobile payment due to fast biometric data processing
As you can see, 5G opens up new opportunities for building more robust, high-performed, and secure mobile apps than they were before. So it really is no surprise that meeting the 5G standard is one of the most popular mobile technology trends.
#4 Voice technology
Voice technology has completely taken the world by storm, and it's not surprising that it's one of the most popular mobile app development trends in the near future. The global voice recognition market size was forecast to grow from $10.7 billion U.S. in 2020 to $27.16 billion U.S. by 2026. Well, what voice technology is and why is it so appealing?
Voice recognition refers to the ability of a specific device to receive and interpret spoken directives. Simply put, voice recognition technology enables people to use voice commands to operate devices and perform internet searches.
Today banking and finance businesses are already leveraging voice technology in their mobile apps. Now people can send payments via mobile personal voice assistants. A vivid example is the Garanti Bank’s voice-driven mobile banking. Garanti implemented a virtual assistant that enables customers to perform banking transactions by voice. Thus, users can transfer money and make purchases by speaking the name of a company or a person.
The retail industry can benefit from voice technology too. Carrefour is a retailer that is integrated with Google Assistant to provide a voice-activated grocery shopping service. Carrefour customers tie their account with a Google assistant and add items to their shopping list just by dictating the required products (milk, bread, spaghetti). Then the list is converted into a cart of products, and customers confirm their shopping cart and make payments. The checkout and payment experience are voice-based too.
As you can see, voice technology provides excellent benefits and holds tremendous promise for mobile apps right now.
#5 AR & VR technology
Augmented and virtual reality has proven to be one of the best innovations opening up new opportunities for businesses from various industries. AR & VR development are the latest trends in mobile app development this year.
According to Statista, the global AR and VR market will reach $296.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2024.
And this considerable growth in demand is for a good reason. AR and VR offer great benefits for businesses, such as:
making the customer experience more efficient and comfortable
increased sales due to this technology allows consumers to try many products virtually, encouraging people to buy more often
improved communication and collaboration by creating a shared space simultaneously
comprehensive analytics to better understand consumer behavior to promote the company's products more effectively
Both VR and AR technologies are beneficial for businesses in various industries. For example, retail is already leveraging this cutting-edge technology. Thus, the Nike app enables users to scan their feet and get hyper-accurate sizing recommendations. Thanks to this feature, online shoppers are not afraid to mistake the size and safely buy shoes online.
One more use case is advertising and marketing. For example, the Onix team has created an AR mobile app to enhance our promotional materials. Onix AR mobile app reveals vivid details of our printed booklets, allowing us to tell the company’s exciting story in a corresponding format. The users simply point their mobile device at a page - and it goes live.
Virtual and augmented reality is one of the growing application development trends this year. This technology is already transforming how people work and interact with customers, colleagues, and the world, and it will not stop. AR and VR will be increasingly used in gaming, real estate, travel, healthcare, education, entertainment, and many other industries. So, if you're thinking of diving into augmented or virtual reality, it's a perfect time.
#6 P2P mobile apps
Peer-to-peer mobile apps are another mobile app development trend that will shape the industry in 2022. Based on eMarketer data, the value of P2P mobile transactions will grow up to $612.23 billion by 2023.
P2P payment apps like PayPal or Venmo allow users to transfer money from one person to other people from their cards or bank accounts that are connected to the app. Using P2P payment apps, people can shop online, buy needed products or services, pay rent, transfer money to the required user, etc.
There are different types of P2P mobile apps that we can observe in 2022. Among them are:
Mobile OS systems with built-in payment systems like Apple Pay or Android Pay
Social media platforms with built-in payment features allow users to make payments without leaving an app, for example, WeChat
Standalone vendors who have their own payment system, such as PayPal
Bank-based apps where the bank is one of the third parties that perform transactions, for example, Zelle
Here are some impressive numbers that show you the prospect and demand for P2P payment applications.
Building their own P2P payment apps helps businesses hold cross-border transactions and reach a broader range of customers, enhance customer trust and engagement, and avoid intermediaries who charge expensive services. Moreover, it's expected that some companies will expand payment options for their customers by implementing technologies such as blockchain and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
#7 Great focus on mobile app security
According to Check Point Software’s Mobile Security Report 2021, almost every organization globally experienced a mobile malware attack during the past year. Thus,
97% of companies in 2020 dealt with mobile threats that used multiple attack vectors
46% of companies had at least one staff download a malicious mobile app
At least 40% of the world’s mobile devices are inherently vulnerable to cyberattacks
Since the number of cyber attacks is increasing every year, cybersecurity is a priority concern. Fortunately, there are various ways to provide the highest level of app security. Here are some of them:
Data encryption to encode sensitive data into code that prevents any fraud
Two-factor authentication via fingerprint, face integration, voice recognition, or a password for one-time use
Restricted access means only the authorized workers have access to the clients' data
Data tokenization implies a random line of symbols to replace sensitive data
Reliable data backup to prevent the loss of information during some operations with data
Regular penetration testing to ensure a high level of protection and avoid security problems in the future
Just one security issue can ruin your reputation, and your users will soon leave. Don't risk users' private data and your reputation, but rather, take reliable protective measures. Before starting mobile app development, make sure your team has vast experience building reliable solutions
#8 mCommerce growth
Mobile commerce has seen a remarkable boost in the past several years, and in 2022 it will continue to gain momentum. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a significant lifestyle shift in how people shop, and that mobile commerce tendency will continue. According to Allied Market Research, the global Mobile Payment market size was valued at $1.48 trillion in 2019 and is projected to reach $12.06 trillion by 2027.
Today, people spend more time on their smartphones, and accordingly, mobile commerce is becoming more and more popular. mCommerce makes the shopping and payment experience more smooth and convenient, allowing people to buy online anywhere and anytime just by using their mobile device.
Below you can consider the most interesting facts and stats to power your business going forward.
As you can see, the demand for mCommerce is exceptionally high. So to survive this cut-throat competition, every company, from large retailers to small businesses, should adapt their businesses to this mobile commerce trend.
Final words
On the whole, 2022 will be another exciting year for new technology trends in the mobile app development industry. Would you like to empower your business with a progressive mobile app solution? Or do you want to enhance your existing mobile app solution with emerging technology?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us and share your idea. Our expert will gladly assist you in building a top-tier mobile app solution that will take your company to the next level!
Tagged: