5 Software Development Trends to Look Out For in 2021

The year 2020 proved to be disruptive. Businesses and institutions were forced to accelerate their technology roadmaps as the world shifted increasingly into digital operations. The shifting trends reflected the essential role of software development in the sustainability and adaptability of businesses. Now more than ever, it’s essential to keep an eye out for new opportunities.

Here are the software development trends to watch out for in 2021.

Mobile commerce

At the onset of the pandemic, we saw more people using mobile apps for shopping and delivery services. But exciting as it sounds to business owners looking at app development to increase their customer engagement, there is a recurring problem that exists. A curated study made by Barilliance indicated that the abandoned cart rate for mobile retail apps is a staggering 85.65% — a worrisome figure for retailers.

Experts saw that some eCommerce shops still weren’t optimized for mobile, causing slow loading time, unresponsive pages, and annoying pop-ups. This major concern will be the key focus of retail app developers moving forward, especially when more digital buyers are expected to use their smartphones to conveniently shop.

In our recent post, we spoke about the right process in developing a mobile app that is highly personal and designed for the user’s utmost convenience.

Smart healthcare

Mobile health or mHealth is one of the world’s fastest-growing areas of investment. In the US, 44% of consumers track an aspect of their health using digital tools. You’ll find hundreds of thousands of health apps on Google Play and App Store, with new users making around five million downloads every day.

Mobile apps and connected medical devices are increasingly being used to support patient self-management, bolster communications between patients and medical practitioners, and encourage people to be proactive in their treatment. Industry experts expect mobile apps to become an integral part of standard treatment protocols and preventative care by 2030. Adoption of mHealth is expected to improve the quality of care, reduce costs, and keep patients engaged.

Although rapidly growing, the mHealth marketplace remains volatile. In 2016, only 2% of patients in leading US medical institutions downloaded the hospital-recommended app. The primary reason for the slow adoption is that these apps don’t provide the functions patients seek, such as booking and canceling appointments and requesting drug prescription refills.

However, the landscape is changing thanks to thorough research on user experience and engagement. mHealth companies are looking to create apps that are personalized and gamified. Consumer demands and a stronger regulatory climate are also expected to improve mHealth security.

Cloud-based development

Unexpected events in 2020 have altered most of the 2021 technology predictions, with more focus shifted to helping people survive in the changing times. Cloud computing has proven to be particularly relevant. It’s the backbone of the data-driven tech ecosystem that has played a vital role in managing the changes. Cloud services have revolutionized home delivery, contact tracing, remote work, and eHealth.

Cloud management platform (CMP) solutions make it easier to manage apps and services across multiple cloud environments. Increased use of 5G in the coming years will further strengthen cloud-based development, with the computing market size reaching $623.3 billion by 2023.

FinTech

COVID-19 caused a massive disruption in the business landscape. Only a few industries experienced growth in the pandemic-hit world. FinTech was one of them, with more and more consumers and businesses relying on contactless payment methods. New research by the deVere Group revealed a 72% rise in FinTech apps usage in Europe. 67% claim they will continue to use FinTech solutions after the pandemic is over.

The FinTech industry is expected to keep feeding the trend with user-friendly and secure platforms. This quest will further drive innovation, paving the way for massive changes in 2021.

Flutter application development

Flutter is an open-source framework that lets developers create Android and iOS applications using a single codebase. Launched by Google in 2017, the platform gained popularity in 2020 when top mobile app development companies showed a preference for it. The cross-platform framework also makes Flutter ideal for creating Minimum Viable Products or MVPs. Industry experts expect Flutter to stay trendy in 2021, pointing to its exclusive benefits and functionality.

The chaos that is 2020 offers a ladder to success any new player can climb. Ride the 2021 trends with your own innovation. Allow our development team to turn your ideas into reality.