Mobile phones have become a part of our daily lives in such a way that life without them is unimaginable. Everywhere you go, you find people scrolling their screens for the latest social media updates, traditional SMS, emails, news, and videos among other things. Mobile owners above 25 years use their smartphones about 265 times in one day. Those between 15 and 24 years old use their phones 390 times a day.
The statistics are a clear indication of why mobile solutions developers in Kenya are keen on following the latest trends. New innovative ideas emerge every year as mobile app developers try to give users the best experience possible on their devices. The following trends have dominated this field in 2018 and will continue in the coming years.
1. Accelerated Mobile Pages
The best smartphones have a large storage capacity, which enables users to download many apps for different purposes. At the same time, phone users have multiple choices of apps for the same tasks. Accelerated Mobile Pages improve the load time of web pages.
Google introduced AMP to help app owners improve their conversion rates, bounce rates, user experience, and search engine ranking. If you are still struggling to keep your users engaged on our mobile app, consider this innovative trend.
2. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Both augmented and virtual reality became popular in 2017, especially after the introduction of the Pokemon Go and Samsung Gear VR. The trend has continued in 2018 as developers implement the same on other game apps. Users have a great experience in the three-dimensional world right from their mobile phone screens. The technology is likely to spread from gaming apps to other types of mobile apps.
3. Mobile payments
Mobile payments are not a new trend in Kenya but the rest of the world is finally catching up with the technology. However, mobile solutions developers in Kenya now face the challenge of integrating mobile payments into apps. For businesses that sell products or services through their apps, their customers should pay conveniently on the same platforms.
Few buyers are willing to carry cash around when they can easily pay for goods and services on their phones. Apps like Android Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet have simplified e-commerce for business owners.
4. Cloud-based apps
Cloud computing has been around for a while but it has taken a new shape in mobile app development. One major thing that mobile phone owners complain about is the limited internal memory. Cloud-based apps enable phone users to download as many apps as they need without worrying about internal memory.
5. On-demand apps
The apps became popular towards the end of the year 2017 and continued to dominate the market this year. On-demand apps enable users to order goods and services at any time and from any location. The apps have been utilized for renting houses, taxi services, food delivery, and car cleaning among other products.
In Kenya, Uber and Taxify are among the most popular on-demand apps. Android and iOS developers in Kenya are adopting the same technology to create customized apps for the Kenyan market. Clients do not need to call service providers if they can order and pay for services directly from an app.
6. Blockchain
Blockchain has become popular as the world shifts its attention to cryptocurrencies as a viable investment option. The banking sector and government firms have adopted this technology in app development more than other sectors. The technology enables users to manage financial transactions, contracts, and assets easily. Blockchain technology is not limited to financial management but has spread to other categories of online transactions.
7. Instant app
Here is another trend that mobile solutions developers in Kenya must keep up with to remain competitive. Many times mobile phone users download an app for a specific task or transaction. The app becomes useless after the task. In other instances, users need only one aspect or function of an app.
Instant apps enable users to use portions or specific features on an app without downloading and installing it on their phones. Users can view the content of an app when they need it without installing it. The New York Times led the tech world in utilizing instant apps by allowing users to access its crossword without installing the full app.
8. Improved app security
As phone users continue to adopt mobile payments, security becomes a top consideration when choosing apps. Our heavy reliance on mobile phones for virtually all activities demands that we protect personal data and information. Mobile app developers are using security as a major feature to attract users.
It may be impossible to market an app in the future without assuring users of reliable security features. While it is impossible to guarantee 100% security, users need assurance that the app owners care about their privacy and security.
9. Wearable Apps
Wearable technology was first introduced in sports and fitness markets in the form of devices. The same technology has been adopted in apps that help users analyze certain health aspects. In addition to tracking fitness activities, users can analyze their calorie count, walking patterns, and quality of sleep. The increase in the number of lifestyle diseases has led to an increased demand for wearable apps.
10. The Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT refers to a network of objects, which are referred to as “things.” The physical objects are embedded with sensors, programs or software, electronics, and network connectivity. The object can collect and share data depending on the embedded elements without human interaction. The technology has just begun but statistics show that the IoT will explode in the coming years.
Mobile app development evolves as developers compete to give users easy-to-use and fast mobile solutions. Mobile solutions developers in Kenya must keep up with development trends given the high competition from thousands of apps. Innovative ideas in app development help business owners differentiate their apps and improve their conversion rates. If your business is still using a generic app design, it is time to consider these trends to get more downloads and enhance the user experience.
