Top Android App Development Trends to Look Out in 2021

Mobile application development is mushrooming exponentially. With the increasing affordability of smartphones and the rapid digitization of developing economies – this domain has been on an upward trajectory ever since. Another mainstay for this sudden rise has been the pandemic.

However, some organizations haven’t been able to move with the tide of the times. In today’s dynamic and ever-evolving environment, it is not just enough to have a mobile presence. Apps that gained popularity in 2020 may not possess enough potential to be successful in 2021. Hence, it’s critical to implement the latest trends into your mobile app development strategy to guarantee success.

1. Instant Apps

Instant apps allow Android users to use an app without downloading or installing it through the app store. They are convenient and simple to use as a website and are accessible directly from the cloud. These apps don’t take up extra space and are ideal for e-commerce businesses to reach out to a larger audience. For instance, if you do not have an e-commerce app installed on your phone and you search for a product on Google, you can be deep-linked into an app’s product page for that item. Only codes for that page will be downloaded so you can enter the app, complete the purchase and leave the app without uninstalling it. Additionally, Instant apps can only work for apps published on Play Store and can be used on devices with Jellybean OS (2013) and above.

2. 5G Technology

The era of 5G is here! The next decade is going to be the 5G decade. As compared to its predecessors, 5G is a major upgrade in terms of performance and speed. Nevertheless, 5G is more than just speed and lower latency, it opens the door for greater possibilities through your mobile app. For instance, you can turn photo-centric UI designs into Video-centric or even AR-centric UI designs. There are many ways in which 5G capabilities can make your app dynamic and more effective. Thus to users’ expectations, it is crucial to enhance your app with 5G capabilities.

3. Beacon Technology

Beacons are small transmitters that use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to send signals to other nearby devices. Beacon technology has been around for the past few years and expected to surpass $25 billion by 2025. They are one of the most useful tools for proximity marketing. There are many benefits of Beacon technology such as improved online attribution with Google Ads, out-of-store marketing, advanced data gathering, and more. Beacon technology is expected to gain immense popularity in 2021 as more businesses are embracing its potential for their operations. Therefore, it’s critical to leverage Beacon technology in your application to stay ahead of the curve.

4. AR and VR Technologies

AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) are at the helm of the innovation trends that are most likely to disrupt app development in 2021. Earlier they were largely employed in gaming applications to provide a seamless and immersive experience. But now, they’re at the forefront in areas such as retail, real estate, media, and advertisements.

Even big tech companies such as Google and Apple are launching new products and services based on these technologies. In particular, Google is about to launch a new AR feature in Maps which would provide users with direction using their phone cameras.

5. Chatbots

Chatbot has changed consumer experience with customer service. A chatbot is an AI software that is employed on apps and websites to simulate a conversation with a user using natural language processing or NLP. This technology is changing the way businesses interact with their customers and resolve their problems. On-demand services, food delivery, e-commerce, retail are some of the industries which are embracing the potential of chatbots. It automates the process of answering customer queries promptly and accurately which saves human resources to be focused on other important areas for improvement. As businesses are extensively relying on chatbots, the upcoming year will witness a heavy demand for chatbots.

6. Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The global ML industry is growing at a CAGR of 42% which put in numbers will equal to $9 billion by the end of 2022.

AI and ML have been at the forefront of these changes for almost half a decade now, but there’s no stopping the fact that their impact would constantly increase. One illustration of their impact can be witnessed through Faceapp, an app through which a user can add filters to a photo to see what they would look like when they are older, or younger. As of Oct 2019, this app’s total revenue touched $1 million. With the combination of Deep Learning and ML, one can provide valuable data and real-time analytics to your mobile app development project.

7. Android Jetpack

Android Jetpack is a set of guidelines, tools, and libraries that allows developers to build attractive and advanced apps. It reduces complexity in regular Android app development with the help of tools and features. It is offered by Google with a structured document which makes it easy and convenient to get started with the tool. Behaviour, UI, Architecture, and Foundation are the prime elements of Android Jetpack. Since it makes the development process easier and faster for developers, it is one of the most growing Android development trends in 2021.

8. Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin provides developers with a helpful feature called Multi Platform which can be used as a replacement for Flutter. It is a new feature accessible in Kotlin 1.2 and 1.3 and predicted to gain huge popularity and acceptance in upcoming years. With Kotlin Multi Platform capability, you can share codes across different platforms. It supports systems and technologies such as Mac, Windows, Linux, JVM, JavaScript, iOS, Android, and embedded systems like STM32. It is helpful for developers as it speeds up the development process and saves time to be utilized in more difficult tasks.

9. On-demand Apps

Areas like healthcare, grocery, beauty, retail, food delivery, and others are embracing the potential of on-demand apps to provide better services for their customers. These apps help in performing daily tasks rapidly and comfortably, service providers can use the location of users and provide the needed services. Clients can receive instant services with ease and comfort using these on-demand apps. On-demand application is a growing development trend island expected to lead the Android app development in 2021.

10. Cloud-based Android apps

A cloud-based Android app is a solution for reducing the burden of heavy data loading. These apps play a significant role in keeping a large amount of data securely and without using phone memory. It is easy for users to access data using cloud-based mobile apps. Android developers are turning towards cloud-based apps for their flexibility, cost efficiency, mobility, and more.

Conclusion

Businesses can seize the opportunity and make the best use of their mobile apps by Being acquainted with the latest mobile app development trends. It is essential to evaluate the actual requirement for your app before implementing new features and technologies. In addition, it is equally important to consider several factors such as budget, business requirements, technical expertise, infrastructure, etc before making any change to your digital product.

To sum up, don’t wait for too much and embrace the change in technology with open arms.

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