There’s no doubt that the software industry changes and evolves rapidly, but it can be hard to keep track of the many new developments. To stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to follow emerging trends in software development, as well as how these trends may develop over time in order to better understand how they can best be applied in your business. Here are the top 10 software development trends you need to know about as you prepare for 2023 and beyond.

The Top 10 Software Development Trends You Need to Know for 2023

1) Voice Search

Voice search is one of the newest innovations in software development, and it’s already making waves with developers and consumers. A long time back, Google enabled voice search in their mobile app. That number is expected to grow significantly this year as more and more people buy smartphones and the market become more developed. The company predicts that by 2023 half of searches will be conducted using voice commands, which leaves plenty of room for the top ten trends below. 

Many experts predict that there will be an increase in a chat-like user interface between companies and customers. Apple recently acquired an AI startup called Emotient, which specializes in facial recognition technology – they want you to interact with your phone like you would a person. In many cases, you’ll simply hold up your phone to look at something or scan a product’s barcode and get real-time information about its price, quality, etc., without ever having to type anything into your device.

2. Extended Reality (XR)

Extended Reality (XR) will significantly impact how we interact with and understand software development in the future. Companies are looking at the technology to see if it can be used for everything from general visualization of a product’s manufacturing process or turning over data streams into 3D renderings. Once this type of VR is perfected, we could have an unprecedented understanding and awareness of what’s happening on our phones, tablets, and computers.

3. Low-Code or No-Code Platforms

Low-Code or No-Code Platforms are also on the rise due to a need to cut costs and increase efficiency. These platforms work by allowing non-programmers or inexperienced programmers (those with limited coding experience) to create prototypes of software applications without any coding skills or expertise. Furthermore, low-code platforms allow those who do have some programming skills to code more efficiently to build enterprise-level applications

This approach is advantageous because it removes the bottleneck between designers and developers; designers can now move from sketches into working products that can be tested, discussed, and modified in real-time, enabling them to iterate their designs much faster than ever before. In fact, Microsoft found that 60% of design teams’ primary complaint was not being able to get their ideas translated into functional prototypes quickly enough because they were waiting for back-end developers. By implementing low-code solutions, these design teams could speed up the process while saving time and money.

4. Artificial Intelligence

The software development industry has recently been saturated with chatbots and virtual assistants. This trend will only continue shortly. These digital helpers use artificial intelligence to interact with users and make their lives easier by performing tasks such as booking meetings or answering basic questions about a company’s services. 

The CEO of Rethink Robotics, Rodney Brooks, predicts that we will soon see robots doing many things on our behalf that are physically dangerous, repetitious, or both. For example, he suggests using them to disarm bombs or navigate deep-sea explorations. Currently, these predictions are more science fiction than reality – but someday soon, it may be difficult for us humans not to take advantage of these AI innovations!

5. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is an up-and-coming technology that could redefine business and enterprise management by decentralizing many of the services, such as IT infrastructure. However, several potential challenges can impact the future of blockchain technology and keep it from taking off in the near future.  

First, blockchain tech is new and evolving at a rapid pace. As with any new technology, you may have some initial problems figuring out how to use it. 

Second, right now, this decentralized system relies on an Internet connection; therefore, if the Internet goes down or a country restricts access to certain websites or content through its borders, then all bets are off with regards to what happens next with blockchain tech because you’ll be unable to reach those servers which would require centralization again. 

The good news? There’s plenty of research being done on these issues that could eventually lead us into a more successful future with this technology!

6. Wearable Tech

Wearable technology is the next stage of personal computing, encompassing everything from fitness trackers to smart glasses. The wearable tech industry has been booming over the past year, with companies like Jawbone and Google releasing their wearables to much fanfare. According, IDC forecasts that wearable hardware will experience continual growth at an average annual rate of more than 68%.

7. WebRTC

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is an HTML5 technology used by most of the top 100 Internet companies, including Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft. WebRTC so powerful because it was designed with the Internet in mind. Using a protocol called SDP (Session Description Protocol), WebRTC connects people on desktops or mobile devices using just a normal web browser (Chrome, Safari or Firefox) and no download. No other software is needed!

8. Browser-Based Applications

Mobile development is rising, and more businesses are opting for browser-based applications (BBA). These allow you to develop, test, deploy, and monitor from one browser. This makes it ideal for large enterprises with complex systems and small businesses that just want a simple app. Browser-Based Applications make up the top software development trends in 2023 because of the rise in mobile technology, increasing business sophistication needs, and companies’ overall growth worldwide.

9. Web 3.0

If you want your business to stay ahead of the game in software development, there are a few Web 3.0 trends that you should know about. Websites will be smarter and better able to predict our needs. Videos will become interactive and feel more like movies than TV broadcasts. 

Games will get much more immersive, making them fun and less simple. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have already integrated many Web 3.0 features into their products and will only become smarter with time. As new technologies enter the marketplace, it’s important for developers to keep up with them and know how they can apply them to benefit businesses today.

10. Microservices and Serverless Computing

Microservices and serverless computing allow developers to code smaller modules that can then be reused across many different projects. Additionally, microservices can be scaled independently, saving resources when it comes time for scaling out. However, the downside is that microservices are harder to debug because there are many more moving parts.

Conclusion

Developing software can be expensive, but the cost and time it takes to find the right team vary depending on many factors. For instance, if you have a clear idea of your needs and have the budget to match them, you can hire the necessary professionals from scratch. When looking for a software development company in the UK or any other part of Europe, keep these ten trends in mind and ensure you find one with experience in your field to save money and maintain efficiency.