7 Mobile App Development Trends Leading the Industry in 2024

Staying tuned to the latest mobile app development trends can help businesses gain tangible benefits. A clear understanding of where the IT industry is headed lets you create viable applications that drive user engagement and retention.

Implementing some or all of the trends that suit your business allows you to adapt to changing consumer behaviour and fulfil demands seamlessly. A mobile app development agency capitalises on the latest technology trends to build up-to-date mobile applications that drive mobile commerce business goals.

This blog explores the best mobile app industry trends and app development practices that can fine-tune user experiences and ultimately deliver on ambitious digital objectives.

The Most Important App Development Trends

1. AI and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are potent technologies that help to deliver personalised experiences, automate key tasks, and streamline operations. The role of AI in web development and app solutions can be seen in the form of chatbots, facial recognition, voice search optimisation, etc.

Overall, these technologies allow mobile app developers to create applications that adapt to user behaviour and also encourage intuitiveness and efficiency. AI and machine learning fuel new and innovative possibilities in the mobile app industry.

Standard features of AI for mobile app users include:

• Image recognition for organising photos into folders or as app lock security
• Communication in different languages with real-time translation features
• Personalised virtual assistants

2. User-Friendly App Designs

At the start of app development technology, there were various formats for launching user interface designs of mobile apps. Nowadays, while app developers can experiment with various off-the-shelf layouts, the priority should be delivering user-friendly, optimal designs. Most companies want to launch apps with familiar UI designs that have a standard interface for manoeuvring tabs and options.

Easy-to-navigate design is one of the key trends in the mobile app development market. It helps to create apps that are simple to use for people of all ages and technical and digital competence, which further optimises the retention rate of consumers who shop from a brand with a mobile application.

Features to consider in app development that make a mobile application user-friendly:

• Intuitive navigation across different app pages
• Personalisation based on demographic, contextual, and behavioural targeting
• Screen-responsive user interfaces
• Capability to synchronise data across several devices
• Review function that lets people rate and post feedback

3. Low Code & No-Code Development Platforms

Low-code and no-code platforms are among the most noticeable trends in the mobile app development industry. They provide businesses and app developers with greater agility and cost-effectiveness in the development process.

Both are valuable platform options that allow people with zero to little technical knowledge to build functional apps. No-code relies upon pre-built components that eliminate the need to write code. Similarly, low code is based on using visual interfaces for building apps.

People who are experts on using these platforms are often called citizen developers, and they can resolve simple bottlenecks in development projects. Similar technology also involves building PWAs or progressive web app development solutions, which can function like mobile apps.

Low and no-code app development use cases are:

• For prototyping the germ of an idea quickly
• Designing MVPs (minimum viable products)
• Streamlining business operations
• Designing customer-centric apps

4. Voice User Interfaces

Voice user interfaces are becoming more popular as people of all age groups continue to adopt this relatively new technology. A survey indicates that 46% of users prefer Alexa, 26% use Siri, and 24% find the Google Assistant helpful. The infographic below provides insights.

There are various advantages to making voice-enabled mobile apps, as they can enhance accessibility and innovation. People can interact with your brand in novel, engaging ways, and it also allows an app to be more inclusive.

The standard use cases of smart assistants like Siri and Alexa can help businesses broaden their customer base efficiently.

5. 5G Technology

Since the rollout of 5G technology, people have been hooked on faster data speeds and strong internet connections. This latest technology allows businesses to empower users with quick-loading mobile apps and highly interactive design elements and immersive user experiences as well as instant purchases using mobile payments.

It also facilitates the rise of real-time mobile apps, streaming high-definition video, supporting online gaming platforms, and more. Organisations can build apps with large-scale IoT deployments as the technology facilitates greater flexibility in delivering content.

Additionally, the technology opens up various frontiers in healthcare (remote surgery), industrial automation (precise real-time control), and virtual reality solutions. However, while making apps that depend upon 5G, it is advisable to be mindful of the data consumption in real-time and the location of the target audience.

For example, nearly 91 per cent of Scotland’s rural areas lack 5G spots, which can be problematic for users. So, you must determine whether the users have viable access to 5G connections before proceeding with mobile application development projects based solely on it.

6. Cross-Platform Mobile Apps

Cross-platform mobile app trends allow companies to save time and money while launching apps to a large number of users. Companies can build apps that run on iOS and Android with the same codebase using technologies like Flutter or React Native.

Additionally, cross-platform development solutions ensure faster time-to-market ideas and reduced costs and ultimately provides an app reach to a wider audience faster. The latest updates allow companies to launch native-like performance with cross-platform solutions for mobile devices whether owned by iOS or Android users.

Successful cross-platform mobile apps include the likes of Google Pay, Google Ads, Instagram, etc.   You can use it for mobile commerce apps and various other types of solutions.

7. Tightened Security Measures

One noticeable mobile app development trend is promoting security protocols that protect sensitive user data and prevent various forms of data breaches. The standard approach includes deploying encryption methods, password hashing, biometric encryption, best coding practices, and more.

Following various industry-standard regulations like GDPR in Europe and similar laws worldwide is crucial for launching highly-secure mobile apps. Different industries are also entrusting technologies like Blockchain and two-factor authentication to design apps that prioritise user data and mobile app security.

Mobile App Development Trends: Wrapping Up

Mobile app development trends are characterised by rapid technological advances and shifting user expectations. Building mobile apps with these trending technologies involves intensive competitive and audience research.

At chilliapple, an established UK app development agency, we can identify the best technology trends based on your business and industry, geolocations, target audience, and many other important factors that will ensure your mobile app if fit for your customers, your objectives and the future. We can help you build powerful apps that boost ROI with a bespoke mobile app development strategy.