Rethinking 2020, we define eight app development trends that may help companies engage more users and increase the loyalty of the present ones. Some might use it to update current products, others might embed the advice in their forthcoming apps.
1- Build an accessible product
People with disabilities make 15% of the world’s population. Being closed at home they need wider online inclusiveness. So you will extend your target market by adding specific features, making your product accessible for them as well.
Example: provide the context to hyperlinks, so that users are aware of what they get by clicking on them. It helps to navigate your website using a screen reader.
Make video content (+online events) with translation for the deaf.
About 9% of the population is over 65 years. They also quite involved in digital life:
Source: Simform.
So that if you have a wide target market you’ll only win by adding tech decisions that extend the abilities of the elderly.
Example: voice assistant embedded in your product can help them understand new technologies and be involved in the new reality.
Moreover, it might save them from loneliness. Memory Lane helps old people to record their memories. The team is even planning to make a podcast out of the stories for younger citizens to listen to.
Also taking into account the needs of minorities, you can get not only them as users, but even more users belonging to the majority, because they will see that you do care.
2- People are tired of screens and overwhelming content
Think about minimalistic app design trends (even for complex systems) and other content (texts, videos, images for social media). Users will thank you for calm colors, static images, relaxing sounds, and smooth motions.
Example: History of art, or unusual but minimalistic animation, or set of minimalistic websites, or our works on Behance and Dribble.
Implement real-world experiences.
Example: More and more internet users start using Google Lens and Pinterest Lens. Now people search for things using image recognition services.
3- Make them feel secure within your product
More users store their data online, so hacker attacks are increasing. Users choose to pass up on apps that seem insecure.
Businesses should move forward to wider transparency as well as tech (as part of product design) and legal preparedness.
Example: with each new update Apple adds new technical privacy features to their products.
4- Product socialization
Since people communicate mostly online they should be able to share, comment, chat with like-minded people. It’s all about making a community within your product.
In addition, 83% of people worldwide think that companies should use their social channels to create a sense of community and support.
Example: Perfect Diary (Chinese beauty company) offers a virtual service representative to communicate with customers in closed WeChat groups.
5- More humans less robots in user interaction with an app
When people can’t reach your service offline they expect to receive full help online. They get disappointed and frustrated when they can’t reach real humans while buying something or looking for technical support.
Talking about online shops, 78% of prosumers and 59% of mainstream consumers prefer to have an easy way to connect with a human either through chat or video.
6- Less data usage by an app
In 2019 users had on average 40 downloaded apps, with millennials having the highest average point — 67.
At the same time, 37% of millennials name data usage as one of the key factors why they do not like the app.
Users have more and more apps on their phones, so your product should be light-weight enough not to be deleted.
Consider:
- embedding mechanism through which users can choose how and when your app loads the data;
- detecting unused code and resources;
- compressing images; etc.
7- Opportunity to work with your product without internet connection
People are hugely dependent on the internet so that when incidents happen they should be able to continue their work or communication within your product at least in some form.
Also, while talking about expanding your market, keep in mind those areas with the weaker internet connection. About 45% of households globally have no or limited internet connection.
Example: FoondaMate — WhatsApp chatbot for students in South Africa. Those regions often have limited internet connection, and the chatbot helps with «googling» answers, downloading study notes, etc.
8- Pay attention to mobile version of your product and website
The statistics what people dislike most in mobile versions of websites:
53% of all internet traffic comes from mobile devices. So, especially if you are working with the B2C segment (they most likely interact with your product using smartphones), your company should have a perfect mobile face.
Source: Super Office
9- Mental health features
Mindfulness helps people to deal with all the hardships of 2020. Following mobile app trends, users choose your product if it offers some elements that help to relax, to have a break, to feel the moment, to draw up better connections, and finally to be happy.
Example: Microsoft Team Communication Platform now has new features that help to boost mental health and create work/life balance. The company partnered with Headspace to bring meditations in your everyday routine. Also, users can set how they are feeling, which is helpful for interactions within the team; it can deepen connections with co-workers by regular one-on-one meetings, as well as help managers and leaders analyze the atmosphere in teams by using special features.
We are inviting you for a cup of coffee
If you need a development partner to realize some of the mentioned app trends, we are ready to discuss them over a virtual cup of coffee.
