During the global pandemic lockdowns, shuttered stores, and shelter-in-place caused millions of people to turn to their phones for connection and convenience. App usage increased by 20% during the pandemic. Q1 2020 saw the largest consumer spending ever in app stores.
This blog post looks at some post-pandemic trends for mobile app development in 2023. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just getting started, these trends will help you stay ahead of the curve.
Smart Phones as Hub for Life and Business
The pandemic accelerated people's use of mobile phones to run their lives and businesses. Restrictions on movement and in-person interactions spurred more people and businesses to adopt mobile-first approaches.
Apps enhance mobile devices and make smartphones indispensable in our fast-paced, ever-changing world. The pandemic also showed that mobile devices could be a lifeline when we need to stay connected but physically apart.
Apps enhance mobile devices and make smartphones indispensable in our fast-paced, ever-changing world. Share on XIndustry Trends Driving Growth in Mobile App Adoption
One of the most notable changes since the pandemic is more people are relying on mobile apps to stay connected and productive. Here are a few sectors that experts expect to see the most significant growth in mobile app adoption in the coming years.
Healthcare and Wellness Apps
The healthcare industry is adopting mobile apps to improve patient care and communication. Fitness and wellness apps are blurring the line between patient and consumer end users as more people actively monitor their health vitals.
IQVIA, a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry, reports that more than 318,000 health apps are currently available. A national survey found that 65 percent of smartphone users use health apps daily.
With the rise of telemedicine, patients may now consult with their doctors from anywhere, at any time. B2C wearable fitness gadgets use apps to interface with cloud data, healthcare providers, and even social media.
Mobile apps can track vital signs, schedule appointments, and automate prescription refills. With healthcare services' continued expansion into the digital realm, mobile apps will continue to be the bridge for communication and data transfer.
Education and Learning Apps
During the pandemic, the classroom shifted to virtual learning almost overnight. While many students are returning to in-person classes, apps are increasingly popular in the education sector. Today, students can access learning content anywhere.
Some experts forecast that the global education app market size will reach USD 101,330 million by 2028, from USD 37,780 million in 2021, with a CAGR of 15.0% from 2022-2028.
Apart from B2C apps targeting the student audience, educational institutions are also experimenting with apps. Many schools and universities now use mobile apps to deliver course materials and communicate with students.
As remote and hybrid work styles map onto the student's experience, their desire for flexibility in education will spur additional demand for learning apps and resources to help remote learning.
Retail and Shopping Apps
The retail sector was one of the first to adopt mobile apps to engage customers. Apps like Amazon and Walmart bring the superstore experience and selection to your phone screen.
The demise of physical malls was already a trend before COVID-19. Now, with ongoing problems in the supply chain and more consumer awareness around sustainability, smaller brands' apps can offer consumers unique shopping alternative choices. Think with Google reports that people use 50% of shopping apps installed on their smartphones at least weekly.
This chart shows the biggest retail apps.
Finally, apps also provide businesses with valuable access to consumers. Savvy retailers use mobile apps to offer loyalty programs, discounts, and coupons. Repeat customers are the holy grail of retail ROI, so smart retailers will continue to improve the app experience for their best customers.
B2B Productivity and Remote Team Apps
With the rise of remote work and digital tools, teams are collaborating online more than ever. As the workplace continues to evolve, so do the apps that support team productivity.
While every team and company is different, here are some considerations for apps focusing on teams and team productivity:
- Cross Channel Comms - Apps need to support a variety of communication and collaboration channels. This includes everything from messaging and video conferencing to task management and file sharing.
- Device and Platform Agnostic - Apps must be accessible from any device, anytime, anywhere. This ensures that team members can stay connected and productive even on the go.
- Data Security - Teams sharing sensitive information via these apps must follow all best practices for data security and privacy.
Apps that are focused on teams and team productivity need to be robust and comprehensive to meet the needs of today's modern workplace.
Moving Ahead
Healthcare, education, retail, and B2B productivity are four huge industry sectors with room for app growth. Do you see an opportunity in any of these areas for your business?
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If your business needs an app, or you have not updated your app recently, would your team benefit from fresh eyes on the project without needing to hire another full-time programmer?
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