Emerging Trends in Application Development
An application, used as an alternative for an application
program or application software, is a software program package designed and
developed for a specific function. An application is also developed to
supplement an existing application’s functionality. It generally constitutes
program(s) that generally simplify or entirely run an operation for the
end-user.
The process of designing and developing this
application/program/software is generally referred to as application
development. Application development has come a long way from building programs
for basic mathematical calculations to enabling solutions for complex
scientific equations thanks to the ever-growing power of computing and advanced
servers. Depending on the purpose, functionality, operational specificity, and extent
of capabilities, app development can be classified into the types listed below.
- ·Custom applications
- Rapid applications
- Mobile application
- Database application
- Web application
Trends in Application Development
Be it purpose-built applications or comprehensive tools used
for monitoring, analyzing, and assisting end-to-end business processes, the
capabilities of these applications have improved significantly and have become
diverse in nature. Knowing the trends in application development will allow
business users to build and choose the right type of application for their
requirements.
Low Code and No Code forms of app development are often discussed
in tech circles, however they are not well understood. If the
professional program sets were packed into pre-defined sets that can be
intuitively stitched together, programmers can use graphical tools and embedded
functionalities to quickly develop applications. This form is referred to as
Low Code. However, it still requires basic knowledge of program writing. Taking
this a step further, No Code does not require any programming and can be
instantly picked for deployment. Either form of development is well-suited for
business or common users that do not have technical knowledge but still want to
develop and deploy simple and quick solutions.
Applications for wearable tech are growing in demand as
a result of growing interest in enhanced mobility and fitness tracking. However,
wearables usage is not limited to these users. Pharmaceutical organizations and
clinical research organizations are increasingly vying for advanced
applications that can track bio-essentials with increased sensitivity and more
factors when used with wearable tech of improved standards. Especially in
clinical trial setups where access to viable subjects has become tough,
wearable tech is proving to be an answer to tracking and monitoring patients’
health conditions, remotely minimizing the need for mobility. These
applications must be approved by health authorities and be built in line with
additional standards such as HL7 and 21 CFR 11, or ones preferred by domestic
authorities.
IoT-enabled sensors can provide a lot of advantages
in industrial setups. They require an application that can connect them with
each other and let them communicate and share data progressively to enable a
smart factory. Smart factory
applications require customizations so that the sensors can be accessed and
monitored from various types of devices (i.e., smartphones, tabs, desktops). These
can be enterprise resource planning software or a simple interface that is used
to monitor. While generic apps for this only offer monitoring capabilities, on
an ERP level, the applications can also be used to analyze and gain deeper
insights into the process.
Virtual reality and augmented reality are perhaps the
most advanced tools that can be leveraged in various industries. E-Commerce,
healthcare, logistics, and many other industries can actively leverage AR/VR
applications. E-Commerce companies can provide a more interactive experience
with the products allowing customers to make informed buying decisions. The healthcare
industry can leverage AR/VR tools to train nurses and physicians and treat mental
health patients saving resources and time. Metaverse is a booming example of
how effectively AR/VR can be leveraged. Mixed reality, a version of AR offers a
lot of advantages and different streams for the media and advertising
industries.
Never rush into picking an application for solving your
business challenge. It is always best to compare the business requirement with
the capabilities of the application at hand and deploy pre-built applications,
or design/develop tools leveraging advanced algorithms and programming
capabilities such as AI/ML, blockchain, etc. Can the current application in use
withstand the emerging needs of business and scale up? Are you planning on
deploying/building a tool to improve the efficiency of a business process? Consult with a professional
to choose or build the best model and mode of deployment.
