Digital transformation (DX) will only pick up speed this year, as global spending on DX is projected to hit $1.8 trillion in 2022.
From widespread 5G deployment to the explosion of remote work, the world is demanding a digital transformation. Companies must embrace tech-enabled approaches to customer engagement, business management, and infrastructure. According to Gartner, 91% of organizations respond accordingly, investing in at least some form of digital initiative.
Not surprisingly, mobile apps often play an integral role in the success of DX. And given the number of projects Vog App Developers is working on, we have a good sense of how businesses invest in technology, software, and app development in their digital transformation journeys.
Here are four trends that will be big in 2022:
1. The explosion of on-demand services and on-demand apps
We are experiencing a massive uptick in client requests for on-demand apps. These requests are driven by the overarching on-demand or sharing economy set to be worth $335 billion by 2025.
Examples of on-demand apps include Uber or SkipTheDishes. They are applications that connect businesses or consumers with a service that meets an immediate need or connects people with others.
Here are some key features of on-demand economy applications:
- Convenience is enabled by having products delivered to customer doorsteps
- Contactless delivery manages pandemic concerns
- Built-in personalization is facilitated via touch points throughout the app
- Behavioral targeting helps to understand and meet the needs of app users
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2. A growing need for app rebuilds
Lately, we have had an influx of established enterprise clients approach us with an application or IT stack that has run its course and requires a rebuild.
Digital transformation’s pace of change is incredibly fast, and infrastructure or an app built years ago can be monolithic today. Even if updates have been made, at some point, it no longer makes sense to keep old, outdated IT infrastructure or apps running.
The great thing about rebuilds is that we already have a base platform to work with and learn from. With the old system as a framework, we can focus on building a roadmap for the app’s business case going forward.
We can begin the transition to the cloud and use microservices to transition without taking the business down. Microservices are a huge trend in app development and will continue to be in 2022.
3. Cryptocurrency is huge, but regulations could change trajectories
We see a lot of companies, especially financial startups, quickly adapt and move into the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) space. A blockchain substitute for traditional financial systems, DeFi is based on open-source technology that allows anyone to offer financial services online.
So if a company wants to build an app that provides alternative banking solutions for customers, DeFi products and services are accessible and not governed by centralized regulatory bodies.
Another related trend is when businesses simply want to offer the option to pay with cryptocurrency in their app rather than develop a complete DeFi solution.
While we’re certainly experiencing an increase in demand for DeFi and pay with crypto, we are also witnessing a slowdown in the growth of cryptocurrency exchanges. As governments implement new regulatory requirements, there will likely be a limit to the number of new exchanges that pop up.
If you’re looking to have crypto apps built, you’ll want to review both the technology needs and the regulatory environment.
4. The Metaverse is intriguing but won’t explode overnight
We get a lot of questions about the metaverse, primarily driven by hype and media attention around Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook).
The definition of the metaverse is still evolving, but as Wired describes it, “To a certain extent, talking about what ‘the metaverse’ means is a bit like discussing what ‘the internet’ means in the 1970s. The building blocks of a new form of communication were being built, but no one could know what the reality would look like.”
Meta envisions a new online platform powered by virtual and augmented reality. But this is just one company. Microsoft and Amazon also have their visions, as do hundreds of startups.
Meta will be making big bets on the metaverse, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about how its version of the metaverse will function or be monetized.
We will see increased interest in the metaverse in 2022, but approach cautiously as every company will have a different version of what it looks like. We’ve got some time to figure out how to build apps that fit into this new ecosystem and gauge how expansive and successful it actually turns out to be.
