According to a recent Gartner survey, enterprise-level mobile app development is sluggish. However, businesses are still planning to undertake mobile app development, even if they aren’t always following through. The fact is, though, that a number of trends are going to drive the need for faster enterprise mobile app adoption.
What top features must a mobile app developer incorporate to fuel explosive growth? Here’s our top five list, beginning with number five:
5. Get onto the Cloud
Mick Jagger had it all wrong. Today, the lyric isn’t “Hey, you get off my cloud” but the exact opposite. According to Statista, 90 percent of mobile app streaming (i.e., video and audio streaming, online gaming, social networking, web browsing and online storage) will be cloud-based by 2019. This represents a compound growth rate of some 60 percent. One big advantage of cloud-based apps is they aren’t fighting to use the device’s internal memory, which can be the case if users have a lot of apps running at the same time. At this point, it’s almost a given that any new app development has got to be cloud-based.
4. Security
It should almost go without saying. Businesses need to ensure their confidential data won’t be compromised in a mobile enterprise app. There are best practices to follow to help ensure apps are secure from cyber threats. These include:
- Credentials encryption
- Strong user authentication
- Use latest development platforms, as these are most likely to incorporate the most recent security protection features and current updates
3. Location, Location, Location
The mantra of the real estate business applies to mobile enterprise app development as well. It’s all about location. Not just to get directions, but as a filter to determine what types of data users need based on where they are located. As noted by Computerworld, mobile enterprise app development must contain a location services component that is relevant to users because it creates better outcomes and enables more efficient analysis. Location apps are key elements in a variety of enterprise needs, including artificial intelligence, data analysis and simulation/modeling. An additional trend is to provide in-building mapping for enclosed spaces. Companies such as Here are moving away from being a traditional standalone GPS/mapping database provider to a value-added supplier of an open and integrated tracking, traffic, safety and high-definition mapping cloud-based platform.
2. Cross-Platform
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac—who cares? If an enterprise has a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy—as most do—it is a duplication of effort to develop separate mobile apps for multiple platforms, not to mention the separate skill sets that are required. So there is a growing need for mobile app developers to consider cross-platform tools rather than purely native development. As one observer points out, cross-platform tools are now a necessity for enterprise mobile app development.
1. And the Number One Feature to Drive Enterprise Mobile App Development is…
Augmented reality, also called virtual reality or AR/VR to cover both bases. Software development company ThinkSys estimates the augmented reality market potential for various use cases by 2025 for the following industries:
- Healthcare: $5.1 billion
- Engineering: $4.7 billion
- Real estate: $2.6 billion
- Retail: $1.6 billion
Here are just a few things enterprises can do with augmented reality apps:
- Model and design buildings, new products and just about any design idea virtually and analyze data in a variety of formats and situations
- Test and train new procedures; provide immersive experiences to patients with medical/psychological issues to reduce stress and provide therapy
- Evaluate new manufacturing processes to improve productivity and streamline workflows
- Provide hands-free information to workers performing hands-on manual tasks
- Conduct virtual meetings
- Visualize, simulate and manipulate data
- Provide virtual assistance to field technicians
- Enhance customer experience to interact with brands/products in a virtual store
A recent Deloitte report noted that an “ever-wider range of businesses are finding applications for AR/VR technology aiding workflow, collaboration, and productivity.” Which is why this feature is at the top of the list for the enterprise mobile app developer.
Guest post courtesy of Michael Kelley