Digital transformation is in full swing, as increasingly more organizations have realized the potential of digitalization in an ever-evolving business space.
To keep abreast of changes, companies must adapt to new technologies, develop new business models, and accelerate their digital transformation. People demand more immersive, customized online experiences, hence new digital products. Here’s where software development comes into play. But today’s software development isn’t the same as ten years ago. The area has evolved dramatically, with trends coming and going on a regular basis. Nevertheless, some trends have proved their value over the years and are likely to be here in 2023 – and beyond. Keep reading for more in-depth insight into what’s expected to change how you see software development.
Blockchain technology
Blockchain is used in the finance sector as a decentralized ledger supporting transaction security. It has also begun to be utilized in domains such as healthcare, publishing, and logistics. So, it relates to far more than buying or looking at the Ethereum price today. It’s about innovation that addresses, among others, software development. Blockchain has been adopted at such a large scale mainly because it’s incredibly secure. Public-key cryptography and transaction recording are some of the technology’s most outstanding features. Finally, there’s no longer a need for intermediaries in transactions, and this simplifies and facilitates business processes.
Low-code Development
Low-code development has a real moment as increasingly more IT leaders embrace digital transformation programs. IT departments finding themselves in constant demand to keep everything going, couldn’t cope by relying on hard-code development, so low-code and no-code development have started to be employed. The need for a more simplified manner of creating software is fueled by the struggle to keep up with numerous projects that often fail or are being challenged. Business units aim to add functionality on their own and streamline their own workflow. Spreadsheets are the first to be implemented in this regard, be it in the form of data entry, reporting trends, or building budgets. Spreadsheets are still a viable low-code technology, but due to later advancements, businesses can now implement other innovations, such as personal databases.
Low-code development platforms provide graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and developers use them to create solid new applications and design flowcharts portraying business logic. The most prominent advantage of this way of building software is that it minimizes hand-coding considerably, letting thus developers focus on niche technical skills or vital aspects of the software development process. Moreover, low-code tools enhance the overall speed of creating software and applications, diminishing the backlog of IT development projects.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have started to be adopted by organizations outside the IT sphere, as their uses vary. Some of ML’s most common purposes are to assist in programming, test and review, set precise budgets, and help inform decisions and priorities. AI aims to make machines execute tasks that only humans could perform earlier. Nonetheless, it comprises not only ML but also capabilities like natural language processing, vision, speech, and deep learning. This multidisciplinary branch of computer science is used in software development to handle vast amounts of data, help testers and developers by automating low-code duties, as well as recognize images and videos for security agencies and law enforcement. AI has also proved its value in manufacturing, boosting operational proficiency. In customer service, AI chatbots have successfully replaced human assistance, and in native mobile application development, it has started to improve app usability and consumer experience. AI has indeed minimized human involvement, but this shouldn’t be regarded as something bad but a valuable tool that makes systems less vulnerable to errors.
AI isn’t just a ‘trend’ anymore; it’s a leading force in the technological environment these days. It has been adopted in almost every area, from transportation and education to finance and healthcare. In healthcare, for example, AI can automate administrative duties and is likely to spot medication errors and enhance patient symptom analysis. All that may lead you to think, “Will AI ever replace human intelligence?” Surely not, but it’ll reach a similar level of performance.
Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR)
AR has long served industries, but it seems to be all the rage at this very moment. This technology continues to prove its utility in many areas, from e-Commerce, education and manufacturing to gaming applications. AR is, nonetheless, not the only one evolving lately – VR and MR have begun to interact with the world. The increasing reliance on digital technology has made many businesses, including software development companies, adopt AR, VR, and MR.
VR, for example, has surpassed its big use case – gaming – and started to be explored in various domains, particularly entertainment and education. Students can immerse themselves in fascinating virtual realms to broaden their world knowledge and have a good time at the same time. The technology is also leveraged in healthcare; it plays a significant role in planning, treating, and diagnosing patients suffering from depression, phobias, addiction, and autism, as well as demonstrating the efficiency of a challenging treatment before any performance on someone. MR, on the other hand, merges physical and digital in a useful manner. Computer software giants are considering taking this route; Microsoft, for instance, is among the first to introduce MR in products such as Hololens, paving the way for other companies to do the same.
Internet of Behavior (IoB)
Software trends tend to become more personalized, and it’s only normal. The Internet of Things (IoT) has played a significant role in this regard, as it lets companies connect computing devices to the Internet, making them able to receive and send data. Nevertheless, it has evolved into another extension – the Internet of Behavior or, shortly, IoB. This technology analyzes individuals’ behaviors as they interact with devices and apps. Tracking consumers’ behavior isn’t uncommon, and it shouldn’t be perceived as something suspicious but a mere attempt by companies to improve their services based on their customer experiences.
Other notable trends to keep an eye on:
Quantum Computing
Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)
Serverless Computing
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)