Building software that’s both secure and user-friendly can be an overwhelming task in today’s always-connected world. There are countless software development trends on the horizon to guide developers, including cloud computing, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and smart home automation, among others. Take a look at ten of the most important software development trends for 2021 to get ready for the future of software development.
1| Mobile Apps
Software development will continue to shift from traditional desktop to mobile apps. In fact, by 2019, Gartner estimates that 87% of companies will have abandoned their legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in favor of a cloud-based alternative. As a result, developers who focus on writing mobile-first applications will be at an advantage going forward. Ultimately, anyone with a solid understanding of HTML5 and Javascript should consider expanding their skill set by learning how to code natively for Android and iOS devices as well as Web applications.
2 | Cloud Solutions
In-house software solutions will quickly become a thing of the past. In 2012, Gartner predicts that 50% of organizations will use Software as a Service (SaaS) by 2013. The rise of cloud-based development tools means your development team can reach users faster and at a fraction of traditional cost. Start planning for a cloud solution now to keep up with business trends in 2018 and beyond. It won’t be long before most businesses follow suit and go cloud-based. Get on board early to stay ahead of your competition!
3| Analytics Solutions
The ability to harness and analyze data has never been easier, but there are still plenty of unique challenges in every sector. Solutions such as Google Analytics allow you to track your website traffic, store purchases, and conversion rates. However, analytics solutions such as Flurry and MoPub exist specifically to take user tracking capabilities a step further. These tools can help you better understand who is visiting your website and how they got there; they can also help you identify patterns that result in an increased conversion or advertising revenue. Since these solutions are specialized for mobile devices and apps, businesses in fast-paced industries should think about implementing them immediately.
4 | Internet of Things (IoT)
As our lives continue to be more and more connected through smart technology, software developers will need to focus on making our everyday devices work well together. The Internet of Things (IoT) describes how all these different devices will link up—and it’s really just getting started. We’re used to having our phones, computers, game consoles, smart TVs and home entertainment systems connect with each other—but tomorrow’s IoT is bringing your car into play as well. Software developers working in an industry where IoT is expected to grow can expect a high demand for their services over the next five years.
5 | Big Data Solutions
The concept of big data has been around since at least 1997, but not until recently has it really come into its own. It doesn’t really matter whether you’re talking about data on a company-wide or industry-wide scale; bigger is better. This means more and more companies will turn to software development firms that specialize in big data solutions. The challenges are difficult but exciting, and who knows what incredible advances might be made in areas like medicine, transportation, agriculture? We do know that these innovations will require software developers with specialized skills—and that’s where developers with experience in big data solutions will become increasingly valuable.
6 | Software Defined Networks (SDN)
The software-defined network (SDN) is a type of software architecture that is used in many types of networks, including data centers and computer networks. It centralizes functions such as forwarding and switching into special switches, called virtual or software-defined routers (CSR or SD routers), so they can be programmed by an external controller. This means it requires less configuration than traditional networking, which allows remote management and flexibility in network architecture. The controller can be configured to use protocols such as OpenFlow that was designed specifically for SDN, in order to dynamically configure and reconfigure forwarding paths in a way that maximizes performance and minimizes latency.
7 | Agile Methodologies
Agile is becoming more and more popular as a software development methodology. In fact, Agile is expected to account for over 50% of all new software projects in 2017. And, that trend isn’t likely to change any time soon. Today, you have options when it comes to being agile, including Scrum and Kanban methods. However, these methods are just implementations of a broader Agile idea: Instead of building a project from start to finish—in a linear fashion—Agiles allows you to develop parts of a project over time, by adding features as needed to be based on customer requirements or feedback from previous builds.
8 | Immersive Reality/Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality software development is becoming more prevalent as businesses embrace its practical benefits. If you’re starting a new business, investing in VR may be just what you need to reach your intended market or bring something entirely different to it. With that said, don’t rush into anything. Understand your options and choose a virtual reality program that suits your budget and goals before spending big money on equipment. If you already have a business up and running, consider adding VR to improve employee engagement by allowing them to see projects from start to finish in an immersive environment or travel through 3D models of existing structures or locations. Either way, now is a great time to experiment with virtual reality software development solutions—the future is looking bright for these tools!
9 | Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is an ever-evolving field that’s focused on building machines and computer programs that can mimic human thought and action. AI and related fields like machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) are poised to become increasingly important in software development as algorithms become smarter, more versatile, and capable of quickly performing tasks previously reserved for humans. Google has shown us what AI technology can do with its DeepMind platform, which taught itself how to play video games by analyzing thousands of previous moves from expert gamers—and then beat human champions at those games. The implications of AI becoming a bigger part of our world are vast: Research firm Gartner predicts that by 2022 about 50% of businesses will have implemented some form of AI, up from just 5% today.
10| Cognitive Services
Cloud-Based AI and Machine Learning—Cloud technology have become a standard part of modern business operations, so it should come as no surprise that enterprises are looking to integrate cloud computing into development workflows. While traditionally, IT departments have been in charge of managing in-house hardware and software, the rise of cloud services is changing things up. In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2021 more than half of the large enterprises will use cognitive services (AI/machine learning/natural language processing) for business applications. Specifically, they predict that by 2020 there will be over 4 billion active devices running on machine learning (ML) models inside enterprise networks. With artificial intelligence at our fingertips like never before, developers can quickly make predictions based on existing data sets.
| Final Words
Artificial intelligence is a tool. Like any other technology, AI has its place and applications. And if you’re trying to build a company that lasts more than a few years, you should carefully consider whether your use of artificial intelligence is advancing your business strategy or standing in its way. The best technology companies know how to differentiate themselves from their competitors by leveraging their core competencies; whether those strengths are technological or otherwise. If you want to build software there are many software development companies that can focus on building software.
