Web development trends, much like other areas of the software have progressed and evolved bringing newer and better technologies like progressive web apps, artificial intelligence, and much more. These trends and technologies that have emerged in recent years have definitely changed the game for businesses entirely.
As every business requires an online presence in the form of a website, more and more stakeholders and business owners are investing in custom web development trends, techniques, and approaches. There are around 1.5 billion websites and more than 200 million are active, according to Internet Live Stats. So the competition is definitely there, and this is why it has become equally important for businesses to make sure they are investing in the right team of developers that would use cutting edge solutions and technologies to curate their web portal that would give their visitors an impeccable user experience.
Let’s say a mobile app development firm is known for being a web development geek and could be the right fit for your needs as well, considering they have already done this job for several clients and that too, successfully.
So what are the top web development trends that we get to see in 2021? Let’s check them out!
1) PWAs (Progressive Web Applications)
If you have any familiarity with the realm of applications, then you must have heard this term quite often in recent years – Progressive Web Applications. They are the websites that function as a native mobile app. Yes, now, you can achieve both in a single unit. Since mobile apps are known for better accessibility compared to websites, businesses can now have their websites behave like apps, giving them more reach and accessibility; both.
Flipkart, an e-commerce giant already applied a progressive web apps strategy and raked a 70% increase in conversions. I kid you not!
Many companies adopted this model that includes known names like UBER, Twitter, Pinterest, Smashing Magazine, Forbes, and many more.
These apps are fast and load instantly, and also have the ability to function offline while still running the core functions of a native app. So investing in a progressive web app for yourself isn’t a bargain at all.
2) AI and Smart Chatbots
It is already being debated how AI and robots will replace human staff in the coming years. So there is no surprise that AI has already tapped into the chatbots that otherwise would be handled by customer service reps. Now, these chatbots can mimic human-like interaction and answer if not all then most of your queries. They are reliable and when they fail to address a question, they give you the option to speak to an actual agent.
These AI-powered chatbots have proven to engage new leads effectively, much as a human would. If you are wondering what possible benefits can you get by investing in an AI chatbot? Then here are some:
- Provides customer satisfaction
- Human error reductions
- Saves time, money, and effort
- Nurture leads and builds a customer base
- Provides great user experience
Since the customers ask generic queries regarding services and products; chatbots easily fill the role by providing the right answers. Not only that, but they also have been programmed to learn the pattern and adapt.
- Push Notifications
Push notifications have proven to be a powerful tool to generate engagement and draw immediate attention to your brand. Push notifications are a direct link between customers and you. So you need to be very careful how you utilize such a tool without causing any annoyance. Push notifications keep your brand in front of the screen and help the customers remember you better. You can even customize your target audience for certain push notifications; let’s say according to age, gender, and location. You can even target based on purchase history if that is what you are going for.
The bottom line is, these notifications are a great web development trend and should be used effectively.
- Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Considering the pandemic at hand, these technologies have become the saving grace for many businesses; especially the retail industry. Providing a real-life experience within the comfort of your homes where you are quarantining, AR and VR are bringing you into online stores. What more is that customers can even virtually try on clothes or gadgets before making a purchase.
All in all, the sky is the limit with such technology. And now with COVID-19, AR and VR could play a leading role in keeping the online businesses afloat and thriving.
- Web Assembly
When you deal with web application development or any development, performance is the king. This is why Web Assembly is a game-changer in the web development arena. It utilizes the capabilities of the hardware to be portable and efficient. It also supports non-browser embedding. Moreover, it integrates the existing web platform which makes it convenient.
Basically, with the help of Web Assembly, you can compile your programming language code into bytecode that then runs in a browser making it faster.
- Single Page Apps
Single-page applications in their entirety can be explained as apps that do not require reloading the page when it is being used or working in a browser. As an example, take Gmail, Facebook, Google Drive, and GitHub – to name a few of them. They all come under single-page applications.
These applications are a popular choice because of all the necessary information available on a single page. No one likes to jump on to the next pages back and forth to retrieve certain information and having to load the page every time. This really sheds light on the importance of user experience and how single-page applications enhance that.
So there is much to consider when you are building your own web application. Ask yourself what can be included and will be useful for not just your business but also for the user’s experience. Not every latest trend and technology will complement your business, so do not be hasty and plan accordingly!
