We’re going to indulge ourselves for a moment. Sharing what we’re working with, thinking about and consulting with our customers on. It’s not for today, likely not for 2024 either, but most definitely things we’re expecting to see becoming important as we get to 2025 and beyond.
It feels since the accessibility to tools like ChatGPT became more common place, that digital has accelerated and is showing no signs of slowing down. Businesses and developers alike are now constantly on the lookout for the next big thing.
The landscape of digital transformation and custom software is evolving, and for us paints an exciting picture of the future. We’re going to delve into the trends that we believe are going to shape the trajectory of digital development over the coming years.
1. Hyper-Personalisation Through AI and ML 🤖
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are not newcomers to those in our industry. However, their integration into mainstream and custom software is deepening, which is where this becomes exciting.
As businesses aim for heightened user engagement — to increase orders, augment their reputation or stand out from the crowd — we’re seeing software that cater individual users instead of a target demographic as a whole.
We expect to see applications that learn from user behaviour, their preferences, previous interactions and then see software-based experiences tailored uniquely for each user.
2. Extended Reality (XR) in Business Applications 🔮
We’ve been in VR and AR in one guise or another since 2015. Now we’re over the initial “what do we do with this”, we’re seeing greater global adoption, which is leading us at the forefront to XR.
Extended Reality, which encompasses Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR), is transitioning from gaming and entertainment into the mainstream business world. With XR, businesses can offer immersive customer experiences, from virtual try-ons in the fashion industry, what-it-looks-like in the interiors industry through toto 3D property tours for home sales and rentals.
3. Serverless Architectures 👩💻
As companies look for ways to streamline operations and reduce costs, serverless architectures are emerging as a preferred choice. These platforms automatically manage the infrastructure a solution needs, allowing development teams to focus solely on writing code. This means faster deployments, scalability on demand and reduced complexities in system management.
4. Low-Code/No-Code Development ⬇️
Low-code is something that’s really exciting for us. It empowers non-developers to create applications andthe rise of low-code/no-code platforms is democratising software development. As businesses need to pivot rapidly in dynamic markets, these platforms allow for swift development and deployment of applications without the requirement for deep coding expertise.
5. Sustainable Digital Development 🌱
With a heavy global emphasis on sustainability, the digital world is not far behind. Green coding, energy-efficient algorithms and eco-friendly hosting solutions are gaining traction worldwide. Businesses are not just looking for efficient software but environmentally responsible ones too.
6. Blockchain Beyond Cryptocurrency 🪙
The underlying technology of cryptocurrencies, blockchain, is finding myriad applications in digital transformation. From supply chain transparency to tamper-proof public sector systems, blockchain’s decentralised nature is being harnessed for a wide range of applications.
7. Edge Computing 💨
As IoT (Internet of Things) devices grow rapidly, there’s a shift from centralised data processing to edge computing. This entails processing data closer to the source of generation (like a local device or sensor), reducing latency and ensuring faster responses in real-time applications.
The Horizon is Bright 🌟
While predicting the future is never an exact science, one thing is clear: the world of digital development is now more than ever on the cusp of revolutionary breakthroughs. Businesses and developers who are poised to adapt, integrate and innovate with these emerging trends will undoubtedly lead the world into an ever more digital future.
Staying ahead of the curve, and remember, in the world of digital, it’s not just about adopting the new but seamlessly merging it with the existing to create holistic, forward-thinking solutions.
