When it comes to software engineering and development, things change at a lightning speed. One year, you're adopting new technology and using it to run processes at your company or selling it to others. Next year, this technology is outdated and there's something new, better, and more efficient. This is because the software development industry is evolving quickly and progressively. But, what does this mean for companies that focus on digital services, operations, and communication with customers?
The truth is, these companies always need to think one step ahead. The trends that are currently everyone’s focus of attention can easily be outdated and replaced by something else tomorrow. That means you can’t just stick to what’s the best software or technological trend at the moment. You also have to be aware of the trends that are emerging and on the rise. That way, you can anticipate your future moves better and make plans on how to stay ahead of your competitors.
That’s why we’ve listed the 8 biggest enterprise software development trends for 2021 that every company needs to know about and try and adopt.
-
Breakthrough of Intelligence of Things
You know that the Internet of Things is present in our everyday lives, almost constantly. Everyone, from a small-town English teacher to an international company owner uses smart devices to make their daily routines or professional tasks easier to perform.
That means that we’re already used to connected appliances, smart security systems, and voice-controlled devices. But, there’s a new trend on the rise, and it combines two powerful components:
-
Artificial Intelligence
-
Internet of Things
This new trend implies the emergence of a whole new generation of smart devices and automated actions we’ll be able to do once the trend is in full swing. It’ll affect all industries and niches and force software development companies to:
-
develop code for this new Intelligence of Things devices
-
learn about the new needs and expectations of their customers
-
adapt to a whole new environment
So, here are just a couple of examples of where we’ll be able to see Intelligence of Things being used and changing the way things work:
-
intelligent retail
The new generation smart retail systems will be able to use facial recognition for every person that comes to their store. After a quick analysis, they’ll be able to collect data on this person’s age, gender, shopping habits, interests, and preferences. After a while, the database will help store owners analyze their target audience and make a decision on how to manage sales, product placement, and customer interaction.
-
smart cars
The automotive industry will use Intelligence of Things to create connected cars that can not only track driver’s behavior, reduce fuel costs and navigate the road, but also include independent driving and finishing daily tasks on the move, hands-free.
-
healthcare improvements
The new generation of smart healthcare devices can assist doctors by monitoring patients' health conditions 24/7, analyzing changes, and sending alerts when necessary.
This is just the tip of the iceberg since the potential and power of Intelligence of Things is on the rise and will grow even stronger by the end of 2021.
-
Artificial Intelligence Continues to Conquer
According to statistics, the increase in AI usage across businesses in 2021 will lead to $2.9 trillion of business value and 6.2 billion hours of worker productivity. That means that AI isn’t going anywhere, and businesses need to continue working on employing all of its capabilities- from machine learning to natural language processing.
AI will continue to change all the domains of our lives:
-
education
-
healthcare
-
entertainment
-
logistics
-
etc.
This software development trend will continue to dominate the scene and force businesses to use it to develop new tools, solutions, and services that their customers and partners will expect to see. Without innovation and creativity in the domain of AI, businesses might have serious problems staying competitive and retaining their customers.
-
The Emergence of Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)
When you combine a web page and a mobile app, you get a progressive web application (PWA). And, while PWAs have been around for a while, they’re bound to reach even greater heights by the end of 2021. So, what exactly are PWAs?
Simply put, a PWA is a software delivered by a website but working as a native application. It means that PWAs:
-
have cross-platform usage
-
don’t need app stores to be the mediator
-
can send push notification
-
can work offline
For companies and businesses, this means more opportunities to reach out to customers, anytime and anywhere. Their websites are becoming more available and easier to access, making it easier for them to build a stronger connection with their customers.
It’s no wonder the PWA system is used by Pinterest, Twitter, Forbes, Trivago, and many other popular brands who seized the opportunity to improve their business efficiency and offer more than the brand next door.
-
Cybersecurity Becomes a Top Priority
Cybersecurity has always been an important segment of companies’ internal functioning, but it’s gaining importance in 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a drastic and sudden shift to a digital environment. With more operations being carried out online and digitally, hackers and cybercriminals have far more opportunities to perform cyber-attacks, data breaches, and insert malware.
That means that cybersecurity becomes a top priority in 2021. That’s why businesses need to:
-
rethink their cybersecurity strategy
-
retest and assess their protection against new malware and new types of attacks
-
adopt the latest trends and security systems
This is a serious task for those in the cybersecurity business and the companies in need of improved protection as well.
-
Augmented, Virtual & Mixed Reality in Demand
Another change brought to us by the pandemic is the increased need for immersive experiences such as Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed reality. Here’s what each implies:
-
Augmented reality (AR)
A real-life environment is enhanced by computer-generated images, sounds, information, and objects.
-
Virtual reality (VR)
A computer-generated environment that creates a simulated experience and takes the users outside of the real world they're in.
-
Mixed reality (MR)
A combination of the physical and digital world, in which real-life objects and those produced digitally create new environments together.
All three forms of immersive experiences are currently on the rise and can be seen across industries:
-
education: VR for teaching, training, and providing a “hands-on” experience without the physical presence of the students and trainees
-
sales: people can try on makeup digitally or see what a new piece of furniture would look like in their apartments which allows them to make better shopping decisions
-
tourism: virtual tours have become a life-saver for pandemic-affected people but are here to stay after the pandemic is over
It's clear that immersive experiences are on the rise and need your full attention in 2021.
-
Low-Code Development Platforms Grow Stronger
The typical coding experience won’t be as in-demand in 2021 as it was before, thanks to the emergence of low-code development platforms (LCDP). These platforms allow people with poor or no coding experience to turn their software ideas into reality.
This is a serious step forward in the software development industry and a change some developers are skeptical about.
But, this doesn't mean that modern-day developers will be people with no development knowledge whatsoever. It means that businesses and developers can use LCDPs to:
-
speed up the development process
-
automate simpler tasks
-
focus on more complex tasks
It can be time-saving and beneficial for everyone from beginners to experienced developers.
-
5G Impacts Business
Another change we'll be seeing more of in 2021 is the impact of 5G technology on businesses and the everyday lives of people across the globe. It fits the rest of the trends perfectly since it will become necessary to enable IoT, immersive experiences, and better cybersecurity.
This is due to the power and potential that 5G technology brings us:
-
high-speed wireless internet
-
internet-access in more remote places
-
improved data security
-
more creative and user-engaging content
-
improved app performance
-
improved data collection and analysis
It’s obvious that 5G is a trend we all have to keep an eye on in 2021 and further on, to be able to exploit all of the amazing opportunities it brings.
-
Cloud Cost as Fitness Function
Finally, the last trend on our list is about managing the finances and monitoring the expenses of running your services. The “run cost as architecture fitness function” is a technique that suggests the following:
-
continuously monitoring the product cost
-
focusing on how much does maintenance and running cost
-
compare it to the value the product delivers
-
track dynamic nature of architecture
This will help you and your teams estimate costs and keep track of the changes. Once you notice a deviation or something that steps away from your original budget, you’ll be able to make changes such as changing the architecture and looking for other solutions.
Final Thoughts
The emerging 2021 software development industry trends that we've listed above are once again changing the business needs, goals, and tasks for companies across the globe. While all the trends are equally important, not all of them will equally affect your business the same way.
Think about the way your business fits this picture and focus on adopting the rising trends that you have to. This will ensure you stay competitive and secure your place on the changing market. But, don't forget that 2022 is just around the corner, and will bring more new trends for you to embrace.