There is no better time to be an app developer than now, what with the apps economy finally eclipsing giant industries like sports and entertainment. In fact, almost every business now needs an app to penetrate its target market as the paradigm shifts in terms of how companies do business and how customers behave.

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But since app development is a continuous process, its landscape is constantly changing. After all, demand for mobile apps is showing no signs of waning anytime soon, and developers need to keep up with the trends and changes happening in the mobile app scene in order to stay marketable. Here are some key movements expected in the mobile app scene in the next five years:

Cross platform and device development

Expect a decline in the creation of native apps because of the rise of new platforms in mobile application. Versatility of mobile apps will be an important factor in app development, especially since the smartphone will no longer be the de facto app engine. Apps for wearables, cars, televisions, and even intelligent refrigerators will increase in popularity, bringing about the notion of "Internet of Things" or IoT, according to Arc from Applause. In fact, a survey done by Vision Mobile found out that 53 percent of app developers are working on at least one IoT project, with smart home being the most popular category.

Cloud application

Though cloud application has been in existence for years already, 2015 will see this trend level up as users enjoy the benefits of both traditional desktop and web application in one cloud application. It offers a rich user experience, quick response to user experience, and even offline mode to allow you to work on your projects even without Internet connectivity. According to SAP Business Innovation, "By 2015, cloud application will be written on cloud directly and cloud providers will offer cloud-hosted services to upcoming applications."

Enterprise apps over consumer apps

According to New Relic, 43 percent of developers focused on enterprise apps hit or exceed a revenue of $10,000 per month, compared to only 19 percent of consumer app developers. That is because even with the prevalence of apps, many consumers are not willing to shell out money for digital apps. However, businesses are willing to invest in software that will bring them money and help make them more productive.

An example of a company that focuses on building enterprise apps is IT Craft. The company provides its clients with a detailed plan that shows its understanding of project requirements and client desires. Furthermore, it offers post-launch support to make sure that its enterprise app is working the way it should. IT Craft's focus on enterprise apps has ensured its spot in the IT industry since the year 2000.

Cross-platform tools

Because of the maturation of the mobile developer market in the past few years, a plethora of easy-to-use tools in app creation has entered the market. A report done by The State of the Developer found that 83 percent of its respondents use at least one third party tool for things like crash reporting, testing, and analytics. The use of cross-platform tools has also jumped from 23 percent to 30 percent in the past six months. While this may seem beneficial for app developers, the influx of these tools could significantly lower the bar in the creation of sophisticated apps. Hence, app developers need to better know their users in order to make better business and development decisions and offer a user experience like no other. 

Tagsmobile app development trends, app development in 2015, IT Craft, IT industry, cross-platform tools