The metaverse is rapidly becoming the epicenter of digital innovation, transforming how we interact, transact, and experience virtual worlds. A pioneering private metaverse ecosystem pushes these boundaries further by integrating advanced blockchain technology with real-time multiplayer capabilities. Distinct from traditional virtual environments, this platform leverages powerful technologies including Unity, Node.js, SmartFox Server, and Binance Smart Chain (BNB), creating a secure, immersive, and accessible virtual space for users worldwide. 

Understanding the Vision of the Metaverse

The core vision behind this innovative metaverse initiative revolves around democratizing digital ownership and virtual experiences through blockchain technology. By creating a decentralized economy within a detailed 3D environment, users have the opportunity not only to socialize and explore but also to generate tangible income streams. Activities such as trading digital assets, creating NFTs, and developing unique content open new doors for economic empowerment and virtual livelihoods.

This metaverse aims to seamlessly merge physical and virtual economies, allowing users to own, trade, and monetize digital assets in real-time interactions. The platform includes an integrated private crypto wallet with fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat capabilities, significantly improving inclusivity and facilitating ease of access for crypto enthusiasts and novices alike.

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The gaming industry has always been an incubator for new technologies and business models. With the advent of blockchain and NFTs, we are witnessing one of the most disruptive shifts yet. These innovations offer players actual ownership of in-game assets and open up a myriad of opportunities for creators, developers, and players alike. This detailed white paper explores how blockchain technology and NFTs transform the gaming ecosystem—from game development and monetization to player empowerment and cross-platform utility.

1. The Evolution of Gaming Economies

Historically, gamers invested countless hours “grinding” for loot and spent real money on cosmetic upgrades—items confined to the platform or game in which they were earned. Traditional models have left players with a sense of limitation: although they could build and customize profiles, the digital assets they accumulated were essentially “locked in.”

Key Data Points and Trends:

• Market Growth: The global gaming market was valued at over USD 160 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 9% over the next few years. In parallel, the blockchain gaming market—while still emerging—has shown explosive growth, with some estimates suggesting it could reach a market value exceeding USD 3 billion by 2025.
  
• Player Ownership: In a decentralized system, in-game assets—such as characters, weapons, skins, and virtual land—are tokenized on the blockchain. This means players have verifiable ownership, and these assets can be traded or sold outside the confines of the game. This shift increases the asset’s liquidity and gives gamers a stake in the game’s economy.

2. Blockchain in Gaming

Blockchain technology brings several powerful features to gaming, including transparency, security, and decentralization. Using a distributed ledger, every transaction—from asset creation to peer-to-peer trades—is recorded immutably, ensuring participant trust.

Enhancements Through Blockchain:

• Verified Ownership: Every digital asset’s history is recorded on-chain. This verification system prevents fraud and unauthorized duplication and ensures that ownership transfers are transparent.
  
• Decentralized Marketplaces: Players can trade assets in open markets, free from the limitations of centralized platforms. Such transparency builds trust and encourages a more vibrant digital economy.
  
• Scalability Solutions: Platforms like Immutable X have been instrumental in offering gasless NFT transactions. Games like Gods Unchained benefit from these solutions, enabling secure, fast, and scalable trading of in-game assets without the prohibitive transaction fees on other blockchains.

Industry Impact:

Blockchain’s integration into gaming has led to rapid user engagement and revenue growth. For example, several blockchain-based games have reported significant increases in daily active users, driven by the promise of actual asset ownership and potential earnings.

3. NFTs – Making In-Game Items Matter

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are at the heart of this transformation. Unlike traditional in-game items, NFTs are unique and indivisible, providing each item with its distinct value and identity.

Why NFTs Matter:

• Unique Value Proposition: Whether it’s a rare skin, an exclusive character, or a one-of-a-kind piece of virtual real estate, NFTs allow each item to have verifiable scarcity and authenticity. This uniqueness opens up new economic models where in-game assets can have real-world value.
  
• Monetization Opportunities: Games like Axie Infinity have set a precedent. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Axie Infinity became a source of income for many, particularly in regions like the Philippines. At its peak, the game had over 2 million active players and generated more than USD 1 billion in gross revenue by facilitating income through battles, breeding, and NFT trading.

Additional Data:

• Market Expansion: In 2021, the NFT market exploded, with sales surpassing USD 10 billion across various sectors. In gaming, the trend indicates a growing acceptance and integration of NFTs as central elements of gameplay and monetization strategies.
  

4. The Rise of Web3 Gaming

Web3 gaming represents a paradigm shift from centrally controlled game economies to decentralized, community-driven ecosystems. In this new model, players aren’t just consumers—they become stakeholders and co-creators.

Components of Web3 Gaming:

• Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs): DAOs empower players to vote on game updates, policy changes, and new features. This democratic approach ensures that the game evolves per the community’s interests.
  
• Token Economies: Besides rewards, players can earn tokens for their contributions, creativity, and time spent in the game. These tokens can often be traded or used to gain special privileges within the game ecosystem.
  
• Persistent Identities: With blockchain-backed digital identities and inventories, gamers can carry their assets, achievements, and progress across multiple gaming platforms. This persistence transforms gaming into a lifelong journey rather than a series of isolated experiences.
  

Real-World Example:

The Sandbox is a prime example of Web3 gaming. Players can purchase virtual land, create custom experiences, and monetize their creations, building an entire metaverse economy. In virtual land sales, platforms like The Sandbox and Decentraland have seen transactions worth millions of dollars, highlighting the increasing convergence of gaming and real-world economic value.

5. Challenges

While the integration of blockchain and NFTs in gaming brings enormous potential, several challenges remain:

• Market Volatility: Game tokens and NFT prices are susceptible to fluctuations driven by broader cryptocurrency market trends. Speculative bubbles can lead to rapid price increases followed by steep crashes.
  
• Onboarding Barriers: Casual gamers often find it challenging to navigate the crypto space, which requires managing digital wallets, understanding gas fees, and dealing with complex security protocols like seed phrases.
  
• Engagement vs. Earnings: Many blockchain games use “play-to-earn” models. While these models attract players looking to earn income, they may sometimes compromise gameplay quality and overall player engagement.
  
• Regulatory Uncertainty: As blockchain technology and digital assets grow in prominence, regulatory scrutiny is increasing worldwide. This evolving landscape may influence how blockchain games are developed and monetized.
  

6. The Future of Gaming

The horizon for gaming is bright, with blockchain and NFTs set to redefine the boundaries of digital experiences.

Key Trends and Predictions:

• Interoperability of Assets: Future gaming ecosystems are expected to allow seamless transfer of in-game items across different games and platforms. Imagine using a character or weapon earned in one role-playing game (RPG) in another entirely different genre.
  
• Achievement-Based NFTs: Skill-based milestones might soon unlock epic NFTs that serve as immutable badges of honor. These achievements could be non-transferable to preserve their intrinsic value as a testament to the player’s skill.
  
• Evolving AI Companions: AI-generated NFT companions could become a norm. These digital companions would not only grow with a player’s progress but could also interact with multiple games, providing a dynamic and personalized gaming experience.
  
• Economic Integration: As the line between virtual and real economies blurs, gaming could become a central pillar of digital finance. Cross-game token economies and shared virtual identities pave the way for more robust and interconnected digital markets.
  

Industry Outlook:

Experts predict that by 2030, integrating blockchain and NFTs could lead to a fully-fledged virtual economy that rivals traditional financial systems. The convergence of gaming, finance, and social media could result in ecosystems where digital assets, identities, and experiences are as valuable as their physical counterparts.

7. Conclusion

The intersection of gaming, blockchain, and NFTs represents a transformative moment for digital entertainment. These technologies are poised to revolutionize how games are built, played, and monetized by empowering players with actual ownership, transparent economic models, and community-driven governance. The winners in this space will be those who can balance innovative technology with engaging gameplay, ensuring that players are valued and empowered.

In the future, gaming will transcend traditional boundaries. You will not only play a game—you will own, shape, profit from, and live within a dynamic digital ecosystem where your contributions have real value.

How can [x]cube LABS help?

[x]cube LABS’s teams of product owners and experts have worked with global brands such as Panini, Mann+Hummel, tradeMONSTER, and others to deliver over 950 successful digital products, resulting in the creation of new digital revenue lines and entirely new businesses. With over 30 global product design and development awards, [x]cube LABS has established itself among global enterprises’ top digital transformation partners.

Why work with [x]cube LABS?

• Founder-led engineering teams:

Our co-founders and tech architects are deeply involved in projects and are unafraid to get their hands dirty. 

• Deep technical leadership:

Our tech leaders have spent decades solving complex technical problems. Having them on your project is like instantly plugging into thousands of person-hours of real-life experience.

• Stringent induction and training:

We are obsessed with crafting top-quality products. We hire only the best hands-on talent. We train them like Navy Seals to meet our standards of software craftsmanship.

• Next-gen processes and tools:

Keep your eye on the puck. We constantly research and stay up-to-speed with the latest technology. 

• DevOps excellence:

Our CI/CD tools ensure strict quality checks to ensure the code in your project is top-notch.

Contact us to discuss your digital innovation plans, and our experts would be happy to schedule a free consultation.

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The global supply chain, the intricate network that delivers goods from raw materials to store shelves, has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years. Disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, extreme weather events, and the need for global health crises have highlighted the urgent need to increase supply chain resilience. 

In this context, the integration of product engineering becomes essential for enhancing supply chain resilience. By leveraging advanced engineering techniques and technologies, businesses can optimize product design, streamline manufacturing processes, and improve logistics, thus fortifying the supply chain against unforeseen disruptions.

In other words, businesses must build adaptable and robust supply chains that can withstand unforeseen disruptions and ensure a steady flow of goods. This is when blockchain technology becomes revolutionary. 

This blog explores how blockchain technology can be harnessed to ensure supply chain resilience. We’ll explore how blockchain fosters transparency, enhances traceability, and empowers businesses to navigate disruptions more easily.  

By the end, you’ll gain valuable insights into how this innovative technology, blockchain for business, can strengthen and safeguard the foundation of our economic well-being – the supply chain.

A.  Understanding Supply Chains

The word “supply chain” describes the integrated web of people, businesses, organizations, assets, processes, and technologies that go into getting a good or service from the point of idea to the customer. Although it’s a complicated dance, it’s necessary. 

An efficient blockchain in the supply chain ensures that products are delivered on time, reduces expenses, and enables companies to satisfy consumer demands. It serves as the foundation of our economy, affecting everything from the meals on our tables to the clothes on our backs.

B.  Blockchain: A Revolutionary Force in Supply Chain Management

Now, consider a method to transform this complex system. Blockchain in supply chain management is a networked ledger that is secure, transparent, and impervious to tampering. This could completely alter the way that supply chains operate.

Understanding the Supply Chain Landscape

The modern world thrives on a complex network of interactions called the supply chain. This intricate web connects everything from raw materials to finished products, ensuring they reach consumers efficiently. 

However, traditional supply chains face numerous challenges that can disrupt this delicate flow. With the emergence of blockchain for supply chain and blockchain in supply chain management, there’s an opportunity to address these challenges by introducing transparency, security, and efficiency into the supply chain ecosystem.

A. Overview of Traditional Supply Chain Challenges:

• Lack of Transparency: Traditional methods often need real-time visibility into a product’s journey. It is challenging to pinpoint delays, identify counterfeit goods, or ensure ethical sourcing practices.

• Inefficiency and Errors: Paper-based systems and siloed information lead to errors and inefficiencies. This can result in delays, lost inventory, and increased costs.

• Vulnerability to Disruptions: Global events, natural disasters, and geopolitical tensions can significantly disrupt traditional supply chains.

B. Explanation of the Benefits of Blockchain in Supply Chain Resilience:

Leveraging blockchain for business can unlock a multitude of benefits that strengthen their supply chain resilience:

• Enhanced Traceability: Every step in a product’s lifecycle can be tracked and verified on the blockchain, providing real-time visibility and facilitating faster issue resolution.

• Improved Efficiency and Accuracy: Automating processes and streamlining information flow through blockchain can significantly reduce errors and boost overall supply chain efficiency.

• Increased Transparency: Blockchain fosters trust and collaboration by providing a shared, transparent view of the entire supply chain for all authorized participants.
  
• Strengthened Resilience: With greater visibility and control, blockchain companies can better anticipate and respond to disruptions, minimizing their impact on operations.

Real-world Applications of Blockchain in the Supply Chain

A. Case Studies Demonstrating Successful Implementation of Blockchain

To illustrate the practical implications of blockchain in supply chain management, let’s delve into several compelling case studies:

Walmart’s Food Traceability Initiative:  Walmart, a global retail giant, harnessed the power of blockchain technology to bolster food traceability and safety within its supply chain. 

Using blockchain for the supply chain, Walmart can trace products’ journey from farm to shelf in real-time, ensuring transparency and authenticity. This initiative facilitates swift identification and recall of contaminated products, fortifying food safety and customer trust.

Maersk and IBM’s TradeLens Platform: Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, joined forces with IBM to develop the TradeLens platform powered by blockchain technology.

TradeLens digitizes and streamlines global trade processes, empowering stakeholders to access real-time shipment data securely. By eliminating manual paperwork and reducing delays, TradeLens amplifies supply chain visibility, efficiency, and collaboration across the maritime industry.

B. Industries and Use Cases Where Blockchain is Making a Difference.

Beyond retail and logistics, blockchain technology is disrupting various industries and revolutionizing supply chain operations.

1. Pharmaceutical Industry: In the pharmaceutical sector, blockchain is utilized to combat counterfeit drugs and ensure product authenticity. Companies like Pfizer and Merck are leveraging blockchain to create immutable records of drug manufacturing, distribution, and authentication. In addition to protecting patient health and preserving regulatory compliance, this helps stop the spread of fake medications. 

2. Automotive Sector: Automakers are incorporating blockchain into supply chains to improve component traceability and transparency. Companies like BMW and Ford are utilizing blockchain to track the origin and lifecycle of vehicle parts, ensuring quality control and compliance with safety standards. This technique raises product quality, decreases fake parts, and increases supply chain efficiency.

C. Examples of Companies Leveraging Blockchain for Supply Chain Resilience

To further exemplify the widespread adoption of blockchain for supply chain resilience, consider the following industry leaders:

1. FedEx: a global courier delivery services company, FedEx has embraced blockchain technology to streamline supply chain management and enhance package tracking capabilities. 

Through its partnership with Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), FedEx utilizes blockchain to improve shipment visibility, lower administrative expenses, and lessen the chance of misplaced or damaged packages and lost or damaged packages. As a result, its supply chain operations are more dependable, and customer satisfaction is increased.

2. Nestlé: Nestlé, a multinational food and beverage company, has used blockchain technology to improve openness and sustainability across its supply chain. 

Nestlé’s pilot projects, such as using blockchain to trace coffee beans’ journey from farm to cup, enable consumers to access detailed information about product origins and ethical sourcing practices. This promotes trust and accountability in line with Nestlé’s commitment to ethical sourcing and environmental stewardship.

Future Outlook and Opportunities

The transformative potential of blockchain in supply chain management is undeniable. However, this technology is still evolving, and exciting new developments are on the horizon.

A. Emerging Trends in Blockchain Technology for Supply Chains

• Integration with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): Combining blockchain’s secure data management with AI’s analytical capabilities can lead to predictive maintenance, optimized inventory management, and even automated risk mitigation strategies within supply chains.

• Interoperability Between Blockchain Platforms: Various blockchain platforms exist currently. The future promises improved interoperability between these platforms, allowing seamless data exchange and collaboration across different supply chain ecosystems.

• Standardization and Regulatory Frameworks: As blockchain adoption grows, the need for standardized protocols and regulatory frameworks will become increasingly important. This will ensure consistent implementation and foster trust among all stakeholders in the supply chain.

Here are some statistics highlighting blockchain technology’s growing adoption and potential impact in revolutionizing blockchain in supply chain management practices across various industries.

1. Global spending on blockchain solutions is projected to reach $6.6 billion by 2023, with a significant portion allocated to supply chain management applications. 

2. A survey conducted by Deloitte reveals that a substantial 53% of executives view blockchain technology as a critical factor in their supply chain operations. 

3. The World Economic Forum projects that blockchain has the potential to generate a staggering $365 billion in annual value for the global supply chain industry by 2030. 

4. According to a report by Transparency Market Research, the global blockchain supply chain market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 50% from 2021 to 2031. 

5. Insights from Gartner indicate that by 2023, a significant 50% of large global companies are expected to have integrated blockchain technology into their supply chain operations. 

B. Potential Future Applications and Innovations in Supply Chain Management

• Sustainable Supply Chains: Blockchain in supply chains can play a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices by tracking the environmental impact of products throughout the supply chain. This will allow businesses to make informed decisions about blockchain and promote eco-friendly practices.

• Circular Economy: Blockchain can facilitate the circular economy by enabling efficient tracking and managing product lifecycles, including reusability and recycling initiatives.

• Enhanced Customer Engagement: Consumers are increasingly interested in product origin and ethical sourcing. Blockchain lets them access this information transparently, fostering brand trust and loyalty.

C. Predictions for the Evolution of Blockchain in Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience

As blockchain technology matures and becomes more widely adopted, we can expect to see significant advancements in supply chain resilience:

• Real-time Risk Management: Blockchain-powered systems, particularly blockchain for business, could provide real-time data on potential disruptions, allowing companies to take proactive measures and minimize their impact. 

• Self-Sovereign Supply Chains: The concept of autonomous and automated supply chains powered by blockchain and AI could emerge. These intelligent systems could optimize operations and adapt to disruptions in real time.
  
• Democratization of Supply Chains: Blockchain for business has the potential to level the playing field for smaller companies by providing them with secure and transparent access to global supply chains.

Conclusion

Investigating blockchain adoption becomes a strategic necessity as companies negotiate the complexity of contemporary supply chain management to boost resilience and competitiveness. Switching to blockchain technology offers companies a rare chance to transform their supply chain processes and promote increased efficiency, security, and transparency. 

Businesses can use blockchain to expedite transactions throughout the supply chain network, confirm authenticity, and efficiently track the flow of goods. By adopting blockchain technology, companies can future-proof their operations, reduce risks, and gain a competitive edge. Businesses must investigate the adoption of blockchain technology to fortify their supply chains and open up fresh opportunities for product development and innovation.

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Introduction

The dawn of digital agriculture is upon us, and with it comes an array of technologies designed to increase efficiency and transparency in the food production and distribution process. Central to this revolution is the use of blockchain in agriculture. By integrating blockchain technology and smart contracts, stakeholders can create a more transparent, secure, and efficient agricultural system.

Blockchain in Agriculture: A Revolution in Transparency and Traceability

Blockchain technology has the potential to profoundly reshape agriculture. At its core, a blockchain is a transparent, immutable ledger of transactions. This means that once data is recorded, it cannot be altered, providing an unparalleled level of trust and accountability. In agriculture, this technology can be used to record a wide array of data, from planting, watering, and fertilizing crops to tracing the journey of produce from farm to table.

By harnessing blockchain in agriculture, we can ensure transparency and traceability throughout the entire food supply chain. Every transaction and exchange can be recorded on the blockchain, from the time a seed is planted, to when it is harvested, processed, and finally reaches the consumer. This level of detail can be critical in quickly identifying and addressing issues, such as outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, reducing the impact, and improving response times.

Smart Contracts: Automating Agriculture with Blockchain

Smart contracts – self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code – are another innovative application of blockchain in agriculture. These contracts automatically enforce and execute themselves when certain conditions are met, eliminating the need for intermediaries and reducing the chances of disputes.

For instance, a farmer could use a smart contract to automatically sell crops to a distributor once they reach a certain size or maturity level. The data can be collected through IoT (Internet of Things) devices and instantly recorded on the blockchain. This process reduces paperwork, streamlines operations, and expedites payments, all while maintaining a high level of security and transparency.

The Future of Digital Agriculture with Blockchain

The application of blockchain in agriculture signals a major step forward in the era of digital agriculture. While the technology is still in its early stages, the potential benefits are vast. From improving food safety and reducing fraud to promoting fair trade and sustainable farming practices, blockchain can address many of the challenges facing the agriculture industry today.

Moreover, the combination of blockchain technology with other digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, drones, and precision farming can unlock even greater potential. The future of digital agriculture is set to be more transparent, more efficient, and more sustainable thanks to the revolutionary power of blockchain.As we move forward, embracing the use of blockchain in agriculture will be crucial. In the face of a rapidly growing global population and increasing demands on our food system, the need for efficient and sustainable farming practices has never been greater. Blockchain technology, with its promise of transparency, security, and efficiency, might just be the key to unlocking the future of digital agriculture.

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Table of contents

• The growth in app development trends: Unprecedented and ongoing
• 10 Mobile application trends to watch out for in 2020
  1. IoT
  2. Instant Apps
  3. AR/VR
  4. Chatbots
  5. BYOD
  6. Apps for foldable devices
  7. Beacons technology
  8. 5G
  9. Blockchain
  10. Low code/no-code development
• Conclusion

The growth in app development trends: unprecedented and ongoing

According to Statista, the number of smartphone users worldwide today surpasses three billion and is forecasted to grow further by several hundred million in the next few years. China, India, and the United States are the countries with the highest number of smartphone users, with each country surpassing the 100 million user mark. With the increasing usage of smartphones, mobile app development trends are also growing and have made it essential for developers to stay updated and relevant.Businesses globally are keeping an eye on the latest trends to reap the maximum advantage and create a stronger, more engaged user-base. While we saw unprecedented growth in app development trends till 2019, this year is set to witness a similar trajectory of growth, with more promising trends. We have listed the top ten among them that businesses and developers must watch out for in 2020.

10 Mobile application trends to watch out for in 2020

1. IoT

   2019 witnessed brands like Amazon and Google leveraging IoT and strengthening the competition by introducing the “Echo” range of devices and “Home voice controller” respectively. The investment of hardware companies like Cisco and Dell in IoT and Google’s move to acquire wearable company Fitbit and its collaboration with Nest, a home security camera manufacturer, further hints at the fast movement of these companies towards IoT technology.

   So far we have seen various use cases of IoT in real-life such as continuous supply chain management in retail, connected homes and savvy healthcare monitoring. We are yet to see more and with the increase in demand for IoT solutions, the demand for IoT-enabled apps will grow simultaneously. Forbes magazine predicts that the IoT market would double by 2021. App developers, therefore, will be looking to develop apps for connected products.

2. Instant Apps

   Unlike native apps, you don’t need to download and install instant apps to run them, they can be accessed via a shared link. Instant apps give you access to limited features or a fundamental features-only version of the app. One of the prime reasons they are gaining traction is app demos. These apps provide a look into an app’s complete version and make it easier for you to decide if it’s useful for you before choosing to download. It has become a better way of reaching out to target audiences and convince them for installation. Another advantage of instant apps is that they are smaller in size when compared to regular apps which reduce the page loading time and bounce rate. Vimeo reported an increased session rate by 130% with instant apps.

   With users continuously demanding a better experience and shorter load times, instant apps are something to look forward to in 2020.

3. AR/VR

   Many eCommerce stores, realtors and apparel brands have integrated AR/VR technologies in their applications- Sephora and IKEA, for instance. This not only enabled them to boost and enhance user experience but also increased conversion rates. New use cases are underway as technological giants like Apple and Google are investing heavily in innovation using AR. This year, Google plans to introduce a new AR feature for Google Maps, which would provide people with directions from their camera phones in real time.

   According to Statista, the augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) market is forecasted to reach 18.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. Looking at the growth drivers and potential use cases, we can confirm that this year, AR integration will be one of the significant mobile app development trends that would shape the mobile industry.

4. Chatbots

   Initially, only apps like Facebook, Skype, and Slack used chatbots at large but now we see most of the businesses leveraging chatbots for customer interactions. With nearly 50% of customers preferring self-service chatbots over human representatives, it has become imperative for every major product and service sector business to deploy a chatbot. Till date, there are approximately 2.5 million apps in the Google Play Store and nearly 1.8 million in the Apple App Store. However, there are very few apps that have deployed chatbots to enhance customer experience.

   As per Gartner, chatbot interaction is set to increase from just 20% in 2017 to 93% in 2022. With 80% of enterprises expected to use chatbots by 2020, the integration of chatbots to mobile apps will escalate quickly.

5. BYOD

   Bring Your Own Device is a trend under which companies allow their employees to use their personal smartphones and tablet devices for work. This way, enterprises save the cost of device purchase. This comes with security challenges such as employee frauds and industrial spying but they can be averted by deploying a BYOD app. They can install the app on their personal devices which can have different features and rights.

   According to Insights, BYOD market will reach $367 billion by 2022. Many companies are expected to follow the trend set by large enterprises and build company app for their employees.

6. Apps for foldable devices

   With Samsung coming up with its foldable phones, the operating systems are getting ready to make use of this technology to improve smartphone experiences. Google, in 2018, officially announced the foldable support on Android phones by using its ‘screen continuity’ API. According to Samsung, many android apps such as Amazon prime video, Twitter and Facebook have already been optimized for their Galaxy fold. Video streaming and gaming apps can also reap more benefits from foldable technology by simply increasing their screen size or using the extra space for additional information and controls.

   Since foldable phones are the next big thing of 2020, developers must plan their strategy in a way that their applications are poised to run seamlessly on foldable devices.

7. Beacon technology

   A beacon technology-enabled app on your device shows you where you can have your preferred products, their costs, and other specifications. Beacons utilize BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) signals. When your device enters a beacon’s zone, the particular app instantly gets this signal and offers appropriate notifications and instructions for the users. Industries like healthcare, museums, and hotels have already included beacons in their services. After Apple’s iBeacon and Google’s Eddystone, now beacon is a part of both iOS and Android app development.

   Beacon technology has been around for some time now, and 2020 will make its presence even stronger. Beacon-based notifications are increasingly helping many businesses and industries to connect with their customers in a highly contextual manner.

   According to GeoMarketing, by 2020, the number of beacon deployments is expected to reach 400 million globally, thereby generating $56,554M by 2026.

8. 5G

   The introduction of 5G networks will not just strengthen network performance but create a data-intensive environment, facilitating new opportunities. By providing lower latency and speeding up data-sharing by upto 10x , you can automate more core processes and deliver improved applications for capturing and sharing data. 5G services offer an extensive range of opportunities, app developers should design the apps that can handle volumes of data being transmitted without compromising with performance.

   It is anticipated that the transition from 4G services to 5G wireless network will be completed by the end of 2020.

9. Blockchain

   Blockchain technology, launched many years back, became a buzzword in 2018, and it was 2019 when we witnessed its many use cases across various industries. With data breaches and security becoming major challenges for business leaders worldwide, blockchain as a trend is growing fast. A large number of fintech companies have already reaped the benefits from blockchain app development.

   According to Transparency Market research, the blockchain market will reach $20 billion by 2024. This clearly indicates that app developers must get ready to capitalize on this technology.

10. Low code/no-code development

    Businesses looking to have an in-house app development team sometimes lack the resources needed to effectively plan and develop a mobile product.  Low-code or no-code development is increasingly becoming popular among such businesses as it eliminates the need for in-house personnel to have a thorough knowledge of coding. In case of no-code development, they can develop the product with no coding knowledge at all.  These platforms are easy to use; where users can simply drag and drop visual components and compile an app.

    While low-code/no-code development platforms are not here to replace traditional coding, this trend will get a boost in 2020, especially among enterprises where budgets are a constraint.

Conclusion

As the trends change and new technologies evolve, it is important for business leaders to stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies and stand out in the highly competitive mobile app development space. The evolving app development trends would drive the need for enterprise mobile app development services. Make sure you keep up with the technologies and trends we mentioned here and try to implement them as much in your mobile app. You can also leverage the expertise of mobile app development companies such as [x]cube LABS to scale your businesses through mobile applications.

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