Web Development Trends in 2020
Written By: ShaneWebGuy on August 11, 2020
Active Web development is the crux of digital marketing. Every aspect of a site is affected by the technical decisions of the developer and the site owner. 2020 has radically changed the landscape of digital marketing. The new normal in the time of the pandemic has shifted a lot of factors. We took a comprehensive look at the trends that are redefining Web development today across verticals.
1. AR and VR Growth
Attempts at developing mass-market virtual reality (VR) experiences have existed for years. It is only now that both AR and VR have held hands for a variety of purposes. Businesses are now using augmented reality to introduce fresher experiences to audiences.
Augmented reality has the capacity to enhance podcasts, video presentations, and even infographics. The growth of technologies like 360° videos is quickly paving the way for more interactive experiences online. Before, only the medical community used VR extensively for training and simulating medical procedures. The technology was also costly, for apparent reasons.
2. Progressive Web Applications
Progressive Web Applications are sites that function like apps that users install in their devices. HTML5 is highly adaptable, and the emergence of new technologies has made it easier for Web developers to create PWAs currently. Two things make PWAs highly desirable. First, they quickly widen the capabilities of a regular site, and second, the functionality of the native app compared to the mobile/desktop browser. Progressive Web applications have four dominant traits.
The first trait is its fast loading time. Application shell architecture affects the loading time of the PWA. Second is the Transport Layer Security (TLS), which takes care of the privacy and data integrity of the PWA. PWAs can also be service workers that offer offline support to users.
And finally, the Web app manifest file allows users to access information and services from their home screen. The WordPress.com site is one example of a PWA as it offers the vast majority of the functions available on the native Android or Apple app. Plus, users can easily access the WordPress.com site from their home screens with an easy shortcut.
Many brands have shifted to PWAs, including Twitter, Uber, and Pinterest. The use of Progressive Web Applications can help increase conversions by as much as 70%.
Another great thing about these PWAs is you don’t need a lot of storage space to get them going on your smartphone. They require just a 3% storage space compared to your average native app. These lightweight adaptations of native apps also perform faster and get the job done more efficiently.
3. AI and Chatbots in Websites
Chatbots have been around for years, too, but only now can we maximize their use in ecommerce. Artificial intelligence and machine learning now help websites with chatbots that mimic natural language. Modern chatbots solutions now include functions like data collection and automating tasks. These tasks were simply impossible some ten to fifteen years ago, but they are common now.
Chatbots now help human agents in fulfilling different customer service requirements. And unlike human agents, chatbots can efficiently function twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week without a miss. Another great advantage of using AI chatbots is that site owners can design them automatically to store historical data and human inquiries for resolution and analytics later on.
Chatbots have yet another fantastic capability: engaging with leads or potential leads. By integrating chatbots into your site’s group of digital solutions, your business can provide customers a higher level of customer satisfaction. Your business will also enjoy a naturally increasing customer base because the chatbots will take care of many inquiries even when no one is around to answer chats, calls, or emails.
Well-designed AI chatbots can quickly reduce errors commonly attributed to human agents. Your business will be able to save on effort, money, and time. With the economic effects of the pandemic still being felt globally, it would be a good time to invest in AI and chatbots.
Wouldn’t people feel weird speaking to chatbots? The answer is not really. People view chatbots as representatives of a business. 48% of those surveyed want to immediately ask questions when they land on a business or ecommerce site. 95% of people also believe that the main benefit and function of AI-driven chatbots is customer care.
4. WebAssembly
WebAssembly or Wasm is a type of instruction format (binary) designed for virtual machines. It is available for deployment for both client-side and server-side applications. Compared to JavaScript, Wasm is more agile in performing calculations.
Wasm is viewed as a powerful game-changer because it is a portable format for applications. You can create a bytecode that will compile or run smoothly in a regular Web browser. A high-level goal of Wasm is to make itself highly efficient and portable by harnessing hardware capabilities more effectively.
Another goal is to create modular binaries that help utilize exports and imports in particular ways.
Finally, web developers also aim to create possibilities for non-browser embedding and better integration with existing web platforms. If you want to make your web apps better, consider looking into utilizing WebAssembly.
5. Modular Design
The modular design focuses on reusing existing components and Web modules. This newer trend in design reduces the need for restrictive templates. Templates have helped people launch their sites more easily.
However, templates are naturally restrictive, so it is better to use modular design instead. Modular design stands in stark contrast to templates because elements are added to Web pages using a block grid approach. The elements on the Web page are all added via rectangular patterns.
The great thing about this approach is that site owners and Web developers can start thinking less about how to make a template work and more about how they can maximize content blocks.
Summary:
With WebAssembly and modular design now leading the shifts in the Web development landscape, it is high time that site owners begin thinking about how to best upgrade their sites. What’s the best way to make your site more responsive and pleasing to users? Talk to me today about Web development, site upgrades, and even your landing pages.
