The mobile app landscape is changing as brands look to gain an edge over the competition. Users are always on the lookout for new features, and apps stuck in the past simply won’t get the downloads they need to provide a positive return.

Users spend 90% of their time in apps compared to the mobile web, and app installs continue to climb year-over-year. However, users aren’t satisfied with the same-old, same-old, and that’s what causes 26% of installed apps to be abandoned after just one use.

Technology changes quickly, and brands behind apps are becoming savvier in understanding the needs of their audience. These are the reasons why we can expect to see increasing evolution in the app development space during the upcoming year and beyond. A recent article in Tech Republic details its predictions for the future of mobile apps in 2017, and how users will benefit.

Below is a run-down of 5 app development trends we expect to see the most of in 2017:

Social Media Will Dominate App Development

The future of mobile apps and social media integration is pretty much already here – but will continue to grow. Did you think 10 years ago that your Facebook profile could be used to identify yourself across a variety of different platforms? Today, social media integration is a crucial part of many apps.  You can’t even swipe on Tinder without a Facebook account – and the app pulls in your information from your account to determine if your potential match is friends with any of your friends and lets you know if you have common interests.

Enabling social login features can also cut down on time it takes to jump into an app, while app integration can encourage shares and expand your reach. If your audience is on Facebook, you should think about using Facebook in your app.

Collaboration & Interaction will be Key Focus Areas

Every app wants to be “useful” and utilizing collaborative features can help an app improve retention rates. G-Suite and Dropbox do this particularly well, while tie-ins to social media allowing users to share content with friends should also see growth in the next year.

Centralization Will Rule the Day

Centralization is one of the most exciting things about the future of mobile apps. At the end of the day your business really only needs one app. A good example of this was ESPN. A few years ago, they had a news app, a scores app, a TV app and a radio app. Today, you can get all of that in one app with an easy-to-navigate interface. Centralizing app experience makes sense both in terms of meeting your users’ needs and limiting your development costs.

Look for an Increase in Subscription Models

It used to be crazy to pay more than a few bucks to use an app. As often as we use our phones today, apps are becoming more and more like software you would have bought for your PC – and we all know that software isn’t free.

The future of mobile apps isn’t free. As the capability of mobile apps continues to grow, expect the value of subscription services to match the quality of a product. Office 365 is available on your phone for $99 a year – and 1 TB of Dropbox storage costs $9.99 a month.

Improving Offline Capabilities

Netflix just implemented features allowing users to download video to watch offline later because if you’re trapped in the woods and want to watch a movie, you need a backup plan. This same principle will start becoming commonplace on other applications as well. There’s no reason we can’t have maps offline – as console GPS systems did that years ago. Look for more apps to find ways to work offline almost as well as they do online.

Partner with ThrottleNet for Mobile App Development

The future of mobile apps for your business starts with ThrottleNet. As trusted partner in developing cross-channel applications for businesses in the St. Louis area, ThrottleNet continues to stay ahead of the curve understanding the newest trends in the world of app development. If you are looking to centralize your apps, add collaborative features, go offline or make your app more social contact us today. We’re here to help your app move full-throttle into 2017 and beyond!