Leading Enterprise Software Development Trends in 2021

In the coming years, enterprise software development will see some defining shifts which will shape the industry. It is predicted that worldwide spending on enterprise software will reach $669 billion by 2022. It’s safe to say the market is on the up.

In 2021, in order to lead the market and outperform the competition, enterprises must utilize the latest software and technology trends to remain on the cutting edge. 

Software development trends change very frequently and even more so since the pandemic. 

Let’s take a look at some of the leading software development trends dominating the market in 2021:

Cloud computing

Cloud-based or cloud-native development is recommended for building scalable, resilient and flexible enterprise applications in a cost-effective and fast way. Leveraging cloud services, businesses significantly streamline software development processes, quickly and easily scale their application vertically (increasing the capacity of an individual server) and horizontally (adding more instances of the server), and save ~30% of infrastructure costs in comparison with on-premises hosting. The major cloud providers – AWS, Azure, Google – offer powerful capabilities for enterprise app implementation in the cloud. 

Cybersecurity

Businesses transferring to remote working run the risk of increased breaches due to insecure home networks and devices. This has become a problem since the pandemic.

Every year, cybercrime hits an all-time high and the methods of preventing it are struggling to keep up with advancing attacking methods. Cybersecurity software development has never been more sought after, here’s why:

5G

5G is currently being introduced and will pose potential security threats to businesses. As 5G becomes available to mobile users working from home and is introduced to smart cities, security software development will have to keep up with it. 

Cloud breaches 

Since the pandemic, many businesses have moved to the cloud. It is a great tool to access business-related data while remote working, but poor practices pose a threat to security. 

Artificial Intelligence 

AI is used during trade and transactions to spot fraud or malicious intent, hence why it is used for cybersecurity. 

AI is a leading software trend for processing large amounts of customer data so businesses can provide a more well-rounded customer experience.

It also allows for quality of life improvements such as hyper-automation, meaning an enterprise can streamline its workflow by replacing traditional methods with highly accurate AI replacements. 

Here are some other ways that AI is a leading trend:

Predictive analytics

AI can offer businesses the ability to assess sales data with the help of algorithms, allowing for more accurate business models and finding out customer preferences. 

Neuro-linguistic programming 

NLP allows customer service centers to automate most of their service to save time and money. This was especially helpful during the pandemic where potentially thousands of customers were calling customer service centers for inquiries. 

Native & Progressive Web Apps 

Native apps are the king of enterprise software development trends in 2021. Native apps allow businesses to make apps that take full advantage of their customer’s devices. They can use the camera, GPS and contacts, etc. 

But Progressive web apps (PWAs) take things one step further. PWAs are similar to native apps but offer a lightning-fast download speed and can operate offline. Users don’t have to update PWAs as they are automatically updated every time they are visited. 

A PWA is 3 to 4 times cheaper than a native app and big brands like Forbes and Pinterest are already using it. 

AR, VR & MR

The trends of combining the best of man and machine have always been popular. AR, VR, and MR allow companies to take their services to the next level.

Augmented reality 

AR blends digital content with the real-world environment. It is used in architectural industries like engineering, navigation, and manufacturing. It’s a great way for businesses to make ad-based filters that their customer base can use in photos, this is especially attractive to younger audiences. 

Virtual reality 

VR puts the user into a completely virtual world. It has brought a new dynamic to the gaming industry. Gaming companies can now offer a next-level immersive experience to their players and place them firsthand into the world they have created. 

It’s not only a gaming trend. It's used in training and education and schools use it to engage their students while learning. 

When it comes to corporations, it’s just as popular. The user-centric features are appealing to many corporations and they have been investing in VR to enhance the services they offer to their customers and clients. 

Mixed reality 

Combining the best of both worlds (AR & VR), MR is a promising future software development trend. 

MR is used in many sectors including tourism, property development, healthcare, and architecture. It is the best tool for customized enterprise software. 

Blockchain 

We have all heard of bitcoin but blockchain offers much more. A lot of website development companies are using it. 

It is a data structure that holds transactional records, keeping them safe, secure, transparent, and decentralized. It’s a chain of records controlled by no single authority. 

It pairs well with peer-to-peer networks (P2P) and is one of the best practices for enterprise software development. 

Big Data

Data is becoming a valuable resource and it’s used in many business dealings. Big data is coined the “great power” as customer data can be used for many things and the handling of this data comes with a lot of responsibilities. Many companies use it to tailor their customer experience around each individual.

Many consumers are aware of the importance of their data being handled to best practices hence why big data must follow strict laws to prevent security breaches.

Big data is creating a service called data as a service or DaaS. It will streamline data access so businesses can find precise data at the right time.

These trends in enterprise software development allow businesses to enhance their services and inevitably lead to their success. 

Implementing these trends into an enterprise is just as important as the trend itself.