9 Emerging Technologies That You Need to Know About

Take a look at the newest emerging technologies that are making the biggest splash in custom application development.

Technology continues to advance every day, and as a result, new industries are being created and are impacting every industry in significant ways. Whether you’re the CEO, a manager, an employee, or an aspiring entrepreneur, educating yourself on these new emerging technologies can lead to new advancements in your own business. For virtually every business, staying on top of emerging technologies is key when trying to deliver custom software solutions that meet your customer’s exact needs. Here’s a list of the top 9 emerging technologies you need to know about and a quick overview of their implications for application development.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. These processes include learning (the acquisition of information and rules for using the information), reasoning (using the rules to reach approximate or definite conclusions), and self-correction.

What it means for application development: Though Hollywood seems to villainize AI as the eventual end of human existence, its capabilities are far more helpful than destructive. AI advances in the last couple of years have opened the door to new business software capabilities.

Recently, AI technology has been used to turn databases into useful intelligence and deliver answers to customer and stakeholder questions in real-time using a chat-style interface. Apps using artificial intelligence can also track massive amounts of small data like transactions, sensors, equipment production, and deduce solutions to boost productivity in those areas. AI is also making complex medical diagnoses faster and more accurate with its ability to access and analyze vast data sources and against diagnostic data. Personal digital assistants are amongst some of the most popular AI applications.

2. Automation

Automation is a method to control or operate a process, system, or device without continuous human involvement.
What it means for application development: Automation can be used to mimic previously human-exclusive tasks like writing, speech, and driving. Common applications include standardized graphic design work, agriculture, journalism, and marketing. Automation is being applied to ebusiness privacy and compliance management within applications. It can also be paired with 3D printing to create specialty parts on demand for manufacturers or machine learning to improve virtually everything more quickly.

3. Robotization

Robotization is automating tasks using a machine that can perform complex and/or repetitive tasks automatically or one that is controlled by software programs.

What it means for application development: Robotics applications are making a huge impact in a wide variety of industries. In the agriculture industry farmers have paired with developers to program robots to eliminate weeds without having to use harmful herbicides on the crops. They can also be used to fertilize and even harvest crops.

They are also being used in the foodservice industry to drastically reduce overhead, and allow foodservice businesses to run 24/7; advanced robotic programming can mimic the processes of a cook or barista.

4. 3-D Printing

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file built in a CAD model.
What it means for application development: 3-D printing has been on the scene for a while, but its applications are still in the infancy stage. Retail businesses are starting to look into the possibility of using 3-D printers to make tailored attire for consumers. One company is developing an app that scans a customer’s foot, and prints out the perfect fitting shoe using 3-D printing technology. To fully leverage this technology, user-friendly interfaces and applications will provide many businesses with a leading edge competitive advantage.

5. Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank. A major example is Bitcoin, the world’s first decentralized ledger currency.
What it means for application development: With popularity in cryptocurrencies growing among today’s consumer, there is a growing demand for businesses to have the technology to accept them as a form of payment.

Developers are working on applications that can seamlessly convert cryptocurrency into cash. It is a market that many are skeptical of, but with significant shifts in embracing the virtual world, cryptocurrency could generate new avenues for customers to purchase goods and services from your business.

6. IoT (Internet of Things)

The Internet of Things, or IoT, is revolutionizing day-to-day business decision making and information gathering. Businesses can stream incoming data from connected devices, buildings, vehicles, wearables, and other devices that have sensors to optimize systems, help predict failures, improve efficiency, and create better outcomes.

What it means for application development: Utilizing the data gathered through IoT, software applications can be used to automate specific operations, improve the efficiency of processes, and find new insights once the data has been analyzed. Recently, companies have developed IoT devices that record, analyze, and interpret data to personalize functions to complement your day to day processes, manage health conditions, streamline the purchasing process, and deliver better customer service. Examples include smart lights that know exactly when to turn on and off based on your habits and mood, Amazon Dash Buttons for easy product reordering, sleep monitors to optimize, and fitness trackers.

7. Voice Recognition

Sometimes known as “speech recognition,” voice recognition is the ability of a machine or program to receive and interpret dictation or to understand and carry out spoken commands.

What it means for application development: With firms like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft embracing voice recognition technology, the market for its usability in all types of software continues to grow. Incorporating the capabilities of voice recognition in your internal and external applications can help create a more fluid and frictionless user experience and open up doors to new markets as the general population becomes accustomed to these technologies.

Alexa and Siri already need no introduction to a vast number of people.

8. Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous Vehicles are robotic vehicles that are designed to travel between destinations without a human operator. For a vehicle to qualify as fully autonomous, it must be able to navigate without human intervention to a predetermined destination over roads that have not been adapted for its use.

What it means for application development: With companies like Tesla, Google, and Uber breaking the surface of autonomous vehicle development, it creates a whole new market for software applications. While media companies have begun vying for advertising during autonomous vehicle trips, there is also a market open for new en-route productivity apps to be developed to complement the driverless experience and new forms of entertainment. Autonomous vehicles turn commute times into productivity times. In addition, the implications for the logistics and insurance industries are vast as we eliminate the natural limitations of human drivers and introduce a new set of technology-based variables.

9. Drones

A drone, in a technological context, is an unmanned aircraft. The aircraft may be remotely controlled or can fly autonomously through software-controlled flight plans in their embedded systems working in conjunction with onboard sensors and GPS. Companies like Amazon recently revealed their plans to use them in same day delivery operations.

What it means for application development: The use of drones is impacting major industries, and they are also helping software development teams reach their goals. Companies can create software that collects, tracks, analyzes, and manages data that is generated by drones. In industries like agriculture, drones can be used to monitor crop growth. For example, they allow developers to access data retrieved by drones and implement it in real-time applications that farmers can use to manage their crop production. Drones can also be used to deliver information and supplies to remote locations, photograph, and video locations, and provide insights into dangerous situations.

Bonus List!

While this article highlights nine emerging technologies, there are countless others impacting businesses today. Here are a few of the other key technologies making an impact on businesses building custom applications today that should be on your radar.
1. Wearables
2. Implanted technology
3. Real-time language translators
4. Home automation
5. Natural-language processing
6. Integrated sensors
7. Virtual reality
8. Augmented reality
9. Mesh networks
10. Big data analytics
11. Mobile money
12. Solar power
13. Electric vehicles
14. Next-generation batteries
15. Machine learning
16. Blockchain
17. Quantum computing
18. Intelligence augmentation (IA)

As these emerging technologies continue to develop, they are enabling the smart automation of everyday processes which opens up endless business opportunities. We hope this list piques your interest in pursuing new endeavors that pave the way to the future success of your business.

Take the Steps for Success

Ready to utilize these types of emerging technologies for your next project? The experts at QAT Global are here to execute on your vision and deliver cutting-edge software to your users that leverages best practices, a modern design, and flexible engagement models. Using an Agile software development approach with proper planning and the right people on your team will put you on the path to success. The development team at QAT Global is experienced in developing all kinds of enterprise applications and SaaS products for clients in a wide variety of industries. Put your next software project on the path to success, start the conversation with our development team today.