Mobile App Development Trends & Tools 2018

Published on Dec 27, 2017

Updated on Apr 17, 2020

The year 2017 proved to be one of the best times to invest in Mobile app development. Enterprises have now realized that mobile apps are now a necessity. A Smartphone is a very best way to meet customer demands and increase sales. In the year 2017, the projected rise is 254 billion free downloaded apps, up from 57.33 billion in 2012, which proves mobile development is one of the most actively growing sectors in the industry. The key players are Google apps, social media, lifestyle and gaming apps. Large companies (retailers, banks, hospitality, etc.) are using mobile applications for branding, increasing customer engagement, direct marketing, etc., while small and midsize businesses are also following the mobile trend and creating their own apps.

Internet of Things (IoT) and Wearable Apps

The idea of a smart home, smart cities, industrial IoT, automotive industry, smart health, and smart retail is growing. From healthcare to education and smart homes to smart offices, IoT apps will gradually start becoming mainstream in 2017. Though it might take some more time for IoT to fully take off, it is here to stay. Apple watch apps are already booming and will continue growing. Google has also released Android Things to increase IoT adoption. As we see an increase in demand for connected things, apps will be required for smart devices other than smartphones, and developers will have to keep innovating to meet diverse needs. Analysts predict that IoT will grow from $157.05 billion in 2016 to $661.74 billion by 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 33.3%. This directly impacts the mobile app trends as IoT devices are controlled by smartphones.

Accelerated Mobile Pages

Since Google introduced the AMP project, page loading on mobile devices is accelerated. With AMP, you now see the quick loading of web pages on your mobile. Besides this awesome function, Google has declared that it will provide an isolated search index for the mobile web. From an SEO point of view, this step transforms all mobile app development approaches.

Accelerated Mobile Pages will help web apps to load more quickly on all mobile devices, reducing bounce rate. This change will also help publishers increase visibility to their ads and create a boom in the number of visitors.

Mobile Payments

Customers engaged in online shopping through Mobile Applications have been using Internet banking or Credit/ Debit cards to make payments. But with the introduction of Apple Pay and Google Wallet, customers are gradually shifting to m-commerce. It will be a good way for companies to harvest data and provide in-depth analysis of clients. As well as being a more comfortable payment option for customers.

Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality Apps

In 2017 AR and VR will start to go beyond entertainment and gaming. We saw the growth trend driven by consumer and business demand for new technologies last year. Both AR and VR possess huge potential when it comes to transforming a diverse range of industry sectors. The market for enterprise Augmented Reality will primarily be driven by industries such as retail, healthcare, engineering and real estate. Virtual Reality technologies will be more focused on the game and events sphere.

On-Demand Apps

On-demand applications are now very popular. They make our lives easier and more convenient, and we can use them from anywhere.

Enterprise Apps and BYOD

More and more organizations embrace the “Bring Your Own Device” model, we are going to see an upsurge in demand for hybrid enterprise apps. 72% of organizations have already started investing in BYOD for employees in some way or the other. In 2017 more than half of the world’s employers will require BYOD. Hybrid apps are known to run in the app form but are essentially mobile websites. This helps reduce the cost and speed the mobile app development process.

Cloud-based Apps

Mobile App Developers are designing more cloud driven mobile apps. With increasing use of cloud technology, it has become much quicker and easier to get data without impacting on your internal phone memory. With Dropbox, Google Drive and various other cloud apps, more and more mobile apps will be cloud driven. Cloud-based mobile apps are especially attractive for enterprises as they would largely alleviate the data security issues inherent in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).

Android Instant Apps

Native apps that function like websites can attract more people with their convenience. Android Instant Apps don’t require installation all borders are removed from app and website. You can have all the advantages of your app within your site, with only one click. Run Android apps as seamlessly as loading a web page and save space on your smartphone, no unwanted app downloading

Application Security

The security of a smartphone is more crucial than ever because of the amount of personal user data it contains.Apps with built-in security features can make a large difference in the app space. More developers will be adopting the use of this platform, providing better UX with more security features. With this new programming language, we’ll begin to see more secure apps in the market. Mobile App Developers will be working harder than ever to ensure that every app they design comes with a safety guarantee in 2018.

Machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Chatbots

Customised, conversational commerce and chatting with online shoppers are highly lucrative for any business. Apps are increasingly learning about their user’s preferences. Sounds intelligent, but it is way more than that. There is something about playing with their heartstrings. It is emotional quotients of applications being upgraded by sheer bot observation! All off you know such amazing AI apps: Prisma, Siri, Google Now. We are expecting much more in 2017 keeping the AI mobile application development trend intact.

Lazy loading

Another great trend that we should expect in the upcoming year is related to the lazy loading technology. The thing is that the images that load for too long prevent the user from opening the whole article. It takes time to load the page, and users leave not willing to spend too much time on the page waiting. As a result, the bounce rate grows, and the conversion rates drop. So, to prevent this, technology gurus have decided to implement the lazy loading which basically means that images only load when their turn on the page comes. Otherwise, they do not overload the page.

Claims are the moment of truth. Are you turning them into moments of loyalty?

In insurance, your app interface might win you downloads. Your pricing might drive conversions.
But it’s the claims experience that decides whether a customer stays—or leaves for good.

According to a survey by NPS Prism, promoters are 2.3 times more likely to renew their insurance policies than passives or detractors—highlighting the strong link between customer advocacy and retention.

NPS in insurance industry is a strong predictor of customer retention. Many insurers are now prioritizing NPS to improve their claims experience.

So, what are today’s high-NPS insurers doing differently? Spoiler: it’s not just about faster payouts.

We’ve worked with claims teams that had best-in-class automation—but still had low NPS. Why? Because the process felt like a black box.
Customers didn’t know where their claim stood. They weren’t sure what to do next. And when money was at stake, silence created anxiety and dissatisfaction.

Great customer experience (CX) in claims isn’t just about speed—it’s about giving customers a sense of control through clear communication and clarity.

The Traditional Claims Journey

Forms → Uploads → Phone calls → Waiting
No real-time updates
No guidance after claim initiation
Paper documents and email ping-pong

The result? Frustrated customers and overwhelmed call centers.

The CX Gap: It’s Not Just Speed—It’s Transparency

Customers don’t always expect instant decisions. What they want:

To know what’s happening with their claim
To understand what’s expected of them
To feel heard and supported during the process

How NPS Leaders Are Winning Loyalty with CX-Driven Claims and High NPS

1. Real-Time Status Updates

Transparency to the customer via mobile app, email, or WhatsApp—keeping them in the loop with clear milestones.

2. Proactive Nudges

Auto-reminders, such as “upload your medical bill” or “submit police report,” help close matters much faster and avoid back-and-forth.

3. AI-Powered Document Uploads

Single-click scans with OCR + AI pull data instantly—no typing, no errors.

4. In-the-Moment Feedback Loops

Simple post-resolution surveys collect sentiment and alert on issues in real time.

For e.g., Lemonade uses emotional AI to detect customer sentiment during the claims process, enabling empathetic responses that boost satisfaction and trust.

Smart Nudges from Real-Time Journey Tracking

For a leading insurance firm, we mapped the entire in-app user journey—from buying or renewing a policy to initiating a claim or checking discounts. This helped identify exactly where users dropped off. Based on real-time activity, we triggered personalized notifications and offers—driving better engagement and claim completion rates.

Tech Enablement

Claims Orchestration Layer: Incorporates legacy systems, third-party tools, and front-end apps for a unified experience.

AI & ML Models: For document validation, fraud detection, and claim routing, sentiment analysis is used. Businesses utilizing emotional AI report a 25% increase in customer satisfaction and a 30% decrease in complaints, resulting in more personalized and empathetic interactions.

Self-Service Portals: Customers can check their status, update documents, and track payouts—all without making a phone call.

Business Impact

What do insurers gain from investing in CX?

A faster claim is good. But a fair, clear, and human one wins loyalty.

And companies that consistently track and act on CX metrics are better positioned to retain customers and build long-term loyalty.

At Mantra Labs, we help insurers build end-to-end, tech-enabled claims journeys that delight customers and drive operational efficiency.
From intelligent document processing to AI-led nudges, we design for empathy at scale.

Want a faster and more transparent claims experience?

Let’s design it together.
Talk to our insurance transformation team today.