Every year experts herald the latest and greatest software industry trends that will help organizations drive remarkable results. This year’s no different, with many of those same experts once again looking ahead to speculate on which innovative trends will be fleeting and which will be true game-changers.
10 Top Software Industry Trends to Watch in 2022 and Beyond
Companies are continually searching for new ways to drive operations forward and bring even greater benefits to their customers, employees, and bottom lines. From remote work to cloud computing and AI, here’s a look at the trends they can expect to help them continue their digital transformations.
1. Remote Work
Most experts agree this is a trend that’s here to stay, so look for future software development to reflect the permanence of a work-from-anywhere environment. As pointed out in a recent Computer Weekly article, the pandemic has hastened the growth of remote and hybrid work among companies and software developers alike. For developers in particular, adopting a remote work model has, in general, resulted in increased productivity and shorter task completion times.
2. AI and Related Innovations
One of the software industry trends for 2022 is that it's going to be a significant year for artificial intelligence (AI), especially in the software development arena. Integrating AI into existing technologies is expected to lead to better decision-making, greater efficiency, better outcomes, and an overall enhanced digital experience.
3. Cross-platform Development
Software developers are keen to move away from the challenges that come with products made “only for iOS,” “only for Android,” or “only for Windows.” Cross-platform development will support their goals and reduce the need for additional engineering resources, saving developers significant amounts of time and money.
4. Cybersecurity
As the world grows increasingly digital, software solution providers and users must get even more serious and vigilant about cybersecurity. Research shows the average spend per employee for cybersecurity will reach $42.52 in 2022, with revenue in the cybersecurity market projected to exceed $146 billion. Look for specialists to develop strategies that consider software, hardware, and IT services as single interconnected systems.
5. DevOps Observability Tools
As developers increase their adoption of cloud-native app development and microservices, observability tools are becoming a must for DevOps teams in both SMBs and large enterprises. To make it work, observability must not be relegated to one person. Instead, companies need to encourage all software development teams and departments to become proficient with monitoring, logging, and reporting so troubleshooting and debugging become quicker and easier.
6. Increased Focus on Software Quality Standards
Expect the ISO certification trend to continue as software developers look to comply with international quality standards, especially those related to the health and financial spheres. A nice bonus: a company’s ability to improve its reputation and attract more clients.
7. Legacy Systems Migration
Many companies continue to use old software systems based on outdated technologies incompatible with the latest tech advancements. The results are often poor performance, higher maintenance costs, an inability to meet customer requirements, and data security breaches. More enterprises are starting to see how essential it is to migrate data and processes to new platforms to ensure the reliable functioning of their IT systems and keep them competitive.
8. Non-Cryptocurrency Blockchain
Today, blockchain isn’t just for cryptocurrency, and many industries are adopting blockchain to provide them with exceptional security and transparency. Beyond Fintech, applications include supply chain monitoring, energy consumption tracking, intellectual property protection, and even secure electronic voting.
9. Python Takes the Lead
Just two years ago, JavaScript dominated the programming language field. Today, Python is, by most accounts, in first place with developers creating software solutions with AI and machine learning-based features.
10. Top Web Development Frameworks
More and more developers are turning to React as their preferred choice for front-end development. The development tool ensures SEO-friendliness and flexibility for software solutions while assisting in creating fast and high-performance native and cross-platform applications. Along with Angular, React is expected to continue leading web development through 2022.
The wide array of new technologies and innovations has enormous implications for the software development space. To learn more about emerging trends and how our team turns great ideas into workable technology, get in touch with Zibtek today
