In
web development, the saying “The only constant is change” seems
to be industry-defining. Web development is changing every second and
2018 will be no different.
User
expectations are growing and it is more important than ever to build
digital experiences That are engaging, fun, and intuitive. Content
needs to be accessible everywhere, in real-time, and, of course, on
mobile devices.
In
order to make that happen, new programming languages and frameworks
are on the rise (Hello Vue JS!), extensions are becoming more
compatible, and real time web apps are becoming more popular.
In
order to keep up with what is happening, we want to show you the top
7 web development trends that are happening right now!
Happy
Reading!
Progressive Web Applications
The
world first heard about progressive web apps in 2015. The next year
we met the pioneers of this technology, and in 2018 progressive Web
Applications seem to have become the major competitor of native
mobile apps.
Progressive
web apps (or PWAs) are websites that feel like native mobile apps.
Thanks to service workers, they can work offline, delivering an
extraordinary user experience.
The
users can save the shortcut to the website on their home screen if
they use it frequently. As the most information is stored in the
cache, the app loads instantly. Service workers run in the background
and ensure that the latest information is cached every time the
device is connected to the internet.
The
ability to work without any connection is one of the major advantages
of progressive web apps. PWAs are gaining traction and becoming a
true web development trend. Some world’s leading companies prove
the efficiency of this technology.
PWAs
have fewer features on iOS devices since the platform doesn’t
support service workers. However, Flipkart and The Washington Post
have proved that the progressive web apps significantly improve user
engagement and conversions on all platforms. The UX of the PWAs plays
the key role.
After
such inspiring examples, the world awaits the hype around the
progressive web applications in 2018. Even though the technology is
quite new, its prospects look very promising.
Online customer support
2016
was the year of chatbots. 2017 is the year of helpful chatbots. Since
there are thousands of bots out now, the quality of their services
will be the next web development trend.
The
prediction
is
that 85% of all customer interactions will proceed without human
assistance till 2020.
A
customer service chatbot becomes a must on almost every website.
Whether you are selling electronics, crocheted toys or software
development services, you should have a chatbot.
The
conversational interface has transformed the way businesses interact
with their customers. Having a bot on the company's website ensures
you are in contact with your client at any time, in any situation.
The
customer service chatbot gives the client a feeling of interacting
with a human. The bot is smart enough to answer frequently asked
questions, to redirect clients to the needed page, to help them to
choose the right product and even to proceed with payments. And all
this without the round-the-clock customer support department.
In
2018 customers will prefer websites with appropriate online
assistance. You can create a customer support department or get a
chatbot that will guide a potential client through your website.
The
second option will allow you to save time and resources, and optimize
the working process. So why not to join the hype around chatbots?
Static websites
You
definitely remember the concept of a static website from the early
years of the World Wide Web. All the first websites on the Internet
were static.
But
then the era of dynamic websites began.
Websites
became more functional and easier to update even for people with no
technical background. At the same time, the development process
became more complicated, as the extended functionality required
communication with the server, so backend development got involved.
Modern CMSs are the actual dynamic websites.
Nowadays,
the web is returning to its roots. Static websites are becoming the
web development trend of 2018 again. But they have been improved by
static site generators which allow combining the advantages of a
static website and a CMS. The most popular of them. There is also a
huge variety of static site generators written in other programming
languages. You can find out more and compare different solutions on
the StaticGen
website.
There
are several reasons why static websites are back. They are faster,
safer and cheaper. And they can satisfy the needs of different types
of businesses. So, the prediction is obvious: static websites will
experience a new reincarnation in 2018.
Single-page websites
Another
web development trend for simplicity is single-page websites. This
solution allows putting all the content onto one long scrollable
page, removing any clutter.
They
don’t challenge the visitor with complex navigation, multi-level
menu, and tons of text. The essential information is all on one page.
The user only has to scroll to it.Of course, the use-cases of
single-pagers are limited.
This
type of website will not suit e-commerce projects and blogs. At the
same time, businesses can significantly benefit, presenting their
services in a simplified and more engaging manner.
When
visiting your one-page website the user consumes the information
consecutivelyand doesn’t jump over the pages in the random order.
You have certain control over the way he learns more about your
company. Such websites are great for mobile use.
This
type of website is definitely more user-friendly. At the same time,
it allows to reduce the costs of the website: design is cheaper,
development is cheaper, hosting is cheaper.
The
single-pagers usually attract with extraordinary design, and powerful
accents which bring an impressive increase in conversion. That’s
why single page apps will gain traction in 2018.
Push notifications for websites
Mobile
apps notifications turned out to be a highly efficient means of user
re-engagement. And recently this idea has been implemented for
websites and is becoming new web development trend.
The
workflow looks quite simple: the user visits a website and is offered
to enable push notifications. The user will then be notified of any
changes on the website (like a new blog post or a private message),
even after he has closed the tab with that website.
The
major benefit
of such a technology
is
obvious - you can keep the user engaged without big efforts. In some
cases, push notifications can be a cheaper alternative toa mobile
app. They deliver new information instantly and redirect the user to
the website to find out more.
Push
notifications beat emails, SMS and social media in providing
up-to-date information. They are quick, come on time, and don’t
require any complicated actions. They are just user-friendly.
Since
push-notifications are just making the first steps in user
engagement, you have a chance to become the pioneer of this
technology in 2018.
Nowadays
having a website is more important for the company than having an
office.
Being
ahead of web development trends means attractingnew customers,
satisfying existing customers and encouraging older customers to
return.
Are
you just about to create or redesign your website? Contact us to get
it done according to the last word in web development.
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