It’s been three years since Covid-19 turned the world upside down and altered the way we live. The void that this global pandemic created in our life has made technology more important than ever. When people must retain their distance from one another, technology and more importantly, mobile applications have served as a bridge between them.
We don’t know how long the COVID-19 pandemic’s consequences will last. As a result, many businesses are preparing for this new normal. Businesses that are adaptable and inventive are outperforming others.
Many businesses, such as retail, tourism, and hospitality, have been hit hard by the pandemic, and it will take some time for things to return to normal. However, a few sectors such as work-from-home solutions, gaming, video streaming, and eCommerce have become instant saviors during these tumultuous times.
As a result, there is a growing need for mobile applications for any business that may make people’s lives easier while they remain safe in their homes. Understanding and responding to the moments that matter to the consumer right now should be at the top of the organization’s priority list. Not merely to sell more, but to alter the business value to change into a rapid-response organization, possibly a digital firm capable of weathering the next outbreak.
Let’s take a look at the top 7 app categories that will be the most productive, effective, and successful enterprises in the post-COVID era.
Healthcare Apps
It is a no-brainer that healthcare apps will come to the top of our list. These apps have come out as a savior in these times when everyone’s anxious regarding their health. Since people are restricted to their homes, and there’s not much scope for physical movement, there’s a huge demand for apps that can make people’s mental and physical health better. Mobile apps such as meditation apps, fitness apps, medical care apps, mental health apps, etc., are assisting people in staying healthy, both mentally and physically, in the confines of their homes.
According to a March 2020 report by App Annie, a group of ten fitness applications, including Asana Rebel, 30 Day Fitness, and Nike Training Club, received nearly 5 million downloads in only one week.
People are using a variety of meditation and yoga applications that teach them how to keep healthy, eat a balanced diet, and stay calm in stressful situations. There’s also a huge demand for on-demand doctor’s applications that offer instructions on medical tests, digital prescriptions, prompt consultation, and medicine delivery.
Grocery Apps
Grocery apps are second on our list and for the right reasons. We all remember the time when a global lockdown was announced and a tornado of people hit all grocery stores, with people stocking up on food supplies, and more importantly- toilet paper. Thus, grocery apps are essential and there can never be enough. Now, even with the pandemic slowing down, people are still anxious about becoming infected with the virus, therefore they are hesitant to leave their homes to go grocery shopping.
Grocery apps play an important role here. These apps keep up with the increase in demand and feed people in the safest way possible. As the pandemic hit, there was a massive increase in the number of downloads for grocery apps like Target, Instacart, Shipt, H-E-B, and Walmart. Grocery applications have gone from being a rare alternative to being an absolute necessity during the pandemic.
FinTech Apps
FinTech or finance is one other app category that is experiencing a lot of increase in demand. In these uncertain times, people are anxious about the economy and are unable to visit their banks. Both these things combined have made people move towards using FinTech apps as their go-to solution for all finance-related activities.
According to a report by App Annie, the time that people spend using finance applications saw a rise of almost 55% in the first quarter (Q1) of 2020. Moreover, Korea and Japan saw a sharper increase of 90% and 85% respectively.
People are using these apps for fundamental activities like paying bills, making online payments, fund transferring, using a bank account, stock monitoring, inversing, trading, personal finance management, and more. Users are always on the lookout for the most user-friendly, secure, and trustworthy FinTech app to solve all their money-related issues.
Dating Apps
There has been a massive surge in downloading and usage of dating apps during this global pandemic. People have been confined to their homes, with little to no connection with the outside world, which has created a huge market for dating applications. According to a report, there was only a 5.3% increase in using these apps in 2019. However, as the global pandemic hit, dating apps such as Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder have seen massive growth in their customer base.
In 2019, it was already predicted that most people would choose to meet people virtually by the year 2035, however, this prediction has been fast-forwarded with the onslaught of covid cases and people fearing to go out for dates. On 29th March 2020, a record-breaking event occurred, Tinder users worldwide swiped through 3 billion probable matches.
People worldwide are quite happy with virtual dating as it’s less expensive and more effective for working out a relationship.
Entertainment Apps
Boredom can be alleviated by using entertainment apps. Especially during the pandemic when everybody is living in their homes, some even without their families, their main source of entertainment was provided through various apps over the internet. There was a massive increase in people using apps such as Snapchat, Scrabble GO, Google Play Music, IMDb, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, Netflix, etc., as their primary source of entertainment. Kids and young adults have been using various gaming apps to keep themselves occupied and connect with people their age through voice or video calling features in these games.
Likewise, Adults are heavily replying on various social media and News apps to connect with people and stay relevant in these times. News apps like BBC News, Google News, CNN, etc., have become extremely popular as people are curious about the happenings of the outside world.
E-Learning and Education Apps
Many students around the world did not attend class last year. Many students have yet to see their new classrooms, even this year. So, between 2020 and 2021, we saw a significant digitalization of schooling. While the classroom experience will always be crucial in education, COVID-19 has emphasized the benefits of online teaching and learning.
Moreover, lockdown not only encouraged students to use internet resources but also encouraged many others to learn new skills to pass the time. For example, in March 2020, Duolingo and Udemy encountered a 148% and 425% spike in registrations respectively in the United States.
Perhaps the newfound desire for mastering skills will only last until people return to their usual lives, but e-learning companies may continue to thrive because of the low cost and ease with which they can enable individuals to pursue their new hobbies from the comfort of their own homes.
DIY and Home Improvement Apps
Since people are spending more time in their homes, there’s a massive market created for DIY and home improvement apps. People are looking for ideas all around to make their stay at home more comfortable and pleasurable. According to a report, Lowe’s and Home Depot respectively encountered a 205% and 195% spike in their app downloads. The digital-first homeware retailer, Wayfair, also saw an 85% hike in its app downloads.
Homeowners are doing everything they can to make their stay-at-home time more worthwhile, from reviving their living spaces to utilizing home automation technology. As a result, mobile applications that assist individuals in developing and implementing home remodeling ideas, as well as locating and purchasing the appropriate materials, will be popular among customers who want to spend more time at home happier, and more enjoyable.
Conclusion
With the global pandemic, people are forced to stay in their homes, which has created a massive market for mobile applications. People now have the time to spend using these entertainment apps, and there’s a huge need for apps that make people’s lives easier. So, if you have an idea that can serve any of the aforementioned markets then this is the time to turn it into a mobile application. If you need any help in implementing your idea, then our skilled team of mobile app developers is here to help.
