Five disruptive technologies to amplify mobile and web app development now

Rapid technological advances have brought several disruptive innovations to the forefront, ready to be implemented in mobile and web app development today. These technologies can significantly enhance user experiences, streamline operations and provide a competitive edge.

Wondering where to begin? We recommend businesses seeking opportunities to evolve customer and user experience in 2025 consider integrating the following technologies into applications now.

1. Intelligent chatbots

Thanks to natural language integration, text interfaces have evolved from simple, rules-based systems to sophisticated conversational agents powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Modern chatbots can understand and respond to natural language, making them valuable for customer service, sales and support.

They can handle a wide range of queries, provide personalized recommendations, and even process transactions. Beyond these regular implementations, intelligent chatbots can offer advanced functionalities that further enhance user experience and operational efficiency.

At EY Design studio, we’re using these more and more frequently to improve user experience for our clients’ customers, employees and other stakeholders.

Practical implementations

• Information retrieval:  Chatbots can quickly search and find information within pages, documents, PDFs and databases, acting as a powerful search tool.
• Actionable tasks:  Chatbots can perform actions on a platform, such as booking appointments, processing orders and managing schedules.
• Interactive Q&A:  Chatbots can handle complex Q&A sessions, providing detailed and accurate responses based on a vast knowledge base.

Key upsides

• Immediate response to customer inquiries
• Personalized interactions based on user data
• Reduced need for human intervention in routine tasks
• Enhanced productivity with automated content summarization and information retrieval

Why now?

Advancements in AI, natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) mean large language models (LLM) have significantly improved chatbot capabilities, helping them feel more natural. These advances have also made chatbots more accurate and efficient. Additionally, people are more open and accepting of chatbots, creating an increasingly favourable deployment environment.

Implementing intelligent chatbots now can enhance customer service, reduce operational costs and provide a seamless user experience.

2. Voice and audio interfaces

Voice and audio interfaces, powered by AI and NLP, allow for hands-free, intuitive interactions with applications. Voice assistants and voice-activated features can significantly improve accessibility and user convenience.

This technology represents an evolution from traditional chatbots, offering a more natural and seamless way for users to interact with applications. The increased capabilities of mobile platforms, along with various development tools, have expanded the realm of possibilities for integrating voice and audio interfaces directly into apps.

Practical implementations

• Customer service: Voice-activated chatbots can handle customer inquiries and provide support.
• Health care: Voice interfaces help medical professionals access patient records and input data hands free.
• Web apps: Voice commands allow users to navigate web pages, perform actions and seamlessly interact with the user interface, which was not possible before.
• Public sector: Voice interfaces can improve accessibility and provide a more inclusive experience for citizens interacting with government services.

Key upsides

• Improved accessibility for users with disabilities
• Enhanced user convenience with hands-free operation
• Faster and more natural interactions with applications
• Differentiated interface to consume information and execute actions, with a less robotic feel

Why now?

Recent advancements in AI and NLP have significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of voice recognition technologies. Additionally, the growing popularity of smart speakers and voice assistants has normalized voice interactions, making users more comfortable with this mode of communication.

The increased capabilities of mobile platforms, along with various development tools, have expanded the realm of possibilities for integrating voice and audio interfaces directly into apps. Implementing voice and audio interfaces now can capitalize on these advancements and meet the rising demand for voice-enabled applications, and greater understanding and reasoning capabilities.

3. Personalization engines

AI-driven personalization engines analyze user behaviours, preferences and interactions to deliver tailored content, recommendations and offers. Personalization keeps users engaged and increases conversion rates by providing relevant and timely information.

Practical implementations

• Ecommerce: Personalized product recommendations based on browsing history and purchase behaviour
• Content platforms: Curated content feeds that match user interests and preferences
• Marketing: Targeted advertising campaigns that deliver personalized messages to specific user segments
• Customized user interface (UI): Personalized dashboards for specific users

Key upsides

• Increased user engagement and retention
• Higher conversion rates through targeted recommendations
• Enhanced user satisfaction with tailored experiences

Why now?

The explosion of big data and advancements in ML algorithms have made it possible to analyze vast amounts of user data in real time. This enables more accurate and dynamic personalization. With consumers expecting personalized experiences, now is the ideal time to implement personalization engines to meet these expectations and drive engagement and loyalty.

4. Predictive analytics

Predictive analytics draw on AI and ML algorithms to analyze historical data and predict future trends. This technology can be integrated into web and mobile apps to optimize operations, anticipate customer needs and make data-driven decisions.

Practical implementations

• Sales forecasting: Predicting future sales trends to optimize inventory and resource allocation
• Customer behaviour analysis: Identifying patterns in customer behaviour to improve marketing strategies and customer retention
• Maintenance: Predictive maintenance for equipment and machinery to prevent downtime and reduce costs
• User engagement: Predicting user behaviour to provide personalized content and offers, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction

Key upsides

• Improved decision-making with data-driven insights
• Optimized resource management and operational efficiency
• Proactive customer engagement based on predicted behaviour

Why now?

The availability of advanced analytics tools and cloud computing resources has democratized access to predictive analytics. Enterprises can now employ these tools without significant upfront investments in infrastructure. The ability to process and analyze data in real time provides a competitive advantage, making now an excellent time to implement predictive analytics to stay ahead of market trends and customer needs.

5. Generative AI for content creation

Generative AI is revolutionizing content creation and app development by automating complex tasks and enabling rapid customization. This technology can generate high-quality content, design user interfaces and assemble app functions, significantly reducing development time and costs. This changes the way users interact with software, making it more accessible for people.

Practical implementations

• Content generation: Generative AI can create articles, blog posts, social media updates and marketing materials, allowing businesses to maintain a consistent content output with minimal human intervention.
• Content summarization: Chatbots can summarize lengthy documents, articles and reports, providing users with concise and relevant information.
• Backoffice automation: Automating routine back-office tasks such as data entry, report generation and document processing frees up human resources for more strategic activities.
• User interface design: AI-driven tools can design and customize user interfaces based on user preferences and behaviours, offering a personalized and engaging experience.
• Function assembly: Generative AI can help developers quickly add new features and functionalities to apps, such as integrating images into articles or customizing the user interface, making the development process more efficient and flexible.

Key upsides

• Streamlined content creation processes
• Consistent and high-quality output
• Reduced development time and costs
• Enhanced user experience with personalized interfaces
• Increased flexibility and agility in app development

Why now?

Generative AI has reached a level of maturity where it can produce high-quality content and design elements that are indistinguishable from those created by humans. The availability of advanced AI tools and platforms has made it easier for businesses to integrate generative AI into their workflows. Implementing generative AI now can provide a significant competitive advantage by enabling rapid innovation and reducing operational costs.

What’s the bottom line?

Integrating disruptive technologies can revolutionize mobile and web app development. Employing the right tech in the right way can transform the way people experience a platform, optimizing operations and driving business growth. Consider getting ahead of the curve by employing disruptive technologies now to gain a competitive edge in an ever-more digital world.