As we approach 2025, around 6 billion people use mobile apps, claims Sunrise Technologies. According to Statista, the number of downloads has already exceeded 250 billion, and the overall app market revenue is expected to grow by 7.13% annually, leading to a projected market volume of 2.4 million USD by 2027. In total, there are 4.4 million apps available in the Google and Apple app stores.
However, the market continues to evolve despite the apparent high competition, indicating that some user needs remain unmet. Which applications will be in demand shortly amidst this diversity? We asked the talented IT developer Yerkezhan Kabylbayev, who recently received a job offer from Tesla, to share his insights on trends in this field. As a young promising professional, he sees open niches and speaks from an expert position as a representative of the generation that demands them.
“The future of mobile applications looks promising, there is no shortage of innovation, and the field of activity is vast – from the integration of artificial intelligence and augmented reality to the development of 5G networks and edge computing. The mainstream trend, as I see it, will increasingly be driven by individual user needs. For example, I have several ideas in this regard, and I think some are quite feasible,” says Yerkezhan.
Education. In his opinion, despite the variety of applications that help teenagers in their studies, even this niche has the potential for relevant innovations. It is important to focus on unobvious specific needs, such as choosing an educational institution and preparing for admission. Among Yerkezhan’s ideas is an AI assistant for US college admissions, a personal assistant that helps applicants navigate the US college admission process. “It can offer advice on choosing schools, remind about deadlines, and assist with visa issues. This idea seems particularly useful for international students, and I see opportunities for its implementation,” explains Yerkezhan.
He is also considering an educational app with gamification: “In this case, I am not yet sure about specific implementation methods, but the idea is to create an educational platform that makes STEM fields more interesting through mini-games and interactive tasks. This segment – Science, Technology, Engineering, Math – undoubtedly holds the future.”
Shopping. Choosing and buying necessary products is one of the most relevant universal user needs. But in most cases, developers focus on the e-commerce sector, while there is invariably a segment of people who still prefer offline shopping. It is worth thinking about how to be useful to them as well. Yerkezhan has already found his option. This is a navigation app for stores. The idea is to help navigate large stores and shopping malls, especially for the elderly and those who want to quickly find items. “This direction seems very relevant to me, and I am currently working on such a project,” clarifies Kabylbayev. “I also consider the needs and characteristics of introverts so they can navigate and find what they need in large stores like Walmart or Safeway with minimal effort and without unnecessary interactions with others. In the future, I plan to incorporate AI elements into this app to improve personalization and user convenience.”
Nutrition. Meal planning, calorie counters, adapting recipes to the diet system – there are many app options to meet the most vital of human needs. Yet, even in this segment, you can see an opportunity. You just need to start from the characteristics of the potential users’ lives and households and turn them into practical applications. Thus, Yerkezhan analyzed his own needs, and the result was the idea of an AI assistant for meal planning. “This app suggests recipes based on the contents of the refrigerator and helps create a healthy diet from them,” specifies Yerkezhan. “It will be useful for people who want to eat healthily and for those who are sometimes too busy.”
Games. Gaming applications are the most popular subtype, and it seems almost impossible to offer something new here. But even in this area, there are promising paths. For example, combining the gaming format with everyday benefits and linking it to reality. In this area, Yerkezhan is currently considering an idea that will be in demand in the future – an interactive app with a map that turns urban space into a game field for exploration. In this app, the city map will open as the user moves through areas, creating a sense of adventure and discovery like in some popular games. “Imagine: a user starts with a fog-covered map, and with each new street or area they pass, this map gradually reveals itself. Every new place, whether it’s a park, historical building, museum, or any other landmark, unlocks part of the map and brings virtual rewards to the user. These can be badges, in-game points, or collectible items. For additional motivation, real prizes can be added. For instance, after visiting certain places, users could get discounts at cafes or restaurants, souvenirs, bonuses from the app’s partners – making city exploration not only interesting but also beneficial,” says Yerkezhan. Such an app is ideal for tourists, who can use it to learn about a city without missing key landmarks, and for families with children. Children, for example, can eagerly explore new areas, earn rewards, and complete simple game tasks such as photographing certain buildings or finding hidden spots.
All these ideas are just examples of possible directions amid the industry’s development. Yerkezhan Kabylbayev is building a career in programming and technology to create meaningful solutions that can impact the market. Perhaps his ambitions and ideas, which he so generously shares, will inspire other talented developers.
