As we look to the future, one thing is clear: the web is more important than ever before. With advances in technology and increasing Internet accessibility the Web has become the go to platform for businesses, organizations, and individuals alike. Here are some key trends and developments that are shaping the future of the web here in 2023.
The AI Revolution
One of the most exciting developments in the world of web technology is the rise of generative AI. The world was taken by storm at the end of 2022 with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the most publicly known generative AI tool. This new type of artificial intelligence is designed to learn and adapt over time, becoming more efficient and effective at tasks like data entry, translation, and customer service. With generative AI, businesses can streamline their operations, improve the quality of their customer interactions, and reduce costs. For example, generative AI can be used to automatically transcribe audio and video content, saving time and effort for content creators and editors. It can also be used to provide real-time translation services for customers who speak different languages, making it easier to do business across borders. As generative AI continues to evolve, we can expect to see it being used in new and innovative ways across a wide range of industries.
Virtually Everyone is Online
As someone that’s been in the industry for years now, there has been a discussion on when we would finally arrive at a point where every user had a device of some kind that afforded them access to robust online services. You can believe whatever narrative you want to believe but the simple fact is that 90% of Americans are online and are interacting with the online economy. Even the cheapest sub $30 prepaid smartphones provide capabilities and functionality to its user that unlocks all sorts of rich functionality. People on fixed incomes end of lower economic standing have affordable access to 4G speeds. While there’s still a lot to be had in terms of a broader broadband rollout in America’s homes (that work will be accelerating and the most recent infrastructure package), we have achieved a critical mass from a wireless standpoint. We are not in a waiting game any longer, the future that technologists and developers have been waiting for is now possible.
Online shopping no Longer be Ignored
This is connected to the previous point above. It has been argued by some business owners that online shopping just doesn’t fit their demographic. While that may have been the case several years ago, that is a dangerous falsehood to continue believing in. Online shopping became the de facto retail experience of the Christmas season in 2019 and that has only been accelerating ever since. And it’s not like online shopping is difficult, from a cost standpoint it is very affordable to provide e-commerce functionality to your customers through our web offerings. As Americans have become more health conscientious and have leaned into the convenience is provided by in store pickup or event curbside pickup, a form of online shopping is necessary to remain competitive in this evolving market.
Rich Web Applications are Necessary
One of the things that has really provided a seismic shift and functionality is the liberation of rich web application technology into the modern web browser. Things like push notifications and local storage can be provided through a web service and apps can be deployed to all sorts of platforms regardless of operating system. What’s also huge about this is that the price of rolling this out is more affordable than it ever has been. If you aren’t familiar with what web applications are, go read our page on the web application development.
No More Excuses
The biggest take away from this post should be that you have no more excuses! You need to start providing robust Web services and online shopping experiences to your customers. This even goes for nonprofits and churches! Online giving and interacting with your donors has never been easier. Things like video streaming are also simple to provide an affordable to do. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started today!
