When we think about apps, it’s easy to focus on the ones we use every day - Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, and Tiktok are some of the most popular both here in Australia and internationally.

It’s not just the social media and entertainment industries that are investing in app development, however. When you take a look at the top apps in Australia (March 2021), there is a wide range of industries featured. Banking and telecommunications are high up the list as you might expect along with some e-commerce sites, however, there are also some surprises in there too.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be that surprised that many companies and organisations have turned to apps to help them reach a wider audience and engage with their customers. Mobile devices have changed the way we all go about our day to day lives and the development of apps, and in particular, the ability for apps to push messages directly to the user’s device has made it easier for businesses to communicate and ‘market’ to their customers.

It is, in fact, rare that you will find a mainstream business without an app today, however, some industries are doing it better than others.

Healthcare and Pharmaceutical

Whilst many healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies have long embraced modern technology to improve healthcare services, it is only in recent times that this has spread to the way they reach patients and customers online. 

According to a report on Inc., “Organisations in the world of biotech, pharma and healthcare saw a 36 percent increase in the median number of apps used from 2016 to 2017”. This growth has continued and as we head into 2021, the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries are two of the biggest investors in app development.

Mobile apps allow healthcare providers to interact virtually with patients without the need for them to travel. This reduces waiting times and improves the overall communication channels between healthcare providers and patients. Apps have also been developed to help healthcare providers to check on the vital statistics of patients remotely, helping to reduce the amount of time spent travelling to visit patients and improving the overall level of care they are able to provide.

Some of the most popular apps within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector include Medscape, and app from WebMD which describes itself as the number one mobile platform for U.S. clinicians and Mango Health, an app that lets patients monitor their use of medications, including helping them avoid combinations that could be hazardous to their health. Here in Australia, MyBupa and First-Aid Australian Red Cross are in the top 20 most popular apps in the country.

Sport, Fitness, and Leisure

Keeping fit is not easy for a lot of people. A lack of structure, lack of time, and lack of motivation are often factors that act as a barrier for people to get involved in sport and fitness activities. 

Sports brands have recognised this issue and are using apps to provide people with the opportunity to work out at home, be part of an online community, and provide the motivation to get out and get fit.

According to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, Sports and Fitness App - Global Market Outlook (2019-2027), the market for sports and fitness apps is set to grow at a CAGR of 22.4% in the forecasted period.

“Sports and fitness apps are transmuting people to stay healthy and also helping to reach the goals of an individual. People are acquiring more knowledge towards the health benefits as these apps comprise monitoring diet plans and also suggest the best exercises.”

Some of the most popular sport and fitness apps include MyFitnessPal, FitOn, Strava and NTC+. These apps all allow you to create work from home programmes and help you to monitor your fitness and weight.

It’s not just the sport and fitness sector that is embracing the use of apps. One area of huge development within the leisure sector has been on eBikes and eScooters. These have taken over cities across the world, including here in Australia in cities including Brisbane and Adelaide.

Gaming

In a 2019 report by Techcrunch, they reported that the global gaming market is estimated to be worth $152 billion - a huge market, however significantly, 45% of that number, $68.5 billion, comes directly from mobile games. App Annie reported that mobile games account for 33% of all app downloads, 74% of consumer spend and 10% of all time spent in-app. It’s a huge market and one that has led to significant investment by app developers. 

Some of the most popular gaming apps in Australia include Minecraft, Clash of Clans, Fortnite, and Candy Crush Saga. Popular with an older demographic are games like Words with Friends and Monopoly.

The opportunity to create virtual experiences through applications has been a big shift in the gaming industry. Betway Casino, for example, will transport you to the tables of Las Vegas or Monte Carlo and their new casino app allows for real-time games with live dealers streamed in HD straight to your device.

Summary

App development is a booming industry that is being embraced by a wide range of sectors to enhance the customer experience as well as attracting new customers. Apps are embracing new technology in order to offer virtual experiences for users. Virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI are all technologies that are being integrated into apps in order to enhance the usability and functionality of those apps. That makes for an exciting future for consumers who are benefitting from these technologies.