Well, that was a lot to unpack. The Apple event today, announcing iOS 26 and the iPhone 17, truly lived up to the “Awe Dropping” invitation, and not just because of the new iPhone 17 Air’s ridiculously thin design. While the new 24MP selfie camera, the upgraded 48MP Telephoto lens on the Pro models, and the “Liquid Glass” UI are certainly head-turners, the real narrative is about something far more fundamental.

This event wasn’t just about a new phone; it was about the official start of a new mobile era. Apple is openly acknowledging that the old paradigm—the one where we’re constantly chasing down apps and fighting off a barrage of distracting push notifications—is finally being put to rest. And honestly, it’s about time. Our digital lives have become a frantic game of Whack-A-Mole, tapping icons and dismissing alerts just to get a single task done.

What we saw today with iOS 26 isn’t a simple evolution; it’s a profound re-architecture of how the mobile operating system works, and it’s a brilliant example of creative technology in action. It’s built on an anticipatory design model, where the system itself becomes a proactive companion, anticipating what we need before we even ask. The new on-device “Visual Intelligence” that lets you interact with anything on your screen is a perfect metaphor for this shift—it’s less about launching a specific app and more about the device just knowing what to do.

This all hinges on the unique convergence of four foundational pillars that Apple has been building for years:

1. On-device AI: The new A19 Pro chip with its beefed-up Neural Engine isn’t just for faster processing; it’s the engine for this new, context-aware intelligence. All that real-time analysis of your data happens on the device, keeping your personal information private and secure, which is a key differentiator in today’s privacy-conscious landscape.
2. Conversational UIs: The deeper integration of natural language requests means we’re moving toward a system where we can simply ask our phone to perform complex, multi-step tasks across different apps, all while the system seamlessly orchestrates the workflow.
3. App Abstraction: This is the big one. We’re seeing the dissolution of the app as a silo. Instead, apps are becoming a collection of “components” or “intelligent actions” that can be called upon system-wide. The ability for the new “Live Translation” feature to pull data from Messages and the Phone app is a clear sign that this new framework is here to stay.
4. Security and Privacy: The announcement last year of the new “Private Cloud Compute” isn’t just a feature; it’s a strategic pillar. It shows that Apple is doubling down on its privacy-first ethos, demonstrating that powerful AI can be delivered without sacrificing the trust of its users.

The competitive landscape is shifting in a fundamental way. It’s no longer about which company can create a single, all-encompassing super-app. The new battleground is how well a business can integrate its functionality and value into this ambient, proactive mobile experience. The winners will be those who can transition from a transactional “app” model to a service-based “companion” model—providing continuous, frictionless value that makes our lives easier, not more cluttered. The companies that will win are proactively establishing/defining the capabilities and data required to deliver these seamless mobile experiences. When the game changes on the front-end, the back end needs to pivot.

The iPhone 17 and iOS 26 aren’t just incremental updates. They represent a significant turning point in the industry. It’s a move from a mobile world we have to consciously navigate to one that feels more like a seamless extension of ourselves. And for those of us in the business of creative digital engagement, that’s the most exciting and awe-dropping announcement of all.

Generic travel brochures and one-size-fits-all itineraries are becoming less prevalent in today’s travel and tourism industry. Travelers crave truly unique experiences, and the industry is responding with a powerful tool: data. By harnessing the power of data and personalization, travel companies are unlocking a new era of customer engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty.

Bespoke Travel Experiences Powered by Data

Travel recommendations shouldn’t be generic suggestions that can be found by a cursory Google search, but rather curated experiences that anticipate your every desire. With data, that can be the case. By analyzing everything from past booking history to social media preferences, travel companies can build a rich profile for your travel dossier. This data goldmine allows them to personalize itineraries that cater to your specific interests. Whether it’s reservations to a hidden culinary gem for the adventurous gourmet who devoured Anthony Bourdain’s: Part’s Unknown or serene nature escapes for those who indicating that they want to get away and unplug. Data doesn’t just personalize experiences; it also fuels intelligent recommendations.

Unlocking Customer Loyalty Through Personalization

Personalization is no longer a perk, it’s the expectation. Travelers crave experiences that feel designed just for them, and data empowers travel companies to make the perfect menu just for them. Imagine receiving exclusive deals on flights to destinations you’ve been dreaming of, or automatic upgrades to experiences that resonate with your passions. By leveraging data and personalization, travel companies can build deeper connections with their customers thus fostering lifelong loyalty. This translates into repeat business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations as well as glowing five-star reviews.

Creating A Hands-Off Travel Experience with Customer Data

Data and personalization extend far beyond basic recommendations. Travel companies can leverage this powerful duo to elevate the entire travel journey. What if, when booking a flight, your preferred seat was automatically preselected based on past choices, or the hotel you book remembers your favorite room temperature and sleep number and adjusts accordingly upon arrival. Data can even personalize in-destination experiences. Instead of calling around for restaurants that can accommodate dietary restrictions, your recommendations will have already taken them into account. Rather than searching through various tour programs, they’ve already been curated so that they align with your historical interests.

On-the-spot Location Tailored Experiences

Location data adds another exciting dimension to personalization. You could be exploring a new city and receive real-time notifications about off-the-beaten-path cafes or historical landmarks that are right around the corner. Travel companies can use location data to send personalized offers for nearby attractions or cultural events, ensuring you make the most of every moment. Thanks to real-time suggestions and knowledge of your current location, you can be assured that you’ll be updated on impending weather conditions. This ensures a comfortable travel experience, providing a safe and cozy hideaway for you if there’s a need to duck in off the road and enjoy some shelter.

Personalization with Privacy in Mind

While travelers crave personalization, they also value privacy. The key lies in striking a balance. Transparency is crucial, allowing travelers to understand how their data is used along with giving them the power to control their privacy settings. Finally, travel companies must ensure data security and improve transparency about their policies to build trust with their customers.

AI Enables Travel Companies to Embrace New and Unknown Terrain

Data and personalization, especially enabled by artificial intelligence, will continue to evolve, and the travel landscape will transform with it. We’re entering a future where AI-powered travel companions will use data to anticipate your needs, suggest local experiences, and deftly navigate language barriers. Travel companies that embrace the power of data and personalization will be the ones who unlock the greatest opportunities, fostering strong customer relationships and defining the future of travel.

Forge the future of adventures and accommodations with our travel and hospitality expertise.

Imagine a world where planning your dream vacation feels less like a chore and more like a conversation with a travel genie who knows exactly what you crave. This isn’t science fiction, but a reality being powered by generative AI. This transformative technology is rapidly reshaping the travel and tourism landscape, offering a wealth of opportunities for airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and all the experiences that make a trip unforgettable. While the potential of generative AI is undeniable, challenges remain. These include the need for robust data sets to train AI models, ensuring transparency and explainability in AI decision-making, and navigating ethical considerations around data privacy and personalization.

Generative AI isn’t just about fancy algorithms; it’s about creating a hyper-personalized travel experience. AI can analyze your past travel behavior, social media musings, and even current weather patterns to craft bespoke itineraries that cater to your unique interests. Think virtual tours so immersive they transport you straight to the heart of a Parisian Cafe, or AI-powered chatbots that become your travel companions, recommending hidden gems and navigating language barriers. Generative AI isn’t just about the planning stages; it can personalize in-destination experiences too, suggesting restaurants that match your dietary preferences or curating cultural activities that resonate with your passions.

Buckle up, because we’re about to explore how generative AI is taking the travel industry to new heights.

A Windfall for Airlines and Travelers

For airlines, generative AI can revolutionize the booking process. Imagine chatbots that understand complex travel needs, offering real-time flight recommendations based on budget, layovers, and desired travel time. AI can personalize in-flight experiences too, suggesting on-demand entertainment tailored to your preferences or even dynamically adjusting meal options based on dietary restrictions gleaned from your booking profile. Generative AI can also optimize pricing strategies, allowing airlines to offer targeted promotions and deals that resonate with specific customer segments. 

Hotels Transformed: From Booking to Butler with Generative AI

Hotels stand to gain significantly from generative AI. AI-powered chatbots can handle routine inquiries, freeing up staff for more personalized guest interactions. Generative AI can create dynamic room recommendations based on past preferences and real-time occupancy, ensuring guests get the perfect space for their needs. Imagine virtual room tours so realistic you can practically smell the ocean breeze from your oceanfront suite. Hotels can leverage AI to curate personalized amenities, from suggesting nearby restaurants that match dietary restrictions to pre-stocking minibars with your favorite beverages. 

Impacting Every Aspect of Travel

The transformative power of generative AI extends far beyond airlines and hotels. Cruise lines can utilize AI to personalize onboard activities, recommending shows and excursions that align with passenger interests. AI-powered virtual assistants on cruise ships can answer questions, translate languages, and even help navigate unfamiliar surroundings. In the realm of dining and entertainment, generative AI can curate restaurant recommendations based on past preferences and dietary restrictions. Imagine having a virtual concierge at your fingertips, suggesting hidden attractions and cultural experiences that perfectly capture your travel spirit. 

Perficient: Your Navigator in the New World of Generative AI Travel

At Perficient, we understand the transformative power of generative AI for the travel and tourism industry. We offer a comprehensive suite of services to help companies navigate this exciting new landscape, and our team of experts in foundational platforms & technologies can help you develop and implement AI-powered solutions that personalize the travel experience, optimize operations, and ultimately drive customer satisfaction and revenue growth. From developing systems that craft hyper-personalized itineraries to building intelligent concierge experiences, Perficient empowers you to leverage the power of generative AI and unlock the full potential of travel reimagined.

The future of travel is intelligent, personalized, and powered by generative AI. Tap into our travel and hospitality expertise to embark on this incredible journey together.

Last week, we introduced the concept of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) – a goal-setting framework for aligning your teams, fostering innovation, and driving measurable outcomes – and demonstrated the differences between OKRs and KPIs . If you haven’t explored that post yet, you can find it here. Now, let’s dive into how OKRs can transform your product development process and explore the art of creating powerful & measurable objectives.

Strategic Thinking: Crafting Compelling Objectives in Product Development

Crafting compelling objectives is a strategic exercise, especially for product development. Begin by revisiting your company’s broader vision and mission statements. Next, analyze current market trends and pressing customer needs. Are consumers demanding more sustainable products? Is there a growing preference for personalized experiences? How can your product offering position you as a leader in your industry?

Once armed with this bigger-picture understanding, start brainstorming with key stakeholders across the organization. Don’t be afraid to dream big. Ask yourself:

• How can we revolutionize our product line to redefine the customer experience?
• What breakthrough features or functionalities can we develop to set us apart from the competition?
• How can we streamline the product development process to accelerate time-to-market?

Powerful objectives inspire your team and provide a clear focus for all product development efforts – think of them as your North Star. They should always center on the desired outcomes and the value your products deliver.

Translating Objectives into Measurable Milestones: Key Results

With your objectives defined, it’s time to translate them into measurable milestones: your key results. Here’s where concrete metrics ensure you stay on track and gain insights to fuel future product iterations. To make them truly effective, ensure they are specific, quantifiable, challenging but realistic, directly supportive of the objective, and bound by a clear timeframe.

An Example: OKRs in Action for Product Development

Let’s illustrate this with an example. Suppose you set an objective: “Launch a groundbreaking new product within our existing portfolio that generates a 20% increase in revenue within a year. ” The following key results might help you achieve it:

• Achieve 95% completion of product development milestones throughout the project timeline.
• Secure 50% pre-order sales by [launch date – 3 months].
• Attain a customer satisfaction score of 8.5 or higher for the new product within two months of launch.

Building OKRs: A Collaborative Approach

Building OKRs within product development requires a collaborative process. Invite input from stakeholders across various departments to ensure alignment and buy-in from teams responsible for bringing your products to life. Facilitate open discussions to refine the objectives and explore the most relevant and impactful ways to measure progress with your key results.

Finally, remember that OKRs aren’t just a one-time planning exercise. They are a continuous, iterative process of setting goals, tracking progress, and adapting your product development roadmap along the way. By regularly reviewing and adjusting your objectives and key results, you keep your efforts aligned and optimize your products for long-term success.

Perficient Product Development is your Product Success Partner

Want to learn how OKRs can supercharge your digital product success? Have questions about tracking and analysis? Contact us today to discuss how we can help you harness the power of data-driven goals and create products that truly soar.

In the fast-paced realm of digital products, success hinges on setting the right goals and tracking progress effectively. Two popular methods dominate: OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). But while KPIs offer a snapshot of performance, OKRs provide a roadmap to moonshot achievements. Let’s break down the key differences.

KPIs are fantastic for measuring established processes. Think of them as gauges on a dashboard – clear indicators of how a specific feature or function is performing. They excel at tracking website traffic, user acquisition costs, or conversion rates. However, KPIs often lack the strategic vision needed to propel a product forward. They tell you if you’re driving well, but not necessarily where you’re headed.

Be Ambitious and Shoot for the Moon

This is where OKRs shine. OKRs set ambitious, qualitative objectives that define your product’s direction. These objectives are then translated into measurable key results, outlining the milestones needed to achieve your vision. This aspirational approach fosters innovation and team alignment around a common goal. Imagine setting an OKR to “revolutionize the fitness app experience.” The key results might involve exceeding user engagement targets by X% or achieving a Y% increase in active users. OKRs keep your sights on the horizon while guiding you with measurable stepping stones.

OKRs also offer a layer of flexibility and adaptability that traditional KPIs can sometimes lack. In the dynamic world of digital products, the ability to pivot your strategy or adjust targets is crucial. With OKRs, you have a framework that can evolve with your product throughout its lifecycle. They offer a structure for regular check-ins and reevaluation, ensuring your objectives remain closely aligned with changing market realities.

Furthermore, OKRs encourage more meaningful conversations across teams. Instead of solely focusing on numerical performance, OKRs invite discussions about the broader strategy, challenges faced, and the initiatives needed to drive progress towards the overarching objective. This fosters collaboration and empowers teams to contribute creatively to the product’s success.

So, while KPIs provide valuable data points, OKRs paint the bigger picture. For digital products that thrive on growth and disruption, OKRs offer a more comprehensive and inspiring approach to measurement. They keep your product team focused on the “why” behind the “what,” ensuring your digital creation reaches its full potential.

Let us Help!

Want to learn how OKRs can supercharge your digital product success? Have questions about tracking and analysis? Contact us today to discuss how we can help you harness the power of data-driven goals and create products that truly soar.

In the ongoing evolution of mobile development, innovation has become the key to success. After spending the week in San Francisco at Google CloudNext ’23, I am excited to introduce you to our newest partner – FlutterFlow. FlutterFlow is a game-changing cross-platform visual development platform that promises to reshape how we approach modern mobile app development and management.

The Rise of Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform development emerged as a preferred mobile solution due to its efficiency & cost-effectiveness. It allows developers to create compelling mobile experiences, built from a single codebase, that run seamlessly on multiple platforms, saving time and resources while serving both Android and iOS platforms. FlutterFlow combines cross-platform development with low/rapid code development, which simplifies the coding process, to create a winning formula for rapid app creation, iteration, and management.

Introducing the FlutterFlow Platform

The FlutterFlow development platform boasts an impressive array of features designed to make app design & creation accessible to both seasoned developers and those new to the coding world. What truly sets FlutterFlow apart is its commitment to empowering creators to bring their experiences to life with a tool that provides complete coverage for taking a design-led, holistic, user-centric approach to your solution.

Why Build on FlutterFlow?

The advantages of FlutterFlow are endless. With its intuitive visual design-based interface and drag-and-drop functionality, developers can quickly assemble complex UI components. This not only accelerates development cycles but also promotes a culture of innovation by freeing up time for brainstorming and refining ideas. This approach encourages collaboration between technical and non-technical team members, fostering a holistic mobile experience creation process.

FlutterFlow doesn’t just promise cross-platform compatibility – it delivers it with performance and elegance. By working against a single codebase, developers can effortlessly deploy their apps on iOS and Android. This not only saves precious development hours but also ensures a consistent user experience across different devices. FlutterFlow’s visual-focused design tools enable real-time previews, allowing developers to see how their app will behave on different platforms as they design it.

The Future of Mobile Development

As we embrace the capabilities of platforms like FlutterFlow, the future of mobile development is clear. The convergence of cross-platform compatibility and rapid development platforms signifies the increasing democratization of app creation and management, where creativity and innovation can drive frictionless, compelling mobile experiences. As mobile solutions evolve, we can anticipate increasingly sophisticated tools and expanded integrations, empowering exciting possibilities that will further shape the way we interact with mobile applications. We’re proud and excited to partner with FlutterFlow to empower our customers and deliver on Perficient’s commitment to mobile innovation.

Engage and Connect with Perficient Mobile Solutions

If you’re looking for compelling modern mobile experience development, delivery, and management in a design-based rapid development platform, let’s talk! Contact us today!

The 12 Innovative Features that Modernize Your Healthcare Mobile App Experience (Continued)

In part one of this blog series, we discussed the value of building a modern healthcare mobile app that empowers users to play a more active role in managing their health. We examined the first six essential features your app must incorporate to meet healthcare consumer demands (telehealth, provider search, EMR integration, biometric login, facility locator, and turnkey network connectivity). In this blog, we will continue our exploration into the essential app features that every healthcare organization needs to incorporate to deliver the optimal frictionless experience for their customers.

Lab Results

Timely access to outcomes from laboratory tests is a critical feature that supports an app’s remote and telehealth capabilities. By incorporating lab results into your app, you can eliminate the need for additional visits or phone calls and enable prompt awareness for test outcomes which may expedite decision-making regarding follow-up actions or treatment. Different members of the care team can review and interpret information in a centralized platform, reducing errors and miscommunication. Lab results also contribute to comprehensive patient records within your EMR system and healthcare app to give a more holistic view of the patient’s health with long-term monitoring and trend-analysis. This provides opportunities for patient education and active management of their health journey.

User Experience & Performance Analytics

User experience and performance analytics provide valuable quantitative and qualitative data that can inform product roadmaps and decision-making. Performance analytics play a critical role in quickly identifying and fixing bugs and technical issues that frustrate your users and ultimately lead them to uninstall your app or leave negative reviews that actively work against your brand management strategy. Analyzing user behavior, preferences, and patterns, helps developers and stakeholders make data-driven decisions regarding feature enhancements, prioritizing updates, and allocating resources effectively. This ensures your app development efforts are in alignments with user needs and expectations. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement ensures that your healthcare app remains relevant to your users and competitive within the marketplace.

Apple & Google Health Integrations

Apple and Google Health are part of a broader mHealth ecosystem that benefits from cross-platform functionality and integration with a larger collection of health-focused apps. Integrating your app with Apple and Google’s respective digital health platforms promotes data interoperability to deliver a more connected and data-driven experience for your patients. Wearable devices effortlessly collect and sync valuable health data, including vital signs, activity, sleep patterns, and more, to the Apple and Google Health platforms, virtually eliminating the need for manual data entry. This expands your reach by equipping your app with a broader set of health data that can be leveraged to provide personalized insights and recommendations. Users can securely share their aggregated health data with providers to generate a more accurate and holistic view of their personal health.

Camera-Enabled Document Upload

Integrating a mobile device’s camera functionality to your healthcare app helps to scan and upload relevant documents, like insurance cards. This helps to simplify patient registration by eliminating the need for manual data entry or presenting physical documents while registering in-person. Eliminating manual data entry also increases data integrity by minimizing the risk of human error. Storing insurance information in your app empowers seamless integration with billing and claims processes, accelerated processing times, and enhanced accuracy of insurance-related transactions. This aligns with the broader healthcare trend of digitization as the industry moves toward a paperless future state to keep pace with consumer expectations.

Chat Experience

AI-powered chatbots are designed to simulate human-like conversations with users through text or voice-based interactions. A chatbot can act as a virtual 24/7 customer service representative to provide information, answer questions, and offer support to your app users. Incorporating a chatbot into your healthcare app can help your organization accommodate larger volumes of user inquiries and support requests while reducing call volume to facilities and call centers. They can be programmed to provide personalized experiences based on user preferences and historical data and to continuously improve and refine conversational capabilities. Chatbots play a critical role in triaging user inquiries and directing them to the appropriate resources, which streamlines the user journey and optimizes the use of human support resources to minimize burnout.

Push Notifications

Push notifications are short messages or alerts sent to a user’s mobile device from an app. They appear as notifications on the device’s lock screen, home screen, or notification center and can help to deliver personalized, time-sensitive information to your users. Modern healthcare apps should incorporate push notifications for important health reminders, emergency notifications, appointment and scheduling management, and patient engagement. It is important to note that while push notifications are valuable, their frequency and content should be carefully managed to avoid overwhelming or annoying your users. Striking the right balance ensures that your app remains a useful tool for direct communication and engagement with your patients.

It’s Time to Modernize

Modernizing your healthcare mobile app is a necessity in today’s competitive digital landscape. Meeting the evolving user expectations and advancing the quality and delivery of healthcare services remain top of mind among industry leaders. Modern app features can help you achieve this by enabling convenient access to care, enhancing operational efficiency, improving patient outcomes, and significantly reducing costs enterprise-wide. Embracing the power of technology and continuously evolving your healthcare app ensures that is stays at the forefront of healthcare innovation.

Let’s Build a Better Healthcare App Together

Are you ready to build a better healthcare app? For more information on Perficient’s healthcare mobile application expertise, subscribe to our blog or contact us today.

The 2023 Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference was a groundbreaking event packed with trailblazing innovation that showcased Apple’s latest technological advancements and unveiled exciting updates across their product lineup. The keynote address was filled with innovative announcements ranging from OS updates to impressive hardware upgrades. Apple Vision Pro, the revolutionary spatial computer unlike anything on the market, was the star of the event, while announced upgrades to iOS 17 will further advance personalization for iPhone users.

We have assembled a panel of mobile technology experts to dissect the keynote announcements, share their insights, and explore the potential impacts on the digital landscape. Join us as we embark on a journey through the remarkable offerings of the 2023 Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference, and uncover the possibilities that lie ahead in the ever-evolving realm of iOS development.

Meet the Perficient iOS Development Experts

Jeff Small is the Director of Perficient’s Mobile Solutions group. Jeff has 15+ years of experience building successful mobile products in Android and iOS.

Asif Gill is a Director on the Mobile Solutions team. Asif offers perspectives on native, cross-platform, and mobile integrations. He has been with Perficient for 7+ years.

Dhruvil Patel is Technical Architect in Perficient’s Mobile solution group with 8+ years of experience in mobile (Hybrid, iOS and Android) development along with Single page web application. He has been with Perficient for over 2 years.

What are your overall impressions of the new iOS features and capabilities presented in the Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference keynote?

Asif: Everything we saw shows intent on a long-term product roadmap, and I think we see exactly what that product roadmap is. It’s for Vision Pro. These apps and the interconnectivity between Mac OS and the mobile devices, they’re enablers forming more features and functionality for this Vision Pro offering that they have.

Jeff: My big takeaway was the level of intelligence and sophistication built into the new features of iOS 17. An example of this is the ability to autofill a temporary pass code or verification from email, this was previously only available through text. Being able to monitor your email to find that two-factor identification code shows a level of intelligence that goes beyond what we have seen in the market. I was also very impressed by the level of data sharing across widgets.

Dhruvil: The main thing that stood out to me was the new capabilities integrated into iMessage and FaceTime. We saw with the last update the ability to swipe and reply directly to a particular message, which was something already available in WhatsApp. Now we are seeing the improved search filter and the video recorded messages with FaceTime. We’re seeing continued improvements to the user experience and making these functionalities easier to use. I also liked the new standby mode, where you can turn your phone to the side and connect it to a Qi charger to turn it into a traditional clock for your nightstand.

How do you think these new features will impact your development process?

Jeff: From my perspective, as someone who leads client projects, I think there is an opportunity to look at the development roadmap and find ways to incorporate active widgets. There’s a key takeaway from WWDC of providing more utility to your users and reducing the amount of hoops your users have to jump through to accomplish something. So if I’m on a project building out a mobile app, I’m definitely looking for ways to introduce new technologies and user flows to enrich the user experience.

Asif: I think every single client application should be making use of the active update on the widgets, as well as the home screen and lock screen widgets from the previous update. The active component makes the widget much more attractive. I also think symbol animation, announced in one of the deep dive sessions, will be an interesting enhancement to the user experience. You can now add a number of animations to symbols or items within the app that change state when a user taps to help navigate through the app. There’s tremendous opportunity for interaction and experience for the users on every mobile application that we currently support.

Dhruvil: The biggest impact will be adding new features and functionality for the end users, and getting some older apps updated to be able to deliver this. The new features require specific integrations to function and deliver that personalized experience.

Are you anticipating any challenges or drawbacks to these new features?

Asif: Obviously a lot of things we want to put in our backlog will only be available with iOS 17, that’s what happens when you release new software and operating systems, we just have to wait until it’s released, which will be sometime this fall. Your users see the announcements at WWDC and are expecting to see these new things from day 1, so you really need to get ahead of it to be able to suggest and implement these features to meet user expectations.

Dhruvil: Organizations that are working with cross-platform solutions are naturally going to be slower to implement these new changes compared to those that are doing native iOS development. That’s the biggest challenge with cross-platform in general, you have to wait for libraries to become available and for people in the open source community to be able to support you.

In your opinion, which industry will benefit the most from these updates?

Asif: Every consumer-facing industry will benefit from these updates. The question is how, and that really depends on the organization and the use case for each of these features. These active widgets, animations, updates to the wallet and app clips, the opportunity is limitless it just depends on what the consumer appetite is.

Jeff: Looking specifically at the active widgets update, I’m thinking the home automation/smart home industry will see a boost. Being able to control devices in the home like Sonos, Ring, smart light bulbs, etc. from the widget screen is going to be huge. People are already using these home automation tools to be able to control them from their phone, but now we will see widgets functioning not just as information sources but actual extensions of the app that provide that functionality on the home and lock screens.

Dhruvil: Many industries will be able to benefit from these updates, I think healthcare will see benefits from the new features that allow for easier sharing of information. For example we could see storing of health records that could be shared to providers by tapping the phone replacing manual forms.

How do you think these new features compare to updates from other operating systems?

Jeff: Going off of what Asif said earlier, there is such an apparent roadmap here and it’s clear that we are moving toward a mobile ecosystem that isn’t constrained to your mobile devices. It’s hands-free, it’s voice-controlled, it’s on your wrist, or now your face with the Vision Pro. I don’t know that you can necessarily compare it to other operating systems right now. It feels like each release is building on the previous, there is a mindful vision here that’s leading to portable spatial computing.

Asif: I would say the other operating system has a heavy focus on AI assistance as we saw a couple weeks ago. Apple’s updates and the overall product roadmap are all pointing towards spatial. AI is baked into a lot of this but wasn’t really called out, whereas the other operating systems have been all in on calling out the AI integration.

Dhruvil: I’m a big fan of iOS and Apple, but to be very honest, I was a little surprised AI was not more of a focal point for them. They are integrating so many things with AI and that is what the future of iOS looks like. I’m excited about all of the new features and am waiting for when iOS 17 will be live!

What’s Next?

All in all, the 2023 Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference brought exciting new updates to the iOS ecosystem and unveiled groundbreaking spatial computing technology. We are seeing personalization and intuitive user experiences continue to be a top priority for Apple, as well as a defined roadmap toward an all-encompassing mobile ecosystem. We’re excited to begin development on iOS 17 and look forward to sharing more insights.

For more information on Perficient’s mobile development expertise, subscribe to our blog or contact us today!

Mobile technology has revolutionized the healthcare industry by transforming the ways in which consumers access and manage care. The mobile channel has facilitated a colossal shift in the relationship between clinicians, payers, and patients, as the healthcare industry moves toward a more patient-focused operating model. The mobile channel presents a unique opportunity for healthcare organizations to stay connected to their consumers and deliver their services in innovative ways. With the ubiquity of smartphones and wearable devices, and endless possibilities for personalization, it is the optimal channel for delivering a connected care experience. Yet many organizations struggle to build and maintain effective healthcare mobile apps that meet consumer expectations.

With over 350,000 mobile health apps in the app stores, organizations face significant competition attracting and retaining active users. For healthcare organizations looking to improve their in-app experience and gain a competitive advantage in the market, it is important to prioritize features and capabilities that will improve functionality for your users, anticipate their needs, and empower customer self-sufficiency.

The 12 Innovative Features that Elevate Your Healthcare Mobile App Experience

Modern mobile apps empower your patients to play a more active role in their healthcare journey. Increasing customer self-sufficiency through your mobile app has many benefits including improved patient outcomes, increased customer satisfaction and retention, optimized internal workflows and processes, and reduced organizational operating costs. In this two-part blog series, we will discuss the 12 essential patient-centric features that healthcare organizations need to have to deliver the optimal frictionless patient experience.

Telehealth

Telehealth refers to the delivery of healthcare services and information remotely. It enables providers to connect with patients through video consultations, phone calls, secure messaging, and remote monitoring. Telehealth increases access to care by eliminating geographical barriers and bringing timely medical consultations to patients in remote or underserved areas. It is also a convenient option that allows your patients to receive care from the comfort of their home, saving your patients time and reducing the burden on healthcare facilities. A mobile app with telehealth can support remote triaging and consultations, monitoring of vital signs, chronic disease management, and medication adherence. By incorporating telehealth capabilities into a mobile app, healthcare organizations can extend their reach, improve patient care, and enhance overall healthcare delivery in a way that is convenient (and often preferred) for their patients.

Provider Search

Provider search is a feature that allows users to find and select healthcare providers such as physicians, specialists, or clinics based on specific criteria. It provides and comprehensive and user-friendly directory of healthcare professionals, offering greater choice and personalization of care. Users can refine their search based on various criteria such as location, specialty, languages spoken, accepted insurance, and more. It eliminates the need for manual research and empowers patient engagement by directly involving patients in the selection of their healthcare providers. Giving your patients the option to select  providers who meet their unique needs and preferences fosters a sense of ownership over their healthcare decisions, increases retention, and improves care continuity and outcomes.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Integration

Integration of Electronic Medical Records involves securely connecting your mobile app with your organization’s EMR system which stores all patient health information. It allows the app to securely retrieve and display relevant patient data from the EMR system in real-time. This may include medical history, lab results, medications, allergies, and other relevant data that enhances clinical decision-making and improves patient care. Integrating with an EMR system allows your app to become a central hub for care coordination across multiple settings and providers, ensuring greater care continuity. It also streamlines the documentation process by eliminating the need for manual data entry and administrative redundancies. Patients can access their medical records through the app, empowering them to play a more active role in managing their personal health journey.

Biometric Login

Biometric login refers to the use of unique biological characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans to authenticate and grant access to a mobile app or digital platform. It provides an additional layer of security compared to traditional username/password authentication and complies with federal privacy regulations such as HIPAA. Unique biological characteristics are difficult to replicate, making it more challenging for unauthorized individuals to gain access to sensitive healthcare information and patient data. It also provides a more frictionless experience for your users by eliminating the need for them to remember complex passwords. With the ease of biometric login, users are more likely to consistently engage with your app, which promotes improved health management. In an emergency medical situation, biometric login provides quick and secure access to critical information to facilitate informed decision-making and potentially saving lives. The combination of security and convenience makes biometric login an essential healthcare mobile app feature.

Facility Locator

A facility locator is a feature that helps users find and locate the nearest hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, diagnostic centers, and urgent care centers. It integrates with the mobile device’s GPS and navigation, providing users with directions to their chosen facility. This simplifies the process of reaching facilities in unfamiliar areas or during times or urgency. The facility locator may also provide important contact information, hours of operation, services offered, or ratings and reviews. This helps users make more informed decisions and helps to manage expectations in advance. Incorporating a facility locator into your app helps your users conveniently and effortlessly access care.

Turnkey Network Connectivity

Turnkey network connectivity refers to a pre-built, ready-to-use network infrastructure that allows seamless integration and communication between different healthcare systems, applications, and databases. It promotes interoperability by enabling the secure, seamless exchange of data in real-time and fosters an efficient, connected healthcare ecosystem. Turnkey network connectivity is also essential for your app’s speed and performance. Apps that can’t effectively retrieve data across internal systems are more likely to have slower load times and experience frequent crashes, which will frustrate your users. By incorporating turnkey network connectivity, healthcare organizations can improve scalability and future-readiness across their apps. Healthcare mobile apps built with turnkey network connectivity can more easily integrate to new systems and technologies allowing for easier expansion and adaptability to stay relevant with digital trends.

Check Out Part 2 in this Series!

In Part 2: The Essential Healthcare Mobile App Features You Can’t Afford to Ignore, we will delve into the next 6 critical features for modern healthcare mobile apps.

Are you ready to build a better healthcare app? For more information on Perficient’s healthcare mobile application expertise, subscribe to our blog or contact us today.

The 2023 Google I/O conference has come and gone, and as always, there’s a lot to unpack. Android users in particular have reason to be excited, as Google announced some exciting updates to the world’s most popular mobile operating system. From new features to major design changes, there’s a lot to uncover. So, without further ado, let’s dive into what’s new in Android from the 2023 Google I/O conference.

Meet the Perficient Android Development Experts

Jeff Small is the Director of  Mobile Solutions group. Jeff has 15+ years of experience building successful mobile products in Android and iOS.

Garrett Manley is a Lead Technical Consultant in Perficient’s Mobile Solutions group and has over 8 years of experience in mobile development. He is an expert in cross-platform application development, he specializes in enterprise mobile applications and has a comprehensive understanding of the full mobile development lifecycle. With a passion for front-end technologies and an eye for design, Garrett ensures seamless integration of aesthetics and functionality in his projects.

Vipul Panchal is a Senior Technical Architect in Perficient’s Mobile Solutions group with 11+ years of experience with cross platform mobile applications for Android and iOS. Vipul helps create a technical vision with his broad range of digital experience in both mobile and web technologies.

Dan Wilkerson is a Senior Mobile Architect in Perficient’s Mobile Solutions group, working across multiple industries. He is passionate about mobile development with 12+ years of experience developing mobile applications for iOS and Android.

What are your overall impressions of the new Android features and capabilities presented in the keynote?

Jeff: My biggest takeaway from this year’s Google I/O was that Google is integrating generative AI and Machine Learning into basically all of their products. You can already see the effect Chat GPT’s popularity is having on these tech companies. It’s becoming a race to make sure everything has AI and ML embedded in some way.

Dan: As someone who works with a lot of clients in the automotive industry, I was very interested in the updates to Android Auto. It’s hard not to compare it with CarPlay, but with the recently announced updates, they are getting very close to offering the same features and capabilities. Big picture, I think we are going to see a lot more vehicle data that users will be interacting with.

Vipul: I was excited to see the improved debugging capabilities with Android 14 ML kit. If I’m in React Native, or even previous versions of native Android, there are limitations to what I can do, and I am relying heavily on Javascript. With this update, Android 14 supports Jetpack and significantly increases debugging capabilities for native development.

Garrett: What stood out to me first, and foremost, was the AI they are implementing into all of their feature sets and their emphasis on responsibility around AI tools. We’ve seen these questions come up with OpenAi, and Google has been able to provide a plan on how they will address these very real concerns regarding AI. Also their investment in cross-platform development, with Jetpack compose they are really pushing a whole new development stack to modernize the Android apps.

How do you think these new features will impact your development process?

Garrett: A big thing we are seeing with Android is they are really leaning into this open screen world across their devices and they’re unifying those APIs for handling those UI layouts across screens. They’ve unified those APIs and built new ones in compose to make those layouts available and easier to work with.

Jeff: I’m excited to see the impact of generative artificial intelligence on developer support. The new AI-powered features and capabilities of developer tools should usher in a new era of speed, reliability and quality of code among developers.

Vipul: Two of the new changes caught my eye. With the new credential manager feature, a user can now use the passkeys to authenticate into the app. It will also support other passkey providers and developers will have to invest in supporting this new capability along with the existing password mechanism. App developers will also have to adjust the new media access permissions that were displayed in developer preview.

Dan: I think the AI tools embedded in the IDE are going to be huge boost in productivity in all facets of development, testing, and deployment.

Are you anticipating any challenges or drawbacks to these new features?

Vipul: There’s a new feature where you can duplicate an app on your device so that two people can log in and use their version of the app with two separate instances of the application environment where users can be authenticated. This could be challenging for developers to manage.

Dan: I do not anticipate significant challenges or drawbacks; however, there will certainly be some pain-points as teams adapt to the new tools and modified workflows.

In your opinion, which industry will benefit the most from these updates?

Jeff: For me, it’s healthcare and mHealth. They gave an example of a new glucose monitoring capability in Android Health and I was just blown away by the idea that you could have a glucose monitoring device integrated with Android Health that connects to your MyFitness Pal that would be able to track and manage glucose levels in conjunction with your diet. We are going to continue to see multiple apps connected to Android Health through improved APIs sharing data and creating a more holistic overview of personal health.

Dan: I have to say I’m super excited about the new automotive capabilities and I think that’s going to have a huge impact on the industry. We are trending toward having a lot more communication in your car and a lot more control over the vehicles. Google has upped the ante to compete with Apple and I think that will be huge for the industry.

Vipul: Google has made a big investment in AI, and I think we are going to see that have a huge impact on manufacturing. With manufacturing, you’re going to see more companies using the improved ML kit for scanning parts and managing inventory, like we are already seeing with some retail companies, helping to increase efficiency.

Garrett: I also think healthcare will see the biggest impact, but with peripheral devices. There are a lot of capabilities that were talked about here that will allow you to get snippets of data that used to be too risky to share outside of a direct app. So there’s going to be a lot more interoperability that allows for more innovation in the device market.

How do you think these new features compare to updates from other operating systems?

Jeff: I think that there is greater parity now between mobile operating system experiences. The shared experiences across devices, autos, phones, and wearables are becoming more and more “standardized’ as users leverage experiences across devices and platforms. This is great for users, and I believe it’ll lead to greater and faster adoption across these experiences. Health management, for instance, I believe will grow by leaps and bounds because of this rise in parity of experience.

Vipul: New credential manager, the BARD API and other generated AI improvements are significant, and they stand out directly compared to others.

Dan: There are a lot of similarities between the features announced by Google and those existing or recently announced by Apple.  I think the striking difference for me is Google going all-in on the integration of AI across the board.

In Conclusion

All in all, the 2023 Google I/O conference brought some major changes and updates to the Android ecosystem. We saw new features such as the customizable gesture controls and the improved split-screen mode, as well as major design updates such as the new Material You design language. Google also announced new privacy features to give users more control over their data and an expansion of the Android Auto experience to more countries. With these updates, Android continues to evolve and improve making it an even more powerful and user-friendly mobile operating system. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Android, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on any new developments.

For more information on Perficient’s Mobile Solutions expertise, subscribe to our blog or contact us today!

Mobile apps have become a ubiquitous, integral part of our daily lives. From social media to e-commerce to productivity in the workplace, these apps have made our lives more comfortable and convenient. However, with millions of apps available in the app stores, how can users know which ones are worth downloading? This is where ratings and reviews play a crucial role in determining the success of a mobile app.

Why Do App Ratings and Reviews Matter?

An app’s ratings and reviews provide valuable insights to both consumers and developers. Ratings and reviews in the app marketplaces present a unique opportunity to collect candid, unfiltered feedback about your products in real time. The challenge is that these reviews are public and become part of your overall brand and reputation.

Modern consumers trust the reviews, recommendations, and experiences of their peers at a significantly higher rate than traditional advertising tactics. Over 70% of consumers will read at least one rating or review before downloading a free app. Feedback provided in app ratings helps to set user expectations for the app’s features and functionality, as well as what the in-app experience will be like, should they choose to download it.

Ratings and reviews also provide valuable feedback to app developers on the overall user experience, functionality, and features of the app. Developers should actively monitor ratings and reviews to identify trends and better understand user sentiment. Insights from user ratings and reviews play a critical role in your mobile product strategy and can help you prioritize features and capabilities for future updates.

Strong App Ratings Increase Conversions

Positive reviews and high ratings can increase the app’s visibility and credibility, leading to more downloads and increased revenue. Users are more likely to download an app with higher ratings and positive reviews as they perceive it to be a reliable and trustworthy app. A strong app rating is considered to be at least 4 out of 5 stars. When an app increases its’ rating from 2 stars to 4, app store conversions increase by up to 540%. The app store and google play are more likely to display and recommend apps with strong ratings in search results, boosting visibility.

The Cost of Negative Reviews

In contrast, negative reviews and low ratings can quickly turn away potential users and harm the app’s reputation. Because your app is an extension of your brand, this can have a detrimental effect on overall consumer sentiment. 55% of consumers say a 1-2 star app rating negatively impacts their perception of a brand. Apps with poor ratings and reviews actively work against your marketing and promotional efforts for driving adoption, and ultimately, cost you money.

Raise Your Ratings

Positive feedback is vital for the success of a mobile app. Organizations must strive to maintain their reputation by listening to their users, addressing negative reviews, and continuously improving the app’s functionality and features. Higher ratings and positive reviews can lead to increased visibility, more downloads, and ultimately, greater customer acquisition, growth, and revenue. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to user feedback and make necessary improvements to ensure a successful mobile app.

Perficient’s Raise Your Ratings Jumpstart helps you assess your apps’ ratings and reviews, identify key remediation opportunities, and deliver an actionable plan to address mobile feedback. Contact one of our Mobile Solutions experts for more information and let us partner with you for ongoing mobile success.

Apple has been busy lately, and while a lot of attention has been paid to new, updated iPhone models, you can’t overlook the latest iOS update (iOS 16) and the impact it will have on users’ mobile experience expectations. What may appear, superficially, to be an update to provide deeper personalization of an already deeply personal device, belies an underlying shift in the way we approach the utility of our devices and will raise the bar significantly for user expectations across the entire mobile app ecosystem. Businesses in the mobile space who are quick to embrace these new features and capabilities will be the ones who benefit most from the coming shift, and it all begins on the lock-screen.

The Most Valuable Real Estate in Mobile

In the past, the lock-screen was nothing more than a security barrier. It prevented unauthorized users from accessing apps and information, and the utility of the lock-screen extend to a clock and not much else. Over time as the lock-screen evolved, users embraced quick access to the camera and the flashlight, but for years, the lock-screen served primarily as the locked (or unlocked) gateway to your mobile experience.

When iOS 14 was released, it introduced widgets into the lexicon, but limited their utility to the home screen. Now, with the release of iOS 16, Apple has taken the utility and functional value of the widget and moved it to the lock-screen, opening up an entirely new way of interacting with their most valued apps and placing it front and center on what’s turning out to be the most valuable real estate in mobile. Users now have two widget areas on their lock-screens that they can customize by selecting from a library of widgets from mobile apps that have been updated to support this new capability.

Already, fitness apps, productivity, and others are racing to provide users with the ability to see important information or updates without having to even open their app. In the fall, Apple will further expand this opportunity with Live Activities that will update users in real-time, allowing users to see live information at-a-glance. The key takeaway is that the lock-screen is quickly becoming a useful and valuable aspect of the mobile experience, and businesses cannot ignore this evolution of value and utility that no longer relies on having a stand-alone mobile app. As this experience rapidly becomes ubiquitous, the bar will be raised for everyone to take a good look at both the utility and information their app can provide to users quickly, and the friction inherent in getting there.

iOS 16 Evolves User Expectations

There are a lot of great new features in Apple’s latest operating system update. New health and fitness-related updates are making it easy for users to track medications, receive reminders, and log fitness activities. The messaging experience continues to evolve as well, including expanded sharing capabilities. Crash detection, utilizing the on-device hardware capabilities coupled with Machine Learning to detect if you’ve been in a car crash has potentially life-saving implications.

It’s the continued evolution of capabilities moving “beyond the app” that is going to have long-lasting impact for users and raise the bar for what’s considered friction in a mobile experience. Giving users access to that core functionality or capability on the lock-screen without having to even open an app, much less navigate to it, open it, and get to that experience will very quickly become a user expectation, and businesses that aren’t recognizing this shift and embracing it will find themselves on the outside looking in.

Expertise Across the Mobile Landscape

Perficient’s Mobile Solutions team specializes in mobile application and product development. We help our clients leverage the latest technology to deliver top-rated mobile applications.

For more information about Perficient’s Mobile Solutions expertise, subscribe to our blog or contact our Mobile Solutions team today!