Embracing the consumerware revolution

The world of applications has changed in a fundamental way. Where traditional software used to be transactional, they are now transformational, service-oriented instead of being packaged in a box, has content at its core, is contextual, data and analytics-driven, and collaborative.

There are four key implications of the consumerware revolution that will be critical for developers and device makers:

Support for multiple endpoints, hardware innovation, and consumer preferences: A good consumerware application needs to embrace the inherent diversity of hardware, user interfaces and user preferences that comes with consumer facing industry. Today, companies need to develop consumerware which should support diverse device categories and have stellar interfaces that utilize various sensors to cater consumer preferences.

Embrace the increasingly important role of content and UX designers, and the resulting impact on front-end finalization cycles: In line with the consumer-facing nature of consumerware, content and user experience have replaced core utility and functionality as the crown-jewel of app development. While robustness of core functionality is important, it is no longer enough for companies to take a one-dimensional view of software. Front-end finalization cycles now require more time and attention, and content and user experience designers play a pivotal role in making consumerware a success.

Build unique business models around data and analytics: Consumerware requires a business model that goes beyond mere software licensing or even usage. Many app developers are moving their business models away from increasingly commoditized software to data and content. The ones that use data to tailor their consumerware apps will be ahead in the revolution towards individualized and dynamically customized services. They will have to leverage consumer behavior, demographics, and market insights, and use tools such as Flurry Analytics and Google's mobile app analytics to gain insights into app usage statistics and analytics.

Build for multiple individuals and the interactions between them: Usage of consumerware is much more social, and the apps need to cater the additional dynamic of interaction between two users in a way not easily imagined earlier. Consumerware developers must allow users to relate each other and the context they operate in-share ideas, comment, compete, provide feedback, or interact in a collaborative way. Smart consumerware developers will use gamification, peer pressure, crowdsourcing, and other social strategies to provide value much beyond traditional software.