What Tech Trends Will Dominate 2019? AI, 5G, PWA, Blockchain & More

To plan effectively, one must consider the future impact of technology on the economy.

Technology has become the foundation and driving force of society, enabling virtually every aspect of life, from new work, learning, and entertainment methods to improvements in health, safety, and transportation.

In 2019 we will see emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart hardware, space travel, gene editing, electric vehicles, and automated hacking tools move from the fringe to mainstream.

As technologies mature, their applications accelerate; this is why tracking deep learning progress is essential, and China’s CRISPR/CAS9 advances promise to break crop yield limits. AI will further assist researchers in developing more precise medical technologies.

Smartphone era is ending

Global smartphone shipments are slowly declining, and Apple no longer publishes hardware shipment data, signaling a critical inflection point. Although new form factors like dual‑screen and foldable phones may appear next year, functional improvements are slowing, insufficient to drive rapid upgrades.

In the next decade, mobile phones will evolve into next‑generation communication devices, with wearables controlled by voice, gestures, and touch.

5G networks will be deployed worldwide

Fifth‑generation mobile networks are about to launch, reducing latency from 30 seconds to 1 ms and enabling near‑instant connections. Governments will continue to incentivize deployment, while private firms shift focus from 5G‑based Wi‑Fi to dedicated 5G networks for priority data transmission.

Manufacturing and public‑utility enterprises can leverage IoT and robotic automation for core processes, marking widespread adoption of sensors and IoT across agriculture, retail, transportation, hospitality, and manufacturing, which will displace certain job categories.

Enhanced data analytics

Machine learning will continue to thrive, focusing on analyzing consumer interests, sharing, and payment behaviors. Enhanced analytics will encompass data preparation, data management, modern analytics, BPM, process mining, and data‑science platforms.

Every enterprise now generates massive data, enabling new business models and redesign of existing ones based on data value.

Artificial Intelligence

Data scientists and application developers will co‑create AI‑enhanced solutions; over 40% of application software will embed AI features or models, and development teams will include AI engineers.

For example, Coca‑Cola uses AI to analyze vast operational data. The convergence of big data, machine learning, and IoT enables GE Energy to optimize operations, fundamentally transforming energy supply and digital power plants.

Progressive Web App Development

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) deliver a native‑app experience via the web without requiring downloads, supporting features like push notifications. PWAs boost user engagement and conversion rates across e‑commerce, banking, travel, media, and healthcare.

PWAs run seamlessly on mobile devices, desktops, and tablets, providing a cross‑device experience without compatibility issues.

BMW.com’s PWA increased mobile session duration by 50%, and Trivago saw a 150% rise in users adding the app to their home screen.

Consequently, PWA adoption is expected to become a major software development trend worldwide in 2019.

Blockchain

Last year, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced volatility, yet blockchain technology is gaining traction, especially in finance.

Key blockchain use cases for 2019 include resource allocation, identity management, smart contracts, supply‑chain management, and medical big data.

Multiple CTOs and tech experts predict identity management will become blockchain’s killer application. Over the past year, blockchain has attracted substantial investment in finance and capital markets, expanding into stock trading and other sectors. Vertical‑specific smart‑contract platforms are emerging across personal and public domains.

Platform providers such as R3/Corda, Ripple, and Ethereum are building ecosystems aligned with vertical applications, often supported by incubators.

Most recent major cybersecurity incidents involve breaches of personal data. Blockchain’s inherent encryption and distributed ledger can reshape security layers, offering solutions for identity‑centric value chains.

When individuals truly own and control their identity attributes, they can selectively grant third parties access, fundamentally changing financial transactions and sensitive interactions in health and applications.

Low‑Code Development

Low‑code development, introduced in 2014, enables non‑technical users to build applications via visual drag‑and‑drop interfaces that auto‑generate code, targeting standardized corporate needs.

By 2019, low‑code platforms are projected to generate $10 billion in revenue, double the 2018 figure, accelerating development and reducing time‑to‑market.

However, low‑code is not a universal solution; complex tasks still require custom software development.

Products with clear goals, well‑defined workflows, and structured architecture are ideal candidates for low‑code platforms.

Cloud Services

Cloud‑based services have surged in recent years, and the 2019 market will continue expanding. New cloud‑hosted services will emerge, including blockchain, virtual reality, and IoT offerings.

Cloud technology branches provide developers and innovative enterprises with fresh commercial opportunities.

JavaScript Market Expands Further

Seventy‑five percent of developers use JavaScript, and it will continue to dominate programming languages. GitHub describes JavaScript as the most used language across public and private repositories worldwide.

Node.js scored 49.9% in the Stack Overflow survey, cementing JavaScript’s dominance on both front‑end and back‑end, and enabling hybrid mobile web applications.

Code Quality and Development Methods

As software grows more complex, code quality and sound development methodologies become crucial. Practices such as Domain‑Driven Design (DDD), Command‑Query Responsibility Segregation (CQRS), and Event Sourcing help developers build sophisticated applications.

2019 will be a golden year for diverse technologies; the Internet of Everything will be ubiquitous, larger data scales will fuel smarter applications, and new possibilities will arise for enterprises and professionals alike.