Multiexperience Development Has Arrived

For the past decade of modern mobility (since the introduction of iOS and Android in 2007), enterprises have worked in parallel to transform web development for responsive, multichannel support and to ramp up mobile app development competencies. Over that time, technologies and practices have matured and converged, such as the common use of HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and RESTful APIs, along with the adoption of agile methodologies and DevOps. Now the time has come to consider the merging of web and mobile development activities as “business as usual” for development organizations, and extend this to the next generation of user experiences.

Gartner has observed in client inquiries that organizations have broader requirements for use cases that involve developing experiences beyond that of just mobile or web apps. At the same time, we are observing technology changes in mobile app development platforms (MADPs) and in adjacent technology markets where development platform vendors are expanding their value proposition beyond mobile app and web development. This market evolution and platform expansion has resulted in the emergence of multiexperience development platforms (MXDPs) that are used for developing chat, voice, augmented reality and wearable experiences — as well as mobile and web apps — in support of the digital business.

Application leaders must adopt an appropriate multiexperience development platform to create and support a plethora of digital user experiences. A MXDP offers professional and citizen developers a range of front-end development tools and back-end services that enable rapid, scalable development of seamless, targeted and ambient user experiences across devices and channels. Gartner recently published a “Tech Insight for Multiexperience Development Platforms” research note to introduce this concept to our clients.  We encourage client inquiries with the authors of this research to learn more.