How Is Data Science Redefining Web Development

Technology is a dynamic field with fresh innovations popping up every now and then. This is the era of data. With the surge of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smartphones, data is growing at an exponential rate by the second and this data is now helping optimize everything around us, from businesses and healthcare to even the entire domain of the IT sector. Companies and organizations are inclining towards data-driven strategies and decisions, and Data Science is powering this digital transformation.

The increasing reliance on data has boosted the field of data science that aims to extract meaningful insights from massive datasets from multiple sources. This has further created plenty of challenging job opportunities in data science spurred the demand for skilled data science professionals who possess a proficiency in working with and managing large datasets. So, there’s never been a better time to begin a career in data than now! Today, there are numerous online platforms that offer data science courses to help you master the concepts of data science.

 

Data Science and Web Development

As data science has already started influencing almost every sector of the industry, it is also rapidly radicalizing the arena of web development. Until now, web development was largely reliant on surveys, feedback of focus groups, and of course, hunches. However, this scene is changing because developers now have access to actionable and reliable data that helps them better understand consumer behavior, market trends, and the taste and preference patterns of the consumers. As a result, web apps can be enhanced and customized to best suit the needs of the target audience.

 

Here’s how data science is transforming the web development scenario:

 

Enhancing Software Production

At the moment, software developers have to repurpose the existing software modules to build functional apps based on educated guesses about what the users would want from the apps. Data science is helping get rid of this hunch feeling for good. Analytical tools can help browse the consumer data of similar apps and make accurate suggestions about the particular features that are popular among and most preferred by the users. Thus, software developers would no longer have to decide what features should go on the app menu; data will do it all.

 

Automated Upgrades

With data, upgrades will no longer be the priority task for the core team of developers. The developers need only to tap into the consumer data generated online through social media platforms, online forums, and so on. As more and more data is accumulated, Machine Learning (ML) algorithms can be utilized to make sense of this vast pool of data and uncover valuable insights about how the consumers are interacting with a particular app, what are the features that they like and dislike about the app, what improvements would they like to see in the app, etc. Since ML algorithms can ‘learn’ from emerging patterns and behaviors, they would automatically trigger version upgrades as and when they deem fit. So, the app would be ‘self-learning’ and enhance itself from time to time to fit the bill of the target consumers.

 

Enhancing Customization

By integrating AI tech into an app’s system, developers can impart a personalized touch to their app. As AI continues to track and learn the user behavior based on factors such as gender, location, demographic age, etc., it can better understand the likes and dislikes of the users, thereby guiding developers to create customized apps for targeting the various customer segments. Thus, in the future apps could also offer customized responses and experiences much like the recommendation lists on online magnates Amazon and Netflix. Furthermore, AI can learn a lot about our lifestyle choices, our spending habits, etc., and thus, apps with AI features integrated into their functionality can become our trusted guide and assistants that can help simplify our choices.  

 

As data science brings in the wave of change into the web development scenario, developers can no longer expect to stay relevant with the skill set they gained decades ago. Today, there’s a demand for sophisticated web developers, software engineers, and coders who are well-versed with the concepts of data science and big data. Web development is gradually transforming from just writing production level codes to more about gathering relevant data, cleansing it, analyzing it, and leveraging it with the help of advanced ML and AI algorithms. Thus, while it is sure that programmers and web developers are going nowhere anytime soon, there’s an urgent need to upskill their knowledge and talent base.

The possibilities with data science are endless. The only thing that matters now is how software and web developers can leverage the tools of data science to their advantage and build functional, stable, and innovative web apps.

 

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Vivek Kumar

Vivek is the President of Consumer Revenue at UpGrad, an online education platform providing industry oriented programs like Big Data, Digital Marketing or Data science courses etc in collaboration with world-class institutes, some of which are MICA, IIIT BANGALORE, BITS and various industry leaders which include MakeMyTrip, Ola, Flipkart to name a few. He has 19 years of experience in diversified industries like Consumer goods, Media, Technology Products and Education Services. He has been leading businesses & multi-cultural teams with a consistent record of market-beating performance and building brand leadership. His previous engagement has been with Manipal Global Education services as Sr General Manager, Education Services (Digital Transformation Strategy & Global Expansion).