There are many developer tools and tricks available today that assist web developers in their day-to-day, making their work easier. However, as technology advances, we are seeing new tools and applications that go even further to help devs better achieve their goals. 

AI-based apps and frameworks, for example, are significantly improving workflows and making web and mobile development sharper and more efficient. As online spaces and digital applications become even more prevalent in our daily lives, it will be critical for web developers to make use of these innovations to make their lives easier in the face of increased demand. 

The Role of AI in Web Development

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become the modern, digital version of the ever handy multi-tool. It can be used in so many ways across various industries to help make a person’s job a little easier. Web design, in particular, has been transformed by the introduction of AI. 

With so many remarkable capabilities, AI can enable web developers to take their work to greater heights and more easily and efficiently achieve their goals. As a whole, AI has numerous benefits that can enhance the day-to-day for devs, including:

• Creating more personalized experiences for users
• Enhancing accessibility
• Improving research and development
• Automating repetitive tasks
• Enhancing decision making 
• Optimizing the data analysis process

Again, as our world increasingly prioritizes digital spaces, the demands placed on devs will also increase. If web developers are to keep up with these demands and stay happy and healthy — or avoid burnout, in other words — they will need to adopt these new advanced tools to alleviate the burdens of their workload. 

4 Ways to Utilize AI in Web Development

There are countless ways devs can utilize AI to optimize their work and improve outcomes. Some of which include:

1. User Experience (UX)

UX is the bread and butter of web development. It encompasses everything related to the user’s journey and interaction with a website. With AI-powered tools, devs can significantly improve the user journey by creating a more personalized and satisfactory experience. 

Data tools powered by AI enable developers to obtain and analyze greater amounts of data, which then enables them to make more informed decisions with regard to the user experience. These tools and data can offer insights, allowing devs to create more personalized content and services based on the user behavior and preferences. 

2. Chatbots

Adding AI-powered chatbots to a website has become one of the most commonly used AI innovations amongst web developers. These chatbots offer 24/7 customer assistance by answering questions and making quick diagnoses to offer immediate solutions. Having a tool like this doesn’t just make things easier for devs — it may help the company as a whole by boosting customer service ratings, enhancing user interactions and experiences on the website. 

3. Automated Coding and Design

Coding and prototyping is an arduous task that can be more efficient with the use of AI. There are a wide range of AI-powered tools that can help automate the design process, generate code, and even help with analyzing prototype design based on user behavior predictions. Some of these tools include Zeplin, Figma, Sketch2React, InVision, and Adobe XD. 

4. Website Security

Designing a secure website is another critical part of a web developer’s job. With cyberattacks happening more frequently, website security should be a top priority. 

Luckily, cybersecurity is another area where AI is making waves. There is a range of AI-powered website security tools available today that can help with DDoS protection, fraud and threat detection, and vulnerability canning. Some examples include Darktrace, Sift, Invicti, and Cloudflare. 

Workflow Innovation With AI and SMART Goals

The SMART goals strategy is quickly becoming a popular method that anyone can use, including web developers, to improve their daily workflow. At the end of the day, it won’t matter what advanced AI tools you are using if you don’t have SMART goals for your project. AI and SMART goals must go hand-in-hand to reduce setbacks and achieve greater success. There are five main criteria that make up this method:

1. Specific: The first step in the SMART method is about asking questions to ensure you (the web developer) or your team are ensuring your goal is specific enough. Such questions can include: What do we want to accomplish? Why do we need to accomplish this? When does this need to be achieved by?
2. Measurable: The next step to working more efficiently as a dev is making sure your goals or processes are measurable. In other words, you need to find a way to quantify your progress to ensure you are doing the right things and staying on track. This can be done by using various metric tools. 
3. Achievable: Next, you want to make sure that what you are doing is achievable, which often has to do with the timeline. Setting realistic timelines is important when working on a web development project. This requires careful evaluation of time and resources to ensure you and your team can genuinely accomplish your goals in a reasonable timeframe. 
4. Relevant: Your goals not only need to be achievable, but they also need to be relevant. You can ensure this by asking certain questions, such as: Why is this goal important? Does this genuinely help the company or the user? How will this help us move toward our end goals? 
5. Time-bound: Time-bound is another way of referring to accountability. Timelines and deadlines also come into play here. The best way to ensure accountability is to understand the difference between when you want something done versus when it can actually be completed. Don’t work based on unrealistic expectations. If necessary, break the larger timeline down into sub-goals that can make targets easier to visualize and accomplish. 

As demands for web developers increase, it will become paramount for them to utilize both advanced tools and innovative workflow strategies to keep up with their workload and reduce fatigue and burnout.