There’s major news unfolding today for those developing apps. No, it doesn’t involve reduced App Store commissions. Instead, Apple revealed on Wednesday a notable upgrade to its App Store Connect service, which serves as the platform for developers to launch, oversee, and monitor their apps’ performance across the company’s various platforms.

The updates introduce over 100 new metrics for tracking in areas such as monetization and subscription data, along with additional metrics aimed at aiding developers in comprehending their apps’ in-app purchase performance and the effectiveness of their offers.

Numerous third-party services already provide insights into app performance, including broader app intelligence platforms like Sensor Tower and Appfigures, as well as those focusing specifically on subscription app developers, such as RevenueCat. Nevertheless, the edge of the new App Store Connect metrics is that they are the sole metrics grounded in Apple’s own data — rather than estimates.

Included in the new offerings are enhanced subscription reports that can also be exported via an API, enabling developers to assess their apps’ performance while offline, or to integrate Apple’s data into their own systems.

Developers will also gain deeper insights into their users by analyzing behaviors related to aspects like download dates, sources, offer start dates, and more. This will allow developers to observe how a specific group of users interacted with the app over a given timeframe, such as comparing results from two different regional expansions, for example.

Moreover, new peer group benchmarks have been introduced, enabling developers to see how they measure up against their competitors in terms of download-to-paid conversions and revenue per download.

Apple emphasizes that aggregated cohort data is utilized to safeguard user privacy, and it employs additional differential privacy methods to protect the performance data of individual developers.

As developers examine their chosen metrics in App Store Connect, they can utilize new filters to further refine their data. Apple states that developers can implement up to seven filters simultaneously.

Additionally, the company has launched a new App Store Analytics Guide located in the Help section of App Store Connect to assist developers in formulating data-driven strategies and to enhance their understanding of the App Store’s tools and features.

While one might argue that App Store Connect was in need of an update, the timing of this rollout merits attention. With AI rapidly increasing its capabilities — particularly regarding AI agents that can act on behalf of users — there are discussions suggesting that the conventional app store model may soon be outdated. The CEO of smartphone manufacturer Nothing recently speculated that mobile apps might eventually vanish, as the internet becomes populated with AI agents.

However, Apple is seeking to establish a path where AI enhances its profitable App Store ecosystem, rather than undermining it. According to Bloomberg, the company is set to introduce an AI-empowered Siri at its forthcoming developer conference this June, which can perform tasks within apps.