Super-app

Asuper-app,also known as aneverything-app,is amobileorweb applicationthat can provide multiple services includingpaymentandinstant messagingservices, effectively becoming an all-encompassing self-contained commerce and communicationonline platformthat embraces many aspects of personal and commercial life. Notable examples of super-apps includeTencent'sWeChatinChina,Tata NeuinIndia,andGrabinSoutheast Asia.

For end users, a super-app is an application that provides a set of core features while also giving access to independently developed miniapps. For app developers, a superapp is an application integrated with the capabilities of platforms and ecosystems that allows third-parties to develop and publish miniapps.

History

The super-app term was first used to describe WeChat,which was coined the first super-app when it combined the instant messaging service with thedigital walletfunction.Recognition of WeChat as a super-app stems from its combination of messaging, payments, e-commerce, and much more within a single application, making it indispensable for many users. WeChat's establishment of the super-app model has led companies like Meta (formerly Facebook) to try to build similar applications outside of China.

In India,Tata Grouphas announced that it is currently developing a super app namedTata Neu.Major Indian companies likePaytm,PhonePe,and ITC Maars also have apps in development that might constitute super-apps.

In Southeast Asia, Grab andGojeklay claim to the super-app classification despite lacking many of the features offered by WeChat.Accordingly, growth-stage companies likeShopee,Traveloka,andAirAsiahave also expanded the range of services offered by their respective applications.

Notable examples

Alipay

Alipayis a third-partymobileandonline paymentplatform established inHangzhou,China in February 2004 byAlibaba Groupand its founderJack Ma.It operates in association withAnt Group,an affiliate company of the ChineseAlibaba Group.

Lark

Larkis an all-in-one work collaboration tool. First released in 2018, Lark became the first truly all-in-one B2B work collaboration tool in the market available for teams across the globe, with key markets in theUnited States,APACandJapan.Lark provides a suite of solutions ranging from business messaging to project management, video conferencing, online docs, workflow automations and more.

Gojek

Gojekis an Indonesian on-demand multi-service digital platform andfintechpayment super-app. Established inJakartain 2010, as a call center to connect consumers to courier delivery and two-wheeled ride-hailing services, it launched its mobile app in 2015 with four services: GoRide, GoSend, GoShop, and GoFood, which has since expanded to offer over 20 services. In 2021, it merged with another Indonesian unicorn,Tokopedia,forming thedecacornGoTo Gojek Tokopedia.

Grab

Grabis a Southeast Asian technology company headquartered inSingaporeandIndonesia.Founded in 2012 as theMyTeksiapp inKuala Lumpur,Malaysia, it expanded the following year asGrabTaxi,before moving its headquarters to Singapore in 2014 and rebranding officially as Grab. In addition to ride-hailing and transportation services, the company's mobile app also offersfood deliveryand digital payment services.

Tata Neu

Tata Neuis a multi-purpose super-app, developed inIndiaby theTata Group.It is the country's first super-app. The app was launched to coincide with the start of a 2022Indian Premier Leaguecricket match.

WeChat

WeChatis a Chinese multi-purposeinstant messaging,social mediaandmobile paymentapp. First released in 2011, it became the world's largest standalone mobile app in 2018, with over 1 billion monthlyactive users.WeChat provides text messaging, hold-to-talk voice messaging, broadcast (one-to-many) messaging, video conferencing, video games, the sharing of photographs and videos and location sharing.

Criticism

Although apps that fit the super-app classification can offer users a wider variety of services in comparison to single-purpose alternatives,internet regulatorsin regions such as the US and Europe have become more concerned about the overall power of the technology industry and have become more critical of companies developing such apps. In China, WeChat and other local firms have been ordered to open up their platforms to rivals by local regulators.

There are also reports that suggest it might be difficult to replicate WeChat's super-app model. This stems partly from the peaking ofsmartphone penetration ratesin many regions worldwide, which have led to overcrowded app stores and tighter restrictions on targeted advertising as regulators assert more control over the companies. From a technical viewpoint, single-purpose apps are comparatively faster, more responsive and easier to navigate than super-apps, which help improve the overall user experience.Super-apps are also likelier to store larger amounts of personal data to facilitate the delivery of their services, and users run a greater risk of becoming victims of severe data breaches. In 2020, this unfolded withTokopedia,when the data of 91 million users was stolen and shared by hackers.

It has also been noted that a user who loses access to their account or is banned from a super-app generally loses access to multiple real-life services and digital applications.

See also

• Closed platform