The Inevitable Rise of Super Apps, Explained

The Inevitable Rise of Super Apps, Explained

There’s no doubt that super apps are one of the hot topics of the 2020s—and for good reasons. Almost everyone in the tech, finance, and even e-commerce industries, has begun seeking ways to jump on the super app as they will reshape the next step in the digital ecosystem. 

On paper, super apps are perfect, offering a wide range of services from e-commerce and social media to ride-sharing and banking, and there’s no reason why they have become increasingly popular in recent years. According to Gartner, the super app trend is only going to continue to rise, with more than 50% of the global population expected to be daily active users of multiple super apps by 2027. When we add the fact that super apps are expanding to include enterprise mobile and desktop experiences such as workflow, collaboration, and messaging platforms, the predictions only make sense.

The shift towards super apps is driven by the convenience they offer to users, as well as the vast amounts of data they collect. Super apps provide a seamless and personalised experience, allowing users to access a variety of services within one single platform. The data collected from these interactions can then be used to improve the overall user experience, as well as inform targeted advertising and personalised recommendations.

Additionally, the trend is moving towards enterprise super apps, providing companies with a one-stop-shop for all their business needs and increasing their productivity and efficiency. It’s clear that the rise of the super app is inevitable, and it presents a significant opportunity for companies to re-evaluate and rethink their mobile strategies. As a SaaS and PaaS powerhouse, we’ll explore the inevitable rise of super apps and enlighten you on how to get into the super app ecosystem.

Super Apps: Just A Hype, or The Key for Growth?

Clearly, super apps are set to play an even bigger role in driving business growth. But if we need to look at it from a data-backed perspective, Gartner’s estimate that 15 popular super apps have been downloaded more than 4.6 billion times around the world, with 2.68 billion monthly active users, is a great example. The kind of widespread adoption is a clear indication of the value that consumers see in these apps. And with time spent on applications having increased by approximately 25% as a result of social distancing and the restrictions, the opportunity for businesses to reach and engage with their customers through super apps is greater than ever.

One of the key reasons for the success of super apps is their ability to streamline the user experience. Today, the average user spends approximately 3 hours a day on applications on their smartphones, and with so many apps vying for our attention, it can be overwhelming to navigate through them all. Super apps, on the other hand, provide everything users need in one convenient place, making it much easier for them to find what they’re looking for. But then again, there are several reasons why the western markets have been so late in the super app game.

The western world has a long history of technological innovation and digital disruption, and many businesses in the region are already well-established in the online and mobile space. As a result, new entrants, including super apps, face significant competition from existing players and may have a harder time gaining a foothold.

Another reason is the western consumers’ preference for specialised apps rather than all-in-one apps. Western consumers tend to be more tech-savvy and have become accustomed to downloading and using multiple apps for different purposes. They may be resistant to the idea of consolidating all of their needs into a single app, which is a key feature of super apps. But times are changing, and we see everyday apps beginning to offer more on the same platform, which makes the market finally ready for its own super app revolution. 

Things to Consider Before Creating a Super App

Before creating a super app, there are a few elements to consider few key factors to ensure success. First and foremost, a thorough market analysis should be conducted to understand the current landscape and identify potential gaps in the market that your super app can fill, as super apps can still have their own priorities even though they are powerful to cover many areas. 

Another element to cover before developing a super app is to have a solid understanding of the target audience and their needs, as well as the specific features and functionalities that will be offered within the app. Then, you should also consider the development and implementation of a robust and scalable infrastructure to support the app’s growth and user base. 

Not that anybody forgets about it, but having a clear monetisation strategy in place, as well as a plan for user acquisition and retention, should take more time than you think—as plan Bs and Cs always come to the rescue. Finally, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and regulations to ensure compliance and remain competitive in the market, which brings in one of the most crucial questions on the table: is it possible to build a super app in-house or should you get help?

As a SaaS and PaaS company that has a considerable amount of experience in the main areas of super apps, including e-commerce, financial services, and UX design, we advise finding the perfect balance and filling the gaps with the right PaaS vendor to keep up with the trends and seamlessly-working apps.

The Importance of Choosing the Right PaaS Vendor

As super apps cover a vast area, it is almost inevitable to partner with a third-party PaaS vendor in the development process since a PaaS vendor provides the infrastructure and tools needed to build, deploy, and manage the app, allowing developers to focus on creating the app’s features and functionalities. Here are what you should seek in a super app development partner:

Experience and Expertise

The most crucial thing to consider when choosing a PaaS is experience and expertise, as super apps are new concepts that offer too much, which makes them more vulnerable to errors and mistakes. With vendors with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and requirements of building a super app, the whole process becomes easier. 

One other thing that comes with experience is the partnership process, as experienced vendors tend to be more flexible and solution-oriented. Adding the factor that they had handled the task many times before, it is very likely that you’ll save a considerable amount of time and resources working with an experienced PaaS vendor.

Range of Tools and Services

Selecting a PaaS vendor that offers a wide range of tools and services, including cloud hosting, database management, and analytics, is important to support the app’s growth and scalability. This will allow developers to focus on creating the app’s features and functionalities while the vendor takes care of the infrastructure.

Reliability and Security

A PaaS vendor should have a solid reputation for reliability and security, as super apps often deal with sensitive user data. It is important to select a vendor that guarantees a high level of security and data privacy, as well as provides efficient troubleshooting and problem resolution in case of any issues. Furthermore, a vendor with a strong customer support team can help ensure smooth and efficient troubleshooting and problem resolution in case of any issues.

Tmob is Here to Help

As a business looking to create a super app, the process can be overwhelming and time-consuming. However, with Tmob’s expertise and innovative solutions, the journey to creating a successful super app can be made much simpler.

As a global technology powerhouse specialising in breakthrough and innovative solutions, Tmob aims to bring sustainable growth and success to businesses and partners without compromising anything. Since 2009, Tmob has been offering a shortcut to the next generation for leading global institutions with Tmob’s innovative, custom-fit SaaS and PaaS solutions. With a 360-degree vision, our solutions address and cover the mobile and digital transformation needs with an enhanced focus on user experience, performance, innovation, and profit.

Our team of experts will work closely with you to understand your business requirements and provide a custom-fit solution to meet your needs. From market analysis to user acquisition, Tmob can provide support throughout the entire development process. We will provide you with the necessary tools, services, and infrastructure to ensure that your super app is built to scale and can handle the demands of a large user base.