Simplifying Big Words: What’s a Super App?

While you are enjoying the sun on a Sahel beach, some tech ed won’t hurt. Today’s big word is Super Apps. And I promise this piece will be interesting and to the point so you can get back to your tanning. Let’s dive in.

A Super App is an all-inclusive app that has everything you need from banking services and social networking to shopping and ride-hailing services. It is the “Superhero” of all apps, providing multiple functions with one interface. The Apps’ Batman can do it all!

The all-in-one app has an edge as it provides multiple user advantages like maximising the functions of your device, saving storage, and minimising software clustering. Its biggest pro is convenience. Imagine opening one app every day for multiple services and countless functionalities. It is THE dream.

Super apps are also extremely valuable for businesses as it enables the developer to reach a wider clientele and increase customer-owner interactions. It is a win-win situation for both parties, the developer and the user.

The Origin

The term “Super Apps” was coined in 2010 by Mike Lazaridis, the founder of the good old BlackBerry. He defined it as “a closed ecosystem of many apps that people would use every day because they offer seamless, integrated, contextualised and efficient experience.” In other words, a super app uses technology to aggregate services and provide an efficient day-to-day experience for the user.

More Deets

Super Apps are mainly created by developers who provide multiple services in different sectors (aka conglomerates). The most prevalent Super App is WeChat which took the concept to a whole new level. Starting as a messaging app, the Chinese app has nearly 1.2 billion monthly active users worldwide in 2021 (according to Statista). It now provides many different features, including an e-wallet, loans, booking your flight tickets, and more.