Kuba describes a super app as one app that brings together several services that could each stand alone, such as messaging and payments. The aim is to make it the only app someone needs day to day. He notes that the term has no strict definition and is often used as a buzzword.
What are super apps?
Speaker
Kuba from Callstack explains what super apps are and gives examples from Asia and the West; the host’s name and Kuba’s role are not stated.
Kuba names WeChat, Grab, and Vietnam’s e-wallet MoMo as major Asian examples. He says WeChat has over a billion daily users. These apps began with a core service, such as WeChat’s messaging, then added and bundled other functions.
Kuba points to Facebook and Uber as Western apps with super-app features. Facebook combines social media with dating and Marketplace, which he says is written in React Native. Uber adds food ordering, while Uber Eats is also offered as a separate app.
Takeaways
- A super app can be understood as a bundle of services that users might otherwise access through separate apps.
- The term has no strict definition, so describe the specific services an app combines.
- The examples Kuba gives grew from a core service and later added other functions.
- Consider whether added services fit naturally with an app’s existing use case.
- A service can be integrated into a larger app while also remaining available as a standalone app.
Mentioned in this talk
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What was claimed 10
- featureMoMo: Popular e-wallet app in Vietnam
“MoMo, which is a popular e-wallet app in Vietnam”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- feature
Grab: Advertises itself as an “everyday everything” app“Grab, which advertises itself as an “everyday everything” app”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- metric
WeChat: Over a billion daily users“has over a billion daily users”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureWeChat: Messaging
“its main functionality ... was messaging”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- integrates with
“Uber Eats is also available as a separate app, which is part of the super app environment”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- feature
Uber: Food ordering within the app“lets you order food within the app”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureUber: Ride-hailing
“apart from being a ride-hailing application”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- feature
“it has had a Marketplace”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- feature
Facebook: Dating functionality“it also has a dating functionality”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureFacebook: Social media application
“Facebook’s main functionality is, of course, being a social media application”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
