Mobile Application Development: The Rise of Super Apps

Gone are the days when one mobile app offered single-purpose solutions. Now it  is all about apps that deliver and fulfil multiple services on one platform. Popular as super apps, these are revolutionizing how users interact with brands. Mobile application development is witnessing a robust transformation, giving rise to what we know as super apps.

Imagine texting your friends, ordering groceries, binge-watching your favourite series, and booking a cab – all in one platform. Sounds amazing yet unbelievable, right? Well, that’s not impossible anymore. More businesses are focusing on building such apps to offer multiple services under one roof.

The trend of super apps started in Asia, with examples like WeChat. Now it is taking over the world. But why are super apps so successful? Will it improve user interaction and business revenue?

Let’s explore how this revolution will affect the future of how we access digital services.

Super Apps: What Are They Exactly?

Super apps are all-in-one apps where users can access multiple services. This could include cab booking, E-commerce, financial transactions, social communication and more.

The main purpose of building a super mobile app is to create an ecosystem for better user engagement. Users do not need to install or juggle between different apps for different purposes. These apps are more popular generally in the Middle East and Asia.

Super Apps: Key Features to Know

Super apps serve as a unified platform allowing access to multiple features with integrated solutions. It improved engagement and user retention and opened new avenues of revenue generation.

Some of the key features of super apps include:

• Totally integrated services: The main function of super apps is to provide a combination of services. These usually include e-commerce, ride-hailing, online payments, social media, and more. You get additional convenience and hassle-free service.
• User engagement: A significant feature includes better user engagement for brands. Users stay occupied with a wide range of services. This increases user engagement rate and retention.
• Mini apps: A super app is basically a combination of multiple mini apps. It is designed to provide tailored solutions in the main framework itself. So users get the convenience and flexibility of availing several services within the same app. This removes the need for jumping between different applications.
• Data gathering: Super apps offer multiple services. This allows the scope for businesses to collect user data. Businesses can use this data to understand crucial factors about customer preferences and interactions.
• AI-powered personalization: With growing demand for immersive user experiences, many modern super apps are also exploring AR VR Development Services to introduce interactive 3D views, virtual try-ons, and enhanced engagement layers.

How are Super Apps Helping with Revenue Growth?

So, how are super apps helping brands grow? The following factors show how super apps have helped organizations improve revenue generation:

• Improved user retention: A super app offers seamless services, making it a popular choice among users. Users no longer need to jump across multiple apps. Users can avail different types of services in one app itself. The ease of access will ultimately help with more user satisfaction.
• More diverse revenue: When brands combine multiple services, the chances of revenue growth rise. The growth in revenue is through transaction fees, subscriptions, advertisement revenue, and more. More users spending more on multiple services will lead to faster revenue generation.
• Cost-efficiency and Scalability: Super apps have proven to show that they help reduce operational costs for every user. Reports suggest that the growth of revenue share for Android users has jumped as far as 61%. This growth translates to around 28% per year.
• Customer loyalty: These apps offer various services within one platform. Users don’t need to juggle between multiple apps. They get a unified platform and ecosystem to avail all necessary services. This keeps them on your platform. The result is recurring transactions and lifetime customer loyalty.

Why are Super Apps Becoming Popular?

The last few years have witnessed a sharp rise in the development and rise of super apps. Various factors have been responsible for the fast adoption of super apps. These factors created a conducive environment for the popularity of super apps:

• Mobile-first economy: Users want apps that cover all of their major digital requirements. Super apps offer the convenience of multiple services across one platform.
• Growth in e-commerce: Super apps have been a key catalyst in improving the seller and merchant’s revenue through in-app purchases.
• Integrated payment options: Seamless and fast payment options built within the app help in improving user experience and retention.
• Smart financial integration: Super apps have played a major role in providing banking solutions to underprivileged sections. This resulted in economic inclusion and financial accessibility.

How is the Architecture of a Super App?

Advanced mobile app development requires scalable architecture, modular frameworks, and strong backend systems to support the complexity of super apps.

The concept of a super app is quite clear by now. It is an umbrella platform that enables users to get access to various services. But what is the architecture of a super app? Since it is unlike any of the traditional apps, the build is naturally different.

• Strong backend: You need to have a robust backend for a super app. The reason is quite simple. The app needs to support multiple services, features and offerings. Naturally, the backend has to be strong enough to manage a smooth and streamlined service delivery and user expectations.
• Modular and scalable design: The app design and architecture have to be scalable. A scalable architecture will allow the brand to grow its business and operations as per increasing demand. The modular design is necessary to integrate new features.
• User-friendly interface: Your app needs to have a simple user interface. Customers like using apps that aren’t complicated. They should not need to look for what they’re searching for. The app has to be visually cool, stunning and also interactive. This will ensure fast and lag-free transitions between multiple services. Consistent design is also a major factor in this.
• Dynamic features: Super apps need to have dynamic features. It should enable developers to remove or add features as and when necessary. With this, it allows businesses to change their preferences as per transforming market trends. This makes sure that the business and the app stay relevant in the market. For example, a cab-hailing app can add food delivery services to it. This will guarantee growth.

Which Apps Can Become Super Apps? 

Planning to create a super app? You do not necessarily need to develop one from scratch. If your brand has an already existing app, you can evolve that into a super app. The trick is to integrate digital wallets and financial services into it. This will allow you to expand services, user engagement and more revenue.

Let’s explore some of the apps that can transform into a super app.

Food delivery apps

Food and grocery delivery apps can transform into a super app with the following features:

• Memberships and subscription bundles offering discounts on premium plans
• Pay later options to let users split the bill.
• Secure in-app payments for fast order placement

Online marketplace

E-commerce platforms can improve sales and user retention by transforming into a super app. Here’s what they can do:

• Reduce issues in the checkout page with one-click payments
• Go for multiple currency support to allow global buyer transactions
• Provide simple business financing options for sellers and merchants

Ride-hailing and cab apps

These apps can evolve into a super app by integrating some of the following features:

• Enabling riders to get rewards in the form of cashbacks or discounts
• Integration of wallets to help with cashless payments
• Club multiple services like parcel delivery, food delivery, freight movement, car rent and more

Fintech mobile apps

Fintech mobile apps need to add these features to improve revenue:

• Fast exchange and conversion between currencies and crypto
• Providing microfinancing or loans in the form of embedded credit
• Offering wealth management solutions in the form of investment in mutual funds and stocks

Social communication apps

Social media and communication apps also have multiple options to improve revenue:

• Introducing peer-to-peer lending where users can send and receive money from each other
• Integration of online sales of products and services via the social media app
• Developing monetization options for creators

How Can Digital Aptech Help?

As a leading software development company, Digital Aptech helps businesses design and build scalable super apps tailored to modern user expectations.

Creating a super app might be an ambitious task and a challenging one at the same time. With Digital Aptech, the process becomes smooth. You get the following solutions when you opt for our super app software development solutions:

• Multiple currency exchanges with crypto payment options
• Pre-built payment modules, along with modules for multiple currency exchange, wallets and payments
• Smooth integration of API for seamless connection with third-party services and institutions
• Hassle-free compliance with AML and KYC for better security
• Development of a super app architecture that ensures scalable growth for your brand

Digital Aptech: Your Partner for Mobile Application Development

If you are looking for a trusted partner for super app development, Digital Aptech is your go-to destination. Hire app developers for custom mobile application development at market-best rates. Connect with our team and submit your requirements. Let’s get together to build a successful super app for your business.