Since demand for a single platform incorporating several services has increased remarkably in emerging regions, the Super App model is gaining momentum. Super App is a one-stop solution to meet all consumers’ needs and expectations. It not only provides users with a hyper convenient experience but also helps them clear the smartphone’s memory of digital junk.
In response to the booming on-demand market, there is no wonder that enterprises want to set their foot in this competition. If you’re planning to build one, this complete guide to developing the Super App is for you!
Developing the super app is more complicated than a simple one. Thus, to tackle such a project, businesses must be well-equipped with all the necessary resources and have the right strategy. Here are some key points to consider while building the super app:
Prior to starting the development process, enterprises should conduct market research to determine target customers and understand their requirements and expectations. Once your buyer persona has been identified, you can build super apps upon those insights.
Choosing between platforms to operate depends on your target audience. If your concentration is limited to a specific set of audiences, a single platform can be a better choice. However, if your reach is wide, you might have to go for separate categories of apps. There are three options to develop the super app:
Besides, you may also choose among those options based on the available resources, your budget, and other factors.
The super app development process relies significantly on the feature-set integration. These features should be based on major customer requirements, user-friendly but still unique enough to make the solution prominent. Here are some of the potential features that you can consider including in all kinds of super apps:
Despite having some general features, super apps with different core products will provide separate lists of services. Thus, you should break down the use cases to scale outside the core functionality. By partnering or linking services with other third parties, you can expand current offerings more effectively. Although the original idea of Momo is the digital wallet, the app has collaborated with some service providers such as Beamin, 7-eleven, Ahamove, Gojek, etc. to grow its ecosystem.
Learn more: 8 widely-used super apps in Asia
Services offered by the most popular super-app worldwide
Super app combines the functionalities of multiple standalone app uses, and each function has a different aim and business model. To generate profits from the app and maintain its system, you should then consider monetization strategies:
Providing multiple functionalities within a single app requires sufficient top-notch technology as well as a skillful development team to ensure the platform runs effectively.
Another determinant of the super app’s success is the development team. To handle this project effectively, you need to define the number of the workforce needed as well as their roles and responsibilities in each development phase. For instance, Revolut - one of the most well-known financial super apps, has separated its development teams for each mobile platform. Each platform has cross-functional teams that manage particular service features (payment, lifestyle, trading, etc.), and each team has approximately 60 software engineers using native technologies (Swift, Kotlin).
Moreover, as developing the super app will need a considerable amount of technical experts, outsourcing IT services can be a potential option. It’s essential to choose an experienced IT company that helps you turn your ideas into practical products.
Once you’ve determined your app’s objectives, target audience, business model, and features, the next step is planning the app’s information architecture. After settling on the app functionality, you should consider the customer journey, regarding how users will interact and the entire navigational flow of your app. Building a minimum viable product (MVP) can assist you in collecting customer feedback on the first product and incorporating it into subsequent versions.
The design phase includes considering user flow, sketching app wireframes, preparing prototypes, and building an app interface. Using wireframes, you basically have the mobile app’s skeleton and can visualize the app. When the wireframes are completed, then it is the responsibility of front-end and back-end developers to code and build the app. They must organize the technical side of the problem: how third-party programmers will deliver services inside the super app to optimize its work and minimize disruptions.
When it comes to the staging phase, QA specialists are in charge of testing functionality, interoperability, system integration, and more. Depending on the project’s requirements, you might choose between manual and automated testing. Moreover, you can also test the app with real users through a beta testing version to improve the app.
As users are rightfully becoming more sensitive to privacy issues, providing a secure and safe app is key. Along with adding new products and features at a breakneck pace, Gojek also concentrates on providing a world-class security program for its users. By building a Security Pipeline, the app can solve digital issues such as Hardcoded credentials in code, Vulnerable Code dependency, Automated API whitelisting, etc.
After deploying the app, you also need to continuously upgrade it to catch up with the trends and meet customers’ changing requirements.
Creating a groundbreaking mobile application is not an easy feat. It should contain the critical set of services that are delivered to consumers through a mobile app and a robust technology platform to support those services. If you want to develop a successful super app or turn your existing app into one, consider the following advice:
A super app is one of the simplest user acquisition and engagement platforms as it provides a more convenient experience when using an all-in-one app with all required services than switching between multiple apps. But don't make your app unnecessarily complicated by adding features nobody uses, just focus on those that users really need.
At KMS Solutions, we have helped many companies successfully execute their vision and build high-quality apps and software that match the market standard.
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