Superapps: Do You Need One?

Everything else is super, is there a superapp? If you want one, can you buy it? And if there is such a thing, do you need one? 

Well, the quick answer is, superapps definitely exist.  A superapp is defined as a comprehensive mobile application characterized by the number of services, typically unrelated, bundled into a single platform (application).  A mouthful. While the goal is to provide convenience, it also keeps the user on a single platform. Typically, the services offered with a superapp are diverse, but the underlying integration of the services is what differentiates them from regular mobile applications.  Instead of having a user go from mobile application to mobile application, the superapp provides them with seamless user experience integrating various services (e.g., shopping, social networking, financial, ridesharing, food delivery, etc.). 

You will find superapps in use primarily in Southeast Asia, India and China, but they have also shown up in South Korea and Latin America.  For the most part, they’re built, not bought.

The technology behind these superapps is still evolving, as there are challenges in building one with some of the current frameworks.  The core to building one is a design that can utilize multiple “mini apps” from other developers. Your base superapp is conceptually a container to host (hold) the mini apps.  To add more complexity to this explanation, the superapp needs the capability to install, uninstall, activate or deactivate the mini apps.  There are several approaches to building the base architecture and your team may also need to create a software development kit to enable other development teams to integrate with your superapp.

So, with those complications should we even have the discussion about superapps within the government sector?  Well, it is a new-ish technical approach, and it pays to be aware of current trends.  And, if you think about it, this conceptual base model could easily serve a scenario where multiple agencies are delivering services.  Instead of having your citizens go to each agency’s web site, log in and conduct business (juggling sevearl passwords), they could have a superapp that integrates many agency functions within one application.  Setting that up may not be easy; but it could repay the effort with an easier experience for citizens who need services.

Artificial intelligence, especially agentic AI, has a potential role to play in the implementation of a superapp.  In this scenario, the mini apps could be AI agents for an autonomous agentic AI.  That path is not clear yet, but some research suggests these two technologies may find some common ground.

As for whether you need one, well, that’s a decision you’ll have to make for yourself.

Dan Kempton is the Sr. IT Advisor at North Carolina Department of Information Technology. An accomplished IT executive with over 35 years of experience, Dan has worked nearly equally in the private sector, including startups and mid-to-large scale companies, and the public sector. His Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science fuel his curiosity about adopting and incorporating technology to reach business goals. His experience spans various technical areas including system architecture and applications. He has served on multiple technology advisory boards, ANSI committees, and he is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Industrial & Systems Engineering school at NC State University. He reports directly to the CIO for North Carolina, providing technical insight and guidance on how emerging technologies could address the state’s challenges.

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