How U.S. tech companies struggle to replicate China's WeChat 'super app' model

Everyday tasks are accomplished by Americans using an average of 46 mobile apps per month.

If you could combine all of those programs into a single, standalone app, you would have a "super app" that allows you to socialize with friends, order food, pay rent, or even consult with a doctor.

"Arjun Kharpal, CNBC's senior technology reporter, stated that people are tired of the numerous apps on their phones. The allure of the super app lies in the fact that all of the features of those apps are combined into a single platform. This makes it easy and effortless to use."

WeChat, developed by Tencent, is a prime example of a super app that started as a messaging app in China and now has over 1.3 billion monthly active users. The success of such apps can be attributed to factors such as convenience, seamless user experience, and user behavior. Although super apps have thrived in Asia, their adoption in Western markets, including the U.S., has been slower due to various reasons.

"According to Dan Prud'homme, an assistant professor at Florida International University's College of Business, the regulatory environment in the U.S. today is not conducive to the development of a super app due to strong protections on things like peer-to-peer lending, data privacy, antitrust, and more. As a result, U.S. apps are not able to thrive in the same way that WeChat did."

Recently, there has been a growing trend among tech companies to introduce the super app concept in the U.S. market.

Discover the reasons behind the popularity of super apps in Asia, why the U.S. has been slow to adopt the "everything app" model, and whether a super app will emerge in the U.S. soon by watching the video.