Five ways super apps can build a small business hub
Super apps are taking the world by storm. With daily essentials like communication, online shopping and financial services all in one place, what they offer in terms of convenience and simplicity has been a proven hit with consumers.
But consumers aren’t the only market that can benefit from the super app model. Convenience and simplicity are also powerful drivers for entrepreneurs trying to run or launch their own small business. For super apps looking for new ways to scale and diversify what they offer, building a hub for small business owners could be the answer.
1. Invest in backing the e-commerce boom
E-commerce is booming around the world. In 2021, almost a fifth of all retail payments worldwide were made online. But while this is a global phenomenon, the number of online shoppers is growing especially fast in Africa and Asia – regions where super apps are increasingly playing a central role in the everyday lives of consumers.
That boom is a big boost for small businesses in particular, giving them a way to reach far beyond local customers and promote their brand on a global scale.
To do so, they need to be able to take their business online. Super apps can help get them there – by packaging essential digital business tools like website builders in their app, they can create a platform that makes it easy for budding entrepreneurs to launch an online brand.
2. Remove the friction from running a business
With a suite of digital services in one place, user convenience is arguably the most important USP for super apps. That “all in one” factor is also what makes super apps such a powerful potential ally for the small business market.
One of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs and small business owners is time. They have to wear multiple hats to keep their business running, and bounce between separate pieces of software as they manage inventory, accounts, bookings and leads.
What a super app can offer is all of those tools united in a one-stop-shop. Small business owners can continue managing each of those tasks without spending valuable time logging in and out of different digital platforms, and each system can talk to each other intuitively and seamlessly when they’re all part of the same ecosystem.
3. Connect small businesses with engaged consumers
As well as the e-commerce boom, another global trend is helping entrepreneurs to thrive – the rise in consumer trust towards local and small businesses.
Super apps can help small businesses put that trust to their advantage by giving them another way to reach digitally native customers with an appetite for buying online. If a small business is already using the platform’s tools to build their website and manage their operations, a super app could also allow them to sell via the app, making them part of a small business marketplace that puts the spotlight on what they do.
4. Leverage the platform you’ve already built
Offering new services and tools isn’t the only way super apps can empower small business success. They can also help build crucial support networks for small business owners, using the core services that already exist within the platform.
Running a small business can sometimes feel like a lonely endeavour, and for new entrepreneurs it’s not always immediate where useful help and advice can be found. But part of what makes super apps so sticky for consumers is their community aspect – the ability to easily chat, share experiences and build a virtual network.
Super apps can build on those features to help small business owners on their platform create communities of their own. That doesn’t have to mean business networking either – it can also give them a new way to reach out for support from people in the same boat, share their insights and successes, and access vital education and resources.
5. Take advantage of white label solutions
Providing essential digital tools for small businesses doesn’t mean that super apps will have to start developing products outside their area of expertise. White label software can give super apps access to a mature product that’s ready to roll out to their platform.
By offering tools like a white label website builder, super apps can scale their services in a low-risk and cost-efficient way, while still providing users with products that have gone through rigorous development and testing. And partnering with a white label provider means a super app can continue to offer those tools seamlessly within their own ecosystem and under their own branding.
BaseKit recently launched the KitStart referral program to make it easier for super apps and other partners to support small businesses with digital tools.
With KitStart, partners can refer their customers to a co-branded website where they can access the BaseKit website builder, e-commerce store and bookings software as well as expert firstline customer support.
We’re on a mission for tech democracy for small businesses – are you in? Request a demo of our software, or get in touch to see how we could collaborate.