Delivery, Games, Hotel Booking: 6 Use Cases of Mini Apps

A mini app can be used inside a financial app as a shopping catalog. Klarna, for example, has in-app services in its BNPL app for checking prices on clothes and sports goods. One way to tell that these are mini apps is that they load like a web browser, with a search box at the top and back/forward buttons at the bottom of the screen.

Some mini apps, like the ones in a Colombian super app Rappi, allow users to manage their travel plans. Rappi customers can book flights and hotels in the app and pay with a credit card or Rappi digital wallet. Thus, the in-app service saves their personal information, including their tax ID, for future bookings.

A distinct feature of mini apps is that they are kept in the cache of the super app, similar to the way websites are cached in the browser. So the next time a user launches a cached mini app, it loads instantly. This helps users make their purchases faster. For example, if they love watching films, buying a movie ticket in a mini app takes a couple of minutes. That’s how it’s done in the super app IZI that we've developed for our client.

Users can usually find mini apps by searching for them in a super app. For instance, if someone wants to order a burger from Burger King, they can open the Alipay super app and launch the Burger King mini app.

The Grab super app from South Asia is another example of how mini apps make everyday purchases easier. Users can book bus and ferry trips through the app, which shows all available trips and seats regardless of the operator. This means that users don't need to double-check the information elsewhere and stay in the app for longer.

Mini apps can also be used for entertainment. For example, AirAsia uses mini games in its super app to keep users engaged and help them develop an emotional connection with the app. AirAsia’s games are simple yet engaging, and even if a game seems boring, users can easily try another.

Mini apps are a versatile solution for businesses of all sizes, regardless of industry or location. As long as you are willing to partner with a super app, you can use mini apps to achieve your business goals. Alternatively, if you’re considering developing your own super app with mini apps and need guidance, feel free to reach out to us.