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The past year has ushered in a plethora of new possibilities for users of communication applications, driven by both general technological advancements and the active integration of neural networks. These developments have reassured users that this trajectory of progress is bound to persist. In this article, we summarize the major highlights of 2023 in the realm of messaging apps and superapps, incorporating insights from industry experts.
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1. Surge in Superapps
In 2023, the functionality of superapps continued to expand, offering increasingly diverse services ranging from banking to taxi bookings and food delivery. This trend made superapps a focal point throughout the year. Applications aspiring to attain superapp status concentrated on incorporating as many features as possible to meet the varied needs of their users.
2. Strengthened Privacy Measures
The outgoing year witnessed a growing emphasis on user data protection. Many messaging apps reinforced their security measures, implementing technologies such as end-to-end encryption. According to Vage Zakaryan, Head of Development at Gem Space superapp, “Our app’s evolution into a superapp is a testament to these trends. We consistently added new services, driven by both our initiative and user feedback. Ensuring data security during transmission is pivotal for user trust and the continued growth and expansion of applications.”
3. Rise of AI and Bots
The utilization of AI and bots emerged as a new phenomenon in communication apps. While chatbots have been present in messengers, the advent of neural networks, such as ChatGPT, led to even more active integration. Chatbots in both messengers and superapps became commonplace, aiding in automating responses to customer queries, serving as support services, handling requests, generating texts, translations, and more.
4. E-commerce Growth Continues
Although not a new phenomenon, the trend of e-commerce integration persisted in 2023. Many superapps and messengers incorporated e-commerce capabilities into their functionality, allowing users to make purchases directly within the application.
5. Cross-Platform Development
In 2023, the focus on cross-platform development continued. The idea of standalone applications poorly integrated into the overall communication environment lost appeal. Messengers aimed for cross-platform compatibility, enabling users to interact with their applications across different devices and platforms seamlessly.
According to Anabel Blanche, IT Director at Bancs Around, “This year marked a turning point in messenger development. New services have garnered significant interest and active usage, suggesting that users can expect surprises in the form of fresh services from familiar apps next year.”
6. Business Tool Expansion
Developers maintained their focus on expanding capabilities for businesses. Superapps and messengers increased the array of tools available for businesses, including CRM systems, marketing tools, analytics, and more.
7. Enhanced Social Media Integration
Many messengers strengthened their integration with social media platforms, enabling users to effortlessly share content across different platforms.
8. Increase in Video and Audio Services
The year saw a rise in the number of video and audio services. Messengers and superapps continued to introduce features for video and audio communication, including video calls, audio chats, and even podcasts.
In summary, 2023 was a productive year that set numerous trends expected to amplify and evolve in the coming year. It will be intriguing to observe which trends were transitory and which will endure in the long run.
