WeChat – the Super App that does everything, in China

The article is proudly written in partnership with Amirsan Roberto and Mingai Zhu

Since its inception as a messenger app back in 2011, WeChat has evolved over a decade overtaking China by storm, encapsulating scores of must-have services in an integrated ecosystem with a built-in payment system (WeChat Pay) and mini programs.

In the first quarter of 2020, WeChat has 1.17 billion monthly active users (MAUs) across the world with WeChat and Weixin combined, while Facebook has 2.60 billion MAUs. It was reported in 2013 that WeChat already had 70 million overseas users. Although WeChat has not made any official statement, it is safe to say the latest stat is looking great. It is so useful and convenient that Chinese people can spend over one-third of their online time on WeChat.

To give you a perspective why Chinese people can be so reliant on it, imagine you are using Instagram, Uber, PayPal, Skype/Viber, Instacart, Groupon, and 20+ apps VS one app that has it all. More specifically, picture yourself trying to order a cab, request food delivery, buy movie tickets, play casual games, check in for a flight, send/request money to/from friends, book a doctor appointment, obtain bank statements, pay utility bills, find coupons to redeem for shopping, meet strangers around you to hang out, join multiple group chats of any kind and in any industry, follow news and brand activities, read articles, manage assets and even donate to charity… all of these in a single, integrated app, sounds cool? For WeChat, it is the real case.

In this article, we will dive into the above-mentioned services for individuals and practical applications for each service.

WeChat simplifies tasks and makes services more easily accessible for users. Regardless of individuals and businesses, WeChat has a function that suits you well. The graph below gives an overview of WeChat's all-encompassing ecosystem.

Essential functions

1. Messaging and calling

Similar to other instant messaging apps, WeChat has many of the essential functions that you can expect from its western counterparts, such as texting, audio calls, and video calls. For individuals, free text and voice messaging, broadcast messaging, and voice inputs are all available, and groups can also do group calls.

2. Location

You can also send a location to your friends or ask them to share real-time locations with you so that you two can find each other quicker. Meanwhile, allowing WeChat to access your location also means that the ad content can be geo-localized. Hence, this can be an important feature for marketers.

3. WeChat Moments

Simply put, it is like Facebook's News Feed. This is where people share images, music, and videos, and like or comment on others' sharing. The posts will only be visible to your network and you can even select the specific groups or contacts to view your moments. There are also ads viewable or clickable on moments similar to those placed on Facebook and Instagram.

4. WeChat pay

Once you set up an E-Wallet by connecting WeChat with our bank account(s) and/or credit card(s), you are able to take advantage of the multiple functions of WeChat Pay. Simply by quickly scanning QR codes or sending ours for others to scan, you can make or receive payments at lightning speed.

Through WeChat pay, you can also do card repayments, top up mobile phones, purchase personal wealth management products, pay utilities fees, donate to charity, and anything else that is enabled by payment. Specific functions are detailed in the following sections.

5. Red Packet(s)

This feature has been a phenomenon for WeChat. It signifies blessing according to the traditional Chinese culture, only in an electronic form. As shown in the screenshot below, you can set the amount and quantity; if more than 2, then each can be set with a random or identical amount. It can also be fun and attention-grabbing when it is used for marketing purposes, since businesses can attract users via reward or prize-winning schemes.

5. Utilities (bills)

Once you log in your personal details, this super convenient feature can be available for you to pay water, electricity, heat, phone, and internet bills.

6. Public Services

Via public services, you can access traffic status, hospital registractions, weather forecast, pay social insurance, access information about air quality, waste sorting, cultural activities, tourism, and volunteering work, among many other useful information for citizens.

Interested in reading further? Click here

There is one more thing

The end of October is promised to be mind-blowing and jaw opening.

We are stoked to be joining forces with scores of blockchain and DeFi industry pioneers in China to bring one of the most promising events of the year.

Key Notes, Panel DIscussions and After-Party are all designed to meet a single objective- bring together the brightest minds in Blockchain and DeFi industries to share the stage and spread ideas that matter. To download a brochure click here.

Interested in partnering with us or becoming a sponsor, reach us out at [email protected] or ping me here.