In brief
The core value of apps is solving problems and meeting needs. Standalone apps and apps integrated with external systems involve different business considerations, while cooperation between developers and companies can create value that extends beyond commercial interests.
If apps cannot make it onto the app rankings, where does their value lie?
In fact, the core value of apps lies in “solving problems and meeting needs”
The app market has recently entered a mature phase. Apps fall into two broad categories. One consists of apps with straightforward functions that only need to run on a mobile phone, such as utilities and games. The other consists of apps that need to integrate with external systems, such as online shopping and ride booking. Each model involves different considerations.
New apps in the first category have continued to emerge in recent years, but earlier developers have already secured market positions in most cases, and their advantages can be difficult to overcome. With the first category dominating the market, some developers turn their attention to the second. However, without experience in business operations, they need to devote considerable effort to research and development.
Apps in the second category primarily work with external systems. Their considerations are similar to those of internet companies, but developers also need to explore how to increase the app’s market share。
Most successful apps in the first category come from independent developers, while those in the second usually come from established companies of some scale. There is a considerable difference in size between the two, but if they can find a basis for mutually beneficial cooperation, they should be able to achieve good results.
Although the core value of apps lies in “solving problems and meeting needs”, commercial value is not the only form of value in human society. When app developers identify problems, they develop relevant apps to address issues that could not be solved in the past, or new problems that people must face but cannot resolve because of cross-regional or cross-border constraints. Examples include transport, weather, crime prevention, disaster relief, food safety and community collaboration, among many others. Beyond commercial interests, many problems still require human ingenuity, including everyday problems that money alone can do little to solve.