Back in late August, Tony Fernandes talked about his ambition to build Asia’s next super app. At that time, the founder of AirAsia didn’t reveal the timeline for the said super app but that changed today during a briefing with members of the media.
As it turns out, the super app that he meant is actually AirAsia’s own website, AirAsia.com as well as AirAsia mobile app. According to Tony, the journey towards the super app had actually begun back in 2018 under the company’s digitalisation agenda which was called AirAsia 3.0.
However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated its progress since the outbreak has severely impaired AirAsia’s aviation and travel businesses. Hence, this gave the management of AirAsia as well as respective AirAsia Digital (previously known as RedBeat Ventures) subsidiaries some space to work towards the super app.
Essentially, what is going to happen next is AirAsia’s website and app will begin to include other offerings from AirAsia Digital’s subsidiaries. Among them are food delivery service involving Santan and Teleport as well as Ikhlas’ Islamic lifestyle services, fresh produce arranged by OurFarm, TuneProtect travel insurance, and BigPay digital banking all through the same AirAsia user account.
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While this is something that is already visible on the current iteration of the AirAsia website and apps, these offerings from AirAsia Digital subsidiaries will have deeper integration with the site and app than before. In the near future, AirAsia’s website and app will also include Health services alongside Financial offerings such as unit trust.
Meanwhile, Tony has noted that the airlines’ side of the business will remain the same for AirAsia. In fact, AirAsia website and app has been given a new branding scheme as they descend into a super app status but AirAsia aeroplanes will continue to sport the same logo.
AirAsia will officially launch the latest iteration of the AirAsia website and app on 8 October, so expect to hear more about the progress of the company’s super app in a few weeks’ time.
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