3rd Party App For WeChat
If you’re like me and use WeChat for business purposes, you may be wondering why you might want to
download a 3rd party app. You’ve probably heard about mini programs, which are lightweight apps that
run inside of WeChat, but what exactly are they? Did you know you can hail a cab right on WeChat? Did
you know that you can summon a Didi cab with a click of your finger? Today, Tencent CEO Pony Ma has
confirmed the platform has reached a billion users, and that a third-party analytics firm has reported that
the ecosystem has grown to 50% of the size of the Apple App Store?
Tencent’s WeChat
While the number of WeChat users has increased dramatically in recent years, it is still quite small
compared to other social media platforms. According to a report by Hootsuite, there are currently 4.20
billion active social media users, with Eastern Asia comprising 28.1% of the total market. In addition to
the millions of active users in China, another hundred to two hundred million people use the app outside
the country. While both genders use WeChat equally, it is difficult to determine how many users reside
outside the country.
To address this, the WeChat mini-program, introduced by Tencent in January 2017, allows users to access
third-party services without leaving the app. Mini-programs can be launched from the WeChat app
drawer. Users can choose from a variety of categories, including games, lifestyle, blog/news, and e-
commerce. By making these apps available to users within WeChat, Tencent is able to quickly scale use
cases on WeChat without having to diversify into other business lines.
In addition to its main app, the WeChat platform also has third-party app development. These third-party
apps do not occupy any mobile memory and are bundled into one mobile native APP. This is known as
the super-app model. The WeChat ecosystem is positioning WeChat as the “(social) Operating System.”
While the WeChat platform has become a social media hub for many people, the barriers that restrict its
use are still proving to be significant. Tencent has been making strides in breaking down those barriers,
and Xiaowei, the company’s third-party app, is a big step forward. The company plans to begin testing the
function, allowing group-chat participants to share links to third-party services. It has already partnered
with Chang’An Auto Group, which will likely introduce Xiaowei to its cars by year’s end.
In China, however, this move is still causing controversy, as the Chinese government continues to
crackdown on social media and Tencent has made it nearly impossible to use third-party apps without
permission. The company’s new privacy controls also restrict the use of third-party apps to collect
sensitive personal information, which has become a point of contention. The company has also banned
some video games on WeChat, citing concerns over censorship.
Tencent’s WeChat Work
Designed to simplify the business communications process, WeChat Work enables WeChat users to
manage their emails on WeChat. Users can choose from IMAP, POP, or Exchange accounts and get 100G
of free disk space. This app has other useful features, such as project tracking and collaboration. Users
can also create group chats and integrate third-party apps. These applications include CRM, human
resources, workflow management, and team building.
WeChat Work was developed to solve the friction between employees and management in WeChat. The
company first addressed this issue with the Enterprise Accounts and Enterprise Messaging within
WeChat, and now separates the two functions into a separate app. WeChat Work is available in Mainland
China to enterprises only. It also provides superior internal communication features than WeChat. But if
you’re looking for a more complete solution for your business, you’d better use WeChat Work.
Third party apps have many advantages for enterprises. WeChat Work’s mini programs are likely to
transition away from the H5 apps currently used by enterprise users. While H5 apps are sufficient for
now, agile mini programs provide a better user experience and flexibility in functionality. More mini
programs will be developed for WeChat Work as this new feature is expected to grow in popularity. The
ability to create these mini programs is the key to WeChat’s future success.
WeChat Work has long been used by Tencent’s U.S. employees to communicate with their colleagues in
Shenzhen. In fact, the company has at least 250 U.S.-based employees and is expected to continue using
WeChat Work in the near future. But there is a downside. In addition to being used by businesspeople,
WeChat’s censorship is highly controversial.
WeChat is the primary messaging platform in China, and its integration of third-party apps allows
businesses to tap into the large WeChat user base. In fact, WeChat users can add people in several ways,
including by phone or via their WeChat user ID, which makes the app unique among its users. In addition
to adding contacts, users can also search for friends nearby. With the help of WeChat, users can also check
their flight status, read magazine articles, or donate to charity.
Tencent’s WeChat Mini Programs
What are WeChat Mini Programs? In simple terms, these are app-like platforms within WeChat. They are
not full-featured native applications, but streamlined versions of apps that offer high-level benefits
without requiring the user to download an entire app. Similar to Facebook, WeChat offers games, add-
ons, and more to keep its users connected and entertained. Hence, it offers an all-in-one experience for
social media users.
WeChat’s Mini Programs enable users to interact with other WeChat users by using the app. They can also
request account information, buy products, and even book rooms with the AirB&D Mini Program. Users
can access various relevant functions through the WeChat search bar. They can also find their favorite
applications in WeChat. If you want to create an application for WeChat Mini Programs, you need to
know about the market and your users.
If you are a developer, you should be aware of the limitations of WeChat SDK. The Mini Programs do not
use the full HTML5 standard, but instead simulate it. Developers should know the limitations of the
WeChat SDK before creating a WeChat Mini Program. If you’re a beginner, it is recommended to start out
by looking at other apps available for WeChat.
To build a WeChat Mini Program, you need to be registered with the WeChat official account. Then,
download the developer tools according to your operating system platform. Upon completion, you should
be able to launch your WeChat mini program. You can even register games in WeChat! But remember that
you should follow the rules for native apps to avoid infringement. So, how can I make a WeChat mini
program?
Social commerce has become a ubiquitous way to buy and sell goods, with millions of Chinese people
using WeChat. As such, the growth of social commerce in China is accelerating at a rapid pace. In 2017
alone, weibing’s users sent 46 billion red envelopes to friends. They’re expected to send even more this
year. In addition to traditional e-commerce, WeChat also offers livestreaming of transactions, which it
calls “Live Commerce.”
3rd party apps for WeChat
Developers are starting to make their own mini-programs for WeChat, a platform that caters to both end
users and service providers. While the concept of a “super APP” is certainly appealing, it also requires a
certain level of expertise. Furthermore, multiple apps require additional costs and development, and
consumers must switch between different apps. This is both inconvenient and time-consuming.
The recent update signals the importance of mini-programs, which are small applications that can be
installed directly on the WeChat interface. These programs are limited to Android devices and are only
available on the beta version. Developers can use the WeChat Mini Programs to customize the title bar
section on the menu. In addition, businesses can customize the look and feel of their mini-apps, if they
wish to.
Developers should take precautions to ensure that their applications do not contain harmful or misleading
links. Such apps can access users’ personal information. Tencent Holdings has made changes to prevent
such misuse. Users should copy external links to another browser to avoid revealing personal information.
This applies to third-party apps, too. WeChat users must carefully choose their applications. If a third-
party app provides a link for a third-party app, be sure to check its permissions before downloading it.
With the development of mini-apps, brands can take advantage of the growing popularity of WeChat. It
has been reported that 34.6% of consumers interact with mini-apps while only 3% make it back to the
official account. To make the most of this opportunity, the development team of WeChat has introduced
an advertising module and a platform for mini-apps. With the help of these tools, foreign businesses can
also leverage WeChat Mini Apps as a way to interact with WeChat users.
A recent development in the WeChat ecosystem has allowed third-party developers to build mini-
programs for the platform. These apps are smaller than Apple’s App Store, but contain advanced features.
They run within WeChat and are less data-intensive. In addition, weChat mini-programs can be used to
pay for products, scan QR codes, and more. In the future, these apps will help users navigate the
increasingly complex WeChat ecosystem.
