Indian conglomerate Tata Group intends to debut its long-anticipated ‘super app,’ anointed Tata Neu, to the public on April 7, the company has revealed on its app and Play Store page.
Years in the making and riddled with multiple delays and buggy interpretation, TataNeu is the salt-to-software giant’s endeavor to go head-to-head with rivals, including American e-commerce group Amazon and local billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Platforms that have climbed to new heights in the past decade while Tata concentrated on more legacy businesses.
The app clubs several Tata Group services, including some like online grocer BigBasket and e-pharmacy platform 1Mg that the firm has recently purchased.
Tata Neu will also deliver users the ability to send people money and pay electricity, water, broadband, and satellite TV bills and secure loans, TechCrunch reported earlier.
Tata hopes that customers will find its one-stop-shop offering and rewards lofty enough to make the bold switch. Tata plans to offer them “NeuCoins” as a reward, where one NeuCoin is equivalent to one Indian rupee.
Testing Tata Neu having tens of thousands of its employees for several quarters, the firm plans to eventually phase out additional group unit loyalty offerings by BigBasket, 1mg, and other services and substitute them with NeuCoins.
The rewards are one of the primary focuses for Tata Group as it attempts to create a “connective layer” for its services that function in a wide range of categories. If successful, the 155-year-old giant is positioned to conjure up the most comprehensive loyalty program in the country.
What is Tata Neu?
Tata Neu is the conglomerate’s nifty app that brings together all of its digital services and apps on a single platform. On its Play Store page, the app’s description reads: “Consume cutting-edge digital content, manage your finances, make payments, plan your next holiday or perhaps just your next meal – there are lots to explore and experience in the globe of Tata Neu.”
Which services are available on Tata Neu?
Various Tata Group digital services include booking flight tickets on AirAsia India, Air India, or booking hotels at Taj Group properties. In addition, it may order groceries from BigBasket, medicines from 1mg, or purchase electronics from Croma and apparel from apparel Westside is possible through the Tata Neu app.
For spending on the app, the company will reward its users with Neu Coins that will be redeemable on the services being provided through the app.
Are there other super apps in India?
Several other internet conglomerates such as Amazon, Paytm, and Reliance Jio have built their versions of super apps. They provide a bouquet of services such as payments, content streaming, shopping, travel bookings, groceries, etc.
Why do Indian companies want to build super apps?
A country or a territory becomes super app-ready when a large base of its population is a smartphone first instead of a desktop, and the ecosystem of apps customized to local needs is not evolved. For example, India has already become a market where most of those experiencing the internet are making transactions on their mobile phones for the first time.
It is one of the main reasons Indian companies are looking at building super apps. Apart from increased revenue realization due to the consolidation of services in one place, such apps also provide companies with large swaths of consumer data which can then be harnessed to learn more about user behavior.