Airasia Super App has announced a five-year strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to advance its innovative ecosystem in the region. Both organizations will combine core competencies to nurture technology talent, co-create software tools for open innovation, deliver data-driven intelligence on behalf of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) on the platform, and ensure accessibility for diverse users in cities and rural areas.
The strategic collaboration and ecosystem building efforts will encompass four pillars that include:
- Fostering an agile culture and co-innovation talent engine – both organizations will establish a Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE) consisting of AirAsia Allstars and Google Cloud technologists. The CCoE will embed an agile culture across all Airasia Super App business units to accelerate product development velocity, enable teams to embrace change, and upskill talent.
- Ensuring seamless user access anytime and anywhere, on any device – by leveraging Google Cloud’s secure and scalable infrastructure, and advanced microservices, serverless and networking technologies, the CCoE will enhance the Airasia Super App so that it remains robust, reliable, and lightweight as more features and services are continuously added.
- Unlocking data-driven insights to fuel MSME growth – by deploying Google Cloud’s leading analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence technologies, the CCoE’s data scientists can unify and analyze datasets to glean real-time insights into customer sentiment and emerging trends.
- Empowering partners and developers to co-innovate and contribute – by adopting Google Cloud’s open-source principles and infrastructure, the CCoE will develop a suite of software development kits (SDKs) that ecosystem partners and external developers can use to expeditiously and cost-effectively create new features and services for Airasia Super App users. These will include reusable software components for biometric identification, chatbots, e-wallets, online travel bookings, and more.
According to Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, the journey with Google Cloud started five years ago when AirAsia was looking for a partner. Now, the Super App is on the road to disrupting the digital platform arena in the same vein as the airlines did.
“We may be late in the game, but with the Super App as the center of our ecosystem of e-commerce, logistics, and fintech, we are determined to give all 700 million people in ASEAN inclusivity, accessibility and value,” said Fernandes.
Fernandes added that with Google’s help, the ecosystem will not only be transactional, but be about building community, and enriching that community, not just the customers but partners like restaurants, airlines, hotels, and drivers.
For Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, the Airasia Super App is an inspiring example of a company that’s innovating using cloud-first technologies to better reach and serve their customers.
“Super-apps are helping small businesses thrive and stimulate economies. In fact, the World Economic Forum estimates that 70% of new economic value generated in the next decade will be driven by digital platform business models. We’re proud to be working with Tony and his team to further develop talent and an open innovation ecosystem to meet diverse digital lifestyle needs across Southeast Asia,” commented Kurian.
Amanda Woo, CEO, Airasia Super App explained that the super app must be simple and easy to use while underpinned by inclusive design, interoperability, and personalization. Hence, she believes it is crucial to leverage Google’s rich experience in building global platforms and ecosystems to equip and engage more talent, entrepreneurs, and partners who can provide even more tailor-made solutions that fit users’ lives.
“What we’re announcing today is just the beginning, and we look forward to exploring further co-innovation initiatives with Google, whether in digital travel planning, self-driving cars, cloud gaming, startup investment, or supporting frontline workers through Google Workspace,” explained Woo.
Airasia Super App currently operates in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines and is part of Capital A’s digital pillar. The platform offers flight and hotel bookings, e-commerce, food, and parcel delivery, ride-hailing, financial and health services, on-demand education, and more, anchored by an integrated rewards program and mobile wallet. Since its inception in 2020, Airasia Super App has become one of three unicorns headquartered in Malaysia.
Source: techwireasia
