Switzerland is having a second attempt at introducing the e-ID. It promises to eliminate excessively complex administrative procedures, enable electronic signatures, allow bank accounts to be opened and much more. The Swiss public remains sceptical as the bill failed at the first attempt in the 2021 referendum. In reality, people, devices, data and services are already more closely entwined than ever before. Technology advancements from 5G mobile networks to cloud technologies and AI lay the foundation for a hyperconnected world. This enables integrated services and platforms to be created. In countries such as China and Brazil, networked digital services at federal level and in the private sector have long been part of everyday life. However, Europe and Switzerland are showing reticence over a shift towards increasingly interconnected digital services. Simply because technology makes more opportunities feasible doesn't necessarily mean new digital systems are better than existing ones or that they will gain acceptance from society. Trust, transparency and good user experiences ultimately determine whether hyperconnected solutions are well received.
Gian-Luca Savino
Senior Researcher and Speaker, GDI
As a computer scientist with a PhD, he analyzes global trends in technology and the environment, as well as their impact on business, the economy, and society.
More about the author
On the path to hyperconnectivity: how much progress has Switzerland made?
A look at Switzerland's situation illustrates the opportunities and challenges that hyperconnectivity presents in the public sector. Digital administration has made tremendous progress of late: 73% of the Swiss population already conduct their business with the public authorities online, for example submitting tax declarations or buying motorway vignettes. Compared to the last survey carried out in 2021, this represents an increase of 4%, and the trend is on an upward curve. The surveys indicate that the main reasons for this growing use of e-government services are the temporal flexibility and time savings that such online solutions provide. Cost savings are becoming an increasingly significant factor too, as digital processes are often more efficient. Two thirds of citizens (around 66%) are satisfied with the online solutions provided by their public authorities – a major vote of confidence in official online services.
How much trust do Swiss people have in the online services provided by the public authorities at national level in terms of privacy and data protection?
The level of trust in online services provided by national public authorities in terms of privacy and data protection has risen slightly recently amongst the Swiss population (National eGovernment Study 2025 report).
However, there are also clear indications as to which areas the digital state still needs to improve. A national eGovernment study in 2025 revealed that the greatest obstacle facing 53% of the population when using online government services is finding them in the first place. Many people are not actually aware which administrative procedures can be completed online. There are often separate websites for each particular government office or canton, hindering accessibility. Almost half of citizens would prefer a centralised online portal for access to all government services – a kind of one-stop shop for e-government. The forthcoming vote on the e-ID in Switzerland could bring this scenario a step closer.
Super apps: a pioneering development in a hyperconnected world
Super apps are a prime example of hyperconnectivity: these specific apps provide entire ecosystems of functions and services.
WeChat, a firmly established super app, is the leading solution in China. It's hard to use any online services there without having this app. WeChat started out as a messenger service and has developed into an all-in-one platform. Users can chat on WeChat, but also use it to do virtually everything else too without having to leave the app - from phone calls, making payment, shopping, route planning and booking taxis. The Chinese government works closely with WeChat – the app can even be used as an official form of digital ID. The downside of this kind of total connectivity: WeChat is kept under strict state surveillance. Politically sensitive content is censored or deleted, and user accounts are blocked if deemed necessary. Blocked account holders face total digital exclusion: they are suddenly unable to communicate, make mobile payments or use the app to verify their ID online.
Russia also began driving forward a new state-funded super app called 'Max' this year which aims to compete directly with WhatsApp. In addition to various functions like those found on China's WeChat, it also intends to incorporate government services directly into Max. Critics warn that such a centralised messenger service may provide the state with extensive surveillance opportunities. Some people already suspect that Max is being used as spyware by the Kremlin, which state media firmly deny.
Messaging apps are being turned into super apps elsewhere too. WhatsApp is used extensively in Brazil: around 98% of the country's internet users are on the app. WhatsApp is used for much everyday communication – from family chats to customer service. Even the provision of official information and commercial transactions are increasingly shifting to this platform in Brazil. The launch of WhatsApp Pay enables users to send money directly to friends or businesses via the messaging app. 96% of Brazilian companies are already using WhatsApp for business operations, customer communication, orders or payment transactions. The app is turning into a multifunctional solution for everyday life. In contrast to China and Russia, the focus in Brazil is being placed on the creation of added value for consumers and companies. Technological advancements are enabling day-to-day procedures to be simplified.
Super apps face a tough environment in Europe
While super apps are booming in some countries around the world, they have struggled to break through in Europe so far. Europe is still lacking 'one app for everything'. There are many reasons for this, but one of the major factors is the strong penetration of the western app market by specialised solutions. Well-established specific apps exist for almost every purpose: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as social media channels, Uber for transport, delivery solutions for food, Netflix for entertainment and Google Maps for navigation services and local searches etc. Consumers are used to these solutions and there appears to be little demand for replacement services.
Rigorous legal requirements must be met too. Europe's stringent data protection regulations, especially the GDPR, make bundling vast amounts of personal data on a single platform difficult. Yet super apps thrive on combining data from various sources to deliver personalised services. The EU monitors the market closely to ensure no single company becomes too powerful. Large digital ecosystems soon face anti-trust challenges. While governments in Asia sometimes promote the establishment of dominant platforms, Europe often aims to prevent monopolies emerging. This means Western super apps have to contend with data protection and competition law regulations.
Finally, cultural preferences are a key factor too. European consumers value choice and decentralisation and many prefer to use a different specialist app for each particular purpose instead of entrusting all services to a single provider. Europeans put less trust in storing their entire digital life on one platform than people in China, for example.
But this doesn't mean no super apps are being developed in Europe. Some services in the West are gradually extending their range of functions. Google Maps, for example, has long since been much more than simply a navigation tool: it combines location searches, restaurant reviews, traffic updates, public transport tickets and, in some cases, booking functions all in one app. Large fintech apps, such as Revolut and Klarna, are aiming to combine financial services, ranging from banking to shopping. Meta is also aiming to achieve greater integration between WhatsApp and Facebook, Instagram and e-commerce. However, there is no real prospect of an all-in-one app modelled on WeChat emerging in Europe for the time being.
What does all this mean for companies?
An inexorable shift towards a more interconnected and digital world is taking place. People value convenience and efficiency above all else – in their dealings with both companies or public authorities. Super apps, such as WeChat, highlight what level of convenience is already technically feasible. While a comparable all-in-one ecosystem is unlikely to gain a foothold in Europe in the short term, the convergence of services is making headway here too. Companies and organisations need to be willing to embrace new digital strategies and rethink established communication and sales channels. Customers increasingly expect seamless experiences – for example, having the opportunity to place orders or pay directly from the chat. Services such as WhatsApp Business already enable direct, personalised customer communication within the messenger app. In Switzerland, the first companies are experimenting with the provision of advice or support via WhatsApp to forge closer links with customers. In the retail world, an up-to-date Google Maps profile and an active WhatsApp channel are already essential to maintaining a high profile and ensuring accessibility online.
Even without the availability of a super app, the convergence of digital services is advancing in all spheres of life. Companies and public authorities must embrace this development by providing user-friendly solutions, ensuring early integration of new technologies (e.g. digital payment methods) and engaging in constant dialogue with users. This is vital to avoid being left lagging behind in a hyperconnected future. Hyperconnectivity opens up tremendous opportunities for more efficient processes and new business models, but only if the right balance is struck between convenience and a level of control that is accepted by society. Ultimately, the future of digital progress in Europe will depend on us inextricably linking technical innovation with the assumption of responsibility. The digital transformation can then fulfil its promise of making our lives more convenient without undermining trust and cohesion.