My ‘App-y Life: Living Life Off Mobile Apps in China
July 23, 2015
The growth in the mobile app ecosystem is making life easier for people in China. Here’s how.
Online to Offline commerce, or O2O, is one of the buzziest words in China right now (See ‘O2O Primer’). Simply put, O2O bridges the online and offline worlds, and with a simple click on your smartphone you are able to get something without having trudge all the way to a physical location.
According to iResearch, the O2O “local service” segment only accounted for 4.4% of the entire internet business in 2014. While the size of the O2O local service market is not quite there yet, the market is expected to grow exponentially. A recently released report by Analysys International indicates that the market scale of “life service O2O” business reached RMB 248 billion in 2014, up by a whopping 78.4% from the year before. The report also estimated that life service O2O business will expand to over RMB 400 billion by the end of 2015. Hence, if 2014 was a year during which the cash-rich market players were busy training their muscles, then 2015 is when the real battle begins.
Competition in the O2O sector is extremely intense, but at the end of the day the user wins. With more and more mobile apps springing up every day, the user’s life is getting easier. Mobile apps in China have created a bubble in which people can get whatever they need without even stepping out of the comforts of their home.
So how convenient can your life be if you simply live off your mobile apps? Very very ’appy.
Let’s take a basic human need: food. Food delivery is by no means a new concept but O2O takes it one step further giving you the ability to ‘order’ a private chef. Apps like Hao Chu Shi (which means “good chef”) will send you, not only the food, but also a private chef starting at RMB 79. Other apps such as eJiajie, Ayilaile, Helijia, etc., will get your house cleaned, find you a trustworthy babysitter, or get you relaxing massage or a manicure in the comfort of your home. For those who are too busy to walk out of the door, there also are apps that get your errands done.
To find out how mobile apps are changing our daily lives, please look at the infographic below.
Enjoying what you’re reading?
Article Subscribe (1)
CKGSB Report
Our Programs
Emerging Tech Management Week: Silicon Valley
Global Unicorn Program Series
In partnership with UC Berkeley College of Engineering
A technology management program for leaders looking to turn emerging technologies into business opportunities.
Combining proven strategies and cutting-edge research, the program helps participants fuel innovation, seize opportunities in emerging technologies, and catalyze transformation within their organizations. Designed for managers, start-up leaders, and technology investors, it includes visits to venture capital firms and technology companies, alongside mentored group projects.
LocationUC Berkeley, California, United States
Date01 - 06 Nov, 2026
LanguageEnglish
Asia Start: AI + Digital China Expedition
An immersive program for entrepreneurs and executives looking to understand China's AI and digital economy firsthand.
Gain the latest trends and insights, strategies, and connections to overcome challenges and support future business growth in Asia and beyond.
LocationChina (Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou & optional Shenzhen)
DateNovember 2–7, 2026 | April 19–24, 2027
LanguageEnglish
Intelligent China: AI, EVs & Smart Manufacturing
A three-part program examining China’s advances in AI, electric vehicles, and smart manufacturing.
Through faculty-led sessions, company visits, and exchanges with industry leaders, gain practical insights for your organization's strategy, partnerships, and investment decisions. Join an individual four-day program or complete the full 12-day series.
LocationBeijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Hangzhou
Date December 2026 – July 2027 (three 4-day programs)
LanguageEnglish
Emerging Markets: Innovation and Scaling for Exponential Growth – ASEAN
A China-focused innovation program for ASEAN executives and business owners responding to the impact of AI on their industries.
Gain insights from leading Chese thinkers in Jakarta, with an optional immersion in China and opportunities to connect with the business leaders driving innovation. The program offers a closer look at how developments in China could affect your industry and business.
LocationJakarta, Indonesia
Date2–4 December 2026
LanguageEnglish (with Chinese translation)
Stanford & Silicon Valley Immersion Program
Global Unicorn Program Series
In partnership with Stanford Engineering Center for Global & Online Education
A Silicon Valley immersion for entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and investors leading and scaling AI-driven companies.
The program combines academic learning with visits to AI and robotics labs and Silicon Valley companies, giving participants direct exposure to emerging technologies and the businesses developing and applying them.
LocationStanford University Campus, California, United States
Date06 - 11 Dec, 2026
LanguageEnglish with Chinese Translation
