Gigantic: the WeChat platform

Gigantic: the WeChat platform

Shanghai, 7/19/2022

WeChat has evolved from an instant messaging app to a service that meets the digital needs of over 1.27 billion MAUs in the fourth quarter of 2021. Every day, more than 120 million active users post to the Moments social network, 360 million users read articles on Official Accounts, and 500 million users access mini-programs daily (Q1 2022).

So much for the initial numbers to warm up to. The CIW team’s report that follows is not just a gigantic set of numbers to tick off. The growth in users mentioned here triggers both astonishment and admiration. In the end, however, there are some questions.

In Q4 2021, the number of daily active WeChat users increased by over 30% year-over-year. More than a third of Moments‘ ad revenue was generated by ads that use mini-programs as landing pages, as well as ads that connect users to customer service representatives through WeCom.

Dwell time per user and total video views on WeChat video accounts more than doubled year-on-year as Tencent expanded the variety of content and improved the product experience.

WeChat Mini Programs

Daily active users of WeChat Mini programs reached 450 million in January 2022, according to official data from WeChat. The transaction volume in the hospitality, tourism and retail sectors increased by 100% year-on-year. The DAU of mini programs reached 500 million in the first quarter of 2022.

The number of mini-program developers exceeded 3 million.

In 2020, the number of daily active users of WeChat mini-programs exceeded 400 million, according to official data shared at the annual WeChat Public Lecture event.

The number of mini programs used per user increased by 25%, the average transaction value per user grew by 67%, the number of programs with transactions increased by 68%, and the annual transaction volume more than doubled in 2020.

In 2020, more than 100 million people shopped in malls and department stores through WeChat mini-programs. Using the mini program pre-sale + offline self-pickup mode, more than 300 million users bought fresh fruits and vegetables.

WeChat mini programs at a glance

 

WeChat games

In 2020, the commercial implementation of WeChat mini-games increased by 20%.

Last year, the proportion of male and female users in the distribution of mini-games was 50% each. 40% of users in first- and second-tier cities and 65% of users aged 30 and above.

Compared with 2019, the per capita playing time of mini-games increased by 50%, and the average number of games played increased by 20% in 2020.

China’s game live streaming revenue will double by 2021

WeChat search

The number of monthly active users of WeChat search has reached 700 million, according to WeChat’s official data released in January 2022.

WeChat search staff said that in the era of mobile Internet, search should not be limited by the search box, but must be accessible by touch. Users can search while chatting. WeChat search will filter out WeChat’s high-quality content and connect with users more accurately.

In the future, the search may be extended to the entire Internet, depending on users‘ needs. Currently, the search results are mainly provided by WeChat Official Account and Sogou.

WeChat Pay

In January 2022, WeChat shared the latest progress of WeChat Pay:

– 23 thousand monthly service providers

– Over 10 million merchants

– More than 1800 banks and payment institutions

– 23 thousand monthly merchants

– In the next three years, WeChat Pay will continue the digital upgrading of WeStore, with a planned investment of more than 10 billion yuan

In 2020, Zhifufen, a credit rating on WeChat Pay, will have more than 240 million users. It increased the conversion rate of e-commerce orders by 14% and the repurchase rate of retailers by 73%.

In 2021, WeChat mini-stores and Zhuanzhuan (a secondhand goods marketplace) will integrate Zhifufen.

In the e-commerce industry, Zhifufen by WeChat Pay enables post-payment after receiving delivery and faster refund. Users can receive a refund quickly after submitting return information.

As of January 2022, more than 50% of users have already activated Zhifufen, whose solutions cover more than 3000 industries. The WeChat Pay unit cooperates with the e-commerce industry in „buy first, pay later“, which is already used by more than 100 million users.

Zhifufen also announced the launch of audio and video membership services, such as „watch first and pay later,“ which helped solve the problems that bothered audio/music and video users to charge in advance and forget to cancel their contracts.

China’s users of online payments reach 86%

Enterprise version of WeChat: WeCom

In 2020, there were 80,000 enterprise WeChat partners, with 400% year-on-year growth.

11.91 million applications connected to WeCom, up 250% year-on-year. Since COVID-19, there have been 5.5 million real enterprises and organizations on WeCom, with 130 million active users, reaching 400 million WeChat users.

As of January 2022, more than 50% of users have already activated Zhifufen, whose solutions cover more than 3000 industries. The WeChat Pay unit cooperates with the e-commerce industry in „buy first, pay later“, which is already used by more than 100 million users.

Zhifufen also announced the launch of audio and video membership services, such as „watch first and pay later,“ which helped solve the problems that bothered audio/music and video users to charge in advance and forget to cancel their contracts.

China’s users of online payments reach 86%

Enterprise version of WeChat: WeCom

In 2020, there were 80,000 enterprise WeChat partners, with 400% year-on-year growth.

11.91 million applications connected to WeCom, up 250% year-on-year. Since COVID-19, there have been 5.5 million real enterprises and organizations on WeCom, with 130 million active users, reaching 400 million WeChat users.