What Is a Killer Program?

A killer application (or killer app) is a software program with an innovative enough user interface to affect computing trends and sales. The term originated in the 1980s, when accounting, database, and word-processing applications were first developed for widespread use.

The term “killer application” may have originated from the perception that such an application was sufficiently innovative to outperform the competition and drive sales of applications and computers with operating systems capable of accommodating the latest innovations.

Understanding Critical Software

Killer applications can significantly accelerate the revenue growth of the platform on which they are built. Typically, a company’s primary source of competitive advantage is a product or service. iTunes is a prime example of how Apple Computer overcame its inertia as a niche computer manufacturer to expand into larger entertainment markets. In addition to WhatsApp, Snapchat, and TikTok, other recent applications have proven immensely popular. You can see the might of their popularity from the number of their users, the intensity of their use, and sometimes the valuation of the firms behind them. This competitive advantage does not always last long, and brief product life cycles are the norm rather than the exception.

As businesses increasingly adopted stand-alone computers connected by local networks or mainframes, computer and software manufacturers created increasingly sophisticated applications. Users could save files and transmit electronic communications without understanding programming languages or commands. Microsoft Word and Excel eventually supplanted Word Perfect and Lotus 123 as the industry standard for business applications. Internet browsers and email applications similarly competed for global consumers.

The Value of Game-Changing Applications

A killer application is typically a feature that is so desirable that it drives sales and adoption of the platform on which it operates, such as operating systems or devices. The killer application’s value to the user may even help other perceived shortcomings of the platform. It can raise the switching cost for consumers to leave the platform, increasing longevity and brand loyalty. For instance, the popular Halo first-person shooter game series is widely regarded as the killer application that contributed to the success of Microsoft’s Xbox game consoles. It was so ubiquitous that the term “Halo killer” was coined to describe a first-person shooter that could rival or surpass Halo.

In the contemporary economy, development and reliance on killer applications extend beyond technology and computing businesses or bridge the gap between pure tech businesses and more conventional products and services. These are intended to fuel sales and growth of the overall business “platform” in the same manner as killer applications have in the past.

Due to the prevalence of smartphones and the “always-on, always-connected” culture, healthcare delivery, restaurant food service, and fitness centers are all pursuing their own “killer app” to drive online and in-person traffic to their doorsteps. These can range from online sales and appointment scheduling to online social platforms for customers and downloadable applications that interface directly with a physical product. Utilizing or providing software that complements a company’s products and services is now essential to achieving a superior customer experience and competitive advantage.

Conclusion

• Like flagship products and companies in traditional industries, a killer application is a feature or piece of software that is so good that it drives sales and growth for the whole platform or business.
• Killer apps can give a business a significant edge over its competitors, keep people loyal to its brand, and make it money.
• Nowadays, companies in many fields besides technology and computing are looking for “killer applications.”