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Leaders from gaming, fintech, ecommerce, streaming, and UX explored what it truly takes to build habit-forming, personalised apps that drive long-term engagement and sustainable growth.
Building a habit-forming app is no longer about clever notifications or gamified streaks alone. In a digital ecosystem, real differentiation comes from delivering predictable value at the right time, without crossing the line into intrusion.
That was the message from a panel featuring Vincent Low, Co-Founder & CEO, Potato-Play; Roopa Sharma, Director, Brand and Content Marketing, Audible; Ettore Manetti, Principal User Experience Designer, RIOT-GAMES; Neetesh Pansare, Associate Director – Expansion, Shopback; James Peng, Head of Growth Marketing, Arta Finance; and Moderator Praveen Chandran, Director – Product Management, Carousell Group.
At Unlocked: Mobile & App Growth Summit, they explored what “habit-forming” truly means across industries, from gaming mastery moments to fintech trust loops and ecommerce rewards, and how personalisation must enhance value rather than overwhelm users.
The panel also examined identifying the “aha” moment, designing healthy engagement loops, balancing monetisation with user experience, and leveraging AI to reduce friction while accelerating decision-making.
Top insights Martechvibe learned from the panel;
1. Engineer the “aha” moment with intentional design
Habit formation doesn’t happen accidentally. The first meaningful interaction must deliver immediate, contextual value and guide users toward a repeatable action. Whether it’s a gameplay win, financial clarity, or a reward unlocked, early reinforcement drives retention momentum.
2. Personalisation must feel assistive, not addictive
The goal isn’t to maximise screen time. It’s to maximise relevance. Intelligent personalisation anticipates needs, reduces friction, and adapts to behavioural signals without overwhelming users. When done right, it builds trust, deepens engagement, and sustains long-term usage.
3. Design retention loops, not just revenue funnels
Short-term monetisation tactics often undermine loyalty. Sustainable apps build layered engagement systems — progress tracking, rewards, mastery, and ecosystem value — that compound over time. Revenue then becomes a byproduct of consistent utility and emotional connection.
