Economies of scale as a phenomenon goes back to Adam Smith, so it is, unsurprisingly, often described in industrial terms. It is the phenomenon where per unit costs decrease with increasing volume or throughput (i.e., output produced per unit of time). This can result from quite a few different factors – such as: The division […]
This article delves into the rare and quirky competitive advantage of scarce or cornered resources, highlighting its increasing relevance in the digital age. It uses the Star Wars franchise as a case study to illustrate how valuable intellectual property and unique creative teams can be cornered resources, and how their mismanagement can lead to downfall. The discussion also sheds light on other potential forms of scarce resources, including tangible assets, people-based assets, and emerging digital assets.
I often get asked how JD competes with Alibaba (in ecommerce). Who is going to win? My answer is below. But first a little theory on the sources of competitive strength. My Checklist for Competitive Advantages I put competitive advantages in five buckets, with a total of 15 sub-types. That’s my checklist. But keep in […]
This discussion centers on the innovative digital business models developed by Walgreens and Ping An Good Doctor in the healthcare sector. These industry leaders have embraced digital transformation to establish new, compelling business models, each unique in its approach. The analysis will delve into three key areas: the economies of scale and scope, digital superpowers that lend competitive advantage, and the role of AI as a capability and potential learning platform.
Think about the value proposition of a Walmart superstore. Most everything a customer needs is in the store and easy to find. Yes, Walmart is cheap. But it also eliminates the need for consumers to search for things. In contrast, an employer finding a full-time employee takes work. It takes time, effort and usually money […]
In this week’s episode, Jeff Towson dives deep into the concept of the rate of learning as a competitive advantage, a significant shift from its origins in production-intensive products to a digital necessity. He explores how Amazon and Tencent have harnessed this capacity, transforming it into a formidable competitive tool. The episode offers insightful perspectives on the ‘smile marathon’, the experience effect, and the emergence of the rate of learning as a key competitive advantage.
For those of you reading the Moats and Marathons books, I have been slowly laying out the key competitive advantages for digital businesses. And this is really my area of expertise. Here is the list I keep showing. I think it’s the best list of competitive advantages out there. At least, I haven’t found anything better. […]
My standard question is: What is the quality of the business? I go through lots of checklists for this. It generally takes me 40 pages of written notes to get through a basic assessment of company quality. But the simple version is: What is the market size and its growth? Is there a long-term secular […]
I’ve mentioned externalizing capabilities as a strategic move many times. I thought I would detail that out. It’s common strategy in digital business models. And it has been very effective at Alibaba and Amazon in particular. Several years ago, I summarized the evolution of Alibaba’s platform business models in 7 graphics. The Rise of Alibaba […]
In Part 1, I argued that Amazon’s ecommerce business was getting stronger over time (in terms of competitive strength). It has an impressive series of competitive advantages. Amazon Has a Winning Long-Term Strategy. Amazon Prime and Netflix Don’t. (1 of 2) (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article) I also teed up the idea that Amazon’s […]