In this Tech Strategy Daily article, Jeff Towson discusses the 3 digital concepts that are powering ARM Holdings’ tech strategy. These concepts include the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G. By leveraging these concepts, ARM is staying ahead of the competition and driving innovation in the tech industry.
Category Archives: Bundling, Subscriptions and Cross-Selling
Why Netflix, Singapore Press, and Most Digital Content Businesses Are Headed for Trouble (Tech Strategy – Podcast 136)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses why he doesn’t like Netflix, Singapore Press, and most digital content businesses. He argues that these businesses lack a moat, which is a sustainable competitive advantage. He also argues that these businesses are too focused on quantity over quality.
Get Ready for Alipay+ and Ant Group 2.0 (Tech Strategy – Podcast 129)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the return of Ant Group after 2 years in restructuring. He talks about Ant’s new international payment initiative, Alipay+, and how it could disrupt the global payments market. He also discusses the challenges that Ant faces in its new incarnation, such as regulatory scrutiny and competition from other tech giants.
An Intro to Soft Advantages: Bundling, Cross-Selling and Complements (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
Digital economics are just very strange. As soon as a service or business becomes infused with software and data technology, the economics start to change and strange things happen. Reproduction costs drop to zero. Stuff starts becoming free. Scalability increases dramatically and can be surprisingly cheap. And some old, obscure ideas in economics start to […]
Two Big Questions About SenseTime and AI Software Business Models (Asia Tech Strategy – Podcast 114)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses two big questions about the business models of AI software companies: What are the unit economics of large AI companies? What types of scale advantages and network effects do large AI companies have? He argues that AI software companies are still in the early stages of development, and that the answers to these questions will depend on how the market for AI software evolves in the years to come.
Ctrip vs. Meituan: Is Covid a Tourism Buying Opportunity? (Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Lesson / Update)
I was mulling over investing in Expedia during the beginning of the pandemic. It made sense that travel would take a hit for a couple of years. And then it would likely come back. Plus, digital marketplaces are good at scaling up and down. But I didn’t buy as I feel more comfortable with Asia […]
Adobe Inc. and the Power of Old School Software Economics (Tech Strategy – Podcast 81)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses how Adobe has been able to maintain its dominance in the software industry despite the rise of cloud-based alternatives. He argues that Adobe’s success is due to its focus on old-school software economics, such as network effects and recurring revenue. He explains that network effects make it more valuable for each user to join a platform as more users join, and that recurring revenue provides a steady stream of income that can be used to invest in new products and services.
Adobe Inc. and the Power of Old School Software Economics (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
Take-Away 1: Adobe Inc. is a good example of many of the strengths of traditional software economics. It has evolved and expanded over decades to become a full suite of creative tools. It is now trying to expand from creative tools to operating tools. Take-Away 2: However, purely digital companies need to protect their attractive […]
Airbnb is Going to Get Crushed in China / Asia. Rethink Your Valuation. (Tech Strategy – Podcast 59)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses why he believes Airbnb will struggle to compete in Asia. He cites the following reasons: (1) Airbnb’s business model is not well-suited for the Asian market, (2) Airbnb faces stiff competition from local rivals, and (3) Airbnb’s valuation is too high.
Tencent Buys Sogou. Plus More Digital and Information Economics (Tech Strategy – Podcast 42)
Tencent’s acquisition of Sogou is a major deal that will have a significant impact on the Chinese search market. This deal is a sign of Tencent’s continued dominance in the Chinese tech industry, and it is a reminder of the importance of digital and information economics in the digital age.