6 Digital Superpowers (and Runners-Up) for 2021 (Tech Strategy)

It’s easy to get lost in all the factors and phenomena emerging as digital and data technology transform industry after industry. As I have argued before, there are actually four things happening at once: Accelerating digital transformation and / or disruption. New digital tools and data technologies keep emerging. There’s big data and AI. There […]

What is the Secret of Pinduoduo’s Success? With Matthew Brennan and Elliott Zaagman. (1 of 2) (Tech Strategy – Podcast 45)

Pinduoduo is a Chinese e-commerce platform that has grown rapidly in recent years. The company’s unique business model, which focuses on group buying and social media, has helped it to reach a large number of users in China. Pinduoduo’s target market is lower-income consumers who are looking for low-cost products. The company’s growth strategy has been to focus on rural areas and smaller cities in China.

Companies Can Have Digital Superpowers: Lazada vs. Grab. Luckin vs. Hellobike. (Tech Strategy – Podcast 37)

In this class, Jeffrey Towson discusses how companies can develop digital superpowers to gain a competitive advantage. He compares and contrasts four companies in Asia that have successfully used digital technology to transform their businesses: Lazada, Grab, Luckin Coffee, and Hellobike. Towson argues that digital superpowers can be used to dramatically improve the user experience, enable a platform business model, create network effects, or provide other competitive advantages.

How Should Education Companies Like New Oriental Respond to AI Digital Natives Like LAIX? (Tech Strategy – Podcast 35)

In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses how digital native education companies like LAIX are challenging traditional companies like New Oriental. He argues that education companies need to embrace digital technology and create a more personalized learning experience in order to compete. Towson provides examples of how LAIX is using digital technology to improve the learning experience, and he discusses the implications for education companies of all sizes.

My Interview With Huawei About Their 2019 Financials. Plus Fraud at Luckin Coffee. (Tech Strategy – Podcast 24)

In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses Huawei’s financial performance in 2019, as well as the recent fraud scandal at Luckin Coffee. He argues that Huawei’s strong financial performance is a sign of its resilience, and that the Luckin Coffee scandal is a reminder of the risks of investing in Chinese tech stocks. For example, he notes that Huawei’s revenue grew by 19% in 2019, despite the US government’s restrictions on its business.

Tencent’s China Literature Biz, UGC as IP, and a Really Clever Audience Builder (Daily Update – Jeff’s Asia Tech Class)

This past week, I’ve been talking about TikTok and Alibaba’s Tudou-Youku as examples of “audience builder” digital platforms. These are +2 sided platform that connect content creators (who want an audience and other things) with viewers (who want entertainment or other types of content.) And I’ve argued that audience builders are actually more fluid and […]

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JD vs. Alibaba: How Retailers and Marketplace Platforms Compete and Evolve in China (Tech Strategy – Podcast 18)

In this podcast episode of Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, Jeffrey Towson discusses the competitive advantages of JD and Alibaba, two of the largest retailers in China. He argues that JD’s competitive advantages include its strong logistics network and its focus on customer service, while Alibaba’s competitive advantages include its large user base and its ability to connect buyers and sellers.

How WeChat, TikTok and Chinese Consumers Are Disrupting and Personalizing Luxury

In my online Asia Tech Class, I talk a lot about digital superpowers, which are digital tools that upend established business. And one of these superpowers a dramatically improved user experience, such that the traditional offering is now unacceptable to users. And this sort of dramatically improved user experience is what is happening in luxury […]