Strategy thinking has traditionally been focused on linear processes that create mostly tangible products and services. It’s a legacy of the industrial age when everything was mass production and assembly lines. Virtually every business model was a concentration of activities and assets to create value for one user group, which we call the customer. These […]
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 […]
I like Bytedance. I think they make great apps. Super engaging. With fantastic user interfaces. They are one of the most innovative mobile app companies on the planet. But they suck at internationalization. Their attempt to become China’s first international digital company has been a slow moving train wreck. Lots of us have been predicting […]
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. However, Pinduoduo faces challenges from competition and regulation.
The IPO filing I have been waiting two years for finally arrived. Alipay / Ant Financial (now called Ant Group) has filed. And their +600 page prospectus is just a fantastic read. But it’s a lot. I have 40 pages of notes. So I thought I would begin with some of the key points. This […]
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.
The following link is to a 6 Part Primer for Epic Games by Michael Ball. Michael is a highly regarded thinker on US media and entertainment. And media is a space that tends to change quickly with digital. I encourage you to read this. You might have noticed Epic Games in the news lately: They […]
Platforms are becoming increasingly important in the digital economy, but they are also very difficult to build and maintain. Xiaomi and Meitu are two Chinese companies that are trying to build platforms, and they are facing a number of challenges. Jeffrey Towson offers his advice for how to build a successful platform.
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses how TikTok can learn from Huawei about the role of the state in China. He argues that TikTok needs to build relationships with key government officials and understand the regulatory environment in order to be successful in China. Towson also believes that TikTok can benefit from Huawei’s experience in dealing with foreign governments.
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.