Welcome to Tech Strategy Podcast, where we explore the secrets of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia. In this episode, we introduce the concept of rate of learning and how it can be used to develop a successful digital strategy. We discuss how companies like Alibaba, Google and Amazon have leveraged this concept to achieve success in their respective markets. Tune in to learn more about rate of learning and how it can help you build a winning digital strategy.
Category Archives: SMILE Marathon: Rate of Learning and Adaptation
Amazon, Tencent and When Rate of Learning Becomes a Competitive Advantage (Tech Strategy – Podcast 131)
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.
Lessons from Philip Fisher on Tencent, Motorola and Rate of Learning (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
I recently wrote about Shein and how they are increasing on rate of learning (plus low prices). That article is here. And I characterized their rapid updating of their site (adding +1,000 new products per day) as “retail at the speed of algorithms”. However, there are other types of rate of learning. One is when […]
Shein and How To Compete on Rate of Learning (Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Lesson / Update)
Take-Away 1: With reports of +1,000 new products being added to Shein every day, there is a lot of speculation that this is a newer, faster version of fast fashion. That may be true in the future. But today, Shein’s growth appears to be mostly from offering really low-priced apparel to Gen Z women on […]
Shein Is Low-Priced DTC Apparel at the Speed of Algorithms. Is This a New Moat or Just Table Stakes? (Tech Strategy – Podcast 83)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the rise of Shein, a Chinese fast fashion retailer that has become one of the most popular online apparel brands in the world. He argues that Shein’s success is due to its low prices, its use of algorithms to design and market its products, and its rapid shipping times. He concludes that Shein is a disruptive force in the fashion industry and that its success could have implications for other retailers.
Introduction to Innovation, Elon Musk and Android’s Dominant Design. (Tech Strategy – Podcast 58)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the importance of innovation in the tech industry. He talks about how Elon Musk has been a successful innovator, and how Android has become the dominant design in the mobile operating system market. He also discusses the challenges of innovation, and how companies can overcome them.
Why the Bytedance “Attention Factory” Is a Threat to Facebook (Tech Strategy – Podcast 52)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses how Bytedance’s “attention factory” business model is a threat to Facebook. He argues that Bytedance’s ability to collect and analyze user data, combined with its focus on short-form content, gives it a significant competitive advantage. Towson believes that Facebook needs to adapt its business model to compete with Bytedance.
Huawei, Luckin and the SMILE Marathon (Tech Strategy – Podcast 34)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses how Huawei and Luckin Coffee are using digital technology to create a sustainable competitive advantage. He argues that these companies are winning the “SMILE Marathon” by competing on scale, scope, efficiency, and effectiveness. Towson provides examples of how Huawei and Luckin Coffee are using digital technology to improve their operations, and he discusses the implications for businesses of all sizes.
Alibaba and How To Cheat in Innovation Marathons (Daily Update – Asia Tech Strategy)
In previous Daily Updates, I presented 4 slides that showed the evolution of Alibaba as a powerful marketplace platform. A 3 Slide Summary of Alibaba and Marketplace Platform Strategy (Daily Update, Jeff’s Asia Tech Class) Alibaba and the Power of Externalizing Capabilities (Daily Update – Jeff’s Asia Tech Class) In the first one, I argued […]
How Should Huawei’s Smartphone Business Respond to the US Tech Ban? Part 2 (Tech Strategy – Podcast 17)
In this podcast episode, Jeffrey Towson discusses four options for how Huawei can respond to the US tech ban on its smartphone business. These options include fixing the supply chain, becoming a digital platform, ignoring Europe, and trying to build an anti-US alliance for smartphone operating systems. Towson argues that Huawei’s best option is to become a digital platform, as this would allow it to continue to innovate and grow its business even in the face of the US tech ban.