Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lazada CEO James Dong and CTO Howard Wang. We discussed their tech strategy and how they plan …Read More »

Lazada is one of the most successful e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, serving millions of customers and sellers across six countries. In this article, you …Read More »

Lazada is one of the leading e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, with operations in six countries and over 80 million active customers. In this article, …Read More »

In the latest episode of the Tech Strategy podcast, Jeffrey Towson shares his predictions for the ongoing battle between Apple and Huawei in China. With …Read More »

In this article, Jeff Towson discusses the three forces that will determine Apple’s fate in China’s tech strategy. These forces are: 1) The Chinese government’s …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy Podcast, Jeff Towson discusses JD.com's big play for the low-cost market of China. He provides insights into the …Read More »

ByteDance is known for its innovative approach to technology and its ability to quickly adapt to changing market conditions. In this Tech Strategy Daily article, …Read More »

JD.com is making a big strategic move into the low-cost market. This is the second of three articles on their tech strategy. The article discusses …Read More »

JD.com, one of China's largest e-commerce companies, has a 20-year plan that guides its strategic decisions and investments. In this Tech Strategy Daily article, Jeff …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy Podcast, Jeffrey Towson explores the hyper-politicized landscape of China's tech industry. He delves into the implications of politics …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy Podcast, Jeffrey Towson shares his insights on the 3 rules for winning big in digital. He delves into …Read More »

Jeff Towson offers a deep dive into the strategic world of Ant, sharing invaluable lessons from his firsthand visit. This episode provides listeners with a …Read More »

Jeff Towson provides a deep dive into the world of Ant, spotlighting the role and strategy behind Alipay+. In this first of a three-part series, …Read More »

Immerse yourself in the compelling realm of digital tech strategy with Jeff Towson's latest podcast. This episode explores the attractive yet hazardous economics of the …Read More »

In this insightful article, Jeff Towson explores the future of iQiyi and the video entertainment industry in the context of digital and generative AI. He …Read More »

Jeff Towson provides an insightful exploration into the future of iQiyi and the broader video entertainment tech industry. His comprehensive analysis of the strategies and …Read More »

In this article, Jeff Towson shares 3 strategy lessons from his visit to iQIYI, one of the largest online video platforms in China. iQIYI has …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy Podcast, Jeff Towson explores the potential of Threads to surpass Twitter, given the right product-market fit. He provides …Read More »

Jeff Towson provides an in-depth analysis of Huawei's latest tech unveiling at the Shanghai Mobile World Conference. The launch includes cutting-edge 5.5G technology and innovative …Read More »

In this in-depth article, Jeff Towson analyzes Huawei executive Sabrina Meng's powerful presentation at the Shanghai Mobile World Conference. Delve into the four significant takeaways …Read More »

In this podcast, Jeff Towson shares his insights from the Shanghai Mobile World Congress, where he attended Huawei's launch of its 5.5G Plus network. He …Read More »

Cainiao is Alibaba’s logistics affiliate and is one of the largest logistics companies in China. It was founded in 2013 and has since grown to …Read More »

I recently visited Baidu’s headquarters in Beijing. It was an interesting visit and I learned a lot. Here are my three big takeaways. To access …Read More »

Jeff Towson, a tech strategist and author, visited ByteDance's TikTok headquarters in China. He learned 3 important strategy lessons from his visit that can help …Read More »

Jeff Towson, a tech strategist and author, visited ByteDance's TikTok headquarters in China. He learned 4 important lessons from his visit that can help businesses …Read More »

The digital divide is a real challenge for many businesses. But some leaders and managers have found ways to overcome this challenge and use technology …Read More »

Jeff Towson's Podcast highlights three pivotal lessons from NetEase, an often-underappreciated yet influential player in the gaming industry. The discussion also touches on the concept …Read More »

In this week's podcast, we focus on the phenomenon of WeChat, an app that has embedded itself into daily life as the 'everything app'. I …Read More »

JD.com's smart logistics platform is a key to success in the e-commerce industry. The platform uses AI and automation to reduce costs and improve efficiency, …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy Podcast, Jeff Towson shares insights from his conversation with the head of JD Smart Logistics Park. The discussion …Read More »

This article uncovers the transformation of logistics through the lens of JD Smart Logistics Park. It highlights how automation and digitization are replacing repetitive labor, …Read More »

In Jeff Towson's latest podcast, he elucidates how generative AI can be the key to supercharging your business and career. He provides three practical steps: …Read More »

A summary of this article: ChatGPT and Google Bard are two large language models (LLMs) that are rapidly evolving and becoming more powerful models. Both …Read More »

Discover the competitive dynamics and future outlook of AI apps as incumbents assert their dominance and native apps face commoditization. Explore the transformative impact of …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy podcast, Jeff Towson discusses the future of generative AI and how OpenAI and Google are likely to have …Read More »

Explore the heated battle between open-source and proprietary large language models (LLMs) in generative AI. Leaked documents from Google suggest that open-source LLMs are rapidly …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy podcast, Jeff Towson discusses the rise of digital agents and non-human platforms and how they are changing business …Read More »

In Part 1, I teed up a couple of related digital concepts: Personalization. A good example of this is Shein. They are taking personalization further …Read More »

In the 162nd episode of the Tech Strategy Podcast, Prof Jeff delves into three groundbreaking technologies: AutoGPT/AgentGPT, 5.5G, and the unique concept of human organizational …Read More »

Last week, I was giving a talk in Shanghai about the digitization of manufacturing. And how this is creating a data ecosystem that connects consumers, …Read More »

In Tech Strategy Podcast 161, Prof Jeff discusses the international success of TikTok and Shein, contrasting it with the less global impact of WeChat and …Read More »

I have a weakness for strategy. For business models and structures that create advantages for certain companies. I like to look at businesses pretty much …Read More »

This blog post dissects Huawei’s recent 2022 financial report and the significant revelations it presents. Key takeaways include the stabilization of their core ICT business …Read More »

This is Part 2 about the 2022 Huawei annual report and my trip to Shenzhen for the event. In Part 1, I summarized the basic …Read More »

I attended Huawei’s 2022 financial results meeting in Shenzhen and it was mostly a story of “back to normal”. As CFO and now rotating Chairperson …Read More »

Delve into an insightful discussion with Huawei's Ex-Chairman, Guo Ping, in an exclusive interview conducted by Jeffrey Towson. Explore Guo Ping's unique perspectives on the …Read More »

In this comprehensive discussion, the focus is laid on why American citizens should protect TikTok. Contrary to popular belief, TikTok is not the major threat …Read More »

In Part 1, I laid out nfx’s 16 network effects. Which is a pretty useable framework. And I agree with about half of them (which …Read More »

I recently did a podcast on nfx list of 16 Network Effects. NFX’s 16 Network Effects. Plus, Embedding and Other Small Digital Ideas (Tech Strategy …Read More »

Network effects are a powerful force in the digital world. They can help businesses to grow quickly and to become dominant players in their markets. …Read More »

In this thought-provoking discussion, Jeffrey Towson analyzes the impact of machine learning and prediction on businesses. He questions whether these capabilities can truly serve as …Read More »

In this comprehensive analysis, Jeff Towson delves into the ongoing struggle for profitability faced by leading eCommerce companies such as Grab, Dingdong, Meituan, Didi, GoJek, …Read More »

In Part 1, I laid out some of the challenges of doing ecommerce in groceries. And two innovative business models that attempted to make it …Read More »

Alibaba's Freshippo and Dingdong are two of the leading ecommerce grocery companies in China. They have achieved profitability by reducing costs and improving margins. Some …Read More »

China's economy is facing a number of challenges, including an aging population, rising labor costs, and a slowdown in productivity growth. However, the country is …Read More »

High flying Coinbase has fallen to $50 per share, which is about a $10B market capitalization. This is dramatically down from its 2021 IPO share …Read More »

Monster Energy is a leading energy drink brand that has successfully used digital technology to build its brand and reach new customers. In this podcast, …Read More »

Oriental Trading Company is a successful business that has been around for over 50 years. The company focuses on quality products, low prices, and a …Read More »

In Part 1, I went through Borsheims, Buffett’s jewelry retailer in Omaha. It has historically had a very strong business model, although this may be …Read More »

Back in 2017 and 2018, I took a bunch of Peking University students to Omaha to have lunch with Warren Buffett. And we also did …Read More »

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as text, images, and music. It has the potential to disrupt …Read More »

In Part 1, I detailed two examples of how AI-powered services are going to be superior to digital platforms (in some cases). They were: Uber …Read More »

I did a podcast about how “Generative AI as a Service” is disrupting some particularly dominant platform business models. I mentioned YouTube, TikTok and OnlyFans. …Read More »

Generative AI is a rapidly developing technology that has the potential to disrupt many industries, including the content creation industry. Generative AI can be used …Read More »

Explore the four types of intangible assets that drive digital businesses in this insightful Tech Strategy Podcast. Gain a deeper understanding of the role and …Read More »

Jeff Towson's Podcast 150 delves into the transformative power of generative AI, like ChatGPT, on Hollywood's entertainment industry. The discussion highlights the potential threats this …Read More »

In Part 1, I raised the problem of intangible assets in valuation and financial analysis. Value creation follows from growth, ROIC and RONIC, where the …Read More »

Key take-aways for this article: The key to valuation is estimating growth, ROIC and RONIC. This is difficult for digital companies because of the opacity …Read More »

"In Podcast 149, Jeff Towson shares valuable insights into the digital transformation journey of leading CPG brands like AB InBev, Nike, and Ze Delivery. He …Read More »

Key concepts for this article: The Brutal Economics of Digital / Information Audience-Builder Platforms *** ChatGPT and large language models (LLM) have everyone talking. The …Read More »

Key concepts for this article: DOB2: Never-Ending Customer Improvements and Personalization Economies of Scale: Geographic Density (CA13) *** As mentioned in Part 1, I recently …Read More »

Delve into Jeff Towson's Podcast 148, where he provides a comprehensive valuation for Microsoft and its tech strategy. This episode offers expert insights into the …Read More »

Microsoft is not just sitting on its laurels; it's innovating and evolving. In this detailed analysis, we delve into the three significant upgrades that are …Read More »

Jeff Towson's Podcast 147 provides a detailed comparison of Mercado Libre and Magazine Luiza (Magalu) in the Brazilian e-commerce market. The podcast delves into their …Read More »

Alibaba has three key lessons for Magalu, a Brazilian e-commerce company, on how to merge the physical and digital worlds to create a seamless customer …Read More »

I recently visited Mercado Libre’s headquarters outside of Sao Paolo and had some interesting discussions with management. It was a great visit and Mercado Libre …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy Podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the arrival of ChatGPT, a new AI content generation tool from OpenAI. ChatGPT is …Read More »

Baidu, China's leading search engine, is a "learning platform" that becomes smarter with increased user activity. Founded by Robin Li in 2000, it was designed …Read More »

Microsoft's Azure strategy is to provide infrastructure and two platforms: Azure App Service and Azure Functions. Azure App Service is a fully managed platform that …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy podcast, Jeff Towson discusses Elon Musk’s strategy for Twitter and how he plans to supercharge performance and then …Read More »

I have used the terms digital and data technology interchangeably. And I have described them as things made of bits and bytes. Of ones and …Read More »

In Part 1, I argued that Twitter 1.0 is about supercharging operating performance. That’s what I expect to happen in the 6 months. And it …Read More »

As businesses grapple with the escalating arms race for online demand, they must devise strategies to capture consumer attention and engagement in the age of …Read More »

Elon Musk had an all hands meeting and Q&A at Twitter this week. It was in the Verge. That transcript, plus his frequent comments on …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy podcast, Jeff Towson discusses why most incumbents should forget about platforms and build consumption ecosystems. He explains how …Read More »

Master the art of consumer engagement with Jeff Towson's '9 Digital Business Models: An Intro to Consumption Ecosystems.' Learn the frameworks that have reshaped how …Read More »

From platforms to marketplaces, the digital economy is all about innovative business models. Jeff Towson dives into the '9 Digital Business Models' you should know, …Read More »

In this episode of the Tech Strategy podcast, Jeff Towson discusses what Grab can learn from Amazon about growth and not from Meta. He explains …Read More »

Grab recently held its 2002 Investor Day. They summarized their 1H results for 2022 and went through their current strategy, which is mostly about getting …Read More »

In this captivating article by Jeff Towson, discover the remarkable insights derived from Grab's mastery of geographic density and other cost efficiencies through technology. Gain …Read More »

Apple and Pinduoduo are two companies that have been successful in purchasing economies. In this podcast, Jeff Towson discusses four lessons that can be learned …Read More »

Why do humans live in cities? And why does the urbanization rate of most countries keep increasing? Because there are lots of efficiencies when you …Read More »

Jeff Towson discusses Snowflake, Alibaba, and his 3 favorite cloud business models in this podcast. Listen now to learn more about these companies and their …Read More »

Jeff Towson discusses three strategy questions for Magazine Luiza (Magalu) in Brazil in this podcast. These questions include how to compete with Amazon, how to …Read More »

Magazine Luiza, also known as Magalu, is a leading entity in digitizing physical retail in Brazil, pushing the boundaries of Online-Merge-Offline (OMO) retail. The company's …Read More »

I keep an eye on the larger moves by Alibaba. Not the constant stream of announcements and endless initiatives but the larger strategic moves that …Read More »

I was in Kenya recently and got a chance to play with Jumia and Jumia Food, the big ecommerce apps in most of the big …Read More »

Discover how AB InBev and Ze Delivery are revolutionizing the ecommerce scene in the beverage industry in this engaging podcast by Jeffrey Towson. Gain insights …Read More »

I recently met with Rodolfo Chung, CEO of rapidly rising Zé Delivery in Brazil. This is a beverage delivery service that was launched by AB …Read More »

Uncover the three significant digital shifts revolutionizing the retail and ecommerce sectors in this comprehensive podcast by Jeffrey Towson. This episode offers a deep dive …Read More »