In this class, Jeffrey Towson discusses four options that Huawei could have taken to respond to the US tech ban. These options include fixing the supply chain and staying the course, becoming a digital platform, ignoring Europe and focusing mostly on China, and trying to build an anti-US alliance for smartphone operating systems. Towson argues that Huawei should have focused on becoming a digital platform, as this would have allowed the company to continue to innovate and grow.
I recently attended WeChat’s Open Class in Guangzhou. It is their big annual event for developers and there were lots of updates on WeChat Work and Mini-Programs. I will be writing about these in subsequent articles. But it was WeChat founder Allen Zhang’s introductory comments that have really stayed with me. He talked about how […]
Happy Friday everyone. Three quick reads for the Daily Update. Have a great weekend. – jeff TikTok Is Rocking Facebook TikTok continues to go international fast. Here is a good summary at SCMP, which claims Tiktok was the second most downloaded app globally in 2019 (although take these numbers with a big grain of […]
Jeffrey Towson visited the WeChat Open Class in Guangzhou and was impressed by the company’s platform business model, its focus on social and transactional features, and its ability to adapt to the needs of Chinese consumers. He believes that WeChat is smarter than Apple and Facebook because it has a better understanding of the Chinese market and is able to offer a more comprehensive suite of services.
Jeff Towson unpacks the all-encompassing impact of digital on business, politics, culture, and society1. Drawing on his experience as a consultant and lecturer at Peking University, Towson discusses how digital tools are transforming industries, expanding human capabilities, and reshaping society1. Discover how software, data technology, and digital innovations are triggering an explosion of new products, services, and business models1.
In this class, I discuss my visit to JD’s new 50,000 sqm e-space in Chongqing – and the question of what new retail (i.e., online-merge-offline) will mean for department stores and shopping malls. You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya. Articles / podcasts cited in this class: JD’s E-Space Is a Fascinating New […]
Jeff Towson, a specialist in digital strategy, discusses the game-changing potential of JD’s E-space in China’s department store industry. With his rich insights, unravel the complexities of the digital transformation in retail and understand its implications for businesses across the globe. Don’t miss this comprehensive exploration of a significant shift in the retail sector.
Jeffrey Towson met with Huawei Chairman Guo Ping for lunch and learned three important lessons. First, Huawei invests heavily in human resources. Second, Huawei is agile and adaptable. Third, Huawei benefits from economies of scale.
This is Part 2 on my list of cool stuff JD is doing. Not necessarily the big initiatives – but the smaller and often more inventive ideas. In Part 1, I talked about their farming initiative, which is pretty intriguing. In this part, I look at their trash sorting program and how China’s smart cities […]
Jeffrey Towson discusses what Ofo could have done to avoid its downfall. He argues that Ofo made a number of strategic mistakes, including burning through too much cash, expanding too quickly, and failing to innovate. Towson believes that if Ofo had taken a more conservative approach, it might still be in business today.