A few years ago, I wrote about how Alibaba.com was launching an ambitious global platform strategy around B2B cross-border transactions. Alibaba.com was attempting to build a marketplace platform that digitized and democratized global trade. It was a sweeping vision. Basically, they were creating digital tools and connections that enabled SMEs to buy and sell products […]
A few years ago, I wrote about how Alibaba.com was launching an ambitious global strategy around B2B cross-border transactions and solutions. It was a sweeping vision. Basically, they were creating digital tools and services that enabled SMEs to buy and sell products and supplies like multi-nationals. It was super cool as an idea. And this […]
In Parts 1 and 2, I wrote about how digital infrastructure is being developed in Thailand, which is a good proxy for digital infrastructure SE Asia. I also wrote about my interview with Huawei Thailand CEO Abel Deng (see below). In this part, I’ll detail Huawei’s 4 big initiatives in Thailand. And this is pretty […]
In Part 1 and a podcast, I covered the history of Huawei in Thailand and my interview with Huawei Thailand CEO Abel Deng. In this part, I’ll go into the development of digital infrastructure in SE Asia. This is one of the big determinants for rate of growth. And Thailand has, by many measures, emerged as […]
In Part 1, I laid out some basic theory about marketplace platforms for services, which is a fascinating interesting subject. And it is much more complicated than marketplaces for products. Ecommerce for services just has a much longer development pathway. As ecommerce and marketplaces move into more complicated services, such as medical care, legal and […]
GoTo is a digital platform that combines the services of two of Indonesia’s largest tech companies: Gojek and Tokopedia. The company has a strong presence in the country’s e-commerce and ride-hailing markets, and it is growing rapidly. However, GoTo faces stiff competition from other tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent.
GoTo is a digital platform that combines the services of two of Indonesia’s largest tech companies: Gojek and Tokopedia. The company has a strong presence in the country’s e-commerce and ride-hailing markets, and it is growing rapidly. However, GoTo faces stiff competition from other tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent.
The recently merged Gojek and Tokopedia (i.e., GoTo) has gone public in Indonesia. And I finally got a look at their filings (thanks to a subscriber who sent me a translated copy). GoTo is basically what you would expect. It’s a marketplace platform for local services (i.e., Gojek) combined with a marketplace for products (i.e., […]
Grab is a Southeast Asian ride-hailing and food delivery platform that is generating operating cash flow in the digital age. Its two complementary marketplace platforms, mobility and food delivery, share consumers and data to lower costs and increase profits. Grab is positioned to be a leader in the digital operating cash flow space.
Southeast Asian tech giant Grab is facing a difficult choice: should it focus on profitability or growth? This article explores the pros and cons of each strategy and discusses the potential outcomes for Grab. Ultimately, the decision of whether to focus on profitability or growth will depend on a number of factors, including the company’s financial situation, its competitive landscape, and its long-term goals.