This week’s podcast is about Alibaba and Singles' Day. Just my thoughts on what really matters.

You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is my new book (released December 1):

• Moats and Marathons (Part 1): How to Build and Measure Competitive Advantage in Digital Businesses Kindle Edition

My list of 7 things people are getting wrong about Singles' Day:

1. Business model is about building demand-side scale. This is also about economies of scale as a relative advantage.
2. Operating model is about user-facing innovation that adds value.
3. Consumer facing innovation is likely about live-streaming, metaverse and NFTs.
4. Merchant-facing innovation is likely about R&D and financing.
5. Physical assets have traditionally been about supply-side scale and building a barrier to entry.
6. Alibaba is also separating supply side into a new business that is the "new infrastructure of commerce".
7. Singles Day is both a moonshot program and a yearly stress test for the company.

Here are the Digital Operating Basics.

Here is the Alibaba slides for adding value to merchants. 

—----

Related articles:

• 7 Questions for Alibaba on Singles’ Day (pt 1 of 2)
• Behind the Scenes with Alibaba on Singles’ Day (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 5)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Digital Operating Basics: DOB2 Never-Ending Personalization and Customer Improvement
• Network Effects - Demand side Economies of Scale
• Ecommerce

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Alibaba

-------

I write and speak about digital competition and China / Asia’s leading tech companies.

I also run Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show