This week’s podcast is about Ram Charan's new book "Rethinking Competition Advantage". I think it has a lot of great insights about the basics of digital operations. But not much about competitive advantage.

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

Here is my interpretation of the book's digital operating basics:

1. A personalized consumer experience is key to continued growth. Continually innovating on the consumer experience enables cross-selling more and more products and services to a broad audience. A "market of one" is the ultimate personalization.
2. Companies need a digital core for operations. Algorithms and data are essential weapons.
3. A company needs an ecosystem. Every major player needs at least 10 partners for sharing data, meeting a range of consumer preferences, growing faster than it otherwise could and continually refreshing with technology and innovation.
4. Companies need powerful moneymaking models. Target a big opportunity and increase cash gross margin by innovation and cost reductions over time. Fund multiple experiments against consumer experience. Add revenue streams on the same digital core.
5. People, culture and work design form a social engine that enables innovation and execution personalized for each customer. Decision-making is designed for innovation and speed.

—–

Related articles:

• Can Foodpanda / Delivery Hero Get to Profitable Scale in On-Demand Food? (Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Lesson / Update)
• Meituan vs. Ctrip vs. Alibaba: Who Will Win in China Services? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 22)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Digital Operating Basics

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• n/a

———-

I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.

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