This week’s podcast is about Steam and Garena, which are good examples of specialty gaming businesses.

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

Here are my criteria for specialty ecommerce businesses.

1. Is the company sufficiently differentiated in the user experience?
2. Can the company compete and/or differentiate in logistics or infrastructure without ongoing spending?
3. Does the company have a strong competitive advantage in a circumscribed market?
4. Is there a clear path to significant operational cash flow?
5. Has the company avoided markets and situations that are attractive or strategic for the major ecommerce companies?

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Related articles:

• Why I Really Like Amazon’s Strategy, Despite the Crap Consumer Experience (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• 3 Big Questions for GoTo (Gojek + Tokopedia) Going Forward (2 of 2)(Winning Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• Why Netflix and Amazon Prime Don’t Have Long-Term Power. (2 of 2) (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Marketplace Platforms
• Innovation and Audience Builder Platforms
• Specialty Gaming Businesses
• Gaming and Game Engines

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Garena
• Steam / Valve

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I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

Note: 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

This week’s podcast is about digital content businesses, which are entirely digital economics. They can have great economics but absolutely need a moat.

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

Three digital content strategies I do like are:

• Network effects with long-tail of UGC. Such as YouTube and TikTok.
• Creates durable IP. Such as Disney.
• Service and community businesses that uses content.

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Related articles:

• Why I Really Like Amazon’s Strategy, Despite the Crap Consumer Experience (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• 3 Big Questions for GoTo (Gojek + Tokopedia) Going Forward (2 of 2)(Winning Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• Why Netflix and Amazon Prime Don’t Have Long-Term Power. (2 of 2) (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Economics of Digital / Information
• Soft Advantages: Bundling and Cross-Selling
• Digital Operating Basics

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• Singapore Press Holding

———-

I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

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

This week’s podcast is about economies of scale - and why it is still the standard strategy. Especially in specialized areas and niche markets.

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

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I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

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

This week’s podcast is about the human capital part of the digital operating basics. Specifically, DOB5: Leadership and management and DOB6: People, Culture and Teams. Middle Eastern retailer is a good example of a company that has been focusing on this area.

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

• Why I Really Like Amazon’s Strategy, Despite the Crap Consumer Experience (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• 3 Big Questions for GoTo (Gojek + Tokopedia) Going Forward (2 of 2)(Winning Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Operating Performance = Smarter, Faster, Better
• DOB5: Leadership and Management
• DOB6: People, Culture and Teams

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Majid Al Futtaim

——-

I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

Note: 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

This week’s podcast is about web3 strategy and business models. It's a big confusing and still evolving space. But I think there are 5 really important concepts to understand (in terms of strategy).

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

—––

Related articles:

• Why I Really Like Amazon’s Strategy, Despite the Crap Consumer Experience (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• 3 Big Questions for GoTo (Gojek + Tokopedia) Going Forward (2 of 2)(Winning Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Protocol Networks (Blockchain) with Property Rights
• Composability
• Value Creation vs. Value Distribution
• Points of Control
• Token economics

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Ethereum
• Bitcoin

——-

Support the show

This week’s podcast is about Walgreens and Ping An Good Doctor. Both are using digital tools to create entirely new business models in healthcare. And both look like they have real strengths, if successful. I also mention CVS health.

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

• Why I Really Like Amazon’s Strategy, Despite the Crap Consumer Experience (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• 3 Big Questions for GoTo (Gojek + Tokopedia) Going Forward (2 of 2)(Winning Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Economies of Scale
• 6 Digital Superpowers
• AI as a Capability
• Learning Platforms

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Walgreens
• Ping An Good Doctor

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I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

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

This week’s podcast is about rate of learning as a concept. That is the digital version of what was originally called the learning curve and the experience effect. Rate of learning has gone from an important idea in production-intensive products to a digital requirement. But the key question is when does rate of learning become a competitive advantage? This podcast is my answer.

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

—–--

Related articles:

• Why I Really Like Amazon’s Strategy, Despite the Crap Consumer Experience (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• 3 Big Questions for GoTo (Gojek + Tokopedia) Going Forward (2 of 2)(Winning Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Learning Curve and Experience Effect
• SMILE Marathon: Rate of Learning and Adaptation
• CA7: Rate of Learning and Process Cost Advantages

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Amazon
• Tencent

-------

I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

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

This week’s podcast is about Xiaomi and ongoing strategy changes and moves. This is a good case for my 6 levels of digital competition. It takes apart the situation fairly effectively. And Apple and Amazon provide good counter-examples.

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

—–

Related articles:

• Why I Really Like Amazon’s Strategy, Despite the Crap Consumer Experience (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• 3 Big Questions for GoTo (Gojek + Tokopedia) Going Forward (2 of 2)(Winning Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• 6 Levels of Digital Competition
• SMILE Marathon

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Xiaomi
• Amazon
• Apple

——-

I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

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

This week’s podcast is about Alipay+, which is Ant's new international payment initiative. But it is also about the return of Ant Group after 2 years in restructuring. I call that Ant 2.0.

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

——–

Related articles:

• Ant Financial Is 3 Platform Business Models Combined. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Daily Lesson / Update)
• Ant Financial’s Big Money is in Asset-Light Credit Tech (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Daily Lesson / Update)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Digital Economics: Bundling
• Payment Platforms

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Ant Financial / Alipay+
• Stone
• Square

 
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I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

Note: 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

This week’s podcast is about GE and their big digital transformation initiative from 2011-2018. However, I am not a GE expert by any stretch. I am just presenting a very simplified version of their digital initiatives (from case studies) for a discussion about digital transformation.

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

Here's my playbook for the digital transformation of an incumbent.

•  70% Digital Operating Basics
• 25% Moats
• 5% Tactics

——–

Related articles:

• Why I Really Like Amazon’s Strategy, Despite the Crap Consumer Experience (US-Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• 3 Big Questions for GoTo (Gojek + Tokopedia) Going Forward (2 of 2)(Winning Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Digital Transformation
• Industrial Internet / IIoT
• Digital Operating Basics

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• GE

——-

I write, speak and consult about digital strategy and transformation.

My book Moats and Marathons details how to measure competitive advantage in digital businesses.

I also host Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US, China and Asia.

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