This is Part 1 about Pinduoduo and the idea of interactive / engagement-driven ecommerce. Our guests for this podcast were Matthew Brennan and Elliott Zaagman.

Elliott Zaagman is co-host the China Tech Investor podcast and a research and communications professional focused on China.

Matthew Brennan is Managing Director of the China Channel.

We discuss their whitepaper on Pinduoduo and interactive commerce, which is available at China Channel.

The 5 choices for explaining Pinduoduo’s success are:

1. First mover in a huge market. Got the right product at the right time in the right market.
2. Offered low cost (sometimes free) products to a frugal demographic.
3. Interactive / engagement-focused ecommerce.
4. Group buying and virality. The tie with WeChat.
5. Good execution and management.

Related podcasts and articles:

• Companies Can Have Digital Superpowers: Lazada vs. Grab. Luckin vs. Hellobike. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 37)
• What Is the Secret of Zoom’s Success in Video Communications? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 21)

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7-8, with a focus on:

• #31: Introduction to Pinduoduo

Concepts for this class:

• Value for Money. The Power of Cheap and Free. Example of Digital Superpower #1: Dramatically improving the user experience.
• Interactive / Engagement-Focused Ecommerce
• Virality and Word of Mouth

Companies for this class:

• Pinduoduo

———-

I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here.

My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

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 is part 2 about Xiaomi, Meitu and 7 reasons why platforms / ecosystems succeed or fail. Part 1 is here.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

7 reasons why ecosystems (and platforms) fail (by BCG):

1. Insufficient problem to solve
2. Wrong ecosystem configuration
3. Wrong governance choices
4. Inadequate monetization
5. Weak launch strategy
6. Weak defensibility
7. Bad execution

Cited in this talk:

• Why Do Most Business Ecosystems Fail (BCG)

Related podcasts and articles:

• Xiaomi, Meitu and Why Platforms Fail (1 of 2) (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 43)
• Review: Why Digital Platforms Are the Super Predators of Business (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 16)

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:

• #30: Ecosystems vs. Digital Platforms

Concepts for this class:

• Ecosystems vs. Digital Platforms
• SMILE Operational Marathon: Ecosystem Orchestration and Management
• Switching costs
• Share of consumer mind

Companies for this class:

• Xiaomi
• Meitu

———-

I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here.

My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

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

In this class, I talk about why platforms fail and do an introduction to ecosystems vs. platforms.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

Cited in this talk:

• Why Do Most Business Ecosystems Fail (BCG)

Related podcasts and articles:

• How Did Alibaba Beat Everyone? Products vs. Digital Platforms. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 4)
• Review: Why Digital Platforms Are the Super Predators of Business (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 16)

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:

• #30: Ecosystems vs. Digital Platforms

Concepts for this class:

• Ecosystems vs. Digital Platforms
• SMILE Operational Marathon: Ecosystem Shaping and Management
• Mismatched and/or Crippled Scale
• Digital-Physical Hybrids
• Multihoming
• Blitzscaling

Companies for this class:

• None

———-

I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here.

My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

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

In this class, I talk Tencent's recent purchase of Sogou. And go through more digital and information economics.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:

• #29: Digital and Information Economics II

Related podcasts and articles:

• Review: The Sexy But Dangerous Economics of Digital (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 15)
• Should Vipshop Build a Logistics Network Like JD? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 7)

Concepts for this class:

• Digital and Information Economics
• Non-Rivalry and Zero Marginal Production Costs
• Versioning and Pricing
• Willingness to Pay and Consumer Surplus
• Bundling and Cross-Selling
• Complements

Companies for this class:

• Sogou
• Tencent

———-

I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here.

My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

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

In this class, I talk about networks. And some of their strengths and weaknesses.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:

• #28: Network Effects

Concepts for this class:

• Networks Effects 
• NE: Critical Mass and Chicken-and-Egg
• NE: Interaction Failure at Scale
• NE: Leaky Bucket and Multihoming

———-

I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here.

My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

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

In this class, I talk how to fairly basic platform business models (Shopee, Lazada) compete. As the capabilities and strategies are similar this is mostly about operational performance and management over time.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 6, with a focus on:

• #23: SMILE Operational Marathon

Concepts for this class:

• Multihoming
• Management Track Record and Incentives

Companies for this class:

• Lazada
• Shopee

———-

I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here.

My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

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

In this class, I talk about the role of the state as a key factor in certain industries and countries. This tends to be a fuzzy, uncomfortable aspect when it comes to analysis. But it is fairly common for government to act as both policeman and player. And it can often be easy to predict.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:

• #27: The Role of the State

Concepts for this class:

• Role of the State
• Mismatched and/or Crippled Scale

Companies for this class:

• TikTok / Douyin
• Bytedance
• Huawei

———-

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

I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, 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

In this class, I talk about the difficulty of moving luxury into ecommerce. And how Chinese consumers will likely determine who finally cracks this problem. Secoo and Farfetch are two companies that are on this frontier right now.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

Question: Will Farfetch or Secoo win in luxury ecommerce in China? Three factors to consider:

1. What do consumers care about most?
2. What do large luxury brands care about most?
3. What do small luxury brands and boutiques care about most?

Related podcasts and articles:

• Should Starbucks Buy Luckin Coffee? Should Alibaba? HeyTea? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 30)
• My Visit to JD’s E-Space: Is It a Game Changer for Department Stores in China? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 10)

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:

• #26: Advanced and Complicated New Retail

Concepts for this class:

• Platform Business Models: Marketplaces for Products and Services
• New Retail
• Online Merge Offline (OMO)
• SMILE Operational Marathon: Ecosystem Shaping and Management
• China Digital Consumer Network (CDCN)

Companies for this class:

• Farfetch
• Secoo
• JD

———-

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

I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, 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

In this class, we go through 6 digital superpowers, which is a simple high-level checklist for when digital tools can significantly change the competitive dynamics of a business.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

Which of the 6 Digital Superpowers does the company have? If any.

1. Dramatically transform the user experience
2. Enable a platform business model
3. Network effects
4. Other competitive advantage
5. Virality
6. Scalable

Related podcasts and articles:

• How Did Alibaba Beat Everyone? Products vs. Digital Platforms. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 4)
• Huawei, Luckin and the SMILE Operational Marathon (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 34)

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:

• #25: 6 Digital Superpowers

Concepts for this class:

• 6 Digital Superpowers
• SMILE Operational Marathon
• Competitive Advantages: Traditional vs. Digital

Companies for this class:

• Lazada
• Grab
• Luckin Coffee
• Hellobike

———-

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

I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, 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

In this class, I talk about the share of the consumer mind as a revenue competitive advantage. And how companies like WeChat and TikTok are changing this with digital tools.

You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.

Related podcasts and articles:

• Why Didi Needs Driver Switching Costs. Uber Too. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 23)

This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:

• #24: Share of the Consumer Mind in a Digital Age

Concepts for this class:

• Competitive Advantages
• Share of the Consumer Mind
• Switching Costs
• Searching Costs
• Temporary Supply-Demand Imbalances

Companies for this class:

• TikTok / Douyin and Bytedance
• WeChat and Tencent

———-

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

I also run Jeff’s Asia Tech Class, 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