The Impulso Podcast

Wei Han, an e-commerce analyst and author of the Who is Temu report, joins the discussion about Temu's upcoming local seller service set to launch in the U.S. on March 15. He explores Temu's shift from a full consignment model to a semi-consignment approach, highlighting its operational efficiencies and the implications for U.S. logistics. The debate heats up as they consider whether this move positions Temu as a competitor to Amazon or if it will carve out a new niche, while contrasting its strategies with TikTok Shop's unique model.

The sudden leadership shift in Daraz raises intriguing questions. With Lazada's CEO now at the helm, discussions explore the potential for centralization and strategic alignment within Alibaba. The podcast delves into the economic contrasts between Daraz's South Asian markets and Lazada's Southeast Asian presence. Competitive threats from Pinduoduo and TikTok Shop add layers of complexity to their strategy. Could one leader effectively manage both companies amid Alibaba's restructuring? This dynamic landscape sparks essential conversations about agility in ecommerce.

In a lively discussion, Jasper Knoben, CEO of Flywheel Southeast Asia, shares his extensive expertise from his journey at Lazada and Philips. He explores the rise of platforms like TikTok Shop and live commerce, emphasizing innovative strategies for brand engagement. Jasper also dives into the impact of AI on e-commerce, discussing both generative and general AI applications. He offers insights on balancing centralization and localization for operational efficiency and outlines the future outlook for the industry, prioritizing sustainability in 2024.

Taiwan's recent election has sparked intense debates about geopolitical stability. Amid rising tensions, China views the DPP's victory as a threat, leading to calls for military readiness. The discussion explores Taiwan's progression to democracy, voter demographics, and the broader implications for regional economies and supply chains. With the U.S. boosting arms support for Taiwan, the podcast dives into the delicate balance of deterrence strategies and the potential for conflict. How will Lai Ching-te's leadership impact these dynamics?

In this discussion, Fernando Pinheiro, a health-tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Tomorrow.bio, shares his incredible transition from internet startups to the frontier of human cryopreservation. He delves into the motivations behind choosing cryopreservation and the psychological complexities at play. The conversation touches on the groundbreaking advancements in biostasis, including technological challenges and ethical considerations of potentially reviving legally dead individuals. Pinheiro even reveals the surprising numbers behind the current global cryopreserved population!

The recent Lazada layoffs spark a discussion about the dynamics of centralization versus decentralization in large companies. Historical concepts about empires resonate with modern organizational challenges. The hosts highlight Jack Ma's perspective on layoffs as a pathway to societal and ecosystem growth. They also explore the potential of AI to streamline e-commerce functions, making it a significant game changer. Finally, optimism for 2024 shines through as they consider the employability of ex-Lazada staff within Southeast Asia's expanding tech landscape.

Keith Zhai, a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades of experience covering China, delves into the evolution of international media perceptions of the country. He outlines three key phases of coverage, from the 2008 Olympics to today’s tech regulation concerns. Zhai addresses misconceptions about AI and the media's bias, emphasizing the lack of ordinary Chinese voices. He highlights the complexities behind headlines and offers insights for critically engaging with China coverage, all while maintaining a cautious optimism for the future.

Yesterday (3 Jan), several media outlets reported that Lazada was carrying out a round of layoffs in Singapore. These layoffs were not unique to Singapore but also affected multiple other regional offices, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.   In this latest episode of the Impulso Podcast, we delve into the behind-the-scenes of Lazada's recent wave of layoffs and restructuring, highlighting the company’s objective to centralise functions and become more agile. We also discuss the complexities of Lazada’s operations in the region and explore the company’s potential new strategies to remain competitive in Southeast Asia’s e-commerce scene.   However, as we have emphasised multiple times before, success goes beyond strategy; it hinges on execution—the agility and efficiency of an organisation in executing strategies.   Featured materials:  Lazada cuts staff amid speculation of upcoming IPO, The Straits Times Why does Alibaba replace Taobao CEO?, The Impulso Podcast  Who is Temu, Momentum Works  Temu has entered Southeast Asia, challenging Shopee, Lazada & TikTok Shop, TheLowDown The winners and losers of the TikTok-GoTo deal, The Impulso Podcast

In Episode 48 of the Impulso Podcast, we engage in an unfiltered conversation with seasoned tech journalists, Jon Russell, and Aulia Masna, who have been observing the evolving Southeast Asia tech ecosystem over the past decade.   Join us as we unravel the events leading up to the ban of TikTok Shop in Indonesia and its recent partnership with GoTo. Although this partnership seemingly allows TikTok Shop Indonesia to resume its operations as usual, it's crucial to note that Indonesia still maintains a regulation barring social media platforms from managing ecommerce transactions.   And, of course, the lingering question remains: What about the small businesses the government pledged to safeguard?   In this latest episode, we also discuss:  Our perspective on the TikTok-GoTo deal, and and its implications for GoTo; 2023 in the broader context of the Southeast Asia tech narrative over the past decade; The potential influence of the 2024 Indonesia elections on the tech sector and regional investments; TikTok's expansion strategy, and the challenges of entering different markets   Featured materials: Winners and losers of the TikTok-GoTo deal, TheLowDown E44: The winners and losers of the TikTok-GoTo deal, The Impulso Podcast Tiktok shops suspension was supposed to to help small shop owners in Indonesia—its Tokopedia takeover won’t change a thing, Asia Tech review Who is Temu, Momentum Works  Temu has entered Southeast Asia, challenging Shopee, Lazada & TikTok Shop, TheLowDown

Yesterday (20 Dec), Alibaba Group announced that Eddie Wu, CEO of the Group will also serve as the CEO of Taobao and Tmall Group. This is 3 months after Eddie took over as Group CEO.    In this episode, we delve into:  Alibaba Group’s transformation journey in 2023 - the highs and lows of the organisations restructuring efforts; The external pressure on Alibaba, especially from newer players - Pinduoduo and Bytedance; Alibaba Group’s efforts to remain agile in the ever-changing tech ecosystem; The role AI will play in enhancing the operational efficiency of companies   Happy listening!   Featured materials: Alibaba group announces change of CEO of Taobao and Tmall Group  Alibaba group Announced September Quarter 2023 Results, Alibaba Group Why is Pinduoduo’s execution so strong?, TheLowDown Inside Temu: the fiery culture and a perpetual efficiency machine, TheLowDown