The Tech Strategy Podcast

In this class, I talk about how online retailers like JD and marketplace platforms like Alibaba compete on different dimensions.You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya.Alibaba and marketplace platforms compete on:Cost and / or difficulty of entry - including the chicken-and-egg problem and the cost of the logistics network.Competitive advantages - including network effects (main one) and economies of scale in logistics, marketing and IT.JD and online retailers compete on:Cost and / or difficulty of entry - including the cost of the logistics network.Competitive advantages - including supply cost advantages and economies of scale in logistics (mostly), marketing and ITKey Learning Goal is #5: the basics of JDConcepts for this class:Digital-Physical HybridsCompetitive Advantage: Economies of ScaleCompetitive Advantage: Network EffectsDigital Platforms: MarketplacesCost and Difficulty of EntryLinked BusinessesCompanies for this class:JDAlibaba———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, we continue the discussion about what Huawei should have done after the US tech ban. In Part 1, we discussed the telco business. Here we talk about the consumer and smartphone business.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.I presented four options for what to do:Fix the supply chain and stay the course.Become a digital platform. This means building a smartphone operating system.Ignore Europe and focus mostly on China.Try to build an anti-US alliance for smartphone operating systems. Europe would be key.Concepts for this class:Digital Platforms vs. ProductsInnovation PlatformsOperational MarathonInnovation Marathon (also under Rate of Learning)Companies for this class:HuaweiAppleXiaomiHTC———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, we review the basics of digital platforms, which is one of the key learning goals for Level 2.You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya. Concepts for this class:Pipelines vs. Platforms———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, we review the basics of digital economics, which is one of the key learning goals for Level 2.You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya.Concepts for this class:Digital and Information Economics———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, we discuss Huawei's tech ban and what the company should have done.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.Concepts for this class:B2B Customer View: Necessary vs. Critical vs. StrategicCompetitive Advantage: Switching CostsCompetitive Advantage; Economics of ScaleOperational MarathonCompanies for this class: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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I discuss my visit to the WeChat Open Class. And why Allen Zhang and the WeChat team are doing so much better than Facebook and Apple.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.Allen Zhang's video from the event is here.———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I discuss some of the theory behind ecosystems, firms and coordination costs. And why digital platforms are having such a big impact on business, culture / media, politics / government and society.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I discuss my visit to JD's new 50,000 sqm e-space in Chongqing - and the question of what new retail (i.e., online-merge-offline) will mean for department stores and shopping malls.You can listen at my website or at iTunes and Himalaya.———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I discuss my visit to Huawei in China - and my lessons learned from lunch with rotating Chairman Guo Ping.You can listen at jefftowson.com (here) or at iTunes here.Articles / podcasts cited in this class:Huawei is Going to Beat Trump with Human Resources, Not Technology———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I discuss bike-sharing company Ofo. And their spectacular rise and fall in China.You can listen here or at iTunes here.The exercise for this class is:What should Ofo have done?1) Partner with a major digital platform ASAP. No matter what it takes.2) Copy Hellobike. Avoid the competition. Go to markets or segments with little competition and try to get to operating break-even.3) Split the company into a good co and bad co. Fund the good company and don't tie it to the cash drain of the bad co.4) Carl Icahn option. Go activist investor and try to split the company, replace management or other.What would you recommend to the CEO?Write 3 paragraphs with your answer. Do it on your smartphone. Or a PC. Or a piece of paper (take a picture and save it).Think about bundling and the emergence of greater ecosystems.The McKinsey slide cited is here.Articles / podcasts cited in this class:What Should Giant Bicycles Have Done About Mobike and Ofo?How Bundling Benefits Sellers and Buyers (Chris Dixon)———-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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show