The Tech Strategy Podcast

This week’s podcast is on Ant Financial vs. Square. And has an introduction to the inside vs. outside view and base rates.You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.Key question: What will drive Square's growth?Metrics for base rates:Sales growthGross profitability (gross profits / assets)Operating leverage. Change in operating profits relative to change in sales.Operating profit marginEarnings growthCFROIRelated podcasts and articles:How Ant Financial / Ant Group is Revolutionizing Finance (1 of 3) (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 47)Ant Financial and the Sustained Innovation Trap of Network Effects (3 of 3) (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 49)From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:External vs. Internal ViewRegression to the Mean (average / base rates, rate of regression)Payment PlatformsMarketplace PlatformsComplementary PlatformsFrom the Company Library, companies for this article are:Ant Financial / Group / AlipaySquareThis is part of Learning Goals: Level 5, with a focus on:19: Basics of Ant Financial / Alipay and Payment 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 for investors in 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

Tesla vs. Nio and why first mover advantage is not as awesome as everyone thinks. At least not in tech.You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.Advantages of first mover in tech can include:Bigger advantages:Temporary supply-demand imbalanceIncreasing returns to scaleSwitching costsNetwork effectsLearning effectsSmaller advantages:Brand loyaltyTechnological leadershipScarce assets in techDisadvantages of first mover in tech can include:High failure rateR&D expenses on successful and unsuccessful tech.Cost of building production processes and complementary goods not available in the marketCost and difficulty of developing suppliers and distribution channels.Cost and difficulty of building consumer awareness and educationAvailability of enabling technologies and infrastructureUncertainty of customer requirementsRelated podcasts and articles:Introduction to Innovation, Elon and Android’s Dominant Design. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 58)Concepts for this class.Increasing Returns to Tech AdoptionFirst Mover Advantages and Disadvantages.Path DependencyResource Based CompetitionCore CompetencySupply-Demand ImbalanceCompanies for this class:TeslaNioThis is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:#32: Innovation, Adaptation and Resilience as Competitive Strategy——–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 for investors in 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

The podcast dives into Airbnb's struggles in Asia, emphasizing misguided valuation methods. It contrasts the company's performance in North America and Europe with challenges in Asia's competitive landscape. The rising middle-class families in Asia are transforming travel habits, impacting the hospitality industry. Chinese tourism emerges as a game changer, revealing missed opportunities for Airbnb. The discussion highlights fierce competition from local giants like Ctrip and Meituan, showcasing the shifting dynamics of the market.

This week’s podcast is on innovation, which often is discussed in fuzzy terms. I present some of the better language used to discuss this topic. And I present some frameworks from McKinsey and Professor Melissa Schilling (NYU). You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.The slides mentioned are below.Related podcasts and articles:Forget the “Alibaba Ecosystem”. It’s About Collaboration-Based Industries and Business Models. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 56)Alibaba, Android and The Emerging Art of Ecosystem Management. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 57)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:#32: Innovation, Adaptation and Resilience as Competitive StrategyConcepts for this class.SMILE Marathon: Sustained InnovationDominant Design and Architectural vs. Component InnovationS-Curves for Tech Performance vs. Tech DiffusionIncreasing Returns to Tech AdoptionLearning Effects and Learning CurveNetwork EffectsPath DependencyCompanies for this class:Android———-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 week’s podcast is more about the fuzzy idea of ecosystems, which I call the new collaboration-based business business models. We have clear frameworks for pipelines and platforms. And linked business models and complementary platforms. I summarize some of the thinking by Peter Williamson, Michael Jacobides and BCG's article The Emerging Art of Ecosystem Management.You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.Related podcasts and articles:What is Alibaba’s Best Growth Strategy? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 50)Forget the “Alibaba Ecosystem”. It’s About Collaboration-Based Industries and Business Models. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 56)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:#30: Ecosystems vs. PlatformsConcepts for this class.Ecosystems vs. Digital PlatformsSMILE Marathon: Ecosystem Orchestration and ManagementLinked Business ModelsCompanies for this class:AlibabaAndroid———-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

Correction: I had Michael Jacobides' name incorrect throughout this episode. My apologies. Podcasting while sick may not have been my best idea.This week's podcast is about starting to take apart the fuzzy idea of ecosystems. We have clear frameworks for pipelines and platforms. And linkedin business models and complemntary platforms. But the ecosystem term is better thought of as collaboration-based industries and business models. I summarize some of the thinking by Peter Williamson, Michael Jacobides and BCG.You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.The slides mentioned are below.Related podcasts and articles:What is Alibaba’s Best Growth Strategy? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 50)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:#30: Ecosystems vs. PlatformsConcepts for this class.Ecosystems vs. Digital PlatformsSMILE Marathon: Ecosystem Orchestration and ManagementCompanies for this class:Alibaba--------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 podcast is more about the strange but important economics of digital. And on how digital economics can impact well-established competitive advantages like economies of scale. This is a continuation of Podcast 53.You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.Related podcasts and articles:Review: The Sexy But Dangerous Economics of Digital (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 15)Digital Economics II: Why Pricing Is Getting Both Complicated and Critical. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 53)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:#29: Digital Economics IIConcepts for this class.Digital Information and EconomicsEconomies of ScaleMinimum Efficient Scale5 Scenarios Where Digital Impacts Economies of ScaleNetwork EffectsStandardization And Interconntections Network EffectsCompanies for this class:n/a———-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

These are my predictions for the biggest trends in digital China / Asia for 2020-2030. They are all underway already. And most of them are unique to China / Asia - so I don't think we will see them elsewhere. My prediction is:In 2020 – 2030, China / Asia will become the world's largest and most innovative digital ecosystem - with unmatched infrastructure and capabilities. And these the 5 trends I am watching for:China / Asia will become the smart devices leader as innovation in digital is combined with innovation in hardware.Smart IoT logistics platforms will emerge and connect consumers, retailers, businesses and others autonomously and in real-time.New Manufacturing will emerge in Asia that is flexible, efficient and connected.Smart cities will emerge and may become operating platforms.Digital finance may leapfrog the traditional banking and financial system.You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:#26: Advanced New RetailConcepts for this class.New RetailOnline Merge OfflineSmart IoT Logistics PlatformsChina Digital Consumer Network (CDCN)New ManufacturingCompanies for this class:XiaomiDJIXunxiCainiaoJD LogisticsInsta360 / Arashi Vision———-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 podcast is more about the strange but important economics of digital. And on pricing, in particular. It is becoming increasingly complicated with bundling, switching costs and platform business models.You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.Related podcasts and articles:Review: The Sexy But Dangerous Economics of Digital (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 15)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:#29: Digital Economics IIConcepts for this class.Combinatorial InnovationPrice DiscriminationCommon Pricing Strategies (Penetration Pricing, Market Skimming, Survival Pricing, Maximize Profit Pricing)Pricing and Switching CostsSwitching CostsCompanies for this class:n/a———-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

Matthew Brennan has published:Attention Factory: The Story of TikTok and China's ByteDance\It's a great read, with lots of interesting ideas about how to fight for attention. And how to manage information flows in a world overflowing with content and ideas.The slides mentioned are below and here.Related podcasts and articles:What Is the Secret of TikTok / Douyin’s Success? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 20)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 7, with a focus on:#32: Adaptation, Innovation and Resilience as Competitive StrategyConcepts for this class.SMILE Marathon 2: Machine Learning / AI and Zero-Human OperationsSMILE Marathon 4: Rate of LearningLearning AdvantagesSocial CapitalCompanies for this class:BytedanceTikTok / DouyinFacebook  ———-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