The Tech Strategy Podcast

In this class, I talk about my interview with He Xiaodong of JD. And about how chatbots are evolving into conversational AI. Plus the basics of AI economics.You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.CORRECTION. In this podcast, I mentioned that JD's Smart Customer Service has the personality of a young woman. Xiaodong was actually referreing to Microsoft's Xiaolce. My apologies. Related podcasts and articles:JD and Competitive Advantages vs. Entry Barriers in China Retail (Daily Lesson – Jeff’s Asia Tech Class)JD vs. Alibaba: How Retailers and Marketplace Platforms Compete and Evolve in China (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 18)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:#22 Basics of AIConcepts for this class:AI - Cheap PredictionMismatched and/or Crippled ScaleCompanies for this class: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. www.jefftowson.comSupport the show

In this class, I talk about what can be done with Luckin Coffee post-scandal. Should another company or investor buy it?You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.Who should buy Luckin Coffee? Choose an option.Starbucks711 or other convenience storeHeyTeaAlibaba or other ecommcerce companyFinancial investorsRelated podcasts and articles on Luckin and Heytea:What Should Starbucks China Have Done About Luckin Coffee? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 3)Will Luckin, Mobike, Didi or WeWork Ever Be Profitable? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 6)My Interview With Huawei About Their 2019 Financials. Plus Fraud at Luckin Coffee. (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 24)Forget Luckin. Starbucks’ Most Interesting China Competitor is HeyTea (pt 1 of 2)While Luckin Fights Starbucks, HeyTea Has Lines Out the Door in China (pt 2 of 2)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:#21 New Retail and Value Added DealsConcepts for this class:New RetailCompany Quality: Good / Great / Bad / Too HardAlwaleed and Surgical Value Add / Value PointCompanies for this class:Luckin CoffeeHeytea———-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 talk about Shopee (ecommerce) and Garena (online gaming) in SE Asia - and the complementary platform businesses Sea Limited is building.You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.The previous articles and books I cite are:Platform Revolution (book)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:#20 The Basics of Garena / Shopee and Audience Builder PlatformsConcepts for this class:Audience Builder PlatformsComplementary PlatformsArms Race for Consumer Attention, Engagement and SpendingCompanies for this class:ShopeeGarena / Sea LimitedLazada / Alibaba———-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 talk about Ant Financial / Alipay, AI factories and the basics of payment platforms.You can listen here or at my website for this podcast.The graphic discussed is shown here. The previous articles I cite are:From Big, Dumb Bureaucracies to Zero-Human Operations: The Holy Grail of the Digital Age (pt 1 of 2)How Ant Financial / Alipay is Building an AI Factory in Financial Services (pt 2 of 2)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:#19 The Basics of Ant Financial and Payment PlatformsConcepts for this class:Advantages of ScaleEconomies of Scale and ScopeLearning AdvantagesDisadvantages of Scale: Bureaucracy, Specialization, Scope, Scale, Complexity, ConnectivityPayment PlatformsAI Factories / Zero-Human OperationsCompanies for this class:Ant FinancialAlibaba———-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 talk about Meituan and the evolution toward more advanced types of services marketplaces.You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.What Should Meituan Do?:Geographic expansionFocus on transportation services (i.e., Didi)Focus on hospitality services (i.e., Ctrip)Jump into an ancillary opportunity: Financial Services or Cloud ServicesAdvance into more complicated services (i.e., market networks)The previous podcast on the subject is:Meituan vs. Ctrip vs. Alibaba: Who Will Win in China Services? (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 22)This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:#18 More on Meituan and Marketplace Platforms for ServicesConcepts for this class:Market NetworksMarketplaces for Products and ServicesCompanies for this class:MeituanAlibaba———-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 talk about networks vs. ecosystems. And how networks have evolved from physical to virtual / digital.You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.This is part of Learning Goals: Level 4-5, with a focus on:#17 Basics of Baidu and Physical and Virtual NetworksA lot of the AT&T information comes from the book The Business of Platforms.Concepts for this class:Network EffectsNetworks and EcosystemsComplementary Products, Services and PlatformsCompanies for this class:BaiduAT&T———-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 talk about Lazada, the SE Asia ecommerce champion. And about how it is a good example of how Asia is both at scale and becoming increasingly interconnected.You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.Podcast on the future of digital is located here.Why Digital Is Disrupting Business, Politics, Culture and Society (Jeff’s Asia Tech Class – Podcast 11)The McKinsey Global Institute papers about the future of asia are here.Note: The term emerging markets was coined by Antoine Van Agtmael, author of The Emerging Markets Century: How a New Breed of World-Class Companies Is Overtaking the WorldCompanies for this class:Lazada———-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 talk about my interview with Huawei about their 2019 financial results. And a bit about the disclosure of fraud at Luckin  Coffee.You can listen here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.This is part of Learning Goals: Level 3, with a focus on:#6 Basics of Huawei#10 More on HuaweiConcepts for this class:Digital Superpower #1: Dramatically Improve the User ExperienceMoney WarsHyperscaling vs. BlitzscalingCompetitive Advantage: Economies of ScaleLinked BusinessesCompanies for this class:HuaweiLuckin Coffee———-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 talk about the basics of Didi and the importance of switching costs on the supplier side of the platform.This is part of Learning Goals: Level 3, with a focus on:#15 Basics of Didi and Switching CostsConcepts for this class:Switching CostsNetwork EffectsDigital Platforms: Marketplaces for ServicesCompanies for this class:DidiUberMeituanCtrip———-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 talk about the crazy collision of Ctrip, Meituan and Alibaba in services in China, particularly in hotels.You can listen here or at iTunes and Himalaya.How do Ctrip and Meituan compare in the following aspects?Bundling of servicesThe Assets of a Marketplace Platform: Users, Activity and DataNetwork EffectSwitching CostsThis is part of Learning Goals: Level 3, with a focus on:#16 Basics of Ctrip, Meituan and Marketplace Platforms for ServicesConcepts for this class:Digital Platforms: Marketplaces for Products and ServicesBundling and Cross-SellingNetwork EffectsSwitching CostsCompanies for this class:CtripMeituanAlibaba Fliggy———-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