You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

 ---------

I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here.

I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below.

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

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Plus, there is a bit more of a rant about the recent Anthropic and OpenAI ban. My prediction is the future of AI outside of the USA is now:

• Open source, downloadable and non-embargoable models plus
• Low cost, tech agnostic AI architecture

Which probably means China. And probably Nvidia.

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

The 5 steps to get into agentic commerce are:

1. Start building a council of LLMs.
   1. This means a couple of frontier models and lots of open source (a symphony of models). The net is a composable model with a router than directs all queries. 
2. The key AI and agents need to be able to code. That is their superpower.
3. Get to the tipping point where an end-to-end workflow has agents and AI, with no humans in the loop. Then you can scale up to 100-200 agents.
   1. This means fixing the quality problems before you scale.
4. Get to the tipping point where agents create agents (an agent factory). This gest you to thousands of agents.
   1. This includes onboarding, training and oversight of agents.
5. Centralize enterprise data and context for AI and agents.
   1. You need updated centralized data that your enterprise AI can access. 
   2. A lot of data is born somewhere else. Salesforce. System of record. ERP systems.

--------

I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here.

I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below.

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

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Plus, there is a bit of a rant about the recent Anthropic ban. My prediction is the future of AI outside of the USA is now:

• Open source, downloadable and non-embargoable models plus
• Low cost, tech agnostic AI architecture

Which probably means China.

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

-----------

I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here.

I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below.

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

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are the 3 mentioned steps in Elon's approach (in my opinion). This is an interesting example of a Shaping Strategy.

• Step 1: Identify a huge TAM. Ideally over $1T. Ideally with a weak incumbent.
• Step 2: Solve the problem with world-class engineering.
• Step 3: Run an innovation marathon focused on rapid improvements and cost reductions. Vertical integration and repeatability are key to this.

Here is the book by Chris Zook on Repeatability.

---------

I am a consultant & keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in increasing digital growth and strengthening digital AI moats. Get in contact here.

I write (a lot) about digital growth and digital AI strategy (3 best selling books, +2.9M followers on LinkedIn). There is a free book and email newsletter below.

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

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

—–

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

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

-------

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

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

4 dimensions for consumer electronics.

1. Ecosystem building.
2. Software and AI.
3. Emotional impact and resonance.
4. Tech leadership.

Cheers, Jeff

• Huawei Breaks into High Fashion with a Luxury, Jeweled Smartwatch (2 of 3) (Tech Strategy)

———

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are my 5 takeaways.

1. Huawei’s Atlas 950 SuperPOD is a Shift to Massively Integrated AI Compute
2. The UnifiedBus. This is How Huawei Solves the 8,192 NPU Connection Problem
3. Building Ecosystems is the Key to US vs. China AI Cloud
4. Get Ready for Agent-Native Networks
5. AI Data Platforms are really important. It’s hard to separate KVCache / memory, data and knowledge.

--------------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are my 3 lessons.

• Lesson 1: In wearables, Huawei is pulling ahead of the pack in screens and battery tech
• Lesson 2: "Breakthrough tech" plus "emotional resonance" is a good consumer electronics strategy
• Lesson 3: Runners are a great customer group for smart products and services

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here is the McKinsey & Co article on arenas.

Here is what Tencent has been doing in AI and agentic products. 

1. Tencent Rebuilt Its Model Building Infrastructure
2. Tencent Kicked Things Off with the Hunyuan Hy3 Preview
3. Additional Models Are Being Developed. I’m Pretty Excited about the World Models.
4. Tencent is Accelerating the Release of New and Upgraded AI Products. And Agents (i.e., Lobsters) Are the Current Focus.

Here is my explanation:

• Pillar 1: Anchor Your AI Agent Strategy on High Value, Scalable Use Cases
• Pillar 2: Balance Aggressive Market Share Growth with Incremental Revenue Capture
• Pillar 3: Prepare for Large, Ongoing Investments and Escalating Industry Competition as the Cost of Dominating this New Economic Arena

---------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

The five topics are:

1. New operating model: “Humans agents robots”
2. China semiconductor biz
3. Foundation models
4. It’s all about agents
5. Robots and embodied AI

 ---------------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are my past articles on data operations:

• Data Network Effects and Data Scale Aren’t Moats (1 of 2) (Tech Strategy)
• My Playbook for Data-Empowered Operations (2 of 2) (Tech Strategy)
• The GenAI / Agentic Operating Basics (Tech Strategy)

Here is the mentioned McKinsey & Co and a16z articles.

• Building the foundations for agentic AI at scale
• Your Data Agents Need Context

--------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are the 5 lessons:

1. GenAI and agents are creating powerful new position as the primary user interface
2. ABCs (assistants, brokers, concierges) are going to cut off a lot of merchants and brands from buyers.
3. Human users are going to become much hard to reach. You need their eyeballs.
4. MEDVi is a good examples of the ability of GenAI to enable new types of ecommerce coordination.
5. Agent workers are a powerful organizational structure. It is going to disrupt human heavy businesses.

 ------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

--------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are some videos I made (here).

Here are the winners:

1. Viewers. It's amazing. 
2. GPUs and data centers. Plus energy providers. 
3. IP holders that get lots of attention.   
4. Independent creators who will get lots attention and creative satisfaction. 
5. Business content creators - especially in ads and content. 
6. Platform biz models. Audience builders like YouTube and TikTok. Plus marketplaces like Taobao.
7. iQiyi and combinations of streaming and audience builders.
8. Netflix and pure streamers (maybe). 

Here are the losers:

1. Most professional production companies. Most tv and film studios. Basically, any business that has been relying on scale in content creation. 
2. Ad agencies focused on content creation.
3. Individuals and firms with specialized skills related to tv and film production.
4. Independent content creators trying to monetize 
5. Los Angeles?
6. Hollywood's managerial class. 
7. Political activists embedded in entertainment.

Here are my past articles / podcasts on this:

• Why ChatGPT and Generative AI Are a Mortal Threat to Disney, Netflix and Most Hollywood Studios (Tech Strategy – Podcast 150)
• How Generative AI Is Going to Disrupt YouTube and TikTok (Tech Strategy – Podcast 152). Jan 2023
• How Generative AI Services Are Disrupting Platform Business Models (1 of 2) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

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 r

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

I am watching:

• Qwen
• DingTalk
• Amap
• Quark

Plus,

• Accio and Aidge
• Tmall and Taobao
• Fliggy
• Youku and Wan

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

---------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

The take-aways are:

1. “AI Plus Ecommerce” Is the Big Focus Domestically
2. The China Instant Commerce War Was Entertaining
3. The Instant Commerce War Strategically Important for Alibaba
4. Alibaba’s Liya and Digital KOLs Are Amazing
5. Alibaba’s “AI Plus Ecommerce” Is Going International. Definitely Try These.
   1. Accio
   2. Aidge
6. The Alibaba AI Apps I Am Watching
   1. DingTalk
   2. Quark
   3. Amap
   4. Qwen
   5. Wan
   6. Tongyi Deep Research
7. 6 Six Alibaba values

------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

The mentioned graphics are here.

That’s it for the GenAI playbook.

Cheers, Jeff

 -------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats.

I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase digital growth and strengthen digital AI moats. Get in touch here.

I write about digital growth and digital AI strategy. With 3 best selling books and +2.9M followers on LinkedIn. You can read my writing at the free email below.

Or read my Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

My predictions are:

1) It Will be Another Big Year For Google Gemini

2) GenAI Data Architecture in Enterprises Will Be the Critical Capability

3) AI Service Business Models vs. Platform Business Models Is the Big Question.

4) AI Agents and Agent Operating Basics Are the Other Critical Capability for Businesses

5) Agentic Ecommerce Will Be a Major Disruption

6) AI Cloud Businesses Will Continue to Lead

7) China Will Shock the World with Robotics and Physical AI 

----------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to supercharge digital growth and build digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here is the mentioned McKinsey report.

----------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

My approach to assessing GenAI operating costs is the below checklist.

1. What is the cost of compute, including energy and cooling? Initial cost vs. ongoing?
   1. The core compute is going to drive a lot of the costs. Especially if you are using an AI cloud service provider. If you have a downloaded open-source model, then it’s mostly the initial cost.
   2. These compute costs dependent on the requirements of the AI workloads:
      1. The compute requirements
      2. The timing requirements
      3. The memory requirements
2. What is the cost of creating and maintaining the desired correctness over time?
   1. How accurate and correct you need the foundation model to be is a big deal. And this factor determines how much of the operations are done by software versus humans. It can make the costs of GenAI products look a lot more like services than traditional software.
   2. My main questions are:
      1. How much does correctness matter? What level of correctness does the product need to compete? What is the cost of inaccuracy?
      2. How does correctness change over time? Is it stable and flat lining, advancing, naturally changing or deteriorating?
      3. How much of a long tail is there in the domain? Is the long tail a liability or a benefit?
      4. How much of the process is iterative? How much are humans in the loop?
      5. What is the initial cost of training and getting to the desired level of correctness?
      6. What is the ongoing cost of inference at the desired level of correctness? How much are humans in the loop?
      7. What is the cost and frequency of fine tuning and/or retraining?
3. What are the cost implications of increasing scale?
   1. What are the scale advantages vs. disadvantages?
   2. Does the Jevon paradox apply?

 --------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

---------

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here is the McKinsey article I mentioned:

• The agentic commerce opportunity: How AI agents are ushering in a new era for consumers and merchants

Here is the BCG article I mentioned:

• When Brands Meet AI Bots: Customer Experience in the Era of Agents

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 I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a 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

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here is the article on bundling by Chris Dixon.

• How bundling benefits sellers and buyers

A lot of thinking on data as a moat comes from these articles by Martin Casado, Julian Wright and Andre Hagiu.

• The Empty Promise of Data Moats
• When Data Creates Competitive Advantage

Here are 7 complications I mentioned about bundling.

1. Bundling requires a a robust product suite.
2. You want a low attach rate. So you don't cannibalize products by bundling.
3. Bundling can complicate the customer experience and buying journey.
4. Bundling works best when all customers have similar total willingness to pay. But different tastes.
5. Unlimited bundles (subscriptions) can have problems if there are non-zero product costs.
6. Unlimited bundles (subscriptions) do limit revenue per user. This is a problem when willingness to pay is positively correlated with demand for variety.
7. Subscription models do not reward superstar creators very well.

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are the 4 psych hacks:

1. Gmail is Habit Forming via a High Frequency Utility Over a Long Time
2. Gmail is Internally Triggering. That’s the Gold Standard.
3. Gmail Has Task Completion Rewards. Ok But Not as Good as Variable Rewards.
4. Gmail has Infinite Variability. But This Is More Powerful in Entertainment than a Utility.

A lot of this is from the book Hooked: How to Build Habit Forming Products, by Nir Eyal.

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

My take-aways are:

1. GenAI’s Biggest Impact Will Be as a New Technology for Coordination.
2. GenAI Coordination Happens at 3 Levels (Shipping Container Example).
3. GenAI is Dramatically Increasing What Can Be Coordinated. And How (OTA and Construction Examples).
4. GenAI Will Impact How Firms Coordinate Knowledge. And Will Create Brains for Organizations.

Photo by Sanket Mishra on Unsplash

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

The two key strategy questions are:

• Where to play?
• How to win?

The four topics discussed are:

• Digital Growth Strategy
  • Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies (Wiley Finance) 8th Edition
  • Profit from the Core: A Return to Growth in Turbulent Times Hardcover – Illustrated, January 26, 2010
• Operating Performance: Get smarter faster better (DOB and Tactics)
  • Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI
  • My Playbook for Data-Empowered Operations (2 of 2) (Tech Strategy)
  • The GenAI / Agentic Operating Basics (Tech Strategy)
• Cx and Constant Customer Improvements (DOB2)
• Moats and Structural Advantages (my area)

The mentioned graphics are here.

——–

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are the mentioned articles. A lot of this thinking is from these McKinsey articles.

• The agentic organization: Contours of the next paradigm for the AI era
• The change agent: Goals, decisions, and implications for CEOs in the agentic age

Here are the building blocks for an Agentic AI Operating Model:

• Operating model. Based on AI-first work flows. With agent teams as the building blocks. Plus orchestration of agent teams.
• Hybrid workforce, with new talent profiles.
• Technology and data
• Governance

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here is the article on the Agentic AI Operating Basics, which I wrote up last week.

• The GenAI / Agentic Operating Basics (Tech Strategy)

Here is the Huawei whitepapers related to AI Data Centers

AI-Ready Data Infrastructure Reference Architecture White Paper

https://e.huawei.com/en/forms/2024/solutions/data-storage/ai-ready-data-infrastructure-white-paper

AI Data Center Facility Reference Design

https://digitalpower.huawei.com/upload-pro/index/index/Huawei-AI-Data-Center-Reference-Design.pdf

Here are the slides from the mentioned Huawei whitepaper.

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here is my data playbook.

1. Sell data as a product. Or part of the product itself. But you are selling data. This can expand into selling services.
2. Analytics use cases are valuable. Think analytics vs insights vs predictions. 
3. Data can increase the speed of management decisions. Think dashboards.
4. Rate of learning and adaptation is more powerful version of this. This can be a big strength in some businesses. 
5. Data products supporting agile teams are important. 

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a 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

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Much of this thinking is by Chris Zook and Bain’s strategy practice. I am citing these books:

• Profit from the Core
• Beyond the Core

Here is my favorite summary quote.

Here's a quick summary of core vs. adjacency.

Most all sustainable growth is based on 1-2 strong cores.

A profitable core is centered on the strongest position in terms of loyal customers, competitive advantage, unique skills, and ability to earn profits.

Growth adjacencies include:

• New customer segments:
  • Micro-segmentation of current segments
  • Unpenetrated segments
  • New segments
• New geographies
  • Global expansion
  • Local expansion
• New channels
  • Internet
  • Distribution
  • Indirect
• New products
  • New to world
  • Complements
  • Support services
  • Next generation
  • Just new products / services
• New Businesses
  • New to world needs
  • New substitutes
  • New models
  • Capability adjacencies
• New value chain steps
  • Forward integration
  • Backwards integration
  • Sell capability to outside

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here is the case study from CEO Wan Lin.

• Wan Lin: My Practice On Strategy

 ——–

I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Interaction / engagement-focused product has three dimensions:

• Recommendations. This is passive consumption, not active searching. So that means machine learning-powered newsfeeds. Basically, just like TikTok and Instagram.
• Entertainment. That means features, games, and videos.
• Community. This is about tapping into group behavior. You want active communication and sharing between users. And on social networks. You also want livestreaming with friends. And, if possible, you want group buying.

I think there are two archetypes for interaction-focused ecommerce.

• Type 1: Newsfeed based. That’s TikTok. That’s the sushi train restaurants. This is TikTok Shop is a good example of this. With lots of little purchases. Mostly based on whose videos you like to watch and what surprises show up in your feed.
• Type 2: Carnival based. That’s early PDD. It’s lots of games. Which is very different than TikTok Shop.

Alibaba has three interesting use cases for ecommerce.

1. The Power of Livestreaming in Ecommerce
2. Image-Based Search Changes the Way We Find Products
3. Conversational Search

Photo by Hugh Han on Unsplash

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

My are my 3 take-aways:

1. Take-Away 1: Tencent Cloud is Doing “Fast-Follower with Advantages” in AI.
2. WeChat and Tencent Cloud Are Going International Leading with Tech Services.
3. I Expect Tencent Cloud to Be One of the World’s Top 5 AI Cloud Companies.

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I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.

I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.

I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

My summary of the Alibaba Management Playbook:

• Diagnose the problem:
  • What is the chief complaint?
    • Stagnant growth? Low NPS?
  • What is the differential diagnosis?
• 1-Re-clarify and re-focus customer value. This includes:
  • Customer segmentation. Who are you targeting? What are you after (revenue)? Traffic? Data?
  • What do they most care about? Map out the process.
  • Is what customers want changing? Tech change? PC to mobile changed what maps could do.
  • What is the competitor offering and how you are going to take their customers?
• 2-Launch 2-3 key strategic initiatives to increase refocused customer value.
• 3-Improve production. Fix the big pain points of customers, staff, suppliers, etc. 
  • Requires data-driven decision making and iteration.
• 4-Change the org structure, talent and culture. Improve production relations.
  • Increased communication and coordination.
• 5-Have early wins (small phased victories). Important to test the strategy and get data. And to re-enforce culture and org changes.
• 6-Agile tactics and speed are key.
  • You win chess with 2x the moves.
  • Tactical brilliance and guerrilla execution.
• 7-Build a powerful biz model or operating flywheel. Maybe access multi-growth curves.
• Measure Outcomes
  • Financial and operational
  • Strategic

——--

 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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here is the Amap case study.

My summary of the Alibaba Management Playbook:

• Diagnose the problem: 
  • Stagnant growth? Negative NPS? Low engagement?
• 1-Unwavering focus on customer value. Re-clarify customer value. This includes:
  • Customer segmentation. Who are you targeting? What are you after (revenue)? Traffic? Data (Amap)?
  • What do they most care about? Map out the process.
  • Is what customers want changing? Tech change? PC to mobile changed what maps could do.
  • What is the competitor offering and how you are going to take their customers?
• 2-Fix the Big Pain Points. Requires Data-Driven Decision Making and Iteration.
• 3-Do cultural change and increased communication and coordination.
• 4-Agile teams and tactics are key. Tactical brilliance and guerrilla execution.
• 5-Have early wins.
• 6-Build a powerful biz model or operating flywheel.

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 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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

5 Things People Get Wrong about Scale Advantages, Economies of Scale and Moats

1. There are lots of absolute (not relative) scale advantage. Growth is the default business strategy.
2. Scale advantages are bigger (and more vague) than economies of scale
3. Scale advantages can cascade
4. Scale disadvantages (diseconomies of scale, big company disease) are under-rated and under-measured
5. You need to separate barriers from competitive advantages. And measure each specifically.

I want to know 3 things:

1. Barriers to entry against new entrants.
   1. What specific CRAS to reproduce?
   2. What is the cost, difficulty and timing to enter?
2. Competitive advantage against rivals
   1. Which CAs specifically? With measurements.
3. The incumbent or rival response

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

 -------------

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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

My 3 take-aways:

1. WeChat Has Way More Functions That I Knew. They Have 26 Years of Experience Messengers.
2. Tencent Is “All In” on Yuanbao, Hunyuan LLM and AI Cloud.
3. Merchant and Enterprise Services Are Expanding and Upgrading. Think Microsoft meets OpenAI.

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

6 Levels of Rate of Learning and Adaptation.

• Tactics: Such as marketing, inventory and assortment, store layout, pricing, churn
• Customer retention, customer segmentation and other more complicated questions.
• Adapting current products and services. Such as personalization. 
• New products and services. And technologies.
• Internal processes.
• Business models.

4 Rate of Learning and Adaptation Capabilities:

• Signal Capability
• Experimentation Capability
• Organization Capability
• System Capability

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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

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are the main points:

• Misconception 1: Audience Builder Platforms Are Just Content Hubs with Libraries
• Misconception 2: Audience Builder Platforms Are Highly Profitable
• Misconception 3: Audience Builder Platforms Get You “Winner Take All” Dynamics
• Misconception 4: Audience Builders Have Two Main User Groups – Creators and Viewers
• Misconception 5: A Content Library Is a Barrier to Entry

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Here are the main points:

1-Social and community platform commerce. 

• Livestreaming (entertaining plus impulse shopping)
• Community platforms. Interest based social commerce.

2-Discovery-driven customer experiences and conversational search. Not keywords. 

• Focus on discovery phase and impulse purchases.
• AR/VR (image search is easy version)
• Hyper personalization
• AI0driven browsing and conversational search

3-Tools to level the playing field 

• Chatbot for CSR
• LLMs
• Content generation for marketing  

——–

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

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

--------

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

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Lessons from Xiaomi

• Consumption ecosystem. Car, person, home
• High performance management
• Rapid manufacturing build out as a capability. Cheap. But also fast and flexible. Upgrades. Increasing combined with software and AI

Lessons from Unitree

• Big jump in agility.
• Limited use cases for them today.
• Programmed in simulation and downloaded. Sim to Lab. ML at edge, vs download vs connectivity

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

Major Factors:

• Tech capabilities and progress
• Commercialization and adoption of products
• Economies of scope
• Management performance

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

I am also trying to figure out how ecosystems of developers can become strengths for business. Especially when amplified by open-source.

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our Tech Tours.

---------

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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

• Rising Chinese consumers
• Manufacturing scale
• Brainpower behemoth
• Money

Here is DeepSeek. You can try it for free here:

• chat.deepseek.com

And you can try Alibaba's Qwen here.

• https://chat.qwenlm.ai/

You can try Kling AI here.

• https://klingai.com/

———-

Related articles:

• BYD Is Going for Global EV Leadership (1 of 2) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• A Strategy Breakdown of Arm Holdings (1 of 3) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• EV AV Auto
• Robotics
• GenAI

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• BYD
• Unitree
• Kuaishou / Kling AI
• Huawei
• Baidu AI Cloud
• Alibaba Cloud
• MiniMax / Hailuo AI
• DeepSeek

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

1. Re-Igniting Growth in Their Now Re-Organized Ecommerce Business
2. Accelerating the Build Out of their Global Smart Logistics Network – Starting with Cross-Border Express Delivery
3. Big Investments in Alibaba Cloud. With Price Cuts to Push Adoption.
4. Pioneering New and Game Changing GenAI Services

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Support the show

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• Take-Away 1: Alibaba Cloud is Focused on the Infrastructure and Model Layers. It Is Differentiating its GenAI with an Open-Source Ecosystem (i.e., ModelScope) and Model Building Tools.
• Take-Away 2: Southeast Asia Cloud Computing is Being “Fixed”. And Also Reshaped for GenAI.
• Take-Away 3: GenAI Has Surprising High Impact Use Cases Everywhere.

Cheers, Jeff

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

• Unlock the Secret to Customer Obsession: The Extreme Personalization Playbook (1 of 3) (Tech Strategy)
• Extreme Personalization Playbook Stage 2: Build Your Repeat and Retain Machine (2 of 3) (Tech Strategy)

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Support the show

Support the show

• An attractive space. With lots of interesting consumer behavior.
• Premiumization
• Fragmentation and changing competition
• Innovation and Digital Disruption
  • Lots of dimensions for digital to impact. 
    • Content (think TikTok). Also education.
    • Experiential
    • Social
  • Plus hardware and science innovation
• Data driven Personalization

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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

• Step 1 is DOB3 (Digital Core) and DOB 6 (people, culture, teams). Do organizational change.
• Step 2 is to identify 3-4 Use Cases:
  • These will impact different functions differently.
• Step 3 is to have an ROI within 6 months.
• Step 4 is to get the process to 5-7 days.

Here are the 6 types of customers (from BCG).

1. Brand advocates
2. Multicategory
3. Single-category regulars
4. Deal seekers
5. Disengaged
6. Lapsed

Here are the 4 stages of extreme personalization and customer improvements.

Stage 1 - Personalization Marathon

Stage 2 - Repeat and Retain Machine.

• Also move beyond just sales transactions. Do experience management.

Stage 3 - Surround Customers with Value. Add complementary services. Bundles. Consumption ecosystems.

• Including AI services. This is where the Rate of Learning Marathon really matters. Watch for machine learning operating flywheels.

Stage 4 - Build a Moat

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Support the show

1. What is the asymptotic scale?
2. What is the minimum viable scale?
3. What is the shape of the curve?
4. What is the scale differential with rivals?

Here the 4 network effect effects:

1. Network effects can cause rapid increases in the real or perceived value and/or utility to customers. A product or service that increases in value TO THE USER is great. And this is usually what we are talking about with network effects.
   1. This is usually thought of as consumers. Or business customers. But it can also be for other user groups, like content creators and developers.
   2. This doesn’t necessarily mean growth. You can have a great and improving service in a small or flat market.
2. Network effects can increase economic value. This is not the same thing as customer value (real or perceived). If a platform business model has attractive unit economics and growth potential, then you can see increasing economic value and shareholder returns with network effects. But not always. You can have a fantastic service with increasing customer but not economic value (by network effects)
3. Network effects can create a competitive advantage. This is demand side economies of scale as a moat. This is what collapses the market to a monopoly or oligopoly. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the creation of economic value. You can dominate an unattractive business. And it doesn’t necessarily mean growth. You can dominate a stagnant business.
4. Network effects can create a barrier to entry. In digital, this is mostly by indirect network effects, which have a chicken and egg problem. That is hard for new entrants to overcome with an incumbent present. There is less of a barrier to entry with direct network effects. We also see barriers to entry in physical networks which require lots of tangible assets. Replicating a railroad is almost impossible in a developed country.

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Photo is AI generated

Support the show

• Education
• Story telling
• Mindless entertainment. Including things like comedy.
• News / Politics
• Sports

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Photo is AI generated

Support the show

• Coinbase and the Tech Uncertainties of Platform-Protocol Hybrids (3 of 3)(Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• After the Fall of Crypto, Is Coinbase an Opportunity? (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Support the show

• What is the future relationship with Tencent? As it relates to users and engagement?
• Economies of Scope. Does it need to move beyond video to other content and attention types. Like TikTok and Tencent have done.
• Economies of Scale. Is it subscale in video and entertainment? As a China-only business?

Here is a past article on this. 

• Kuaishou Is Finally Profitable. But Is It Too Small to Win Long Term? (Tech Strategy)

Support the show

• Concentration of buyers: 
• Purchase size: 
• Differentiation of products or services: 
• Switching costs
• Price sensitivity: 
• Informed buyers: 

Here are some factors to consider when assessing competitive rivalry.

• Number of competitors: 
• Industry growth rate: 
• Fixed costs: 
• Exit barriers: 
• Undifferentiated products / services: 

Here are some factors to consider for New Entrants.

• Economies of scale:
• Product differentiation: 
• Capital requirements: 
• Access to distribution channels. 
• Government regulations: 
• Switching costs: 

Here are some factors to consider for assessing the Threat of Substitutes.

• Availability of substitutes
• Availability of close substitutes (i.e., “the sense that products are similar”): 
• Relative price performance: 
• Customer willingness to go elsewhere: 

Here are some factors to consider for Supplier Power.

• The number and concentration of suppliers: 
• Uniqueness and differentiation: 
• Switching costs: 
• Forward integration: 
• Industry importance: 

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

• When Microsoft’s Bundles Are Good vs. Bad for Customers and Markets (Tech Strategy)
• Microsoft’s 3 Big Upgrades to its 2 Platform Business Models (2 of 2) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
• What is Elon Musk’s Plan to 10x Twitter? (2 of 2) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

• Audience Builder Platform
• Digital Attacker Strategy
• Videos

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

• Bilibili

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Support the show

• Fan and enthusiast behavior
• Collecting behavior
• Gambling and rewards behavior

You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.

Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.

Here is the link to our management sessions with the latest consumer-facing innovations by China’s digital leaders (here).

Here is the link to the Tech Tour.

Correction: In the podcast, I talked about Jake Paul being a Pokemon fan. I meant Logan Paul.

Here’s my summary of Pop Mart in one graphic.

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

• LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleydudarenok/
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/ashleydudarenok
• Twitter/X https://twitter.com/AshleyDudarenok

It was a fun discussion with quite a few valuable lessons.

Here is an article summarizing my 5 lessons from the conversation.

• 5 Lessons in Digital Growth from Serial China Entrepreneur Ashley Dudarenok (Growth Tactics)

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

1. Software bundles. Especially integrated. Especially with freemium pricing.
2. Recurring revenue
3. Switching Costs: Financial, Procedural, Relational and Risk
4. The ecosystem with network effects (in theory). A Developer Flywheel in practice.
5. Sales and Marketing Flywheel

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

• GenAI is going into their existing services, which are used by teams at their clients. Salesforce is well positioned for this.
• GenAI is going to get incorporated into the workflows of their clients. This requires an AI tech stack, which Salesforce does not have. AI Cloud companies are building this and offering it as a service. This is a problem.
• AI Agents are emerging and this will change the workforce of CRM within companies. This is a big problem for Salesforce. Competitor Microsoft is well positioned here.

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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

• Step 1: A new digital tool enables a superior service to emerge. This is used to break into an existing business. This often causes an unbundling of the existing offerings.
• Step 2: Existing value chains get transformed. Everyone scrambles to grab the valuable positions.
• Step 3: The new leaders add services, complements and bundles.

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

• Exceptional businesses
  • Mid-to-large vertical market software businesses. With greater than $1M EBITDA.
  • Consistent earnings and growth. Constellation has a good equation for this:
    • EBITDA/Revenue + Revenue Growth = 20%
  • Experienced and committed management.
• Good businesses
  • #1 or 2 in a niche vertical market
  • Revenue over $5M
  • Hundreds or thousands of customers
  • “Unimposing” competitors

Constellation is an interesting company to follow if you invest in tech companies. Just follow their transactions. They do lots of them and you can learn a lot.

Cheers, Jeff

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

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• JD is flooding money into logistics tech. Increasingly globally.
• Huawei is showing the future for turnkey digital infrastructure.
• iQIYI likely the future business model for movies and tv.

Cheers, Jeff

Support the show

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• EV Business Model 1 (i.e., BYD) is “Manufacturing Plus Services”. That’s Autos Plus Auto Services. Plus Linked Battery Manufacturing.
• EV Business Model 2 (i.e., Xiaomi) is a “Manufacturing Plus a Consumption Ecosystem”. That’s Auto (Plus Auto Services) Plus Digital Services”.
• EV Business Model 3 (i.e., Tesla) is “Manufacturing Plus AI Services”

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• Innovation / Creative Assets. 

• Digital and Analytics Assets. 

• Human and Relational Assets. This has two sub-types. This is any time, effort or money spent on:
  • Building individual or organizational skills through training within an organization. 
  • Building ecosystems and networks external the organization is also important. 

• Brand Assets. 

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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

• Pillar 1: Baidu AI Cloud Is an Innovation Platform Pushing to Reach Critical Mass
• Pillar 2: Baidu AI Cloud Is Also Moving to Become a Technology Standard Deeper in the AI Tech Stack
• Pillar 3: Baidu’s AI-Focused Cloud Has 2 Advantages Over Other Innovation Platforms
• Pillar 4: Baidu's AI Cloud Is a Flywheel in Industry-Specific Intelligence

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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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

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1. Is the company sufficiently differentiated in the user experience?
2. Can the company compete and/or differentiate in logistics or infrastructure without ongoing spending?
3. Does the company have a strong competitive advantage in a circumscribed market?
4. Is there a clear path to significant operational cash flow?
5. Has the company avoided markets and situations that are attractive or strategic for the major ecommerce companies?

Here are the mentioned articles and podcasts:

Etsy and How to Predict the Winners in Specialty Ecommerce (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)

Pinduoduo, Etsy, and OTC: How Specialty Ecommerce Can Thrive Against the Giants. (Tech Strategy – Podcast 97)

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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

• People networks
• Audience-builder platforms
• Limited ecosystems
• Profit vs engagement products
• Hierarchies of control
• Substitutes

 Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

———–

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.

This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax 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. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show