Do Business Anywhere: Alibaba CEO Says Digital Tech Changing Retail

Davos 2017: Alibaba CEO Says Digital Tech is Changing Retail

Video above published Jan 18, 2017: Digital technology is drastically changing the way consumers shop for goods and services, and traditional retailers worldwide need to adapt by accelerating the integration of bricks-and-mortar with e-commerce to create new shopping experiences, Alibaba Group CEO Daniel Zhang told business elites at the 2017 World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland:

“In China shopping malls are very big. People get lost and cannot easily find the store, or their cars in the car parks. So how (do we) use technology to give people a better experience, a seamless experience between online and offline? And how can we give people a totally different experience, say you want to buy a beverage? One possibility is to order and have it delivered to your home, but why not order and have it delivered to your next stop?”

Zhang participated in a January 17th panel discussion on the future of consumption at the World Economic Forum meeting. Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma and Eric Jing, CEO of Alibaba-affiliated fintech company Ant Financial, also appeared at the annual Davos confab.

During the future of consumption discussion, which included Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon and Heineken CEO Jean-Francois Boxmeer, panelists agreed that the consumer experience—and consumer products companies—will be reshaped during the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” which is being driven by technological advances in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles and 3D printing.

“People will still go to the pub, and still go to the shop,” Boxmeer said, “but technology will revolutionize manufacturing in many, many ways. The digitalization of the economy has really changed how we work, and what we do today is absolutely not the way we did it 30 years ago … although we still bring you a bottle of beer.”

Helping to drive this revolution, Zhang said, is the increasing ability of companies to gather and, using AI and other technologies, analyze vast amounts of data to better understand, connect with and serve customers. “Data technology today is so far mainly on the sell side” in digital marketing,” he said. “Looking ahead, the technology will change more on the supply side, because we can get real-time customer and sales data so manufacturers can react to specific demand at the right occasions. We talk about the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the IoT (Internet of Things), all of these things are based on data. As long as we have the data, we can change the entire business.”

Alibaba Group, the world’s largest e-commerce company, is already positioning itself not as an e-commerce platform “but as a data platform,” Zhang said. But even as the company urges retailers that sell in China through the company’s giant online marketplaces to join the Big Data revolution, Alibaba itself feels the pressure to adapt. Earlier this month, Alibaba Group offered to privatize Intime Retail, a top China department store and mall operator, a move the company said will help pave the way for the digital transformation of old-school retailing.

“The biggest risk we have today for our sustainability is disruption, disruptive technology and disruptive business model,” Zhang said. A few years ago, the company was surprised by how fast smartphones and the mobile internet proliferated in China. “We invested a lot to construct our leading mobile commerce app,” Zhang said. “Today we are very proud to say we are the largest mobile commerce company in the world. But if you look back, the process was very tough, if we could not change fast, then we would be killed by this new technology. So today, I always ask my team one question: whats the next entry point of the internet?” Zhang said. “You can have a lot of answers but we have to change fast. If we don’t want to be killed by new technology, then we should kill ourselves using new technology.

Note: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE: BABA) announced March Quarter 2017 and full Fiscal Year 2017 results on May 18, 2017: Alibaba Group $BABA FY17 Results LIVE Webcast May 18 Replay.

Alibaba Group: Making it Easy to do Business Anywhere

Video above published Jan 17, 2017: From a lotus farmer in a rural Chinese village to an apple farmer in the state of Washington, see how Alibaba has empowered entrepreneurs and improved lives.


feedback & comments via twitter @DomainMondo
Follow @DomainMondo

DISCLAIMER

Predictions for 2017: Amazon $AMZN, Google $GOOG, Facebook $FB

Scott Galloway and Maureen Mullen's Predictions for 2017:

Amazon Go will prompt retailers to rethink the checkout experience, Google will continue dominating digital advertising, and Instagram will become the new Facebook as the original platform faces increased scrutiny over miscalculated metrics. Meanwhile, Snapchat's IPO will be dead on arrival and Amazon will become the most valuable company in the world. View video or read transcript below for even more predictions. Video above published by L2inc.com on Dec 30, 2016.

Domains referenced above:
Amazon.com
Google.com
Facebook.com
Instagram.com
Snapchat.com

More predictions:

• What Is Going To Happen In 2017 | AVC.com by VC Fred Wilson: "Trump will hit the ground running, cutting corporate and personal taxes, and eliminating the preferential treatment of carried interest capital gains [for hedge funds, private equity] ... The IPO market, led by Snapchat, will be white hot. Look for entrepreneurs and the VCs that back them to have IPO fever in 2017. I expect we will see more tech IPOs in 2017 than we have since 2000 ... It will be nearly impossible to raise money for an online advertising business in 2017 [Google and Facebook have won] ... AI will be the new mobile ... " (links and emphasis added)
• My 2017 Predictions - Amazon Will Buy Twitter, Netflix Grows Alone, and OMG the IPO's and Deals.... | HowardLindzon.com
• 5 Big Predictions for Artificial Intelligence in 2017 | TechnologyReview.com.

Amazon NASDAQ: AMZN:

Google (Alphabet) NASDAQ: GOOG:

Facebook NASDAQ: FB:

YouTube.com auto-generated transcript:

feedback & comments via twitter @DomainMondo
Follow @DomainMondo

DISCLAIMER

Digital Winners: Amazon, Facebook; Losers: Snapchat, Apple Music (video)

Scott Galloway: Snapchat is a Loser:

Video above published Nov 3, 2016, by L2inc.com. NYU Stern marketing professor Scott Galloway presents his take on this week's biggest winners and losers in digital:

• What do winning companies have in common? They don't just have a lot of users - they also glean data about those users' behavior and use it to improve the consumer experience. 
• The biggest winner here: Amazon.com, which could soon be the first trillion-dollar company. The site's algorithm constantly looks at what you're shopping for and displays the most relevant products, in addition to ensuring that prices are the most competitive on the Internet. Compare to lame Walmart.com.
• A loser: Snapchat.com. While the platform is innovative, they're not using their algorithm to personalize the experience--watch out for Facebook.com's Instagram.com.
• Another surprising loser: Apple.com. The company's music algorithm has changed little since the early days of iTunes, opening the door for Pandora.com and Spotify.com.

YouTube.com auto-generated transcript:
0:00 what do winning companies have in common
0:04 we think a lot about that here at l2
0:06 eight of the 13 companies that have
0:08 outperformed the S&P 500 years straight
0:11 have a few things in common specifically
0:13 they don't just have a lot of users they
0:15 also clean data about those users
0:17 behavior and use the data to improve the
0:19 consumer experience seamlessly the
0:22 combined receptors their number of users
0:24 with intelligence to implicitly inform
0:27 and improve the product google pioneered
0:29 this concept of the original gangster
0:32 here every time you conduct a search you
0:34 make the algorithm point 000000 three
0:40 percent better
0:42 so who's the biggest winner here who
0:43 brings together receptors and
0:45 intelligence like no one else
0:47 amazon the platform's algorithm constant
0:49 looks of what you're shopping for and
0:51 then displays the most relevant products
0:53 for you these three users see vastly
0:56 different home pages due to differences
0:58 in their shopping behavior and contrast
1:00 here's the homepage for the same users
1:03 on walmart what you see the exact same
1:06 thing it's similar in a bad way amazon's
1:08 algorithm also caused millions of sites
1:10 to ensure the details prices are the
1:12 most competitive best buy and walmart
1:14 change prices 50,000 times per month in
1:18 comparison
1:19 amazon changes prices across categories
1:21 more than two-and-a-half million times
1:23 each day prediction amazon will be the
1:26 first trillion dollar company and will
1:28 reach this milestone in 2018 based on
1:32 our algorithm we believe snapchat is
1:34 going to decline in value in 2017 their
1:37 innovative no doubt but they're not
1:39 using their algorithm to push content or
1:42 personalize the experience a lot of
1:44 receptors but not a lot of intelligence
1:46 here meanwhile rival Instagram recently
1:48 changed its news feed from chronological
1:50 to algorithmic Instagram also reaches
1:53 more people Nikes most viewed snap got
1:55 around 70,000 views while the company's
1:58 Instagram story racked up a whopping
2:00 800,000 views and its first 24 hours
2:04 unless snapchat can come up with a
2:05 smarter way to leverage user data
2:08 facebook is going to steal it standard
2:11 the world is going to fail
2:13 facebook and google so who is losing
2:16 when you look at companies through this
2:17 lens of receptors times intelligence
2:20 apple itunes 2001 large brought Apple a
2:24 huge surgeon value but the platform's
2:26 algorithm is not involved opening the
2:28 door for Pandora and Spotify Spotify is
2:31 implicit intelligence is more robust and
2:33 introducing listeners to new music as a
2:35 result Spotify has 40 million
2:37 subscribers more than double the
2:39 subscribers of apples music offering
2:42 they're also better targeting ads here's
2:44 what Pandora no joke serves me and over
2:47 40 have you tried to GNC award-winning
2:50 innovation designed to invigorate your
2:51 body and increase your libido
2:53 we'll see you next week

feedback & comments via twitter @DomainMondo
Follow @DomainMondo

DISCLAIMER

Next ICANN CEO: Candidate Criteria Published, Deadline for Applications

The ICANN CEO Search Committee has published the ICANN CEO Candidate Criteria (below) as well as the deadline for applications to be submitted: 20 September 2015

The Search Committee is comprised of George Sadowsky (Chair), Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Cherine Chalaby, Steve Crocker, Chris Disspain, Markus Kummer, Ram Mohan and Ray Plzak. The committee is being assisted by Odgers Berndtson (domain name: odgersberndtson.com), a global executive search firm. The comprehensive and excellent "candidate criteria," replicated below, may be found on the ICANN website, together with other information including details for submitting applications. Note: All candidate inquiries must be directed to Odgers Berndtson (contact email on the ICANN website at the link above). The "Candidate Criteria"--

Candidate Profile
ICANN requires a public interest-minded leader with a combination of business, diplomatic and organizational skills to assume the leadership of a successful multi-stakeholder organization. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate to the highest degree possible the following experience and skills. These have been grouped in no particular order under several headings that embody the multi-faceted nature of the role:

ICANN seeks candidates motivated to increase the effectiveness of the global Internet for the benefit of all.

Management and Operational Experience

• Solid record of achievement in respected public, corporate, academic service, NGOs, foundations, and/or other public service institutions 
• Proven record of strengthening, fostering and consolidating operational excellence 
• Previous experience working with and/or on Boards of non-profit and/or profit organizations 
• Ability to foster consensus-building 
• Significant experience of, and achievements in, a multi-stakeholder environment, and an understanding of policy development processes. 
• Experience in fostering diversity 
• Strong operational experience running an established organization of substantial size, with ultimate responsibility for all key functions 
• Success in managing the continued evolution of a dynamic organization, with complex legal issues and significant contractual relationships 
• Experience in resource allocation and the management of competing priorities 
• Experience in establishing, strengthening and consolidating business systems and processes 
• Good negotiator who would be able to represent ICANN and present it well in potentially adversarial environments

Global Experience

• Understanding of relevant political and policy processes, with awareness of current Internet issues around the world 
• Global exposure: experience working in leadership roles in different countries and with different cultures 
• Experienced leadership of dispersed international teams of significant size and active and diverse stakeholders 
• Experience managing complex and global process work flows and an ability to anticipate issues and advance pre-emptive action 
• Strong diplomatic skills, ability to balance between all facets of a complex ecosystem, including technical, business, and political aspect 
• Significant experience interacting and engaging with media 
• Close familiarity with the ways in which governments, the Internet technical community, civil society, business sector interests and regulatory authorities interact 

Leadership Style

• Intellectually engaging, contributes to 'thought leadership,' helps to define vision and strategy, and leverages the organization's competencies 
• Appreciates the aspects of multilingualism and how this affects many players in the developed and the developing world 
• Appreciates and handles the geopolitical currents and pressures that will affect the future of a global organization 
• Understands and demonstrates empathy, and instills that quality throughout the organization as a core part of the values and mode of operation. 
• Thrives on motivating a high level team of functioning specialists 
• A consensus builder, catalyst and motivator, who is practiced at, and enjoys, working in partnership and persuading others 
• Embodies and practices the inclusive and empowering multistakeholder approach and encourages significant volunteer involvement 

Personal Characteristics

• Aligns with ICANN's values: integrity, trust, humility, technical excellence, and public service 
• Multicultural with language skills, practiced communicator and public speaker 
• Strong belief in the value of the Internet: conscious of its role and complexity, fully embracesICANN's mission, its accountability requirements, and its bottom-up process 
• Relishes work within a community empowered organization, while taking into account the different interests of the different communities in a balanced and fair way 
• Excellent interpersonal skills at all levels 
• Committed to strengthening diversity 
• Ability to generate trust with all stakeholders and respect their input 
• Adept at rapid assimilation and adjustment to new environments 

Understanding of Internet technology and the Domain Name Industry

• Able to work within ICANN's technical remit in a rapidly evolving Internet governance ecosystem, ensuring the evolution of the organization within such a framework 
• Familiarity with /understanding of Internet technologies and, in particular, an understanding of the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers, including domain names, protocol parameters and addresses, and the functioning of domain name registries and registrars 
• Understanding of the domain name industry and its market structure and dynamics, including issues of competition, privacy, intellectual property, consumer protection and branding 
• Understanding of Internet addressing challenges and opportunities, including deployment of IPv6, exhaustion of IPv4, and the implications of IPv4 scarcity on the fundamental Internet architecture 

Understanding of the Internet Governance Ecosystem

• Understand the institutional environment of the Internet and its administrative governance systems, such as RIRs, IETF, IAB, ISOC, W3C, and other organizations 
• Awareness of the international dimensions, and the ability to interact with government and intergovernmental stakeholders 
• Knowledge of the UN system and other international organizations and processes 

Candidates may not match every single criterion listed above, but those who reach the final shortlist will satisfy many of them.

The candidate will be expected to work at ICANN's United States headquarters in Los Angeles, California. Substantial travel will be required. [End of the Candidate Criteria] (source: ICANN)

Follow @DomainMondo