Meituan has adjusted its strategy to "Retail + Technology," and Wang Xing is leading the Retail Special Task Force.
It's quite a big deal, especially for the retail and internet industries.
This is it: Meituan’s Alibabaization, because Alibaba’s two labels are also: retail and technology, or rather: commerce and technology.
I’ve always said that Meituan is Alibaba’s real rival. JD.com and PDD Holdings are only rivals in specific segments; Meituan is the all-round competitor!
Because Meituan has big ambitions—previously it was "Eat Better, Live Better"—starting with food, a better life encompasses everything.
In terms of business, you’d be way off if you think Meituan and Alibaba are only competing in the food-delivery space! From community group buying and local instant retail to hotels, tourism, and local lifestyle services—covering everything from groceries to daily necessities—Meituan and Alibaba’s competition is becoming increasingly direct, comprehensive, and intense.
Last time, I bought a data cable from Meituan. Previously, I’ve also purchased beverages, trash bags, shampoo, toilet paper, and other items from Meituan—everything was delivered by nearby supermarkets and convenience stores, even faster than on e-commerce platforms. The delivery is handled by food-delivery riders, and this is one of Meituan’s core assets. On the surface, it seems like a labor-intensive business, but in reality, there’s advanced technology behind it—such as logistics scheduling and operational capabilities.
However, items like data cables, beverages, trash bags, shampoo, and toilet paper—things that used to be purchased online—could only be bought on Taobao or JD.com.
Users’ habits are changing. For users, the key is to shop wherever the experience is good, wherever it’s convenient, and wherever delivery is fast—users don’t pay much attention to the business model itself.
On the supply side, local merchants are highly motivated to survive and are actively going online, partnering with merchants on Taobao and JD.com...