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Strategy Briefing

Amazon vs Alibaba: The Fight to be the World’s Largest Internet Retailer

Mar 2017

US$1,325

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About This Report

New Report Guarantee

If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE!

In internet retailing, it is important to understand the top two internet retailers in the world. Thanks to visionary business models and complete commitment to customer needs, Amazon and Alibaba have come to dominate their domestic markets. Soon enough, their long-term global aspirations will pit them more directly against each other. This report compares the two in nine categories, such as technology and logistics, to determine how each company got here, and who will end up on top.

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Overview

Why buy this report?

Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders. Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats. Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions.

Amazon edges it overall

A 5-year head start in internet technologies is massive, particularly when the head start occurs in one of the most developed nations in the world. Alibaba has had not only less time to work with, but has had a greater gap to close. Amazon’s speed and success since it began mean it is likely to hold onto its lead.

A big part of this lead is Amazon’s international presence, but Alibaba’s cross-border strategy is not without its strengths

Amazon makes the most of its 14 country-specific websites, using them to appeal to local shoppers and those in neighbouring countries. This web presence alongside strong logistical infrastructure has made it a truly global retailer. Alibaba may only appear to be focused on China but this belies Alibaba’s true global potential. If it can turn China into a global manufacturing and consumption hub for which it is the platform for the majority of digital imports and exports, it can hold significant global importance with much less investment.

Domestic markets remain a priority and inform expansion strategies

Determining the future of these companies requires deep knowledge of their home markets. Both develop new concepts primarily for their domestic customers. This informs how these ideas are introduced to the next country, and give Amazon strength in developed nations and Alibaba more strength in developing ones.

Amazon tends towards control, Alibaba tends towards partnerships

Amazon prefers to concentrate power in its own hands, trusting itself to manage its grand plan, a tactic that has worked well so far. Alibaba recognises the power of common alignment, choosing to partner with those in the retail ecosystem, a mode that cedes control for more amicable relationships and cost-savings.

Amazon tends towards risk, Alibaba towards safety

Along the same lines, Amazon also finds itself more willing to take risk, whether it be in expanding to new countries more often or by investing in expensive technology experiments. Alibaba is still willing to experiment, but generally prefers asset-light models and actually making a sizeable profit.

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Introduction

Scope

Why read this report?

Defining the parameters for comparison and the win condition

Key findings

Behind the Business Models that are Taking Over the Internet

Retail: The third p arty m arketplace c omparison

Retail: Amazon embraces variation in structure, not branding

Retail: Alibaba uses variety to clearly delineate shopping purpose

Retail: Head-to-head comparison

Financials: Alibaba’s C2C marketplace cannot be ignored

Financials: Models and priorities come to light

Financials: Head-to-head comparison

Becoming a Transformational Retailer

More than just retailers

Logistics: Amazon pushes the envelope in-house

Logistics: Alibaba relies on partners to further its reach

Logistics: Differing philosophies in two pictures

Logistics: Head-to-head comparison

Technology: Amazon develops different tools for different users

Technology: Alibaba’s tech entwines new businesses and shoppers

Technology: Head-to-head comparison

Going Global

Each company’s strategy to reach two billion customers

Amazon ’s current core markets

Amazon’s strategy of gradual international expansion

Alibaba’s two cross-border brands

Alibaba’s current (and potential) sphere of influence

Ethnic Chinese abroad

If India is a retail prize, who will be the one to claim it?

Global reach: Head-to-head comparison

The Four Cs of Customer Centricity

Expanding business features with the customer in mind

Multichannel expansion: Amazon adds new ways to shop online

Multichannel expansion: Amazon is pushing physical frontier

Multichannel expansion: Alibaba’s mobile dominance

Multichannel expansion: Alibaba’s stake in current physical c hains

Multichannel expansion : Head-to-head comparison

Category expansion: Amazon leans on private label

Category expansion: Alibaba seeks to add quality and services

Category expansion: Head-to-head comparison

Cultural expansion: Amazon makes the most of its own media

Cultural expansion: Alibaba maintains many cultural tent poles

Cultural expansion : Head-to-head comparison

Convenience: Amazon makes consumption for loyal shoppers easy

Convenience: Alibaba’s loyal shoppers leapfrog the last generation

Convenience: Head-to-head comparison

Conclusion

Who will win?

Why buy this report?

Want to find out more about this report?

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Megatrends

Strategy Briefing

Amazon vs Alibaba: The Fight to be the World’s Largest Internet Retailer

New Report Guarantee

About This Report

New Report Guarantee

Overview

Why buy this report?

Amazon edges it overall

A big part of this lead is Amazon’s international presence, but Alibaba’s cross-border strategy is not without its strengths

Domestic markets remain a priority and inform expansion strategies

Amazon tends towards control, Alibaba tends towards partnerships

Amazon tends towards risk, Alibaba towards safety

Want to find out more about this report?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Scope

Why read this report?

Defining the parameters for comparison and the win condition

Key findings

Behind the Business Models that are Taking Over the Internet

Retail: The third p arty m arketplace c omparison

Retail: Amazon embraces variation in structure, not branding

Retail: Alibaba uses variety to clearly delineate shopping purpose

Retail: Head-to-head comparison

Financials: Alibaba’s C2C marketplace cannot be ignored

Financials: Models and priorities come to light

Financials: Head-to-head comparison

Becoming a Transformational Retailer

More than just retailers

Logistics: Amazon pushes the envelope in-house

Logistics: Alibaba relies on partners to further its reach

Logistics: Differing philosophies in two pictures

Logistics: Head-to-head comparison

Technology: Amazon develops different tools for different users

Technology: Alibaba’s tech entwines new businesses and shoppers

Technology: Head-to-head comparison

Going Global

Each company’s strategy to reach two billion customers

Amazon ’s current core markets

Amazon’s strategy of gradual international expansion

Alibaba’s two cross-border brands

Alibaba’s current (and potential) sphere of influence

Ethnic Chinese abroad

If India is a retail prize, who will be the one to claim it?

Global reach: Head-to-head comparison

The Four Cs of Customer Centricity

Expanding business features with the customer in mind

Multichannel expansion: Amazon adds new ways to shop online

Multichannel expansion: Amazon is pushing physical frontier

Multichannel expansion: Alibaba’s mobile dominance

Multichannel expansion: Alibaba’s stake in current physical c hains

Multichannel expansion : Head-to-head comparison

Category expansion: Amazon leans on private label

Category expansion: Alibaba seeks to add quality and services

Category expansion: Head-to-head comparison

Cultural expansion: Amazon makes the most of its own media

Cultural expansion: Alibaba maintains many cultural tent poles

Cultural expansion : Head-to-head comparison

Convenience: Amazon makes consumption for loyal shoppers easy

Convenience: Alibaba’s loyal shoppers leapfrog the last generation

Convenience: Head-to-head comparison

Conclusion

Who will win?

Why buy this report?

Want to find out more about this report?

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