Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-05-29 00:51Core Viewpoint - The public relations battle between JD and Meituan has significantly benefited JD, with its daily orders for food delivery skyrocketing from zero to over 10 million in less than three months [2][8]. Group 1: Competitive Strategies - JD has effectively utilized its strengths to exploit Meituan's weaknesses, particularly by focusing on public relations and social responsibility, such as providing social insurance for delivery riders [13][30]. - The strategy of JD contrasts with the failed approach of Ele.me, which attempted to compete with Meituan through heavy subsidies without addressing the simultaneous growth of users, merchants, and riders [13][14]. - JD's public relations efforts have included high-profile actions by its founder, such as delivering food and engaging with riders, which have resonated positively with consumers [36][38]. Group 2: Long-term Outlook - Despite the short-term success in public relations, JD is unlikely to surpass Meituan in the long run due to the latter's established competitive advantages, including a deeper market penetration and organizational capabilities [8][56]. - The network effects inherent in the food delivery business favor Meituan, as its larger order volume leads to lower delivery costs, making it difficult for JD to compete effectively [58][65]. - JD's organizational structure lacks the adaptability and decision-making capabilities that Meituan has developed, which are crucial for managing the complexities of the food delivery market [70][85]. Group 3: Strategic Intent - JD's primary goal in entering the food delivery market is not necessarily to dominate but to maintain consumer perceptions of speed and quality, which are critical to its brand identity [91][92]. - By establishing a food delivery service, JD aims to create a stable order volume that can support its logistics team, thereby reinforcing its commitment to fast delivery [112][114]. - The investment in food delivery is seen as a strategic move to reclaim the "fast" mindset among consumers, especially as competition from Meituan intensifies [99][102].