

Core Insights - The core argument is that instant retail and traditional e-commerce are not in a zero-sum game, but rather represent different branches of the broader e-commerce ecosystem, with instant retail addressing immediate consumer needs that traditional e-commerce struggles to fulfill [2][15]. Retail Evolution - The retail ecosystem has evolved from offline to online and now to instant retail, with offline retail still holding a significant market share of over 60% in China's retail market, projected to reach 47.14 trillion yuan in 2024 [3]. - Traditional e-commerce has reshaped the retail landscape over the past two decades, with a market size exceeding 15 trillion yuan by the end of 2024, focusing on planned purchases and price advantages [5]. Instant Retail Growth - Instant retail has rapidly gained traction, with a market size of 650 billion yuan in 2023, expected to surpass 1 trillion yuan by 2025, driven by platforms like Meituan and JD [6]. - It addresses immediate consumer needs, such as urgent grocery items or medicines, filling a gap left by traditional retail in terms of timely response [6][12]. Complementary Nature - Instant retail focuses on immediate needs, while traditional e-commerce targets planned purchases, creating a complementary relationship rather than a competitive one [7][8]. - The supply chain for traditional e-commerce relies on national logistics networks, while instant retail utilizes local stores and warehouses to meet high-frequency, urgent demands [9]. Market Dynamics - As of 2024, instant retail's market size is approximately 800 billion yuan, indicating it is still in its growth phase compared to traditional e-commerce and offline retail [12]. - The future growth of instant retail will involve integrating with traditional e-commerce and offline retail, enhancing service offerings to meet both planned and immediate consumer needs [13][14]. Future Outlook - The long-term market structure is expected to stabilize into a "three-way split," with offline retail focusing on experiential shopping, traditional e-commerce on planned purchases, and instant retail on urgent needs, each serving distinct consumer demands [14][15]. - The evolution of the retail ecosystem will be characterized by digital integration, allowing for a more seamless consumer experience across different retail formats [15].