Oracle(US:ORCL) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-08-10 00:30Core Viewpoint - Oracle's decline in the Chinese market is attributed to its arrogance and failure to adapt to local dynamics, leading to significant losses in market share and customer trust [2][19][20]. Group 1: Company Actions and Employee Treatment - In May 2019, Oracle's China R&D center laid off over 900 employees, marking a significant reduction in its operations in the country [1]. - The company's founder, Larry Ellison, expressed a dismissive attitude towards Chinese engineers, stating they only needed to operate systems rather than develop them [3][6]. - Oracle's internal culture limited the career advancement of Chinese employees, as demonstrated by a talented engineer whose achievements were overshadowed by American colleagues [6]. Group 2: Customer Relations and Market Impact - Oracle's aggressive business practices included imposing hefty fines on clients like China Unicom for not using designated teams, showcasing a lack of flexibility [8]. - The company halted technical support for the State Grid when it attempted to migrate to domestic servers, leading to significant operational disruptions [10]. - In 2008, Alibaba's decision to develop its own database, OceanBase, was a direct response to Oracle's exorbitant service fee increases, marking a pivotal moment in the competitive landscape [11][12]. Group 3: Rise of Domestic Competitors - The success of Alibaba's OceanBase database signaled the emergence of strong domestic competitors, with Huawei and Tencent also developing their own database solutions [14]. - By 2017, OceanBase surpassed Oracle in performance metrics, winning international recognition [14]. - Oracle's market share in government projects plummeted from over 90% to below 60% as domestic alternatives gained traction [16]. Group 4: Policy and Market Shifts - The Chinese government's "self-controllable" policy initiated in 2016 encouraged the adoption of domestic technologies, further pressuring Oracle's position [17]. - In 2018, China Construction Bank's decision to stop using Oracle's database in favor of domestic solutions marked a significant loss for the company [17]. Group 5: Broader Implications and Future Outlook - Oracle's downfall in China is attributed not only to competition but also to its own hubris and failure to respect the local market [19]. - The company's global cloud market share is only about 5%, significantly lagging behind competitors like Amazon and Microsoft [20]. - Oracle's acquisition of Cerner for $28 billion has resulted in substantial debt, complicating its financial situation [21].