Feng Huang Wang·2025-09-10 05:28Core Viewpoint - Alibaba is focusing on Gaode and has restarted its ranking business, indicating a strategic move to compete with Meituan's Dianping in the local services sector [1][9][19] Group 1: Business Overview - Gaode launched the "Gaode Street Ranking" on September 10, which focuses on three categories: food, hotels, and scenic spots, primarily featuring offline dining rankings [1][3] - The new ranking system is based on user behavior and credit, utilizing Zhima Credit to ensure the authenticity of the rankings, thus avoiding manipulation [1][4][7] - Gaode's previous attempt at a similar service, "Gaode Guide," was launched in September 2020 but did not achieve significant traction [3] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The Gaode Street Ranking directly competes with Meituan's Dianping but differentiates itself by relying on real navigation behavior to generate rankings, which reduces the risk of fake reviews [5][7] - As of September 10, Gaode reported coverage of over 7 million restaurant locations nationwide, with 1.2 billion daily searches related to life services [8][13] - The competitive environment is intensifying, with Alibaba's various platforms, including Taobao Shanguo and Ele.me, potentially integrating with Gaode to enhance its market presence [8][10] Group 3: Strategic Support and Future Prospects - The ranking business has received significant support from Alibaba's upper management, including attention from Jack Ma, indicating a strong commitment to this initiative [4][11] - Gaode's ability to leverage real-time navigation data is seen as a competitive advantage in the review space, potentially allowing it to avoid issues related to fake reviews [7][13] - The collaboration between Gaode and other Alibaba services could create a closed-loop system from discovery to booking, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency [13]