Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-09-10 11:57Core Insights - Alibaba celebrates its 26th anniversary by supporting Gaode with the launch of the "Gaode Street Ranking," aiming to redefine the credibility of lifestyle service rankings through user behavior and credit scores [3][4][8] - Gaode's initiative includes a 1 billion yuan subsidy plan to encourage in-store consumption, indicating Alibaba's significant investment in Gaode's expansion into the offline business landscape [3][4][12] - The Gaode Street Ranking seeks to address the authenticity and reliability of consumer rankings, leveraging user navigation behavior and integrating with Alipay's Sesame Credit system for enhanced credibility [5][6][14] Company Strategy - Gaode aims to create a ranking system that is immune to manipulation by relying on real user behavior data, with various ranking categories such as "Tire Wear Ranking" and "Local Favorites Ranking" [5][7] - The ranking system incorporates AI algorithms for scoring, utilizing factors like navigation visits and repurchase rates, and aims to cover over 300 cities in China, focusing primarily on the food and beverage sector [6][7][12] - The launch of the Gaode Street Ranking is seen as a critical step in Alibaba's strategy to integrate online and offline consumption, potentially linking with other Alibaba services like Ele.me and Taobao [17][24] Market Position - Gaode has achieved profitability for the first time since being acquired by Alibaba in 2014, despite previously incurring annual losses of 1 to 2 billion yuan [12][14] - The app boasts over 800 million monthly active users, ranking fourth in China's mobile internet sector, indicating a strong user base that could support the new ranking initiative [12][14] - However, Gaode faces challenges with user trust and complaints regarding service quality, which could undermine the credibility of the new ranking system [15][16][20] Challenges Ahead - The primary challenge for Gaode is to shift user behavior from a tool-oriented approach to a more interactive community model, which is essential for the success of the Gaode Street Ranking [20][22][24] - Gaode's historical reliance on advertising revenue, which has seen a slowdown, poses a risk to its financial sustainability as it attempts to diversify its business model [14][22] - The need for consistent user-generated content and engagement is critical for the long-term success of the Gaode Street Ranking, requiring a shift in both user habits and Alibaba's operational strategies [23][24]