Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-02-11 11:57Core Insights - The new round of instant retail competition has begun, accelerated by the AI assistant battle [3][26] - Alibaba's management encourages bold moves in flash sales, aiming for significant investment in instant retail by 2026 [4][28] - The focus for Taobao Flash Sales includes high-value orders and precise operational improvements in food delivery and instant retail [5][29] Group 1: Market Strategy - Taobao Flash Sales plans to increase its investment in 2026, focusing on instant retail and high-value orders above 30 yuan [4][28] - The strategy includes enhancing delivery efficiency and targeting specific high-demand categories like pharmaceuticals, beverages, and fresh produce [5][29] - The goal is to surpass Meituan's market share by summer 2026, with a focus on high-quality orders [7][31] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The current market share is approximately 50% for Meituan and 40% for Taobao Flash Sales, with JD.com below 5% [9][34] - Taobao Flash Sales has shifted its focus from order volume growth to increasing the proportion of high-quality orders to 60% [9][34] - Both companies are competing on delivery capabilities, with Taobao Flash Sales aiming to match Meituan's delivery times [10][35] Group 3: Operational Enhancements - Taobao Flash Sales is implementing a "super computing system" to optimize delivery processes and reduce costs [10][35] - The company is expanding its delivery capacity with multiple logistics lines, enhancing its operational efficiency [11][36] - In southern regions, Taobao Flash Sales has improved delivery times, surpassing Meituan in cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen [12][36] Group 4: Infrastructure Development - Instant retail requires long-term investment and infrastructure development, with a focus on building warehouses for efficient delivery [14][38] - Taobao Flash Sales is currently stabilizing its daily order volume at around 10 million, which is about half of Meituan's [17][41] - Alibaba is constructing dedicated warehouses for instant retail, with plans to expand its logistics network significantly [18][42] Group 5: AI Integration and User Engagement - The competition for AI entry points is intensifying, with significant investments from Alibaba to cultivate consumer habits in AI-assisted shopping [21][45] - The launch of the Qianwen app has led to a surge in user engagement, with daily active users increasing dramatically during promotional events [22][46] - The integration of AI into shopping experiences is seen as a critical area for future growth, despite potential challenges in user retention [23][47]