Core Viewpoint - Alibaba and Meituan have initiated a new competitive front, with Alibaba's Gaode Map launching the "Gaode Street Ranking," a behavior-based ranking system aimed at supporting offline dining and service consumption, emphasizing that the ranking will "never be commercialized" [4][6]. Summary by Sections Gaode "Street Ranking" Implementation - Gaode's approach leverages large-scale verifiable "behavior data," with 170 million daily users contributing to a sample pool through searches, collections, navigation, and visit trajectories [11]. - Key factors include store visit numbers, repurchase rates, purpose-driven visits, and local versus national appeal, which differ from traditional UGC reviews that rely on subjective ratings [11]. - The ranking system incorporates a credit evaluation weighted by Sesame Credit and employs AI risk control to filter noise, with various rankings updated daily based on dynamic data [11]. Commercial Intentions Behind the Ranking - The ranking aims to rebuild trust by establishing a new standard based on trajectories and credit, transforming "good stores" into reusable credit assets [12]. - Gaode seeks to expand its offline entry points, with daily searches exceeding 120 million and restaurant coverage over 7 million, transitioning from a "tool" to a "decision-making" platform [12]. - The initiative includes a "Good Store Support Plan" with over 1 billion yuan in subsidies and incentives to drive foot traffic to stores, indicating a direct intervention in offline consumption [12]. Competitive Landscape with Meituan - The Gaode Street Ranking fits into Alibaba's broader strategy to compete with Meituan, with Taobao Flash Sale corresponding to Meituan's delivery services, and Fliggy targeting Meituan's travel segment [17][18]. - Taobao Flash Sale combines e-commerce with instant fulfillment, leveraging Alibaba's supply chain to address Meituan's SKU breadth and product strength [18]. - Fliggy aims to integrate e-commerce advantages into travel services, potentially enhancing Alibaba's competitiveness in the travel sector against Meituan [19]. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Ranking System - The ranking's strength lies in its reliance on actual consumer behavior, providing a more accurate reflection of popularity compared to traditional review systems [20]. - However, the data may not always lead to correct consumption decisions, as trending restaurants may not necessarily offer quality food [20]. - Meituan's advantages remain in delivery density and community engagement, but if Gaode's standards gain traction, Alibaba could increasingly challenge Meituan's market position [20].