Core Insights - The article discusses how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China are adapting to survive in a challenging economic environment characterized by a shift to a "stock economy" and the need for collaborative ecosystems [1][2]. Group 1: Survival Strategies in the Stock Economy - The transition to a "5% growth era" and the peak of internet traffic dividends have fundamentally disrupted traditional business logic, leading to a 42% year-on-year increase in customer acquisition costs for SMEs, while customer retention rates have fallen below 25% [4]. - The article emphasizes the shift from individualistic business models to collaborative ecosystems as a survival strategy for SMEs [2]. Group 2: Technological Advancements - Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are enabling SMEs to achieve "technological equality" through collaborative alliances, allowing them to share resources and capabilities [6][7]. - The cost of technology investment for participating merchants is reduced to less than one thousand yuan, facilitating access to shared member profiles, smart replenishment systems, and dynamic pricing engines [7]. Group 3: Policy Support - The national "Together to Benefit Enterprises" initiative supports the development of inter-industry alliances, while local government reforms are promoting the digitalization of industrial clusters [8]. - In Suzhou Industrial Park, 37 manufacturing companies formed a "virtual factory" through the platform, increasing equipment utilization from 62% to 89% and reducing order delivery cycles by 40% [8]. Group 4: Ecosystem Development - The company has established a commercial network covering 17 industries and 170,000 merchants within three years, creating a unique digital ecosystem with three core mechanisms: a member value circulation system, an intelligent supply-demand matching engine, and a joint operation empowerment system [9][10][11]. - The member value circulation system allows for cross-store use of loyalty points, increasing annual consumption frequency by 2.3 times and average transaction value by 41% [9]. Group 5: Future Trends - The article outlines three evolutionary trends for inter-industry alliances: transitioning from traffic alliances to value alliances, evolving from commercial alliances to industrial communities, and expanding from domestic alliances to global ecosystems [16][17][18]. - The company has over 9.7 million active registered members and more than 160,000 alliance merchants, indicating significant growth and resource optimization [20]. Group 6: Entrepreneurial Insights - The article advises entrepreneurs to focus on selecting the right business model, particularly for those with merchant resources or those looking to enter the local life service sector [21].