Amidst the ongoing takeaway wars, many perceive it as a mere extension of the consumer Internet era, a battle for market share and user traffic. However, this perspective overlooks the profound industrial transformations underpinning these conflicts, which ultimately fuel the escalating competition. So, what are these industry changes? The author believes the most significant shift is the transition from the consumer Internet cycle to the Industrial Internet cycle.

From this angle, the current takeaway war is more of a call for players to compete for the commanding heights of the Industrial Internet era. One critical reason is that this war extends beyond mere market and traffic competition; it reflects the deep transformations within the industry and the evolving roles of its players.

Whether it's Alibaba, Meituan, or JD.com, they have transcended their traditional identities, becoming entities more aligned with the Industrial Internet cycle's characteristics. Thus, examining this takeaway war from the Industrial Internet perspective, beyond the conventional framework, may offer a more comprehensive and accurate understanding.

Behind the Takeaway War: Industry Evolution

In this takeaway war, we observe that e-commerce platforms like Alibaba and JD.com are venturing into takeaway delivery, while Meituan, a takeaway platform, is diving into e-commerce. This convergence indicates a significant departure from their previous roles. The primary reason for this shift is the industry's profound and comprehensive evolution.

This industrial evolution can be described as "industrial remixing," where players start addressing their shortcomings, expanding their market reach, and uncovering new development opportunities. E-commerce players are no longer limited to low-frequency transactions but have transformed into platforms enabling anytime, anywhere transactions. Similarly, takeaway platforms have evolved beyond traditional delivery services, becoming e-commerce platforms.

As the industrial evolution sparked by the takeaway war unfolds, it propels the industry from the consumer Internet era to the Industrial Internet era. Thus, the current takeaway war is not just a continuation of past conflicts but a new evolution based on industrial shifts, aiming to secure a leading position in the Industrial Internet era.

Behind the Takeaway War: Technological Iteration

A technological evolution led by advancements, particularly AI, is reshaping various industries. Earlier this year, we witnessed an evolution driven by deepseek adoption, where Internet players integrated AI into their products and services. This integration signifies a technological iteration and upgrade.

Long before embracing deepseek, companies like Alibaba and Tencent had already initiated a new wave of AI adoption. This transition brought profound changes to their products and services, regaining investors' confidence in the capital market. As these players complete their AI integration and transform their offerings, we see a new evolution emerging.

While the takeaway war appears to be an Internet-centric conflict, it actually reveals the profound impact of AI technology's iterative upgrade on the entire industry. If Internet technology was the "infrastructure" of the consumer Internet era, AI technology is the "infrastructure" of the Industrial Internet era. Consequently, the takeaway war has transformed from an Internet technology battleground to an AI technology training ground.

Behind the Takeaway War: Model Upgrade

Each era boasts its unique business model. In the consumer Internet era, we saw O2O and B2B models thrive. The Industrial Internet era introduces its own models, with the S2B model standing out. Previously, the S2B model might have been mentioned sporadically without full comprehension. However, as the takeaway war intensifies and players transform their roles, the S2B-led business model is emerging.

In the context of the takeaway war, the S2B model signifies that players are no longer mere platforms but are deeply engaged in the industry's supply chain, uncovering new development opportunities. Under this model, former e-commerce and takeaway platforms become large "S" entities, empowering tens of thousands of "B" entities, both online and offline, through their technology and resources.

The current takeaway war directly manifests the transition from the B2B model to the S2B model. Undoubtedly, the S2B model belongs to the Industrial Internet era. Recognizing this model upgrade is crucial to grasp the true pulse of the current Industrial Internet era.

Conclusion

As the takeaway war reignites, many view it as a continuation of past conflicts. In reality, this war is distinctly different. While past wars signaled the consumer Internet's maturity, the current war heralds the Industrial Internet era's arrival. Recognizing this distinction allows us to understand the war's essence and grasp its profound implications.