Smart Business by Ming Zeng Summary
Overview of Smart Business
Discover how Alibaba revolutionized business through AI, data intelligence, and network coordination. Former Chief Strategist Ming Zeng reveals the blueprint that transformed Jack Ma's company into a global powerhouse. What secret algorithm powers tomorrow's trillion-dollar enterprises? The answer will reshape your strategic thinking.
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Key takeaways
When 325,000 Orders Per Second Became Reality
November 11, 2017-Singles Day in China. At the stroke of midnight, something extraordinary happened: Alibaba's platform began processing 325,000 orders per second, handling 256,000 payments simultaneously. That's four times Visa's entire global capacity, compressed into a single shopping event. By day's end, 1.5 billion transactions had flowed through the system, totaling $25 billion. The first package arrived at a customer's door twelve minutes after midnight. But here's what makes this truly remarkable: Alibaba doesn't own inventory, doesn't manufacture products, and doesn't even touch most of what it sells. It's a living, breathing network-a data-driven organism coordinating millions of sellers, manufacturers, marketers, and logistics companies in real time. This isn't just e-commerce at scale. It's a fundamentally different species of business altogether, one that challenges everything we thought we knew about how companies should operate. The secret lies in two complementary forces working as a double helix: network coordination and data intelligence, creating self-reinforcing cycles of growth at speeds impossible in traditional organizations.
The Network That Thinks and Learns
When Machines Make the Decisions
The Customer Becomes the Boss
Finding Your Place in the Ecosystem
Organizations That Evolve and Leaders Who Enable
Your Move in a World That Won't Wait
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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