Software and the Bipolar War Between Parallel Forces
Hey, it’s him again. Besides loving history, he enjoys researching insects and mammals. In the future, he hopes to write science fiction novels to tell his life’s story. To start, today he will talk about Vietnam’s software products and the bipolar war between parallel forces.
These are entirely subjective thoughts not based on any specific academic research. So consider this when using it for investment purposes, as no one will be responsible for any investment losses based on the information mentioned. 🐱
Since graduating, his perspective on software development has changed constantly over time. Software is no longer simply developed in terms of size, scale, or national or global influence. Moreover, software development is also related to culture and has a strong strategic element. Depending on the time, the choice between attack or defense during software development also affects the future and destiny of that product.
The battle in software development can no longer be confined to geography like the Đinh Bộ Lĩnh’s Pacifying the Southern Kingdoms campaign, nor is its scope limited to the Battle of Red Cliffs, and the range of the Mongol cavalry cannot be fully reached. The software development battle has now surpassed the limits of space, size, and the many races involved. It is now a battle between huge forces.
Is Covid-19 a time for defense?
No!!! For many other fields, the pandemic is a time to hibernate, saving resources to boom after the pandemic ends. But for software, this is a time for strategic planners and product owners to exert their power: how to use available resources more effectively. Sometimes simply not giving the opponent a chance to develop stronger is a form of victory.
You can see that since the pandemic began, the technology recruitment market has not shown any signs of cooling down. Someone in his network received two outstanding offers back in March when the outbreak was strong in Vietnam. If it is possible to break even during this period while still maintaining stable operations, then strong development thereafter is a certainty.
Which path for Tiki?
Just recently, the marriage between Tiki and Sendo was hoped for by many people. At first glance, this seems like a marriage of convenience. While Tiki is present in urban areas and serves the middle class, Sendo has been present early in rural areas, serving a lower-paying demographic. This merger ensures a larger market for both sides, while saving resources to fight against foreign competitors with stronger financial power.
But if you look a little closer, Tiki and Sendo are too similar. Their merger doesn’t bring anything new, except for a larger market, which they may not necessarily need at this time. Not to mention that the similarities will lead to disruption within each company.
What is Tiki missing?
What Tiki is missing is a secret weapon, which Shopee has been preparing for since the early days of joining the e-commerce market in Vietnam: the electronic wallet. Since Shopee has Airpay, both of which are invested by SEA, Tiki seems to be struggling to choose an electronic wallet to integrate into its ecosystem. Zalo Pay seems like a worthy candidate because it is developed by VNG, but it seems that ZaloPay cannot meet the customer base that Tiki currently has. Momo may be a potential choice. Both are big names, supported by large investors, so finding common ground is difficult.
So what will be the perfect combination for Tiki?
Personally, the combination of Tiki and VinID is a harmonious complement. With the recent acquisition of Adayroi, the remaining parts of Adayroi also somewhat help Tiki to strengthen its power. VinID completely removes the burden of e-commerce to focus entirely on its technology. Not only that, the combination with Tiki helps VinID quickly capture market share and increase brand recognition. As for Tiki, this marriage does not cause any conflicts in vision or people. They not only have a close link with an electronic wallet, but it also ensures that Tiki has the necessary financial support to fight against foreign competitors with a long-term strategy.
Which path for Be and Sendo?
According to his recent observations, Be is gradually regaining the initiative compared to Grab. He booked many rides with Be, but the rate of catching a ride used to be very low. But recently, he caught all the rides, and the waiting time is quite low. At the same time, the payment experience through Momo is also extremely cool. He believes that in just a short time, Be will have enough potential to compare with Grab. You know, the strength of Vietnam is that there is a lot of money in the people. If there are a few million dollars from Momo poured into Be right now to increase the perfect relationship between the two sides, the alliance between the two sides is promising in the future.
With general development, and focus on an audience with low retention, when Covid happened, this user base was affected the most, which is also the reason why the billion-dollar deal failed. Sendo’s imprint is still quite faint, and Sendo’s two-year journey must still have many thorns. 🍏
❤️ cowriter aethery