As JD.com aggressively ventures into the food delivery and ride-hailing markets, a familiar scent of competition wafts in the air.

Meituan, having paved a similar path long before JD.com, has demonstrated its versatility with ventures into supermarkets and ride-hailing services.

The recipe remains the same, the taste unmistakable.

When JD.com's expansion intersects with Meituan's, a significant battle becomes inevitable.

A telling indicator of this impending conflict emerged when JD.com announced it would provide social insurance and housing funds for its food delivery riders, shortly followed by Meituan's announcement of similar benefits for its full-time and stable part-time riders.

This point underscores the growing tension between JD.com and Meituan in the realm of "talent acquisition."

As JD.com and Meituan engage in close combat, the stage is set for increasingly dramatic developments.

With the internet industry landscape solidifying, the era of major platform conquest wars has subsided. However, new players' entry and the disruption of the industry's original power structure have reignited competition.

Whether it's the rivalry between Douyin and Meituan, JD.com and Pinduoduo, or the current showdown between JD.com and Meituan, they all signify the redivision of market structure post-power balance disruption.

Just as past internet wars were inevitable, so is the battle between JD.com and Meituan.

1

Whether leveraging cutting-edge AI technology or engaging in seemingly archaic battles, the topic of "traffic" is invariably central.

One primary reason for the inevitable clash between JD.com and Meituan is the white-hot competition for user traffic.

JD.com's and Meituan's announcements regarding social insurance for food delivery riders exemplify this phenomenon.

For Meituan, JD.com's pledge to provide comprehensive social insurance and housing funds for all its food delivery riders signaled a potential exodus to JD.com's platform—an intolerable prospect for Meituan, which views its riders as a core strength.

The transfer of riders from Meituan to JD.com translates directly into lost traffic on the Meituan platform.

Thus, to prevent such a scenario, Meituan must mirror JD.com's policies, ensuring rider stability, which in turn secures platform traffic.

This intensifying traffic competition, exemplified by the rivalry over food delivery riders, heralds a major battle between JD.com and Meituan.

As this battle unfolds, we may witness clashes on multiple dimensions between the two platforms.

For the relatively silent internet industry, the traffic war between JD.com and Meituan will undoubtedly reinvigorate the sector, benefiting rider communities and users on both platforms.

Ultimately, the escalating traffic competition necessitates a clash between JD.com and Meituan, igniting the once dormant internet industry.

2

Beneath the traffic competition lies a more tangible manifestation: business lines gradually overlapping and entering the red ocean stage.

Another crucial factor driving the inevitable battle between JD.com and Meituan is the internet industry's transition from the blue ocean era of abundant opportunities to the red ocean era of fierce competition.

As JD.com and Meituan expand their business boundaries in similar ways, seeking new growth points, they inevitably find themselves in close combat.

And where close combat emerges, a major battle follows.

Before JD.com's foray into food delivery and ride-hailing, Meituan had already expanded its business horizons, collaborating with offline retailers like Starbucks and MINISO, and engaging in community group buying and online supermarkets.

Essentially, Meituan aimed to unlock new possibilities by broadening its business scope.

Meituan's strategy has yielded results, but in the red ocean stage of the internet industry, relying solely on scale growth and boundary expansion risks encroaching on others' territories, prompting a counterattack.

JD.com's high-profile entry into food delivery and commitment to providing social insurance and housing funds for riders is a direct response to Meituan's moves.

The industry's maturation and resulting business overlap inevitably lead to a clash between JD.com and Meituan.

However, for the internet industry, such a battle is necessary to uncover players' unique strengths and new development potentials in the stock era.

As internet players' businesses increasingly overlap, sparking new conflicts, deepening business support and leveraging it to enhance competitiveness, as JD.com and Meituan are doing, may be the key to prevailing in this new competitive landscape.

Take the example of JD.com and Meituan's announcements on rider social insurance. If neither follows suit, it will lead to traffic loss and business erosion.

As JD.com and Meituan embark on a new battle, we observe that internet competition is deepening, transitioning from a singular focus to a multifaceted state.

3

Today, labeling Meituan solely as a food delivery platform is outdated.

Meituan has evolved beyond a food delivery platform, transforming into a new retail platform.

This transformation from a "food delivery platform" to a "retail platform" is another fundamental reason for the inevitable battle between Meituan and JD.com.

Years ago, Meituan shifted its strategy from "Food+Platform" to "Retail+Technology," extending its reach into the heart of new retail.

For JD.com, with new retail at its core, Meituan's foray into this sector encroaches on its strategic territory, a development JD.com cannot tolerate.

JD.com has faced significant challenges in recent years, with traditional rivals like Taobao and Pinduoduo, and new entrants like Meituan and Douyin, gradually compressing its market share.

Despite strategic adjustments post-Liu Qiangdong's return, JD.com's progress remains insufficient compared to the relentless pressure from competitors.

Unlike other players who have navigated their darkest hours, JD.com still faces significant hurdles.

Its performance in the capital market and eroding business reflect this reality.

Beyond seeking new growth through JD.com Direct, JD.com must ensure its existing business isn't further eroded.

This battle between JD.com and Meituan, while appearing as JD.com's first strike, is in essence a counterattack amidst its eroding business landscape.

Another critical factor driving this inevitable clash is the convergence of JD.com and Meituan's core strategies, leading to increased friction.

To prevail in this new battle, JD.com and Meituan must continuously optimize, compensate for their shortcomings, and unlock new growth potential.

Conclusion

From the moment JD.com announced its bold entry into the food delivery market, a major battle with Meituan was inevitable.

The intensifying traffic competition, overlapping business boundaries, and deepening incursions into each other's strategic heartlands are the root causes.

For JD.com, this is a perilous juncture, facing attacks from traditional rivals and encroachment from new players. It cannot afford to lose any battle.

The inevitable clash between JD.com and Meituan signifies that internet competition has reached a boiling point, an inevitable consequence of the internet's transition into the stock era.

For JD.com, not only is a battle with Meituan inevitable, but many more conflicts lie ahead.