阿里巴巴：十年金融路

In September 2012, Jack Ma, founder of the world’s largest e-commerce platform — Alibaba — positioned “platform, financial and data” as the three core businesses for the future. Since then, Alibaba frequently took action in the financial sector, devised new businesses, launched new products and adjusted organizational structures. The financial development journey of Alibaba was not “smooth sailing,” however. Considering changes such as the development of Big Data, cloud computing, new platforms and emerging mobile Internet technologies, as well as B2B2C and O2O business model changes, Jack Ma not only encountered the traditional competition from financial “big brothers,” but also had to guard against online upstart challengers when first raising the banner of Internet finance. This case begins with the 2002 launch of Alibaba’s “Cheng Xin Tong” service and examines Alibaba Finance’s path over a decade by discussing past, present and future developmental decisions. The case also introduces the keys to the completion of the company’s multi-step technology innovation and business overhaul, as well as potential challenges and considerations for the future.