Events

Dr. Ding Ma
Research Scientist
Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data

In the rapidly evolving landscape of e-commerce, businesses face the challenge of consistently rethinking and reformulating their strategies to stay competitive. This paper introduces a novel approach to understanding and navigating this dynamic environment. We propose a two-layer network structure and a fast competitor search algorithm to conduct competition analysis. Drawing from data on 1.3 million e-commerce websites with over 500 million products, our two-layer network, built upon an Inverted Index Dictionary (IID) data structure, provides a way to examine store-to-product, store-to-store, and product-to-product connections. Enhanced by our fast competitor search algorithm, this approach allows businesses to identify their top competitors with remarkable efficiency, enabling competition analysis within milliseconds, compared to traditional algorithms that would take years. Beyond its practical implications for e-commerce businesses, this research also offers valuable insights for policymakers aiming to foster a fair and thriving competitive ecosystem. As the global e-commerce market continues its rapid expansion, tools like the one presented here will become indispensable for businesses aiming to maintain a competitive edge.