Former President of Alibaba-backed Umeng+ Joins Starbucks China as CTO

Jasper Luo, former president of Umeng+, an Alibaba-backed startup providing mobile app analytics solutions for mobile development teams and individual developers, reportedly joined Starbucks China earlier this year as CTO, before the coffee chain announced the appointment of Chairwoman Belinda Wong as CEO.

Jasper Luo’s LinkedIn profile shows that he graduated from Zhejiang University and worked for Huawei and AsiaInfo Tech before joining Alibaba. Since July 2019, he has served as the president of Umeng + and is the senior director of Alibaba being responsible for data technology and products.

Umeng+ provides statistical analysis, operation and technical efficiency improvement tools for Internet enterprises by combining real-time global data resources, and provides online and offline digital intelligent marketing services for brand owners.

In 2016, three companies invested by Alibaba, including Umeng, CNZZ, a Chinese website statistical analysis platform, and Diyuanxin, an Internet data service platform, merged into the new company Umeng+. In 2013, Alibaba acquired Umeng for $80 million.

Starbucks’ report for fiscal year 2022 released in November repeatedly mentioned the importance of establishing digital contact with its customers. It also announced an investment plan called “Digital Third Space”, which enables its members to enjoy new benefits, a digital community and an immersive coffee experience.

The significance of excellent digital ability lies in reducing the impact of employees’ wages on costs, improving user experience and increasing store operation efficiency. In fiscal year 2022, Starbucks had about 402,000 people under its employ worldwide.

In the Chinese market, Starbucks uses its Starbucks NOW outlets to serve customers on the go. The number of Starbucks stores in China reached 6,000 in September this year, including the 1000th store opened in Shanghai. The company will continue to increase its investment in the Chinese market and open new stores with which it plans to cover 300 cities in China by 2025, including 2,500 green stores.

SEE ALSO: Starbucks Steps Up Efforts to Compete for China Market Share

However, in recent days, many Chinese consumers reported that they had received a 0.01 yuan ($0.001) coupon through the official account of Starbucks on Douyin, but then received a SMS notification indicating that the coupon had failed. In response to this incident, Starbucks China issued a statement to apologize on November 23, saying that an internal test link was activated by mistake, but the system settings had been revised and an automatic refund was initiated.