Four months after returning to DingTalk, founder Wu Zhao (Chen Hang) has completely restructured the platform.

"We are determined to clear the past and approach the AI era with a fresh mindset to build an entirely new DingTalk," Wu Zhao announced.

On August 25, DingTalk CEO Wu Zhao, following his return to Alibaba Group, launched DingTalk 8.0, dubbed "AI DingTalk 1.0." This marks the transformation of the mobile internet era's largest collaborative office app into an AI-native platform, representing DingTalk's third major strategic pivot.

From addressing scale and commercialization challenges to Wu Zhao's current return with an "AI implementation" mission, DingTalk now carries greater responsibility as Alibaba's AI-to-B gateway product.

Alibaba expects DingTalk to focus comprehensively on Agent platforms, providing data feedback and commercial validation for the group's AI strategy. As an enterprise-level gateway, DingTalk enables broader user and organizational adoption of Tongyi models, accelerating iteration and driving group AI revenue growth.

However, the collaborative office market has entered intense competition. In recent months, Feishu and Enterprise WeChat have launched major updates, rapidly advancing in interaction and AI implementation. All three giants urgently seek to reshape the AI era landscape.

**Complete Restructuring**

Wu Zhao's appearance alone drew enthusiastic applause at the event.

"Four months ago, when I returned to DingTalk, I conducted comprehensive user interviews and received extensive feedback. Over ten years, many users complained about DingTalk's outdated design and bloated page layouts," Wu Zhao candidly admitted.

He revealed that upon returning, his first priority was comprehensive DingTalk restructuring. During the event, DingTalk 8.0 "Fern" - AI DingTalk 1.0 - was officially launched, becoming the first Agent-driven work information flow tool in the AI era.

"In four months, we analyzed and designed 1,850 requirements, fixed 574 issues completely, and comprehensively optimized over 20 product lines," Wu Zhao stated.

The new DingTalk 1.0 features strong information collection capabilities. Importantly, it provides employees with information filtered and prioritized by intelligent agents, organizing all work-related information and tasks by priority and presenting them clearly to users through information flow cards.

"Agent aggregation makes work processing as smooth as scrolling through short videos," a DingTalk insider noted. DingTalk has transformed from "people seeking tasks" to "tasks finding people."

Additionally, DingTalk announced major investments in customer service, marketing, and education scenarios, launching corresponding industry AI model products, debuting a global enterprise AI assistant marketplace, and providing new solutions for overseas enterprises, SMEs, and large corporations.

DingTalk urgently seeks complete restructuring within an AI framework. However, DingTalk began intensive AI experimentation early in the large model explosion.

Last year, Alibaba Cloud integrated Cloud Xiaomi with DingTalk's open platform, supporting multi-turn conversational bots. Early this year, Alibaba Cloud's Bailian platform integrated with DingTalk for rapid proprietary knowledge base bot development. In March, DingTalk launched an approval AI assistant, followed by a slash function in June integrating Tongyi Qianwen, supporting intelligent meeting minutes, PPT outlines, and poster copy generation.

However, these efforts differ significantly from "AI DingTalk 1.0." The former explored AI capability adaptation to DingTalk's fragmented scenarios, while the latter completely restructures the business foundation using AI.

The new DingTalk operates within a product matrix. Wu Zhao announced over ten AI products including DingTalk One, enterprise AI search engine "AI Search & Ask," AI spreadsheets, AI transcription, and intelligent hardware DingTalk A1. He confidently claimed these products "redefine AI-era human work interaction, information processing, knowledge search, and application creation methods."

**Supporting Alibaba's Strategy**

Wu Zhao's return and DingTalk's restructuring reflect Alibaba's broader AI strategic adjustment.

Over the past two years, Jack Ma's public appearances consistently emphasized AI. Last year, Ma reflected that twenty years ago, they fortunately caught the internet wave, achieving today's success.

He firmly believes AI will trigger massive change. "Using AI to rebuild Alibaba" has become internal consensus. Alibaba Cloud is embedding AI into the group's DNA, transforming from a cost center into a true growth engine.

Alibaba is determined to first "transform" itself using AI, creating a "showcase." With China's richest commercial ecosystem, Alibaba possesses practical AI implementation scenarios. Under Alibaba's "user-first, AI-driven" strategy, DingTalk bears responsibility for Alibaba's AI-to-B application implementation.

Unlike previous excessive ties to Alibaba Cloud's commercial objectives, Alibaba now expects DingTalk to focus comprehensively on Agent platforms. With "80% of A-share listed companies using it," DingTalk's 700 million users and over 26 million enterprise organizations represent a super enterprise gateway, directly driving Tongyi model and Alibaba Cloud business growth.

DingTalk is no longer traditional collaborative office software but Alibaba's key vehicle for implementing AI technology across industries and reshaping work methods.

**Intensifying Competition**

The "gateway battle" represents Alibaba's key 2024 campaign. While competing with Meituan and JD.com for C-end gateways through express and instant delivery, DingTalk's B-end market has become highly competitive.

"Feishu's multi-dimensional tables lead DingTalk by at least 12 months," Feishu CEO Xie Xin stated in July interviews, highlighting collaborative office market competition intensity.

Despite DingTalk's current industry leadership, challenger threats persist. Beyond Feishu, Enterprise WeChat accelerates AI function deployment, with Tencent Meeting's AI assistant and Enterprise WeChat's intelligent customer service rapidly iterating.

Industry observers note that DingTalk, Feishu, and Enterprise WeChat previously maintained relatively clear differentiated positioning. Alibaba ecosystem-backed DingTalk serves both SMEs and large enterprises; product experience-focused Feishu targets "new economy" companies; Enterprise WeChat leverages WeChat ecosystem advantages.

However, accelerated AI scenario implementation is reshaping current dynamics.

According to research, Agent task complexity doubles every seven months, meaning past competitive advantages in functionality and user experience are no longer decisive. Analysts predict that by 2027, 40% of enterprise services will be delivered through Agent combinations. User focus shifts toward AI's ability to solve complex problems.

"Whoever first helps AI agents understand industries and enterprises will emerge victorious in productivity transformation," Wu Zhao asserted.

DingTalk cannot afford to lose this AI battle. Fortunately, compared to previous pivots, this transformation benefits from group-wide advantages. Currently, Alibaba represents China's most determined and comprehensive AI investor among internet companies, with unprecedented 380 billion yuan AI capital expenditure over three years.

Using AI to rebuild Alibaba marks a crucial valuation inflection point for this giant, with DingTalk serving as a key commercialization and scenario implementation component. This elimination race has just begun, and DingTalk must accelerate its pace.