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We offer Go-to-Market Strategy for Tech Companies Expanding to China
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Set objective with us:
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Establish a competitive, compliant, and scalable market presence in China by localizing offerings, building strategic partnerships, and navigating regulatory frameworks effectively.
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1. Market Understanding & Readiness
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a. Market Research
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Identify regional demand trends (e.g., AI, IoT, SaaS, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure)
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Assess the competitive landscape: local tech giants (e.g., Alibaba Cloud, Huawei, Tencent) and foreign players
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Understand local buyer behavior, especially enterprise/government procurement cycles
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b. Regulatory Compliance
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Comply with China’s cybersecurity laws, data localization, ICP license, and cross-border data transfer regulations
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Determine if joint venture (JV) or Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) is needed
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2. Product & Offering Localization
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a. Localization
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Translate and culturally adapt user interfaces, documentation, and support
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Localize hosting (e.g., through a Chinese cloud provider or joint venture) if data residency is required
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Align pricing with local economic conditions and buying models (subscription vs. perpetual)
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b. Use Case Adaptation
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Prioritize solutions that meet current Chinese business priorities: industrial automation, digital finance, government tech, etc.
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Highlight benefits like efficiency, security, and compliance—not just innovation
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3. Channel & Partnership Strategy
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a. Channel Partners
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Establish relationships with local system integrators (SIs), managed service providers (MSPs), and VARs
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Leverage relationships with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) or government-backed incubators
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b. Strategic Alliances
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Form alliances with cloud providers (e.g., Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud) or telecom players (e.g., China Telecom)
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Consider working with local distributors who understand procurement dynamics
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c. OEM or White-Label Opportunities
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Enable Chinese partners to embed or resell your technology under their brand
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4. Customer Acquisition Strategy
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a. Digital Presence
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Launch a .cn website hosted locally with Baidu SEO optimization
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Create Mandarin-language marketing and educational content (case studies, white papers)
b. Demand Generation
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Run WeChat campaigns, Douyin (TikTok CN) ads, and industry webinars
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Participate in Chinese tech trade shows (e.g., China Hi-Tech Fair, World Internet Conference)
c. Account-Based Marketing (ABM)
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Identify and engage target enterprise accounts using local data providers and ABM platforms
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Use SDRs or agencies who speak Mandarin and understand B2B sales etiquette
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5. Sales & Support Infrastructure
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a. Sales Team
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Build a local sales team or partner with experienced sales agencies in Tier 1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen)
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Train on Guanxi-based selling (relationship-first) and local negotiation practices
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b. Customer Success & Support
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Provide Mandarin-language support (chat, email, phone)
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Establish a WeChat support channel
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Hire a local CSM team for enterprise clients
6. Pricing & Packaging Strategy
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Adapt pricing models to local expectations: flexible terms, installment plans, and usage-based pricing
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Consider tiered packaging for SOEs, SMEs, and local startups
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Offer “China First” launch incentives or government-subsidized bundles
7. KPIs & Metrics
GoalMetric
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Market PenetrationNumber of active customers or partners in China
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Brand AwarenessBaidu search visibility, WeChat followers, webinar attendees
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Pipeline GrowthNumber and value of leads from Chinese prospects
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Customer RetentionNPS, renewal rates, local support satisfaction
Regulatory ProgressNumber of local licenses obtained or compliance milestones met
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8. Execution Timeline (First 12 Months)
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PhaseFocus
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Month 1–3 Market research, compliance checks, legal entity setup
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Month 4–6 Local partnerships, product localization, Chinese website
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Month 7–9 Launch digital campaigns, local sales hiring, early pilot customers
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Month 10–12 Scale demand gen, customer support, evaluate channel expansion