As the world’s second-largest economy and a global leader in technology, China is home to some of the most successful and innovative IT and software companies in the world.
These companies are driving digital transformation across industries and making a significant impact on the global market.
From telecommunications to e-commerce to artificial intelligence, the top 10 IT and software powerhouses in China are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and shaping the future of technology.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of these companies, examining their business models, products, and growth strategies.
1. Huawei
Revenue: $136.7 billion
Number of employees: 197,000
Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Huawei, a company founded by a former Chinese military officer in 1987, has grown to become a global leader in the telecommunications market.
The company is a major player in the manufacturing of smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, and telecom equipment.
Despite this remarkable growth, Huawei has faced significant challenges, including the economic impact of the global pandemic and pressure from U.S. sanctions.
The U.S. placed the company on a blacklist, cutting off critical computer chip supplies and restricting its business with American companies.
2. JD.com Inc
Revenue: $114.3 billion
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Riding the E-commerce Wave: A Closer Look at JD.com, one of China’s Leading IT and Software Powerhouses”.
Founded in 1998, also known as JD, is the largest online retailer and one of the top Internet companies by revenue in China.
With over 1,200 warehouses, the company boasts a vast fulfillment network that reaches 99% of China’s population.
Its e-commerce platform offers a wide range of products, from clothing, cosmetics, and fresh food to household goods, furniture, appliances, and electronics.
The company also saw a significant increase in annual active customer accounts, growing from 362 million in 2019 to 471.9 million in 2020.
3. China Mobile
China Mobile Ltd, a state-owned company, is primarily a mobile service provider, but it also boasts a large software.
- Total Employees: 450,000+
- Headquartered in Beijing
The company serves over 942 million mobile subscribers, making it the world’s largest phone company.
While most of China Mobile’s customer base is located in China, it also has presence in Pakistan and Hong Kong.
As of May 2021, the company had a market capitalization of $134.9 billion and generated annual revenue of $111.3 billion in 2020, solidifying its position as a major player in China’s IT and software industry.
4. Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd
Revenue: $109.5 billion (March 2021)
Market cap: $463.7 billion
Headquarters: Hangzhou, China
While commonly known as a large e-commerce retailer, Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd, also known as BABA, could also be considered among China’s most vital software companies.
Founded in 1999 by a group of entrepreneurs, led by Jack Ma, a former English teacher from Hangzhou, the company aims to help small and medium-sized Chinese businesses sell their goods both domestically and in the global marketplace.
Often referred to as the “Amazon of China,” Alibaba uses digital technologies, such as mobile commerce infrastructure, cloud computing, logistics platforms, and fulfillment networks, to assist online transactions.
All the software offered by Alibaba are produced through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Alibaba Software.
5. Tencent Holdings
Revenue: $74.4 billion
Market cap: 1.25 billion (2021)
Assets: $7.8 billion
Number of employees: 7,074
Headquarters: Nanjing, China
Tencent Holdings Ltd, based in Shenzhen, is an investment company that operates mainly in online advertising, fintech and value-added services.
It offers a wide range of online and mobile games, along with multiple internet and mobile applications.
The company is also a significant player in the Chinese social networking arena and its WeChat messaging app had over 1.25 billion monthly users in Q2 2021.
As of August 25, 2021, Tencent’s market capitalization was $584.5 billion and the company reported annual revenue of RMB 482.1 billion ($74.4 billion) in 2020, which marked a YoY increase of 27.9%.
This solidifies its position as one of the leading companies in China’s IT and software industry.
6. Nari Technology Development
Revenue: $4.3 billion
Market cap: $13.1 billion
Assets: $7.8 billion
Number of employees: 7,074
Headquarters: Nanjing, China
NARI Technology Co., Ltd. is a Chinese company that specializes in the development, production and sales of hardware and software products for the power industry.
NARI’s main products include power grid automation products, power generation, and new energy products, energy-saving and environmental protection products, industrial control products, and related technical services.
This Chinese company is key player in the IT and software industry, focused on innovating and advancing the power industry with cutting-edge technology and solutions
7. Hikvision
Revenue: $8.1 billion
Market cap: $42.5 billion
Assets: $10.3 billion
Number of employees: 40,403
Headquarters: Hangzhou, China
Hikvision is a leading Chinese software company that offers advanced video surveillance products and specialized solutions for different industries to the global market.
The company works with over 2,400 partners in 155 countries and regions to deliver its products.
Hikvision specializes in developing surveillance cameras, but also provides services for other products such as hard disk recorders, video codes, video servers, monitoring systems, road mounts, and various security services.
This company’s technology has been appreciated and has become well known around the world.
8. Meituan Dianping
Revenue:$14.1 billion
Market cap:$77.9 billion
Assets:$19 billion
Number of employees: 54,580
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Meituan Dianping is a highly ranked Chinese software company that operates as an investment holding company.
It specializes in creating a platform that uses technology to connect consumers and traders. As the largest food delivery platform in China, Meituan Waimai was developed by Meituan Dianping.
The company’s e-commerce platform offers over 200 service categories, including catering, on-demand, car-hailing, bike-sharing, hotel, and travel booking, film ticketing, and other entertainment and lifestyle services.
Meituan Dianping also develops software for popular mobile applications in China, including Meituan, Dianping, Meituan Waimai, Mobike and others.
With its comprehensive and diversified services offerings, Meituan Dianping has become a major player in the Chinese IT and software industry.
9. Baidu Inc
Revenue: $15.5 billion
Market cap: $86.21 billion
Assets: $43.3 billion
Number of employees: 37,779
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Baidu is one of the most renowned Chinese software companies in the world, known for its expertise in internet-related services and products.
The company has a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and has developed several AI products, including a voice assistant, smart devices, AI solutions, and cloud services.
Baidu also specializes in autonomous driving and smart transportation technology, and has made significant contributions to the development of smart cities and connected vehicles.
The company is a leader in the field of Natural Language Processing, image recognition and machine learning.
10. Byte Dance
Revenue:$20 billion
Number of employees: 60,000
Headquarters: Beijing, China
ByteDance is a highly ranked Chinese software company that specializes in Internet technology and software.
The company enables the discovery of a world of creative content platforms powered by leading technology.
Founded in March 2012 by Zhang Yiming, ByteDance is best known for its popular mobile entertainment apps.
The company places a strong emphasis on the application of artificial intelligence technology to mobile internet applications.
With a number of in-house developed brands such as Toutiao and TikTok, the company has gained significant popularity and recognition both in China and around the world.