Why Chinese Cloud Companies Struggle to Match US Counterparts: A Deep Dive into 996 vs 955

There is a persistent question in the B2B sector: why do Chinese companies work overtime yet still cannot match foreign products? While Chinese firms often adopt 996 work schedules, foreign companies typically operate on a 955 model, and their cloud services appear superior.

The author examines three aspects of this issue, starting with the perceived quality of Chinese IT professionals. Although many Chinese engineers have solid technical skills, the overall professional level is often judged lower due to poor résumé standards and a stronger emphasis on emotional ties to the company rather than rational management.

Product quality is highlighted as a core problem. The author compares the homepages of Chinese and foreign cloud providers, noting that US vendors focus on product and technology, whereas Chinese providers emphasize promotions and sales tactics, which undermines professional branding.

China’s cloud market is described as “operation‑driven,” where revenue is primarily generated through aggressive marketing rather than superior products. This leads to a prevalence of low‑quality (60‑point) products, with few high‑quality (80‑ or 100‑point) offerings, because incentives favor short‑term gains over long‑term product excellence.

Examples such as Atlassian illustrate the power of product‑driven models: despite a modest workforce, Atlassian’s market value per employee far exceeds that of sales‑driven companies. The author argues that without strong positive incentives, engineers are unlikely to invest the effort required for top‑tier products.

Additional factors include the high degree of customization demanded by Chinese enterprises, low willingness to pay for premium services, and cultural attitudes that prioritize sales and short‑term results over sustained product development.

The piece concludes that Chinese cloud providers need to shift focus toward product excellence, adopting a craftsmanship mindset to deliver higher‑quality, reliable services that can compete globally.