Alibaba pushes AI tools to merchants wanting to tap overseas markets, as competition with Temu and Shein heats up

The new campaign says Alibaba’s generative AI tools can be used to ‘lower the threshold for entering into global trade’

The new AI tools include a smart assistance chatbot and OKKI AI, a customer relationship management software-as-a-service platform

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Alibaba pushes AI tools to merchants wanting to tap overseas markets. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:30pm, 8 Mar 2024

Alibaba International has launched a new campaign to promote its artificial intelligence (AI) tools aimed at helping merchants to tap overseas markets on Alibaba.com, in the latest push to expand cross-border e-commerce business.

The new campaign says Alibaba’s generative AI tools can be used to “lower the threshold for entering into global trade” via its wholesale platform Alibaba.com. New joiners will receive information on about 50 prospective buyers within the first two months, according to the company.

Business-to-business platform Alibaba.com is part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (AIDC). AIDC also includes retail-oriented platforms like AliExpress, Lazada, Daraz, Trendyol. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

The new push comes as the e-commerce giant faces off against Temu, the overseas shopping app backed by PDD Holdings, and Shein, another popular shopping app that has been wooing Chinese merchants as the preferred channel to reach consumers across the world.

The new AI tools include a smart assistance chatbot and OKKI AI, a customer relationship management software-as-a-service platform.

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