🌍 Global Launch: Targeting SMBs Worldwide
On November 12, 2024, Alibaba launched Accio, an AI-powered search engine, aiming to revolutionize small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) sourcing needs in Europe and the Americas. Named after a summoning spell from the Harry Potter series, Accio allows businesses to search for wholesale products using text or image prompts. It supports English, German, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Alibaba.com President Kuo Zhang revealed that purchase intent during tests rose by 40% compared to traditional methods, reflecting the tool’s impact on streamlining procurement processes.
🤖 Leveraging Generative AI for SMBs
Accio is powered by Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen large language model. It incorporates data from 50M businesses and 1B product listings from Alibaba International’s platform, covering over 100 industries. The tool provides product popularity analysis and projected profits. During demos, it helped entrepreneurs like a sports retailer design pickleball products by connecting them with suppliers. Though it does not integrate third-party AI, Alibaba emphasizes that its generative AI significantly enhances business insights.
📈 Expanding Global E-Commerce
Alibaba’s push into international markets aligns with its AI ambitions. In October, the company released an updated AI translation tool outperforming rivals like Google Translate and DeepL. Additionally, over half the merchants in China used AI tools like generative AI for customer service during the Singles Day festival. SMB buyers from Europe and North America now represent the largest international audience for Alibaba’s AI-driven platform.
💡 AI as a Catalyst for Growth
Alibaba sees AI as a core enabler of productivity. During Singles Day, 56% of merchants using generative AI tools reported significant efficiency gains. With Accio’s launch, SMBs can now access advanced search capabilities that simplify supply chains and boost profitability. While Alibaba's domestic platforms like Taobao and Tmall dominate its revenue streams, its international ventures, driven by innovative AI tools, are rapidly gaining traction, reflecting a shift towards global market penetration.
Will AI redefine small business sourcing globally?
