Alibaba launches global digital services programme for retail firms

Chinese internet company Alibaba has launched its suite of digital services for retail companies and brands through its strategic partnership programme called A100, it said at its Alibaba ONE Business Conference in Hangzhou, China.

Built on the Alibaba operating system, the A100 programme will help companies optimise their digital operations on the firm’s retail channels.

“With over 600 million monthly active users and nearly 30 business units specialising in enterprise services from digital retail to mobile payment to digital marketing to IT infrastructure and more, Alibaba is the leading partner for businesses within China and around the world to capitalise on the growing consumption by China’s middle class,” said Daniel Zhang, chief executive of the Alibaba Group.

A100 furthers Alibaba’s expansion as a digital services player with presence in entertainment, local services and other e-commerce and ancillary services such as logistics, sales, payments and marketing among others. Alibaba has been making inroads with its cloud offerings in India to address the market with services in the retail segment. The company is also looking to onboard one lakh small and medium enterprises on its cloud infrastructure by the end of next year.

The company has already tied up with fast-moving consumer goods giant Nestle and also consumer channels including Tmall, Taobao and Tmall Supermarket in China as part of its programme in the country, where it will be present in multiple businesses.