年度活跃买家破亿后，1688开始“AI闯关”

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the emergence of the "AI to B" era in China, highlighting Alibaba's 1688 platform as the first B2B platform to surpass 100 million annual active buyers, driven by a surge in small businesses and young consumers seeking personalized and customized procurement solutions [1][2]. Group 1: User Growth and Characteristics - 1688's annual active buyer count reached over 100 million, marking a 55% year-on-year growth in 2024 [1]. - The platform has attracted a new demographic of buyers, including influencers and community group leaders, who engage in high-frequency, low-value purchases with a strong demand for customization [4][5]. - The number of active buyers engaging in drop shipping on 1688 increased by 75% year-on-year in 2024 [5]. Group 2: Challenges and Opportunities - 1688 faces challenges in improving buyer experience and efficiency, particularly in serving the new wave of small business owners who have different procurement needs compared to traditional buyers [9][10]. - The platform has historically struggled with service capabilities, as many factories were not equipped to handle small batch and customized orders [7][8]. - New buyers often encounter difficulties in communication with factories, leading to issues such as poor logistics and product discrepancies [8]. Group 3: AI Integration and Solutions - To address these challenges, 1688 has launched various AI applications aimed at enhancing the buyer experience, including AI-driven sourcing, product selection, and inventory management [10][11]. - The platform has made all AI products available for free to buyers since March, indicating a strong commitment to leveraging AI for efficiency [10][11]. - 1688 has implemented measures to improve order fulfillment and customer service, achieving a 98.5% on-time delivery rate and offering a return shipping fee service for 96% of orders [12]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - Despite its growth, 1688 must remain vigilant against emerging vertical B2B platforms that could attract its new buyers if their needs are not adequately met [13]. - The article emphasizes that while 1688's approach to integrating AI is promising, the path to successfully implementing "AI to B" will be more challenging than "AI to C" [13].