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Alibaba: ‘Instant Commerce' Market Could Draw ‘Every Person in China'
PYMNTS.com· 2025-05-15 17:10
Core Insights - Alibaba has launched a fast delivery service called "instant commerce," leveraging its established delivery capabilities and investments in the Freshippo grocery chain [1] - The instant retail market in China is projected to grow significantly, with current estimates of 500 million to 600 million consumers, potentially reaching 1 billion in the future [2] - Alibaba's logistics system is described as "extremely robust and mature," which is essential for supporting instant commerce [2] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Consumer behavior has shifted post-COVID, making fast and reliable delivery a necessity for retailers [3] - Major retailers like Walmart are setting ambitious delivery goals, such as reaching 95% of U.S. consumers within three hours by year-end [3] - Companies must balance competing demands of money, time, and carbon footprint to succeed in the logistics race [4] Group 2: AI and Cloud Services - Alibaba reported an 18% increase in revenue from its AI cloud model for the quarter, with AI-related product revenue experiencing triple-digit growth for seven consecutive quarters [5] - The adoption of AI services is expanding beyond early adopters in sectors like Internet finance and education to include a wider range of industries [6]