Alibaba's swift commerce platform surpasses 40 million daily transaction orders
Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba announce that its Taobao Instant Commerce platform has surpassed 40 million daily orders, achieved within a month of its launch. The new portal integrates merchants from Alibaba's food delivery service Ele.me into the primary Taobao shopping application.
This development is part of an ongoing trend among Chinese online platforms investing billions in the development of instant retail services. Taobao Instant Commerce serves as a testament to this trend, spearheaded by Alibaba's continuing efforts to streamline and expand its instant retail offerings.
The Taobao Instant Commerce platform is an upgraded version of the Taobao Hourly Delivery service, which was transformed into Taobao Flash Buy (淘宝闪购) in early May 2025. Initially launched in 50 cities, the service aims for nationwide expansion. The upgrade involves significant elements such as full-discount deals, substantial subsidies, and large-value coupons from both Taobao Flash Sale and Ele.me, designed to attract users and enhance convenience.
On the supply side, the service also partners with major brands to establish instant retail flagship stores, initially targeting 200 national chains. Categories include electronics, fashion, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), fresh food, and pet supplies – areas where Alibaba holds strong market positions. The organizational structure streamlines operations by consolidating real-time retail operations under Taobao Flash Sale, with Ele.me providing backend support.
The high order volume from the Taobao Instant Commerce portal reflects robust consumer acceptance for the service, boosted by the integration of food delivery merchants from Ele.me. This move contributes to the competitive push in China's e-commerce market, where companies like JD.com are also heavily investing in instant retail and rapid delivery capabilities.
The broader industry context indicates that Chinese online platforms are collectively investing billions in instant retail services, driven by rising consumer demand for faster and more convenient shopping experiences. Taobao's increasing popularity both domestically and globally supports this trend, as reflected in its rising rankings in global app rankings.
- This surge in daily orders on the Taobao Instant Commerce platform is a testament to the growing trend in China's business industry, where online platforms are pouring billions into the development of instant retail services.
- As part of this trend, the Taobao Instant Commerce platform is not only expanding its instant retail offerings but also diversifying them to include categories such as electronics, fashion, food, fast-moving consumer goods, and pet supplies, sectors where Albibaba has a strong stance in the business industry.
- The integration of food delivery merchants from Ele.me into the Taobao Instant Commerce platform exemplifies a strategic business move in the tech industry, aimed at enhancing convenience and user attraction, contributing to the competitive push in China's e-commerce market.
