Artificial intelligence (AI)-supported multi-language tools
To help global shoppers enjoy the upcoming Festival, Alibaba has developed an AI translation tool that helps remove potential language barriers between sellers and buyers.
The online chat room tool, launched on Lazada last week, supports instant translation between English and Thai, English and Vietnamese, and English and Indonesian.
AliExpress, Alibaba’s global online retail platform, also offers an AI translation tool that links English speakers with those who speak Chinese, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic and Turkish.
AI chatbot
Over 800,000 merchants on Taobao and Tmall will deploy Dian Xiaomi, an AI-powered customer-service chatbot, to handle customer inquiries during the festival.
AI video editing
AI video editing
Alibaba Wood, an AI video-editing tool for brands to generate short videos about their products, will be available to some merchants during the Festival. The editing tool can pull key text and images from the product page to quickly create a 20-second promotional video.
The visuals are matched to the rhythm and flow of background music, chosen by an algorithm that factors in human emotions to arouse shoppers’ interest. The tool is expected to help small merchants significantly save on the cost of promotions.
The largest smart warehouse in China
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| Robots at the Cainiao smart robot warehouse. |
Alibaba’s logistics unit Cainiao has opened China’s largest smart robot warehouse in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. Overall, Cainiao’s network has linked 30 million sq m of warehousing around the world, involving more than 3 million logistics personnel.
With 700 automated guided vehicles (AGVs), the new warehouse is located in Cainiao’s first IoT Future Park in Wuxi. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the warehouse can automatically direct AGVs to drive, load and unload.
The system will also plan the best routes for the AGVs so that they avoid collisions and intelligently distribute parcels. This will allow 50% more orders to be fulfilled by the warehouse compared with a traditional facility over the same time period.
Discounts for 88 vip members
Customers who are Alibaba 88 VIP members.will enjoy a 5% discount on 388 brands on Taobao and Tmall, on top of other special offers during 11.11.
The 5% discount is a new addition to 88 VIP member benefits, which already include a 5% discount on Tmall Supermarket and 88 brands. An 88 VIP member is also automatically entitled to membership across various Alibaba businesses, including video-streaming platform Youku, music-streaming platform Xiami, on-demand delivery service Ele.me and online ticketing portal Taopiaopiao.
Countdown Gala
This year’s gala, to be held November 10 in Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena, will feature international stars such as singer Coco Lee, Australian model Miranda Kerr, the dance group Kinjaza and circus group Cirque du Soleil. The event will be broadcast live on two leading satellite TV channels – Zhejiang TV and Shanghai TV.
Special offers from Ele.me
In the lead up to 11.11, Ele.me has launched various promotions in partnership with dining brands, including McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks, Wu Fang Zhai, and Haidilao. Consumers can enjoy special half-price discounts or offers for as little as RMB1. This is the first time that the on-demand delivery and local service platform has joined 11.11.
In addition, consumers can also order deliveries on Ele.me for groceries, fruit, flowers, pastries and medicines, with promotion products from several popular brands, including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Hershey, Budweiser and Nestle, offered at RMB0.01, RMB0.99 and RMB3.
Oranges from Rural Taobao
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| Source: Alibaba. Rural Taobao will share oranges from its farm of the future with consumers. |
For the first time, Rural Taobao is bringing oranges from its “future farm” to consumers’ tables. In a remote county in Hubei province, farmers are transforming traditional ways of farming through Alibaba’s technologies. The farm is equipped with integrated irrigation facilities, meteorological sensors and drones.
An electronic map shows real-time crop growth and information about the latest agricultural operations. The farm is expected to harvest 1.5 million kg of oranges in the run-up to 11.11 and shoppers can view details of Rural Taobao’s products on the Taobao app.
Global fun @ Fliggy
Fliggy is bringing promotions from renowned airline partners, hotel brands and travel rewards alliances. Consumers will enjoy a single membership with access to more reward opportunities, new members-only services and discounts.
Marriott International debuted W Hotel’s New Year Pass on Fliggy, allowing customers to enjoy New Year parties at any of the seven W Hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. It will also offer a privilege package of 24 nights at JW Marriott hotels around the world.
Tmall World brings promotions to overseas
Shoppers have opportunities to enjoy special offers and a number of promotions on Tmall World, a platform that aims to connect overseas Chinese consumers worldwide through Alibaba Group’s Chinese-language social commerce apps Mobile Taobao and Taobao Lite:
· Free-shipping of over 4,000 products to overseas markets including Hong Kong, Taiwan, the US, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.
· Taobao and Tmall users can participate in the platforms’ first referral programme available to the overseas markets, whereby they can gain additional shopping vouchers and stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RMB100,000 by referring friends to download and make purchases on the Taobao Lite app.
· Taobao and Tmall are launching a first-of-its-kind extended showcase at NomadX, Singapore’s first “phygital” multi-label concept store at Plaza Singapura, in the run-up to the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival.
· About 2,000 partner merchants have the support of local warehouses for swift return services.
Red packet rain
It’s going to be raining red packets at 100 shopping malls in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Nanjing, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xian, and Chongqing. Consumers can simply shake their phones to get red packets. Consumers can earn special promotion coupons when they open the red packets in their Taobao mobile apps. The coupons can be used in both online shops and offline smart stores during 11.11.
An electronic map shows real-time crop growth and information about the latest agricultural operations. The farm is expected to harvest 1.5 million kg of oranges in the run-up to 11.11 and shoppers can view details of Rural Taobao’s products on the Taobao app.
Global fun @ Fliggy
Fliggy is bringing promotions from renowned airline partners, hotel brands and travel rewards alliances. Consumers will enjoy a single membership with access to more reward opportunities, new members-only services and discounts.
Marriott International debuted W Hotel’s New Year Pass on Fliggy, allowing customers to enjoy New Year parties at any of the seven W Hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. It will also offer a privilege package of 24 nights at JW Marriott hotels around the world.
Tmall World brings promotions to overseas
Shoppers have opportunities to enjoy special offers and a number of promotions on Tmall World, a platform that aims to connect overseas Chinese consumers worldwide through Alibaba Group’s Chinese-language social commerce apps Mobile Taobao and Taobao Lite:
· Free-shipping of over 4,000 products to overseas markets including Hong Kong, Taiwan, the US, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.
· Taobao and Tmall users can participate in the platforms’ first referral programme available to the overseas markets, whereby they can gain additional shopping vouchers and stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RMB100,000 by referring friends to download and make purchases on the Taobao Lite app.
· Taobao and Tmall are launching a first-of-its-kind extended showcase at NomadX, Singapore’s first “phygital” multi-label concept store at Plaza Singapura, in the run-up to the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival.
· About 2,000 partner merchants have the support of local warehouses for swift return services.
Red packet rain
It’s going to be raining red packets at 100 shopping malls in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Nanjing, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xian, and Chongqing. Consumers can simply shake their phones to get red packets. Consumers can earn special promotion coupons when they open the red packets in their Taobao mobile apps. The coupons can be used in both online shops and offline smart stores during 11.11.
