Alibaba Invests $281 Million to Expand 30-Minute Delivery Service Across China
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is injecting 2 billion yuan ($281 million) into its instant commerce division, aiming to revolutionize last-mile delivery through upgrades to existing convenience stores rather than building new infrastructure. The initiative leverages Taobao's e-commerce dominance and 1688.com's wholesale network to create a seamless inventory management system.
Store owners gain access to Alibaba's Aoxiang supply chain platform and Taobao branding, enabling 24-hour operations with 30-minute delivery guarantees. Pilot locations in Hangzhou and Nanjing will expand to 200 cities, creating what executive Hu Qiugen calls a "win-win" for Alibaba's digital ecosystem and local retailers.