Currently, Alibaba.com serves over 48 million SME buyers and features more than 200,000 suppliers worldwide. With Alibaba Guaranteed, buyers can source products with increased confidence. The service offers fixed prices with shipping fees included, promises dispatch of goods within 72 hours, and guarantees delivery by the expected date. Additionally, buyers benefit from after-sales services, such as quick refunds for order issues and free local returns for defects.

Products sourced through Alibaba Guaranteed will be fulfilled by Alibaba.com, ensuring order security. The platform also manages financial aspects, such as escrow and payment terms, and handles after-sales services, enabling buyers to focus more on their products.

Suppliers participating in Alibaba Guaranteed will benefit from maintaining reasonable profit margins without worrying about complex contract fulfilment and after-sales issues.

“Alibaba Guaranteed marks an exciting new chapter for SMEs and global sourcing as it will help to redefine the fulfilment standard of B2B cross-border trade,” said Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com. “Global sourcing can be a complex process with many moving parts, but Alibaba Guaranteed can help SMEs navigate it with greater ease. With much of the leg work being done for SMEs by the platform, cross-border trade can be as simple as purchasing a pair of shoes from your favourite retailer online.”

This new offering arrives as SMEs increasingly seek online sourcing solutions. According to a recent Alibaba.com survey, two-thirds (66%) of SMEs plan to increase their reliance on online global sourcing in 2024. However, delivery time, logistics costs, and concerns about not receiving products were identified as the top three challenges for cross-border sourcing, with up to 22% of respondents ranking them as their primary issues. Alibaba Guaranteed was developed to address these specific concerns.

Alibaba.com remains committed to innovating within the sourcing and supply chain sectors to help SMEs expand and strengthen their presence in the global e-commerce market. Alibaba Guaranteed, with fulfilment by Alibaba.com, represents the latest enhancement in its ongoing support for businesses in the US and worldwide.