UPS to Serve as Preferred Logistics Provider for New Online Wholesale Marketplace
ATLANTA & HONG KONG -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --
UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced it has formed a strategic alliance with AliExpress (www.aliexpress.com), a new online wholesale marketplace launched by Alibaba.com Limited (HKSE:1688) (1688.HK), the world's largest small business e-commerce company.
AliExpress allows customers to tailor orders to the needs of their small businesses; offering smaller-quantity orders, instant online transactions, and an escrow service to protect buyers and sellers. Through its alliance with UPS, AliExpress now offers users the key benefit of managing their shipping and tracking processes online via UPS shipping technology integrated into the AliExpress platform, including the ability to print UPS shipping labels and request pick-up for their UPS packages all from within the AliExpress website.
"Our partnership with UPS is crucial to the success of AliExpress, as one of our main goals is to make international trade for our buyers and sellers, including the shipping of their products, as easy, safe and convenient as possible," said David Wei, CEO of Alibaba.com. "UPS's shipping technology, ease of use and trusted premium global services will help us fulfill this goal."
Many of the suppliers who sell on AliExpress are long-time members of Alibaba.com and have been working with overseas buyers for years through the site. The initial supplier base includes companies from mainland China but the platform eventually will be open to international suppliers as well.
"UPS is committed to the growth of China's involvement in global e-commerce as part of our overall strategy," said Jordan Colletta, vice president, e-Commerce Marketing at UPS. "Through our alliance with Alibaba, we hope to partner with more small and mid-sized Chinese businesses to simplify their logistics processes and connect them with new buyers and sellers worldwide."
As part of the alliance entitlement, AliExpress will be able to imbed the full UPS functionality into their platform, including address validation and UPS TradeAbility, which provides denied party screening, compliance and licensing information, and generates cost estimates for customs duties, taxes and transportation for international shipments.
About Alibaba.com
Alibaba.com is the global leader in e-commerce for small businesses and the flagship company of Alibaba Group. Founded in 1999, Alibaba.com makes it easy for millions of buyers and suppliers around the world to do business online through three marketplaces: a global trade marketplace (www.alibaba.com) for importers and exporters, a Chinese marketplace (www.1688.com) for domestic trade in China, and, through an associated company, a Japanese marketplace (www.alibaba.co.jp) facilitating trade to and from Japan. Together, its marketplaces form a community of more than 47 million registered users from more than 240 countries and regions. Alibaba.com also offers business management software and Internet infrastructure services targeting small businesses across China and, through Ali-Institute, incubates e-commerce talent for Chinese small businesses. Founded in Hangzhou, China, Alibaba.com has offices in more than 60 cities across Greater China, Japan, Korea, Europe and the United States.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE:UPS) is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain and freight services. With more than a century of experience in transportation and logistics, UPS is a leading global trade expert equipped with a broad portfolio of solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
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CONTACT:
Alibaba.com
Linda Kozlowski, +852 2215 5210
lkozlowski@hk.alibaba-inc.com
or
UPS Asia Pacific
Gerald Lim, +65 6883 7461
geraldlim@ups.com