Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

16 Oct, 2013

Alibaba to transform China’s ‘e-conomy – China Daily

Alibaba Group’s plans to revolutionize China’s retail industry, investing $16 billion in logistics and support by 2020, will open up China’s vast interior and bring access to hundreds of millions of potential new customers.

With an extra $15 billion or so in its pocket from a likely IPO, Alibaba and partners such as delivery service firms and life insurers will pump cash into revamping China’s fragile supply chains and big new data centers to process reams of consumer information.

While Alibaba sees itself as a catalyst for change, its plans also lay the groundwork for retail rivals to chip away at its business further down the line. By encouraging retailers to be more Internet-savvy, and by building the networks to distribute goods nationwide, Alibaba is showing bricks and mortar rivals how to grow online without depending on its sites.

Read the rest: Alibaba to transform China’s ‘e-conomy'[1]|chinadaily.com.cn.