NEW YORK - Alibaba (NYSE:BABA).com, a global leader in business-to-business e-commerce, announced today the launch of its Logistics Marketplace, a new service aimed at aiding U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by offering affordable, customizable logistics solutions. This initiative is designed to help these businesses streamline their supply chains and expand their global reach with greater efficiency.
The platform allows U.S. buyers to connect with a selection of pre-vetted logistics service providers and to find services that are specifically tailored to their unique needs. According to Yikun Shao, Head of Supply Chain for Alibaba.com's North America business, the Logistics Marketplace simplifies and accelerates the process of securing logistics services, enabling buyers to focus on other business priorities.
Through the Logistics Marketplace, buyers can compare real-time quotes, book services directly, and view verified options from potential providers, including customs clearance, local storage, and combined shipments. The platform also highlights the most popular services among SMEs, such as door-to-door express and full container shipping, and includes a "Send Inquiry" feature for quick connection with freight forwarders.
Shao emphasized the importance of operational flexibility for SMEs, underscoring how the marketplace can help reduce costs by consolidating orders from multiple suppliers into a single shipment. The marketplace is backed by a ratings system that assists SMEs in selecting providers based on performance metrics like response time and delivery accuracy. It supports online logistics orders to 46 markets, facilitating the search for qualified freight forwarders who can offer tailored logistics services.
Alibaba.com, part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, has been a prominent player in global B2B e-commerce since its inception in 1999. It provides tools that help businesses reach a global audience and assist buyers in efficiently discovering and ordering products online.
This news is based on a press release statement from Alibaba.com.
InvestingPro Insights
Alibaba's new Logistics Marketplace could be a game-changer for U.S. SMEs seeking to optimize their supply chains. The launch of this service comes at a time when Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) shows a solid financial footing with a market capitalization of $169.4 billion, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's value and future growth prospects.
InvestingPro data reveals that Alibaba's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 14.21, with an adjusted P/E ratio of 11.52 for the last twelve months as of Q3 2024, suggesting that the company's stock might be undervalued compared to its earnings potential. Additionally, the company's price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.21 during the same period reflects that the stock may be reasonably priced relative to its net asset value.
With a revenue growth of 7.28% in the last twelve months as of Q3 2024, Alibaba has demonstrated its ability to expand its business operations effectively. This growth is further supported by a gross profit margin of 37.91%, indicating a strong ability to control costs and generate earnings. InvestingPro Tips highlight the importance of these metrics, as they provide a snapshot of the company's operational efficiency and profitability, which could be enhanced by the introduction of new services like the Logistics Marketplace.
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