Alibaba’s new Taobao Instant Commerce platform hits 40 million daily orders just a month after launch, signaling China's rapid shift toward ultra-fast retail.
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| Alibaba’s instant delivery push via Taobao breaks records with 40 million daily orders, as the Chinese tech giant leads Asia’s shift to real-time commerce. Image: CH |
Shanghai, China — May 26, 2025:
Alibaba Group has announced a major milestone for its new Taobao Instant Commerce platform, which has exceeded 40 million daily orders within just a month of its debut—underscoring the explosive growth of ultra-fast retail in China’s digital economy.
Launched as part of Alibaba’s broader strategy to integrate real-time delivery into its core e-commerce offerings, the platform enables 60-minute deliveries by connecting merchants from its food delivery arm Ele.me directly to the main Taobao app. This integration gives users access to a wide range of products—including groceries, snacks, daily essentials, and more—fulfilled locally with rapid delivery times.
The achievement places Alibaba at the forefront of a rising wave of "instant commerce", a model that is transforming how consumers shop online in China and beyond. With urban populations demanding faster service and platforms racing to meet expectations, Alibaba’s move signals a decisive push to outpace competitors like Meituan and JD.com, who are also investing heavily in real-time logistics networks.
Company officials say the service has been especially successful in major metropolitan areas like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, where logistics density enables seamless last-mile delivery. While specific revenue figures have not been disclosed, analysts view the order volume as a significant indicator of Alibaba’s growing dominance in this new segment of digital commerce.
The success of Taobao Instant Commerce is part of a wider trend across Asia’s e-commerce landscape, where digital platforms are merging with physical logistics to offer a hybrid online-offline shopping experience. By leveraging location data, local warehouse networks, and mobile-first engagement, Alibaba is redefining consumer expectations on convenience and speed.
With daily orders already surpassing 40 million, Alibaba’s real-time delivery service is poised to become a pillar of its future growth—both in China and potentially in other fast-moving Asian markets.