Page 11 - bne_Tech_09_2020

Fintech & E-commerce
September 2020 www.intellinews.com I Page 11
AliExpress Russia plans facelift as e-commerce competition tightens
AliExpress Russia plans to revamp the format of its online marketplace in Russia, as the rapidly rising competition in Russian e-commerce is diminishing the appeal of cross-border online trade, Kommersant daily reported on September 14.
The demand for online shopping and delivery solutions has soared amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, covered in detail by bne IntelliNews.
Amid the growth in the market, AliExpress Russia has recently announced an ambitious goal of reaching $10bn gross merchandise volume (GMV) by 2022-2023.
AliExpress will aim to improve the appeal of its platform for local sellers. During the lockdown, the number of local sellers on the marketplace increased by 40% to 14,000.
Notably, the service partner of AliExpress AliWay
will allow the sellers to outsource storage, logistics, packaging and client communication services for 25% commission from the sales.
AliExpress will also launch an online house appliances store with over 15,000 items, teaming up with such brands as Grand-lux, Iris Home, Pilotms, Al-Ko, Gala Center, Arti-M, IsmatDecor, Hozmax, Multidom and others. The Chinese e-commerce major is also planning the launch of a fashion sub-segment online store in Russia.
As of 2019, AliExpress was one of the top 10 Russian retailers with RUB35.9bn ($478mn) turnover and 25mn monthly buyers' base.
AliExpress and Tmall e-commerce platforms in Russia operate under the umbrella of AliExpress Russia, the joint venture of Alibaba, internet major Mail.ru Group, mobile major Megafon and Russian Direct Investment Fund.
Czech Paketa courier reaches partnership with Romanian e-commerce platform
Coletaria.ro, the Romanian subsidiary of Czech courier group Paketa, has reached a partnership agreement with Romanian e-commerce platform Gomag, which provides integrated services to entrepreneurs willing to open online stores.
Coletaria.ro will thus offer the 1,600 online stores supported by Gomag the opportunity to connect with marketplaces in the European Union in order
to expand their business, through its network of partners. It offers Romanian entrepreneurs legal or marketing consulting services, consultancy for opening firms abroad, for opening bank accounts, translation or marketing services.
"Coletaria.ro is advancing in the process of con- solidating its position on the courier market, in order to become one of the strategic partners of