Alibaba.com, a leading business-to-business (B2B) marketplace for global trade, noted that the number of active buyers on its platform increased during the lockdown period, in part due to travel restrictions. Interestingly, even as the world returns to normalcy, the number of active buyers has not decreased, suggesting that B2B buyers have become more accustomed to online sourcing.
The relative certainty of digital selling is what many companies need to sustain their operations. As B2B e-commerce continues to gain momentum, savvy Thai sellers are taking advantage of the opportunity by offering global buyers unique and high-quality products from their home market, successfully carving out a niche in the international market.
Taking Thai herbs global
Chansawang Group, a Thai beauty company, has seen tremendous success in promoting the benefits of Thai herbs with the world through B2B e-commerce. Established in 2004, the company has grown to become a franchise with over 500 beauty centers nationwide.
Chansawang's success can be attributed to the quality of its herbs, which are produced in its own factory that has received GMP certification. Its commitment to using locally sourced herbs has provided employment opportunities for local farmers, which the company takes great pride in.
Dr. Kanchorn Chansawang-Dharmapetch, Chansawang's founder and president, shared that her business inspiration came from her own experience with Thai herbs, and she was determined to create a business that would allow others to experience their benefits as well. In an effort to expand her company's reach beyond Thailand, she turned to Alibaba.com and immediately saw a notable change.
"Shortly after establishing our presence on Alibaba.com, we started to receive enquiries from some foreign buyers. Previously, we only had Thai customers," said Dr. Chansawang-Dharmapetch.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Chansawang experienced a surge in demand for its products from customers overseas, with orders pouring in from Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, the US and beyond. Bolstered by this success, the company plans to double down on its commitment to developing online sales.
"We want to show the world how good Thai herbs are through our products. We will continue to utilize B2B e-commerce to expand our customer base from 19 countries to all around the world," added Dr. Chansawang-Dharmapetch.
Livestreaming for success
Ajintai Company, a beverage supplier located in Amphor Fang in Chiang Mai province, has not only found success in expanding its business with B2B e-commerce, but also tapping B2B livestreaming to connect with customers around the world.
Founded by Zen Ajintai Rattanang, Ajintai Company manufactures fruit and vegetable juice using produce from its very own farm. The company initially focused on domestic buyers and received occasional interest from international buyers through trade shows and brokers.
Having attended international trade fairs as an exhibitor for over five years, Rattanang was discouraged by the small number of deals secured. But things took a positive turn after Ajintai Company joined Alibaba.com as a seller.
"I was astonished to discover that many of the buyers I met during trade fairs were already active on Alibaba.com. Many of them found my company page on the platform and greeted me online. One of them even initiated an inquiry and closed the deal right away. This confirms that, once customers were made aware of us through trade fairs, Alibaba.com assured the confidence of buyers in us," said Rattanang.
Over the past five years, Ajintai Company has increased its sales by 100% with the use of Alibaba.com. The platform has become its main selling channel, garnering an average of 300 inquiries per month and up to 50 inquiries in a single day for the company. Rattanang has even utilized livestreaming on Alibaba.com, with up to 2,000 viewers at a time and approximately 10% of viewers sending inquiries after the livestreaming sessions.
Looking to the future, Rattanang's goal is to expand Ajintai Company further and become a hypermarket on Alibaba.com. She noted: "I do not see Alibaba.com as merely an e-commerce platform or just another source of sales. It is in fact a world on its own that I can make Ajintai Company a mall, providing a range of product categories that buyers seek."
Source: Spark Communications
