A Must-See for Gamers!? Cross-border EC App "TAO" Equipped with AI Coordination Feature, Pop-up Store Also in Shibuya from May 16

Alibaba's EC business serves over 1.6 billion customers worldwide and operates brands that respect local markets, such as Lazada in Southeast Asia, Miravia in Spain, and Trendyol in Turkey.
In Japan, we have also supported industry for 17 years, and have newly established a local subsidiary, Taobao Japan Co., Ltd..
The EC brand for Japan "TAO" is not just economical; it carefully selects, sources, and sells products that offer the value for money Japanese users expect through a specialized team.

I gained 20 years of experience as a designer at Alibaba and was posted to Japan two years ago.
I was interested in what differences existed between Japanese and Chinese users, and through ongoing research, I felt that Japanese users "are seeking product quality and a good experience on the website."
Therefore, with the participation and advice of experienced UI/UX designer Tanaka, the smooth operation of "TAO" has been possible.

When I was offered this opportunity, I had some slight anxiety about what I could do, partly because of the large number of users.
However, I was interested in how UI would evolve in this age of AI and how Alibaba would use AI, so I decided to participate in the project.
Ultimately, I think UI designers like me will become unnecessary, and UI tailored to users' preferences might be generated, but initially, a solid design must be created, so I aimed for as basic and clean a design as possible.

Amidst the rapid development of the modern EC market and rising user demands, retailers are facing "three major challenges."
The first is the language barrier. Beyond product description translation, costs such as customer support can make up 20-40% of operating costs. Especially in Asian countries, the shortage of personnel for specific languages is significant, but these problems can potentially be solved by Large Language Models (LLMs).
The second is cultural differences. It is clear that there are differences in products to be sold and effective marketing strategies depending on the region, and strategies based solely on past experience carry the risk of accumulating inventory. Data-driven decision-making is important.
The third is marketing efficiency. Many brands have unimaginative marketing methods for overseas markets. It is necessary to not only rely on existing platforms and fixed production lines but also capture changes in market trends and adapt effectively.
What we're introducing this time is "TAO's AI coordination feature." Users will be able to have a new AI shopping experience through matching their preferences with data-structured product information and virtual try-on capabilities.

Japanese EC platforms are characterized by a relatively conservative variety of products, limited options, and relatively high prices.
Also, we feel that the shopping experience is rather catalog-like, and search and recommendation functions are lacking.
This includes consumers who want to enjoy fashion on a limited budget, those who prioritize value for money, and those who like to try new products.
TAO's AI coordination feature is useful as an option to meet the needs of these respective consumer segments. It "proposes appropriate items from over 10 million products" based on user preferences and budget.
Also, with the AI image search function, you can get inspiration from your everyday surroundings and search for products at any time. This is a very convenient function for searching for items with similar designs but different brands or price ranges.

We are also aware that Japanese users have high standards for product and packaging quality.
By requiring sellers to submit inspection reports based on Japanese laws, we also conduct platform-based reviews.
Additionally, we are also launching a packaging brand dedicated to "TAO," and I believe users will be able to see our meticulous attention to detail when they receive their products.

We fully understand that there are significant differences in needs between Chinese and Japanese users, and simply selling Chinese products in Japan will not satisfy them.
Therefore, we select products based on big data including customer reviews and carefully select the optimal products for Japanese consumers from hundreds of millions of products.
We add 10,000 to 20,000 new products daily to our product lineup, including men's and women's wear, bags, and accessories.
However, that's not enough, and to get further feedback from Japanese users, we "will open a pop-up store." (Mentioned later)

"TAO" has two AI agents: a lifestyle assistant and an inspiration master.
They "analyze user information across over 100 types of lifestyles and interests" including dining, outdoor activities, culture, and sports, and propose relevant product lists.
TAO AI can also explain its appealing features and benefits.
"TAO" is a reliable partner that enriches your life.