Alibaba International has launched Accio Agent, an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool designed to automate and streamline global trade processes. This new tool follows the significant growth of Accio, which has already attracted over two million users in its first nine months. Accio Agent aims to redefine international commerce by automating approximately 70% of traditional manual tasks, covering the entire process from initial product concept development and prototyping to compliance verification and supplier identification. This automation is expected to drastically shorten the time from an idea's inception to its integration into global supply chains.
Accio Agent functions by allowing users to submit a product concept, after which the AI generates a comprehensive development plan. This plan includes essential market insights, relevant regulatory guidelines, and detailed design specifications. Upon user approval, Accio Agent proceeds with real-time supplier vetting, initiates bulk Requests for Quotations (RFQs), and conducts comparative analyses to present a finalized roadmap ready for production. With a single click, inquiries are dispatched to pre-vetted sellers on Alibaba.com, Alibaba's business-to-business (B2B) e-marketplace, enabling buyers to efficiently select the most suitable suppliers. The AI is trained on an extensive dataset of one billion product listings and 50 million supplier profiles, utilizing advanced language models to analyze customer feedback and supplier performance for subtle advantages, such as specialized customization capabilities. It also mimics the decision-making processes of expert procurement professionals, evaluating technical requirements, potential risks, and business objectives to balance trade-offs like quality versus cost, or innovation versus compliance.
Kuo Zhang, Vice President of Alibaba International, highlighted the practical value of Accio Agent, stating, "Accio Agent is a highly practical tool that solves a multitude of problems for businesses sourcing globally. It's an AI agent designed to help you do business. It can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, operating like a team of dedicated professionals—sourcing agents, product developers, engineers, and market researchers—all working together to grow your business." The AI in the e-commerce market is experiencing substantial growth, projected to expand from an estimated USD 7.68 billion in 2025 to USD 37.69 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.5% between 2025 and 2032, according to Coherent Market Insights. This expansion aligns with the broader trend in global trade, which reached a record $33 trillion in 2024, as reported by UNCTAD. The integration of AI is empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by providing them with enterprise-level automation capabilities previously accessible only to larger corporations, thereby leveling the playing field in global commerce. The evolution of Accio into Accio Agent underscores Alibaba International's commitment to innovation and its role in reshaping global trade by automating intricate workflows and delivering actionable intelligence. Accio Agent is now accessible via Accio.com by activating "Agent Mode."