Alibaba unveils AI agent to transform global trade for SMEs
The platform allows users to conduct market research, plan products, design prototypes, check regulations, and find distributors in minutes rather than weeks.

Alibaba International has introduced Accio Agent, a new AI tool that simplifies and accelerates cross-border trade. The company says it is the world’s first AI platform explicitly tailored for business-to-business transactions, aiming to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) design products, research markets, and connect with distributors in just minutes.
Unlike traditional processes that often stretch into weeks, Accio Agent combines multiple product development and distribution stages into a single streamlined workflow. From drafting prototypes and checking compliance rules to identifying suppliers and finding distributors, the tool automates roughly 70 percent of the tasks typically requiring a team of specialists.
Alibaba International Vice President Kuo Zhang described the launch as a direct response to challenges SMEs face in competing globally.
‘This is an AI agent designed to act as a sourcing manager, product developer, engineer, and market researcher all at once,’ he said, calling it a practical fix for everyday hurdles in international trade.
The platform arrives at a time when micro-businesses are increasingly shaping global commerce. A recent Alibaba survey found that 40 percent of SMEs worldwide operate as single-person companies, often constrained by time and resources.
Accio Agent, armed with data on one billion products and 50 million distributors, offers these smaller firms a way to scale their operations without adding staff.
The broader context also suggests strong momentum for AI in e-commerce. Research from Coherent estimates that AI-related applications in the sector will soar from $7.7 billion in 2025 to nearly $38 billion by 2032.
Meanwhile, UN Trade and Development reports that the value of global trade reached a record $33 trillion in 2024, underscoring the size of the market Alibaba aims to reshape.