In this era of rapid technological development, innovation has become an important driving force for social progress. Groups of innovators who have the courage to break the routine and dare to pursue their dreams are using their wisdom and courage to change the world. Alibaba is one of the outstanding representatives, and its growth has witnessed the take-off of China's Internet industry, and also reflects the power of innovation in this era.
Alibaba's journey of technological innovation
Alibaba's development history can be divided into three stages, each of which embodies the wisdom of innovation.
The stage is to use science and technology to create new business and build basic service facilities for e-commerce. On Teacher's Day in 1999, Jack Ma and 18 partners founded Alibaba in a residential community in Hangzhou, with only 500,000 yuan of start-up capital. They initially focused on B2B business, allowing a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises to find overseas demand through the Internet to achieve export business. Subsequently, Alibaba launched Taobao, Alipay, etc., to build a complete e-commerce service system, which completely changed people's lifestyle.
The stage is cloud innovation, which promotes the digital transformation of industries and the development of the real economy through Alibaba Cloud. Nowadays, industrial digitalization has become the consensus of all industries, and a new generation of technology can enable the upgrading of original industries. Alibaba Cloud provides enterprises with powerful cloud computing capabilities, empowers the digital transformation of various industries, and becomes a leader in cloud computing in China and even the world.
The stage is to use technology to better serve the society. On the one hand, Alibaba is at the forefront of science, actively engaged in basic scientific research, and aims at major scientific and technological propositions. On the other hand, we are committed to creating good technology that is open and shared and benefits everyone, so that new productivity can benefit more people.
Alibaba's global reach
As the world's largest e-commerce platform, Alibaba's international influence is growing day by day. On the day of "Double 11" in 2018, a Russian woman received a down jacket from a merchant on Yabao Road in Beijing in a local warehouse in Moscow, which took only 2 hours and 24 minutes. In 2023, Alibaba announced that it would achieve US$200 billion in imports over the next five years, benefiting more than 120 countries and regions.
More importantly, Alibaba is increasing its global new retail layout. At present, it has a controlling stake in Lazada, an e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, an e-commerce platform in Indonesia, Tokopedia, and a wholly-owned acquisition of Daraz Group in Pakistan. Alibaba's international e-commerce retail sales have grown rapidly, and cross-border e-commerce and international retail businesses have performed well.
In the process of globalization, Alibaba adheres to the value logic of mutual achievement with small and medium-sized enterprises. Through the "Thousands of Counties and Thousands of Villages" plan, Alibaba is cultivating a group of people who understand Taobao to stay in rural areas for a long time, establishing county-level service centers and village-level service stations, not only selling local specialty products, but also allowing rural people to enjoy city-like consumption choices.
Alibaba's core competitiveness
What underpins Alibaba's continuous innovation is its intrinsic core competitiveness. Strong brand influence, sufficient capital support, excellent management ability and cohesive values. On this basis, Alibaba has established a sound business ecosystem and leveraged its international advantages to develop and grow through global strategic cooperation.
More importantly, Alibaba has become a technology company that has fully invested in the research and development of basic technologies, and a mechanism for self-innovation and innovation for the whole society has been formed. From the second half of 2021 to 2025, Alibaba plans to invest a total of 100 billion yuan to promote technological innovation, economic development, high-quality employment, and care for vulnerable groups, and promote common social and economic progress.
Alibaba's social responsibility and sustainable development
In addition to its business achievements, Alibaba is also actively fulfilling its social responsibilities and promoting sustainable development.
In terms of environmental protection, Alibaba has achieved a "double reduction" in carbon emissions from its own operations and carbon intensity in the value chain by optimizing energy use, promoting renewable energy, and building the ecology of participants. At the same time, it will drive the ecological carbon reduction of the platform by more than 22.9 million tons and guide consumers to green consumption.
In terms of rural revitalization, Ali dispatched "Rural Revitalization Commissioners" and "Technical Officers" to explore the road of digital rural development in underdeveloped areas. Through the two-way construction of "joint distribution" and "agricultural product supply chain", Cainiao Logistics covers more than 400 poverty alleviation counties and more than 50,000 village-level sites.
In terms of philanthropy, Alibaba launched the "3 Hours for Everyone" philanthropy concept and shared a philanthropic platform with the community to connect hundreds of millions of consumers with philanthropic organizations. The "Tuanyuan" system has helped to recover thousands of lost children.
Alibaba is using its unique capabilities and methods to actively fulfill its social responsibilities and become a leader in sustainable development.
Throughout Alibaba's development history, we see the infinite wisdom and tenacity of an innovator. From the initial e-commerce start-up, to cloud computing and technological innovation, to today's global layout and social responsibility practice, Alibaba is writing the legend of an innovator in its own way.