Deep understanding of the B2B model on Alibaba: Instructions for opening a store & exporting through Alibaba Vietnam

General introduction about Alibaba and the B2B model

Alibaba (platform to be preciseAlibaba.com) was founded in 1999, is one of the world's leading B2B e-commerce exchanges. “B2B model” (Business-to-Business) here means transactions between businesses (for example, manufacturers with importers, raw material suppliers with distributors) instead of between businesses and consumers (B2C). For example, a manufacturer in Vietnam posts goodsAlibaba.comto sell in large quantities to importers abroad.

Why choose B2B model on Alibaba?

Global scale: In the recent fiscal year,Alibaba.comhas served more than 48 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from more than 190 countries and territories. Supporting ecosystem: Alibaba is not only a trading platform, but also provides sourcing tools, advertising, payments, supply chain and after-sales services. Opportunities for Vietnamese businesses: With the strong development of the export economy and e-commerce in Vietnam, participating in Alibaba through "opening a booth", "consulting about opening a booth", "exporting through Alibaba" has become a practical and useful trend.

Understand the structure and operation of the B2B platform on Alibaba

In order for businesses to operate effectively on Alibaba, they first need to clearly understand the structure and how this platform works.

Main ingredients

Seller (Supplier/Exporter): A business or manufacturer registered to sell goods in large quantities and export abroad. Buyer (Buyer/Importer): A business that finds a source of goods, places a request for quotation (RFQ - Request for Quote) or directly searches for a suitable supplier.

• Store (Store/Shop OnAlibaba.com): When a business registers to become a seller, there will be a booth aboveAlibaba.com– a place to display products, introduce capabilities, and receive requests from international customers.

• RFQ & Sourcing (Sourcing Requests): Alibaba allows buyers to post sourcing requests and sellers can make bids. This is a very strong way of connecting in B2B.

Basic operating procedures

• Step 01: Enterprise registers as the above sellerAlibaba.com(for example, a Vietnamese enterprise). There are services of "consulting about opening a booth" and "opening a booth" specifically for the Vietnamese market.

• Step 02: After successful registration, the business creates a booth, uploads products, and optimizes information (English, images, technical descriptions...).

• Step 03: International buyers search, or post RFQs on the "Sourcing" platform. Alibaba suggests suitable suppliers, suppliers respond or offer prices.

• Step 04: Negotiate, sign contracts, pay – many B2B transactions use payment guarantees (Trade Assurance) or other methods.

• Step 05: Shipping & delivery: Products exported from the selling country to the buying country. Businesses need sufficient logistics, customs clearance, and international transportation capacity.

• Step 06: After-sales & relationship expansion: After the first successful order, the supplier can be evaluated well, increase reputation, and receive additional orders.

Differences compared to B2C

• Large quantities: Very small single transactions are not the focus; Usually large quantities, export orders.

• Everything is more professional: more detailed product information, greater supply capacity, suppliers must have production/export capacity.

• Focus on international connections: sellers and buyers in different countries, requiring international logistics and payment capabilities.

• More optimal requirements for supplier profiles: to be displayed better and attract buyers, suppliers need to have good images, descriptions, certifications, and reviews.

Opportunities for businesses in Vietnam when joining Alibaba

Trade & export trends

Vietnam is growing rapidly in exports and cross-border e-commerce. With a platform like Alibaba Vietnam, Vietnamese businesses have great opportunities. For example, Alibaba Vietnam's article clearly states“Aiming for global export goals for Vietnamese businesses”.

• Booth opening consulting is a service to support Vietnamese businesses in registering, optimizing, and operating stores on Alibaba.

• Opening a store on Alibaba is not just about posting products, but about establishing a brand, optimizing your profile, and finding international buyers.

• Exporting through Alibaba is an action: Vietnamese businesses export goods to the international market through Alibaba - called expanding the global market.

Benefits of participating

• Expanding the market to more than 190 countries (according to Alibaba data).

• Increase searchability via RFQ & product catalog.

• Building international brand and reputation – important when exporting.

• Support available in Vietnam: Alibaba Vietnam has branches, training services, and guidance for Vietnamese businesses.

Real-life examples of Vietnamese businesses

• Alibaba Vietnam page has an article: “Instructions for registering to open an Alibaba account are simple and quick” for Vietnamese businesses.

• There is also the article “How to sell on Alibaba in Vietnam effectively”.

This demonstrates specific capabilities and support for the Vietnamese market.

Detailed instructions on how to "open a store" on Alibaba for Vietnamese businesses

Below are detailed, practical steps and additional important notes when you want to "open a store", "consult to open a store" and "export via Alibaba".

Prepare before opening the stall

• Identify product/industry: Choose products that are exportable and have competitive advantages (price, quality, uniqueness).

• Prepare business information: business license, production/export capacity, warehouse, product images, catalogs, designs.

• Optimize product images & descriptions: Because international buyers often search in English; You should prepare clear images, technical descriptions, parameters, and certifications, if any.

• Appropriate pricing: In B2B, prices are often much lower than in B2C; Need to calculate production costs, transportation, taxes, and ensure profits.

• Building international logistics & payment processes: Shipping partners, customs clearance, payment methods (TT, L/C, Trade Assurance...).

Process of opening a store on Alibaba

• Register for a supplier account aboveAlibaba.com(or through Alibaba Vietnam with instructions) → “open a booth”.

• Business authentication: upload license, company information, confirm identity (to increase reliability).

• Set up a booth: choose the store name, logo, banner, industry information, company certification, download the first sample product.

• Product optimization:

- Product title (English): should contain main keywords and clear description.

- Detailed description: materials, dimensions, capacity, standards, whether there is export certification.

- Images/movies: many angles, usage environment, warehouse/factory if any.

• Price and MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) – clearly stated.

Activate support tools: join the Trade Assurance program, place ads in Alibaba if you want to increase visibility.

Monitor and optimize your store: update new products, respond to RFQ requests quickly, track analytics (buyer data, hot products). Alibaba Vietnam provides supporting industry reports. Promote off-platform marketing: link company website, take advantage of social networks, email marketing to international customers; as well as participating in Alibaba's sourcing event.

Notes and tips for success

1. Fast RFQ response: International buyers typically expect a response within 24 hours; Delay can easily lead to loss of customers.

2. Optimize product keywords: Because you sell internationally, you need to use English + words that buyers search for a lot.

3. Competitive price and quality: Because there are many global suppliers on Alibaba; You need to have your own advantages (good price, quality, fast delivery).

4. Build reputation: Good reviews, export certification, and appearing in industry reports will help increase credibility.

5. Preparing logistics & exports: Don't just believe that the platform takes care of everything; You need to proactively transport, clear customs, package, and do customs inspection.

6. Take advantage of the "booth opening consulting" service: If you are a new business, support services in Vietnam will help you move faster.

Specific B2B model on Alibaba - How Vietnamese businesses operate and have successful strategies

Specific examples of operational models

Suppose you are the owner of a packaging manufacturing company in Vietnam (this is very suitable for you, because you are passionate about the packaging industry). You want to “export via Alibaba”. The process could be as follows:

• Open a booth on Alibaba, present packaging products (for example: paper packaging, kraft bags, carton boxes) with specifications, MOQ, FOB price.

• International buyers (retailers or distributors) search for “kraft paper packaging box wholesale” → find your store.

• Buyer sends RFQ: “We need 100,000 units of kraft paper boxes 300×200×150mm, printing in 4 colors, shipping to Germany by sea before December”.

• You answer, quote, negotiate. When finalizing the order, you ship the goods, transport them, and clear customs.

• After successful delivery and receiving good feedback, you will receive more repeat orders, your Vietnamese brand will be known to international buyers → successfully build "export through Alibaba".

Strategy to stand firm and develop

• Choose a clear market niche: Environmental paper packaging, biological bags, packaging designed specifically for the EU market... that is a competitive advantage.

• Focus on quality & international certification: For example: ISO, FSC (paper from managed forests), CE if needed for EU market.

• Optimize logistics & transportation costs: Because you export - if logistics is too expensive, it will reduce profits.

• Take advantage of Alibaba Vietnam's industry data: They provide industry reports and sourcing trends that you can use to choose products and markets.

• Advertising within Alibaba & marketing activities off the platform: For example, advertising to increase exposure, participating in "march expo" or "super november" events on Alibaba.

• After-sales care: On-time delivery, quality assurance, good feedback - helps build reputation and receive larger orders.

Things to consider and challenges when exporting through Alibaba

Challenge

• High global competition: Many suppliers from many countries participate – you need to have a clear advantage.

• Initial investment costs: Opening a booth, advertising, logistics, time to build reputation.

• High requirements for export capacity: Including packaging, international shipping, customs clearance, and credit payment.

• Risk of fraud or risky transactions: Even though there is a protection mechanism like Trade Assurance, it is still necessary to proactively check.

• Store optimization and SEO in Alibaba: If you post a sketchy product, without optimizing keywords, descriptions, images - few people will see it.

Things to ensure

• Ensure transparency of company and product information.

• Clear contract: quantity, quality, delivery time, payment conditions.

• Prepare for logistic flexibility: if buyers require fast delivery, you need a reliable shipping partner.

• Optimized for each market: For example, the EU market requires more stringent environmental, packaging, and licensing requirements.

• Maintain and upgrade the store: update products, feedback, customer relationships.

The role of Alibaba Vietnam and the "consulting on opening a store" service for Vietnamese businesses

Alibaba Vietnam – on-site support

Alibaba.comVietnam (branch/representative in Vietnam) is headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Dong Nai... and provides Vietnamese business support services such as: "Consulting on opening a booth", "opening a booth", registration instructions, and industry reports.

Service "consulting about opening a booth"

• Support Vietnamese businesses to register accounts, open stores, and optimize profiles.

• Instructions for operating a store, optimizing SEO in Alibaba, using Alibaba's advertising tools.

• Operational training supportAlibaba.comand export support.

Why should Vietnamese businesses use this service?

1. Because you can avoid mistakes due to unfamiliarity with international platforms.

2. Take advantage of combined domestic knowledge and experience of Vietnamese and international markets.

3. Shorten the time from "opening a booth" to "receiving export orders".

4. Language, culture and logistics support in the Vietnamese - international context.

Looking to the future: Trends and advice when participating in the B2B model on Alibaba

Trend

Alibaba.comis integrating many new technologies such as artificial intelligence to make it easier for SMEs to participate. The Vietnamese market is increasingly focused on exports. For example, the article "Vietnam launches national booth on Alibaba". International buyers increasingly appreciate sustainability factors - environmentally friendly products and green packaging will be an advantage.

Advice for you (as a business, factory/commercial owner)

• Start as early as possible: Open a store, create a profile, test products.

• Focus on products that have advantages in Vietnam (for example: organic agricultural products, packaging, textiles, furniture, seafood...) and then expand.

• Branding: don't just sell cheap, but have a professional story, logo, and image.

• Invest in analytics: track each product, see which categories buyers search for most, then optimize and expand.

• Willing to learn: Participate in training sessions, Alibaba Vietnam's sourcing events, and market updates.

• Export mindset – not just selling domestically: When you prepare from the beginning for the international market, you will have an advantage.

Conclude

The B2B model on Alibaba gives Vietnamese businesses a golden opportunity to expand the global market, instead of just selling domestically. Opening a booth, consulting on opening a booth, and exporting through Alibaba is no longer too far-fetched if businesses prepare in the right direction: good products, optimized booths, methodical export logistics, and taking advantage of support from Alibaba Vietnam. Remember: success doesn't come just by posting products, but by building a brand, optimizing information, responding quickly, and always improving. If you are currently a factory owner, manufacturing business or export business - joining Alibaba can be a strategic step to break through.

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ALIBABA VIETNAM COMPANY - EXPORT E-COMMERCE FLOOR

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