Optimize Inquiry & RFQ with Sub-Accounts on Alibaba for sales team

1. Overview of optimizing Inquiry & RFQ on Alibaba

• Alibaba is the world's largest B2B e-commerce platform, connecting suppliers from Vietnam with global buyers. Vietnamese businesses are increasingly interested in Alibaba Vietnam, opening booths, consulting on opening booths, and finding ways to export through Alibaba.

• To sell effectively, optimizing responses to Inquiry and RFQ (Request for Quotation) plays a key role. One of the most powerful tools for dividing work between sales teams is Alibaba's Sub-Accounts.

• This article details how Sub-Accounts helps businesses optimize response speed, improve conversion rates and operate professional stores according to the standards of the B2B model on Alibaba.

2. Correct understanding of Inquiry and why quick response is needed

Inquiry is the first message the buyer sends to the supplier. This is the first signal that shows interest in the product.

Alibaba evaluates store quality based on:

• Response Time.

• Response Rate.

• Quality of exchange content.

Quick response helps:

• Increase the supplier's ''Trust Level''.

• Increase display priority in search.

• Increase your chances of appearing in related recommendations.

In an internationally competitive environment, customers often send inquiries to 10–20 suppliers. Suppliers that respond quickly and stay focused will gain the advantage.

3. Correctly understand RFQ and the power of the Buyer Request channel

RFQ Marketplace allows buyers to post detailed quote requests. Suppliers can proactively send quotes without waiting for customers to text them first. Benefits of RFQ:

• Reach hot customers (hot leads).

• Reduce advertising costs.

• Increase your chances of receiving bulk orders.

Sub-Accounts help divide RFQs by industry, market or region so that the sales team can process them faster.

4. Introducing Sub-Accounts and their roles in sales management

Sub-Accounts are accounts that depend on the store's main account.

The main account can create many Sub-Accounts for employees:

• Sales 1

• Sales 2

• International sales

• Domestic sales

• Sales by industry

Main benefits:

• Optimize Inquiry & RFQ processing speed.

• Allocate work to each employee.

• Monitor response performance of each Sub-Account.

• Increase the professionalism of the booth.

This is a mandatory feature for businesses with 2 or more sales personnel.

5. Powers that Sub-Accounts can exercise

• Manage Inquiry messages.

• Respond to Buyer Request from RFQ Marketplace.

• Send quick quote.

• View customer information.

• Process buyer profile (Customer Profile).

• Download documents, catalogs or quotation files.

• Track chat history.

• Create separate customer groups for each employee.

6. Standard process for creating and setting up Sub-Accounts

Basic setup steps:

• Log in to Seller Center with your main account.

• Select “Staff Management”.

• Click “Add Sub-Account”.

• Set permissions.

• Send login information to employees.

Rights should be assigned:

• Respond to guests.

• Send RFQ quote.

• Manage product questions.

• View individual performance reports.

Rights that should not be assigned:

• Edit product price.

• Change store banners.

• Delete product.

• Access the overall revenue report.

7. Benefits of Sub-Accounts for the sales team operating model

Actual benefits:

• Inquiry response within 30 minutes – gold standard on Alibaba.

• Increase Inquiry conversion rate up to 20–40%.

• Resolve multiple requests at the same time.

• Measure individual employee performance.

• Limit missed messages.

• Create shift work flow (24/7).

When Alibaba Vietnam thrives, many Vietnamese businesses use Sub-Accounts to optimize personnel costs and improve the professionalism of their sales teams.

8. How to divide Inquiry & RFQ for each Sub-Account

Businesses can be divided according to:

• Market (US, EU, Japan, Korea...).

• Products (spices, wooden furniture, agricultural products...).

• Sales experience (junior handles low keywords, senior handles large customers).

• Language (English, Chinese, Arabic...).

Recommended division rules:

• Inquiry from bulk buyers => Sales Senior.

• Inquiry for basic information => Sales Junior.

• RFQ has technical requirements => Sales has product expertise.

• VIP Inquiry (customers who have previously purchased) => private care.

9. Quick and convincing Inquiry response strategy

Feedback should include:

• Professional greeting.

• Confirm the information asked by the customer.

• Recommend suitable options.

• Quotation file or catalog.

• Commitment to quality, MOQ, lead time.

Sample templates:

“Thanks for your interest in our product. May I know your required quantity and destination port for the best quotation?”

Keywords should be inserted in chat content:

• Alibaba Trade Assurance

• Verified Supplier

• Factory audit

• OEM/ODM service

Ideal response time:

• 10–15 minutes for the workday.

• 1 hour for night.

10. RFQ handling strategy to increase outstanding orders

How to increase your chances of being prioritized by Alibaba:

• Quote title is clear, contains keywords.

• Detailed, technical product description.

• Give reasonable MOQ price.

• Attach photos and COA (if food).

• Reply 30 minutes before the RFQ is posted.

Sales teams should set KPIs:

• Send 5–10 quality RFQ quotes every day.

• Send RFQ appropriate to the industry, no spam.

ALIBABA VIETNAM COMPANY - EXPORT E-COMMERCE FLOOR

• Head office: 19th Floor, Saigon Center Building, No. 67 Le Loi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1

• Email:  [email protected]

• Phone: (+84) 987 258 510

• Branch 1: 10th Floor, Becamex Tower, 230 Binh Duong Avenue, Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong

• Branch 2: 9th Floor, TTC Plaza, Vo Thi Sau, Thong Thong Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai

• Branch 3: 123 Cong Hoa, Ward 12, Tan Binh, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam