Are Vietnamese businesses lagging behind in the "global B2B game"?

1. Overview of the "B2B game" in the world

• According to Statista statistics, global B2B e-commerce revenue reached more than 20 trillion USD, many times higher than B2C. Countries such as China, the US, and India have shifted strongly to digital exports, not just selling through traditional fairs.

• Among them, Alibaba is the leading platform, accounting for a large proportion of cross-border B2B trade. The B2B model on Alibaba allows businesses to sell directly to international wholesale buyers without the need for intermediaries. This is changing the entire export value chain – from production and distribution to payments and logistics.

2. Vietnamese enterprises: Great potential but the conversion speed is still slow

Vietnam has more than 900,000 operating businesses, of which more than 96% are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, only a small fraction of them are involved in international B2B e-commerce. While China already has millions of suppliers on Alibaba, the number of booths from Vietnam is still modest. Main reasons:

• Lack of understanding about the B2B model on Alibaba.

• Don't know how to open a stall and operate it effectively.

• The mindset of "waiting for buyers to arrive" instead of "actively looking for global customers".

3. Vietnam's advantages in B2B trade have not been fully exploited

Vietnam has a strategic geographical location, located near major manufacturing centers such as China and ASEAN. Strong export industries include:

• Agricultural products (rice, coffee, pepper, cashew nuts).

• Processed foods, spices (shrimp paste, chili sauce, fish sauce, dipping sauce).

• Wooden furniture, handicrafts, textiles.

However, many businesses still depend on traders or intermediaries, making profits fragmented and making it difficult to develop their own brands. If they know how to take advantage of Alibaba Vietnam, they can completely export directly through Alibaba, reduce intermediary costs and build the "Made in Vietnam" brand.

4. B2B model on Alibaba: Opportunity for small and medium enterprises

Understanding the B2B model on Alibaba is the first step for Vietnamese businesses to catch up with the "global game". Highlights of Alibaba compared to other platforms:

• Connecting more than 40 million global buyers.

• Provides a business verification and transaction assurance system (Trade Assurance).

• Supports internal advertising (P4P) to increase product exposure.

• There is a team of consultants to open an Alibaba Vietnam booth to guide you step by step.

Thanks to that, even small businesses can export through Alibaba without having to spend money on international fairs.

5. Why are Vietnamese businesses lagging behind?

There are 5 main reasons why Vietnamese businesses have not taken full advantage of the potential of B2B commerce:

• Lack of knowledge about digital export.

=> Many business owners are still familiar with the traditional format and do not know how to operate an Alibaba store effectively.

• Afraid of initial investment.

=> Some businesses worry about the cost of opening a booth, even though in reality it is only 1/10 of the cost of attending an international exhibition.

• Lack of marketing and customer data management skills.

=>Do not know how to analyze keywords and optimize product content to increase visibility.

• Haven't taken advantage of the booth opening consulting service from Alibaba Vietnam.

=> Miss the opportunity to receive in-depth training and optimize efficiency.

• Foreign language and technical barriers.

=>Lack of personnel who understand how to communicate, negotiate and operate on a global platform.

6. Alibaba - a bridge for Vietnamese businesses to enter the world

Alibaba Vietnam is currently implementing special support programs for small and medium enterprises. When opening a store on Alibaba, businesses receive:

• Instructions for building a professional company profile.

• Support for posting products according to international standards.

• Training on skills to respond to messages, quote prices (RFQ), and process orders.

• Support running ads to reach real buyers.

This is an important stepping stone for Vietnamese businesses to transform from the domestic market to the global export market.

7. How does Alibaba e-commerce platform work?

To avoid being "left behind", businesses need to understand how this e-commerce platform operates:

• Enterprises register stalls (Seller Account).

• Post products with descriptions, images, and certifications.

• International buyers search and submit requests (Inquiry or RFQ).

• Businesses respond to quotes, negotiate and close orders.

• Delivery via logistics partners, secure payment via Alibaba Trade Assurance.

The entire process takes place online, is transparent and protected, helping Vietnamese businesses easily participate in global trade without fear of risk.

8. Typical successes from Vietnamese businesses on Alibaba

• Vietnamese spice business exports shrimp paste and dipping sauce to Europe, just 6 months after opening its stall.

• Binh Duong furniture manufacturer received an order of more than 500,000 USD from Canada through internal advertising.

• A small textile enterprise in Nam Dinh switched from selling domestically to exporting through Alibaba, revenue increased 4 times.

9. Vietnam can completely become a "B2B export powerhouse" if it acts now

• With diverse production advantages, competitive costs and abundant human resources, Vietnam has all the conditions to make a breakthrough.

• Alibaba Vietnam is a bridge to help businesses access the global market without having to spend expensive exhibition costs.

• If every business knows how to take advantage of the B2B model on Alibaba, Vietnam can become "Asia's B2B e-commerce bright spot" in the next few years.

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