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SMEs worldwide are exploring AI and digital tools to overcome trade barriers and build resilient supply chains
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have always been the heart of global commerce, but never before have they had the digital tools to truly compete with multinational giants, until now.
At Alibaba.com’s third annual CoCreate flagship event in Las Vegas (Sept 4–5, 2025), over 3,500 business leaders, suppliers, and entrepreneurs came together to share insights, solutions and success stories. The overarching theme? SMEs can, and are, becoming global players thanks to AI, data-driven platforms, and strategic digital transformation.
SMEs Go Global: The Micro-Multinational Era
Alibaba.com President Kuo Zhang described a pivotal shift in global trade, noting that “The businesses thriving today are those that combine the agility of SMEs with the technological capabilities that were once the exclusive domain of large multinationals.”
That sentiment set the tone for the summit, where AI was presented as a powerful equalizer, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to operate with the efficiency and reach of global companies. The summit introduced the term “micro-multinational” as small businesses or solopreneurs that leverage digital tools to break into global markets with precision and agility.
Alibaba.com’s research backs this up: 63% of SMEs are now actively adopting AI to enhance cross-border trade. These businesses aren’t waiting for conditions to stabilize – they’re using tech to forge ahead.
Solving the Classic Challenges of Global Trade
Global sourcing has long faced hurdles: language barriers, supplier verification issues, and market intelligence gaps.
At CoCreate, many micro-multinational entrepreneurs noted that AI and digital tools are directly addressing these pain points at scale by eliminating multilingual communication to bridge cross-border gaps and provide AI-powered risk analysis to improve decision-making with real-time data to replace guesswork with actionable insights.
Rather than requiring full digital overhauls, these solutions allow SMEs to upgrade specific pain points in their supply chains, producing fast, measurable impact.
Accio Agent: A Game-Changer for Global Sourcing
A key innovation showcased at the summit was Accio Agent, an AI assistant designed specifically for small businesses navigating the complexities of global sourcing.
Powered by data from 1 billion product listings and 50 million supplier profiles, Accio automates up to 70% of routine workflows – including product prototyping, regulatory compliance, and supplier selection.
Unlike other AI tools, Accio is designed for ease of use. It understands both long-form text and image-based queries. Entrepreneurs can upload product sketches, photos, or even handwritten notes, and the tool builds out a complete sourcing plan, product specs, or even a marketing brief. All without any prompt engineering required.
It also generates supplier evaluations and feedback reports, helping SMEs make data-informed decisions without needing a full procurement team.
Case Studies: Digital Innovation in Action
The summit featured several standout SMEs that are reshaping global trade through digital tools:
- GIP Industries (USA): A distributor of Nike and G West apparel, GIP moved from costly trade shows to a fully digital model. Buyers now access catalogs, inventory, and ordering systems online – speeding up procurement and cutting overhead.
- Hound (Italy): After launching on Alibaba.com, this pet food startup used analytics tools to monitor U.S. buyer behavior. This enabled on-the-fly adjustments in packaging and branding, facilitating a successful U.S. market entry.
- Pace Sports (Pakistan): Based in Sialkot, Pace specializes in sublimated sportswear. Founder Mr. Tehseen Abbas, an Alibaba Verified Seller, reports that 80% of revenue now comes from the U.S., thanks to digital trust tools like Trade Assurance and Verified Membership.
- HMG (Vietnam): Known for handmade 3D pop-up cards, HMG uses Alibaba.com’s listing optimization and performance metrics to expand internationally. The business also highlights its commitment to female artisanship, connecting values with global demand.
Each company tells a story of overcoming traditional trade limitations with a digital-first mindset.
What’s Ahead: CoCreate Goes to Europe
Alibaba.com revealed that the next stop for the CoCreate Summit is London on November 14, 2025. This move reflects the growing importance of European SMEs in global trade and aims to help them navigate region-specific challenges like data privacy, tax compliance, and trade regulations across EU markets.
Technology Is the New Trade Advantage
The Las Vegas 2025 CoCreate Summit underscored a powerful trend: digital resilience is now the competitive edge.
What stood out most was not just the promise of new tools, it was the proof. Real businesses in real markets, seeing real results.
Whether through AI platforms like Accio Agent, robust analytics, or intelligent matchmaking with trusted suppliers, small businesses are rewriting the rules of international commerce.
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