Taobao, the popular consumer-to-consumer shopping site from China, has just made a significant move to cater to its Singaporean users.
Starting today, the platform is rolling out an English-language interface, allowing non-Mandarin-speaking users to easily navigate and shop in English.
“The launch is a direct response to the market demand, reflecting our commitment to improving convenience and accessibility for our users,” said Taobao Singapore Country Head Jean Zhao in a press release today.
Given Singapore’s linguistic diversity, this update makes perfect sense, making the platform more accessible to non-Mandarin speakers who previously had to rely on translation tools.
“We believe this launch will open up new opportunities for Singapore shoppers to discover and enjoy the great diversity of products available on Taobao,” said Tmall Taobao World General Manager Jianqiu Ye.
What does the new English interface offer?
Singapore is the first market to experience Taobao’s English interface, with neighbouring Malaysia set to follow.
So, what can you expect? For starters, prices will now be displayed in Singapore Dollars (SGD), making it easier to track your spending.
The app will also feature product descriptions in English, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), ensuring that you understand exactly what you’re buying.
Plus, the app’s overall design streamlines your shopping journey, making everything from browsing to checkout smoother.
At launch, the English version offers a curated list of trending items, and Taobao will add more categories and products in the coming days or months.
This approach guarantees that the variety and affordability you enjoy on the Chinese interface will soon be available on the English version as well.
Special perks to celebrate the launch
To sweeten the deal, Taobao is offering a few perks for a limited time:
1. New user exclusive: First-time users can score vouchers worth up to RMB100 (around S$18) on either the English or Chinese interface.
2. Free international shipping: Enjoy free shipping on eligible products over RMB199 (around S$37) from China to Singapore.
3. Free returns on your first order: If you buy something with the “local returns” label, you can return it for free to a local warehouse within 15 days.
How to access the new Taobao English interface
If you already have the Taobao app, simply update it to the latest version from the Apple App Store (for iOS users) or Google Play Store (for Android users).
You can log into the English interface with your existing Taobao account, and all your account details, including order history and saved addresses, will be right there.
With this update, shopping on Taobao just got a whole lot easier for Singapore’s non-Mandarin-speaking community.
- Learn more about Taobao Singapore here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Singaporean startups here.
Featured Image Credit: Taobao