40 Million Orders a Day—And You’ve Probably Never Heard of It
This isn’t Amazon. It’s not even Shein. It’s Alibaba’s Instant Commerce… and it’s moving faster than anything the West has ever seen.
Alibaba’s Taobao Instant Commerce just clocked over 40 million daily orders—less than a month after launch. That’s not growth. That’s a rocket. And it’s redefining what e-commerce means in 2025.
What the Experts Are Saying
Matthew Broersma at Silicon UK notes that Alibaba’s new platform delivers items in under 60 minutes by merging Ele.me’s food delivery logistics with Taobao’s massive e-commerce reach. This isn’t just about food—it’s electronics, flowers, clothing, even groceries. Launched in just 50 cities, it’s already nationwide. Broersma calls it a “fresh sign of the growth of the country’s ‘instant retail’ trend”.
Ann Cao at South China Morning Post highlights the fierce competition driving this surge. Alibaba’s move is a direct challenge to Meituan and JD.com, both of which are pouring billions into similar one-hour delivery models. Cao notes that Alibaba hit 10 million daily orders within its first week, signaling a massive consumer appetite for speed and convenience.
Our Take
This isn’t just a logistics win. It’s a cultural shift. Chinese consumers now expect everything—groceries, gadgets, gifts—on their doorstep in under an hour. Alibaba’s success shows that whoever owns the last mile, owns the customer.
3 Action Items for Brands and Retailers
- Build Your Own “Instant Shelf”: Use platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce to create a dedicated section for products available for local delivery. Partner with services like Uber Direct or DoorDash Drive to fulfill these orders within an hour.
- Leverage Hyperlocal Warehousing: Implement micro-fulfillment centers in key urban areas. Tools like Fabric or Ohi can help set up these centers, ensuring that popular items are always within a short delivery radius.
- Integrate Real-Time Inventory Systems: Adopt inventory management software like TradeGecko or Zoho Inventory that syncs in real-time across all sales channels. This ensures that customers see accurate stock levels, reducing cancellations and improving trust.
Written by Karina Martirosyan
