Following the success of Alibaba’s Go Digital, Go Global online trade show and the unveiling of freight and payment programs, the Chinese juggernaut is doubling down its focus on supporting US B2B businesses. Looking to arm SMBs in a traditionally analog segment, Alibaba’s goal with this initiative is to provide the right tools to thrive in the $23.9 trillion global B2B e-commerce market.

“U.S. manufacturers have huge potential to grow their online business and recover from this pandemic better-positioned for the future. Our first-ever Digitization Sprint will give manufacturers the education, community, and tools needed to accelerate their digital skills,” said John Caplan, President of North America and Europe of Alibaba.com.

The Digitization Sprint for US Manufacturers is a four-week program designed to teach small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses (fewer than 500 employees) the ins and outs of online marketing, selling, and sourcing to accelerate their digital transformation and ensure long-term success. The program is offered at no cost to qualified manufacturers who apply.

Manufacturers are a small, but powerful, driver of the US economy, and 98.6% of them are small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, according to SCORE, a nationwide network of business mentors. Last year, manufacturing accounted for 11.4% of US economic output and employed 8.5% of the US workforce, or 12.8 million workers, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online sourcing and selling tools by American manufacturers. The recent Alibaba.com U.S. B2B Small and Medium Business Survey found that manufacturers’ online B2B trade grew at twice the rate of the overall industry average since the pandemic and is tied with retail as the sectors with the most digital growth. This is a noticeable change from the previous survey in January, which showed that US manufacturers’ online trade volume lagged all other industries, except construction.

“Amid all the disruption of 2020, manufacturers increasingly see the power of e-commerce as a channel for reaching new markets and growing their company,” said Curt Anderson, eCommerce for Manufacturing Expert and founder of B2Btail.com. “The Digitization Sprint will give industrial entrepreneurs a step-by-step curriculum for making e-commerce work hard for their business.”

The Digitization Sprint Details:

• Curriculum from Alibaba.com’s team, industry leaders, and partners on topics ranging from understanding the fundamentals of e-commerce like marketplace structure and pricing dynamics to learning tangible skills like leveraging digital advertising to generate leads, taking quality photos for product listings and digital storefronts, and even leveraging social media to build their brand and reach new customers.
• Coaching on succeeding in the digital economy during weekly modules and during tailored sessions from partners and experts in e-commerce for manufacturers like the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Navy Yard, and e-commerce consultant Curt Anderson.
• Community through a private LinkedIn group and roundtable discussions with experts and peers for ongoing education and shared experience.

The inaugural Alibaba.com Digitization Sprint for US Manufacturers will kick off in mid-November with limited spots available. Apply here.