Alibaba set to upgrade Tmall

Firm to offer daily deals, prioritize membership integration, revamp virtual store front

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd announced on Tuesday major upgrades to its Tmall online shopping site as the e-commerce giant tried to guard its retail supremacy against rivals such as archrival Tencent Holdings Ltd.

The country's top business-to-customer site will kick off revamps that will prioritize membership integration across online and offline channels, customize its virtual store front, have daily deals featuring cost-effective offers, and a function to allow the quick setup of online shops by individuals and merchants, company executives told a news conference in Hangzhou.