E-commerce empowered by WeChat's Mini Program

Tencent Holdings Ltd, the operator of China's largest social media network WeChat, is extending into e-commerce by empowering industry players through its 8-month-old in-app feature.

The Shenzhen-based company is opening up the functions of its Mini Program' a built-in assortment of apps, to help online shopping platforms with improved traffic, marketing might and payment capabilities built around the entire WeChat ecosystem.

By adopting the Mini Program, brands and vendors can offer cash rebates, group-buying options, virtual gift cards and livestreaming services to 962 million users on WeChat, the most popular daily point of contact by Chinese since its debut in 2011.