Alibaba gives its wholesale business a boost with sourcing channel

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is upgrading its wholesale business by adding a new sourcing channel to better facilitate cross-border trade, particularly for small - and medium-sized enterprises.

The e-commerce giant announced on Wednesday it is adding a new channel for buyers seeking standardized goods rather than tailor-made products on Alibaba.com, the company's business-to-business site.

The new avenue, in addition to a parallel channel for customized offerings, will distinguish different buyers by identifying their unique needs, thus enhancing their chances of procurement.