A new model that the four small dragons are pursuing has emerged! Sellers are scrambling to enter the semi-custodial market

Since 2023, the full-hosting model has set off a craze in the cross-border circle and has become the standard for major cross-border e-commerce platforms. The huge growth opportunities have also attracted many sellers to join in.

Just when almost all cross-border e-commerce platforms were madly rolling out the full hosting model, AliExpress took the lead in launching the semi-hosting model in early 2024. What new opportunities will this model bring to sellers?

At 4 pm on January 24, AliExpress merchant operations expert Yi Qi answered questions for cross-border sellers one by one and brought a wonderful live sharing.

1. What is AliExpress semi-hosting?

In August 2023, AliExpress took the lead in launching semi-hosting and started trial operation. In January 2024, after 4 months of trial operation, AliExpress fully launched semi-hosting service.

AliExpress semi-hosting is a logistics upgrade for traditional third-party sellers on cross-border platforms (commonly known as the "POP model" in the industry), while retaining the unique product and operational advantages of third-party sellers.

Therefore, a semi-hosted store is a pop store. In terms of form and operation, semi-hosted merchants and pop merchants are the same: a store using semi-hosted services is still a merchant's store, and the ownership of the goods belongs to the merchant, and the operation belongs to the merchant.

Figure: AliExpress semi-hosting is the logistics upgrade of the original POP model

2. What new business opportunities can joining AliExpress semi-hosting bring?

Currently, the most important growth engine on AliExpress is actually the Choice channel on AliExpress.

So how do you join this Choice channel? There are actually two ways. The first is to upgrade the merchant's self-operated store to a semi-hosted store, and the other is to register a fully-hosted store.

Recently joined AliExpress semi-hosting, you can enjoy AliExpress's heavily-added "semi-hosting" services, including:

1. Commission reduction: Semi-managed goods entering the warehouse are 100% free of charge, and JIT delivery can also enjoy a 50% commission reduction;

2. On-time delivery subsidy: If you deliver on time during the Spring Festival, you will enjoy a subsidy of up to 2 yuan per order;

3. Advance loan for "underwriting" type: semi-trusted popular products are put into warehouse, and 60% of the loan is made in advance;

4. Exemption from a series of warehouse fees: For semi-managed goods entering the warehouse, there is no charge for door-to-door collection, no warehouse operation fees, and no warehouse rent.

With heavy investment, "semi-trusteeship" is expected to become a new trend this year, and sellers must seize the current opportunity.

3. How to join semi-hosting?

1) Regarding how to join semi-hosting, you can search the DingTalk group and consult the waiter of the relevant local service center of AliExpress.

2) For merchants who have joined AliExpress, AliExpress has launched a new function of "product reservation to join semi-hosting" in the merchant backend. All merchants can choose the products they want to add to semi-hosting and fill in the relevant information to join the semi-hosting.

AliExpress merchants in Shenzhen, please note that the services in AliExpress Shenzhen have been fully upgraded. Merchants can contact and cooperate with the local center. Bring your products to communicate with the store manager face to face, making communication more efficient and clear.

Since April 2023, Shenzhen has held 53 merchant training sessions, covering a total of 14,146 people, focusing on store growth, hot product creation, promotion preparation, cross-border logistics, traffic delivery and other topics.

Since the beginning of the year, AliExpress has continuously increased its investment in "semi-hosting". With heavy investment, "semi-hosting" is expected to become a new trend this year, and sellers must seize the current opportunity.

In 2024, AliExpress will continue to work with Chinese merchants to operate simply and expand overseas quickly!

AliExpress

Semi-hosting