This week, Alibaba Cloud and its ecosystem highlighted groundbreaking advancements and global achievements across multiple sectors. At Flink Forward Asia, Alibaba Cloud unveiled Apache Flink 2.0, introducing unified batch and stream processing, scalable storage solutions, and real-time analytics to empower the GenAI era.
A strategic partnership with DreamSmart Group integrates Alibaba’s AI model Qwen into smart devices and EVs, enhancing user experiences with advanced AI capabilities.
AliExpress reported a 140% YoY traffic surge during Black Friday, becoming the UK’s top choice and ranking among Europe’s leading e-commerce platforms.
Meanwhile, Cainiao experienced record growth in overseas warehouse orders, with innovations in logistics efficiency supporting peak global demand during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Alibaba Cloud Unveils Apache Flink 2.0 Innovations at Flink Forward Asia
At Flink Forward Asia in Jakarta, Alibaba Cloud showcased the groundbreaking features of Apache Flink 2.0, set for release in early 2025. As a leading contributor to the open-source framework, Alibaba Cloud emphasized Flink 2.0’s unified batch and stream processing capabilities, critical for handling hybrid workloads in the GenAI era. Key advancements include disaggregated state storage for scalability, materialized tables for streamlined data processing, adaptive batch execution for optimized performance, and a streaming Lakehouse architecture for real-time analytics.
Alibaba Cloud also open-sourced Fluss, a streaming storage solution designed for Lakehouse architectures, enabling low-latency and high-throughput data ingestion. These innovations aim to empower businesses with efficient, scalable, and real-time data processing solutions, further cementing Alibaba Cloud’s leadership in the cloud and AI space.
Alibaba Cloud Partners with DreamSmart Group to Enhance Smart Technologies
DreamSmart Group, renowned for its leading smartphone brand Meizu and its comprehensive suite of smart technologies, has forged a strategic partnership with Alibaba Cloud to enhance its product lineup, including mobile phones, smart devices, and smart electric vehicles (EVs) in China.
This collaboration has led to the integration of Flyme AIOS, the operating system of Meizu phones, with Alibaba Cloud’s advanced large language model, Qwen. This integration aims to enhance user experiences significantly. Mobile devices equipped with Flyme AIOS will now feature an AI assistant capable of input suggestions, automatic phone call responses, and intelligent summarization of inquiry results, powered by Qwen’s robust AI capabilities.
Moving forward, DreamSmart Group and Alibaba Cloud are committed to further deepening their cooperation across mobile phones, smart devices, and smart cockpits in electronic vehicles. This will involve leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s extensive cloud infrastructure and cutting-edge AI technologies to drive innovation and deliver quality products with superior experience.
Jing Su, CEO of DreamSmart Group, said, “Alibaba Cloud is a leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Through this strategic partnership, we are dedicated to providing enhanced premium experiences to our customers across various products.”
Alibaba Cloud has been advancing its integrated “Cloud + AI” development strategy to enable customers across industries to reap the benefits of the GenAI era. Another case in point is XPENG, a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle company, which has tapped into Alibaba Cloud’s robust cloud computing capabilities and its Qwen to enhance its AI voice assistant, Xiao P, for a superior smart cockpit experience to redefine its driving experience.
As AI penetration grows, Alibaba Cloud’s cloud computing and AI-related products are expected to become the foundational infrastructure that supports the development of digital transformation of businesses across industries.
AliExpress Shines on Black Friday with Record Growth
AliExpress has emerged as a standout performer this year, with traffic surging 140% year-on-year during Black Friday, surpassing competitors like Temu, Nike, and Apple to become UK consumers’ most popular shopping destination. This success follows its strong performance during the 11.11 shopping festival, where it topped the UK shopping app download charts.
Popular product categories during 11.11 and Black Friday included figurines, festive supplies, wigs, and smart automotive accessories. Chinese brands also saw high demand, with Pop Mart achieving over $10,000 in sales for several items shortly after the 11.11 festival began. Brands like Xiaomi, Lenovo, and OnePlus also recorded significant growth.
AliExpress’s success is not limited to the UK. It has secured a position as one of the top three e-commerce platforms in Europe, alongside Amazon and eBay, according to RetailX. The company doubled its investments for the 11.11 and Black Friday sales events, critical opportunities for cross-border sellers. High-visibility advertising campaigns across major landmarks and metro stations in the UK, South Korea, and Spain played a key role in attracting shoppers.
Cainiao Sees Major Growth in Overseas Warehouse Orders During Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Cainiao, a global leader in e-commerce logistics, has seen a significant surge in orders from overseas warehouses during this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping events.
According to Cainiao’s global supply chain data, the number of outbound orders from overseas warehouses has grown sharply compared to last year. In North America, peak daily order volume at Cainiao’s overseas warehouses tripled year-on-year. Products like 3D printers and robotic vacuums were particularly popular with overseas consumers. For instance, during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, orders for 3D printers increased by 150% year-on-year, and more than 200% compared to normal days. Similarly, orders for robotic vacuums were up by over 270% compared to typical volumes.
To meet the rising demand, Cainiao has expanded its warehouse network, including a new 70,000-square-meter facility in Los Angeles and Savannah. This expansion improves Cainiao’s U.S. distribution network, reducing delivery times and helping merchants cut last-mile costs.
With many e-commerce platforms extending their Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, consumer spending reached new heights. Cainiao has made extensive preparations to support cross-border merchants during this busy period. The company used its supply chain forecasting tools to help merchants better plan their inventory and resources, improving inventory turnover and order fulfillment efficiency.
AGV and AMR robots in the warehouses have boosted efficiency by more than three times. Cainiao’s self-developed smart system also provides real-time warehouse and last-mile performance monitoring, helping merchants streamline operations and cut costs. Despite the surge in orders, Cainiao’s overseas warehouses continued to perform smoothly. With its extensive global last-mile network, Cainiao maintained its 3-day delivery promise across North America and Europe, with some cities even receiving next-day delivery.
