News / Cainiao launches open tender for 2021 logistics services – but be quick

Cainiao Smart Logistics Network, the logistics arm of Chinese-e-commerce platform Alibaba, today launched an open tender for logistics services for next year.

It is calling on logistics providers in key markets including North Asia, South-east Asia, Europe, the Middle East, ANZ and the US.

However, those interested in bidding for the company’s business have just five days, as the deadline for submissions is 15 December.

The tender is segmented into B2C and B2B logistics services, and will also be used to expand the network of Cainiao-certified 3PL partners.

In the B2C area, Cainiao will be curating a list of 3PL partners to provide full-suite end-to-end logistics services for merchants, spanning overseas parcel collection, international line-haul, import customs clearance and last-mile delivery.

It is also looking for partners for its global fulfilment warehouse network, to support overseas warehouse management, quality inspection, picking and packing  and supporting the global warehouse network for consolidation of B2C parcels.

“The goal is to reinforce resources across the entire value chain to deliver greater stability and efficiency to support cross-border e-commerce businesses for both Alibaba (Taobao, Tmall and Kaola) and non-Alibaba merchants,” said the company.

In the B2B area, Cainiao is looking to strengthen its warehouse and trucking network to support businesses’ import and export needs. It said it was looking for overseas warehouses near ports to “facilitate efficient transport and able to provide services for pre-stocking, storage and serve as a container freight station”.

“Partners supporting the trucking network will also have to be well-equipped, with resources such as lorries and container trucks to handle transport of goods between warehouses and to ports,” it added.

Cainiao’s digital logistics platform has more than 3,000 logistics partners and three million courier personnel on its network.