ByteDance’s Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, is set to heat up competition in China’s instant commerce sector against Alibaba Group Holding, JD.com and Meituan with the merger of its online shopping platform and instant delivery service, according to a report by Chinese tech news website 36Kr on Wednesday.
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Douyin Supermarket, akin to TikTok Shop, is integrating with Douyin Hourly Delivery, which leverages precise mapping and location services to ensure rapid deliveries to consumers, according to the report.
Douyin did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
The move aligns with China’s evolving e-commerce landscape, where the emphasis is increasingly on so-called instant delivery – typically within minutes – amid growing competition among Meituan, JD.com and Post owner Alibaba.
Douyin is striving to convert its online popularity into revenue, with e-commerce emerging as a key avenue.
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Launched in 2023, Douyin Supermarket initially targeted users looking for a seamless e-commerce shopping experience alongside timely delivery. So far, however, only select items were available for next-day delivery, while many products still took several days to arrive, according to 36Kr.