Alibaba’s Taobao Instant Commerce, Ele.me to Launch Group-Buying Service

Taobao Instant Commerce, Alibaba’s quick commerce service, and food delivery platform Ele.me will roll out in-store group-buying services starting Sept. 20, piloting in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Jiaxing while initially prioritizing restaurant deals. The service will later expand to major Chinese cities, positioned against Meituan and its Dianping review platform in the group-buying segment. The launch comes shortly after Amap, Alibaba’s mapping unit also known as Gaode, introduced its “Street Stars” merchant review ranking system. Both initiatives are accessible through Taobao, Alipay and Amap, Alibaba’s main consumer apps. [LatePost, in Chinese]