China’s leading tech and e-commerce company Alibaba is launching an innovative cross-service loyalty program in a strategic effort to reclaim its dominance in the country’s highly competitive e-commerce market. The new initiative, centered around its flagship platform Taobao, goes beyond traditional shopping by integrating services like food delivery and travel into a unified user experience.

A Seamless Ecosystem for Every Consumer Need

Alibaba’s new strategy is based on offering users a consolidated experience across different platforms. As part of this plan, the food delivery service Ele.me and travel booking platform Fliggy have been integrated into Alibaba’s core e-commerce unit. This unified ecosystem allows users to benefit from exclusive discounts and privileges across shopping, dining, and travel — all within a single loyalty framework.

The company’s existing loyalty program, 88VIP, will serve as the foundation for this expanded service model. Already boasting millions of members, 88VIP currently offers perks such as free shipping, hassle-free returns, exclusive deals, and dedicated customer support. With the new updates, the membership program is evolving into a comprehensive lifestyle package that encourages deeper user engagement and longer-term loyalty.

With this move, Alibaba aims not only to retain its current user base but also to re-engage younger, digitally savvy consumers who are active across multiple platforms. The broader goal is to transform Alibaba from a traditional e-commerce platform into a holistic digital lifestyle provider — one that meets the daily needs of modern consumers through a single, integrated experience.

German-based e-commerce and retail giant Otto has decided to completely withdraw from the Dutch market, where it has operated for nearly half a century. The company has taken this strategic step due to ongoing economic difficulties, low profit margins, and the failure to achieve sustainable growth expectations. As a result of the decision, approximately 70 employees working at the Dutch office will be laid off.

Digital Transformation Was Not Enough

Otto began operations in the Netherlands in 1979. Initially functioning through a traditional catalogue-based sales model, the company adapted over the years by shifting to e-commerce as part of its digital transformation. However, the digital success it achieved in Germany was not replicated in the Netherlands. Even after transitioning to a marketplace model that allowed third-party sellers to offer their products, Otto struggled to perform in the highly competitive Dutch e-commerce market.

The company’s decision to exit this market reflects a broader reassessment of its strategy across European markets. Rising operational costs and changing consumer behavior in the region have made it increasingly difficult for Otto to establish a sustainable future. This move also highlights that e-commerce success depends not only on digital infrastructure but also on tailored strategies that align with local market dynamics.

Otto’s departure from the Netherlands may cause minor shifts in the European e-commerce landscape. The company now aims to concentrate its resources and efforts on markets where it maintains a stronger presence and better long-term prospects.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — In a bold move set to redefine the esports viewing landscape, the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has unveiled a new partnership with Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The collaboration aims to merge competitive gaming, shopping, and entertainment into one seamless experience for global audiences.

Immersive Tech-Powered Fan Engagement

By integrating Amazon’s retail platforms with AWS’s advanced cloud and AI capabilities, fans will enjoy features like automated highlights, player heat maps, win probability insights, and real-time interactive dashboards — all embedded in livestreams and companion apps. This integration is expected to bring the tournament closer to viewers than ever before.

Expansion of Digital Platforms & Content

Building upon their initial 2024 collaboration, EWCF and Amazon are expanding across several channels:

• Twitch: Live broadcast coverage of matches.
• Prime Video: Exclusive docuseries and original storytelling.
• Alexa: Voice-activated real-time match updates.
• Wondery: Immersive audio narratives.

Esports, Global Reach & Brand Activations

This strategic alliance extends esports content outreach to critical markets including the U.S., Europe, Brazil, Mexico, MENA, Türkiye, India, and Canada. Branded activations and Amazon ads across its platforms will engage fans while offering retail integration through Amazon’s ad tools.

2025 EWC in Full Swing

Returning to Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the EWC is delivering esports on a grand scale:

• Over 2,000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries.
• 25 tournaments featuring 24 game titles.
• A record-breaking $70+ million prize pool, the largest in esports history.
• The event also includes entertainment elements like live music, cosplay, retro arcades, and creator studios, elevating it into a cultural festival.

Tech-Fueled Storytelling

Francois Desir, Senior Manager for Sponsorships at the EWCF, remarked that technology is central to EWC’s growth strategy. The combination of storytelling and real-time engagement via AWS and Amazon promises to deliver unforgettable moments—both at the Amazon Arena in Riyadh and at home. Mike McCabe, EWCF’s COO, added that this partnership brings esports into daily life, making it “always on, accessible, and deeply social.”

This story underscores how the Esports World Cup Foundation is revolutionizing global esports culture through technological innovation and immersive media partnerships.

India-based food delivery giant Swiggy has reshaped its board of directors following its IPO, appointing Faraz Khalid, CEO of Noon, as an independent director. His addition comes after the departure of investor representatives Sumer Juneja from SoftBank and Anand Daniel from Accel.

Faraz Khalid’s Role in Swiggy’s New Vision

Faraz Khalid’s appointment reflects Swiggy’s commitment to a more independent governance structure. Known for building Noon into one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the MENA region and previously co-founding Namshi, Khalid brings deep expertise in quick commerce, fintech, and food delivery—key segments in the evolving digital economy.

Swiggy’s founder and CEO, Sriharsha Majety, emphasized that Khalid’s experience in scaling operations, integrating advanced technology, and designing seamless customer experiences will significantly contribute to the company’s long-term growth strategy. As an independent director, Khalid is expected to play a key role in strengthening Swiggy’s governance and strategic decision-making processes.

The departure of Sumer Juneja and Anand Daniel is seen as part of a typical post-IPO transition, where companies move toward a more independent board composition. These shifts are aligned with global standards of corporate governance, especially for publicly listed entities seeking greater accountability and transparency.

Increasing the proportion of independent directors on Swiggy’s board is likely to support more strategic, shareholder-focused decisions in the long run. This governance evolution marks a new phase for Swiggy—one where sustainable growth, transparency, and leadership continuity are positioned at the core of its public market journey.

Alibaba has introduced its first AI-powered smart glasses, the Quark AI Glasses. This new product marks the company’s strong entry into the wearable technology market, aiming to compete directly with Meta’s Ray-Ban collaboration smart glasses. The Quark AI Glasses operate using Alibaba’s proprietary large language model, Qwen, alongside the Quark AI assistant. Users can make hands-free calls, listen to music, and benefit from advanced features such as real-time translation and meeting transcription.

Technology and Features of Quark AI Glasses

Built on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 platform, the Quark AI Glasses feature dual operating system support. The combination of Android and a real-time operating system enhances device performance, ensuring smooth and efficient daily use. Additionally, Alibaba has integrated the glasses with its Taobao e-commerce platform, enabling users to compare prices and make payments through Alipay seamlessly. These integrations aim to significantly simplify the shopping experience for users.

Alibaba plans to launch the smart glasses in the Chinese market by the end of 2025. While pricing and detailed technical specifications have yet to be announced, the company appears to be pursuing a strong strategy to compete with rivals like Meta and Xiaomi. Beyond consumer electronics, the product is also expected to provide considerable benefits in business environments, especially for meetings and remote work.

This move highlights Alibaba’s commitment to developing innovative AI and wearable technology solutions. Moreover, it strengthens China’s tech sector competition and supports the company’s goal to become a more influential player in the global market.

Amazon has acquired Bee, a San Francisco-based startup specializing in AI-powered wearable devices. This strategic move strengthens Amazon’s investments in artificial intelligence and wearable technology, aiming to usher in a new era for personal health monitoring and quality of life.

Bee’s AI-Powered Wristband for Health Monitoring

Bee’s AI-enabled wristband tracks users’ daily activities, sleep patterns, and stress levels in real time. The device listens to users’ conversations and converts them into text, creating personalized reminders, summaries, and to-do lists. It also integrates with emails, calendars, location data, and photos to provide more comprehensive analytics.

Bee’s CEO, Maria de Lourdes Zollo, stated that the acquisition will accelerate technology development and that Amazon’s robust infrastructure will further enhance the device’s privacy controls. The wristband will be sold at a price of $49.99, with a monthly subscription fee of $19.

With this acquisition, Amazon aims to go beyond voice assistants like Echo, integrating more deeply into users’ daily lives. This will expand the opportunities AI offers in personal health and productivity. The company plans to integrate Bee’s technology and expertise into its ecosystem to improve users’ quality of life.

This acquisition reinforces Amazon’s innovative approach in the health and technology sectors and is expected to intensify competition in the wearable technology market.

Economic data for Saudi Arabia’s first quarter of 2025 reveal that the country’s economy performed stronger than expected. While previously announced growth was 2.7%, the main contribution came from non-oil sectors, which grew by 4.9%. During the same period, contraction in the oil sector remained limited at around 0.5%. Government spending was also one of the important factors supporting growth.

Among the leading sectors, retail and hospitality grew by 8.4%, transportation and communication by 6%, and finance and business services by 5.5%. Domestic demand increased by 4.5%, while fixed capital investments rose by 8.5%.

Saudi Arabia is the Most Active Venture Capital Market in the MENA Region

According to MAGNiTT data, Saudi Arabia was the most active venture capital market in the MENA region during the first half of 2025, completing 114 investment deals and attracting investments exceeding 860 million dollars. These figures highlight the country’s economic diversification and growth targets in innovative sectors.

On the export side, there was a 9% increase in non-oil products, while imports decreased by 10%. These developments positively impacted the trade balance and helped net exports contribute positively to growth.

An increase in oil production limited the contraction of the sector. However, the budget GDP growth for the first half of the year was revised to 3.4%, reaching a level of 101 billion riyals.

This increase also led to a budget deficit being recorded. The Ministry of Finance announced that public expenditures will be reviewed.

Mega projects and infrastructure investments carried out under Vision 2030 are expected to accelerate economic growth throughout the year.

Record Surge in Saudi Arabia’s E-Commerce Sales

The Russia-based popular e-commerce platform Wildberries aims to make its logistics and delivery processes more efficient through the taxi service.

Wildberries’ taxi service is intended to shorten delivery times and increase customer satisfaction, especially during peak shopping periods. Additionally, this service is seen as a new step to improve the overall user experience on the platform.

Wildberries Aims for Reliable Delivery

Company officials plan to expand the taxi service to other cities if the pilot project proves successful. This development is considered an indication of the importance placed on innovative solutions in logistics and delivery within the e-commerce sector.

With this move, Wildberries aims to increase competition in online shopping while offering faster and more reliable delivery options to customers.

The data on Germany’s e-commerce ecosystem is promising! In the first six months of 2024, spending on purchasing products online reached €39.84 billion. This figure represents a 3.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

The e-commerce sector in Germany experienced a major boom after the pandemic. In the following two years, the market contracted by 8.8% and 11.8%, respectively. However, the latest data shows that this downward trend has ended. The sector is back on a growth path. In 2023, there was a slight recovery of 1.1%. Then 2024 stands out as a “clear year of growth.”

Both Product and Service Spending Increased

In Germany’s e-commerce market, in addition to product sales, online service expenditures also showed a significant rise. This segment, which reached €3.9 billion with a 4.4% increase, reveals the diversification in the digital economy. Although these figures are not adjusted for inflation, which is estimated to be around 2%, they are still viewed positively.

“Shopping Behavior in Germany is Returning to Old Patterns”

Martin Groß-Albenhausen, Deputy Managing Director of the German E-Commerce and Mail Order Association (bevh), stated that shopping behavior in the country is starting to return to previous patterns. Groß-Albenhausen said, “This recovery benefits the e-commerce platforms most influential in digital channels. Through social media, mobile apps, and AI-supported suggestions, online retail reaches consumers in the most direct and effective way.”

Marketplace Sales Grew by 5.9%

According to Germany’s e-commerce data, sales on marketplaces operating in the country grew by 5.9%. Platforms like Amazon are among the biggest beneficiaries of this increase. However, this is not the case for every seller. Groß-Albenhausen emphasizes that this growth is mostly concentrated around large-scale sellers and platforms, while small businesses are not showing the same performance.

Concerns Continue Among Small E-Commerce Sellers

The data published by bevh confirms the 4% e-commerce growth forecast by the German Retail Association (HDE) for 2024. However, a study by Uptain paints a different picture. Small and medium-sized online businesses across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are not benefiting from the increased spending. In fact, many small sellers are experiencing a decline in revenue.

sahibinden.com made a breakthrough in Türkiye in 2000 by bringing listings and shopping processes into the digital environment. Its mission is to make life easier for its users and ensure they can find everything they are looking for with ease. Its vision is to always be a user-friendly and innovative platform that focuses on sustainability and technology. sahibinden.com continues to grow as a pioneer of the circular economy and digitalization in Türkiye for a quarter of a century.

sahibinden.com CMO: “There is a Future in Second-Hand!”

Nazım Erdoğan, Deputy General Manager Responsible for Marketing at sahibinden.com, explained how they position sahibinden.com while the global second-hand market makes significant progress: “sahibinden.com, which believes in the power of second-hand products and plays a leading role in this field, increases user awareness with the message ‘There is a Future in Second-Hand,’ focusing on sustainability. By developing services that allow our users to shop for second-hand items with confidence, we contribute to the circular economy and take responsibility in the fight against the climate crisis. In 2024, we established a sustainability committee that includes senior management. We continue to take concrete steps in the field of sustainability with our commitments and published reports.”

Legendary Listings: The Lucky House That Helped Win a Football Match

Touching on interesting listings related to second-hand sales, Nazım Erdoğan said, “In the past, many interesting listings we compiled under the title of ‘Legendary Listings’ attracted great attention from the public. However, one user’s ‘lucky house that helped win a football match’ remained in our memory as one of the legendary listings. Every listing is the first step of a dream; being a bridge in turning these dreams into reality is the most meaningful and satisfying part of our work.”

Erdoğan continued, “Over the years, we have witnessed many colorful listings such as a Star Wars-themed house worth 1.6 million TL, an unused Airbus A300 aircraft, a biscuit wrongly packaged due to a production error, and a mini Mercedes worth 12,000 euros. In addition, many interesting listings have been posted on our platform, ranging from antique collections to props used on movie sets, from scripts for sale to entire TV channels. We are always amazed by the creativity of our users!”

Approximately 550 Million Visits Per Month!

With an average of 64.4 million users per month, sahibinden.com sees 548.5 million visits and 15.4 billion page views. Ranking fourth in the world in the classifieds category and eighth among all internet platforms in Türkiye according to SimilarWeb rankings, sahibinden.com hosts more than 8 million listings in a wide range of categories such as vehicles, real estate, second-hand products, and refurbished electronic devices.