*This article is sponsored by Alibaba.com.
In today’s unpredictable global trade environment, it can seem like the odds are stacked against small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With constant shifts in trade policies, rapidly evolving customer demands, and mounting logistical complexities, resilience isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a necessity.
But as shown at Alibaba.com’s third annual CoCreate event in Las Vegas (Sept 4–5, 2025), SMEs and supply chain professionals are not only weathering the storm, but they are innovating their way through it.
Technology levels the playing field
After fielding over 20,000 submissions from SMEs around the world for Alibaba.com’s CoCreate Pitch competition, a key trend emerged that AI and digital tools are becoming necessary to compete on a global stage.
For years, global sourcing posed barriers that many SMEs found difficult to overcome. But now, AI and other digital tools are removing many of those barriers, making cross-border trade accessible to businesses with teams as small as one to three people. Including:
· Market Insights & Product Development: SMEs can use AI to analyze buyer trends and customize products to meet shifting customer demands.
· Supplier vetting: What once required hours of manual research can now be done quickly through AI-driven search and analytics tools.
· Risk mitigation: As global trade policies fluctuate, AI helps SMEs assess risks and build flexible supply chain strategies.
· Multilingual communication: Real-time translation tools allow businesses to easily communicate with suppliers worldwide, removing language barriers, opening new markets and strengthening supply chains.
And this isn't just anecdotal, 63% of the CoCreate Pitch submissions showed that small business owners are already using AI to help facilitate international trade.
Enter agentic AI for global trade
One standout at the summit was Accio, an AI tool designed specifically to help business owners facilitate cross border trade. Trained on over a billion product listings and 50 million supplier profiles, Accio merges industry intelligence with strategic reasoning handling tasks including product ideation, prototyping, compliance protocols and supplier sourcing.
Its latest upgrade, Accio Agent, automates up to 70% of manual workflows (according to Alibaba.com internal data), from product ideation to supplier vetting. It also processes both text and images, enabling users to upload anything, from sketches to PDFs, and receive a full business plan or sourcing strategy in return. The tool doesn’t require complex prompts, making it accessible for entrepreneurs who may not be tech-savvy.
Real Businesses, Real Results
Small business owners across the globe highlighted their successful experiences at the CoCreate summit, noting how technology and smart platforms are reshaping global commerce:
· GIP Industries (USA): This distributor of Nike and G West apparel moved from traditional trade shows to digital procurement. Buyers now browse catalogs and place orders online, streamlining the supply chain and improving response times.
· Hound (Italy): This pet food startup entered the U.S. market within a year using Alibaba.com. Real-time buyer data allowed them to fine-tune their products and marketing strategy efficiently.
· Pace Sports (Pakistan): Based in Sialkot, founder Mr. Tehseen Abbas uses Alibaba.com’s Verified Membership and Trade Assurance tools to win trust. Now, 80% of their business comes from U.S. buyers.
· HMG (Vietnam): This pop-up card maker combines local craftsmanship with digital optimization. A 12-year Gold Supplier on Alibaba.com, HMG leverages tools like Trade Assurance to build lasting buyer relationships.
Each case underscores the same message – SMEs don’t need massive scale to go global; they need the right digital infrastructure.
What’s next: CoCreate heads to Europe
Following the momentum from Las Vegas, Alibaba.com will bring CoCreate to London in November, reflecting its deepening focus on European buyers and suppliers.
The European edition will retain its practical, solutions-driven format, with a sharper focus on helping European SMEs can meet regional compliance requirements and expand intelligently across diverse markets.
Resilience earned through technology
For supply chain professionals, this marks a shift in the playbook. The focus is no longer on scale alone, but on agility, data-driven decision-making, and strategic adoption of technology. Whether it’s breaking into new markets, stabilizing procurement channels, or improving operational efficiency, SMEs today are showing that resilience and innovation are well within reach.
