Retail Times — UK Retail News
NFU Mutual
ADVERTISEMENT
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • CONTACT & Press release submit page
    • ADVERTISING
  • PRODUCTS
  • TECH
  • DATA
    • Reports
    • Research
  • RETAILER
    • Manufacturer
    • Wholesaler
  • PEOPLE
  • SUSTAINABILITY
    • Fairtrade
    • Packaging
  • SERVICES
    • Events
    • Awards
    • Logistics
  • COMMENT
    • In My Opinion
    • Featured Article
    • Why It Works
  • RETAIL CATEGORIES
No Result
View All Result
Retail Times — UK Retail News
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • CONTACT & Press release submit page
    • ADVERTISING
  • PRODUCTS
  • TECH
  • DATA
    • Reports
    • Research
  • RETAILER
    • Manufacturer
    • Wholesaler
  • PEOPLE
  • SUSTAINABILITY
    • Fairtrade
    • Packaging
  • SERVICES
    • Events
    • Awards
    • Logistics
  • COMMENT
    • In My Opinion
    • Featured Article
    • Why It Works
  • RETAIL CATEGORIES
Retail Times — UK Retail News
No Result
View All Result
Home Retail News Technology

Alibaba International launches Accio Work, an enterprise AI agent for global businesses

by Fiona Briggs
March 23, 2026
in Technology
Reading Time: 2 mins read

Alibaba International unveiled Accio Work, a plug-and-play enterprise AI agent that equips businesses with an immediate, no-code taskforce. Requiring zero setup, the platform deploys specialized agents to execute complex, long-horizon operations from day one, signaling a significant shift toward “Agentic Business”—a new era where AI moves beyond passive Q&A tools to become active, autonomous executors.

First introduced in November 2024 as an AI-powered B2B sourcing engine, Accio has since rapidly evolved into a full-scale AI agent, now serving over 10 million monthly active users globally. The launch of Accio Work marks a new phase in this evolution—moving beyond sourcing to a full-scale enterprise AI agent designed to support the diverse operational needs of SMEs worldwide.

“Our vision is to democratize enterprise-grade AI,” said Kuo Zhang, president of Alibaba.com and VP of Alibaba International. “We want every entrepreneur—regardless of team size—to access an intelligent workforce that operates with the scale of a major corporation. Small businesses will find Accio Work especially useful.”

A proactive, ready-to-use “agent team”

For non-technical entrepreneurs, building a custom AI workforce usually means navigating complex engineering and risky deployments. Accio Work removes these barriers with a pre-configured team of agents designed for the entire SME lifecycle—from initial market analysis, design, and sourcing to long-term store optimization and inventory monitoring.

Its secret lies in dynamic orchestration: upon receiving a goal, the system instantly assembles a cross-functional “squad” of specialized agents – analysts, creators, logistics experts – to work in parallel.

Beyond handling long-term operations, the agent team proactively provides strategic insights and suggestions. This enables SMEs and solo founders to run end-to-end global commerce workflows with enterprise-grade precision, requiring no code or setup.

Autonomous execution and global connectivity

Accio Work enables entrepreneurs to run online businesses or physical stores with a new level of automation, specifically designed to alleviate the heavy operational burden faced by SMEs. Users can deploy a customizable fleet of AI agents to handle critical tasks, including:

  • Automated Compliance: Managing real-time VAT filings, tax refunds, and customs documentation across more than 100 markets.
  • Autonomous Sourcing: Executing Request for Quotations (RFQs) and conducting multi-round negotiations with suppliers to secure optimal terms.
  • Operational Integration: Driving marketing automation and overseeing logistics through tools like Telegram and WhatsApp.

Additionally, Accio Work allows users to encapsulate their unique processes into reusable “skills,” enabling them to standardize, share, or even monetize their expertise.

Alibaba ecosystem-driven reliability and security

Built on Alibaba Group’s proprietary ecosystem, Accio Work is structurally engineered to minimize AI hallucinations. Unlike models reliant on general knowledge prone to inaccuracies, Accio Work draws directly from real-time consumer trends and actual business transaction records across Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms. This foundation ensures every output is specific, accurate, and commercially relevant.

Recognizing the sensitivity of delegating critical tasks to AI, Accio Work employs a security-first approach featuring sandboxed environments and granular permission management. High stakes actions involving finances or file access require explicit user approval, ensuring the AI operates strictly within defined boundaries. Furthermore, the system respects data sovereignty, allowing users to choose not to save any data on servers.

Accio Work will be available on Accio: AI business agent, partnered with Alibaba by the end of March.

Share This Article

Similar Retail News Articles:

  1. Alibaba International releases the world’s first AI agent for global trade
  2. Alibaba’s Accio AI search engine hits 500,000 SME user milestone
Tags: Alibaba International
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

GreyOrange brings physical AI to more than 3,800 retail stores

September 3, 2026

GreyOrange, the global leader in AI-powered multi-agent warehouse orchestration and store inventory software, announced today...

RTB House

How RTB House deep learning algorithms are transforming adtech

August 28, 2026

RTB House is an adtech platform for e-commerce and global brands that automates media buying...

Blue Yonder launches Agentic AI to tackle retail’s $1.2T (£880bn) stockout & returns crisis

August 26, 2026

 Blue Yonder, the AI company for supply chain, today announced new retail innovations as part of...

Antare

Antare launches AI physical security platform, transforming unwatched camera footage into intelligence

August 25, 2026

Antare, a new agentic security platform for body-worn and fixed cameras, has launched. UK-based Antare...

The rise of gaming technologies: the impact of technological progress on gamers’ gameplay

August 20, 2026

The gaming world has become more advanced than ever, surpassing the traditional consoles and basic...

automated trademark monitoring

How UK retailers block copycats with automated trademark monitoring

August 13, 2026

Retail has always been competitive. Consumer tastes change quickly, margins stay tight and every season...

Load More

Popular Posts

  • Screenshot 2026-08-27 at 17.48.47New from Le Creuset: Forêt, a deep forest green for autumn/winter (1,226)
  • Liverpool FCLiverpool FC unveils 2026/27 third kit and launches new online store (44)
  • The Perfume Shop Store Front Imagery jpgThe Perfume Shop launches UK’s first high street Scent Rediscovery Service (853)
  • Screenshot 2026-08-27 at 10.44.22How one iconic pencil has remained relevant in a digital world (18)
  • Screenshot 2026-08-26 at 11.35.37KFC brings back fan-favourite Dirty Louisiana Range with a spicy new twist (131)
  • The Lakes ChocolatierThe Lakes Chocolatier launches in the UK, following IWSC Gold medal win (14)

FEATURED ARTICLES

The invisible shelf: why retailers and consumer packaged goods brands need to win the algorithm to win the customer

The invisible shelf: why retailers and consumer packaged goods brands need to win the algorithm to win the customer

August 12, 2026
How Catalina helps smaller fuel retailers win loyalty

How Catalina helps smaller fuel retailers win loyalty

April 27, 2026
Retail crime must be challenged, says top security specialist

Retail crime must be challenged, says top security specialist

April 21, 2026
Design Matters: why Lefties tech-based approach could be the future of value retail

Design Matters: why Lefties tech-based approach could be the future of value retail

August 28, 2026
nfu mutual nfu mutual
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Find the Story You Need

No Result
View All Result
  • Home Page
  • Editorial – Contact
  • Advertising
  • Copyright
  • Privacy & Cookie Policy
  • Retailer News
  • Products
  • Data
  • Technology
  • Events
  • People
  • Comment
  • Sustainability
  • Awards
  • Research
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • Featured Articles
  • Retail News Categories
  • About us
  • Advertising
  • Contact / Press release submit page
  • Privacy policy