Taobao Malaysia Launches First-Ever Beta English Interface

Taobao Malaysia Launches First-Ever Beta English Interface Aims to break language barriers and enable more localites to access a world of diverse offerings direct from Taobao

Taobao Malaysia launches its first-ever beta English interface for a more accessible and user-friendly shopping experience.

Taobao Malaysia today announced the launch of its beta English interface for a more accessible and user-friendly shopping experience. This new interface is developed in response to the increasing customer demand for an English language option, addressing the needs of local users who are seeking diversity of products and unique shopping experience, thereby opening the doors to a wider audience. 

Malaysia is the first market where Taobao will be introducing this new offering alongside neighboring Singapore. Powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology, all translations on the platform are automated, and customer support in both English and Chinese is available in the app to ensure efficient communication between users and the platform. By offering detailed product descriptions in English, estimated Ringgit Malaysia (RM) price conversions, and a more straightforward user interface catering to Malaysian users’ habits, Taobao aims to make global shopping more seamless and enjoyable.

Lucky draw winners celebrate the launch of Taobao’s beta English interface, ready to explore the new language option for easier shopping directly from Taobao.

“With the launch of the Taobao beta English interface, we are thrilled to provide a platform that caters to the diverse needs of our Malaysian customers. This initiative is driven by the strong demand we have observed from local users, and we believe it will enhance their shopping experience by minimising language barriers. We are committed to continuously refining the beta English interface based on customer feedback to ensure it meets the evolving needs of our users,” said Jess Lew, Country Manager for Tmall Taobao World, Malaysia.

Ms. Jess Lew, Country Manager of Taobao Malaysia, delivering her welcome address to members of the media at the launch ceremony of the Taobao beta English interface.

The Taobao platform features a robust end-to-end payment and logistics infrastructure that offers a smooth and reliable shopping experience. For Malaysian shoppers, the platform supports various payment methods, powered by Antom, such as debit/credit cards, e-wallets, online banking and a credit card instalment option—enabling users to complete transactions effortlessly. Additionally, Taobao’s efficient logistics network, supported by Cainiao, guarantees timely deliveries and offers order tracking options to keep customers informed about their order status.

According to the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 20231 , Malaysia ranks third in Asia for high English proficiency with over 20 million English-literate Malaysians, following Singapore and the Philippines. This statistic underscores the significant potential for Taobao to better serve the needs of English-speaking users.

Jianqiu Ye, General Manager of Tmall Taobao World, added, “At Tmall Taobao World, our goal is to create an inclusive shopping platform that breaks geographical boundaries and provides an exceptional user experience. The Taobao beta English interface is a testament to our dedication to serve the diverse needs of our global customer base. We believe this launch will open up new opportunities for Malaysian shoppers to discover and enjoy the great diversity of products available on Taobao.”  

Members of the media experiencing the new Taobao beta English interface first-hand and discovering how the platform’s enhanced navigation and features make it easier for Malaysians to shop without language barriers.

In conjunction with the launch, Malaysians can shop on the Taobao app and enjoy the

following limited-time benefits:

• Free air shipping on fashion item purchases above RMB199. This offer aims to

incentivise customers to explore the latest fashion trends on Taobao by providing fast and

free air shipping within 5 to 7 working days*.

• New User Perks worth RMB65. Newly registered users can each enjoy a platform-wide

shopping voucher worth RMB20 applicable with a minimum spend of RMB150, an RMB30

international shipping fee voucher, as well as a service fee voucher worth RMB15.

• Free return on first order. Item(s) purchased with the “Local Returns” or “Free Returns”

label can be returned to Taobao’s local warehouse within 15 days from the date of receipt,

no shipping back to China needed. Return shipping is free on users’ first return. For the

second and subsequent return requests, the fee for return shipping with pick-up service is

at RMB15 for West Malaysia (East Malaysia users are required to send the items for return

to a designated address).

• Dual-Language Customer Service. Customer service support in English and Chinese is

available through the Taobao app from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday.

Taobao Malaysia is dedicated to constantly refining the user experience based on customer feedback and needs, to ensure the brand consistently offers the best possible shopping experience for all Malaysians. Users of the beta English interface are encouraged to submit their feedback through the app to help Taobao continuously improve its services.

The Taobao app that comes with an English interface is now available to download for FREE on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For more details of the sales promotions on the platform, please stay tuned for updates on the Taobao Malaysia Facebook, Instagram and TikTok social media channels or visit the Taobao app.

About Taobao Malaysia 

Taobao Malaysia aims to facilitate convenient shopping on Taobao and Tmall for consumers in Malaysia. Through the Taobao app, Malaysian shoppers can access billions of products, complete with logistics, payment and other services and offers tailored to their individual market needs. Taobao Malaysia is part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group.