TikTok Shop has launched in a few smaller regions across the globe recently, but this one may be its biggest yet. TikTok has officially launched its social commerce venture in the United States following months of rigorous testing.
According to Reuters, ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, is keen to tap into the flourishing e-commerce landscape in this region.
The US can TikTok Shop now
The platform aims to emulate the success achieved by Asian counterparts like Shein and PDD Holdings’ Temu. With over 150 million users in the US alone, TikTok is now opening doors for its American user base to engage in social shopping seamlessly. This initiative introduces new features within the TikTok app, allowing content creators, brands, and sellers to make their content directly shoppable.
One of the additions is the ‘shop’ tab, where businesses can showcase their products, facilitated by TikTok’s integrated logistics and payment solutions.
Dropping names
Before this launch, the social media platform had forged partnerships with third-party platforms, such as Shopify, Salesforce, and Zendesk. It aims to improve the shopping experience by integrating with existing e-commerce infrastructure.
This foray into the US e-commerce market has been in the works since November last year. TikTok has already made significant strides by introducing its online marketplace in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The move is poised to reshape the digital shopping landscape in the US, providing users with a novel and convenient way to shop while staying engaged with the platform’s captivating content.
Recent changes to TikTok’s commerce offering
A month ago, TikTok stepped into the world of logistics to support sellers in the United Kingdom. The company unveiled an initiative called ‘Fulfilled by TikTok,’ affectionately known as FBT, which aims to simplify the selling process for UK-based merchants using TikTok Shop.
On the other hand, European merchants lost access to the widely used TikTok Storefront and its associated integration with Shopify this month. This move was a bit to shift shoppers from external e-commerce stores back into the TikTok ecosystem using TikTok Shop.
The social media platform has a clear and concise plan to optimize its social commerce offering worldwide.
About the author
Marce has contributed tech to various prominent publications since 2018, offering a transparent perspective into the tech industry and its effects on its users. She now spends her time developing insightful content for industry players. You know, when she's not gaming or geeking out about the latest fad.
