SWITZERLAND/CHINA. Tax free shopping expert Global Blue and Ant Group, the parent company of China’s largest digital payment platform Alipay, have strengthened their existing partnership to offer Chinese international shoppers and global retailers an enhanced shopping and payment experience.
Building on years of close collaboration, the two companies have signed a strategic partnership agreement which will see them jointly develop digital tax free shopping solutions and products that will bring a seamless mobile experience to Alipay users and the retailers serving them.
Global Blue – which successfully listed on the New York Stock Exchange on 31 August – and Ant Group will also jointly develop comprehensive marketing solutions by leveraging Alipay’s marketing platform to enable brands to “capture the full potential” of Chinese shoppers when they travel overseas.
This will involve what the partnership describes as “innovative and measurable drive-to-store campaigns” which will enable retailers to benefit from increased footfall with more Chinese tourists in their stores.
The partnership will also draw on the Alibaba ecosystem, including Fliggy, a leading online travel platform in China, and the association of several other leading Asian digital wallet providers.
“Our common aim is to improve Chinese international shoppers’ journey when they shop abroad and to enable brands capture the full potential of Chinese travellers” – Global Blue CEO Jacques Stern
Global Blue explained that this will allow a richer offer of digital services to a broader consumer base, further increasing the positive impact of this partnership for Global Blue-associated retailers.
Ant Group has recently made a significant investment in Global Blue, becoming one of its main shareholders with 6.5% of its shares and taking a seat on the tax free shopping company’s Board of Directors.
Global Blue CEO Jacques Stern said: “We are very pleased to strengthen our relationship with Alipay with the signature of this strategic partnership. Our common aim is to improve Chinese international shoppers’ journey when they shop abroad and to enable brands capture the full potential of Chinese travellers. We truly believe this alliance will benefit both shoppers and retailers when international shopping resumes.”
Ant Group International Business Group President Angel Zhao said: “Global Blue is an important partner for Ant Group as we continue to connect more consumers with merchants globally. Alipay and our global e-wallet partners’ user bases, along with Global Blue’s extensive merchant and airport footprint across more than 50 countries, create significant potential to expand the relationship and introduce new solutions and services to the marketplace.”
Ant Group’s Angel Zhao will be one of the keynote speakers in the Knowledge Hub at the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Expo next month.
