TikTok, the popular social media app, has officially launched its e-commerce venture in the U.S. following months of testing.
This strategic move by ByteDance aims to tap into the immense popularity of TikTok and leverage it for online shopping.
Meanwhile, Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) bolsters its social commerce capabilities, courting influencers for its shopping platform.
By venturing into e-commerce, TikTok hopes to replicate the success of Asian e-commerce giants like Shein and PDD Holdings Inc's (NASDAQ: PDD) Temu, Reuters reports.
With over 150 million users in the U.S., TikTok aims to provide its user base with a seamless shopping experience directly through its platform.
TikTok users can now discover videos and live streams that include links to purchase products featured in the content.
This initiative brings a new dimension to the platform by offering content creators, brands, and merchants tools to create engaging and shoppable content.
The new features include a dedicated "shop" tab where businesses can showcase their products. TikTok provides integrated logistics and payment solutions to facilitate smooth transactions.
Additionally, TikTok has integrated its shopping service with third-party platforms such as Shopify Inc
(NYSE: SHOP), Salesforce Inc (NYSE: CRM), and Zendesk, enhancing its capabilities even further.
While TikTok's online marketplace has been developing in the U.S. since November, it has already made strides in several countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the U.K.