Intertek Provides Factory Audit Services for Suppliers on Alibaba.com
16 Nov 2010
Shanghai, China – Intertek, one of the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification companies, has signed an agreement with Alibaba.com (HKSE: 1688) (1688.HK), the world's leading small business e-commerce company, to provide factory auditing programs for Chinese suppliers on the online marketplaces of Alibaba.com.
Today, more and more companies around the world are selling their goods overseas to both retail and commercial buyers using the power of the Internet. While this offers efficiencies and quicker international reach to traders, buyers are also looking for equally efficient ways to establish the quality of products in advance and/or the integrity of the merchants from whom they are buying.
Alibaba.com has one of the world’s largest networks of online marketplaces, serving a business community of more than 56 million registered users in more than 240 countries and regions. Its global trade platform (www.alibaba.com) for importers and exporters is one of the most popular sourcing platforms for buyers around the world including entrepreneurs looking for product prototypes, to trading companies sourcing for unique and emerging products.
Alibaba.com has retained Intertek as one of its providers of auditing and certification solutions to inspect and assess the qualifications of Chinese paying members on Alibaba.com’s global trade platforms. These reports are offered as a value added service to Chinese suppliers who want to offer this additional level of trust and security to their prospective international buyers.
Intertek’s programs will comprise two parts: the Production Audit Report and the Trading Auditing Report. The Production Audit Report will provides assessments of suppliers’ existing production qualifications, which include inspecting and assessing suppliers’ operational capabilities (including equipment and other production facilities), product quality certification and after-sale services support. The Production Audit Report will also assess suppliers’ quality assurance systems and their research and development capability. The Trade Audit Report will focus on a suppliers’ export capability including suppliers’ experience in the export business. Intertek’s factory auditing programs will include on-site inspection and auditing.
If a supplier meets the requirements and standards of the program, it will be issued a factory audit report and the factory audit symbol will be displayed on the supplier’s TrustPass Profile on Alibaba.com. The factory audit reports will also be available on Alibaba.com website for review by buyers.
The programs are purported to promote transparency on qualifications of suppliers and further enhance Alibaba.com’s efforts to build up and increase buyers’ trust on suppliers on the global trading marketplaces. This is important for the company’s ongoing growth and development plans. Alibaba.com’s Vice President and Executive Director in China, Ms. Sabrina Peng, explained, “As our business continues to grow and expand rapidly, it is important that our users have trust in suppliers on our platform. Intertek’s programs will be an important part of our development in this area.”
Mr. Fred Bai, President of Intertek China, said, "Our new programs for Alibaba.com will not only evaluate the quality and qualifications of products, they are also a comprehensive assessment of suppliers’ capability. This will give buyers better visibility over the quality of goods being sold and help Alibaba.com manage its wider business risks and development. Intertek continues to focus on tailoring solutions to meet the new and changing needs of our clients.”
Alibaba.com and Intertek held a cooperation agreement signing ceremony in Alibaba.com’s headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, to formally commence the programs.
About Alibaba.com (www.alibaba.com)
Alibaba.com (HKSE: 1688) (1688.HK) is the global leader in e-commerce for small businesses and the flagship company of Alibaba Group. Founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, Alibaba.com makes it easy for millions of buyers and suppliers around the world to do business online through three marketplaces: a global trade platform (www.alibaba.com) for importers and exporters; a Chinese platform (www.1688.com) for domestic trade in China; and, through an associated company, a Japanese platform (www.alibaba.co.jp) facilitating trade to and from Japan. In addition, Alibaba.com offers a transaction-based wholesale platform on the global site (www.aliexpress.com) geared for smaller buyers seeking fast shipment of small quantities of goods. Together, these marketplaces form a community of more than 56 million registered users in more than 240 countries and regions. Alibaba.com also offers business management software and Internet infrastructure services targeting businesses across China, and provides educational services to incubate enterprise management and e-commerce professionals. Alibaba.com also owns Vendio and Auctiva, leading providers of third-party e-commerce solutions for online merchants. Alibaba.com has offices in more than 60 cities across Greater China, India, Japan, Korea, Europe and the United States.
For more information on Intertek’s Consumer Goods services and solutions, please visit:
www.intertek.com/consumergoods
Media Contacts:
China: Henry Lin +86 21 60917003/ henry.lin@intertek.com
Outside China: Amy Paille +1 630 4813163/ amy.paille@intertek.com