Alibaba has introduced Accio Work, an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) platform aimed at simplifying business operations for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea. The new system promises to automate a wide range of tasks typically handled by large corporations, from supplier sourcing and product planning to marketing and store management.
At a press event in Seoul, Alibaba’s Asia-Pacific General Manager Sean Yang emphasized that AI has evolved from a futuristic concept into essential business infrastructure. “Accio Work brings the operational efficiency of large companies to SMEs and one-person startups, enabling them to enter the global market,” he said.
The agentic AI built into Accio Work does more than respond to queries. It actively generates tasks based on user requests and executes them autonomously. This allows entrepreneurs to focus on higher-value decisions, such as supplier negotiations and real-time risk management, while AI handles repetitive or complex processes such as market research, price negotiations, product listing, and international marketing.
Alibaba noted that SMEs often face staffing shortages, limited market knowledge, and barriers created by differences in language, policy, and tax regulations. Accio Work is designed to bridge these gaps by providing ongoing support for strategic decision-making and global market expansion.
James Zhang, Alibaba’s Head of Global Seller Products and Services, highlighted the platform’s transformative potential. “With Accio Work, companies can launch businesses faster and make better-informed decisions. It will be a breakthrough for SMEs competing on the global stage,” he said.
The launch aligns with South Korea’s growing digital infrastructure and international demand for its products. Alibaba reported an 18% increase in Korean partner companies on its platform this year and a 128% jump in inquiries from global buyers.
To further promote Korean innovation, Alibaba will host the Korean stage of its CoCreate Pitch 2026 competition, using Accio Work to identify the most innovative startups. The competition will feature three categories—established SMEs, new startups, and students—with a total prize pool of 200 million won ($130,000). Korean finalists will present on August 25, and the winner will advance to the global stage in the United States.