Abstract The digital era, with Internet and electronic devices, brought to the creation of a new type of commerce, the electronic commerce where traditional characteristics are overtaken and that allows, both companies and end users, to commercialize among each other all over the World. In the same direction, globalization, information technology and innovation allow more and more the rising of born global firms with interesting business models focused on internationalization. The aim of this thesis is to examine the internationalization of online commerce platform firms that can be exploit as a tool of development by small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in implementing exportations. Through a quality analysis approach based on a single case study, is analyzed, in relation with the literature review, a conceptual model and the empirical evidence, the internationalization process of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the most important e-commerce platform in China that is increasing its influence globally and that is considered a potential helpful tool for Italian SMEs. Primary data collected by an interview at Unicredit headquarter in Milan and secondary ones, such as companies’ reports, documentation and analysis, found out that, thanks to social reasons, fast economy development and new government policies, China is today one of the most profitable markets for exportation trade. Alibaba seeks to meet Chinese demand and foreign offer through cross-border online marketplaces. It establishes relationships with foreign countries and gives major opportunities to small but high-quality producers, which do not have enough resources to reach Chinese consumers alone. Finally, the research’s findings are supported and confirmed by Italian examples able to describe the relationships that the Chinese giant has, on one hand with the two main banks in Italy, Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit, and on the other hand with innovative start-up. Key Words: cross-border e-commerce, internationalization, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, small and medium enterprises, Made in Italy.
Abstract L'era digitale, con l’avvento del Web e dei dispositivi elettronici, ha portato alla nascita di un nuovo tipo di commercio, l’e-commerce, che scavalca le caratteristiche tradizionali, come la distanza fisica, permettendo, sia ad aziende che ad utenti finali di commercializzare tra loro in tutto il mondo. Nella stessa direzione, la globalizzazione, l’innovazione e l’IT, consentono sempre di più ad aziende born global di svilupparsi attraverso i loro particolari business model focalizzati all’internazionalizzazione. Lo scopo di questa tesi è quello di esaminare il processo di internazionalizzazione delle piattaforme e-commerce, considerato uno strumento di sviluppo utilizzabile dalle piccole e medie imprese (PMI) che vogliono incrementare le esportazioni. Attraverso un’analisi qualitativa basata su un singolo case study, è presentato, in relazione alla letteratura, ad un modello concettuale e all'evidenza empirica, il processo di internazionalizzazione di Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., la più importante piattaforma e-commerce in Cina che sta aumentando la sua influenza a livello globale. Un’intervista presso la sede Unicredit di Milano e dati secondari, quali report aziendali, documentazioni e statistiche, hanno portato ad affermare che, grazie a fattori sociologici, un rapido sviluppo dell'economia e nuove manovre politiche, la Cina è oggi uno dei mercati più redditizi in termini di importazione e quindi per le esportazioni internazionali. Alibaba cerca di collegare domanda cinese e l'offerta estera attraverso i canali online e, nel farlo, vuole instaurare rapporti con paesi stranieri per dare maggiori opportunità ai piccoli produttori di qualità che non hanno risorse sufficienti per raggiungere i consumatori cinesi singolarmente. Infine, questi risultati vengono supportati e confermati in modo pratico attraverso dei casi italiani che descrivono le relazioni che il gigante cinese ha con le due banche principali in Italia, Intesa Sanpaolo e Unicredit da una parte, e con start-up innovative nell'altra. Parole Chiave: cross-border e-commerce, internationalization, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, small and medium enterprises, Made in Italy.
The internationalization of e-commerce companies as tool of development for Italian SMEs: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Case study.
NICÒ, CRISTINA
2014/2015
Abstract
Abstract The digital era, with Internet and electronic devices, brought to the creation of a new type of commerce, the electronic commerce where traditional characteristics are overtaken and that allows, both companies and end users, to commercialize among each other all over the World. In the same direction, globalization, information technology and innovation allow more and more the rising of born global firms with interesting business models focused on internationalization. The aim of this thesis is to examine the internationalization of online commerce platform firms that can be exploit as a tool of development by small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in implementing exportations. Through a quality analysis approach based on a single case study, is analyzed, in relation with the literature review, a conceptual model and the empirical evidence, the internationalization process of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the most important e-commerce platform in China that is increasing its influence globally and that is considered a potential helpful tool for Italian SMEs. Primary data collected by an interview at Unicredit headquarter in Milan and secondary ones, such as companies’ reports, documentation and analysis, found out that, thanks to social reasons, fast economy development and new government policies, China is today one of the most profitable markets for exportation trade. Alibaba seeks to meet Chinese demand and foreign offer through cross-border online marketplaces. It establishes relationships with foreign countries and gives major opportunities to small but high-quality producers, which do not have enough resources to reach Chinese consumers alone. Finally, the research’s findings are supported and confirmed by Italian examples able to describe the relationships that the Chinese giant has, on one hand with the two main banks in Italy, Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit, and on the other hand with innovative start-up. Key Words: cross-border e-commerce, internationalization, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, small and medium enterprises, Made in Italy.È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/5405