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Alibaba.com, the global B2B marketplace of Chinese eCommerce giant Alibaba Group, has announced a strategic partnership with Slope, a U.S.-based AI-powered payments company, to roll out a “pay later for business” solution at checkout.
The initiative—described as an embedded financing solution—will allow U.S. business buyers on Alibaba.com to access flexible payment terms directly during checkout, addressing one of the most persistent challenges in B2B trade: cash flow management.
AI at the Core of B2B Financing
Slope’s technology leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to provide real-time credit assessments and risk infrastructure services. By analyzing live transaction and financial data, the system delivers instant underwriting and “rapid credit decisions,” enabling eligible business buyers to secure financing seamlessly while completing their purchases.
For Alibaba, the move complements its broader strategy of embedding AI-driven tools into its global trade ecosystem. In recent months, Alibaba has introduced:
- Deep Search, a procurement tool powered by AI that lets buyers explore 280 million product listings using natural language and image-based queries. Unlike traditional keyword searches, it breaks down complex requests, cross-references multiple data points, and ranks suppliers by relevance.
- An AI trade agent (launched in May 2024) is designed to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in navigating global commerce.
Why BNPL for Businesses Matters
Flexible financing is increasingly seen as a critical enabler of B2B eCommerce growth, particularly for SMEs that often face liquidity constraints. Traditional trade credit can be slow and cumbersome, whereas embedded BNPL solutions deliver speed, transparency, and scalability at the point of purchase.
“Through the partnership with Slope, we provide flexible and intelligent financing options for our business buyers, helping them grow by enabling a smoother purchasing experience and greater confidence,” said Issac Chen, senior director of global commerce solutions and services at Alibaba.com.
For Slope, the deal represents a major validation of its AI-first approach to credit infrastructure.
“Today’s buyers expect financial tools that align seamlessly with their existing workflows. Our collaboration with Alibaba.com demonstrates how intelligent credit infrastructure can support business growth and cash flow management exactly where buyers already operate,” said Lawrence Lin Murata, CEO and co-founder of Slope.
Building on a Fintech Push
This is not Alibaba’s first move into embedded financing for its U.S. buyer base. In June 2025, the company launched a similar initiative with fintech provider Balance, also aimed at offering checkout financing solutions on Alibaba.com.
“Flexible B2B payments are essential for business customers who want to grow,” said Yiran Li, head of customer retention strategy at Alibaba.com U.S., in a prior statement. “By embedding Balance directly into our checkout, we’re making it easy for customers to buy on their terms, without being limited by cash flow constraints.”
Alibaba’s Broader Market Position
Alibaba operates the world’s two largest online marketplaces by gross merchandise value (GMV):
- Taobao – ranked No. 1 in Digital Commerce 360’s Global Online Marketplaces Database.
- Tmall – ranked No. 2 globally.
Both primarily serve the Chinese domestic market, but Alibaba.com, its global B2B marketplace, remains a crucial platform for international buyers and sellers. By layering fintech capabilities like BNPL, Alibaba is signaling its intent to compete aggressively in B2B eCommerce finance—a market that is increasingly blending technology, trade, and payments.
What This Means for U.S. Businesses
For small- and mid-sized U.S. enterprises (SMEs), this move could have tangible, immediate benefits:
- Easier Cash Flow Management – Businesses no longer need to tie up large sums of capital at once, allowing them to spread payments while keeping working capital free for other needs.
- Smoother Procurement Cycles – With AI-enabled instant credit checks, buyers can secure terms at the moment of purchase without waiting weeks for approval from banks or traditional lenders.
- Stronger Supplier Relationships – By enabling more predictable and timely payments, BNPL tools could reduce friction between buyers and international suppliers, particularly in cross-border transactions where trust is critical.
- Accessibility for Smaller Firms – Many SMEs are locked out of traditional trade finance due to a lack of collateral or credit history. AI-driven underwriting may widen access by focusing on live transaction data rather than just legacy credit scores.
- Competitive Growth Edge – Businesses that can order more inventory, diversify suppliers, or invest in product innovation thanks to flexible payments will be better positioned against competitors still constrained by cash flow bottlenecks.
What’s Next
Slope called this Alibaba partnership the “first of several significant partnerships” it plans to announce in 2025, suggesting more B2B-focused BNPL integrations could be on the horizon. For Alibaba, expanding checkout financing options strengthens its position as a full-stack enabler of global trade—combining marketplace scale, AI-powered search and sourcing, and embedded financial services.
As B2B eCommerce accelerates in the U.S. and globally, AI-powered BNPL could become a standard expectation rather than a niche feature, giving Alibaba and its fintech partners a first-mover advantage.
