Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Alibaba.com has launched Accio Work, an agentic artificial intelligence (AI) business platform aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia automate business operations and support cross-border trade activities.
The company also announced the launch of CoCreate Pitch 2026, an AI-powered startup competition that will feature a dedicated Malaysia division with a total prize pool of MYR500,000.
According to Alibaba.com, Accio Work is designed to execute a range of business tasks autonomously, including market research, product planning, sourcing, product listing, global marketing and store management. The platform is intended to move beyond traditional question-and-answer AI systems by converting user instructions into actions carried out by AI agents.
“Across the global trade environment, AI is no longer a future technology. It has become core infrastructure that is fundamentally reshaping the way businesses operate,” said Shawn Yang, General Manager for the APAC Region at Alibaba.com. ” Accio Work was designed to help SMEs and solopreneurs access and operate in global markets with enterprise-level execution”
Alibaba.com said the platform was developed to address common challenges faced by SMEs participating in international trade, including navigating different languages, regulations and tax systems, as well as limited access to experienced trade professionals and the operational burden of manual processes.
The company said Accio Work can provide guidance on market entry and category planning, while offering automated support around the clock. It added that the platform is intended to help businesses shift resources from administrative tasks to activities such as supplier negotiations and risk management.
“Accio Work is designed to give SMEs a truly plug-and-play AI team, one that is simpler to adopt, more professional in execution, and more autonomous in operation” James Zhang, Head of Global Seller Product & Services and APAC Buyer Growth at Alibaba.com mentioned, “By helping businesses launch faster, make smarter decisions, and run around the clock, we believe it can redefine how small teams compete and grow globally.”
The launch comes as Malaysia continues to promote digitalisation and international trade among SMEs. Alibaba.com noted that SMEs account for 96.1% of businesses in the country, with most operating in the services sector.
The company also cited initiatives such as the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation’s (MATRADE) cross-border trade roadmap launched in 2025, which it said has contributed to growing participation from Malaysian exporters on its platform.
Alongside the product launch, Alibaba.com announced CoCreate Pitch 2026 (Malaysia Division), a startup competition focused on product-based innovation and powered by Accio Work.
The competition will feature three categories: General SMEs, 0 to 1 Startups and Students. Registration is open until 25 August 2026, with ten finalists scheduled to be announced on 10 September 2026.
The grand finals are set to take place in October. Winners will have the opportunity to represent Malaysia at the global CoCreate 2026 summit in London in November.
