The global pandemic affected every organization in some way. For organizations employing essential workers, such as hospitals, governments, and airlines, this meant suddenly needing to secure huge amounts of PPE to keep their employees safe. Distribution companies, which work directly with manufacturers so businesses don’t have to, also needed to turn on a dime to supply their customers with this new scarce resource.

From the beginning of the pandemic, these organizations called on Alibaba.com – one of the largest B2B ecommerce platforms in the world — to directly help them source the PPE they need. Alibaba.com Select was born out of this need for critical supplies. It’s an end-to-end, hands-on sourcing service powered by Alibaba.com and its superior supply chain networks that provide reliable delivery services, payment and order protection, inspections, and more. The service has even expanded into additional categories now, aside from PPE where it started.

But how does it work? How can the team provide organizations with PPE meeting the quality and certifications required, within budget, fast?

Alibaba.com Select is powered by Alibaba.com

The end-to-end, hands-on sourcing service is powered by Alibaba.com and its superior supply chain networks that provide reliable delivery services, payment and order protection, inspections, and more. With offices around the world, Alibaba.com has someone who can find the right manufacturer with the required certifications. Alibaba.com has someone who speaks the language of that manufacturer. And Alibaba.com has someone who can take care of every step of international logistics.

The team created an extensive supplier verification process to vet suppliers in advance and have them ready to go when a need arises. Over time, the team vetted countless manufacturers for gloves, face masks, respirator masks, protective clothing, goggles, face shields, infrared thermometers, pulse oximeters, sanitizers, disinfectants, and more. From the vast network of sellers on Alibaba.com, we now have a selection of trusted manufacturers that Alibaba.com Select relies on that can mobilize production fast to fulfill requests for PPE, or any product in any category.

What to expect with Alibaba.com Select

Alibaba.com Select provides end-to-end, hands-on global sourcing you can trust. We provide supplier vetting, selection, purchasing, logistics, and inspection services tailored to your needs. The service comes with a quality assurance that goods are exactly as described, fully inspected, and meeting your quality standards, plus after-sale support.

The team will be available to help with any questions you may have or support you may need throughout the entire process. Here’s how the process works:

1. Quoting Process

After speaking with a team member, you will complete the Request for Quotation (RFQ) form with all pertinent information. This includes everything from certifications and compliance notes to budget requirements.

Once this is received, the Alibaba.com Select team will follow up with a quotation for your review.

2. Quotation review

Once the quotes are approved, the Alibaba.com Select team can provide all appropriate documentation including test reports, certifications and product specifications. If necessary, samples can be provided for further review.

3. Order and payment

After the product and supplier are approved, your representative will help you set up your order. The contract is always set up between the buyer and Alibaba.com, because you will be buying directly from Alibaba.com Select, not the manufacturer.

To ensure your payment is secure, the Alibaba.com Select team takes your payment directly, so you never need to pay the seller directly. We will handle everything from there.

4. Production monitoring and inspections

Once the contract is signed and the initial payment is received, the production will begin. The Alibaba.com Select team will ensure production monitoring, and inspect the order along with a third-party independent inspection before the order is dispatched for delivery.

5. Delivery

International logistics can be tricky, so for newer PPE sourcers, we recommend booking your logistics through Alibaba.com Freight. Everything from shipping to customs to last mile delivery can be arranged. If you already have a logistics provider or freight forwarder you trust, you can use your own service as well. Just make sure they have recent experience with PPE, as rules and regulations are constantly shifting.

6. Post-sale support

To make sure you’re satisfied and your products perform as expected, your Alibaba.com Select specialist is available for post-sale support, should you need it.