Corporate social responsibility is taken seriously by Chinese consumers, who are increasingly willing to be discerning and even pay more for socially responsible brands. E-commerce giant Alibaba launched a $1.5 billion poverty relief fund in a move to improve its CSR in the country.

E-tail giant Alibaba is digitising brick-and-mortar shopping in China by installing AI fashion consultants in clothing stores. With Gen Zers less preoccupied about the distinction between the digital and physical, the company is blurring the worlds of online and offline retail as well.

E-commerce giant Alibaba is opening smart stores in China, letting customers use an app to check prices and get personalised recommendations through big data analytics. By creating an omnichannel experience, the brand is hoping that brick-and-mortar will fast become brick-and-mobile.

Despite its notorious pollution problems, China is the world’s fastest growing automotive market. And with news of e-commerce leader Alibaba launching its first connected car – an SUV – in 2016, Chinese consumers are starting to consider what connected mobility can do for them.