TikTok: a new shopping tab on test

It would appear that TikTok is testing a new ergonomic design for the shopping tab. As you can see from the illustration, a new space between the "for you" and "next" feeds has arrived. Inside, you'll find a drop-down list of products, directly related to the social network's trends, but also to your shopping habits.

TikTok informs us:

"The most important section is the 'deals of the day'. On the feed seen by Bloomberg, the most promoted product was a snail mucin facial serum that recently went viral on the app."

What does the future hold for TikTok shopping?

TikTok has been working on optimizing its shopping space for several months now. It has to be said that the virality of videos presenting certain products is pushing the social network to imagine more, notably by developing its own supply factories. While TikTok is not yet the Amazon of tomorrow, the platform is multiplying its collaborations with sourcing factories based mainly in China.

Trading on TikTok a success in China

The Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, is already widely used to sell products. In fact, e-commerce is the application's main source of revenue. For its part, TikTok is seeing strong use of its shopping tools in Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

TikTok e-commerce in Europe:

For the moment, the West doesn't seem quite ready to mix social networking and e-commerce. The differences in usage between Asia and Europe mean that TikTok has to adapt to the pace of its consumers.

What products will be available on the TikTok e-commerce site?

Bloomberg reports that TikTok's "Shop" tab is said to feature products sourced mainly from China, and which have already been banned from Amazon for falsifying customer reviews. A surprising choice, which could do TikTok a disservice if the products don't live up to the expectations of the app's users.

Facebook experienced the same problem: products ordered directly on the social network received so many negative reviews that consumers turned away from the application to make their purchases. Western users are accustomed to seeing the products on offer on socialstores, and then purchasing them from trusted e-tailers such as Amazon, Leboncoin or Ebay.

Clearly, buying through TikTok isn't here yet, but Douyin's results are rightly pushing the Chinese giant to evolve its purchasing options on its platform.

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