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Chinese e-commerce giant Taobao now comes in English

, the popular Chinese e-commerce platform, launched an English-language interface in Singapore today. This is excellent news for the English-speaking population here, and probably the worst 2024 news for competing e-commerce platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and Amazon. The language update aims to enhance accessibility for non-Chinese-speaking users, catering to the diverse language preferences of Singaporean shoppers.  The interface also has several key features that aim to improve the shopping experience for English-speaking users. One important perk is the default , which allows shoppers to see product prices in SGD instead of the classic Chinese Renminbi (CNY). also get but they're AI-generated. This should narrow the gap for non-English users, helping them understand product details without relying on third-party translation apps like Google Translate. If you made purchases from Taobao before, the interface will remain in Chinese. However, in a couple of steps. First, head down to your account and at the top right of the screen. Afterwards, (from the screenshot above) to change the interface to display a Chinese or English version.  You'll know once you have switched to the English version because it has a different homepage. According to Taobao, the English version of the app will initially feature a curated selection of trending products, with plans to expand the offerings to match the variety seen in the Chinese interface.  The company is offering several promotional benefits to Singapore consumers to celebrate the introduction of the new English interface. If this is your on Taobao, you can worth up to CNY100 (~S$18) for the first order made on the English or Chinese interface. The platform also offers for eligible orders over CNY199 (~$37) from China to Singapore. Customers can also enjoy free returns on their first order within 15 days of receipt, provided the item has the ‘Local Returns’ label. More information about the promos can be found on Taobao's social media platforms . The updated Taobao app with the English interface is through their respective app stores. Existing Taobao users can access the English interface by updating their app to the latest version and following the steps above. Once updated, users' account details, including order history and saved addresses, will remain accessible in the English version.