The global business-to-business (B2B) market, an ecosystem valued at over $30 trillion, is in the midst of an extraordinary transformation. Agentic AI models are no longer on the horizon; they are now actively reshaping how small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) source goods, evaluate partners and conduct trade. Nearly 90% of B2B buyers are already using AI for sourcing and supplier evaluation, and almost half of online searches are powered by AI.
As these technologies take hold, the biggest question facing SMEs is no longer if AI will influence global trade, but how can they harness it to strategically scale international trade and operations.
This question was front and centre at Alibaba.com’s CoCreate London, its first ever European flagship event, where founders, procurement specialists, and AI innovators gathered to understand how the agentic shift will define the next decade of global trade.
Agentic AI Is Transforming the Way SMEs Source, Evaluate Partners, and Trade
Traditional procurement workflows are being replaced by a radically more dynamic and intelligent landscape. Tools such as Alibaba.com’s ‘AI Mode’, powered by Alibaba International’s enhanced B2B search engine, Accio, show how agentic AI is transforming international sourcing operations. The AI agent can interpret complex inputs like engineering drawings or technical specifications, compare suppliers across dozens of criteria, and guide users through end-to-end sourcing with minimal human intervention.
As a result, the buyer’s role is transforming from a manual operator to a strategic orchestrator, supported by an AI agent that can evaluate sourcing options, summarise listings and information, initiate outreach, and complete commercial tasks in seconds. For SMEs, this dramatically reduces cycle time, lowers barriers to entry, and unlocks access to sophisticated sourcing once reserved for large enterprises.
This shift is particularly powerful for entrepreneurs constrained by limited resources, smaller operational teams and lack of access to specialised suppliers. Agentic AI tools change that by surfacing previously hidden manufacturing partners that were easily overlooked because of niche capabilities, regional expertise, or custom-production skills that keyword-based searches fail to uncover. These AI systems are now capable of tasks that would have taken dozens of hours for global buyer teams to accomplish including reading factory documentation, analysing unstructured inputs, and matching precise buyer requirements. As a result, SMEs gain access to a deeper, more diverse supplier pool, enabling them to innovate faster and differentiate more effectively.
As these technologies mature, AI is transitioning from an optional enhancement to the foundational infrastructure of global trade. What once required entire sourcing teams can now be initiated by a solo entrepreneur equipped with agentic tools. This evolution calls for new skills, new strategies, and new opportunities.
CoCreate London: A Catalyst for Innovation, Agentic AI Adoption, and the Future of SME Growth
A defining moment of the event was CoCreate Pitch, which highlighted the intersection of product innovation and AI-enabled growth. The Grand Prize was awarded to 15-year-old Harrison Nott, creator of CoolTowel™—a reusable, mineral-infused cooling towel. His pitch earned him a remarkable $200,000 in cash and Alibaba.com credits. Judges praised the product as “brilliant,” underscoring how modern digital infrastructure allows even young founders to build high-growth businesses and scale globally with the support of agentic AI.
Underlining CoCreate London’s commitment to broad-based innovation, ten additional finalists were awarded $20,000 each. A judging panel featuring Rio Ferdinand OME, Sara Davies MBE, leaders from Alibaba.com, and Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor elevated the competition into a major cultural moment – signaling the rising mainstream interest in product-based entrepreneurship powered by digital commerce.
Beyond the pitch stage, CoCreate London served as the European launchpad for Alibaba.com’s “AI Mode,” reinforcing the event’s role as a global hub for the future of B2B trade. By bringing together AI technologists, supply chain experts, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers, CoCreate London showcased how agentic AI and SME innovation strengthen one another. Startups now have access not only to funding and visibility but also to AI systems capable of sourcing suppliers, validating capabilities, negotiating early-stage terms, and accelerating production in ways previously accessible only to large corporations.
As agentic AI continues to evolve, one thing is clear: it is completely redefining the future of global commerce. And for SMEs seeking to innovate, diversify, and compete on a global stage, CoCreate London offered a glimpse of a future where trade is faster, more inclusive, and more accessible than ever before.
The message is unmistakable: the future of B2B commerce is agentic, and SMEs around the world are showing how that future is already unfolding.