Ashita Group, a prominent player in the B2B2C online-to-offline (O2O) commerce sector in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, has officially launched Cendol.Asia, an innovative O2O social commerce platform.
This new venture, developed in collaboration with Alibaba Cloud’s affiliated companies, WhaleCloud International and Fonixtree Digital Technology, marks a significant milestone in the e-commerce landscape, combining Ashita Group’s deep market expertise with Alibaba Cloud’s advanced technological capabilities.
Ashita Group, with its robust network of over 5,000 registered dealers and more than 15,000 reseller points across Malaysia, has been a leader in market innovation for over thirty years.
The partnership with Alibaba Cloud aims to elevate the e-commerce experience in Southeast Asia, leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s top-tier e-commerce expertise and Ashita’s extensive regional reach. Cendol.Asia is positioned to be a key player in connecting global supply chains with Southeast Asian markets, offering a diverse range of products to consumers while providing merchants with advanced tools to optimize their sales channels.
John Tan, President of Ashita Group, explained that Cendol.Asia aims to seamlessly bridge online and offline commerce for both consumers and merchants by offering a wide range of everyday products. “We’re not just launching an e-commerce platform; we’re introducing a new social commerce shopping experience that integrates online and offline elements. Our collaboration with WhaleCloud International and Fonixtree Digital Technology combines local market insights with world-class e-commerce expertise,” said Tan.
The name “Cendol.Asia” was inspired by the popular Southeast Asian dessert “cendol,” symbolizing the platform’s regional growth aspirations. Its Chinese brand name, “Qian Dai,” which means “Money Pocket,” reflects the platform’s unique value proposition and its Shop-N-Earn structure tailored for Southeast Asia’s dynamic and fast-growing e-commerce markets.
Cendol.Asia stands out with its “Earn-As-You-Shop” model, supported by the Trio-Wallet system. The “Moneyback Wallet” allows shoppers to earn between 100-200% of their purchase value in “CenDuit,” which can be used to redeem products on the platform, enhancing their purchasing power.
The “Income Wallet” is linked to the social commerce income generated by Cendol users, enabling them to earn additional income through referrals, appealing particularly to Gen-Y and Gen-Z users. The third wallet, Credit Power, offers inventory-backed credit to help social commerce merchants manage inventory purchasing power.
Ben Chow, Chief Executive Officer of WhaleCloud International, and Li Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Fonixtree Digital Technology, expressed their enthusiasm for Cendol.Asia’s launch: “As strategic partners and extensions of Alibaba Cloud, we are thrilled to support Cendol.Asia’s rapid expansion across Southeast Asia. This platform is uniquely positioned to leverage Alibaba Group’s extensive cross-border supply chain resources and regional market network.”
Eric Khor, Chief Executive Officer of Cendol.Asia, added, “Cendol.Asia signifies a new era in social commerce, where shopping, earning, and community engagement come together. Our Trio-Wallet system and innovative ‘Earn-As-You-Shop’ model are designed to empower both consumers and merchants.”
Looking to the future, Cendol.Asia plans to expand its network of O2O stores, allowing customers to interact with products before purchasing online, thus enhancing the overall shopping experience.
To celebrate its launch, Cendol.Asia is offering RM150 worth of “CenDuit” to each new customer, redeemable across the platform. It is now available on Google Play Store and through the H5 Web platform at Cendol.Asia (https://my.cendol.asia/), with plans to expand into the broader Southeast Asian market by early next year.
