Rakuten, the Japanese e-commerce giant, is making big moves to expand its reach both at home and abroad. The company has been on an acquisition spree in recent years, adding to its portfolio of services and broadening its global footprint. Here’s a look at some of their latest efforts.
In February of 2023, Rakuten announced the acquisition of Buy.com, a US-based e-commerce platform that specializes in consumer electronics, tech accessories, and home goods. With this acquisition, Rakuten gains a foothold in the highly competitive US e-commerce market and gains access to Buy.com’s extensive customer base.
Rakuten has also been making inroads in Europe. In January, the company announced the acquisition of Paddle, a UK-based software company that provides e-commerce solutions for software developers. With this acquisition, Rakuten gains a platform for selling digital products and services, which is a growing market in Europe.
But Rakuten’s expansion efforts aren’t limited to acquisitions. The company has also been forming partnerships with major retailers and brands to bring their products to Rakuten’s marketplace. In March of 2023, Rakuten announced a partnership with Walmart to offer Walmart’s products on Rakuten’s platform in Japan. This move expands Rakuten’s product offerings and gives Walmart access to the Japanese market.
Rakuten has also been focusing on expanding its services beyond traditional e-commerce. In February of 2023, the company announced a partnership with SoftBank Robotics to develop a robot delivery service for Rakuten’s customers. The service will use SoftBank’s Pepper robots to deliver packages to customers in Tokyo and other major cities.
These recent moves are part of Rakuten’s broader strategy to become a global e-commerce powerhouse. The company has been expanding aggressively in recent years, both through acquisitions and partnerships, and has been working to position itself as a major player in the global e-commerce market.
While there are risks to Rakuten’s expansion efforts, such as increased competition and the challenges of integrating new acquisitions, the company’s leadership has expressed confidence in their ability to navigate these challenges and continue to grow their business. With a strong track record of innovation and a growing portfolio of services, Rakuten looks poised to make a major impact in the world of e-commerce.