TikTok appears to be looking to copy Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) and create a new logistics and warehousing network in the US to support its eCommerce efforts, CNN has reported, referencing several job openings recently posted to its hiring site and LinkedIn page.
The Chinese social-media company, whose parent company ByteDance is partially state-owned, currently offers a shopping option called TikTok Shop in select markets, including the UK and Indonesia, which lets creators and merchants sell products through the platform.
It has also partnered with Shopify Inc to enable shopping on its platform, CNN noted.
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But with the latest job postings, which CNN said were first reported by Axios, TikTok seems to want to go even further by looking to provide logistical support to build what it calls “a brand new and better e-commerce experience”.
“By providing warehousing, delivery, and customer service returns, our mission is to help sellers improve their operational capability and efficiency, provide buyers a satisfying shopping experience and ensure fast and sustainable growth of TikTok Shop,” the company said in one job posting, the news site reported.
The company also said it is looking for someone to “build the new fulfillment service from scratch” and be “responsible for the business development of fulfillment service of TikTok e-commerce logistics in US” in another job posting, CNN added.
The news site noted that many of the roles are posted based out of Seattle, which is also home to Amazon’s first corporate headquarters.
In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for Tik Tok said the company is “focused on providing a valuable shopping experience in countries where TikTok Shop is currently offered across Southeast Asia and the UK, which includes providing merchants with a range of product features and delivery options.”