(Yicai) Feb. 21 -- Some Taobao users can now use Tencent Holdings’ payment platform WeChat Pay to pay for selected items on the e-commerce site under Alibaba Group Holding.

Taobao has started to support WeChat Pay, but for now, it is only for some specific products, a customer service employee told Yicai yesterday, without disclosing any further details.

In early 2022, some Taobao users found they could pay for some items with WeChat Pay by scanning a quick-response code. Before, they could only pay with Alibaba’s affiliate mobile payment platform Alipay.

The introduction, even if limited, of the new payment method, shows that Taobao is implementing adjustments in operation and user development, said Zhang Yi, chief executive officer and chief analyst at iiMedia Research.

As the number of users has not increased, Taobao needs to retain existing users by allowing them to use WeChat Pay, also because it does not need to protect Alipay anymore, Zhang added.

Moreover, Taobao’s operating pressure and Alibaba’s independent development of various businesses have also pushed Taobao towards more market-oriented decisions, Zhang noted.

Editor: Futura Costaglione