CNN —
While seemingly every social media app is copying TikTok, now TikTok appears to be copying Amazon’s playbook.
TikTok appears to be trying to build a new logistics and warehousing network in the United States to support its e-commerce efforts, according to multiple job listings recently posted on its recruitment page and LinkedIn page.
Like other social networks, TikTok has expanded into e-commerce to create revenue opportunities. TikTok currently offers a shopping option called TikTok Shop in select markets including the UK and Indonesia, allowing creators and merchants to sell products through the platform. It has also partnered with Shopify to enable shopping on the platform.
But with the latest job postings, first reported by Axios, TikTok seems poised to go even further. Rather than simply serving as a platform to reach customers, TikTok may want to provide logistical support to build what it calls “a brand new and better ecommerce experience.”
“By providing warehouse, delivery and after-sales returns, our mission is to help sellers improve their operability and efficiency, provide buyers with a satisfying shopping experience, and ensure rapid and sustainable growth of TikTok Shop,” the company said in a job posting.
For example, in a job posting, the company says it’s looking for someone to “build the new fulfillment service from scratch” and “responsible for business development of TikTok’s e-commerce logistics fulfillment service in the United States.”
Many of the positions are posted outside of Seattle, where Amazon’s first corporate headquarters are located. Amazon’s extensive logistics and delivery network made it a key tool for numerous merchants, ensuring it could offer a wide range of products with expedited deliveries.
A TikTok spokesperson declined to elaborate on the latest roles. In a statement to CNN, the spokesperson said the company is “focused on delivering a valuable shopping experience in countries where TikTok Shop is currently available across Southeast Asia and the UK, including providing merchants with a range of product features and delivery options.”