Cafe24 offers direct connection to Facebook Shops

Facebook Shops page [CAFE24]

Online shopping vendors that built their websites with Cafe24, a Korean e-commerce platform provider, are now able to automatically update their products on Facebook Shops.

Cafe24 on Tuesday announced it is connecting products sold by its clients on online shopping websites to Facebook Shops in real time.

Launched in May, Facebook Shops is a platform that enables businesses to sell products online via Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp without fees. Facebook partnered with eight partners globally, including Cafe24.

The service saves Cafe24 clients the trouble of having to manage Facebook or Instagram sales platforms. Any changes to their shopping website are reflected on Facebook and Instagram sales channels instantly, according to Cafe24.

Placing orders and payments take place on vendors’ online shopping websites.

“Through the data system Cafe24 co-developed with Facebook, [our clients] can manage products that are displayed on the administration page of their shopping mall website,” said Cafe24 CEO Lee Jae-suk during an online press event held on Tuesday. “Cafe24 and Facebook share the commonality of valuing the super connection of people and businesses.”

Cafe24 does not make money from offering the joint service with Facebook. But it hopes to expand its base of clients and customers through the service.

“Sellers can make their products available to users in different countries where Facebook operates,” said Cafe24 in a statement, “including North America, Japan and Southeast Asia.”

Facebook, which acquired Instagram and WhatsApp, has a total of 3.1 billion users worldwide.

Cafe24 has around 1.8 million clients. One of the most famous clients is popular fashion and cosmetics brand Stylenanda, acquired by L'Oréal in 2018.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]