You could know TikTok because the platform chargeable for popularizing viral teen dance transfers and constantly bringing Republican lawmakers’ blood to a boil, however newly posted job listings reveal a doubtlessly new course for the corporate: e-commerce big.

Over a dozen LinkedIn job listings posted over the previous two weeks recommend TikTok is gearing as much as construct sprawling U.S. achievement facilities as half of a bigger pivot in the direction of dwell e-commerce. One of listings, first spotted by Axios, explains how the corporate seeks to create an “international e-commerce fulfillment system,” outfitted with worldwide warehouse and “customs clearing” provide chains.

TikTok’s achievement facilities, in response to the listings, would supply warehousing, supply, and customer support returns, to assist sellers on the agency’s video platform improve effectivity and, in flip, hopefully drive up income for TikTok. Unlike Amazon, nevertheless, Axios notes it seems unlikely TikTok would construct out its personal transportation unit. Instead, the listings seem to indicate TikTok would work with distributors to deal with delivery and transportation.

TikTok has some earlier expertise taking part in round with livestream e-commerce companies in Asia and the United Kingdom referred to as “TikTok Shop” which lets firms and influencers immediately push merchandise by way of the platform. Recent reviews suggest TikTok is seeking to companion with dwell purchasing platform DiscussShopStay to deliver that functionality, or one thing much like it, to North America. The rumored achievement facilities may immediately tie into this purchasing expertise and supply TikTok with entry to and management over a provide chain to serve prospects merchandise bought on its essential platform.

So far, the open positions embody Logistics Solutions Managers based mostly in Seattle and Los Angeles and a Seattle-based mostly Operation Research Engineer, amongst others. In one of many job descriptions, TikTok notes the fast acceleration of e-commerce gross sales lately and says its thousands and thousands of devoted app customers make the model, “an ideal platform to deliver a brand new and better e-commerce experience to our users.”

According to latest census data, U.S. e-commerce gross sales shot up from $571.2 billion in 2019 to $815.4 billion in 2020, a 43% improve seemingly accelerated by the pandemic. Research agency Insider Intelligence predicts U.S. e-commerce gross sales may crack the $1 trillion mark this yr. Unsurprisingly Amazon’s come to dominate the sector and made up round 38% of all U.S. e-commerce gross sales in 2021. TikTok’s evidently hoping to slither in and steal a few of that market share.

In an e mail to Gizmodo a TikTok spokesperson averted delving deeper into the corporate’s achievement middle hiring and as a substitute reiterated the corporate’s dedication to TikTok Shop. “We’re 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,” the spokesperson mentioned.

The short-form video platform signaled its curiosity in e-commerce over the previous a number of years and even partnered with analysis agency Material to supply a report analyzing the platform’s impression on shopper’s shopping for habits. The report claims viewers making purchases immediately on social and video platforms like TikTok are 1.2% extra prone to result in an instantaneous buy when in comparison with customers on on-line marketplaces like Amazon. The report claims 61% of TikTok customers have engaged in e-commerce on the platform whereas 56% say they already flip to the platform to find new merchandise and types.

Specific particulars regarding TikTok’s e-commerce technique stays sparse, however one factor’s nearly sure: any push into the house will seemingly face fierce pushback from U.S. lawmakers who consider the corporate’s ties to the Chinese authorities make it a nationwide safety threat. Some of these issues, echoed loudly by former President Donald Trump, run the gamut from paranoid blatherings to extra even-keeled critics. Both variations of that concern have grown, with senators and business executives just lately resurfacing calls to ban the platform.