Summary: Alibaba is a global marketplace. Vujis is a verified-buyer discovery and trade-intelligence platform. This article explains why they are completely different tools, why Vujis will never operate like a buyer portal, and how our own $21,000 mistake as exporters led to building a system that helps manufacturers and traders find real buyers with data instead of guesswork.
Why This Topic Matters
Most exporters start with buyer portals, directories, or online platforms. They are great for visibility and getting in front of potential buyers. But they cannot tell you:
- whether a “buyer” or “supplier” has ever imported or exported
- which companies have real shipment history
- whether the documents they show you are genuine
- whether the market actually has demand for your product
- whether the trade route even makes commercial sense
This gap between inquiry and reality is where exporters lose time, money, and trust. Vujis was built specifically to close that gap.
Our Story: The $21,000 Lesson That Changed Everything
Before Vujis, we were exporters – not software founders. We traded scrap metal and agro commodities, using the same kinds of platforms every new exporter uses. We received “serious inquiries,” “urgent requirements,” and “big orders.” Some of them looked very promising.
We found a supplier through a platform similar to Alibaba. To be clear: this is not an attack on Alibaba. Platforms like Alibaba are excellent for discovering suppliers, seeing options, and understanding the market landscape.
Our mistake was different: we trusted claims without independently verifying whether that supplier had ever actually exported the product they were offering.
They sent us screenshots of previous Bills of Lading as “proof.” Later, we discovered those BLs were fake.
When we eventually checked proper trade data, we realised:
- they had never exported that commodity before
- their country barely shipped that product at all
- the whole route made no commercial sense
We trusted the wrong people and lost $21,000. The buyer on the other side was inexperienced, and we had to return their money. Everyone lost.
If Vujis existed back then, we could have checked in minutes whether that company appeared in real shipment records, whether they exported that HS code, and whether their claimed shipments were real. One quick verification would have saved us months of stress.
It wasn’t a “platform problem”. It was an intelligence problem. We relied on claims, screenshots, and past “BLs” instead of verified data.
Why Vujis Exists
Exporting isn’t about collecting inquiries. It’s about making decisions with enough clarity that you don’t have to gamble.
Exporters need to know:
- who actually buys their type of product
- who has real import or export history
- which markets have sustained, real demand
- whether a counterparty is legitimate – beyond what they claim
- who the decision-makers are inside those companies
- how to avoid expensive beginner mistakes on the wrong routes
Vujis exists so manufacturers and traders don’t have to learn these lessons the hard way. We built the platform we wish we had when we were burned.
Alibaba vs. Vujis: Two Completely Different Categories
Alibaba = Marketplace
Alibaba is designed for:
- product listings
- inquiries and messages
- negotiations and samples
- general visibility for buyers and suppliers
It’s one of the best places in the world to discover suppliers and for suppliers to be discovered. But because almost anyone can create an account and send inquiries, exporters often face:
- mixed-quality leads
- brokers instead of real buyers
- price shoppers with no intent to buy
- unverified companies with no past shipments
- new entities without any track record
Alibaba gives visibility. It does not give verification.
Vujis = Verified Buyer Discovery & Trade Intelligence
Vujis is not a buyer portal. We do not host listings. We do not generate marketplace inquiries. We do not aim to be “another Alibaba”.
Vujis is built to help exporters and traders answer different questions:
- Who already imports my HS code or product type?
- What does their shipment history look like?
- Is this company a real, active buyer or just a name?
- Which markets actually make commercial sense?
- Who are the decision-makers I should speak to?
Vujis helps you find verified importers with real shipment history, so you can avoid risky buyer portals and focus on buyers who have already proven they purchase your kind of product.
Practical Example: Using Alibaba vs. Using Vujis
On Alibaba
- Create a listing
- Wait for inquiries
- Filter fake or low-quality leads
- Negotiate with limited context
- Hope the buyer is real and capable
On Vujis
- Search by HS code or product
- See importers buying that product in 195+ markets
- Review their shipment history and patterns
- Verify legitimacy beyond self-reported claims
- Identify decision-makers and contact them directly
Alibaba is reactive – you respond to whoever comes to you. Vujis is strategic – you decide which markets and buyers you want to target, based on verified data.
Why Vujis Will Never Compete With Alibaba
We don’t see Alibaba as a competitor. We solve different problems at different stages of the export journey.
Alibaba → “Help me be seen and receive inquiries.”
Vujis → “Help me avoid mistakes and find verified buyers based on real data.”
Many exporters will (and should) use both. The important thing is to be clear about what each tool is for.
Who Vujis Is Built For
- Manufacturers wanting predictable global customers
- SMEs who need verified buyers, not random inquiries
- Trading companies focused on risk management
- Export teams tired of buyer portals and fake leads
- Companies that want data-led international expansion, not guesswork
- Anyone who has wasted money on the wrong fairs, wrong markets, or wrong “buyers”
FAQs: Vujis vs. Alibaba
Is Vujis an alternative to Alibaba?
Not directly. Alibaba is a buyer marketplace; Vujis is a verified buyer intelligence platform. Exporters often use Alibaba for visibility and Vujis for verification and strategy.
Can Vujis help me avoid fake buyers or suppliers?
Yes. Vujis focuses on companies with real shipment history and import activity, helping you avoid risky leads, unverifiable claims, and fake documentation.
Does Vujis replace trade fairs?
No. Trade fairs are excellent for building relationships and understanding your industry. The real risk is choosing the wrong fair or attending without knowing whether that market genuinely buys your product.
Vujis helps you identify which markets and buyers are worth your time first, so your trade fair investment becomes strategic instead of blind.
Why is Alibaba not enough for exporters?
Alibaba gives visibility and inquiries, but it cannot show:
- import or export history for a company
- shipment patterns over time
- real demand by HS code and market
- whether a counterparty’s claims match data
Vujis fills that gap with verified intelligence and buyer discovery built around trade flows.
Can I use Alibaba and Vujis together?
Yes. Many exporters do:
- Alibaba → visibility, inquiries, and product discovery
- Vujis → verification, real buyers, and market clarity
Together, they make exporting safer and faster – you get the reach of a marketplace and the confidence of data.
Who should use Vujis?
Exporters, manufacturers, and trading companies who want predictable global growth based on verified insights, not guesswork and random inquiries.
Final Thoughts
Visibility matters – and platforms like Alibaba are excellent for helping you be seen. But exporting without intelligence is how expensive mistakes happen.
Vujis helps you move with confidence by showing you verified importers, shipment history, decision-maker contacts, and real demand patterns – so you’re not guessing which buyers or markets make sense.
If you want more than inquiries and want clarity before you commit, Vujis is built for you.