- TikTok has partnered with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to launch a global digital skills program for small and medium businesses.
- The initiative will train SMBs in digital commerce and social commerce tools, helping them use TikTok for marketing, customer reach, and online sales growth.
- Focused on regions like Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, the program aims to boost digital adoption and support SMB growth through structured 'Digital Commerce Labs'.
In a move aimed at strengthening global digital skills and empowering small businesses, TikTok has launched a new education-focused initiative in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The program, announced this week, is designed to provide structured digital commerce training for small and medium-sized businesses across key emerging regions, including Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
The initiative will focus on helping entrepreneurs and SMB owners better understand how to use TikTok for business growth, particularly by leveraging the platform’s expanding suite of social commerce tools. Through guided training, mentorship, and localized learning resources, the program aims to improve how businesses promote products, reach new customers, and convert engagement into sales.
According to TikTok, the collaboration with ICC brings together its global digital ecosystem and the ICC’s extensive international trade network to build what it calls 'Digital Commerce Labs'. These labs are intended to serve as scalable education hubs, offering practical training that can be adapted to different markets and business environments. The goal is not only to increase short-term sales opportunities but also to build long-term digital resilience among small businesses.
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TikTok emphasized that businesses of all sizes are already using the platform to expand visibility and customer reach, but many smaller merchants still lack the technical know-how to fully utilize its in-app shopping features. The new program is expected to bridge that gap by providing step-by-step learning on content creation, audience targeting, and monetization strategies within the app.
The rollout is strategically focused on regions with high entrepreneurial activity but limited access to advanced digital training. Latin America and Africa will be among the first to receive access this spring, followed by expansion into additional African markets and Thailand later in the year.
The move also aligns with TikTok’s broader push into e-commerce education and digital retail growth, as the company continues to expand its in-app shopping ecosystem. Industry analysts note that platforms like TikTok are increasingly investing in education initiatives to encourage adoption of commerce tools that have already proven highly successful in markets like China.
By partnering with the ICC, TikTok is positioning itself not just as a social media platform, but as a key driver of SMB digital transformation and global online business education, particularly in underserved and rapidly growing economies.
