(Yicai) Oct. 30 -- Users of the Chinese e-commerce platform JD.Com can now use Alipay to pay for purchases as major e-commerce players shift away from closed ecosystems in search of new revenue streams.

The popular mobile wallet of Ant Group announced the news on Weibo yesterday. Several shoppers confirmed to Yicai that they successfully used Alipay for purchases on JD.Com, though some users noted the Alipay option has yet to appear on their app.

With this integration, Alipay is now available on all major e-commerce platforms, an Alipay representative told Yicai, adding that the company plans to deepen partnerships with more e-commerce platforms to create added value for merchants and consumers alike.

The rise of mini-programs is making closed ecosystems an outdated business model. Before JD.Com’s integration with Alipay, other JD.Com businesses—such as courier JD Express, on-demand delivery arm JD Daojia, and private label Jingzao—were already accessible to consumers through mini-programs on the Alipay app.

The longstanding segmentation among China’s e-commerce giants is beginning to dissolve. In addition to the JD.Com and Alipay partnership, other e-commerce platforms are following suit. For instance, since September, Alibaba’s Taobao platform has allowed payments through Tencent Holdings' social media platform WeChat.

Zhuang Shuai, an e-commerce researcher at the 100Ec.Cn, told Yicai that this trend toward interconnection reflects a shift in strategy, as platforms in a saturated market pursue new growth avenues through incremental revenue.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Emmi Laine