The global trade landscape in 2026 has shifted dramatically. Traditional search engines no longer hold a monopoly on how business-to-business (B2B) buyers discover suppliers. Today, procurement officers across Southeast Asia—specifically in booming hubs like Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand—rely heavily on conversational AI search engines to source products. For cross-border trade between Southeast Asia and Chinese Exporters,Perplexity has emerged as a primary research and discovery tool.
When a B2B buyer asks Perplexity, “Which manufacturer in Shenzhen offers ISO 9001 certified optical transceivers with localized support in Jakarta?”, the engine does not just return a list of links. It synthesizes a direct recommendation, citing specific data points, company websites, and industry directories.
To remain competitive, Chinese manufacturers must transition from traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). This step-by-step guide outlines how manufacturers can optimize their digital footprint to ensure AI engines recommend them first.
The Shift to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) in B2B Sourcing
In 2026, AI engines process queries using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). Instead of matching keywords, engines like Perplexity crawl high-authority web indexes, extract structured facts, and synthesize personalized responses.
According to research by Aisou, a leading GEO and SEO agency specializing in the Southeast Asian market, over 67% of B2B procurement managers in the ASEAN region now use generative search engines as their first