Feb 28, 2020|
Because of Love: Trivial but Heartwarming Couriers’ Stories from Wuhan
by Ling Cao and Tracy Yang
During this critical period in the fight against COVID-19 in Wuhan, JD’s delivery couriers are going above and beyond the call of duty to be there for customers. The stories of these frontline heroes are trivial but heartwarming, as they do everything they can to help people in Wuhan.
Shengzhi Jia, head courier at the JD Huangpu delivery station in Wuhan, told us some recent stories from him and his team:
Helping nurses from Inner Mongolia
On February 19, I received a phone call from the head of the delivery station in Ulanqab city, Inner Mongolia, who told me that a medical team from Inner Mongolia had been notified at 10:00 pm on Feb 18 that they should immediately leave for Wuhan, and they would be staying in a hotel near our station. Given the last minute notice, the nurses didn’t have time to pack their luggages and bring any clothes. These medical workers were all in an area under quarantine and unable to go out, with no shops open near them. My colleague asked me if I could help them buy some daily necessities such as phone chargers, hot water bottles, bathroom heaters, underwear and more. As the hospital has no bathing facilities, the nurses were in desperate need of underwear and warm clothes.
I went to several supermarkets, but wasn’t able to find the daily necessities they required. So I contacted my colleagues working in nearby warehouses, identified the products the nurses needed, placed the order, and delivered the products to them within the shortest possible time. I will continue to support them over the coming days.
Helping a girl in Shanghai
Around the time when the city of Wuhan was placed under quarantine in late January, I got a call from a girl in Shanghai, who asked me to cancel an order of Chinese rice wine she had ordered that had arrived at our delivery station. It turned out her parents lived in Wuhan and she wanted to buy some alcohol-based disinfectant products for them, but she couldn’t find any medical-use alcohol online, so had bought regular drinking liquor instead. She subsequently learned that liquor was ineffective in terms of disinfection, so she wanted to cancel the order. After I helped her cancel the order, I asked her whether she had been able to find any proper alcohol-based medical sanitizer. She told me it was impossible to buy online, and the pharmacy near her parents’ house had long sold out.
At that time medical alcohol really was incredibly difficult to find – I remember whenever my local pharmacist would send a message in a group chat to tell his customers he had some, people would rush to the store and it would be gone in half an hour. I could tell this girl was really worried about her parents, so I asked my colleagues at the delivery station to keep a look out for alcohol-based sanitizer, and to pick up a bottle if they saw it. Eventually, one of my colleagues was able to buy two bottles of medical alcohol and we delivered it to the girl’s parents.
Helping an elderly with hypertension
On February 16, I got a call from a customer who wanted me to help him buy medicine from an offline pharmacy and send it to his father, who lives in Wuhan and has severe high blood pressure. Buying the medicine online was unreliable, his elderly father was unable to go out, and the son was unable to drive a car to deliver the medicine himself. I looked at his father’s address and saw it was not too far away from our delivery station. I told the customer not to worry I picked up the medicine from the hospital, and delivered it to his father.
Helping a young mother
On another occasion I helped a mother who lives far away from her husband with their 4-year-old daughter and six-month-old son in an apartment building under strict quarantine measures. I helped her find the specific type of milk powder her son needed from another courier’s relatives. The mother was extremely worried, telling me that their milk powder was running out, if they bought it online it would take three days, and it was impossible to go out to buy it. She was so grateful when I delivered the milk powder to her. She wanted to give me extra money as a tip, but I refused. I saw it as part of my duty to help people in need during these difficult times.
Helping to feed cats
I helped a customer who went back to her hometown from Wuhan during Chinese New Year before the outbreak. Initially she asked her relatives in Wuhan to feed her five cats, but after the city was put under quarantine, her cats weren’t fed for 10 days. I live in the same apartment building as the customer, and promised to help her feed her cats.
Applying to be a volunteer
I applied to join Wuhan’s official volunteer team on February 23. The team’s main responsibility is to help the community buy food and medicine. In fact I’ve been working for the community lately and have helped some consumers buy medicine. I am also familiar with the community and consumer needs. Some other people I know who are also heads of delivery stations have also applied for the volunteer job and we are waiting for final confirmation. Wuhan is the city we work and live in and we are devoted to make a contribution to its people.
Mar 15, 2024|
JD.com Boosts Trade-In Subsidies and Enhances Service for Household Appliances and Home Goods
JD.com announced on March 14 at the China Household Appliances and Consumer Electronics Expo (AWE2024) that it will invest RMB 3 billion yuan (USD ~420 million) in 2024, in collaboration with its partners, to further improve subsidies and services for customers trading in used home appliances and goods.
The company anticipates that over 20 million users will participate in JD’s trade-in program in 2024, with more than 30 million old appliances and home goods collected through the initiative.
Since launching its trade-in service for household appliances in 2016, JD.com has expanded to include household goods, covering more than 200 subcategories and reaching over 95% of cities and towns across the country.
To simplify the trade-in process, JD.com has implemented several user-friendly measures, such as complimentary doorstep pickup, dismantling, and recycling of old appliances, without limitations on their type, brand, age, or condition. The platform has also adopted a fixed-price deduction model for trade-ins to alleviate shoppers’ concerns.
Moreover, JD.com has led the way in offering trade-in services for home goods and is one of the first to provide integrated dismantling and delivery services for a wide range of appliances and items, including mattresses and electric locks. This comprehensive service model significantly reduces the hassle for consumers by eliminating the need to deal with multiple service providers.
The continuous improvements to JD.com’s trade-in services have earned increasing appreciation from Chinese consumers. In 2023, the platform collected over 15 million old appliances. Since March 2024, participation in JD’s trade-in program has grown by more than 150% year over year.
This initiative aligns with the action plan issued by the State Council of China on March 13th to promote large-scale equipment renewals and trade-ins of consumer goods. The plan focuses on enhancing convenience and streamlining the appliance update process by fostering collaboration among retailers, manufacturers, and recyclers to promote trade-ins, including the establishment of dedicated zones and incentives for trading in old appliances for energy-efficient models.
JD.com is dedicated to serving as a bridge between consumers and manufacturers, working with partners to promote the appliance industry’s high-quality growth, expedite the development of green supply chains, and provide reliable, cost-effective products. By offering comprehensive services and supporting brands, JD.com aims to encourage consumption renewal in the home appliances and goods sector.
Mar 9, 2024|
JD.com Recognized by United Nations Global Compact for Advancing Gender Equality in the Workplace
To mark International Women’s Day, the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, released a new report titled Women at Work: Chinese companies taking action on gender equality on March 8, which highlights JD.com’s commitment to fostering gender equality in its workplace.
The report features a selection of case studies and personal stories from various industries across China, spotlighting exemplary practices and insights gained in advancing gender equality within the workplace. It offers a comprehensive overview of both global and China-specific progress in this arena through an examination of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on SDG 5: Gender Equality. Additionally, the report provides actionable gender equality roadmaps and essential resources for businesses, encouraging them to play a pivotal role in the collective journey towards achieving SDG 5.
Commenting on the report’s release, Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact said: “In our ongoing journey toward achieving gender equality, it’s inspiring to see the commitment and innovative approaches detailed in Women at Work. During a recent visit to China, I witnessed firsthand the dynamic discussions and unwavering dedication among business leaders to advance this cause. This report is not just a reflection of current practices but a call to action for companies worldwide to amplify their efforts in fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces. This report underscores the urgency and importance of building a more gender-inclusive business landscape.”
JD.com is honored to be the first Chinese company visited by Ms. Ojiambo during her China trip, in which she met JD’s first female CEO, Sandy Xu, and gained insights into the company’s rich history and its commitment to SDGs in green supply chain, responsible consumption, and gender equality, among others.
A Shining Example of Empowerment
The report highlights the story of Han Xue, a customer service representative and mother living with a disability. She is a member of JD.com’s “Sunshine Angels” program, which provides online customer service job opportunities to people with disabilities. In her interview, Han said, “This job has not only allowed me to help others and forge friendships, but it also helped me regain confidence and zest for life.”
Han stressed the importance of striking a balance between work and family life, adding, “I aspire to be an optimistic and content mother.” She highlighted JD.com’s supportive environment, which recognizes and rewards her contributions, enabling her to excel professionally while being a devoted parent.JD’s “Sunshine Angels” initiative, launched in 2013, currently comprises around 100 members, with women constituting 70% of the core team. With plans to expand this initiative to 500 members, JD.com aims to provide more employment opportunities and development avenues for female employees and individuals with disabilities
A Win-Win Pursuit
Han’s story is a testament to JD.com’s commitment to nurturing a supportive workplace culture that facilitates the growth and success of all its employees. With nearly 620,000 employees, JD.com believes that offering tailored support to female employees and their families is mutually beneficial for the company. The company has undertaken substantial, measurable efforts in relevant areas, such as establishing a RMB 10 billion housing fund, providing childcare resources, offering comprehensive maternity benefits, and expanding its employee relief fund. These efforts propelled JD.com to become the first Chinese company in its industry selected for Bloomberg’s 2023 Gender Equality Index, underscoring its dedication to gender equality and sustainable employee development.
Moreover, as a company with both digital and real economy capabilities, JD.com offers diverse career opportunities for female employees, particularly opportunities in STEM fields, spanning digital industry services, research and development, internet healthcare, and more. Last year, the company also appointed a Chief Diversity Officer, further enhancing the environment for employee growth and development.
According to Zhang Pang, Chief Human Resources Officer at JD.com, prioritizing employee development is paramount. By fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment with long-term development opportunities, JD.com aims to generate greater value for both the company and society.
Aligning ESG Strategies with SDGs
JD.com’s ESG Director Li Yi who is also interviewed in the report highlighted the challenges and opportunities in advancing gender equality and underscored JD.com’s participation in the UN Global Compact’s Target Gender Equality Accelerator program in 2022 and the company’s commitment to the “Forward Faster” initiative in 2023, with a special focus on gender equality.
Li Yi shared, “Our involvement with the UN Global Compact has empowered us with a more profound sense of purpose, driving us to encourage business engagement in fostering women’s economic empowerment and contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development within the UN framework.”
In-depth Report: Turning Extraordinary to Ordinary
