Apr 2, 2021|
Chinese Artist Cao Fei Highlights JD.com in First Major Solo Exhibit in Beijing
by Kelly Dawson
The first major solo art exhibition by renowned contemporary Chinese artist Cao Fei has opened at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) in Beijing, with a section highlighting JD.com in two videos filmed at one of the company’s futuristic, AI-powered Asia No. 1 automated warehouses. Titled “Staging the Era,” the exhibition is a retrospective of Cao’s work, which explores themes of economic growth and globalization, encapsulating the dizzying changes that have taken place in China and around the world in recent decades.
In a video titled “Asia One,” a JD employee is seen interfacing with digital devices in JD’s warehouse. He is accompanied by only one other employee, and a team of robots that echo JD’s real-life use of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) and other AI technology to handle more than 1.3 million packages per day during peak shopping seasons, seen here in a seemingly never-ending stream and dispatched with orderly efficiency. The two workers yearn for affection, yet struggle to connect.
Later a group of workers appear in the warehouse to participate in a feverish dance performance reminiscent of Chinese operas, a surreal sequence surrounding an enormous inflated octopus that serves as contrast to the futuristic, sleek technology of previous scenes. Above them is a banner that reads, “Humans and machines, hand in hand.”
Also featured in the exhibition is the documentary film “11.11 (2018),” which was filmed at JD headquarters in Beijing and explores the overwhelmingly complex operations undertaken by the e-commerce giant during the enormously popular shopping festival occurring on Nov. 11 each year. In this video, JD’s (very human) employees are showcased, with some of its more than 190,000 couriers and logistics workers seen racing through the streets of Beijing, a common sight in the capital city.
Both videos were previously featured in a 2018 group exhibition titled “One Hand Clapping” at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, on which occasion the New York Times declared that “No young artist has a sharper view of the future than Cao Fei.” Describing “Asia One,” the newspaper described the video as a “mournfully beautiful hybrid of economic forecast and tragic love story.”
Now appearing as part of the artist’s first major solo exhibition at UCCA, “Asia One” and “11.11” are showcased in a separate area and accompanied by JD paraphernalia including a warehouse hard hat and stacked delivery boxes. Also appearing at the exhibition is the giant inflated octopus from “Asia One,” an absolutely unforgettable image.
“Staging the Era” will be on exhibit at UCCA in Beijing until June 6, 2021.
Nov 7, 2024|
CIIE 2024: JD.com to Expand Imports of Specialty Brands, Strengthen Healthcare Partnerships, and Enhance Logistics
At the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 5, JD Super, the supermarket division of JD.com, announced a major initiative to broaden its selection of imported specialty. Over the next three years, JD Super plans to introduce over 1,000 new international brands to meet the increasing demand for high-quality, diverse imported goods.
Meeting the Growing Demand for Quality Imports
According to JD Worldwide’s “White Paper on 2024 China Cross-Border Consumption Trends,” more than 80% of Chinese consumers are interested in imported products, with many prioritizing authenticity, quality, and fast delivery. In response, JD has significantly expanded its range of international offerings. During the ongoing Singles’ Day Grand Promotion, sales of cross-border products have surged, with more than 600 brands experiencing a sales increase of over 100% compared to last year.
Strengthening High-Quality Food Partnerships
Demonstrating JD.com’s commitment to sourcing high-quality products, JD Super signed a new procurement agreement at CIIE with Huadong Foods and Teys, a major Australian beef brand under Cargill. Under this agreement, JD Super and Huadong Foods will procure $50 million of Teys beef throughout 2025. This partnership underscores JD’s strategy of collaborating with trusted suppliers to provide high-quality, affordable beef to Chinese consumers.
Delivering Authentic Global Goods Efficiently
JD Logistics has built a robust logistics network that spans bonded, direct mail, and overseas warehouses, facilitating fast deliveries of imported items across categories such as electronics, fashion, beauty, food, and baby products. In many major cities, delivery times have been reduced to under 48 hours.
For instance, JD Super’s partnership with Raub of Malaysia enables the import of Musang King durians, which are harvested at peak ripeness and air-shipped with cold chain logistics for delivery within 24 hours. Additionally, JD.com also secured an early supply of Chilean cherries, available since October, which can be delivered in as little as 30 minutes in many areas through JD NOW, its on-demand retail service.
JD.com’s “JD National Pavilions” program, which features over 150 country-themed flagship stores from more than 70 countries and regions, continues to be a cornerstone of its import strategy. Supported by embassies and reputable organizations, this initiative offers Chinese consumers access to premium products and cultural experiences from around the world. In April, JD launched the JD National Pavilion of Mali, introducing popular items like shea butter and garnering over 40,000 followers.
Expanding Healthcare and Logistics Partnerships
JD Health is also making strides at CIIE by strengthening partnerships with leading global healthcare companies, including Merck, Bayer, and Roche. As “China’s premier online health access point,” JD Health is committed to integrating digital and physical healthcare resources to improve access and convenience for patients.
Key collaborations include initiatives with Haleon to promote brain health and anti-aging for the “silver economy,” with MSD China on a digital diabetes management model, and with Teva Pharmaceuticals to provide patient education for conditions such as tardive dyskinesia (TD) and Huntington’s disease (HD).
On the logistics front, JD Logistics announced plans to double its overseas warehouse space by 2025 and expand its network of bonded and direct mail warehouses. JD Express now serves over 60 countries, enhancing cross-border delivery efficiency and supporting both brands and consumers.
Through these efforts, JD.com reaffirms its commitment to sourcing and delivering authentic, high-quality imported products to Chinese consumers, supported by an advanced supply chain that ensures a superior shopping experience.
(vivian.yang@jd.com)
Nov 5, 2024|
JD Logistics Introduces “Zhilang” Intelligent Warehousing Solution at CeMAT Asia 2024
JD Logistics (also known as JINGDONG Logistics) announced today at CeMAT ASIA 2024 its latest Goods-to-Person (GTP) automated warehousing innovation, the “Zhilang” solution. Meaning “Intelligent Wolf”, Zhilang is a proprietary system that improves picking efficiency by over three times compared to traditional methods. This advanced system is already supporting operations during the Singles Day Grand Promotion.
The Zhilang GTP solution combines several technologies, including handling AGVs, lifting robots, and shelving systems, along with automated inbound and picking workstations and an empty tote reflow line. Leveraging warehouse height, Zhilang increases storage density to 2.5 times the industry average for facilities up to 10 meters high.
The system’s modular design enables handling AGVs and lifting robots to operate independently. Powered by JD Logistics’ self-developed “upper tote storage and lower picking scenarios” algorithm and “buffer storage” technology, the network is fully flexible for optimized routing. The high-precision navigation algorithm, dual-direction laser obstacle detection technology, and vision-based verification ensure precise retrieval with minimal error. Additionally, Zhilang’s payback period is 30% shorter than comparable solutions.
Currently, nearly 100 Zhilang AGVs and lifting robots are in operation at an intelligent logistics park in Beijing, handling nearly a million items, from tops to shoes. With a click, pickers receive requested items directly from the robots, enabling a seamless, automated order fulfillment process from inbound to outbound.
JD Logistics continues to advance logistics operations with a wide array of solutions, including the the Tianlang Tote Shuttle GTP system, Dilang AGV GTP system, Four-way Pallet Shuttle Storage system, Auto Remin Wall, and the Aidong mobile data terminal. In terms of software, JD Logistics’ WCS (warehouse control system), WES (warehouse execution system), RMS (robotics management system), 3D SCADA (3D supervisory control and data acquisition), and Lomir intelligent logistics park management platform, are used in over 1,600 JD-operated warehouses and client facilities.
As JD Logistics expands globally, its solutions now serve thousands of corporate clients across dozens of countries and regions, including Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, the United States, and throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
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