Jun 17, 2020|
JD Deploys Asia’s First Integrated Smart and Flexible Production Logistics Park in Tianjin
by Ling Cao
On June 16, JD announced the deployment of a fully-integrated Beidou Smart and Flexible Production Logistics Park in Tianjin’s Wuqing District, which is the first of its kind in Asia, and all R&D is developed in-house by JD.
The warehouse is most suitable for fulfilling and managing orders spanning multiple categories at a large scale.
Zhenhui Wang, CEO of JD Logistics said, “Leveraging our experience in smart technology innovation and application in various scenarios, JD Logistics has built an integrated supply chain technology platform covering underlying technology, software and hardware systems, as well as smart supply chain, which can be opened to other partners as basic building blocks.”
Video download link: https://jdcorporateblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/JD-Deploys-Asia%E2%80%99s-First-Integrated-Smart-and-Flexible-Production-Logistics-Park-in-Tianijn.mp4
The key characteristic of this warehouse is its brand new operation processes and management infrastructure, achieving full cycle intelligent self-status recognition, automatic diagnosis and dynamic optimization. Based on IoT and AI, it deeply integrates cutting-edge technologies: deep learning, big data, operational research, machine vision recognition and digital twin models, enabling it to be able to deal with millions of SKUs, high concurrency throughput and high flexibility to process peak time volume and optimize resource usage, covering hundreds of categories including electronics, apparel, baby and maternal, cosmetics, and food In addition, the model has high replicability and low investment costs, and JD is willing to open the core technology to merchants, extending its value to the rest of the industry.
Kun Wang, head of JD’s BeiDou Smart Flow-picking Innovation Warehouse said, “If a large enterprise can use our model and put it into large scale operation, it will save them tens of millions of RMB each year.”
Unlike a traditional warehouse which picks goods based on orders, the new warehouse use the industry-leading flow-picking model, which picks goods based on products, and changes manual static picking tasks into fully automatic dynamic tasks. In this way, it maximizes the number of items picked on a single trip, thus increasing picking density, shortening the walking distance of warehouse workers, reducing the number of picking trips, and eventually improving picking efficiency and reduce labor intensity.
Behind the scenes, this seemingly simple picking process is powered by a complex and automatic production and operations management system. Through writing 12.6 million lines of code, JD has redeveloped the warehouse management system in this warehouse so that people, goods and scenarios can be managed through a single, core system.
As for hardware, the warehouse consists of tens of thousands of components, including chips, sensors, cameras, barcode readers, and smart sorting system, and its operations are fully supported by IoT. All of the products, containers and the sorting system operate based on instructions from the core system.
Instructed by the core system, 800 smart sorting trolleys on a sorting rail can do dynamic route planning with 99.99% accuracy. With this new innovation, customers around the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region can enjoy the benefits of having orders fulfilled 2-3 hours faster than previously.
The new warehouse also changed the traditional operation management model which is mainly managed by manpower, to a new automatic and flexible model. It can achieve real-time operation status perception for the warehouse, real-time labor and hardware resource allocation, and real-time risk forecast and contingency plan creation.
For example, it can determine how many workers and devices are needed in certain time period, accurate to an hour, even for a dynamic efficiency adjustment. Especially during peak times like 618, it can recommend several coping plans to ensure stability. In addition, leveraging smart algorithms, the new warehouse can continuously self-learn and self-optimize, improving operation and management capabilities over time.
JD Logistics manages tens of millions of SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) in its warehouses, covering almost all categories in the retail industry and maintained an inventory turnover rate that is higher than the industry average, all attributed to the continuous development of smart and digitized infrastructure.
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.
Carol Fung: JD FMCG Omnichannel’s Role in Helping Customers “Eat, Drink & Live” Better
