Oct 17, 2017|
JD Launches Unmanned Convenient Stores with Fully Integrated Offline Retail Solutions
JD reveals two models of unmanned convenient stores, providing flexibility and customized shopping options
Ahead of this year’s Single’s Day, Chinese largest retailer has revealed that it is already testing two unmanned smart store models. The different solutions being tested by JD will help store owners increase efficiency and significantly improve customer service.
One model, JD’s Unmanned Convenience Store, offers a complete solution integrating various smart technologies. The second model, JD’s D-Mart Smart Store Solution offers low-cost wholesale and piecemeal customization flexibility to allow store owners to upgrade their existing stores and increase efficiency. Both models leverage facial recognition technology to facilitate shopping and payment so users don’t have to wait in checkout lines.
The stores are currently being tested with JD’s 10,000+ employees at its headquarters in Beijing.
JD’s Unmanned Convenience Store, developed by JD’s logistics innovation lab JDX, is powered by technology and algorithms developed entirely in house. It focuses on leveraging the latest cutting edge technology such as RFID, facial recognition, and image recognition, both to stores operated by JD, and eventually to high-quality third-party retailers. Cameras on the ceilings of the stores can recognize customers’ movement and also generate heat maps of the activity to monitor traffic flow, product selection and customer preferences, helping store owners to stock efficiently.
The D-Mart Smart Store Solution, developed by JD’s AI department, offers a low-cost option for store owners to significantly upgrade existing operations, painlessly. Complete with smart shelving tools using JD Smart Vision technology that can recognize products and in-store behavior, as well as AI, the solution helps store owners better gauge how to manage inventory and product displays. Additionally, store owners can choose to include a smart counter, which offers product recognition, bill generation and checkout. A smart advertisement screen in the store leverages facial recognition to show customized advertisements based on individual users’ shopping habits and demographics.
Song Ma, Vice President of JD.com said, “These two smart-store solutions will completely change what it means to go to take a trip to the store. From helping small stores owners streamline their supply chains and increase stocking efficiency, to speeding up check out, this is a massive jump beyond anything in use today.”
JD has been researching innovative solutions to transform all facets of retail. In addition to the unmanned stores, JD is also testing smart solutions in its own JD Retail Experience Shops. Moreover, the company recently entered into a strategic partnership with Sinopec to integrate smart technology into Sinopec’s gas stations across China.
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)
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