Feb 25, 2021| Executive Spotlights

JD Shares Its Innovative Cooperation with Fashion Brands in New Normal

Hui Zhang

by Hui Zhang

Kevin Jiang, president of international business, JD Fashion and Lifestyle, participated in a webinar hosted by the Chinese edition of WWD, and the British Fashion Council on Feb. 23 to discuss how the fashion industry is taking action to digitalize in the new normal.

British designer Anya Hindmarch, Yushan Li and Jun Zhou of Shanghai-based label Pronounce and CEO of Tomorrow Stefano Martinetto were also on the panel.

“JD is at the front of digitalization and has taken advantage of its strength in supply chain and technology to cooperate with brands and designers in innovative ways,”

“JD is at the front of digitalization and has taken advantage of its strength in supply chain and technology to cooperate with brands and designers in innovative ways,” said Jiang.

He introduced how JD helped brands and designers to deal with the impact of the pandemic

He introduced how JD helped brands and designers to deal with the impact of the pandemic, including omnichannel solutions, AR/VR technology, precise consumer targeting and more.

JD opened its omnichannel solutions to Prada and Miu Miu by integrating JD’s inventory with their internal inventories to bring a wide range of products to JD’s consumers in October 2020. Jiang mentioned that JD’s AR/VR technology allows customers to interact with products and have a more personal online experience. JD shared market insights with the brands to help them precisely target their consumers.

When asked about the cooperation with BFC and support of London Fashion Week. Jiang said that JD has always been committed to promoting the exchange of Chinese and British designers at the London Fashion Week. He said JD has supported brands such as Xu Zhi, HLA, HAZZYS, Feng Chen Wang(王逢陈) to attend London Fashion Week. Meanwhile, JD collaborated with BFC in 2020 to launch digital London Fashion Week (LFW) exclusively in China. JD.com became the official digital hub of the LFW platform in China.

The number of viewers watching the webinar live exceeded 260,000. Views have already exceeded 12 million views.

Sir David Beckham, ambassadorial president of the BFC, and Angelica Cheung, a fashion media veteran, also contributed their ideas during the digital event.

(zhanghui36@jd.com)

Apr 1, 2024| Executive Spotlights, JD Retail

JD Chief Economist: Tech-Driven Supply Chain Revolutionizes Gen-Z Consumer Engagement in China

Vivian Yang

At the inaugural FORTUNE Innovation Forum in Hong Kong on March 28th, Dr. Jianguang Shen, chief economist of JD.com, highlighted the transformative impact of tech-driven supply chain solutions in meeting the dynamic needs of Gen-Z consumers in China.

“Gen-Z consumers are very discerning and pragmatic,” said Dr. Shen. “They don’t care if the brand is local or global.” Dr. Shen began by discussing the increasing sophistication of younger Chinese consumers. “The rising popularity of local products can be attributed to China’s supply-side reform, which has enabled brands to provide lower-cost products with higher quality,” he said. Shen also emphasized the strategic advantage that brands can achieve by leveraging advanced digital supply chains, which offer deep insights into consumer behavior, thereby tapping into substantial market opportunities.

Joining Dr. Shen were industry leaders including Angela Wei Dong, Global Vice President China at Nike; Pontus Erntell, President and Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA China; and Doreen Wang, CEO of Kantar China and Global Head of BrandZ. Together, they shed light on the shifting preferences of China’s youth towards quality, sustainability, and enhanced social engagement in their retail experiences, especially amid economic headwinds, prompting brands to adapt swiftly.

Drawing examples from JD.com’s platform, Dr. Shen discussed the rising popularity of eco-friendly mini refrigerators among Gen-Z consumers. These products, aligning with Gen Z’s penchant for tech-savvy and environmentally conscious offerings, underscore the necessity for brands to evolve and align with consumer preferences.

Furthermore, Dr. Shen discussed the positive impact of a new government policy encouraging trade-in of consumer goods, which is expected to boost consumption. Leveraging JD.com’s robust supply chain capabilities, customers not only can easily trade in old appliances for more modern and eco-friendly goods but also benefit from a suite of JD’s attentive services such as doorstep pickup, installation, and recycling.

The conversation also touched upon the strategic collaborations under the Consumer-to-Manufacturer (C2M) model between JD.com and numerous brands, aiming to streamline the journey from product ideation to distribution. This collaboration has welcomed over 4,000 brands to JD.com’s C2M platform, drastically reducing product research and market introduction times by 80% and 70%, respectively, thereby fostering a mutually beneficial ecosystem for brands, retailers, and consumers.

Dr. Shen concluded by emphasizing JD.com’s commitment to technological innovation, with its deployment of AI-driven chatbot customer service, highly automated warehouses, autonomous delivery vehicles, and integrated retail solutions that bridge both online and offline domains. These innovations are designed to meet the dynamic preferences of consumers, enhancing the overall shopping experience and setting a new standard in consumer engagement.

(vivian.yang@jd.com)

Mar 8, 2024| Executive Spotlights, JD Logistics, JD Property, JD Retail

JD.com’s Strategic Advancements in International Business: A Focus on Supply Chain and User Experience

Vivian Yang

During JD.com’s earnings call for Q4 and FY2023 on March 6th, Sandy Xu, CEO of JD.com and JD Retail, provided an update on the company’s strategy for international expansion. Xu emphasized the importance of a robust supply chain as the cornerstone of JD.com’s growth beyond domestic borders.

Xu noted that JD.com is always on the lookout for overseas opportunities and is taking measured steps to advance this process. Given JD’s business model and inherent strengths, the company’s approach to global expansion is uniquely tailored.

“JD’s business model is built on supply chain capabilities and centered around user experience. Based on the development of supply chain infrastructure overseas, JD’s business will continue to expand in areas with our unique competitive strengths in global markets,” Xu said. She also provided an overview of JD.com’s current international businesses:

JD Worldwide, the export and import facet of JD Retail, incorporates JD Global Sales, an emerging outbound e-commerce platform dedicated to helping Chinese companies and brands expand their overseas market. JD’s cross-border inbound business, JD Global Buy, has established three direct procurement centers worldwide to enhance cross-border supply chain efficiency. This allows consumers in China to access a wider range of imported products at lower costs while ensuring product safety.
JD Logistics has developed a robust global supply chain, beginning with warehousing and expanding to encompass comprehensive supply chain services. Currently overseeing nearly 90 bonded, overseas, and direct mail warehouses across almost 900,000 square meters, JD Logistics provides extensive support to a broad spectrum of clients, including international enterprises and Chinese brands expanding overseas.
JD Property is expanding its business in Southeast Asia and Europe, with a focus on markets in Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Its clientele spans international logistics, FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) giants, as well as emerging Chinese companies venturing abroad.
Ochama is an omni-channel retail platform incubated by JD.com in Europe, which utilizes advanced automated logistics technologies and global supply chain capabilities to provide a superior shopping experience for consumers across 24 European countries.

With a focus on supply chain and enhancing the user experience, JD.com will continue to explore opportunities to expand its global footprint. Learn more about JD.com’s businesses with global reach here.

(vivian.yang@jd.com)