Apr 3, 2020|
JD’s View on Robots Shared on WEF Virtual Roundtable
by Ling Cao
On April 1st, during a virtual roundtable hosted by the World Economic Forum entitled “Opportunity and Outlook of Automated Vehicles under COVID-19”, Qi Kong, Chief Scientist and Head of Autonomous Driving at JD Logistics, shared his insights on what JD has learned about the autonomous driving industry during the pandemic.
According to Kong, there are three key insights to share regarding the autonomous driving industry from JD’s perspective, namely:
- To make commercial application of the technology a reality, companies need to ensure robots on the road are not accompanied by human operation – that they can operate independently. Powered by L4 level autonomous driving technology on public roads, JD has achieved this.
- To operate at scale, the technology needs to be scheduled and integrated into a digital management platform, ensuring safety and greater monitoring capability.
- Stakeholders should promote the shared development of the industry for its future and encourage collaboration among industry partners. JD has experienced the benefit of opening up its capabilities in autonomous driving and providing autopilot kits to partners. The need for shared development is true even beyond logistics scenarios, such as cold chain logistics, security support, disinfection and inspection. A specific example of partnership for the greater good in tackling COVID-19 around the world is one JD recently announced with GREE in robotics.
In terms of how to address challenges, Kong shared that it is critically important to accumulate more data from real-life scenarios to continuously upgrade technology. JD relies on its self-developed cloud simulation platform leveraging data from JD’s in-house logistics network, which largely reduces modification time.
Lastly, Kong shares that he believes logistics will be the first industry to achieve autonomous driving at scale, with power to change people’s lives by promoting next-generation infrastructure for the benefit of society.
On February 5th, JD quickly deployed its autonomous delivery robots in the epicenter of Wuhan to address unmet needs for contact-free delivery. The R&D for this technology is developed remotely from JD’s team in Beijing, and the company is able to provide this technology at just the right time because of its significant experience in autonomous driving.
Apr 1, 2024|
JD Chief Economist: Tech-Driven Supply Chain Revolutionizes Gen-Z Consumer Engagement in China
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.
JD.ID in Indonesia: “You Stay at Home, We Deliver to Your Door”
